New York Giants
Coach Tom Coughlin
Offense Defense
QB ELI MANNING DE JUSTIN TUCK
RB DAVID WILSON DT LINVAL JOESPH
FB HENRY HYNOSKI DT CULLEN JENKINS
WR VICTOR CRUZ DE JASON PIERRE-PAUL
WR HAKEEM NICKS OLB KEITH RIVERS
TE BRANDON MYERS MLB MARK HERZLICH
RT DAVID DIEHL OLB SPENCER PAYSINGER
RG CHRIS SNEE CB COREY WEBSTER
C DAVID BAAS CB PRINCE AMUKAMARA
LG KEVIN BOOTHE FS RYAN MUNDY
LT WILL BEATY SS ANTREL ROLLE
Strengths: Whenever you have a Manning under center, you’re going to have a very good year. With great outside weapons with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks the Giants will put points on the board. Running back David Wilson has shown his explosiveness in the preseason and is poised for a big breakout year at running back. The Giants front four is their bread and butter on defense. When healthy Tuck and JPP provide a nightmare for offensive lines. With great depth at the defensive end position, with
Mathius Kiwanuka and rookie Damontre Moore, and Joesph and Jenkins filling up the middle, the Giants defense could be poised to create havoc ion 2013.
Weaknesses: On offense the Giants are going to need to find consistency at the running back position. The G-men also need to keep Manning upright. Last season the offensive line showed many holes that at the moment don’t look to have been filled since the end of last season. If the Giants can’t keep Manning upright, then the offense will sputter. On defense the Giants need to stay healthy and get pressure on the quarterback. With a weak safety, and an even weaker line-backing core, the Giants need a big season out of the front four. If they can’t stay healthy or get to the quarterback, then the Giants defense will once again be a revolving door for the opposing offense.
Overall Prediction: 9-7 1st place NFC East:
With a difficult schedule this season a 9-7 record would be where the Giants finish. Considering all the question marks on defense, the offensive line, and health, the Giants should be able to make the playoffs despite not winning ten games. With the best quarterback situation in the talented NFC East. The Cowboys haven’t proven to be serious contenders in years, the Eagles are rebuilding, and the Redskins need to see if RGIII can get through a full season at quarterback. Either way it looks like the Giants will be back in the playoffs in 2013 and will try to make another run to the Super Bowl, which will be in their own stadium this year.
New York Jets
Coach Rex Ryan
Offense Defense
QB GENO SMITH(R)/ MARK SANCHEZ DE MUHAMMAD WILKERSON
RB BILAL POWELL NT KENRICK ELLIS
FB TOMMY BOHANON (R) DE SHELDON RICHARDSON (R)
WR JEREMY KERLEY OLB QUINTON COPLES
WR STEPHEN HILL ILB DAVIS HARRIS
TE JEFF CUMBERLAND ILB DEMARIO DAVIS
RT AUSTIN HOWARD OLB CALVIN PACE
RG WILLIE COLON CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE
C NICK MANGOLD CB DEE MILLINER (R )
LG VLADIMIR DUCASSE FS ANTONIO ALLEN
LT D’BRICKASHAW FERGUSON SS DAWAN LANDRY
Strengths: Rex Ryan team, think we know the answer to this one. If the Jets want to be competitive at all this season the defense must be a top unit in the NFL. While the deep secondary may have some holes, especially with Darrelle Revis leaving, the Jets still have a strong secondary with pro bowler Antonio Cromartie and rookie Dee Milliner. With Muhammad Wilkerson establishing himself as one of the best defensive players in the NFL, the Jets also added first rounder Sheldon Richardson to the pass rush. While it remains to see if Quinton Coples will remain at outside linebacker, with more athleticism and a stronger emphasis on the blitz, the Jets defense will get to the
quarterback. On offense the Jets have added more depth to the running game as they will emphasis running the football more. Plus with pro bowlers Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson on the line, the Jets may once again be one of the best at running the ball in 2013.
Weaknesses: Hmm other than quarterback? While it remains uncertain who will be the signal caller for the Jets in 2013, one can only hope it’s not Mr. Buttfumble Mark Sanchez. While it does look like it will be Geno time sooner than later, the fact is the Jets quarterback situation is terrible. Add in the lack of a star running back, a weak receiving core that’s still unsure when Santonio Holmes will return, and arguably the leagues weakest crop of tight ends, yeah the Jets offense isn’r looking too good right now. On the defensive side the two questions are can the safeties be solid starters and can Quinton Coples effectively transition to the rush 3-4 outside linebacking position.
Overall: 8-8 2nd AFC East: If Geno can be a solid quarterback, which isn’t too hard given Mark Sanchez’s recent history, the Jets can be a 500 team. Personally I’m not buying into the Dolphins or Bills until the finally can prove themselves as contenders this season. Rex Ryan is coaching to save his life and knows that he has to give a great performance this year. This defense is vastly underrated and has the potential to be a great defense. If the offense can run the ball, and not turn the ball over, then the Jets could surprise a lot of people in 2013. One things for sure, there is never a dull moment with this team.
Philadelphia Eagles
Coach Chip Kelly
Offense Defense
QB MICHAEL VICK DE FLETCHER COX
RB LESHEAN McCOY NT ISSAC SOPOAGA
WR DESEAN JACKSON DE CLIFTON GEATHERS
WR RILEY COOPER OLB TRENT COLE
TE BRENT CELEK ILB DEMECO RYANS
TE ZACH ERTZ ( R) ILB MYCHAL KENDRICKS
RT LANE JOHNSON (R ) OLB CONNOR BARWIN
RG TODD HEREMANS CB CARY WILLIAMS
C JASON KELCE CB BRADLEY FLETCHER
LG EVAN MATHIS FS PATRICK CHUNG
LT JASON PETERS SS NATE ALLEN
Strengths: Given Chip Kelly’s prolific offense in Oregon, this could be a year where the Eagles light up the scoreboard. When healthy Vick still has big play capability and a big arm to stretch the field. Whoever the quarterback is, he’ll have a vast arsenal of weaponry at his disposal. Jackson, Avant, Celek, Ertz, McCoy are all playmakers that create nightmare matchups for opposing defenses. With an improvement along the
offensive line it could be a lot easier for Eagles quarterbacks this season. If the quarterbacks can remain upright, this offense will score some points.
Weaknesses: On offense there are only two. First who will be the quarterback by the end of the season, and second can this offensive line protects whoever that quarterback will be. Michael Vick hasn’t played a full season in years, and it’s likely that the Eagles will turn to Matt Barkley or Nick Foles by the end of the season. The biggest problem for this team is the defense. Last year it was one of the worst units in the NFL, but now many starters from last season have been replaced with general unknowns. While the Eagles have lost many defensive starters, the biggest problem is that they are switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. The problem? The Eagles personal fits a 4-3 defense better. Trent Cole, the Eagles best defender is a great 4-3, but moving him to a standing up 3-4 linebacker could make him less effective.
Overall: 6-10 4th NFC east Sorry Eagles fan. In the difficult NFC East, questions at the quarterback position, and a terrible defense, it’s going to be a rebuilding year in Philadelphia. While the will score points, I think we will see games where they will score 30 points but loss because their defense is so bad. Chip Kelly may begin righting the ship in Philly and being his high-powered offense to the pros, but unfortunately you need to play defense to. 2013 will be a step in the right direction, especially with Kelly at the helm, but it just won’t be a step back into the playoffs.