Redskins are now co-favorites for the NFC East

by The Legend on Apr 4, 2010 11:08 PM EDT

According to John Clayton

By acquiring Donovan McNabb for a second-round draft choice in 2010 and a third- or fourth-rounder in 2011, the Eagles may have given Redskins owner Daniel Snyder the short-term tool to move ahead of the Eagles in the NFC East race. In a quarterback-driven league, the Redskins should be able to finally score enough points to not just be a wild-card playoff contender, but to be a division winner.

Despite being 33 years old, McNabb can add to the Redskins what Brett Favre added to the Minnesota Vikings last season and Steve McNair added to the Baltimore Ravens in a trade in 2006. Franchise quarterbacks add points to the scoreboard. Favre added 5.7 points per game to the Vikings last season and they advanced from a 10-win team to a 12-win team. McNair added 5.5 points per game to the Ravens in 2006, and they had a 13-3 season.

Former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs thought he drafted a franchise quarterback for Snyder when he took Jason Campbell in the first round of the 2005 draft. Campbell never produced enough points for the Redskins as a starter. Under Campbell, the Redskins never averaged more than 20.9 points a game, not good enough to be atop a division.

Improved quarterback play among the best teams has put more of a demand on scoring. The 12 playoff teams last season averaged 25.8 points a game. The Redskins averaged 16.6 points a game the past two seasons under Campbell.

With the play-calling of Mike Shanahan and the experience and arm of McNabb, the Redskins should easily reach 22 points and game and most likely 24. In addition to McNabb, Washington has added halfbacks Larry Johnson and Willie Parker and offensive lineman Artis Hicks this offseason. Because they used only their second-round pick in the 2010 draft in this deal, the Redskins have a chance to draft either left tackle Russell Okung or Trent Williams to improve an offensive line that got too old the past two seasons.

As for the Eagles, who were 11-5 last season, the pressure falls on the unproven quarterback Kevin Kolb. With this being his first year as the full-time starter, we can expect a two- or three-win drop in the Eagles' record because first-year starters have difficulty winning close games. The Packers experienced that after they traded Favre to the New York Jets for a second-round choice in 2008. Even though Aaron Rodgers threw for more than 4,000 yards in 2008, he struggled in the fourth quarter of close games, and the Packers dropped from 13-3 to 6-10.

The McNabb trade makes the Redskins and Cowboys the early favorites to win the NFC East, and puts the Eagles, who have moved 10 players this offseason, into just a wild-card possibility at best.

Snyder finally got his franchise quarterback. What he didn't expect was that it would be a quarterback who made the Eagles a conference championship contender every season.

Source:http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=5055486

Have you seen there offensive line John? He makes them better but this is still a 3 team division for the title

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Bullshit

Sheer and utter bull shit. No way does this put them anywhere near division favorites.

At least not yet, anyways

Never assume skill at bouncing a ball makes you smarter than the guy who built the court.

When there's a WILL there's a WAY

by Willgfass on Apr 4, 2010 11:15 PM EDT reply actions

This might be a stretch.

I think it makes the skins better than the Eagles…but division favorites? No way.

by BrianS on Apr 4, 2010 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

I dont think anyone will favor the Eagles for anything. The Eagles will correctly be seen as an unproven commodity.

And that’s fine. It’ll be exciting watching this very young team try to prove itself.

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by JasonB on Apr 4, 2010 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

EXACTLY

The old feeling of we are the underdog that no one respects is coming back. Now I hope the team can amplify the attitude and start punching teams in the mouth.

by MightyJoeBanner on Apr 5, 2010 7:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I wrote somewhere else that I like how we’ll be flying under the radar this year. A lot of people who have an opinion on this have never seen Kolb play and/or comtemplated whether his timing and efficiency would be good for our offense. They have no idea Darryl Tapp is on our team now, much less who he is or what impact he’ll have. Etcetera.

Not to mention there’s no way to judge these Eagles til we see what those 11 draft picks become.

I think we’ll be an across-the-board pick for 4th next year, except for a brave pundit or two, but I’m not so sure the Giants and Redskins are definitely better. It’ll be worth watching.

And of course, no one in football is set up quite like we could be for the next several years. We already have the offensive nucleus plus a couple of defensive stars. If we can accentuate that … oh boy.

Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome

by D3Keith on Apr 5, 2010 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions

No

It’s a two-team race buddy.

That’s not a knock on Kolb. It’s just a fact. Our defense is going to be very mediocre next year

We won’t be bad, and might even scrape 3 wins in the NFC East. But Dallas and New York will be the real contenders. Of course, I hope I’m wrong.

GO CUSE, BLUE, AND EAGLES!

by tanman5 on Apr 4, 2010 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

Fact is, you don’t dump every veteran on your roster in hopes of winning it all next year. It was time for a fresh start. No one expects(or should expect) Kevin Kolb to win a super bowl next year. THis is start of a new era.

Honestly, I’m excited for a fresh start. Hope it works…

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by JasonB on Apr 4, 2010 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh I know the strategy

He just said it would be a three-team race, which I don’t think it will be.

GO CUSE, BLUE, AND EAGLES!

by tanman5 on Apr 4, 2010 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I am not saying that we will win it all, but I do believe we can still contend for a division title

by The Legend on Apr 4, 2010 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I think a playoff spot

might be a possibility, but I don’t see how we leapfrog the Cowboys.

Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome

by D3Keith on Apr 5, 2010 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m ready for it, but it’s still shocking to look at our roster and see that besides kickers and punters, Juqua Parker is our only player above 30 (I believe).

I Am Better Than Jack Who Some Fool Thinks Is Better Than Asante (IABTJWSFTIBTA)

36-5-20-JJ Bleeding Green Forever

by DeSean10 on Apr 4, 2010 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

He could be gone before the start of the season

especially if he goes back on the marry J band wagon

by RossyJr22 on Apr 5, 2010 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I thought so too

Yomjo said elsewhere that Mikell, Rocca and Akers are over 30 too.

So basically Mikell and Parker.

One starter.

Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome

by D3Keith on Apr 5, 2010 2:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm fairly certain

That this gives Dallas that best chance of gettign the division

by Desean Da Man on Apr 4, 2010 11:29 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

yeah

eagles & giants might contend for the 2nd spot @ like 8-10 wins, but the redskins with mcnabb aren’t a 6+ win team, especially since they’ll definitely have a tougher schedule than last year

Team McNabb
I've been waiting my whole life for an Eagles Championship
RIP JJ

by sports00fan00 on Apr 4, 2010 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Bullcrap

Redskins could go 9-7 easy. I realize the schedule is tougher and they purged a ton of vets too, but they also pissed away 6 wins in the fourth quarter or OT last year. Maybe seven. They should turn some of those around just by being better coached.

You figure their running game will be better just by Shanahan alone, and drafting Okung at No. 4, and their D never really was all that bad.

I’m not saying they WILL win 9, but they certainly could win more than 6.

Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome

by D3Keith on Apr 5, 2010 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Dude the Redskins don't have a quarterback

They won’t win 6 games

GO CUSE, BLUE, AND EAGLES!

by tanman5 on Apr 5, 2010 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions

no there not, they still suck

by eaglesinmd on Apr 4, 2010 11:38 PM EDT reply actions

giants will win the NFC EAST.

………………………….

j/k

I think it’s way to early to make any predictions. At least wait till the draft is over

by CardsDefense on Apr 4, 2010 11:44 PM EDT reply actions

Agree

Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome

by D3Keith on Apr 5, 2010 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Mcnabb solves their offensive line problems? Their receiving core problems? Their running back issues and the utter turmoil caused by an idiot owner?

by jemagee on Apr 4, 2010 11:49 PM EDT reply actions

yeah

cause clearly the offseason is over now

…dumbass clayton….the draft hasnt even happened yet

"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."

-Brian Dawkins

by immynimmy on Apr 4, 2010 11:53 PM EDT reply actions

I dont care what anyone says

I still see the eagles as a team that although unproven could surprise a lot of people. An experienced offense around Kolb could help compensate for some mistakes Kolb will make, Desean can win a game by himself. The defense will get a super boost from Bradley if he’s healthy and Fouku with a year under his belt plus competition will be even better. The draft will address our secondary, and although huge underdogs I could see us doing great things. On the same note I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bad season either. It’s an exciting time to be an Eagles fan that’s for sure!!!

by RossyJr22 on Apr 5, 2010 12:44 AM EDT reply actions