NFL.com Article on DPOTY

by shleeve on Dec 4, 2008 3:24 PM EST

Heres an interesting article on what we already knew...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80d02ea6&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

As of right now Harrison is the lead for Denfensive MVP according to the writer. I'm not gonna disagree. It leaves out safeties, tackles, and the such all together but it still makes a good arguement.

Its good to see others agree with us.

75 words, 75 words, 75 words, 75 words

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Nice.....

LOL @ the 75 words!!!!

by Cdsumm on Dec 4, 2008 3:56 PM EST reply actions

That is petty funny. Why do they have to be 75 words? Any good writer knows, that most of the time, less is more.

by Jonny B. on Dec 5, 2008 12:30 AM EST up reply actions

Ware is still better

and even Tomlin admits it.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 4, 2008 4:12 PM EST reply actions

Terry

Every week Tomlin talk about the star players on the other team, before we play them. He publicly lays out the strengths of our opposition. Ware isn’t an exception. I promise you that Tomlin KNOWS that Harrison is better.

by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 4, 2008 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

He didn't do that

Tomlin flat out said Ware was bigger, stronger, faster, quicker and yes..better.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 4, 2008 4:31 PM EST up reply actions

provide a link

cuz i haven’t heard or read that

by NoCal-SteelCity on Dec 4, 2008 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

also

while they BOTH are absolute studs, no doubt All Pro selections, I would still, unbiasedly, take Harrison – just numbers-wise:

Harrison – 80 tackles 14 sacks 6 ff 1 int 1 safety 3 pass def.

Ware – 62 tackles 15 sacks 2 ff 0 int 0 safeties 2 pass def.

Numbers-wise, it’s clear that Harrison is having a slightly better year. Again, slightly…

by NoCal-SteelCity on Dec 4, 2008 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

Terry has a really good case. I mean, you can just ignore a 28 tackle, -1 sacks, 4ff, 1 int, 1 safety, 1 pass def differential. Ware is a god amongst men, harrison sucks.

by steelguy99 on Dec 5, 2008 7:50 AM EST up reply actions

Careful

He called Ware the best pass-rushing LB in the league. James Harrison does much more than just pass rush. He even can long snap 30 yards back in a pinch.

by Chicago Steeler on Dec 4, 2008 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

+1

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Dec 5, 2008 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

"better"

“Better” is a meaningless evaluation based on conditional and contextual criteria. Who will be more effective on Sunday is the only pregame question worth discussion.

I expect Ware to get a hit or two on Ben. Just as I expect Harrison to get a hit or two on Romo. I also expect Woodley to get a hit or two on Romo. Farrior and/or Timmons to get one. and also a D-lineman at some point.

Speaking of “better,” Romo had better keep that splint on his pinkie, or he’ll get dragged down again and Ms. Jessica Simpson will have to go through another weeklong stretch with no fingerbanging.

I’m normally not the shit-talk type … but c’mon, Jerry Jones runs his team like a wealthy man’s fantasy football roster. Sometimes it works, but when was the last playoff win?

Tony “stinky-pinkie” Romo might have a good game, but if we’re talking about “better or worse” you’d better believe that Pittsburgh’s D is better than anything he’s faced thus far in his career. Brad Johnson might end up finishing this game … depends if Romo’s carted off or if he’s still able to walk.

by Fahey on Dec 4, 2008 4:31 PM EST up reply actions

I'm not denying your defense is great

never have, just saying Ware is the best pass rusher in the game, and thats because he is.

And if your pass rush is so great that Romo’s life will be in jeapordy, then why didn’t you sack Eli one time? Weren’t so big and bad that game.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 4, 2008 4:42 PM EST up reply actions

Because the Giant's are a much better team than the Cowboys

Romo’s life will be in Jeapordy. And if you’re thinking about entering a stadium where the silverback gorilla dwells, well then sir I would also say your life is in jeapordy. The silverback only knows friends as people with yellow towels.

by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 4, 2008 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

that would be

because we were so busy holding the best rushing offense in the league, you know, the one that put up 200 yards and 6 ypc on the Cowboys, to 83 yards and 2.4 ypc. bitch.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Dec 4, 2008 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

ya

I think I remember that one. ;) Someone should go tell the blogging boys and refresh their memory. Why not sprinkle the goal line stands we made in that game. 3 downs inside the one only to settle for a fg was it? hehe

by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 4, 2008 5:59 PM EST up reply actions

Giants played very well

I give them lots of credit. They played a LOT of small ball in that game and avoided the rush. Harrison was a mere step away most of the time.

And honestly though, sacks werent the difference.

Do you think it was sacks that put the Steelers up 14-0? Or sacks that caused a phantom holding penalty that would revoke a TD that would make the game 21-7? Or sacks that would cause Silverback to toss a ball into the stratosphere?

We were very big and very bad in that game. We bossed up and pummeled the Giants run game. We played good ball. We had an injury to a key position and lost the game.

Watch your mouth

by Mechem on Dec 4, 2008 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

wrong

Ware is the best Pass Rusher in the game?

Pass rushing also involves getting fumbles forced. Ok, so Ware gets sacks. Great. Does he force turnovers? a man who is behind 1.5 sacks, but has 4 more fumbles forced is far better IMO. It shows a knack for the ball.

And lets not forget, I BELIEVE Harrison has more points than ware this year, as in 2.

by Mechem on Dec 4, 2008 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

Ware is the best pass rusher in the game, and thats because he is.

I’m not really going to disagree with you Terry. Ware might very well be the best pure pass rusher in the game. One point that I’m surprised you haven’t brought up yet is who’s on the other side of Ware. Harrison’s got Woodley but Ware’s got the largely ineffective combo of Greg Ellis and Anthony Spencer (6.0 sacks combined).

But the big difference, in my opinion, between Harrison and Ware is that Harrison is the more complete player. Ware is great at rushing the passer but Harrison does more than just rusher the passer. He drops back into coverage and is just as stout against the run, as evidence by his pass defenses, pick and having nearly 20 more tackles. Harrison is also much better at knocking the ball out of the QB’s hands.

Just for the record though, the only reason I wouldn’t trade Harrison for Ware is because Harrison is very, very cheap. Ware’s a comparable player but he’s four years younger.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Dec 5, 2008 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

Dude....

I just lauged so hard at “fingerbanging Jessica Simpson” I was crying!!

by Cdsumm on Dec 4, 2008 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

And I betcha shes too dumb to feel it

by Mechem on Dec 4, 2008 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

Good stats

But this doesn’t even take into account the timing of the big plays. Harrison seems to come through in crunch time. Remember the strip of Flacco when the game was on the line? Strip of Cassel to really get us going against the Pats? Safety of Rivers in a close game?

by CarlWeathersMustache on Dec 4, 2008 4:22 PM EST reply actions

harrison's numbers

His pass rushing also reflects an invisible X factor: rush defense. He has been so key in stopping the ground game that teams have no option to pass and get pass rushed. I think that’s part the reason Harrison’s big plays come just when a team is revving up for the go-ahead deep pass.

by 36chambers on Dec 4, 2008 9:13 PM EST reply actions

Yeah

I still think hes got the best overall spread of talent. He makes run tackles behind the LOS, he has 80+ tackles, excellent in pass coverage as well. Which in turn leads to more success on the rush. Because if he lines up at the line, they have to respect his blitz, but also his ability to fake blitz drop back and batt your balls.

Very Polamalu’esque in his skill set.

by Mechem on Dec 4, 2008 10:17 PM EST up reply actions