Who do you think is the main challenger to the Cowboys in the NFC East?

[lostinomiya]

ok, for a start please dont dismiss them and say they are all no good because there are four talented teams in the nfc east. so....

i honestly dont know, and i would like to know who you think is the main challenger to the cowboys next season in the nfc east? and please explain why...thankyou.....

 

[DragonCowboy]

New York Giants - strong Offense (Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress, etc), and an improved Defense

Washington Commanders - fit in the pieces in Free Agency...will they be able to gel?

 

[lostinomiya]

its 1.31am here in japan and i am typing drunk...a little bit of context for you.

how about each teams strength and weakness pitted against the cowboys strength and weaknesses...s?

 

[burmafrd]

Giants have improved their secondary which stank - but they still have Manning and his inaccuracy. Plus their O line is weakening.
Skins O line has a couple of question marks in it- not as many as ours.
Brunnell is fragile; if he goes down their season is over. Archuleta is past his prime and who knows what the story will be with Taylor. Randle El will really help their return game but do not expect much receiving help from him.
The Birds have no strong running attack- their whole offense is basically McFlabb and Westbrook- which ain't going to do it against good D's.
Their D will be better then last year but not as good as it was. Reid screwed up by not finding a real #1 WR. His obsession with drafting O and D linemen is not a bad one to have but they really needed Offensive skill people.

 

[lostinomiya]

personally i worry that strahan and umeniora (spelling?) and arrington will beat poor drew up.

 

[burmafrd]

once more in chorus: ITS ALL ABOUT THE O LINE.

 

[SALADIN]

The Cowboys beat themselves in a few games last year

 

[hailvictory]

Skins O line has a couple of question marks in it- not as many as ours.
Brunnell is fragile; if he goes down their season is over.

The Birds have no strong running attack- their whole offense is basically McFlabb and Westbrook- which ain't going to do it against good D's.

Commanders have more o-line problems than the cowboys? i must have have missed something...please elaborate?
edit: forgive me, i may have misread this line of yours, so nvm

the season may be over for them if brunell goes down but what happens to the cowboys season if ol cement-blocks-for-shoes goes down?

Mcnabb and westbrook had been getting the best of good defenses for years before Terrel got there...don't be a homer...unfortunately mcnabb and westbrook have the talent to do damage...

 

[Yeagermeister]

All 3 are going to be tough.

 

[burmafrd]

BUT when it counted they could not deliver. AND just for someone to remember a few facts- WHAT is Brunnells record as regarding injuries? Do you realize just how few times he has made it through 16 games? WHile except for that one bad freak injury BLedsoe has been right there for his whole career.

 

[DragonCowboy]

ok, here goes...


Dallas D-Line vs. Washington O-Line: I think this is the time Dallas' D-Line finally becomes great, however, as of now, its a push.

Dallas LB vs. Washington TE/RB: Our LB corp should be really, really good next year. Cooley is their main TE threat, and we should have him under wraps. The question is, will we be able to stop Portis? Based on Game 2, where we didn't have injuries aplenty, we should be able to stop him. Advantage Dallas

Dallas secondary vs. Washington WR: Probably the most confusing of the matchups. Arguably, other than FS, the Cowboys have the one of the best secondaries. However, Danny went and got alot of players.

Here are the major matchups (if they get lined up against each other):

Santana Moss vs. Terence Newman: This should be a push.
Brandon Lloyd vs. Anthony Henry: Don't let the last Cowboys-49ers game fool you, that Cowboys team was totally down from the loss to Washington. Henry should have Lloyd's number. Advantage Dallas.
Aaron Glenn vs. Antwaan Randle El: Glenn should have this down. Advantage Dallas.
Dallas Team Defense vs. Washington QB: Advantage Dallas

Dallas O-Line vs. Washington D-Line: Advantage Washington, no explanation needed.
Dallas TE/RB vs. Washington LB: Witten should be able to torch any of their linebackers, especially if Rocky McIntosh is on him. All depends on JJ/MB3. For now, I'll say, push.
Dallas WR vs. Washington CB: With the addition of Terrell Owens, it looks like we should have an advantage here.
Terrell Owens vs. Shawn Springs: Owens should have it down. Advantage Dallas
Terry Glenn vs. Carlos Rogers: Advantage Dallas. A legitimate #1 should own the youngster.
Patrick Crayton vs. Washington's #3: Should be Dallas advantage, but since I don't know much about Washinton's number 3, I'll say push.
Note: if Sean Taylor doesn't go to jail, alot of that might change. Huge hitting safety duo.

Dallas QB vs. Washington Team Defense: Advantage Washington. They have a great defense that would scare any QB.

edit// heh, they drafted McIntosh, not Boiman lol.

 

[burmafrd]

Wash does not have a great D - that is reserved for D's like the Ravens 2000 D. THey have a very good D- but not great. I do not see all that much to worry about as regards the Wash D line- its non descript. If we are healthy we will control them.

 

[RiggoForever]

I personally think we put Rogers and Taylor on TO, and try to man up Glenn with Springs.

I wouldn't give Rogers man on man responsibility against either TO or Glenn...hes not ready yet.

 

[DragonCowboy]

Wash does not have a great D - that is reserved for D's like the Ravens 2000 D. THey have a very good D- but not great. I do not see all that much to worry about as regards the Wash D line- its non descript. If we are healthy we will control them.

OK, maybe not great, but they can certainly fluster Drew Bledsoe.

I think that we both have bad lines. They have a bad DL, and we have a bad OL, but I think our OL is worse.

 

[burmafrd]

Our O line SHOULD be much better this year. If it plays to its potential it will be better then the Skins D line. A big IF, but there it is.

 

[DragonCowboy]

Our O line SHOULD be much better this year. If it plays to its potential it will be better then the Skins D line. A big IF, but there it is.

Hopefully.

I guess I was just trying to be as fair as possible to the Commanders. Maybe a bit fair?

 

[Zaxor]

Drew Bledsoe

 

[RiggoForever]

Our O line SHOULD be much better this year. If it plays to its potential it will be better then the Skins D line. A big IF, but there it is.

Don't forget we added Andre Carter, who will hopefully be a legitimate pass rushing threat. He had a 12.5 sack season back when SF used the 4-3. While I don't think we get 7 sacks on your offensive line, I think we can get 2-3.

Salave'a and Griffin are stout run stoppers. Nobody gained 100 on the ground against us last year unless one of them was injured.

I see Kosier and Fabini as being question marks for Dallas here, as well as Andre Carter as a DE for the Commanders.

We'll see how good the new Dallas OL is during week 1 against Jacksonville, that's for sure.

 

[fortdick]

its 1.31am here in japan and i am typing drunk...a little bit of context for you.

how about each teams strength and weakness pitted against the cowboys strength and weaknesses...s?

You should really get some sleep! If it is 1:30 in the morning, and you've been drinking, and you are alone, it must be a bad night. Get some rest and take aspirin before you go to bed!

 

[Cowchips]

I would have to say the Giants. Giants have youth, a future star at QB and great defense.

In Washington, Brunnell can't put two healthy seasons together. Last year was his first healthy year in the past 10. He most likely won't be playing or playing hobbled by week 8, at which point they are screwed.

Philly is on the decline. I doubt they win 6 games this year.