(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Cory Webster, who has finally lived up to expectations and 2007 first rounder Aaron Ross form one of the NFL's top tandems at corner.
Kevin Dockery has the ability to step in and start as well, he is a very good nickel back and a solid special teams player.
The Giants' special teams were among the leagues best in 2008. But this year, Jeff Feagles will be in his 23rd season, his production will be brought into question because of his age.
Lawrance Tynes will re-assume the kicking duties after an injury-plagued 2008 cost him his job to since retired John Carney.
Tynes, as you may remember, kicked the Giants to the Super Bowl with his game winning 47-yard field goal in the NFC Championship in 2007.
Kick returning may be an issue for the Giants. Amhad Bradshaw and Domenik Hixon both had their good returns, but each struggled with consistency.
Philadelphia Eagles: 2008 finish (9-6-1)
In 2009, the Eagles will again boast the NFL's biggest offensive line, thanks to the additions of right tackle Stacy Andrews and left tackle Jason Peters.
Those two additions should bolster an offensive line that lost bookend tackles Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas to free agency.
With Brian Westbrook sidelined at least until pre-season, LeSean McCoy and Lorenzo Booker will need to pick up the slack in the running game.
McCoy, the Eagles second choice in the draft this year, is looked upon as the team's back of the future and is expected to relieve some of the load that has been heaped upon Westbrook's shoulders.
The Eagles passing game should again rank near the top of the league in 2009. McNabb got the weapons he was asking for when the Eagles drafted Jeremy Maclin in the first round this year.
With sophomore sensation DeSean Jackson continuing to improve along with Kevin Curtis finally getting that clean bill of health, this attack will be a match up nightmare.
The red zone offense will again be under heavy scrutiny this year. The front office added a weapon down there with the fifth round selection of tight end Cornelius Ingram. Ingram, along with budding star Brent Celek, should vastly improve a red zone offense that has been atrocious over the past two seasons.
Defensively, the Eagles should again be ranked among the best. Sure, the loss of Brian Dawkins will be felt emotionally, but not physically.
The Eagles may have sufficed for Dawk's departure with the signing of Sean Jones, who has flown under the radar as one of the league's top safeties for a couple of years now.
The Eagles secondary is loaded with talent, headed by Asante Samuel and Quintin Mikell. Sheldon Brown, whose off-season has been clouded by a contract controversy, is still one of the league's premiere cover corners.
But the addition of Ellis Hobbs via trade at the draft may signal the end of Brown as a starter. Behind Brown and or Hobbs, there is Joselio Hanson, who got a huge deal in the off-season, speaking in terms of dime backs, with a five-year, $21 million deal...a deal that may have pushed Brown over the edge.
More is expected of Samuel in 2009 as he has another year of experience in Jim Johnson's defense. And Quintin Mikell, is expected to take the reins as the leader in the secondary following his great year in 2008.
The Eagles front seven rivals that of the Giants. They have a solid corps of linebackers with Bradley, Jordan and Gocong, as well as one of the deepest defensive lines in the NFL.
Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley, both former first-round draft picks, are what I believe to be the most underrated tandem at defensive tackle in the NFL.
The only question mark on defense would be at left defensive end. Victor Abiamiri has the ability to step in as the full-time starter this year following an injury-plagued 2008. Juqua Parker and Bryan Smith are also candidates to compete for the starter's job.
The Eagles special teams, which was mediocre to above average in '08 will need more consistency in the coming season.
Every week it was something else. From Sav Rocca's struggles punting, to DeSean Jackson's backward returns, there was a different oddity all year.
The bright spots were David Akers finally hitting from 40-plus on his field goals and Quintin Demps consistently giving the Eagles good field position on kickoffs.
Dallas Cowboys: 2008 finish (9-7)
That brings us to the NFC East's traveling circus, a.k.a. the Dallas Cowboys.
Terrell Owens is gone, banished to the snow-covered landscape that is Buffalo. So now there is no excuse for Tony Romo
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