Starting QB:
1. Eli Manning-NY Giants
2. Tony Romo-Dallas Cowboys
3. Donovan McNabb-Philadelphia Eagles
4. Jason Campbell-Washington Redskins
Wouldn't have expected this last year, but Eli has a Super Bowl ring and the others don't. Romo plays well in a great system, but needs to show he can get the team over the hump. McNabb is on the downside of his career and Campbell is in a make or break year. He needs to stay healthy and put up consistent numbers.
Backup QBs:
1. Kevin Kolb, A.J. Feeley-Philadelphia Eagles
2. Todd Collins, Colt Brennan-Washington Redskins
3. David Carr, Andre' Woodson-NY Giants
4. Brad Johnson, Richard Bartel-Dallas Cowboys
Kolb is waiting in the wings and Feeley has shown he can run the system. Collins filled in well for the Skins when Campbell went down last year and took them to the playoffs. Carr is a bust and Johnson is getting too old.
Starting RB:
1. Brian Westbrook-Philadelphia Eagles
2. Clinton Portis-Washington Redskins
3. Marion Barber-Dallas Cowboys
4. Brandon Jacobs-NY Giants
Westbrook is the best all-around back in the league. Portis is a workhorse and easily the best blocking back in the league. Barber plays bigger than he is and hits holes extremely hard, but lacks top end speed. Jacobs is a bruising back, but doesn't have breakaway speed and needs to show he can be more durable.
Backup RBs:
1. Derrick Ward, Ahmad Bradshaw-NY Giants
2. Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright-Washington Redskins
3. Felix Jones, Tashard Choice-Dallas Cowboys
4. Correll Buckhalter, Lorenzo Booker-Philadelphia Eagles
Ward and Bradshaw picked up the slack where Jacobs tailed off to bring a great committee to the Giants system. Betts is the best backup in the division and Cartwright is one of the most solid kickoff returners in the league. Jones and Choice haven't played a down in the league yet, but could have a big impact this year. Buckhalter is serviceable, but often injured and Booker is a return threat.
#1 WR:
1. Terrell Owens-Dallas Cowboys
2. Plaxico Burress-NY Giants
3. Santana Moss-Washington Redskins
4. Kevin Curtis-Philadelphia Eagles
TO is still one of the best in the game. Burress is a huge target with great hands. Moss is a burner, but lacks size and has injury concerns. Curtis isn't a true #1 receiver.
#2 WR:
1. Amani Toomer-NY Giants
2. Antwaan Randle El-Washington Redskins
3. Patrick Crayton-Dallas Cowboys
4. Reggie Brown-Philadelphia Eagles
Toomer is aging, but keeps himself in great shape and has avoided injury. Randle El and Crayton are both better suited as slot receivers. Brown is another undersized receiver the Eagles can't consistently count on.
Backup WRs:
1. James Thrash, Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, Anthony Mix-Washington Redskins
2. Terry Glenn, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, Isiah Stanback-Dallas Cowboys
3. David Tyree, Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham-NY Giants
4. Jason Avant, Greg Lewis, DeSean Jackson, Hank Baskett-Philadelphia Eagles
Washington has a great combo of veteran leadership and young draft picks in the corps. Thrash does everything asked of him, Mix is a special teams contributor while Kelly and Thomas were high draft picks. Dallas has speed, but inexperience as well. Glenn's knee is a huge concern. New York has stock piled high WR draft picks, but haven't seen a return on the investment. Tyree pulled a rabbit out of his helmet in the Super Bowl. Philadelphia didn't fully address its WR issue in the draft. Jackson might be snapped in half during division play. LaRon Landry, Brian Dawkins and Roy Williams have him in their sights.
Starting TEs:
1. Jason Witten-Dallas Cowboys
2. Chris Cooley-Washington Redskins
3. L.J. Smith-Philadelphia Eagles
4. Kevin Boss-NY Giants
A good crop all-around in the division. Witten and Cooley are both Pro Bowlers and two of the league's best. The Eagles thought enough of Smith to use the franchise tag on him. Boss played so well last season the Giants entertained the thought of trading Jeremy Shockey and pulled the trigger.
Backup TE:
1. Fred Davis-Washington Redskins
2. Martellus Bennett-Dallas Cowboys
3. Matt Schobel-Philadelphia Eagles
4. Michael Matthews-NY Giants
Not much depth here. Davis and Bennett are high draft picks. Schobel is serviceable.
FB:
1. Mike Sellers-Washington Redskins
2. Madison Hedgecock-NY Giants
3. Jason Davis-Philadelphia Eagles
4. Deon Anderson-Dallas Cowboys
Sellers is used more than the others. He's also the only one of the group with a real shot at the Pro Bowl.
LT:
1. Chris Samuels-Washington Redskins
2. Flozell Adams-Dallas Cowboys
3. Tra Thomas-Philadelphia Eagles
4. David Diehl-NY Giants
Samuels might be the best in the game and Adams is a Pro Bowl talent. Thomas and Diehl are just a step behind, but still very good.
LG:
1. Pete Kendall-Washington Redskins
2. Rich Suebert-NY Giants
3. Kyle Kozier-Dallas Cowboys
4. Todd Herremans-Philadelphia Eagles
Kendall is durable, but aging. Still he heads the class of the weakest position in the division on the offensive line.
C:
1. Casey Rabach-Washington Redskins
2. Andre Gurode-Dallas Cowboys
3. Shaun O'Hara-NY Giants
4. Jamaal Jackson-Philadelphia Eagles
I don't understand how Gurode was voted to the Pro Bowl after snapping the ball over Romo's head so many times last year. Rabach is one of the most underrated linemen in the league. O'Hara is a sold lineman and Jackson brings up the rear.
RG:
1. Shawn Andrews-Philadelphia Eagles
2. Leonard Davis-Dallas Cowboys
3. Chris Snee-NY Giants
4. Randy Thomas-Washington Redskins
Andrews is an absolute force and Davis lost the "bust" label by making the switch from tackle to guard. Snee is solid in the middle. Thomas is a great guard, especially pulling, and would be higher on the list if it weren't for tearing his triceps and missing almost all of last season.
RT:
1. Jon Runyan-Philadelphia Eagles
2. Kareem McKenzie-NY Giants
3. Jon Jansen-Washington Redskins
4. Marc Colombo-Dallas Cowboys
An aging unit altogether in the division. Runyan has always been good, but is past his prime. McKenzie does well on Manning's strong side. Jansen is solid, but is coming off two major injuries in recent years, including a week 1 dislocated/fractured ankle that kept him out of the entire season. Colombo is serviceable, but geting older.
Backup offensive linemen:
1. Stephon Heyer, Jason Fabini, Todd Wade, Chad Rhinehart-Washington Redskins
2. Max Jean-Gilles, Winston Justice, King Dunlap, Scott Young-Philadelphia Eagles
3. Guy Whimper, Adam Koets, Kevin Boothe, Na'Shan Goddard-NY Giants
4. Pat McQuistan, Doug Free, James Marten, Joe Berger-Dallas Cowboys
RE:
1. Osi Umenyiora-NY Giants
2. Andre Carter-Washington Redskins
3. Trent Cole-Philadelphia Eagles
4. Marcus Spears-Dallas Cowboys
Umenyiora is one of the best in the league. Carter was unlucky to not go to the Pro Bowl last year. Cole is just a step or two behind them. Tough for Spears being in a 3-4 system, he's more of a DT than DE in that regard.
LE:
1. Jason Taylor-Washington Redskins
2. Chris Canty-Dallas Cowboys
3. Justin Tuck-NY Giants
4. Juqua Parker-Philadelphia Eagles
Huge boost for the Skins picking up Taylor. Canty and Tuck can both play inside roles as well. Parker doesn't stack up with the other three.
DTs:
1. Jay Ratliff, Tank Johnson-Dallas Cowboys
2. Cornelius Griffin, Anthony Montgomery-Washington Redskins
3. Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield-NY Giants
4. Brodrick Bunkley, Mike Patterson-Philadelphia Eagles
An overall strong group in the division. Dallas gets great pressure up the middle, despite running a 3-4. Washington has gotten great production out of late round picks on the defensive line. New York won the Super Bowl with their defensive line. Philadelphia is stronger in the middle than on the outside.
Backup defensive linemen:
1. Chris Clemons, Victor Abiamiri, Trevor Laws-Philadelphia Eagles
2. Kedric Golston, Demetric Evans, Chris Wilson, Erasmus James-Washington Redskins
3. Jay Alford, Renaldo Wynn, Dave Tollefson-NY Giants
4. Tank Johnson, Jason Hatcher, Stephen Bowen-Dallas Cowboys
OLBs:
1. Demarcus Ware, Greg Ellis-Dallas Cowboys
2. Marcus Washington, Rocky McIntosh-Washington Redskins
3. Omar Gaither, Chris Gocong-Philadelphia Eagles
4. Gerris Wilkinson, Mathias Kiwanuka-NY Giants
*WLB and SLB were grouped together because there are 4-3 and 3-4 defenses in the division.*
Dallas is head and shoulders ahead in this category. Ware is an animal. Washington needs McIntosh to come back strong after tearing his ACL and MCL late last season. Philadelphia drafted well, getting Gaither in the fifth round and he has rewarded them with solid production. Wilkinson is still developing and Kiwanuka is still converting from DE.
MLBs:
1. Bradie James, Zach Thomas-Dallas Cowboys
2. London Fletcher-Washington Redskins
3. Antonio Pierce-NY Giants
4. Stewart Bradley-Philadelphia Eagles
Cowboys have the advantage of two greats MLBs in a 3-4 system. James makes a lot of plays and Thomas is a future Hall of Famer. Fletcher is one of the most underrated LBs in the league. He's always around the ball and making tackles. He has also been more durable than anyone else, never missing a game. Pierce is much like Fletcher, but has been injured and hasn't been doing it as long. However, when on the field he is a model of consistency. Bradley has a ways to go before he catches up with the rest of this corps.
Backup LBs:
1. H.B. Blades, Khary Campbell-Washington Redskins
2. Anthony Spencer, Bobby Carpenter-Dallas Cowboys
3. Jonathan Goff, Bryan Kehl-NY Giants
4. Akeem Jordan, Joe Mays-Philadelphia Eagles
#1 CB:
1. Asante Samuel-Philadelphia Eagles
2. Terrence Newman-Dallas Cowboys
3. Shawn Springs-Washington Redskins
4. Sam Madison-NY Giants
Samuel and Newman are both Pro Bowlers. Springs is a quality cover corner, but is getting older. Madison is past his prime and has lost a step since his best playing days in Miami.
#2 CB:
1. Aaron Ross-NY Giants
2. Fred Smoot-Washington Redskins
3. Anthony Henry-Dallas Cowboys
4. Sheldon Brown-Philadelphia Eagles
Ross came on strong at the end of his rookie year last season. He's poised for a breakout year this season. Smoot has found himself again since returning to DC. Henry and Brown are solid counterparts in the secondary.
Backup CBs:
1. Pacman Jones, Mike Jenkins, Evan Oglesby-Dallas Cowboys
2. R.W. McQuarters, Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas-NY Giants
3. Carlos Rogers, Leigh Torrence, J.T. Tryon-Washington Redskins
4. Lito Sheppard, Joselio Hanson, Tanard Davis-Philadelphia Eagles
A lot of capable backups with a lot of question marks. Pacman needs to stay out of trouble. McQuarters is getting old. Rogers may be put on the PUP (physically-unable-to-peform) list and might not be available until after week six because of his torn ACL and MCL. Sheppard has demanded a trade.
FS:
1. LaRon Landry-Washington Redskins
2. Brian Dawkins-Philadelphia Eagles
3. Ken Hamlin-Dallas Cowboys
4. Kenny Phillips-NY Giants
Landry will stay at FS this year after filling in well at the end of last season. He is destined for another great campaign this year. Dawkins is aging, but can still lower the boom. Hamlin is a ball hawk and just signed long-term. Phillips will see plenty of playing time as a first-round pick.
SS:
1. Roy Williams-Dallas Cowboys
2. Quintin Mikell-Philadelphia Eagles
3. Sammy Knight-NY Giants
4. Reed Doughty-Washington Redskins
Williams is the most overrated player in the league, but is still the best of this weak corps. Mikell still needs to hold off Sean Considine for the starting spot as does Doughty with Stuart Schweigert and Kareem Moore. Knight was the weakness of the Giants' sub-par secondary last year.
Backup safeties:
1. Stuart Schweigert, Kareem Moore-Washington Redskins
2. J.R. Reed, Sean Considine-Philadelphia Eagles
3. James Butler, Michael Johnson-NY Giants
4. Pat Watkins, Tyler Everett-Dallas Cowboys
K:
1. David Akers-Philadelphia Eagles
2. Lawrence Tynes-NY Giants
3. Nick Folk-Dallas Cowboys
4. Shaun Suisham-Washington Redskins
P:
1. Jeff Feagles-NY Giants
2. Mat McBriar-Dallas Cowboys
3. Durant Brooks-Washington Redskins
4. Sav Rocca-Philadelphia Eagles
KR:
1. Rock Cartwright-Washington Redskins
2. Miles Austin-Dallas Cowboys
3. Domenick Hixon-NY Giants
4. DeSean Jackson-Philadelphia Eagles
PR:
1. Terrence Newman-Dallas Cowboys
2. Antwaan Randle El-Washington Redskins
3. DeSean Jackson-Philadelphia Eagles
4. R.W. McQuarters-NY Giants
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