Fansided
Fansided

NFL awards: Wide open Rookie of the Year races so far in 2019

By A.J. Fagerlin

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Gardner Minshew #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars walks off the field during halftime against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on September 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Gardner Minshew #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars walks off the field during halftime against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on September 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
MIAMI, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Coach of the Year

Bill Belichick, New England Patriots

As was the case for Lebron James for a long stretch of time in the NBA regarding the NBA MVP award, if this award went to “the best” coach in the NFL, you could argue that Bill Belichick should win it every year.

But this season in particular, Belichick has proven to be a vital factor in what is keeping the Patriots atop the league: their defense. Watching the Patriots on defense late in the game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Belichick was clearly signaling the defenders, and is likely in full control of the New England defense after the departure of Matt Patricia and Brian Flores.

Patricia and Flores are just the latest New England defensive coaches to snag head coaching positions in the NFL. But with them leaving, Belichick seems to be taking a more hands-on approach with his defense. With what result? Oh, they’re just the best defense in the league.

Yards, points, turnovers, passing yards, rushing yards, you name it, the Patriots defense is top two in nearly every statistical category. The offense hasn’t been awful either, ranking in the top five in points and top 10 in passing. The team’s record? 4-0. They have already beaten each of the other three teams in the division, and are the clear favorites in the AFC East.

Bill Belichick seems to always have his team prepared, both mentally and physically, for each and every opponent. Even without taking into account the fact that he is responsible for putting this team together as the team’s essential GM, head coach Bill Belichick is unquestionably one of the best in the league, and is having one of his best season’s in recent history through four weeks of the season.

Home/NFL Hot Takes