2011 NFL Awards

2011 has been one of the crazier seasons in recent memory. We've seen three separate teams come from 17+ points down to win in consecutive games (Bills, Lions, Patriots), the 49ers making a ridiculous one-year turnaround under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, and records galore broken. We've seen a rookie quarterback that was widely considered a project break numerous rookie records, and we've witnessed two 500 yard passing games this season (Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford). With this post, I'm writing about who I think SHOULD win, not necessarily who will win each award.

Comeback Player of the Year

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions - After playing in only three games last season due to injury, Stafford was able to bounce back in a big way this season, and led the Lions to their first playoff berth since the 1999 season. Stafford joined Drew Brees (twice), Dan Marino and Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to pass for over 5,000 yards in a season, thanks in large part to his 520 yard performance against the Packers on Sunday. For the season, Stafford completed 63.5% of his passes for 5,038 yards, with 41 touchdowns to 16 interceptions. In most seasons, those numbers would surely have made him a shoe-in for M.V.P. as well.
Honorable Mention: Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers (79 catches, 1,394 yards, 7 TD); Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos (249 rushes, 1,199 yards, 4 TD); Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers (61.4% completions, 17 TD, 5 INT, 90.7 passer rating)

Coach of the Year

Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers - Despite not being able to implement his playbooks and coaching philosophies in mini-camps and off-season training activities due to the NFL lockout, Jim Harbaugh was able to change the culture in the locker room in San Francisco, taking an under-achieving team that went 6-10 last season to 13-3 and the NFC's #2 seed in the playoffs. He's been able to shape a gameplan to the strengths of quarterback Alex Smith, allowing him to finally start performing like the organization had hoped when it took him #1 overall (over Aaron Rodgers) in the 2005 Draft, including a 90.7 passer rating, with 17 touchdown passes to only five interceptions.
Honorable Mention: Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals; John Fox, Denver Broncos; Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers - Many (myself included) thought Cam Newton would struggle making the adjustment to the pro game due to the lockout and his lack of experience in a pro-style offense. I couldn't have been more wrong, as Newton broke the rookie records for rushing touchdowns (14) and passing yards (4,051), while leading the Panthers to a top-ten finish in total offense.
Honorable Mention: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (58.9% completions, 3,166 yards, 20 TD, 13 INT, 81,8 passer rating);

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers - Smith led all rookies in sacks with 14.0 (good for fifth in the NFL), helping San Francisco rank in the top seven in total defense (4th) and sacks (7th). Smith is still learning how to play outside linebacker, as he was a defensive end at Missouri, so he only saw the field on passing situations. He'll probably never be a great coverage linebacker, but has the athletic ability to continue evolving as a pass-rusher, as well as setting the edge for the 49ers defense.
Honorable Mention: Von Miller, Denver Broncos (64 tackles, 11.5 sacks); Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins (63 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles); Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals (64 tackles, 2 INT, 4 punt return TD)

Offensive Player of the Year

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints - Brees was the #2 rated passer behind Aaron Rodgers, but perhaps no team relies so heavily on one player as the Saints do with Brees. Number 9 set the single-season passing yardage record (5,476), besting Dan Marino's 27 year-old record by almost 400 yards. He also set an NFL record with seven straight games with 300 or more yards passing, and threw for 46 touchdowns against only 14 interceptions.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (4,643 yards passing, 45 pass TD, 6 INT); Tom Brady, New England Patriots (5,235 yards passing, 39 pass TD, 12 INT), Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (5,038 yards passing, 41 TD, 16 INT)

Defensive Player of the Year

Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings - Allen again wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks, finishing the season a half-sack from tying former Giant Michael Strahan's record of 22.5. The amazing thing is that his team played so poorly, that Allen very rarely got an opporunity to pin his ears back and pass-rush in obvious passing downs. He also had four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries, and left little doubt that he's still the top dog in the league when it comes to getting after the quarterbacks.
Honorable Mention: DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys (58 tackles, 19.5 sacks); Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers (74 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 7 INT, 1 defensive TD); Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens (70 tackles, 14.0 sacks, 2 INT, 7 forced fumbles)

Most Valuable Player

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers - You could easily make the case for Brees, Brady or Stafford here as well, as all had MVP-caliber seasons, but Rodgers has been the most consistent quarterback throughout the season, and the team was 14-1 in games he started. After sitting out the season finale against the Lions to rest up for the postseason, Rodgers still threw for 4,643 yards, 45 TD against 6 INT, and led the league in passer rating with a 122.5. He was also effective scrambling, rushing for an additional 257 yards and 3 TD.
Honorable Mention: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints; Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions; Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Over the next week, I'll have my First and Second All-Pro picks, as well as playoff power rankings and predictions for the Wild Card round.