NFC East Preview by SB Nation Editors
by Kevin Ewoldt on Sep 9, 2009 9:54 AM EDT
in Redskins News
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Thanks to Ed over at Big Blue View for coming up with the idea, but all 4 NFC East bloggers for SB Nation started an email chain emailing their predictions for the 2009 season. Records are below and explanations are after the jump. I can understand the Giants' and Eagles' bloggers being optimistic since their teams made the playoffs last year, but the Cowboys' blogger I have to laugh at. The Boys have a great offense, no one can deny that, but their defense is way too suspect, and I don't think the Cowboys WRs will be productive 17 weeks. Not to mention Wade Phillips still looks confused as ever on the sidelines.
| Redskins (HH) | Giants (BBV) | Cowboys (BTB) | Eagles (BGN) |
| Giants (11-5) Redskins (10-6) Cowgirls (9-7) Eagles (8-8) |
Giants (11-5) Eagles (10-6) Cowboys (9-7) Redskins (7-9) |
Cowboys (10-6) Eagles (10-6) Redskins (9-7) Giants (7-9) |
Giants (11-5) Eagles (9-7) Dallas (9-7) Redskins (7-9) |
Hogs Haven: I see the Eagles being the good team that disappoints this season in the NFL. The Eagles simply do not look sound on defense right now. Their recent performance against the hapless Jags leaves me scratching my head. The losses of both Bradley and Jim Johnson (R.I.P.) will be too much to overcome this year. The Cowgirls have all the tools they need this year and by season's end they should be in position to make the NFC East a 3-playoff team division once again. That assumes that Wade Phillips can get his defense under control. They underachieved last season and the pressure is on him to get the defense playing up to their potential.
As for the Redskins, nobody has them picked to do anything. They are precisely the exact kind of team that sneaks up on the league every year. They have some veteran skill players, and they have a few young players who could be ready to contribute this season in Devin Thomas, Malcolm, Kelly, Fred Davis, and Brian Orakpo. If Jason Campbell plays within himself, the early schedule favors a quick start. It is important to note that nobody is picking the Skins to finish last in the NFC East because they suck. Everybody just thinks that the rest of the teams in the division are very, very strong. This Redskins team is capable of being the surprise in the NFL this year. It happens every year. Coach Jim Zorn is definitely more comfortable and the defense is going to be as strong if not stronger than last year. A homer pick? Maybe. But who besides Falcons' fans picked them to go to the playoffs last year?
Big Blue View: I have spent the entire off-season listening to 'experts' sing the praises of the Philadelphia Eagles. I know the Eagles are good, but I don't get the media man-crush. Let me remind everyone which team won the Super Bowl in 2007 -- the Giants. Defending NFC East champs? Giants. Considered the best team in the NC most of last season? The Giants.
No, things did not end well for the Giants last season. They wore down defensively last season, but with all the new faces on defense that should not be an issue this time. They should be able to control the line of scrimmage. Offensively, they still have that terrific offensive line and a great running game. Yes, they have a question at wide receiver. They have talent there, however, and the other pieces of this team should give them time to answer the receiver question.
Blogging the Boys: Playing the NFC South will push the Beasts to play solid defensive football against some of the most talented offenses in the conference. All should do well against the AFC West, but I don't see any one team dominating the division.
Losing Spagnuolo to St. Louis will hamper the Giants more than it will help the Rams. Several heartbreaking losses hand the Giants a disappointing season record. Philadelphia will also lack continuity on defense as the loss of Brian Dawkins and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will force the offense to pick up the slack. A late season surge gets them in the playoffs. The Redskins will show improvement and be a pain to the rest of the division, but won't get enough wins to be a contender. Quietly, the Cowboys work all season on controlling the ball, eliminating mistakes, and playing good defense. They strike quickly when needed, which helps them defeat Philly in Week 17 for the division title.
Bleeding Green Nation: I'm not exactly sure which experts Ed has been listening to, but every media outlet and their mother has picked the Giants to not only win the NFC East but the NFC as a whole, despite the fact that it was the Eagles who beat them in their house in the divisional playoffs and made the NFC title game... that said, I still think the Giants are the best overall team in the division. No doubt that their lack of notable pass catchers makes their offense less scary than in year's past, but I don't buy the talk of their WRs being so bad. I think they're good enough to win with.
Last year I actually picked the Redskins to make the playoffs and be the surprise team of the NFC... They didn't exactly repay that faith. I honestly thought Jason Campbell was ready to "take the next step." He didn't. I think he'll be the same player this year and I think the Redskins will be generally the same team as last year. Not bad, but mediocre.
The Dallas Cowboys have done us the favor of writing their script over the past few years. They'll impress early and get all the national media excited, only to fade in December. I kid, kind of... I do think Dallas is a good team, but I don't really see how they're any better than they were last year. I still see them as a team capable of very high highs, but I think their inability to deal with adversity will still see them reach some low lows. Their running game will still be good, but their passing game will probably regress. I still think their defense will be inconsistent. I still question Wade Phillips as a coach and Tony Romo in big spots.... I find it kind of tough to predict the Cowboys this year. I don't think they're a bad team by any means, I just don't know if I have any confidence in them.
Speaking of scripts... Will we again see the Eagles flatter to deceive early on and be written off as dead only to make an improbable run in December that sees them ending up in the playoffs? It would be a lot easier for me to predict how the Eagles will play this season if I'd actually seen them together at some point this summer. Injuries have kept pro bowlers Brian Westbrook and Shawn Andrews out of the preseason. One of the newest Eagles, pro bowler Jason Peters, was knicked up earlier in the preseason and didn't play a ton. Sheldon Brown hasn't really played in the preseason, neither has Omar Gaither who start at middle linebacker... Kevin Curtis has been knicked up on offense. Starting LG Todd Herremans hasn't played. According to the Eagles, most of all these players will be ready by opening day... but until I actually see them on the field I'll remain skeptical. I think it's a very talented team on paper, but we don't play the games on paper.
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The Eagles Blog seems pretty fair, I would probably flip the ’gals and the Skins in the predictions though.
The Cowboys Blog seems the most biased by saying they’ll take the division. And I don’t think the G-Men losing Spags is going to be a huge problem, I mean look at their personnel. I also don’t think the Eagles are going to lose a tremendous amount of continuity on defense b/c of BDawk.
As long as Bum Phillip’s Son is the coach in Big D, they don’t scare me one bit.
Apparently the Giants blog thinks there are only two teams in the division.
I want to know why Cowboys fans think they are going to win the division? They have the oldest o-line in the league. The WR core was downgraded and I don’t think Crayton is a #2 any more. D-Line downgraded. Secondary is awful. There is a reason the Falcons didn’t want Brooking any more, he’s getting up there in years. Also, I think the ’gals are the thinnest team in the division in terms of depth.
ummm didn't Bdawk leave?
so that means that the #1 guy who set up their D on the field is gone, Johnson (RIP), the architect, is gone and Bradley, their MLB is gone….and they shouldn’t miss a step on defensive continuity?
I will grant you the Eagles have McNabb, Westbrook and Jackson, a very nice crop of backups but both McNabb and Westbrook are prone to getting nicked up (hey everyone points it out about our O-Line, so fair is fair, right?) and they have an OLine that hasn’t even played together yet this preseason and yet every mediot in the country has them making the playoffs either winning the division or as a wild card. Maybe they are all correct but I gotta believe that there is room for doubt.
I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused....
+1
That’s what I’ve been saying. Eagles defense has taken drastic steps backwards this offseason, and their offense lives and dies with McNabb and Westbrook.
They didn’t exactly repay that faith. I honestly thought Jason Campbell was ready to “take the next step.” He didn’t. I think he’ll be the same player this year and I think the Redskins will be generally the same team as last year. Not bad, but mediocre.
He would’ve had half a season of bragging rights though.
Good luck in Week 1
Here’s to no injuries on either side of the ball. I think it says something that the ‘Skins are the only NFC East rival I don’t passionately despise. That said, I’m way too much of a jerk to come back within a few days of the game and probably for 2 weeks after, so we’ll catch up later in the season. Also, I hope you go 4-0 against the Cowgirls and Eggs this season. And that between us, somebody gives Mike Vick a concussion. Peace out!
You play to win the game!
Honest
Biased all around, but this is what makes the NFL special every team has a chance and a ton of variables which will occur throughout the season will be the difference.
The Redskins are going to surprise, and will continue to surprise in the second half of the season, I really expect the iggles and girls to implode based on history.
iggles-Superbowl run returned a 6-10 2005 season
girls-always implode
Giants should still be the class of the division but are sliding down, and the Redskins could surpass them with a division win.
Campbell
I honestly thought Jason Campbell was ready to "take the next step." He didn’t. I think he’ll be the same player this year
This sounds like something that an outsider would say about Jason Campbell. It was Campbell’s first year in the offense so I wouldn’t have said that last year he was going to “take the next step.” I will however, most certainly say that he will “take the next step” this year instead.
It’s hard for Campbell to be the same player this year with more time to have mastered the playbook, more time to develop a cohesion with his receivers, more time for his rookie receivers to develop, and more time to throw the ball with a better offensive line. So overall the offense should be better.
I think the Redskins will be generally the same team as last year.
Am I the only one who thinks that the Redskins are the only team to have gotten better in practically every area, yet the other teams have gotten worst in certain areas? And not just slightly worst but significantly worst.
You could say that...
Redskins: D-line BIG upgrade (Big Al), LB- Upgrade (Orakpo), DB- Upgrade (DHall, Horton w/ experience), O-line- Upgrade (Dockery) still weak spot, WR- Upgrade (Improved Redshirts, Marko), RB- Upgrade (Depth with MM), ST- Upgrade (Hunter the Punter)
Eagles: Defense- Downgrade (Injuries, loss of BDawk/JJ), O-line: Upgrade (Peters), RB: Upgrade (McCoy), WR: Possible Upgrade w/ Maclin? ST: Same, X-Factor or Non-Factor: Vick
Giants: O-Line- Still Great, D-Line: Upgrade (Canty/Osi back), QB: Its Eli ehh…, WR- Downgrade Unless Nicks is a total stud, RB- Downgrade losing Ward, ST: Same
Cowboys: O-Line: OLDEST IN NFL, D-Line- Downgrade (Igor’s ok but Canty’s better for that system), LB- Downgrade (Old Brooking, whens Carpenter ever going to get the nod?), DB- Downgrade (Just not an impressive group), QB- Same, ST- Same, RB- Upgrade (Jones back), WR: DOWNGRADE (Roy not TO, Crayton older and not a #2), Coaching: Always a handicap
Considering each blog has their favorite team at no worse than second place, I’ld say each site’s bias is showing.
I have to agree that the Cowboys blog’s prediction is the craziest with the Cowboys winning the division AND the Giants going 7-9?
I think the Eagles blog (and most of the media) is giving them too much credit this season for their playoff run last season. Also, they need to read a bit more if they haven’t seen the all the love for the Eagles in the media. For instance, of the 16 ESPN “experts” 6 expect the Eagles to win it. That’s just one less than the Giants, who are picked by 7 “experts” (the Cowboys get the other 3 nods). Hell, even 5 “experts” have the Eagles winning the NFC championship (that’s less than the Giants 3 “experts”). Only one “expert” (Len Pasquarelli) doesn’t have the Eagles making the playoffs. I’ld, without a doubt, call that media love.
This is gonna be a great season
You can’t look at any of these teams and say, “Nah, its just not gonna happen for them this year.”
I think we are a little too quick and too vehement in shooting down the Cowboys. We hate them because they represent everything thats wrong in the Universe, but with their LBs and their running game they have just as much chance as the other teams.
I’ve said this a couple times, but I think the Eagles are the only team that doesn’t match up well with the rest of the division. They have the weakest defense and the weakest running game. They will do well against the rest of the NFL but could struggle against the BEast. The speed on the offense still scares me but I trust Blache to slow ’em down.
According to nfl.com, Redskins have problems. Based on stupid assumptions.
The Washington Redskins, because if, as coach Jim Zorn said, they think that signing former New York Giants quarterback Andre Woodson is going to provide helpful information to their defense (such as the Giants’ snap counts), they’re showing clear desperation going into Sunday’s season-opener at the Meadowlands.
I listened to the press conference, and I don’t remember hearing that. He laughed when someone asked him the question, but I think the signing was more because he’s almost the same body type as Campbell.
Who knows, why would we have a sense of desperation in Week 1? When the Giants signed Hasselbeck they didn’t jump on the HC like this.
Andre Woodson was a solid pick up for the practice squad b/c he has been in the NFC East and can run the offenses better b/c he’s seen them. Seems like journalist have become one of the laziest breeds of people lately.
Maybe, believe what the coach says
From TORB:
Here’s Coach Zorn from the post-practice press conference above, talking about some of the reasons that Woodson is here: “We like his size, and I think he has a good presence. He has escape ability, which I saw as I watched him. It is necessary for this offense. I was impressed with his deep ball. We just have to work on some intermediate things and we will be all right.”
Zorn, talked about Woodson being on the Radar the same time as Colt too.
When Zorn was asked if Woodson was brought in to be a “mole” he responded by saying:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/woodson-a-mole-not-really-zorn.html
“I would say initially that wasn’t the reason to have Andre Woodson here,” Zorn said. “We looked at him a year ago. We drafted Colt [Brennan], they drafted Andre. With him getting released, we had the chance to take a look at him…. We have a chance with Andre now to develop him a little bit.”
Zorn said that while the Redskins won’t “put him under the microscope,” Woodson’s familiarity with the Giants’ offense certainly won’t hurt.
“He might be able to help us a little bit. He knows their stuff. He certainly knew their snap count, just the obvious things.” Zorn said.
Would it be too much for the media to think that we picked up Woodson because he is physically similar to Campbell and that maybe the best QB developer in the league might be able to do something like… ummm I don’t know… develop Woodson into a better player and possibly a backup to Campbell in the future?
If you listened to NFL.com you’d think that Zorn said we got Woodson only to squeeze as much information from him as possible about the Giants. Zorn said that Woodson MIGHT be able to help A LITTLE BIT. What did the Redskins do to deserve all this bashing from the media? They find any and everything they can to talk bad about us.
that's the media
they can’t pass up a stab at us. Forget about the fact that, even if it WERE true, so what? ALL teams do it. Antonio Pierce was bragging about it when they signed him in free agency. Besides, the Eagles got Dixon from us. They’re gonna know everything about our D-line now.
and yet
their signing of Nehemiah Broughton to their practice squad was to shore up their glaring need for a RB that hasn’t been able to stick with the Vikes and the ‘Skins? Couldn’t we have liked the QB (Woodson) for simply being a big heady QB who could turn out okay with some seasoning? Cripes it’s not as if we don’t play the Gmen twice a year and that they aren’t familiar with our personnel and vice versa… sheesh. The only thing desperate here is someone (aka the media) looking for a story that doesn’t exist.
I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused....
as for the
predictions, Cowboys fans always make me laugh. One reason is this video I posted on FanShots. Beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea_GWs2W794&feature=related
Anyway, OF COURSE they think they will be the cream of the division. They read the rags that have them winning the big one every year.
The Boys have a great offense, no one can deny that, but their defense is way too suspect,
I don’t think you could write this in stone right now. In fact, I’d say their defense is more established than their offense. They have one of the best defensive players in the league, they upgraded at safety, and probably DE too. I still think their corner situation is dicey, and who knows if Spencer can replace Ellis. So that’s a lot of questions on ‘D’, but on offense they have the biggest question of the season (for them). Can the passing game excel without it’s best weapon/one of the best weapon’s in the league? I know they keep saying Felix Jones will be the next Barry Sanders, but I need to see him stay healthy for a season before I can call him any kind of serious weapon.
by CJHutch on Sep 9, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Not a one I can quite agree with....
Giants 10-6
Redskins 9-7
Eagles 9-7
Cowboys (implode) 6-10
Realistically, I agree the Giants have taken a step back, and it’ll show. The Eagles and Redskins could both be very good or very mediocre. I see nothing but bad omens coming from the Cowboys, and without a viable passing attack except Witten, I see the Cowboys becoming last years Redskins, one dimensional.
I think the Giants have taken a larger step back than anyone has written
The loss of Plaxco is going to go to the heart of this team. That plus the expectations heaped on Eli’s shoulders.
Call me a homer all you want, but I’m confident the Giants will have a mediocre record by the halfway mark: 5-3 or 4-4. The question is how they’ll respond second half. They are ripe for the picking.
"I think my motivation is to see the other guys in the clubhouse. They’re contending for the playoffs, and when I see that it gets into my body. I play like it’s the playoffs too" —Memlo
I don't think
Blogging The Boys is so delusional. They’re only projecting themselves to go 10-6.
"In the future, I want to be a fossil. Or, at least have my feces be fossilized"
-Pygalgia
Yeah but
They’re also projecting themselves to win the division and for the Giants to go 7-9. You never know what’s going to happen in a season so both circumstances are possible but I just don’t see it happening.
Yeah, I know.
I’m not saying I agree with their predictions. I’m just saying that they’re not quite as off the wall as people are claiming.
"In the future, I want to be a fossil. Or, at least have my feces be fossilized"
-Pygalgia
sure they are-
they’re Dallas fans. Comes with the territory. They think that they exist- therefor they should be given the title.
What's interesting is ....
that so many of the other team’s fans are so poor in their football knowledge; they know their own team, and then only seem to believe the “common wisdom” (group speak) of others like themselves. I found it bizarre to read the Giants side of this, for example, and see the comments where the posters dismiss the Redskins as having no offense (we became overly conservative and one dimensional after our O-Line was devastated and CP got hurt last year…. didn’t help that we only had one WR and one TE we could count on playing in the correct position; injuries to the right group of players can make ANY team one dimensional), but we were dynamic early in the season; this year, we’ve improved (somewhat) the O-Line, but DRASTICALLY improved our WR corps (MK and FD actually being useful! ARE playing the correct position! JC being allowed to throw deep!) and the biggest problem with our D (not getting turnovers) we’ve addressed with Orakpo, Hall, and of course Haynesworth… oh, and our REAL starting DE (injured in training camp last year) is back. Last year, EVEN AFTER all the devastating injuries, we were two freak plays away from 10-6 (shouldn’t have been that close, but there you are). And folks are thinking we’re going to be WORSE? In actual areas of real need, only the Giants and Redskins improved, and the Giants only marginally. The Eagles have helped themselves, but not in areas they were weak in, and they’ve gotten weaker in their greatest strengths. The Cowboys are going to have Jason Witten and …. who catching balls from Romo? Roy Williams? 19 catches for 198 yards Roy Williams? Yeah, he’ll be better this season… but I don’t see how he can give them more than 700 yards this season, as he’s lost a step, and they need someone to give them 1000 for that O to work.
I can see any one of these teams winning the East… I’d be surprised if it’s Dallas (very surprised), but I can see it. But I can’t see the Redskins, barring another massive injury season, being 7-9 as so many of those other NFC East fans put, and I DEFINITELY don’t see them in the cellar this year…. Dallas is my pick as cellar dweller, and they could implode if they start particularly slow. I think the Redskins are a better team than the Eagles (though I picked the Eagles as the last WildCard in my office pool, with the Redskins out… I just feel better than I did then, two weeks ago, about our team). Yeah, I pick the Giants as the best in the East… but not by more than a game. And on any given Sunday…. that’s why they play the game.
ty Bill
I agree completely, if we don’t have Pete Kendell doing his best Red Grange imitation then who knows what happens last year. I keep hearing that the Pokes will be better without TO, Okay, he won’t be the headcase that he was, but I don’t see Williams scaring anyone and he’s coming in with a tweaked shoulder. Patrick Crayton has been unable to back up any of his smack and while I will admit that Witten and Jones are good players, I see the Pokes having the same isues that the "Skins had last year when their sole production came from Cooley and Moss. Namely they are expecting guys that are not established to step up and take the load off. They lost Canty from their DL rotation and replaced him with Olshansky, not sure that’s an even trade there and yes they lost Roy in the defensive backfield, but given his coverage woes, he was a damn good run support safety and they think that the new guys is a better player, okay, we’ll see.
The Giants still look formidable, but there are some questions about their passing game. Giants fans are confident, so we’ll see. With the running game that they have, I can see whu. Like other folks, there is a question about their secondary, but that DL is so good, it’s awfully hard to see if that assumption is true.
The Eagles, I can’t understand why folks are so high on them, okay they signed Vick, okay… they have some receivers bow and McCoy looks like a very nice compliment to westbrook, but as it’s been said, while there are questions about the ‘Skins O-line, not all of the EWagles starters hve even played a live snap together this preseason with Andtews being out. Peters was overrated in Buffalo and moving their RT back to LT, well lets just wait and see. Their D has questions, I’m sorry I think it’s hard to replace someone like Dawkins who was a damn coach on the field yet no one expects these guys to miss a beat, why? They next guy you expect to lead was Bradley, the MLB, yeah the guy who is out for the season, so who runs the defense now? Yet, no one suspects that there will be any issues kind of like the Wizard of Oz and no one look behind the curtain….
Add that in to the fact that we have a supposedly easier schedule and I’m sorry, I’m just optimistic. Okay, maybe the Oline implodes, maybe Jason loses faith and thusly the coaches lose faith in him, but I liked what Collins did two years ago in case that happens. I think we have seen progress from the young receiving corps. I think Blache is just sitting in the weeds waiting for the chance to get down someones’ throats and has been layin doggo all preseason. Maybe this is our year and I hope that everyone has their bulletin board material posted and is ready to prove to themselves and the fanbase and the league that they will be a force to be reckoned with this year.
I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused....
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