SB Nation's NFL Mid-Season Studs and Duds for 2008

by BigBlueShoe on Nov 5, 2008 5:30 PM EST in Analysis Comment 3 comments

Happy Post-Election Day! In the spirit of the election season, we SB Nation writers are getting into the voting spirit. As SB Nation has done for the last few years, we present our Mid-Season Studs and Duds Awards for 2008. The studs and duds at mid-season are voted on by SB Nation writers. The criteria for the categories was for the team blog writers to look at Weeks One through Nine cumulatively and make a judgment on who was great and who blew serious donkey nards. SB Nation incorporates some of the colorful comments many of the writers had for their selections. We hope you enjoy:

Clinton Portis is playing like an MVP right now.

The Studs

NFL Mid-Season MVP: Clinton Portis, Redskins

Comment from David the Falconer at The Falcoholic:

The homer in me wants to say Michael Turner, but he's done the majority of his damage against the league's weakest defenses. Portis has put the Redskins on his back and carried them 100 yards or more down the field most games, and for that he deserves my vote.

Best Player on Offense: Clinton Portis, Redskins

Comment from Skins Patrol at Hogs Haven:

He also has 150 yards receiving and has had his role increase with the injury to Ladell Betts Not everyone knows this, but Portis is the best pass protecting RB blocker in the league and is a big reason why Jason Campbell is playing well this season.

Best Players on Defense: Joey Porter, Dolphins

Comment from BigBlueShoe at Stampede Blue:

I thought this guy was DEAD. How the hell does he have 11.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles? I mean Jeezus, it is only Week Nine and he has 11.5 friggin' sacks! The hell are they feeding them down there in Miami?

Best Rookie: Chris Johnson, Titans

Comment from cgolden at Revenge of the Birds:

No explanation needed. Just watch this kid play and it's obvious why he's truly special. Were we really questioning his status as a first round pick six months ago?

Best Coach: Jim Zorn, Redskins

Comment from WCG at Windy City Gridiron:

I hate doing this, but in that division the Redskins should have easily been the worst team.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has seen better days.

The Duds

Mid-Season Worst Player: JaMarcus Russell, Raiders

Comment from Dave the Falconer at The Falcoholic:

Consider that this guy was the first overall pick in the draft. Then consider that he can't throw a pass without collapsing into a heap.

Mid-Season Worst Rookie: Vernon Gholston, Jets

Comment from cgolden at Revenge of the Birds:

He's learning a new position so this probably isn't fair but seven tackles in eight games for a top six pick is simply unacceptable. You'd think he could at least be a situational pass rusher.

Mid-Season Worst Coach: Jack Del Rio, Jaguars

Comment from Chris at Big Cat Country:

Can I vote for Del Rio and the Jaguars for every possible spot?

Hope you enjoyed this year's Mid-Season Studs and Duds. Check around our football blogs, or the SB Nation main portal, when the regular season concludes for our annual Regular Season Studs and Duds.

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Comments

Russell is a perfect fit in Oakland

We will find out over the course of the next 8 games, and beyond, why the quarterback drafted at #22 in 2006 should have been #1.

I really should give this up, as things have finally changed, but guess who has a lower QB rating than Russell this year? Derek Anderson.

by mgrex03 on Nov 5, 2008 6:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and Clinton Portis is awesome

As Skin Patrol said, he really is the best blocking back in the game, which is slightly frustrating as a fantasy owner. They like to keep him in to block, because he is so good, so he isn’t going out in patterns.

I really think he could be even more of a force if he threw a block, then caught a screen pass. Maybe they’ll pull that out in the second half.

by mgrex03 on Nov 5, 2008 6:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

U PPL SUX MANNING SHULD B TEH MVP U HOMOS LDO

The King of anti-fail.

by KingRichard on Nov 5, 2008 7:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Mike Smith

It’s close, but Smith should win COTY. The Falcons were a team that everybody discarded for this season. It was a shattered franchise, and there didn’t really appear to be much signs of life. But Smith has completely turned it around. They’re a fun team to watch now, and they play everybody single opponent tough on all sides of the ball. Whoever is their GM should get Executive of the Year as well for his work. Signing Turner, Erik Coleman and Grady Jackson, drafting Matt Ryan, Curtis Lofton, Sam Baker, and Harry Douglas. It’s a complete transformation, and they deserve all the credit in the world.

It’s a really tough race this year too with Zorn and Fisher, but I just can’t help but marvel at what Smith has done. You have to think they Jags are banging their heads against the wall for not just firing Del Rio and hiring a guy who was already on their staff.

by Aerostar193 on Nov 6, 2008 4:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs