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

[Bob Sacamano]

What happened to dallas in the second game then?They blitzed alot and you saw what happened.the whole line was at fault,so don't even try to blame it on your left tackle.

LT game 1: Flozell ADams, he's at least top 10

LT game 2: Torrin Tucker, 32nd best LT in the game

and w/o FLo, we had to help out both our RT AND LT, taking options out of the passing game, it's much easier to get after a QB when you have less options to worry about defending and guys are having trouble seperating

 

[bh32]

Blesoe just dosent handle pressure,Teams saw that so they started blitzing alot.he holds the ball way to long and puts alot of pressure on the line.

 

[bh32]

Your whole line started breaking down it wasn't just one person.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Blesoe just dosent handle pressure

he won 3 games for us last year

Teams saw that so they started blitzing alot.he holds the ball way to long and puts alot of pressure on the line.

he does hold onto the ball too long, but our Line sucked anyways

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Your whole line started breaking down it wasn't just one person.

it all started because of that 1 person, which I already explained to you if you cared to read it and try to comprehend it instead of being more concerned about getting in the next reply

 

[bh32]

Im not saying dallas won't be good.They just have some questions like all teams .I just dont see how they are the overwhelming favorits.

 

[superpunk]

Im not saying dallas won't be good.

Really? Because this;

You guys are just to funny,Dallas will finish last in the east.
your o line is crap,Bledsoe dosen't handle pressure,TO will be pissed when you start losing and he dosen't get his catches.You have no rb that scares anyone.dont even get me started on your defense its just as bad.

Kinda sounds like you're taking a piss on our entire team, save Jason Witten.

Someone call Parcells. Tell him to take the year off.

 

[RiggoForever]

so you don't think Dallas picking up the blitz well had anything to do with it?

I think there were a combination of factors:

1. Your OL was healthy for the 1st game, and I'll admit Williams changed his strategy when the blitz was ineffective...but at least we were only burned once that entire game, even without pressure.
2. You were at home and had the emotion in your favor for most of the game
3. During the 2nd game, Torrin Tucker contributed to a lack of protection, but the Skins also were rushing the QB better towards the end of the season, as evidenced by an increase in sacks against the Giants and Eagles as well the 2nd time we faced them.
4. The Commanders were on an emotional high and more fired up then I've seen them in about 15 years for the game at Fed Ex. Why do I think this? The Skins had more sacks against Dallas then Carolina or the Giants (games in which Flozell was also hurt) in any one game, and we know Carolina and the Giants have two of the best defensive lines in football.

 

[jterrell]

I do believe the NFCE will be a dog fight.

As it did last season a lot will come down to health.

Dallas:
Strengths- Young Defense really developing. One of hardest hitting defenses in the league. One of deeper defenses as well. Passing game with TO, Witten and Glenn.
Weaknesses- OL still soft in middle. Julius either has to stay healthy or Barber has to become a bellcow. One of many Free Safeties needs to emerge.

Giants:
Strengths- League's best pass rush by a mile. Very good front 7 on defense against pass and run. Tiki Barber is a huge weapon on offense and Shockley and Burress provide explosion and playmaking if not consistency. Great special teams groups.
Weaknesses- CB group continues to face health and depth concerns. Secondary as a whole is weakest of he NFCE. Eli is still very streaky. Burress and Shockey are hot-heads and it interferes with their play at times.

Eagles:
Strengths- Lots of guys with Super Bowl appearances. Good Defensive coordinator and one of league's best 3rd down type backs in Westbrook. He's a younger version of Tiki Barber tho still not quite the inside runner.
Weaknesses- Lots of players appeared old last season. Not many good young players on that team. Pass rush has disappeared and Darren Howard is only adequate in that area not stellar. Will need to generate more running yardage.

Skabs:
Strengths- Very solid secondary. Portis and Gibbs are finding ways to make that running game work pretty well. Santana Moss has hit his peak as a Skin as opposed to the usual over the hill signees. Much improved overall WR corps.
Weaknesses- Still too many older overpaid free agent signings lacing the roster. Brunell has had 1 good season in 4 years and they are counting on him.
Cap problems and lack of draft picks mean real depth problems.

Right now if I had to pick I'd say:
1. Dallas. Better on both offense and defense to insure playoff run.
2. NYG. Manning gets at last a bit better and defense continues to make plays.
3. Skins. Right with Dallas and NYG on paper when everyone is 100% and if you assume Brunell repeats last years showing but the least room for error of any team in NFL in terms of meeting expectations or injuries.
4. Eags. Poised for bounce back season but other 3 teams have been built to defeat the schemes the Eags run after long stretch as class of the division.

 

[jterrell]

Im not saying dallas won't be good.They just have some questions like all teams .I just dont see how they are the overwhelming favorits.

All teams have questions in the parity era but some teams have mnay more than others.

The main reason I believe they should be the favorite in unbiased analysis is depth. They are the deepest team in the division and aside from FS, any of that 2 deep could start at many other teams in the league. Greg Ellis, Aaron Glenn, Al Singleton are all likely to be 2nd teamers on the team.

The Giants would be my pick except Eli is still young. He had a few awful games last year and the division is simply too good to afford that this season.

Washington is relying on Brunell. A guy who passed for more yardage last season than he had in 5 years and who passed for the most TDs of his career last season. The backup is gone and while Campbell may one day be a legit NFL QB he is certiainly not going to be the day he takes the field the first time. The OL and DL are both thin as can be. Sean Taylor has legal issues.

 

[txlonghorn14]

The Cowboys beat themselves in a few games last year

i agree. if it wasn't for the disasters against the Commanders, the cowboys woulda been playoff bound last season. i think the giants and skins pose the biggest threats, while philly will finally be a bottom feeder and we can all enjoy their demise.

 

[jterrell]

I think there were a combination of factors:

1. Your OL was healthy for the 1st game, and I'll admit Williams changed his strategy when the blitz was ineffective...but at least we were only burned once that entire game, even without pressure.
2. You were at home and had the emotion in your favor for most of the game
3. During the 2nd game, Torrin Tucker contributed to a lack of protection, but the Skins also were rushing the QB better towards the end of the season, as evidenced by an increase in sacks against the Giants and Eagles as well the 2nd time we faced them.
4. The Commanders were on an emotional high and more fired up then I've seen them in about 15 years for the game at Fed Ex. Why do I think this? The Skins had more sacks against Dallas then Carolina or the Giants (games in which Flozell was also hurt) in any one game, and we know Carolina and the Giants have two of the best defensive lines in football.

I do think the Skins played extremely well in that 2nd game. The 1st game they were flat beaten for 58 minutes and then to their credit found a way to win but in game 2 they were by far the better team in all areas. They were healthy and hitting on all cylinders as they will be tough anytime that is the case.

BUT....
All the blitzing talk is nice and all but how many teams can blitz Dallas when TO and Glenn are the WRs? Dallas is running the 2 TE set because it feels any blitzing will result in big plays for the offense. Witten and Fasano will feast on safeties double covering the WRs.

The difference between Keyshawn and TO is that TO will score if you try to single cover him and KJ would just get a first down and get tackled.
I don't think many people are being honest with themselves about just how much pressure TO puts on a defense.
The guy is flat not likable and I understand the bias against him but he can not be ignored any more than Barry Bonds can.

 

[cannonball44]

main challenger to the Cowboys in the NFC EAST?


















The Dallas Cowboys

 

[Sarge]

Giants. There going to win a lot of games next year.

 

[Sifillest]

the skins are definitely the team to watch out for in teh east....unless eli makes a huge leap, the giants aren't going to be scoring that many points....and while the defense will keep them in games, eli is going to turn it over some....as long as brunell stays upright, he has enough help at receiver to do damage to any secondary....because santana moss alone is faster than anyone in our defensive backfield....including newman....so with the addition of another speedster in randle el plus a solid 3rd option in lloyd, not to mention cooley going over the middle and portis catching a pass every now and again....and you have our only real comp in teh division....the eagles pretty much got old overnight...and the division has improved too much for them to win it with basically the same offensive weapons they had during their years of dominance...its going to be a great season, damn it......

man i hate the skins!

 

[burmafrd]

I really doubt that Moss is faster then newman.

 

[superpunk]

I really doubt that Moss is faster then newman.

Well, we know Randy Moss isn't.

He wasn't injured that game was he?

 

[bigdrulez3141]

Im not saying dallas won't be good.They just have some questions like all teams .I just dont see how they are the overwhelming favorits.

Just promise us that you will be here at the end of the season.

 

[Bizwah]

Blesoe just dosent handle pressure,Teams saw that so they started blitzing alot.he holds the ball way to long and puts alot of pressure on the line.

Did you even watch Dallas play last year?....I mean besides the two times we faced the Skins?

And what you're saying about Bledsoe can be said about nearly every QB in the NFL. No NFL QB can pass well if they're on their backs. And teams didn't wake up and start blitzing Bledsoe at the end of the year.

He was one of the NFL's top passers before Flo went down. Teams tried to blitz us, but couldn't get to him....he burned teams over and over. Take the first game with Philly for instance (they were relatively healthy this game compared to when you all faced them). They came out trying to hit Bledsoe in the mouth, they blitzed him numerous times....but each time he burned them.

Flo getting injured changed our whole protection scheme....instead of only having to help out a rookie sixth round pick, we had to try to help the left side as well.

Injuries ruined our OL last year. It actually started out nicely. Rivera played hurt all year, and Rogers (who appeared to have won the RT position) was injured in training camp. So we even started the year with our backup at RT.

You act as if teams just discovered blitzing Bledsoe at the end of the year......they didn't. It just became more effective when we lost Flo.

Another thing to note.....losing Flo also cut out a lot of Jason Witten's opportunities. He had to stay in more to help protect. Also remember that we lost Crayton, an exciting third WR, and Julius for much of the year.

Now, with a healthier Rivera, a healthy Flo, a solid vet in Fabini, and a solid OG in Kosier, our OL should be better.

 

[TwoSteppinJJ]

The refs