Defensive MVP

[NorthCoast]

At the halfway point, you make the call on who is Defensive MVP if the season ended today:

Heyward
27 Total tackles -17 solo
2 sacks
4 TFLs
11 QBHits

Watt
26 Total tackles - 20 solo
7 sacks
12 TFLs
24 QBHits

Tuitt
29 total tackles - 21 solo
6 sacks
7 TFLs
17 QBHits

This is a really tough choice at this point. Each has had at least one monster game. Tuitt was absolute beast mode against Baltimore. Heyward was fantastic against CLE and BAL, and his 1/2 sack in Dallas was just wow. And Watt is just consistently a terror no matter who they are playing.

I have to give the nod to Heyward. Maybe not the best 'numbers', but the guy is not only superior individually but his play elevates everyone around him. What he does in the trenches makes everything else go. OCs have to account for him or he can wreck the whole day.

Let's see what the second half of the season brings but Heyward is my vote today.

[SidSmythe]

We haven't seen numbers like Tuitts from a 3-4 DE since the Aaron Smith days whos best seasons total 8 sacks.

[hawaiiansteel]

We haven't seen numbers like Tuitts from a 3-4 DE since the Aaron Smith days whos best seasons total 8 sacks.

yeah, I would go with Tuitt also if the voting were today.

[flippy]

TJ is who teams game plan around.

He’s the most disruptive and don’t discount his 1 int and 6 blocked passes.

He’s got to get more tackles and FFs and he’ll be in the running for DMVP.

There are times that Tuitt looks like a freak imho. And once in a while I think he looks more disruptive than TJ when he blows through a double team like he’s going against the practice squad.

[skyhawk]

Easy. Watt or fitz.

Watt is disruptive. And fitz has stopped two driving offenses in 2 consecutive games.

The way this interior line has given up huge gains on the ground this year makes my decision all the more easy to watt. Or fitz

[Steel Maniac]

TJ is who teams game plan around.

He’s the most disruptive and don’t discount his 1 int and 6 blocked passes.

He’s got to get more tackles and FFs and he’ll be in the running for DMVP.

There are times that Tuitt looks like a freak imho. And once in a while I think he looks more disruptive than TJ when he blows through a double team like he’s going against the practice squad.

ditto your thoughts

[Buzz]

I'm just glad we have all of them on our team

[Captain Lemming]

We haven't seen numbers like Tuitts from a 3-4 DE since the Aaron Smith days whos best seasons total 8 sacks.

Great point....
If we totally forget that Heward had better numbers than Smith ever had last season AND the year before that AND the year before that.

[Oviedo]

I think Tuitt is the unsung hero this season. He's not getting the glory but he is impactful every game. Much of what TJ can do is because of what Tuitt is doing

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

What a nice conversation to have. On most Ds having one of these guys play like this would close the conversation. On this team there are 4 guys who you can discuss, and then guys like VWill who is playing very well (not DMVP well but very well), Dupree, and you got yourself a pretty good D.

[Northern_Blitz]

I think it's probably TJ, but I think a reasonable argument can be made for any of them. Heyward doesn't get the sacks, but I think his impact is more than his stats show.

They aren't our MVPs, but it's nice to see Bud and Vince playing very well too.

Vince leads the league in TFL (15). One ahead of TJ.

I wish there was some way we could keep Bud for next year. I would maybe even pick Bud if the choice was Bud vs. JuJu (especially with our strength at WR). But I don't think it will happen (and maybe we even lose both). Seems like Highsmith has looked pretty good with the snaps he gets, so maybe it won't be super painful losing Bud next year (after getting a ring).

VW
45 Total tackles -32 solo
3 sacks
15 TFLs
4 QBHits

Bud
20 Total tackles -14 solo
6 sacks
7 TFLs
12 QBHits

[Chucktownsteeler]

All very worthy, numbers are amazing. But I go with Heyward for intangibles and leadership quality.

[whisper]

All very worthy, numbers are amazing. But I go with Heyward for intangibles and leadership quality.

I go with the obvious: TJ. He's pretty damn consistent at wreaking havoc. And I love how he seems to have his head on his shoulders - seems very grounded and mature.

[Northern_Blitz]

I go with the obvious: TJ. He's pretty damn consistent at wreaking havoc. And I love how he seems to have his head on his shoulders - seems very grounded and mature.

His anticipation of the snap is unreal (at least whenever they show it on the broadcast).

[whisper]

His anticipation of the snap is unreal (at least whenever they show it on the broadcast).

It's that combined with his 1st step speed that makes him special. It's like the ball moves at the same time he does, and he is OFF, like one seamless act.