NFC East Rankings, As I See Them

Here we are, NFL Offseason, where you can make all the NFL predictions that you want, and not feel bad about them.

It is April afterall. We are still weeks before the draft, nowhere near done with free agency, and the dreaded preseason injury that almost ALWAYS turns a team’s destiny completely around (Isn’t that right Kurt Warner?).

So as we take a look at the NFC East, teams have obvious holes that they’d like to fill, faith in players that they should’ve have faith in, and fans who ALL believe, that this year is the year for THEIR team, and that is all. Here is my breakdown and rankings of the NFC East in April.

1). The Dallas Cowboys

Last offseason, Jerry Jones went public and stated that the release of Terrel Owens was step 1 in making a "Romo Friendly Offense". Almost immediately afterwards, the public laughed. Afterall, even Cowboys fans know that up until last season, Romo has NEVER had a year where he didn't throw at least 14 interceptions. However, Jerry Jones was correct. Romo had his best season by far, only throwing nine interceptions and 26 touchdowns. Numbers that the other NFC East quarterbacks would love to have had.

Dallas also continues to display a ruthless aggression on sacking the quarterback. Demarcus Ware continues his dominance, and although I was skeptical at first, Anthony Spencer has shown that he can consistently deliver at the weak-side linebacker spot. Add to that the blitzing ability of Keith Brooking and Orlando Scandrick that the Cowboys found later in the year, and you may have the best pass rush in the conference outside of Minnesota.

As of this writing, Jerry Jones hasn't picked up a single player in free agency though. The release of Ken Hamlin and Flozell "False Start" Adams came to no surprise to most Cowboy fans, but the lack of potential replacements is quite scary for a team that feels they belong to be in the Superbowl. Doug Free will be plugged in at left tackle as Jerry Jones feels that "Free is more left tacklish, than right tacklish". And yes, that is a direct quote. The big question for Dallas is at Free Safety. Alan Ball will try to compete for the starting spot against Mike Hamlin (no relation to Ken Hamlin), as well as Pat Watkins, but between the three, only have 13 starts, (9 coming from Pat Watkins in 2006 when Bill Parcels saw a lot of potential in him).

Add to that the glaring hole at kicker, and Dallas still has some question marks on their team. But then again, they had question marks last season at wideout as well....we all know how that story turned out.

2). New York Giants

I had one tough time picking who the second best team in the division was. But as Ric Flair said, "To be the best, you must beat the best....WOOOOO!" And the Giants did in fact sweep Dallas last season, and if it wasn't for their late season collapse, they would've easily been the wild card team instead of Philly.

With the additions of Artrel Rolle and Deon Grant in both safety positions, it is obvious that the Giants knew they had a depth problem in their secondary. Rolle and Grant have 15 years of NFL experience between them, and both have contributed to Super Bowl teams, (granted neither of them have rings. Grant was on the 2006 Seahawks roster, and Rolle on the Cardinals roster. I guess they can share stories of how the Steelers beat both of them in their respective Super Bowls).

The Giants, much like the Cowboys, entered into the 2009 season with a huge question mark at wideout. The release and jail sentence of Plaxico "ChedderBob" Burress (did you get the reference?) had many wondering if Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks could carry the load. Well, they did. Between the three, they had 200+ catches and 18 touchdowns. Many times throughout the season, you saw each receiver step up and became stars, especially early in the season before the Giants sputtered out in the end.

Although the Giants addressed their need at safety, they have yet to address their need in their linebacking core, specifically middle. With the release of Antonio Pierce, the G-Men have absolutely no solid solution at that position. Although, Chase Blackburn and Woodbridge's own, Clint Sintim are coming on strong and contributing with depth at outside linebacker, the Giants absolutely NEED help in the middle. Many believe that the Giants will look to draft Alabama's Rolando McClain with their 15th overall draft selection, but don't be surprised if he doesn't slip that far. If the Miami Dolphins don't select a WR with their 9th pick, I wouldn't be surprised to see them steal McClain early.

In the end, the Giant's lack of a playoff run was due to their late-season collapse. They helped the secondary, but someone has big shoes to fill at Middle linebacker. Sorry Giants fans, especially when you gave up the third most points in the NFL last season, your D is your key to wins...or in some cases, losses.

3). Philadelphia Eagles

I can hear the crying now...how can the Eagles be third and not second, or even first?!

Be quiet Eagle fan, keep reading for a second and I'll explain. For you McNabb haters out there, that were dying...and I mean DYING to run this man out of town, congratulations. Not because you got what you wanted, but because now you have the least experienced, and probably worst quarterback in the division. Pat yourself on the back for that one. Think that's not a big deal? Look at the worst QBs of their divisions last season....now look where the team finished. Here, let me help you:

AFC East: Worst quarterback-Trent Edwards, finished last-The Bills

AFC North: Worst QB-Anyone who played for the Browns. Finished Last - The Browns

AFC South: Worst QB - David Garrard. Finished last - Jacksonville

AFC West: Worst QB - Jamarcus Russell. Finished Last- The Chiefs, but that was only after Bruce Gradkowski came in for Russell

Get the picture yet? No? I can keep going...

NFC East: Worst QB-Jason Campbell. Finished last - Redskins

NFC North: Worst QB- Matt Stafford. Finished last - The Lions

NFC South: Worst QB- Whoever started for the Bucs

NFC West: Worst QB - Anyone behind center for the Rams

Its plain and clear, worst quarterbacks, your team is last. So now Kolb is starting and to me it's obvious that he's the worst QB in the division. Compare him to Eli who has a ring, Romo is coming up a Pro Bowl season, and McNabb as been to the NFC Title game more times than anyone...ever.

Has anyone mentioned that Kolb's two "great" games were in a losing effort to New Orleans, and then over the Chiefs? Not exactly something to put on your resume.

Thankfully, the Eagles have huge weapons. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are legit homerun hitters anytime they get the ball. Brent Celek is an overall solid tight end, maybe the second best in the division behind Witten and in front of Cooley. And you have a tag team of halfbacks in LeSean McCoy and Mike Bell. (Isn't it funny that the one time the Eagles have offensive weapons, they actually get rid of the guy who's been asking for them in McNabb? But more on that later).

Dallas showed a glaring hole in the rush defense of the Eagles though. Rushing for 377 yards in the final two games that the Eagles played last year. The Eagles have yet to address this issue, and don't look for them to do so in the draft neither as they have bigger needs at offensive line and linebacker.

The Eagles need to prove that Kolb is the answer before they can start popping champagne because McNabb is gone. Until then, they will remain at 3rd, or 2nd at best.

4). Washington Redskins

Really Redskin fan? Did you think the one trade for McNabb made you automatically leap frog a team in the division? It helped, it definitely helped. Because like I stated earlier, the Skins had the worst quarterback in the division. But you still have huge question marks at the following offensive positions: Wideout, halfback, and offensive line.

Imagine you're Donovan McNabb for a second. Your on the 2001 roster, and you just lost to the Rams who purely had more firepower than you did on offense. So McNabb asks for more offensive help, and he gets none. 2002 rolls around, again you're in the NFC Championship game, but this time the Bucs' new westcoast offense does the job, you plead for more weapons, and again you get none. See a trend? The one year you get help is in the form of Terrel Owens, and you came a field goal away from winning the ring. Eagles cut Owens, and you're back to square one. Fast forward to 2010, you finally get weapons. Weapons are everywhere on your offense....and they trade you down I-95 to DC....where you have no weapons....does anyone else think McNabb feels like he's on the Philly 2001 roster again? Poor poor McNabb. Hopefully he can make lemonade out of the lemons he has on his side of the ball.

However, the other side of the ball isn't too shabby. Brian "Orsackpo" held his own at the linebacker position, and will now be put in a 3-4 scheme that better suits his ability. Although the secondary is a coin flip at times, when they're on, they're on.

Biggest question marks are on the offensive line, at their aging backfield that is also injury-prone as of late.

No matter who the QB is, he can't throw if he's on his back. And the Redskins let their QBs get hit 97 times behind the line of scrimmage last year, third most in the league. So naturally you'd like to hand the ball off instead, but Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker aren't exactly the most durable backs. Unless this was 2006, in that case, the Redskins just signed a nice Pro Bowl backfield. But since it's 2010, they better get the Icy Hot and heatpacks ready for that trio.

The Redskins helped their chances with the McNabb trade, but the offense still needs help. Snyder doesn't like using the "Rebuilding year" tag, but it seems like it to me. Shannahan and McNabb bring promise, but this is gonna be a project, not an overnight success story.