Week 10 kicked off last night with the first entertaining Thursday night game in quite some time(even if the refs handed Atlanta the win with a mind-boggling missed offensive pass interference call on the Roddy White touchdown that sealed Baltimore's fate). That means we are at the 2010 season's midway point, which gives us an excuse to hand out some hardware. Here's our picks for midseason awards thus far.
Dave's Picks:
Coach of the Year: Steve Spagnuolo, Rams - Go ahead. Try to tell me you thought in August that the Rams, winners of six games in three years, were going to be atop their division with a rookie QB and its top two wideouts on the IR at this point in the season. Yes, the NFC West is a garbage pile of a division, but Spags' defensive pedigree has finally rubbed off on this team. Eventhough St. Louis will probably get squashed in the opening round of the playoffs, Spagnuolo deserves a tip of that cap for making a laughingstock into a respectable playoff team. Tom Cable deserves his just due for his work in Oakland, but for right now, I'm rolling with Spags.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ndomukong Suh, DT, Lions - This is pretty much a no-brainer. No other defensive rookie is really standing out and there's no question Suh has had an immediate impact on this Detroit front four. Suh leads all rookies in sacks with 6.5 and he's made his presence felt from Day 1 when he body-slammed Jake Delhomme in the preseason.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford, QB, Rams - It's neck and neck between Bradford and Dallas' Dez Bryant. Still, as mentioned before in the Spagnuolo write-up, the fact that this team is 4-4 with Bradford(coming off two shoulder surgeries in a year, mind you) taking every snap under center and throwing to guys like Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson is nothing short of impressive. Bryant's been the lone bright spot on a Cowboys team that has been more disappointing than even I initially predicted and, with Jason Garrett now calling the shots, maybe he has a huge second half and passes Bradford for this thing. However, right now, I'm going to eat this plate of crow and say I was wrong about Sam Bradford.
Defensive Player of the Year: Clay Matthews Jr., LB, Packers - Having seen Clay Matthews both in person(against the Redskins) and on television(last week's rout of Dallas, in which "The Ultimate Warrior" took the Cowboys by storm), there is not a doubt in my mind 2010's best defender has been this guy right here......and it's not even close. He leads the league in sacks with 10.5 in 9 games and he's doing it on a defense with no other proven pass rusher and that is also missing numerous starters on its front seven. He's the second coming of Kevin Greene and, as seen in the Miami game and the second half against Washington, this Packers defense is punchless when he's not whirling around the field.
Offensive Player of the Year: Arian Foster, RB, Texans - By season's end, this will probably go to whatever QB doesn't get the MVP(since you can make the case for at least six signal-callers right now), but Foster deserves some props for coming out of nowhere to be the NFL's leading rusher at this point in the season. Foster will obviously need a big second half to fend off Adrian Peterson(who narrowly trails Foster for the rushing yards and rushing TD leads) as well as the other QBs.
MVP: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts - I'll admit this is kind of a cop-out pick because the case can be made for Peyton and his laser-rocket arm every year. This year though, Manning's in the top 5 in the three major passing catagories all while dealing with a receiving core more battered than Antonio Margarito's face after last night's fight with Manny Pacquiao. Dallas Clark is done for the season. So is Anthony Gonzalez. Austin Collie, Manning's favorite target the first month of the season, missed time with busted ribs and is now slowed by a concussion. Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon started off hobbled as well. That still hasn't stopped Peyton from connection to guys like Blair White(insert the predictible "Blair White Project" quips here) and Jacob Tamme. He's also gotten no help from the running game as Joesph Addai, Donald Brown and Mike Hart have each taken part in a 3-way battle to find out who could be the most worthless. Now, if you want to switch it up and not give it to an obvious pick like #18, then a case can be made for a few others. Certianly, Tom Brady is in the running, but after shitting the bed against Cleveland, I'm out on him and the Patriots. As much as it makes me sick to my stomach, I could be talked into Gabe's mancrush Eli Manning for MVP consideration. Aaron Rodgers is still in it, so long as Green Bay stays in contention. The real dark horse contender, and a guy I nearly switched my pick too after Thursday's performance, is Falcons QB Matt Ryan. He's clutch in close games(something Rodgers lacks...much to my chagrin) and he and Roddy White are the new Manning-to-Harrison. Right now though, it's Peyton Manning for the league's top honor unless one of these other guys steps it up.
Gabe's Picks:
Coach of the Year: Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay - As much as I love Spags in St. Louis, mostly because of his New York Giants pedigree, I have to go with Morris. As surprising as the 4-4 Rams have been, I think the Bucs being 5-3 is more surprising. They are in a tougher division and have less talent to work with, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Morris has injected this team with a confidence and a swagger they haven't had since their Super Bowl era. The emergence of Josh Freeman at QB and Mike Williams at WR (the other Mike Williams, not the soon-to-be Comeback POY in Seattle) has been incredible. As Dan Patrick might say, all Josh Freeman does is win. Well, that comes from the top. All Raheem Morris knows how to do is win. (One quick aside; I asked my wife, who is not a football fan, who she thought was the Coach of the year. Her response? "Not Wade Phillips. He loses.")
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis - You might be able to make the case for the afore mentioned Mike Williams (again, Tampa Bay, not Seattle), or Dez Bryant, and for the sake of showing him some love, Aaron Hernandez, but Bradford is the pick here. He is leading a team full of journeyman, but has them at 4-4, and on top of their division. He's made some typical rookie mistakes, but he has thrown more TD's than picks, 11 to 8, and is on pace to throw for more than 3,300 yards. That's good enough in my book.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: A man named Suh, DE, Detroit Lions - It was easier to say that than try and correctly spell Ndomukong...wait, what? Anyway, 6.5 sacks already, stepping up and trying to kick. Like Dave said, he has been wreaking havoc since week one when he gave Jake Delhomme a welcome to the NFL moment.
Offensive Player of the Year: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego - I would also make the case for River to be MVP right now. I know the Chargers aren't playing very well, but that's not Rivers' fault. In fact, the little success this team has had is because of him putting the team on his back. He leads the NFL in passing yards, touchdowns, and is third with a 102.9 passer rating. All of this without being able to throw to Vincent Jackson and having part of the cast of Dragonball Z catching the ball for him. This man has been the definition of doing more with less, and therefore gets my pick.
Defensive Player of the Year: Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay - I hate to agree this much with Dave, but there is no other choice. As someone who has also seen this man play live (alongside the Big Margherita) and watched him on TV, Clay Matthews is scary. It is unreal how he is constantly in the backfield, in the quarterback's face, and burying people. The Packers will be really scary when they can figure out how to properly use A.J. Hawk along with Matthews. I'm going to push for Matthews to have a new nickname. "That Man," as in, "Mama there go That Man again!" He might break Michael Strahan's puffed up single season sack record, and this Giants fan (and former linebacker) won't mind.
Dave's Picks:
Coach of the Year: Steve Spagnuolo, Rams - Go ahead. Try to tell me you thought in August that the Rams, winners of six games in three years, were going to be atop their division with a rookie QB and its top two wideouts on the IR at this point in the season. Yes, the NFC West is a garbage pile of a division, but Spags' defensive pedigree has finally rubbed off on this team. Eventhough St. Louis will probably get squashed in the opening round of the playoffs, Spagnuolo deserves a tip of that cap for making a laughingstock into a respectable playoff team. Tom Cable deserves his just due for his work in Oakland, but for right now, I'm rolling with Spags.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ndomukong Suh, DT, Lions - This is pretty much a no-brainer. No other defensive rookie is really standing out and there's no question Suh has had an immediate impact on this Detroit front four. Suh leads all rookies in sacks with 6.5 and he's made his presence felt from Day 1 when he body-slammed Jake Delhomme in the preseason.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford, QB, Rams - It's neck and neck between Bradford and Dallas' Dez Bryant. Still, as mentioned before in the Spagnuolo write-up, the fact that this team is 4-4 with Bradford(coming off two shoulder surgeries in a year, mind you) taking every snap under center and throwing to guys like Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson is nothing short of impressive. Bryant's been the lone bright spot on a Cowboys team that has been more disappointing than even I initially predicted and, with Jason Garrett now calling the shots, maybe he has a huge second half and passes Bradford for this thing. However, right now, I'm going to eat this plate of crow and say I was wrong about Sam Bradford.
Defensive Player of the Year: Clay Matthews Jr., LB, Packers - Having seen Clay Matthews both in person(against the Redskins) and on television(last week's rout of Dallas, in which "The Ultimate Warrior" took the Cowboys by storm), there is not a doubt in my mind 2010's best defender has been this guy right here......and it's not even close. He leads the league in sacks with 10.5 in 9 games and he's doing it on a defense with no other proven pass rusher and that is also missing numerous starters on its front seven. He's the second coming of Kevin Greene and, as seen in the Miami game and the second half against Washington, this Packers defense is punchless when he's not whirling around the field.
Offensive Player of the Year: Arian Foster, RB, Texans - By season's end, this will probably go to whatever QB doesn't get the MVP(since you can make the case for at least six signal-callers right now), but Foster deserves some props for coming out of nowhere to be the NFL's leading rusher at this point in the season. Foster will obviously need a big second half to fend off Adrian Peterson(who narrowly trails Foster for the rushing yards and rushing TD leads) as well as the other QBs.
MVP: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts - I'll admit this is kind of a cop-out pick because the case can be made for Peyton and his laser-rocket arm every year. This year though, Manning's in the top 5 in the three major passing catagories all while dealing with a receiving core more battered than Antonio Margarito's face after last night's fight with Manny Pacquiao. Dallas Clark is done for the season. So is Anthony Gonzalez. Austin Collie, Manning's favorite target the first month of the season, missed time with busted ribs and is now slowed by a concussion. Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon started off hobbled as well. That still hasn't stopped Peyton from connection to guys like Blair White(insert the predictible "Blair White Project" quips here) and Jacob Tamme. He's also gotten no help from the running game as Joesph Addai, Donald Brown and Mike Hart have each taken part in a 3-way battle to find out who could be the most worthless. Now, if you want to switch it up and not give it to an obvious pick like #18, then a case can be made for a few others. Certianly, Tom Brady is in the running, but after shitting the bed against Cleveland, I'm out on him and the Patriots. As much as it makes me sick to my stomach, I could be talked into Gabe's mancrush Eli Manning for MVP consideration. Aaron Rodgers is still in it, so long as Green Bay stays in contention. The real dark horse contender, and a guy I nearly switched my pick too after Thursday's performance, is Falcons QB Matt Ryan. He's clutch in close games(something Rodgers lacks...much to my chagrin) and he and Roddy White are the new Manning-to-Harrison. Right now though, it's Peyton Manning for the league's top honor unless one of these other guys steps it up.
Gabe's Picks:
Coach of the Year: Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay - As much as I love Spags in St. Louis, mostly because of his New York Giants pedigree, I have to go with Morris. As surprising as the 4-4 Rams have been, I think the Bucs being 5-3 is more surprising. They are in a tougher division and have less talent to work with, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Morris has injected this team with a confidence and a swagger they haven't had since their Super Bowl era. The emergence of Josh Freeman at QB and Mike Williams at WR (the other Mike Williams, not the soon-to-be Comeback POY in Seattle) has been incredible. As Dan Patrick might say, all Josh Freeman does is win. Well, that comes from the top. All Raheem Morris knows how to do is win. (One quick aside; I asked my wife, who is not a football fan, who she thought was the Coach of the year. Her response? "Not Wade Phillips. He loses.")
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis - You might be able to make the case for the afore mentioned Mike Williams (again, Tampa Bay, not Seattle), or Dez Bryant, and for the sake of showing him some love, Aaron Hernandez, but Bradford is the pick here. He is leading a team full of journeyman, but has them at 4-4, and on top of their division. He's made some typical rookie mistakes, but he has thrown more TD's than picks, 11 to 8, and is on pace to throw for more than 3,300 yards. That's good enough in my book.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: A man named Suh, DE, Detroit Lions - It was easier to say that than try and correctly spell Ndomukong...wait, what? Anyway, 6.5 sacks already, stepping up and trying to kick. Like Dave said, he has been wreaking havoc since week one when he gave Jake Delhomme a welcome to the NFL moment.
Offensive Player of the Year: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego - I would also make the case for River to be MVP right now. I know the Chargers aren't playing very well, but that's not Rivers' fault. In fact, the little success this team has had is because of him putting the team on his back. He leads the NFL in passing yards, touchdowns, and is third with a 102.9 passer rating. All of this without being able to throw to Vincent Jackson and having part of the cast of Dragonball Z catching the ball for him. This man has been the definition of doing more with less, and therefore gets my pick.
Defensive Player of the Year: Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay - I hate to agree this much with Dave, but there is no other choice. As someone who has also seen this man play live (alongside the Big Margherita) and watched him on TV, Clay Matthews is scary. It is unreal how he is constantly in the backfield, in the quarterback's face, and burying people. The Packers will be really scary when they can figure out how to properly use A.J. Hawk along with Matthews. I'm going to push for Matthews to have a new nickname. "That Man," as in, "Mama there go That Man again!" He might break Michael Strahan's puffed up single season sack record, and this Giants fan (and former linebacker) won't mind.
MVP: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego - I made the case for Rivers already, using numbers. There are some players who could be considered for this award. Either Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Matty Ice...to name a few. Dave's choice, Peyton, has lead his team to five wins, only one more than Rivers. And again, Rivers has done it all on his own. The other test for an MVP award is which team would suffer the most if that player was taken away. If Peyton was not on the Colts, they would be awful, but they could cobble together some wins. If Rivers were all of a sudden injured and couldn't play, the Chargers might not win again.
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