Hostile
The Duke
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I think it's a 1 team race this year and we're that team.
This is not me being a homer, bear with me for a minute while I explain.
I really thought the Eagles were going to be the class of the division this year. Maybe I respect them too much, but they have owned the division this decade. They were down in 2005. I knew it was too proud a team to keep down. I predicted they'd be back in 2006 and they were. I felt 2007 was going to continue with them as the team to shoot for. I no longer think they are.
McNabb is not 100% and now he's feeling pressure and is going to start pressing. Green Bay and Washington came after him hard and it threw off their entire offense. Teams will continue to do this all year and it is going to continue to cost them or McNabb is going to get hurt yet again. Now they don't have a Jeff Garcia to save their season. On top of this their Head Coach, Andy Reid (whom I really respect) is having serious issues at home with his sons. This team is primed for an underachieving season. They should be 2-0 and are 0-2. If they take Detroit lightly they will be 0-3. That is a much improved Lions team.
The Giants continue to be Coughlin versus his team, and now it seems like the media is going to follow Tiki on the attack trail. Team turmoil is back. Thay are going to implode at some point. Their defense has issues in the secondary. Teams are going to throw on them deep. I do think they will improve but in a season that already looks like they are going to have to shoot it out every week they are going to wear down. They are already thin at RB, and I think teams will start gameplanning them to make them beat them with the run. That isn't their strength.
Finally the Commanders. Nice start to the season and you have to admit their defense looks really good. Their defense is going to keep them in the race the longest. So will their hot start as opposed to the other 2 teams. However the hits they've suffered on their O-line already this year are going to be a weekly issue that will eventually catch up to them. This next game you will the right side of their O-line attacked and attacked and attacked. Justin Tuck and Michael Strahan are going to do everything in their power to come after them. When a young QB trying to get his sea legs the last thing he needs is to be worrying about the protection in front of him. This is a team on the rise, make no mistake about that. But injuries at a critical unit that has been a team strength for several seasons is going to derail them before they really get cranked up this year.
Okay, now to point the critical finger at us. I think even the harshest Cowboys critics and haters would have to admit that our offense has light it up potential. The O-line is markedly better than it was last year when Flo was playing tentative, Rivera was hurt, and Columbo and Gurode were having to cheat in to help Rivera if need be. I see much better blitz pickup this year and defenses have to pick their poison. Even without Terry Glenn so far and a dinged up Patrick Crayton defenses are playing back on their heals.
I'm not happy with the defense so far. Who among us is? But I see good things from Anthony Spencer already and Bradie James and Akin Ayodele are playing great in the middle right now. Losing Fergy hurt. Will Tank solve that? I remain a skeptic until I see the guy play NT in the NFL. I will say that I have been pleasantly surprised by his interviews so far.
Ellis coming back will help this defense overall. I remain perplexed by anyone thinking he could have been back already. No one rebounds from an Achilles injury that fast. Terence Newman's return is an immediate boost to this team as they can truly turn the front 7 loose to apply some pressure. I personally feel like we should do that already, but I do understand how it leaves us vulnerable to the big play. Hatcher and Burnett are both just about back to 100% now, so we should get contributions from them.
McBriar and Folk give me confidence in the kicking game. I'd like to be more confident in our coverage teams on kicks and punts. Facing Devin Hester this week will not help me any on this for now.
Ultimately this is what it boils down to for me to say this is a 1 horse race. This is a team who is pulling together while the other 3 seem to be trying to pull apart, be it through turmoil or injuries. When you read how this team is reachign out to embrace a player who can't even help them for 6 or 7 more weeks, it is impressive. No whining by Jay Ratliff for him to be given a chance. No inner questioning. It's refreshing.
Could we also get derailed? Oh you bet. The fastest way I can think of is if we have injuries as well. Knock on wood.
Beating Chicago in their house this week could go a long way towards shaping the character of this team. Right now, I'd say we have a very good shot at doing this. 3-0 would sure feel good to this country bumpkin.
This is not me being a homer, bear with me for a minute while I explain.
I really thought the Eagles were going to be the class of the division this year. Maybe I respect them too much, but they have owned the division this decade. They were down in 2005. I knew it was too proud a team to keep down. I predicted they'd be back in 2006 and they were. I felt 2007 was going to continue with them as the team to shoot for. I no longer think they are.
McNabb is not 100% and now he's feeling pressure and is going to start pressing. Green Bay and Washington came after him hard and it threw off their entire offense. Teams will continue to do this all year and it is going to continue to cost them or McNabb is going to get hurt yet again. Now they don't have a Jeff Garcia to save their season. On top of this their Head Coach, Andy Reid (whom I really respect) is having serious issues at home with his sons. This team is primed for an underachieving season. They should be 2-0 and are 0-2. If they take Detroit lightly they will be 0-3. That is a much improved Lions team.
The Giants continue to be Coughlin versus his team, and now it seems like the media is going to follow Tiki on the attack trail. Team turmoil is back. Thay are going to implode at some point. Their defense has issues in the secondary. Teams are going to throw on them deep. I do think they will improve but in a season that already looks like they are going to have to shoot it out every week they are going to wear down. They are already thin at RB, and I think teams will start gameplanning them to make them beat them with the run. That isn't their strength.
Finally the Commanders. Nice start to the season and you have to admit their defense looks really good. Their defense is going to keep them in the race the longest. So will their hot start as opposed to the other 2 teams. However the hits they've suffered on their O-line already this year are going to be a weekly issue that will eventually catch up to them. This next game you will the right side of their O-line attacked and attacked and attacked. Justin Tuck and Michael Strahan are going to do everything in their power to come after them. When a young QB trying to get his sea legs the last thing he needs is to be worrying about the protection in front of him. This is a team on the rise, make no mistake about that. But injuries at a critical unit that has been a team strength for several seasons is going to derail them before they really get cranked up this year.
Okay, now to point the critical finger at us. I think even the harshest Cowboys critics and haters would have to admit that our offense has light it up potential. The O-line is markedly better than it was last year when Flo was playing tentative, Rivera was hurt, and Columbo and Gurode were having to cheat in to help Rivera if need be. I see much better blitz pickup this year and defenses have to pick their poison. Even without Terry Glenn so far and a dinged up Patrick Crayton defenses are playing back on their heals.
I'm not happy with the defense so far. Who among us is? But I see good things from Anthony Spencer already and Bradie James and Akin Ayodele are playing great in the middle right now. Losing Fergy hurt. Will Tank solve that? I remain a skeptic until I see the guy play NT in the NFL. I will say that I have been pleasantly surprised by his interviews so far.
Ellis coming back will help this defense overall. I remain perplexed by anyone thinking he could have been back already. No one rebounds from an Achilles injury that fast. Terence Newman's return is an immediate boost to this team as they can truly turn the front 7 loose to apply some pressure. I personally feel like we should do that already, but I do understand how it leaves us vulnerable to the big play. Hatcher and Burnett are both just about back to 100% now, so we should get contributions from them.
McBriar and Folk give me confidence in the kicking game. I'd like to be more confident in our coverage teams on kicks and punts. Facing Devin Hester this week will not help me any on this for now.
Ultimately this is what it boils down to for me to say this is a 1 horse race. This is a team who is pulling together while the other 3 seem to be trying to pull apart, be it through turmoil or injuries. When you read how this team is reachign out to embrace a player who can't even help them for 6 or 7 more weeks, it is impressive. No whining by Jay Ratliff for him to be given a chance. No inner questioning. It's refreshing.
Could we also get derailed? Oh you bet. The fastest way I can think of is if we have injuries as well. Knock on wood.
Beating Chicago in their house this week could go a long way towards shaping the character of this team. Right now, I'd say we have a very good shot at doing this. 3-0 would sure feel good to this country bumpkin.
