The 2015 season hasn't even started yet, but there are already frontrunners for the player of the year awards. I thought it would be fun to make picks at the start of the season, middle of the season, and then of course again at the end of the season. Let's jump in!
Offensive rookie of the year: Amari Cooper. Sorry, I'm not convinced that it's going to be Jameis or Mariota...I'm just not sold on either one (at least not yet). Amari Cooper, however? I believe he boosts the Raiders from winning 2/3 games a season, to winning 6/7 games a season. No, he doesn't make the Raiders a Super Bowl or even playoff team, but he will definitely give opposing secondaries a hard time.
Defensive rookie of the year: Randy Gregory. I'm not even kidding, I used refer to Randy Gregory as "the gem that fell to the second round." With good reason, though, as he did get into some trouble earlier this year. Still, all of that aside, Randy Gregory will fill the hole in the Cowboys' pass rush while Greg Hardy serves his much too short, 4 game suspension. If you need further convincing as to why Gregory is already a frontrunner for DROTY, just check out some of his game film from his time at Nebraska...so good it's almost scary.
Offensive player of the year: Antonio Brown or Andrew Luck. I honestly cannot narrow it down to just 1. Antonio Brown will again, dominate the WR position this season; but Andrew Luck just seems to get better and better every season. And look at that receiving corp he's surrounded by...it's almost childish how talented it is. I could make a case for either Luck or Brown to win OPOTY...but right now, it's just too close to tell.
Defensive player of the year: JJ Watt. Come on, you had to see it coming. There is just not a better defensive player in the NFL right now, than JJ Watt. Enough said.
Comeback player of the year: Eric Berry. An all-time favorite of mine. It was hard not to love the guy before, but now that he's overcome and returning from a hard-fought battle with cancer, it's almost impossible to not want to see Berry dominate the league at his position again, and also win every award/honor possible.
Breakout player: Blake Bortles or Jordan Matthews. No, the Jags will not be going to the playoffs this year...they probably won't even win more than 7 games. But you can bet that Blake Bortles will make a huge leap at the quarterback position. You can expect a few more touchdowns, one or two fewer interceptions, and a couple comeback, game-winning drives from Bortles. I think this season we really get a glimpse at how good Blake Bortles can and will be in the NFL. Jordan Matthews has big shoes to fill. Considering one of Philly's finest, Jeremy Maclin, is now in Kansas City, someone has to take over and pick up that slack. Matthews is that guy.
Coach of the year: Mike Zimmer. Love what Zimmer is doing in Minnesota, and I cannot wait to see what this season brings for the Vikings. I love the direction they are headed and I think Mike Zimmer was the perfect fit for head coach. Just what the Vikings needed.
Surprise teams that will miss the playoffs this year: 49ers (not a surprise, I know), Panthers (just don't see them making a postseason run, this year), Broncos (sorry, a Gary Kubiak-led team without one of their best offensive players, Julius Thomas, just doesn't scream 'playoffs' to me).
That is all for now.
As always, Go Patriots!
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