Redskins 2011 Offensive MVP

by Parks Smith on Jan 10, 2012 11:42 AM EST

Was Jabar Gaffney the Redskins biggest asset on offense this year?

Clearly the weakest link for the Redskins this year was the inept offense, which ranked twenty sixth in the league in points and sixteenth in the league in yards. But beyond the horrendous quarterback play and a spotty offensive line the unit did show some glimmers of hope and some positive signs for the future. The question is, who is deserving of being labeled the Skins offensive MVP for 2011?

Jabar Gaffney: Mike Shanahan made a late offseason trade in obtaining Gaffney from the Broncos for defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon (who was later cut by Denver). All Gaffney did was have a career year with nearly 950 yards and five touchdowns, leading all Redskins receivers.

Other Candidates after the jump:

Fred Davis: Davis was on his way to a phenomenal season before getting suspended for substance abuse. He led all Redskins receivers in yards per game with 66 and had nearly 800 yards and three touchdowns. Davis finished the year playing 12 games, with a full 16 game season he likely would have eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving.

Santana Moss: Moss had a down year by his standards, mainly due to injury. In twelve games the veteran had nearly 600 yards and registered four touchdowns. With a full season Moss likely would have challenged Gaffney as the team's leading receiver.

Roy Helu: Helu played in 15 games and started in five. He ended up with 1,019 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns on the year. He accounted for nearly 70 yards per game of the Redskins offense, which is second behind Tim Hightower who averaged 79 yards per game before his injury.

Will Montgomery: Montgomery was versatile and one of only two Redskins offensive lineman who started all 16 games (Chris Chester was the other). He helped to add some semblance of structure in a dark time for the Skins o-line, filled with injuries and drug abuse.

My Pick: Jabar Gaffney was the most solid player throughout the whole year, including the preseason. He was a tremendous asset for a sub-par quarterback and helped act as the glue for the Skins offense in a year where it was hard to do so.

Poll

Who was the Redskins 2011 Offensive MVP?

Jabar Gaffney

371 votes

Roy Helu

286 votes

Fred Davis

81 votes

Santana Moss

9 votes

Will Montgomery

56 votes

Other

26 votes

829 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 40 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

no way i could vote for jabar

i had to pick him up on my fantasy team for a week. he got 0 points:( the next week my normal was was back and i played him and gaffney got 16 points lol….. sorry gaffney but if rex goes i think your gone too

by munson21502 on Jan 10, 2012 11:49 AM EST reply actions

So gaffney isn't the MVP

Because you suck at ff? Haha jk I had gaffney as a starter in one league

Duck Fallas!!

by believe_the_curse on Jan 10, 2012 12:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

i thinks gafney was the most consistent

and clutch reciever this year. but i also think if darrl young was on the list i would have picked him

by taylor21 on Jan 10, 2012 12:09 PM EST reply actions

yea, i'm a fan of young

he made some good plays for us all year whether blocking, running, or receiving…but I’m not sure his role in the offense was large enough to warrant MVP status

As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.
*Socrates*

by atark001 on Jan 10, 2012 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

I thought about Young and considered putting him on the list. Like an OL it is hard to put his impact in a quantitative form.

171 yards and 1 TD isn’t go to impress the average person haha. But he did have a tremendous impact for the Skins this year and it finally looks like Sellers days are over.

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Jan 10, 2012 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

Offensive lineman are hard to judge because unless they are supremely dominant you haev to go back and rewatch game tape to evaluate them.

Usually you are watching the guy with the ball.

by tw10 on Jan 10, 2012 7:24 PM EST up reply actions

hard decision

but I narrowly chose Montgomery over helu and gaffney, not necessarily because of his talent, but more so because of his leadership…having to make all the line adjustments and pre snap reads while having a rookie guard on one side of you and a new arrival on the other side…and then not to mention a rookie playing at LT and a journey man at right tackle, by the end of the year the line seemed to be more cohesive and on the same page, and while I can’t say for sure, I think he played a role in that

gaffney was definitely the most consistent offensive player at the skill positions, and helu just didn’t have enough contribution over the entirety of the season for me to give him the vote (if davis wasn’t suspended I think he would have been the MVP hands down, but that suspension disqualified him in my book)

As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.
*Socrates*

by atark001 on Jan 10, 2012 12:10 PM EST reply actions

Great points, this is also why I don't think Shanny is in search for another center.

To be honest, I’m not sure if we take any linemen high (sigh). Hopefully Shanny’s hand on experience at the Senior Bowl will help sway him otherwise.

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Jan 10, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

yea, I get that same feeling...probably draft a few in the later rounds for depth purposes

I think the monitoring Jamal Brown’s offseason will have an impact on whether or not they pick a tackle high in the draft, but either way there will be some major competition brought into camp for that RT position I believe.

As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.
*Socrates*

by atark001 on Jan 10, 2012 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

This Sux, this is like asking which fat chick in the room is the hottest

by Floppy P Key on Jan 10, 2012 12:11 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

I go Gaffney all the way

With Will Montgomery at a close second.

Author: Hogs Haven
Founder: The Burgundy Warpath
http://theburgundywarpath.com

by Ronnie Adkins on Jan 10, 2012 12:11 PM EST reply actions

my phone

Won’t let me vote. But I wanted to vote other, because John Beck wasn’t one of the choices. Frankly, I don’t understand why. Clearly he made the biggest difference on our offense this year.

Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.

by CJHutch on Jan 10, 2012 12:13 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I'm glad your phone doesn't allow you to vote, haha

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Jan 10, 2012 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

you don't share my thoughts?

Think about it. What one player…ONE PLAYER…made the most significant difference to our offense this year?
Or, if its easier to think of it this way, what one player helped our offense the most? (Even if that help entailed reacclimating himself with the clipboard)

by CJHutch on Jan 10, 2012 3:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Whatever you do...

Don’t replace that phone

Author: Hogs Haven
Founder: The Burgundy Warpath
http://theburgundywarpath.com

by Ronnie Adkins on Jan 10, 2012 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

+1

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Jan 10, 2012 12:17 PM EST up reply actions

Gaffney edges out Davis

Dark horse entry is Kyle Shanahan; had it not been for his excellent play calling and game planning we wouldn’t be sitting here with another top ten draft pick!!

by Elaw6 on Jan 10, 2012 12:24 PM EST reply actions

Graham Gano

Enuff Said

by RobertKempto on Jan 10, 2012 12:29 PM EST reply actions

He plays special teams not offense

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Jan 10, 2012 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

And he wasn't close to playing on an mvp level

by StephanHart on Jan 10, 2012 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

We'll find out on the Special Teams MVP post (CLIFFHANGER)...

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Jan 10, 2012 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

why do a post when it is obvious that Banks is the winner

Steveospeak - Content Manager of Fanspeak.com

by Steve Shoup on Jan 10, 2012 8:55 PM EST up reply actions

I think I have to give Gaffney the nod

Helu was buried on the depth chart and clawed his way to the forefront. So he was a pleasant surprise this season. But I think Gaffney’s performance was even more surprising. In retrospect, the trade for him looks like an absolute steal, especially when you consider Jarmon ended up getting cut by the Broncos anyways. A free agent WR comes in and puts up the best statistical season of his career? Yeah, that deserves some notoriety in my opinion.

by willster on Jan 10, 2012 12:39 PM EST reply actions

I voted Montgomery

His name rarely got called this year and that’s a good thing. If Gaffney (or any of our WRs) had the ability to run after the catch I’d consider giving it to him.

"You know those balls that they put on car antennas so you can find them in the parking lot? Those should be on every car!" - Homer Simpson
Follow @HogsHaven

by Kevin Ewoldt on Jan 10, 2012 12:39 PM EST reply actions

good point about the run after the catch

we really need some playmakers at WR (or in general) who can score without already being in the endzone

As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.
*Socrates*

by atark001 on Jan 10, 2012 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

Good points, there are a couple of players that I believe when I don't hear their name then they are doing a good job.

Montgomery, Chester, and Cofield are my three biggest haha

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Jan 10, 2012 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

Can I vote for marijuana?

I see it as more cushion for the pushin'

by iH8dallas on Jan 10, 2012 12:41 PM EST reply actions

haha, file it under "Other"

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Jan 10, 2012 12:41 PM EST up reply actions

Honestly I'm thinking Chris Chester.

Never hurt, solid player. I like him.

I see it as more cushion for the pushin'

by iH8dallas on Jan 10, 2012 1:02 PM EST reply actions

i voted for helu

with his play this year. it has saved us from picking another rb instead of o-line depth. a rookie to play that well with a oline like ours how could he not win mvp??? alot of us wont even remember gaffney in a year or 2

by munson21502 on Jan 10, 2012 1:17 PM EST reply actions

I voted "other"

Because we have no deserving MVP on this team. There wasn’t one player on this offense that was “most valuable”. We did not have a no.1 WR or TE that can be counted on in the red zone. We did not have RB that you could bank on to get that yard on 3rd and 1. We did not have a QB … nuff said. And there wasn’t a lineman that “owned” the opposing lineman week in and week out.

There were no stars on this offense this past year. We saw potential stars for next year (e.g., Helu, Hankerson). We saw obvious holes (e.g., QB). But there was no one person who was deserving of the label, “Most Valuable Player”.

Just because you have a superlative, doesn’t mean someone should get it.

by SkinsLifer on Jan 10, 2012 1:56 PM EST reply actions

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Jan 10, 2012 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Can I get a harumph??

by SkinsLifer on Jan 10, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

on the contrary

when you’re on a team with few weapons it’s even more amazing when a player does manage to make an impact. It’s easy for a player to look good on an offense that has so many weapons you never get the focus of the opposing defense.

I thought Gaffney did a great job, especially considering the lack of other receiving threats.

by aFan4Life on Jan 10, 2012 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

Can't bring myself to vote for anyone.

@Callahan_9 on the twitter machine.

by Diesel44 on Jan 10, 2012 7:21 PM EST reply actions

Wow

Offensive “MVP”. You forgot to mention that he had 68 receptions and the whopping 5 touchdowns means that he probably picked up most of those yards in garbage time. Like a lot of the offensive stats.

The Rod has spoken

by Rodskin on Jan 10, 2012 8:26 PM EST via mobile reply actions

actually only 12 of his catches were when the Skins were down by 8 or more points

so most of his contributions were when the game was still on the line.

Steveospeak - Content Manager of Fanspeak.com

by Steve Shoup on Jan 10, 2012 9:04 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Haven't had time to dig into the stats

But so far I have 41 receptions and 4 touchdows while behind. Not sure on by how many points. What I’m saying is that he is in no way an “MVP” anything.

The Rod has spoken

by Rodskin on Jan 10, 2012 11:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

You just love to come on this site and fart sunshine

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Jan 11, 2012 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

I give Gaffney the nod

…and I would LOVE for him to be here to provide a solid posession receiver opposite of Hankerson and give our new (rookie?) QB a reliable target who managed to go for nearly 1,000 yards receiving with Rex and Becks throwing to him.

by The Agent C 83 on Jan 10, 2012 9:44 PM EST reply actions