By: Martin Rand, III
Date: November 5, 2011
We have reached the halfway point in the NFL season and, so far, it has been a very entertaining season. Some teams have been surprising, for exceeding far past even their own expectations and for being so terribly bad they make the game of football unwatchable; and other teams have been the same bad they've always been.
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| Here are the best and worst players and teams in the first-half of the NFL season. |
In this report, I'll tell you about the most shocking teams and give out mid-season awards, to those players who have shown exceptional skill in the first half of the season. Awards are given based on current stats and teams are judged by their performance on the field.
NFL MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers GB
This was easy. The reigning Superbowl MVP picked up right where he left off last season. Not only is his team the only undefeated team left in the NFL, but he is playing at an exceptionally high level. He's doing things that other greats have never done and it's time to start considering him as, if not the best, one of the best in the league.
Offensive Player of the Year: WR Calvin Johnson DET
Calvin Johnson is another record breaker in the first-half. He is the first WR to catch two TDs in each of the first five games to start a season. The result, he now has 11 total TDs and is eyeing Randy Moss' record for most TD receptions in a season. Johnson has proved that he is the biggest offensive target when he steps on the field.
Defensive Player of the Year: SS George Wilson BUF
I know no one knows who this is, but he is a big part of the Buffalo Bills resurgence this season. He is the only player in the top three for total tackles, solo tackles and INTs. Add in a forced fumble and you have a player covering both the run and the pass at a high level.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: QB Cam Newton CAR
I was thinking Andy Dalton should get this because his team is winning; but, after seeing what Cam Newton is actually doing this year, it was clear he has been the best offensive rookie so far. Not only is he leading all rookies in passing categories, but he is in the top five of all rushing categories as well. Newton is carving up defenses with his arm as well as his legs. He just has to transfer his stellar play into wins for his team.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: OLB Ryan Kerrigan WAS
Ryan Kerrigan has done things that no other defensive rookie has done. He is the only rookie to be in the top six in tackles, INTs, forced fumbles and pass defended. Plus, he is the only rookie to score a defensive TD. Kerrigan is doing everything and anything he can to help the Washington Redskins win.
Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh SF
With virtually the San Francisco 49ers team Mike Singletary had last season, Jim Harbaugh has managed to equal the same number of wins they won all last season (6-10) in the first-half of this season (6-1). He has somehow managed to make former number one overall pick Alex Smith into a NFL QB and that itself is a coaching accomplishment. In his first year as a head coach, he looks as if he belongs on the sideline and he is proving it each Sunday.
Kicker of the Year: Jason Hanson DET
Many don't think kickers are important but they play a big role in football games. In the first-half, no one has done a better job than Jason Hanson at using their feet to help their team. He is tied for most field goals made and is perfect on extra points. But, what sets him apart from other kickers is his work on kickoffs. He is in the top three in KO yards and touchbacks.
Best Shocking Team: Detroit Lions
This was an easy one for me. Nothing about the Lions has been good in over a decade. They've set record lows for being bad, like being the only team in the modern era to post a 0-16 record during the regular season. But this year, they got off to a 5-game winning streak, which combined with their winning streak to end last season set the franchise winning streak record. Plus, they're just fun to watch. Whether their on defense, with Ndamukong Suh, or on offense, with Johnson, you just have a feeling that you're going to see a highlight play on every possession.
Worst Shocking Team: Philadelphia Eagles
In a hetic off-season, they signed A LOT of the top free agents; so, they were dubbed the dream team. How did they respond? They just lost four of their first five games and looked nothing like the team we saw last season. With all their new additions, they had to learn the offense and defense, and it seems like their now getting the hang of it. By the end of the season, they could turn things around; but no team in the first-half has been as disappointing as the Eagles.
Ugliest Shocking Team: Indianapolis Colts
I knew the Colts weren't going to be what they usually were. How could they? They lost Peyton Manning for the whole season and had no back-up ready to step in and play. I can understand all of that. But, what I can't understand is why they are so horrible as a team. Yes, the offense was going to struggle, but how does that affect the defense? The least they could do is attempt to keep the Colts in a game, but they're letting offenses run and pass all over them. I've never seen an offensive player effect the defense so much. This season proves that Manning should've won the MVP every year. With him, they're a title contending, 11 or 12 game winning team. Without him, they're winless and a disgrace to the professional game of football.
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