NFC East
Dallas Cowboys (Last Year: 9-7).
Major Additions:
WR Terrell Owens, WR Skyler Green, TE Ryan Hannam, TE Anthony Fasano, OT Jason Fabini, G Kyle Kosier, OLB Bobby Carpenter, ILB Akin Ayodele, CB Marcus Coleman, K Mike Vanderjagt.
Major Subtractions:
WR Peerless Price, TE Dan Campbell, OT Torrin Tucker, G Larry Allen, NT La'Roi Glover, OLB Scott Fujita, ILB Dat Nguyen, K Billy Cundiff.
Offense This Year: It seems like every football fan out there, with the exception of those who cheer for the Cowboys, is expecting the Terrell Owens experiment to fail. I have to disagree with the majority. Owens will be playing for a Hall of Fame coach for the first time in his career. It will also be the first time that Owens' quarterback won't shy away from confrontation.
Owens played with Steve Young before he emerged as a star. After Owens became a perennial Pro Bowler and one of the more recognizable faces in the NFL, he teamed with Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb, both of whom talked to the media before him. Drew Bledsoe will not do that; he will get in Owens' face if his star receiver is being disruptive. I'm not saying Bledsoe is any better or worse than Garcia and McNabb; Bledsoe is simply more capable of handling Owens than the other two quarterbacks.
My concern is how well Bledsoe will play once the Cowboys reach the postseason. It's actually amazing how much his numbers worsen as the year progresses. Bledose's career regular-season stats aren't bad; he has thrown 244 touchdowns to 198 interceptions, and maintained a completion percentage of 57.3. In the playoffs, however, he has thrown six touchdowns to 12 interceptions, owning a 51.1 completion percentage in the process. Even when he took the Patriots to the Super Bowl in 1996, he was a hindrance. In three contests, he compiled three touchdowns and seven picks.
A huge problem Dallas had last year was the fact that Bledsoe was sacked 50 times. That number will decrease in 2006; the Cowboys signed right tackle Jason Fabini and left guard Kyle Kosier. Left tackle Flozell Adams, who played in only six contests in 2005, will be back in the lineup. Guard Larry Allen is no longer with the squad, but considering that the future Hall of Famer turns 35 in November, Dallas made the right move. Two quality players -- right guard Marco Rivera and center Al Johnson -- round out the offensive front.
Owens' presence will also be a factor in pass protection. He will play alongside Terry Glenn (1,136 yards, 7 TDs), promising rookie Skyler Green, and tight end Jason Witten (757 yards, 6 TDs).
Bill Parcells will have to decide who his running back will be. Both Julius Jones and Marion Barber III are capable of starting for a playoff-caliber team. Jones has the edge right now, but I suspect that Parcells will give ample carries to both.
Defense This Year: Going into this offseason, Dallas' defense needed some work. It was ranked 24th against the run, yielded 24 or more points on five occasions, and allowed 3,083 passing yards. Although the Cowboys suffered only one significant departure -- inside linebacker Dat Nguyen retired -- they didn't really do enough to propel themselves into the upper echelon of NFL stop units. And it's not like they had to do much.
Focusing on the positives, Dallas' three-man defensive line is exceptional. The unit is occupied by run-stuffers Marcus Spears and Jason Ferguson, and Greg Ellis who compiled eight sacks in 2005. Outside linebacker Demarcus Ware, who also registered eight sacks as a rookie, will play across from Bobby Carpenter, the team's No. 1 pick in April's draft.
There is some concern at inside linebacker, however. Bradie James is passable if he's starting next to a stud. But that's not the case. The other inside linebacker is free-agent acquisition Akin Ayodele, who struggled with the Jaguars. I'm at a loss as to why the Cowboys failed to upgrade this position.
The secondary is pretty sound with only one exception. Cornerbacks Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry are a solid starting duo, and they're backed up by veterans Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman. While strong safety Roy Williams is one of the hardest hitters in the league, free safety Keith Davis leaves much to be desired. Once again, this is an area where Dallas could have used improvement.
Schedule and Intangibles: The Cowboys finally found themselves a kicker that Parcells won't have to cut every three weeks. Mike Vanderjagt (23-of-25 last year) offers stability at the position. ... For the second consecutive season, Dallas failed to return a punt or a kickoff for a score. That needs to change. But at least the team didn't surrender one. ... The Cowboys have a pretty manageable schedule. While the Jaguars, Panthers, Colts, Buccaneers and Falcons will offer some resistance; the Titans, Texans and Lions will be pushovers.
Analysis: The Cowboys have one of the best teams in the NFL, and should be able to win the NFC East. However, once Dallas reaches the postseason, it'll be up to Drew Bledsoe to perform well. That hasn't worked out in the past.
Projection: 12-4 (1st in the NFC East).
Washington Redskins (Last Year: 10-6).
Major Additions:
WR Brandon Lloyd, WR Antwaan Randle El, TE Christian Fauria, DE Andre Carter, OLB Rocky McIntosh, C Kenny Wright, S Adam Archuleta.
Major Subtractions:
QB Patrick Ramsey, TE Robert Royal, OLB LaVar Arrington, CB Walt Harris, S Ryan Clark, S Matt Bowen.
Offense This Year: In my 2005 season preview, I wrote that the Redskins would have a terrible offense because they failed to score more than 20 points in any 2004 contest until after Thanksgiving. I couldn't have been more off-base.
Mark Brunell somehow found the Fountain of Youth; after a season of looking like an over-the-hill player who was hanging on to his career too long, Brunell threw for 3,050 yards, 23 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. Brunell, who turns 36 in September, looked awful against Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs, but was brilliant against Seattle (22-of-37, 242 yards, 1 TD) the following week.
Brunell was able to become a successful quarterback again because of his supporting cast. Clinton Portis is one of the best running backs in the NFL. The 24-year-old rushed for 1,516 yards and 11 touchdowns, at 4.3 yards per clip. Portis was able to find wide-open running lanes behind a stout offensive line, comprised of: tackles Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen, guards Derrick Dockery and Randy Thomas, and center Casey Rabach. In addition to its exceptional run-blocking ability, that unit only allowed Brunell to get sacked 27 times.
One thing the Redskins lacked last year was depth at receiver. They had Santana Moss (1,483 yards, 9 TDs) and Chris Cooley at H-back (774 yards, 7 TDs), but the fans couldn't even name the No. 2 wide out on the roster. That's no longer the case. Daniel Snyder signed Brandon Lloyd, who compiled 733 yards despite playing for the 49ers, and Antwaan Randle El, a player with amazing speed. Brunell's new weapons will help Washington maintain one of the most explosive scoring attacks in the NFL.
Defense This Year: Redskins fans had the privilege of watching one of the best defenses in the NFL last year. Their stop unit was ranked 13th against the run, and permitted less than 17 points on eight occasions. The only major losses Washington incurred were outside linebacker LaVar Arrington and strong safety Ryan Clark. But considering that Arrington played about half the season, and Clark has been properly replaced, the defense will be as least as potent as it was in 2005.
Actually, it might even be better. Snyder signed defensive end Andre Carter (13 sacks in 2002), who will bolster a pass rush that registered 35 sacks. Carter will play alongside run-stuffers Cornelius Griffin, Joe Salave'a and Phillip Daniels (eight sacks).
Washington's dynamic front four will only help an already-talented linebacking corps. Middle linebacker Lemar Marshall was a pleasant surprise last season; strongside Marcus Washington accumulated 7½ sacks in 2005; while Warrick Holdman and rookie Rocky McIntosh will vie for the weakside slot.
As much as I've gushed over the Redskins' stop unit thus far, the secondary could deserve the most praise. Shutdown cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers can cover any duo; free safety Sean Taylor is one of the best players at his position; while strong safety Adam Archuleta is overpaid, but will be an effective substitute for Clark.
Schedule and Intangibles: A year after the Redskins surrendered two touchdowns on special teams, they didn't allow any, while scoring two themselves. ... Kicker John Hall played in only 10 contests, but he nailed 12-of-14 attempts. ... After losing 13 of 14 to the Cowboys, Washington seemed to retain domination by sweeping its rival. I will be shocked, however, if the two teams don't split their season series in 2006. ... The Redskins' schedule isn't so bad early on, but their final nine games are brutal. Check out whom they have to play: Dallas, at Philadelphia, at Tampa Bay, Carolina, Atlanta, Philadelphia, at New Orleans, at St. Louis and the Giants. They better rack up a respectable amount of victories before Week 9.
Analysis: With one of the premier defenses in the league, and an offense that is expected to make leaps and bounds, Washington is one of the few teams in the NFC that has a legitimate shot to reach the Super Bowl.
Projection: 10-6 (2nd in the NFC East).
New York Giants (Last Year: 11-5).
Major Additions:
WR Sinorice Moss, C Grey Ruegamer, DE Mathias Kiwanuka, OLB LaVar Arrington, OLB Brandon Short, CB Sam Madison, CB R.W. McQuarters, S Will Demps.
Major Subtractions:
DT Kendrick Clancy, DT Kenderick Allen, OLB Barrett Green, OLB Nick Greisen, CB Will Allen, CB William Peterson, S Shaun Williams.
Offense This Year: Going into the offseason, the Giants only needed to add one element to their offense. That may sound strange, given that they didn't score against Carolina in the playoffs, but keep in mind that they averaged 26.4 points per game, and scored 27 or more on seven occasions.
The piece New York needed was a tertiary receiver to join wide outs Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, and tight end Jeremy Shockey as targets for Eli Manning. While Toomer was experiencing a decline in performance -- he turns 32 in September -- Burress (1,214 yards, 7 TDs) and Shockey (891 yards, 7 TDs) were both vital in the Giants' high-octane scoring attack. The new No. 3 receiver is rookie Sinorice Moss, who was drafted in the second round. Time will only tell if Moss can contribute in his rookie campaign. A good sign is that he is already third on the depth chart.
Perhaps the most dangerous weapon Manning has at his disposal is Tiki Barber, who rushed for 1,860 yards and 11 total touchdowns last season. However, Barber, who also caught 54 passes for 530 yards, turned 31 in April. New York will need a new running back fairly soon.
Barber was able to finish second in rushing yards because he had a great offensive line in front of him. The returning quintet of tackles Luke Petitgout and Kareem McKenzie, guards David Diehl and Chris Snee, and center Shaun O'Hara, allowed just 28 sacks, and permitted Barber to gain 5.2 yards per clip.
One thing the Giants need to worry about is Manning's atrocious performance in the postseason. Granted, it was his first playoff game, but after throwing for 3,762 yards and 24 touchdowns in the regular season, Manning was 10-of-18 for 113 yards and three interceptions against Carolina. Giants fans must be hoping that Eli didn't inherit Peyton's playoff deficiencies.
Defense This Year: New York permitted 19.6 points per contest and managed to accumulate 41 sacks in 2005. That means that an outsider looking in would need an explanation as to why the team couldn't stop the Redskins and Panthers from scoring late in the season.
The Giants' linebacking corps suffered tremendous problems in December and January. Injuries separated the trio of Carlos Emmons, Antonio Pierce and Barrett Green, which would explain why DeShaun Foster rushed for 151 yards against them. Green is gone, and has been replaced by LaVar Arrington, one of the top linebackers in this league. Pierce also happens to be one of the better players at his position. There is no one to back Pierce up, but at least New York has depth on the outside with Brandon Short and Reggie Torbor.
The secondary was also an issue; the Giants yielded 3,584 passing yards. As a result, three of the four starting defensive backs -- Will Allen, William Peterson and Shaun Williams -- are gone. One of the vacated corner slots has been taken by impressive second-year Corey Webster. The other cornerback is 32-year-old Sam Madison, who played for the Dolphins for nine seasons. Free safety Will Demps, a minor free-agent acquisition from Baltimore, now plays next to Gibril Wilson. The secondary is slightly better on paper, but I think it will continue to struggle against opposing aerial attacks.
The Giants registered 41 sacks in 2005, and they should be able to match that total this season. Defensive ends Osi Umenyiora (14½) and Michael Strahan (11½), now have a solid backup -- rookie Mathias Kiwanuka -- behind them. Defensive tackles Fred Robbins and William Joseph aren't as impressive, however.
Schedule and Intangibles: Kicker Jay Feely, who has a powerful leg, was 11-of-15 from beyond 40 yards last season. Not bad. ... The Giants returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns, but also surrendered one of each. That needs to change. ... Excluding Tampa Bay's schedule, New York has one of the most rigorous prospective slates I've ever seen. Just check out the team's first seven opponents: Indianapolis, at Philadelphia, at Seattle, Washington, at Atlanta, at Dallas and Tampa Bay. The schedule's conclusion doesn't get any easier: Dallas, at Carolina, Philadelphia, New Orleans and at Washington.
Additional Reading: Closer Quarterback
Analysis: Like the Buccaneers, Falcons and Saints, the Giants' taxing schedule may keep them out of the playoffs. That's just how the NFL works.
Projection: 8-8 (3rd in the NFC East).
Philadelphia Eagles (Last Year: 6-10).
Major Additions:
QB Jeff Garcia, WR Jabar Gaffney, OT Winston Justice, G Max Jean-Gilles, DE Darren Howard, DT Brodrick Bunkley, OLB Shawn Barber, OLB Chris Gocong, KR/PR Jeremy Bloom.
Major Subtractions:
QB Mike McMahon, WR Terrell Owens, TE Chad Lewis, G Artis Hicks, DE Ndukwe Kalu, DT Hollis Thomas, OLB Keith Adams.
Offense This Year: Unless you've been living under a rock, you're probably aware of all the drama that devastated Philadelphia's 2005 campaign. A Terrell Owens holdout turned into a heated battle between the star receiver and Donovan McNabb. After Owens was indefinitely suspended and the team suffered more injuries than any squad in the NFL, the Eagles finished 6-10, which was their worst record since 1999.
One of the injuries Philadelphia incurred was Donovan McNabb's well-publicized sports hernia. The 29-year-old will have to recover from that, as well as the mental wounds Owens inflicted with his damaging remarks. McNabb, who is coming off his worst season since his rookie campaign, has witnessed his rushing stats dwindle every season since 2000. If the Eagles wish to qualify for the postseason, and challenge the Giants, Cowboys and Redskins for the NFC East title, they have to make sure McNabb doesn't hesitate to scramble. In fact, Andy Reid should design some running plays for him.
The reason why McNabb will have to take matters into his own hands is simple: He doesn't have much around him. Owens is gone, which means the Eagles lack a proven No. 1 receiver. Second-year Reggie Brown (571 yards, 4 TDs) is easily the squad's top target, but that's not saying much. Brown is surrounded by toothpick Todd Pinkston; Jabar Gaffney, who was drafted by Charley Casserly; and Greg Lewis, a career backup. At tight end, L.J. Smith is athletic, but drops too many balls and is far too inconsistent.
The offensive line is also a concern. Right guard Shawn Andrews is quickly emerging as one of the top players at his position, but that is the only positive comment I can offer. Tackles William Tra Thomas (32 in November) and Jon Runyan (33 in November) are completely over the hill; left guard Todd Herremans is playing out of position; and center Hank Fraley would be a reserve on most teams. The Eagles drafted tackle Winston Justice and guard Max Jean-Gilles in April, but both will take some time to develop.
One thing all Philadelphia fans will agree on is that Reid must run the ball more with Brian Westbrook, Ryan Moats and Bruce Perry. Westbrook, who garnered 616 receiving yards, is an excellent pass-catcher out of the backfield, but must be given more carries. After running the ball less than every other team in the league, Reid suggested that he will maintain a balanced offense. I find that hard to believe; Reid said the same thing before the Broncos game on Oct. 30, but called six pass plays to open up the first quarter. A hobbled McNabb was 0-for-6, while Philadelphia lost, 49-21.
Defense This Year: The Eagles were able to reach the NFC Championship for four consecutive seasons because of their stalwart defense. Last year's stop unit was far from spectacular. In fact, it was atrocious. Philadelphia surrendered 26 or more points on eight occasions, and could not put enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Frankly, the Eagles did not do enough this offseason. Newly acquired defensive end Darren Howard has not played a full season since 2002, and only registered five sacks last year. Jevon Kearse, who will start opposite of Howard, led the team with just 7½ sacks. One player to watch is Trent Cole, who compiled five sacks as a rookie. I won't be surprised if Cole replaces either Howard or Kearse atop the depth chart.
Philadelphia selected defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley with its No. 1 pick in April. While Bunkley is a promising player, who looks like a carbon copy of second-year Mike Patterson, it's too demanding to rely on a rookie to do anything in the NFL. And that's exactly what the Eagles are doing with Bunkley.
Middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter is the best player in the front seven, but the outside linebacker position is still a problem. The current starters are the oft-injured Shawn Barber and poor-tackling Dhani Jones. The situation is so bad that third-round pick Chris Gocong could replace one of them by October.
Philadelphia used to have the best secondary in the NFL. The team has a pair of excellent starters -- cornerback Sheldon Brown and strong safety Michael Lewis -- but the other two players are questionable. Free safety Brian Dawkins turns 33 in October; while cornerback Lito Sheppard is vastly overrated. In fact, nickel Roderick Hood outplayed both Brown and Sheppard in 2005.
Schedule and Intangibles: Kicker David Akers was just 6-of-11 from beyond 40 yards last year, but you can attribute that to injury. In 2004, he was 17-of-21 from that distance. ... The Eagles failed to return a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown, which is why they selected Jeremy Bloom in April's draft. Bloom is extremely quick and should be able to score at least once. ... Philadelphia could start 4-0 by beating Houston, the Giants, San Francisco and Green Bay. However, check out the final six contests: at Indianapolis, Carolina, at Washington, at Giants, at Dallas and Atlanta. A 1-5 stretch could slam the door on the team's playoff aspirations.
Additional Reading: Cheap Eagles
Analysis: It's true that the Eagles reached the NFC Championship Game three times before Terrell Owens' arrival. But it's also true that both the defense and the offensive line aren't nearly as good right now.
Projection: 8-8 (4th in the NFC East).
2001 Season Preview
2002 Season Preview
2003 Season Preview:
AFC East / AFC North / AFC South / AFC West
NFC East / NFC North / NFC South / NFC West
Playoffs / Awards
2004 Season Preview:
AFC East / AFC North / AFC South / AFC West
NFC East / NFC North / NFC South / NFC West
Playoffs / Awards / Simulation
2005 Season Preview:
AFC East / AFC North / AFC South / AFC West
NFC East / NFC North / NFC South / NFC West
Playoffs / Awards / Simulation
2006 Season Preview:
AFC East / AFC North / AFC South / AFC West
NFC East / NFC North / NFC South / NFC West
Playoffs / Awards / Simulation
2007 Season Preview:
Buffalo / Miami / New England / New York Jets
Baltimore / Cincinnati / Cleveland / Pittsburgh
Houston / Indianapolis / Jacksonville / Tennessee
Denver / Kansas City / Oakland / San Diego
Dallas / New York Giants / Philadelphia / Washington
Chicago / Detroit / Green Bay / Minnesota
Atlanta / Carolina / New Orleans / Tampa Bay
Arizona / San Francisco / Seattle / St. Louis
Playoffs / Awards / Simulation
© 1999-2013 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
2 5 9