Arizona Cardinals 2015 postseason awards

As the Arizona Cardinals have completed their season it is time for the Raising Zona staff to give their awards

The Arizona Cardinals completed their most successful season in franchise history in 2015.  At 13-3 in the regular season and a NFC Divisional Playoff win the Cardinals can look back at a lot of good stories despite the blowout loss in the NFC Championship Game.

The Raising Zona staff each listed their choices for the following awards and their reasoning why.

Cardinals Rookie of the Year

Early in the season it appeared it could be running back David Johnson.  Then linebacker Markus Golden came on.  In the end, how could you disagree with Johnson?  He stepped up in the absence of running back Chris Johnson.  His versatility as a receiver and a back can not be overstated.  He solved his fumbling ways and by week 13 coach Bruce Arians had proclaimed he was no longer a rookie.  – Scott Allen, co-editor

David Johnson, and there isn’t much to say. While each of the team’s rookies had flashes of greatness (those that played anyway, right D.J?), it was Johnson who showed the league that he could be the next big thing in a league of versatile backs and another showcase piece of why Steve Keim should win executive of the year once again. Finding this kid that late in the draft and seeing how well he performed has to make the scouting department swoon at night with their fat bonuses. Great pick-up and a bright future in a backfield that was once either under performing or injury prone. Johnson held up and showed up.  – Erich Becker, co-editor

This is a very easy question to answer, with no disrespect to the other rookies on the team. David Johnson is the Cardinals rookie of the year. Johnson was tasked with replacing a former All-Pro and taking control of a Super Bowl contending team’s running game as a rookie, pardon the pun, and he ran with it. Johnson led the league in rushing in the month of December and made countless plays through out the season. Some of his beast moments included his 55 yard TD catch in his first NFL game, his kick off return TD against the Bears the next week. The highlight of Johnson’s rookie season was his dominating performance against the Eagles on Sunday Night Football. Johnson torched the Eagles defense for 187 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.

What stood out the most to me about Johnson was his play in the NFC Championship. While the game was essentially out of reach, Johnson didn’t take his foot off the gas pedal and continued to do whatever was needed, in hope of being able to bring his team back into striking distance. With his short stint as the starter nothing short of special, the Cardinals have found their starting back for the foreseeable future. – Vijay Singaraju, staff writer

Nose tackle Rodney Gunter. This is not an indictment on David Johnson, but really Gunter really clogged a lot of holes for the Cardinals this year. It almost throws a possible cloud over the status of Corey Peters (remember him?), and really shows a possible future of a Gunter-Campbell-and future draft selection. I love his relentless motor, he really put the defensive line on his back. He didn’t have elite stats, but did get 19 tackles and a sack while closing holes for the running game. – Johnathan Henson, staff writer

Next: Cardinals Defensive Player of the Year