2011 MLB Postseason Preview

I'm going to be the first to admit it.  I had a bad year of predicting the playoff teams.  I picked Boston, Minnesota, LA Angels and Chicago for the American League.  None of them are here.  So I guess that makes it easier to pick the American League winner now.  In the National League I only got one right.  That was Philadelphia.  The others were San Francisco, Cincinnati and Colorado.  Who did I pick to win the World Series?  It was Philadelphia.  That much I have going forward.  Without further adieu, the breakdown of this years Division Series.

American League Division Series

Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees

Now some will say that this would be a cake walk for the Yankees. It's an AL Central team.  The Yankees have beaten up those teams in the past.  Yes, that was the Minnesota Twins.  This time it's the Detroit Tigers.  Big difference.  The reason being is that Detroit has some pretty good pitchers.  Not just Justin Verlander. Doug Fister and Max Scherzer aren't too shabby either.  I can guarantee that the Yankees would like to have both of them in their rotation right now.  Not to mention that Detroit's lineup is stacked with great hitters.  1B Miguel Cabrera sits in the middle and is protected by DH Victor Martinez who has been worth every penny. C Alex Avila is having a monstrous season and has been a big part of the pitching staffs success.  Don't forget about waiver wire pickup OF Delmon Young who took off since being acquired with 8 HR and 32 RBI.  He doubled his home run total and matched his RBI total with Minnesota in just 40 games with Detroit.

Now New York doesn't have any slouches either.  SS Derek Jeter and 2B Robinson Cano are running the show while 1B Mark Teixeira and OF Nick Swisher provide the support.  The important thing for New York will be if Cano can continue his hitting prowess against superior pitching.  Out of every American League team this postseason, the Tigers have the best all around.  Also which Alex Rodriguez will show up.  The injury plagued one or the one that helped to a World Series title back in 2009.  Of course the biggest problem with the Yankees has been their pitching.  C.C. Sabathia can only do so much.  If he falters in Game 1, what's to say that Ivan Nova or Freddy Garcia can mount a comeback.  I don't think it's a going to be a clean sweep either way, but if Verlander is still his dominant self.  Does New York stand a chance?

Tigers in 4 games

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers

The epic comeback of the Tampa Bay Rays this season will be remembered for a long time.  It should also be noted that the Rays did all of this without a big portion of the players that lead to playoff appearances just a few seasons ago.  There are some new faces that are leading the way.  One of them is pitcher Matt Moore, who in limited time lit a spark for the Rays at crucial points down the stretch of September.  He along with James Shields and David Price will form a fabulous trio against the high powered offense of Texas.  3B Evan Longoria is clearly going to be up to the challenge of leading this club offensively, but he will need help from the likes of OF B.J. Upton and 1B Casey Kotchman who was competing for the AL batting title this year.  If the Rays can continue this magical run it could bode well for them in late October.

Other than the Detroit Tigers the Texas Rangers had a fairly easy road in September.  They beat Oakland and Seattle down the stretch while the Angels struggled against the likes of Oakland and Seattle.  That was the difference between them and the Angels. Texas won the games they were supposed to win.  The Rangers are very thankful to have a healthy 3B Adrian Beltre just in time for the postseason.  He brings a big presence in the middle of their lineup and defensively as well.  OF Nelson Cruz will have to remain healthy if the Rangers are to make it back to the World Series and they will need continued power from C Mike Napoli.  The big question is with their pitching staff.  Without Cliff Lee, its just C.J. Wilson and whomever.  The Rangers will go with Derek Holland in Game 2, but after that it's either Colby Lewis or Alexi Ogando. Both struggled mightily down the stretch, but Lewis will probably get the start because of last years performance.  It's a different Rays team the Rangers are facing this year.

Rays in 5 games

National League Division Series

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies

The Cardinals made it to the postseason when myself and so many others had them out back at the beginning of September. Now that they're in, I don't know if they can get any further.  The Cardinals best hitters, 1B Albert Pujols, OF Lance Berkman and OF Matt Holliday are going to have their hands full against the Phillies pitching staff.  Will the Cardinals pitchers, Kyle Lohse, Edwin Jackson and Chris Carpenter be able to match the Phillies? It's hard to say yes to that question, but look what the Giants did last year and the Phillies didn't have Cliff Lee at that time.  The Cardinals have been playing scrappy baseball down the stretch and were thankful to play the Houston Astros for their final series. However, I don't think there will be enough left in their bullpen to save a lead.

We all know who the Phillies have, but lets say their names anyway; Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt. Yeah, that's pretty good.  I'm not sold on the Phillies bullpen either, but if you can give those starters a big enough lead or have them pitch the entire game, it won't be that much of a problem.  2B Chase Utley has to play up to his standards in this injury riddled year and will OF Hunter Pence be just as good during the postseason as he was when he was acquired before the trade deadline?  He will have to if 1B Ryan Howard has a bad start. Howard will be the key to their success this postseason.

Phillies in 4 games

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers

This is the most intriguing matchup.  Both of these teams were red hot during the summer and wrapped up their division titles in the middle of September.  Arizona has the worst to first tag to them this year.  Thanks in large part to their ace Ian Kennedy.  He along with the rest of the pitching staff have done just enough to keep the Diamondbacks afloat in the NL West.  The Giants did gain some ground, but the lead was too big.  What happens after Kennedy is on the mound will be the story for Arizona.  They don't have as deep a staff as Milwaukee, but Joe Saunders does have some postseason experience and Daniel Hudson is a hard throwing type. Arizona's bread and butter though is with their offense. OF Justin Upton will finally be seen on the big stage.  He has been flanked by a young corp and a veteran corp that has been perfectly mixed to create a winning environment.  It will be interesting to see if it can continue with the spotlight looming large.
The Brewers are making a big push this year to make some noise in this postseason.  Mainstay Yovani Gallardo will get the ball for Game 1.  Rest assured the big offseason acquisitions Zach Greinke and Shaun Marcum will get their chance as well.  They also have a veteran in Randy Wolf who will prove to be invaluable if they get past the Division Series.  The bullpen was built to win now with Francisco Rodriguez being a setup man to closer John Axford. That combination could prove to be a monumental success.  OF Ryan Braun is taking this team to new heights.  Whether 1B Prince Fielder stays after this year or not is at the back burner now.  All that matters is bringing a championship to Milwaukee.  It's hard to believe that the Brewers have only been to the playoffs now two times in the last 30 years.  Now is the time for that trend to change.

Brewers in 4 games

Week 3 Review of the NFL

3-0 Buffalo

Don't look now, but the Buffalo Bills are 3-0.  After beating the rival New England Patriots this past weekend the Bills are now sitting alone on top of the AFC East.  Now if you think I'm going to crown them as the division champs after only three games, you're absolutely wrong.  However, this brings to home the point I was making last week.  The NFL has a history in Buffalo and it must stay in Buffalo.  Just like the NFL had a history in Baltimore and Cleveland before they let those franchises leave.  Now the NFL did make amends by bringing football back to those cities, but I don't want to see it happen again.  The Bills are that classic no-name team that everyone can get behind.  They have a good quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick.  A top notch receiver in Stevie Johnson.  And a damn good running back in Fred Jackson.  All three of those guys are under appreciated and have been for a while in Buffalo. Now that there is success for the Bills maybe, just maybe the city of Buffalo can have something good to hold onto for this season.

Oakland looks good

Whether you want to believe Joe Namath that the Jets weren't ready to play against the Oakland Raiders because of poor game planing is up to you.  I would like to think that they were just beaten fair and square.  Someone should have told Joe that his Jets were winning 17-7 during the 2nd quarter.  It's not like the Jets were blown out of the water.  With that out of the way the Oakland Raiders actually looked good.  Really good.  Aside from blowing a 21-3 halftime lead against Buffalo during Week 2, the Raiders have been a scary team to play.  Yes, a scary team.  Why in the world would I be saying that?  Well, just watch the highlights if you can't watch the entire game.  Their defense isn't elite, but they are smashing opposing teams in the mouth and don't care about it. Just ask the Jets if they could consistently run the ball this past weekend.  Oakland has a fairly flexible schedule because they play in the AFC West.  They play the Chiefs and Chargers twice and the Broncos one more time this year.  Remember they did go 6-0 against their division last year and could do it again.  There aren't many teams that scare you nowadays, but Oakland is definitely one of them now.

3-0 Detroit

Like with Buffalo this is the other feel good story in the NFL.  The last time both Buffalo and Detroit started a season 3-0 was back in 1980.  That's right, 31 years ago.  Just like the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints were due for a Super Bowl appearance, it's high time that Detroit gets back into contention.  Fortunately for them it started pretty recently.  It wasn't when they drafted WR Calvin Johnson in 2007 or QB Matthew Stafford in 2009.  No, it was last year when they drafted DT Ndamukong Suh.  He has immediately changed the attitude of the entire team with his ferocious style of play.  Watching him play at this level is no surprise why he was a Heisman trophy candidate during his last year at Nebraska.  He's a game changer.  The Lions fortunes just like Buffalo's are changing rapidly.  It's only three games, but it's hard to say that Detroit can't keep this going.  They have a favorable schedule leading up to their big Thanksgiving day game against the rival Green Bay Packers.  Can you imagine if both Detroit and Green Bay were undefeated going into that game? Turkey day just got a little bit better if that were the case.  Make sure you leave some for me because I will be glued to my seat if that happens.

Week 2 Review of the NFL

What's going on in Buffalo?

Whatever is happening in Buffalo is definitely a good thing. Though some might not like to say it, it's a good thing that Buffalo is off to a good start.  Why?  Just looks at the franchise's history. It's no coincidence that the Bills are going retro with their uniforms this year.  They want some of that storied history to rub off on them this year.  I'm not going to go overboard and say that Buffalo will make the playoffs this year.  Way too soon to be saying that. What I'm trying to say is I like what Buffalo is trying to do.

There's only two sports that come to your mind when you hear Buffalo.  One is hockey and the other is football.  It's a sad fact that both the NHL and the NFL have underestimated this small market. The Buffalo Sabres have a new owner in place and they are committed to building a winner in Buffalo.  The Buffalo Bills still have Ralph Wilson as their owner, which isn't a terrible thing, but Wilson's ideas of late have been set on the past.  Before hiring Buddy Nix as his general manager in 2009, Wilson hired former Bills head coach Marv Levy as the general manager.  Lets just say that was a bad idea at the time.  It's not wrong to hire football people that you're familiar with, but how about someone who knows how football is run today.

Now the Bills have beaten two AFC West opponents in the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders in their first two games this year.  Three of the their next four games are against New England, Philadelphia and the New York Giants.  Come back to me after they play those teams and ask me if I think Buffalo can make it to the playoffs this year.

Trouble in Philadelphia?

The good news in Philadelphia is that Michael Vick looks as good as ever when he's in the pocket finding open receivers.  The bad news is that when he runs out of the pocket he still doesn't understand how to protect the football.  One of Vick's two fumbles on Sunday night lead to a go-ahead touchdown by the Atlanta Falcons just before halftime.  And the worst news is that Vick suffered a concussion which resulted in the Eagles offense becoming stagnant the rest of the game.

Everyone knew that protecting Michael Vick was going to be a problem this year.  Yet, no one can adequately protect a mobile quarterback like Vick.  All indications are that Vick didn't suffer a severe concussion, but having one is too many.  The Eagles schedule isn't going to get any easier.  They play division rivals New York and Washington.  And play at Buffalo which doesn't seem to be an easy as of today.  Philadelphia's fortunes this year and beyond rest with Vick and they will need to protect him from pass rushers.  He also needs to be smarter when he runs out of the pocket.

Romo gets a pass

I didn't chastise Mr. Romo as much as most people did last week. I did elude to the fact that the Cowboys start this year was similar to the one last year.  Granted that was after the first game.  If Dallas lost to the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday, the questions would have started up again about the Cowboys falling off the reservation.  However, no one expected an injured Tony Romo to return in the 4th quarter to lead the Cowboys to victory.
Romo suffered a cracked rib, which I've heard is very painful.  He sucked it up and led the Cowboys on a comeback that saw them win it in overtime against their longtime rivals in San Francisco. Was that a wise move by Romo?  Yes and no.  The questioning would have been more intense if the Cowboys lost that game.  I'm sure that was in the back of Romo's mind, but he felt he could play and it sure surprised the 49ers to see him back out there.  Not knowing personally what it's like to have a cracked rib, but I'm sure it doesn't help playing football with one.  Dallas better hope Romo can play with one.  Otherwise the Cowboys will have to count on Jon Kitna who didn't exactly inspire a winning attitude when he was in the game.  One thing is for sure, no one will be questioning Tony Romo's competitiveness anymore.

Week 1 Review of the NFL

Cam Newton has arrived

Now I could spout off some of the greatest quarterbacks who have ever played the game.  If I had told you that in their first game in the NFL they didn't pass for over 400 yards and throw for at least two touchdowns, you might think I was crazy.  Well, it's a fact that none of those great quarterbacks had the kind of debut that rookie Panthers QB Cam Newton did.  

I'm not saying that Mr. Newton is going to be the next big thing. Far from it.  I've made my opinion known that he shouldn't have been allowed to play in some of Auburn's games last year based on some information that his dad was being offered money for the services of his son.  Now those allegations were coming from Mississippi State, not Auburn.  That's just my opinion. 

Do I think any less of Cam Newton as a football player?  No.  Why would I?  You can't teach the kind of physical ability that he has. Especially for a quarterback.  That's why he was chosen with the number one overall pick by Carolina.  The Panthers had a dismal 2010 season and Newton brings them some credibility.  Do I think Cam Newton will ever repeat this performance again?  Probably not.  He doesn't have to.  The Panthers have a good running game that won't allow for Newton to be throwing the ball down the field all the time.  Also he won't be playing against the Arizona defense every week.  Leaving WR Steve Smith in single coverage still bugs me as I'm typing this.

Regardless of what anyone thought, Newton had a hell of a game and I will acknowledge that.  Those who thought he wouldn't amount to anything are eating some crow.  I wasn't one of them, but I didn't think that kind of performance would come from his first game.

Saints vs. Packers

The NFL couldn't have had a better opening game.  Yes, I like so many others don't like having one game start the season on a Thursday.  Nor do I like having two Monday Night Football games, but that's beside the point.  Putting the last two Super Bowl champions on display was a stroke of genius by the NFL.  

You have QB Drew Brees playing for the New Orleans Saints and QB Aaron Rodgers playing for the Green Bay Packers.  Of course we think in the back of our minds that with the Packers 4th championship banner being unveiled that they will somehow have a Super Bowl hangover going into this game.  That wasn't the case.

The Packers had a 28-17 halftime lead.  Although the score indicates the game was close.  It really wasn't.  It was a one-sided affair.  The Saints are a resilient team though.  Even after giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown by rookie WR Randall Cobb, the Saints still scored two touchdowns in the second half to come within 8 points of taking the game into overtime.  

Two things were proven after this game.  One.  Both of these teams should be forces to be reckoned with this entire season.  As long as they each have their franchise quarterbacks playing in every game, they will be in the playoffs.  And two.  Aaron Rodgers better be in everyone's top 5 QB list after this game.  If you thought Cam Newton's game was great.  Rodgers' stats tell it all for him; 312 yards, 77% completion percentage, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.

A repeat in Dallas?

Last years problems for the Cowboys started during the first game of the season.  They tried to make something out of nothing to end the first half against the Washington Redskins and it resulted in a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.  To make matters worse, they could have won the game at the end, but a holding penalty cost the Cowboys the game.
Isn't that kind of what happened against the Jets this past Sunday night?  Dallas was in control the entire game.  QB Tony Romo looked great.  He was poised in the pocket and made plays when he had to.  His opponent, QB Mark Sanchez of the Jets was lost for most of the game.  Nothing was working for the Jets as they had hoped.  Then with the Cowboys up 24-17 and at the goal line of the Jets.  Romo decides to run up the middle of the line with no clear sight of the endzone and promptly fumbles the football.  Jets ball.
The Jets couldn't make anything happen, so the Cowboys did get the ball back.  However, they fell asleep on special teams as their punt attempt was blocked and then returned for the game tying touchdown.  Even with that, the Cowboys still had a chance to win the game.  Driving down the field Tony Romo was trying to find his best receiver Dez Bryant.  But Bryant was cramping up for most of the second half and wasn't the same.  The Jets had their best CB Darrelle Revis covering Bryant and when Romo threw the ball in Bryant's direction, Revis intercepted it which resulted in former Cowboys K Nick Folk winning the game with a field goal.
Almost all of it was so similar to last seasons start for Dallas.  I don't know why Cowboys owner Jerry Jones thought it was a good idea to say that Tony Romo, for 3 quarters, played the best football that he had seen.  Maybe he thinks it would be a morale boost or maybe Jerry just wanted his name in the papers.  I don't know. What I do know is that this could linger for the rest of the season just like last year.  It's a new head coach in Jason Garrett, but he was the offensive coordinator last year and this is now his bus.  He has to keep it on the road.

I Still Remember

This is the first non-sports post on this website.  Before you read this post please take to heart what it means to be an American. Once you do that promise yourself that you won't forget what happened on September 11, 2001.  And don't forget that this country is still a great and noble land.  Thank you.

I did not lose any family members, but I was still deeply affected by what happened ten years ago.  I like so many Americans were at a loss for words that day and for the rest of that week.  Shock turned to sadness.  Sadness turned to anger.  Anger turned to prayer. Emotions were at an all-time high.

But there was hope.  What was shown for a long time after that day has made me proud to be an American.  The country was truly 'One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'  I know it's hard for some to remember, but it did happen.  All our differences socially and politically were no longer an issue.  We were all Americans.

There were so many poignant moments after that day.  President George W. Bush saying in New York, "I can hear you.  The world hears you.  And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."  The late Jack Buck delivering a moving speech before the St. Louis Cardinals first game since that day. Hearing the story of United Flight 93 still breaks my heart to this day.

I want to take this opportunity to do something that I don't do as much as I should.  I want to say thank you to the brave men and women of our police and fire departments all over the country.  You risk so much everyday to save the lives of our families and friends. I also want to thank our military who have served their country proudly by defending her since that dreadful day.

Tragedy brought us all together.  We needed a shoulder to cry on, a place to go pray, someone to talk to.  Whose to say that we are a divided country now and can never be united again?  Yes there are those that want to see this country fall.  It's a fact.  But as long as we believe in that American spirit that has been instilled in us since the day we were born.  We shall prevail.

Believe in yourself.  Believe in your country.  And believe that the future will be brighter.  There is still good in this world and that there is no place for those who wish to do us harm.  

In the 10 years since that day, we haven't forgotten and we will never forget.

This post is dedicated to 2,977 citizens who lost their lives and to their families.  God Bless

Super Bowl Prediction

* - Division Winner

+ - Wild Card Winner

AFC 

1. New England Patriots*

2. Pittsburgh Steelers*

3. Indianapolis Colts*

4. San Diego Chargers*

5. New York Jets+

6. Baltimore Ravens+

NFC

1. Green Bay Packers*

2. Philadelphia Eagles*

3. Atlanta Falcons*

4. St. Louis Rams*

5. New Orleans Saints+

6. Dallas Cowboys+

Wild Card

Ravens over Colts

Jets over Chargers

Falcons over Cowboys

Saints over Rams

Divisional Round

Jets over Steelers

Patriots over Ravens

Packers over Saints

Eagles over Falcons

Championship Round

Patriots over Jets

Packers over Eagles

Super Bowl 46

Packers over Patriots

Yes there will be a repeat champion in the NFL.  It hasn't happened since the New England Patriots back in 2003-2004.  Green Bay is extremely blessed to have so much depth at many key positions. Only a devastating injury to QB Aaron Rodgers would hurt their chances.  Title town will hoist the Lombardi trophy for the 5th time in franchise history.

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

With a more talented roster, comes more pressure to succeed

2. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)

A change in their attitude will result in more wins

3. New York Giants (8-8)

Fewer turnovers, but not enough weapons for Eli

4. Washington Redskins (5-11)

A new year with a new QB means nothing has changed

Key Acquisitions

Eagles: CB Nnamdi Asomugha, DE Jason Babin, RB Ronnie Brown, DE Cullen Jenkins

Cowboys: S Abram Elam, OT Doug Free (re-signed)

Giants: C David Baas, RB Ahmad Bradshaw (re-signed)

Redskins: DT Barry Cofield, S O.J. Atogwe, WR Santana Moss (re-signed)

Key Rookies

Eagles: S Jaiquawan Jarrett

Cowboys: OT Tyron Smith

Giants: CB Prince Amukamara

Redskins: DE Ryan Kerrigan

Team Previews

Philadelphia

It looked as though the Eagles 2010 season was going to have a rough start.  QB Kevin Kolb went down with a concussion during the first game and that meant QB Michael Vick would be thrust in as the starter. He responded as well as anyone could hope, especially head coach Andy Reid.  With Vick's return, Reid had to change the playbook on the fly.  It didn't effect the offense at all. With the occasional 'hold your breathe' moments when Vick runs, the Eagles were in a good position to win the NFC last year.  With what happened this offseason the Eagles expect to win the Super Bowl.

With the emergence of QB Michael Vick, the Eagles are banking their success entirely on him.  It's a high risk high reward situation. If Vick gets hurt for an extended period of time, who will back him up?  Gone is QB Kevin Kolb and in to replace him is QB Vince Young who hasn't been a reliable quarterback in his career.  Andy Reid is a good head coach and will bring Young along slowly, but the injury bug follows him too.  Philadelphia had the most dynamic running game of any team last year.  RB LeSean McCoy was more dangerous as a receiver than a runner, but can do both with ease. RB Ronnie Brown is very similar to McCoy, but he also brings the wildcat to the Eagles offense with his ability to pass the ball.  To complete the trifecta is Vick with his ability to escape and make plays when there is no receiver to throw to.  There are a vast array of weapons to throw to this year in Philadelphia.  WR DeSean Jackson is among the best game changers in the NFL.  His speed is unmatched which makes it difficult for opposing corners to cover him without help.  WR Jeremy Maclin is a good complement to Jackson.  His size and speed makes it hard for defenses to choose which to double cover.  WR Steve Smith was signed away from the rival New York Giants.  If he's fully recovered from major knee surgery he will be exactly what the Eagles need in the slot. TE Brent Celek is becoming a mainstay in the passing game.  He and Vick are developing a good repertoire together.

The Eagles defense has gotten exponentially better thanks to three major additions.  The first being CB Nnamdi Asomugha.  The prize free agent had Philadelphia high on his wish list and the Eagles were happy to hear that.  To pair Asomugha along with CB Asante Samuel is a defensive coordinator's dream come true.  The secondary got even better when they acquired CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from Arizona for QB Kevin Kolb.  Those three will see the field a lot this year and will take pressure off young safeties Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett.  The second major acquisition was getting DE Cullen Jenkins from the Green Bay Packers.  Jenkins was an excellent end in the Packers 3-4 scheme, but is an even better tackle in a 4-3.  The Eagles don't blitz very often with their linebackers, but it shouldn't matter with Jenkins all over the line.  DE Jason Babin was the last major acquisition.  He had a career year with Tennessee last year.  A lot of that had to do with him being blocked by only one lineman and defensive line coach Jim Washburn.  Washburn is now in Philadelphia.  It's easy to expect another stellar year from Babin. That also bodes well for DE Trent Cole who had another season with at least 10 sacks.  The main weakness is at linebacker, but the Eagles are confident that youngsters LB Jamar Chaney, LB Casey Matthews and LB Akeem Jordan will make more strides this year in their development.

Dallas

It was a season to forget last year for the Cowboys.  There was a lot of talk, too much about the Cowboys making it to the Super Bowl which happened to be at Cowboys Stadium.  Injuries always are an issue with any team, but last years problems started with their head coach.  Wade Phillips was fired in the midst of a 1-7 season.  Owner Jerry Jones couldn't take anymore of it after an embarrassing loss to Green Bay.  Jason Garrett brought respectability and more importantly accountability back to the Cowboys who finished the season 5-3.  Overall it wasn't a good season, but this one looks much brighter.

Dallas is starting fresh on offense this year.  Jason Garrett will still be calling the shots, but will be more aggressive now that he is the head coach.  QB Tony Romo is back from a broken collarbone. It's clear that if he's healthy for a full season the Cowboys have a chance to be a playoff team.  Even though his playoff success isn't the best among active quarterbacks, he still gives Dallas a chance to win every game. The Cowboys cut ties with RB Marion Barber.  That clears the way for RB Felix Jones to be the starter. He won't be the guy to carry the ball 15-20 times a game, but he will be a big part of the offense.  Particularly the big plays.  Tony Romo has a great trio of receivers to throw to.  WR Miles Austin did struggle a bit last year, but he's still the deep threat receiver that the Cowboys covet.  WR Dez Bryant is ready for a breakout year.  Now that he isn't playing behind the departed WR Roy Williams, Bryant will be counted on quite a bit.  TE Jason Witten is still Romo's favorite target.  You could argue that Romo wouldn't be as good without Witten and vice versa.  Witten takes advantage of what's given to him and finds a hole in the defense on almost every play.

The defense will have a new attitude this year with Rob Ryan on board as the defensive coordinator.  Look for Ryan to bring a new nasty demeanor to the defensive players, whom have been craving it for some time.  LB DeMarcus Ware figures to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks this year.  His ability to play almost every down will help keep the Cowboys defense amongst the best in the league.  LB Anthony Spencer who plays opposite Ware will have to increase his production if the Cowboys are to remain a threat.  DT Jay Ratliff isn't the prototypical nose tackle for a 3-4 defense, but he is quick off the line and can bull rush the best offensive lineman.  The Cowboys secondary has always been an issue and it starts with their health.  CB Terence Newman is a premiere corner, but has been hampered by leg injuries his entire career.  Dallas would like to see more from CB Orlando Scandrick and CB Mike Jenkins this year to help take pressure off Newman.  Backing up the corners has been a major problem, but adding S Abram Elam will help tremendously.  Elam played for Ryan in Cleveland and has a good feel for what Ryan wants to do against the pass.

New York

They have been in prime position to clinch a playoff spot the last two seasons, but late season collapses have left the Giants out of the playoffs.  The only thing that head coach Tom Coughlin can point to is that the Giants didn't play to their standards.  They were turnover prone and gave up big plays far too often on defense.  It's safe to say that Coughlin's job is not in jeopardy, but if the Giants do falter late in the season again, it will be hard to justify keeping him.

The main problem with the Giants and turning over the football was with QB Eli Manning.  Even though he did throw for over 4,000 yards and had 31 touchdown passes, his interception total was far too high at 25.  He is fumble prone also, but that can be fixed. One way it can be fixed is the Giants focus more on rushing the ball first and pass second.  It will be hard to do with a good quarterback in Manning, but RB Ahmad Bradshaw and RB Brandon Jacobs are one of the best combinations in the NFL.  Jacobs got in Coughlin's doghouse last year, but has come out of it with a renewed attitude. Bradshaw is the better all around back, but Jacobs brings a bruising style to their offense.  Manning found what had been missing in the passing game when WR Plaxico Burress was sentenced to prison.  A reliable target.  WR Hakeem Nicks lived up to his potential last year with a breakout year. There is no telling how far Nicks can go, but the Giants would love to see him raise the bar even higher.  WR Mario Manningham will be counted on to fill the role vacated by WR Steve Smith. Manningham was better suited as the slot receiver, but he must step up and be as good as Hakeem Nicks.  Eli likes having a big tight end in the middle of the field.  TE Kevin Boss is gone so that leaves young TE Travis Beckum to be the next starter.  How he does will have a great effect on Eli's production this year.

The organization feels they've fixed the secondary this offseason, which has been a problem area for them of late.  CB Prince Amukamara was a top flight cornerback at Nebraska.  He won't be thrust into the starting lineup right away with established starters CB Corey Webster and CB Aaron Ross ahead of him.  However, Prince should see plenty of time with CB Terrell Thomas out for the season.  And as long as S Kenny Phillips can stay healthy, he and S Antrel Rolle will be the primary playmakers on defense.  There is still a major problem on defense.  Who will be the difference maker at linebacker for the Giants?  LB Michael Boley was inconsistent last year.  He is the most experienced, but is limited in pass coverage.  LB Jonathan Goff has been given the reins, but it will take some time for this unit to get up to speed.  The Giants strength has always been on their defensive line.  DE Justin Tuck and DE Osi Umenyiora are one of the best pass rushing duos in the league.  Their depth will be strengthened with the emergence of DE Jason Pierre-Paul.  If he emerges quickly, the Giants might have enough to offset their weaknesses elsewhere on the defense.

Washington

It really wasn't a welcome sight for the Redskins last year.  Head coach Mike Shanahan was supposed to right the ship immediately, but things were a disaster from the start.  Shanahan wasn't thrilled with DT Albert Haynesworth once he arrived at training camp.  QB Donovan McNabb wasn't Shanahan's first choice to be the Redskins quarterback, but it started to look like Shanahan was right towards the end of the season.  Either way it seems the Redskins have taken two steps back going into the 2011 season. Who will be the starting quarterback, running back and where will the direction of this team go?

Mike Shanahan announced before the lockout ended that QB John Beck was the starting quarterback for the Redskins.  That was before they traded QB Donovan McNabb.  Whether Shanahan knows what he has at quarterback is one thing, but to think that he played QB Rex Grossman instead of McNabb for four games last year is a bit suspect.  Regardless of what happens at quarterback, Shanahan does know how to find talented running backs.  He does have a good one with RB Ryan Torain, but his motor leads him to suffer nagging injuries.  Enter RB Tim Hightower who was acquired from the Arizona Cardinals.  Hightower was a good change of pace back in Arizona and could have a bigger role in the Redskins offense.  Washington was wise to bring back WR Santana Moss. Without him they wouldn't have a reliable option for whomever is going to be the starting quarterback.  This late in his career Moss is still a capable receiver considering his size.  If TE Chris Cooley can stay healthy for an entire year it will make the transition a lot easier for either Beck or Grossman at quarterback.  Cooley is an elite pass catching tight end.

Defensively it was a struggle for the Redskins who switched to a 3-4 defense last year.  However, they did play better down the stretch last season.  That progress should bode well going forward and not having Haynesworth will help too.  LB Brian Orakpo has developed into an elite pass rusher for Washington.  If this years 1st round pick LB Ryan Kerrigan can do the same opposite Orakpo the Redskins will have a great duo for many years.  LB London Fletcher in the middle has been a big relief in the transition.  He hasn't always played in a 3-4 system, but he makes adjustments on the fly.  That works well in a complex scheme.  S O.J. Atogwe is new to the defense, but him and S LaRon Landry could form one of the best safety duos in the league.  Landry can do it all and Atogwe is more of a cover safety, but can help in the run defense. CB DeAngelo Hall is starting to be more comfortable in Washington.  Maybe it's the new coaching staff or the fact that he is being left to do his job and cover the opponents best receiver. The defensive line is a deep unit.  DE Adam Carriker has adjusted well to the new defense and is poised for a breakout season.  DT Barry Cofield isn't the ideal nose tackle, but is a Jay Ratliff type who attacks the quarterback constantly.  DE Kedric Golston and DE Lorenzo Alexander are good in run support.  Both will be counted on when it counts.