Yearly Look at the NFC East

[Hostile]

For the last couple of years I have broken down the NFC East by position and ranked them 1 through 4. Here is the 2008 version of this. Feel free to disagree and post what you think is more accurate.

OFFENSE

QB

1. Tony Romo, Cowboys. Perfect fit for his Offense.
2. Eli Manning, Giants. Leads team to playoffs every year.
3. Donovan McNabb, Eagles. Used to be the top dog.
4. Jason Campbell, Commanders. The WCO will either help him or kill him.


RB

1. Brian Westbrook, Eagles. One of the best weapons in the NFC.
2. Clinton Portis, Commanders. Proven.
3. Marion Barber, Cowboys. Finally his job.
4. Brandon Jacobs, Giants. Surprisingly easy to tackle for such a big man.


FB (kept despite call to drop it)

1. Mike Sellars, Commanders. Very under-rated.
2. Deon Anderson, Cowboys. Was injured but effective when healthy.
3. Tony Hunt, Eagles. Hardly ever used.
4. Madison Hedgecock, Giants. Blocker only.


#1 WR

1. Terrell Owens, Cowboys. By a wide margin.
2. Plaxico Buress, Giants. Always seems to be dinged, but produces.
3. Santana Moss, Commanders. Tenous hold on #1 spot with rookies.
4. Reggie Brown, Eagles. Seriously need an upgrade at WR.


#2 WR

1. Amani Toomer, Giants. Not by much.
2. Patrick Crayton, Cowboys. A better #3 WR.
3. Antwaan Randle El, Commanders. More dangerous on Special Teams.
4. Kevin Curtis, Eagles. No joke, upgrade needed.


#3 WR (added by popular demand)

1. Steve Smith, Giants. One of the best #3 guys in the NFL.
2. James Thrash, Commanders. Wily old vet still helps team.
3. Sam Hurd, Cowboys. Is he #3 when all are healthy?
4. Hank Baskett, Eagles. The word upgrade again.


TE

1. Jason Witten, Cowboys. Best all around TE in the NFL.
2. Chris Cooley, Commanders. In the top 5 of the whole NFL at TE.
3. L.J. Smith, Eagles. Under-rated.
4. Kevin Boss, Giants. They will miss Shockey despite him being a jerk.


LT

1. Flozell Adams, Cowboys. One of the NFCs best.
2. Chris Samuels, Commanders. Anchor of the Skins OL.
3. William Thomas, Eagles. Solid but unspectacular.
4. David Diehl, Giants. Not bad, but not great either.


LG

1. Pete Kendall, Commanders. Smart and physical.
2. Rich Seubert, Giants. Solid.
3. Todd Herremans, Eagles. Good on sweeps.
4. Kyle Kozier, Cowboys. Injured and on small side for this OL.


C

1. Andre Gurode, Cowboys. One of the 2 best in the NFL.
2. Casey Rabach, Commanders. Very good Center.
3. Shaun O'Hara, Giants. Would be the best in most Divisions.
4. Jamaal Jackson, Eagles. Dependable.


RG

1. Leonard Davis, Cowboys. A total eclipse of the sun.
2. Shawn Andrews, Eagles. Could be argued as #1.
3. Randy Thomas, Commanders. So could he.
4. Chris Snee, Giants. And so could he.


RT

1. Jon Runyon, Eagles. His hold on this spot is not as solid as it once was.
2. Kareem McKenzie, Giants. Very good RT.
3. Marc Columbo, Cowboys. Nasty RT overshadowed a bit by linemates.
4. Stephen Heyer, Commanders. Replacing an aging bull. Has to prove it.


DEFENSE

LDE

1. Jason Taylor, Commanders. A genius acquisition.
2. Justin Tuck, Giants. Replacing a legend.
3. Marcus Spears, Cowboys. Embattled. Solid against run.
4. Juqua Parker, Eagles. Upgrade needed.


LDT (4-3 teams only)

1. Cornelius Griffin, Commanders. Not a star, but gets job done.
2. Barry Cofield, Giants. Fair run stopper.
3. Mike Patterson, Eagles. Needs to improve.


RDT (4-3 team only)

1. Fred Robbins, Giants. Under rated.
2. Kedric Golston, Commanders. Rising.
3. Broderick Bunley, Eagles. Has disappointed.


NT (3-4 team only)

1. Jay Ratliff, Cowboys. Probably the best Tackle in the division.


RDE

1. Trent Cole, Eagles. Always a factor
2. Andre Carter, Commanders. Contributes.
3. Chris Canty, Cowboys. 3-4 scheme holds him back a bit on sack stats.
4. Mathias Kiwanuka, Giants. Can rise up the list fast, but was OLB last year.


SOLB

1. Greg Ellis, Cowboys. 3-4 is an advantage for OLBs.
2. Marcus Washington, Commanders. Solid but unspectacular.
3. Chris Gocong, Eagles. Decent.
4. Danny Clark, Giants. Unproven.


MLB (4-3 teams only)

1. Antonio Pierce, Giants. Defensive anchor on a good defense.
2. London Fletcher, Commanders. Great leader.
3. Stewart Bradley, Eagles. Good at point of attack.


ILB (3-4 team only)

1. Zach Thomas, Cowboys. A Tackling machine.
2. Bradie James, Cowboys. Under rated.


WOLB

1. Demarcus Ware, Cowboys. One of the best Defensive players in the NFL.
2. Rocky McIntosh, Commanders. Under valued by his own team.
3. Gerris Wilkinson, Giants. Needs to step up game.
4. Omar Gaither, Eagles. Fits system.


LCB

1. Terence Newman, Cowboys. Finally getting his due for shutting WRs down.
2. Asante Samuel, Eagles. Give him time to learn system and he will star.
3. Shawn Springs, Commanders. Aging but still effective.
4. Aaron Ross, Giants. Improving fast.


SS

1. Roy Williams, Cowboys. Looking for redemtpion.
2. Reed Doughty, Commanders. Good kid who plays hard every play.
3. James Butler, Giants. Not as physical as Defense calls for.
4. Quintin Mikell, Eagles. Who?


FS

1. Brian Dawkins, Eagles. One of the best in the game.
2. Laron Landry, Commanders. Going to be the best in the game.
3. Ken Hamlin, Cowboys. Pro Bowler and 3rd? Yeah. Deep Division.
4. Michael Johnson, Giants. Young and fast.


RCB

1. Anthony Henry, Cowboys. His backup might actually be better.
2. Sheldon Brown, Eagles. So might his.
3. Carlos Rogers, Commanders. His isn't.
4. Corey Webster, Giants. Has not lived up to potential.


SPECIAL TEAMS

K

1. Nick Folk, Cowboys. Young and already dangerous.
2. David Akers, Eagles. A wily veteran.
3. Lawrence Tynes, Giants. Could drop to 4.
4. Shaun Suisham, Commanders. Journeyman finally making a niche.


P

1. Matt BcBriar, Cowboys. Best in the NFL.
2. Jeff Feagles, Giants. Father time.
3. Durrant Brooks, Commanders. Might get a lot of chances this year.
4. Save Rocca, Eagles. Unknown commodity.


LS

1. Ethan Albright, Commanders. Very steady.
2. J.P. Ladoucer, Cowboys. Considered one of the best in the NFL.
3. Zak DeOssie, Giants. May end up as the best in the NFL eventually.
4. Jon Dorenbos, Eagles. Won't make you remember him.


KR

1. Domenik Hixon, Gaints. Gets it done.
2. Rock Cartwright, Commanders. Very solid.
3. Miles Austin, Cowboys. Is he even a KR in 2008? To be seen.
4. Lorenzo Booker, Eagles. Improving.


PR

1. Adam Jones, Cowboys. A true weapon.
2. DeSean Jackson, Eagles. A rookie who will justify this ranking.
3. Antwaan Randle El, Commanders. Do not go to sleep when you kick it to him.
4. R. W. McQuarters, Giants. Been good at this forever.

 

[redskins1]

wow im speechless..pretty good breakdown mr.hostile!!

 

[Brandon4Cowboys]

nice homework. who's the best coach in the East?

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Kenny Phillips will be starting by week 3.



and Landry might be better than Dawkins this year

By years end it could be

Landry
Hamlin
Phillips
Dawkins

 

[MichaelWinicki]

That was pretty good Hos-- very little "homerdom".

Looking at the 4-3 DT's... boy this isn't the division for dominating DT's.

 

[Sonny#9]

For the last couple of years I have broken down the NFC East by position and ranked them 1 through 4. Here is the 2008 version of this. Feel free to disagree and post what you think is more accurate.

Good list -- I will add my thoughts below:

OFFENSE

LT

1. Chris Samuels, Commanders. Anchor of the Skins OL.
2. Flozell Adams, Cowboys. One of the NFCs best.
3. William Thomas, Eagles. Solid but unspectacular.
4. David Diehl, Giants. Not bad, but not great either.

This is probably the only thing I'd argue in this list. In my honest, un-biased, opinion -- I like Samules better then Adams. I think he's more athletic and more consistent. But the difference is about the difference at the RG position.

C

1. Andre Gurode, Cowboys. One of the 2 best in the NFL.
2. Casey Rabach, Commanders. Very good Center.
3. Shaun O'Hara, Giants. Would be the best in most Divisions.
4. Jamaal Jackson, Eagles. Dependable.

Good call on Rabach -- he is very underrated.

RG

1. Leonard Davis, Cowboys. A total eclipse of the sun.
2. Shawn Andrews, Eagles. Could be argued as #1.
3. Randy Thomas, Commanders. So could he.
4. Chris Snee, Giants. And so could he.

I don't think there is a deeper position in any division -- no arguments here. I was very surprised by Davis last year.

DEFENSE

LDE

1. Jason Taylor, Commanders. A genius acquisition.
2. Justin Tuck, Giants. Replacing a legend.
3. Marcus Spears, Cowboys. Embattled. Solid against run.
4. Juqua Parker, Eagles. Upgrade needed.

At this point -- I would put Tuck over Taylor. Tuck scares me. I think he's going to replace Strahan quite nicely -- and I think he's better then Osi.

RDE

1. Trent Cole, Eagles. Always a factor
2. Andre Carter, Commanders. Contributes.
3. Chris Canty, Cowboys. 3-4 scheme holds him back a bit on sack stats.
4. Mathias Kiwanuka, Giants. Can rise up the list fast, but was OLB last year.

I would definitely take Canty at DT next to Griffin...

LS

1. J.P. Ladoucer, Cowboys. Considered one of the best int eh NFL.
2. Zak DeOssie, Giants. May end up as the best in the NFL eventually.
3. Ethan Albright, Commanders. Very steady.
4. Jon Dorenbos, Eagles. Won't make you remember him.

The Red Snapper did go to the Pro-Bowl

 

[Nexx]

wow, very objective with a very very very tiny bit of homerism. i fans of the other teams would much of a problem with that list. A+

 

[CrazyCowboy]

yes......that is good

 

[YosemiteSam]

LCB

1. Terence Newman, Cowboys. Finally getting his due for shutting WRs down.
2. Asante Samuel, Eagles. Give him time to learn system and he will star.
3. Shawn Springs, Commanders. Aging but still effective.
4. Aaron Ross, Giants. Improving fast.

Ross easily out performed Springs last year. I think Springs time as a starter is limited. Actually, he and Lito Sheppard are very much the same. They are standouts against the Cowboys, but can be lackluster against most other teams.

 

[Hostile]

That was pretty good Hos-- very little "homerdom".

Looking at the 4-3 DT's... boy this isn't the division for dominating DT's.

But it is for RGs and FSs.

 

[Hostile]

The Red Snapper did go to the Pro-Bowl

I will be honest. I did not know that. I will change my list for LS.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I liked this one better

Lets be real here for a minute. The super bowl rep for the NFC is coming out of the NFC east. Lets look at this from a realistic angle. Lets break down the positions. Here is my rankings.

QB
Campbell- best arm in the division
Romo-would be nothing without TO
Eli-would be nothing without Plax
McNabb- he is too old to play

Offensive line
Skins
Giants
Cowboys
Eagles

Wide Receivers
Cowboys- TO factor
Skins- Moss , EL , Thomas and Kelly are NASTY
Giants- Plax and then who?
Eagles- pathetic

RB
Skins- Portis, Betts enough said
Giants-
Cowboys
Eagles- Westbrook is ok but overrated

D-line
Skins- Taylor and Carter enough said
Giants- not as good now
Cowboys-Ware is a player
Eagles- who do they have on their line that is good?

LBRs
Skins- Fletcher, Washington McCintosh enough said
Cowboys
Giants
Eagles- who are those guys again? exactly

Secondary
Skins- Landry, Springs, Smoot, Rogers exactly
Cowboys- loaded
Giants- pretty good
Eagles

When I break it down I see a super bowl caliber team.

 

[Hostile]

I liked this one better

I saw that one. That guy does meth.

 

[TNCowboy]

I would've put Kevin Curtis higher. He's produced more than the others.

I would've put Pete Kindall lower. I don't think he's any better than Kosier.

In spite of Commander fans insistence, Flo's the best OL in the division, and maybe the league right now. He was dominant last season (at least until the last game).

No way Hamlin should be 3rd. Maybe in the long run he will be, but last year he was #1. Landry has a ways to go to be playing at a pro bowl level, though I think he eventually will.

 

[Hostile]

I would've put Kevin Curtis higher. He's produced more than the others.

I would've put Pete Kindall lower. I don't think he's any better than Kosier.

In spite of Commander fans insistence, Flo's the best OL in the division, and maybe the league right now. He was dominant last season (at least until the last game).

No way Hamlin should be 3rd. Maybe in the long run he will be, but last year he was #1. Landry has a ways to go to be playing at a pro bowl level, though I think he eventually will.

Landry was the SS last year until Taylor was killed. If he still was at SS I would have put him #1 there. I just have tremendous respect for Dawkins.

 

[ethiostar]

All and all a very fair assessment. I kept expecting to see some 'homer' picks but you managed to resist it. Seems pretty fair to me.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

I only disagree on two fronts...

First, as much as we dogg Crayton for his horrid playoff game last season I did read an interesting stat on him today... from CBSSportsline.com
Patrick Crayton (at CLE): Crayton was among the best No. 2 receivers in the league last year, finishing behind only Wes Welker, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Anquan Boldin and Greg Jennings in yards and touchdowns for secondary options.
With that being said, I'd definitely take him over Toomer... even with Toomer's experience.

I would also take a close look at ranking Barber above Portis too... Limited carries obviously hurt his stats, but we as fans all know who is more effective. And Barber will show that this season as the primary starting RB. So I can see why he is behind Portis for now, but if I had to pick a RB today, it'd be Barber over Portis hands down.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I
I would also take a close look at ranking Barber above Portis too... Limited carries obviously hurt his stats, but we as fans all know who is more effective. And Barber will show that this season as the primary starting RB. So I can see why he is behind Portis for now, but if I had to pick a RB today, it'd be Barber over Portis hands down.

Only IF he can handle the punishment he dishes out on a full time basis.

 

[slotshot]

I agree as well. Very objective analysis. Having recently a 'Skins version of this type of post displayed around here, it is a breath of fresh air. Very well done.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

Only IF he can handle the punishment he dishes out on a full time basis.

C'mon... don't drink BSPN's koolaid.