Preview The Third: The end all preview

The long awaited and fiercely anticipated preview of your hated rival, the Washington Redskins.

Let's start from the top, shall we?

Jason Campbell has been given a vote of No Confidence from his team, though he has been a pretty decent Quarterback over the past few years- yes, he has yet to pass for more than fifteen touchdowns in a season, but he also has dropped his interception totals, and with Clinton Portis in the backfield, he is required to do less. But if he doesn't show something early, the Redskins may throw the starting job to one of the three other quarterbacks on their roster: Todd Collins, Colt Brennan, or Chase Daniel. The real issue, though, is production. The Redskins were 28th in total points last season- if they intend to do something, anything this year, they need to improve dramatically on offense. And that seems like a tall order for a team that drafted all defensive players till the seventh round, and didn't add any skill position players in free agency. Something magical must happen if they are to emerge from the depths of mediocrity. I just don't think Jason Campbell has it- maybe he makes a leap this year, but it will be hard with the declining Santana Moss and Antwaan RandelEl and the inexpirienced Malcom Kelly, the former OU standout, who showed nothing in his rookie year. Even Chris Cooley, who in 2007 caught 8 touchdowns, saw his TD production drop to 1 last year. Jim Zorn's offense is stagnant, and they have shown no ability to improve on last year. Things look bleak.

On the defensive side of the ball, however, the Redskins look as formidable as ever. With the addition of Albert Haynesworth, the Redskins hope to improve their D-Line and hopefully allow the gigantic mountain to occupy the middle, allowing their edge rushers and linebackers to get some pressure on the quarterback. LaRon Landry leads a secondary that includes DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Rogers, one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL (even if Hall is not the shutdown corner he thinks he is). Either would start anywhere in the league, and this is the real strength of the defense.

But I just can't see the Redskins winning too many games this year. They have a pretty tough schedule, and besides some cupcake games against the Lions, Chiefs, Raiders and Rams, it is hard to make a case for them to finish with a winning record. They were only 4-4 at home last year, with a pitiful loss to the Rams, and it's tough to see a reason to predict any more success this year. Not a real rebuilding year for the Redskins either, as they used the off season to improve a good defense. But it's not the Baltimore Ravens circa 2001. They need to improve their points total if they have a chance of succeeding in the NFC East.

Predicted Finish: 4th

Predicted Record: 5-11

Predicted Outcome: Misses the Playoffs

I love Captain Crunch UPDATE: dallasfootballguys.com up and running

There has been a slight site redesign that went into effect today. And why? Because we love Marty B. And Marty B loves Captain Crunch. A whole bunch. Favorite type of lunch. CAPTAIN CRUNNNNNCH!!!!!

UPDATE: Hey, now you can just type in dallasfootballguys.com and it takes you here! Pretty sweet!

Division Preview Part Deux

And now, without further franco-american cross linguistical styling, here is your continued NFC East preview. Today, the New York Football Giants and Eli "Beaver St." Manning.

Offensively, the Giants are going to try, try try to run run run the ball. The Giants led the NFL in rushing last year with the committee of Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs, who each had over a thousand yards. But without wards versatility, it will be up to Ahmad Bradshaw to fill in the void and keep the running game going. With the large offensive (giant, anyone?) line in front of him, and the physically imposing Jacobs as his running partner, Bradshaw should be able to make up most of Ward's yardage in the coming year. And I'm sure that Jacobs won't mind the extra carries.

Beaver St., on the other hand, continues to remind the league why he's just another overrated hack with no talent, not unlike this writer. But seriously, I can't understand Eli Manning. Sure, he now has a free pass for life, but he's getting the most money in the league to be about as good as Kyle Orton (compare here and here.)

My God, he's only a little better than the most hated man in Chicago! But my irrational dislike for Eli Manning extends from my hatred for the New York Giants in general. But I never hated Kurt Warner when he was there. Kerry Collins though. Total alcoholic.

Hopefully, the Giants defense falls into itself. But it probably won't. Riddle me this, blog-friends- What do you get when you put the three best defenses in the NFC in one Division? The NFC East! And who fails to make the list? Dallas, who falls to number 9 out of 16 while the Redskins, Eagles, and Giants all hold opponents to under 19 points a game. This, friends, is why the NFC East is more of the NFC Best.

The Giants have Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and the recent Dallas Cowboy and famously detached-retina-d former Virginia standout, Chris Canty (who, it should be noted, moved to defensive tackle) should have no trouble putting up huge sack numbers again, which will allow Aaron Ross (the former Texas corner) to have another great year. They are, however, weak at linebacker. Besides the greatness of Antonio Pierce, they have no one who stands out, and who would not even compete for playing time amongst the 'Boys own linebacking core (they are the Bobby Carpenters of the NFC East (no dig at Carpenter).

Now, if were going to address the albatross in the room, then we should. How are these New York Giants going to do?

Predicted Record: 10-6

Predicted Finish: 3rd

Overall: Wild-card Losers

Division Preview

So as not to be booted off the site with a lack of posts, and in the interest of providing a well rounded rambling on the Facts at Hand, here is, without further adu, the Dallas Football Guys NFC East extended Preview. today, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Philadelphia Eagles: The NFC Championship losers for the 4th time in the last five tries last year, the Eagles are looking to make Donovan McNabb's contract year as comfortable as possible. The addition of Jeremy Maclin to the Eagles wide receiver corps gives them the fastest and shortest set of starting wide receivers in the league, which has not proved to be a problem for McNabb in the past, who has had to put up with guys like Todd Pinkston and James Thrash as number one options in Championship-losing years. Maclin and the very speedy DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis are all under 6 feet and all run sub 4.4 forty yard dashes. Watch for the oft injured Curtis to try and step up his game as he will probably be making a transition into the slot for good, and tries to justify the 3.4 million dollars he is owed this year. The Eagles make no secret of their willingness to cut veterans and wide receivers in particular, so if Curtis doesn't perform the sometimes talented and just as short Reggie Brown will try to move in, perhaps back to the featured role he once enjoyed. It should be a good battle, to say the least, and Donovan will have more weapons at his disposal than in any year since he has been with the team.

Brian Westbrook looks to rebound from the last six games of the season (including playoffs), where he struggled through his bone-spurs to score only one touchdown and average only 3.0 yards a carry, without any 100 yards games in either receiving or rushing. And he's getting old. The trend with running backs like Westbrook points to a steep decline in production over the next two years. The window on Westbrook's productivity is closing, and the running backs behind him on the depth chart aren't even close to being able to duplicate his production and his ability to pick up the blitz. He will, however, benefit from the off season signing of Leonard Weaver, a true fullback who will help Westbrook in the running game.

The Eagles offensive line looks sturdy as ever, especially with the addition of Jason Peters. At tight end, the offenses weakest position, the serviceable Brent Celek should be able to keep the starting job and give Donovan an outlet on broken plays besides Westbrook.

On defense, the Eagles will greatly miss Jim Johnson and his insane blitz packages. The coach loved to blitz on all downs, and proved over and over that he knew how to make the most with little known talent. The injury to Stewart Bradley will keep him out for the rest of the season, but otherwise Omar Gaither and the rest of the Eagles linebacking core should be as advertised, bringing back the NFC's second best run defense (92.3), best passing defense (182.1), best opponents PPG (18.1), best overall yardage defense (274.3), fourth best takeaway defense (29 (14 fumble recoveries, 15 ints), second best sack total (behind Dallas' best 59 with 48), third most passes deflected (92)- basically, the Philadelphia Eagles are once again the defense in the NFC.

With the top defense and a top six offense that only got better, the Eagles are the team to beat in the NFC East, and the NFC as a whole. Vegas has them as the favorite to win the NFC and NFC East, and I agree. They look pretty much unstoppable. They were only blown out once in 2008, by the Ravens in the game McNabb was benched, and they destroyed the Cowboys in their second meeting, 44-6. And, again, they only got better. The defense can miss two steps, but probably won't under longtime Johnson assistant- and coach for most of last year- Sean McDermott.

Predicted Record: 13-3

Predicted Finish: 1st

Overall: NFC Champions