VikesCentric: Vikings midseason awards

We're at the half-way point of the schedule so it's time to do some reviewing and hand out a few "awards" for performance over the first half of the season. We didn't have the budget for trophies. Maybe we'll get some done for the end-of-season awards. Or maybe next year.

We'll get the obligatory negative stuff out of the way first and then quickly change course to emphasize the positive.

Biggest Disappointment

The obvious choice for this category as well as the next category on this list are both Adrian Peterson. So we'll throw that out of contention and focus solely on the on-field stuff. Given that criteria, the biggest disappointment of the season has been the play of the offensive line. Tell me I'm wrong. Entering the season I considered this unit one of the strengths of the team. It could now be argued that they are the weakest link – so far at least. The injury to Brandon Fusco didn't help, but that's just one guy. Not a single player along the line has played up to anyone's expectations – least of all their own, I would guess. Most disturbing is the fact that left tackle Matt Kalil is on a bullet train toward "bust-dom." I might have just coined a term… and I hope I did because at least that way something good will have come of this. Projecting ahead, with the benefit of only half a season under our belts, it's fair to say the Vikings' biggest offseason free agency and/or draft need next spring will be the offensive line.

Low Point

Once again, we'll rule out the Peterson saga. Even beyond that, there are a lot of low points from which to choose – the injuries to Fusco, Matt Cassel and Kyle Rudolph, the last-second loss to the Bills, the ineptitude on offense against the Lions and Patriots are but a few candidates. However, I think it's fairly safe to say the low point of the first half was the Thursday night debacle at Lambeau Field where the Packers coasted to an easy 42-10 win. Prime time embarrassments are always tough to stomach.

Best Game

Play of the Year

I don't have the best memory any more. That's what happens when you start getting old. Luckily, I don't need any kind of long-term recall to come up with this one. The Play of the Year thus far also happens to be the Vikings' most recent play – the overtime fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by rookie linebacker Anthony Barr. Walk-off fumble recoveries don't come along too often. That was the No. 1 first-half highlight. Runner-up: Cordarrelle Patterson's 67-yard touchdown run in Week 1 vs. the Rams.

Most Improved Player

I'm giving the nod to second-year defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd here, just ahead of cornerback Josh Robinson. Many in the Vikings' locker room will tell you that Floyd had the best game of his career on Sunday in Tampa. ProFootballFocus.com will tell you that Floyd has been the Vikings' second-best player overall this season, regardless of position. I'm not willing to go that far, but I will definitely concede he is beginning to live up to some of his first-round hype. Robinson deserves some recognition here as well. His 2013 was a disaster, as he spent the season playing out of position. However, this season has been a different story. Robinson has two interceptions, four passes defended and has been the Vikings' top corner per PFF.com.

Best Offensive Player

Best Defensive Player

This is the toughest call of them all, in my opinion. That's why I started a poll in the Vikings Journal Forum asking "who has been the Vikings' best defensive player this season?" (By the way, go cast your vote.) Honestly, I think safety Harrison Smith is their best defensive player. For what it's worth, ProFootballFocus.com rates Smith as the Vikings' best overall player at any position by a wide margin and the second-best safety in the NFL through eight weeks. He's dependable, hard-hitting, and creates turnovers. He should be heading to his first Pro Bowl this winter. Everson Griffen is worthy of recognition in this category as well, as he ranks third in the NFL with 8.0 sacks. At the same time, it's impossible to overlook what Barr is doing. He leads the Vikings in tackles with 77, according to the coaches' statistics, and is tied with J.J. Watt for the NFL lead in fumble recoveries with three. And as I noted above, he's responsible (with an assist from Smith) for the Vikings' best play of the first half. For now, I'm going to weasel out of this one and declare the co-winners to be Smith and Barr in a tie. There are eight games left to determine a winner.

Rookie of the Year

McKinnon has been a bit of a pleasant surprise, Bridgewater has started getting his feet wet, but this category belongs to Barr in a landslide.

MVP

Go to VikingsJournal.com and cast your vote for the Vikings' best defensive player. While you're there, check out how the surprising Vikings defense has evolved in half a season under Mike Zimmer.

Bo Mitchell is the Vice President of Content at SportsData, head writer at VikingsJournal.com, co-host of the Fantasy Football Pants Party at 1500ESPN.com and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.