2022 Season Awards Tournament: MVP, ROY, DPOY, COY (NFC East)
Each year, I go division by division and nominate who I believe is each team’s candidate for the major NFL awards and then we discuss/declare who the division’s major award winner is for the season…and that player goes onto the divisional Final Four with a chance to go to the Super Bowl/Finals for a chance to be declared my seasonal award winner.
We go division-by-division each day, then to the Final Four for each conference, then the finals to name our winner the day the NFL announces their winners. *And my choices are usually different up and down the line in each category, so enjoy a different take on the NFL awards.
*MVP (any position)
*Coach of the Year (any coach on the staff, not just the head coach)
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2022 Season Awards Tournament: MVP
NFC East
PHI: QB Jalen Hurts
DAL: RB Tony Pollard
NYG: RB Saquon Barkley
WSH: QB Taylor Heinicke
Things changed for the Commanders 2022 when Heinicke took over, so he deserves some recognition…but obviously he’s not a top MVP candidate overall.
Dallas was (9-2) in all games this season when Tony Pollard had 80 or more yards combined in a game. (3-4) in games where he played and was under that threshold. He was their most dangerous offensive weapon. He’s worthy of discussion. But Dallas rarely gave into Pollard all the way, as much as the could have.
Saquon trumps Pollard, in that not only was Barkley the best offensive performer for his team…but also was the opposing defense’s #1 plan to stop going into each week. A serious MVP/backbone of his offense.
However, none of the performances from any candidate can top how valuable Jalen Hurts is…one of the most dynamic weapons in all the league and had a terrific season along with fantastic output. Hands down winner.
NFC East Winner = Jalen Hurts, PHI goes on to the NFC Final Four.
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2022 Season Awards Tournament: Rookie of the Year
NFC East
PHI: DT Jordan Davis
DAL: OL Tyler Smith
NYG: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
WSH: RB Brian Robinson
Kayvon Thibodeaux showed a little life later in the season, but not as impactful most of the season…and only 4.0 sacks and 13 QB hits registered all year. Not bad for a rookie, but disappointing from where he was expected to be/perform.
Brian Robinson was a warrior going from gunshot wounds to starting NFL RB. It was a solid debut season but an amazing story to consider for the award.
It’s hard to measure the impact of Jordan Davis -- statistically, he doesn’t have eye popping numbers…not at all…0.0 sacks and 1 TFL all season, but he impacts the game with his presence and the blocking he absorbs to let others prosper. The Eagles were middle of the pack in run defense but #1 in pass defense. The defense also struggled a bit, especially against the run, when Davis missed a few games.
Tyler Smith was thrown into a starting role Week 1 when Tyron Smith got hurt…and Smith accounted for himself well, right off the bat and all season.
Everyone, but Thibodeaux, has a claim here. I’ll default to the player who didn’t miss any games and plays the more critical position than the other nominees -- Smith.
NFC East Winner = Tyler Smith, DAL moves on to the NFC Final Four
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2022 Season Awards Tournament: Defensive Player of the Year
NFC East
PHI: CB James Bradberry
DAL: LB Micah Parsons
NYG: CB Adoree Jackson
WSH: DT Daron Payne
Man, all four of these players had terrific seasons. Daron Payne had 11.5 sacks and 18 TFLs from the DT position -- very impressive for the DT spot.
Bradberry’s and Jackson’s ratings on targets thrown their way were both terrific…and the NYG defense really fell/declined when Adoree Jackson missed a bunch of games. Adoree’s pass cover numbers were really good, but Bradberry’s were kinda great…in the argument for best CB in the league type ratings…so Bradberry goes ahead of Adoree.
Micah Parsons had a really good season, but not as great as his rookie season. Parsons registered way more pressures than Payne, but Payne did his work from a position that doesn’t help put up gaudy numbers. Hard to choose between Payne-Parsons. Parsons has the reputation advantage…he’s really good but playing for Dallas only turbocharges his perception/image.
I won’t choose between the D-Linemen, because I’m going with Bradberry -- great cover ratings and Philly had the top defense in the league, to me, on and off this season…mostly on, and Bradberry was a huge change in their defense from the prior season. And I value the CB position way above the pass rusher types.
NFC East Winner = James Bradberry, PHI goes onto the NFC Final Four
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2022 Season Awards Tournament: Coach of the Year
NFC East
PHI: HC Nick Sirianni
DAL: HC Mike McCarthy
NYG: HC Brian Daboll
WSH: HC Ron Rivera
Ron Rivera had his team really racing towards the playoffs, but they ran out of steam -- and he could be to blame for the fall for wanting/pushing Carson Wentz over Taylor Heinicke much of the season.
Dallas had their moments as a top team in 2022, but there was too much inconsistency…looked great one week, then would flounder a little/a lot the next. A solid job by McCarthy and staff, but the other top candidates are out of his league for the award in 2022.
How do we decide between Sirianni and Daboll?
Nick Sirianni was handed the better team, the better roster situation, and credit that he did not flop with it or ruin it -- he got Philly to the #1 seed. The opposite of that is: Brian Daboll took a broken-down jalopy and somehow made it into a NASCAR contender vehicle in the NFL race.
What Daboll did with his O-Line and D-Line, and what he pulled out at WR…it’s stunning. And he reduced the Daniel Jones turnover factor greatly. Sirianni deserves praise, but what Daboll did was a near miracle turnaround with a lot of injuries and roster changes all season.
NFC East Winner = Brian Daboll, NYG goes on to the NFC Final Four
