NFC East 2008

The Game Room
1

For discussion of all things NFC East this season.

I’ll start by taking a look at the Giants and some things I disagree with the pundits about. First is Derrick Ward, who seems to be the forgotten man. Everyone talks about the one-two punch of Jacobs and Bradshaw, but it’s Ward who is and will remain #2 on the depth chart. It’s also Ward who will get the goal line carries, much to the chagrin of fantasy players who drafted Jacobs. As I’ve said before, Coughlin simply doesn’t like using the starter on the goal line regardless of his ability to do so. I think it’s just a wear and tear issue.

The real story is DE. I believe that Tuck will be better than Strahan was last year, and by a decent margin. Strahan was past his prime, and he took two weeks just to get in shape. The first two games against the Cowboys and Packers the DL got pushed around and manhandled. After a couple weeks the defense got better because Strahan got in better shape and the back seven started to grasp Spagnuolo’s new system.

This season, by contrast, most of the guys have a year under their belt in the system, and both DEs are in shape and ready to go. Kiwi is a stud, and while he may not quite be up to Osi’s level, Osi was out for the first several games in 07. At this point it is safe to call Osi an injury concern at all times. It’s tru that Kiwi got hurt last year, but that’s only one injury to Osi’s many. We’ll see how it goes.

Poor Kiwi. He is most famous for some truly boneheaded rookie mistakes. If fumbling away a Tony Romo interception wasn’t bad enough, letting Vince Young go was far worse. But both those terrible plays involved great plays on his part: catching an interception and busting the OL for a sack. I expect he’ll cut down on the boneheaded plays and just be great.

I really do think these guys will be solid, and I can envision some great schemes for Spags. Much to my dismay, he seems to be fond of the zone blitz, where you drop a DE into zone coverage. I have to say that dropping Kiwi into a zone will be about a million times better than dropping Strahan into coverage, where he always looked lost trying to cover TEs. Not that Kiwi is the greatest LB – he is a true DE through and through – but all his recent work at the LB position will really shine in the zone blitz.

Tuck is a monster of the first order, and needs no explanation or defense.

2

In short, I will be surprised if the Giants don’t send both Tuck and Kiwi to the probowl this year.

I was thrilled when Strahan announced he will stay retired, and when Osi went down I started salivating at the prospect of moving Kiwi back to DE and starting Gerris Wilkinson, who I am very high on. I understand the desire to have Kiwi on the field, but the idea of starting him at LB over Wilkinson was a disgrace.

3

*Welcome back, it is good to see you. *

I like the O-Line and the rest of the offense. They should improve on last year.

I am worried about the defensive backfield, but every team has holes. How to you see the CBs & Safeties shaping up?

4

I see Philips being worked in progressively as the season goes on until he wins the starting job, similar to Aaron Ross’ trajectory last season. I expect big things from Ross and Webster, though I’m still a little dubious that Webster has emerged as a legitimate starter. He looked great in the playoffs, but he struggled for two season prior to that. Only time will tell. I have nothing but confidence in Ross.

So many starting safeties went down last season yet the backups did okay. Not great; they got burned a lot. But good enough. That game experience should help development. Butler is not a stud but he’s certainly better than Omar Stoutmire or Brent Alexander, so I’m happy with him.

One thing I forgot to mention is how ESPN kept emphasizing how Kiwi got stuffed by the starters but then looked good against the backups. The DE position is like hitting in baseball: you always fail more than you succeed. Assessing his ability in a couple of series against the starters is meaningless. Ends seem to need to get into the rhythm of the game to do well. For example, almost all of Strahan’s greatest games were made in the second half or fourth quarter.

5

Why the hell is everyone picking the Iggles? Every season prediction I read lately seems to have the Eagles winning the division. They are seriously saying that the green-clad-Santa-haters will win the division in which they were the only team in the division that didn’t make the playoffs last year? Whuh?

The same division that (last time I checked) still contains the defending Super Bowl [del]Chumps[/del] Champs? The division that still has one of the best teams in the entire NFC (unfortunately I’m talking about the cowgirls and not my beloved Redskins) last year? I mean, I know in my heart-of-hearts that the Skins are a long shot to make the playoffs again this year, but surely the Giants and cowgirls are going to be better than the Eaglets.

All the Eagles did is trade for Ass-ante Samuel and managed to keep McNabb standing upright. This is all you need to do to go from 8-8 to the playoffs? They don’t even bother trying to build a receiving corps anymore, just give the ball to under-sized (and under backed-up) Westbrook on every play, run or pass. Good luck with that. If a 12 year old on Madden can figure out how to stop that game plan, what do you think a real Defensive Coordinator is going to do to it?

6

I agree, I think the Giants will be fighting the Boys for 1st and the Eagles will many low scoring games on the strength of their defense, but I don’t see them winning the division.

Ellis Dee, thanks for the analysis, I’m going to watch the game with my brother and some other friends tonight.

7

Give up 2,000 total yards to him? He’s not exactly a late-breaking development.

8

They were the only team in the division apart from the Cowboys that finished in the top 10 in total offense AND total defense- and the only team to do so and not make the playoffs since the 12-team playoff system began.

I am in two minds re: the Giants. I strongly believe that Eli really did “turn the corner” last season, and he’ll play close to that level all year. On the other hand, I thought the defense would take a step back without Strahan, and I think the defense will fall apart without Strahan and Umenyiora.

Apart from the line, there’s nobody on that unit who scared me, even last season; my impression was that the front four made the linebackers and secondaries look a lot better than they really were.

I see a lot of Cleveland/Cincy-esque games in your future, Ellis… and I know how you hate high scoring football.

9

Umm…who, exactly, is picking them? Hell, I live just outside of Philly, so I get to hear the know-nothings on WIP and ESPN-950 talk Eagles all fricking day long, and even they laughed their asses off when McNabb let loose with “A lot of people are picking us to go to the Super Bowl, and rightly so”.

But, you’ve inspired me…research is what I do for a living, so I decided to take a quick look around. First off, the nay-sayers:

Jon Friedman, MarketWatch
“The Chargers will beat the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, 27-24.”

Unknown Reporter, Guardian Unlimited
Predicted finishing positions:1) Dallas Cowboys 2) Washington Redskins 3) New York Giants 4) Philadelphia Eagles

Nancy Gay, The San Francisco Chronicle
NFC championship - Cowboys over Giants
AFC Championship - Chargers over Patriots
Super Bowl XLIII - Chargers over Cowboys

Randy Youngman, The Orange County Register
NFC division winners: Seahawks (West), Cowboys (East), Saints (South), Vikings (North).
NFC wild cards: Eagles, Panthers.
Super Bowl: Chargers over Cowboys.

Doug Robinson, Deseret News
Super Bowl picks: Dallas vs. New England.

David Hale, Macon Telegraph
“The Saints will fall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Super Bowl”

Jerry Greene, Orlando Sentinel
NFC EAST – Dallas 11-5; Philadelphia 10-6; Washington 9-7; ER Giants 7-9.

Paul Woody, The Richmond Times-Dispatch
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - Prediction: 9-7, 3rd in the NFC East

And then, we have the sad, deluded few who actually believe this washed-up, laughable crew of has-beens and never-was’s can go deep into the postseason:

Michael Wilbon, The Washington Post
“The NFC is particularly wide open again. The playoff teams should be Seattle, New Orleans, Minnesota, the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants, with the Saints and Eagles advancing to the NFC championship game.”

By Cam Inman, Contra Costa Times
NFC Championship game: Saints 41, Eagles 10

And of course, that bastion of accurate picking – Sports Illustrated – is calling for a Pats/Eagles Super Bowl.
Wanna know how I see it? The Eagles are a joke – pretty much everyone realizes that. The Cowboys are a house of cards – mind-bogglingly overrated, and one overthrown pass away from igniting the internal-feud-crew. The Redskins aren’t getting nearly enough respect – they may not deserve a ton of it, but their hardly getting any. They’ll be better than anyone expects. The Giants, of course, are going to take the division title in a walk.

1-4: Giants, Redskins, Cowboys, Eagles. Bank it.

10

The Eagles are no joke; they will be better than last year provided McNabb stays healthy. That mean 9-7 at a minimum. Then again, how many seasons has McNabb started all 16 regular season game?

Most of the ESPN pundits (as evidenced by the Wilbon quote) are picking the Eagles to win the NFC East and go far in the playoffs. I wouldn’t go that far, but I don’t for a second think they’re the worst team in the division.

11

And that’s where the predictions fall apart…

12

In the past, as I’m sure you recall, I’ve been really pessimistic about a lot of Giants players (or, at least, much more pessimistic than you). However, I *love *Kiwanuka as a DE (as a LB, not so much). And don’t worry about the injury – it was a broken leg, those heal clean and leave no after-effects at all (Steve Smith broke his leg and missed the season the year before he led the league in everything, for example). I remember being extremely relieved when word came last year that his injury was a break and not a tear.

I like Tuck as well, but, OTOH, let’s not start sucking each other’s popsicles just yet. He was great in a specific role last year (pass rush DT), and I see no reason he can’t succeed as an every down DE, but I don’t think we have enough evidence to pencil him in as a pro-bowler.

Football Outiders loves the Eagles this year.

13

Well, that was a scarily efficient opening drive against what ought to be one of the league’s better defenses.

14

This is all very promising for Giants fans. Eli now doesn’t even resemble the Eli of last years opener.

15

I will be talking to you every Sunday before I make any decisions for my fantasy team. Nice prediction on Tuck.

16

rubs eyes

Huh? Football? It’s…it’s time again?

17

Plaxico looks like a man among boys out there.

18

Signing a 5 year deal before the game helps.

Can I just sign a 70-day deal at that salary?

19

Throws bucket of water on LOUNE

Wake up, sahib! Football! Come, come!

20

I know it’s the first half of the first game, but boy the Redskins do not look impressive at all, and they haven’t all preseason. Their offense looks horrid, and their defense isn’t stopping anyone. Ugh!