Why Ezekiel Ansah Should Be a Contender for Defensive Player of the Year

When football fans think of dominant pass-rushers, they almost immediately think of J.J. Watt, and rightfully so. Watt is a physical freak who has been terrorizing quarterbacks ever since he entered the NFL as the 11th pick of the 2011 draft.

But another pass-rusher has been emerging in recent years: Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah. He currently sits second in the NFL with 11.5 sacks and is tied for first with four forced fumbles, yet the third-year defensive end out of BYU remains relatively unknown to many fans because he plays for the 4-7 Detroit Lions.

Even more incredible than Ansah's upbringing is his athleticism, which allows him to both overpower opponents and run around them. His unique combination of size and strength allow for him to overpower some of the NFL's best offensive lineman.

It was actually his athleticism that got him drafted in the first place, as he was considered a physically gifted but unproven prospect with only two years of football experience. It is fair to say that the Lions first-round gamble paid off, as they now have one of the most gifted pass-rushers in the league, and he's just 26 years old.

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

After he feasted on the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line on Thanksgiving to the tune of 3.5 sacks, Ansah may finally start getting the national recognition he deserves. Even more impressive was the efficiency of his performance, which shows how he was able to absolutely dominate the opposition while he was on the field.

Ansah and Watt have been the most consistent pass-rushers this year, as they have both recorded at least one sack in all but three games. If Ansah's most recent effort is a sign of things to come, he could be poised to not only win the sack title this year but also put himself in the Defensive Player of the Year running as well.

Unfortunately, Ansah does not have the same name recognition or popularity of the Texans' star defensive end. The fact that Ansah's team is likely to finish with a losing record could also deter some voters from naming him the best defensive player in the league.

But for those who still doubt Ansah, consider this: When Ndamukong Suh left Detroit in the offseason, it was believed that the Lions pass rush would suffer greatly. Haloti Ngata, who was brought in to replace Suh, has recorded just one sack on the year, failing to bring with him the same skill set he showed while in Baltimore.

Yet the Lions pass rush has remained surprisingly effective, in large part to Ansah's efforts. His teammate Darryl Tapp even noted after last Thursday's game, "He has no idea how good he is or how good he can be."

The Lions pass rush would be almost nonexistent without Ziggy's presence on the line, and his recent domination of offensive lineman has helped Detroit win three games in a row.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Lions head coach Jim Caldwell offered some high praise for his star lineman on Monday's Karsch & Anderson radio show (h/t CBS Detroit):

"

One of the big things is when you look at him, the first thing you look at is we see it from a physical standpoint. Believe it or not, these guys are still developing physically, and oftentimes you see they get stronger and overall things are crystallizing for them when they reach their peak in this game. And he hasn’t reached his peak yet.

"

Yikes.

If Ansah truly hasn't reached his full potential yet, he has the opportunity to blossom into one of the most explosive pass-rushers for years to come.

Sure, if Watt finishes the season with the NFL lead in sacks and his Texans somehow make the playoffs, he will be a leading candidate to win his third Defensive Player of the Year award.

However, if Ansah puts on another show like he did on Thanksgiving and the Lions rally for a few more wins, it will be difficult to ignore this budding NFL star when the voters get together to ultimately decide who the most dominant defensive player in the league was this season.