ESPN Mosley: 2004 Eagles vs. 2008 Cowboys

[WoodysGirl]

2004 Eagles vs. 2008 Cowboys
September 12, 2008 10:41 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

In his outstanding blog, the Eagletarian, Les Bowen of the Philly Daily News compares the Eagles' 2004 Super Bowl starters to the group from Dallas' 2008 team. Terrell Owens, a member of that 2004 team, said Thursday the Cowboys had "way more talent" than that 2004 squad.

Of course, it helps to mix in a playoff win once every 12 years or so, but we won't get into that. Here's the list of starters from those seasons followed by my editorial comments.

Offense
WR -- Terrell Owens vs. Terrell Owens: Hard to say which version is more talented. He was one of the best receivers in football in 2004 and he remains one of the best. I'll give the nod to the record-setting T.O. of '07, which makes the 2008 Owens better.

LT -- Tra Thomas vs. Flozell Adams: The 2007 version of Adams was once again dominant. I think you have to take him over Thomas, whose back could flare up at any minute.

LG -- Artis Hcks vs. Cory Procter: You have to take Hicks since Procter's simply a spot starter right now.

C -- Hank Fraley vs. Andre Gurode: Gurode is becoming a perennial Pro Bowler. Fraley was a nice player for that team, but he's not in Gurode's league.

RG -- Jermane Mayberry vs. Leonard Davis: Davis gets the nod. He was the best lineman on the team last season. Absolutely dominant.

RT -- Jon Runyan vs. Marc Colombo: I'll give the nod to the 2004 version of Runyan.

TE -- L.J. Smith vs. Jason Witten: Witten is a no-brainer pick. Smith could have a breakout season, though.

WR -- Todd Pinkston vs. Patrick Crayton: Wasn't Pinkston decent at one point? Actually, he only had one touchdown in 2004. Crayton had seven TDs last season and nearly 700 yards receiving. Give me Crayton.

QB -- Donovan McNabb vs. Tony Romo: Wow, the 2004 McNabb vs. the 2008 Romo. Both tremendous players, but McNabb has more playoff notches in his belt.

FB -- Josh Parry vs. Deon Anderson: Anderson is still learning, so give me Parry.

RB -- Brian Westbrook vs. Marion Barber: Westbrook is one of the league's superstars. He wins over a tremendous young player.

Defense
LE -- Jevon Kearse vs. Marcus Spears: Kearse was a disappointment in Philly, but I'll take him over the improving Spears.

NT -- Corey Simon vs. Jay Ratliff: This was before Simon fell off the map. Ratliff's a terriffic young player, but give me Simon.

RE -- Darwin Walker (right DT) vs. Chris Canty: Canty will emerge as a Pro Bowler this season. He's also the better overall talent.

SLB -- Dhani Jones vs. Greg Ellis: Jones was a sharp dresser and talker but Ellis was and is the better player.

MILB -- Jeremiah Trotter vs. Bradie James: James does a nice job in the middle, but Trotter was destroying people in 2004. I loved watching him blitz up the middle. Give me Trotter.

OLB -- Derrick Burgess (right DE) Zach Thomas: Burgess has been exiled to Oakland, so I'm trying to remember how good he was. Even at his advanced age, I'd rather have Thomas than the 2004 version of Burgess.

LB -- Mark Simoneau vs. DeMarcus Ware: Next.

LCB -- Lito Sheppard vs. Terence Newman: Sheppard is immensely talented, but he's banged up too often for us to notice. Give the nod to Newman.

RCB -- Sheldon Brown vs. Anthony Henry: Despite what Drew Rosenhaus might tell you, Brown is an excellent corner. He's more talented than Henry.

FS -- Brian Dawkins vs. Ken Hamlin: Hamlin has become a Pro Bowler, but I'll take the 2004 version of Dawkins any day.

SS -- Michael Lewis vs. Roy Williams: Lewis is more talented as a player and a writer.

Specialists
P -- Dirk Johnson vs. Mat McBriar: McBriar takes down my old friend and former Colorado caddie, Dirk Johnson.

K -- David Akers vs. Nick Folk: Folk is more talented than Akers, but he doesn't have the body of work. Stick with Akers.

KR -- J.R. Reed vs. Felix Jones: Felix is still green, so I'll take J.R.

PR -- Dexter Wynn vs. Adam Jones: Can't my guy, Reno Mahe, get some love? Give me Pac.

I've got the teams dead even (13-13). Feel free to break the tie.


MNF2 Cowboys, MNF2 Eagles, Philadelphia Eagles, Jevon Kearse, Corey Simon, Marcus Spears, Jay Ratliff, Chris Canty, Darwin Walker, Dhani Jones, Jeremiah Trotter, Bradie James, Mark Simoneau, DeMarcus Ware

Read comments or leave a comment

 

[AdamJT13]

SS -- Michael Lewis vs. Roy Williams: Lewis is more talented as a player

I doubt anyone in the NFL would agree with that.

 

[ddh33]

Yeah, I'm confused on the Lewis/Williams comparison.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

I doubt anyone in the NFL would agree with that.

Yea where has Lewis been at the past 3 years.

Also Westbrook wasn't as superstar in 04

 

[roughneck266]

Yeah, I'm confused on the Lewis/Williams comparison.

I figure the guy WANTED to make it a tie.

 

[BaybeeJay]

Jevon Kearse's rookie year was spectacular. 50 tackles, 14.5 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles... too bad he steadily declined from that.

 

[JBell]

I LOL everytime people try to make comparisons using the one point per position angle.

It's not that simple.

The whole 13 vs. 13 thing is dumb, because the areas where he gave us the edge, we have HUGE advantages... (Ware, Witten, Ellis....) where as the positions Philly has advantages are very close, if even "advantages" at all.


This team is more talented. T.O. ain't never lie.

 

[Nav22]

The whole 13 vs. 13 thing is dumb, because the areas where he gave us the edge, we have HUGE advantages

Plus all positions are not equally important. Since the QB position is much more important than punter, what sense does it make to count them equally here?

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Who cares about the 2004 Eagles?

Even if the 2008 Eagles are beter than the 2004 Eagles, it is not like we are rolling out the 2004 Dallas Cowboys.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I doubt anyone in the NFL would agree with that.

I have to agree, that's crazy...

 

[Doomsday]

What does this say about the 2008 version of the Eagles? They were a very good team in 2004 and they barely stacked up back then. This years Eagle team isnt nearly as good as the 2004 team.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Man, I look forward to this game!

 

[AsthmaField]

One, Mosley is an old Roy Williams advesary from his time at DMN. He doesn't like Roy, so I knew right away he wasn't going to pick him.

Two, he shouldn't take away points because they're young or have no playoff wins. A talented player is a talented player, period. It's like saying Marino isn't a good QB because he never won a super bowl. Talent is talent.

Three, (and my biggest complaint), if you want to compare teams position-by-position, you need to factor in all at that position. IOW, he should look at the Dallas RB position as Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. It should be those three vs. the three RB's from 04 Philly. Felix is going to play a lot and Tashard will get some carries every game as well. Marion and Westy might be a slight advantage Eagles... but RB group vs. RB group would go to the 08 Cowboys, IMO.

You want to compare pass rushers? Figure in Spencer because he's going to be a big part of the 08 Cowboys pass rush. DB's? What about Jenkins and Scandrick? They certainly have more talent than the 04 Eagles 4th and 5th corners.

That is why you can't simply compare starting lineups (even if you are fair, which Mosley wasn't).

 

[fortdick]

2004 Eagles vs. 2008 Cowboys

September 12, 2008 10:41 AM



Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley





QB -- Donovan McNabb vs. Tony Romo: Wow, the 2004 McNabb vs. the 2008 Romo. Both tremendous players, but McNabb has more playoff notches in his belt.

McNabb in 2004

G Comp. Att. Pct. Yds Avg. TDs Int Rating Sacks
15 300 469 64% 3875 8.3 31 8 104.7 32

Romo in 2007

G Comp. Att. Pct. Yds Avg TDs Int Rating Sacks
16 335 520 64.4 4211 8.1 36 13 97.4 24


I don't see any advantage to McNabb in 2004. Romo had a higher completion pct., more yards, more TDs and 25% fewer sacks (or McNabb had 33% more if you play with statistics much)

Granted McNabb played one less game, but he would have had to be 35 for 51, for 436 and 5 tds to catch Tony.

 

[fortdick]

Who cares about the 2004 Eagles?

Even if the 2008 Eagles are beter than the 2004 Eagles, it is not like we are rolling out the 2004 Dallas Cowboys.

Very true, and remember, the 2004 Eagles played the 2004 Cowboys twice that year. Wasn't that before Quincy turned us around?

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Very true, and remember, the 2004 Eagles played the 2004 Cowboys twice that year. Wasn't that before Quincy turned us around?

Yeah, and if you think about it the NFC was absolutely dreadful.

I just took a quick look and the NFC only featured 4 teams with a winning record (AFC had 9 teams).

The NFC East was even worse, besides Philly, everyone else was 6-10.

Now ask yourself this, was that 2004 Philly team great or was the NFC just lousy?

I have always said this, the Eagles will kick themselves for not winning a Championship when the NFC was at historic lows.

 

[jazzcat22]

What does this say about the 2008 version of the Eagles? They were a very good team in 2004 and they barely stacked up back then. This years Eagle team isnt nearly as good as the 2004 team.

Right...let's see a comparison of this years teams, not the past.

 

[jazzcat22]

Yeah, and if you think about it the NFC was absolutely dreadful.

I just took a quick look and the NFC only featured 4 teams with a winning record (AFC had 9 teams).

The NFC East was even worse, besides Philly, everyone else was 6-10.

Now ask yourself this, was that 2004 Philly team great or was the NFC just lousy?

I have always said this, the Eagles will kick themselves for not winning a Championship when the NFC was at historic lows.

I always thought they kind of got there by default, not to take anything away from them. But for lack of better words, I say default. However, they did get there. So need to give them credit.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I always thought they kind of got there by default, not to take anything away from them. But for lack of better words, I say default. However, they did get there. So need to give them credit.

Yep, they just managed to lose 3 straight times in the NFC Championship Game.

Not trying to take anything away from the Eagles, those were some pretty good squads.

However, when they played teams that had as much talent, they always came up short when it matter.

 

[fortdick]

Yep, they just managed to lose 3 straight times in the NFC Championship Game.

Not trying to take anything away from the Eagles, those were some pretty good squads.

However, when they played teams that had as much talent, they always came up short when it matter.

They even fell short of tying Buffalo. They had a shot, but couldn't hold it together for one more season.