NFL Quarterly Awards

As we get through the first quarter of the NFL season, we catch a small glimpse of the teams and players alike that will thrive and make a good playoff run and we have others that have fallen below the expectations of fans.

The early NFL season has had everything we have wanted from unexpected rookies making an impact to veterans struggling in their new teams. Although we are really early in the season, we have still seen enough to be able to award these quarterly awards with hopes that the early season dominance continues for the entire season.

Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

Todd Gurley has burst on the scene after an abysmal 2016, where he had a measly 3.2 yards a carry. In a season where it seemed everything was crumbling around him, Gurley underperformed and lead to many people doubting him as a legit NFL running back. Today he silences any uncertainty and continues to dominate every time he gets his number called, whether it be on the ground or in the air. In 2017, Gurley is second to only Kareem Hunt in rushing yards with 362 and is second to Chris Thompson with receiving yards amongst running backs with 234. At the rate Gurley is going, he is on pace for 2384 of offense (1448 rushing, 936 receiving) and over 24 touchdowns (16 rushing, 8 receiving). Gurley currently leads the NFL in total touchdowns and with the way the Rams are looking, it doesn’t seem like Gurley will slow down anytime soon.

Defensive Player of the Year: Melvin Ingram, Los Angeles Chargers

Melvin Ingram has established himself as a serious pass rusher this year following his 4 year/64 million dollar contract he signed in the offseason. The 28 year old is fourth in most sacks since 2015 with 24 and with his just as dominant counterpart, he has been wreaking havoc with his NFL leading 5.5 sacks amongst linebackers. Ingram uses a combination of strength and speed to go for the quarterback and often times puts the pressure on the QB and forces bad passes or simply just ruins the play for the offense. Ingram has established himself as a leader of the defense, being the defensive team captain after a season ending injury to Brandon Mebane in 2016. With the help of Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram can pat his stats and earn a defensive player of the year with his talent and leadership of a resurgent Chargers defense.

Kenneth's Take - Von Miller, Denver Broncos

Finishing just a few votes shy of last years defensive POY award, and by a few I literally mean a few, Von Miller has come back this NFL season with a similar passion, intensity, and deliberateness to his game. Although not just the "sack artist" he has been in the past, he is still making the most of each and every snap he plays on the field. Although he has only 4 sacks and 14 total tackles on the season, these aren't really reflective of his overall impact on the game as his evolution as a player sees him dropping back into coverage much more often this season. This isn't taking away from his edge though as he was quoted earlier just this week as saying "he needs to figure out more ways to get to the qb." Although that averages out to be a not so bad 1 sack per game, Miller and those around him hold him to a much higher standard than just being "good" or "pretty good." As I suspect he will greatly increase that number over the season, combined with the fact that he regularly wrecks game plans as it is, I would have to go with him as my DPOY thus far. Not only is he doing more, but what he has been doing and has done so well already is so potent. His impact is so potent that regardless of whether he is rushing the passer as much or not, the countering team still spends so much time and attention accounting for him, it has a similar effect. On top of it all, he is the leader and one of the best players on arguably the league's best defense. These are the reasons why right now, Von Miller is my DPOY.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

This one is pretty obvious. Kareem Hunt is currently doing something almost no rookie has ever done, tallying 659 yards of total offense and six total touchdowns in just four games. Drafted in the third round, Hunt wasn't even expecting to get much playing time until a season ending injury to Spencer Ware opened up a starting spot. Hunt happily took the spot and has not looked back since. After fumbling on his first carry, Kareem Hunt has been nothing short of extraordinary. Hunt is a combination of size, speed, and overall athleticism, and has quickly established himself as a top tier NFL running back. His ability to beat defenders in any way every time he has the ball makes for exciting football, especially when he’s had three touchdowns of over 50 yards in the young season. Hunt played a big role in the week one win over the Patriots with 246 yards of offense (148 rushing 98 receiving) and three total touchdowns. Due to his efforts rushing, the Chiefs are currently ranked number one in total rushing yards (654) and rank 2nd in total offensive yards (1620). Every week Hunt has outperformed himself and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, well on his way to breaking Eric Dickerson’s all time rookie rushing yard record and making Ezekiel Elliott's spectacular rookie season a thing of the past.

Kenneth's Take - Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

As stated by my colleague, isn't this the obvious choice? No need to go back over the numbers and draft positioning as he has already so elegantly laid them out. What he has been able to do has been nothing short of amazing. Last year we saw a rookie back come in and dominate as a runner, Ezekiel Elliott, but some would point to his offensive line for his success. Regardless of what you think of the Chief's offensive front, you have to give Hunt the most of the credit because not only is he doing it as a smash mouth inside runner, and skirt skirt outside runner, but he is catching passes out of the backfield like a final form Brian Westbrook in his prime. Honestly, he looks like a bigger, more physical, more durable, and as shocking as it is to say... more electric Jamaal Charles in that Chiefs Red (see what I did there). Now that's high praise, but Hunt deserves it and if he keeps this up, he might just... well, I don't want to get ahead of myself.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: TJ Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

When your older brother is one of the best defensive players, you’re bound to learn a few tips and tricks to be dominant in the NFL. In just three games, the youngest Watt has two sacks and an interception to his credit as well as 13 tackles and an overall natural feel to the game. Winning the starting spot to the machine James Harrison, The Steelers believe they have found a solid outside linebacker in TJ Watt. Watts’ unique ability to make plays regardless of how much he plays is what makes him special and exciting to see how he will develop as the season moves along. In only two defensive snaps against the Ravens, Watt saved a touchdown by chasing down and disrupting Alex Collins, allowing Joe Haden to make the tackle that wouldn’t have been done if Watt wasn’t in the way. TJ understands the meaning of being a team player and also makes plays whenever he has the opportunity.

Kenneth's Take - Tre'Davious White, Buffalo Bills

Now this would have again been a chalk pick, as no one could have imagined the type of impact that T.J. Watt would have on the Steelers this early, and then again you might have considering his last name and genetic makeup. The thing that took Watt out of play for me was the fact that he has missed a game. Outside of that, he would have been, still very well could be, and in fact still is making me anxious about not picking him. However, a rookie defender who not only plays one of the most difficult positions, but also has had to step in from day one is the pick for me here. Tre'Davious White was the Bill's top selection in this past year's draft, as they obviously knew they would not be bringing their then secondary back. Not only has White drawn the number one assignment in every game thus far, but he has actually been very good at it, and not just for a rookie but overall. According to PFT, White is the number eight ranked corner in the league right now, only allowing about half the passes that have come his way to be completed. This is outstanding as he is a rookie, meaning only that he is being targeted heavily but also because out of those receptions, he has only allowed 32 yards after the catch. As any Tom Brady receiver, Greatest Show on Turf WR, or Peyton Manning pass catcher would tell you, it's all about the YAC. Through it all, and just in his rookie season, White has not only proven to not be a risk, but a commodity for what is one of the league's better teams right now, and especially given that they do it mainly relying on their defense.

Comeback Player of the Year: Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

After a disappointing rookie season, the former 1st overall pick has looked like a completely different player. His rookie year, Goff started seven games and never seemed to look comfortable in an NFL offense. He held the ball for too long and made very inaccurate passes as a result of the pressure and his discomfort in the pocket. This year, Goff is standing straight in the pocket, confidently hitting receivers and switching up plays to his comfort. The difference in Goff is night and day and it has led the Rams to a 3-1 record as well as first place in the division and a three game lead in “the battle for LA” over a more experienced gunslinger in Philip Rivers. In four games, Goff already has more touchdown passes (7) and has almost doubled his QB rating from a 63.6 to 112.2. With solid weapons around him and a solid defense to compliment the offense, Goff is an easy candidate for comeback player and is very well on his way to becoming a solid franchise quarterback.

Kenneth's Take - Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Some people are probably scratching their heads right now, with good reason, but dig a little deeper into the scenario and you will see that I had good reason in making this pick as well. Alex Smith has always been what some would call a "serviceable" QB. Although I have always thought more of Smith, he has often times drawn the title of being a "game manager," with a byline of "he won't lose you the game, but he certainly won't win it for you either." Although I thought that was complete bologna in previous years, that is clearly the case now as Alex Smith has come back with a vengeance. Perhaps it was the Chiefs drafting his eventual replacement, or perhaps it has been them putting the pieces in place and then giving him the go ahead to get it to those pieces via the drafting of a "gun slinger" like Mahomes, but either way, it's working. I feel as though he is the comeback player not because he had a "down" or "bad" year last year, I feel this way because he is having such a good year this year, and he appears to be a totally different player. Not only is he playing the game differently as far as approach to moving the ball, by function you would assume, it has given him what seems like an enormous boost in confidence. Let me frame it like this; at 33 years of age, Alex Smith has completely redefined, reconfigured, and transformed himself into something that honestly resembles an elite QB and dare I say, MVP candidate. If hearing that for the first time about yourself at 33, and clearly because you are taking a different approach isn't a "comeback," I don't know what it is. Alex would probably say, "Hey... number one pick here... SO DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK... I BEEN HERE FOR YEARS..." but this definitely qualifies, and why he would be my comeback player of the year.

Most Valuable Player: Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

When the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes in the first round, fans and experts alike thought this was the end of Alex Smith. Head coach Andy Reid just brushed it off and explained that the drafting of Mahomes was to spark up the competition and man did Alex Smith come through. The Chiefs are the only team in the NFL that are undefeated and although the rookie running back has played a role, Alex Smith has done the job and made it clear who the quarterback for the Chiefs is. Completing 76% of his passes and an interception free campaign, Smith makes all the throws and takes good care of the ball and simply manages the game well enough to keep the chiefs in the game and come out with victories. His 89 rushing yards and rushing touchdown also make Smith an underrated athlete and provide the offense with a leader who’s willing to do it all to win the game for his team. Smith is on pace for over 4000 yards, something he has never done in his career, and what better way to celebrate the personal accomplishment than with a well deserving MVP.

Kenneth's Take - Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

In my eyes, the Most Valuable Player of the NFL is either and always going to be the Offensive or Defensive POY, and if it isn't then the awards don't make sense. With that in mind, my NFL MVP and OPOY at the quarter is none other than Kareem Hunt. Bursting onto the scene with a blaze, he devoured the Patriots D in week one. Now as we have come to find out, the Pats D isn't necessarily elite, but Hunt was a rookie who had yet to play a game too, to be fair. Even still and since then, he has done nothing but continue to shred defenses, and honestly make it look easy. Whether he is doing it himself and ripping off a big run, breaking through holes, or winding up on the other end of a pretty pass from his teammate and second place on my list for MVP in his QB Alex Smith, Hunt is a problem with the rock in his hands. Andy Reid often times likes to play the "smartest man in the room" and this time he was right, as even before the Ware injury, Reid was giddy about what he had in Hunt and said that he would get touches. Unfortunate for Ware, his starting job is lost forever as a Chief, but for Hunt and the team, it was a blessing in disguise. As I mentioned, this was tough choice between he and Alex Smith, I just feel Hunt has been a little better than Smith across the first four game of the season. This is the reason why Kareem Hunt is not only my OROY, OPOY, but my NFL MVP at the quarter.

As we head into week 5 of the very young NFL season, these awards are still very much in the air, regardless of how well these players have established their roles early in the season. Like we stated many times, players can come out of nowhere and step into the spotlight with ease and dominate in their position.