NFC East Rundown: Tough Division Does Washington Redskins No Favors

The NFC East has a long-standing history as the most competitive division in football. Its teams possess both tradition and championships.

After a brief hiatus in the first half of the 2000s, the NFC East has reasserted itself as the premier division in the NFL. All four teams can stake some claim to being legitimate postseason contenders, and at least two teams from the East should make it to the playoffs.

The Washington Redskins are hoping to be one of the teams in the mix come playoff time, but they must rebound from last years 8-8 record (last in the NFC East).

They made some significant upgrades especially along the defensive line, but they still lack a superstar offensive weapon that can help an anemic passing attack.

The Redskins are an average team. They play to their opponents level most Sundays and have never shaken the air of complacency that surrounds the franchise.

For the Redskins, mediocrity reigns supreme. In the rough-and-tumble NFC East, mediocrity will not suffice if Washington wants to advance to the postseason.

If the ‘Skins can get some offensive improvement in year two with Jim Zorn’s west coast offense, they might have enough to win the division. The defense should only improve on their number four ranking, leaving success up to the Jason Campbell and the offense.

As for the remaining three teams, here’s a look at the burning questions that surround them coming into the 2009 season.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys get the hype, but last year the hoopla didn’t earn Dallas a playoff spot. They stumbled to a 9-7 record, missing the playoffs courtesy of 44-6 drubbing from the Eagles in week 17.

This year, they will be without the services of WR Terrell Owens who was released in the offseason. Safety Roy Williams left after a down year in which he only played three games, but the defense still has a fearsome front seven led by sackmaster DeMarcus Ware.

Tony Romo will lead an offense complete with RB Marion Barber and WR Roy Williams. The offensive line was somewhat underwhelming last year, surrendering 31 sacks.

This year, the hype has disappeared and with good reason. The Cowboys lack a strong second option behind Williams at WR and their secondary has some serious question marks. The Cowboys will need to answer these burning questions in order to right the ship and make the playoffs in 2009.

1. Can Tony Romo exorcise his December demons and make a deep run into the playoffs?

Romo’s struggles in December have been well-documented. Though he isn’t the only one to blame for Dallas’ late-season swoons, his big game performances leave plenty to be desired.

With one less weapon available (Owens), Romo will need to step his game up even more. Roy Williams didn’t adapt quickly in Dallas last year catching just 19 passes for 198 yards. Romo didn’t even throw a TD pass to Williams as his only TD reception was caught from Brad Johnson.

This year Romo will need to target Williams more often and lean on the one-two punch of Marion Barber and Felix Jones in the ground game. Security blanket, Jason Witten, is back at tight end.

The departure of Owens may very well allow Romo to make Dallas HIS team. TO made life difficult for Romo by demanding the ball in any and every situation, but now Romo will feel no pressure in who he chooses to throw to.

Romo’s decision-making might have been made easier by letting TO go, but he still will feel the pressure to deliver in the clutch. People forget he is only entering his third year as the Cowboys starting QB because of his quick success, but this is the year where Romo will need to break his big game drought.

2. What do the Cowboys most need to be a successful franchise this year?

Believe it or not, Jason Garrett could be the key to a successful 2009.

Garrett botched several games last year with poor playcalling. He abandoned the run game often, seemingly forgetting that Marion Barber can shoulder a huge load and wear down defenses.

Again, the TO effect forced the Cowboys to keep things focused on the passing game, but Garrett’s run-pass ratio was astounding at times last year. Romo can throw it around with the best of them, but he would be that much more effective with an established run game.

Expect Garrett to reign in his desire to sling it around and look to his Barber-Jones Combo. Barber improves as the game goes on with his bruising style while Jones proved last year that his speed makes him a threat to score on any play.

New York Giants

The Giants failed to defend their Super Bowl title in 2008, losing to the Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs.

They burst out of the gate in 2008, but after losing Plaxico Burress to a gunshot wound, things ground to a halt. Eli Manning was unable to keep things rolling without his big target out wide and the Giants offense fizzled on the big stage in the postseason.

This year, New York is back with two-thirds of its ground game intact and the Giants added two big WRs in the draft. Osi Umenyiora returns from an injury, meaning the Giants will once again be a force in the trenches.

But what’s keeping the Giants from cruising to another NFC East title?

1. Will Hakeem Nicks fill in for Plaxico Burress quickly?

The Giants need Nicks to develop quickly. Nicks was a first round pick out of UNC and his size certainly fits the bill. Manning had very little to work with last year. Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, and Amani Toomer couldn’t fill the number one receiver spot last year so it will be up to Nicks to play at a high level.

If Nicks can provide 60 or so catches the remainder of the receiving corps might have just enough in them to make the Giants a solid passing team.

2. Will the loss of Derrick Ward sink the Giants running game?

Ward was arguably the biggest facet of the Giants ground attack. He was the biggest threat catching passes out of the backfield.

Brandon Jacobs will handle the majority of the carries now, but his upright, pounding running style leaves him at a huge risk for injury. Ward kept him from accumulating too many carries, but Ahmad Bradshaw isn’t a strong option between the tackles.

Bradshaw is a speedster and should provide some pop catching the football, but he only took 67 carries so it is uncertain if he can carry the ball 10 times a game to spell Jacobs.

New York drafted NC State back Andre Brown in the fourth round, and they are hoping he will be able to take some carries away from Jacobs as well. Keeping him healthy is a must for the offense to be successful.

Philadelphia Eagles

Philly overachieved last year, making the playoffs in miracle-like fashion. They went on a big run to the NFC Championship, and came up just short of making their third ever Super Bowl, losing to the Cardinals.

Weeks earlier, the Eagles appeared as if the Donovan McNabb-Andy Reid era was over. The Eagles had tied the woeful Bengals and had been decimated by Baltimore, but after McNabb came back from a mid-game benching in Baltimore, things changed.

The Eagles got several breaks and found themselves playing for a postseason berth in week 17 against Dallas. They responded well, winning 44-6. Then came the playoff run.

This year, Philly has pulled out all the stops. McNabb requested some offensive help, the Eagles brought in WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy through the draft. Then they pulled off a trade to acquire highly touted LT Jason Peters from Buffalo. He joins free agent pickup Stacey Andrews on one of the better lines in football.

Pundits have given the Eagles an early edge over their NFC East counterparts. Considering Philly has a much improved offense and Jim Johnson at the controls on defense, no one can fault the experts.

What could derail the Eagles “Super” hopes?

1. Can the Eagles run between the tackles?

In the NFC East, teams have to be able to pound the ball. The battles in the trenches are so important.

Philadelphia ranked just 22nd in the NFL in rushing and that is partly due to the ineffectiveness of Brian Westbrook.

Westbrook has trouble staying healthy and isn’t built to run the ball between the tackles. He is small and struggles to break tackles in close quarters. He fits the west coast style the Eagles play, but there are times every team has to grind out some tough yards.

The addition of McCoy gives the Eagles an opportunity to change their running style. McCoy carried the ball 308 times in 2008, proving he can take a heavy workload. Add in his 4.8 yards per carry and they have a match made in heaven.

Westbrook will be able to cut down his carries while remaining a viable pass option as McCoy will give the Eagles a presence in the running game they have lacked in years past.

2. Will the Eagles overcome the loss of Brian Dawkins?

Dawkins was the Philadelphia Eagles to many people. His game hadn’t really declined as much as some believe either.

The leadership is very difficult to replace, but the Eagles do have several talented safeties. Sean Jones and Quentin Mikell both are quietly two of the better defensive backs in the game while at corner the Eagles are set with Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel.

So while Dawkins’ presence won’t be filled, the Eagles do have the players to cover the void left by his departure.

Their blitz happy scheme is incredibly good at disguising holes and weaknesses. They have a deep defensive line that generates a bunch of pressure, and that will help the secondary in coverage.