Niners 2005 MVP?
To be honest, on a 4-12 team there was not too many MVP moments. But BY had a resurbence at DE and there was improvement. See what this guy thinks.
How do you go about picking an MVP for a team that went 4-12 in 2005? Its a tough proposition because no one on the San Francisco 49ers roster truly shined, as evidenced by the fact that not one player from the team made the NFL Pro Bowl.
However, several players did offer up solid performances in 2005. So who should we go for in terms of an MVP?
An obvious choice would be veteran DT Bryant Young. The 34-year old tallied 8 sacks and probably came the closest to making the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, although he did help the 49ers rush defense improve, they were still in the lower half of the league in that category. Bryant is close but doesn't get the MVP cigar.
Another popular choice would be Julian Peterson. He rebounded nicely from his Achilles injury, but his numbers just don't merit an MVP selection. 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and zero interceptions just don't cut it for the former All Pro. He's better than that.
How about the team's leading tackler, Derek Smith, or its leading receiver, Brandon Lloyd? Unfortunately, Smith was steady but unspectacular while Lloyd was spectacular but not steady, so neither of them get the nod.
I'll tell you who most definitely doesn't get the award; Alex Smith. He's a youngster and is still learning the ropes, but throwing just one touchdown in 165 attempts is almost inexcusable. However, his backfield mate Frank Gore is another story. Big play ability, just one fumble, and 4.8 yards per carry are all signs of an MVP in the making. Unfortunately, he's got to show that he can do it for a full season before he can rightfully earn such a high honor.
So in the end, I'm going to go with an unlikely yet deserving candidate. I'm going to pick cornerback Shawntae Spencer. The 23-year-old phenom was so active in terms of tackling that he finished third on the team with 82 tackles (just one less than Peterson). He also nabbed a team high four interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, and had a mind-boggling 29 passes defended.
This kid has all the makings of a future Pro Bowler, but more importantly, he didn't just show potential in 2005. He actually made plays on the field. That's why, in many ways he, truly is the San Francisco 49ers most valuable player.
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Niners 2005 MVP?
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