Adam’s NFL All-Pro Team: Offense

It’s all in the title folks, we’re looking to name the very best at their respective positions on the year, so let’s not waste any time.  Let’s get straight to the analysis.

Quarterback Candidates: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers

There have been plenty of great quarterbacking performances this year, but no one maintains consistently elite play like Brady, Brees, and Rodgers. For his part, Brees broke Dan Marino’s single season passing yardage mark in last night’s blowout of the Falcons.  Tom Brady has had another monster season, carrying a team whose defense is on pace to allow the most passing yards in NFL history.  In the final analysis however, Rodgers has to be the choice. Rodgers has more touchdown passes (42) than either Brees (41) or Brady (36) with about half as many interceptions (6) as his elite passing brethren (Brees has 13 and 11 for Brady).  His yardage per attempt is nearly a full yard higher than Brady or Brees.  Rodgers’ completion percentage ranks only behind Brees, and his quarterback rating of 122.5 easily tops the league.  Beyond all the numbers, one figure is most important: 14-1.  That’s the record that Rodgers has led his Green Bay Packers to, and while the Saints and Patriots stand at 12-3, Rodgers has established the defending Super Bowl Champions as the team at the top of the heap once again.

Choice: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

 

Running Back Candidates: Arian Foster, Maurice Jones-Drew, Frank Gore, LeSean McCoy

Jones-Drew and McCoy have both been fantastic this season but ultimately round out the bottom of this group because their teams are nowhere near playoff contention.  No doubt Jones-Drew’s performance has been impressive as teams have stacked the box against a weak Jacksonville passing game, but it’s hard to get overexcited about any player on a 4-win team. LeSean McCoy has vaulted into superstar status, but with all the talent around him, there’s no excuse for the Eagles' abject failure of a season.  Arian Foster has been great, and perhaps had he not missed time with a hamstring injury he would win this award, but he also splits a lot of carries with Ben Tate, which means the choice goes to Frank Gore.  The spearhead to an offense that struggles to move the ball through the air, the 49ers rely heavily on Gore to keep the chains moving, the clock ticking, and the opponent exhausted.  Gore wins this award because he plays on the best team out of the group, carries as heavy a burden as any man on this list, and he is consistently the focus of the opponent’s defensive gameplan.

Choice: Frank Gore (49ers)

Wide Receiver Candidates: Victor Cruz, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith, Wes Welker

 

I wish I could put all of these guys on my list because they all deserve it, but I limit myself three spots.  Steve Smith has experienced a career renaissance with the arrival of Cam Newton, to the tune of 1,308 receiving yards and a staggering 18 yards per catch.  Nobody knew Victor Cruz before the season, and he is now one of the preeminent threats in football.  Larry Fitzgerald just continues to produce despite inconsistent quarterback play and being the lone threat on his offense.  Ultimately though, the incredible consistency of Wes Welker (116 catches for 1,518 yards) make him a lock for one spot.  Another has to go to Calvin Johnson because of his sheer size, strength, grace, and because he is probably the hardest receiver to matchup with in the league.  At 6’5” and 235 pounds with 4.3 speed, soft hands, the biggest vertical in the game, and tremendous strength, it’s no wonder Megatron has over 1,400 receiving yards and 15 scores.  Finally, for his sure hands, run after the catch ability, and tremendous production, Victor Cruz gets my final spot.

Choices: Victor Cruz (Giants), Calvin Johnson (Lions), Wes Welker (Patriots)

Tight End Candidates: Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski

Both of these men have been amazing this year, going well over 1,000 yards at the tight end position.  That in itself is an awesome feat.  The versatility both players show—splitting out wide, blocking, running after the catch, soft hands—is all the more impressive.  Ultimately though, Gronkowski is a weapon like we may not have seen before at the tight end position.  He has the speed to run with cornerbacks and the strength to carry linebackers and defensive ends on his back.  He has unbelievable balance and an ability to absorb hits and keep his momentum like few players I have ever seen.  Gronk has tremendous hands, the size to go up and get the ball, and set the record for touchdowns by a tight end thus far notching 15 receiving scores.  That ties him for most in the league with Calvin Johnson.  Gronkowski is also on pace to go over 1,300 receiving yards on the season.

Choice: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)

Offensive Line: There aren’t a whole lot of stats to throw at you here for linemen, nor do you want to hear my technical breakdown of what each guy is doing at the point of attack, so I’ll make my selections short and sweet.

Left Tackle: Jason Peters (Eagles)

Left Guard: Jahri Evans (Saints)

Center: Scott Wells (Packers)

Right Guards: Carl Nicks (Saints)

Right Tackle: Eric Winston (Texans)

--from @AdamHocking