NFL 2011 Season: Predicting the End of Year Awards After 5 Weeks

With Week 5 of the NFL season in the books, we are starting to have some idea of how the season can turn out. We know that certain players are having monster years, and some are having duds. It's a pivotal time for NFL teams, as midseason adjustments are being made and bye weeks have started.

However, it's still early enough for players, teams and coaches to turn the season around. That also means there's a lot of time for teams to screw up their season. There is still a lot of football to be played. That means it's a natural time for some good predictions! 

Now that some front-runners having shown up for each of the end of year awards handed out by the NFL and AP, let's take a look at who could win each of the coveted awards that can help define a season.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota Vikings

Although Jared Allen's Minnesota Vikings aren't exactly lighting up the league, Allen himself is. With 8.5 sacks through five games, he is on pace to break Michael Strahan's sack record, and is playing out of his mind right now. 

With a dominant three-sack performance against the now 5-0 Detroit Lions, he catapulted himself into having a career season statistically. Already thought of one of the best pass rushing defensive ends in the game, he is having a season that makes him worthy of being called the best pass-rusher of the 2011 season.

Offensive Player of the Year: Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

It seems to be a matter of tradition now, with the current passing obsession of NFL offenses, to give the Offensive Player of the Year award to a quarterback.  However, the best offensive player so far this year has not been a quarterback. 

It's been Calvin Johnson, who has made opposing defenses shake in their boots with his combination of size, speed, hands and leaping ability. Opposing defensive coordinators must be staying up all night thinking of how they're going to play against Megatron. 

He's on pace to beat Moss' touchdown record, with nine touchdowns so far this year, and he's averaging an excellent 15.6 yards per catch. He, along with Matthew Stafford's health, is the reason that Detroit is having such an excellent year.

Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh, HC, San Francisco 49ers

As much as a lot of voters would like to give this award to Jim Schwartz, Bill Belichick or Mike McCarthy at the end of the year, no one deserves this award more than Jim Harbaugh. He has led the once pitiful 49ers of 2010 to a 4-1 start, and looking like a very admirable NFC contender all the while. 

The difference between this year's 49ers and last year's was demonstrated best in last week's game against the Buccaneers in comparison to last year's. The 2010 49ers were shut out at home 21-0 by the Buccaneers last year and on Sunday absolutely demolished them 48-3, the 49ers largest margin of victory since 1987. 

That was back when Joe Montana and Jerry Rice were hooking up for touchdown passes and the 49ers went 13-2. Jim Harbaugh, more than any other coach, has changed his team immensely for the better.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

I was a non-believer in Cam Newton. I knew he had an immense skill set, but I didn't think he would be capable of grasping an offense and keep up with NFL defenses. I was wrong. Now, I'm not going to crown Newton as anything other than a brilliant quarterback through five weeks, but he has justified his No. 1 overall selection. 

With the league being so quarterback driven, he has made the Panthers seem closer to being a contender than they have been in a long time. It's a shame that the team is so far apart in almost every other category, because Newton is proving that he is the future of that franchise, and he's playing like it. 

Not very many other rookies have come into the league and played the way Newton has, and it should vault him to the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ryan Kerrigan, LB, Washington Redskins

Although Von Miller has five sacks, Ryan Kerrigan is popping out in a big way in the Redskin linebacking corps. On a surprisingly good defense, Kerrigan has shown up in a big way on the stat sheet, and has made some huge plays to help the Redskins to an excellent start. 

He is 7th among rookies in tackles with 17 combined, he has four pass deflections, an interception, two sacks and two forced fumble recoveries. That alone right there equates to a lot of stalled drives for opposing offenses, and a lot of angry offensive coordinators. 

I expect Kerrigan to kick it into another gear over the course of the rest of the season, and begin to run away with this award.

Comeback Player of the Year: Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Every sane analyst before this year was calling Alex Smith a bust, and many questioned whether the new 49er regime was making the right move. As of right now, Smith is proving GM Trent Baalke and new coach Jim Harbaugh correct and all of his doubters wrong. 

He is having a season that no one predicted. Currently No. 3 in the NFL in passer rating with 104.1, Smith is putting an end to the history of mid-season quarterback controversy in San Francisco. After having a long affinity for the interception, Smith has thrown the league best total in interceptions. Just one. 

Although the system that he's playing in is simplified, and his stats are not league leading, the 49ers are winning because of Alex Smith, not in spite of him. He is having quite a season for a former colossal bust.

Most Valuable Player: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

What were you expecting? Aaron Rodgers is playing like a man amongst boys week in and week out, and it's showing in the win total and on the stat sheet. With a QB rating of 122.9 that is 13.4 above the next best (last year's winner Tom Brady), and a 7:1 touchdown to interception ratio, Rodgers is playing like the best quarterback in the game. 

He demonstrates his ability to take over a game quickly with his rocket arm and frightening accuracy. He's completing an unreal 71.7 percent of his passes, and it wouldn't surprise many for him to break Drew Brees' record (70.623). He is the best quarterback in the NFL right now, and at this pace, he should roll with ease to the MVP award.