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Originally Posted by pyramider
Because it is really difficult to objectively quantify a defensive players numbers. Sure you have tackles, interceptions ... but I doubt offensive coordinators scheme to shut down or avoid a linebacker. He is a very good team player but he never took over a game the way an Earl Campbell, Tony Dorsett, Jim Brown, etc could.
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Actually every offensive coordinator that played ND for the last two years at least has commented on having to game plan for Te'o. But I do understand what you mean when you say it is more difficult to quantify the numbers. You do have to give some serious credit to a guy who plays inside linebacker and has more interceptions than all but three defensive backs in the entire nation this season though. Add that to over 100 tackles in just 12 games, the fact that he is the clear leader on the top defense in the nation and the top team (at least as it stands now) in the nation and I think that you have a pretty compelling argument. But again, even with what you have said, if it IS just about numbers then let's just call it an offensive award.
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Originally Posted by iggy
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Charles Woodson won it (I didn't check the list but i believe it was in 1997) and he is a defensive back. He played for Michigan.
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Originally Posted by stuckinsyracuse
I'm rooting for Te'o to win but think Manziel wins.
Weird there is only 3 finalists. Who SHOULD win is Jadeveon Clowney from South Carolina. He's the most dominant player all season.
Manziel wins because of Bama. Klein loses because of his last two games (Baylor especially). Te'o's story is great but you could argue he was the third best defensive player this year behind Clowney and Jones from UGA
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I did not get to watch South Carolina play so I don't know a whole lot about Clowney. What I do know is that for Jones, missing a couple of games really hurt his chances despite his dominance. And, for both guys, if you are going to get any love as a defensive player, your team almost has to finish one or two in the nation. Again, the thing should really just be deemed an offensive award as, it seems, it is just about numbers. Defensive players cannot put up numbers that are nearly as "sexy" as offensive players. In Woodson's case, it was the fact that he had crazy punt/kick return numbers AND he played some offense as well.
