Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is making a compelling case for Defensive Player of the Year, and one NFL analyst believes the veteran deserves serious consideration for the award.
In his latest Week 7 column, Seven things Solak thinks entering NFL Week 7, Ben Solak of ESPN made his case for Simmons following a dominant performance in Tennessee's 26-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts
.Simmons was instrumental in the upset win, creating disruption against the run and consistently pressuring quarterback Daniel Jones.
Simmons is the lone keystone of the Titans' defensive efforts. Without him -- his consistent pressure, his playmaking instinct and his gravity -- they wouldn't have an identity and they wouldn't have a prayer.
That's the hallmark of a Defensive Player of the Year in my book.
Simmons' production has been impressive on both sides of the line of scrimmage. According to Solak, the defensive tackle had recorded 20 run stops through six games, generating -15.2 expected points added for opposing offenses. That figure led all defensive linemen and ranked among the best marks for any defensive player.
Simmons has been equally disruptive as a pass rusher. He entered Week 7 with 26 quarterback pressures, the most among defensive tackles, after recording seven against Indianapolis. His 13.1% pressure rate ranked fifth among defensive tackles.
Solak also emphasized the attention Simmons commands from opposing offensive lines. ESPN's numbers showed that Simmons was being double-teamed on 88% of relevant pass-rushing opportunities, yet he still ranked second in pass-rush win rate when facing double teams, at 27%.
That combination of production and defensive attention makes Simmons particularly difficult to replace. Even when opponents devote extra blockers to slowing him down, he continues to generate pressure and create opportunities for his teammates.
There is one significant obstacle to Simmons' candidacy: positional bias. Edge rushers typically accumulate more sacks, making them more visible in award discussions. Solak acknowledged that Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. could have an advantage, while noting that no defensive tackle other than Aaron Donald has won the award since 1999.
Even so, Simmons' all-around dominance gives him a legitimate argument. If Tennessee continues to win games and Simmons maintains his current level of production, he could force voters to reconsider what a Defensive Player of the Year should look like.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: NFL analyst says Tennessee Titans' Jeffery Simmons is deserving of DPOY
