Team MVP?

[Raider Nation]

Working a 1/2 day today, bored out of my mind... got to thinking, who should be the Raiders team MVP this year?

Candidates that stick out in my mind are:

B. Gradkowski -- Team showed renewed focus and energy after he was made the starter

Z. Miller -- Most consistent performer on offense

R. Seymour -- Positive impact on defensive line and in the locker room

N. Asomugha -- Best player on the team. Period.

T. Branch -- Most improved player on the team

S. Lechler -- Has had his best season and was just named to his 5th Pro Bowl

S. Janikowski -- Also having his best season this year

Feel free to add your own...




Although I almost voted for Lechler or Branch, it's pretty clear to me that Asomugha affects how teams game plan for us the most. The guy effectively shuts down 1/3 of the field in the passing game and has improved his run support this year.

[Armyr8rfan]

Gotta say Nam this year....agree 100%...If Marshall would let him shadow opponents best WR, he'd be even more valuble....

[DarthRaidor]

Gotta say Jano. Most reliable Raider the last 3 years.

[doug7dust]

zach miller

[Madturk]

I'd have to go with Aso too. You don't hear his name much because he's too busy shutting his opponent down. Rarely if ever makes a mistake.

I'd have to give Zach Miller and Seabass honorable mentions.

[007]

Jano or Lechler.

[jatfly]

I am going Split winners on each side of the Ball
Bruce and Miller on the O
Aso and Seymour on the D
Jano and Lechler honorable mention..

[SoCalRaider]

Special Teams MVP
Lechler - He's prolly been the best and most consistent player on the team for the last decade.... not to mention being the best and most consistent punter in the NFL for the last decade.... As bad as this team has been with him... This team could easily have gone 0-16 once or twice this decade without him....

Defense MVP
Seymour - Actually a very easy decision for me as it came down to either him or Aso.... As a DE, Seymour plays a much more important position than a CB who is easily ignored for very long stretches. We all saw how brutally awful this run defense and front 4 was prior to Seymour arriving. The fact that we fielded a functional defense this year is 100% attributable to the difference he made both on the field and in the locker room. He's the kind of impact player that gives us something to look forward to next season. What he did against San Deigo on Monday Night was easily one of the best defensive performances in Raider history and shows what he can do when he's not double and triple teamed all game long.

Offense MVP
Gradkowski - Difficult decision here as Grad didn't play enough this season to really even merit consideration. But considering how brutally awful this offense was, there really was no other player that did enough on a consistent basis to earn the award.... The one thing Grad did show us is how much better this team could be with solid QB play... Him lining up under center pretty much was the turning point of the season as it seemed to give everybody something to play for again... And last but certainly not least, his play pretty much put an end to Russell's career with the Raiders and the NFL.

Team MVP - Seymour

[sportzfan76]

All the posts are accurate and make valid points.

In the game that is based on a battle for field position - LECHLER - is an invaluable weapon. Can you imagine how much worse it would have been to have an average punter with our 3 and Out offense of the past few years? If anything kept this team near respectable it was Just Shane Baby !

[Crow]

Has to be Lechler, with an honorable mention to Gradkowski.

Granted, Grads did play us out of position for guys like Gerald McCoy. But with the way he elevates the team's level of effort, he has to get mentioned here.

I guess I'm just not feeling Seymour as much as some. Dude takes too many naps out there for a likely top 10 pick.

[boknowsvt]

Jon Condo. Long snappers never get any love.

[Rupert]

Equipment guy.

How many equipment failures have we had? Dude is money!

[Langlier]

Equipment guy.

How many equipment failures have we had? Dude is money!

seeing TK's kibble and bits puts him out of the money

[Rupert]

seeing TK's kibble and bits puts him out of the money

Yeah, I forgot lacing everyone's pants up was part of his duties.

[poptart]

With the understanding that this is asking for our most valuable player and not our best player, I will make my selection.

We will probably be finishing the season 5-11.
So what one player's value was such that he elevated us from, say 3-13 all the way up to 5-11?

It's definitely Bruce Gradkowski.

Our MVP started all of four farkin' games, and somehow that ridiculous fact is a perfectly appropriate summary of the current Oakland Raiders.

[DonkeyKilla]

Bruce Gradkowski and it's not even close.

[Jack's sore libido]

Wow.

Just ... wow.