Starting Quarterback - Tom Brady
He has a quarterback rating of 109.9, has his team leading the AFC with a record of 11-2 and hasn't thrown an interception since October 17th. How many people thought Brady's play would improve after the Patriots released Randy Moss? In the words of John Gruden, 'he put on clinics against teams you're not supposed to be able to do that to' (Jets, Steelers, Bears). He is the clearcut MVP of 2010 and with home games likely throughout the playoffs, it's hard to make an argument as to why they won't be in the Super Bowl.
Backup Quarterbacks - Peyton Manning/Phil Rivers
Both these guys are the sole reason their teams are in the playoff hunt. Manning has received a lot of criticism lately for his string of poor performances leading up to the Titans game. Apparently when Peyton throws 4 interceptions, he also throws for 350 yards and 3 touchdowns. He has been missing some of his best playmakers for most of the season and has still put up solid numbers. Rivers has also been missing Vincent Jackson, and Antonio Gates has been banged up. Oh, and these guys have absolutely zero running game to help them out.
Starting Running Back - Arian Foster
Leads the NFL in rushing (1,330), yards from scrimmage (1,834) and rushing touchdowns (13). It really is a mystery as to why the Texans are not accumulating more wins with him in the backfield along with Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. The offence doesn't seem to be the problem, and Foster is a big reason why. He is a big, physical back with great receiving ability and doesn't have to come off the field on 3rd down.
Backup Running Backs - Jamaal Charles/Maurice Jones-Drew
Charles might have been the starter if the Chiefs gave him more carries. He is averaging a whopping 6.1 yards per carry and is also a big receiving threat out of the backfield. Limiting his carries just might payoff if the Chiefs get into the playoffs because a well rested Charles could be extremely dangerous. Mojo doesn't have a high average or a ton of touchdowns but he is the reason the Jags are in first place in the AFC south and is 2nd only to Foster in rushing yards.
Starting Wide Receivers - Reggie Wayne/Andre Johnson
A couple of boys from the U. Reggie Wayne has been the one constant for Peyton Manning and has managed to thrive even facing double coverage. Another guy who always faces double coverage is Andre Johnson, who has put up great numbers on a seriously injured ankle for most of the year.
Backup Wide Receivers - Dwayne Bowe/Brandon Lloyd
Bowe doesn't have a ton of catches but considering this blog is called Redzone, he may be the MVP. Bowe leads the league in receiving touchdowns (14) and is a monster in the redzone. I was tempted to put Terrell Owens in here ahead of Lloyd because I believe his success is more a product of McDaniels system, but his stats are too good to deny him here.
Starting Fullback - Lawrence Vickers
I'm sure Mike Tolbert will be in the Pro Bowl because he got so many carries this year but I'm picking my fullback based on what the position truly is. A menacing blocker who paves the way for his ball carrier. Peyton Hillis has been a monster this year but if you throw on the film, you frequently see him running over safeties. That's because Vickers is busy pancaking the linebackers.
Starting Tight End - Antonio Gates
This is a no brainer. Despite battling injuries all season, Gates is having a great year and has done so drawing triple coverage at times.
Backup Tight End - Marcedes Lewis
Lewis has put up similar numbers to other AFC Tight Ends but distances himself in the redzone registering 9 touchdowns.
Starting Tackles - Michael Oher/Joe Thomas
These two monsters are the cream of the crop and have the majority of their careers ahead of them. They are a rare breed that excel in both pass protection and run blocking.
Backup Tackle - Matt Light
Ryan Clady could be put in here based on name alone but Light has done a great job protecting Brady's blindside and keeping him upright has resulted in great things for the Pats. He isn't great in the run game but he doesn't need to be a bulldozer in the Patriots offensive scheme.
Starting Guards - Ben Grubbs/Ryan Lilja
Lilja has been great in his first season in Kansas City. The Chiefs run game has been great this season and his ability to pull and make contact with linebackers is second to none. Grubbs is a big, physical, in-line blocker who is shockingly agile in pass protection. Had Logan Mankins not sat out most of the year, he would've been a lock based on how he has played lately.
Backup Guard - The Bills boys
Eric Wood and Andy Levitre have played exceptional this year despite the Bills brutal record. Wood battled injuries as a rookie in 2009 and has come back and, along with Levitre, has established himself as a leader on the offensive line. There isn't a lot to be optimistic about in Buffalo, but these two guys help.
Starting Centre - Nick Mangold
Mangold was by far the best centre in the league last season, but this year the gap wasn't as significant. Guys like Maurkice Pouncey and Alex Mack have closed the gap, but Mangold still is the prototype NFL centre and his intelligence is a huge asset.
Backup Centre - Alex Mack
Alex Mack was a highly touted draft pick last year and has lived up to the billing. The browns have a great young O-line with him and Joe Thomas as the anchors.
Starting Defensive Ends - Mario Williams/Dwight Freeney
Super Mario hasn't had an amazing year by his standards but is still a menace to deal with. If the Texans can learn how to cover receivers, Williams will put up better numbers. Teammate Robert Mathis has 0.5 more sacks, but Freeney is the more dangerous player off the edge.
Backup Defensive End - Robert Mathis
Like Freeney, Mathis is extremely explosive and, although undersized, is one of the best pass rushers in the league.
Starting Defensive Tackles - Haloti Ngata/Vince Wilfork
Ngata and Wilfork are probably the two most powerful players in the NFL. Wilfork is the ultimate space-eater and is instrumental the success of the Patriots 3-4 scheme. Ngata, like Wilfork, demands a double team and physically dominates his opponents.
Backup Defensive Tackle - Terrance Knighton
Knighton's emergence last season made John Henderson expendable. He has continued to grow and is an outstanding run-stopper. Him and rookie Tyson Alualu will control the middle of the Jags defence for years to come.
Starting Outside Linebackers - Cameron Wake/James Harrison
Wake is leading the NFL in sacks (14) and is very similar to Freeney in terms of explosiveness. This guy is a physical freak whose dominance in the CFL translated to the NFL better than most. Harrison, a former defensive MVP, has been fined a bunch this year for 'illegal' hits. While only half of these hits should've drawn fines, he sets the tone for one of the most physical defences in the NFL.
Backup Outside Linebackers - Tamba Hali/Terrell Suggs
Hali is second in the AFC in sacks (11) and has really flourished since being moved to outside backer from end. He is not as much of a liability in coverage as many thought he would be and he is as stout in the run game as he is rushing the passer. Suggs has rebounded from an awful 2009 campaign and is back registering double digit sacks.
Starting Inside Linebackers - Jerod Mayo/Ray Lewis
Up until a few games ago Mayo was setting a ridiculous pace for tackles in a season. He is still leading the NFL with 148 tackles (12 more than the second placed player). He doesn't have a lot of flashy stats such as sacks, interceptions or forced fumbles, but he is a tackling machine; exactly what you want from an inside linebacker. Ray is fifth in the league in tackles and has 2 picks, 2 sacks and a touchdown so far this season. The Ravens defence seems to have fallen off a bit this year but that is not due to Ray.
Backup Inside Linebackers - Stephen Tulloch/Paul Posluszny
Tulloch is having a great year for the Titans and is similar to Mayo in terms of production. He is emerging as the new leader of the Titans D. Posluszny is another one of those few shining lights in Buffalo. If the Bills learn how to draft under Gailey then they have a nice core to build around (Levitre, Wood, Posluszny, Byrd, Spiller).
Starting Cornerbacks - Darrell Revis/Nnamdi Asomugha
I think McCourty will be in the Pro Bowl ahead of Revis due to his numbers, but that's why this isn't the Pro Bowl picks. It's the Redzone team. Revis was slowed early in the season with hamstring injuries but has regained his form and is a pure shutdown corner in the NFL. If I'm picking one corner to have on my team right now, it's Revis. If Revis is 1, then Asomugha is 1A. He doesn't have the stats, but that's because teams refuse to throw on him. He is right back in the discussion for best corner in the league.
Backup Cornerbacks - Devin McCourty/Antonio Cromartie
As a rookie McCourty is leading the NFL in interceptions (6) and is the #1 corner on a defence that has developed into one of the league's best at this point in the season. He is mature beyond his years and has received nothing but high praise from Belichick (whose opinion I think we can trust). Cromartie has thrived in New York and his combination of height and speed is unmatched by any other corner in the league.
Starting Free Safety - Michael Griffin
Griffin was a bit shaky in pass coverage against the Colts, but Peyton Manning tends to do that to players. He has 90 tackles and 4 picks. Solid production.
Starting Strong Safety - Troy Polamalu
The difference in the way the Steelers D plays with him and without him is astronomical. He is not only one of the more gifted athletes on the field, but he also has one of the highest defensive football IQ's in the league.
Backup Safety - Eric Berry
For a rookie this guy has been great. He covers well, ball hawks and helps in the run game. Oh and he's a rookie.
Return Specialist - Marc Mariani
Kicker - Dan Carpenter
NFC Squad will be released next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment