2009 NFL Preview: NFC East
9/01/2009 | Posted by
Devin
Dallas Cowboys
Key Additions: Jon Kitna (QB), Keith Brooking (LB), Matt Stewart (LB), Igor Olshansky (DE), Gerald Sensabaugh (S)
Key Losses: Terrell Owens (WR), Greg Ellis (LB), Roy Williams (S), Tank Johnson (DT), Zach Thomas (LB), Keith Davis (LB), Adam Jones (CB), Brad Johnson (QB), Anthony Henry (CB), Chris Canty (CB)
Draft Picks: Jason Williams (LB-Western Ill), Robert Brewster (T-Ball St), Stephen McGee (QB-Texas A&M), Victor Butler (DE-Oregon St), Brandon Williams (DL-Texas Tech), DeAngelo Smith (DB-Cincinnati), Michael Hamlin (S-Clemson), David Buehler (K-USC), Stephen Hodge (S-TCU), John Phillips (TE-Virginia), Mike Mickens (DB-Cincinnati), Manuel Johnson (WR-Oklahoma)
Last season gave us all the privilege of seeing yet another Cowboys season that finished well below their amazingly high expectations. The Cowboys came into the 2008 season expected
Jerry Jones decided to keep head coach Wade Phillips for another season. I have to assume this is only so he can fully prove himself as a failure of a head coach and vacate the spot next offseason for former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. With Phillips staying and the Cowboys needing a scapegoat, they decided to release wide receiver Terrell Owens at the start of free agency. That move seems to have worked out well for all of those involved.
Without Owens in the fold, the only time the Cowboys have been in the news has been when Tony Romo announced his breakup with super ditz Jessica Simpson and when the Cowboys practice tent collapsed nearly killing the players and coaches that were inside practicing at the time. Oh and I almost forgot, they spent over one billion dollars on a new stadium where a major design flaw was exposed during the first preseason game. Hey, good thing they have less distractions now.
The Cowboys didn't make a ton of offseason moves besides the release of Owens. They traded with the Lions to pick up quarterback Jon Kitna, which is technically an upgrade at the position. Last year their entire season went down the tubes right around the time Tony Romo went out with an injury and the combination of Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger did their best to make sure they never got an NFL job again. So while Kitna isn't exactly "great", he is probably a better option at backup in the event that Romo goes down again. Honestly, that isn't saying a whole lot.
But while we're on the topic of Jon Kitna, I feel inclined to share one of my favorite quotes from Bill Simmons on the topic. "Could we have a team of behavioral scientists start examining the bizarre phenomenon when Jon Kitna suddenly and inexplicably gets into a passing groove? Does anyone else get totally flustered by this? It's like watching somebody climb out of a wheelchair and walk around the room for an hour."
The Cowboys also released the highly overrated safety Roy Williams. The only thing I wondered when I saw that news is what the hell took them so long. Also no longer making it rain in Dallas is cornerback Adam "Pac Man" Jones. I can't totally rip Dallas for that move. It was a low risk move to bring him in, it didn't work, and the Cowboys are moving on after one season. I'll give props to Dallas for cutting their losses with him after one season instead of hanging on and trying to make it work.
I don't see Dallas improving much from last season. They will surely be better if Romo stays healthy, but he lost a big receiving target and we're still not sure if Roy E. Williams is going to be a suitable replacement, especially because he defined the word "suck" last year after his trade to Dallas. If they were in the NFC West I'd have them pegged as a division winner, but not in the East. I see a third place finish for them this year.
Last Season: 9-7
2009 Prediction: 9-7
New York Giants
Key Additions: Rocky Bernard (DT), Tutan Reyes (G), Chris Canty (CB), George Wrighster(TE)
Key Losses: Derrick Ward (RB), Plaxico Burress (WR), Renaldo Wynn (DE), Reuben Droughns (RB), Sam Madison (CB), Sammy Knight (S), John Carney (K), Amani Toomer (WR), R.W. McQuarters (CB)
Draft Picks: Hakeem Nicks (WR-UNC), Clint Sintim (LB-Virginia), Will Beatty (T-UConn), Ramses Barden (WR-Cal Poly), Travis Beckum (TE-Wisconsin), Andre Brown (RB-NC State), Rhett Bomar (QB-Sam Houston St), DeAndre Wright (CB-New Mexico), Stoney Woodson (CB-South Carolina)
The Giants didn't necessarily finish with a successful season in 2008; however I guess that is how you define "successful". They overcame the dreaded Super Bowl hangover and won their division again, but lost in the divisional round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants were cruising through the regular season up until the point when the news on Plaxico Burress broke and the offense never appeared to be the same.
The Giants had a relatively quiet offseason up until the time that they signed QB Eli Manning to be the highest paid player in the league. Honestly, I have no problem with the signing. The Giants recognized that they have a franchise QB on their hands, not to mention one with a Super Bowl ring, and they decided to lock him up. Should he be making more than Big Ben or Tom Brady? Probably not. But that is up to the Steelers and Patriots to work out, it isn't the Eli's fault.
They also officially cut ties with receiver Plaxico Burress, which was the best thing they could do considering he is headed for prison for almost two years. New York attempted to replace Burress in the first round of the draft when they selected Hakeem Nicks from UNC. It's highly doubtful that Nicks will step right in and make an impact so Manning is going to need some help elsewhere. It's no secret that the Giants offense dropped off dramatically once Burress was suspended for the remainder of last season.
The Giants still have a bruising running game, despite losing Derrick Ward, as Brandon Jacobs returns and Ahmad Bradshaw looks to take over. Both guys have more than enough speed and Jacobs has plenty of power to just completely run defenders over. Who knows how long his body will last running with that style but nobody is complaining just yet.
The Giants also return with a stacked defense. They were already good and now Osi Umenyora is returning from injury. Much like Shawne Merriman coming back in San Diego, this is almost like a free agent signing in itself assuming the player comes back healthy. The Giants also acquired Rocky Bernard to help clog up the middle of an already stout defensive line.
Last Season: 12-4
2009 Prediction: 10-6
Philadelphia Eagles
Key Additions: Jason Peters (T), Stacy Andrews (T/G), Sean Jones (S), Leonard Weaver (FB), Rashad Baker (S), Ellis Hobbs (CB), Michael Vick (QB)
Key Losses: Correll Buckhalter (RB), Jon Runyan (T), Tra Thomas (T), L.J. Smith (TE), Sean Considine (S)
Draft Picks: Jeremy Maclin (WR-Missouri), LeSean McCoy (RB-Pittsburgh), Cornelius Ingram (TE-Florida), Victor Harris (CB-Virginia Tech), Fenuki Tupou (T-Oregon), Brandon Gibson (WR-Washington St), Paul Fanaika (G-Arizona St), Moise Fokou (LB-Maryland)
The Eagles are probably the most improved team in the NFC East. They signed QB Donovan
I suppose it would be wrong of me to not mention the late August signing of Michael Vick. It's hard to fit this in since I wrote this column before he was actually signed. Like I said above before the signing, when Kolb has actually taken the field, it's been scary. So this signing could be a nice insurance policy if McNabb goes down for a few games. Well, that is assuming that Michael Vick can return to playing QB at a competent level. He has always been a great athlete but I've been left less than impressed with his actual QB play more times than not. However, if the Eagles are able to effectively use him and McNabb at the same time, the possibilities are actually quite scary. Don't believe me? The day after the signing the Giants started practicing on how to defend the Wildcat. Although I still think it's a gimmick offense, the threat is obviously real if teams immediately start preparing for it. I'm less convinced this will work after the first preseason game but I'm sure it will take time for Vick to come around after a few years off.
The Eagles were very close to another Super Bowl trip last season so assuming they don't collapse under the huge expectations this season, one has to have them pegged as an early favorite in the NFC. Before the draft the Eagles acquired LT Jason Peters from Buffalo and promptly gave him the money he deserved thought he deserved. I'm trying to put all bias aside here. Peters is an upgrade for the Eagles line if he plays to his full capability. It's no secret that he completely mailed it in last season because he was pissed at Buffalo for not giving him his money. Now that he has his money he should be playing 100%, but you never know with that. One thing is for sure, Andy Reid put all the pressure on Peters the minute he got to Philly by proclaiming that he is the "best tackle in the NFL". If he doesn't live up to those expectations, expect the Philly fans to let him know.
During the draft the Eagles added WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy to the fold. Maclin might have a harder learning curve but could prove to be a dangerous weapon opposite last year's first round pick, DeSean Jackson. I expect McCoy to see the field quite a bit considering he is the primary backup for Brian Westbrook. It's no secret that Westbrook is a great player but is also very injury prone. To help keep him healthy, expect McCoy to make an immediate impact for the Eagles offense this season.
Even before the Vick signing I had the Eagles winning the NFC East and challenging for a trip to the Super Bowl. If they can survive the circus they created I see no reason why those chances aren't even greater this year. And if one more person argues with me that Minnesota is now the team to beat with Brett Favre, I will drop the gloves with that person.
Last Season: 9-6-1
2009 Prediction: 11-5
Washington Redskins
Key Additions: Albert Haynesworth (DT), Derrick Dockery (G), Renaldo Wynn (DE)
Key Losses: Shawn Springs (CB), Jason Taylor (DE), Jon Jansen (T), James Thrash (WR)
Draft Picks: Brian Orakpo (DE-Texas), Kevin Barnes (CB-Maryland), Cody Glenn (OLB-Nebraska), Robert Henson (ILB-TCU), Eddie Williams (FB-Idaho), Marko Mitchell (WR-Nevada)
It says a lot about the NFC East that the Redskins finished dead last in the division and were still a .500 team. There was a point last season when I would've argued that Washington was much better than Dallas or Philadelphia, but they fell apart at the end of the season and missed out on the playoffs once again.
Like usual, the number one offseason goal for the Redskins was to spend a ton of money the minute free agency started. They succeeded with flying colors by signing Albert Haynesworth to a bajillion dollars. However, after that the Redskins stayed moderately low for a little while. They brought Derrick Dockery back after he was rightfully released from Buffalo after two miserable seasons. They also cut their losses by releasing Jason Taylor after only one season in DC.
The Redskins then proceeded to alienate their starting QB but openly going after both Jay Cutler and rookie Mark Sanchez. Honestly, I can see why they were going after Cutler. While I'm not especially high on Cutler, he is an upgrade over Jason Campbell. However, it was a huge mistake to go after either QB in public while Jason Campbell was entrenched as the starter.
One positive for the Redskins is that Jason Campbell is heading into the season under the same offensive scheme as the previous season, something he hasn't been able to say since high school. This should take out the built in excuse for Campbell that he had to learn a brand new system during the offseason. If he doesn't get it done this year, it might be his last in DC and his last as a starter in the league.
One negative for the Redskins is that behind Santana Moss, there isn't a whole lot going on at wide receiver. No disrespect towards Antwaan Randle El, but he isn't anything more than a slot receiver who can return punts. Now if last year's rookies (Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly) can actually contribute, the Skins offense might not be so bad after all.
I don't see a whole lot going well for Washington this season. The NFC East is too even and they are still below those other teams. I have them improving one game from the fact that Campbell comes in more prepared to lead the offense, but I don't see it being a breakout season by any means.
Last Season: 8-8
2009 Prediction: 9-7
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