- Messages
- 79,281
- Reaction score
- 45,639
By Eric Edholm (eedholm@pfwmedia.com)
July 12, 2007
Last year, we discovered that the NFC East was not quite as good as we thought it might be. Yes, three of the teams were .500 or better, but the only playoff win among the three teams was by the Eagles — over the Giants in a mixed performance in Philly in Round One.
This year brings optimism and the promise of more quality competition but also questions, including one big one: Is there an elite team in the bunch? The Eagles top many folks’ list in the East, and even in the NFC, but there is a make-or-break feeling with pressure squarely on Donovan McNabb to remain healthy for a whole season.
Other quarterbacks are feeling the pressure. The Giants’ Eli Manning must make believers of the coaches and fans in his third full season. Dallas’ Tony Romo must show that his opening five-game flourish was no flash in the pan. Washington’s Jason Campbell might fly more below the radar with only seven career starts, but he has some good offensive talent around him.
Regardless of how things shake out, the NFC East will be a factor in the playoff picture for sure. Here’s a team-by-team look of how the teams stack up heading into camp:
Dallas Cowboys
Biggest offseason moves: Wade Phillips arrives with a reputation as a defensive sage who has failed as a head coach, despite a regular-season mark of 48-39, which is a better winning percentage than either Dick Vermeil or Jon Gruden — of course, both of them won Super Bowl titles. (Trivia buffs: Jimmy Johnson winning percentage of .555 is only a shade better than Phillips’ .551.)
Phillips is being charged with energizing a defense that has been good, not great, running a 3-4 scheme he has perfected over the years. But Phillips plans to attack and shoot gaps more instead of asking his linemen to hold the point and two-gap like Bill Parcells did. The team also addressed two trouble areas, signing massive OG Leonard Davis and FS Ken Hamlin.
Biggest concerns: Romo has a good support system with the likable Phillips, young QB guru Jason Garrett and a talented offense. But it’s hard to overlook his struggles in his final six games, which includes the disaster playoff loss up in Seattle. Will Terrell Owens be a disruptive force, one who gets in the way of Romo’s development or Phillips’ reign of the team? You never know with T.O. The O-line has a few new faces, and the depth looks better, but there are some doubts of it becoming a dominant group.
Phillips, with the help of defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, will try to amp up a pass rush that totaled a middling 34 sacks — and 11.5 of those were by DeMarcus Ware. Ware, Greg Ellis (provided he can return fully from an Achilles injury) and first-round pick Anthony Spencer should provide nice pressure. The secondary, especially right corner and free safety, long have been spotty positions. The play in the defensive backfield, other than that of Terence Newman, must improve.
It can all come together if … the defense can revert to being a big-play unit and Romo can settle down. The running game should be strong with Julius Jones and Marion Barber, who promises to have a bigger role. The weapons are there to field a strong team.
New York Giants
Biggest offseason moves: The retaining of Tom Coughlin was seen by many as the team’s biggest move, or non-move as it were. Another non-move of sorts — Tiki Barber’s retirement — is sure to have a profound effect on the offense. He was a gifted runner who got better with age, a fine receiver and a great pass blocker.
There is no one man on the roster who can do what Barber did, but the strong inside duo of Brandon Jacobs and ex-Browns RB Reuben Droughns (who ran for 1,200 yards as recently as 2005, don’t forget) appears to fit the tough-running preference of Coughlin and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.
The other side of that equation is a deep passing game to set up the run, and vice versa. Gilbride’s play-calling briefly revived a dormant offense in the ’06 season finale and the playoff loss, when the team scored a combined 54 points. The drafting of WR Steve Smith, who has picked up the offense quickly, should help.
Biggest concerns: The defense is under the watch of new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who hopes to bring a more Jim Johnson-like approach with him from Philly, which pales in comparison to the play-it-safe style of former coordinator Tim Lewis. Spagnuolo must sort out a muddled CB position, help convert former DE Mathias Kiwanuka to a stand-up position at strong-side linebacker and hope that DEs Michael Strahan (who could be in his final season) and Osi Umenyiora stay healthy. They are the heart of this defense, along with MLB Antonio Pierce. The Kiwanuka experiment will be one of the most closely watched in Albany, along with the development of incumbent CB Corey Webster and rookie Aaron Ross, who also could make an impact on special teams.
It can all come together if … the defense shows signs of 2005, when it collected 41 sacks and forced 27 fumbles, and Manning develops into the consistent quarterback the team thought he would be when it acquired him on Draft Day more than three years ago. The clock is ticking, and Coughlin’s fate might rest on how his QB plays.
Philadelphia Eagles
Biggest offseason moves: In many ways, the drafting of second-round QB Kevin Kolb — who, if things go as planned, likely won’t see the field in the regular season —was the biggest move of the offseason because it showed for the first time that the Eagles were legitimately concerned about the health and long-term future of QB Donovan McNabb, the team’s poster boy for the past eight years or so. McNabb could come back and have a fabulous season; no one really questions his ability when he is healthy. But the gantlet has been thrown down, so to speak, when a Super Bowl-caliber team (at least in the NFC) trades down to a division rival and drafts a QB with its top pick.
Andy Reid’s tough offseason, with the trouble of his two sons, has become a forgotten story, but that will change in a few weeks when Reid returns to run training camp. The team made some defensive additions along the front seven that should help, and WR Kevin Curtis is expected to be a nice addition to the passing game. He’s spending this week with McNabb down in Arizona to get a head start on developing rapport — something that helped 2006 newbies Donté Stallworth (who’s now gone) and Hank Baskett last season.
Biggest concerns: The confidence of McNabb won’t waver — if anything he’ll be more motivated than ever to prove doubters wrong — but the question of who will lead this team is a must-ask one considering his injury past. A.J. Feeley is more steward than leader, and Kolb won’t be ready this soon. Brian Westbrook had a marvelous season last year, but he too has had injury concerns.
The defensive line roundly underperformed last season, and there are a slew of new faces (Montae Reagor, Ian Scott, Victor Abiamiri) who will factor in, so they must make a smooth adjustment to the gap-shooting style of coordinator Jim Johnson. Scott and Reagor have played in similar schemes before. Safety remains an unknown with little help brought in, but many believe that a beefed-up Sean Considine will be better equipped to handle a full season. And will William James push Sheldon Brown at right corner? Perhaps. The other questions remain at linebacker, led by new arrivals Takeo Spikes and Stewart Bradley, plus ’06 rookie Chris Gocong, who sat out the season with a neck injury.
It can all come together if … the team is healthy. That’s really the biggest key — and the biggest unknown. Look at 2004: When the Eagles had their full roster, the team went to the Super Bowl. It can do so again this season.
Washington Commanders
Biggest offseason moves: Some of the biggest moves might have been of the subtle variety. Spies in D.C. say that Joe Gibbs and offensive coordinator Al Saunders — who were expected to mesh in terms of philosophy but did not in their first season together — spent a lot of time talking about how best to run this unit. With a terrific RB tandem of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts, speed and quickness at receiver, a veteran line returning four of five starters and a top-notch tight end in Chris Cooley, the returns should be better. Plus, the team was encouraged by what it saw from Campbell, who showed some real positives: a 10-6 TD-INT ratio, presence in the huddle and a knowledge of when to throw the ball away in tough spots.
On defense, the underproductive line remains largely the same, but the team added stalwart MLB London Fletcher and potential star S LaRon Landry. Fletcher instantly becomes a respected leader who should tally 100 or more tackles. With Landry, the team might have the most talented pair of safeties in the league — whether you consider that a luxury or not.
Biggest concerns: Depth always has been an issue for the Commanders, and other than perhaps the offensive line, linebacker and the secondary, the team still has holes among its reserves. When injuries have hit over the past few seasons, as they always do, the bench players have not performed well a lot of the time. There’s also a fear that Saunders and Gibbs won’t see eye to eye offensively or that Gregg Williams will remain arrogant and predictable defensively. Last year, there was too much cover-2 and formulaic blitzing in passing situations. Teams figured this defense out; it ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in nearly every key statistic and forced a pathetic 12 turnovers for the season.
The WR corps underachieved badly last season, as Santana Moss was beset by nagging injuries, Antwaan Randle El showed little of his big-play ability and Brandon Lloyd butted heads with a ton of people in the locker room and failed to catch a TD pass. The passing game must produce to prevent teams from stacking an extra defensive back in the box against the run.
It can all come together if … Campbell continues his development, the defensive line shows a lot more playmaking ability and the rock-star coaching staff can get the most out of a top-heavy roster. There is enough talent for a playoff appearance if things break right.
LINK
July 12, 2007
Last year, we discovered that the NFC East was not quite as good as we thought it might be. Yes, three of the teams were .500 or better, but the only playoff win among the three teams was by the Eagles — over the Giants in a mixed performance in Philly in Round One.
This year brings optimism and the promise of more quality competition but also questions, including one big one: Is there an elite team in the bunch? The Eagles top many folks’ list in the East, and even in the NFC, but there is a make-or-break feeling with pressure squarely on Donovan McNabb to remain healthy for a whole season.
Other quarterbacks are feeling the pressure. The Giants’ Eli Manning must make believers of the coaches and fans in his third full season. Dallas’ Tony Romo must show that his opening five-game flourish was no flash in the pan. Washington’s Jason Campbell might fly more below the radar with only seven career starts, but he has some good offensive talent around him.
Regardless of how things shake out, the NFC East will be a factor in the playoff picture for sure. Here’s a team-by-team look of how the teams stack up heading into camp:
Dallas Cowboys
Biggest offseason moves: Wade Phillips arrives with a reputation as a defensive sage who has failed as a head coach, despite a regular-season mark of 48-39, which is a better winning percentage than either Dick Vermeil or Jon Gruden — of course, both of them won Super Bowl titles. (Trivia buffs: Jimmy Johnson winning percentage of .555 is only a shade better than Phillips’ .551.)
Phillips is being charged with energizing a defense that has been good, not great, running a 3-4 scheme he has perfected over the years. But Phillips plans to attack and shoot gaps more instead of asking his linemen to hold the point and two-gap like Bill Parcells did. The team also addressed two trouble areas, signing massive OG Leonard Davis and FS Ken Hamlin.
Biggest concerns: Romo has a good support system with the likable Phillips, young QB guru Jason Garrett and a talented offense. But it’s hard to overlook his struggles in his final six games, which includes the disaster playoff loss up in Seattle. Will Terrell Owens be a disruptive force, one who gets in the way of Romo’s development or Phillips’ reign of the team? You never know with T.O. The O-line has a few new faces, and the depth looks better, but there are some doubts of it becoming a dominant group.
Phillips, with the help of defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, will try to amp up a pass rush that totaled a middling 34 sacks — and 11.5 of those were by DeMarcus Ware. Ware, Greg Ellis (provided he can return fully from an Achilles injury) and first-round pick Anthony Spencer should provide nice pressure. The secondary, especially right corner and free safety, long have been spotty positions. The play in the defensive backfield, other than that of Terence Newman, must improve.
It can all come together if … the defense can revert to being a big-play unit and Romo can settle down. The running game should be strong with Julius Jones and Marion Barber, who promises to have a bigger role. The weapons are there to field a strong team.
New York Giants
Biggest offseason moves: The retaining of Tom Coughlin was seen by many as the team’s biggest move, or non-move as it were. Another non-move of sorts — Tiki Barber’s retirement — is sure to have a profound effect on the offense. He was a gifted runner who got better with age, a fine receiver and a great pass blocker.
There is no one man on the roster who can do what Barber did, but the strong inside duo of Brandon Jacobs and ex-Browns RB Reuben Droughns (who ran for 1,200 yards as recently as 2005, don’t forget) appears to fit the tough-running preference of Coughlin and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.
The other side of that equation is a deep passing game to set up the run, and vice versa. Gilbride’s play-calling briefly revived a dormant offense in the ’06 season finale and the playoff loss, when the team scored a combined 54 points. The drafting of WR Steve Smith, who has picked up the offense quickly, should help.
Biggest concerns: The defense is under the watch of new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who hopes to bring a more Jim Johnson-like approach with him from Philly, which pales in comparison to the play-it-safe style of former coordinator Tim Lewis. Spagnuolo must sort out a muddled CB position, help convert former DE Mathias Kiwanuka to a stand-up position at strong-side linebacker and hope that DEs Michael Strahan (who could be in his final season) and Osi Umenyiora stay healthy. They are the heart of this defense, along with MLB Antonio Pierce. The Kiwanuka experiment will be one of the most closely watched in Albany, along with the development of incumbent CB Corey Webster and rookie Aaron Ross, who also could make an impact on special teams.
It can all come together if … the defense shows signs of 2005, when it collected 41 sacks and forced 27 fumbles, and Manning develops into the consistent quarterback the team thought he would be when it acquired him on Draft Day more than three years ago. The clock is ticking, and Coughlin’s fate might rest on how his QB plays.
Philadelphia Eagles
Biggest offseason moves: In many ways, the drafting of second-round QB Kevin Kolb — who, if things go as planned, likely won’t see the field in the regular season —was the biggest move of the offseason because it showed for the first time that the Eagles were legitimately concerned about the health and long-term future of QB Donovan McNabb, the team’s poster boy for the past eight years or so. McNabb could come back and have a fabulous season; no one really questions his ability when he is healthy. But the gantlet has been thrown down, so to speak, when a Super Bowl-caliber team (at least in the NFC) trades down to a division rival and drafts a QB with its top pick.
Andy Reid’s tough offseason, with the trouble of his two sons, has become a forgotten story, but that will change in a few weeks when Reid returns to run training camp. The team made some defensive additions along the front seven that should help, and WR Kevin Curtis is expected to be a nice addition to the passing game. He’s spending this week with McNabb down in Arizona to get a head start on developing rapport — something that helped 2006 newbies Donté Stallworth (who’s now gone) and Hank Baskett last season.
Biggest concerns: The confidence of McNabb won’t waver — if anything he’ll be more motivated than ever to prove doubters wrong — but the question of who will lead this team is a must-ask one considering his injury past. A.J. Feeley is more steward than leader, and Kolb won’t be ready this soon. Brian Westbrook had a marvelous season last year, but he too has had injury concerns.
The defensive line roundly underperformed last season, and there are a slew of new faces (Montae Reagor, Ian Scott, Victor Abiamiri) who will factor in, so they must make a smooth adjustment to the gap-shooting style of coordinator Jim Johnson. Scott and Reagor have played in similar schemes before. Safety remains an unknown with little help brought in, but many believe that a beefed-up Sean Considine will be better equipped to handle a full season. And will William James push Sheldon Brown at right corner? Perhaps. The other questions remain at linebacker, led by new arrivals Takeo Spikes and Stewart Bradley, plus ’06 rookie Chris Gocong, who sat out the season with a neck injury.
It can all come together if … the team is healthy. That’s really the biggest key — and the biggest unknown. Look at 2004: When the Eagles had their full roster, the team went to the Super Bowl. It can do so again this season.
Washington Commanders
Biggest offseason moves: Some of the biggest moves might have been of the subtle variety. Spies in D.C. say that Joe Gibbs and offensive coordinator Al Saunders — who were expected to mesh in terms of philosophy but did not in their first season together — spent a lot of time talking about how best to run this unit. With a terrific RB tandem of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts, speed and quickness at receiver, a veteran line returning four of five starters and a top-notch tight end in Chris Cooley, the returns should be better. Plus, the team was encouraged by what it saw from Campbell, who showed some real positives: a 10-6 TD-INT ratio, presence in the huddle and a knowledge of when to throw the ball away in tough spots.
On defense, the underproductive line remains largely the same, but the team added stalwart MLB London Fletcher and potential star S LaRon Landry. Fletcher instantly becomes a respected leader who should tally 100 or more tackles. With Landry, the team might have the most talented pair of safeties in the league — whether you consider that a luxury or not.
Biggest concerns: Depth always has been an issue for the Commanders, and other than perhaps the offensive line, linebacker and the secondary, the team still has holes among its reserves. When injuries have hit over the past few seasons, as they always do, the bench players have not performed well a lot of the time. There’s also a fear that Saunders and Gibbs won’t see eye to eye offensively or that Gregg Williams will remain arrogant and predictable defensively. Last year, there was too much cover-2 and formulaic blitzing in passing situations. Teams figured this defense out; it ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in nearly every key statistic and forced a pathetic 12 turnovers for the season.
The WR corps underachieved badly last season, as Santana Moss was beset by nagging injuries, Antwaan Randle El showed little of his big-play ability and Brandon Lloyd butted heads with a ton of people in the locker room and failed to catch a TD pass. The passing game must produce to prevent teams from stacking an extra defensive back in the box against the run.
It can all come together if … Campbell continues his development, the defensive line shows a lot more playmaking ability and the rock-star coaching staff can get the most out of a top-heavy roster. There is enough talent for a playoff appearance if things break right.
LINK
