Inside The Nfc East

Sporting News, The, Jan 1, 2001

2000 HIGHS AND LOWS

BEST SURPRISE: Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles. He led his team to the playoffs without a quality wide receiver and no running game for more than half of the season.

BIGGEST BUST: The Redskins proved that money can't buy a Super Bowl. Washington imploded because of injuries, poor play and Danny boy.

BEST BAND-AID: David Boston, WR, Cardinals. He had a strong season despite having to fill the void left by Rob Moore's injury, his team's bad offensive line and an ineffective quarterback.

MOST PAINFUL INJURY: Joey Galloway, WR, Cowboys. The way he went out--with a tom knee ligament suffered late in a blowout loss in Week 1, when he should have been out of the game--was just plain stupid.

PLAY TO REMEMBER: McNabb's 21-yard scamper for a touchdown against the Redskins in Week 13. He outran one Redskin, schooled another and carried a third the final 3 yards into the end zone.

PLAY TO FORGET: In Week 16, Steelers RB Richard Huntley bounced off a tackle by Washington's Mark Carrier and ran over Champ Bailey to score on a 30-yard run, sealing the Redskins' non-playoff fate.

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER: One of the Cardinals' few bright spots was KR MarTay Jenkins, who helped the team finish near the top of the league in at least one department (kickoff return yardage) this season.

CHANGE FOR THE WORSE: Dallas drafted CBs Dwayne Goodrich and Kareem Larrimore to help fill the void left by Deion Sanders. They were woefully overmatched.

FREE-AGENT FLOP: Sanders, Redskins. At 33, his days as the NFL's best cover corner are over.

ABOUT TO CASH IN: Jeremiah Troffer, MLB, Eagles. The team already cut a deal with TE Chad Lewis, who also was a first-time Pro Bowl selection. Troffer, a restricted free agent, moves to the top of the club's list.

ONE THING WE WERE WRONG ABOUT: That Dallas QB Troy Aikman would bounce back from a poor game against Carolina with a good game against the Giants in Week 7. He threw five INTs in a 19-14 Giants victory.

YEAH, BUT WE SURE NAILED THIS ONE: The Giants would beat the Eagles in Week 9 to improve to 4-1 in the NFC East. New York obliged, 24-7. --Sean Stewart

Arizona

3-13: 5th

Team won't be competitive until it fixes defensive line

DETERMINING FACTOR: Plenty went wrong, but nothing hurt as much as a defensive line that was rendered moot. The team knew going into camp it would be a problem--LE Andre Wadsworth was recovering from knee surgery; RT Mark Smith was unhappy and reported late; RE Simeon Rice was unsigned until after the first game-but it turned into a real disaster area. The defense allowed more than 160 yards a game on the ground and couldn't generate a pass rush. The team played from behind too often.

RATING THE ROOKIES: The club didn't get nearly enough from RB Thomas Jones, the seventh pick overall, but it is nearly impossible to tell how much of that was Jones and how much was an offensive line that rarely cleared holes. Jones also was battling RB Michael Pittman, who won the job. If Jones uses what he learned to grow next season, he can be a bigger factor, although his chances of becoming a 1,000-yard rusher are slim. He will gain ground if Pittman, a restricted free agent, holds out at all. If LB Raynoch Thompson adds some weight, he can be an adequate player. Weight isn't a problem for 6-6, 305-pound DT Mae Tosi, who went from fifth-round pick to starter and has a real chance-assuming he continues his progress--to be a solid tackle. The Cardinals' weaknesses on the defensive line will provide him plenty of opportunity. LB Sekou Sanyika probably is best suited for a special teams role despite filling in on defense this season.

OFFSEASON GAME PLAN: What don't the Cardinals have to do this offseason? They will have a top-five draft pick and likely will need to draft a defensive lineman. They will consider trading down if they can get a good deal and stockpile more picks and/or decent players. The franchise tag will be reserved for CB Aeneas Williams or DE Simeon Rice, and the team will try to get one to sign a new contract so the tag is available for the other. The club must sign a free-agent guard to shore up the offensive line and likely will take an offensive lineman in the draft, too. Owner Bill Bidwill has promised Dave McGinnis control of personnel, but there is much skepticism. Salary-cap problems will keep McGinnis from making a total overhaul. The team must watch a couple of rehabilitating players. If WR Rob Moore can't be the same after tearing up his knee, the Cardinals might have to consider finding another wideout. More important, C Mike Gruttadauria has to come back from neck surgery to anchor the line. Otherwise, it will be another hole to fill. --Darren Urban

FINAL GRADES

Regular season

OFFENSE D

Some days the team could move the ball, but it never did find a way to score.

DEFENSE D

With no defensive line, there never was a chance to stop anyone.

SPECIAL TEAMS B

The punt and kickoff return teams were very good; K Cary Blanchard struggled.

COACHING C-

Vince Lombardi would have had trouble getting much from this team.