NFC East

Will the “Dream Team” Reign Supreme?

By Adam Barone

The Eagles’ irritatingly publicized offseason has nearly everyone already handing them the Vince Lombardi trophy.
The Cowboys, Giants and Rex Grossman though, aren’t ready to concede.

Philadelphia Eagles (14-2): The Eagles went on a post-lockout shopping spree that has them looking great on paper.
Running back Ronnie Brown, quarterback Vince Young, receivers Steve Smith and Johnnie Lee Higgins, tight end Donald Lee, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, defensive end Jason Babin, and cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie were all brought in to make a title run after Michael Vick’s breakout season.
The offense was third in scoring, fifth in rushing, and ninth in passing; so big things are expected barring injury.
The defense, however, tied for 21st in points allowed. The coverage abilities Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie will provide the front seven the freedom to blitz. The Eagles ranked 10th with 39 sacks and third with 23 interceptions last season. Expect both totals to rise and their 23.6 points-per-game allowed (tied for 21st) to drop substantially.
Receiver Jeremy Maclin has battled an unknown illness in the preseason, but has been cleared to play.
The Eagles seem poised to go as far as their health will take them.

Dallas Cowboys (10-6): The Cowboys began 2010 1-7, and starting quarterback Tony Romo’s suffered a season-ending collar bone break on a sack against the Giants. The team still finished tied for seventh in scoring (24.6 ppg) and sixth in passing (252.6 ypg) without him.
The arrow is pointing up in ‘11 with the return of Romo, as freakishly athletic receiver Dez Bryant figures to take a step forward in his second season. Another freak athlete, ultra-quick Felix Jones, has been handed the keys to the featured-back role. Jones’ long-time competition, Marion Barber, is now in Chicago.
Tight end Jason Witten had 94 catches and topped 1,000 yards in ’10, and will act as Romo’s security blanket. Former USC offensive tackle and first round pick Tyron Smith will help keep Romo upright.
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware has led the NFL in sacks in two of the past three seasons while annually posting double digit totals since his rookie year. He’ll lead a suspect defense that will need to improve on its brutal 27.2 ppg allowed.

New York Giants (9-7): Injuries to an up-and-coming young defense have suddenly become the story for the G-Men.
Cornerback Prince Amukamara, the team’s first round pick out of Nebraska, was lost in camp for at least the first four weeks with a foot injury, while cornerback Terrell Thomas was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Second round pick Marvin Austin, a defensive tackle out of North Carolina, was also lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.
The defense is aggressive and ranked first in 3rd down conversion rate against in ’10, but now lacks depth in the secondary.
Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks missed three games last year with leg injuries but still vaulted into the upper echelon of receivers with a 1,052 yard, 11 touchdown performance. The Giants will need a repeat of that after receiver Steve Smith and tight end Kevin Boss were lost in free agency. Linemen Shaun O’Hara and Rich Seubert were cut, adding more question marks.
Third year tight end Travis Beckum, who has 21 career catches, will be counted on to step up in place of Boss and Smith. The offensive line, which allowed an NFL-low 16 sacks last season, will need to prove that it can continue to protect Manning and clear holes for the league’s sixth ranked rushing attack.

Washington Redskins (3-13): For all his trying, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has gotten nowhere.
Head coach Mike Shanahan had 12 choices in April’s draft and hopes to improve a team that doesn’t excel at anything. Both the offense and defense ranked in the bottom third in everything but passing, which ranked eighth simply because the team was so frequently behind.
Quarterback Donavan McNabb was dealt to Minnesota, and either Rex Grossman or John Beck will start under center.
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, cornerback Carlos Rogers and running back Clinton Portis are also gone through trade, free agency and being cut, respectively. Former Cardinal Tim Hightower was added to a stable of running backs that includes rookies Roy Helu (Nebraska) and Evan Royster (Penn State), along with incumbents Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams. Hightower figures to start, but will be pushed most by Helu and Torain.

A total of six rookies will provide depth on defense, including ultra-talented former Purdue end Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan was nearly unstoppable off the edge in Big Ten play. He should have an immediate impact in the pass rush.