Mid-season NFL awards

Defensive Rookie of the Year:

Darius Leonard

This was a tough one to pick because there are at least three incredibly worthy candidates. All of them might make the Pro Bowl this year and probably several times going forward. With that being said, my choice for Defensive Rookie of the Year is Colts linebacker, Darius Leonard.

As Matt Eberflus took over the duties of DC in Indianapolis and changed to a 4-3 front, he needed that sideline-to-sideline linebacker and that guy arrived when the front office selected this young man out of South Carolina State. I liked Leonard a lot coming into the draft, but even I was surprised to see the Colts select the small-school standout early in the second round. Right now this looks more like a steal than a reach. Leonard leads the entire league with 88 tackles, with nine of those going for a loss. He also has recorded four sacks, forced three fumbles and recovered another two. He is a see ball – get ball type player and when his eyes tell him something he is gone.

The rookie LB beats people to the spot and positions himself the right way. He is not afraid of taking on blockers, doesn’t miss any tackles and goes after the ball when he has a chance to. He 0uses the tomahawk chop when he comes in from behind and just last Sunday sealed their victory over the Raider by punching the ball out of Doug Martin’s hands. Leonard is an absolute screen killer, who shoots through offensive linemen and if he doesn’t make the play himself, he occupies blockers to set up his teammates to clean up.

In coverage, he can get depth to pass on seam routes as well as showing the pursuit and closing speed to shut down any possibility to create yardage after the catch on shallow crossers or swing routes. This dude is special. He makes an impact all over the field.

Also considered: Derwin James, Denzel Ward, Jessie Bates, Jaire Alexander, Donte Jackson