Pick'em in the East

[Zaxor]

This part of the offseason is gonna drag by very slowly so I thought we might as well try and have a little fun while we are waiting...

To eliminate all homerism from this thread ...YOU are NOT ALLOWED to rank the Cowboys or the team you are a fan of...

For example...

as a Dallas fan you can only rank the NYG, Philly and the Skins

a Commander fan could only rank Dallas, NYG and Philly

and a fan outside of the east (if we have any) can rank all 4


You also must assume that all the teams involved have their full compliment of players.. i.e. no shaun taylor in jail..etc..

 

[CowboyOK85]

Giants
Commanders
Eagles

 

[Scotman]

Giants
Eagles
Skins

No more than 4 games separating the top from the bottom

 

[Sarge]

Giants
Philly
Skinz

 

[Cbz40]

Giants
Philly
Skinz

What he said

 

[Zaxor]

1. NYG - I think the Giants are just a fraction better than either of the other two teams...I think they did well in FA and the Draft... I think Tiki Barber had a great year and will agiin be very good to great this year and I look for improvements in Eli...they fixed up holes in the secondary and at LBer and have nice weapons on offense and a solid offensive line and are well coached...plus they are the reigning NFC East Champs...they look pretty solid to me across the board with no glaring weakness...though they do lack depth in areas... They have the hardest schedule of any NFCE team and can not afford to give anything less than their best all season long.

The second team in the east is extremely hard to guess...I thought about copping out and doing a 2a and 2b thing but who gets first billing...but when thinking about it for a bit I decided to put Wash. at 2 because of their reliance on veterans instead of rookies...Philly will be better served in the long run but as of right now...Washington has more players ready to play in the NFL at a higher level than does Philly but it may not be that way by the end of the season...

2. Washington - they did a fine job in the off season of aquiring personnel that fit their system..I'll leave it to others to determine if the price was right...My personal preference is to build through the draft but that doesn't mean that a team can not be built through free agency and Washington has demonstrated that a heavy dose of FA's supplemented by the draft can field a competitive team... Joe Gibbs isn't a dummy and he has surrounded himself with a Grade A Staff which helps to hide or eliminate any weaknesses...They should have better offensive production with the additions of ARE and Lloyd...the area where I believe they may need some upgrading at is Defensive Line though they did add Carter (who may or may not be a player)...but with Greg Williams attacking style of defense it may not be a big deal...again this is a team with razor thin depth in some areas but than what team isn't

3. Philly - The worst mistake a team could do is take this team lightly...this team has a nice blend of vets and youth... had they been able to get their hands on Javon Walker I might have been compelled to put them in the #1 spot...should any of their WR's decide to become players this team is very capable of not only winning the east but of going far into the playoffs... they had a ridiculous amount of injuries last year and have drafted very well this year... Look for good things from McNabb this year as he has his health and his sanity back...

 

[RiggoForever]

1. Philly: Biggest offensive line in the division. While they don't run the ball much they have shown to be able to draft and use personnel to fit their system. Reggie Brown at WR is no joke and could be a future superstar. On defense they play agressive, much like the Commanders. Bunkley will clog up the middle and make it difficult to run. They have the best secondary overall in the division I would say. They made the NFC Championship game 3 straight years with a team no less talented then the one they have now. They also gave the Giants, Cowboys, and Commanders fits at the Linc last year
with a torn apart team. If they get any locker room chemistry whatsoever they will be very dangerous.

2. Dallas: If Kosier and Fabini do anything, this offense could be very good. Glenn, TO, Fasano, and Witten are all legitimate targets. Julius Jones is a dangerous back when healthy as well. The defense is very young yet solid, with a big front 3 and solid linebacking corps and secondary.

3. Giants: I think the first 7 games they play will put them in the NFC East cellar early. I'm also not sold that Tiki will have the production he did last year (when he ran for over 300 yards more then any other season in his career). The defense will be good if they can get Arrington to play within the system...but defensive tackle is still a question mark. Towards the end of last season, people were able to pound the middle on them pretty successfully.

 

[Zaxor]

1. Philly: Biggest offensive line in the division. While they don't run the ball much they have shown to be able to draft and use personnel to fit their system. Reggie Brown at WR is no joke and could be a future superstar. On defense they play agressive, much like the Commanders. Bunkley will clog up the middle and make it difficult to run. They have the best secondary overall in the division I would say. They made the NFC Championship game 3 straight years with a team no less talented then the one they have now. They also gave the Giants, Cowboys, and Commanders fits at the Linc last year
with a torn apart team. If they get any locker room chemistry whatsoever they will be very dangerous.

2. Dallas: If Kosier and Fabini do anything, this offense could be very good. Glenn, TO, Fasano, and Witten are all legitimate targets. Julius Jones is a dangerous back when healthy as well. The defense is very young yet solid, with a big front 3 and solid linebacking corps and secondary.

3. Giants: I think the first 7 games they play will put them in the NFC East cellar early. I'm also not sold that Tiki will have the production he did last year (when he ran for over 300 yards more then any other season in his career). The defense will be good if they can get Arrington to play within the system...but defensive tackle is still a question mark. Towards the end of last season, people were able to pound the middle on them pretty successfully.

Nicely done...

 

[Hostile]

1. Eagles. I do not buy into their death. This is a good team that was beat up last year in every way possible. They did an outstanding job drafting and are getting healthy. I believe they are a proud team and will want to avenge last year.

2. Commanders. I won't write them off either. I don't agree with a lot of their personnel moves, in particular throwing away draft picks, but this team is one to fear. Their coaching staff doesn't have an equal.

3. Giants. Maybe it's just me, but they seem to be a little too proud of 2005 and rested on their laurels more than they should have. They've made some good off season moves, but they seemd to drag through the draft. Barring a leap forward by Eli, I see them coming backwards a bit.

Rough, rough division.

 

[wileedog]

1. Eagles. I do not buy into their death. This is a good team that was beat up last year in every way possible. They did an outstanding job drafting and are getting healthy. I believe they are a proud team and will want to avenge last year.

2. Commanders. I won't write them off either. I don't agree with a lot of their personnel moves, in particular throwing away draft picks, but this team is one to fear. Their coaching staff doesn't have an equal.

3. Giants. Maybe it's just me, but they seem to be a little too proud of 2005 and rested on their laurels more than they should have. They've made some good off season moves, but they seemd to drag through the draft. Barring a leap forward by Eli, I see them coming backwards a bit.

Rough, rough division.

Beat me to it. Agree all the way around.

The Eagles primary player McNabb seems to be taking the offseason much more seriously unlike previous years, and that's bad news for everybody. Bunkly also is just what the doctor ordered for the defense, whch had gotten a little soft in the middle. The only things that could hold them back are that they are a bit lacking in weapons for McNabb to throw to, and the absence of a between the tackles runner. But if Andy Reid does his job right they are going to be playing with an enormous chip on their shoulder.

The Commanders will be formidable again this year, but I'm not 100% sold the Brunell can repeat what he did last year, and the offense was anemic at the end of the season as it was. Randel-El will help, but I'm not a big believer in Lloyd. Also they have zero depth behind an aging O line - one or two injuries up front and their season will be derailed like ours was last year.

The Giants have an absolutely brutal schedule, and despite a good offseason they will go as far as Eli can take them. I don't think Tiki can repeat 1800 yards and despite their offseason moves I'm not sold that their secondary is all that much better. If Eli takes a big step up they are very dangerous, but personally I think he will always be hampered by his accuracy, or lack thereof. On a side note, Sincore Moss was a great pick up for them.

Whichever team makes it to the playoffs from this division is going to battle-tested, that's for sure.

 

[kartr]

1.Commanders(best receivers,best rb,2nd best qb behind McNabb
2.Giants(promising young qb, good rb and good wr
3.Eagles(questions at rb and youth at wr)

 

[Everlastingxxx]

12-4 Cowboys (#1 Defense, #1 Offense)

5-11 Eagles (they suck)
2-14 Giants (they suck too)
0-16 Skins (they suck really bad)

 

[TheHustler]

1. Skins - Aside from the funny money being thrown around, they've added threats where they needed them, offense.
2. Eagles - This is McNabb's team again, he'll find a way to win.
3. Giants - Manning continues to take another step back, like he did at the end of last season.

 

[Doomsday101]

12-4 Cowboys (#1 Defense, #1 Offense)

5-11 Eagles (they suck)
2-14 Giants (they suck)
0-16 Skins (they suck)

Like your way of thinking. :laugh2: I'll be happy if this defense is a top 5 by years end and same goes for the offense.

 

[TheSkaven]

Commanders 10-6
Giants 8-8
Eagles 7-9

Giants are actually the best team of the three but their schedule may be too much to overcome. I think they may start the season 2-5 or 3-4. The Commanders have a much easier schedule and a hall of fame coach. The Eagles are a rebuilding team, whether or not their fans own up to that or not.

 

[txlonghorn14]

Giants
Commanders
Eagles

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

1. Dallas - I'd be remiss if I didn't mention TO and the awesome threat he'll create throughout the NFCE (especially for the Eagles), if he keeps it all together and Bledsoe is able to accommodate his skill level. Decent draft Picks and a nice veteran mix could take Dallas over the top this year. However, the OL is questionable -- can they sustain the pressure of NFCE blitz packages?


2. Washington: What a fantastic FA acquisition in 2006; yet such a weak draft year. It appears as though the Skins are going for it to get Gibbs back into the Superbowl. But somebody forgot to get a backup for Brunell (his knees are In suspect). Is Todd Collins the answer? Thta OL better be the "great Wall of China!"

2. Giants: (That's right tied with Washington)! I don't believe the Giants will repeat in the NFCE playoff Picture. Why? Because they just didn't seem to have the puncH to get any further than they did in the 2005 playoffs, and they haven't gotten that much better. Sure LaVar Arrington will add something, but he's not the answer they need.

That's how I see it right now ...you Know how injuries can change things -- well, the Eagles sure do anyway!

 

[silver]

Commanders: HOF Head Coach, solid starters on both defense and offense. Impact players on offense. Solid veteran QB.

Giants: Solid Head Coach. Good wepons on offense with Tiki and Plaxico. Strahan and Umenyiora are the best DE combo in the league with a combined 26 sacks in 2005.

Eagles: No outside threat at WR. Several key players coming off serious injuries.

 

[yennor24]

Commanders-Their defense
Giants- Their offense
eagles- Their QB

 

[AsthmaField]

This pains me but:

2. Commanders: Gibbs, Saunders, Williams. Those guys will help the Commanders prove that the last half of last year was no fluke. Their talent isn't as good as Commander fans think, and they really overpaid for the free agents they got... but those 3 coaches will make a difference. The one caveat is Brunell. His play could go south in a hurry and if it does, it'll spoil this year at least for them. While their free agent acquisitions are over paid, that still doesn't change that without taking $$ into account, they helped themselves at WR and DE... their two biggest weak spots last year. One last thing: they stayed very healthy last year. Can they do it again this season? If not, they might have a hard time in this brutal division.

3. Philly: They remain a dangerous team and in no way do I think that the door has been shut on their playoff run. Last year was more of a fluke than the real potential of that team. Still, I don't think that they were ever as good as they seemed... they were just in a division that had crappy Dallas, Washington and NY team in it. They beat up on those 3 teams and while they were good, they weren't as good as they seemed in the early 2000's. Now with Dallas, NY and Washington fielding good, deep teams, even if they get back to where they were, Philly is gonna find the going a little tougher. However, with a good draft and a renewed chip on their shoulder, the Eagles won't be the pushover they were last season.

4. NY: Eli will continue to improve, but this team just doesn't seem for real to me. I can't put my finger on it... but there just seems to be something missing in NY. Tiki is a very good weapon and their DL is the real deal, but their WR's leave a little to be desired and their OL isn't overpowering... Not to mention, they'll only have 8 home games this season. I don't know... this team could win the division or it could dwell in the basement. It's really hard to tell. They'll be a well coached group though and they'll play as hard nosed as ever. They went all out to fix their secondary and if they have that right and Eli makes a jump forward... they could make my prediction of last place look silly.

If I had to guess, that's the way I'd rank them... but really, this is an almost impossible division to rank because the last place team could very well be the first. As a prominent ESPN announcer would say... "That's why they play the games."

A few more NFC East predictions:

Most rushing yards: Portis
Most receiving yards: TO
Best OL: Philly
Most passing yards: Bledsoe
Most Sacks: Strahan
Most yards by a TE: Witten
INT leader: Anthony Henry
Best Rookie: Bunkley followed by Carpenter
Heaviest Coach: Ried by a hair over Parcells
Toughest team to play against (most physical): Dallas
Team with most sacks for: Dallas
Team with most sacks against: Dallas

Whoever comes out of this division on top will have been through a trial by fire and will be set for the playoffs. I think the eventual NFC super bowl participant comes out of this division... because if a team can win the East... it can beat anyone in the NFC.