NFL Preview: NFC East
http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/877/1/NFL-Preview-NFC-East/Dallas-Cowboys-2006-9-7.html
The Editor
By The Editor
Published on 08/2/2007
Will he or won't he? It's unclear if Michael Strahan will suit up in Giant blue this season, but even if he does it might not be enough to get the team past Washington, Dallas, and Philly. Kevin Ezell, Josh Binstock, Adam Lefkoe, and Eric Horowitz preview the NFC East.
Will he or won't he? It's unclear if Michael Strahan will suit up in Giant blue this season, but even if he does it might not be enough to get the team past Washington, Dallas, and Philly. Kevin Ezell, Josh Binstock, Adam Lefkoe, and Eric Horowitz preview the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys (2006: 9-7)
IN ROMO THEY TRUST
by Kevin Ezell
This odd couple will decide just how far the Cowboys
go in 2007
The Dallas Cowboys are heading into the season with a very new atmosphere. The grouchy-but-successful Bill Parcells is gone, and a coach with moderate success in the NFL will replace him. They will be relying on Tony Romo to lead team back to the playoff and maybe learn how to handle a snap in a pressure situation.
Romo replaced Drew Bledsoe last year after the Cowboys' offense became ineffective. Romo quickly became a star quarterback even earning a spot at the Pro Bowl. The reality, however, is that Romo did play well at first but did not end the season strongly and then lost to the Seahawks in the playoffs after the heartbreaking fumbled hold. Romo is very mobile which makes him a threat every time the pocket breaks down, but he needs to work on throwing fewer interceptions and reading defensive coverages better. This, unfortunately, comes with experience, and Romo does not have many starts under his belt.
Romo definitely has the players to throw to. Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn had excellent years last year and Owens' hand should be fully healed. If Owens can keep his ego in check and his mouth shut, he should have a huge year this year. He also has tight end Jason Witten, another excellent target who can put up big numbers and is one of the best in the league.
Julius Jones has not been a reliable back due to injury, so the Boys will need more production from Marion Barber III. Barber has been very successful in short-yardage situations, and he should get more carries this season to allow Jones to stay healthy. If these two backs can stay healthy, they will be a handful for many defenses. The offensive line was a huge problem last year; just ask Bledsoe. The offensive line will need to step it up to protect Romo and create holes for the backs.
The defense should be the real strong point. Phillips is a defensive minded coach and they have very talented players on that side of the ball. Dallas has a very talented defensive front that was only made stronger by the addition of rookie Anthony Spencer. DeMarcus Ware can line up almost anywhere and is an excellent pass rusher who will only get better. They do need to get better play out of their secondary, but the pressure they will create should help out. Still, the secondary will be susceptible and will give up some big plays, which cost the Cowboys several times in 2006.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
The Cowboys win the NFC East with a good offense and a defense that suffocates its opponents. This team is capable of winning 10 or 11 games and making some noise in the playoffs. If this happens, look for Romo to get that new contract he is looking for and Phillips to win coach of the year.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
The Cowboys' season could be a long one if Romo does not get some protection. If Dallas cannot stay healthy and the offensive line doesn’t step up, the Boys could finish at the bottom of the NFC East with around six wins. Also, Owens could decide he is unhappy and decide to start to feud with his quarterback or coach. If he does that the Cowboys' season could be over.
by Kevin Ezell
This odd couple will decide just how far the Cowboys
go in 2007
The Dallas Cowboys are heading into the season with a very new atmosphere. The grouchy-but-successful Bill Parcells is gone, and a coach with moderate success in the NFL will replace him. They will be relying on Tony Romo to lead team back to the playoff and maybe learn how to handle a snap in a pressure situation.
Romo replaced Drew Bledsoe last year after the Cowboys' offense became ineffective. Romo quickly became a star quarterback even earning a spot at the Pro Bowl. The reality, however, is that Romo did play well at first but did not end the season strongly and then lost to the Seahawks in the playoffs after the heartbreaking fumbled hold. Romo is very mobile which makes him a threat every time the pocket breaks down, but he needs to work on throwing fewer interceptions and reading defensive coverages better. This, unfortunately, comes with experience, and Romo does not have many starts under his belt.
Romo definitely has the players to throw to. Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn had excellent years last year and Owens' hand should be fully healed. If Owens can keep his ego in check and his mouth shut, he should have a huge year this year. He also has tight end Jason Witten, another excellent target who can put up big numbers and is one of the best in the league.
Julius Jones has not been a reliable back due to injury, so the Boys will need more production from Marion Barber III. Barber has been very successful in short-yardage situations, and he should get more carries this season to allow Jones to stay healthy. If these two backs can stay healthy, they will be a handful for many defenses. The offensive line was a huge problem last year; just ask Bledsoe. The offensive line will need to step it up to protect Romo and create holes for the backs.
The defense should be the real strong point. Phillips is a defensive minded coach and they have very talented players on that side of the ball. Dallas has a very talented defensive front that was only made stronger by the addition of rookie Anthony Spencer. DeMarcus Ware can line up almost anywhere and is an excellent pass rusher who will only get better. They do need to get better play out of their secondary, but the pressure they will create should help out. Still, the secondary will be susceptible and will give up some big plays, which cost the Cowboys several times in 2006.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
The Cowboys win the NFC East with a good offense and a defense that suffocates its opponents. This team is capable of winning 10 or 11 games and making some noise in the playoffs. If this happens, look for Romo to get that new contract he is looking for and Phillips to win coach of the year.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
The Cowboys' season could be a long one if Romo does not get some protection. If Dallas cannot stay healthy and the offensive line doesn’t step up, the Boys could finish at the bottom of the NFC East with around six wins. Also, Owens could decide he is unhappy and decide to start to feud with his quarterback or coach. If he does that the Cowboys' season could be over.
New York Giants (2006: 8-8)
A GIANT QUESTION MARK
by Josh Binstock
With Tiki on television and a new-look backfield, the
Giants need Eli Manning to grow up in a hurry
When it comes to the Giants, I am the eternal optimist. “Phil Simms sucked his first few years,” I would say in defense of the atrocious Dave Brown era. “If Charles Way got more carries, he could be a 1,200 yard fullback!” But now, for the first time that I can remember, I have no expectations for what my team will look like in the upcoming season. A 3-13 season wouldn’t surprise me, but neither would 11-5. It should be an interesting one though.
As they were supposed to last year, the hopes of the Giants sit squarely upon the nervous shoulders of Eli Manning. He doesn’t have Tiki Barber to hand it to 25 times a game anymore, and fans are waiting for him to take the next big step towards becoming a star quarterback.
That’s not to say he won’t have help. The receiving corps potentially runs five deep, led by Plaxico Burress, and supplemented by tight end Jeremy Shockey, and wideouts Amani Toomer, Sinorice Moss and rookie Steve Smith. Manning has very good protection from his line, especially in burgeoning star guard Chris Snee. Eli needs to be better in the face of pressure, and has got to stop throwing off his back foot, both for his own success, and for the sanity of Giants fans.
The biggest question on offense, however, has to do with the tremendous void left by the bald Katie Couric at running back. The first chance will be given to Brandon Jacobs, a running back stuck in a linebacker’s body. Much has been made of Jacobs’ fumbling problem, but that is actually a myth. He has lost two fumbles in two seasons. What Jacobs needs to prove is that he has the vision to find holes, not to rely on his size to create them, because he will wear down quickly if he is just a battering ram. Reuben Droughns is a solid second option, but nothing to write home about.
The defense will be run by new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, a disciple of Jimmie Johnson in Philadelphia, who loves attacking the quarterback. Look for the Giants to pile up sacks, especially if Michael Strahan decides to play. An interesting story to follow will be Mathias Kiwanuka shifting from defensive end to linebacker. The athletic Kiwanuka excelled in zone blitz packages when he dropped back into coverage, picking off two passes. The secondary is shaky at best, but should be more aggressive on the line of scrimmage with the new system in place.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
Brandon Jacobs becomes a faster version of Jerome Bettis, Strahan and Osi Umenyiora re-establish themselves as the best bookend DEs in the NFL, Tom Coughlin actually starts liking his players, and the Giants sneak up on everyone and take the NFC East.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
It’s opening night in Dallas, in front of a national TV audience. The Giants just gave up a long TD to T.O. It’s 7-0, Eli breaks the huddle, looks at DeMarcus Ware digging in across from him, looks in the backfield and sees Reuben Droughns, realizes that he has to carry the team, and instantly urinates himself. The trickle-down effect (pun intended) of Manning’s panic cripples the Giants and leads to disaster. Shockey blames Tom Coughlin.
by Josh Binstock
With Tiki on television and a new-look backfield, the
Giants need Eli Manning to grow up in a hurry
When it comes to the Giants, I am the eternal optimist. “Phil Simms sucked his first few years,” I would say in defense of the atrocious Dave Brown era. “If Charles Way got more carries, he could be a 1,200 yard fullback!” But now, for the first time that I can remember, I have no expectations for what my team will look like in the upcoming season. A 3-13 season wouldn’t surprise me, but neither would 11-5. It should be an interesting one though.
As they were supposed to last year, the hopes of the Giants sit squarely upon the nervous shoulders of Eli Manning. He doesn’t have Tiki Barber to hand it to 25 times a game anymore, and fans are waiting for him to take the next big step towards becoming a star quarterback.
That’s not to say he won’t have help. The receiving corps potentially runs five deep, led by Plaxico Burress, and supplemented by tight end Jeremy Shockey, and wideouts Amani Toomer, Sinorice Moss and rookie Steve Smith. Manning has very good protection from his line, especially in burgeoning star guard Chris Snee. Eli needs to be better in the face of pressure, and has got to stop throwing off his back foot, both for his own success, and for the sanity of Giants fans.
The biggest question on offense, however, has to do with the tremendous void left by the bald Katie Couric at running back. The first chance will be given to Brandon Jacobs, a running back stuck in a linebacker’s body. Much has been made of Jacobs’ fumbling problem, but that is actually a myth. He has lost two fumbles in two seasons. What Jacobs needs to prove is that he has the vision to find holes, not to rely on his size to create them, because he will wear down quickly if he is just a battering ram. Reuben Droughns is a solid second option, but nothing to write home about.
The defense will be run by new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, a disciple of Jimmie Johnson in Philadelphia, who loves attacking the quarterback. Look for the Giants to pile up sacks, especially if Michael Strahan decides to play. An interesting story to follow will be Mathias Kiwanuka shifting from defensive end to linebacker. The athletic Kiwanuka excelled in zone blitz packages when he dropped back into coverage, picking off two passes. The secondary is shaky at best, but should be more aggressive on the line of scrimmage with the new system in place.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
Brandon Jacobs becomes a faster version of Jerome Bettis, Strahan and Osi Umenyiora re-establish themselves as the best bookend DEs in the NFL, Tom Coughlin actually starts liking his players, and the Giants sneak up on everyone and take the NFC East.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
It’s opening night in Dallas, in front of a national TV audience. The Giants just gave up a long TD to T.O. It’s 7-0, Eli breaks the huddle, looks at DeMarcus Ware digging in across from him, looks in the backfield and sees Reuben Droughns, realizes that he has to carry the team, and instantly urinates himself. The trickle-down effect (pun intended) of Manning’s panic cripples the Giants and leads to disaster. Shockey blames Tom Coughlin.
Philadelphia Eagles (2006: 10-6)
HOW’S THE MCKNEE?
by Adam Lefkoe
A healthy 16 games from McNabb will go a long way
toward another Eagle playoff berth
Through nine games in 2006, Donovan McNabb was on pace to throw for 4,567 yards and 32 touchdowns (both would have led the league) to only 9 interceptions. Yet, with one seasonending step, McNabb tore up not only his ACL and his All-Pro year, but seemingly Andy Reid’s offensive strategy. From then on, the play calling was put into the hands of OC Marty Mornhinweg, who appeared to shy away from Reid’s focus on the aerial attack.
In a more grounded attack, Brian Westbrook was able to show his potential as a feature back (5.1 yds/carry in the last six games) and lead the Eagles return to the playoffs (winning five of the last six games). This more balanced approach, if continued, will ease McNabb’s return and hopefully continue the maturation of Westbrook, a rising star.
One of the major debates regarding the Eagles and McNabb in the past is to whom he’s throwing the ball. Eagles’ fans have enjoyed the solid play of third year receiver Reggie Brown, but the coming and going of Donté Stallworth left some fans upset. With the acquisition of Kevin Curtis, the Eagles feel as though they may have even improved their WR corps for 2007, despite the loss of Stallworth. Just as fast, less injury-prone, a better route runner, and with a full off-season with McNabb in Arizona (Stallworth was acquired via trade just prior to the 2006 opener in Houston), Curtis could make Eagle fans forget Stallworth in a hurry. Many feel that he would fit excellently in the slot, the position he mainly held in St. Louis, with Hank Baskett or Jason Avant flanking opposite Brown.
With such a focus on McNabb’s health, it’s easy to forget it’s the D coming in with the ultimate question mark in ’07: Will they finally be able to stop the run? Ranking 26th in the league vs. the run last season, the Eagles were constantly beat up and controlled late in games (See: NFC Divisional game vs. NO). Jim Johnson loves to constantly rotate his defensive tackles throughout a game, so by bolstering Ian Scott and Montae Reagor with Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley, the Eagles seem to have a stronger core. Another newcomer, Takeo Spikes, could be the run-stopping linebacker the team has needed for years; even if Takeo has lost a step, he is a huge upgrade. With all of the fresh faces in camp, Johnson has said he’s most excited for the return of Jevon Kearse, an integral part of the defense who was lost to a leg injury in Week 2 last season. The front seven seems to be compiled with a lot of interchangeable parts, which the Eagles hope will allow for a more rested defense late in games and down the stretch.
There may be no division more prevalent in solid tight end play than the NFC East. By facing Jeremy Shockey, Jason Witten, and Chris Cooley six times in a season, the strongside linebacker is constantly facing an uphill battle. Dhani Jones was unable to cover as well as Jim Johnson would have liked, thus, he’s gone. Some say Chris Gocong, a second year player who converted to linebacker from defensive end, has the size and speed to cover tight ends (6-2, 263), something that eluded the smaller Jones (6-1, 240). The two linebackers in main competition with Gocong are Torrance “Tank” Daniels and Stewart Bradley. Tank showed a lot of promise on special teams, and was effective during the sparse playing time he did receive last season. Bradley comes in as a third round pick with a lot of promise. The Eagles love his size, athleticism, and motor and will be given an opportunity in training camp to prove his worth. If none of these guys are able to separate themselves in camp, don’t be surprised to see MLB Omar Gaither in the mix, as the Eagles feel as though he’s too athletic not to have on the field.
Entering the 2006 season, SS Michael Lewis was one of the main reasons why the Eagles’ secondary was so intimidating. As the season wore on however, his lack of deep play support left a huge hole in the defense. This initially caused the Eagles to drop Brian Dawkins in that area, rendering his ability to get to the quarterback useless. By midseason Sean Considine had taken over for Michael Lewis, and allowed Brian Dawkins to wreak havoc all over the field. Lewis’ big hits will be missed, but the Eagles feel safe with Considine’s coverage and enjoy the freedom they now have in utilizing Dawkins. They also may use some sets in passing downs that employ three safeties, the third would be special teams ace Quintin Mikell, in order to create confusion and once again allow Dawkins to move closer to the line of scrimmage.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
On the offensive end, if there remains a continued focus towards running the ball the Eagles will reach new levels in 2007. They finished as the second ranked offense in the league with a backup starting half of the year! Defensively, Jim Johnson has a depth chart filled with young guns ready to get after the quarterback and experienced veterans ready to show them the way. Looking at their schedule, the Eagles don’t play back to back away games until weeks 14/15, in addition to the fact they spend the majority of their time on the east coast, never even traveling west of Dallas. The Eagles are in a great position to once again take the NFC East, and could even make a run at the conference title.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
The worst scenario for the Eagles would undoubtedly be another and most likely final injury to McNabb. Barring injuries, ineffective play from the wide receivers could be disastrous. If Curtis doesn’t pan out and teams are able to focus on Brown, the offense could be as ineffective as when Todd Stinkston and James Trash were on the roster. Defensively, a lot of hope is being put on second year, and now starting defensive tackle, Brodrick Bunkley. Last year, Bunkley looked horribly lost and it could be disastrous if he hasn’t improved. The lack of a legitimate strongside linebacker, a slowing Jeremiah Trotter, and a true lack of depth at safety are also warning flags. With an always difficult NFC East, these problem areas could be exploited and taken advantage of.
by Adam Lefkoe
A healthy 16 games from McNabb will go a long way
toward another Eagle playoff berth
Through nine games in 2006, Donovan McNabb was on pace to throw for 4,567 yards and 32 touchdowns (both would have led the league) to only 9 interceptions. Yet, with one seasonending step, McNabb tore up not only his ACL and his All-Pro year, but seemingly Andy Reid’s offensive strategy. From then on, the play calling was put into the hands of OC Marty Mornhinweg, who appeared to shy away from Reid’s focus on the aerial attack.
In a more grounded attack, Brian Westbrook was able to show his potential as a feature back (5.1 yds/carry in the last six games) and lead the Eagles return to the playoffs (winning five of the last six games). This more balanced approach, if continued, will ease McNabb’s return and hopefully continue the maturation of Westbrook, a rising star.
One of the major debates regarding the Eagles and McNabb in the past is to whom he’s throwing the ball. Eagles’ fans have enjoyed the solid play of third year receiver Reggie Brown, but the coming and going of Donté Stallworth left some fans upset. With the acquisition of Kevin Curtis, the Eagles feel as though they may have even improved their WR corps for 2007, despite the loss of Stallworth. Just as fast, less injury-prone, a better route runner, and with a full off-season with McNabb in Arizona (Stallworth was acquired via trade just prior to the 2006 opener in Houston), Curtis could make Eagle fans forget Stallworth in a hurry. Many feel that he would fit excellently in the slot, the position he mainly held in St. Louis, with Hank Baskett or Jason Avant flanking opposite Brown.
With such a focus on McNabb’s health, it’s easy to forget it’s the D coming in with the ultimate question mark in ’07: Will they finally be able to stop the run? Ranking 26th in the league vs. the run last season, the Eagles were constantly beat up and controlled late in games (See: NFC Divisional game vs. NO). Jim Johnson loves to constantly rotate his defensive tackles throughout a game, so by bolstering Ian Scott and Montae Reagor with Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley, the Eagles seem to have a stronger core. Another newcomer, Takeo Spikes, could be the run-stopping linebacker the team has needed for years; even if Takeo has lost a step, he is a huge upgrade. With all of the fresh faces in camp, Johnson has said he’s most excited for the return of Jevon Kearse, an integral part of the defense who was lost to a leg injury in Week 2 last season. The front seven seems to be compiled with a lot of interchangeable parts, which the Eagles hope will allow for a more rested defense late in games and down the stretch.
There may be no division more prevalent in solid tight end play than the NFC East. By facing Jeremy Shockey, Jason Witten, and Chris Cooley six times in a season, the strongside linebacker is constantly facing an uphill battle. Dhani Jones was unable to cover as well as Jim Johnson would have liked, thus, he’s gone. Some say Chris Gocong, a second year player who converted to linebacker from defensive end, has the size and speed to cover tight ends (6-2, 263), something that eluded the smaller Jones (6-1, 240). The two linebackers in main competition with Gocong are Torrance “Tank” Daniels and Stewart Bradley. Tank showed a lot of promise on special teams, and was effective during the sparse playing time he did receive last season. Bradley comes in as a third round pick with a lot of promise. The Eagles love his size, athleticism, and motor and will be given an opportunity in training camp to prove his worth. If none of these guys are able to separate themselves in camp, don’t be surprised to see MLB Omar Gaither in the mix, as the Eagles feel as though he’s too athletic not to have on the field.
Entering the 2006 season, SS Michael Lewis was one of the main reasons why the Eagles’ secondary was so intimidating. As the season wore on however, his lack of deep play support left a huge hole in the defense. This initially caused the Eagles to drop Brian Dawkins in that area, rendering his ability to get to the quarterback useless. By midseason Sean Considine had taken over for Michael Lewis, and allowed Brian Dawkins to wreak havoc all over the field. Lewis’ big hits will be missed, but the Eagles feel safe with Considine’s coverage and enjoy the freedom they now have in utilizing Dawkins. They also may use some sets in passing downs that employ three safeties, the third would be special teams ace Quintin Mikell, in order to create confusion and once again allow Dawkins to move closer to the line of scrimmage.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
On the offensive end, if there remains a continued focus towards running the ball the Eagles will reach new levels in 2007. They finished as the second ranked offense in the league with a backup starting half of the year! Defensively, Jim Johnson has a depth chart filled with young guns ready to get after the quarterback and experienced veterans ready to show them the way. Looking at their schedule, the Eagles don’t play back to back away games until weeks 14/15, in addition to the fact they spend the majority of their time on the east coast, never even traveling west of Dallas. The Eagles are in a great position to once again take the NFC East, and could even make a run at the conference title.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
The worst scenario for the Eagles would undoubtedly be another and most likely final injury to McNabb. Barring injuries, ineffective play from the wide receivers could be disastrous. If Curtis doesn’t pan out and teams are able to focus on Brown, the offense could be as ineffective as when Todd Stinkston and James Trash were on the roster. Defensively, a lot of hope is being put on second year, and now starting defensive tackle, Brodrick Bunkley. Last year, Bunkley looked horribly lost and it could be disastrous if he hasn’t improved. The lack of a legitimate strongside linebacker, a slowing Jeremiah Trotter, and a true lack of depth at safety are also warning flags. With an always difficult NFC East, these problem areas could be exploited and taken advantage of.
Washington Redskins (2006: 5-11)
QUARTERBACK-IN-CHIEF
by Eric Horowitz
The Redskins offense needs an improving Jason
Campbell to lead them out of the mess that was
2006
Like fellow D.C. resident George W. Bush, Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell can sometimes be overshadowed by the presence of his co-workers. Still, despite the hubbub surrounding Sean Taylor’s affinity for Eastern Motors and Clinton Portis’ feelings about dogfighting, Campbell is the one running the show. The Redskins playoff chances in 2007 will likely revolve around just how well he is able to perform that task.
Last year the Redskins offense was a mess. Despite a breakout season from Ladell Betts and a solid second year from Campbell, the team’s offense never had the spark new offensive coordinator Al Saunders was supposed to provide. Some blamed Saunders’ ultra-complicated 700-page playbook while others blamed the contradicting offensive philosophies of Saunders and head coach Joe Gibbs. Whatever the problem was, the offense has the talent to overcome it in 2007.
In order to be successful in 2007 the team’s high priced offensive line must give Campbell time to get the ball downfield to Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. If the offense can establish a passing game 10-20 yards down the field (something they failed to do last year), it will keep opponents from stacking eight men in the box and will open up running lanes for Portis and Betts. That should finally allow the Redskins to pound their opponents on the ground and grind them down in classic Joe Gibbs style.
Though the Redskins offense has the potential to single-handedly win football games, it’s the team’s much-maligned defense that will make or break the season. Last year the defense fell from 9th to 31st in the league in yards per game, and it was haunted all season by the $25 million contract given to the ineffective Adam Archuleta. In the off-season the team shipped Archuleta to the Bears and bolstered its secondary with the additions of Laron Landry, Fred Smoot, and David Macklin. The Redskins other big move on the defensive side of the ball was signing linebacker London Fletcher to a 5-year, $25 million deal. The deal may be a mistake two years from now, but this season he should be able to adequately solidify the middle of the defense.
The talent is certainly there for defensive coordinator Greg Williams to recreate the dominating defense he coached in 2005. The team has five competent cornerbacks, the best young safety tandem in the league, and three quality linebackers. Still, in order to be successful Williams must eliminate the chemistry problems and propensity to surrender big plays that plagued the team last year. If he can do that the Redskins could ide a dominant defense into the playoffs.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
The 2007 Redskins are a team with a high ceiling. Campbell may develop into a dangerous downfield passer as Williams restores the defense to its 2005 form. If that happens the Redskins should be a playoff team and they’ll have a chance to win the up-for-grabs NFC East.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
The 2007 Redskins are also a team with a very low floor. A repeat of last year would be painful to watch. An inconsistent defense that can’t get to the quarterback while giving up big plays and a predictable offense that struggles to move the ball down the field; this is not a recipe for success. If those things happen, the Redskins will be looking at another top 6 pick in next April’s draft.
by Eric Horowitz
The Redskins offense needs an improving Jason
Campbell to lead them out of the mess that was
2006
Like fellow D.C. resident George W. Bush, Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell can sometimes be overshadowed by the presence of his co-workers. Still, despite the hubbub surrounding Sean Taylor’s affinity for Eastern Motors and Clinton Portis’ feelings about dogfighting, Campbell is the one running the show. The Redskins playoff chances in 2007 will likely revolve around just how well he is able to perform that task.
Last year the Redskins offense was a mess. Despite a breakout season from Ladell Betts and a solid second year from Campbell, the team’s offense never had the spark new offensive coordinator Al Saunders was supposed to provide. Some blamed Saunders’ ultra-complicated 700-page playbook while others blamed the contradicting offensive philosophies of Saunders and head coach Joe Gibbs. Whatever the problem was, the offense has the talent to overcome it in 2007.
In order to be successful in 2007 the team’s high priced offensive line must give Campbell time to get the ball downfield to Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. If the offense can establish a passing game 10-20 yards down the field (something they failed to do last year), it will keep opponents from stacking eight men in the box and will open up running lanes for Portis and Betts. That should finally allow the Redskins to pound their opponents on the ground and grind them down in classic Joe Gibbs style.
Though the Redskins offense has the potential to single-handedly win football games, it’s the team’s much-maligned defense that will make or break the season. Last year the defense fell from 9th to 31st in the league in yards per game, and it was haunted all season by the $25 million contract given to the ineffective Adam Archuleta. In the off-season the team shipped Archuleta to the Bears and bolstered its secondary with the additions of Laron Landry, Fred Smoot, and David Macklin. The Redskins other big move on the defensive side of the ball was signing linebacker London Fletcher to a 5-year, $25 million deal. The deal may be a mistake two years from now, but this season he should be able to adequately solidify the middle of the defense.
The talent is certainly there for defensive coordinator Greg Williams to recreate the dominating defense he coached in 2005. The team has five competent cornerbacks, the best young safety tandem in the league, and three quality linebackers. Still, in order to be successful Williams must eliminate the chemistry problems and propensity to surrender big plays that plagued the team last year. If he can do that the Redskins could ide a dominant defense into the playoffs.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
The 2007 Redskins are a team with a high ceiling. Campbell may develop into a dangerous downfield passer as Williams restores the defense to its 2005 form. If that happens the Redskins should be a playoff team and they’ll have a chance to win the up-for-grabs NFC East.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
The 2007 Redskins are also a team with a very low floor. A repeat of last year would be painful to watch. An inconsistent defense that can’t get to the quarterback while giving up big plays and a predictable offense that struggles to move the ball down the field; this is not a recipe for success. If those things happen, the Redskins will be looking at another top 6 pick in next April’s draft.