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Four Downs with Dang & Doc
2009 NFC East Preview
by Brian Davis and Paul Hopkins
6/8/2009
This week Dang and Doc’s weekly preview moves onto the NFC East, where again it has all been happening this off-season. Will releasing Burress be a decision that sets the Giants back? Now the Eagles have lost their two icons on defence, will they become the weak link on this team? Elsewhere, Dallas has been clearing the headline makers but will it make them any better? And as usual the Redskins have been splashing the money, so is it already time for Zorn to deliver big returns?
 The lack of Plaxico Burress, rather than any of the additions made will have the biggest bearing on the Giants season.
 DANG FICTION ! – Let us not forget, Eli Manning has had the whole off-season to prepare for life after Plaxico. The Giants haven’t addressed this in terms of getting a like for like big name guy in through Free Agency or a trade, but they do have a lot of capable options, including two rookie receivers, one of which is the same height and 7lb lighter.. Domenick Hixon put up some nice statistics and became a legitimate Red Zone threat in 2008.
Line him up opposite Rookie receiver Hakeem Nicks (who played in a pro-style offence in college) as well as other returning receivers Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss and Mario Manningham, Tight End Kevin Boss, the previously mentioned Barden who’s been impressive in camp and another rookie, Tight End Travis Beckum and the Giants have a whole host of receiving options for 2009. Whilst all are not immediately in the same bracket as Burress, the Giants would have prepared accordingly and will still make post-season with this bunch. The O line is one of the best around, even with David Diehl protecting Eli’s blindside but individually they do a good enough job of both pass and run blocking. Whilst these guys do their job effectively, Eli will continue to find his options downfield. Defensively, the Giants have made some healthy additions to their already strong front seven, which again, will help them remain as one of the best teams in the NFC and very strong candidates to make post-season.
DOC FACT ! Absolutely it will. He may be right up there for one of the dumbest players in the league (remember the days of practice he missed to “take his son to school”?) but he made Eli Manning a much better QB than he really is. Take him out and the Giants receiving crew looks decidedly shaky with only really Steve Smith as far as I can see, being a reliable option.
The Giants will still be a strong contender for the East title and the NFC overall, particularly with the depth they have added on the defensive line.
But if Eli doesn’t have his go-to guy it is going to hurt. I also look at the offensive line. Whilst unquestionably very impressive, the Giants have been fortunate that they have not suffered any injuries this year on the line for the past few years. Eventually this will change and it may be in 2009 the depth on the O-line is tested. Again this could have an effect on Eli’s performance and that of the running game which I think they will be relying on more than ever. If Hakeem Nicks can emerge in his rookie year then there is a good chance that the drop-off won’t be too significant but in a division where all four teams remain strong and the Eagles in particular have improved on offence, despite the additions the Giants made I think the loss of Plax might eventually end their season earlier than it would if he was there.
 Without Jim Johnson and Brian Dawkins, the Eagles defence will struggle to support the offence in their charge to the post-season.
 DANG FICTION ! – The Eagles are my tip for the NFC this season. I love what they’ve put together offensively this off-season. Quintin Demps and Quintin Mikell are two very good safeties, who have the potential to form a very solid partnership. They’ll be backed up by free agent addition, Sean Jones. Whilst they may initially miss, Dawkins’ presence and leadership on the field, I still like these two to become a dominant pair. The Defensive line may see lots of rotation in 09, with Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley starting on the inside and Darren Howard, Juqua Parker, Victor Abiamiri all seeing significant playing time at the Defensive End position opposite Trent Cole. That should be enough to keep any offensive line honest.
It’s down to the Secondary and the Defensive line to pull out all the stops to support the weakest area of the Eagles defence, its linebackers, particularly now that Stewart Bradley is out for the year already. Defensive Coordinator Sean McDermott is a disciple of former DC Jim Johnson so I wouldn’t anticipate much of a change from the way he had it set up last year. The Eagles have strengthened their offensive line, which should now be considered to be one the best, if not the best in the NFL and I have already documented my love for their first two picks in this draft just gone, this offence will be enjoyable to watch. Overall though, the window of opportunity is getting smaller in Philadelphia, especially for players like McNabb and Westbrook and Coach Andy Reid, so expect a big push this year.
DOC FICTION ! I don’t believe the drop off will be that much. As Mike Carlson always used to say the defence is based more on smoke and mirrors but it worked. Sean McDermott has been groomed from within and whilst little is known about him, he has learnt from Johnson, knows the system and knows the players. Whilst he may not command the respect that Johnson would have had amongst his players, they at least have a working relationship to go forward with. Incidentally, I should make reference to Johnson’s legacy.
Simply a phenomenal coordinator in Johnson, who deserved to have a go at being a Head Coach yet never received the opportunity to do so. On the field, Brian Dawkins has moved on, much to the sheer horror of the Eagles nation and so for the first time in many years they are looking for a focal point and a leader on defence on the field, not to mention off it as well.
However, the reality for those upset Eagles fans is that Dawkins was on the way down and it was the right move to let him move on. This is a fact of life in the NFL now that veterans with big cap numbers usually have to leave before coming back to retire after one day with the franchise they served so well, and Dawkins is no different. Therefore, whilst it is clearly a changing of the guard and of the main faces in Philadelphia on defence, I don’t believe it will hold them back too much despite the injury to Stewart Bradley. The Eagles remain my tip for the NFC East this year.
 After an off-season marked by supposedly ‘addition by subtraction’ the Cowboys will improve on 2008’s performance in 2009.
 DANG FICTION ! – Out go the dressing room cancers, contract rebels and guys who can’t cover, in come a whole bunch of Rookies with the right attitude, all competing for starter roles and playing time. Obviously, those all add up to positives and good things, but I don’t believe it will be enough to improve on last season’s 9-7 record.
Jason Witten will keep the ball moving as Tony Romo’s go to guy. He should then help open up the running game for the Cowboys three headed monster of Smash, Dash and Tash. Roy E Williams has it all to prove again in 2009 after a less than impressive 2008 campaign in both Detroit and Dallas, likewise the rest of the receivers, all have to step up to the plate to show their worth. Will he put up Terrell Owens type numbers though? No. I expect to see Felix Jones and Marion the Barbarian to be heavily involved in the passing game again as they also double as safety blankets for Romo in keeping the chains moving. Defensively the only major concerns I have are with the secondary, Gerald Sensabaugh will be an upgrade from Roy L Williams but there are still areas there that could be exposed. As an additional thought to monitor through the year, will DeMarcus Ware sign a new contract in 2009?
DOC FACT ! Ah, blind optimism be thy name. I’m going with fact more in hope than expectation. That and that I think it would be pretty hard to implode in on themselves like they managed in 2008. Let’s get the Romo question out of the way. He is not the problem, he never has been but he has to deliver on behalf of this team. His relationship with Roy Williams will be critical and whilst they’ll draw criticism because it won’t be as productive as the TRo-TO combination I think it will still be effective. You know what you’ll get from Witten. The slack will come from elsewhere, and I don’t mean Miles Austin who unquestionably has talent but looks too brittle and injury-prone to be what the Cowboys need. I think Martellus Bennett might be on the verge of breaking out 20 receptions, 4 TDs last season and the physical freak might be on the brink of becoming a big-time player for Dallas. And then there’s Felix Jones who, if he stays healthy can keep Dallas in any game if he gets his hands on the ball. Defensively, the team remains solid. Anthony Spencer has to shine opposite the best player in the league. The secondary could be a bit of a worry but it looks better depth-wise with Sensabaugh potentially a better fit than Roy Williams. The young corners could be exposed but are laden with talent, and the depth is better than last year. Even more so if Terence Newman stays healthy. If Jason Garrett stops trying to look clever and focuses on winning games then Dallas have a shot at beating their feeble 9-7 record of last season. They may end up with a 9-7 record again but I don’t think the season will end as being viewed so pitifully. For one thing, the expectations aren’t as high this time around well, except outside Jerry Jones’ mind.
 After just one season, following several big-money acquisitions and an under-pressure QB Jim Zorn has to deliver this year otherwise he will be out of Washington.
 DANG FICTION ! – Similarly to what I wrote about Childress and Jackson last week, the same applies here in Washington. Jim Zorn needs to loosen the reigns from around Jason Campbell and let him manage the offense. Campbell has ample weapons in starters Santana Moss and Tight End Chris Cooley.
Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, (both who I anticipate to have respectable sophomore seasons) and Antwaan Randle El to target, so he should find nice matchups to try and exploit to get the ball to these guys. However, considering the division they’re in, it’s difficult to look at much improvement in terms of the Win-Loss column and the finishing position within the division, with the Eagles much improved and the Giants still consistently good. They’ll be battling it out for 3rd place with the Cowboys, hoping that it’s enough to make a Wild Card slot. This has to be taken into consideration come the end of the season, whether quick triggered Mr Snyder will or not, will remain to be seen, but the smart decision will be to let Zorn continue to build this year then see what happens in 2010.
Zorn has too good an offensive mind to see him walk away, to then possibly come back and bite them in the ass elsewhere. The Albert Haynesworth gamble has to pay off if they’re to improve this year. Haynesworth has to prove he wasn’t just playing for the money in Tennessee. He has to bring double teams, to give the Skins an improved pass rush which they missed last season gaining only 24 sacks. Brian Orakpo and Andre Carter should benefit from Haynesworth’s presence in the middle. He could be the key to the difference between a 6-10 season and a 10-6 season.
DOC FACT ! He works for Dan Snyder, a man who will do anything he can to bring success back to the Redskins, and a man who is a few years back on the Jerry Jones timeline of actions to take. Therefore Zorn is facing pressure this season and if the Skins finish bottom of the division which I fancy they might then he’ll likely be back to being an offensive coordinator sooner rather than later. Following the big-money flop that was Jason Taylor and the pitiful pass rush the Skins had last season, big money acquired the big shape of Albert Haynesworth, who plays like a monster but seemingly only when there’s money on the table. Now he’s banked his Albert-sized pay packet will the motivation be there for him to be the disruptive force he has been of late in Tennessee. They also spend big on first round draftee Brian Orakpo from Texas who has immense physical ability but may need some refinement to have a big impact. And biggest of all we have the simmering issue at quarterback. Jason Campbell started last season on fire but petered out towards the end of the season, and questions still remain over his long-term viability leading the franchise. This manifested itself in the Redskins making discreet enquiries about potentially taking Jay Cutler from the Broncos. And speculation persists, although I suspect this is more among fans than a serious suggestion that college record breaker Colt Brennan might be inching closer towards taking that starting spot. All this potentially undermined the man that the Skins need to lead them through this incredibly tough division, and his relationship with his Head Coach as a former QB coach is vital. It’s arguably the last chance for both of them and they need to come through together.
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