Way Too Early Prediction for NFL Awards

While we continue to wait for the lockout to end so free agency can start or for College Football to pick back up, I thought I’d take a way too early look at the players I think could shine this year and win the end of the season awards. I would much rather be going over Team Previews for next year right now, but I’m going to hold off on those until free agency happens because that can really change the way I view teams.

M.V.P.

Philip Rivers

The M.V.P. almost always goes to a Quarterback and somtimes a running back (recently) and I don’t think next year will be any different. Rivers plays in a relatively weak division (though Kansas City and Oakland are improving) and he’s a stat monster. Last year 4,710 yards passing, 30 TD and 13 INT.

If not a quarterback then:

Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans

I think the time is coming soon when a Wide receiver will have a real shot at winning the M.V.P. even though it’s never happened before. That’s right, a WR hasn’t won the coveted M.V.P. trophy, but in 1982 a place kicker won the award. Go figure.

Anyway, the Texans have a real chance at competing for a playoff spot this year with the Titans and Jaguars expected to be down if they go with rookie quarterbacks. Johnson is one of the few WR in the league that could win the award over the teams quarterback if he has a huge offensive season.

Dark horse

Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants.

This could be wisfhul thinking, but there is an outside chance. The Giants have had one of the most consistently productive offenses in the league since 2005 and Eli Manning has put up better numbers every year. Last season he threw for his second consecutive season of over 4,000 yards and also chipped in 30 touchdowns. If he puts up similar numbers and cuts his INT in half, he becomes a possibility playing in such a large market on a team that is expected to win a lot of games.

Defensive Player of the year

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions-This is more of a dark horse pick because interior Defensive linemen rarely win this award, but Suh had a whopping 10 sacks last year as a rookie to go along with 4 Pass deflection, 49 solo tackles, an INT and a Defensive touchdown. With the Lions expected to add more talent to the back end of their defense (and the addition of Nick Fairley) Suh could be in for an even bigger year this year. If he has 12 sacks from the DT position he could win this award.

The Odds on Favorite

Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers

I imagine this is the player most people expect to win the award. Fans and writers alike love his hustle and ability to make plays all over the field. Another season like last year and he’ll win this award.

Dark Horse pick

My Favortism wants to go with Justin Tuck here. As one of the top two way defensive ends in the league, but I’ll go with a real big dark horse pick here

Eric Berry, FS, Kansas City Chiefs

Little known fact, but since 2004 three safeties have won the defensive player of the year award while from 1971 to 2003 two safeties won the defensive player of the year award (Dick Anderson of the Dolphins in 1973, and Kenny Easley of the Seahawks in 84).

The reason for this is because the new breed of safety matters more in the N.F.L. because of the reliance on throwing the football. Good safeties put up big numbers and Berry had a very good rookie year. Last season he had 92 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 INT a forced fumble and a touchdown. Great numbers for his rookie year. Berry had admitted to hitting the “rookie wall” so another year of getting accustomed to the league could pay off big for the Chiefs and Eric Berry.

Coach of the Year

Mike Mcarthy Green Bay Packers

It’s a shame he didn’t win last year. I thought he did a great job. I expect even a reasonably good showing will nab him the award this time.

Darkhorse Candidate:

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans

I think Kubiak is a pretty bad head coach, but if he can get the Texans to the playoffs he has a shot at winning the award. A brilliant offensive mind, but loses too many games in inexplicable ways for my personal tastes.

General Manger of the Year:

INCOMPLETE

Free Agency is a big part of this, I’ll hold off until that happens.

The Draft Winners:

Mikey Loomis (Saints), Jerry Reese (Giants), Martin Mayhew (Lions)

I think those are my three favorite drafts this past-off season so right now they’re ahead.

Offensive Rookie of the year:

A.J. Green-Bengals

If T.O. and Ochocinco leave the Bengals it seems reasonable to figure that A.J. Green will have a lot of opportunities to catch the football. He might not put up huge numbers with a rookie quarterback, but I think he has a good chance. Julio Jones will see too many of his passes go to Roddy White, I believe.

Darkhorse-Mikel LeShoure, RB, Lions

I think by the end of the season LeShoure has a shot to be the Lions #1 Running back. If that happens he could have some pretty impressive numbers .

Defensive rookie of the year:

Kevlin Sheppard, LB, Bills

I think Sheppard has as good a chance as any other rookie linebacker to start the first week of the season. He also has a chance to rack in more than a 100 tackles with the Bills as a starter in the 34 defense. It’s hard for rookie cornerbacks and defensive linemen (not named Suh) to have a major impact so I’m going to with a smart player I think fits the system well with Sheppard.

These are my way to early NFL Awards predictions. What do you guys think?

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