Washington Redskins: Early 2015 Awards Predictions

The team's overall success will dictate where the top players of the Washington Redskins finish in the NFL's 2015 awards race.

Win or lose, though, it's only right for such players to be acknowledged via team awards.

With that mind, let's cast some early predictions for Washington's award winners in categories such as MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

MVP: Alfred Morris

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General manager Scot McCloughan has spent his first offseason in Washington molding his team in the image of the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, two teams he previously had a hand in constructing. 

So contrary to the league-wide obsession with quarterbacks, the Redskins will live and die by the run in 2015. 

The team has gotten noticeably bigger up front with rookie Brandon Scherff (6'5", 319 lbs) and Spencer Long (6'5", 311 lbs) likely to move into the starting lineup. Then there's the addition of offensive line coach Bill Callahan to the staff. The Dallas Cowboys were third in rushing attempts and second in rushing yards in the NFL last season with Callahan overlooking that unit.

In comparison, the Redskins were 21st in attempts and 19th in yards. Let head coach Jay Gruden tell it, though, per ESPN.com's John Keim—with Callahan now on the staff, more runs will be on the docket in 2015.

"If you're a running back, you want to play for Coach Callahan because he likes to run the ball a lot," Gruden said.

After the worst season of his brief NFL career, this has to be music to Alfred Morris' ears.

With rookie Matt Jones now in the picture, Morris won't churn out 336 rushing attempts like he did as a rookie. But with Gruden needing to protect both his defense and quarterback, more often than not Morris' stat line will have a direct impact on the outcome of games.

Offensive POY: DeSean Jackson

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While Morris and the running game will set the tone for the team, it'll be DeSean Jackson who again sports the eye-popping numbers.

Big plays were his forte last season. He had an NFL-high 13 receptions of 40-plus yards. A player with a career average of 17.7 yards per reception, there's little reason to believe Jackson will slow down in this arena in 2015.

In fact, he may be even more productive this go-round. Why?

For starters, provided Robert Griffin III stays healthy, Jackson can develop a better rapport with his quarterback. Not the most trusted target, Jackson hauled in just nine receptions on third down last year with Washington shuffling three quarterbacks in and out the lineup, per ESPN.com.

Furthermore, with the attention the team's running game will draw, there will be more one-on-one matchups for Jackson to exploit.

Chalk it all up, and in Jackson you have Washington's 2015 Offensive Player of the Year.

Defensive POY: Chris Culliver

Associated Press

If his 2014 breakout campaign didn't already cast Ryan Kerrigan as the face of 'Skins defense, the departure of Brian Orakpo all but sealed the deal.

But that was before offseason knee surgery. That was before the addition of Chris Culliver.

While teams can roll their protection toward Kerrigan, there's no avoiding Culliver (6'0", 199 lbs). The man tasked with guarding opposing No. 1 receivers, Culliver will be tested game in and game out.

Looking at his apprenticeship as a supporting corner with the San Francisco 49ers, though, it's a role he's well prepared for. Last season, Culliver ranked fifth in Football Outsiders' adjusted success rate for supporting-role cornerbacks.

Additionally, according to Pro Football Focus (h/t Conor Orr of NFL.com), he surrendered an opposing passer rating of 66.5 in 2014, sixth-best in the league. 

Recounting his own experiences playing against him, receiver Andre Roberts spoke highly of Culliver to the Associated Press (via the Boston Herald).

"He's everything you want in a corner," Roberts said. "He's athletic. He's strong. He's fast. He's tough. He makes plays. He can play the ball really well. I wasn't surprised that we signed him. You've got to have guys like that to get better." 

Culliver alone won't transform the team's beleaguered secondary. But with his services, Washington will be hard-pressed to finish dead last in passing touchdowns allowed, as it did last season.

Most Improved: Trent Murphy

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Brought in to bolster the team's pass rush, Washington's top pick in the 2014 NFL draft, Trent Murphy, underwhelmed. 

Murphy tallied 32 tackles, two forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks in 15 games, eight of which were starts. Additionally, per Sporting Charts, he only registered eight quarterback hurries. 

He did contribute as a run defender—he was the sixth-highest-graded 3-4 outside linebacker against the run, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Fully aware of his shortcomings as a pass-rusher, though, Gruden highlighted Murphy's "get-off and some of his strength" as areas he needed to develop, per CSN Washington's Tarik El-Bashir.

And Murphy took it to heart. He reported to OTAs noticeably bigger. Per El-Bashir, at 267 pounds, Murphy added nearly 10 pounds to his 6'5" frame since last season. Murphy also has become more explosive.

"I feel faster and more explosive," Murphy said. "That was my only concern, 'Oh you gained this muscle mass and you got stronger, but is it going to slow you down?' That hasn't happened, so that's been pretty awesome."

With Murphy's physical transformation and the supporting cast he now has around him, a big sophomore campaign will be on the horizon for the Stanford product.

Comeback POY: DeAngelo Hall

Michael Perez/Associated Press

As if coming back from one surgery on an Achilles isn't hard enough, DeAngelo Hall is coming off two.

He's no spring chicken at the age of 31, making his recovery that much harder.

At the moment, all things point to Hall making his return in training camp:

"

#Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall tells 106.7 the Fan that he hopes to be ready to go on the first day of camp, but "will play it by ear."

— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) July 7, 2015"

And upon his return, he'll have a vital role to fill. Culliver is now the alpha dog at cornerback. But with green corners Bashaud Breeland and David Amerson next in line, there's a need for a corner with Hall's experience.

Whether he starts over Breeland or not is a moot point. The frequency with which opposing teams use three-receiver sets all but assures that Hall, Breeland and Culliver will see ample playing time together. 

The safety position is still cause for concern, but with Hall's return, the team will further distance itself from the unit that ranked as Football Outsiders' worst pass defense in 2014.