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Saints Quarterly Election: Defensive and Special Teams MVP

We now continue with our first quarter MVP selection series. This time we're talking about the defense and special teams. It's up to you to decide which player has been most crucial to the success of the Saints up to this point of the season.

Here are your nominees:

Darren Sharper


Sacks Interceptions Tackles
G Sacks YdsL Int Yds IntTD Solo Ast Total
2009 - Darren Sharper 4 0 0 5 275 0 10 4 14

Sharper single-handedly won last weeks game against the Jets, leads the league in interceptions including two pick six's and is arguably the Saints biggest off-season acquisition. Don't forget that he's a big hitter, too. Is there any reason why he shouldn't get your vote?  

Star-divide

Will Smith/Charles Grant


Sacks Interceptions Tackles
G Sacks YdsL Int Yds IntTD Solo Ast Total
2009 - Will Smith 4 3 19 1 0 0 8 5 13


Sacks Interceptions Tackles
G Sacks YdsL Int Yds IntTD Solo Ast Total
2009 - Charles Grant 4 4 25 0 0 0 9 1 10

I hate to lump these two together but the only way I think either would have a chance at winning this election over front-runner Sharper would be to join forces. Smith has 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception so far while Grant has notched a team leading four sacks. I shudder when I think about the possibilities if these two keep this pace. 

 

Malcolm Jenkins


Sacks Interceptions Tackles
G Sacks YdsL Int Yds IntTD Solo Ast Total
2009 - Malcolm Jenkins 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

The rookie from Ohio State hasn't had much opportunity to contribute on defense just yet but Malcolm Jenkins has made the most of his chances on special teams. The stats above don't show the two critical turnovers he forced in the games against Philadelphia and Buffalo on kick and punt returns. Plus, still lots of upside.  

 

Thomas Morstead


Punting
G Punts Yds AVG Lng In20 TB
2009 - Thomas Morstead 4 15 655 43.7 60 4 0

Wanna good laugh? Go back and read everyone's reaction when Morstead was selected in this years draft. Now here he is with a legitimate shot at being voted the Saints first quarter MVP. Who would have thought? Thomas Morstead's big leg has been incredibly valuable in the all important battle of field position with his booming punts and deep kickoffs. Don't overlook him. 

Poll
Who was the defensive MVP for the first quarter of the Saints season?
Darren Sharper
504 votes
Will Smith/Charles Grant
15 votes
Malcolm Jenkins
9 votes
Thomas Morstead
27 votes

555 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 20 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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If you need one player, it's an easy choice, however...

…I have an alternative:

How ’bout we give the MVP to the ENTIRE UNIT, including GW?

They have played a whale of a first quarter of the season in every aspect, and while I would (and did) pick D# if we must single out one player, the fact is that without the coaching and the execution of the entire unit, he wouldn’t be having the season he is having.

Irony: An atheist Saints fan.

by GSO Saints Fan on Oct 9, 2009 6:29 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

You are SO right...

Sharper is the freakin’ man!

I get to cheer it every week, “We got a brand new 42, baby!” (Talk about addition by subtraction.)

But, without GW, we wouldn’t be where we are. And without a head coach who genuinely, wholeheartedly wants to win, we wouldn’t have GW. (I heard Sean gave a huge chuck of his own salary back to the organization to allow them to pay GW to make sure he joined the team.)

And, I would be great if Defense and Special Teams were split up in this poll.

Malcolm Jenkins deserves a huge vote for his Special Teams play. His punt coverage (2 strips that we recovered.) is nothing short of amazing.

by Dan Kelly on Oct 10, 2009 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions  

Using that ideology

why bother with the topic at all? The TEAM is 4-0. Offense, defense and special teams have ALL contributed to this success. Therefore, the ENTIRE TEAM should be MVP.

One small problem … there’s no T in MVP. The P stands for Player. It’s understood to be an individual accolade. So, while I agree with the sentiment of sharing the glory of a perfect quarter season with everyone involved, I’m going to stick to the spirit of that telling twixt O&Q consonant and rock the vote with Sharper.

"Paralyze resistance with persistence" -Woody Hayes

by coldpizza on Oct 9, 2009 7:23 AM CDT reply actions  

You'll get no argument from me!

Notice that I DID say I was voting for D#! :-)

Just pointing out that this has so far been (and hopefully will continue to be until February!) a team effort, and they’re ALL MVP’s IMO.

Irony: An atheist Saints fan.

by GSO Saints Fan on Oct 9, 2009 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions  

DSharp is MVP and makes the entire unit BETTER!

we knew we needed an experienced, talented safety to help patrol our once swiss cheese secondary. we hoped and prayed that when we drafted harper in the 3rd? round a couple years ago that he might surprise everyone, but we all knew that wasnt gonna be the case. (im not even gonna talk about fred thomas or that OTHER GUY we got from the colts. i wont even say his name! and all of this is in parenthesis to imply that im not really talking about these guys)

but now greer/porter/jenkins/gay look to be capable…maybe even good. add DSharp’s watchful eyes and leadership and all of a sudden our secondary looks very “un-Saint-like”. this decent coverage gives BIG WILLY & CG an extra second or two and allows them to actually get to the QB (unheard of around here in the past couple years).

its all fun to watch…wish we didnt have the bye week so early…the giants are a real test…WHO DAT!?!?!!!!!

by NYSaint on Oct 9, 2009 9:35 AM CDT reply actions  

Have a happy one, NY

…I’ll tip a brew in your honor this evening!

Irony: An atheist Saints fan.

by GSO Saints Fan on Oct 9, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions  

HBD!!

Thanks for keeping us strong up north!!

by vicvega26 on Oct 9, 2009 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions  

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday NYSaaaaaaint….
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU…………

How old are you now?
How old are you now?
How old are you nowwwwww?
How old are you now?

"In the end, the bread was in the pudding." -- Bobby McCray

by Hans Petersen on Oct 9, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions  

happy Bday

Superbowl bound!!!...I know! do you?! Go Saints!!

by skinnykinney on Oct 9, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions  

tuff one

I had to vote for Sharper, but there is a strong case for “The Leg”. Those kickoffs in the end zone are huge. All of us remember when things weren’t that way, and teams were starting on the 35 or 40 yd line over and over instead of the 20. Happy B’day NY. And yes GSO they all are Most Valuble Players.

A SAINT in Panther country

by carolinasaintsfan on Oct 9, 2009 12:02 PM CDT reply actions  

Went with Dsharp

but maybe the special teams should’ve been a pick on it’s own? Jenkins and Morstead would be a close race i think. Jenkins has been huge in coverage and forcing turnovers. Also, Dsharp has 2 IntTD(which you mentioned) but the chart says 0. I like the nominess. Who would’ve thought that our 2 overpriced DEs would even be in that category. Also, I think that Greer should be thought of too. He’s been shutting down WRs on his side. He wouldn’t win but gets an honorable mention from me :D

Superbowl bound!!!...I know! do you?! Go Saints!!

by skinnykinney on Oct 9, 2009 1:06 PM CDT reply actions  

Sharper #1

Happy BDay NYSaint!

There can be a very convincing argument to nominate the entire D for MVP (the P can stand for players as well as player). But IMO Sharper personifies the whole attitude that Williams brought to this unit.

I see multiple ProBowl nominations from this group in the near future.

by SaintShark on Oct 9, 2009 1:37 PM CDT reply actions  

This post gets my vote for MVT

Most Valuable Touché.

"Paralyze resistance with persistence" -Woody Hayes

by coldpizza on Oct 9, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

YEAHBABY!

The Shark has my back…

…waitaminit…

…not so sure if I’m comfy with a shark behind me…

:-)

Irony: An atheist Saints fan.

by GSO Saints Fan on Oct 9, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions  

not just any shark...SAINTSHARK!!!!

"In the end, the bread was in the pudding." -- Bobby McCray

by Hans Petersen on Oct 9, 2009 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions  

Got to be Sharper.

Even if he didn’t have the stats you have to believe he is out there making sure everyone is in the right spot.

by vicvega26 on Oct 9, 2009 8:47 PM CDT reply actions  

Sharper is obviously the defensive MVP… at least as far as stats. I wouldn’t forget Vilma tho, or frankly anybody else on the entire starting unit or even most of the subs.

But I agree with the others that we should have a vote on the special teams MVP because Morstead and Jenkins both deserve a shot at that title.

by FriarBob on Oct 10, 2009 3:29 PM CDT reply actions  

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