Nearly everyone has an opinion of how good the Eagles will be after their 10-6 2013 record in Chip’s Kelly’s first year as coach, and the Washington Post’s Cindy Boren weighs in on the NFC East as NFL training camps are about to open.
Here is her take:
Eagles
Top story line – Just how smart is Coach Chip Kelly? Smart enough that the decision to allow DeSean Jackson (photo above) to leave for a division rival won’t come back to haunt him badly? Can Kelly and Nick Foles — whom Kelly expects to move from “good” to “great” this season — compensate for the loss of such a talented player (who now has a chip on his shoulder for at least two key games this season)?
Key acquisition – Darren Sproles may be 31, but the Eagles love his speed and intelligence.
Biggest loss – DeSean Jackson. Period.
Dallas Cowboys
Top story line – Ordinarily, the general manager of a team like this might be in trouble, but this the team run by its owner. And, besides, the Cowboys finished 8-8 somehow and nearly were in the running for a playoff berth.
Key acquisition – It’s not like the team had the salary-cap room to make splashy free agent signings, so management contented itself with passing on Johnny Manziel with the No. 16 pick in the draft (even though it upended the natural order of the universe) in order to take offensive tackle Zach Martin to help protect Romo.
Biggest loss – Sean Lee was lost for the season on the first day of organized team activities.
New York Giants
Top story line – Was last season an anomaly or are the Giants thisclose to a tear-down? Can Eli Manning rebound from a decidedly non-elite season or is this the beginning of the end?
Key acquisition – The offensive line was one big reason for Manning’s struggles and the team signed guard Geoff Schwartz, a free agent from Kansas City, right after the market opened. (On Monday, stalwart lineman Chris Snee retired.)
Biggest loss – The loss may turn out to be a mild one, but Justin Tuck opted to head for Oakland.
Washington Redskins
Top story line – While the debate over the team’s nickname continues, it feels a lot like 2012 with RGIII healthy again and looking at a smorgasbord of offensive weapons that now includes…DeSean Jackson.
Key acquisition – It’s too easy to say DeSean Jackson. The key acquisition, really, is Coach Jay Gruden. Not that replacing Mike Shanahan will be difficult after a three-win season, but, in his rookie season, Gruden has to make sure offensive coordinator Sean McVay keeps all the stars happy.
Biggest loss – For better or worse, it’s that knee brace RGIII wore last season.
