It's been a while since I have updated this blog but this is a post I have been working on for a little while and finally had some free time to share my opinion on the matter. At the beginning of the summer SportingNews.com ranked the top 20 players in their respective positions in the NFL. The first news I heard about this made me extatic becuase the ranked Steven Jackson as the number two half back in the league. Then I heard the Safety rankings and was disgusted to hear that Atogwe was 12. (For the full list click this link http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/article/2009-05-27/safety-rankings-reed-polamalu-are-pure-playmakers ) This sparked my inquisitive side so I did a little research and bring my findings to you. I've decided to compare stats from Atogwe's past three seasons to that of the top 5 on the list so that people can truly understand how good he really is.
1. Ed Reed
...........Games.......T........Sacks........Fumbles.......Int
06...........16 .........60...........0 .................1...............5
07 ..........16 ........ 39...........0..................0...............7
08 ..........16 .........41 ..........1 .................1 ..............9
Total Turnovers: 23
Td's: 3
2. Troy Polamalu
06...........13 ..........77 ..........1...................1 .............3
07...........11 ..........58 ...........0 .................3 .............0
08...........16 ..........73 ...........0 .................0 .............7
Total Turnovers: 14
Td's: 0
3. Adrain Wilson
06...........16 ..........83 ...........5 ..................4 ............4
07...........9 ............44 ...........0 ..................0..............2
08...........15 ..........75 ..........2.5 ...............2 ..............2
Total Turnovers: 14
Td's: 1
4. Bob Sanders
06...........4 ............28 ...........0 ..................1 ..............1
07...........15 ..........96 ...........3.5 ...............0 ..............2
08...........6 ............39 ...........0 ..................0 ...............1
Total Turnovers: 5
Td's: 0
5. Chris Hope
06...........16 ........ 121 ..........0 ..................0 ...............5
07...........11 .........49 ............0 ..................0 ................2
08...........16 .........78 ............1 ..................0 ................4
Total Turnovers: 11
Td's: 1
12. O.J Atogwe
06...........16 ........75 ..............1 ...................5................3
07...........16 ........75 ...............0 ..................0 ...............8
08...........16 ........85 ...............0 ..................6 ...............5
Total Turnovers: 27
Td's: 1
After comparing those stats a few noticble things stick out:
-Only Ed Reed has started as many games as Atogwe, showing how reliable he is.
-Atogwe has more total turnovers than any of the top 5 ranked safties. He is a ball hawk and creates opportunities.
-Atogwe is the only one of these safties who's tackles has not dropped.
Now this article isn't here to claim that Atogwe is the best Saftey in the league, although I think he will be. It is just my way of showing how little respect that he gets around the league. Most of these safties are playing on a defense that has a great front line that forces bad passes. Atogwe hasn't had that line but he continues to out perform all of them. So next time you think of Safties in the NFL, don't forget number 21 O.J Atogwe.
