The season gets closer every day and we continue the Running the Spread Blog NFL Season Previews. We've already broken down the AFC East and NFC North. Today I'll break down the NFC East.
1. Washington Redskins
2013: 3-13, Fourth in the NFC East. Missed playoffs.
Key Losses: TE Fred Davis (suspended), S Reed Doughty, MLB London Fletcher, S Tanard Jackson (suspended), OL Will Montgomery, WR Josh Morgan, P Sav Rocca, DE Darryl Tapp, CB Josh Wilson
Key Additions: rookie CB Bashaud Breeland, WR DeSean Jackson, S Ryan Clark, DL Jason Hatcher, LB Adam Hayward, LB Akeem Jordan, OL Shawn Lauvao, P Robert Malone, OL Mike McGlynn, rookie OT Morgan Moses, rookie LB Trent Murphy, CB Tracy Porter, WR Andre Roberts, LB Daryl Sharpton
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts
2014 Outcome:
I know Ty is going to be pretty happy about this choice, but his fan loyalty isn't why I picked Washington to win the NFC East. In my mind they are poised for a bounce back year. Robert Griffin III struggled last year no doubt, but he was rushed back from his knee surgery and that left him hesitant at times. This year RG3 has a clear mind and has put the surgery, along with a terrible 2013 season, behind him. He has fantastic weapons offensively this year with Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Jordan Reed, which makes them very scary. Also Alfred Morris should be as reliable as he has been in his first two seasons. They're two biggest issues last season were their offensive line and their defense, two areas the addressed heavily this off-season. Bringing in lineman like Lauvao, McGlynn and two rookies in Moses and Murphy give them some depth and talent there. Defensively drafting Breeland and signing Clark and Porter helps solidify a pass defense that ranked 20th in the league last year. They lost future Hall of Fame linebacker Fletcher, but Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan will be the anchors of the squad at linebacker. Much like how I don't see Nick Foles repeating his stellar season for the Eagles, I don't see the Redskins defense repeating such a dismal one. They'll be better and put themselves in position to win an "up for grabs" division. There offense should be electric and put them in position to win any game. They're strength of schedule is in their favor too, but it's tough playing in the NFC East I never know which teams within the division they will and won't beat. 10-6 for Washington and a great start for new head coach Jay Gruden.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
2013: 10-6, won the NFC East. Lost in AFC Wild Card Round.
Key Losses: WR DeSean Jackson, QB Michael Vick, DE Clifton Geathers, RB Bryce Brown
Key Additions: RB Darren Sproles, S Malcolm Jenkins, QB Mark Sanchez, S Chris Maragos, rookie LB Marcus Smith, rookie WR Jordan Matthews
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Indianapolis Colts, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks
2014 Outcome:
Chip Kelly's offense lost a key piece when the Eagles released DeSean Jackson, but I think Kelly's up tempo scheme and creativeness will still be a lot for some teams to handle. Adding Darren Sproles certainly helps with that. LeSean McCoy will be more of the steady runner while Sproles will be used for a lot of passes. Not that McCoy won't catch passes too, it's just that has been more of Sproles role in offenses for several years now. The defense should be better than with defensive coordinator Bill Davis in his second year. Rookie linebacker Smith certainly has some upside for them and adding safeties Jenkins and Margos gives them some play makers in the secondary. The biggest problem I see facing the Eagles is if Nick Foles is their franchise quarterback. In my mind there is no way he repeats his terrific 2013 season this year and losing Jackson hurts his production. I assume Jeremy Maclin will be their number one, with Riley Cooper at two and the speedy rookie Matthews in the mix, but I just wonder if that is enough for Foles. None of those guys really stand out as GREAT receivers, but we'll see. Still I think Philadelphia has a shot at the division title. 9-7 for the Eagles. They they had the worst pass defense in the league last year and I don't know if they improved it enough.
3. New York Giants
2013: 7-9, third in the NFC East. Missed playoffs.
Key Losses: G Kevin Boothe, RB Andre Brown, DT Linval Joseph, SS Ryan Mundy, WR Louis Murphy, TE Brandon Meyers, WR Hakeem Nicks, LB Keith Rivers, DE Justin Tuck
Key Additions: G John Terry, LB Jameel McClain, DE Robert Ayers, CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, SS Quintin Demps, G Geoff Schwartz, RB Rashad Jennings, C J.D. Walton, CB Walter Thurmond, WR Mario Manningham
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis
Colts, Seattle Seahwks, San Francisco 49ers
2014 Outcome:
The Giants' problems in 2013 revolved around their horrific offense led by Eli Manning who had 11 more interceptions than touchdowns. Yikes. Coming off of ankle surgery I think Manning is still going to struggle. He lost Hakeem Nicks as a target but regains Manningham. I'd rather have Nicks though. I know he has Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle was a reliable target for him as a rookie, but that receiving core isn't good enough to keep up with that of the Redskins. I also am skeptical of their running back situation. Rashad Jennings has some upside and is the obvious starter with David Wilson out of the picture. He has spent his career as a backup though, so I wonder how he handles doing all the heavy lifting for New York week in and week out. We'll see. They addressed some of their offensive line needs in the off-season looking to keep the pressure off Manning. I still don't know if it's enough. The defense was pretty good last year and has been improved with the signings of guys like Rogers-Cromartie, Demps and McClain, but I just think the offense is going to be too inconsistent to to stay competitive. 7-9 again for the Giants and it may be time for Tom Coughlin to go.
4. Dallas Cowboys
2013: 8-8, second in the NFC East. Missed playoffs.
Key Losses: DT Jason Hatcher, DE DeMarcus Ware, WR Miles Austin
Key Additions: DT Henry Melton, rookie RG Zack Martin, DE DeMarcus Lawrence
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts
2014 Outcome:
The Cowboys are in the basement of the NFC East for obvious reasons; the Dallas defense is going to struggle. The one player who kind of held it together for the unit last year was Sean Lee who is out for the season after having surgery to repair his torn ACL. They also lost Hatcher and Ware who were dominant down on the defensive line. That as a whole is going to comeback to bite them. Their pass defense was ranked 30th last season and the rush defense wasn't much better at 27th. The Cowboys barely addressed those areas in the off-season and it will be evident this year. There is no denying their offense will be great. Dez Bryant has a new offensive coordinator to work with in Scott Linehan who knows how to take a talented receiver to the top, just ask Calvin Johnson. Despite the criticisms Tony Romo has faced about lacking the "clutch factor" late in games, we know can throw for 4,000 yards regularly. He'll continue to put up big numbers. The Cowboys offense is a fantasy owner's gold mine, unfortunately that doesn't always equate to the success on the field. Dallas will have a season to forget with a 5-11 record in 2014.
1. Washington Redskins
2013: 3-13, Fourth in the NFC East. Missed playoffs.
Key Losses: TE Fred Davis (suspended), S Reed Doughty, MLB London Fletcher, S Tanard Jackson (suspended), OL Will Montgomery, WR Josh Morgan, P Sav Rocca, DE Darryl Tapp, CB Josh Wilson
Key Additions: rookie CB Bashaud Breeland, WR DeSean Jackson, S Ryan Clark, DL Jason Hatcher, LB Adam Hayward, LB Akeem Jordan, OL Shawn Lauvao, P Robert Malone, OL Mike McGlynn, rookie OT Morgan Moses, rookie LB Trent Murphy, CB Tracy Porter, WR Andre Roberts, LB Daryl Sharpton
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts
2014 Outcome:
I know Ty is going to be pretty happy about this choice, but his fan loyalty isn't why I picked Washington to win the NFC East. In my mind they are poised for a bounce back year. Robert Griffin III struggled last year no doubt, but he was rushed back from his knee surgery and that left him hesitant at times. This year RG3 has a clear mind and has put the surgery, along with a terrible 2013 season, behind him. He has fantastic weapons offensively this year with Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Jordan Reed, which makes them very scary. Also Alfred Morris should be as reliable as he has been in his first two seasons. They're two biggest issues last season were their offensive line and their defense, two areas the addressed heavily this off-season. Bringing in lineman like Lauvao, McGlynn and two rookies in Moses and Murphy give them some depth and talent there. Defensively drafting Breeland and signing Clark and Porter helps solidify a pass defense that ranked 20th in the league last year. They lost future Hall of Fame linebacker Fletcher, but Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan will be the anchors of the squad at linebacker. Much like how I don't see Nick Foles repeating his stellar season for the Eagles, I don't see the Redskins defense repeating such a dismal one. They'll be better and put themselves in position to win an "up for grabs" division. There offense should be electric and put them in position to win any game. They're strength of schedule is in their favor too, but it's tough playing in the NFC East I never know which teams within the division they will and won't beat. 10-6 for Washington and a great start for new head coach Jay Gruden.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
2013: 10-6, won the NFC East. Lost in AFC Wild Card Round.
Key Losses: WR DeSean Jackson, QB Michael Vick, DE Clifton Geathers, RB Bryce Brown
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Indianapolis Colts, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks
2014 Outcome:
Chip Kelly's offense lost a key piece when the Eagles released DeSean Jackson, but I think Kelly's up tempo scheme and creativeness will still be a lot for some teams to handle. Adding Darren Sproles certainly helps with that. LeSean McCoy will be more of the steady runner while Sproles will be used for a lot of passes. Not that McCoy won't catch passes too, it's just that has been more of Sproles role in offenses for several years now. The defense should be better than with defensive coordinator Bill Davis in his second year. Rookie linebacker Smith certainly has some upside for them and adding safeties Jenkins and Margos gives them some play makers in the secondary. The biggest problem I see facing the Eagles is if Nick Foles is their franchise quarterback. In my mind there is no way he repeats his terrific 2013 season this year and losing Jackson hurts his production. I assume Jeremy Maclin will be their number one, with Riley Cooper at two and the speedy rookie Matthews in the mix, but I just wonder if that is enough for Foles. None of those guys really stand out as GREAT receivers, but we'll see. Still I think Philadelphia has a shot at the division title. 9-7 for the Eagles. They they had the worst pass defense in the league last year and I don't know if they improved it enough.
3. New York Giants
2013: 7-9, third in the NFC East. Missed playoffs.
Key Losses: G Kevin Boothe, RB Andre Brown, DT Linval Joseph, SS Ryan Mundy, WR Louis Murphy, TE Brandon Meyers, WR Hakeem Nicks, LB Keith Rivers, DE Justin Tuck
Key Additions: G John Terry, LB Jameel McClain, DE Robert Ayers, CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, SS Quintin Demps, G Geoff Schwartz, RB Rashad Jennings, C J.D. Walton, CB Walter Thurmond, WR Mario Manningham
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis
Colts, Seattle Seahwks, San Francisco 49ers
2014 Outcome:
4. Dallas Cowboys
2013: 8-8, second in the NFC East. Missed playoffs.
Key Losses: DT Jason Hatcher, DE DeMarcus Ware, WR Miles Austin
Key Additions: DT Henry Melton, rookie RG Zack Martin, DE DeMarcus Lawrence
Toughest Match-ups in 2014: San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts
2014 Outcome:The Cowboys are in the basement of the NFC East for obvious reasons; the Dallas defense is going to struggle. The one player who kind of held it together for the unit last year was Sean Lee who is out for the season after having surgery to repair his torn ACL. They also lost Hatcher and Ware who were dominant down on the defensive line. That as a whole is going to comeback to bite them. Their pass defense was ranked 30th last season and the rush defense wasn't much better at 27th. The Cowboys barely addressed those areas in the off-season and it will be evident this year. There is no denying their offense will be great. Dez Bryant has a new offensive coordinator to work with in Scott Linehan who knows how to take a talented receiver to the top, just ask Calvin Johnson. Despite the criticisms Tony Romo has faced about lacking the "clutch factor" late in games, we know can throw for 4,000 yards regularly. He'll continue to put up big numbers. The Cowboys offense is a fantasy owner's gold mine, unfortunately that doesn't always equate to the success on the field. Dallas will have a season to forget with a 5-11 record in 2014.
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