The NFC East is the deepest and most competitive division in the NFL, with all four clubs capable of winning the title. Naturally, the battle for first place will be long and demanding, but the battle for inside positions on key jobs with each of the four teams should be just as intense.
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We'll talk about one with each club, and I know, with teams like the New York Giants there is more than one position that is undecided. Sorry, but that's the way it goes.
We'll focus on one with each team, identifying the most intriguing or competitive, and try to sort out the likely winners for the upcoming months.
If you're ready, so are we.
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| FS Alan Ball. |
Ball is a converted cornerback who filled in at safety for four games last year. Hamlin is a second-year pro who played hard but battled through a wrist injury his rookie season. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who has the inside position. Alan Ball, come on down. The Cowboys like him not just because he proved he can handle a position once held by Ken Hamlin, but because he proved last season he can play the position better than Hamlin. Ball's strength is his range. He has the speed to go sideline to sideline. Plus, he has cornerback skills, which means he can play the ball in the air, an issue at this position a year ago. If Ball settles in, it would give the Cowboys more confidence to line up strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh close to the line of scrimmage. Plus, it would free up coach Wade Phillips to be more creative with his coverages, with Phillips and secondary coach Dave Campo confident that Ball can lock up a slot receiver in single coverage. Allen's size (he's 6-feet-1, 190 pounds) is a bit of a concern, but the Cowboys like the toughness he showed as a member of the club's special teams. In fact, they like him so much they passed on star safety O.J. Atogwe when the Rams made him an unrestricted free agent.
Edge: Ball
Opening day starter: Ball
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| G David Diehl. |
Rich Seubert vs. Dave Diehl, left guard
Before we get started, let's get something straight: This one is predicated on Diehl having to give up his starting left-tackle position, which would happen if and only if second-year pro William Beatty supplants him. But let's say he does, basically because that's what the Giants want to happen. That would push Diehl to his more natural position at guard where he would go mano-a-mano with the Giants' starter the past three seasons -- and expect an all-out war, with two of the toughest and most competitive linemen squaring off. Diehl is a slight favorite, but never underestimate Seubert. The guy fought back from a horrific leg injury in 2003 and didn't merely continue his career; he became a starter on a Super Bowl champion. Furthermore, he played through the 2009 season with a shoulder injury that forced him to miss two starts and required offseason surgery. Suebert is motivated, with a newspaper headline reading "Seubert's Job on the Line" taped to his locker. He's also experienced. But so is Diehl, albeit at another position. The Giants don't make this move unless Beatty convinces coaches he can handle the left-tackle job, but the smart money says he does. Then we have one of the two best competitions in the Giants' camp, with middle linebacker a close runner-up.
Edge: Diehl.
Opening day starter: Diehl in a photo finish.
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| C Nick Cole. |
Nick Cole vs. Mike McGlynn, center
This becomes a hot topic because Jamaal Jackson, who started 63 of the team's last 64 regular-season games, tore an ACL at the end of last season and is not expected to be ready for the start of this year. In the meantime, it's up to Cole, McGlynn and A.Q. Shipley to slug it out for the starting job, with Cole taking over for the injured Jackson at the end of last season. That would seem to give him an edge, but don't be misled. Cole floundered in his brief trial, struggling with line calls as much as he did with Dallas defensive tackle Jay Ratliff. In all fairness, Cole had been locked into the right-guard position, starting for the injured Stacy Andrews and Todd Herremans, so he didn't have the experience needed to step in at center. Unfortunately, it showed when Dallas showed up on the schedule. Coach Andy Reid has said that Cole is his starter, but don't discount McGlynn. He has ideal size (6-4, 315) for the position, able to withstand the bull rush of opposing tackles, and has been waiting on this opportunity for a couple of years. He also ran with the first team in some drills this spring and summer. But he's inexperienced, active last season for one regular-season game that he didn't play. Cole, meanwhile, started all 16 games, with all but one at right guard. So experience is not a concern with him. More than that, he has the endorsement of his head coach. Granted, he flopped in his emergency audition a year ago, but now that he's focused on one position he should -- no, he will -- improve on his 2009 performance.
Edge: Cole. Reid stands by his man.
Opening day starter: Cole
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| S Reed Doughty. |
Chris Horton vs. Reed Doughty, strong safety
Doughty is the returning starter, but he broke his hand in OTAs. Horton is a seventh-round find who started 15 of 22 games in his career but who comes off a toe injury that short-circuited his 2009 season. The two have been in this position before. In fact, a year ago it was Horton vs. Doughty, with Doughty the winner after returning from a back injury that cut his 2008 season short. Doughty looks like the frontrunner again except that Horton has been warning anyone who listens that he'll be tough to beat if he's healthy. Maybe. But he wasn't healthy a year ago, and he's trying to impress a new head coach. Furthermore, he's trying to beat out the team's third-leading tackler -- with Doughty producing 10 of his 93 stops in a November defeat of Denver. OK, so Mike Shanahan wasn't coaching the Broncos. He was living in Denver and couldn't have missed Doughty's performance. Doughty is a smart, disciplined player who doesn't miss tackles and rarely blows an assignment. Granted, he's not the most athletic player, but he's one of the most dependable. And he's tough. When he broke his hand in OTAs he had the Redskins put a cast on it and continued to play. Now that will get a coach's attention. With the Redskins going to a 3-4 defense Doughty's ability as a sure tackler should enhance his chances to start.
Edge: Doughty. It's hard to argue with last year's results.
Opening day starter: Doughty.
Photos courtesy US Presswire.
