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NFC East offseason team reports
By Eric Edholm
June 2, 2009
Second of an eight-part series
Dallas Cowboys
Mission accomplished: The roster was trimmed of incongruous personalities (Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson), poor fits (Zach Thomas, SS Roy Williams) and declining players (Brad Johnson, Anthony Henry). Added were depth and youth with 12 draft picks and a few stopgap veterans. DE Chris Canty was a big loss in free agency, but Igor *Olshansky is a blue-collar mauler who knows Wade Phillips’ scheme and should be a solid replacement. Jon Kitna is an upgrade over Johnson, and S Gerald Sensabaugh might be motivated enough with a one-year deal to be an improvement over Williams’ flawed coverage. Although none of the rookies is expected to start, they help beef up needy special-teams units and build depth. Top pick Jason Williams might fill a key role in replacing Kevin Burnett as the nickel linebacker.
Unfinished business: We don’t know yet whether, considering the talent lost, especially Owens, the Cowboys can be as explosive. WR Roy Williams enters the spotlight and has big shoes to fill following last season’s blockbuster trade. Behind him are more questions — namely whether Miles Austin or Patrick Crayton can fill a starting role opposite Williams. The offensive line wore down by season’s end, so it will be a unit that must stay healthy and spry. And the secondary has turnover and questions. Can Sensabaugh be an upgrade? Will FS Ken Hamlin rebound from a poor season? And how will the cornerbacks shake out, especially with Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick? Jenkins struggled as a rookie but makes first-round money and might get the chance to start over Scandrick.
New York Giants
Mission accomplished: The Giants added incredible depth to a front seven that already was considered one of the best in football. With DE Osi Umenyiora’s return (knee) and the additions of DTs Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard and LB Michael Boley, the Giants have an attacking group up front that rivals the champion Steelers’. First-round WR Hakeem Nicks is expected to vie for time immediately and could push either Steve Smith or Domenik Hixon for a starting job. With the loss of Plaxico Burress from last season, the Giants had lacked a little juice in the passing game. The team lost three starters and one co-starter in RB Derrick Ward but have to be considered among the deeper and more talented rosters in football.
Unfinished business: There’s no guarantee that Hicks will be ready from Day One, and he’s not a field-tilter the way Burress was. The loss of Ward shouldn’t go overlooked, either. Although the Giants have three candidates to replace his carries — Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware and rookie Andre Brown — none has done it over the course of a season. With starting RB Brandon Jacobs having incurred so much wear and tear and Ward having played such a key role, someone must step up. But the biggest loss might not have been a player. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo left to take the Rams’ head-coaching job and has turned things over to Bill Sheridan, who had worked under his wing for the past two seasons. He has a wealth of talent to work with and the system is in place, but can Sheridan match Spagnuolo’s nerve for sending pressure in crucial situations? We’ll see.
Philadelphia Eagles
Mission accomplished: The offensive line, which took a step back last season, was overhauled with some new faces and one position change. OLT Tra Thomas and ORT Jon Runyan have moved on, replaced by Jason Peters and Shawn Andrews, respectively. This new OT combo could be the best in football. Andrews kicks out to right tackle from right guard, where he played his first five seasons, and he’ll be joined by brother Stacy Andrews, who played right tackle with the Bengals but will settle in at right guard in Philly. The offense received a boost with rookie WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy (and possibly TE Cornelius Griffin), and the secondary added reinforcements with S Sean Jones and CB Ellis Hobbs.
Unfinished business: There are some unsettled topics, such as CB Sheldon Brown’s contract demands and subsequent trade request. Hobbs’ arrival allows the Eagles flexibility, and though Eagles fans still might pine for a trade involving Brown that lands a top-flight receiver such as Anquan Boldin, that bird might have flown the coop. Nabbing Peters appears to have been a shrewd move, and the Eagles rewarded him with a lucrative extension, but now he must play up to the money. He was far far better in 2007 than he was in ’08 in Buffalo, when he was slowed by a holdout and injuries. Shawn Andrews also has a lot to prove. He’s coming off major back surgery, which ended his season after two games, and has battled depression, as well. Surrounding him with Peters, his college roommate, and brother Stacy is Andy Reid’s way of making Shawn as comfortable as possible, but he still must respond with perhaps his best season yet.
Washington Commanders
Mission accomplished: After a year as relative wallflowers, the Commanders got back into the offseason derby. They made the first — and biggest — splash of free agency by landing the crown jewel, DT Albert Haynesworth. Last year’s fourth-ranked defense in theory should be better with Haynesworth disrupting inside. If there was a weakness on defense, it was the lack of big plays — namely turnovers and sacks. But Haynesworth and rookie pass rusher Brian Orakpo could go a long way toward alleviating that. The Commanders were tickled when Orakpo fell to the 13th pick and wasted no time nabbing him. They also have big plans for him, planning to install Orakpo as a first- and second-down strong-side linebacker and as a third-down rush end.
Unfinished business: Lots to sort. Right tackle is wide open, with the team needing someone to replace Jon Jansen, who was released. Stephon Heyer is one candidate, as is reclamation project Mike Williams (the No. 4 overall pick of the Bills in 2002), but insiders say it might go to ex-Panther Jeremy Bridges. There is pressure on the 2008 draft’s pass-catching trio of Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis to improve and add juice to the offense. Their development will be a major training-camp focus. The grand Orakpo experiment could flop if the rookie fails to grasp the SLB position; otherwise, that job could fall to the tough but short H.B. Blades, who appears to fit best inside. Lastly, how is QB Jason Campbell’s confidence heading into the final season of his contract after the team tried to replace him with Jay Cutler or Mark Sanchez? The Skins can’t win unless Campbell has a strong, consistent season.
By Eric Edholm
June 2, 2009
Second of an eight-part series
Dallas Cowboys
Mission accomplished: The roster was trimmed of incongruous personalities (Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson), poor fits (Zach Thomas, SS Roy Williams) and declining players (Brad Johnson, Anthony Henry). Added were depth and youth with 12 draft picks and a few stopgap veterans. DE Chris Canty was a big loss in free agency, but Igor *Olshansky is a blue-collar mauler who knows Wade Phillips’ scheme and should be a solid replacement. Jon Kitna is an upgrade over Johnson, and S Gerald Sensabaugh might be motivated enough with a one-year deal to be an improvement over Williams’ flawed coverage. Although none of the rookies is expected to start, they help beef up needy special-teams units and build depth. Top pick Jason Williams might fill a key role in replacing Kevin Burnett as the nickel linebacker.
Unfinished business: We don’t know yet whether, considering the talent lost, especially Owens, the Cowboys can be as explosive. WR Roy Williams enters the spotlight and has big shoes to fill following last season’s blockbuster trade. Behind him are more questions — namely whether Miles Austin or Patrick Crayton can fill a starting role opposite Williams. The offensive line wore down by season’s end, so it will be a unit that must stay healthy and spry. And the secondary has turnover and questions. Can Sensabaugh be an upgrade? Will FS Ken Hamlin rebound from a poor season? And how will the cornerbacks shake out, especially with Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick? Jenkins struggled as a rookie but makes first-round money and might get the chance to start over Scandrick.
New York Giants
Mission accomplished: The Giants added incredible depth to a front seven that already was considered one of the best in football. With DE Osi Umenyiora’s return (knee) and the additions of DTs Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard and LB Michael Boley, the Giants have an attacking group up front that rivals the champion Steelers’. First-round WR Hakeem Nicks is expected to vie for time immediately and could push either Steve Smith or Domenik Hixon for a starting job. With the loss of Plaxico Burress from last season, the Giants had lacked a little juice in the passing game. The team lost three starters and one co-starter in RB Derrick Ward but have to be considered among the deeper and more talented rosters in football.
Unfinished business: There’s no guarantee that Hicks will be ready from Day One, and he’s not a field-tilter the way Burress was. The loss of Ward shouldn’t go overlooked, either. Although the Giants have three candidates to replace his carries — Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware and rookie Andre Brown — none has done it over the course of a season. With starting RB Brandon Jacobs having incurred so much wear and tear and Ward having played such a key role, someone must step up. But the biggest loss might not have been a player. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo left to take the Rams’ head-coaching job and has turned things over to Bill Sheridan, who had worked under his wing for the past two seasons. He has a wealth of talent to work with and the system is in place, but can Sheridan match Spagnuolo’s nerve for sending pressure in crucial situations? We’ll see.
Philadelphia Eagles
Mission accomplished: The offensive line, which took a step back last season, was overhauled with some new faces and one position change. OLT Tra Thomas and ORT Jon Runyan have moved on, replaced by Jason Peters and Shawn Andrews, respectively. This new OT combo could be the best in football. Andrews kicks out to right tackle from right guard, where he played his first five seasons, and he’ll be joined by brother Stacy Andrews, who played right tackle with the Bengals but will settle in at right guard in Philly. The offense received a boost with rookie WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy (and possibly TE Cornelius Griffin), and the secondary added reinforcements with S Sean Jones and CB Ellis Hobbs.
Unfinished business: There are some unsettled topics, such as CB Sheldon Brown’s contract demands and subsequent trade request. Hobbs’ arrival allows the Eagles flexibility, and though Eagles fans still might pine for a trade involving Brown that lands a top-flight receiver such as Anquan Boldin, that bird might have flown the coop. Nabbing Peters appears to have been a shrewd move, and the Eagles rewarded him with a lucrative extension, but now he must play up to the money. He was far far better in 2007 than he was in ’08 in Buffalo, when he was slowed by a holdout and injuries. Shawn Andrews also has a lot to prove. He’s coming off major back surgery, which ended his season after two games, and has battled depression, as well. Surrounding him with Peters, his college roommate, and brother Stacy is Andy Reid’s way of making Shawn as comfortable as possible, but he still must respond with perhaps his best season yet.
Washington Commanders
Mission accomplished: After a year as relative wallflowers, the Commanders got back into the offseason derby. They made the first — and biggest — splash of free agency by landing the crown jewel, DT Albert Haynesworth. Last year’s fourth-ranked defense in theory should be better with Haynesworth disrupting inside. If there was a weakness on defense, it was the lack of big plays — namely turnovers and sacks. But Haynesworth and rookie pass rusher Brian Orakpo could go a long way toward alleviating that. The Commanders were tickled when Orakpo fell to the 13th pick and wasted no time nabbing him. They also have big plans for him, planning to install Orakpo as a first- and second-down strong-side linebacker and as a third-down rush end.
Unfinished business: Lots to sort. Right tackle is wide open, with the team needing someone to replace Jon Jansen, who was released. Stephon Heyer is one candidate, as is reclamation project Mike Williams (the No. 4 overall pick of the Bills in 2002), but insiders say it might go to ex-Panther Jeremy Bridges. There is pressure on the 2008 draft’s pass-catching trio of Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis to improve and add juice to the offense. Their development will be a major training-camp focus. The grand Orakpo experiment could flop if the rookie fails to grasp the SLB position; otherwise, that job could fall to the tough but short H.B. Blades, who appears to fit best inside. Lastly, how is QB Jason Campbell’s confidence heading into the final season of his contract after the team tried to replace him with Jay Cutler or Mark Sanchez? The Skins can’t win unless Campbell has a strong, consistent season.
