Updated NFL Award Leaders: J.J. Watt In Class By Himself
By Erik Lambert
Oct 9, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. The Colts beat the Texans 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Six weeks in and the watch for NFL award winners continues to get more interesting. Have there been any recent changes?
MVP: Philip Rivers – San Diego Chargers
DeMarco Murray is most definitely a candidate that is gaining in this race but the fact is he’s had the benefit of playing behind arguably the best offensive line in football. Philip Rivers cannot say the same. He’s been under pressure constantly for the San Diego Chargers but keeps playing at a ridiculously high level and finding ways to get his team wins. There is no question without him the Chargers would not be 4-1.
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt – Houston Texans
He’s another guy who deserves MVP consideration but facts are facts. Voters just don’t give defensive players the time of day on that award, but J.J. Watt is far and away the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. In six games he has 26 tackles, four sacks, six pass deflections, an interception and three touchdowns. The scary part? He’s done it without having Jadeveon Clowney on the field yet.
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians – Arizona Cardinals
The race for this honor is hotter than ever with guys like Mike McCoy and Jason Garrett deserving consideration, but of the teams in the NFL with only one loss, the Arizona Cardinals have done it largely without their starting quarterback Carson Palmer. That is a testament to the coaching job accomplished by Bruce Arians, who has his team leading the best division in football.
Assistant Coach of the Year: Rod Marinelli – Dallas Cowboys
A big part of why Garrett is up for the COY award is because he was lucky enough to be part of the decision by the Dallas Cowboys to put Rod Marinelli in charge of the defense. The job the veteran coach has done on that unit (15 overall, 9th in points allowed) considered where they were last year and the injuries they’ve suffered through is nothing short of remarkable.
Comeback Player of the Year: Rolando McClain – Dallas Cowboys
How many people had this guy written off after he abruptly retired from Baltimore? This following a forgettable stint in Oakland as a former 1st round pick. Rolando McClain was left for dead, understandably so. Then, suddenly, he has not only re-emerged in Dallas but has become one of their best defensive players with 27 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and two interceptions. His efforts have helped key a turnaround in Big D, and it deserves more credit.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kelvin Benjamin – Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton has been able to keep the Carolina Panthers afloat the past few weeks despite ongoing problems on defense. A big part of his success has been the addition of rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. The massive 6’5″ target leads NFL rookies in yards (416) and touchdowns (4). He’s also leading in plays of 20 yards or more. Benjamin is becoming that go-to threat the Panthers hoped he’d be.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Kyle Fuller – Chicago Bears
So it’s clear the guy that shut him down must be defensive rookie of the year, right? Indeed Kyle Fuller held Benjamin to just 38 yards on three catches but his success goes beyond that. The 14th overall pick of the Chicago Bears also ranks 5th among rookies in tackles and 1st in interceptions and forced fumbles. He already looks like a seasoned pro and he’s only 22-years old.