Jared Allens monstrous year rushing the quarterback and Darren Sharpers penchant for returning interceptions for touchdowns have put those two defensive standouts in the national spotlight.
Allen, the Minnesota Vikings defensive end, ranks second in the NFL with 10 sacks 7 of which came in two games against the Green Bay Packers porous pass protection unit. Sharper, the New Orleans Saints safety, has returned three of his seven interceptions for touchdowns. That they play for the top two teams in the NFC puts them among the frontrunners for the NFL defensive player of the year award.
Combine that with the fact that a cornerback hasnt won that award since Deion Sanders in 1994, and Charles Woodson might have a hard time competing for it.
But as far as the Green Bay Packers are concerned, no defensive player is having a better year than Woodson.
He can do it all, Packers cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt said. Hes probably the best defensive back in the league.
Defensive coordinator Dom Capers knows a thing or two about top-notch defensive backs. The year before Sanders was defensive player of the year, the award went to Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson. Capers was the Steelers coordinator that season.
When asked what Rod Woodson did to win that award, Capers said: Well, he sacked the quarterback, he intercepted passes and he made big plays.
Sounds a lot like what Charles Woodson has been doing.
Hes tied for third in the league with five interceptions, and though he has only one sack, it came in Sundays important win over the Dallas Cowboys and included a strip of quarterback Tony Romo and fumble that the Packers recovered. That was part of perhaps Woodsons best performance in his 3 seasons in Green Bay. He forced two fumbles and picked off a Romo pass at the goal line to help secure the victory.
After the game, Capers called it one of the better games Ive seen a defensive player play.
Capers has made Woodson the cornerstone of the Packers defense. Against the Cowboys, he played Woodson at four positions. In the base defense, he played his traditional cornerback spot and lined up outside against a receiver. In the Corner Okie, a variation of the base in which cornerback Tramon Williams replaces safety Atari Bigby, Woodson played strong safety and could blitz, play the run or cover. In the nickel, he played the nickel defensive back, which is a hybrid safety-linebacker position. In the dime, he played the dime defensive back and typically covered the tight end.
He has the ability to do all that, Whitt said. He can play quick guys. He can play big guys. He can play out in space.
Try as they did, the Cowboys couldnt find any way to account for Woodson.
To be able to move inside or back to safety in whatever situation is the best way to use my ability because at that point you cant hide from me, Woodson said. I can mix it up. I can disguise.
Woodson resurrected his career with the Packers, who were the only team willing to offer him a starting cornerback spot when he was a free agent in 2006 after spending the first eight years of his career with the Oakland Raiders. Playing in a 4-3 defense his first three years in Green Bay, Woodson combined for 19 interceptions and four sacks. He made the Pro Bowl in 2008 for the fifth time in his career but first since 2001.
But hes taken it to another level at age 33 in Capers system.
I tell you what, hes really playing great football, San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary said this week. I saw him (in a Bay-area store) when he left the Raiders, and I talked to him briefly and really didnt know where he was going to end up. But the fact that hes ended up in Green Bay, its been a tremendous lift for them because hes just a guy that plays hard. He hits like a linebacker. He runs. Hes always hustling. He can blitz. (He has) just a lot of great attributes.
Whitt, who was a defensive quality control assistant last season before taking over the cornerbacks job, has seen Woodson in both schemes and shook his head at the thought of Woodson playing his whole career in Capers scheme.
This defense here, to be honest with you, me and him talked about doing even more, Whitt said. Were not happy with where he is right now with what we want out of this defense because he can have a special type of year. His skill set, there hasnt been anybody in this defense that has his skill set. You can say Rod Woodson, but if Charles Woodson had played in this scheme his whole career, theres no telling how many interceptions hed have because his skill set is so much higher than anybody else whos played this defense.