It is finally nice to have something to talk about other than Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers' standoff. With the Saints acquiring Jeremy Shockey and the Redskins acquiring Jason Taylor, there is going to be immediate speculation as to how much this improves those team’s chances. Here is a look at how I believe this changes the NFC landscape
I'm not as excited about the Jason Taylor move. I understand why the Redskins had to make it. After losing defensive ends Phillip Daniels to an ACL tear on the opening day of training camp and Alex Buzbee for the season due to a ruptured Achilles' tendon, Washington needed a replacement.
The Redskins had to give up a second round pick in 2009 and a sixth round pick in 2010-not a steep price to pay for the decade’s leading sack artist, so long as he plays more than one year.
Taylor's (new) plan is to play out his remaining contract, on which he has two remaining years. He will team with Andre Carter to give the Redskins two players that accumulated 10-plus sacks in 2007. It is crucial that they disrupt the timing of Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb, and Eli Manning to give Washington a chance.
That is essential for any successful defense. Taylor should be a lock for 10 sacks this season. Taylor should make other players around him better, drawing double-teams and freeing space for his line-mates to make plays.
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Obviously, Taylor makes this defense better. He was the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and has the most sacks since 2000.
The Redskins ranked 16th in sacks with 33 in 2007, the weakest team in the division at putting pressure on the quarterback. New York led the league with 53, and Dallas was third with 46. Philadelphia was tied for ninth with 36.
Washington didn’t start the season 5-7 last year because of their poor pass rush.
The fact is that the majority of Washington’s problems centered on the offensive side of the ball. Neither of their starting running backs had good yards per carry. Clinton Portis rushed for 3.9 YPC and Ladell Betts averaged 3.6.
Redskin quarterbacks threw only 18 touchdown passes. Chris Cooley led the team in receptions (66) and touchdown catches (eight). Santana Moss led the receivers with 61 catches for 808 yards and three touchdowns.
The Redskins are going to run a West Coast offense in 2008. Quarterback Todd Collins has never run this type of offense, which utilizes short passes to gain yards, eat clock, and keep the defense on the field.
Though Jason Campbell did run a West Coast offense at Auburn, saying he is going to be ready by week One is like saying a young race car driver will win the Points Cup because he excelled at bumper cars at the local carnival.
While some of the principles will be the same, a lot of the terminology of this system will be different. Head coach Jim Zorn said that he was going to teach Campbell this offense as though he had never run it before.
The problem is that as things stand now, Dallas added Zach Thomas and Adam 'Pacman' Jones. Philadelphia added Asante Samuel. New York did lose four defenders from last year’s Super Bowl team, most notably Michael Strahan and Gibril Wilson. However, they still have a strong supply of pass rushers and their secondary should be improved over the 2007 regular season despite the loss of Wilson.
Washington just hasn't added much on offense other than their draft picks. While their defense will keep them in a lot of games this season, their offense may not have enough firepower to win games within the NFC East.
Derek Lofland, Fantasy Football Maniaxs.com
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about 1 month ago
Andre Collins.....?
Carter. Andre Carter.
about 1 month ago
I think Miami is in to have another HORRIBLE year. I know they're in rebuilding mode, but they gave up Zach Thomas AND Jason Taylor. This team is going to be disgusting on defense.
As for the low average for Portis, it was because Gibbs and Saunders continually tried to thrust him up the middle of the line, somehow expecting that it'll work. Portis himself has stated it doesn't work for him.
At Denver, he had 1,500+ yards in his first two seasons in the NFL. This has happened only two other times in NFL history. Why? Because of the offensive line scheme Denver uses. The offensive line moves to the left or right to create holes, and running backs are running more at an angle than right up the line.
This is a similar scheme Zorn will use under his offense. And, because Portis has been working hard this offseason (something he has literally NEVER done), I expect excellent numbers from him.
from about 1 month ago
Tanner, you're so right about the Dolphins. It's gonna get worse before it gets better.
Clinton Portis is slated to have all the pieces in place for a great season.
Thanks for commenting.
about 1 month ago
dude...now that gibbs is gone, portis is being honest about how he was forced to run in the old system..namely, into a brick wall. With Zorn's offense, portis can utilize his lateral speed more, similar to what he was used to in Denver when he put up ridiculous numbers. Also, the reason the skins were 5-7 was because they were ridiculously conservative, (Redskins were leading at the half 14 of the 16 games).
from about 1 month ago
RoHIT, good point about the lost leads of the Redskins last year.
There is so much expectations out of Washington's camp this year. Ultimately, the success of it falls on Campbell's shoulder. It will be interesting!
about 1 month ago
I like the way you show that there is plenty of room for improvement. We have potential, but potential doesn't win you ball games. I think our offense will improve, but as you say Taylor strengthens the defense, but doesn't cure the offensive ineptitude. Good article.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Jack. I appreciate it.
about 1 month ago
I have a thought on this sentence from your article: "Jason Taylor is a great payer, but he isn't going to significantly help the offense." Jason Taylor is a defensive end and therefore will "significantly help" the defense. I think we know he ain't gonna help the offense.
from about 1 month ago
I think he was just pointing out the really, really, really (really) obvious.
Really.
from about 1 month ago
JONATHAN, yes, that was kind of elementary from our part, but to clarify the misconceptions that arise every time a team acquires a future hall of Famer, we had to clarify.
about 1 month ago
Come on guys he made some good points. Don't nitpick.
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