Defensive Player Grades Year in Review: Jabari Greer is MVP

by Andrew Juge on Jan 21, 2012 6:00 AM CST

Below are my final defensive player grades for the 2011 regular season, ranked highest to lowest. My Saints Defensive MVP for the 2011 season is Jabari Greer.

Make the jump to see how every single defensive player graded out for the season. Then talk about whether you agree or not.

Jabari Greer 2.77 (16 games graded)

Patrick Robinson 2.76 (15 games)

Will Smith 2.67 (14 games)

Leigh Torrence 2.67 (8 games)

Ramon Humber 2.57 (7 games)

Johnny Patrick 2.56 (3 games)

Jonathan Vilma 2.55 (11 games)

Jo-Lonn Dunbar 2.53 (15 games)

Jonathan Casillas 2.50 (12 games)

Martez Wilson 2.50 (4 games)

Tracy Porter 2.45 (12 games)

Scott Shanle 2.42 (16 games)

Malcolm Jenkins 2.40 (15 games)

Junior Galette 2.38 (13 games)

Isa Abdul-Quddus 2.38 (8 games)

Aubrayo Franklin 2.35 (16 games)

Roman Harper 2.33 (16 games)

Sedrick Ellis 2.33 (15 games)

Cameron Jordan 2.31 (16 games)

Shaun Rogers 2.21 (16 games)

Tom Johnson 2.20 (12 games)

Jeff Charleston 2.15 (10 games)

Will Herring 2.14 (7 games)

Mitch King 1.89 (3 games)

Turk McBride 1.83 (8 games)

Poll

Who was your defensive player of the year?

Jabari Greer

193 votes

Patrick Robinson

18 votes

Will Smith

7 votes

other (explain in comments)

7 votes

225 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

think you mean

every single “defensive player” ;)

not surprising to see Greer top the list but seeing P-rob right up there is. good for him. and as much contempt as I have for Gregg, he deserves credit for a lot of things, including riding Robinson so hard and often last year. pushing him that hard obviously played a big part in developing him.

on a side note, I can’t wait to see what martez can do with a full offseason and more opportunities. I think after some time, he’s gonna turn out to be the linebacker every saints fan has been waiting for.

…but we should still draft more defense, which I’m sure we’ll do

The Pirates of Poydras will rule this day

by Nola5712 on Jan 21, 2012 6:42 AM CST via Android app reply actions

i've been thinking about the draft & posted something on the malbrough shot..

the saints are handicapped for the draft as it is.. little ammo to play with..
we go to find a jimmy graham on defense.. just one player, like that.. it is possible..
retool the best you can complimenting with some 2nd & 3rd tier free agents as possible..
we do have some good young prospects..
porter has been an enigma to me.. what has happened to him..? why does he look slow reacting..? he looks physically malnourished.. & mentally unfocused.. why..?
can he regain his talent to anticipate, his make up speed.. although he may walk as a FA..
jenkins is another that’s on a crossroads..
i think we need to part ways with harper, imo.. just cut him or trade him if anyone wants him..
hopefully sapagnola can figure out what is the reason our front guys are so constantly absorbed by the offensive linemen.. if we are really that low on talent.. we need some specialists.. which he likes to use on the situational down-distance..

by the 9th plague on Jan 21, 2012 8:51 AM CST up reply actions

I like the idea of making Harper put on weight

And try him at linebacker. I know this probably won’t happen but it makes so much sense. Even though he is listed as a safety, he plays the role of a linebacker already.

I drained my heart and burn my soul....I trained the core to stop my growth-MM

by AcquiredPanic on Jan 21, 2012 4:49 PM CST up reply actions

Again, I don't get this

He’d have to put on 25-30 pounds of solid muscle, without losing what little speed he has now. He’ll turn 30 this year…you know how hard it is for someone that age to pack on that much muscle and learn a new position? And he’d still have to be able to cover.

A better plan might be to move in the opposite direction: make Casillas a strong safety. He’s bigger than Harper, but faster.

What! shall we curse the planets of mishap
That plotted thus our glory's overthrow?

by MtnExile on Jan 21, 2012 9:17 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah I know it is kinda far fetched for him to put on that much weight. I can’t remember who said it but someone changed him from a SS to a LB on Madden and it worked out great. I just really don’t want to see him as our starting SS next year in a new system. I think it is time to go in a different direction with GW gone.

I drained my heart and burn my soul....I trained the core to stop my growth-MM

by AcquiredPanic on Jan 21, 2012 9:39 PM CST up reply actions

it's fixed now...thanks for pointing out the offensive/defensive error

"We live by the blitz, and we die by the blitz.'' - Roman Harper

"So I guess the blitz died.'' - Alex Smith

by Hans Petersen on Jan 21, 2012 10:13 AM CST up reply actions

Went with P Rob, I think he coming into this year showed such

a great improvement in coverage and interceptions as well as sniffing out the run impressed me. With that being said Greer was simply “clutch” all season and I think the more time that P Rob has to work under Greer this next season will be leaps and bounds above his his production this year, with the a full training camp.

Fee-fi-fo-fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman,
Be he alive, or be he dead
I'll grind his bones to make my bread

by jonrockets on Jan 21, 2012 8:58 AM CST reply actions

That’s Johnny Patrick in the pic. Greer is #33. Ooops!

by sore_bluto on Jan 21, 2012 9:48 AM CST reply actions

nope - it is Jabari

picture is from 2009 training camp, when he wore #32.

"We live by the blitz, and we die by the blitz.'' - Roman Harper

"So I guess the blitz died.'' - Alex Smith

by Hans Petersen on Jan 21, 2012 10:13 AM CST up reply actions

He wore #32 for one year.

trapped in grammar and calendars.

by Jay Preece on Jan 21, 2012 11:31 AM CST up reply actions

And as soon as he changed jersey numbers the defense tanked.

What! shall we curse the planets of mishap
That plotted thus our glory's overthrow?

by MtnExile on Jan 21, 2012 9:18 PM CST up reply actions

Meh, Greer, why not?

He is alphabetically first on the Roll of Mediocrity that is this poll.

This isn't about rules, it's about manners. Now there's no rule that says that I cant come over here and fart on your entree. But I don't do it. Why? Because it's not good manners.

by Doc Boudin on Jan 21, 2012 10:49 AM CST reply actions

Greer was MVP this year,

But P-Rob has a legit shot at being our MVP next year. While inconsistent at times, his pure athletic ability and his huge improvement this year mean he could develop into a pretty good CB.

by daisy117 on Jan 21, 2012 12:45 PM CST reply actions

Most Valuable Patrick

but the race would only be P-Rob and Johnny Patrick, so…HA! I amuse myself so much…

"We live by the blitz, and we die by the blitz.'' - Roman Harper

"So I guess the blitz died.'' - Alex Smith

by Hans Petersen on Jan 21, 2012 2:59 PM CST up reply actions

Good news for our corners this year

There’s going to much less zone play in Spagnuolo’s scheme. This bodes well with our corners who can play more press coverage and five yards off instead of that sickening twelve yard cushion that defenses ate up last year. But of course their play also depends on the production of the front four as well.

"I've been big ever since I was little." - William "The Refrigerator" Perry
Follow me on the twitter machine @zacleto

by 504life on Jan 21, 2012 2:53 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions

criteria

what was your grading methodology?

by EZRider2 on Jan 21, 2012 5:53 PM CST reply actions

:-)

Every day I'm shufflin'!

by Just 'Nother Day on Jan 21, 2012 6:00 PM CST up reply actions

Heads up; after I tweeted this link to #33 today, he later shared it on Facebook.

trapped in grammar and calendars.

by Jay Preece on Jan 21, 2012 11:39 PM CST reply actions

do you ever take off your helmet..?

by the 9th plague on Jan 22, 2012 9:47 AM CST up reply actions

not in space

because in space…no one can hear you scream

"We live by the blitz, and we die by the blitz.'' - Roman Harper

"So I guess the blitz died.'' - Alex Smith

by Hans Petersen on Jan 22, 2012 9:55 AM CST up reply actions

Only to sing.

trapped in grammar and calendars.

by Jay Preece on Jan 22, 2012 12:06 PM CST up reply actions

intriguing band.. was only vaguely familiar with a couple of songs..

didn’t realize your profile pic is an album cover (maybe..?)
so.. you are big fan or are the real jason..?

by the 9th plague on Jan 22, 2012 1:34 PM CST up reply actions

Just a fan. It’s some promotional picture of theirs.

trapped in grammar and calendars.

by Jay Preece on Jan 22, 2012 5:27 PM CST up reply actions

danger.. you have created a loop in the space-time continuum..

where you can loop back-to-back-to-back (infinitely) from site to site by clicking the links.. preece.. you’re a genius.. (keep your helmet on)

by the 9th plague on Jan 22, 2012 10:18 AM CST up reply actions

nice

The problem in the world today is communication. Too much communication. - Homer Simpson

by WestBank on Jan 22, 2012 11:07 AM CST up reply actions

Not a whole lot of spread on those points is there. I was going to ask about why Harper was so low then I realized that only 0.44 separated him from number 1. I contend that next year we should see a revitalized defense, no matter if everyone is back or not.

The problem in the world today is communication. Too much communication. - Homer Simpson

by WestBank on Jan 22, 2012 11:11 AM CST reply actions

for my money, I think Smith did not have a very good season. Stats back me up, but even without sacks it seemed obvious.

"We've established the run; we've established the pass. Now all we have to establish is another championship!"
"Some say the glass is half empty;
Some say the glass is half full.
I say- 'are you going to finish that beer'?"

by Philinwood on Jan 22, 2012 3:32 PM CST reply actions