Who is your PSU Defensive MVP for the 2016 season?
- Thread starter ChiTownLion
- Start date
As you stated, hard to pick just one. A few played outstanding at different times , but due to injuries were not available the entire season . With that said I'll go with Marcus Allen , he brought it when we needed it and was probably the glue to holding things together at our toughest times.
Well I'm approaching this from an unusual and different perspective.
My vote goes to GILLIKIN. I think his contribution and his performance this year was the biggest factor BY FAR in keeping opponents off the scoreboard.
If I went "traditional" thought, it would be Bell.
My vote goes to GILLIKIN. I think his contribution and his performance this year was the biggest factor BY FAR in keeping opponents off the scoreboard.
If I went "traditional" thought, it would be Bell.
Brandon Smith deserves some type of honor for this year. It may not be defensive mvp but I think he helped save the defense this year when the injury dam broke.
I agree that choosing one is nearly impossible.
My $0.02: Bell and Cabinda's return to the field was game-changing. And maybe season-changing.
My $0.02: Bell and Cabinda's return to the field was game-changing. And maybe season-changing.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
Allen and Haley on two biggest plays of the year; blocked FG and return for TD against OSU, and 4th and 1 stuff against Wisconsin - those guys get my vote. Cabinda, Bell, and Sickles had great seasons as well.
After coming back from his injury, Bell played about as well as any PSU LBer on the last several years
He doesn't play a real "showy" position, but he was stellar over the 2nd half of the season
Hard to pick a D Linemen, because they rotated so many of them, but there were several guys who played very well on a per play basis - - - any of a half dozen or more guys
Probably the best of the bunch would be Sickles, but you really could go with any of them
Allen probably played more snaps than anyone on D.......and made more plays than anyone, and deserves mention for being "that guy" who was there week in / week out
Golden was also very solid - - - though he plays a role in the scheme that doesn't generate as many "plays"
Reid and Haley - IMO - are underrated CBs. They handle a lot of difficult assignments, playing behind a front seven that plays very aggressively and blitzes a lot
They held up very well - both of them - in man coverage.......and we're both solid in run support
Add it all up, and if you gotta' pick one guy? I'm gonna' cheat and pick 2 anyway - - - Bell and Allen
He doesn't play a real "showy" position, but he was stellar over the 2nd half of the season
Hard to pick a D Linemen, because they rotated so many of them, but there were several guys who played very well on a per play basis - - - any of a half dozen or more guys
Probably the best of the bunch would be Sickles, but you really could go with any of them
Allen probably played more snaps than anyone on D.......and made more plays than anyone, and deserves mention for being "that guy" who was there week in / week out
Golden was also very solid - - - though he plays a role in the scheme that doesn't generate as many "plays"
Reid and Haley - IMO - are underrated CBs. They handle a lot of difficult assignments, playing behind a front seven that plays very aggressively and blitzes a lot
They held up very well - both of them - in man coverage.......and we're both solid in run support
Add it all up, and if you gotta' pick one guy? I'm gonna' cheat and pick 2 anyway - - - Bell and Allen
Agree with above poster that Bell's LB play when he returned from injury was every bit as good as some of the great linebackers here (Bowman, Mauti, Lee, etc).
He was screwed out of the awards due to the injuries and missing season stats.
He was screwed out of the awards due to the injuries and missing season stats.
I'll add a wrinkle...
Irvin Charles was a tackling machine on coverage plays. It stood out to me all season long.
Irvin Charles was a tackling machine on coverage plays. It stood out to me all season long.
Marcus Allen.
At the beginning of the year, he was the only defensive player that was playing well IMO.
At the beginning of the year, he was the only defensive player that was playing well IMO.
Tough choice.
I'd go...
1. Marcus Allen
1. a) Brandon Bell (if he would have been healthy all season he would have been my #1).
1. b) The entire DL. The improvement that these guys made throughout the season is nothing
short of amazing. Coach Spencer did an incredible job.
Yep, but Bell seemed to have the biggest upswing impact as Smith was doing a great job at MLB and Bell's per game tackle average was off the charts..... So for me it's Bell, with Allen being a close second due to his consistent play over the season....
All 11 defensive players are worthy of consideration. But the coaches picked Garret Sickles. Who am I to argue with the people that watch and coach these players day to day.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
Also worth noting some redemption for Haley this year; more than makes up for two blunders in the NW game last year that certainly cost us a win.
Dang - Best me to the nomination of Blake Thomas Gillikin. Saw you posted him, so a tip o' the hat to you ILLILI.
While not on the defense, Gillikin made huge contributions to field position. What a welcomed improvement over some previous years.
You can't argue that Sickles didn't absolutely take over a few games this year, including the OSU game. He was in the backfield the entire second half causing havoc.
But my guy all year has been Allen. He's been a solid, consistent warrior from start to finish.
But my guy all year has been Allen. He's been a solid, consistent warrior from start to finish.
I'm amused that several posters picked special teams players, not because these guys don't deserve credit but because I have as much trouble picking a special teams MVP as I do a defensive MVP. Gillikin made a huge difference in field position; Davis was automatic; Joey Julius was a fan favorite for being such a great story on and off the field; and Charles was a beast on coverage units. This year was just a great team effort all around.
