Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Vito
Seriously though has Claiborne looked good? Didn't watch last night and haven't really heard much about him.
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Both CBs for Dallas have been dominant up until Monday night.
Claiborne gave up a long TD catch to Devin Hester, but he had no safety help and got beat on a double move (pretty bad actually). He could have played it much better, but other than that? He's exceeded expectations (I think). Brandon Carr has been a complete blanket on the outside so it's not like Claiborne hasn't been tested. He's getting thrown at but looking incredibly good. And he doesn't even know that he can put his hands on a receiver yet. When he learns how to use hands and actually jams a WR at the LOS... there is no telling how good he will be. He has unreal potential. I think he's been better than Chandler Jones who is getting the most attention. They do have the #1 ranked pass defense in the NFL, but that also has a lot to do with the fact that they've played Seattle and Tampa Bay. The Giants looked rusty in week 1, but Carr and Claiborne absolutely shut Nicks and Cruz down.
Baltimore will be a good test in week 6 after the bye. A little early for this, but...
MVP: Eli Manning
Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Ryan
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt
Comeback Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Robert Griffin III
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Morris Claiborne
Coach of the Year: Gary Kubiak
I went with
Eli Manning over
Matt Ryan for MVP. I think the Falcons, as a team, have been much more dominant than the Giants have. The Falcons were tested for the first time this past week against a team that the Giants demolished a week ago (Panthers). Ryan came up big in that game, but Eli Manning is more important since the Giants have been dismantled with injuries, as usual, at key positions. Manning has been playing the best football of any QB in the league. I know they're only 2-2, but with the injuries to his RB and WR corps that he's dealt with... and with the way he's played, he's been phenomenal, yet again.
I'll give Matt Ryan credit where its due. He is emerging, along with Joe Flacco, as an elite player. BUT, and it's a big but, both players have to prove it in the playoffs, and against the best defenses when it really matters. Ryan has more to prove, but if Julio Jones continues his development -- and he's still raw / not quite the player everyone thinks he is -- then Ryan will continue to put up big numbers and lead a great offensive attack.
Adrian Peterson might not be eligible for this award, but do I care? No, I don't. Peterson is one of my favorite players in the NFL and I feared that he may have rushed his return and, potentially, risked a career altering re-injury to that knee. With the way he has played thus far and the impact he has had on that offense... it's been huge to their 3-1 start. If nothing else, I'm just giving him mention for his incredible comeback. Hopefully he stays healthy and continues to get stronger.
Gary Kubiak has the best team in the NFL. The coach with the best team in the NFL should get this award. There is no reason why coaches like Marvin Lewis, Lovie Smith, Dick Jauron and Jim Haslett should have coach of the year awards just because their team played better than expectations. Or in the case of Lovie Smith -- when you suck as a head coach, but have a good staff around you with an elite defense resulting in a good record.