As we continue to look at the NFL division by division, today we will delve into the NFC East. The NFC East is one of the NFL’s most traditional divisions with all the teams from the original NFL – Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants. Every team in this division has won a Super Bowl, which is makes it the only such division in the entire NFL (the Eagles won their first Super Bowl last year). As a kid, I grew up with the Bears, and it seemed like this division was always the measuring stick for which the Bears were measured. So, I have a lot of respect for all the teams in this division. They mostly have their traditional uniforms (including the offensive emblem on Washington’s helmet). So, then NFC East is the classic NFL division.
Unlike the AFC East, the NFC East has been a rotating champion for years. In fact, the division has not seen a repeat champ since the Eagles did it 2001-2004. Since then, it is just a carousel of teams at the top.
Philadelphia Eagles – Team Basics: The Eagles were the best team in football last year and in many ways it wasn’t even close. On offense, the Eagles employed a supped up version of the Andy Reid’s West Coast offense as seen in Kansas City using a multitude of formation, play action and unlike Reid’s system a ton of deep shots with big results. 2nd year QB Carson Wentz was on pace for an MVP year before tearing his ACL in the Rams game late in the year. Still, with back up Nick Foles (a former Eagle under Reid), the Eagles rolled all the way to the Super Bowl Title showing the world that RPOs (Run Pass Options) can work in the NFL. The Eagles also employed a balanced backfield with 3 different running back toting the rock for them. It was impressive. They will continue to do the same with some different faces. On defense, the Eagles were at the top of the league in most categories. The Eagles play a classic 4-3 alignment and try to bring as much pressure as possible with their Front 4. Fletcher Cox is an absolute beast for them upfront, but last year, rookie Derek Barnett was a great contributor to that pressure. Luckily for the Eagles, their pressure and added blitz packages was enough to cover up a secondary that was prone to giving up big plays. Still most of the season, the Eagles rolled, and I would expect nothing less this year.
The Eagles will try to be the first back to back division winner in 14 years. The team has had several departures including their Offensive Coordinator, Frank Reich, taking the Indianapolis Colts head job, John DeFilippo, the QB Coach leaving to become the Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator. Mike Groh steps in for Reich and Press Taylor for DeFilippo. Luckily, there was no change on the defensive side, as Jim Schwartz will continue to call the defensive plays. On the field, Philadelphia parted ways with LeGarrette Blount at RB, WR Torrey Smith, upside back up TE Trey Burton and longtime Eagle TE Brent Celek. Most of the roster has remained intact, but the Eagles did add the aging speedster, Mike Wallace at WR to replace Smith from Baltimore and TE Richard Rogers from Green Bay to replace Burton and Celek. The Eagles also drafted high upside TE, Dallas Goedert out of South Dakota State, who could be more like Burton in the pass game. Philly will also welcome back veteran Left Tackle, Jason Peters who was injured mid-season last year. On defense, the Eagles really didn’t lose a lot, but they traded for the former Seattle Pro Bowler, Michael Bennett at DE to boost the already superior pass rush, plus they picked up run stopper Haloti Ngata. So, the defense may be even better, even though they really didn’t address their biggest need in the secondary.
Prediction: Eagles repeat as NFC East Champs.
New York Giants – Team Basics: A lot of teams are trying to address key needs via the Draft primarily and then free agency to fill holes. However, on occasion, teams will go all in in free agency if they think they can win now. In the NFC East, the latter was true of the New York Giants. They attempted to load up that defense for a year or two to get Eli back to a Super Bowl. Yet, the process backfired in Year 2, as many of the free agents mutinied against the coach, Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese, which resulted in their firings. New coach, Pat Shurmur and Dave Gettleman at GM, should add respectability back to this storied franchise, but I’m not sure it will be this year. On offense, the Giants passed the ball way too much under McAdoo. The lack of commitment to the run and running so many 3 WR sets became predictable. Shurmur should run a balanced approach, indicative by their 1st round pick. So, Eli Manning, Odell Beckham and the other WRs will have to make the most of their lower pass attempts under the Mike Shula OC direction. On defense, with James Bettcher from Arizona at Defensive Coordinator, the defense will likely change to a more blitzing style. A base 3-4 is what is listed, but in AZ, he ran a hybrid front to confuse offenses blitzing from all angles and positions.
The Giants have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, so their potential is really great. The key is getting the team in line with a common goal and avoiding off field distractions. On offense, they said good bye to WR Brandon Marshall, as the main departure. They replace Marshall with Denver’s Cody Latimer who was buried on the depth chart there. Gettleman made a splash in free agency signing the Patriots’ Nate Solder to solidify the offensive line at Left Tackle, drafting RB from Penn State Saquon Barkley, and mountain of a man at Guard, Will Hernandez from UTEP. They also drafted a potential Eli replacement in Kyle Lauletta from Richmond, who needs some seasoning on the bench. These moves should lead to a more balanced attack, as the Offensive Line has been poor for several years. Finally, the return of Odell Beckham who missed most of the 2017 season returning is a huge lift. On defense, Gettleman got rid of a lot of issues with Dominque Rodger Cromartie and traded Jason Pierre Paul to Tampa, so they are asking the younger corps of players to step up. The Giants did draft the athletic linebacker out of Georgia, Lorenzo Carter, who should help their run defense and signed some depth at CB with William Gay from Pittsburgh and the trade for Alec Ogletree LB from the Rams should make this group very respectable. I’m not sure the personnel fits the Bettcher blitz style of defense, however the Giants have only one way to go which is up. I see them as improving tremendously, but I cannot see a playoff run in them.
Prediction: The Giants bounce back in a big way to make it interesting but still miss the playoffs. I like them for 2nd in the Division leapfrogging Dallas.
Dallas Cowboys – Team Basics: The Boys just missed the playoffs in 2017 mostly due to the suspension of RB Zeke Elliott, in my view. The Cowboys switched a few years back to a complete power running team. In doing so, they over several drafts invested in their offensive line and have reaped the benefits with 2 trips to the playoffs in the past 4 years. However, you cannot run the ball exclusively in this NFL, and the Cowboys moved to the young signal caller, Dak Prescott last year (now 3rd year QB out of Mississippi State). Dak had a great rookie year and struggled some last year. The play action pass game is essential for Dallas’ success. However, there have been major departures in the receiving corps. On defense, the Dallas unit has steadily improved. With the complementary football played by the offense limiting the defense’s time on the field, the Cowboys have worked to fill the team with explosive pass rushers. Dallas plays a 4-3 alignment with a lot of zone behind, as the corners are not top line guys. Again, they rely on their pass rush to make things happen.
The Cowboys have had some noteworthy turnover in their roster. On offense, the ‘Boys said good bye to long time top WR, Dez Bryant, when they couldn’t come to an agreement (Dez remains unsigned at the moment), Jason Witten, the immortal TE finally retired, so the top 2 pass catchers for the past decade are gone. On Defense, the Cowboys lost Orlando Scandrick at CB as the only major departure. The Cowboys have used the Draft to get younger and better over the years, and this year was no exception. On offense, Dallas added Left Guard, Connor Williams from Texas to the established line, Michael Gallup, WR from Colorado State (my alma mater) to help with the Dez departure, and Bo Scarborough, RB from Alabama to help spell Zeke in the backfield. In Free Agency and Trades, Dallas acquired the speedy returner, Tavon Austin from the Rams, Alan Hurns, WR from Jacksonville and Deonte Thompson, WR from Buffalo. On Defense, the Cowboys drafted the athletic LB out of Boise State, Leighton Vander Esch, acquired Kony Ealy, DT from the Jets (former Carolina Panther), traded for Jihad Ward, DT from Oakland, and drafted more depth on the line with Taco Charlton out of Michigan. So, the Cowboys are trying to stay competitive while getting younger across the board. I think they will be competitive, but unless Gallup really flashes, this WR corps is not good that will limit their success.
Prediction: Cowboys finish 3rd in the NFC East, and take a step back with the lack of weapons for Dak to get the ball to.
Washington Redskins – Team Basics: The ‘Skins play a balanced attack on offense. Coach Jay Gruden believes in the running game, from his time in Cincinnati, but he does air it out quite a bit. Let’s see how they change with their new QB at the helm. On defense, Washington plays a 3-4, blitzing style. With one of the better cover corners in Josh Norman, the defense can take a few more chances, but offenses took advantage of the opposite corner early and often last season, which it seems they have addressed.
Washington is a team in the middle. They have been in the playoffs in recent years and contended for the division, but they are not dominant on either side of the ball. They took a gamble trading for QB Alex Smith from the Chiefs. Smith is a winner, but the former #1 pick overall hasn’t lived up to the hype. He is coming off his best season as a pro, so maybe Gruden sees something in Smith that Reid could not get out of him before last year. There were really no big departures on offense except for the QB Kirk Cousins, who signed with Minnesota and replaced by Smith. I don’t see this as a downgrade at all. The Redskins did added Seattle WR Paul Richardson in free agency along with LSU RB, Derrius Guice in the Draft, so overall, they have upgraded the offense. On defense, there were no major losses outside of CB Bashaud Breeland who signed with Carolina, but Washington upgrades the position with Orlando Scandrick from Dallas at CB. Washington added a little depth at pass rusher with OLB Pernell McPhee from Chicago (the oft injured player). In the Draft, Washington added more strength on defense with 1st rounder DaRon Payne, Defensive Lineman out of Alabama to pair alongside 2nd year man, Jonathan Allen also from the Crimson Tide. So, on paper, Washington got better. I like them to push Dallas for 2nd in the division, but fall short.
Prediction: Redskins are competitive all season, but still fall to 4th in this division and missing the playoffs again.
All three non-playoff teams could be close to the same record, but I only see the Eagles getting to the playoffs this year in the very competitive NFC.
Who do you like?
Wegs