2012 NFL Predictions: 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers: Unlike the NFL MVP Award which has been dominated by quarterbacks and running backs, the Defensive Player of the Year Award has been more wide open. Players from four different positions have won the award in the last six years and the last three awards have been won by players from three different positions. With that in mind, here is a look at the top contenders for Defensive Player of the Year honors in the upcoming 2012 NFL season.
The Favorites – 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds and Predictions
After being a monster off the edge for the last seven years without winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award, Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware has paid his dues. He has 99.5 sacks and 27 forced fumbles in those seven seasons, and 19.5 of those sacks came last year. Ware is an athletic freak with a combination of size, strength and speed that few players possess, and he has had at least 15.5 sacks in each of the last four seasons. With the Cowboys beefing up their secondary in the offseason, he should have just a little more time to get the quarterback this season. The result could be something special for Ware.
Despite playing for a Minnesota Vikings’ team with the worse secondary in the NFL last year, defensive end Jared Allen led the league with 22.0 sacks. It was the second time he has led the NFL in sacks in the last five years, and in his eight seasons, he has amassed 105.0 sacks. With his relentless motor and overpowering strength, Allen is one of the premier pass rushers in the game, and he didn’t get enough respect for nearly breaking the single-season sack record last year for such a bad defense. He will likely make another run at the record this year, and if he breaks it, voters will be forced to acknowledge his accomplishments.
The Dark Horses – 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds and Predictions
His speed and wingspan make him a matchup nightmare, and the sky is the limit for New York Giants defense end Jason Pierre-Paul. Last year, he recorded 16.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and deflected seven passes. He also managed an incredible 86 tackles from his defensive end spot. The scary part is that Pierre-Paul is just scratching the surface of his potential and will be entering only his third season in the NFL. He can make an impact on defense in so many ways, and he might have the most range of any player at his position. Pierre-Paul had a breakout year in 2011, and he could become a star in 2012.
After taking home Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2010, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu continues to be one of the most-valuable defensive players in the league. He doesn’t appear to be slowing down, and he actually had the second-most tackles of his career last season. Polamalu is a versatile playmaker from the safety spot, delivering hard hits against the run and breaking up his share of passes in the secondary. He has been known to gamble at times and occasionally gets burnt, but his game-changing plays more than make up for the mistakes. When he is on the field, the Steelers are an elite defense. When he isn’t, the unit is average at best. His impact goes far beyond his stats.
Sleeper Specials – 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds and Predictions
Although defensive tackles never seem to get the credit they deserve, Haloti Ngata of the Baltimore Ravens could be the exception. He is an absolute bulldozer in the middle of the Baltimore defensive line, and he makes life easier for everyone around him and makes plenty of big plays himself. He has recorded 60-plus tackles in back-to-back seasons and at least five sacks in each of the last two years, as well. There just aren’t many defensive tackles that can deliver that type of production. Ngata’s teammate Terrell Suggs won Defensive Player of the Year honors last year, and the big man in the middle could pick up where Suggs left off in 2012.
Cornerback Darrelle Revis has basically shut down half the field for the New York Jets since coming into the league. After teams avoided throwing at him completely in 2010, Revis was actually challenged a bit last year. He responded with four interceptions and 21 pass breakups, including a 100-yard interception return for a score. His chances of winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award hinge on how often he is thrown at, but there is no doubt he is the best player at his position and one of the most-dominant defenders in the NFL.
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