Tyrann Mathieu of the Cards

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000592641/article/jj-watt-josh-norman-headline-top-dpoy-candidates

A lotta teams passed on drafting this guy.

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J.J. Watt, Josh Norman headline top DPOY candidates
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By Chris Wesseling
Around the NFL Writer
Published: Dec. 1, 2015 at 09:41 p.m.
Updated: Dec. 1, 2015 at 10:16 p.m.

Every week in this space, Chris Wesseling will roll out the power rankings for one specific NFL position, attribute or award.

As we turn our attention to the stretch run, it’s time to start thinking about NFL Honors. We kicked off the regular-season awards last week with a look at the Most Valuable Player watch. Now it’s time to examine the top candidates for Defensive Player of the Year.

On to the list:

1. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans defensive end: Offensive contributions aside, Watt’s numbers (tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and QB hits) through 11 games surpass those of last season when he was a consensus MVP candidate. He’s currently on pace for 20 sacks, which would give him 25 percent of the 20-sack seasons since the stat became official in 1982.

Awarding the DPOY to another player would be tantamount to NBA voters growing bored with Michael Jordan and handing the MVP award to Karl Malone or Charles Barkley in the 1990s. What’s most impressive about Watt is that he remains the most disruptive defensive force of his generation while offenses devote more and more resources to stopping him. We witnessed a dire tactic in Week 12, when the Saints shifted stud left tackle Terron Armstead to the right side of the line to assist beleaguered right tackle Zach Strief. Watt still split the two tackles for one of his two sacks on Drew Brees.

Since Drew Brees joined New Orleans in 2006, the Saints had scored a touchdown in every single game. That streak was unceremoniously terminated by Watt and his cohorts in Week 12. The Broncos may have been crowned the NFL’s next great defense in October, but the Texans are coming like a freight train. No defense has matched Houston’s level of sheer incapacitation in November, allowing just one touchdown over the last 18 quarters. A whirling buzzsaw entering December, Watt’s defense will be fascinating to watch over the next month.

2. Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers cornerback: Norman has not only displaced Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman as the stickiest cover corner versus top-tier wideouts, he has also defended the run, contributed a pair of pick-sixes and turned in multiple game-saving plays to keep the Panthers undefeated. After shutting Dez Bryant down on Thanksgiving, Norman has an opportunity to raise his profile by doing battle with Julio Jones twice in the next four weeks.

3. Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals defensive back: Mathieu doesn’t have one set position. He plays slot cornerback, strong safety, free safety and linebacker, leading the NFL’s No. 2 scoring defense in tackles, tackles for loss and interceptions. Unique among NFL defensive stars, Mathieu combines the best traits of Antoine Winfield and Troy Polamalu as an undersized but fierce cornerback with natural ball-hawking tendencies, rare instincts and the ability to make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage.

“I think he’s the most exciting defensive player in football right now,” NFL Media analyst Brian Baldinger said on Monday. “I would say, right now through 12 weeks, if you’re going to have a conversation for the Defensive Player of the Year, you have got to put Tyrann Mathieu in the conversation. … If he was in a rodeo, you’d want him to be the calf roper.”