For years in the first decade of the new millennium the NFC East was regarded as the toughest division in football. It was always a slugfest between the Eagles, Giants and Cowboys (sorry Redskins fans). Last year it was the Eagles who fought through and won the NFC East, it was not easy. The Giants were a quarter away from blowing the Eagles out and putting themselves in contention to win the division, but thanks to Desean Jackson (excuse to include video), the Eagles went onto win the division and the 3rd seed in the NFC.
By now everyone knows of the offseason additions for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vince Young quote dream team has a lot to live up to this season. Many are saying that this year is Super Bowl or bust for the Eagles and quite honestly it is. For so many years the Eagles have had a solid regular season only for something to go astray in the playoffs. This year the plan is clear, have the best record in the NFC, get home field advantage and the first round bye. Make the division round and NFC championship come through Philadelphia, obviously we will have to wait and see if the Eagles are able to accomplish this feat, but I’ll tell you what they are the only team in the division without question marks all over their personnel.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles come into this season as the clear favorite in the NFC East and for good reason. The prospect of having Asante Samuel, Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, and Nnamdi Asomugha in a collective secondary is something that you see only on a pro bowl team. Adding Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins to line up along side Trent Cole wasn’t a bad move either. This team is loaded with talent all over the place, but using the talent correctly is going to be the key on the defensive side of the ball.
There are some serious questions at middle linebacker. So far in the preseason Casey Matthews has struggled and after all he is a rookie so there are going to be some speed bumps, but for a team that has admiration of playing the second week of February there cannot be a gaping hole in the middle of the defense. I expect Jamar Chaney to lineup in the MLB spot week 1 in St. Louis.
The other question mark on the defense is square on Juan Castillo’s chest. The new defensive coordinator has to find a way to use all of this talent in the right way. The Eagles love to play a hyper aggressive defense that thrives off of turnovers, but at times they can be too aggressive which leaves them open on the dink and dunk screen passes.
While this has been dubbed a dream team by some, there are still some kinks that have to be worked out, but Andy Reid is a master of winning games in the regular season, so expect this to be another successful year for the birds.
Key Player : Michael Vick – I know really going out on a limb here, but Vick is the key to the Eagles being successful this season. I will agree somewhat with what Rodney Harrison said on Football Night In America last night, he said that Vick returned to his Atlanta Falcons form at the end of last season. He did become stale to a point that it left you wondering if the rest of the league had figured out how to not stop #7, but simply slow him down.
Prediction – 11-5 2nd in NFC
Dallas Cowboys
Last year the Cowboys played in a year filled with bad luck and change. Tony Romo suffered a season ending shoulder injury in week 7. The defense just completely came apart in the most lopsided game ever on Sunday Night Football against Green Bay. Wade Phillips was fired, which led the way to the Jason Garrett era. Rob Ryan was brought in to help get the defense back to where it was when this team was playing in January. The Cowboys are out to prove that 2011 is their comeback year.
Rob Ryan looks as if he will be a perfect fit to coach a defense that had some serious issues in 2010. They have perhaps the best pass rusher in the league (Demarcus Ware), a solid MLB duo in Keith Brooking and Bradie James so there is talent in the front 7.
Last year the secondary just didn’t play with any heart. Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick and Gerald Sensabaugh just went through the motions after Romo went down last season. It was as if they knew there was no chance for success once he was gone. Rob Ryan will not tolerate that kind of effort and that is why you need someone with his personality to coach a defense like this.
Offensively the Cowboys are loaded. Romo has plenty of options to spread the ball around, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten. It is just up to the offensive line to give Romo time to make the throws, he will have moments where you will say, What are you doing Tony!? He always finds a way to redeem himself, that’s why the Cowboys have to be considered a wild card contender.
Key Player: Felix Jones – Jones is poised to make 2011 his breakout year. He looks bigger and stronger than last year if that is even possible. He was always touted as a running back that was agile and able to move very well laterally, now it looks like he has added the ability to break tackles. All signs are pointing to Felix having a career year and becoming the playmaker that the Cowboys so desperately need.
Prediction: 9-7 Wild Card birth
New York Giants
The Osi Umenyiora saga dominated the New York area for weeks. Now that he has gotten the surgery he is expected to play this season and that would be wise for him to do. If he can play up to the level that he is capable of the Giants will have one of the fiercest pass rushes in the league. Justin Tuck and the “athletic freak” Jason Pierre-Paul will line up along side Osi.
Beyond the front 3 the outlook is bleak for the Giants defense. Prince Amukamara was drafted in the first round to help bolster the Giants secondary. The shortened offseason gobbled him up and left him with a fractured foot and an out indefinitely label. This means cornerbacks Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas will be the starters come week 1. Giants fans everywhere will gasp when a deep ball is thrown.
The Giants offense is in serious need of an identity. Eli Manning believes that he should be considered an elite quarterback and that is perfectly ok. He has improved almost every season that he has played, he has the Super Bowl ring that the elite QBs have. The difference is that Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, were the leaders of their respective championship teams. More people remember what David Tyree did in that Super Bowl against the Patriots rather than the performance that Eli had.
Eli is the captain of the offense, but on the field he does not look like the leader of the offense. He has to become that leader that the team so desperately needs, otherwise they will flounder in mediocrity.
Key Player: Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw really turned it on towards the end of last season and can be that bruiser the Giants need if they want to control the pace of games. He just has to prove that he can be used as a workhorse instead of being the leader of an RBBC with Brandon Jacobs. Bradshaw deserves the chance to have the goal line carries and the 3rd and 1s.
Prediction: 8-8
Washington Redskins
The Redskins have to look at this year as a building block, that’s why John Beck has to start as the quarterback for the entire season. He has shown at least in the preseason that he is ready to start for this team.
The skins have added some depth at many key positions, which is key for the future of this team. Tim Hightower will finally get a chance to carry the workload for a team instead of being a designated blocker and pass catcher in Arizona.
Key Player: John Beck – This is Beck’s chance to prove that he deserves to play in the NFL. The front office may be already looking ahead to drafting Andrew Luck in 2012, but Beck can single handily change their plans with a good year. It will be difficult though, the NFC East has a tough schedule this year. Young quarterbacks always have to go through a year of learning and Beck will do that this year, however he won’t have the luxury of having the next year to prove himself.
Prediction : 3-13
Tags: Andy Reid, Dallas Cowboys, Eli Manning, Felix Jones, Michael Vick, new york giants, NFC East 2011, nnamdai asumogha, Philadelphia Eagles, Rob Ryan, tony romo, Washington Redskins John Beck
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