I remember a time before mid-season awards. Before pre-season awards and quarter-season awards (yes they exist). This was a time when analysts would let the season unfold without trying to predict what was going to happen.
Unfortunately, we live in a world with such a proliferation of sporting news that predictions and forecasting has become a significant piece of the pie being fed to a sports-hungry public.
So, in the spirit of all that, here are The Roar’s mid-season awards.
Note: These are indeed predictions for who will win each of the major categories at the NFL Honours – the annual awards presentation night – as well as being a reflection of who has led the way thus far.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Todd Gurley
After an inauspicious debut against the Steelers, Gurley has since lived up to all of the praise heaped on him in the pre-season. His coming-out party was a 19-carry, 146-yard game against the Cardinals, which he achieved at a whopping 7.7 yards per carry.
He followed that up with 159 yards against the Packers, 128 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns, and 133 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers.
He is currently averaging 115 yards per game, good enough for most in the NFL. He is also averaging 6.1 yards per carry, slightly better than what Adrian Peterson registered when he broke the 2000-yard barrier in 2012. The numbers are made all the more impressive given he is coming off a torn ACL.
He missed the first two games while recovering and the rest of his season has a certain Odell Beckham Jr feel about it.
Honourable mention: Amari Cooper
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Marcus Peters
The Chiefs haven’t had a lot to celebrate in 2015. Jamaal Charles tore his ACL, their top offensive recruit Jeremy Maclin has been battling a concussion, and at one point this season they were 1-5. But the head office in Kansas City would be over the moon with their decision to draft Peters, out of Washington, with the 18th overall pick in this year’s draft.
This may be an unpopular selection with a few NFL purists, given Jets defensive tackle Leonard Williams has quietly been excellent this season. But Peters should claim the award if he keeps up his superb pass defence in the Chiefs’ secondary. He has three interceptions (equal fifth in the NFL), including a 55-yard pick-six off a Peyton Manning pass in Week 2. He also has 11 pass deflections (equal-fourth in the NFL).
Honourable mention: Leonard Williams
Offensive Player of the Year: Devonta Freeman
With many of the NFL’s top-tier running backs struggling with injury, inconsistent play or both through the first half of the season, the stage was set for some of the league’s lesser known players to breakout. But few predicted Freeman would be one of them.
The Falcons have been predominantly a passing offence since drafting quarterback Matt Ryan and Julio Jones a few seasons ago, and the Falcons drafted Indiana running back Tevin Coleman in the third round this year to compete for carries. The first two weeks of the season were basically what people were expecting out of Freeman and the Falcons rushing attack. He averaged only two yards a carry and the Falcons relied on Ryan’s arm in wins over the Eagles and Giants.
But then in Week 3 against Dallas something changed. Freeman had three touchdowns and 141 yards and then followed that up the following week with another three rushing touchdowns. He leads the league in rushing yards (709) and rushing touchdowns (9) and has also added 353 yards and a touchdown as a pass-catcher.
Honourable mention: Rob Gronkowski
Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Norman
It’s been a while since a cornerback picked up the defensive MVP award – players capable of shutting down one side of the field don’t always finish with the most ostentatious of numbers. Norman was the exception to start the season, perhaps because it took teams a few weeks to work out how good he was.
He has four interceptions – including two returned for touchdowns – and 12 pass deflections, and along the way has kept some of the NFL’s top receivers quiet.
Norman was named the NFC defensive player of the month for September and is rated the league’s top coverage corner by Pro Football Focus. His numbers may plateau as the season goes on, but it will only be because quarterbacks stop throwing his way.
Honourable mention: Take your pick from anyone on the Denver Broncos defence
Coach of the Year: Ron Rivera
When the Panthers lost their top wide receiver, Kelvin Benjamin, to a torn ACL before the season started, many predicted their offence would be stagnant and predictable. Instead, they have run the ball with authority, found ways to get the ball to talented tight-end Greg Olsen, utilised the abilities of Cam Newton, and relied on their impressive defence to keep them in games.
Rivera was nicknamed ‘Riverboat Ron’ last year for his willingness to gamble on fourth-down. But he’s only rarely had cause to throw caution to the wind this season, as Newton has continued to mature as a quarterback.
The Panthers faced a relatively easy start to the season, but turned heads when they went into Seattle and upset the Seahawks. They are the real deal and Riverboat Ron should be rewarded for his hard work with a Coach of the Year nod.
Honourable mention: Marvin Lewis
Comeback Player of the Year: Chris Johnson
On February 15 this year, the New York Jets declined the second year of Chris Johnson’s contract, making him a free-agent in the 2015 off-season.
On March 8 this year, Johnson was shot in the shoulder during a drive-by in Orlando, in which the driver of the vehicle, Dreekius Oricko Johnson, was killed.
On August 17 this year, Johnson agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
On September 23, Johnson turned 30, the age running backs are supposed to start showing significant decline.
After week 8, Johnson has the second-most rushing yards in the NFL, behind only breakout star Devonta Freeman. He has 676 yards at 4.8 yards per carry and three touchdowns, as the Cardinals have started the season 6-2.
To come back from free agency and play a major role on a playoff contender is one thing. To do it after being shot is another story altogether.
Johnson was once lauded as the best running back in the NFL while at the Titans and had what is considered to be one of the best ever seasons for a running back in NFL history in 2009. He rushed for 2006 yards and had more than 2500 yards from scrimmage while scoring 16 touchdowns. What he is achieving now with the Cardinals is different to his tenure at the Titans, but it may turn out to be just as special.
Honourable mention: Doug Martin
Fantasy Player of the Year: Devonta Freeman
If you drafted Freeman in your fantasy league then kudos. You no doubt rode his four-straight games of 25-plus points to first place (weeks 3 to 6). Freeman came from almost nowhere to lead all flex players in points (147) through seven weeks. In fact, he leads the next-best running back by a massive 58 fantasy points.
The Falcons were expected to remain a pass-heavy offence under Dan Quinn in 2015, but a healthy dose of carries against Dallas in Week 3 saw Freeman’s season explode. There are always a few players that breakout from season to season, but few have been as dominant and consistent as Freeman over the first half of the season.
Honourable mention: Tom Brady
NFL MVP: Tom Brady
In 2010, Brady became the first player to be unanimously voted NFL MVP, collecting all 50 votes after a season in which the Patriots went 14-2 and he threw 36 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also threw for 3900 yards, had a passer rating of 111 and a record streak of 335 passes without being intercepted.
It was the second MVP award of his Hall of Fame career.
This season Brady is on track to record 5300 yards and 45 touchdowns. The Patriots are undefeated and Brady currently only has one interception and a passer rating of 115, the best mark since his record-breaking 2007 season.
Brady has been shrouded in controversy since last season’s shellacking of the Colts in the AFC Championship game. Initially suspended for the first four games after the ‘deflategate’ investigation, Brady has played every down as if he has a point to prove. He has dissected defences with ease as the Patriots have scored at least 28 points in every game to remain one of the league’s unbeaten.
There are a few other players worthy of being in the conversation, but Brady should be your MVP again this year. He is playing at the highest level in what should be the twilight of his career.
Honourable mention: Andy Dalton
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