Defensive Player A: 92 tackles and leads the country in both tackles for loss (32.5) and sacks (15.5). Won the Nagurski award for best defensive player.
Defensive Player B: 55 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks.
Defensive Player B was a Heisman finalist, and Defensive Player A was not. Just saying, it's not always an Alabama player getting one over on everyone. Hutchinson from Michigan absolutely benefited from huge exposure and got that nod over Anderson from Alabama. Quite simply for a Linebacker Anderson's numbers are stupid good.
Is what it is.
In all fairness a linebacker should get more tackles than a defensive end...Both are dominant football players but play completely different positions..Hutchinson is dealing with double teams while the linebacker is the beneficiary of lineman up front absorbing blocks to free him up to make plays...Both of these kids are great football players but you really can't compare stats between a defensive end and a linebacker...The linebacker should always put up better numbers...
In all fairness a linebacker should get more tackles than a defensive end...Both are dominant football players but play completely different positions..Hutchinson is dealing with double teams while the linebacker is the beneficiary of lineman up front absorbing blocks to free him up to make plays...Both of these kids are great football players but you really can't compare stats between a defensive end and a linebacker...The linebacker should always put up better numbers...
Well no...
- Hutchinson was not getting double teams because a 1st round draft pick named Ajobo is on the other side of the Michigan DLine.
- An outside linebacker is not normally getting 92 tackles and leading the nation in tackles for loss and sacks. Inside linebackers usually have big tackle numbers, while outside linebackers would have sack numbers. Not BOTH.
- Hutchinson didn't have an amazing stat season for his position like Anderson. One did something rarely for his position, another did something some DE does every year.
- Hutchinson isn't even considered the best DE in the country, let alone the best defender. LOL
All I'm saying is Alabama isn't the only school that gets hype for it's players. It happens other places, and me saying all this doesn't mean I don't think Hutchinson is a tremendous DE. He is.
All I know is that Hutchinson is projected to be the #1 prospect in the 2022 draft...It is between him and the kid from Oregon right now...I don't know what draft sites you're reading but on the draft boards I have seen all have Hutchinson or the kid from Oregon 1 & 2...I also agree with you that Michigan has arguably the best DLine in college football...To think that Hutchinson isn't getting double teamed and chipped on the outside is a reach...I am sure Anderson is being moved around and they are scheming their defense to take advantage of his ability...Defenses are schemed for Linebackers to be freed up to make plays and they benefit from the DLineman in front of them soaking up blocks to free them up...These kids are all terrific players but you can't compare a linebacker no matter whether he lines up outside or inside to a DLineman...That is all there is to it...
The guy there first usually makes the tackle unless that guy had poor tackling skills. Of course it would not be good if the safety leads the team in tackles.
