Content provided in partnership with

NFC east

Sporting News, The, Oct 25, 2004

DALLAS COWBOYS

Keyshawn Johnson is the physical receiver the Cowboys have lacked since Michael Irvin retired. Johnson makes tough catches that sustain drives. He gets open down-field, even though there have been questions about his speed for years. He also still is good enough to draw double coverage, which helps Antonio Bryant and Terry Glenn get open.... RCB Tyrone Williams was solid in his first start with the team. A starter most of his nine-year career, Williams has good footwork and does a nice job of deflecting passes with his long arms. DEFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: The plan was to use one safety to give the right cornerback help and use the other safety to support the run, which meant LCB Terence Newman would play quite a bit of man-to-man coverage. Newman has not responded to the challenge, getting beat regularly. At some point, the Cowboys will have to give him occasional safety help. Newman was expected to become a star this season, but he has been average.--Jean-Jacques Taylor

Most Popular Articles in Sports: The first family: Archie, Peyton and Eli are incredibly famous, immensely ...; The growing gap: driving distances are skyrocketing on the PGA Tour. So why ...; Which pistol caliber for self defense? Four different people come to four ...; Drag racing - National Hot Rod Association; The world's most popular .22: the Marlin Model 60 just keeps on ticking; More »

NEW YORK GIANTS

The loss of WR Tim Carter (hip) for the season opens the door for rookie Jamaar Taylor. Carter, the fastest player on the team, did not make many big plays but stretched defenses. Taylor should be able to do that, too, but he has far less experience.... Kurt Warner is starting, but the team still is preparing Eli Manning to take over, probably in 2005. Coach Tom Coughlin gives Manning tapes of other quarterbacks, including Peyton Manning, and quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride stands next to Manning during practice to discuss what Warner is doing with the starters. DEFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: Tim Lewis' system keeps offenses off-balance by rotating personnel and bringing a pass rush from unexpected places. Against the Cowboys, LE Michael Strohan forced a false start just by setting up in a standing position and making the offense guess about the direction he would come from. Lewis also uses more zone coverage than the team did in 2003, which is one reason for an increase in interceptions.--Neil Best

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

RB Brian Westbrook's ability to break big plays has been a key to the offense's success, and the team is closely watching the number of touches he gets. Coach Andy Reid admitted Westbrook's 32 touches in Week 4 were a little too many, and Westbrook was back to 17 touches in the Week 6 win over Carolina.... RE Derrick Burgess is an aggressive one-gap defender who takes good angles to the ball and is excellent in pursuit. He relies more on strength than speed coming off the edge. Known as a pass rusher when he was drafted in 2001, he has been better against the run than expected. DEFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: An eight-man rotation has kept the starters on the line fresh and productive, and the backups have played well. The line's success in generating a consistent pass rush has allowed coordinator Jim Johnson to do less blitzing and focus more on coverage. FS Brian Dawkins, the team's best blitzer, is being used a lot more as a center fielder and has the coverage skills to make plays there.--Mark Eckel

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

To counter opponents that jam the box with extra defenders, the team is running from a four-wide receiver set that spreads the field. With six or seven men in the box instead of eight or nine, the line can give RB Clinton Portis more running room .... The loss of SS Matt Bowen (knee) is a blow to the defense, but Ryan Clark is an adequate replacement. Clark is a hard-hitting, aggressive run stopper. He's a strong tackler who can keep big plays from becoming scoring plays. DEFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: An aggressive scheme based on taking calculated risks has been the team's strength. Gregg Williams' defense works because it gives everyone a chance to make plays. Williams has a knack for calling the right blitz at the right time, and his safety and cornerback blitzes have been especially effective. The team will miss Bowen, who had been productive blitzing, but Shawn Springs is very effective coming from the corner. Opponents get some big plays but don't score many points.--Paul Woody

NFC east

Sporting News, The, Oct 25, 2004

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Health

Most Popular Articles in Sports

Most Popular Publications in Sports