2011 NFL Team Needs: NFC East

Dallas Cowboys: RT, S, CB, OG, DL, RB

After a dreadful season, the Cowboys at least have the luxury of picking inside the top 10 and getting Tony Romo back next season. Besides that, the organization has a lot of work to do to get back to being a Super Bowl contender. It begins with finding a defensive coordinator and straightening out the defense. On the line, they’ll need to figure out whether Jay Ratliff can remain at nose tackle. Wade Phillips plays a one-gap front, which Jay Ratliff was perfect for, but in other 3-4 variations, he may be a better fit at end. In that case they would need to draft a nose tackle. More importantly, the concerns that have persisted in the secondary cannot continue into next year if the Cowboys expect to make a successful postseason run. Mike Jenkins had a miserable season after looking like he may take the next step toward becoming an elite cornerback after the 2009 season. They’ll need to hope he can improve, but still spend a high draft pick or woo a veteran free agent into coming in and making serious contributions at the position immediately. At free safety, Alan Ball isn’t particularly terrific and could easily be upgraded. Gerald Sensabaugh on the other hand has definitely worn out his welcome in Dallas after taking some poor angles to the ball and getting repeatedly burned in coverage. He’s been a nightmare in Dallas and must be replaced if the secondary is to develop some level of consistency and cut out the big plays from the game. On offense, the boost of Romo will only help if they can keep him protected. Doug Free did a nice job at left tackle, but Marc Columbo built off of his miserable playoff performance rather than revert back to his early 2009 work where he was an elite right tackle. Finding a good right tackle should take a high priority this offseason. The rebuilding effort on the offensive line shouldn’t just stop there. While Andre Gurode wasn’t particularly impressive at center, guards Kyle Kosier and Leonard Davis should be pushed for starting positions next year. Behind a revamped offensive line, the Cowboys should hope to regain their running form of 2009 with Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. Marion Barber may have played his last snap in Dallas and if that’s the case, a bruising running back becomes a minor need.

New York Giants: LT, 4-3 NT, MLB, CB depth, OLB, C

Outside of the Chargers, the Giants are the most talented team not to make the playoffs. A big part of that were the self-inflicted wounds on offense (the interceptions and fumbles), but a lot of it was also just bad luck (extraordinarily high rate of fumbles lost). Both of those problems are only correctable internally, unless the Giants wish to give up on an above average quarterback and running back for the hopes that they’ll be able to find someone as productive without the negative plays, an enormous gamble. Instead, they can only continue to improve the talent on the roster this offseason and offensively, that begins on the line. Although the Giants gave up the fewest sacks in the league, left tackle David Diehl was credited with allowing 7.5 of the 16 sacks conceded by the offense. For a while William Beatty looked like he would be the future there, but he hasn’t shown enough to warrant such consideration. At center, Shaun O’Hara’s Pro Bowl nomination comes as the biggest laugher of the year. He played only 6 games and was bad in at least a pair of them. While it’s very possible he rebounds next season, he is also on the wrong side of 30, which may suggest that it’s more unlikely than it otherwise would be. Defensively, the Giants did a nice job against the pass (aside from the 5 consecutive quarters beginning in the 4th of the Eagles game), but finished in the middle of the pack against the run. Adding a nose tackle that can stop the run up the middle would also help the linebackers, the team’s weakest unit. At linebacker, MLB Jonathan Goff is very one-dimensional and OLB Keith Bulluck is on the decline. Upgrades there could help shore up the run defense, as well as contain the pass across the middle. Depth at cornerback behind starters Terrell Thomas and Corey Webster will also be important in making sure games like Green Bay don’t happen again.

Philadelphia Eagles: OG, CB, OLB, DT, RB depth, S depth

If the offense has a weakness, it’s the middle of the offensive line. Todd Herremans is a solid starter at left guard, but Mike McGlynn is questionable as a starter while the right guard has been somewhat of a revolving door the past few seasons. When Michael Vick has been flustered, it’s typically been because of consistent pressure up the middle. If the team can solidify that area, the offense will be virtually unstoppable and given the age of their key players, probably for years to come. Offensive line depth will also be targeted in the late rounds. This includes tackle where Winston Justice struggled on the right side after he received a big extension in the offseason. The only other potential need could be a running back to give McCoy a breather every now and again if Jerome Harrison leaves via free agency. Defensively, the Eagles have a long way to go and the turnaround may begin with a coaching change at defensive coordinator, depending on their playoff performance. The improvement will have to begin in the secondary. Early in the year, journeyman Dmitri Patterson looked like he would be the long-term starter opposite Asante Samuel, but late season struggles will have the Eagles thinking corner early and often this offseason. Nate Allen was a terrific find at safety and was the glue that kept the lid on things for most of the season, but since his injury, the Eagles pass defense has gone further south. Only the Cowboys and Texans allowed more touchdown passes this season. Depth at safety may also be targeted, though Kurt Coleman has filled in adequately in Allen’s absence. In the front seven, a good run-stopping defensive tackle could help mask the Eagles’ hole at outside linebacker that Ernie Sims was expected to fill. Both positions could be targeted early in this year’s draft, especially since the Eagles will also try to find other ways to open up opportunities for their ends to pressure to the quarterback.

Washington Redskins: QB, WR, 3-4 OLB, C, 3-4 NT, FS, 3-4 ILB

With the debacles of Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth, the Redskins will have some work to do and less ammo to work with. It’s a pretty safe assumption that the Skins will part ways with McNabb before his ludicrous extension kicks in, leaving a big void under center. On the outside, Santana Moss had a fairly productive season at receiver, but he is no longer the great threat he once was. In the past, they drafted Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly to be that playmaker, but neither picks have panned out. Up front, it’s important that they don’t lose Jammal Brown who played right tackle for them this season otherwise a line that allowed the 5th most sacks in the league will dig an even deeper hole. Adding a center seems like the next logical improvement on the line with 33 year old Casey Rabach not playing the best football of his career. On the other side of the ball, the Redskins should use an inside-out approach to fixing the defense. Albert Haynesworth will leave a void on the line and drafting a tackle that will give a consistent effort could really improve the middle of the defense. The Skins have to get more out of their pass rush because right now Orakpo is their only consistent rusher and can’t supply enough on his own. The need at inside linebacker depends on their decision to retain or part ways with Rocky McIntosh. He didn’t have a terrific season in the middle, but given a better nose tackle, more productive years may lie ahead. In the secondary, LaRon Landry was playing at an All-Pro level through the first half of the year. Pairing him with a rangy free safety would help eliminate some of the big plays on the backend.

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