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August 25, 2008
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10946993
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Excerpts:

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Dallas Cowboys

Significant additions: LB Zach Thomas, CB Adam Jones,
RB Felix Jones, CB Michael Jenkins.

Significant losses: RB Julius Jones, LB Akin Ayodele,
WR Terry Glenn, S Keith Davis, CB Jacques Reeves,
TE Anthony Fasano, CB Nate Jones, DT Jason Ferguson.

Biggest offseason move: Acquiring the troubled Adam
Jones. The Cowboys say this is a low-risk, high-reward
move, but we won't know until after this season. He hasn't
played in a year-and-a-half and might be more valuable as
a returner.

Will go to the playoffs if ... They don't pull an el foldo
down the stretch. There is no more talented team in the
NFC, but the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since
December 1996 and are 4-7 in December and January
under Tony Romo.

Rookie to watch: RB Felix Jones. He was drafted because
he's a big-play threat, an elusive back who can catch and is
dangerous in the open field.

Overview: Maybe this is the year of the coronation, I don't
know. The Cowboys are loaded. There is depth everywhere.
And the division seems set up for them to stay on top. Except
... except there's that pesky thing called the playoffs. Dallas
hasn't figured it out in over a decade, and coach Wade Phil-
lips is 0-4 there for his career.

---

New York Giants

Significant additions: S Sammy Knight, DE Renaldo Wynn,
QB David Carr, LB Danny Clark, S Kenny Phillips,
WR Mario Manningham, CB Terrell Thomas.

Significant losses: DE Michael Strahan, DE Osi Umenyiora
(injury), TE Jeremy Shockey, S Gibril Wilson, LB Kawika
Mitchell, LB Reggie Torbor, DT William Joseph.

Biggest offseason move: Trading away Shockey. He became
a disruption, so he had to go. He's more talented than Kevin
Boss, but Boss is more coachable. Big difference. File this
one under addition by subtraction.

Will go to the playoffs if ... Eli Manning plays as he did
down the stretch, and they find a suitable replacement for
the injured Osi Umenyiora. Good luck.

Rookie to watch: S Kenny Phillips. People with the club tell
me he's the second coming of Brian Dawkins, and I believe
it after watching him in training camp. He will start. The only
question is when.

Overview: I liked the Giants until Umenyiora bowed out for
the season. OK, so one guy doesn't make a defense, but this
was the team's best pass rusher and the defense's most valu-
able member. I don't know how you overcome that, but the
Giants will try by moving Mathias Kiwanuka back to defen-
sive end. Now they keep their fingers crossed at linebacker.

---

Philadelphia Eagles

Significant additions: CB Asante Samuel, DE Chris Cle-
mons, RB Lorenzo Booker, LB Rocky Boiman, TE Kris
Wilson, DT Trevor Laws, WR DeSean Jackson.

Significant losses: DE Jevon Kearse, LB Takeo Spikes,
CB William James, FB Thomas Tapeh, DT LaJuan Ramsey.

Biggest offseason move: Signing Samuel. The Eagles had
a league-low 19 takeaways last season, including 11 inter-
ceptions. Samuel had a league-high 16 interceptions the
past two seasons. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why
he fits.

Will go to the playoffs if ... They can keep Donovan Mc-
Nabb healthy -- which means keeping the offensive line
intact -- and produce a pass rush. Coordinator Jim Johnson
likes what he has, particularly at linebacker, but his front
seven better produce more heat than the one that last year
had 37 sacks.

Rookie to watch: It has to be wide receiver DeSean Jack-
son. He's a breakaway threat, particularly as a return spe-
'cialist, and finds enough holes in the defense that he led
the Eagles receivers in catches this summer.

Overview: I like what this team does because Andy Reid
always has a plan. But you have to have weapons, too,
and right now I don't know if they have enough to scare
Dallas, particularly with Kevin Curtis sidelined indefin-
itely. Yeah, Jackson looks good, but he's a rookie, he's
small and he's not suited to being a No. 1 target. So
who's numero uno? Good question.

Washington Redskins

Significant additions: DE Jason Taylor, DE Erasmus
James, WR Devin Thomas, TE Fred Davis, WR Malcolm
Kelly.

Significant losses: DE Phillip Daniels (injury), QB Mark
Brunell, S Pierson Prioleau.

Biggest offseason move: Trading for Taylor. The Red-
skins ranked last in the division in sacks. Having Taylor
and Andre Carter as defensive ends will make it tough
to protect the quarterback.

Will go to the playoffs if ... They can survive the first
five games. They play all three division opponents, and
all on the road. We'll learn a lot about Jim Zorn and his
quarterback, Jason Campbell, in the first month and a
half.

Rookie to watch: I'll take TE Fred Davis. I know, I know,
the Redskins already have a terrific pass catcher in tight
end Chris Cooley. But Davis looked good this summer
and will be used in two tight-end sets. He should make
an impact.

Overview: Poor Washington. It's in the NFC's most bru-
tal division and has the most inexperienced head coach.
Zorn goes from quarterbacks coach to taking on Dallas,
Philadelphia and the Giants, but Washington hopes he
can do for the Redskins what former QB coach Andy
Reid did for Philadelphia. If Campbell makes a leap for-
ward he has a chance.

--- end excerpts ---

>Overview: I liked the Giants until Umenyiora bowed out for
>the season. OK, so one guy doesn't make a defense, but this
>was the team's best pass rusher and the defense's most valu-
>able member. I don't know how you overcome that, but the
>Giants will try by moving Mathias Kiwanuka back to defen-
>sive end. Now they keep their fingers crossed at linebacker.

I'll take it one step further. Kiwi needs to show that his rookie year was,
well, just a rookie year getting to know the league. I can see Spags and the
line coaches working OT teaching Kiwi how and when to bring down the QB. Great
men are made by the worst of times. This will be the time Kiwi shows the NFL the
promise his college record hinted.

As for Osi, this HAS to be a wake-up call (I doubt it) that there are too many
injuries in the NFL that did not have to happen because of turf, size of the
players, poor officiating or something that a board of consulting physiologists
and coaches can figure out. As a fan, it's just very disconcerting that the
league's best players are not on the field at least 50% of the time. But even
worse is how heart wrenching it is to see these great huge athletes reduced to
near cripples when they turn 40.

On Aug 27, 12:19 pm, "lubow" <lu...@lubowindustries.com> wrote:
> >Overview: I liked the Giants until Umenyiora bowed out for
> >the season. OK, so one guy doesn't make a defense, but this
> >was the team's best pass rusher and the defense's most valu-
> >able member. I don't know how you overcome that, but the
> >Giants will try by moving Mathias Kiwanuka back to defen-
> >sive end. Now they keep their fingers crossed at linebacker.
>
> I'll take it one step further.  Kiwi needs to show that his rookie yearwas,
> well, just a rookie year getting to know the league.  I can see Spags and the
> line coaches working OT teaching Kiwi how and when to bring down the QB.  Great
> men are made by the worst of times. This will be the time Kiwi shows the NFL the
> promise his college record hinted.

Last season wasn't his rookie year ... I've cut and pasted comments on
his rookie year below ... as a DE his stellar play as a rookie after
Osi went down told the Giants even with Osi and Strahan ... they had
to get him on the field somewhere ...

Took over at right end at Dallas (10/23) after Osi Umenyiora left
the game with a hip flexor strain in the 3rd quarter. Finished with 2
quarterback hits…Pressure and hit on Tony Romo in the 4th quarter
forced a bad throw that was intercepted by Fred Robbins.
- Made his 1st career start vs. Tampa Bay (10/29) at right
defensive end and finished with 6 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack and a
forced fumble…Recorded his 1st career sack when he dropped Bruce
Gradkowski for a 5-yard loss. Also forced a fumble in the 2nd quarter…
Tackled Carnell Williams for a 1-yard loss in the 1st quarter.
- Started at right defensive end and finished with 7 solo
tackles and a sack vs. Houston (11/5)…Recorded his 2nd sack when he
stopped David Carr for a 6-yard loss in the 4th quarter…On the next
play, tackled Wali Lundy for a 1-yard loss.
- Started at right defensive end vs. Chicago (11/12), and
finished with 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 quarterback hurries and 1
interception…Picked off a Rex Grossman pass intended for Rashied Davis
for his 1st career interception and returned it 32 yards to set up
Brandon Jacobs’ 1-yard touchdown run.
- Started at left defensive end vs. Dallas (12/3), and
finished with 8 tackles (6 solo), 1 sack, 2 QB hits, 1 interception, a
pass defensed and a forced fumble…Intercepted his 2nd pass of the
season when he caught a tipped throw from Romo. Returned the
interception 12 yards before fumbling the ball, which was recovered by
Dallas WR Sam Hurd…His 2-yard sack and forced fumble of Romo in the
2nd quarter was his 3rd of the season…Tackled Julius Jones for a 3-
yard loss in the 4th quarter…Stuffed Marion Barber for no gain in the
4th quarter.
- Started at left defensive end at Carolina (12/10) and had
4 tackles (2 solo) 1 sack, 2 QB hurries and 2 QB hits…Recorded his 4th
sack of the season when he dropped Chris Weinke at the line of
scrimmage in the 4th quarter.
- Started in the NFC Wild Card game at Philadelphia (1/7/07)
and finished with a team-high 7 tackles (5 solo).

Great post and highly informative!

Sorry if I sounded confusing. Last year Kiwi was a LB. As a rookie DE his
problem seemed to be hitting the QB late or letting the QB escape. All I'm
saying is if his problems as a rookie DE are not corrected by the coaching staff
and by the player, it may be one of those Fran Tarkenton seasons (if you're old
enough to remember those crazy flea-flickin' days) with the D allowing as many
points as the O can score.

IMO the most important part of the game for the D is to establish a pass rush.
If an opposing offense cannot get the ball into the air or if it needs its
backfield to protect the passer, the D already completed 80% of its tasks.




"number6" <snumber6@aol.com> wrote in message
news:fdd50ddf-064b-4fc2-bb8d-495a6464f867@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
On Aug 27, 12:19 pm, "lubow" <lu...@lubowindustries.com> wrote:
> >Overview: I liked the Giants until Umenyiora bowed out for
> >the season. OK, so one guy doesn't make a defense, but this
> >was the team's best pass rusher and the defense's most valu-
> >able member. I don't know how you overcome that, but the
> >Giants will try by moving Mathias Kiwanuka back to defen-
> >sive end. Now they keep their fingers crossed at linebacker.
>
> I'll take it one step further. Kiwi needs to show that his rookie year was,
> well, just a rookie year getting to know the league. I can see Spags and the
> line coaches working OT teaching Kiwi how and when to bring down the QB. Great
> men are made by the worst of times. This will be the time Kiwi shows the NFL
> the
> promise his college record hinted.

Last season wasn't his rookie year ... I've cut and pasted comments on
his rookie year below ... as a DE his stellar play as a rookie after
Osi went down told the Giants even with Osi and Strahan ... they had
to get him on the field somewhere ...

Took over at right end at Dallas (10/23) after Osi Umenyiora left
the game with a hip flexor strain in the 3rd quarter. Finished with 2
quarterback hits…Pressure and hit on Tony Romo in the 4th quarter
forced a bad throw that was intercepted by Fred Robbins.
- Made his 1st career start vs. Tampa Bay (10/29) at right
defensive end and finished with 6 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack and a
forced fumble…Recorded his 1st career sack when he dropped Bruce
Gradkowski for a 5-yard loss. Also forced a fumble in the 2nd quarter…
Tackled Carnell Williams for a 1-yard loss in the 1st quarter.
- Started at right defensive end and finished with 7 solo
tackles and a sack vs. Houston (11/5)…Recorded his 2nd sack when he
stopped David Carr for a 6-yard loss in the 4th quarter…On the next
play, tackled Wali Lundy for a 1-yard loss.
- Started at right defensive end vs. Chicago (11/12), and
finished with 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 quarterback hurries and 1
interception…Picked off a Rex Grossman pass intended for Rashied Davis
for his 1st career interception and returned it 32 yards to set up
Brandon Jacobs’ 1-yard touchdown run.
- Started at left defensive end vs. Dallas (12/3), and
finished with 8 tackles (6 solo), 1 sack, 2 QB hits, 1 interception, a
pass defensed and a forced fumble…Intercepted his 2nd pass of the
season when he caught a tipped throw from Romo. Returned the
interception 12 yards before fumbling the ball, which was recovered by
Dallas WR Sam Hurd…His 2-yard sack and forced fumble of Romo in the
2nd quarter was his 3rd of the season…Tackled Julius Jones for a 3-
yard loss in the 4th quarter…Stuffed Marion Barber for no gain in the
4th quarter.
- Started at left defensive end at Carolina (12/10) and had
4 tackles (2 solo) 1 sack, 2 QB hurries and 2 QB hits…Recorded his 4th
sack of the season when he dropped Chris Weinke at the line of
scrimmage in the 4th quarter.
- Started in the NFC Wild Card game at Philadelphia (1/7/07)
and finished with a team-high 7 tackles (5 solo).

Are you petitioning the league to add another wild card spot?

"observer" <observer@shinyfeet.com> wrote in message news:7tqdnfghPObu8SjVnZ2dnUVZ_gWdnZ2d@pghconnect.com...

> Washington Redskins
>
> Significant losses: DE Phillip Daniels (injury), QB Mark
> Brunell, S Pierson Prioleau.

Brunell and Prioleau are "Significant losses"?
LOL

> Overview: Poor Washington. It's in the NFC's most bru-
> tal division and has the most inexperienced head coach.
> Zorn goes from quarterbacks coach to taking on Dallas,
> Philadelphia and the Giants, but Washington hopes he
> can do for the Redskins what former QB coach Andy
> Reid did for Philadelphia. If Campbell makes a leap for-
> ward he has a chance.

No, poor Washington because our Oline only comes out
to play for 6 or 7 games a season. They start their vacation
whenever we're lucky to make the playoffs.