NFL: Award Watch at the Quarter Mark

We’re officially one quarter of the way through the NFL season. While there is still a lot of football to be played, I think it’s safe to start talking NFL Awards, and who’s driving the conversations so far.

Some are pretty obvious (cough cough… Peyton Manning) and others are not at all set in stone, but there is plenty to talk about so far in 2013. So let’s see who has turned some heads so far this season.

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MVP – Peyton Manning, QB, Denver

There really isn’t much of a debate here. Peyton Manning is off to a historical start, and has propelled the Broncos to the top of most power rankings. His supporting cast is definitely top-notch with resurgences out of Knowshon Moreno and Wes Welker, but it’s obvious that Manning is the catalyst that has driven this Denver team to the top of the AFC.

Through four games, Peyton has thrown for 1470 yards and 16 touchdowns to zero interceptions. If he were to continue on this pace, he would end the season with 75% completion percentage, 5880 yards and 64 touchdowns to zero interceptions, all of which would be NFL records. It’s ludicrous to suggest that he’ll keep up this pace, but if he performs at least close to this mean, he’s all but a lock to get the MVP, and that may be just the start.

On the Radar – Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans; Adrian Peterson, HB, Minnesota

Drew Brees is doing similar things to Peyton in New Orleans, and also merits consideration for his role in the Saints’ undefeated start.

The incumbent Adrian Peterson, on the other hand, is actually off to a better start than last season. Through four games last season, he had 79 carries for 332 rushing yards and two touchdowns. This season? 92 carries for 421 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

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Offensive Player of the Year – LeSean McCoy, HB, Philadelphia

It is easy to go with Peyton Manning for this award as well, as he is the most dominant offensive player in the game right now. I’d argue, however, that LeSean McCoy has been the more devastating offensive weapon in 2013.

He and Michael Vick are enjoying substantial production in Chip Kelly’s offense, but more so is the case with McCoy. On 78 carries, he has rushed for 468 yards for a gaudy six yards per carry. He also has seven catches for 140 yards, but that’s icing on the cake.

McCoy would have to step up his game considerably if he wants to steal the award from Manning at the end of the season, but I really do like his case so far.

On the Radar –Peyton Manning, QB, Denver; Phillip Rivers, QB, San Diego

Second to Peyton Manning in passing touchdowns and passer rating, Phillip Rivers has come out the gate with a head full of steam. After a lackluster 2011 and 2012, Rivers has managed to thrust his name back into the elite category of quarterbacks and could be a dark horse for an award or two.

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Defensive Player of the Year – Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle

This one is tough, because there is a strong case for several players, including Kansas City’s Eric Berry and Justin Houston, Tennessee’s Alterraun Verner and Indy’s Robert Mathis, just to name a few.

Richard Sherman has a certain air about him, though. He is clearly one of the best, if not the best corner in the game, on one of the top defensive units in the game. He also has his “Heisman moment” of the season, if you will, on this pick-six against Houston week four to send the game to overtime, which Seattle would later win. Now that’s taking control of a game.

That’s just what Sherman does. When opposing quarterbacks think twice before throwing Sherman’s waythat opens up doors for the rest of the defense, and Seattle has taken advantage of it. But it all starts with Sherman.

On the Radar – Justin Houston, LB, Kansas City; Alterraun Verner, CB, Tennessee

Through four games, Justin Houston is tied with Robert Mathis for the sacks title at seven and a half, and is an integral part of Kansas City’s success thus far. The Chiefs are getting help from all over, with Dontari Poe and Eric Berry having solid seasons as well, so that detracts from Houston’s individual performance a bit I feel.

Alterraun Verner for the Titans has been incredible this season as well. So far in 2013, the former UCLA corner is tied for the NFL lead with four interceptions, and is also tied for the NFL lead with two fumble recoveries.

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Offensive Rookie of the Year – DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston

DeAndre Hopkins leads all NFL rookie wideouts with 270 receiving yards and has been quite a force opposite Pro Bowler Andre Johnson. Outside of week four’s overtime loss to Seattle where he got three, Hopkins has averaged 8.7 targets per game from Matt Schaub, and has been converting with regularity.

The former Clemson Tiger has gone above and beyond what’s been asked of him, which is simply pulling off attention on Andre Johnson, and has become an integral part of Houston’s offensive gameplan. Going forward, he should get even better.

On the Radar – Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati; Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, New England; EJ Manuel, QB, Buffalo

It is tough to choose DeAndre Hopkins over Kenbrell Thompkins, and many may disagree with me. However, Thompkins has only 15 catches on 39 targets, which is a huge disparity between balls caught and balls hitting the turf (Hopkins has 20 catches on 29 targets). Still, catching passes from Tom Brady is a good way to get your name known, and that may be the case by the end of the season for the former Cincinnati receiver.

EJ Manuel, Giovani Bernard and Geno Smith could all easily solidify themselves as frontrunners for the award too if they catch fire.

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Defensive Rookie of the Year- Kiko Alonso, LB, Buffalo

Kiko Alonso has been all over the field for Buffalo so far in 2013. Tied with Aqib Talib and Alterraun Verner for an NFL leading four interceptions and adding 32 combined tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, the rookie out of Oregon is treating the football field like a buffet, grabbing a little bit of everything to fill up his stat sheet.

If Alonso keeps going about his business and no one behind him explodes to the front of conversation, I think he’s all but a lock to take home defensive rookie honors.

On the Radar – Tyrann Mathieu, S, Arizona; Kenny Vacarro, S, New Orleans

Keeping either of these two from exploding might be a tough task, however. Mathieu has been doing exactly what he was doing at LSU in 2011 for the Arizona Cardinals. I spoke of Sherman having his “Hesiman moment?” Well, Mathieu has three: a forced fumble to stop a touchdown and bail a teammate out, a fourth-down tackle to clinch the victory for his team and a beautiful athletic interception off of Drew Brees. He’s a monster game away from being in the driver’s seat himself.

Kenny Vaccaro on the other hand has been solid, if not stellar stepping in for injured Roman Harper. If his opportunities keep coming, he has as good a shot as either of these two at the award.

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Head Coach of the Year – Sean Payton, New Orleans

Sean Payton has shown why he’s one of the top coaches in the NFL so far in 2013. As if he never missed a beat, he has coached his team to a 4-0 start, and shows no signs of letting up. It’s all very reminiscent of 2009, when the Saints started 13-0 en route to the franchise’s first Super Bowl.

Don’t construe that as my Super Bowl pick, but the Saints look to be as well coached as any team in the NFL right now.

On the Radar – Andy Reid, Kansas City; Mike Munchak, Tennessee

It’s hard to ignore what Andy Reid has done in Kansas City so far as well. With a plethora of Pro Bowlers in Kansas City, it’s no surprise that the Chiefs are undefeated. Still, Reid deserves credit for doubling the team’s 2012 win total in four weeks.

A guy who I also feel is being underappreciated this season is Tennessee’s Mike Munchak. At 3-1, this Tennessee team is one of the more balanced teams in the NFL right now, especially on the defensive side of the ball. With Jake Locker out with a hip injury, these next couple weeks will help determine just how much Munchak is in the conversation for the award, as Kansas City, Seattle and San Francisco are just around the corner for the Titans.

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Comeback Player of the Year- Brian Orakpo, LB, Washington

After tearing his left pectoral muscle in week two of the 2012 season, Brian Orakpo has been his normal, explosive self, with 17 tackles and three sacks so far in 2013. Washington has been off to a slow start so far in 2013, after many had them picked as overwhelming favorites in the NFC East.

That hasn’t been the case so far, but the season isn’t lost for the Redskins just yet. With London Fletcher getting up there in years, a lot of pressure will be on Orakpo to step up on defense if the Redskins want to stay in the playoff picture.

On the Radar –Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington; Darrelle Revis, CB, Tampa Bay; Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City

There is no all-encompassing rule of thumb for the Comeback Player of the Year award in the NFL. It’s usually injuries or surgeries that force a player to the sideline. In 2013, though, there are some pretty odd candidates.

Robert Griffin III is an interesting option, as his injury occurred on his last game of the season. His injury was particularly gruesome and controversial, which is one reason why he’s a solid candidate.

Revis, of course, missed most of the season. In addition, he has to face the adversity of a brand new team, which could factor into his candidacy as well.

Alex Smith may be the strangest of the three cases. I don’t think there’s a “getting benched and then traded” article in the fine print of the Comeback Player description. The former Ute hasn’t been a haymaker, but his team is currently undefeated whereas the 49ers are sitting at .500 right now. Some may even consider Phillip Rivers in the discussion as well. Either way, there is still a lot of football to be played, and these awards are far from set in stone.

Except for Peyton Manning; he’s already got his locked up.

 

–Anyone I missed? Feel free to let me know by commenting, or by following me on Twitter, @sethejuneac.