2008 NFL LVP (Least Valuable Player) Awards, Part Two: The Defense

As we approach Week 15 of the 2008 NFL season, discussions of the MVP award are starting to heat up. Drew Brees is on pace to break Dan Marino's single-season record for most passing yards after throwing for 4,100 yards in his first 13 games.

Kurt Warner has rejuvenated the Arizona Cardinals, as they have won the NFC West division title, the team's first division crown in 51 years. He is right behind Brees with 4,020 yards passing and 25 touchdowns so far this season. Even Tony Romo has returned to his old form after missing a few weeks with a pinkie injury.

The last few weeks of the season will determine who deserves to be the league's most valuable player. We will all know who the most valuable player will be, but who will take the honor of Least Valuable Player?

For the first time ever, I thought it would be fun to start a new tradition: Dan Parzych's LVP awards for each position. For those of you who missed the first article about the offense, it can be found here.

As promised, here is part two of the 2008 NFL Least Valuable Player Awards with the defensive players.

Cornerback: DeAngelo Hall

Even though he was one of the youngest players in the league at his position, DeAngelo Hall was arguably one of the best.

In only his second season in the league, Hall was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2005 season with the Falcons. He also won the fastest man competition during his stay in Hawaii.

With the way he was playing early in his career, many thought Hall would go on to have a Hall of Fame career. However, there is one problem that seemed to stand in the way of Hall.

Despite his dominant play, many saw DeAngelo Hall as one of the most selfish players in the league. All he seemed to care about was himself.

Unfortunately, Hall was part of the disastrous 2007 season for the Atlanta Falcons that involved the arrest of Michael Vick and the departure of head coach Bobby Petrino. Hall made numerous comments throughout the season that made it obvious that he and Petrino never saw eye to eye.

In March 2008, Hall was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a second- and fifth-round pick. He signed a seven-year deal worth $70 million, $24.5 million which was guaranteed.

After struggling as a Raider, Hall was released eight games into the season. One of the main reasons he was released was that he struggled to adapt to the Raiders' style of man-to-man defense. Wide receivers seemed to have a field day against him when they got him one-on-one.

The Raiders asked Hall to restructure his contract. When he refused, Al Davis decided to release him. However, Hall still made $8 million for the eight games he played ($7 million for signing bonus and $1 million for base salary).

It's obvious that Hall has the potential to be one of the best cornerbacks in the league. We have all seen what he is capable of doing. When it comes to current cornerbacks in the league, he ranks third on the list of most interceptions since 2005 with 18.

Hall was lucky enough to reach a one-year deal with the Washington Redskins after being released from the Raiders. However, Hall receives this award after he failed to live up to his major contract.

Linebacker: Lofa Tatupu

For the last couple of seasons, the Seattle Seahawks have dominated the NFC West. After 14 weeks of the 2008 regular season, the Seahawks find themselves with a 2-11 record.

Everything has gone wrong for the Seahawks this season. One major reason for their disappointing record is injuries. With quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and wide receiver Deion Branch struggling with injuries a majority of the season, it's no surprise the Seahawks find themselves at the bottom of the NFC West.

One of the more surprising statistics this season is Seattle's defense. The defense is not the same as it has been over the last couple of seasons. Take a look at the rankings:

• 25th in the league by giving up 25.8 points per game
• 30th in the league by giving up 383.4 yards per game
• 32nd in the league by giving up 264.8 passing yards per game
• 21st in the league by giving up 118.6 rushing yards per game

Last season, the Seahawks defense finished sixth in points allowed per game and 15th in total yards. Obviously, things are not the same for the defense this season as they were last season.

When a team struggles, people look at their leaders. The Seahawks' leader on defense: Lofa Tatupu.

Ever since he was drafted out of USC by the Seahawks in 2005, Tatupu has made the Pro Bowl all three of his seasons in the league. In three seasons at linebacker, he has recorded over 100 tackles each season and eight interceptions. Not bad for a linebacker.

Tatupu was rewarded for his play before the 2008 season as the Seahawks gave him a six-year extension worth $42 million. Of that $42 million, $18 million is guaranteed.

So far this season, Tatupu appears to be on pace for another season with 100 tackles. However, he has zero interceptions.

Football is a team sport. The blame cannot be put on one individual. However, Tatupu has emerged as the leader of the Seattle defense over the last couple of seasons. His numbers and the statistics of the Seattle defense are nowhere near what people expected them to be this season.

I think it's safe to say the Seattle Seahawks are ready to look forward to next season.

Defensive Lineman: Shaun Rogers, Cleveland Browns

One thing is clear: Shaun Rogers is one of the biggest guys in the NFL. At 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 350 pounds, Rogers is one of those guys you would want on your side if you ever got into a fight.

In the offseason, Detroit decided to part ways with Rogers after seven seasons with the Lions.

At first, Rogers was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals for a third- and fifth-round draft pick in the 2008 draft. Bengals fans were ecstatic as they finally found a guy to help them on their defense.

It's too bad the deal fell through.

When that happened, the Cleveland Browns wasted no time in acquiring Rogers. The Browns traded a third-round pick and cornerback Leigh Bodden to the Lions to get Rogers in hope that he would help their defensive unit. 

The Browns may rank 13th in the league by allowing 21.2 points per game. They may rank 15th in the league when it comes to the passing game by allowing 210.8 yards per game.

But their rushing defense is a different story.

One of the main reasons the Browns acquired Rogers was to improve their defensive line. The Browns' rushing defense is an area they needed major improvement in.

With three weeks left in the 2008 season, the Browns rank 28th in the league in rushing defense by allowing 148.5 yards per game.

Rogers' career numbers may not be superb. Still, his 4.5 sacks are a lot lower than what the Cleveland Browns and their fans expected this season.

Long story short, Rogers has not helped improve the Browns' running defense. After an impressive 10-6 record last season, the Browns find themselves in third place in the AFC North with a 4-9 record.

Clearly, Shaun Rogers and the rest of the Browns' defensive lineman have a lot of work to do in the offseason if they want to improve their running defense.

Safety: Kerry Rhodes

Don't get me wrong, I love the New York Jets. They are the feel-good story this season after trading for Brett Favre in August. At the top of the AFC East with an 8-5 record, the Jets appear to have a great shot at making the playoffs this season.

Even though they sit in first place in the AFC East, they rank 31st in passing defense by allowing 251.2 yards per game.

This position was a tough one to pick. There are plenty of safeties in the league who have struggled this season. However, the fact that the Jets rank 31st in passing defense is the main reason I felt Rhodes' name deserved to be in this spot.

Before the 2008 season started, Rhodes told the New York Post that he was ready to emerge as a leader for the Jets' defense this season.

If this is the case, the leader of the 31st-ranked passing defense needs to find ways to improve that statistic if the Jets want to be playing in January.

Last season, Rhodes had solid numbers for a safety: five interceptions, two sacks, and 66 tackles.

This season, he has 67 tackles, one sack, and one interception. The main statistic is the interceptions.

Bretty and the Jets (I love using that phrase for some reason) have made it clear that they could be a threat if they make the postseason. They made a statement in Week 12 when they went into Tennessee and defeated the Titans, 34-13.

If they make the postseason, they could be playing some big name quarterbacks who know how to throw the ball: Peyton Manning. Ben Roethlisberger. Jay Cutler.

All three of these quarterbacks have shown us they have what it takes to throw the ball in the NFL.

If the Jets want any shot at the Super Bowl this season, Rhodes and the rest of the Jets' defense need to improve their passing defense.

Overall Disappointing Defense: San Diego Chargers

Last season, the Chargers' defense was ranked fifth overall in the league. As far as passing, they were ranked 14th by allowing 213.3 yards per game. When it came to stopping the run, they were ranked 16th by allowing 107 yards per game. Overall, they only allowed 17.6 points per game and fell to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game.

After an impressive run toward the Super Bowl last season, many thought the Chargers would be heavy contenders to win the Super Bowl this season. Unfortunately, the Chargers won't even make the playoffs this season.

The defense is one of the major reasons why the Chargers won't make the playoffs. Take a look at their statistics this season:

• 18th in the league by giving up 21.6 points per game
• 25th in the league by giving up 351.8 yards per game
• 30th in the league by giving up 248.9 passing yards per game
• 14th in the league by giving up 102.9 rushing yards per game

So what exactly has happened to the once-dominant Chargers defense? The main thought that comes to mind is Shawne Merriman.

With a 5-8 record, it's obvious how the loss of Merriman has had an impact on the Chargers' season.

At the beginning of the season, Merriman had torn ligaments in his knee. Doctors recommended that he not play and said another injury to the knee could be career-threatening.

Merriman went against the doctors' orders and decided to give the 2008 season a shot. It turns out that was a mistake.

Early in September, Merriman announced he would have surgery to repair his torn knee ligaments and would miss the 2008 season.

Merriman is similar to Tatupu. In three seasons in the NFL, he has made the Pro Bowl each season. He has recorded 39.5 sacks in his young career.

Merriman's absence has had a major impact on the Chargers' defense this season. Without him, the Chargers have struggled all season, especially at defense.

If you asked me a year ago if the San Diego Chargers would be 5-8 with three weeks left in the season, I would have laughed.

I know for a fact that I was not the only one who thought the Chargers would be one of the best teams in football this season.