Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 3

ProFootballWeekly.

com - Three defenders vying to be youngest honored

NFList
Comment | Print | ShareThis

Three defenders vying to be youngest honored


Recommend 0 Tweet

Posted Dec. 22, 2012 @ 12:12 p.m. ET By David DeChant

As 23-year-olds, J.J. Watt, Von Miller and Aldon Smith are displaying defensive dominance at an unprecedented age, developing from impressive rookies into front-runners to be named the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America Defensive Player of the Year in their second NFL season. Most who have claimed that honor blossomed a little bit further down the road: Since it began in 1970, the award has gone to players aged 27 or 28 on 17 occasions, and to players age 30 or older nine times. No player has ever won DPOY honors before age 24 though Lawrence Taylor was the choice of The Associated Press at age 21 and again at 22 and yet three 23-year-olds are staking impressive claims for that title this season. Smith is the trios youngest, born in September of 1989. He and Watt lead the NFL in sacks with 19. Watt, the first player ever with at least 15 sacks and 15 batted balls in a season, is the elder statesman, born in March of 89, just four days before Miller, who is third in the league in sacks and second in tackles for loss and forced fumbles. Barring a late-season surge by Bengals DT Geno Atkins, either Watt, Miller or Smith will become the youngest-ever member of the leagues most exclusive group of defensive studs. Heres a look at every player to be named PFW/PFWAs Defensive Player of the Year before turning the age of 26. (Note: All ages relative to Dec. 31 of the year receiving the award.): 1. 1992 Seahawks DT Cortez Kennedy / 24 years, four months, eight days The third overall pick in 1990, Kennedy blossomed in 92, with by far his best season. He totaled 92 tackles, 14 sacks and four forced fumbles, stellar numbers for a tackle, despite his Seahawks winning just two games by seven combined points. He never again cracked 10 sacks in a season, but was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2012. 2. 1976 Steelers LB Jack Lambert / 24 years, five months, 23 days The Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1974, Lambert won DPOY honors leading perhaps the best defense in NFL history. The 76 Steelers pitched five shutouts and, in their final nine regular-season games, all wins, they shockingly had as many total points allowed as takeaways (28!). Lamberts eight defensive fumble recoveries that season were one short of the single-season record. 3. 2010 Packers LB Clay Matthews / 24 years, seven months, 17 days Matthews racked up 13 sacks in 15 games and had a pick-six in his second season as the Packers won their fourth Lombardi Trophy. Green Bay was second in points allowed (15.0 ppg), and all six of its losses came by a margin of four points or fewer.

2013 NFL draft order


Posted April 25, 2013 @ 12:46 p.m.

2013 NFC free-agent moves, by team


Posted April 15, 2013 @ 12:21 p.m.
ABOUT TRUST ONLINE

2013 AFC free-agent moves, by team


Posted April 15, 2013 @ 12:21 p.m.

Warmack, Cooper scouting reports


Posted April 15, 2013 @ 11:02 a.m.

Elam, Vaccaro scouting reports


Posted April 12, 2013 @ 9:26 a.m.

Milliner, Mathieu scouting reports


Posted April 11, 2013 @ 1:48 p.m.

Te'o, Ogletree scouting reports

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/12/22/three-defenders-vying-to-be-youngest-honored[7/17/13 2:16:26 PM]

ProFootballWeekly.com - Three defenders vying to be youngest honored 4. 1979 Bucs DE Lee Roy Selmon / 25 years, two months, 11 days Selmon was the Bucs first-ever draft pick, going first overall in 1976. His 11 sacks in 79 helped Tampa Bay to the NFC championship game in the teams fourth season, but they lost to the Rams, 9-0. Selmon became the Bucs first Pro Football Hall of Famer in 1995. 5. 1982 Bears DE-DT Dan Hampton / 25 years, three months, 11 days Hampton won the award three years after being chosen fourth overall in 1979. Primarily playing tackle, his nine sacks during the strike-shortened nine-game season ranked third in the NFL, though the Bears went 3-6. Hampton hit doubledigit sacks in 84 and 86 and retired in 1990. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.
Posted April 10, 2013 @ 12:57 p.m.

Lotulelei, Werner scouting reports


Posted April 09, 2013 @ 3:13 p.m.

Joeckel, Long scouting reports


Posted April 08, 2013 @ 11:35 a.m.

2013 preseason schedule


Posted April 04, 2013 @ 4:07 p.m.

6. 2000 Ravens LB Ray Lewis / 25 years, seven months, 16 days Lewis led the Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XXXV by anchoring a defense that allowed the fewest points (165) and rushing yards (970) ever in a 16-game season. He had 107 tackles to go with three sacks, two picks and three fumble recoveries in the regular season, and was named Super Bowl MVP. Lewis won DPOY honors again in 2003. 7. 1980 Raiders CB Lester Hayes / 25 years, 11 months, nine days Hayes 13 interceptions tied the second-highest single-season total ever, and he nabbed five more in the playoffs as the Raiders went on to win Super Bowl XV. Hayes managed 273 return yards in 1980, including a 48-yard TD, though he never had more than four picks in a season again. 8. 1984 Seahawks SS Kenny Easley / 25 years 11 months, 16 days The fourth overall pick in 1981, Easley was the cornerstone of a Seahawks defense that forced an amazing 63 turnovers in 84, the most in a season since the 1970 merger and third-most ever. He accounted for 11 takeaways (10 INTs, one FR) and scored two defensive TDs that year, but was forced to retire after three more seasons because of a rare kidney disease.

TRENDING OFFERS AND ARTICLES

Vail : New trick allows Colorado drivers to get auto insurance as low as $9

Pastor says he turned his father's $40,000 retirement into $396,000 by flipping this 'Obama blunder'

Approaching Obama scandal could bring shame to the White House not seen since President Clinton.

Colorado: Will This $0.50 Stock Hit $6.00?

Weird trick lets you collect silver from

Mortgage rates hit 3.00% / 3.324% APR!

Add a comment...

Facebook social plugin

Comment using...

Contact Us

About Us

Privacy Statement

Terms of Service

Subscriptions

Mobile Website

Redemption Center

Advertise with Us

Pro Football Weekly, LLC. | 302 Saunders Rd. Suite 100 Riverwoods, IL 60015 | (847) 940-1100 Copyrighted 1998-2013 by Pro Football Weekly, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Designated portions of this site 2013 by STATS LLC. and/or Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and/or Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/12/22/three-defenders-vying-to-be-youngest-honored[7/17/13 2:16:26 PM]

ProFootballWeekly.com - Three defenders vying to be youngest honored

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/12/22/three-defenders-vying-to-be-youngest-honored[7/17/13 2:16:26 PM]

Вам также может понравиться