411's NFL Preview: NFC East 2005

[bubba9497]

411's NFL Preview: NFC East 2005

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=18

The Eagles maybe knocked off their perch, but can someone in their own division do it?

Welcome to the NFC East Preview folks. As you know the Eagles get all the attention in this division. For many years now they've been an upper-echelon team in the NFC, but how long can it last? Remember the Eagles knocked the Cowboys out of their run of dominance in the late 90's. Will the these Cowboys be able to return the favor? Or will the Giants return to the top (a position they held between the Eagles that knocked out the 'Boys and the Eagles of today). Or will the lowly Redskins finally shake years of mismanagement and bad coaching off to become the standard bearer? Let's find out...

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

What they did last year: 13-3 Lost in Super Bowl to New England Patriots.

What they've done in the off-season:

Acquisitions: No significant acquisitions.

Departure: Derrick Burgess (DE, Oak) Jermane Mayberry (G, No)

Expectations/outlook for this year: This could be team turmoil. So far, Andy Reid has barely managed to keep it contained enough so it’s not a complete disturbance. With the soap opera of T.O. v the Eagle organization and the holding out of Corey Simon (who signed his tender) and Brian Westbrook who has reported back to camp after holding out (and who also signed his tender by the way) the Eagles are dominating the headlines. If they can get Simon into camp, T. O. healthy and at least content, they still have issues to deal with on the field. With no clear-cut #2 receiver, the pressure is on Greg Lewis to step up and produce or else the Eagles will have no way to move the ball. On defense, the only real loss is Derrick Burgess and his replacement (Jerome McDougle) will probably miss most of the season as a result of gunshot wounds. This is the year to knock the Eagles off the perch but with the rest of the division in a state of upheaval and change, look for the Eagles to return to the throne once again.

Team: New York Giants

What they did last year: 6-10

What they've done in the off-season:

Acquisitions: Plaxico Burress (WR, Pitt), Antonio Pierce (LB, Wash), Bob Whitfield (OT, Jac) , Kareem McKenzie (OT, NYJ). With not many draft picks courtesy of the Eli Manning deal, the Giants got a defensive end to replace Michael Strahan (if Strahan isn’t healthy or productive) Corey Webster has a chance to blossom into a good 3rd cornerback.

Departures: Departures: Ike Hilliard (WR), Kurt Warner (QB, Ari), Norman Hand (DT)

Expectations/outlook for this year: Year 2 in the Manning era. This off-season was spent devising a way to keep Eli Manning healthy and off his back and to that extent, the Giants went out and got two productive veteran linemen and a big-play target in Plaxico Burress. After last year when no Giant wide out had a touchdown catch, the Giants are looking to move Jeremy Shockey out wide and have him team up with Burress to provide two massive threats down the field. The star of the offense will again have to be Tiki Barber. While Manning is progressing faster than the Giants could hope for, he’s still only a QB with 7 starts under his belt. Therefore, Barber is going to need to be a workhorse once again. Defensively, this unit needs Strahan to come back to his dominating self. That makes the entire defense better as Strahan can rush the passer and stop the run. Antonio Pierce should help solidify the run. The secondary should be better as the corners will have another year of experience under their belts.

Team: Dallas Cowboys

What they did last year: 6-10

What they've done in the off-season:

Acquisitions: Drew Blesdsoe (QB, Buf) Jason Ferguson (NT NYJ) Anthony Henry (CB Cle) Marko Rivera (G GB). Also added three starters in Demarcus Ware, Marcus Spears and Kevin Burnett.

Departures: Dexter Coakley (LB) Gennaro DiNapoli © Marcellus Wiley (DE)

Expectations/outlook for this year: Contrary to my own popular belief, Drew Bledsoe (20 TD, 16 INT) can still play. Parcells needs a quarterback to be a caretaker and Bledsoe can play the role. Plus, Bledsoe reunites with Terry Glenn to reform the potent 1-2 punch that they had in New England. Will that past success translate this year? Doubtful. Qunicy Morgan and Glenn can stretch the field and open it up for Keyshawn to make his possession grabs and James Witten down the seam. If the offensive line can protect Bledsoe, he can still win it. On defense, they are going to be young up front, but better with Jason Ferguson manning the nose tackle position. His presence should allow for the linebackers to flow to the ball and make plays. DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears should provide a quality pass rush from the right side. Anthony Henry is an upgrade over what they had, but the secondary is still weak against the pass with Terrance Newman not yet realizing his full potential. This fall will be better than last fall for America’s team, but they still have a way to go to catch Philadelphia.

Team: Washington Redskins

What they did last year: 6-10

What they've done in the off-season:

Acquisitions: David Patten (WR, NE), Santana Moss (WR, NYJ), Casey Rabach(C Bal), Warrick Holdman (LB, Cle) Pierson Prioleau (DB, Bal). And they don’t know what they are doing in Washington. The reason this team has horrible salary cap issues is because they don’t have a plan when they draft, they draft poorly and then they have to go spend in free agency to attempt to recover. Drafting a QB? With Patrick Ramsey not even fully tested? I like Carlos Rodgers across from Shawn Springs though.

Departures: Laveranues Coles (WR, NYJ), Fred Smoot (CB, Min), Antonio Pierce (LB, NYG), Rod Gardner (WR, Car)

Expectations/outlook for this year: This team might take another step back this year. With indecision at quarterback, that will mess up any timing with receivers (which is needed considering they two new starting ones) and a new center. The defense should be again be stout as they replaced Fred Smoot with Carlos Rodgers. Gregg Williams will design schemes to maximize his personnel against the other teams. This team could be an playoff team IF the offense comes into the 21st century and Joe Gibbs gives up his max protect schemes. The legal issues that hang over the head of Sean Taylor could prove to be distracting. They have a disturbing lack of depth at every skill position on the field and any injuries would be a severe blow to the ‘Skins.

[e16bball]

I'd like to vomit, but I haven't eaten enough food today, so I suppose this "article" will simply send me into some pretty dramatic dry heaves. It seems a shame there's no "dry heave" smiley.

[Duke]

Let them say what they want. All we have to do is starting to win games and put up some consecutive winning seasons. That will keep their mouths shut for good.

BTW, I hate to say this but that Cowboy kid DeMarcus Ware looks very promising. :puke:

[miranda]

I'd like to vomit, but I haven't eaten enough food today, so I suppose this "article" will simply send me into some pretty dramatic dry heaves. It seems a shame there's no "dry heave" smiley.

If you want to puke you should save that puking for what the Skins have done over the last 10+ years. Everyone makes a mad rush around here to be the first to puke at all the articles and yet no one wants to puke at the owner, players, gm, or coaching staff. Why should writers rave about the Skins? Half this board was rioting when the Skins spent two first rounders and who knows what else to get a QB in the draft without first giving a fair shot to Ramsey, their other first round QB.

Instead of saying you want to puke how about saying what is wrong with what he said. He gave credit to the Skins defense and well frankly that is the only thing deserving of praise on this team until proven otherwise.

[G-Prime]

I hate Fridays. except when the Redskins play then I hate the entire day accept those 3 hours..

[dreamshatterer]

Let them say what they want. All we have to do is starting to win games and put up some consecutive winning seasons. That will keep their mouths shut for good.

BTW, I hate to say this but that Cowboy kid DeMarcus Ware looks very promising. :puke:

Yes he does. :dallasuck But hey, all thought we would be 10-6 or 9-7 last year according to "on paper". Again, just so called experts giving thier opinions, thats all.

[DC_Native,NC_Fan]

I am so pi$$ed right now! I'm ANGRY!!! ARRRRGH!

Wait a minute...no I'm not.

[bulldog]

the Redskins' depth at the skill positions actually looks pretty good right now. Brunell is actually looking better than Ramsey so far in camp and the preseason. Ladell Betts is a quality #2 back and I think could rush for 1,000 yards if given the chance to start 16 games. At wide reciever, the Skins current #3, James Thrash, was the Eagles #1 receiver when Philly went to 2 NFC Title games in a row. The #4 receiver, Taylor Jacobs, is a former #2 pick, who has decent size at 6'0 and very good speed and route running skills. Then you can add in a veteran like Kevin Dyson that could be a sleeper for us coming back from injury problems the past two years.

You compare this depth to some others in the NFC East. Who is there behind Brian Westbrook? Who is there behind Donovan McNabb? Who is there behind TO?

The Cowboys appear to have even less depth. Behind Bledsoe? Henson and Romo sits to pee together I think don't have more than what, 1 or 2 NFL starts? Behind Julius Jones? Behind Keyshawn and Terry Glenn? Quincy Morgan, a decent but hardly star quality player, with production as a WR significantly below what James Thrash has done in the NFL. Add in there his questionable hands which caused his departure from Cleveland.

This article is just a joke.

Even if you count cornerback as a skill spot (I think they were mostly talking about offense here) the Skins have behind Springs and Harris the #9 pick in the draft and the Thorpe award winner in Rogers.

Let's go around and see how many teams don't even have two quality starting corners to begin with

The Redskins at least have the chance to ease Rogers into the lineup over time.

A lot of clubs would be forced to start Rogers from Day 1 of training camp because of a lack of talent at CB.

[rebornempowered]

There are way to many people getting paid to write crap like this. It's like they pieced together stuff from other articles at made it their own crappy thoughts.

So annoying!

[Chachie]

What disturbs me is the overwhelmingly unified stance of the media and "experts." What are they seeing that we (Redskin fans) are NOT? What are WE seeing that THEY are not? At least the fans AND the media were mistaken TOGETHER last year (and the year before, etc.) so why are the Skins being so lowly heralded this preseason?

I very much can see why we naturally lean to optimism, because we DO have burgandy and gold goggles on when viewing the team. I can't see, however, why the press and analysts don't consider Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley to be formidable weapons, not to mention our defense.

I believe that the media/experts basically do NOT think much at all of Patrick Ramsey, and with Brunell's bad season last year, they do NOT take him seriously.

[DC_Skins]

:yawnee:

I wonder what 2 side dish's these guy's would like with their crow..

[E-Dog Night]

Just remember that the media experts were unified in their feeling that the Chargers would probably be the one of the worst teams in the league last year.

They don't know any more than we do.

[grego]

miranda, my problem with this article is as follows- the author says things like the skins are in salary cap hell every year (they are??) then says they draft poorly (not really- they have drafted pretty well the last few years- bailey, smoot, jansen, samuels, taylor, arrington...i'm forgetting a few players. every team drafts a few rotten eggs, but this is not drafting poorly...but he likes rogers? he was our first draft pick), then he says we have to go a spend cuz of the poor draft- how could the skins spend so freely if they were in salary cap hell every year?

also, the 'disturbing lack of depth' issue is silly and already addressed here.

he says they will take a step back, then maybe make a push for the playoffs? c'mon? thanks for the insight, einstein.

seems to me this guy just cut and pasted whatever the popular sentiment is without doing a bit of research.

[MrWill]

I just don't get it.......why does everyone get so upset when the media, time and again, says we will suck? This, in my opinion, is the best sign possible that we will return to the playoffs. The Skins have not responded well to being 'over-hyped' for the last few years......maybe what they need is for the team and fans to be the only ones that 'believe'. Trust me.....lowered expectations are the best thing possible for this team. :logo:

[flashback]

The Cowboys appear to have even less depth. Behind Bledsoe? Henson and Romo sits to pee together I think don't have more than what, 1 or 2 NFL starts? Behind Julius Jones? Behind Keyshawn and Terry Glenn? Quincy Morgan, a decent but hardly star quality player, with production as a WR significantly below what James Thrash has done in the NFL. Add in there his questionable hands which caused his departure from Cleveland.

bulldog, its funny because I agree with your take over all. Portis and Betts in the backfield, a 3-way log jam at FB, Cooley/Royal/Sellers competing for TE/HB snaps, and Brunnell and Campbell all look at least as good as the depth around the league. It is getting a little thin behind Moss and Patten. I don't think most people are as impressed with Thrash as you are. Jacobs hasn't done squat and he's hurt again. McCants hasn't shown up much in PS, and Dyson might be the comeback player of the year if he can do something.

But what I have an issue with is your treatment of the Cowboys WR depth. Ever hear of Patrick Crayton? You should have.

But you're right, lack of depth at the skill positions is an unusual take on your 2005 'Skins.

[Lurman]

This article is full of factual inaccuracies, for all four teams. If you can't get facts right, what is the point of your conclusion?

[MiamiDolphins13]

The Redskins offense is still going to be less than adequate, Patrick Ramsey is just not a very good QB, and Brunell backing him up is even worse. Their recieving core is mediocre at best, and Portis will be the highlight of the offense but there is only so much a RB can do. They have a very strong defense though, thats why i think they win 7-8 games, but maybe, just maybe if they can eek out an extra win and get 9 they could make a wildcard. Which considering the Skins franchise over the last 15 years, would be something i know you fans would enjoy.

[B&GPride44]

I'd like to vomit, but I haven't eaten enough food today, so I suppose this "article" will simply send me into some pretty dramatic dry heaves. It seems a shame there's no "dry heave" smiley.

Haha I'm rotfl!!! :point2sky

[ThornWithin]

What disturbs me is the overwhelmingly unified stance of the media and "experts." What are they seeing that we (Redskin fans) are NOT? What are WE seeing that THEY are not? At least the fans AND the media were mistaken TOGETHER last year (and the year before, etc.) so why are the Skins being so lowly heralded this preseason?

What it comes down to is this.

No matter who you lose, who you gain, and how the offseason goes, you want to believe you're a ten win team. Now, in the past few years, there have been times that people agreed with you. Last year, the media thought that Joe Gibbs could catch up to the modern game.

He didn't. You went 6-10 against an easier schedule than this years schedule, and in the offseason, you did almost nothing to help the team. (Outside of Carlos Rodgers and a few other players).

What it comes down to is that you want to believe you can "do something" this year, when odds are you won't. Now that the media has seen Gibbs struggle with the nfl of 2004/5, they are beginning to see that he isn't going to magically drag this team to a Super Bowl. Your schedule is harder this season, and there's no guarantee your team is better. And yes, you LACK DEPTH at Skill positions. What happens if Portis goes down for the year? Rodgers? Griffin? You'll be in trouble.

I think there is a chance that you'll end up 7-9, but don't be surprised when its January and you're staring down the barrel of 6-10 or worse.

[B&GPride44]

The Redskins offense is still going to be less than adequate, Patrick Ramsey is just not a very good QB, and Brunell backing him up is even worse. Their recieving core is mediocre at best, and Portis will be the highlight of the offense but there is only so much a RB can do. They have a very strong defense though, thats why i think they win 7-8 games, but maybe, just maybe if they can eek out an extra win and get 9 they could make a wildcard. Which considering the Skins franchise over the last 15 years, would be something i know you fans would enjoy.

Oh you mean like only so much a RB can do like Ricky Williams leaving last year took you guys from a legitimate playoff contender to one of the worst teams in football...But running backs don't really do that much!!! :2cents:

[Thiebear]

the Redskins' depth at the skill positions actually looks pretty good right now. Brunell is actually looking better than Ramsey so far in camp and the preseason. Ladell Betts is a quality #2 back and I think could rush for 1,000 yards if given the chance to start 16 games. At wide reciever, the Skins current #3, James Thrash, was the Eagles #1 receiver when Philly went to 2 NFC Title games in a row. The #4 receiver, Taylor Jacobs, is a former #2 pick, who has decent size at 6'0 and very good speed and route running skills. Then you can add in a veteran like Kevin Dyson that could be a sleeper for us coming back from injury problems the past two years.

You compare this depth to some others in the NFC East. Who is there behind Brian Westbrook? Who is there behind Donovan McNabb? Who is there behind TO?

The Cowboys appear to have even less depth. Behind Bledsoe? Henson and Romo sits to pee together I think don't have more than what, 1 or 2 NFL starts? Behind Julius Jones? Behind Keyshawn and Terry Glenn? Quincy Morgan, a decent but hardly star quality player, with production as a WR significantly below what James Thrash has done in the NFL. Add in there his questionable hands which caused his departure from Cleveland.

This article is just a joke.

Even if you count cornerback as a skill spot (I think they were mostly talking about offense here) the Skins have behind Springs and Harris the #9 pick in the draft and the Thorpe award winner in Rogers.

Let's go around and see how many teams don't even have two quality starting corners to begin with

The Redskins at least have the chance to ease Rogers into the lineup over time.

A lot of clubs would be forced to start Rogers from Day 1 of training camp because of a lack of talent at CB.

He didnt let the facts get in the way of saying "ALL skill positions"... He's always wanted to say it.

[MiamiDolphins13]

Oh you mean like only so much a RB can do like Ricky Williams leaving last year took you guys from a legitimate playoff contender to one of the worst teams in football...But running backs don't really do that much!!! :2cents:

Why are you talking about The Dolphins? They dont have anything to do with the playoffs, the redskins or this thread. Neither does Ricky Williams, and do you honestly think Clinton Portis running for 1300 yards and 6 TD's is going to get the Redskins into the playoffs? It's not. The Redskins cant throw the football, and teams will shut down their running game. Portis is still a good back and will still have a good year, but that defense is going to be making the plays for the Skins. They dont have a prayer of winning the division, but if the defense can do enough to keep them in games, and the offense can make just a few plays leading to 8 or 9 wins. I think they can win a wildcard spot.

[DB44]

411's NFL Preview: NFC East 2005

They have a disturbing lack of depth at every skill position on the field and any injuries would be a severe blow to the ‘Skins. [/color]

:laugh: Man this guy is good. To use the word disturbing means he would get sick if we'd have any injuries. We have too many players at the skill positions, not a lack of.

Disturbing like the squeel scene in Deliverence.

Disturbing like the end of the movie Seven.

I'm glad we make this guy disturbed.

[ouvan59]

and in the offseason, you did almost nothing to help the team. (Outside of Carlos Rodgers and a few other players).

Well, lets take a look at your theory. Here are the players that the Skins have added this year who figure to play a prominent role this year.

CB Carlos Rogers

C Casey Rabach

WR Santana Moss

WR David Patten

RT Jon Jansen*

OLB Lavar Arrington*

DE Phillip Daniels*

SS Matt Bowen*

* Missed most or all of last year.

Of the players listed above Rogers will probably play the smallest role. You can downplay these players but at least on the offensive side of the ball the difference is clear. The offensive line has looked very impressive so far. Gibbs has also revamped the offense and while it is only preseason at no time last year did the Skins have WR running open like they did in the first two games.

Probably the biggest factor in favor of the Skins is something that has been largely overlooked by the pundits and 2-bit blog writers. This is the first time since 1999 that the Skins will have the same coaching staff in place in successive years. This is the first year of Lavar Arrington's career that he will be playing in the same defensive system that he did the year before. Think about that.

[ThornWithin]

Well, lets take a look at your theory. Here are the players that the Skins have added this year who figure to play a prominent role this year.

CB Carlos Rogers

C Casey Rabach

WR Santana Moss

WR David Patten

RT Jon Jansen*

OLB Lavar Arrington*

DE Phillip Daniels*

SS Matt Bowen*

* Missed most or all of last year.

Of the players listed above Rogers will probably play the smallest role. You can downplay these players but at least on the offensive side of the ball the difference is clear. The offensive line has looked very impressive so far. Gibbs has also revamped the offense and while it is only preseason at no time last year did the Skins have WR running open like they did in the first two games.

Probably the biggest factor in favor of the Skins is something that has been largely overlooked by the pundits and 2-bit blog writers. This is the first time since 1999 that the Skins will have the same coaching staff in place in successive years. This is the first year of Lavar Arrington's career that he will be playing in the same defensive system that he did the year before. Think about that.

You lost Rod Gardner, Lavernius Coles, Antonio Pierce, and Fred Smoot.

Outside of players returning from injury, all you really "added" was Casey Rabach. I'm frightened. :laugh: