KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A quarter down, three more to go.
Of course, it’s early in the season and success leading to Week Five could drastically change to failure if teams succumb to the grind of the NFL campaign.
Sep 29, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches play during the first half of the game against the New York Giants at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
But if the season ended today, there’s a good chance a lot of end of season awards ballots as voted by the NFL media would have a heavy Chiefs influence.
The below categories mirror a Pro Football Writers of America ballot – minus All-NFL, All-Conference and All-Rookie honors – and the accompanied names reflect two cents on the current landscape.
• Overall MVP*: QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
* Standing rule on PFWA ballot: If overall NFL MVP plays offense, player is voted Offensive MVP. Ditto for Defensive MVP.
• Offensive MVP: QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
Manning has been invincible through four games, completing 117-of-156 passes (75 percent) for 1,470 yards with 16 touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Broncos are undefeated because of Manning, who leads an offense ranked No. 1 in the league averaging 44.8 points per game. And in Denver’s video game offense, Manning is on an incredible pace for 64 touchdown passes.
• Defensive MVP: LB Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs
The recipient of this recognition is a game changer and that’s a perfect definition of Houston.
While he was relatively quiet in Week Four, Houston still leads the Chiefs with 7 ½ sacks and is currently tied for the NFL lead with Indianapolis Colts DE Robert Mathis. Teams must account for Houston and when protection slants his way, look out for Tamba Hali, who has three sacks.
• Coach of the Year: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick, Sean Payton and Joe Philbin warrant consideration, but Reid is the choice given what he’s accomplished in just his first season. His arrival injected life to the Chiefs and arguably one of the NFL’s top fan bases.
Still, it’s best to let players speak of his influence.
“We knew we had good players here,” punter Dustin Colquitt said following Week Four’s win against the New York Giants. “We just had to find a spark and I think this coaching staff really came in here and provided that.”
Read Colquitt’s and other players’ thoughts in ‘For some Chiefs players, 4-0 a long time coming’ via ArrowheadPride.com.
[Related: Chiefs fans react to Arrowhead atmosphere via ArrowheadPride.com.]
• Comeback Player of the Year: LB Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins
The former two-time Pro Bowler (2009, 2010) returns from a torn pectoral muscle that cost him the 2012 season and he’s looked fine so far. Through four games, Orakpo has 13 tackles, two assists to go with three sacks, the latter putting him on pace for double-digit sacks and a return to Pro Bowl form.
• Overall Rookie of the Year*: QB EJ Manuel, Buffalo Bills
* Standing rule on PFWA ballot: If overall NFL MVP plays offense, player is voted Offensive MVP. Ditto for Defensive MVP.
• Offensive Rookie of the Year: QB EJ Manuel, Buffalo Bills
Fellow rookie quarterback Geno Smith of the New York Jets may have better total yards passing, but Manuel has accomplished something Smith has struggled in so far – taking care of the ball. Manuel has three interceptions and two lost fumbles in four starts compared to Smith’s eight interceptions and three lost fumbles.
Smith’s Jets got the best of the Bills in Week Three. However, Manuel gets the nod for ball security and defeating the defending Super Bowl champions Baltimore Ravens.
• Defensive Rookie of the Year: S Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals
There was never a doubt of Mathieu’s talent and he could very well be the steal of the 2013 NFL Draft. The Cardinals have utilized his athleticism all over the field and he’s rewarded the team by ranking third in the NFL with 28 tackles to go along with an assist, two forced fumbles and an interception.
• Most Improved Player of the Year: TE Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns
Playing in offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s system has been good for Cameron, who has 30 catches for 360 yards and five touchdowns on the season. The third-year pro out of USC currently ranks 10th in the NFL in receiving, sixth in the AFC.
How big of an improvement is his production? Cameron totaled 20 catches for 226 yards and a touchdown in 2012.
• Executive of the Year: GM John Dorsey, Kansas City Chiefs
QB Alex Smith, CB Sean Smith, WR Donnie Avery, TE Sean McGrath, FB Anthony Sherman, DL Mike DeVito, LB Akeem Jordan, OL Geoff Schwartz and the list goes on of players brought in by the new regime either starting or making weekly contributions.
Unlike Dorsey’s predecessor, the current Chiefs general manager will tweak the roster to get the correct personnel for the coaching staff. With Dorsey at the helm, the Chiefs aren’t afraid to admit personnel mistakes – see the release of fullback Braden Wilson, the team’s sixth-round pick of the 2013 NFL Draft – and take immediate action as deemed appropriate.
The Chiefs are undefeated largely because of Dorsey’s keen eye to acquire impact contributors to complement the core players.
• Assistant Coach of the Year: DC Bob Sutton, Kansas City Chiefs
There’s a defensive revival in Kansas City after the unit ranked at or near the bottom of a lot of defensive categories in 2012.
Through Week Four, the Chiefs rank first in points allowed (10.3 points per game, 41 total points allowed on the season). At this point in 2012, the Chiefs allowed a mind-boggling 136 points.
Through Week Four, the Chiefs lead the NFL with 18 sacks. The Chiefs had 27 total sacks on the 2012 season.
Through Week Four, the Chiefs are tied with the Tennessee Titans with a +9 in takeaways-giveaways.
Through Week Four, the Chiefs rank seventh overall on defense, allowing 306.3 total yards per game.
