Football: NFC East preview
from International Herald Tribune
DALLAS COWBOYS The Cowboys hope their new head coach, Wade Phillips, can take them further than Bill Parcells did. Although Parcells never won a playoff game in three seasons with the Cowboys, Phillips has never won a playoff game as a head coach - period.
Optimists in Dallas say that wide receiver Terrell Owens will be happy and productive while playing for the laid-back Phillips and that quarterback Tony Romo will continue to develop. Skeptics wonder if Romo is the real deal, after he followed his sizzling start with a December slump. And does Owens, who is credited with ruining the team chemistry in San Francisco and Philadelphia, ever stay happy for long?
With talented skill position players like Owens, Terry Glenn, Julius Jones and Jason Witten, the Cowboys should give Romo enough help to win consistently. Phillips is an excellent defensive coach, so that unit should be fine. The Cowboys should challenge for the division title and at least make the playoffs as a wild card.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Having won the division in five of the past six seasons, the Eagles look formidable again. Their season largely hinges on the play of quarterback Donovan McNabb, who is coming off major knee surgery. With a healthy McNabb, the Eagles have a shot to make the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia's offense is balanced and explosive. Brian Westbrook, an elusive runner and reliable pass-catching threat, is almost as important to the offense as McNabb. The Eagles are developing a solid corps of young wide receivers, featuring Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett and Jason Avant. Tight end L.J. Smith remains one of McNabb's favorite targets, and the veteran wide receiver Kevin Curtis joined the team as a free agent from St. Louis.
The defense is solid and should be bolstered by the addition of linebacker Takeo Spikes, acquired in a trade with Buffalo, and the return from injury of defensive end Jevon Kearse.
The Eagles expect to make the playoffs, and they will win the division if the Cowboys do not.
NEW YORK GIANTS Coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning enter the season on the hot seat.
The retirement of Tiki Barber leaves a huge void, one that the offense will try to fill collectively. Manning still has three reliable veteran pass catchers - wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, and tight end Jeremy Shockey. But all three need to stay healthy for the unit to click. Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns are powerful running backs, but they do not possess Barber's big-play ability.
Even before Michael Strahan's training camp holdout, the defense faced serious questions. Mathias Kiwanuka is making the transition to linebacker from the defensive line. Osi Umenyiora is an elite defensive end, but the Giants did not force enough turnovers and allowed too many long drives last season. The new defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, a former member of the Eagles' staff, will probably use an aggressive approach that features more blitzing.
But unless Manning takes a major step forward, the Giants will struggle to make the playoffs.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS With the young Jason Campbell starting at quarterback, the Redskins are in transition. Instead of once again signing big-name free agents, the Redskins are attempting to improve from within. That will not be easy.
Washington has two offensive stars: running back Clinton Portis and wide receiver Santana Moss. But the offensive line is a concern, and Campbell's development will be more difficult if he is under duress. This could be another long season for the Redskins.
DALLAS COWBOYS The Cowboys hope their new head coach, Wade Phillips, can take them further than Bill Parcells did. Although Parcells never won a playoff game in three seasons with the Cowboys, Phillips has never won a playoff game as a head coach - period.
Optimists in Dallas say that wide receiver Terrell Owens will be happy and productive while playing for the laid-back Phillips and that quarterback Tony Romo will continue to develop. Skeptics wonder if Romo is the real deal, after he followed his sizzling start with a December slump. And does Owens, who is credited with ruining the team chemistry in San Francisco and Philadelphia, ever stay happy for long?
With talented skill position players like Owens, Terry Glenn, Julius Jones and Jason Witten, the Cowboys should give Romo enough help to win consistently. Phillips is an excellent defensive coach, so that unit should be fine. The Cowboys should challenge for the division title and at least make the playoffs as a wild card.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Having won the division in five of the past six seasons, the Eagles look formidable again. Their season largely hinges on the play of quarterback Donovan McNabb, who is coming off major knee surgery. With a healthy McNabb, the Eagles have a shot to make the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia's offense is balanced and explosive. Brian Westbrook, an elusive runner and reliable pass-catching threat, is almost as important to the offense as McNabb. The Eagles are developing a solid corps of young wide receivers, featuring Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett and Jason Avant. Tight end L.J. Smith remains one of McNabb's favorite targets, and the veteran wide receiver Kevin Curtis joined the team as a free agent from St. Louis.
The defense is solid and should be bolstered by the addition of linebacker Takeo Spikes, acquired in a trade with Buffalo, and the return from injury of defensive end Jevon Kearse.
The Eagles expect to make the playoffs, and they will win the division if the Cowboys do not.
NEW YORK GIANTS Coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning enter the season on the hot seat.
The retirement of Tiki Barber leaves a huge void, one that the offense will try to fill collectively. Manning still has three reliable veteran pass catchers - wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, and tight end Jeremy Shockey. But all three need to stay healthy for the unit to click. Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns are powerful running backs, but they do not possess Barber's big-play ability.
Even before Michael Strahan's training camp holdout, the defense faced serious questions. Mathias Kiwanuka is making the transition to linebacker from the defensive line. Osi Umenyiora is an elite defensive end, but the Giants did not force enough turnovers and allowed too many long drives last season. The new defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, a former member of the Eagles' staff, will probably use an aggressive approach that features more blitzing.
But unless Manning takes a major step forward, the Giants will struggle to make the playoffs.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS With the young Jason Campbell starting at quarterback, the Redskins are in transition. Instead of once again signing big-name free agents, the Redskins are attempting to improve from within. That will not be easy.
Washington has two offensive stars: running back Clinton Portis and wide receiver Santana Moss. But the offensive line is a concern, and Campbell's development will be more difficult if he is under duress. This could be another long season for the Redskins.
posted by The Gryphon at 3:54 PM
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