It’s the mid-way point of the NFL season this week, which of course means plenty of pontificating and meaningless award giving. I want in on the fun so here are the 2011 Midseason Musings!
Offensive Rookie of the (Half) Year: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
It’s easy to say Cam Newton since he has some wicked stat lines, but Dalton’s getting it done for a 6-2 that NO ONE thought would be a contender. He’s up over 60% in completions and has twelve scores and only seven picks on the season. Thanks to fellow rookie A.J. Green, Dalton has the trappings of a bona fide Rookie of the Year.
Honorable Mention: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Defensive Rookie of the (Half) Year: Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers
Yeah baby. He’s racked up 6.5 sacks and on a 7-1 team with a bruising defense. For all the talk of how raw he was going to be, he’s certainly bypassed the potential phase of his career. (At least in his first eight games.)
Honorable Mention: Von Miller, Denver Broncos
Biggest Surprise: Cincinnati Bengals
Yeah… I pretty much whiffed completely on this one in my preseason predictions. They may not be a legitimate AFC player, but they’re not the bottom-feeder many of us thought they’d be. Andy Dalton’s playing nearly mistake-free football with a great crop of wide-outs and the addition of Nate Clements to the defense has panned out thus far.
Honorable Mention: San Francisco 49ers
Biggest Disappointment: Philadelphia Eagles
It’s hard to not give this award to the NFL’s version of the Miami Heat. They’d have to go on one helluva run in order to even make their December even remotely interesting. Not saying it’s impossible, but they’re not in great position. Michael Vick has regressed back to his Atlanta days and that defense is all too hit-or-miss. The Eagles are way too inconsistent for a team with that kind of talent.
Honorable Mention: Chris Johnson
Coach of the Year: Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
Uh… see above. Somehow Lewis has gotten it done with a rookie QB and top wide receiver and has reignited his defense into one of the top statistical units in the league. I imagine owner Mike Brown will give him another ludicrous extension.
Honorable Mention: Jim Harbaugh
This one was ALMOST a toss-up. Sparano probably should have been fired by now simply because we all know he won’t be back next season. But then he had to go a win a damn game, leaving this award all alone for Jim Caldwell. Peyton Manning doesn’t play linebacker, so there’s no reason your defense should ever give up 62 points in a game. This team has given up on its season and that stems from a problem with its leadership. He might not be around to make a decision on drafting Andrew Luck.
Honorable Mention: Tony Sparano
League MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Uh… McDuh. His team is 8-0. He’s on pace to smash all sorts of records this season and unlike Drew Brees (who’s on pace to break the passing yardage mark) he’s keeping his interceptions low (3). His completion percentage? 72.5. It’s like a season of Madden. Rodgers could have rested on his laurels after finally winning a Super Bowl, but instead he’s gone out and upped his game to a level we may not have seen before. (Since that one year Brady went ballistic.)
Honorable Mention: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
That’s it for the Midseason Musings! Let’s get ready for the rest of a fantastically exciting and wide-open 2011 season.
