The Most Wonderful Time of the Year:
It’s the Hap-Happiest Season of All. With those pulling guards leading and defenders de-cleating all who come near! It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Yes, dear reader, we are three preseason weeks away from the start of the 2018 NFL season. Here are three of my famouslyirresponsible predictions!
Comeback Player of the Year: JJ Watt
The 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year was no contest. Watt set a goal of $200,000 for Hurricane Relief and ended up with $37 Million. That’s like the kid who makes a full scale movie production for his 3rd Grade book report. If Watt wanted to, he could be Mayor of Houston. Watt is coming off back to back seasons with major surgeries, one on his back and one on his knee. Not very good omens for a regular player. JJ Watt, however, is not a regular player. In 2015, he had 17.5 sacks, capping off a 5 year run of double digit sacks. If he can come back to 75% of what he was before his injury, opposing QBs will not be getting much sleep, as Offensive Coordinators will have to choose between blocking Watt, Clowney, or Mercilus. It’s going to be a bloodbath.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jalen Ramsey
The Jacksonville Jaguars have an Elite Defense. They gave up 16.75 points per game, 286 yards per game and 4.6 yards per play. What sets the defense apart, however, is the way they defend the pass. The Jaguars gave up 169 passing yards per game, almost 30 yards less than the second best pass defense. Opposing QBs only completed 55% of their passes against this team, when the League Average Completion Percentage was 62%. Jalen Ramsey is a big reason why. He sticks to receivers like a clingy ex, with 17 passes defensed and 4 interceptions. Going into his third season, Ramsey looks to make the jump to be the League’s best Corner on the League’s best passing defense. His cocky attitude and rankings may rub some QBs the wrong way, but his defense will hurt them much worse. He’ll be selling time shares on his island this year, and he’s a pretty pushy salesman.
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
The last time Aaron Rodgers missed a significant amount of time was in 2013. The next year, he came roaring back to form, throwing for 4381 yards and 38 Touchdowns. He has dynamic receivers in Randall Cobb and Davante Adams, and the team added Tight End Jimmy Graham (who, if you didn’t know, used to play basketball). Aaron plays in the NFC North, a conference he has a 40-14 record against. He also gets to play against the AFC East, which includes the Jets, Dolphins, and Bills. Weeks 8 and 9 will be the real test for Rodgers, with back to back road games against the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots. Neither team allowed more than 20 points last season. If Rodgers can show up against these stingy teams, then his case for MVP will get a major boost. So, R-E-L-A-X, Packers Fans. A-Rod is coming back.
-Graham Walker