dogfish
10-07-2008, 02:48 AM
League Awards at the Quarter Pole
MVP – Jay Cutler
Cutler has been tremendous so far. His 1,501 passing yards are second in the league, while his 10 touchdowns are tied for third. His completion percentage and average yards per throw are both in the top ten, and he has taken fewer sacks than any other starting quarterback. Taken as a whole, his statistics are the best in the league. Even more importantly, Cutler has his team at 4-1 and in control of their division. Two of their four wins were almost solely due to Denver’s dynamic passing game, and Cutler’s league-leading number of pass attempts further illustrates that no team has relied more heavily on their quarterback than the Broncos. He’s the spoon that stirs the drink of the league’s second-rated offense in both total yards and total points.
Runner Up – Kurt Warner
Surprise, surprise! A sizzling start has rejuvenated Warner’s career to the point that the former bag boy is looking for another league MVP award. Warner’s statistics are very close to Cutler’s, and his team at 3-2 is also leading their division. Arizona has the weapons to keep Kurt in the chase all year if he can avoid the nagging injuries and lapses in judgement that have plagued him in recent years.
Also receiving consideration were Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers, Tony Romo and Michael Turner.
Defensive MVP – Albert Haynesworth
He was a candidate last year before a hamstring injury slowed his pace late in the season, and he has picked up right where he left off. Hanyseworth has collected 20 tackles, 5 sacks and a forced fumble, but stats are only the beginning, and don’t fully measure his value. Haynesworth simply controls the line of scrimmage and makes things easier for everyone around him; he is the driving force behind the league’s best defense, a unit that’s ranked fifth in yards allowed per game and first in the all-important points per game category. Tennessee’s defense also leads the NFL in takeaways. The Titans are one of only two undefeated teams, and they lean heavily on their defense.
Runner Up – James Harrison
Pittsburgh’s defense has been in typical intimidating form, and Harrison has been their top playmaker. His 6.5 sacks are second in the NFL, and he leads the league with 3 forced fumbles. The Steelers trail only Baltimore in run defense and total yardage allowed; they’re fifth in scoring defense and third in takeaways. Harrison is an emotional leader that sets the tone with his physical play, and he has come up with critical turnovers at key moments.
Other candidates include Charles Woodson, John Abraham and Patrick Willis.
Coach of the Year – Jim Zorn
Zorn inherited a playoff team from last year, so the cupboard wasn’t exactly bare, but virtually every expert thought that the Redskins overachieved last season and had little chance of repeating; especially under a rookie head coach. But Zorn has his squad humming along after back-to-back wins against bitter divisional foes Dallas and Philadelphia. This is a remarkable achievement for a man that had never been a head coach at any level, and even more so when his team plays in the toughest division in pro football. Perhaps the most impressive facet of Zorn’s performance has been the quantum leap forward taken by quarterback Jason Campbell. Most pundits thought this squad would finish in the basement, but instead they’re in great shape for another playoff run.
Runner Up – Jeff Fisher
Plenty of head coaches would crumble under the pressure of having the struggles with their high-profile starting quarterback that the Titans have had this year, but not Fisher. Instead, he has his boys rallying around journeyman Kerry Collins. The team is playing nasty and physical on both sides of the ball, putting pressure on opponents while limiting their own mistakes. The Colts have long dominated the AFC South, and many experts predicted that this would be the year Jacksonville broke that stranglehold. Nobody saw Tennessee getting out to a 5-0 start and looking like one of the best teams in the NFL. Fisher is getting absolutely everything that he can out of a roster that’s lacking in big-time star power and devoid of any explosive threats in the passing game.
Also receiving consideration were Mike Shanahan, Bill Belichik, Tom Coughlin, Dick Jauron and Mike Smith.
Executive of the Year – Thomas Demitroff
The first-time GM has done an amazing job in Atlanta. He inherited a complete and utter disaster of a team, one that was generally expected to be one of the worst in the league. Instead, Demitroff has put together a group that is not only competitive, but is actually very much alive in the playoff hunt. He has made all the right moves so far, starting with a brilliant decision to move the over-rated locker room cancer known as Deangelo Hall, and also releasing long-time veteran stalwarts Alge Crumpler and Warrick Dunn. The Falcons were criticized in some circles for paying big money to Michael Turner in a year where loads of running back talent was available in the draft, but Turner has paid off in a major way; to date he has been the best runner in the league, and securing his services in free agency allowed Demitroff to spend his high draft picks in other areas. He was highly successful in this regard as well. Top picks Matt Ryan, Sam Baker and Curtis Lofton weren’t the flashiest athletes, but all three were polished, savvy guys with great work habits, and all three have been able to step in and play at a high level right off the bat. Rookie head coach Mike Smith was a relative unknown, but so far he’s looked like the perfect choice to lead this young group. All the bad vibes of the Mike Vick disaster and the Bobby Petrino fiasco have been washed away by a good dose of quality football, and no one deserves more credit than Demitroff.
Other candidates include Bill Parcells, Marty Hurney, Tom Modrak and Mike Shanahan.
Offensive Rookie of the Year – Matt Forte
The bruising Forte has been a perfect fit for a rugged Chicago team. He has started from day one and looked like a polished vet in all three phases of the game, and has been the antithesis to the vastly disappointing Cedric Benson. Forte has been the workhorse the Bears have been looking for, and is currently on pace for over 1,600 total yards and about a dozen touchdowns.
Runner Up – Ryan Clady
The massive offensive tackle is every bit as worthy, but with no solid statistics it may be hard for him to win the recognition he deserves if Forte continues to crank out numbers at his current pace. Clady has looked like a seasoned vet at the crucial left tackle position. He holds down the blindside for the offensive line that has allowed the league’s fewest sacks, and there’s no doubt that his sensational debut has been a huge factor in the return to prominence of the high-flying Denver offense. Even if he misses the nod for ROY, this guy has the look of a perennial Pro Bowler.
Chris Johnson, Matt Ryan, Desean Jackson and Eddie Royal are also in the conversation, with Felix Jones and Jonathon Stewart lurking.
Defensive Rookie of the Year – Undetermined
Early candidates include Keith Rivers, Curtis Lofton and Jerod Mayo, but no defensive rookie has yet done enough to separate himself from the pack.
Comeback Player of the Year – Ronnie Brown
The past few weeks, Brown has resumed the torrid pace he was on before tearing his ACL last year. His inspired play in Miami’s new Wildcat formation has led the Phins to victories over both of last season’s AFC Championship game participants in consecutive weeks. Brown’s athleticism and smarts have been on full display as he is rapidly becoming one of the league’s most dangerous multi-purpose scoring machines. He’s making Miami football relevant again, an extremely impressive feat after their historically woeful 2007 campaign.
Runner Up – Jake Delhomme
Coming off Tommy John surgery to repair a devastating injury to his throwing arm, Delhomme has brought back Carolina’s moxie. The team that was lost without him last year has regained their swagger, and is looking to regain control of the NFC South. He’s had help on both sides of the ball, but last season’s debacle showed just how different this team is without their leader. Their stirring come-from-behind road win in the waning seconds against San Diego was vintage Delhomme, the kind of effort the Panthers simply weren’t capable of without him.
MVP – Jay Cutler
Cutler has been tremendous so far. His 1,501 passing yards are second in the league, while his 10 touchdowns are tied for third. His completion percentage and average yards per throw are both in the top ten, and he has taken fewer sacks than any other starting quarterback. Taken as a whole, his statistics are the best in the league. Even more importantly, Cutler has his team at 4-1 and in control of their division. Two of their four wins were almost solely due to Denver’s dynamic passing game, and Cutler’s league-leading number of pass attempts further illustrates that no team has relied more heavily on their quarterback than the Broncos. He’s the spoon that stirs the drink of the league’s second-rated offense in both total yards and total points.
Runner Up – Kurt Warner
Surprise, surprise! A sizzling start has rejuvenated Warner’s career to the point that the former bag boy is looking for another league MVP award. Warner’s statistics are very close to Cutler’s, and his team at 3-2 is also leading their division. Arizona has the weapons to keep Kurt in the chase all year if he can avoid the nagging injuries and lapses in judgement that have plagued him in recent years.
Also receiving consideration were Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers, Tony Romo and Michael Turner.
Defensive MVP – Albert Haynesworth
He was a candidate last year before a hamstring injury slowed his pace late in the season, and he has picked up right where he left off. Hanyseworth has collected 20 tackles, 5 sacks and a forced fumble, but stats are only the beginning, and don’t fully measure his value. Haynesworth simply controls the line of scrimmage and makes things easier for everyone around him; he is the driving force behind the league’s best defense, a unit that’s ranked fifth in yards allowed per game and first in the all-important points per game category. Tennessee’s defense also leads the NFL in takeaways. The Titans are one of only two undefeated teams, and they lean heavily on their defense.
Runner Up – James Harrison
Pittsburgh’s defense has been in typical intimidating form, and Harrison has been their top playmaker. His 6.5 sacks are second in the NFL, and he leads the league with 3 forced fumbles. The Steelers trail only Baltimore in run defense and total yardage allowed; they’re fifth in scoring defense and third in takeaways. Harrison is an emotional leader that sets the tone with his physical play, and he has come up with critical turnovers at key moments.
Other candidates include Charles Woodson, John Abraham and Patrick Willis.
Coach of the Year – Jim Zorn
Zorn inherited a playoff team from last year, so the cupboard wasn’t exactly bare, but virtually every expert thought that the Redskins overachieved last season and had little chance of repeating; especially under a rookie head coach. But Zorn has his squad humming along after back-to-back wins against bitter divisional foes Dallas and Philadelphia. This is a remarkable achievement for a man that had never been a head coach at any level, and even more so when his team plays in the toughest division in pro football. Perhaps the most impressive facet of Zorn’s performance has been the quantum leap forward taken by quarterback Jason Campbell. Most pundits thought this squad would finish in the basement, but instead they’re in great shape for another playoff run.
Runner Up – Jeff Fisher
Plenty of head coaches would crumble under the pressure of having the struggles with their high-profile starting quarterback that the Titans have had this year, but not Fisher. Instead, he has his boys rallying around journeyman Kerry Collins. The team is playing nasty and physical on both sides of the ball, putting pressure on opponents while limiting their own mistakes. The Colts have long dominated the AFC South, and many experts predicted that this would be the year Jacksonville broke that stranglehold. Nobody saw Tennessee getting out to a 5-0 start and looking like one of the best teams in the NFL. Fisher is getting absolutely everything that he can out of a roster that’s lacking in big-time star power and devoid of any explosive threats in the passing game.
Also receiving consideration were Mike Shanahan, Bill Belichik, Tom Coughlin, Dick Jauron and Mike Smith.
Executive of the Year – Thomas Demitroff
The first-time GM has done an amazing job in Atlanta. He inherited a complete and utter disaster of a team, one that was generally expected to be one of the worst in the league. Instead, Demitroff has put together a group that is not only competitive, but is actually very much alive in the playoff hunt. He has made all the right moves so far, starting with a brilliant decision to move the over-rated locker room cancer known as Deangelo Hall, and also releasing long-time veteran stalwarts Alge Crumpler and Warrick Dunn. The Falcons were criticized in some circles for paying big money to Michael Turner in a year where loads of running back talent was available in the draft, but Turner has paid off in a major way; to date he has been the best runner in the league, and securing his services in free agency allowed Demitroff to spend his high draft picks in other areas. He was highly successful in this regard as well. Top picks Matt Ryan, Sam Baker and Curtis Lofton weren’t the flashiest athletes, but all three were polished, savvy guys with great work habits, and all three have been able to step in and play at a high level right off the bat. Rookie head coach Mike Smith was a relative unknown, but so far he’s looked like the perfect choice to lead this young group. All the bad vibes of the Mike Vick disaster and the Bobby Petrino fiasco have been washed away by a good dose of quality football, and no one deserves more credit than Demitroff.
Other candidates include Bill Parcells, Marty Hurney, Tom Modrak and Mike Shanahan.
Offensive Rookie of the Year – Matt Forte
The bruising Forte has been a perfect fit for a rugged Chicago team. He has started from day one and looked like a polished vet in all three phases of the game, and has been the antithesis to the vastly disappointing Cedric Benson. Forte has been the workhorse the Bears have been looking for, and is currently on pace for over 1,600 total yards and about a dozen touchdowns.
Runner Up – Ryan Clady
The massive offensive tackle is every bit as worthy, but with no solid statistics it may be hard for him to win the recognition he deserves if Forte continues to crank out numbers at his current pace. Clady has looked like a seasoned vet at the crucial left tackle position. He holds down the blindside for the offensive line that has allowed the league’s fewest sacks, and there’s no doubt that his sensational debut has been a huge factor in the return to prominence of the high-flying Denver offense. Even if he misses the nod for ROY, this guy has the look of a perennial Pro Bowler.
Chris Johnson, Matt Ryan, Desean Jackson and Eddie Royal are also in the conversation, with Felix Jones and Jonathon Stewart lurking.
Defensive Rookie of the Year – Undetermined
Early candidates include Keith Rivers, Curtis Lofton and Jerod Mayo, but no defensive rookie has yet done enough to separate himself from the pack.
Comeback Player of the Year – Ronnie Brown
The past few weeks, Brown has resumed the torrid pace he was on before tearing his ACL last year. His inspired play in Miami’s new Wildcat formation has led the Phins to victories over both of last season’s AFC Championship game participants in consecutive weeks. Brown’s athleticism and smarts have been on full display as he is rapidly becoming one of the league’s most dangerous multi-purpose scoring machines. He’s making Miami football relevant again, an extremely impressive feat after their historically woeful 2007 campaign.
Runner Up – Jake Delhomme
Coming off Tommy John surgery to repair a devastating injury to his throwing arm, Delhomme has brought back Carolina’s moxie. The team that was lost without him last year has regained their swagger, and is looking to regain control of the NFC South. He’s had help on both sides of the ball, but last season’s debacle showed just how different this team is without their leader. Their stirring come-from-behind road win in the waning seconds against San Diego was vintage Delhomme, the kind of effort the Panthers simply weren’t capable of without him.