ESPN Mosley: How I See It: NFC East Stock Watch

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Falling

Manning
1. Eli Manning, Giants quarterback: The most important player on the team is going through his worst stretch since the '07 season. He's been awful with his decision-making, and I don't think you can blame it on his young receivers. Agaisnt Philadelphia on Sunday, Manning's backside throw to rookie tight end Travis Beckum was intercepted by cornerback Asante Samuel. It was an indiscriminate throw that effectively took the Giants out of the game. And the interception late in the first half was almost as bad. It's amazing to see such an accomplished quarterback suddenly regress overnight.

Coughlin
2. Tom Coughlin, Giants head coach: I started to single out defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, but Coughlin's the guy who has to be accountable for this three-game losing streak. The Giants have been a good bounce-back team under Coughlin, but they are reeling. There's no way in the world a Giants defense should be dominated at the line of scrimmage. It's not like Eagles coach Andy Reid particularly enjoys running the football. But he did it with ease against the Giants. Something must change before Sunday's home game against the Chargers.

Webster
3. Corey Webster, Giants cornerback: He's not as bad as others in the secondary, but Webster's the highest-paid player back there. You would expect him to make plays to turn this thing around. Instead, he whiffed on a tackle attempt of Jason Avant and lets him sprint 28 yards up the field. Webster must do better. The Giants need their most talented player in the secondary to try to take over games. He must have a strong performance against the Chargers.

Rising

Weaver
1. Leonard Weaver, Eagles fullback: In the Andy Reid era, the fullback has rarely received any touches. But on Sunday, the Eagles unleashed the 250-pound Weaver as a ball carrier -- and he responded with 75 yards on eight carries. The Giants didn't have any answers for Weaver, who had a 41-yard touchdown on the game's third play from scrimmage. Weaver set the tone for the Eagles. Now, Reid and Mornhinweg need to keep him in the rotation. We knew the Eagles had a lot of weapons. But I didn't know Weaver was one of them.

Cole
2. Trent Cole, Eagles defensive end: He didn't have a sack, but he dominated the line of scrimmage. Cole's one of the most underrated defenders in the division. He's a relentless pass-rusher but he also does a really nice job against the run. It was Cole who kept forcing Brandon Jacobs to stutter-step at the line of scrimmage. You don't want a back like Jacobs taking a false step. Cole was racing to the airport Monday night to go hunting in Ohio. On Sunday night, he'll be hunting Tony Romo.

Romo
3. Tony Romo, Cowboys quarterback: After poor performances in the Cowboys' two losses, Romo has been on a roll. He's gone three consecutive games without an interception and he's still making big plays. He doesn't like to talk about it, but Romo's found sort of a happy medium between his free-wheelin' ways and an overly conservative approach. It's no coincidence that his strong play has occurred during the rise of wide receiver Miles Austin, who has put together the best three-game stretch in club history. If Romo ever gets on the same page with "No. 1" wide receiver Roy Williams, watch out.

 

[theebs]

Its still amazing to me that the eagles traded james thrash to gibbs and the Commanders who had to have him for a fifth.

The eagles then used that fifth on Trent Cole.

So telling.

 

[21Savage]

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Romo
3. Tony Romo, Cowboys quarterback: After poor performances in the Cowboys' two losses, Romo has been on a roll. He's gone three consecutive games without an interception and he's still making big plays. He doesn't like to talk about it, but Romo's found sort of a happy medium between his free-wheelin' ways and an overly conservative approach. It's no coincidence that his strong play has occurred during the rise of wide receiver Miles Austin, who has put together the best three-game stretch in club history. If Romo ever gets on the same page with "No. 1" wide receiver Roy Williams, watch out.

Seems like a few guys on this board have used those exact words over the last few days. Here's to hoping fruition begins this week.

 

[theebs]

Seems like a few guys on this board have used those exact words over the last few days. Here's to hoping fruition begins this week.

Personally I dont think romo to williams will ever be half as good as romo to austin/witten.

There is some sort of bond between romo and austin and romo and witten.

They stretch together, warm up together, have their locker's near each other, they all have similar personalities. They just have what seems like a tight knit bond.

Its just not there with roy. Hopefully it gets better though.

 

[zrinkill]

There is some sort of bond between romo and austin and romo and witten.

Could be how long they have played together.

Just a guess.

 

[theebs]

Could be how long they have played together.

Just a guess.

Definitely, but when you see them on the field before games and stuff, its more than that. I think they really like each other. I think crayton is in that mix too.

Romo and witten came in together and have been friends since april of 03. I think with romo throwing and playing with the backups in 06 so much that he established something early on with him, just like with crayton in the 04 and 05 preseasons.

Their just a close group and I think that helps them on the field.

 

[VACowboy]

It's about creating separation and hitting guys when they're open. To me, the "on the same page" stuff is a crock of crap.

 

[Future]

It's amazing to see such an accomplished quarterback suddenly regress overnight.

What's amazing is how an average quarterback gets exposed by good defenses and when he loses the ability to just throw it up there and have a WR come down with it.

 

[burmafrd]

Sheli was never all that. BSPN slobbered all over him late in 2007 even though all he did was drive the bus while the D line ate people alive. He had one stretch during 2008 when he really played well- but frankly I beleive that was more a fluke then anything else. His foot is certainly giving him trouble but I think its more of a case where he is just being what he is.

 

[RS12]

It's about creating separation and hitting guys when they're open. To me, the "on the same page" stuff is a crock of crap.

Yah, how long did it take Crabtree to get on the same page as Alex Smith? Like 5 minutes?

 

[UVAwahoos]

Yah, how long did it take Crabtree to get on the same page as Alex Smith? Like 5 minutes?

Thank you.

I can't stand all of these "lets give him time to get in sync" posts and comments from people because the guy has had much longer than most of his successful peers.

Seems like a more expensive version of Peerless Price to me at this point. Roy had his season and I think he was just completely mis-evaluated (is this a word?) by our talent scouts...mainly our awesome GM.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

Williams, I think, is the kind of receiver who is never going to get a lot of separation, consistently. He is a Michael Irvin type, which is not to imply he is in that league. Aikman had complete confidence that he could stick the thing in to Irvin and it would be caught -- and more importantly, Irvin wouldn't allow it to be picked. Romo doesn't have that confidence, yet, in Williams. I think it's confidence more than timing, though the latter is also important. Romo has to believe Williams will get the ball and will not allow a defender to take the thing. I do believe that requires some time. I'm not sure how well Williams will play in Dallas, going forward, but I expect him to be much better than what he's shown. We'll see.

 

[Nav22]

It's amazing to see such an accomplished quarterback suddenly regress overnight.

 

[speedkilz88]

Williams, I think, is the kind of receiver who is never going to get a lot of separation, consistently. He is a Michael Irvin type, which is not to imply he is in that league. Aikman had complete confidence that he could stick the thing in to Irvin and it would be caught -- and more importantly, Irvin wouldn't allow it to be picked. Romo doesn't have that confidence, yet, in Williams. I think it's confidence more than timing, though the latter is also important. Romo has to believe Williams will get the ball and will not allow a defender to take the thing. I do believe that requires some time. I'm not sure how well Williams will play in Dallas, going forward, but I expect him to be much better than what he's shown. We'll see.

So far this year getting separation has not been his problem.

 

[gimmesix]

It's about creating separation and hitting guys when they're open. To me, the "on the same page" stuff is a crock of crap.

A lot of the time that is the case, but the Seattle game convinced me that Romo and Williams are just not on the same page.

Williams created separation and got open, but the routes he was running were not the routes Romo was throwing. It appears to me that Williams is reading the coverage differently than Romo is, which is what they appeared to be discussing on the sideline. Williams sees one thing, for instance, and breaks his route in, while Romo believes, based on the position of the safety or whomever, that the route should go out.

 

[poost]

That's exactly what I was thinking. Take away that one postseason and that clown is average if not below-average.