FPC Division Previews: NFC East

1. Which coach could find themselves on the hot seat by the end of the season? Which coordinator could see his stock rise this season?

By using the simple process of elimination, this question shouldn’t be too difficult. Doug Pederson just won a Super Bowl with a backup quarterback, he isn’t going anywhere any time soon. Pat Shurmur is in his rookie season with the Giants so short of going 0-16, he also should be safe. That leaves Jay Gruden and Jason Garrett. Gruden has compiled a 28-36-1 record with Washington, not quite the numbers owner Dan Snyder was looking for when he gave the former Bengals offensive coordinator a five-year, $20 million fully-guaranteed contract. Garrett, on the other hand, has put together a better record, going 68-55 during his time in Dallas. However, it is the Cowboys’ lack of playoff success that may ultimately lead to Garrett being the scapegoat. If another season goes by with the Cowboys failing to make the postseason, Garrett will find himself firmly on the hot seat.

Another reason Jerry Jones may decide to move on from Garrett is due to the rise of Cowboys defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Kris Richard. Richard is most famous for his role in constructing the Legion of Boom in Seattle. Richard’s passion and energy for the game are contagious.

Sean Lee on Kris Richard going off here last night: “He’s an incredibly intense, unbelievable football coach who teaches Xs and Os, teaches technique, has brought an unbelievable amount of knowledge. He’s a guy we rally around because of the intensity he brings every single day.” pic.twitter.com/yYMKLS84e0

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 27, 2018

His impact can already be seen in Dallas’ young secondary during training camp and the preseason. While most observers had Richard pegged to replace aging defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli in 2019, his promotion may end up being much sweeter.

– Tony Iosso is the managing editor for Full Press Coverage Cowboys. Follow him @Tigga11 and follow @FPC_Cowboys.

2. Which team will have the best offense? The best defense?

The best offense belongs to Philadelphia by a nose. They have a quarterback who would’ve been MVP if he didn’t get hurt (Carson Wentz) and another who was Super Bowl MVP (Nick Foles). Their success will be totally dependent on their health and if they can shake off their Lombardi Trophy hangover.

The best defense will reside on the Meadowlands. The New York Football Giants have one of the NFL’s best d-lineman in Damon “Snacks” Harrison, one of the best pass rushers in Olivier Vernon, one of the best shutdown corners in Janoris Jenkins and one of the best strong safeties in Landon Collins. The Giants’ change from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and a new defensive coordinator will challenge them.

– Curtis Rawls is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the NFL, the New York Giants, and the NBA. Please like and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Twitter. Curtis can be followed on Twitter @CuRawls203.

3. Who will have the best position group on offense? On defense?

The best offensive position group is still the Cowboys offensive line (Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Joe Looney, Zack Martin, La’el Collins). As long as Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott are being protected by this line, Dallas will always have a chance. The best defensive position group will be the Eagles defensive line (Brandon Graham, Tim Jernigan, Fletcher Cox, Derek Barnett). They accounted for 20.5 of the team’s 38 sacks in 2017.

4. Which rookie will have the best season in 2018?

The rookie that I think will have the best season is Saquon Barkley. He was a phenom coming out of college and has all the tools for three-down running back in today’s NFL. Barkley is going to the workhorse for the Giants and he will make the most out of all those touches. As a side note, Barkley is already a darling of fantasy experts. They have him as a sure-fire first-round pick and project him to get 1,700 yards with 10-plus touchdowns and 55-plus receptions. And that doesn’t even speak volume for what else he can do on the football field. Barkley is a good blocker for a running back and he is going to lay off pressure for Eli Manning. Running backs don’t get selected this high often in this current state of the NFL, but Barkley did and it was highly warranted. He is the consensus pick for rookie of the year and there is no reason to argue why with his ability.

– Christian Gotzman is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage College Football. He covers College Football and is also a staff writer for the Philadelphia Eagles. Like and follow on Follow @C_Gotzman Follow @FPC_CFB and Facebook.

The #NFL season is upon us. Who will win the NFC East? @FPCoverage #FPCDivisionPreview #NFL @FPC_Giants @FPC_Cowboys @FPC_Redskins @FPCEagles

— Full Press NFL (@FPC_NFL) September 3, 2018

5. Who is getting too much love? Too little?

A team I think getting a bit too love is the New York Giants. As they have vastly improved, I still don’t see them making the playoffs this year. That defense is not a sure thing and the offensive line still isn’t great. Also, Manning is not what he was a few years ago. Age is catching up to him as his career is winding down. That being said, my prediction is that this New York Football Giants will go 8-8 after a 3-13 2017 season, a solid improvement. They just aren’t playoff ready as some media outlets seem to believe the Giants are to be.

A player in the NFC East that isn’t getting enough love is Washington quarterback, Alex Smith. Smith has had a nice career but really never put up the flashy stats. He does the most important thing an NFL quarterback can do though, and that is win football games. Smith has been to the playoffs four of the last five years. Over that time he has won 53 games, an average of just over 10 wins a year. As the Redskins moved on from Kirk Cousins, they got a proven winner. Look out for the Redskins with Smith at the helm this year.

6. Which offseason acquisition (signing or trade) will be the best? The worst?

Haloti Ngata to Philadelphia was a steal of a free agent signing. They have Ngata on a one-year deal for only $3 million. Great low risk, high reward signing for the Eagles. Ngata will complement All-Pro Fletcher Cox in the trenches, as well.

The worst? Orlando Scandrick. When will the Redskins learn? Cowboy players rarely make a successful transition to the Burgundy and Gold. I can see the logic to find a capable replacement to the departed Kendall Fuller. But was it really wise to sign a 31-year-old cornerback who hasn’t played a full season since 2013? And that’s including a missed season in 2015. Further clouding this decision is the documented history of Scandrick being opinionated and inflexible. If the Redskins did their due diligence, they would have concluded that he was a poor mix with Washington’s young prospects. They found out eventually, and paid a million dollars for him to walk away. This was a bad decision from the start.

– J.W. Gravley is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Redskins. He covers the Redskins and the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @gravleyonair Follow @FPC_Redskins and Facebook.

7. Who will be the offensive and defensive MVP of the division?

On the offensive side of the ball, it’s got to be Ezekiel Elliott. It takes a special player to dictate the tone of an offense, and Zeke just does that. In 10 games last season, Elliott compiled 983 yards and nine total touchdowns. At a clip of 98.3 yards per game, Elliott proved that he was more than a one-hit wonder. He is primed to unleash his frustration of being suspended for six games last season. With Dallas stalwarts Dez Bryant and Jason Witten no longer with the team, the weight of the offense now falls on Elliott’s shoulders. This plays right into the hand of Jason Garrett’s mentality of ball control and time of possession. If the Cowboys have any hope of the postseason, they need to ride the back of their workhorse.

On the defensive side, Brandon Graham. This selection could be any one of the star-studded members of the Eagles defensive line, but Graham gets the nod due to his 9.5 sacks last season. That’s an eye-popping number for a position typically associated with stopping the run. With Philadelphia’s elite offense, the Eagles are a defensive play away from seizing control of a game. And Graham provides that. He’s a proven pass disruptor on a 13-3 team. You don’t find many of those walking down the street. Lookout for Graham on Sundays.

– J.W. Gravley is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Redskins. He covers the Redskins and the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @gravleyonair Follow @FPC_Redskins and Facebook.

8. What will be the best game (assuming standing and importance) within the division in 2018?

The NFC East is a competitive division year-in and year-out. Don’t look for that to change in 2018. Whenever two of these four teams square off, you can throw records away. That being said, I expect the Eagles and Cowboys to ultimately be the ones battling it out for the division crown. The first meeting between the two will take place November 11th, but it is the second showdown that will carry the most weight. In week 14, Philly will travel to Dallas for a game that very well could decide who pulls ahead in the division race.

– Tony Iosso is the managing editor for Full Press Coverage Cowboys. Follow him @Tigga11 and follow @FPC_Cowboys.