NFC Midseason All-Pro Team (2011)
NFC Midseason All-Pro Team (2011)
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the undefeated Packers (8-0) lead the National Football Conference Midseason All-Pro Team with five representatives; while the San Francisco 49ers (7-1) and the New Orleans Saints (6-3) each have four. The upstart Detroit Lions are the only other NFC team with at least six wins; yet they only have two All-Pros. The Minnesota Vikings are fielding three All-Pros despite being buried in last place in the NFC North—with a 2-6 record.
Here are the best of the best in the NFC—after nine weeks of the 2011 season.
OFFENSE:
Quarterback — AARON RODGERS — Green Bay Packers (24 touchdown passes, three interceptions, 2,619 yards, 72.5 completion rate, 20 sacks, QB rating of 129.1). Rodgers and the Packers have dominated the NFL for nine weeks with the offense firing on all pistons. Even when the defense has an off game—he simply finds a way to outscore his opponents.
Wide Receiver — CALVIN JOHNSON — Detroit Lions (47 receptions, 804 yards, 17.1 yards per reception, 11 touchdowns). Johnson is the classic physical number one receiver and a red zone scoring machine, who along with quarterback Matthew Stafford, have turned a long-abused franchise into a 6-2 team.
Wide Receiver — STEVE SMITH — Carolina Panthers (46 receptions, 918 yards, 20.0 yards per reception, four touchdowns). After a mild decine in recent years, Smith has come back to his once familiar position as a top five NFL wide receiver. The emergence of rookie quarterback Cam Newton has revived Smith—who is now in his 11th season.
Running Back — MATT FORTE — Chicago Bears (805 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry, two rushing touchdowns—41 receptions for 436 yards, 10.6 yards per reception, one receiving touchdown). Mr. Everything for the Bears. Forte is the best back in football between the 20 yard lines and he is a serious MVP candidate.
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Running Back — ADRIAN PETERSON — Minnesota Vikings (795 rushing yards, 4.8 yards per carry, nine rushing touchdowns—16 receptions for 125 yards, 7.8 yards per reception, one receiving touchdown). Peterson combines power, speed, and toughness to run over and through defenses. The Vikings are in a rough transition out of the two year Favre era—a healthy A.P. will keep the Vikes in games until rookie quarterback Ponder develops.
Tight End — JIMMY GRAHAM — New Orleans Saints (55 receptions, 791 yards, 14.4 yards per reception, five touchdowns). This former basketball player emerged toward the end of last season and hasnt missed a beat in 2011. Graham is a mismatch made in heaven and a favorite of quarterback Drew Brees.
Offensive Tackle — JORDON GROSS — Carolina Panthers (6-4″ – 305 lbs.). Solid, versatile, veteran tackle who is now protecting the blindside of rookie Cam Newton. Gross has been a top five offensive lineman for nine years while playing both the right and left sides.
Offensive Tackle — JASON PETERS — Philadelphia Eagles (6-4″ – 340 lbs.). Missed two games recently with a hamstring—when healthy Peters can completely dominate opponents in stretches.
Guard — CARL NICKS — New Orleans Saints (6-5″ – 343 lbs.). The left side of the Saints rock solid guard combo with right guard Jahri Evans. The duo dominates defensive tackles in both the run game and the passing game.
Guard — JAHRI EVANS — New Orleans Saints (6-4″ – 318 lbs.). Top right guard in football, Evans is excellent at pulling ahead of screens on the right side of the field. Teams with left guard Nicks to dominate the interior line of scrimmage.
Center — SCOTT WELLS — Green Bay Packers (6-2″ – 300 lbs.). Wells does an excellent job calling line signals for the air tight Pack offense. Good steady player and getting better with experience.
DEFENSE:
Defensive Tackle — NDAMUKONG SUH — Detroit Lions (17 solo tackles, seven assisted tackles, three sacks). The second year lineman consistantly pressures and disrupts opposing quarterbacks. Suh plays with high energy and issuper aggressive—which leads to too many borderline personal foul calls.
Defensive End — JARED ALLEN — Minnesota Vikings (26 solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, 12.5 sacks, four passes defended, one interception for 14 yards, three forced fumbles, three fumbles recovered). Allen has been the best all around defensive end in the NFC for the past few seasons. One of the bright lights for the last place Vikes.
Defensive End — JUSTIN SMITH — San Francisco 49ers (23 solo tackles, six assisted tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles) A dedicated and hard-working team leader, Smith is arguably the best 3-4 defensive end in the NFC. The 49ers 7-1 start can be attributed to many factors and this 11 year veteran is one of the most important.
Inside Linebacker — BRIAN URLACHER — Chicago Bears (42 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, nine passes defended, three interceptions for seven yards, one touchdown, one fumble recovery). A 12 year veteran tackling machine. Having another great Urlacher type season; he is still very productive and covers a large part of the field, but not quite as much as he did 10 years ago.
Inside Linebacker — PATRICK WILLIS — San Francisco 49ers (52 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries). A rising star in his fifth season and one of the top linebackers in the NFC. Willis is now teamed with 2nd year backer NaVorro Bowman to give the 7-1 Niners the best young inside linebacking duo in the NFC.
Outside Linebacker — DeMARCUS WARE — Dallas Cowboys (30 solo tackles, four assisted tackles, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles). Classic pass rushing tweener — who lines up in different slots to gain an advantage at rushing the qyarterback. Ware is the best at what he does in the NFC.
Outside Linebacker — CHAD GREENWAY — Minnesota Vikings (46 solo tackles, 19 assisted tackles, one fumble recovery). Talented linebacker in his sixth season. Greenway is the best of the rest on the outside in the NFC thus far.
Cornerback — CHARLES WOODSON — Green Bay Packers (25 solo tackles, seven assisted tackles, one sack, 13 passes defended, five interceptions for 62 yards and one touchdown, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery). Fourteen year veteran who just seems to get better with age. Woodsons play will eventually slow down—but not this year!
Cornerback — PATRICK PETERSON — Arizona Cardinals (31 solo tackles, four assisted tackles, 10 passes defended, two interceptions for one yard). Fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft; Peterson has displayed limitless talent as a cover corner and has dazzled fans as a punt returner (21.8 yards per return and three touchdowns).
Strong Safety — ROMAN HARPER — New Orleans Saints (44 solo tackles, 12 assisted tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles). Consistant, hard-hitting, in the box safety. Harper is a two-time All-Pro who should be in Hawaii in January unless the Saints are in Indy in February.
Free Safety — MORGAN BURNETT — Green Bay Packers (38 solo tackles, 14 assisted tackles, one sack, nine passes defended, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery). Second year up-and-coming ball-hawk. Add another star to the Packers galaxy.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Kicker — MASON CROSBY — Green Bay Packers (15 field goals in 15 attempts, 58 yards long, 32 extra-points in 32 attempts, 77 points). Perfect first half of the season in 2011.
Punter — ANDY LEE — San Francisco 49ers (50.2 punting average, 43.3 net average, 68 yards long, 13 punts inside the 20). Lee is continuing to put up impressive numbers.
Kick Return Specialist — TED GINN JR. (Kickoff returns- 29.2 average with a 102 yard return for a touchdown. Punt returns- 12.5 average with a 55 yard touchdown). The best all-around returner in the NFC thus far. Ginn Jr. beat the Seahawks on opening day with a kickoff return and a punt return with 59 seconds.
NFC Most Valuable Player: AARON RODGERS — QB (Green Bay Packers)
NFC Most Valuable Defensive Player: JARED ALLEN — DE (Minnesota Vikings)
Walter Romania – Currently writing a book on political psychology called “Elements of the Political Psyche”. A resident of Palm Beach Co. and a …
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