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Polumbus: Awards one-third the way through the Broncos season

Oct 20, 2016, 9:08 PM | Updated: Oct 25, 2016, 8:24 pm

We are one-third the way through the season, and we have learned a lot about this 2016 Broncos team.

At 4-0, many claimed not another team on the schedule could beat us. And 0-2 in the last two games, now 4-2 on the season, many say the sky has fallen, our defense is figured out, and our offense is outdated and no longer works.

The two-game losing streak aside, most of Broncos Country would be fired up if I guaranteed you three months ago Denver would be 4-2 at this point in the season.

Is the sky falling? No. Are we unbeatable? Obviously no.

However, there are players I’d like to highlight at this point in the season who have played phenomenal football.

Most Improved Offensive Player: Michael Schofield

No name was mentioned in a negative fashion in the sports media more than offensive lineman Michael Schofield during 2015 season and 2016 preseason. The thought of Schofield being a full-time contributor on this team again provided headaches for those not informed enough to see the progress he made at the end of the season last year.

Schofield moved from right tackle — where he started last season and practiced all preseason — to right guard during the week leading up to the Broncos opener. This move alone is incredibly challenging, and Schofield answered the challenge extremely well.

He has been one of the most stable players on the offensive line. Not only has he played well at guard, but he has been the glue to hold the group together when injuries struck.

He has played right guard, right tackle, left tackle, and back to right over the course of two games, and he played well.

Give credit where credit is due: Schofield has been the most improved player on this offense.

Offensive MVP: Matt Paradis

I admit it. Coming up with the MVP of this offense one-third the way through the season was not a no-brainer. I had to scratch my head a bit and think outside the box.

The Broncos are not running the ball well and not throwing the ball particularly well. The easy positions to pick (quarterback, running back, wide receiver) do not have the numbers to justify an MVP, so I went with a player that I know from talking to the guys is the one holding this group together.

Matt Paradis did not have a great game against the Chargers — uncharacteristically, he lost at the point of attack a few times in the run game. But this award is taking into account the full season, not just a game.

The Broncos center is a guy many wanted to replace going into the year. While others vocalized a desire to find a new center, I campaigned for Paradis to get a captain’s “C” on his chest.

I knew from my experience playing with the team last year how smart this guy is. He has graded out as one of the top centers in the game from Pro Football Focus every week.

His teammates refer to him as their leader on social media, and coaches believe in the value this guy has brought to the team enough to give Paradis, a second-year player, vet day after vet day off at practice.

His mental approach to the game is what has earned him this award.

Most Improved Defensive Player: Shane Ray

Shane Ray, the Broncos’ first-round draft in 2015, did not break out as a key contributor to the team in his rookie year. His pass rushing abilities were obvious, but he was light in terms of weight, and tackles got their hands on to lock him down.

The linebacker gained 10 pounds of muscle over the offseason and was thrust into a starting role after DeMarcus Ware was sidelined with a fractured right forearm.

Ray has stepped up in a big way in DeMarcus’ absence with four sacks on the year and, more importantly, getting a half-dozen quarterback pressures each week.

He has allowed Von Miller to be Von Miler and forced teams to account for him as well so teams don’t double-team the pass-rushing linebacker all day.

Defensive MVP: Von Miller

Miller is the most impactful player in the NFL right now. He often starts games out slow because teams game plan how to account for him early with chips, double-teams, slides to his side, and more.

However, as the game goes on, Miller always finds a way to expose offensive tackles when he gets 1-on-1 opportunities.

With 7.5 sacks on the year so far and his ability to cause other teams to completely game plan around him, Miller is no doubt the MVP of this defensive and should be the MVP of the NFL up to this point.

Denver needs him to keep his sack numbers high to have success defensively. This could be the year we see 20 plus sacks come out of him.

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Polumbus: Awards one-third the way through the Broncos season