By bobbyjim45, Section NFL
Posted on Mon Aug 07 2006 at 6:09 PM EST 
More on: NFL (all tags)
After a two-week hiatus, we're back to bring you the best football knowledge money can buy. What better way to get you back into the swing of things than with the best division in football, the NFC East? Some guys have come (Vanderjagt, Randle El, Archuleta), some guys have gone (La'Roi Glover, Keyshawn, Ramsey) and some guys just can't get enough of the East (T.O., LaVar Arrington). While we aren't sure how these changes will pan out in the long run, we do know one thing: it's gonna be fun to watch.
Dallas Cowboys
Key Additions:
Terrell Owens, WR; Mike Vanderjagt, K; Jason Fabini, OT; Kyle Kosier, OT; Ryan Hannam, TE; Akin Ayodele, LB; Rocky Boiman, LB, Marcus Coleman, DB, Bobby Carpenter (Draft), LB
Key Losses:
La'Roi Glover, DT; Keyshawn Johnson, WR; Dan Campbell, TE; Larry Allen, OG; Scott Fujita, LB; Torrin Tucker, OG
Strengths:
It looks like Bill Parcells has finally brought this team to a point where they can seriously consider a Super Bowl run. The addition of T.O. gives Drew Bledsoe the first elite receiver he's ever worked with and I don't see this experiment failing in year one. The running game should guide this offense as Marion Barber looks to play a bigger role, possibly giving Dallas the best one-two punch in the league. The addition of Vanderjagt turns one of the worst kicking teams in the league into one of the best. Vanderjagt is the most accurate kicker in history and in the kicking department, I have a Billy Beane-type view that there is really no such thing as clutch. Who cares if Vandy is the liquored up guy who has missed a few in the playoffs. The playoffs in every sport are a crapshoot and it's going to even out eventually. Kicking isn't like every other position where you can succeed simply on raw emotion. The defense also looks stronger than ever, despite the loss of Glover, as Parcells has groomed these guys for success and added a few nice pieces as well.
Weaknesses:
Looking over this team, I honestly can't find any glaring holes. Quarterback may be the only question here, as Bledsoe is 34 years old and has already received his football AARP card. However, with the new additions, I don't see how he can't have a season at least as good as last year's. All of their previous questions from '05 have been filled, such as the kicking problem and the offensive line weaknesses. This is a very talented and overlooked team. Fortunately, this isn't college football and teams get to the Super Bowl by having good teams, not the most attention.
Prediction:
12-4, first in NFC East
Parcells and Jerry Jones have built a solid team here and should be the top dog in a tough division. Once they get into the playoffs I think they'll run over everybody to get to the Super Bowl. However, my crystal ball sees them losing to the Pats in the big game.
New York Giants
Key Additions:
LaVar Arrington, LB; Jason Bell, DB; Sam Madison, DB; R.W. McQuarters, DB; Will Demps, DB; Quentin Harris, DB; Brandon Short, LB; Mathias Kiwanuka (Draft), DE; Sinorice Moss (Draft), WR
Key Losses:
Shaun Williams, DB; Will Allen, DB; Kendrick Clancy, DT; Nick Greisen, LB
Strengths:
The Giants have a solid team here and are hoping to improve their finish from last year. Eli Manning becomes a major strength this year, as he has potential to be a top 5 NFL quarterback by the end of the year. He didn't lose any of his weapons and will have a good variety of weapons to choose from, including the Antwaan Randle El-type rookie wideout, Sinorice Moss. The running game shouldn't be a problem. While Tiki Barber may be getting old, you wouldn't know it just by watching him. Time has been kind to Tiki and there's no reason to believe that will change this year. If Tiki does get hurt, the folks in New York can always root for the Knicks...
Weaknesses:
The defense is still an issue for the Giants. They picked up a lot of names in the off season, but many of them will only be good enough to replace the other guys they lost, or are only now shadows of their former selves. The secondary is still a mess and will be unable to keep up with the likes of T.O., Santana Moss, and Antwaan Randle El. LaVar Arrington, though he is still talented, has a terrible attitude and only plays when he feels like it. He thought he had problems under Joe Gibbs, just wait for the train wreck when he takes a play off with Tom Coughlin looming on the sidelines. The draft pick of Kiwaunka is a good one as he was very underrated coming out of Boston College. However, he won't be able to help out Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora on the line just yet.
Prediction:
10-6, third in NFC East
You wouldn't know it if you just read that last part of the article, but I do think this team is good enough to make the playoffs... in any other division. The defense is serviceable enough to challenge teams without smart quarterbacks like Bledsoe and Brunell. Unfortunately, this is the strongest division in the league and the Giants just don't make the cut here.
Philadelphia Eagles
Key Additions:
Jabar Gaffney, WR; Matt Schobel, TE; Jeff Garcia, QB; Brodrick Bunkley (Draft), DT
Key Losses:
Terrell Owens, WR; N.D. Kalu, DE; Mike McMahon, QB; Andy Hall, QB; Zeke Moreno, LB; Keith Adams, LB
Strengths:
The biggest strength of this team is their core of veterans. This team has been around the block a time or two and knows how to win. They look strangely similar to those that went to 52 consecutive Conference Finals games without reaching the Super Bowl. They don't seem to have any players on offense except Donovan McNabb. They don't have a running back who can pound the rock so they'll likely pass 80% of the time again, although without T.O. it may be more like 70% this year. Their defense seems pretty similar as well, give or take a few guys. Jevon Kearse is a big name to be added since those years and is a top 5 defensive end in the league. Andy Reid is also a strength because he knows how to coach winning teams. Basically, all of this is a load of crap (or dung for you kiddies) because there isn't much to be positive about in Philly (except maybe Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utely breaking Joe D's hitting streak and Bobby Abreu catching fire... oh wait...)
Weaknesses:
This team is truly a wreck and made no progress at all in the off season. It seems as though T.O. has a terrible jinx on every franchise he leaves, but Philly fans are hoping it doesn't get to be as bad as the 49ers debacle. The defense, while it may have some good names is aging. Brian Dawkins and Ed Jasper are two guys whose careers are well past their peaks and they may soon be joined by Trotter and the Freak. The offense lacks depth, as it has for years. Westbrook just can't carry the ball 20 times a game and isn't the type of back who should be expected to. Ryan Moats is a good looking prospect, but his style seems to be a spitting image of Westbrook's. Reggie Brown is another guy ready to breakout and Philly fans will tell you he's the greatest thing since the cheese steak. However, he is not T.O. and will not be enough to make up for the lack of a second dimension in the offense.
Prediction:
6-10, last in NFC East
They simply can't expect to improve their record if they aren't going to improve their personnel at all. It seems as though Reid and the other Eagles execs were hibernating this summer, as their biggest addition was Jeff Garcia. Wasn't it the great Vince Lombardi who said, "You're only as good as your second string quarterback"? No? My mistake...
Washington Redskins
Key Additions:
Antwaan Randle El, WR; Adam Archuleta, DB; Andre Carter, DE; Todd Collins, QB; Christian Fauria, TE; Brandon Lloyd, WR; Kenny Wright, DB; Rocky McIntosh (Draft), LB
Key Losses:
LaVar Arrington, LB; Patrick Ramsey, QB; Matt Bowen, DB; Ryan Clark, DB; Omar Stoutmire, DB
Strengths:
Now this is a team who made some smart moves in the off season. They saw their holes and set out to fill them. They added depth to their wide receiving bunch and they improved their defense with veteran players. Adam Archuleta may prove to be the best acquisition this team made as he provides a hard-hitting motor with great leadership skills. Andre Carter is also a good DE/LB combo guy who's been around a while and knows opposing offenses well. He'll be great with the pass rush. Christian Fauria also provides nice depth on the offensive side to go along with Chris Cooley. This is now a good, veteran team, with a legendary veteran coach. Sounds like a good mix to me.
Weaknesses:
I would've like to have seen the `Skins try to upgrade their offensive line a little more in the off season as that still seems to be a bit of a weakness. However, Joe Gibbs knows how to run the football and it shouldn't be much of a problem from that standpoint. The defense still isn't quite where it needs to be either, especially on the line. There are no recognizable names top the average fan and they just don't seem to be a great group. I also don't like the loss of Patrick Ramsey. At least Ramsey was a serviceable guy who could back up Mark Brunell who does have a history for getting hurt once in a while. Though Brunell may not be a superstar quarterback, he is the glue that keeps this team together. He's the guy last year who was smart enough to figure out how to get the ball to Santana Moss for a career year, even though he was always double covered. Losing him now, without a backup, would become an even bigger kick in the man region.
Prediction:
11-5, second in NFC East (wild card)
This team is solid and I actually originally had them going to the Super Bowl instead of Dallas. Joe Gibbs has proven that the game really hasn't passed him by and this year he will take another step towards building on the Redskins' lore that is Joe Gibbs.
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Final Standings
Dallas 12-4
Washington 11-5
New York 10-6
Philadelphia 6-10
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Stay tuned for the upcoming NFC North breakdown...
(Note: This article was originally written for The Bet Doctor.)
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