ESPN: NFC East Q&A: Will Commanders' defensive changes make a difference?

[jobberone]

• NFC East Q&A: Will Commanders' defensive changes make a difference?
  
  
  
  John Keim, ESPN Staff Writer

Today’s question: The Commanders have had a solid offseason, nothing flashy, but they drafted a lineman fifth overall and focused on beefing up the defensive front seven by signing Stephen Paea and Terrance Knighton and corner Chris Culliver and finding two new starting safeties. Have they done enough to make up ground in the division?

Todd Archer, Dallas Cowboys: You started the question with “nothing flashy,” and that seems so un-Washington in free agency. They made solid moves, but I would contend they might have overpaid for Culliver. In the past, the Commanders have loaded up their money for name players and have received little to no payoff. There wasn’t a coordinator more in Tony Romo’s head than Jim Haslett. He had Romo guessing a lot and the Cowboys had difficult times coming up with answers for the Commanders’ pressure. The Commanders will continue to be a 3-4 team, but I’m not sure it will be as varied as what Haslett brought. That should help the Cowboys. I like what the Commanders did defensively, but I’d still take the Cowboys' offense in the matchup.

Dan Graziano, New York Giants: Four of the Giants’ 13 wins over the past two seasons have been against Washington. So from my standpoint, they have by far the furthest to go. I’m in the group that thinks they should have takenLeonard Williams at No. 5 instead of Brandon Scherff, but there’s no doubt they needed to get bigger and meaner on both lines, and they have. I don’t know that I can say they’ve done enough to catch up with Dallas and Philly from an on-paper, quality-of-the-roster standpoint. Remember, when they won it in 2012, the rest of the division was down and they only went 10-6. Dallas is much stronger now, and while I like Washington’s offseason, it’s hard for me to believe they’ve made up eight games on the Cowboys. The Eagles’ reliance on injury-prone players brings some significant bust potential, and the Giants have some as well because of their holes on defense. So if things go well in Washington and poorly in New York and Philly, maybe they can get up to second or third?

Phil Sheridan, Philadelphia Eagles: They do seem to have a sound plan. Right now, it seems to me that the division is very much in flux. The Eagles, of course, had a personality transplant during this crazy offseason. They will either be significantly better, significantly worse or just look different while again going 10-6. The Giants’ offense seems to be very dangerous. The Cowboys figure to be the best team in the division going into the season. Washington isn’t that far removed from 2012, when it won the division and Robert Griffin III appeared to be the best young player in the league. The offseason moves seem solid. Are they enough to get that team back to where it was three years ago? Hard to say, but it certainly can’t be ruled out.

http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-...ommanders-defensive-changes-make-a-difference

 

[big dog cowboy]

No.

Next question.

 

[jobberone]

No.

Next question.

I hope you're right. I'd like them all to finish 8-8 so they get a middlin' draft pick and aren't in the hunt. I'd love to rest our starters the 2nd half of a few games.

 

[DFWJC]

Archer nailed it.

 

[guag]

The Giants’ offense seems to be very dangerous.

Again, why? Their RBs are average at best (though I'd say below average honestly), they don't have their left tackle, and even with him I didn't think their line was anything special. Without a good line, Eli will keep throwing INTs and ducks. A rookie OL is unlikely to dramatically improve their line this season. All they have is a couple of wide receivers. What am I missing?

 

[Enlightened32]

I think the only threat in the division is Philly.

 

[guag]

I think the only threat in the division is Philly.

Agreed. That's not to say that the Skins and/or Giants won't take one from us, as is sometimes the case even when there's a large talent gap between the teams... but as far as the division crown, Philly probably has the best shot besides us. But I think Philly will be a boom or bust team this season... either all these new pieces come together unexpectedly well and Chip proves the media right, or the whole thing falls flat on its face and implodes.

If Chip Kelly's Madden experiment proves to be an epic failure, the Giants might have the 2nd best shot, but again, I think that also depends on certain things coming together. Cruz needs to come back to at or near 100% from his injury, and he's said to be around 80% at this time. And who knows at this point if he'll ever be the same? He turns 29 during the season. If their line gives them time, then maybe that allows Eli to consistently find Beckham. Rueben Randle is average IMO, 71 receptions last year with 3 TDs isn't that great. TWill had 8 TDs on 37 receptions as a comparison. And if one of their backs steps up and proves to be better than what their abysmal YPCs indicate. Their leading rusher last year, Andre Williams, had a 3.3 avg on 217 attempts. If not for a 50 yard TD, the avg would be 3.1 YPC. Rashad Jennings wasn't much better at 3.8 YPC. Shane Vereen? Yawn. And if their defense can be halfway decent with Spagnuolo returning. Lots of ifs though.

 

[Enlightened32]

Agreed. That's not to say that the Skins and/or Giants won't take one from us, as is sometimes the case even when there's a large talent gap between the teams... but as far as the division crown, Philly probably has the best shot besides us. But I think Philly will be a boom or bust team this season... either all these new pieces come together unexpectedly well and Chip proves the media right, or the whole thing falls flat on its face and implodes.

If Chip Kelly's Madden experiment proves to be an epic failure, the Giants might have the 2nd best shot, but again, I think that also depends on certain things coming together. Cruz needs to come back to at or near 100% from his injury, and he's said to be around 80% at this time. And who knows at this point if he'll ever be the same? He turns 29 during the season. If their line gives them time, then maybe that allows Eli to consistently find Beckham. Rueben Randle is average IMO, 71 receptions last year with 3 TDs isn't that great. TWill had 8 TDs on 37 receptions as a comparison. And if one of their backs steps up and proves to be better than what their abysmal YPCs indicate. Their leading rusher last year, Andre Williams, had a 3.3 avg on 217 attempts. If not for a 50 yard TD, the avg would be 3.1 YPC. Rashad Jennings wasn't much better at 3.8 YPC. Shane Vereen? Yawn. And if their defense can be halfway decent with Spagnuolo returning. Lots of ifs though.

I think NY is a year away...could be wrong.

 

[guag]

I think NY is a year away...could be wrong.

They have some pieces there to build on, but yeah I think they still need another year or two to add more talent. Though by then, Eli might not be with the team any more. For better or worse.

 

[CCBoy]

NFC East Q&A: Will Commanders' defensive changes make a difference?

• John Keim, ESPN Staff Writer
  

http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-...ommanders-defensive-changes-make-a-difference



Today’s question: The Commanders have had a solid offseason, nothing flashy, but they drafted a lineman fifth overall and focused on beefing up the defensive front seven by signing Stephen Paea and Terrance Knighton and corner Chris Culliver and finding two new starting safeties. Have they done enough to make up ground in the division?

Todd Archer, Dallas Cowboys: You started the question with “nothing flashy,” and that seems so un-Washington in free agency. They made solid moves, but I would contend they might have overpaid for Culliver. In the past, the Commanders have loaded up their money for name players and have received little to no payoff. There wasn’t a coordinator more in Tony Romo’s head than Jim Haslett. He had Romo guessing a lot and the Cowboys had difficult times coming up with answers for the Commanders’ pressure. The Commanders will continue to be a 3-4 team, but I’m not sure it will be as varied as what Haslett brought. That should help the Cowboys. I like what the Commanders did defensively, but I’d still take the Cowboys' offense in the matchup.

Dan Graziano, New York Giants: Four of the Giants’ 13 wins over the past two seasons have been against Washington. So from my standpoint, they have by far the furthest to go. I’m in the group that thinks they should have taken Leonard Williams at No. 5 instead of Brandon Scherff, but there’s no doubt they needed to get bigger and meaner on both lines, and they have. I don’t know that I can say they’ve done enough to catch up with Dallas and Philly from an on-paper, quality-of-the-roster standpoint. Remember, when they won it in 2012, the rest of the division was down and they only went 10-6. Dallas is much stronger now, and while I like Washington’s offseason, it’s hard for me to believe they’ve made up eight games on the Cowboys. The Eagles’ reliance on injury-prone players brings some significant bust potential, and the Giants have some as well because of their holes on defense. So if things go well in Washington and poorly in New York and Philly, maybe they can get up to second or third?

Phil Sheridan, Philadelphia Eagles: They do seem to have a sound plan. Right now, it seems to me that the division is very much in flux. The Eagles, of course, had a personality transplant during this crazy offseason. They will either be significantly better, significantly worse or just look different while again going 10-6. The Giants’ offense seems to be very dangerous. The Cowboys figure to be the best team in the division going into the season. Washington isn’t that far removed from 2012, when it won the division and Robert Griffin III appeared to be the best young player in the league. The offseason moves seem solid. Are they enough to get that team back to where it was three years ago? Hard to say, but it certainly can’t be ruled out.

 

[jobberone]

Again, why? Their RBs are average at best (though I'd say below average honestly), they don't have their left tackle, and even with him I didn't think their line was anything special. Without a good line, Eli will keep throwing INTs and ducks. A rookie OL is unlikely to dramatically improve their line this season. All they have is a couple of wide receivers. What am I missing?

LOT-Ereck Flowers (9th overall pick out of Miami-LOT) , left tackle Will Beatty recovering from a torn pec suffered from bench pressing this year, and Marshall Newhouse-FA.

Right now:

LT Ereck Flowers, LG Justin Pugh, C Weston Richburg, RG John Jerry/Geoff Schwartz and RT Marshall Newhouse. Schwartz has been cleared to play. Will Beaty is pretty good and will be ready at some point this season.

That's a decent OL and will be better and different the first game.

They have Odell-Beckham and Cruz. Who knows what Eli will do but his last season wasn't bad. I think without looking it up he threw roughly 32 TDs.

They retooled their secondary. Their DL is at least avg with a good rusher. LBer core good.

The Giants can't be overlooked IMO.

 

[waving monkey]

Cowboys have the Oline and that is the antidote to the division rivals.
We'll lose some games to our rivals but we should win the division going away.
That does not mean our opponents are weak sisters. Sleep on nobody.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

Dallas 11-5
Giants 9-7
Eagles 7-9
Wash 6-10

 

[jobberone]

Dallas 11-5
Giants 9-7
Eagles 7-9
Wash 6-10

That may be close.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Dallas 11-5
Giants 9-7
Eagles 7-9
Wash 6-10

 

[Califan007]

Dallas 11-5
Giants 9-7
Eagles 7-9
Wash 6-10

Probably...although I don't see the Giants rising above 8-8.

 

[Enlightened32]

Dallas 11-5
Giants 9-7
Eagles 7-9
Wash 6-10

Switch Philly and NYG.

 

[Longboysfan]

Yes. They will hold us to 10 less rushing yards per game this season as compared to last year.

 

[CCBoy]

You might just delete: http://cowboyszone.com/threads/espn...s-defensive-changes-make-a-difference.325064/

 

[dmq]

I think NY is a year away...could be wrong.

They're a year away from their coach retiring.