UW S29 - xtitanxmvpx Option #6 - 10 TPE (825 words)
I want to first say that all players who won awards this off-season definitely deserved them. I think this is a fair thought that I am going to write about and one that should really be looked into in the coming seasons. With that being said, let’s dig in.
My topic is about defensive players and the MVP award along with other awards and possible changes. Where do I begin on this one? I mean, it’s pretty straight forward with the idea that some people do not believe these players have the impact that offensive players do. I want to put something into perspective here; a cornerback gets 9 interceptions on the year and scores 2 touchdowns. Along with any sacks, tackles for a loss, forced fumbles, fumbles recovered, or other stopping plays, this player would not be realistically considered ‘most valuable’ if they were on a winning team. I’m not going fully into the statistical analysis of how many impactful plays the player had, but if you were to look at the percentage of affect a key defensive player has is quite high.
I want to put my own stat line out from this last season: Xavier Walls -
Tackles 106
TFL 4
FF/FR 7/3
Sacks 12
Int 4
PDs 16
Sfty 0
DTD 1
Over the course of the year, I could have been considered top at any defensive position (for which I was voted Defensive Player of the Year) pretty handily. Moreso though, I look through my games and see how much impact I brought to each of the Pythons games that led to our second consecutive 11-3 season. Our offense was down this year and you could argue that the leadership I provided our rookies and defense overall led to a large majority of our wins. I tied 3 records, broke 2, and played like a mix between a cornerback, safety, linebacker, and defensive end. I’m not sure what a player would have to do to realistically have a shot at winning the MVP award from the defensive side of the ball.
The winner of the award, Lonnie Jackson is a great dude and I’m happy to say that a team mate of mine at the ISFL level won the award at least. I’m grateful for winning Linebacker of the Year, Def. Performance of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year; however I truly think something needs to change in the consideration the defensive side of the ball gets to be an MVP. It was a gut shot to know that I was considered behind the only other players to get votes (both offensive). I got 1 vote for a season that was truly awe-striking. Some might call this bitching and ungrateful, but I really want the discussion to start on whether this award is solely an offensive award or if other players in the future can earn real consideration for it if they play as such.
MVP aside, I also think that the safety position awards should be split up into two different awards. The positions are extremely different and do things in a very different way. Being on the awards committee the last two seasons, I have seen how the conversations go in regards to stat importance and comparing the two positions to one another and having to pick hybrid safeties over other safeties because of PDs and Ints over forced fumbles, sacks, and tackles. If a safety is playing at high end linebacker levels I think they deserve an award shot as well, and you might say some were on the ballot this year, but honestly the pass coverage safeties still won out on the awards over hard nosed safeties who played close to the line. One such player was Romulus Roman who put up very good tackle numbers, but overall the rest of his stats were disregarded as they weren’t ‘safety’ stats. This isn’t arguing he should have beaten out the winner for the award, but moreso saying in a strong safety category he would have had a much higher chance of winning it.
I look forward to my start with the Philadelphia Liberty this next season and will cherish the accolades I’ve been given. I hope in the future these awards can be more clear in what they are for and the criteria designated for each one. MVP should be a neutral award and I think many people share my opinion on it. I don’t think I can even fill one hand with defensive MVPs looking back through the seasons that the DSFL has existed which is quite sad.
Good luck to this next season’s rookies and other players vying for awards. I hope your experience is a great one and that voters take a closer look at the amount of impact EVERY position has on the games. Love ya and peace, just my two cents. -Titan
I want to first say that all players who won awards this off-season definitely deserved them. I think this is a fair thought that I am going to write about and one that should really be looked into in the coming seasons. With that being said, let’s dig in.
My topic is about defensive players and the MVP award along with other awards and possible changes. Where do I begin on this one? I mean, it’s pretty straight forward with the idea that some people do not believe these players have the impact that offensive players do. I want to put something into perspective here; a cornerback gets 9 interceptions on the year and scores 2 touchdowns. Along with any sacks, tackles for a loss, forced fumbles, fumbles recovered, or other stopping plays, this player would not be realistically considered ‘most valuable’ if they were on a winning team. I’m not going fully into the statistical analysis of how many impactful plays the player had, but if you were to look at the percentage of affect a key defensive player has is quite high.
I want to put my own stat line out from this last season: Xavier Walls -
Tackles 106
TFL 4
FF/FR 7/3
Sacks 12
Int 4
PDs 16
Sfty 0
DTD 1
Over the course of the year, I could have been considered top at any defensive position (for which I was voted Defensive Player of the Year) pretty handily. Moreso though, I look through my games and see how much impact I brought to each of the Pythons games that led to our second consecutive 11-3 season. Our offense was down this year and you could argue that the leadership I provided our rookies and defense overall led to a large majority of our wins. I tied 3 records, broke 2, and played like a mix between a cornerback, safety, linebacker, and defensive end. I’m not sure what a player would have to do to realistically have a shot at winning the MVP award from the defensive side of the ball.
The winner of the award, Lonnie Jackson is a great dude and I’m happy to say that a team mate of mine at the ISFL level won the award at least. I’m grateful for winning Linebacker of the Year, Def. Performance of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year; however I truly think something needs to change in the consideration the defensive side of the ball gets to be an MVP. It was a gut shot to know that I was considered behind the only other players to get votes (both offensive). I got 1 vote for a season that was truly awe-striking. Some might call this bitching and ungrateful, but I really want the discussion to start on whether this award is solely an offensive award or if other players in the future can earn real consideration for it if they play as such.
MVP aside, I also think that the safety position awards should be split up into two different awards. The positions are extremely different and do things in a very different way. Being on the awards committee the last two seasons, I have seen how the conversations go in regards to stat importance and comparing the two positions to one another and having to pick hybrid safeties over other safeties because of PDs and Ints over forced fumbles, sacks, and tackles. If a safety is playing at high end linebacker levels I think they deserve an award shot as well, and you might say some were on the ballot this year, but honestly the pass coverage safeties still won out on the awards over hard nosed safeties who played close to the line. One such player was Romulus Roman who put up very good tackle numbers, but overall the rest of his stats were disregarded as they weren’t ‘safety’ stats. This isn’t arguing he should have beaten out the winner for the award, but moreso saying in a strong safety category he would have had a much higher chance of winning it.
I look forward to my start with the Philadelphia Liberty this next season and will cherish the accolades I’ve been given. I hope in the future these awards can be more clear in what they are for and the criteria designated for each one. MVP should be a neutral award and I think many people share my opinion on it. I don’t think I can even fill one hand with defensive MVPs looking back through the seasons that the DSFL has existed which is quite sad.
Good luck to this next season’s rookies and other players vying for awards. I hope your experience is a great one and that voters take a closer look at the amount of impact EVERY position has on the games. Love ya and peace, just my two cents. -Titan
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