The Student of the GameGoing Beyond the Stats

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This divisional race looked more like something you would expect to see out of the NFC West in past years. Sure, the NFC East is known for coming down to the last game, but here a team had to win to move onto the postseason with a record less than 10 wins. The difference here was the team that came out of the NFC East last year in the New York Giants was seen by many (the SoTG panel included) as the hot team that no one wanted to play. Apparently, they were much more as they won the Super Bowl.

This offseason has brought a healthy amount of change and motion as teams adjust to try and compete with the defending champs. But will they have what it takes to legitimately do this?

Washington

Key Acquisitions: QB Robert Griffin III, WR Pierre Garcon, S Brandon Meriweather,
WR Josh Morgan, K Neil Rackers, S Tanard Jackson, CB Cedric Griffin

Key Losses: S LaRon Landry, Their 4th round draft choice, RB Ryan Torrain,
S Oshiomogho Atogwe

Conclusion: Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand why owner Dan Snyder has thrown the deed to the proverbial farm into the pot to bet on RG3. This traditionally staunchly conservative organization (they even thought hiring Joe Gibbs out of retirement was a good idea, remember) with the influence of Head Coach Mike Shanahan’s firsthand knowledge of what a smart QB who can run and throw with solid proficiency can do (still too soon to say RG3 is like HOF QB John Elway, but you get the idea) and the success of 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year, QB Cam Newton, has put their faith in a rookie to institute winning ways in Washington.

However, in “betting the farm”, the chance for actual success has also “bought the farm” at the same time. Instead of drafting another QB in the 4th round, Kirk Cousins, maybe another toy for the kid to play with would have made sense? The one’s that RG3 already has in the box are either pretty old already like WR Satana Moss and TE Chris Cooley or may not end up being as fun to play with like WR Anthony Armstrong, WR Pierre Garcon, or WR Josh Morgan Perhaps something for the gaping hole left by the departure of defensive awesome produced by SS LaRon Landry. While I appreciate the re-signing perennial force LB London Fletcher and acquisition of CB Cedric Griffin, they and LB Brian Orakpo are going to need more help than DBs Tanard Jackson and Brandon Merriweather – especially when one considers the air show that are the receiver corps of this division.

Even if RG3 is a complete success as a 1st year player running an offense, I fear he’ll suffer the same fate as Cam Newton. Several close games despite some rookie mistakes where he’d be winning if he had last year’s defense. At least it’ll be fun to watch him as a 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate rather than endure QB Rex Grossman continuing to break the hearts of fans in the nation’s capitol. Which begs the question, “Kirk Cousins -- Really?”

Dallas

Key Acquisitions: CB Maurice Claiborne, LB Dan Connor, CB Brandon Carr,
FB Lawerence Vickers, QB Kyle Orton, G Mackenzy Bernadeau, G Nate Livings, S Brodney Pool

Key Losses: T Marc Colombo, G Kyle Kosier, CB, Terrance Newman, WR Laurent Robinson, TE Martellus Bennett

Conclusion: The Cowboys have confounded, confused, and even frustrated both analysts trying to preview and predict them as well as their owner, Jerry Jones. Truth is that the Cowboys have some pretty solid talent on both sides of the ball in recent seasons, yet continue to miss or get early exits from the playoffs.

Most fans know the names: QB Tony Romo, TE Jason Garret, WRs Miles Austin, and Dez Bryant on Offense. The defense, however, has undergone a face lift of late with free agents and 6 of their 7 draft picks being “D” players in the name of not only attacking the QB, but towards improving pass coverage which has struggled in past seasons.

LB Dan Conner will make for a fine option to complement the solid outside edge attack brought by LBs Anthony Spencer and Demarcus Ware while CB Brandon Carr and S Brodney Pool represent a marked improvement from their secondary staff of late. Their D-line leaves a bit to be desired with the only big name there being DE Marcus Spears.

If the changes to their O-line workout for the better and RB DeMarco Murrary produces more than a 1 hit wonder, they could be a wild card threat. But this talent can’t necessarily cover for leadership making decisions that leave their own kicker, and ultimately their team frozen Cold as Ice. (Thanks again for the inspiration, Coach Jason Garrett with lasts year’s loss to the Cardinals.)

Philadelphia

Key Acquisitions: LB Damico Ryans, DT Fletcher Cox, LB Mychal Kendricks

Key Losses: WR Steve Smith, QB Vince Young, CB Asante Samuel

Conclusion: The Eagles 8-8 schedule was one of the most deceptive outcomes in the NFL last year short of the Patriots fooling (most of) us into thinking they were Super Bowl worthy. QB Michael Vick teamed with a WR corps featuring DeShaun Jackson and RB LeSean McCoy on offense is as potent as any other (as long as Vick isn't hurt).

Defensively, however, the alleged "Dream Team" (as declared by the departed back-up QB Vince Young) was apparently spending more time counting sheep than they were stopping opposing ball carriers as their young LB corps looked like they were thrown to the wolves throughout the year.

In some solid moves that are obvious upgrades, one acquisition included LB Damico Ryans who is capable to being not only the heart and soul of a defense, but the brains behind their operation. In addition to drafting DT Fletcher Cox and LB Mychal Kendricks who will fill gaps that would wake the Eagles up to a brand new day. One where the Eagles could threaten to win the NFC . . . but then again there were those who said that last year.

NY Giants

Key Acquisitions: DT Shaun Rogers, TE Martellus Bennett

Key Losses: WR Mario Manningham, RB Brandon Jacobs, CB Aaron Ross

Conclusion: I was stoked to see the unappreciated Head Coach Tom Coughlin achieve his first Super Bowl after lacking notoriety for the mere fact he was in Jacksonville previously. Him being officially able to own "Emperor" Bill Bellichek in the "Big Game" is something that the Giants will leverage until Coughlin retires . . . or until they go all "New York" on him and ask what he's done lately.

With QB Eli Manning and WR Salsa Sensation Victor Cruz losing 2 solid portions of their offense in RB Brandon Jacobs and WR Mario Manningham, the Giants drafted accordingly adding RB David Wilson and WR Reuben Randle to fill the roles. With that and the defense looking pretty much the same, they are in the dubious position of still having a high level of talent being the only team that didn't noticeably improve in the offseason. Of course, being the defending champs, how much can you really improve? They'll threaten the division, they'll threaten the Wild Card spots, but this year they can't have the unfocused start they did last year and hope to achieve playoff placement with a 9-7 -- the rest of the division has improved too much.

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