Defensive Player of the Year: Aqib Talib, Von Miller among early candidates for 2015 award

We've reached the NFL's midseason mark, so everyone's talking about awards. Half way through the season, we have a general idea about who will be up for the league's yearly awards at season's end.

The experts over at NFL.com have given their projections and a few Broncos made the list.

All but one of NFL.com's experts (Gil Brandt) picked Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to win the NFL's MVP award. Never mind the fact that New England has proved in the past that they can win without Brady (see: Cassel, Matt), and never mind the fact that Cam Newton has dragged the Panthers to a 7-0 start without any notable receivers.

But I digress.

Let's talk about the Broncos mentioned.

Jeffri Chadiha picked cornerback Aqib Talib as his Defensive Player of the Year, stating, "He's been the most dynamic contributor to the league's best defense." Talib has three interceptions this season and he returned two of them for touchdowns.

Michael Silver, Steve Wyche, and Adam Schein also projected Talib as DPOY.

Judy Battista picked linebacker Von Miller for DPOY. "The engine -- and it runs fast -- of the Broncos' stellar defense," she wrote. Miller has four sacks and a forced fumble this season.

Other players mentioned for the award included Charles Woodson, J. J. Watt, and Luke Kuechly.

Dave Dameshek wrote in Wade Phillips for Coach of the Year:

Yes, I realize he's not a head coach. Rules are made to be broken. Bruce Arians is, at worst, the second-best head coach right now, but Bum's son deserves a tip of the ten-gallon hat for transforming the same pieces on the DEN D from very good to downright terrifying.

Dameshek makes a great point. Phillips has turned Denver's defense into a terrifying unit.

Do you agree with the 'experts'? Will Talib and Miller be in consideration for DPOY by season's end? Is Tom Brady the NFL's best MVP candidate? Give your take in the comments!