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For you folks who aren't enough of a sucker like me to go out and buy every preview magazine, here's what will hopefully be an interesting time passer for ya: the Cliff Notes version of Lindy's 2005 NFL Preview mag. Most Cowboys and NFC East stuff is summarized as well as all stories and their interesting points.
RATING THE NFL HEAD COACHES
Bill Belichick: 99
....The mere mention of Belichick strikes a spark forcing football insiders to pose the question, "Did you know Bill Parcells has never reached the Super Bowl without Belichick as an assistant?" While that is a true statement, Belichicks's decision to follow much of the blueprint for success gleaned form Parcells, proved this side of settling on Tom Brady as his starting quarterback, his best career choice....In the past three seasons, the Patriots have contested teams that finished .500 or better in 30 of its last 48 regular-season games. In those 30 games, the Pats are 22-8. Combining the playoff victories in '03 and '04, the Pats are 28-8 against teams that finished .500 or better. Therefore, in conclusion, the Pats have played teams .500 or better in 67 percent of their last 54 games - with a winning percentage of 67 percent. Yes, the Pats in every sense of the word have been a dominant force....
Bill Parcells: 99
....For those failing to appreciate his accomplishments, allow these facts to permeate the mind. In the three seasons he coached the Jets (1997-99), the team won 29 games. Before his arrival, the Jets failed to post a winning record in eight straight seasons. In fact, the Jets were, collectively, 48 games under .500 in the eight years prior to Parcells taking the reins. In New England, he led the Patriots to the playoffs twice, conccluding his four-year stint (1993-96) in Foxboro, playing in Super Bowl XXXI. Before his arival, the Pats were a combined 14-50. The building blocks of legendary status formed while strolling the sideline for the New York Giants. During his eight seasons there (1983-1990), he won two Super Bowls, secured five post-season berths, and registered five seasons of 10 or more wins. Before Parcells, the Giants had one winning year in the previous 10 seasons. The lone remaining question is whether Parcells is the best NFL coach of all-time....
Bill Cowher: 98
Andy Reid: 95
....Yes, Reid has led the Eagles to an average of 12 wins per season over the last five seaons. Yes, Reid is deserving of this placement based purely on numbers. However, once the record is placed under the microscope, one can find chinks in the armor. Simply stated, Reid & Co. have taken advantage of a pathetically weak division that has shortened the postseason trip to the conference championship game. Since 2000, other than Philadelphia, just three other teams posted winning records (Dallas in 2003; and the New York Giants in 2000 and 2002) in the NFC East.
The Eagles have garned more than 70 percent of their wins against teams with losing records since 2000......
Mike Martz: 95
Tony Dungy: 95
Marty Schottenheimer: 95
Jeff Fisher: 94
Dick Vermeil: 93
Brian Billick: 92
Mike Shanahan: 92
Mike Holmgren: 91
Dennis Green: 91
Herm Edwards: 90
John Fox: 90
Jon Gruden: 90
Joe Gibbs: 90
....With all due respect to one of the game's best-ever coaches, the Commanders looked disorganized, lacked intensity and weren't fundamentally sound last season. In addition, Gibbs made some strange decisions, including poor clock management at times. He's ranked in the middle of the pack based on a sweet resume and belief that last season was an aberration....
Tom Coughlin: 86
Marvin Lewis: 84
Dom Capers: 83
Jim Mora: 82
Mike Sherman: 79
Jack Del Rio: 78
Jim Haslett: 78
Mike Mularkey: 77
Mike Tice: 76
Lovie Smith: 75
Romeo Crennel: 73
Norv Turner: 73
....Frankly, while Turner receives high grades from his peers, he has accomplished, at best, minimal success. He is 16 games under .500 for his career as an NFL head coach, with just three winnign seasons in eight years. He has worked his team into the playoffs just once. Based on recommendations from league insiders, his rating could be bumped, but the numbers simply don't justify the inclination....
Mike Nolan: 70
Nick Saban: 70
3-4 DEFENSES ALL THE RAGE: IT'S A COPY-CAT LEAGUE
* Dallas, San Fran, Cleveland, San Diego and Denver will all be switching to 3-4 this season. Miami will incorporate it for 15-20% of its plays.
* Romeo Crennel: "You have to be good down the middle in the 3-4. Nose tackle inside linebackers, safeties. You can get all the cover corners you want, but if you can't stop the run, it doesn't do any good."
* Bill Cowher: "It's harder to find the great rush defenensive end in the 4-3 and now maybe you're better of trying to create pressure with a combination of blitzes. You have more flexibility."
* Steelers DC Dick LeBeau: Considers Greg Lloyd the quintessential outside linebacker in the 3-4. "He was a tremendous pass rusher but also had the sped and the range to get out underneath passes and could play every down. You could rush him very effectively or let him roam and get to the ball and make tackles. Chad Brown and Levon Kirkland were very successful in 4-3 schemes, but they're real good in the 3-4 because brining them to rush is almost living having another defensive lineman yet they still have the mobility in coverage. Takeo Spikes is a great 3-4 zone-blitz type of athlete. All those guys have that knack of winning once they get into a one-on-one battle with somebody."
* Article mentions that both Dallas and San Diego hope they have found that type of linebacker with Demarcus Ware and Shawn Merriman.
* Bills GM Tom Donahoe: "When I was in Pittsburgh, we always felt that we had an advantage. Some of those undersized defensive ends that didn't fit int he 4-3, they could be good edge players in the 3-4. When you talk about players like a Shawn Merriman, he really becomes interesting because he's a versatile guy. And depending on the defense you play, some people will also see him as a 4-3 end and some people will see him as a 3-4 outside linebacker. But it does put a premium on those types of players."
49ers Coach Mike Nolan: "It's much more cap friendly than trying to find a bunch of defensive ends and tackles that typically cost you a lot more money. It allows you to find people in the draft at a lesser value. You can get a more athletic defense on the field. You end up getting two extra players in your special teams. There are those in-between guys who fall in the draft because they are college defensive ends but are not big enough to be ends in the NFL. They kind of slide into this, 'Are they linebackers or are they down guys?' Those guys in a 3-4 fit in so well because you can put them in either outside backer or inside. We can draft a guy and figure out what he is later rather than worrying about, 'Oh my god, are we going to have to cut him because he's not big enough?'
Houston coach Dom Capers: "To make the transition normally takes a couple of years before they feel comfotable. We put Jason in and left him there. That's the first time I've done it. Guys have been rush guys on third down, but they didn't have to learn the position until a couple of years (later). They have to read and learn so much in this system."
Atlanta coach Jim Mora on taking his 3-4 team from last in the league in defense to 14th under the 4-3: "The scheme fits our players better. The change in schemes helped us and the players embraced what Ed was preaching. And they embraced it on a daily basis. The best compliment you can get is when other coaches tell you how hard your defense plays. It's harder to play in the 3-4. You occupy more space as you move backward. It's easier to move forward. You have to have movement skills and awareness. It's hard to find outside linebackers in the 3-4. They're projections."
(a lot of lessons in this article that make me fear our defense could be in for a rocky start next season...)
CURTIS MARTIN TO TOP OF RUSHING LIST
* Gave each of his offensive linemen a starter set of Louis Vutton luggage last year.
* LaDainian Tomlinson's role model is Curtis Martin and he looks to Martin for advice, especially so that he can still run like that in his 30's.
* Curtis Martin: "Many of you probably can't even believe this, but I feel as good as I have probably felt in my career. I feel a million times more mentally prepared, just as more of a complete man. I feel as though I have grown into myself spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically at the same time. Right now, I feel like I'm at my best." (look out Emmitt! )
* Martin had such devastating ankle injuries in 2002, that there were tears in his eyes as he waited for handoff sometimes. The Jets reduced his play dramatically in the preseason in 2003 because of that to give him more time to recover. It flopped and Martin took 12 weeks to find the endzone for a TD. In 2004, the Jets reversed that philosophy and ran him hard from the get-go resulting in the best season ever for a RB that old.
NFC EAST SUMMARY
5 Questions to be Answered:
#1 Can the Eagles survive without Terrell Owens?
A: When he got hurt, the quesiton was whether they could surive without him. Now it's back to the original question. They seem to make it work either way.
#2 How much better will Drew Bledsoe make the Cowboys?
A: He had better runners, better receivers and a better defense in Buffalo and the Bills were 9-7. Parcells might take his chances with 9-7.
#3 What's the key to Eli Manning's development?
A: Jeremy Shockey. The tight end has become to the Giants what Tony Gonzalez is to Kansas City and Antonio Gates to San Diego. Cowboys tight end Jason Witten and Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler have passed him up as the top NFC threats at the position.
#4 Is Joe Gibbs going to succeed?
A: If he does, they should re-induct him into the Hall of Fame. In the offseason, his first draft choice, safety Sean Taylor, wasn't listening to pleas for commitment and injured star LaVar Arrington was complaining about poor treatment. And that's from the best side of the ball, the defense.
#5 Can Plaxico Burress do for the Giants what Terrell Owens did for the Eagles?
No, but the idea is similar. The Giants need Burress to complement Amani Toomer and Jeremy Shockey and give Eli Manning another big target in the red zone. Likewise, the Redskisn think quick little Santana Moss and steady Dvaid Patten can provide better threats than Laveranues Coles. The Cowboys are also counting on the return of Terry Glenn, who will be united with Drew Bledsoe. But Owens set the bar so high last season that even he probably can't match it.
Philadelphia Eagles
Projected Finish: 1st
Key Addition: DT Mike Patterson
Key Loss: LB/ST Ike Reese
New York Giants
Projected Finish: 2nd
Key Addition: WR Plaxico Burress
Key Loss: QB Kurt Warner
Dallas Cowboys
Projected Finish: 3rd
Key Addition: NT Jason Ferguson
Key Loss: S Darren Woodson
Washington Commanders
Projected Finish: 4th
Key Addition: WR Santana Moss
Key Loss: LB Antonio Pierce
OTHER DIVISION LEADER PREDICTIONS:
NFC East:
Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North:
Detroit Lions
NFC South:
Atlanta Falcons
NFC West:
St.Louis Rams
Wildcards:
Arizona Cardinals
Minnesota Vikings
NFC Title Game: Atlanta vs. Detroit
AFC East:
New England Patriots
AFC North:
Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South:
Indianapolis Colts
AFC West:
Denver Broncos
Wildcards:
San Diego Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Title Game: New England vs. Indianapolis
Super Bowl XL: Patriots gain three-peat by shutting down Michael Vick's Falcons.
NFC EAST POSITION RATINGS (1 to 10 SCALE)
Coaching Staff
Dallas 9.5 - If Parcells is going to go down, he will go down his way..... the only caveat is that coordinator Mike Zimmer is learning the defense for the first time, so Parcells, who also serves as the team's offensive play-caller, will be in full control.... (Eagles 9.5, Commanders 8.5, Giants 8.0)
Quarterbacks
Dallas 7.0 - The quarterback carousel that has been in place since the retirement of Troy Aikman remains in full effect with Bledsoe taking over in 2005....While Bledsoe will hopefully serve as a stopgap until quarterback of the future Drew Henson is ready, he thinks he can get them to the top this season. The Cowboys are of a similar mindset. Nevermind that Bledsoe hasn't started a playoff game since 1998 and was 23-25 as a starter in Buffalo before being unceremoniously released in the offseason... (Eagles 8.5, Giants 7.0, Commanders 6.0)
Running Backs
Dallas 8.0 - Julius Jones looked to be heir apparent to the running back throne in Dallas, following Duane Thomas, Calvin Hill, Tony Dorsett, and all-time rushing kind Emmitt Smith... (Giants 9.0, Eagles 7.5, Commanders 7.5)
Receivers
Dallas 7.5 - Jason Witten emerged as a star last season.... Dan Campbell will return form injury, and one of the league's best blockers who will do all the dirty work in Dallas... Keyshawn needs a healthy Terry Glenn to complement his chain-moving style... (Eagles 8.0, Giants 7.5, Commanders 6.0)
Offensive Linemen
Dallas 7.0 - Left side will again be the strength of the team... The only position of concern is right tackle and Cowboys counting on Rivera to help whoever starts there... (Eagles 8.0, Commanders 8.0, Giants 6.5)
Defensive Linemen
Dallas 7.5 - Going from 4-3 to 3-4 will mean diminished roles for Greg Ellis and La'Roi Glover who happen to be the two best linemen on the team... Ferguson and Spears ideal fits for the 3-4... Ferguson and Glover alternating at nose tackle will certainly give centers fits because of the strength and quickness change of pace... (Eagles 8.0, Giants 7.5, Commanders 7.5)
Linebackers
Dallas 6.5 - Biggest impact in Dallas from 3-4 change will be felt on linebacking corps... Al Singleton's Dallas career in jeopardy...Parcells hoping Ware will be the first Cowboys to register double digit sacks since 1996... Dat Nguyen undersize for the inside.... Make or break year for Bradie James... (Eagles 7.5, Giants 7.5, Commanders 7.0)
Secondary (Cowboys got no respect in thsi category. )
Dallas 7.0 - The Henry signing was a move that should have happened a year ago... Improved cornerback play should allow Roy Williams to get back to being a disruptive force near the line of scrimmage... Lynn Scott, Keith Davis and Justin Beriault offer little hope at free safety... (Eagles 9.0, Commanders 8.0, Giants 7.5)
Special Teams
Dallas 6.0 - McBriar showed huge potential... Parcells going to push Cundiff to be tougher and compete for the job... Plenty of options in return game but no proven performer... (Eagles 8.5, Giants 8.0, Commanders 7.0)
Intangibles
Dallas +1 This is indeed Parcells' team now. Not only has he jettisoned most of the players that were here before him, he has continued to add former players from his days with the Patriots and Jets to the roster. He has also changed the defensive scheme from the 4-3 to his favored 3-4. Clearly, after last season's 6-10 campaign, Parcells plans to win or lose - make that enhance or tarnish his certain Hall of Fame legacy - his way.
Eagles -1 The Eagles had several key players who were unhappy with their contract situations in the offseason, including Terrell Owens, Corey Simon and Brian Westbrook. These are distractions that a team on a Super Bowl mission doesn't need.
Giants -1 A slow start could start the head-scratching among the players again and threaten Coughlin's ability to convince them his way does work. The schedule is no help, offfering four West Coast excursions as well as flights to New Orleans and Dallas. The West Coast trips, spread out over the schedule, could wreck the routine coaches like to establish during the season. While this looks to be an improved team, many questions and potential pitfalls remain in its path.
Commanders +1 A base of character developed in the late going last season, thanks to veterans like Griffin, Noble and Washington. With Jansen coming back, he should bring the same toughness and camaraderie to the offense. For the first time in several years, the Commanders don't look that good on paper. But character could allow them to meet their potential for the first time in a long time.
Totals
Eagles 73.5, Giants 67.5, Cowboys 67.0, Commanders 66.5
RATING THE NFL HEAD COACHES
Bill Belichick: 99
....The mere mention of Belichick strikes a spark forcing football insiders to pose the question, "Did you know Bill Parcells has never reached the Super Bowl without Belichick as an assistant?" While that is a true statement, Belichicks's decision to follow much of the blueprint for success gleaned form Parcells, proved this side of settling on Tom Brady as his starting quarterback, his best career choice....In the past three seasons, the Patriots have contested teams that finished .500 or better in 30 of its last 48 regular-season games. In those 30 games, the Pats are 22-8. Combining the playoff victories in '03 and '04, the Pats are 28-8 against teams that finished .500 or better. Therefore, in conclusion, the Pats have played teams .500 or better in 67 percent of their last 54 games - with a winning percentage of 67 percent. Yes, the Pats in every sense of the word have been a dominant force....
Bill Parcells: 99
....For those failing to appreciate his accomplishments, allow these facts to permeate the mind. In the three seasons he coached the Jets (1997-99), the team won 29 games. Before his arrival, the Jets failed to post a winning record in eight straight seasons. In fact, the Jets were, collectively, 48 games under .500 in the eight years prior to Parcells taking the reins. In New England, he led the Patriots to the playoffs twice, conccluding his four-year stint (1993-96) in Foxboro, playing in Super Bowl XXXI. Before his arival, the Pats were a combined 14-50. The building blocks of legendary status formed while strolling the sideline for the New York Giants. During his eight seasons there (1983-1990), he won two Super Bowls, secured five post-season berths, and registered five seasons of 10 or more wins. Before Parcells, the Giants had one winning year in the previous 10 seasons. The lone remaining question is whether Parcells is the best NFL coach of all-time....
Bill Cowher: 98
Andy Reid: 95
....Yes, Reid has led the Eagles to an average of 12 wins per season over the last five seaons. Yes, Reid is deserving of this placement based purely on numbers. However, once the record is placed under the microscope, one can find chinks in the armor. Simply stated, Reid & Co. have taken advantage of a pathetically weak division that has shortened the postseason trip to the conference championship game. Since 2000, other than Philadelphia, just three other teams posted winning records (Dallas in 2003; and the New York Giants in 2000 and 2002) in the NFC East.
The Eagles have garned more than 70 percent of their wins against teams with losing records since 2000......Mike Martz: 95
Tony Dungy: 95
Marty Schottenheimer: 95
Jeff Fisher: 94
Dick Vermeil: 93
Brian Billick: 92
Mike Shanahan: 92
Mike Holmgren: 91
Dennis Green: 91
Herm Edwards: 90
John Fox: 90
Jon Gruden: 90
Joe Gibbs: 90
....With all due respect to one of the game's best-ever coaches, the Commanders looked disorganized, lacked intensity and weren't fundamentally sound last season. In addition, Gibbs made some strange decisions, including poor clock management at times. He's ranked in the middle of the pack based on a sweet resume and belief that last season was an aberration....
Tom Coughlin: 86
Marvin Lewis: 84
Dom Capers: 83
Jim Mora: 82
Mike Sherman: 79
Jack Del Rio: 78
Jim Haslett: 78
Mike Mularkey: 77
Mike Tice: 76
Lovie Smith: 75
Romeo Crennel: 73
Norv Turner: 73
....Frankly, while Turner receives high grades from his peers, he has accomplished, at best, minimal success. He is 16 games under .500 for his career as an NFL head coach, with just three winnign seasons in eight years. He has worked his team into the playoffs just once. Based on recommendations from league insiders, his rating could be bumped, but the numbers simply don't justify the inclination....
Mike Nolan: 70
Nick Saban: 70
3-4 DEFENSES ALL THE RAGE: IT'S A COPY-CAT LEAGUE
* Dallas, San Fran, Cleveland, San Diego and Denver will all be switching to 3-4 this season. Miami will incorporate it for 15-20% of its plays.
* Romeo Crennel: "You have to be good down the middle in the 3-4. Nose tackle inside linebackers, safeties. You can get all the cover corners you want, but if you can't stop the run, it doesn't do any good."
* Bill Cowher: "It's harder to find the great rush defenensive end in the 4-3 and now maybe you're better of trying to create pressure with a combination of blitzes. You have more flexibility."
* Steelers DC Dick LeBeau: Considers Greg Lloyd the quintessential outside linebacker in the 3-4. "He was a tremendous pass rusher but also had the sped and the range to get out underneath passes and could play every down. You could rush him very effectively or let him roam and get to the ball and make tackles. Chad Brown and Levon Kirkland were very successful in 4-3 schemes, but they're real good in the 3-4 because brining them to rush is almost living having another defensive lineman yet they still have the mobility in coverage. Takeo Spikes is a great 3-4 zone-blitz type of athlete. All those guys have that knack of winning once they get into a one-on-one battle with somebody."
* Article mentions that both Dallas and San Diego hope they have found that type of linebacker with Demarcus Ware and Shawn Merriman.
* Bills GM Tom Donahoe: "When I was in Pittsburgh, we always felt that we had an advantage. Some of those undersized defensive ends that didn't fit int he 4-3, they could be good edge players in the 3-4. When you talk about players like a Shawn Merriman, he really becomes interesting because he's a versatile guy. And depending on the defense you play, some people will also see him as a 4-3 end and some people will see him as a 3-4 outside linebacker. But it does put a premium on those types of players."
49ers Coach Mike Nolan: "It's much more cap friendly than trying to find a bunch of defensive ends and tackles that typically cost you a lot more money. It allows you to find people in the draft at a lesser value. You can get a more athletic defense on the field. You end up getting two extra players in your special teams. There are those in-between guys who fall in the draft because they are college defensive ends but are not big enough to be ends in the NFL. They kind of slide into this, 'Are they linebackers or are they down guys?' Those guys in a 3-4 fit in so well because you can put them in either outside backer or inside. We can draft a guy and figure out what he is later rather than worrying about, 'Oh my god, are we going to have to cut him because he's not big enough?'
Houston coach Dom Capers: "To make the transition normally takes a couple of years before they feel comfotable. We put Jason in and left him there. That's the first time I've done it. Guys have been rush guys on third down, but they didn't have to learn the position until a couple of years (later). They have to read and learn so much in this system."
Atlanta coach Jim Mora on taking his 3-4 team from last in the league in defense to 14th under the 4-3: "The scheme fits our players better. The change in schemes helped us and the players embraced what Ed was preaching. And they embraced it on a daily basis. The best compliment you can get is when other coaches tell you how hard your defense plays. It's harder to play in the 3-4. You occupy more space as you move backward. It's easier to move forward. You have to have movement skills and awareness. It's hard to find outside linebackers in the 3-4. They're projections."
(a lot of lessons in this article that make me fear our defense could be in for a rocky start next season...)
CURTIS MARTIN TO TOP OF RUSHING LIST
* Gave each of his offensive linemen a starter set of Louis Vutton luggage last year.
* LaDainian Tomlinson's role model is Curtis Martin and he looks to Martin for advice, especially so that he can still run like that in his 30's.
* Curtis Martin: "Many of you probably can't even believe this, but I feel as good as I have probably felt in my career. I feel a million times more mentally prepared, just as more of a complete man. I feel as though I have grown into myself spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically at the same time. Right now, I feel like I'm at my best." (look out Emmitt!
)* Martin had such devastating ankle injuries in 2002, that there were tears in his eyes as he waited for handoff sometimes. The Jets reduced his play dramatically in the preseason in 2003 because of that to give him more time to recover. It flopped and Martin took 12 weeks to find the endzone for a TD. In 2004, the Jets reversed that philosophy and ran him hard from the get-go resulting in the best season ever for a RB that old.
NFC EAST SUMMARY
5 Questions to be Answered:
#1 Can the Eagles survive without Terrell Owens?
A: When he got hurt, the quesiton was whether they could surive without him. Now it's back to the original question. They seem to make it work either way.
#2 How much better will Drew Bledsoe make the Cowboys?
A: He had better runners, better receivers and a better defense in Buffalo and the Bills were 9-7. Parcells might take his chances with 9-7.
#3 What's the key to Eli Manning's development?
A: Jeremy Shockey. The tight end has become to the Giants what Tony Gonzalez is to Kansas City and Antonio Gates to San Diego. Cowboys tight end Jason Witten and Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler have passed him up as the top NFC threats at the position.
#4 Is Joe Gibbs going to succeed?
A: If he does, they should re-induct him into the Hall of Fame. In the offseason, his first draft choice, safety Sean Taylor, wasn't listening to pleas for commitment and injured star LaVar Arrington was complaining about poor treatment. And that's from the best side of the ball, the defense.
#5 Can Plaxico Burress do for the Giants what Terrell Owens did for the Eagles?
No, but the idea is similar. The Giants need Burress to complement Amani Toomer and Jeremy Shockey and give Eli Manning another big target in the red zone. Likewise, the Redskisn think quick little Santana Moss and steady Dvaid Patten can provide better threats than Laveranues Coles. The Cowboys are also counting on the return of Terry Glenn, who will be united with Drew Bledsoe. But Owens set the bar so high last season that even he probably can't match it.
Projected Finish: 1st
Key Addition: DT Mike Patterson
Key Loss: LB/ST Ike Reese
Projected Finish: 2nd
Key Addition: WR Plaxico Burress
Key Loss: QB Kurt Warner
Projected Finish: 3rd
Key Addition: NT Jason Ferguson
Key Loss: S Darren Woodson
Projected Finish: 4th
Key Addition: WR Santana Moss
Key Loss: LB Antonio Pierce
OTHER DIVISION LEADER PREDICTIONS:
NFC East:
NFC North:
NFC South:
NFC West:
Wildcards:
NFC Title Game: Atlanta vs. Detroit
AFC East:
AFC North:
AFC South:
AFC West:
Wildcards:
AFC Title Game: New England vs. Indianapolis
Super Bowl XL: Patriots gain three-peat by shutting down Michael Vick's Falcons.
NFC EAST POSITION RATINGS (1 to 10 SCALE)
Coaching Staff
Dallas 9.5 - If Parcells is going to go down, he will go down his way..... the only caveat is that coordinator Mike Zimmer is learning the defense for the first time, so Parcells, who also serves as the team's offensive play-caller, will be in full control.... (Eagles 9.5, Commanders 8.5, Giants 8.0)
Quarterbacks
Dallas 7.0 - The quarterback carousel that has been in place since the retirement of Troy Aikman remains in full effect with Bledsoe taking over in 2005....While Bledsoe will hopefully serve as a stopgap until quarterback of the future Drew Henson is ready, he thinks he can get them to the top this season. The Cowboys are of a similar mindset. Nevermind that Bledsoe hasn't started a playoff game since 1998 and was 23-25 as a starter in Buffalo before being unceremoniously released in the offseason... (Eagles 8.5, Giants 7.0, Commanders 6.0)
Running Backs
Dallas 8.0 - Julius Jones looked to be heir apparent to the running back throne in Dallas, following Duane Thomas, Calvin Hill, Tony Dorsett, and all-time rushing kind Emmitt Smith... (Giants 9.0, Eagles 7.5, Commanders 7.5)
Receivers
Dallas 7.5 - Jason Witten emerged as a star last season.... Dan Campbell will return form injury, and one of the league's best blockers who will do all the dirty work in Dallas... Keyshawn needs a healthy Terry Glenn to complement his chain-moving style... (Eagles 8.0, Giants 7.5, Commanders 6.0)
Offensive Linemen
Dallas 7.0 - Left side will again be the strength of the team... The only position of concern is right tackle and Cowboys counting on Rivera to help whoever starts there... (Eagles 8.0, Commanders 8.0, Giants 6.5)
Defensive Linemen
Dallas 7.5 - Going from 4-3 to 3-4 will mean diminished roles for Greg Ellis and La'Roi Glover who happen to be the two best linemen on the team... Ferguson and Spears ideal fits for the 3-4... Ferguson and Glover alternating at nose tackle will certainly give centers fits because of the strength and quickness change of pace... (Eagles 8.0, Giants 7.5, Commanders 7.5)
Linebackers
Dallas 6.5 - Biggest impact in Dallas from 3-4 change will be felt on linebacking corps... Al Singleton's Dallas career in jeopardy...Parcells hoping Ware will be the first Cowboys to register double digit sacks since 1996... Dat Nguyen undersize for the inside.... Make or break year for Bradie James... (Eagles 7.5, Giants 7.5, Commanders 7.0)
Secondary (Cowboys got no respect in thsi category.
)Dallas 7.0 - The Henry signing was a move that should have happened a year ago... Improved cornerback play should allow Roy Williams to get back to being a disruptive force near the line of scrimmage... Lynn Scott, Keith Davis and Justin Beriault offer little hope at free safety... (Eagles 9.0, Commanders 8.0, Giants 7.5)
Special Teams
Dallas 6.0 - McBriar showed huge potential... Parcells going to push Cundiff to be tougher and compete for the job... Plenty of options in return game but no proven performer... (Eagles 8.5, Giants 8.0, Commanders 7.0)
Intangibles
Dallas +1 This is indeed Parcells' team now. Not only has he jettisoned most of the players that were here before him, he has continued to add former players from his days with the Patriots and Jets to the roster. He has also changed the defensive scheme from the 4-3 to his favored 3-4. Clearly, after last season's 6-10 campaign, Parcells plans to win or lose - make that enhance or tarnish his certain Hall of Fame legacy - his way.
Eagles -1 The Eagles had several key players who were unhappy with their contract situations in the offseason, including Terrell Owens, Corey Simon and Brian Westbrook. These are distractions that a team on a Super Bowl mission doesn't need.
Giants -1 A slow start could start the head-scratching among the players again and threaten Coughlin's ability to convince them his way does work. The schedule is no help, offfering four West Coast excursions as well as flights to New Orleans and Dallas. The West Coast trips, spread out over the schedule, could wreck the routine coaches like to establish during the season. While this looks to be an improved team, many questions and potential pitfalls remain in its path.
Commanders +1 A base of character developed in the late going last season, thanks to veterans like Griffin, Noble and Washington. With Jansen coming back, he should bring the same toughness and camaraderie to the offense. For the first time in several years, the Commanders don't look that good on paper. But character could allow them to meet their potential for the first time in a long time.
Totals
Eagles 73.5, Giants 67.5, Cowboys 67.0, Commanders 66.5
Continued......
