Darius Leonard is on a mission to change the way defense is viewed
Indianapolis Colts linebacker, Darius Leonard, highlighted a common theme in the Divisional weekend games.
Unfortunately for Darius Leonard and the Indianapolis Colts, their season ended after Week 18. Since Indy isn’t participating in the playoffs, some players have been watching and commenting on social media with the rest of the NFL’s fans.
During the thrilling Divisional weekend, Leonard was a vocal presence on Twitter for every game. While he was amazed at the action like everyone else, he also used the time to push a narrative he has been preaching all season.
Leonard continued his argument that turnovers are more valuable than sacks and felt that was demonstrated in the weekend’s games.
Darius Leonard argues turnovers are better than sacks
It all started with the first game of the weekend when the Tennessee Titans lost to the Cincinnati Bengals. Tennessee recorded a playoff-record nine sacks, but it was Cincinnati’s three interceptions that made the lasting impact.
Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel, had some postgame remarks about the team getting sacks and not turnovers and what a difference that makes. Leonard chimed in to let everyone know this is what he’s been expressing all year.
I’ve been saying this all year that it’s all about taking the ball away! How many times can you give the ball back to your offense, not TFL’s #gocolts https://t.co/qnq4e9ikmD
— Darius Shaquille Leonard (@dsleon45) January 23, 2022
Leonard devoted two more tweets to the topic over the weekend, all emphasizing that turnovers are the real game-changers, not sacks.
During the regular season, the Colts forced the second-most turnovers with 33, one less than the Dallas Cowboys. Leonard was responsible for about a third of those turnovers, recording four interceptions, forcing eight fumbles, and recovering three.
With this type of production, some felt that Leonard should be in the discussion for Defensive Player of the Year. However, he was rarely mentioned as a candidate.
The players who dominated the conversation are pass rushers, and the likely winner is TJ Watt, outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers who tied the single-season sack record with 22.5 sacks.
If the football community valued turnovers the way that Leonard says it should, then maybe he would be the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.
The truth is, both sacks and turnovers have great value and the best defenses find a way to do both. The Colts’ defense was great at forcing turnovers but it would have drastically improved with a better pass rush.
Ultimately, Leonard is right, turnovers are more impactful. They immediately end the drive and give the ball back to the offense in good field position. But Leonard is fighting an uphill battle.
Elite pass rushers have long been regarded as the best defenders and the ones receiving the most praise. While Leonard is special at forcing turnovers, it’s going to take many more turnovers and tweets for the NFL world to get on board.
