Now that we are about halfway through the regular season, it is time to start considering which players are deserving of a Pro Bowl selection. For this series, we will look at the three most deserving candidates for each team. Obviously, some teams will have more or less than three players selected to the Pro Bowl, but for simplicity purposes, we will discuss the top three either way.
TOP MIDSEASON PRO BOWL CANDIDATES: DENVER BRONCOS
BRANDON MARSHALL
Any discussion regarding possible Pro Bowl selections for the Denver Broncos has to begin with their defense. They may have given up 27 points on Sunday in the Broncos loss on the road to the Indianapolis Colts, but Denver’s defense has been great this season. Their defense is a large reason why the Broncos started the season 7-0.
Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall leads the Broncos with 63 total tackles, eight of which were for a loss (leads team). The talented linebacker also has 1.5 sacks this season, along with two forced fumbles and two passes defended. The former fifth-round pick (2012) by the Jacksonville Jaguars is also one of the better cover linebackers in the NFL.
AQIB TALIB
Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib found himself in hot water Sunday night and on Monday for his completely bush league move during the Broncos game against the Colts. At the end of the game Broncos linebacker Von Miller was getting into it a little bit with Colts tight end Dwayne Allen. From the video it appears that Talib took exception to that and decided to go all “Three Stooges” on Allen. The talented cornerback stepped in and poked Allen in the eye with two fingers through the Colts tight end’s face mask. Allen sold it to be sure, but I’m not buying the excuse Talib is trying to sell, and he has to conduct himself with more discipline.
But that loss of focus doesn’t diminish what he has accomplished on the field this season. Talib has three interceptions (leads team) which has him tied for seventh in the NFL and only two behind league leaders Charles Woodsen (Oakland Raiders) and Mike Adams (Colts). He has returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns. Talib also has 20 total tackles this season, along with eight passes defended and a blocked extra point. Denver’s defense has been really good this season, and Talib is a big reason why.
DEMARCUS WARE
These three players are not listed in any particular order, and there were multiple players who a case could be made for. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has 61 catches (leads team) for 745 yards and he is averaging 93.1 yards per game and he has one touchdown this season. Fellow wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders has 46 receptions for 639 yards and he is averaging 79.9 yards per game and he’s found the endzone four times this season (leads Broncos receivers). Players like linebacker Shaquil Barrett (31 total tackles and 3.5 sacks), defensive tackle Malik Jackson (27 total tackles and 3.5 sacks), and linebacker Von Miller (15 total tackles and 4.0 sacks) all deserve consideration for the Pro Bowl as well. But I decided to go with Marshall, Talib and defensive end DeMarcus Ware.
Ware may have only tallied 20 total tackles so far this season, but he also has 6.5 sacks, which leads the Broncos and has him tied for sixth most in the NFL this season. The NFL is largely a passing league right now and having a player like Ware who can get after opposing quarterbacks is a huge benefit. The talented 11-year veteran also has two tackles for a loss and one forced fumble this season.
Ware hurt his back in the Broncos Week 5 game against the Oakland Raiders and that injury caused him to miss one game against the Cleveland Browns earlier this season. The talented defense end left Sunday’s game against the Colts after aggravating that injury. If he only misses a week or two, as is being reported, then Ware could certainly still have a decent shot at a Pro Bowl selection.
If he misses significant time, or his injury causes his production to severely drop off, other Broncos players (like the aforementioned Barrett, Miller, Jackson, Sanders and Thomas), would certainly have a better case than Ware. But right now I have to go with the guy who is leading the team in sacks.
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