Pre TC NFC East thoughts

[jazzcat22]

In a week we will finally get to see if all the off-season moves will look to pay off.

I haven't followed all the moves from the Giants, Commanders, Eagles, but will offer my thoughts of what I did see, which is less than what I didn't see. If that makes sense.

I don't think any teams made any significant improvements through FA's, the draft, or UDFA's. Doesn't matter how many were signed. Same for how many and who was lost. I do not see any team, including us, making a huge improvement, as well as a step back either.

Giants:
Seemed they sign a lot of FA's, but not anyone good enough to be a big difference maker. Eli, sure he will get more credit than Romo will for whatever reasons. But he is coming off an awful year, and he, like Tony is not getting any younger. I don't think they made any changes to their already bad OL. Beckham, the WR should contribute though even as a rookie. Depends on Eli also.

Commanders:
Same here, nothing stands out at what they did. Yes, Jackson may help the offense, but this will depend on the running game, but mostly on RG3. How will he look and how is his knee. Both will be better most likely. but even Morris didn't do as well as his rookie year it seeemd. Their defense still needs work, as much as ours did. But theirs was still not that good with them being healthy. Far cry from using 20 different DL. But if RG3 gets back to his rookie form, though the jury is still out as far as I am concerned, but with Jackson & Garcon, that could be great for them.

Eagles:
I'm still not sold on the Chip Kelly is great deal. There is now a year of film on this offense, as well as Foles. They lost Jackson, and I think they will rely on McCoy more than ever. Our beat up defense played this team very well, so stop McCoy, you stop the Eagles. I can't see their defense improving a lot either. We moved the ball very well against them. That should not change.

Cowboys:
Offense will be better, but by how much, maybe not a lot in terms of yardage. But in scoring and for the running game and to be more consisitent and TOP will or should improve. Therefore helpful the defense is that theory. A defense that should only be better just because they will and hopefully stay healthy. But how much better, none of us knows. for both the positive crowd as well as the negative crowd, we just don't know. Too many changes and new faces, but my bet is the positives out weigh the negatives, and they are better.

So overall to me, this division stays about the same. I see every team around the 8-8 mark for now. I just can't see the Eagles as the favorites, or improvnig by a few games as people will say they will, from the Chip Kelly lovers group. But the Cowboys with being consistent can be right there too. But I can understand why the Eagles are favored.
Even the Giants, because they been one of the luckiest teams it seems, as they seem to get a lot of breaks go their way may push for the division. Commanders, just really do not know, and with a new head coach too.

Cowboys / Eagles fight it out for the division and the giants push a little too. Commanders may make some noise, but fall a little short right now. will see how the TC's changes anyones minds.

 

[Crown Royal]

Regarding Chip Kelly and the eagles, I would LOVE to see a very detailed breakdown of the two games we played against them, specifically defensively. Chip Kelly decimated Kiffin defenses in college, but somehow even though every other team gave us fits, the Cowboys seemed to play decently against the Chip Kelly NFL offense.

I want to know what happened in both games to cause this.

EDIT: I have a theory that the Kiffin/Marinelli/Lovie approach to defense is the antidote to the Chip Kelly offense. While that offense is predicated on tempo and causing fits for the defense, the 4-3 that these guys run does not need a ton of adjustment. You can run the same play and worry about execution. Maybe that takes away some of what Kelly is trying to do - the Defense isn't focused on figuring you out, they just need to be able to run with you and tackle.

 

[Future]

Boy is this division pathetic right now.

 

[jazzcat22]

Regarding Chip Kelly and the eagles, I would LOVE to see a very detailed breakdown of the two games we played against them, specifically defensively. Chip Kelly decimated Kiffin defenses in college, but somehow even though every other team gave us fits, the Cowboys seemed to play decently against the Chip Kelly NFL offense.

I want to know what happened in both games to cause this.

Yes that's an interesting thought on the game break down.

But my first guess is it's NFL players vs. NCAA players.

But all the so called expert pundts [some of them haters too] didn' want to admit it, they just looked at Kelly [headcoach] vs. Kiffin [DC] for a story line.

 

[jday]

In a week we will finally get to see if all the off-season moves will look to pay off.

I haven't followed all the moves from the Giants, Commanders, Eagles, but will offer my thoughts of what I did see, which is less than what I didn't see. If that makes sense.

I don't think any teams made any significant improvements through FA's, the draft, or UDFA's. Doesn't matter how many were signed. Same for how many and who was lost. I do not see any team, including us, making a huge improvement, as well as a step back either.

Giants:
Seemed they sign a lot of FA's, but not anyone good enough to be a big difference maker. Eli, sure he will get more credit than Romo will for whatever reasons. But he is coming off an awful year, and he, like Tony is not getting any younger. I don't think they made any changes to their already bad OL. Beckham, the WR should contribute though even as a rookie. Depends on Eli also.

Commanders:
Same here, nothing stands out at what they did. Yes, Jackson may help the offense, but this will depend on the running game, but mostly on RG3. How will he look and how is his knee. Both will be better most likely. but even Morris didn't do as well as his rookie year it seeemd. Their defense still needs work, as much as ours did. But theirs was still not that good with them being healthy. Far cry from using 20 different DL. But if RG3 gets back to his rookie form, though the jury is still out as far as I am concerned, but with Jackson & Garcon, that could be great for them.

Eagles:
I'm still not sold on the Chip Kelly is great deal. There is now a year of film on this offense, as well as Foles. They lost Jackson, and I think they will rely on McCoy more than ever. Our beat up defense played this team very well, so stop McCoy, you stop the Eagles. I can't see their defense improving a lot either. We moved the ball very well against them. That should not change.

Cowboys:
Offense will be better, but by how much, maybe not a lot in terms of yardage. But in scoring and for the running game and to be more consisitent and TOP will or should improve. Therefore helpful the defense is that theory. A defense that should only be better just because they will and hopefully stay healthy. But how much better, none of us knows. for both the positive crowd as well as the negative crowd, we just don't know. Too many changes and new faces, but my bet is the positives out weigh the negatives, and they are better.

So overall to me, this division stays about the same. I see every team around the 8-8 mark for now. I just can't see the Eagles as the favorites, or improvnig by a few games as people will say they will, from the Chip Kelly lovers group. But the Cowboys with being consistent can be right there too. But I can understand why the Eagles are favored.
Even the Giants, because they been one of the luckiest teams it seems, as they seem to get a lot of breaks go their way may push for the division. Commanders, just really do not know, and with a new head coach too.

Cowboys / Eagles fight it out for the division and the giants push a little too. Commanders may make some noise, but fall a little short right now. will see how the TC's changes anyones minds.

As of today, on paper, I say the Commanders are the team to beat in the East. The addition of Jackson weighs heavily in my considerations, but I also suspect RGIII will be closer to his rookie year than last year...I hope I'm wrong. I'd love to say the Cowboys are a close 2nd, but given all of the turnover on the defensive side of the ball, it's impossible to predict how this season will unfold. As far as the Eagles and Giant, they look about the same to me; maybe slight edge to the Eagles. I agree with you, stop McCoy = stopping the Eagles. You never truly know with the Giants - from one year to the next they can cause the Cowboys issues or be nothing more than a speed bump...so we will see.

 

[Idgit]

I like what the Skins did. Though I question the biggest change at HC.

I also think Kelly's for real and the Eagles are here to stay. Not sold on Foles, but he'll at least be capable.

The Giants look to be declining.

We look to be mostly running in place, with a better cap position and a decent long term plan for once.

I'm about as un-psyched for a season as I've been under Garrett, overall. At least we've got a chance at some nice upside on defense, though I'm not really expecting it.

 

[Denim Chicken]

As of today, on paper, I say the Commanders are the team to beat in the East. The addition of Jackson weighs heavily in my considerations, but I also suspect RGIII will be closer to his rookie year than last year...I hope I'm wrong. I'd love to say the Cowboys are a close 2nd, but given all of the turnover on the defensive side of the ball, it's impossible to predict how this season will unfold. As far as the Eagles and Giant, they look about the same to me; maybe slight edge to the Eagles. I agree with you, stop McCoy = stopping the Eagles. You never truly know with the Giants - from one year to the next they can cause the Cowboys issues or be nothing more than a speed bump...so we will see.

Not sure how a team that only won 3 games last year is now the team to beat. Jackson?

 

[jday]

Not sure how a team that only won 3 games last year is now the team to beat. Jackson?

As I stated in my original response, Jackso is certainly a part of it, but RGIII returning to rookie form could mean all the difference in the world. If you have been following the NFL long enough you should know that teams make leaps from losing seasons all of the time. Furthermore, this is just my opinoin of the teams on paper as of today; I could be wrong and my opinion could change once the pads come on for real.

 

[jrumann59]

As I stated in my original response, Jackso is certainly a part of it, but RGIII returning to rookie form could mean all the difference in the world. If you have been following the NFL long enough you should know that teams make leaps from losing seasons all of the time. Furthermore, this is just my opinoin of the teams on paper as of today; I could be wrong and my opinion could change once the pads come on for real.

I would likely agree with you. But the Pistol and its variants now have been around full time for 2 years, unless RG3 somehow has learned to read NFL defenses and their old defense finds the fountain of youth they may be at best 8-8

 

[jday]

I would likely agree with you. But the Pistol and its variants now have been around full time for 2 years, unless RG3 somehow has learned to read NFL defenses and their old defense finds the fountain of youth they may be at best 8-8

I'm just guessing at this point, but I seriously hope I'm wrong.

 

[BigStar]

I still see a 4 way tie of mediocrity. DJax was definitely the biggest difference maker added to any squad (draft picks tbd) but the Skin D is terrible like ours. Not sure about Gruden coupled with RG but he did seem to manage with a similar make up in CIN (Avg QB, good/great #1, good running game) but doesn't have the benefit of Zimmer's defenses anymore either. We have just as much of a shot @ the East than any other team considering our O.

 

[ShiningStar]

I like what the Skins did. Though I question the biggest change at HC.

I also think Kelly's for real and the Eagles are here to stay. Not sold on Foles, but he'll at least be capable.

The Giants look to be declining.

We look to be mostly running in place, with a better cap position and a decent long term plan for once.

I'm about as un-psyched for a season as I've been under Garrett, overall. At least we've got a chance at some nice upside on defense, though I'm not really expecting it.

I can get on board with this.

 

[jazzcat22]

I still see a 4 way tie of mediocrity. DJax was definitely the biggest difference maker added to any squad (draft picks tbd) but the Skin D is terrible like ours. Not sure about Gruden coupled with RG but he did seem to manage with a similar make up in CIN (Avg QB, good/great #1, good running game) but doesn't have the benefit of Zimmer's defenses anymore either. We have just as much of a shot @ the East than any other team considering our O.

DJax never really ever had any great games against us. But I believe he opened things up for others. If not against us, but for other teams too. Maybe because we were, as some other teams, were so focused on him, others were able to make plays. Especially McCoy.

I think with him and Garcon, along with Morris, and the threat of RG3 running. That makes the Commanders offense more dangerous to defend. Even more so than the Eagles now.
Thankfully the Commanders look to still have a poor defense.

 

[Chuck 54]

Scandrick has played Jackson well.
We need Carr or Clayborne to play Garcon well with a FS over the top for insurance on both.
Then we just have to stop the running game and have a SS who can cover their TE who proved to be a better draft pick than any we've drafted in recent years.

 

[Idgit]

I can get on board with this.

As far as the Cowboys go, it kind of sucks for me this year. I obviously really like Garrett and would like to see him extended. But I liked our talent on defense heading into last season better on paper (and note that I was complaining about our defense the two seasons prior when so many people were grumbling instead about our interior OL) than I like it right now. Yes, we've got more room for upside right now. So what? We don't have anybody who's actually accomplished anything impressive at all.

We *might* end up being pretty good by the end of the season, but what's the likelihood we actually are likely to be? Pretty low, I think. Less than 50%, anyway, just pulling a number out of my backside. And it really sucks, because even a high-end-of-the-bottom-third-of-the-league defense probably would have gotten us into the playoffs each of the last two seasons. We're going to need that, at least, here this season, and I'm not sure we're going to get it. If we don't, we're probably going back to the drawing board and introducing a ton of variables with our partially-insane ownership structure that I don't want to see us struggling to work around like we did under Gailey or Campo or Phillips. And, honestly, if we make a coaching change, I expect we're more likely to get one of those types than we are to get another Jimmy or Bill.

 

[CCBoy]

I won't short sheet the bed for the Giants right now. They had a lot of problems in their offensive line, and brought in a baker's dozen it seems, in veteran linemen.

Place this with a more proven West Coast type offense, and I suspect that 'our favorite Martian,' Eli Manning, won't be in fear of approaching lights at the ends of tunnels this season. He can just sit back, smile, and dump off passes to a group of receivers that include two 'rooks' but talented enough to catch short passes and not pounded enough to be afraid to do just that.

The running game should be much closer to previous modes of Giant running the ball.

They have a pretty take note secondary, adequate linebackers, and never get out of the game for defensive linemen.

I hate to say it, but they will still present the ability to be a thorn in the side...

 

[CCBoy]

The face saver for the Cowboys should be that their offense should be able to lace shoes up and go against any defense that comes onto the field to play.

If the box area for the Dallas defense is at least solid, they should be competitive against the Giants and Eagles.

The secondary will have to be up to snuff, against Washington.

 

[xwalker]

Regarding Chip Kelly and the eagles, I would LOVE to see a very detailed breakdown of the two games we played against them, specifically defensively. Chip Kelly decimated Kiffin defenses in college, but somehow even though every other team gave us fits, the Cowboys seemed to play decently against the Chip Kelly NFL offense.

I want to know what happened in both games to cause this.

EDIT: I have a theory that the Kiffin/Marinelli/Lovie approach to defense is the antidote to the Chip Kelly offense. While that offense is predicated on tempo and causing fits for the defense, the 4-3 that these guys run does not need a ton of adjustment. You can run the same play and worry about execution. Maybe that takes away some of what Kelly is trying to do - the Defense isn't focused on figuring you out, they just need to be able to run with you and tackle.

The fact that Mariinelli prefers speed over size should help against Kelly's offense also. Smaller, faster players should be able to play more snaps with less substitution required.

 

[Alexander]

Boy is this division pathetic right now.

That is what makes the struggle to win the division thst much more frustrating.

 

[ShiningStar]

As far as the Cowboys go, it kind of sucks for me this year. I obviously really like Garrett and would like to see him extended. But I liked our talent on defense heading into last season better on paper (and note that I was complaining about our defense the two seasons prior when so many people were grumbling instead about our interior OL) than I like it right now. Yes, we've got more room for upside right now. So what? We don't have anybody who's actually accomplished anything impressive at all.

We *might* end up being pretty good by the end of the season, but what's the likelihood we actually are likely to be? Pretty low, I think. Less than 50%, anyway, just pulling a number out of my backside. And it really sucks, because even a high-end-of-the-bottom-third-of-the-league defense probably would have gotten us into the playoffs each of the last two seasons. We're going to need that, at least, here this season, and I'm not sure we're going to get it. If we don't, we're probably going back to the drawing board and introducing a ton of variables with our partially-insane ownership structure that I don't want to see us struggling to work around like we did under Gailey or Campo or Phillips. And, honestly, if we make a coaching change, I expect we're more likely to get one of those types than we are to get another Jimmy or Bill.

Again, i agree with you. Heres where I am okay IF Garrett is extended, he cleans up his coaching mistakes, that doesnt mean he cant make any, just dont repeat them. IF he can beat some good teams and get thsi team the wins they need, just wins they know they can get. IF he keeps out of the coaches way and let them coach their positions and keep everything simple. If he can do that and pull out an easy 10 wins. Extend him. It means hes got it down. He misses on anything. HE should shake Jerrys hand and leave.