looks like I was the only one that voted for Springs. Griffin had a good year, but nothing steller for a DT, had he had double digit sacks then mabye. Springs did it all in my opinion. He had a tough job to step up into baileys job and did a great of it. Washington had a great year to, as did taylor, but i had to pick springs.

Hard to pick one, but I feel Springs played the role!

One of the toughest polls of the year...everyone did so well.

First off I believe Williams was the reason our defense was so good. The biggest impact player on the defense though had to be Griffin. His numbers aren't as good as others but he is a tackle and they don't usually have good numbers. In fact his numbers for a tackle are extremely good and it is mind boggling that he didn't make the pro bowl. He was absoultly one of the top two tackles in the NFC this year...without any doubt. We had a lot of quality years from guys but I'd say the MVP was Griffin.

this is a great poll. a lot of great players with great instincts. i never seen that crucial 'swarm' everyone talks about with the skins until this year. even Smoot became a surefire tackler. thats when you know it's bigger than one man. when everyone improves.

but i give it Pierce without hesitation.

all those guys are talented and tenacious, but Pierce was the 'QB' of the defense. he was the one telling everyone where to be, and the fact that third stringers and no-names made plays and/or filled in without missing a beat all year long means Pierce was placing these guys dead-on. he doesn't get a radio in his helmet w/Williams, it's was all him all year. general on the field.

unlike Springs, Griffin, Taylor, Smoot or Washington, none of it was expected of him. he was a backup, not to meantion a longtime Skin. no question really.

[QUOTE=illdefined]this is a great poll. a lot of great players with great instincts. i never seen that crucial 'swarm' everyone talks about with the skins until this year. even Smoot became a surefire tackler. thats when you know it's bigger than one man. when everyone improves.

but i give it Pierce without hesitation.

all those guys are talented and tenacious, but Pierce was the 'QB' of the defense. he was the one telling everyone where to be, and the fact that third stringers and no-names made plays and/or filled in without missing a beat all year long means Pierce was placing these guys dead-on. he doesn't get a radio in his helmet w/Williams, it's was all him all year. general on the field.

unlike Springs, Griffin, Taylor, Smoot or Washington, none of it was expected of him. he was a backup, not to meantion a longtime Skin. no question really.[/QUOTE]

Exactly why I, too, placed my vote for Pierce.

That's a tough poll. I also took "other" and would give it to Greg Williams. If I HAD to choose a player I guess I'd have to go with Griffin, with Springs and Washington close runner-ups.

Sorry, also add Pierce to my list of close runner-ups.

Pierce. As others have said, he was the leader of the defense...knowing the play before it was called, getting everyone into position, and then playing very well and leading by example. Of course Griffin, Springs and Washington are right up there too, but I think that mental aspect of it gives Antonio the edge.

How many times did we get burnt playing out of position in 2003? Pierce has to be given some of the credit for stopping that from happening this past year. I'm giving him the MVP nod.

griffin stoped the run and created a pass rush on his own he made pierce free so he can make the plays that he did.

Even with the way the season went, it's really nice to have this many guys on the "who's best" list! (And Lavar, Danials, Bowen may be on it by next year...)

bowen sucks I like clark alot more he can cover not only hit

Ahhh come on, give Bowen his due. He was making sacks like crazy earlier this year. Not only that, he always wrote a very interesting newspaper column each week.

Now if someone doesn't deserve credit for that, who does? J/K