Eric Berry has been making plays all over the field for the Kansas City Chiefs defense this season, and everyone has been taking notice, including Pro Football Focus, which currently has Berry ranked as the No. 1 safety in the NFL.
It should be noted that these rankings are subjective, but the impact Berry's presence has brought on the field has been noticeable.
"He has great speed, tremendous range and is a very physical player," Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said of Berry. "He can really limit deep plays and keep them under control. I think he's tackling and being as physical as he's ever been. He's got a little bit of a sixth sense to go get it back there."
Berry showed that physicality early in last Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.
Arguably the best play of the season was Berry's play three weeks ago on the road against the San Diego Chargers.
With everything in front of him now, Berry can come downhill and make plays like these.
The Chiefs made a concerted effort to move Berry back to more of a centerfield-type of role over the past couple of seasons.
"We were trying to reduce the number of big plays that we gave up," Sutton explained, "so we said the first thing we have to do is increase our speed, and he's one of our fastest players. We needed him back more. One thing about speed is it isn't always the plays you make. It's the plays you prevent.
"If you hit a 15 or 18-yard pass, [Berry] can cap that off pretty quick—that's huge for us."
Berry has 49 total tackles, 2 interceptions and 8 passes defensed this season, but it's also the presence he brings the defense that's impossible to quantify, and it doesn't take much convincing around the Chiefs facilities to add further proof of what he's done for this team, both on and off the field.
But best in the NFL sounds pretty good.
a few special moments in the career of Eric Berry.
Tennessee's Eric Berry (14) returns a fumble as he gets away from Georgia's Michael Moore (82) and Eric Elliot (30) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Knoxville, Tenn.
Tennessee's Eric Berry poses with his trophy after winning the Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards in Lake Buena Vista , Fla., Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Eric Berry is selected by the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, NY on Apr. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry (29) celebrates with cornerback Brandon Flowers, left, and linebacker Andy Studebaker, right, after intercepting a pass intended for Buffalo wide receiver Lee Evans (83) during the fourth quarter.
Eric Berry (29) retruns an interception for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs host the the Baltimore Raves in a first round playoff game on Sunday.
Eric Berry Warming up for the game
Sept 16, 2012. Eric Berry rally's the team prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, NY
Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) celebrates after a missed Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal attempt during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012
November 25, 2012. Eric Berry defendes a pass intended for Jacob Tamme (84) from Payton Manning
December 9, 2012. Eric Berry, Derrick Johnson, Terrance Copper, and Ryan Lilja coming out for the coin toss.
December 16, 2012. Eric Berry celebrates after making a hit on RB Marcel Reece of the Oakland Raiders.
Eric Berry Celebrates with Jairus Byrd in the first quarter of the 2012 Pro Bowl game. BerryLead the AFC with 7 tackles.
Dustin Colquitt, Tamba Hali Eric Berry and Jamall Charles pose for a photo after the Pro Bowl in Hawaii
