Beast of the East: NFC East Predictions by SteelDrama

2009-10 NFC East Predicitions by SteelDrama.

1st Place:  Dallas Cowboys

Things I like:

*Tony Romo. Yep I like him. He had a solid year and finally won a playoff game without T.O and Jessica Blimpson around to distract him.

*Austin Miles. Might be best WR after the catch this side of Santonio Holmes.

*Jerry Jones. I can’t help it. I like that egotistical sum’ bitch. Anybody who builds a stadium that freaking big has major sand. His face is as fake as his apology to Bill Parcells and Tim Tebow, but here’s a guy who likes to run his mouth, have fun, and win football games.

*Defensive front 7. Ware and Spencer good pass rushers. Jay Ratliff a tough NT.

*Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders

Things I don’t like:

*As much as I liked the Chargers and Raiders as a kid I absolutely HATED the Cowboys. GREAT players on those 70's teams but I despised them especially that douche Cliff Harris.

* The Dez Bryant pick. Don’t get me wrong I think he could be a bargain selection and help send Roy Williams to the bench, but this kid seems to have the potential to be a polarizing figure. He doesn’t have the checkered background of his number sake Michael Irvin, but just something about this kid’s persona tells me he’s going to need a support system that the Cowboys must feel they can provide for him. Definite boom or bust type pick IMO.

*Not much I don’t like about this team…safeties not great and LT will now feature an untested Doug Free but aside from that this could be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl.

2nd Place: NY Giants

Things I like:

*Should Kenny Phillips and Aaron Ross make healthy returns coupled with the addition of Antrel Rolle, the Giants could have a very good secondary. They’ll need to be healthy there to stop the strong passing attacks of Dallas and Philly.

*Offensive Line: No big stars but always a solid crew led by Chris Snee.

*Deep group of young WRs. They just need one to emerge as a true #1. My choice is Hakeem Nicks who made some big plays and circus catches as a rookie.

Things I don’t like:

*To me top to bottom the Giants have a quality roster. I don’t know what it is but there is an intangible missing on this team perhaps it’s leadership or a lack of confidence but I’m bothered by the sideline demeanor of Tom Coughlin and his frequent looks of despair when something doesn’t go his way. Then there’s Eli Manning and his eye rolling, head down, moping to the sideline after a drive ending mistake or turnover.

*As Brandon Jacobs declined, so did the running game. A return to health of Ahmad Bradshaw will help but I see the Giants shifting to more of a passing team this year.

*The defense slipped significantly after Steve Spagnulo left to coach the Rams. Hopefully Perry Fewell can get this group turned around as they have a talented young secondary and a very deep DL. A return to form from Osi Umenyora would greatly help this unit.

*Lawrence Taylor. Scary on the field…downright frightening off of it.

3rd Place: Philly Eagles

Things I like:

*Sometimes you have to throw in the towel and start over. Sal Palantonio said that owner Jeff Lurie having watched his team lose for a 3rd time against Dallas decided the team as constructed had maxed out and needed change. The Eagles boldly jettisoned several key players this offseason including Shawn Andrews, Bryant Westbrook, Sheldon Brown, and finally McNabb. I don’t see the Eagles as rebuilding just retooling.

*I like the sand of Andy Reid to trade McNabb within the division.

*I’m not sure Kevin Kolb will be a franchise QB but I like the foresight of the Eagles to let him learn for a couple of seasons much the way the Packers did with Aaron Rodgers.

*Youth at the skill positions. Kolb, Shady McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brett Celek a nice group of core players to get the reloading process underway in Philly.

Things I don’t like:

*While I like the potential of the Eagles offense, the defense will be what ultimately keeps the Eagles out of the playoffs IMO. Through trades and FA the Eagles added young players with starting experience in Ernie Sims, Darryl Tapp, and Marlin Jackson that fit their system but aren’t difference makers IMO. Trading up for Brandon Graham a nice move but I look for him to be a rotation player his first year.

*Andy Reid. I waffle on this guy. His arrogance annoys me especially when he interviews with Berman. But I like that he sent McNabb to a division rival…kind of a “I don’t sweat you” statement to McNabb and Mike Shanahan.

*Philly fans. As Fat Albert used to say to Rudy, “Like school in the summer time…NO CLASS.”

4th Place: Washington Redskins

Things I like:

* Mike Shanahan. Hopefully Snyder exercises some patience and allows Shanahan the time to fix this mess.

*Trading for a legitimate NFL QB… something they’ve lacked for a very long time.

*Chris Cooley. He’ll be McNabb’s most reliable target. Fred Davis also looked good filling in for the injured Cooley last year.

*Brian Orakpo. Defensive rookie of the year. Despite the team’s struggles, the defense played well last year.

Things I don’t like:

*Daniel Snyder and his most recent high priced underachieving FA Albert Haynesworth.

Aging and injury prone stable of big name running backs.

*McNabb could get killed playing behind that OL.

*WRs. Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly each coveted by many a Steelerfury poster and each had a whopping 25 catches last year. Not as bad as fellow 2008, 2nd rounder Limas Sweed but not good either. Perhaps one or both will emerge with Kyle and Mike Shanahan orchestrating the offense.

Bottom line for NFC East: Usually very competitive and a tough division to choose a winner. But this year I see Dallas as the clear favorite. Giants and Philly should be compete for 2nd and a potential wild card spot. While I like the trade for McNabb and think he’s going to play hard to prove the Eagles made a mistake in trading him, I think he’ll be lucky to play all 16 games behind that porous OL of the Redskins.