We’ve had a day to argue over who I left off my All-Pro offensive team so let’s add my defensive picks to the mix. The best argument I got yesterday was for the Pittsburgh Steelers Antonio Brown, who just passed up 1,000 yards receiving over the weekend. That’s great. Brown’s problem so far this year is that he’s got just three touchdowns, which is just three more than me. We’re neck-and-neck and I’m on my couch.
On to the defense
Defensive ends
J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
2015: 40 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five passes defended
Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati Bengals
2015: 30 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two passes defended
It’s been virtually impossible to put together any All-Pro list over the last few years without adding J.J. Watt’s name to the list and this year is no different. If anything this has been a down year for Watt, who is off pace for his third straight 20-plus sack season. If he keeps his current pace up, he’ll just end the season with 17 and be a pathetic loser. Dunlap is having a career-year for the Bengals and is already just a sack away from matching his career high. He’s made the jump into elite company here in his sixth season just in time for Cincinnati to make a real postseason run.
Defensive tackles
Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
2015: 24 tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble
Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams
2015: 28 tackles, 4.5 sacks
Geno Atkins and Aaron Donald are basically in a two-man race for the best defensive tackle in football position and no one else is close right now. Atkins and Donald both are blessed with unnatural quickness, the ability to shed blocks and the legs to chase down quarterbacks and running backs in the backfield. They also line up with some pretty good company, which allows more one-on-one match ups than players of their caliber deserve.
Outside Linebackers
D’Qwell Jackson, Indianapolis Colts
2015: 93 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, seven passes defended
Telvin Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars
2015: 75 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, one defensive touchdown, six passes defended
D’Qwell Jackson is probably on his way to setting a Colts’ franchise record in tackles and his team has needed every one of them to even stay in the AFC North race. Smith is silently putting together an incredible season with the Jaguars and you just hope come Pro Bowl voting time what he’s doing in his second season out of Florida State isn’t ignored because he’s on a bad team.
Middle/Inside Linebackers
NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers
2015: 88 tackles, two sacks, one pass defended
Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers
2015: 37 tackles, 4.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one interception, one pass defended
NaVorro Bowman, back after missing a year with a knee injury, is probably already a lock for Comeback Player of the Year. Bowman is having an incredible season on an incredibly bad team, but his name recognition and respect within the league shouldn’t hurt him when it comes to postseason awards. Matthews was a tough pick over the Rams’ James Laurinaitis for the second position here and they’ll probably be in a battle for that spot all through the season and get to hang out at the Pro Bowl. Matthews’ move inside has turned the Green Bay defensive unit into a great one to go along with its offense and Matthews int he unquestioned leader of the unit.
Cornerbacks
Derrelle Revis, New York Jets
2015: 24 tackles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions, four passes defended
Aquib Talib, Denver Broncos
2015: 20 tackles, three interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, eight passes defended
Janoris Jenkins, St. Louis Rams
2015: 37 tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions, nine passes defended
Revis’ return to New York has not only completely revitilized the Jets’ defense, but helped remake the team into an early contender. His four pass defenses may not seem like much, but it shows that teams just aren’t throwing at him. He’s taking away whichever side of the field he’s on. Lost with the dominance of the Rams front four is the continued excellence of Jenkins at cornerback. Though Jenkins has nine pass defenses, most of those came earlier in the season as teams have just stopped testing him. Talib, eye gouging aside, has been responsible for more big, game-changing picks than any player in the league this season and is almost singlehandedly responsible for two of Denver’s wins.
Safeties
Charles Woodson, Oakland Raiders
2015: 41 tackles, five interceptions, eight passes defended
Rashad Jones, Miami Dolphins
2015: 74 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, five passes defended
Woodson, it can’t be stressed enough, is playing his 18th season of professional football and is leading the league in interceptions. And this isn’t on a bad team that’s being thrown on all the time, but a Raiders team that’s right in the wild card mix in the AFC. While you can argue that Jones’ Dolphins aren’t in any significant race, his tackles stats alone would warrant his spot on this list but when you add what he can do in coverage, plus taking both his picks to the house, his Pro Bowl spot should already be reserved.
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Kicker
Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots
2015: 19-for-19 on FGs, 31-for-31 on extra points
Gostkowski and Josh Brown of the Giants are basically putting up identical numbers, with the exception of a missed extra point from Brown this season. Ultimately that gave Gostkowski the edge here, along with his 57-yarder and he’s 3-for-3 from beyond the 50 yard-line.
Punter
Chris Jones, Dallas Cowboys
2015: 33 punts, 46.0 average, one touchback, 13 fair catches, 13 times inside the 20, 12 returns
With Tony Romo and Dez Bryant out, Jones had to punt plenty and the fact that only two punters (both on good teams – Kevin Huber of the Bengals and Drew Butler of the Cardinals) have fewer returns than he does, speaks volumes of what he’s able to do.
Kick Returner
Dwayne Harris, New York Giants
2015: 13 returns, 33.0 average, one touchdown
Harris has actually been a break out receiver for the Giants this year in their multi-receiver packages, but his best talent is still returning kicks where he leads the NFL in pretty much every significant category.
Punt Returner
Tavon Austin, St. Louis Rams
No player in the NFL is scarier to punt to than Austin. Of the 16 punts he’s fielded, he’s only fair caught five of them, meaning he’s looking to take it to the house every time he gets his hands on the ball. Austin is averaging 10.1 yards a return and scored a touchdown against the Seahawks in Week One.
Awards
MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Offensive Player of the Year: Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Todd Gurley, RB, St. Louis Rams
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Maracus Peters, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Comeback Player of the Year: NaVorro Bowman, ILB, San Francisco 49ers
Coach of the Year: Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
