Hand Out Your 2020 WFT Awards

[Canadian Hog]

So, the 2020 regular season has come to an end and after a 2-7 start and what appeared to be another season swirling down the drain, Ron Rivera and company finished with a strong 5-2 end to their season and squeezed into the playoffs in a down year in the NFC East.

While we continue to wait with anticipation for our home Wildcard game vs. the Buccaneers on Saturday, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the various individual performers that managed to help will this team to where it stands today and acknowledge their play throughout the season.

So now it's your turn! I have created a variety of award categories for your to reflect on. Make your picks and give your reasons/thoughts as to why your WFT player choice is the most deserving recipient. Please note that I have left out some obvious categories (e.g., WFT Rookie of the Year, etc.). The point of this is to get some discussion and debate going and see where the general consensus is. I hope you enjoy! - CH

WFT Award Categories:

1. Team MVP - Which WFT player would we not have been able to live without in 2020? Which player was most valuable and important towards overall team production, success, and performance on a weekly basis?

2. Most Improved Player - Which WFT player made the greatest strides and gains in terms of his play from 2019 to 2020 or from Week 1 to 17?

3. Mr. Consistency Award - Who was 'Mr. Dependable' this season? Who was that guy that we could lean on week in and week out to bring his 'A Game" on the gridiron?

4. Newbie of The Year Award - Which Free Agency acquisition from this past season was most critical towards overall team success?

5. Unsung Hero Award - This award will be given to the WFT player that best personifies the spirit of football. That is, the player who positively affects teammates around them through a true willingness to contribute in whatever required capacity on the field and by focussing on doing the little things right to get the job done. He might not always get the accolades, but his contributions definitely do not go unnoticed.

6. Grinder Award - Given to the WFT player who shows the best competitive spirit, fights for every inch, and knows what to do to set the tone on the team.

7. Play of the Year Award - Your pick for most outstanding WFT play of the 2020 regular season.

 

[Bulldog]

I was leaning towards Alex Smith for MVP but he didn't play all of the games. Chase Young is my pick as he affected games against Philly and Dallas earlier in the year that Alex didn't play in and without those wins we wouldn't have made the playoffs.

Best free agent pickup to me was Kendall Fuller. The guy is just entering his prime and is a 100% effort, no issues player that after the winning the Super Bowl and having opportunities to go elsewhere in the NFL decided to come back HERE

 

[SilentThreat]

MVP - Alex Smith. Not pretty but different team when he played

Most Improved - Montez Sweat. People were wondering if we reached, he started to step up... now he's the team leader in sacks

Mr Consistency - Jonathan Allen. He's just the dude, I believe he's top half of the league in QB pressures by DT and he just works.

Newbie Award - Logan Thomas. Dude was thought to be a consolation prize, and he's balled OUT!

Unsung Hero - Chase Roullier. He just shows up and works, and got a shiny new contract for it.

Grinder Award -

Player of the Year - Chase Young... no real description needed.

 

[Rhino-Rhino]

Give them all to Tress Way

 

[MikefromOH]

1. Team MVP - Alex Smith. Pride, professionalism, wins. Alex has done all he can for this team.

2. Most Improved Player - Kendall Fuller. From the last time he was here until now, he is proving he has learned his position and at the top of his game.

3. Mr. Consistency Award - Scary Terry. Always there, always a threat. Always giving his all.

4. Newbie of The Year Award - Logan. I had a good feeling about him coming in to the season, but he solidified it 5 fold.

5. Unsung Hero Award - good ol Mr. Reliable, Tress Way. His pro bowl snub proved he isn't recognized by the NFL nearly enough.

6. Grinder Award - Cole Holcolmb. Just a tackling machine and always out there giving it 100%.

7. Play of the Year Award - Chase Young. No need to explain why.

 

[Win4us]

1. Team MVP-Terry Maclaurin
2. Most Improved Player-Chase Roulier
3. Mr Consistency-John Allen
4. Newbie of the Year-Logan Thomas
5. Unsung Hero-Kamren Curl
6. Grinder Award-John Bostic
7. Player of the Year-Tress Way

 

[Bulldog]

So, Chase Young or Montez Sweat doesn't get player of the year or MVP but Tress Way does?

Let's get real. The defense lead the way this year in getting second half turnovers and setting the offense up to ride these games out to victories.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

Team MVP - Young - his energy and enthusiasm has been infectious
Most improved player - Sweat
Mr. Consistency - Maclaurin
Newbie - Logan
Unsung hero - Tress
Grinder - Moses
Player of the year - Young

 

[SilentThreat]

So, Chase Young or Montez Sweat doesn't get player of the year or MVP but Tress Way does?

Let's get real. The defense lead the way this year in getting second half turnovers and setting the offense up to ride these games out to victories.

This is an opinion and conversation starter... not a debate for validity or reason to disregard an opinion.

Tress Way played a huge part in this defense having a short field, and flipped the field multiple times. The offense did no favors, but Way did his part in aiding the defense and setting them up for success.

 

[SilentThreat]

1. Team MVP-Terry Maclaurin
2. Most Improved Player-Chase Roulier
3. Mr Consistency-John Allen
4. Newbie of the Year-Logan Thomas
5. Unsung Hero-Kamren Curl
6. Grinder Award-John Bostic
7. Player of the Year-Tress Way

I almost went with McLaurin but the team was just different with Smith.. we won with him in... didn't with him out.


I love Kam Curl too... dude is starting to get 'sung' though lol!

 

[Rhino-Rhino]

Team MVP- Young
Most improved- Sweat
Mr. Consistency- John Allen
Newbe - Logan / Ronald Darby
Unsung hero - Curl ( brought so much stability to back end )
Grinder- Holcomb
Player of the year - Alex Smith ( All he went through this year I don’t think we make the playoffs with out him ..thank you Alex!!)

I think Morgan Moses is also deserving of grinder

 

[Canadian Hog]

Team MVP - I have to go Terry here. I cannot imagine where we would be offensively without him for an extended period of time, especially considering the overall challenges we faced at QB this year. He was a huge safety valve and a higher performance player almost every week.

Most Improved - Logan Thomas. The guy started the season looking like he was still a learning to adjust to TE and there were times where he looked a little lost. By November he was becoming a guy who made key catches and was a primary target. Huge leaps and bounds made in a short period of time while still in the process of overcoming a positional transition.

Consistency - Jon Allen. You know what you are getting on the interior of the defensive line with this guy. In addition to great leadership, he finds a way to make his mark and impact the defensive performance in a positive way.

Newbie - Ronald Darby. The guy just made plays this year and more often than not was in the right spot at the right time. With some questions revolving around the defensive secondary coming into the year, he was a real steadying force. What I really liked was Ronald's tenacity and short memory in games this year. It wasn't often that you would see him get burnt multiple times in the same game. A short memory is a great attribute to have as a corner and I hope we bring him back next year.

Unsung Hero - offensive linemen do not often get the accolades, but they do get their share of criticism when their play is subpar. I think Cornelius Lucas is a solid pick here. He quietly helped to steady the tackle position when healthy this year. The loss of Trent Williams, while big, did not turn out to be as big a catastrophe as we anticipated. The contributions of the likes of Lucas helped in this regard.

Grinder Award - Alex Smith. To battle through what he has, combined with the sense of belief and confidence he instills in this team, it makes him a good choice in my opinion.

Play of the Year - Alex to Cam Sims for a one handed grab on third down setting up the game winning field goal at Pittsburgh. If we do not win that game, I feel like the rest of the season would not have played out the way it did. A definite confidence builder.

 

[Bulldog]

In my mind for a specialist to be an MVP he has to be truly exceptional for his position - ie Mark Moseley in 1982 who broke the consecutive FG record and whose points were the deciding ones directly in a number of games leading to a playoff berth.

 

[SilentThreat]

In my mind for a specialist to be an MVP he has to be truly exceptional for his position - ie Mark Moseley in 1982 who broke the consecutive FG record and whose points were the deciding ones directly in a number of games leading to a playoff berth.

Thats fair, but that's not my opinion of MVP, unfortunately the NFL has gone away from what it was once judged on as well.

The acronym is Most VALUABLE Player.. not Most Statistical Player. A lot of times the player with the best stats is the most 'vital' to a teams success but not always. Who is the most 'Valuable' to the team. There are arguments to be made about Young, Sweat... etc, but there can be a conversation made that Way was as valuable as anyone... and my vote was for Smith. 5-1 with him as a starter vs 2-8 without. Its undisputable that Smith had an influence. Not saying he was our BEST player, but take Smith away and we're not in the playoffs. Take Way.. you could have that same conversation on a much deeper level.

 

[Knightingale]

1. Team MVP - Alex Smith. I was tempted to put Chase here as he's undeniably lifted the Defense... but I honestly think that this team could easily be maybe 2 or 3 wins better if Alex had played some of those games that Haskins played. Especially the Giants games. His very presence in the game has a huge impact across the board, simply because of his professionalism, grit and determination. He's a quiet understated leader, the likes of which we haven't had in a while. It's a shame that since his injury his skills can't keep pace with his presence. Ahhhh what could have been this year if we'd had a healthy Smith.

2. Most Improved Player - Can I take a rookie? Kam Curl has come on in leaps and bounds through the year. He's gone from 7th round pick fighting to make the field, to one of our most important defensive players. I love how this kid plays and can't wait to see what he has next year. (I was seriously tempted to put Montez Sweat here, as he's had a real breakout year too!)

3. Mr. Consistency Award - Terry McLaurin. Even with a busted up ankle he still looks awesome. He's the bedrock our Offense can build on.

4. Newbie of The Year Award - I've already taken Kam Curl, so I gotta go with either Logan Thomas or Gibson. Both were real surprises. I had thought before the year that we were dreadfully short of weapons outside Terry, but - while that's still true - I do feel like we now have a pretty good trio at WR1, RB and TE. Can I give this award to them to share please?

5. Unsung Hero Award - Gotta agree with others who've put Tress Way here. Always Mr Reliable. Can't believe he was Pro-Bowl snubbed.

6. Grinder Award - Jonathan Allen (or any of the interior D Line guys really). The highlight reel will be taken up by the likes of Montez Sweat and Chase Yougn coming off the edges, but the guys in the middle have been quietly anchoring the defensive unit all year.

7. Play of the Year Award - Chase Young. The fumble return will be the top highlight of the 2020 season that will play and play... (Honestly, I could give most of these awards to Chase. He's a true difference maker across the board!)

Honestly, across the board it feels nice to have REAL players that I can truly think of as being the solutions at their respective position groups. It's been a while since I could say that.

 

[Boone]

Team MVP- Taylor Heinicke
Most improved- Taylor
Mr. Consistency- Heinicke
Newbe - T. Heinicke
Unsung hero - TH
Grinder- The Heinster
Player of the year - You know who!

 

[Canadian Hog]

Jeremy Sprinkle?

 

[SkinsOrlando]

Apparently this was boone this morning

 

[Boone]

On a more serious note...

Team MVP - Terry McLaurin Last season, opposing defenses didn't know who the rookie was. This year, they did. It didn't matter. He put up record yards in a sputtering offense with a gaggle of different QBs. Without McLaurin's consistent production and clutch catches, we never win the division or make the playoffs.

Most improved - Logan Thomas When Thomas was brought here, he'd already been on 3 different NFL teams in 4 seasons, and had a career high 16 receptions in a season. 72 catches and 6 TDs later, he is our top TE threat likely for years to come. Sometimes, a player only needs the right situation and a little time.

Mr. Consistency- Tress Way Requires no commentary.

Newbie - Chase Young Young is an other worldly talent but still has room to grow. He was so good at times, it was easy to forget he is just a rookie working his way through his first season as an NFL player. This season was his basement. It will be exciting to see how high he can climb over the coming seasons.

Unsung hero - Jeremy Reaves When you are an UDFA and cut from your first NFL gig, getting added to another team's practice squad is better than nothing, but not by much. What did Reaves do? He worked his way onto the active roster and proceeded to outshine his injured predecessor raising serious questions about who our 2021 starter will be when Landon Collins returns. Amazing!

Grinder- Antonio Gibson Had Gibson stayed healthy, he was an MVP candidate. Gibson is the definition of a grinder. He can be counted on to get another couple yards while being tackled. He almost never tries to run out of bounds. And he played, and continued to produce, despite have a significant injury down the stretch. All guts.

Player of the year - Alex Smith A living, breathing inspiration. I think it's quite possible this was Alex Smith's last season. I was one of the very few who thought he would play again after his horrific, life-threatening injury and exit from the game. But even I was amazed he did make it back. I have no doubt that his example and leadership had a lot to do with this team's resilience and competitiveness in 2020.

 

[Boone]

Thats fair, but that's not my opinion of MVP, unfortunately the NFL has gone away from what it was once judged on as well.

The acronym is Most VALUABLE Player.. not Most Statistical Player. A lot of times the player with the best stats is the most 'vital' to a teams success but not always. Who is the most 'Valuable' to the team. There are arguments to be made about Young, Sweat... etc, but there can be a conversation made that Way was as valuable as anyone... and my vote was for Smith. 5-1 with him as a starter vs 2-8 without. Its undisputable that Smith had an influence. Not saying he was our BEST player, but take Smith away and we're not in the playoffs. Take Way.. you could have that same conversation on a much deeper level.

I think a lot of the fun in these lists is that folks interpret the criteria differently.