I'm not going by numbers though, I'm going by what I see. Secondly, I'm going by the trend on how EA rates defensive player of the year and how they give NAME ratings. I know all about the latter given Lewis and Reed being rated high even when they were clearly dropping off. I'll just say it this way, go back and look at every defensive player of the year for the last five years, then look at his rating in Madden that year and count how many guys at that position were rated higher than him.
Here are the last few prior to Kuechly
Watt - 2012
Suggs - 2011
Matthews - 2010
Woodson -2009
Harrison - 2008
Bob Sanders -2007
Jason Taylor - 2006
Nobody at those positions was rated higher than the reigning DPOY in Madden. Nobody. They did right by saying this guy is DPOY for a reason. Someone may have been TIED with them, but not rated 2 and three points ahead of them. Luke is getting short changed because Willis' name. I'm not saying Willis is not a top 5 guy in real life although I think Bowman played better last year and not just because of a move to Jack for Willis. For Luke, too many impact plays from him last year and not as many for Willis for EA/Madden not to have him ahead of Willis. They won't do it because of Willis' name. It shows a radical inconsistency in how they normally rate the DPOY.
I'll stand by the assertion I made. Donny isn't taking into account whether they are playing Jack or Mike in his ratings. So it's not about position impacting numbers. He just decided to give Willis the highest rating at ILB. Technically, based on the way they rate DPOY Luke should be rated higher than Bowman. I think Bowman is the best not just based on numbers. Whether he will return to form, I hope he can. While I think Bowman is the best, I wouldn't have any problem with Luke being a point higher for Madden purposes. You don't rate the DPOY a specific way for X years straight and now all of a sudden short change the DPOY due to NAME purposes. It's a weak excuse IMO.
Let's look at the flip side. Manning was NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the year and guess what that SHOWS up in the ratings. Adrian Peterson was the Offensive Player of the year in 2012 I believe and that SHOWED up in the ratings. Why can't the same happen for Kuechly on defense at least at his position?