ESPN Clayton: NFC East Big Questions

WoodysGirl

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Dallas Cowboys

Did the Cowboys make a mistake not drafting a top-flight receiver from a deep pool of talent?

Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens are in their 30s, and Owens is coming off major finger surgery. Patrick Crayton is a decent third receiver, but it's hard to project him as a starter. While the Cowboys did the right thing in the draft swap with Cleveland that netted them a first-round choice in 2008, they bypassed the chance to get one of the draft's best receivers. The Browns aren't expected to be good in 2007, so the Cowboys could be at the top of the draft looking at the best receiver.

The Cowboys also have to look at replacing left tackle Flozell Adams, who is in the final year of his contract. If Tony Romo takes a step back, they might have to look at a quarterback, too. Maybe the delay in getting a receiver will work. The Cowboys got a nice pass-rusher in Anthony Spencer in the first round. The offense needed some help at the skill positions. A receiver injury could be a major problem for the Cowboys.

New York Giants

Did the Giants make a mistake in not getting a left tackle?

The Giants needed help at linebacker, cornerback and left tackle. They had only one first-round pick, so three problems couldn't be solved at once. The value on the board pointed to cornerback Aaron Ross from Texas. Left tackle Joe Staley of Central Michigan was another option. By letting a first-round left tackle pass, the Giants have to go ahead with their plan to move guard David Diehl to left tackle and hope that works. The concern is the psyche of QB Eli Manning. Manning is under a lot of heat because of his November and December struggles over the past two seasons. His accuracy dips as the thermometer falls. One reason for last year's drop-off was the poor play at left tackle. If the Diehl experiment doesn't work, Manning could be in trouble early in the season.

Philadelphia Eagles

How will Donovan McNabb accept having Kevin Kolb as a potential threat behind him?

Heading into the draft, the Eagles really didn't have many needs. They fixed the linebacking problems by trading for Takeo Spikes. They've drafted well on the offensive and defensive lines for years. Kevin Curtis was signed to help the receiving corps. Other than taking safety Brandon Meriweather, who wasn't available when the Eagles selected, Andy Reid's best option was to trade down. Kolb wasn't in the plans for the Eagles. He just fell to them, and Reid made the pick. If you're McNabb, though, you have to question the rationale behind the pick. The Eagles didn't draft Kolb to be the inactive quarterback from week to week. Although Kolb probably will be the No. 3 in 2007, the Eagles will try to groom him into being a potential starter. McNabb just got over the bad emotions of the Terrell Owens signing. He had just reasserted himself as the leader of the offense. Now, he might have to be looking over his shoulder.

Washington Commanders

Can another safety help the pass rush?

Joe Gibbs thought LaRon Landry was the best defensive player in the draft, so he made him the sixth pick after repeated efforts to trade down. Now the Commanders have two of the most talented safeties in the league -- Landry and Sean Taylor, both No. 6 picks. The problem is the Commanders passed over a pass-rusher, Jamaal Anderson, to take Landry. The Commanders are calling all around to see if a veteran pass-rusher is available. The Commanders had only 19 sacks last season. Without any pressure on the quarterback, opponents had a 97.8 quarterback rating against them. Unless the Commanders can find a way to get a pass rush, Landy and Taylor might get a lot of opportunities to get tackles downfield.

LINK
 

BouncingCheese

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You can draft a wideout in any year, in any round, any draft. Who's to say there won't be five more players next year who will have great senior seasons like Gonzalez, Meachem, and Bowe? All of them weren't projected in the first round this time last year, and look where they ended up draft-wise... I am not worried about who we pick at WR as long as we don't choose M. Manningham.
 

Angus

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Thanks for the post, WG. If Clayton doesn't know any more about the Giants and other East teams than he seems to know about the Cowboys, his analysis is not worth much, IMO.

:)
 

adamknite

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BouncingCheese;1486732 said:
You can draft a wideout in any year, in any round, any draft. Who's to say there won't be five more players next year who will have great senior seasons like Gonzalez, Meachem, and Bowe? All of them weren't projected in the first round this time last year, and look where they ended up draft-wise... I am not worried about who we pick at WR as long as we don't choose M. Manningham.

here comes smarta
 

Hoov

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BouncingCheese;1486761 said:
Whats that mean friend?
I suspect that he is referring to someone who is a big manningham fan and that person will see what you posted and come to defend manningham.

Hey, who do the Birds have playing LB now besides Takeo ??
 

sago1

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Poor evaluation by Clayton. Maybe he needs spend more time studying the 4 NFC East teams before he writes something up for everyone to see.
 

Idgit

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WoodysGirl;1486717 said:
Washington Commanders

Can another safety help the pass rush?

Joe Gibbs thought LaRon Landry was the best defensive player in the draft, so he made him the sixth pick after repeated efforts to trade down. Now the Commanders have two of the most talented safeties in the league -- Landry and Sean Taylor, both No. 6 picks. The problem is the Commanders passed over a pass-rusher, Jamaal Anderson, to take Landry. The Commanders are calling all around to see if a veteran pass-rusher is available. The Commanders had only 19 sacks last season. Without any pressure on the quarterback, opponents had a 97.8 quarterback rating against them. Unless the Commanders can find a way to get a pass rush, Landy and Taylor might get a lot of opportunities to get tackles downfield.

LINK

I know where there's a 32 year old pass rushing specialist with one healthy achilles tendon available at the right price.
 

theogt

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WoodysGirl;1486717 said:
Washington Commanders

Can another safety help the pass rush?

Joe Gibbs thought LaRon Landry was the best defensive player in the draft, so he made him the sixth pick after repeated efforts to trade down. Now the Commanders have two of the most talented safeties in the league -- Landry and Sean Taylor, both No. 6 picks. The problem is the Commanders passed over a pass-rusher, Jamaal Anderson, to take Landry. The Commanders are calling all around to see if a veteran pass-rusher is available. The Commanders had only 19 sacks last season. Without any pressure on the quarterback, opponents had a 97.8 quarterback rating against them. Unless the Commanders can find a way to get a pass rush, Landy and Taylor might get a lot of opportunities to get tackles downfield.
Brilliant move. It'll be fun to watch Anderson get 10 sacks in Atlanta and Washington finish the season with 19 TOTAL.
 

adamknite

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theogt;1486786 said:
Brilliant move. It'll be fun to watch Anderson get 10 sacks in Atlanta and Washington finish the season with 19 TOTAL.

What are you talking about, according to Adam Schefter right after the Commanders pick, they now have the most dominent safety combo in the league, and one of those guys has never taken an NFL snap. They'll be so good that opposing teams will not be able to find open recievers therefore their pathetic pass rush will have atleast 4 extra seconds to get up, dust the grass off their butts, and get to the QB.
 

mmillman

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the problem with WR now is that rookie wr's typically don't help you. They don't really come on until the second to third year.

McFadden would be awesome if he could be had with the Cleveland pick and the second pick could be a WR or OL.
 

eduncan22

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sago1;1486777 said:
Poor evaluation by Clayton. Maybe he needs spend more time studying the 4 NFC East teams before he writes something up for everyone to see.


Some of us feel that Dallas missed on this draft.
 

fortdick

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eduncan22;1486823 said:
Some of us feel that Dallas missed on this draft.

I don't know. I really like what I am hearing about Stanbach. If Ireland loves him, I gotta believe he has skills. Hopefully TO takes him on like he did Hurd. Maybe we found something here.
 

Chuck 54

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As crazy as it sounds, and as much credit as people give to the need to coddle thin-skinned, sensitive starting QBs, the EAgles better be hoping like hell that KOLB presents a threat to McNabb at some point in the next couple of years....if not, that was a really stupid draft pick.
 

BouncingCheese

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Hoov;1486775 said:
I suspect that he is referring to someone who is a big manningham fan and that person will see what you posted and come to defend manningham.

Hey, who do the Birds have playing LB now besides Takeo ??

Well, Trotter is playing MLB on first downs, but he is a seriously liability now in passing downs as he has slowed down too much, he could lose his job as soon as training camp. Dhani Jones is gone, so Omar Gaither is going to be filling in for Jones' place, though it will be a battle between him and Chris Cocong, who is an absolute beast physically and he is really the guy in the LB core that scares me. Him and Stewart Bradley, and maybe Gaither (Gaither is SLOW), figure to be thier starting LBers in the next two-three years. . I think Spikes will be playing strongside, but he may play some MLB.

I hope this helps and that this isn't a repost...and I know its off-topic, btw.
 
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