49ers midseason awards: Best defensive player – Patrick Willis

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Grant Cohn

The 49ers are halfway through their season. Today, I’ll give midseason awards for the best offensive and defensive players

Best defensive player – Patrick Willis.

Willis started the season slow against the Green Bay Packers, recording six tackles – low for him – and giving up four completions while playing man coverage.

He’s been on a tear since that game, racking up 59 tackles, breaking up 6 passes and forcing 1fumble in 7 games.

Pro Football Focus grades Willis No.1 among inside linebackers at pass coverage. PFF also credits him for allowing just 18 yards of receiving yardage over the past three games.

Willis is the most talented player on the most talented team in football. He sets the standard of excellence for everyone else.

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6 Responses to 49ers midseason awards: Best defensive player – Patrick Willis

    • Msclemons67 says:
      October 31, 2012 at 6:17 pm

      PFF has the 49ers online sweeping the division – nice.

      As for Wilson above Smith, well, Khaled has never liked Smith. I’m not sure that’s completely objective. I don’t like Smith but I’d still rate him as the best QB in the NFC West in spite of the debacle against the Giants.

    • ribico says:
      November 1, 2012 at 12:05 pm

      >>PFF says: Alex Smith looked set to have this position sewn up before his two horrible performances against the Giants and Seahawks made you realize the 49ers’ offense, is instead, limited by him. Instead, Wilson has performed above expectations and finds himself looking like a Top 10 quarterback.

      Wait, did PFF see Wilson’s “performance” against the Niners? He was worse than Smith’s two worse performances combined. Or that monday night game against GB?

  2. thehindu19 says:
    November 1, 2012 at 11:55 am

    Grant I agree and this is why Fangio needs to STOP taking him off the field and bring Perrish Cox in on dime D. Cox got beat more than once by the slow AZ tight end. A TE on a corner. Niners should win that matchup every time. Willis covered the guy beautifully when give a chance. While I’m at it QUIT dropping Aldon into coverage. Its a huge mismatch right now.