Ejiro Evero believes Pat Surtain II is deserving of DPOY talk
Nov 17, 2022, 1:50 PM
Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos are having a lousy season, and yet everyone seems to know their defense should not be trifled with, allowing a league-fewest points per game and on track for historical marks.
One of the defense’s stars is second-year cornerback Pat Surtain II, who has impressed in shutting down an entire side of the field every time he’s on the turf. Surtain tops PFF’s cornerback ratings this year, allowing just 160 yards on 41 targets. Opponents are averaging just 7.0 yards per reception on Surtain this season, which is second-best in the NFL among qualifying cornerbacks, per PFF.
Surtain is still outside the 10 most likely players to win Defensive Player of the Year, according to oddsmakers. The lines makes sense, given Denver’s record and PS2’s low numbers.
Surtain does not have a pick, heck; he has very little of any stats, mainly because few plays are happening on his side of the field.
“I think he’s very deserving. You know, I think sometimes stats are very misleading,” Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said on Thursday. “And if you look at the numbers, it’s not going to tell you anything, but if you watch the film, I mean, this guy is playing as good of football as anybody in NFL at any position, and he’s been a pleasure to coach.”
Surtain was taken ninth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He’s been so good for Denver that some have suggested forcing the ball into his hands.
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