NFC (East only) team reports: Third quarter grades
Posted: December 4, 2007
SN correspondents
Each week, Sporting News' NFL correspondents provide the best information available about your favorite team. Here's a sample of what you'll see in SN's Week 14 Team Reports from the NFC.
EAST DIVISION
Dallas Cowboys
Offense: A+. QB Tony Romo is shattering the franchise's single-season record book and WR Terrell Owens is having a career year.
Defense: B. Ware and Ellis combined have 20 sacks, which helps compensate for inconsistency in the secondary.
Special teams: B. S Keith Davis is one of the best coverage men in the league; K Nick Folk and P Mat McBriar have been superb.
Coaching: A. Phillips has figured out how to keep everything running smoothly, which isn't nearly as easy as it looks. Ask the Chargers' Norv Turner.
New York Giants
Offense: C+. A drastic decline in points and big plays and an increase in interceptions thrown by QB Eli Manning.
Defense: B. The pass rush has generally been strong and the run defense has been solid, but the unit has trouble getting off the field.
Special teams: B-. Bradshaw has helped the return game, Jeff Feagles remains an elite punter and K Lawrence Tynes has been mostly reliable.
Coaching: B-. The offensive braintrust of coach Tom Coughlin and coordinator Kevin Gilbride can't get Manning straightened out.
Philadelphia Eagles
Offense: B-. Efficiency in the red zone and Westbrook's rushing helps the offense put up more points, but quarterback play keeps holding it back.
Defense: C. This unit is still good enough against the run but struggles in coverage, is inconsistent in pass rush and rarely forces turnovers.
Special teams: C. Return and coverage units are still sporadic at best. PR Reno Mahe and KR J.R. Reed lack speed and explosion.
Coaching: D. Andy Reid hasn't given up on the season, but he still hasn't found answers for his team's problems.
Washington Redskins
Offense: C-. Campbell is going to be a very good quarterback one day. But his late-game mistakes have been costly. He's a season away from carrying the team on his shoulders.
Defense: B-. Blitzes have been necessary to generate pass-rush pressure, which has left the team vulnerable to big plays that have changed games. Second-half and late-game breakdowns have been costly.
Special teams: B. The coverage units have been solid. Rock Cartwright is an effective kick returner. Despite a few big plays, the punt return unit has yet to get untracked.
Coaching: C. Strategy has been sound for the most part. Holding the team together now becomes the biggest challenge.
SN correspondents
Each week, Sporting News' NFL correspondents provide the best information available about your favorite team. Here's a sample of what you'll see in SN's Week 14 Team Reports from the NFC.
EAST DIVISION
Dallas Cowboys
Offense: A+. QB Tony Romo is shattering the franchise's single-season record book and WR Terrell Owens is having a career year.
Defense: B. Ware and Ellis combined have 20 sacks, which helps compensate for inconsistency in the secondary.
Special teams: B. S Keith Davis is one of the best coverage men in the league; K Nick Folk and P Mat McBriar have been superb.
Coaching: A. Phillips has figured out how to keep everything running smoothly, which isn't nearly as easy as it looks. Ask the Chargers' Norv Turner.
New York Giants
Offense: C+. A drastic decline in points and big plays and an increase in interceptions thrown by QB Eli Manning.
Defense: B. The pass rush has generally been strong and the run defense has been solid, but the unit has trouble getting off the field.
Special teams: B-. Bradshaw has helped the return game, Jeff Feagles remains an elite punter and K Lawrence Tynes has been mostly reliable.
Coaching: B-. The offensive braintrust of coach Tom Coughlin and coordinator Kevin Gilbride can't get Manning straightened out.
Philadelphia Eagles
Offense: B-. Efficiency in the red zone and Westbrook's rushing helps the offense put up more points, but quarterback play keeps holding it back.
Defense: C. This unit is still good enough against the run but struggles in coverage, is inconsistent in pass rush and rarely forces turnovers.
Special teams: C. Return and coverage units are still sporadic at best. PR Reno Mahe and KR J.R. Reed lack speed and explosion.
Coaching: D. Andy Reid hasn't given up on the season, but he still hasn't found answers for his team's problems.
Washington Redskins
Offense: C-. Campbell is going to be a very good quarterback one day. But his late-game mistakes have been costly. He's a season away from carrying the team on his shoulders.
Defense: B-. Blitzes have been necessary to generate pass-rush pressure, which has left the team vulnerable to big plays that have changed games. Second-half and late-game breakdowns have been costly.
Special teams: B. The coverage units have been solid. Rock Cartwright is an effective kick returner. Despite a few big plays, the punt return unit has yet to get untracked.
Coaching: C. Strategy has been sound for the most part. Holding the team together now becomes the biggest challenge.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:16 PM
<< Home