Steelers’ mid-season lists
ESPN just announced its half-season MVP poll results and Carson Lentz finished on top of Tom Brady on a list that also includes Alex Smith, Todd Gurley, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson.
It got me thinking about the Steelers鈥� MVP list. And their Rookie of the Year list. And, so why not also do a Chief Award list?
Hey, I鈥檓 coming off a bye week, too, and there鈥檚 not much to discuss with the drab Indianapolis Colts next on the schedule. So, we鈥檙e going with a Top 3 Steelers on each of the aforementioned lists, while keeping in mind that the real money is made in the second half of the season.
Just as I can see a red-hot quarterback such as Matthew Stafford coming from off the board and storming to win the league MVP award, it鈥檚 also possible someone will charge late and render the following Steelers lists moot as well.
But, we proceed.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1. The stars on offense are aligned but I鈥檓 looking for defense since that unit seems to be carrying the team right now. I flip-flopped between two candidates before settling on Ryan Shazier. He鈥檚 on pace for a career-high 128 tackles 鈥� most in Pittsburgh since Lawrence Timmons鈥� 139 in 2014 鈥� but the eye-popping stat is Shazier鈥檚 50 solo tackles. No Steeler, since tackles were first split into solo and assisted in 1994, has 100 solo tackles. The modern-day team record is 96 by Timmons in 2010 and James Farrior in 2003. Shazier also excels in coverage with his team-high 8 passes-defensed, which projects to 16 for the season, the most for a linebacker since the team began charting the stat in 2001. To put that into perspective, cornerbacks Ross Cockrell and Artie Burns led the team last year with 14 and 13 passes-defensed, respectively.
2. Cameron Heyward is on pace for 10 sacks and would become only the second 3-4 defensive lineman in Steelers history to reach double digits. Keith Willis had 12 in 1986 and before that 14 in 1983. Heyward is the leader of a unit that鈥檚 been bolstered by the improvement of youngsters Javon Hargrave and L.T. Walton, and the leader deserves at least some of the credit.
3. Over on offense, even though Ben Roethlisberger had a mediocre first half, the two other usual suspects are dueling for the bronze medal. I鈥檓 going with Le鈥橵eon Bell because his 760 rushing yards project to a career-high 1,520, third-highest in team history. Bell鈥檚 only averaging 3.9 per carry, and his projected 1,958 scrimmage yards would finish well off his 2,215 in 2014, but the Steelers became more consistent as a team when they turned the offense over to Bell.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. Another toss-up at the top goes to second-round pick JuJu Smith-Schuster. He鈥檚 on pace for 48 catches for 848 yards and 8 touchdowns. Santonio Holmes had 49 catches for 824 yards, but only 2 touchdowns in 2006. Smith-Schuster鈥檚 projection comes closer to matching the great rookie season of Louis Lipps, who caught 45 passes for 860 yards and 9 touchdowns in 1984. Throw in Smith-Schuster鈥檚 team-record 97-yard touchdown reception in Detroit and this pick鈥檚 easier than at first thought.
2. T.J. Watt鈥檚 8 projected sacks would come close to the team鈥檚 rookie record of 9 set by Kendrell Bell in 2001. That鈥檚 why Watt鈥檚 making a race of this award among what鈥檚 becoming a second consecutive stellar crop of Steelers rookies. The Steelers haven鈥檛 had anyone record more than 8 sacks since James Harrison had 9 in 2011. Watt is also second on the team with 7 QB pressues and ranks fifth with 27 tackles.
3. James Conner by default at this point, but Cam Sutton just began practicing and could make a run at a bronze by the end of the season. Conner鈥檚 rushed for only 89 yards but with an exceptional average of 4.9 yards per carry.
CHIEF AWARD
1. The award fans don鈥檛 really care about deals with the best guy with the media, and the surprise choice this season could be David DeCastro. As a rookie, DeCastro had little patience for reporters and didn鈥檛 have much to say. His glowering expression often forced us to look in other corners of the locker room. But DeCastro鈥檚 now a go-to guy with his Stanford intellect, his pedigree in trench warfare, and his enthusiasm to help out at any time. Class act hiding behind a menacing countenance.
2. Maurkice Pouncey is an energy bringer, and he attracts all. At the Florida pro day, for instance, scouts marveled at Pouncey鈥檚 ability to bring all 鈥� 鈥淐hristians and criminals,鈥� or Tebow and Hernandez 鈥� together as a team. Pouncey does that in Pittsburgh and all are included. He isn鈥檛 afraid to make controversial comments because, for the most part, he makes righteous comments.
3. Joe Haden could have the best betting odds for this award, because it鈥檚 often given as a thank-you when the player appears headed for the door. That鈥檚 a possibility with Haden because he鈥檚 due to make $10 million next season. Then again, if he continues to play in the second half as he has in the first, the Steelers will pay the man. And we in the media would be more than happy to have this class act return.