NFL: 2011 Midseason Awards

The 2011 NFL season is flying by right before our eyes. It seems like just yesterday we were in the midst of the lockout, wondering if we would even be able to watch football this year in the pros. But enough of the sentimental thoughts, its time to give out The Jockstrap’s midseason awards. The winners could easily change by week 17, but this is a list of players who have preformed well enough in the first eight weeks of the season to capture the coveted AP awards. 

NFL MVP: Aaron Rodgers (2,372 yards; 20 tds; 3 ints; 71.5 cmp%)

This one is a bit of a no brainer. Rodgers has been the most dominant player in the league thus far while leading the defending champs to a 7-0 record. He’s on pace to challenge Dan Marino’s passing yard record and to break Drew Brees’ record for completion percentage in a single season. 

Still in the Hunt: Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Calvin Johnson

Offensive Player of the Year: Calvin Johnson (679 yards; 10 tds; 41 rec)

It’s rare for the MVP to win the OPTY award in the same season, so I’m giving this award to the Lions all-world wideout Calvin Johnson. The play of Matt Stafford has been important to the Lions success this year, but how many times have we seen Johnson take over the game. The comeback victory over the Cowboys was all because of Johnson, who can win any jump-ball in the endzone no matter whose guarding him. 

Still in the Hunt: Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Fred Jackson

Defensive Player of the Year: Darrelle Revis (4 ints; 20 tackles; 10 catches allowed)

In my mind, Revis should have won the award in ’09 when he had one of the best seasons for a corner in recent memory. Instead, the award went to Charles Woodson, who had the “sexy stat” with 9 interceptions. This season, the term “Revis Island” has never been more relevant. He has allowed only 10 catches while shutting down receivers like Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson, and Wes Welker. Oh yeah, quarterbacks have a QB rating of 2.9 when passing against Revis. #Dominance. 

Still in the Hunt: DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, Charles Woodson, Ndamukong Suh

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton (2,369 yards rushing/passing; 15 tds r/p)

Another no brainer. Cam has taken the league by storm, easily the most exciting player to watch in the league right now. The only way he doesn’t win the award is if AJ Green and the Bengals continue to play well and make the playoffs. 

Still in the Hunt: AJ Green, Andy Dalton

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller (26 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles)

This may be the most intriguing award race of them all. Miller has been a force for the Denver defense, and lone bright spot of the team. Along with Miller, Arizona’s stud cornerback/return man Patrick Peterson and San Francisco linebacker Aldon Smith are both in the race. Smith could get the nod at the end of the season, seeing as San Francisco is the only team of the three that will likely make the playoffs. 

Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh (6-1 record)

I got Harbaugh here by a nose to Jim Schwartz of the Lions. What Harbaugh has done, taking a team that was expected by many (including me) to be the worst team in the league and making them a frontrunner to get a bye in the playoffs, is extraordinary. Harbaugh has taken Alex Smith and actually turned him into an NFL quality quarterback. More impressive has been his ability to get the respect of the players that he didn’t even get to meet until early August. A rookie head coach performing like this after a long lockout? Unheard of. 

Still in the Hunt: Jim Schwartz, Bill Belicheck, Mike Tomlin, Marvin Lewis