Charles Tillman for Defensive Player of the Year?

[Mobby]

After a beastly performance against the Titans, I started thinking about Tillman's chances to win the DPotY award. I'd say he has a pretty good shot. Let's look at some stats...

Tillman has 37 tackles, which is tied for 6th in the league for CBs with another Bears CB in Jennings.
He's returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns, which is tied for best in the league with another Bears player in Briggs. He's recovered a fumble and forced 7.

If he keeps it up, we might just be asking if he's the front-runner for MVP.

Anywho, I was wondering what you guys think about this. Is it too early to start analyzing? Is there simply no way unless he plays even better?

Fun facts: Last time a defensive player won was in '86, Lawrence Taylor.

A secondary player has never won an MVP.

Mark Moseley, placekicker, won it in '82 after coming through in the clutch against the Giants to clinch their first playoff berth since '76.


Also I was wondering if there's a website I can check to see the individual defensive stats on how many yards / receptions a corner has given up to his receiver?

[Jake0890]

Tillman for MVP is a stretch. There are too many dominant RBs ans QBs this year, it won't happen.

[Susan]

Peanuts 7 forced fumbles is already the 3rd most in any season by a defensive back, ever. The all time season most was 10 by Dwayne Harper in 1993, and second most was by Chris Harris in 2007 with 8. The dude is the best ever at this particular skill. Unbelievable watching him do his thing every week.

[heir_jordan22]

If voting was today it would be between him and JJ Watt for DPloY. If it was last week it would be between Jennings and Watt. It's a close race right now and fun to watch. There's still a lot of football to play though.

I'm also interested in a website for advanced secondary. stats if someone knows one.

[NZB2323]

I would be fine with giving him the award, but I don't even know if he's the best defensive player on the Bears. I could make arguments for Urlacher, Peppers, or Jennings. The d-line should get some credit for every interception this year, as they cause pressure. Tillman also tends to gamble a lot which doesn't always pay off.

Regardless, I don't care. The only award that matters is Superbowl Champion. But it looks like Tillman will win DPOTY.

[ChronicKerr]

No way he'll win MVP but he's certainly in the top 3 discussion thus for for DPOY award. We're only 50% in and Matthews was the clear choice a few short weeks ago so things are constantly changing. He keeps up this pace I believe he'll win it.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

No way he'll win MVP but he's certainly in the top 3 discussion thus for for DPOY award. We're only 50% in and Matthews was the clear choice a few short weeks ago so things are constantly changing. He keeps up this pace I believe he'll win it.

This.

MVP awards are typically the glamour award that the NFL uses for the face of the league, which is usually a QB. A defensive player would have to do some supernatural sh*t to win it.

The only thing that I slightly disagree with in Chronic's post is where Peanut stands right now. If he's in the top 3 discussion, he's number 1 with a cushion at the moment. He's followed by JJ Watt, Clay Mattews, & Lance Briggs.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

What more can we say about Charles Tillman's season that we haven't already? He forced another four fumbles Sunday, bringing his season total to seven and allowing him to pass Charles Woodson on the NFL's all-time list for forced fumbles by a defensive back. Tillman has 34 in his career, second only to Brian Dawkins' 36. Keep in mind Dawkins played 16 years and Woodson is in his 15th season. Tillman's patented ability to punch the ball out of an opponent's hands has put him in the record books. We've mentioned him in the MVP discussion already. It's an unlikely scenario given the recent history of the award, but Tillman should be in the realistic conversation for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The NFL record for most forced fumbles in a season is 10, according to pro-football-reference.com.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... o-bears-40

[patryk7754]

Definitely top 3 in the race. He even got a mention for MVP during the game

[bearadonisdna]

Agreeing with biggiesmalls, Tillman is probably the front runner for DPOY right now.

[Jake0890]

Son of a... If Tillman's wife goes into labor, he wont play against the Texans. That spells disaster for us.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Son of a... If Tillman's wife goes into labor, he wont play against the Texans. That spells disaster for us.

Man, he already has kids with his wife & he was probably present for their births.

He better have his *ss in the game Sunday .

[Jake0890]

JJ Watt won the ESPN midseason award of best defensive player over Tillman. That's not saying much because that award doesn't mean anything and its all determined by fans, and obviously Watt has the bigger public presence. But i still don't like it.

[Midway Bully]

Considering the history of the MVP award, you'd have to have a completely lights out season as a defensive player to beat out these lame QBs that think they're good because the rules are so vanilla.

DPOY? Not at all, if he keeps this up and ends up with 15-16 INTs and fumbles total, he is a candidate. He can prove another point if he plays this Sunday and shuts down Andre Johnson, whose demise has been greatly exaggerated. Tillman did get torched by Johnson last time the two teams met though.

[Midway Bully]

JJ Watt won the ESPN midseason award of best defensive player over Tillman. That's not saying much because that award doesn't mean anything and its all determined by fans, and obviously Watt has the bigger public presence. But i still don't like it.

To be honest, Watt is having a massive season. 11 sacks and 10 deflected passes is pretty ridiculous halfway through the season. I mean, on a good year a lineman may have 6 or 7 deflected passes throughout the whole season.

[Mobby]

That's why he's JJ Swatt, but he ain't got nothin' on Peanut!