Handing out Washington’s mid-season awards

It’s hard to get too excited about mid-season awards for a 3-6 team. But it is just a little bit easier when that team is coming off a solid victory over the defending Super Bowl champions. So here, with no further prelims, is a mid-season award slate for the 2021 Washington Football Team.

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Samuel Cosmi

Sadly, there is no runner-up. And sadly, Cosmi has been hurt of late. But he should be back soon. Veteran Cornelius Lucas has done a good job filling in at right tackle, but Cosmi should retake the spot as soon as he is healthy. Thus far, he has been the only draft gem discovered by the Washington Football Team – the type of big, athletic lineman the offensive coaches seem to prefer.

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Benjamin St-Juste

It has been clear from the beginning of rookie camp that St-Juste has the physical tools to be a very good boundary corner. After a rough start, he has shown he has the resiliency too. Corners usually experience growing pains, and St-Juste’s continued improvement is crucial for the defense in 2022 and beyond.  Jamin Davis is showing signs of life, but in the first half, I can’t yet call him a runner-up.

OFFENSIVE COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ereck Flowers

This is a literal comeback. After a year’s sojourn in Miami, Flowers came back to the Washington Football team this year and has held down the left guard spot rather well. Once a major bust as a tackle, Flowers has found himself a home on the inside.

DEFENSIVE COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Landon Collins

It took almost half a season and injuries to a thin linebacking corps, but Washington’s defensive coaches finally did what some fans had been clamoring for. They moved Collins, whose play at strong safety had been diminishing for several years, to a nickel linebacker spot, where he has so far performed quite well. Collins simply isn’t big enough to be an every down box linebacker, but he can be a valuable situational player at a position of need.

COACH OF THE YEAR: John Matsko

Matsko has been coaching offensive lines for close to thirty years, and he has had success virtually everywhere he has been. Ron Rivera brought Matsko with him from Carolina, and in 2020, he was one of the team’s unsung heroes. Matsko got superior play out of unit that many thought was a team weakness. In 2021, the line has continued its solid play. Matsko opened the season with three new starters – one, a rookie, and the other two, veteran cast-offs. He now has another cast-off taking over at center. Still, the line performs at a decent level week in and week out. It is by no means dominant, but it is significantly better than most experts thought it would be.

OFFENSIVE FREE AGENT OF THE YEAR: DeAndre Carter

Runners-up: Charles Leno, Jr. and Ricky Seals-Jones

I was delighted that the Washington Football Team signed a quality return man this off-season. I had no idea that DeAndre Carter could be as effective an offensive weapon as he has become. He is now clearly the team’s second receiver – doing pretty much everything that high-priced free agent Curtis Samuel was supposed to do.

DEFENSIVE FREE AGENT OF THE YEAR: None

Runner-up: Bobby McCain

The only major defensive free agent signed this off-season, William Jackson III, has been a major disappointment so far. I know a lot of fans don’t think much of McCain. I continue to maintain that he is a competent free safety/slot corner who, if not a stand-out, has a place in most defenses.

OFFENSIVE MVP: Terry McClaurin

Runner ups: Chase Roullier, JD McKissic

This is fairly obvious. The Washington Football Team has one premiere offensive player and it is Terry. He has not disappointed at all. Before his injury, Roullier was settling in very nicely as the heart and soul of the offensive line. Hopefully, he will return next season at full strength. For some reason, Washington didn’t seem to want to use McKissic in their Week 1 loss to Los Angeles. That error has been corrected.

DEFENSIVE MVP: Jonathan Allen

Runner-up: Cole Holcomb

This is equally obvious. Allen has responded to his long-term contract by raising his already quality game to an elite level. With both starting defensive ends now out, expect to see even more out Allen – particularly as a pass rusher – in the second half of the season. I don’t think it’s out of the question that he will line up as an edge player in certain situations. Holcomb is the only steady linebacker on the Washington Football Team. He almost never leaves the field.

That’s it for the first half. In the second half of the season, I’m looking for strong bounce-backs from William Jackson and Jamin Davis on defense, and Logan Thomas and Antonio Gibson on offense. Should that happen, the Washington Football Team will be a fun team to watch going forward.