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The Wide Open MVP Award Race
by Chris Brophy
20/11/2007
Admittedly, the title might be mis-leading. This article is not about who is going to trail in second to Tom Brady in the leagues MVP voting and trying to give some kudos to other players having great seasons who might get forgotten about easily. It’s also not about those lost in the slip stream of Adrian Peterson for the Rookie Of The Year Award because even if he does play another down this year, that race is over too.
No, the “wide open” in the title is their to point out that the other major individual player award of interest each season, the Defensive MVP, is not such an open and shut case. In fact, it might be more wide open than any year in recent memory with some top performances coming from many players who really are looking at having a career year. Some of the usual names will get their mentions based on their reputations and some of those riding high in the noteable defensive statistic categories will also have plaudits laid at their door but here is my list of the contenders for top defender of the year:
 Aaron Kampman, Defensive End, Green Bay Packers
Kampman had what would have been looked on as a career year in 2006 with 15.5 sacks. At his current pace, he is going to blow past that and given the Packers have a better record and look bound for a successful season, he is drawing a lot more attention in 2007. Don’t let his sack total fool you though, Kampman plays the run just as well and takes as much pride in a tackle for no gain as he does a highlight reel sack. He also steps up when the game is on the line, with five of his nine sacks thus far coming towards the end of games. When protecting a lead, Kampman is a man on a mission, with seven of his sacks coming with the Packers ahead in games.
The Pack are still not receiving their full amount of credit for the performance of their defense this year in my opinion but Kampman is certainly its leading light. His biggest problem might be the Packers long time leading light on the other side of the ball, a certain Brett Favre, who is also looking at a career year that is also seeing all time records tumble. When it’s all said and done, people will look back and the Packs season and remember what Favre achieved. Kampman is doing his best to stop it being a one man show.
Albert Haynesworth, Defensive Tackle, Tenneessee Titans
This might go down as one of the stories of recent times if a player more known for stamping on opponenets heads turns it around to become Defensive MVP. Haynesworth has been a player who has improved every season but this year is definitely a break out and perhaps his infamany is something that was always going to make him stand out in the trenchs when he makes plays. As it is, the Titans rank as the number two defense in the league currently and Haynesworth, currently with 30 tackles and 5 sacks, is a major part of that. He can disrupt the backfield in the run and pass game and even if a QB gets the ball out of his hands, Big Al might just knock it down! Is it coincidence the Titans fell to their biggest defeat of the season without him last week? I think not! If he continues to miss more time or his injury problems persist and effect his play, that may well take him out of the running but if the Titans make post season it will be in large part to the contribution made by a player who this time last year was serving the stiffest suspension ever handed out by the NFL for an on the field incident.
 Mike Vrabel, Linebacker, New England Patriots
If the Patriots march to perfection continues on course then it’s not impossible to think that a noteable player of their defense will get some attention in this awards thinking. Regardless of his teams situation, Vrabel is having a fantastic year and at this moment in time, is that notable player. The Patriots drew attention in the off-season with their high profile additions and none was bigger on defense than the super versatile linebacker Adalius Thomas. As it is Vrabel is the one getting in on all the big plays on defense for New England (and on offense occasionally) with 8.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. In a defense that is schemed extremely well, Vrabel is given the license to attack of the edge and cause havoc in the opponents backfield. Having Thomas inside of him has allowed him that luxury and even with Richard Seymour, guys like Javis Green have enjoyed big years. That might be Vrabel’s stumbling block in this awards discussion as it’s not like he is a one man show carrying a defense to the lofty heights of the NFL defensive rankings.
Jared Allen, Defensive End, Kansas City Chiefs
Despite missing the opening two games of the season with suspension, Allen quickly got back into his stride and with only seven games played has managed to get to the top of the sacks charts with 9.5 sacks. If Allen’s suspension had been longer, it’s a good bet the Chiefs wouldn’t be anywhere near post season contention at this point (though the struggles on offense might put pay to that anyway). Allen is a player who can dominant the line of scrimmage and goes hard on every play, the sacks get noticed but his run defense is sound and he’ll get his hands up to try and bat passes down if he can’t get to the QB. Will Allen’s suspension count against him? Will claiming it’s all down to the mullet see a hair syle become the first body part MVP? This debate came about with Shawn Merriman last year and looks like it will be revisited this season.
They are my top four contenders, I did try to come up with a player from the secondary who could be considered and some will get a shout out as I go through some honourable mentions:
The chasing pack:
Defensive Line – Kevin Williams, Osi Umenyiora, Shaun Rogers, Cornelius Griffin, Darnell Dockett
Linebacker – Patrick Willis, Keith Bullock, London Fletcher, Nick Barnett, Ernie Sims, DeMarcus Ware
Defensive Backs – Sean Taylor, Bob Sanders, Charles Woodson
I realise that’s quite a large shortlist but it brings me back to the point I started off with, whilst the other awards have runaway leaders, this battle for individual accolade is a different story all together. A few big games here or there by any of the above names mentioned and dare I say, a couple of players not on the list and things could change quickly.
I’ll not sit on the fence though, as the weekly predictor here at the diner, it’s only fitting I give my crystal ball a rub and get the tissues on stand by – oops, wrong column……
Anyway, the top of the list carries Football Diners outstanding candidate. If I was selecting the DMVP now, I’d give it to Aaron Kampman.
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