The Half Season Awards

We are halfway through the 2011 NFL season and it is time to give out the awards and there are not really any tough decisions.  At this point the front runners are seeming to run away, but plenty can still happen to change these current choices.

Coach of the half year:

As of right now, it is fairly simple as it has to go to 49er coach Jim Harbaugh.  They are sitting at 7-1 and have beaten some good teams along the way.  This team has not been a player in what has been a terrible division for the past few years.  The 49ers have pretty much wrapped up the division at this point and I don't think anything could change that as even if the quarterback Alex Smith went down, they would be able to fill the role and the way this team runs.  Jim Schwartz could challenge if they end up with 12 plus wins and the 49ers do the same, but nobody had predicted this outcome so quickly for San Francisco and people did expect the Lions to start getting better, which would hurt Schwartz's chances.

MVP:

Rodgers has the MVP wrapped up

Easiest choice on the board as this goes to Aaron Rodgers as he is playing better than any quarterback in the history of the NFL at this point.  His QB rating is almost 30 points higher than the nearest competitor and I don't see any slowing down.  What Rodgers is doing is unprecedented and is the most impressive play out of a quarterback ever.  These comments are not from a fan either.  The NFL should implement some sort of extra defense to play against Rodgers as it is not even fair for what he is doing.  He does it from the pocket, he does it on the run and he could probably do it from the field goal post as he is flat out embarrassing NFL defenses at the moment.  There is no close second, but if I had to say anybody it could maybe be Drew Brees or Calvin Johnson, but I would lean towards Brees at the moment.  If Calvin could start hauling in 2 touchdown passes a game and finish with a record 25 touchdown receptions, I am still not sure that he wouldn't finish second to Rodgers at his current pace.

Rookie of the year:

I misspoke earlier as this is a tough choice in my opinion.  I know the consensus are going to say Cam Newton, but Andy Dalton has the Bengals sitting at 6-2 and the Panthers are currently at 2-6.  Newton has definitely surprised from a passing perspective, but I do see him slowing down somewhat as defenses have more tape on him.  Dalton, on the other hand might be able to sneak the Bengals into the wild card and that would be tough to deny him on that basis as he is doing it with his arm as well.  Maybe not as much as Newton, but it is not like he has the Jets defense and Adrian Peterson in the backfield.  He has a formidable defense and Cedric Benson, which are decent but not great.  His teammate AJ Green and Julio Jones are in the distance, but a good second half could change the perception as well.  In my opinion, after careful consideration I am going to stick with Newton for now, but I think Dalton will take it over even though I don't think they will make the playoffs as they need to play the Steelers and the Ravens a few times.  Good luck with Andy!

Defensive Player of the year:

This always seems to be based more on how well the team is doing, which takes Jared Allen out of the running even though he and Demarcus Ware are on pace to break the record for sacks in a season.  I would give the edge to Allen out of these 2 because he is playing with a lot less talent and faces more double teams because opposing teams  can afford to.  I think by the end of the season if these 2 keep it up, it will end up being Demarcus Ware as the Cowboys will make a playoff run, even though I think they will fall short.  That is who I think will get it, the person who is the defensive player of the year in my opinion is the Darrelle Revis as he pretty much should be as he is still shutting down the main opposing receiver.  Unless the Jets make a great run in the second half where the defense plays great, Revis will not get the national votes, it will most likely go to the best pass rusher that is on a team that is in the playoff hunt.