19 weeks down and two to go until the real fun begins.
These final two weeks are much more than just the closing stages of a month’s long football marathon though. They also serve as an opportunity to make a closing argument for any player dreaming of a major award nomination from their club.
Personally, I think that Milligan should get the nod, but it almost always goes to an offensive player. (I think Solomon was the last defenive player to win it). Milligan is excelling in two aspect of the game, Special Teams and Defense. I do not see any other player on this list doing that.
I do notice that the Riders have more players on this list for consideration for MOP than any other team at 3, MTL with 2 and others teams with one. I also realise that this is a list based on 1 sports writer’s opinion and is not the ballot.
With 1 game left here’s my scope on the MOP race:
This is the exact reason Milligan deserves to win it imo.
No one is changing a game more than him.
It’s of course all speculation, but we are getting close to decision time.
Milligan has certainly had an excellent year, but he did tail off from his torrid start. Tyrell Ford has been every bit as good at DB, but I would give the nod to Milligan over him because of his excellent special teams play as was mentioned.
But neither of them change a game as a DB as much as Deatrick Nichols, in my opinion hands down the best DB in the league again this year. There is simply no bigger compliment to a player’s ability than not throwing the ball anywhere near him. That won’t get you stats and he won’t win any individual awards, but his presence controls the game more than any other DB. Much like Deion Sanders did in his heyday. He also plays a much more difficult position at halfback than the other two do.
Overall though I don’t think any DB has a chance at MOP. If I’m not mistaken the last DB to even win the defensive MOP was Jovan Johnson of the Bombers circa 2012. Even that’s not very common. DB’s don’t get noticed much unless they get beat deep or intercept a pass.
QB’s still change the game more than any other position. That’s just the way football works. No other team sport I’m aware of relies more on one position than football relies on a QB. More often than not if your #1 QB goes down for the year your team is toast. Receivers and running backs also rack up offensive stats and sometimes win MOP and can also change a game more easily than defensive players.
I also don’t think you can give the award to a player such as Bo who had a bounce back season but didn’t win. I’m not knocking his play, but his stats were inflated because his team was usually trailing early and were forced to pass extensively.
I think Brady will take it this year. With Zach having an inconsistent year he was the engine of consistency driving his team to 8 straight wins and chewing up the clock and possession time in the second half when needed like no one else. I think there are many who felt he should have won it last year so there may be some “make up” votes cast as well. We’ll see.
Things we know:
Bo would be odds on favorite (especially after ravaging Calgary for nearly 500 yds in passing last nite) except for 2 glaring statistics (#1 = LOSSES, #2 = Pics)
Wonder who besides Rene Parades will be Calgary’s nominee?
PS. Brady might defer on Most Outstanding Canuck, allowing Tyrell Ford that internal nomination.
Dietrich Nichols should be nominated for outstanding defensive player - if they still have that award.
Ceresna & that fast DT from BC could be his main competitors. Wouldn’t surprise if Casey Sayles was Hamilton’s nominee. Judge prolly the only qualifier in Calgary, Demario Houston had a good but not outstanding year. Wouldn’t surprise me if Winnipeg tried for guys like Sayles, Betts, Ceresna, even Judge in the off-season. Jake Thomas will prolly retire and while Bighill indicates he’ll give it a go thru training camp, I suspect his infirmities have finally caught up with him, even surpassed him.