About The NFC East

[Alexander]

Just curious to see how some of you view how each team has changed.

My take:

Eagles - Not sure what to make of them. They have a ton of talent but they seem like they might have lost that "underdog" edge they had that carried them to the SB. A lot of chatter.

Commanders - I think they have really improved. Smith will probably be a better QB for their offense and no matter what you think of him, he will not make the same mistakes Cousins has made at times. They loaded up on run stopping defenders.

Giants - I also think they improved. I am not impressed with Shurmur as a HC, but there is enough residual talent on this team for them to be able to compete. I think they will try to be a more balanced physical squad.

It is interesting that outside of the Eagles, the division is shifting towards the run game. And the Commanders loaded up to stop the run, while Dallas is at a clear deficit. That might be a key to this season.

The responses should be fun to designate who pays attention to other teams or who just has blinders on.​

 

[beware_d-ware]

How I see it:

Eagles - loaded. Wentz's contract is going to sink them after 2018, but they are geared up for another Super Bowl run.

Commanders - mediocre. Didn't add a lot of talent and took a step back at quarterback. They will have better luck with injuries this year, but I still see them as a sub-.500 team.

Giants - they're going to bounce back from a nightmare 2017, but they are easily a sub-.500 roster on paper. Saquon's a stud, and Snacks and Jenkins are gonna continue to earn their big paychecks, but they just have so many starters that are trash.

Cowboys - let's just say I really like the talent we've been adding over the last 5 years, and I think it's all going to come together at some point.

 

[Alexander]

Cowboys - let's just say I really like the talent we've been adding over the last 5 years, and I think it's all going to come together at some point.

You would think it just has to, right?

 

[Point-of-the-Star]

Here's what I wrote on the Giants website back on May 11th. ( I'm still morphing a bit off some opinions):

I look for the season in the NFC East to be very competitive this year. Of course the Eagles are front runners with little /nothing needed to be added to their roster and the best coach in our division. Not a shoe-in but definitely favored to repeat. Prediction : 11-5 (Could easily be 14-2 though)

NY looks definitely improved. Just the addition of Barkley made them MUCH better but also are going to have a much better OL. Hernandez is nasty. Eli should have at least 3 more years of standard Eli left in the tank. Not sure what NY will look like on D with the scheme change. I've never been a 3-4 fan. But the DB's should be OK. I know a lot of Giant fans are not high on Apple but I've always found him competitive and does a good job. I think NY challenges for a WC and could be a darkhorse to move Philthy out of the division winners spot. Barkley is the big horse and if NY rides him they will be very dangerous. Don't know enough about Shurmur to get a read on his head coaching abilities but Shula should be an asset with Barkley. Prediction: 9-7 (hard to predict with so much change but I still starkly remember the 2016 Giants so could be 10-6 or better)

Washington is hard for me to read. They seem to have worse records than they should with their personnel year after year. If their coaching is up to par I think the 'skins can do OK although I don't see Alex Smith adding pop to their offense. If they can keep Guice's head on straight they should have a productive run game. I watched Guice some as a college player and he has talent. I think the DL will be very strong. I liked Da'Ron Payne for my Cows in the 1st but he never made it there. They also got Tim Settle in the 5th rd. who although he went lower than I thought he would has lots of upside. He's a huge 335 lb clog up the middle D1. I also wanted the Cows to grab him

. I have no feel for the 'skins but they just don't ever get over the hump. Prediction: 8-8 (just a guess, not even a real educated one)

Now down to my Cowboys. Lotta biching and moaning on their boards about a true D1 middle stuffer (I was one). Also no true safety talent. Lots of talk about Earl Thomas and a trade was offered in the draft by the SeaChickens for a 2nd but Conner Williams was on the board at 50 in the 2nd and Dallas went with OL (but offered a 3rd which was declined). Dallas generally has gotten favorable reviews for their draft . I think they did well with Leighton Vander Esch at 19. Definitely unproven but big, rangy, and pretty fast. Should do the things Dallas wants their MLB to do. Dallas' D should be much improved. After totally revamping the defensive backfield last year the younger players were rounding into good form by the end of the season, numbers didn't look good but their early season was bad. DL should be the best I've seen in Dallas in over a decade (still missing that bad*** D1). Offensively I look for Dallas run game to be on par with 2016 which should help Dak. I'm glad Dez is gone along with his team disruptions. Dallas' receiving corps will not have a lot of names or experience but when Dez was out injured this team played better and there is better talent now. Michael Gallup will be a strong talent by 2019. Now Witten being gone will hurt, especially with his blocking. Coaching staff gives the Cowboys no real advantage. Cows will be better than 2017 though. The Zeke suspension was a distraction all year and hurt team focus. Prediction 10-6 -- WC

 

[Point-of-the-Star]

These were my opinions after the draft on how the teams will finish. Prognostications are a volatile endeavor.

 

[bayeslife]

You would think it just has to, right?

There’s always a tipping point.

 

[jazzcat22]

I don’t think any Team significantly improved, nor got worse.
Each may have improved in some areas but lost in other areas Eagles may have stayed the same overall co,pared to the other teams. They are still the favorites, but I think slightly less than many may believe.

Why? Becasue teams will have now had a year to study them better. Also we will improve as to close the gap IF we stay healthy on the OL, and by knowing Zeke will be there preparing each week instead of the last minute deal or missing those 6 games. But I won’t say we improved that much to take the division from them. I need to see it on the field to say otherwise.

The Commanders and Giants will be the normal pain in the rear as usual, but same thing, need to see it on the field to say they improved to overtake is or the Eagles. I ,ay be one of the few that does not think Smith will help the Commanders any more than what Cousins did. It is JMO.

Giants, Eli is losing skills each year for what the past 3 years, and now he has a RB, so all of a sudden he will be that good again? Don’t think so.

Eagles
Cowboys
Commanders
Giants

 

[CowboyRoy]

Just curious to see how some of you view how each team has changed.

My take:

Eagles - Not sure what to make of them. They have a ton of talent but they seem like they might have lost that "underdog" edge they had that carried them to the SB. A lot of chatter.

Commanders - I think they have really improved. Smith will probably be a better QB for their offense and no matter what you think of him, he will not make the same mistakes Cousins has made at times. They loaded up on run stopping defenders.

Giants - I also think they improved. I am not impressed with Shurmur as a HC, but there is enough residual talent on this team for them to be able to compete. I think they will try to be a more balanced physical squad.

It is interesting that outside of the Eagles, the division is shifting towards the run game. And the Commanders loaded up to stop the run, while Dallas is at a clear deficit. That might be a key to this season.

The responses should be fun to designate who pays attention to other teams or who just has blinders on.​

The Eagles are still great. And now they have Wentz back. Hard to be better than winning the SB. But they probably wont have the same type of season.

Smith is not a great QB. Had a great year last year, but I dont see them doing much

Giants I am worried about. That rookie back is amazing and they have improved the oline. They will have their stud WR back the entire year and some of those other young receivers have improved.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I don’t think any Team significantly improved, nor got worse.
Each may have improved in some areas but lost in other areas Eagles may have stayed the same overall co,pared to the other teams. They are still the favorites, but I think slightly less than many may believe.

Why? Becasue teams will have now had a year to study them better. Also we will improve as to close the gap IF we stay healthy on the OL, and by knowing Zeke will be there preparing each week instead of the last minute deal or missing those 6 games. But I won’t say we improved that much to take the division from them. I need to see it on the field to say otherwise.

The Commanders and Giants will be the normal pain in the rear as usual, but same thing, need to see it on the field to say they improved to overtake is or the Eagles. I ,ay be one of the few that does not think Smith will help the Commanders any more than what Cousins did. It is JMO.

Giants, Eli is losing skills each year for what the past 3 years, and now he has a RB, so all of a sudden he will be that good again? Don’t think so.

Eagles
Cowboys
Commanders
Giants

Do you really think QB's get better, then worse, then better from year to year?

Most of it has to do with the players around them. The play of the oline specifically. The Giants Oline and run game have been so bad for the last 3 years that Eli hasnt been able to do anything. They have finally been addressing the Oline and now they have a complete stud at RB. Eli will be better just for that.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Eli's YPA has fallen for the last 3 years straight. I think he's clearly in decline. Saquon will help them prop him up a bit, but he is simply not a good quarterback anymore IMO.

 

[1nfljunky]

How I see it:

Eagles - loaded. Wentz's contract is going to sink them after 2018, but they are geared up for another Super Bowl run.

Commanders - mediocre. Didn't add a lot of talent and took a step back at quarterback. They will have better luck with injuries this year, but I still see them as a sub-.500 team.

Giants - they're going to bounce back from a nightmare 2017, but they are easily a sub-.500 roster on paper. Saquon's a stud, and Snacks and Jenkins are gonna continue to earn their big paychecks, but they just have so many starters that are trash.

Cowboys - let's just say I really like the talent we've been adding over the last 5 years, and I think it's all going to come together at some point.

I think this is a really good assessment. The bad thing for the NFCE is only one team will make the play offs. And the Eagles have two years before having to sign Carson. But what you will find is they are about to load up on draft picks. What they plan on doing is reload after the next two years. This year they'll get rid of all expiring contracts and purge the roster of older players.
I think the Commanders are stuck in neutral. They not good enough to be considered a good team but aren't bad enough to be considered bad. The Giants are a complete mystery. They can be as good as 9-7 or a bad as 6-10. Changing coaches and schemes will be a challenge. But they have talent on both size of the ball. As far as you guys I think you will experience growing pains. If looked at correct could help you in the future. If read poorly will have you starting over under new coaches. I think your ceiling is 9-7.

 

[Ranching]

Just curious to see how some of you view how each team has changed.

My take:

Eagles - Not sure what to make of them. They have a ton of talent but they seem like they might have lost that "underdog" edge they had that carried them to the SB. A lot of chatter.

Commanders - I think they have really improved. Smith will probably be a better QB for their offense and no matter what you think of him, he will not make the same mistakes Cousins has made at times. They loaded up on run stopping defenders.

Giants - I also think they improved. I am not impressed with Shurmur as a HC, but there is enough residual talent on this team for them to be able to compete. I think they will try to be a more balanced physical squad.

It is interesting that outside of the Eagles, the division is shifting towards the run game. And the Commanders loaded up to stop the run, while Dallas is at a clear deficit. That might be a key to this season.

The responses should be fun to designate who pays attention to other teams or who just has blinders on.​

Eagles suck!
Commanders suck!
Giants suck!
Cowboys are number one baby!!

 

[Pabst]

I'm not sold on Alex Smith. I feel that the Andy Reid/Doug Pederson offensive schemes make their QBs look significantly better than they are (e.g. lots of high % slants from explosive out of breaks wideouts). Theres a reason so many of their QBs fail once they're traded/signed out of that scheme. So I'm not sure the Commanders are getting the Alex Smith of last year or the Alex Smith of all the years before.

 

[Billyd]

Okay..Let me see how i can spread some sunshine

EAGLES...Five draft picks...eh
WENTZ WHEELS WILL BE AN ISSUE
Any time you do what he did, odds are your ability will be less..He may not even be healthy for the 1st or other gamez after...He is in a bad spot with Foles having taken the reigns and spurred the horse..Will The EAGLEZ stay with the HOT HAND?

GIANTS and Washington....*** carez

DALLAS. if they had found a true one tech, and a proven Fs... Really a better feeling about Wr and Te...Might duet..

Dallas has an advantage, it might not last long..The nfl has no idea who or what the Cowboys will be doing at wr, and maybe tightend. THE SCAT BACK could replace the much needed offense for too many punks on the line..

THE running game and oline fixes most issues..And offense fixes most issues on this D.. Remember that when you look for answers if the offense falters!!

 

[LocimusPrime]

With that said, the Eagles still did make some moves since the offseason officially began. Here’s a recap of what’s taken place so far.

SIGNED WITH EAGLES
Free agents from other teams

DT Haloti Ngata - 1 year, $2.6 million

LB Corey Nelson - 1 year, $1.6 million

Re-signings

LB Nigel Bradham - 5 years, $40 million

TRADES
Received

DE Michael Bennett, 2018 seventh-round pick, CB Daryl Worley


I like what the Eagles did on Defense
That already strong defense looks tougher. They let curry go but got Ngata and Bennett.

 

[Billyd]

I'm not sold on Alex Smith. I feel that the Andy Reid/Doug Pederson offensive schemes make their QBs look significantly better than they are (e.g. lots of high % slants from explosive out of breaks wideouts). Theres a reason so many of their QBs fail once they're traded/signed out of that scheme. So I'm not sure the Commanders are getting the Alex Smith of last year or the Alex Smith of all the years before.

Doesnt matter..we own Alex Smith..

 

[Billyd]

With that said, the Eagles still did make some moves since the offseason officially began. Here’s a recap of what’s taken place so far.

SIGNED WITH EAGLES
Free agents from other teams

DT Haloti Ngata - 1 year, $2.6 million

LB Corey Nelson - 1 year, $1.6 million

Re-signings

LB Nigel Bradham - 5 years, $40 million

TRADES
Received

DE Michael Bennett, 2018 seventh-round pick, CB Daryl Worley


I like what the Eagles did on Defense
That already strong defense looks tougher. They let curry go but got Ngata and Bennett.

Bennett..bahawhawhaw!

 

[Stash]

Just curious to see how some of you view how each team has changed.

My take:

Eagles - Not sure what to make of them. They have a ton of talent but they seem like they might have lost that "underdog" edge they had that carried them to the SB. A lot of chatter.

Commanders - I think they have really improved. Smith will probably be a better QB for their offense and no matter what you think of him, he will not make the same mistakes Cousins has made at times. They loaded up on run stopping defenders.

Giants - I also think they improved. I am not impressed with Shurmur as a HC, but there is enough residual talent on this team for them to be able to compete. I think they will try to be a more balanced physical squad.

It is interesting that outside of the Eagles, the division is shifting towards the run game. And the Commanders loaded up to stop the run, while Dallas is at a clear deficit. That might be a key to this season.

The responses should be fun to designate who pays attention to other teams or who just has blinders on.​

I don't agree on the Commanders. Smith is an OK quarterback, but he's never been a playmaker but more of a bus driver. And the team's receiving weapons continue to look worse, not better. They're basement dwellers of the division until proven otherwise.

The Giants won't be as awful as they were last year, but I think their secondary got worse while one side of their offensive line got better. They look like the definition of an average football team. Eselecially given what I feel was yet another poor choice at head coach.

The Eagles are still the class of the division until proven otherwise and may have even improved some. If nothing else, they'll get several injured starters back.

But it all comes down to the decisions the Cowboys have made. Who they've retained and who they've replaced. I think the player talent is there.

 

[phildadon86]

Bennett..bahawhawhaw!

Isn’t he in jail still?

 

[Stash]

I'm not sold on Alex Smith. I feel that the Andy Reid/Doug Pederson offensive schemes make their QBs look significantly better than they are (e.g. lots of high % slants from explosive out of breaks wideouts). Theres a reason so many of their QBs fail once they're traded/signed out of that scheme. So I'm not sure the Commanders are getting the Alex Smith of last year or the Alex Smith of all the years before.

To say nothing of the fact that I think an average quarterback like Smith greatly benefitted by having the best TE and deep receiver threat in the league.

He doesn't have anything close to that in Washington.