Retired New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison made the case for cornerback Stephon Gilmore to earn the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. And it’s hard to argue with Harrison’s logic.
Here’s what he said on FOX Sports’ “The Herd” on Wednesday.
“I have to give it to Gilmore,” Harrison said. “He is shutting down whole players, whole sides of fields. No question. He’s taking players that are No. 1 receivers and just totally shutting them down. When you have a guy that can cover a receiver like that, that gives you that extra time you need to get to the quarterback, that gives you that extra time you need to whatever it do on the front seven. … With his play and the numbers he’s putting up as far as interceptions… people aren’t even throwing his way. C’mon.”
The Patriots corner had some words for Tyler Boyd.
The small back and forth between the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots in the wake of their Week 15 encounter apparently isn’t over just yet.
Stephon Gilmore got the best of the Bengals in that matchup, picking off two passes and returning one for a touchdown. He’s also not done talking in response to comments made by Tyler Boyd.
Gilmore, when asked about Boyd saying he won matchups all day against New England, said the following on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak and Bertrand,” (h/t NESN):
“I don’t know, maybe he was confused, or, maybe, I don’t know. I don’t know what he was looking at. False confidence.”
In reality, bad ball placement from Dalton and one of the NFL’s best outright defenders created a combination that ultimately led to the Bengals going down, 34-13.
“If you really watch the tape each and every game, there’s no question.”
Defensive Player of the Year shouldn’t even be in question, according to Stephon Gilmore.
The New England Patriots cornerback is having the best season of his career, which is incredible considering his dominance last season. Gilmore was named a Pro Bowler, First-Team All-Pro and won a Super Bowl in 2018. In 2019, he’s earned another Pro Bowl nod and hasn’t allowed a touchdown, while leading the Patriots with six interceptions. New England has a league-high 25 interceptions and Gilmore’s presence in the secondary has a lot to do with it.
During an interview with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand”, he was very blunt when it came to the DPOY.
“I mean, my play speaks for itself,” Gilmore said. “If you really watch the tape each and every game, there’s no question.”
We asked Stephon Gilmore if he was Defensive POY: "my play speaks for itself……no question" pic.twitter.com/VaUxFRAzoL
His confidence is at an all-time high and he’s inserting his name alongside the greatest cornerbacks to ever play. Tom Brady, who has spent two decades in the league, backed up the notion that Gilmore is playing at a historically great level.
Gilmore is currently the odds-on favorite to win this prestigious award, and the only players seeming to interfere are Aaron Donald and T.J. Watt.
Dunbar is the highest-rated cornerback according to some stat sites, yet he wasn’t named to the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl on Tuesday night.
A total of four members of the Washington Redskins were named to the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl roster on Tuesday night, but they weren’t exactly the four that were expected…
While punter Tress Way was a shoo-in, and right guard Brandon Scherff, safety Landon Collins, and defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis were well deserved, there’s one other defender on the Redskins whose absence was glaring.
Cornerback Quinton Dunbar was nowhere to be found. Why?
According to Pro Football Focus, Dunbar is the highest-rated cornerback in the NFL, and he has a higher grade than elite-level pass-defenders like Richard Sherman, Marcus Peters, and Stephon Gilmore. So far this season, Dunbar has four interceptions, which may only be tied for the eighth-most in the NFL, but his 68.4 QBR allowed, when targeted, is among the best in the league.
PFF’s 2020 NFL Pro Bowl roster is here. #Redskins CB Quinton Dunbar and G Brandon Scherff make the team.
Dunbar is PFF's highest graded CB in the NFL, yet didn’t make the NFL Pro Bowl Roster.#HTTRhttps://t.co/BIo68isl7K
We are not calling for Dunbar to have been named a starter in the Pro Bowl, as there are a handful of CB’s who are arguably better than Dunbar. Still, he at the very least should have been named an alternate, right?
Pro Football Focus made its own 2020 Pro Bowl roster this season, and Dunbar is listed as a starter, which comes as no surprise due to his No. 1 overall rating according to their stats. He may not have the name recognition that Sherman or Gilmore have, but he definitely has the stats to earn him a spot alongside the top talent in the league.
Stephon Gilmore explained why he had a big day against the Bengals.
New England Patriots defensive back Stephon Gilmore dominated the Cincinnati Bengals during the Week 15 encounter.
Gilmore picked off two of Andy Dalton’s passes on the day, taking one back for a touchdown. After the game, Bengals coach Zac Taylor rushed to his quarterback’s defense by saying his receivers weren’t aggressive enough.
Interestingly, Gilmore noted perhaps another problem — the turnovers were easy to jump on thanks to film.
Here’s Gilmore, who says he knew the route on both interceptions per NESN’s Zack Cox: “They’ve got to switch the play up because — I wouldn’t say it was easy, but I knew the route.”
In Taylor’s defnese, there are only so many unique things to draw up midseason while missing so many key contributors. And though he’s said the right things in defense of his quarterback, at least two of Dalton’s interceptions were woefully off target.
Still, as the growing pains continue for this inexperienced Bengals coaching staff, opponents taking advantage of the on-film looks could continue.
Tom Brady missed the cut for the fourth time in his career.
The New England Patriots will have three representatives at the Pro Bowl in 2020: cornerback Stephon Gilmore, linebacker Donta Hightower and special teams captain Matthew Slater.
Gilmore has his third Pro Bowl nod. Hightower got the honor for the second time. Slater is looking at his eighth Pro Bowl invite.
Gilmore has six interceptions and 44 tackles. No receiver has scored a touchdown while he has been in coverage in 2019. Meanwhile, he has scored two touchdowns on interceptions returns.
Hightower has 60 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Slater is one of the NFL’s best special teams players. He has played a crucial role in New England’s field position battles this season.
Quarterback Tom Brady missed the cut for just the fourth time in his career. It’s his first snub since 2006. Receiver Julian Edelman is probably deserving in 2019, with the second most receptions (92) and fourth most receiving yards (1,019) in the AFC. It’s possible one player or both players will get an invite later in the process, if others elect not to attend.
Stephon Gilmore and Tre’Devious White each could claim that they’ve been the NFL’s best cornerback this season. Who’s right?
In today’s NFL, when you have a lockdown cornerback, you do everything you can to keep him on your roster. Generally speaking, if you don’t, your pass defense can fall apart quickly. Replacing such players can be exceedingly difficult, especially if you’re trying to do so with young cornerbacks. The combination of athletic skill and situational awareness required to define the position at the highest level is rare, and it generally doesn’t last too long. By the time your smarts catch up with your quicks, your quicks can start to fade away.
The 11-3 Patriots and 10-4 Bills, AFC East foes who will face off for the second time this season on Saturday, have proven to be recent exceptions. Buffalo selected South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore with the 10th overall pick in the 2012 draft, and it didn’t take long for Gilmore to become one of the best in the NFL at his position. In five years with the Bills, Gilmore never allowed more than 62.3% of his targets to become receptions. And though he gave up touchdowns (five in both 2015 and 2016), this was often a reflection of the fact that he was facing off with the opponent’s best receiver on a week-to-week basis with little in the way of help. In addition, some who had observed Gilmore thought he might be more effective in a defense that had him playing more man coverage. By the time the 2016 season was over, Gilmore was a highly-prized free agent-to-be.
This is when the Patriots swarmed in, giving Gilmore a five-year, $65 million contract with $40 million in guaranteed money. It’s been a bargain through the first three years of the deal, as Gilmore has improved every season in Bill Belichick’s defenses. This season, through 14 games, he’s tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions, and he’s allowed just 38 receptions in 82 targets for 444 yards, no touchdowns, and an opponent passer rating of 32.8, per Pro Football Focus. If you were to hand Gilmore the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award today, it would be tough to argue with you, and if you wanted to argue that he’s become the game’s best cornerback, the arguments would dissipate even further.
(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
What the Numbers Say
When the Bills lost Gilmore to free agency, part of their recovery plan was to select LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White with the 27th overall pick in the 2017 draft. White immediately fulfilled Buffalo’s belief in him with a rookie season better than any of Gilmore’s in Buffalo — 39 catches allowed in 81 targets for 601 yards, three touchdowns, four interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 64.9. Like Gilmore, White has become Buffalo’s top cornerback against top opponents for one of the NFL’s best and most consistent defenses. Like Gilmore, he had two interceptions against his opponent last Sunday (the Bengals for Gilmore, the Steelers for White), which tied him with Gilmore for the NFL lead with six.
Through the first 15 weeks of the 2019 season, four NFL cornerbacks taking at least 50% of their team’s defensive snaps have allowed no touchdowns on the season: Gilmore, White, Jacksonville’s D.J. Hayden, and New England’s Jason McCourty. McCourty has one interception; Hayden has none. Only New England’s J.C. Jackson (28.6) has a lower opponent passer rating allowed this season than Gilmore’s 32.8, and White’s 43.9. Give Jackson credit for his excellent season, but he’s been targeted just 47 times.
The overall statistical comparisons between Gilmore and White are fascinating.
Gilmore: 38 receptions allowed on 82 targets for 444 yards, 152 air yards, no touchdowns, six interceptions, and that 32.8 passer rating allowed.
White: 44 completions allowed on 84 targets for 532 yards, 202 air yards, no touchdowns, six interceptions, and that 43.9 passer rating allowed.
And though Gilmore has the edge on White this season in passer rating allowed, it should also be noted that per PFF, White leads all cornerbacks in passer rating allowed since the start of the 2017 season at 60.3. This is closer than you may think, and White has been the superior player through the first three seasons of either player’s career.
(Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports)
Duelin’ Daltons
One other thing the two cornerbacks have in common: If you’re Andy Dalton, and you’re trying to complete an intermediate pass on an angular route to receiver Tyler Boyd, you do not want either of these guys anywhere near your target. Here’s what happened in Buffalo’s 21-17 Week 3 win over the Bengals, when Dalton tried White (No. 27) against Buffalo’s Cover-3 shell:
And here’s how it went on Sunday’s 34-13 Patriots win over Cincinnati, when Dalton tried to hit Boyd from the right slot against New England’s man-based coverage, with Gilmore (No. 24) playing the slot:
Both of Gilmore’s interceptions on Sunday came against Boyd, who hilariously said after the game that he “won the majority of the matchups. But the two plays [Gilmore] made were great plays. He sat on the curl and played great leverage on the out-route. He was already in perfect leverage. We should have [called] a slant.”
The tape tells a different story, Mr. Boyd. Gilmore allowed two receptions to Cincinnati’s confident receiver, and had two interceptions. The interception shown here, in which Gilmore ran Boyd’s route better than Boyd did was also a 64-yard touchdown return, and Gilmore hasn’t allowed a touchdown all season. So, we can confidently say who won that battle.
As for White, he was fairly dominant against the Steelers in a 17-10 Bills win that clinched a playoff spot for his team, with the Patriots matchup looming ever larger. He allowed five completions on nine targets for 50 yards, 20 air yards, and two picks. White’s second interception of the night came as quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges threw… well, a duck to receiver Diontae Johnson on a quick out route, As Gilmore did with Boyd, White ran Johnson’s route better than Johnson did.
“When I was in coverage, I got a good read on the route,” White said after the game. “I just broke on it and just believed in my film study and the things that I’ve been seeing earlier in the game, and the quarterback threw the ball and I was able to make a big-time play.”
He’s made a lot of those this season, as had Gilmore.
So, which of these cornerbacks is better? It may come down to the type of defense you prefer to play, and the type of cornerback that thrives most in your scheme.
Things to know about the Buffalo Bills’ Week 16 opponent, the New England Patriots.
Once again the Buffalo Bills will meet the team you love to hate, the New England Patriots, in Week 16.
But unlike many other late-season games against the Pats, this one has some meaning for both sides in regard to the AFC East crown. With a win, the Patriots take that title. If the Bills win, they still have a chance to win it.
While you know them, here’s the latest updates on them since the last time these two teams met earlier this year, seven things in total:
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Home-winning streak snapped and boo’d
After the Bills beat the Steelers last week, their record went to 10-4 and the team clinched that playoff berth. Bills fans met the team at the airport to celebrate with the players. The Patriots just topped the Bengals in Cincy last week, but they had a letdown the week prior, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs at home.
That loss snapped a 21-game winning streak at Gillette Stadium for the Patriots… so we’re telling you, there is a chance for the Bills. But with Bills fans in mind, the Patriots are 11-3 after that win against the Bengals. With all their winning in mind, Patriots fans actually boo’d their dynasty off the field at halftime during that loss to the Chiefs which is… something else.
Patriots defender Kyle Van Noy was among Super Bowl winning players for the Patriots who were having none of it.
“I thought it was disrespectful,” he said of the booing. “But it is what it is.”
It’s simple, don’t throw the ball in Stephon Gilmore’s direction.
It’s simple, don’t throw the ball in Stephon Gilmore’s direction.
The New England Patriots cornerback is undoubtedly the best in the NFL right now and the numbers back him up. New England has a league-high 25 interceptions through 14 games, and Gilmore accounts for six of them — two resulting in touchdowns. He was named a Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro last season, and he has a solid chance of winning Defensive Player of the Year this season.
This season, Gilmore has allowed 24 catches on 66 targets (36.4 completion percentage) for 280 yards, no touchdowns and six interceptions for a 12.2 passer rating. He has returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns and has also broken up 14 passes, by and large taking the opponent’s best receiver in one-on-one coverage. Gilmore has allowed two or fewer receptions in 11 of 15 games, including three shutouts. By comparison, he entered the season with two shutouts in his first two years with the Patriots.
Here are three (out of many) stats that showcase Gilmore’s dominance.
Stephon Gilmore now with more TDs by himself than anyone he’s covered this season
Stephon Gilmore has allowed an NFL passer rating of 32.8 on throws into his coverage this season. The NFL passer rating for throwing the ball away on every play is 39.6. pic.twitter.com/ii9dYaGUNA
This stat doesn’t correlate directly with Gilmore, but it’s a great representation of what him and the secondary have done for the 11-3 Patriots thus far.
The Patriots are a league-best +24 in turnover differential, which is one of the biggest keys to their success. pic.twitter.com/K2LsYJvHAU
“He has the best ball skills I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of corners,” Stephon Gilmore on J.C. Jackson.
The New England Patriots have an emerging star in second-year cornerback J.C. Jackson.
He’s just one component of an absolutely loaded secondary, but he’s beginning to draw in attention. Jackson recorded two interceptions in the Patriots’ 34-13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. He now has five interceptions for the season — right behind Stephon Gilmore with six, whose undoubtedly the best cornerback in the NFL.
Jackson has stepped up for the injured Jason McCourty and he’s making the most of his opportunity as a starter. His ball skills are receiver-like and everyone around him will attest to that. The Patriots have a league-high 25 interceptions this season, so this praise is coming from arguably the best secondary in the league.
“He has the best ball skills I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of corners,” Gilmore said, as transcribed by NESN. “He plays the ball as good as anybody.”
Veteran safety Duron Harmon shared a story about Jackson’s first season, and he continued to pile on the praise.
“I remember J.C.’s first year last year, we were down a scout-team receiver,” Harmon said. “He went over there and played receiver and was making plays, catching the ball, running some good routes. He kept going around saying, ‘I’m really supposed to be a receiver.’ And I was like, ‘No, you’re supposed to be a corner. That’s why you’re here. That’s why you got (signed).’
“But his ball skills are phenomenal. Not too many guys can, on a fade, run with the receiver, turn around, locate the ball, high-point the ball — and he’s done that just continuously over the last two years. I mean, the sky is the limit for that guy right there. What was that, his fifth interception of the year? And he’s, in some ways, our fourth cornerback. It just shows you the type of ball skills — elite ball skills — that he has.”
Talk has surrounded Gilmore and his ability to play the wide receiver position, but maybe Jackson should get some consideration as well.
