As most NFL fans know by now, Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers was named Defensive MVP with 28 of 50 votes, beating New York Jets’ cornerback, Darrelle Revis by 14 votes.
Being from New York, this vote is getting a lot of criticism from more than just Jets’ fans, but I think Rex Ryan went way too far by saying this on the Jet’s website:
“I would like to congratulate the people that voted for Darrelle Revis. These guys obviously really know the game. And you’ve got to look at all the numbers, not just a number about this, or this stat or that stat.”
He then goes on to say how the Cards’ scored 8 passing TDs against the Packers in the playoffs and how that was as many passing TDs that the Jets gave up all season. Well, the work playoffs is bold because the award is a regular season award, playoffs don’t matter.
But back to his quote, I’d have to say that Rex Ryan might be the one that doesn’t really know the game. Now I understand he is defending his player and I do recognize the great job he did of coaching the Jets’ this season, especially with a rookie QB, but that doesn’t excuse what he said.
First, I’ll start with the numbers, because I don’t know where Rex Ryan has been this season. Woodson has better numbers in almost every single important category, so its not just “this stat or that stat”.
Darrelle Revis – 54 tackles, 0 sacks, 31 pass deflections, 6 INTs, 1 TD, 0 Forced Fumbles
Charles Woodson – 74 tackles, 2 sacks, 18 pass deflections, 9 INTs*, 3 TDs*, 4 Forced Fumbles
*= tied for league lead
Woodson has by far more game changing plays (sacks, INTs, TDs, FF) and it’s not like the Packers defense was bad. Which brings me to my second point.
Yes, the Jets had the #1 ranked defense in the NFL, but guess who was the #2 ranked defense… you guessed it the Packers. But, these stats aren’t even that important because it is an individual award not a team defensive award.
My last point is about the intangibles that each player brings to the defense. Revis shut-down some of the best WR in the league this season (Owens x2, Moss x2, Ochocinco, Andre Johnson, etc). None of these big names had more than 35 yards on him this season. This is because of two reasons- 1. he is a very physical cornerback that is excellent in coverage & 2) its easier to gameplan against one shut-down corner, just throw to the other 4-5 options on the field at the same time.
Woodson, on the other hand, was an offensive coordinator’s nightmare. Throughout the season he was continuously moved around the field, playing corner, safety and linebacker at one point during the season. He could be anywhere and it makes gameplanning against him much tougher.
Sorry Jets’ fans, Revis diehards, and Rex Ryan, but Woodson was clearly the Defensive Player of the Year.
…Now if the there was an award titled “Cornerback of the Year,” I’d have to go with Revis for that one.
What do you think on the vote? Comment below or send me a tweet @MikesPickz
