Justin Smith is the team MVP

MVP: "With defense carrying this team, our choice had to be a defensive player and so Justin Smith is the man. We'll mail him an Elvis Presley rubber chicken chew toy I saw this morning in the pet store. Smith's stats don't scream, "MVP!" but his play sure did. He hustled, he kept blockers off of the linebackers and hit the quarterback over 40 times. Smith gained weight over the last off-season to fulfill the role of a 3-4 defensive end but he didn't change his uniform size, hence his jersey was constantly hiking up towards his chest. The sight of his flashing midriff is probably a true nightmare for those offensive saddled with trying to block him.

Smith also took the prize as possibly the most unselfish player. When he signed, Smith was supposed to play anywhere from nose tackle to standup, rush linebacker. Instead he settled in at end where he occupied blockers while the inside linebackers collected tackles and outside backers bagged sacks. He took that role seriously, and at mid-season he stunned Manny Lawson by sitting him down and discussing how he could free Lawson up to get more sacks. Who does that?

I recall criticizing the 49ers last year for lavishing $20 million in guaranteed cake to Smith, who couldn't notch double-digit sack totals. Many on this blog said Smith was worth the money and that's turned out to be very true. The guy makes this defense go."

very few people understand just how good of a season Justin Smith had this year. hes statistically been the BEST 3-4 DE in the NFL this year, but not only that, the best DE in ALL OF FOOTBALL. by a freakin mile.

check him vs his competition. its insane. a pure travesty he didnt get to go to the pro bowl this year. this is the 3-4 DE stats, but you can also click the 4-3 DE tab and see he beats them out too.

http://www.profootballfocus.com/by_position.php?tab=by_position&season=2009&pos=DE4&stype=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=25&numgames=1

look at that. he had an even better season than Dwight Freeney. best DE in all of the NFL folks. truly underrated.

[ Edited by Niners99 on Jan 10, 2010 at 17:08:45 ]

Dude is the new Bryant Young.

Great choice. Justin Smith had a monster year!

Originally posted by GEEK:
Dude is the new Bryant Young.

Interesting comparison.

Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by GEEK:
Dude is the new Bryant Young.

Interesting comparison.

I think it's dead on

Nobody except 49er fans truly appreciate Justin Smith.

-9fA

Justin Smith is good, but there is no way he is the team MVP. VD and Willis were easily the most important players this past season.

Originally posted by Thorhawk:
Justin Smith is good, but there is no way he is the team MVP. VD and Willis were easily the most important players this past season.

I would put Gore up there too. Gore was very unselfish despite the change in offensive philosophy midseason.

More Qb pressures than anyone in the league and more snaps than any DE in the league. His work makes Willis work easier.

Probably our best FA pick up of the decade. Smith is a straight up monster.

I really hope we make the playoffs next year so some of our hidden gems on D can get some light. Besides P Willie we have a no name defense.

Great write up.

I will say for me it's between Franklin and Smith with Smith holding the lead...


BY A MILE.

No in all seriousness now, AF stuffing the Gap and clogging the Running Lanes helped Smith get more shots at the QB.

Personally if I could not choose I would just give the thing to the Unit. Cause one guy stepping up one week helped his unit and that didn't just go for one guy it was all over that side of the field. Arizona game? We al know who the MVP of the Defense was that game. Goldson was all OVER them. Almost sacked Warner twice caused 2 Fumbles and I believe he got and INT too?

DaShon is DaMan that day.

This is going to be one truly scary Defense for the next few years.

But I'm glad that people got to see what a motor JSmith has. Guy was almost unstoppable this season.

~Ceadder

he played 977 snaps?!

Originally posted by Thorhawk:
Justin Smith is good, but there is no way he is the team MVP. VD and Willis were easily the most important players this past season.

Willis yeah. VD no. he isnt even the most important player on the offense. the only time our offense really did anything was when Gore was getting going. VD had some games where he put up some decent numbers but never when we really needed him. whats the record 25+ touches for gore and we have a winning record?

the guy is the Energizer Bunny. He plays at 2000mph constantly. If everyone on the team did that we'd be in the playoffs.

Originally posted by Thorhawk:
Justin Smith is good, but there is no way he is the team MVP. VD and Willis were easily the most important players this past season.

No way, 6 years and we finally get to have an argument about who the MVP of the team is? That's a very good sign towards the future, especially when Lee and Nedney aren't even in the argument.