Full Detroit Lions Awards at Halfway Point of 2014 Season
The Detroit Lions have earned their rest as they enter the bye week. Their 6-2 mark puts them in line for a division crown, but I don't feel like waiting to hand out some hardware.
It's mostly because we don't know how things will end. The Lions have tortured their faithful before, and despite the fresh feeling of this team, the future brings plenty of uncertainty.
So let's enjoy the facts we can hang our hat on. I figure since this week is light on practice for the limping Lions, it's the perfect time for a banquet to dish out awards for deserving Detroiters.
Most Disappointing Player(s)
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There was an expectation that Matthew Stafford would earn an elite status this season. Mike Sando of ESPN.com Insider (subscription required) captured the sentiment of 26 NFL insiders when he wrote that Stafford "ha[d] the talent to ascend into the first tier."
Instead, he's had bouts of inaccuracy with a dusting of questionable decision-making. His 277 yards per game ranks 10th, but he's posted a rather pedestrian 11-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Still, he hasn't had anything close to a full arsenal since Week 2. Not to mention there's the lack of a rushing game and the 24 sacks.
That disappointment falls squarely on the offensive line. Redruckus81 pointed to the Lions' concerns with the running game:
"Running game for the Lions had the same problems its had all season. Little to no push from the OL and RBs not seeing lanes when there is 1
— Redruckus81 (@Redruckus81) October 22, 2014"
Pick any game and watch the tape. Running backs have nowhere to go and often have to dodge someone in the backfield since a guard has been blown off the line. That's why the Lions are the second-worst rushing team in the NFL, averaging just 79.5 yards per game.
Additionally, the pass-protection issues have substantially affected Stafford's ability to operate. He's had occasional problems with pocket presence, but it's hard to blame him for developing "low eyes" when he can't trust his offensive line to give him two seconds to scan and deliver.
"Winner": the offensive line
Most Improved Player
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Now that we've dispensed with the dreary, let's lighten the mood of this slideshow with the most improved player on Detroit's roster.
And no, it isn't Theo Riddick, all one-handed catches aside.
Darius Slay spent some time last offseason learning from Hall of Famer Rod Woodson. He came out of the gates on fire and has only tailed off a bit the past month. MLive Media Group's Justin Rogers broke down Slay's on-field performance:
"Darius Slay has been "burned" 27 times, but only 50 percent of his targets, including 8 breakups. Teams are testing him and he's responding.
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) October 28, 2014"
However, he still grades out as the 24th-best cornerback thus far, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He barely cracked the top four on his own team last year.
Slay is only allowing a quarterback rating of 73.2, per PFF, when his assignment is targeted by virtue of having four passes defensed against one touchdown allowed. Plus, there was an easy interception of Geno Smith, although nobody has confirmed that those actually count.
His tackling has improved as well (32 on the year), which has helped him keep the lid on big plays.
Winner: Darius Slay
Comeback Player of the Year
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There weren't many ways to steer this award.
One could argue that Nick Fairley deserves consideration because of the drama, inconsistency and weight issues he overcame. I counter that hardware shouldn't be earned in such a respect.
Possibly, one could say that kicker Matt Prater merits a conversation. Considering his "slide" possibly lasted all of two games (six if you count the suspension), his story is more about overcoming adversity.
That leaves us with one true candidate—defensive end Jason Jones.
Jones missed all but three games last year, and now he's coming into his own as a Lion. This tweet came just 12 minutes after another one from Bleacher Report buddy Jeff Risdon, where he detailed that Jones had forced a fumble and notched a tackle for a loss on consecutive plays:
"Jason Jones is a man possessed. Draws a flag now.
— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) October 26, 2014"
Jones might only have two sacks, but he's third on the team in hurries (eight) and is the leader in quarterback hits (13). And his ability to play both inside and outside has helped immensely in a defense that loves to run stunts and twists.
Winner: Jason Jones
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Most Underappreciated Player
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Punters rarely get their due. They aren't involved in fantasy football, and nobody notices them unless the play involves a shank or a fake punt.
Yet, few guys get to have the singular impact that a punter does. Few have taken advantage of that fact like Sam Martin. ESPN961.com felt he deserves "appreciation":
"Should we have a @SamMartin_6 appreciation day? #PuntersMatter
— ESPN961.com (@espn961) October 21, 2014"
Martin is booming punts an average of 47 yards, but he isn't outkicking the coverage to pad his stats. He ranks ninth in net average (40.8).
That performance has an often-overlooked impact on the game—field position. When Detroit's offense can't pick up a first down, which seems to be at least half the time these days, Martin negates the advantage of a short field for an opponent.
Of particular importance, however, is his revival of the coffin-corner punt. Martin has downed 15 of his punts inside the 20 (just three behind the league leader), according to PFF, and he does it by trapping the ball toward the sideline to optimize his chances.
Oh, and per PFF, opponents only get to return 22.9 percent of his kickoffs, which is fourth-best among those with two or more kickoffs.
Winner: Sam Martin
Defensive Player of the Year
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Ndamukong Suh is dominant. He anchors the second-best rushing defense in the league and leads the team with 20 quarterback hurries.
Despite grading out as the fourth-best defensive tackle in the NFL, per PFF, he isn't the Lions' best defensive player this year. That honor belongs to DeAndre Levy. Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com shared Coach Caldwell's comments on how to find Levy on the field:
"Caldwell said if you want to watch DeAndre Levy during the course of the game just watch the football because he's always around it.
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) October 3, 2014"
Head coach Jim Caldwell's point is not an understatement. Levy leads all outside linebackers with 46 stops, which Pro Football Focus defines as an offensive failure. That's good for 30 more than Suh, his closest Detroit competition.
And as for the boring variety of tackles, his 75 is 30 more than the next guy, Tahir Whitehead.
Levy has made plenty of tackles filling holes in the running game and is even more impressive in space. Whether it's in coverage, where he's only allowed one touchdown in 54 targets, per PFF, or against ball-carriers, you can bet on the bearded veteran to make the play.
Winner: DeAndre Levy
Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player
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The first title bestowed upon Golden Tate was never in doubt. He's third in the league in receiving yards with 800, and no other Lion has more than Calvin Johnson's 348.
Additionally, no other receiver in the NFL has more than his 344 yards after the catch, and only Steve Smith Sr. has more than Tate's 12 forced missed tackles. Kyle Meinke of MLive Media Group highlighted a significant receiver stat Tate has achieved:
"Golden Tate is the second receiver in Lions history with 50+ catches in the first 8 games of a season. Herman Moore the other.
— Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) October 26, 2014"
There's no doubting he's one of the best receivers right now, and that's why he's so incredibly valuable to a decimated Detroit team.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford didn't have four and then five of his top six pass-catchers the last two games. Everyone on both sides of the pond knew Tate would be force-fed. That's usually a recipe for disaster.
Instead, Tate posted 17 receptions for 305 yards and two long, comeback-starting touchdowns.
To further put Tate's importance in perspective, Joique Bell has the second-most total yards on the team, and he trails Tate by 354. That's almost unheard of.
DeAndre Levy is an intriguing challenger, but the defense as a whole has played well. Golden Tate is the offense. That's the difference.
Winner: Golden Tate
Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.
All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus and require a subscription.
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