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2003 Dallas Cowboys Preview

2002 Record: 5-11; Last place in NFC East; Missed playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys enter 2003 after ending a disappointing 2002 season, their third straight losing season. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones had enough with the team's lackluster performance, firing head coach Dave Campo and luring Bill Parcells out of retirement. Parcells brings a new style of hard-nosed football to Dallas, a style that is sure to whip the Cowboys into shape with fearless discipline. Parcells would not have returned to active duty in the NFL if he didn't think he could make a winner out of the Cowboys, and with the team's potential and talent level, he might see a winner sooner than later.

2002 FLASHBACK

The Cowboys fell well short of expectations in 2002, winning only five games in what was considered a weak NFC East division entering the season. After beginning the season 3-3, Dallas finished up with a 2-8 record in their last 10 games, dropping their final four games of the season. The Cowboys were anemic on offense, as they averaged just 12.69 points per game and were outscored 329-203 on the season. They were out-gained on offense by their opponents by close to 1,000 yards and averaged less than 170 passing yards per game. Dallas' turnover ratio was about even, with them creating 42 takeaways on the season and allowing 45 giveaways.

On the bright side, the Cowboys did experience the emergence of two future stars in rookie S Roy Williams (first-round) and rookie WR Antonio Bryant (second-round). Williams led the team in tackles (88), fumble recoveries (3), and interceptions (5) and also scored two touchdowns off turnovers. While Bryant caught only 44 passes in his rookie campaign, he ranked behind only Joey Galloway with 733 receiving yards and tied Galloway for the team-lead in receiving touchdowns with six. He also averaged 16.7 yards per catch - tops on the team - showing his ability to break away from defenders on long pass patterns.

OFF-SEASON MOVES OVERVIEW

The most significant move in Cowboys' off-season had to be the departure of long-time, future Hall-of-Fame RB Emmitt Smith. Dallas parted ways with Smith in late February, releasing the back after 13 seasons in which he tallied more than 17,000 rushing yards and more than 160 total touchdowns. If nothing else, Smith's departure signifies the new direction the organization is headed, as Smith is the last of the "Big Three" (Smith, QB Troy Aikman, and WR Michael Irvin) to leave the franchise.

The Cowboys will also miss the presence of WR Raghib Ismail, who was released in the off-season and then decided to retire after a serious neck injury ended his season in 2002, and ultimately, ended his career. While Ismail didn't actually play in a game last season, the team was planning on his return at a reduced cost to help bolster a passing game that showed little promise last year.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys chose not to pay LB Kevin Hardy a $5.025 million option in his contract, and surrendered his rights as a result. Hardy didn't have a terrific season last year - only registering two sacks - but his loss at least added another hole for the team to fill.

Parcells immediately put his stamp on the organization by acquiring three potential impact players, who all played for him at one point in their career. Most notably, the Cowboys acquired WR Terry Glenn from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a sixth-round draft choice in 2004. Glenn - a first-round draft pick of the New England Patriots under Parcells in the 1993 season - hasn't lived up to expectations or potential for his career, but at the very least, he'll provide support and experience to a young passing game.

Mammoth OT Ryan Young reunites with Parcells, the man who drafted him out of Kansas State in 1999. FB Richie Anderson played under Parcells in New York from 1997-1999, and while his best years as a pro came after Parcells left the Jets, Anderson still figures to be a major factor and leader in the team's offense.

On defense, the Cowboys signed free agent LB Al Singleton (Buccaneers) to replace the departed Hardy in the starting lineup, and signed CB Donald Mitchell (Titans) to improve its depth in the secondary.

[B]ROOKIE OVERVIEW[\B]

For the second year in a row, the Cowboys selected a defensive back with their top pick in the NFL Draft. Kansas State CB Terrence Newman became the team's No. 1 pick joining Williams as last year's first rounder in the secondary. Newman was rated as the top defensive player on just about every scout's list this off-season, and his speed and hunger for the ball should give the Cowboys one of the best defensive backfields in the league. There is some potential injury baggage here, though, as Newman's shoulders put the league in a buzz after it was determined they could be a risk long-term due to previous problems. The Cowboys' medical staff checked him out from top to bottom and felt he'll be good-to-go for them in the upcoming season and long-term.

In the second round, Dallas went big with C Al Johnson (Wisconsin), a prototypically sized offensive linemen under Parcells' scheme. The team would love for Johnson to win the starting job at center in training camp, and it appears as if he'll have every opportunity to do so.

Tennessee TE Jason Witten dropped all the way to the Cowboys in the third round after early projections had him going as high as the middle of the first. Dallas appears to have gotten a steal with Witten, but many questions surround him as to whether he has already reached his potential.

The team rounded out the draft by shoring up depth on both sides of the ball with the selections of LB Bradie James (LSU - fourth-round), CB B.J. Tucker (Wisconsin - sixth-round), WR Zuriel Smith (Hampton - sixth-round), and OG Justin Bates (Colorado - seventh-round).

[B]OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

THE PASSING GAME[\B]

The Cowboys' quarterback position is one of the most unsettled and unflattering positional situations in all of football. Not only does the team not have a proven starter, they don't have a player with proven talent. Former minor-league baseball player Chad Hutchinson would seem the logical choice since he started the team's last nine games, but don't count out Quincy Carter, who got the first six starts. Both players had unbelievably similar overall statistics, but Carter actually produced better average stats based on the fact that he played three fewer games than Hutchinson. Carter averaged 71.39 more passing yards and .39 more TD passes per game than Hutchinson, but also averaged .44 more interceptions per game. Carter completed 56.6 percent of his passes compared to Hutchinson's 50.8 percent completion rate.

Regardless of last year's statistics, Parcells has said that both players will start fresh and have an equal chance at winning the job this season. Hutchinson has the stronger arm, as he was a former starting pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system in Major League Baseball. While he has the better ability to throw the deep ball and would appear to have more accuracy than Carter, he averaged fewer yards per attempt than Carter in 2002 and just wasn't able to get the job done.

The Cowboys selected Carter out of Georgia in the second round of the 2001 draft - their first selection in the draft - to be the team's franchise QB. Jerry Jones took a flyer with Carter, who hadn't done all that much in college. What Carter brings to the table is mobility at the quarterback position and the ability to escape trouble and make something out of nothing. Carter was sacked 19 times in his six starts (3.17 per game) compared to Hutchinson, who was sacked 34 times in his nine starts (3.77 per game). With an improved offensive line, both players should see themselves on the ground less frequently, but it is apparent from last year's production that Carter is the better playmaker of the two. However, whether that alone translates into more production, and hence the starting job at quarterback, is anyone's guess right now.

Hutchinson said that he spoke with Parcells shortly after he came on board and the coach told him what he's looking for out of his starting QB. Included in his wish list is that the team's starter needs to win games. With the Cowboys just winning five last year as a whole, that could be trouble for either young QB. Hutchinson, by the way, was 2-7 as a starter in 2002. This battle may go right through the end of training camp, as the team plans to give the majority of pre-season game action to Hutchinson and Carter.

There will be another training camp battle for the backup up position behind Hutchinson and Carter - who will serve as the team's No. 1 and No. 2 QBs no matter who wins the starting job. Tony Romo will compete with Clint Stoerner for the No. 3 job. Stoerner re-signed the team's one-year tender offer as a restricted free agent in late February, and would seem to be the frontrunner for the job if for no other reason. Stoerner hasn't seen any game action since 2001 when he played in four games, starting two, for the Cowboys. He has played in five games in his three-year career, throwing for just 367 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. Romo signed with the Cowboys in early May as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois. His lack of NFL experience makes him a long shot for the team's emergency QB job, but he might be a candidate for the practice squad when the season begins. He'll also be behind the learning curve because the team is devoting so much time to the Hutchinson/Carter battle that it's leaving little scraps of practice time for the team's other backups. So far, Hutchinson and Carter have split 80 percent of the snaps, with the final 20 percent being left over for Stoerner. Thus, Romo is going to need to impress in his limited reps, which is going to be difficult for the rookie.

The wide receiver position is the strength of the Cowboys' offense, and for once, it looks as if the team will have plenty of talent in both the starting lineup and with their top backups. The only problem is the wideouts can only be as good as the quarterback lets them be, and the Cowboys have yet to prove any of their QBs can make one of the wideouts look good.

Joey Galloway returns as the team's undisputed No. 1 WR. After an injury-shortened 1999 season - his last with the Seattle Seahawks - a wash of a 2000 season - his first with the Cowboys - and a disappointing 2001 season with Dallas, Galloway looked like he was all but finished. However, he bounced back to have a fine 2002 season, especially considering the state of the team and its lack at other offensive positions. Galloway is a burner. He only caught 61 passes last season - 72 in 1997 is his career high - but he managed to record 908 receiving yards and score six touchdowns, averaging 14.9 yards per catch. The fact of the matter is, Galloway has gained at least 900 yards receiving in five of the six seasons in which he has played at least 15 games - with 2001 (699 yards in 16 games) being the only exception. He always seems to find a way to get the job done, independent of the talent level of his team and more importantly that of his quarterback. Galloway is a diamond in the rough every season - as long as he stays healthy - and there is no reason he won't be able to do the same in 2003 as long as he's able to stay healthy.

The Cowboys have an interesting situation brewing alongside Galloway. The team has two talented and able WRs in Glenn and Bryant, but Parcells typically likes to run offensive formations with two receiver sets, with his No. 3 WR gaining little playing time for the season. That would initially spell bad news for whoever loses the open battle for the second starting spot, but it would seem that Parcells would have to alter his offensive philosophy to cater to the talent of his team; he can't afford to sit either Glenn or Bryant on the bench for the majority of the season.

Bryant had a very solid rookie season, proving many of his doubters wrong. He slipped to the Cowboys in the second round of the 2002 draft because teams felt his intensity on the field was sometimes misguided and oftentimes was counterproductive to his game. Still, 733 yards, six touchdowns, and a 16.7 yards-per-catch average is at the very least respectable and noteworthy. Unlike many rookies, Bryant was able to withstand an entire 16-game NFL season without seeing a dip in his production later in the season. He started 15 of the 16 games last season, and caught just two fewer balls and gained just 27 fewer yards while scoring the same number of touchdowns in the second half of the season compared to the first half. With a stable threat opposite him and with a guiding force to keep him in line, Bryant could be a force for years to come.

Most people will tell you that Terry Glenn has been a huge disappointment following his rookie 1996 season, in which he caught 90 balls for 1,132 yards and scored six touchdowns. And while he has yet to match production in any season since, he certainly isn't a complete wash; there have been many first-round picks that have turned out worse. Glenn has put up just one 1,000-yard season (1999) and just two 900-yard seasons (1999 and 2000) since then. Last year was less than flashy in his first and only stint with the Green Bay Packers, but it was by no means a poor season. Glenn caught 56 passes for 817 yards and two touchdowns last season, serving mainly as a "possession receiver" even though he averaged 14.6 yards per catch. Unfortunately, Glenn falls into the precarious category of players that are more valuable as professional players than they are as fantasy players. Should owners stay away from Glenn on draft day? No. But should they even rely on him as even a solid No. 2 or No. 3 WR? Probably not. If Glenn is able to see the field often enough with Dallas this season - and the probability is high seeing Parcells must still be high on him to bring him into Dallas - he should be able to put up some decent numbers in a struggling passing game. His value certainly has to go down, though, as he moves from catching passes from Brett Favre to catching passes from either Chad Hutchinson or Quincy Carter.

The rest of the depth at wide receiver for the Cowboys consists of mostly special teams players in the past or new players to the team. Ken-Yon Rambo and Reggie Swinton - primarily return men in the past - will be called upon in very limited situations to serve as the team's No. 4 or No. 5 WR. Luckily, the exclusive rights free agents probably won't see the field all that often under Parcells. Randal Williams (exclusive rights free agent), undrafted rookie free agent Aaron Martin (Rutgers), and DeVeren Johnson - who spent the 2002 season on the team's practice squad - will compete for the final roster spot at the position. WRs Aaron Boone, rookie Zuriel Smith (sixth-round selection) and Gary Lusk are also in the mix for additional depth players.

Parcells likes to use multiple tight ends in his offensive formations, and as a result, the team could keep as many as four players at the position on roster for the regular season. Lucky for them, the Cowboys have enough talent at the position to do so. The team's tight ends are pretty solid, but the only problem is they don't have a proven pass catcher, and in Parcells' system, the tight end normally serves as a possession receiver. The Cowboys signed TE Dan Campbell from the New York Giants to a three-year deal this off-season that included a $1.3 million signing bonus. Campbell will immediately take over the No. 1 TE role in the team's offense. Campbell has averaged just 17.5 receptions, 161.5 yards, and one TD per year over the last two seasons. While not an established receiving tight end, he may be the best blocker of the TEs on roster. He has served primarily as a blocking tight end, but might be called on to step up his production in the passing game this season. He'll have QBs coach Sean Payton pulling for him, though, giving him a better edge because of their time together in New York.

Tony McGee will switch from being the team's No. 1 TE to No. 2 this season, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will see less playing time. McGee caught 23 balls in 16 games for the Cowboys last season, his first with the team. Early in his career, he showed flashes of being a big-time pass catcher, but McGee hasn't caught more than 26 passes, hasn't gained more than 363, or scored more than two TDs in a season since 1997 with the Cincinnati Bengals. He might be wearing down as he enters his 11th NFL season, and McGee will be pushed for playing time - and possibly a roster spot - by backups.

Third-round draft pick Jason Witten (Tennessee) has a lot of receiving potential. He is big (6'5", 264 lbs.) and fast for his size (4.75-40). Witten is an athletic player, who has the ability to make things happen, but his inexperience - he left college after his junior year - and his poor blocking skills dropped him down in the draft. Witten could make an impact in his rookie season as a pass-catching specialist off the bench, but his playing time will be determined by his development throughout the season.

TEs James Whalen and Jeff Robinson are also in the mix for the final roster spot at the position. Whalen is the better blocker of the two, while Robinson's specialty is as a long-snapper. Robinson is returning from a torn ACL and has already been told just to focus on special teams this year, as he'd only be utilized as an actual tight end if there was an emergency or a rash of injury problems to the others.

[B]THE RUNNING GAME[\B]

The Cowboys lost 56.59 percent of their rushing offense with the departure of Emmitt Smith, leaving behind Troy Hambrick as the heir apparent for the starting job. However, the team's running back situation is anything but settled, as Jones has claimed the team could utilize every fantasy owner's worst nightmare - a running back by committee system. This could be the name of the game until Hambrick shows he's worthy of seeing the ball 25-30 times per game. That is, of course, assuming he's ever able to show he can.

Hambrick re-signed his tender offer in the off-season and is a favorite to gain the majority of snaps in the backfield, but Parcells is unhappy with his conditioning. Hambrick is currently at 250 pounds, and the team would like to see him play at 240. Hambrick has shown flashes of potential in the past but was somewhat of a letdown last season after he was expected to break through into the starting lineup. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 113 attempts in 2001, but only averaged 4.0 yards per carry on 79 attempts last season. He does have the ability to chip in with the passing game, as he caught 21 passes out of the backfield last season.

Hambrick's most direct competition for the starting tailback job will likely be Michael Wiley. Wiley (5'11", 203 lbs.) is the antithesis to Hambrick. A quick and agile back, Wiley gained 312 total yards on just 35 touches last season (8.91 yards per touch). His potential last season alone has intrigued the Cowboys' coaching staff into giving him the opportunity to compete for playing time. Ultimately, the job should go to Hambrick - or rather, the coaches seem to want the job to go to Hambrick - but it will be hard for the Cowboys to ignore Wiley completely.

RB Aveion Cason is the only remaining back who figures to play a part in the team's rushing game this season. Cason was acquired from the Detroit Lions in exchange for a seventh-round draft choice during the draft to serve as insurance. Cason touched the ball 45 times and gained 395 yards (8.78 yards per touch) last year, his second in the NFL. The team also has Reshard Lee, an undrafted rookie free agent, on roster but he may be nothing more than training camp fodder when all is said and done.

Perhaps the player who will have the biggest impact in the "running" game will be FB Richie Anderson. Unlike in New York, where he served as a pass-catching specialist, Anderson will see the field very often, as Parcells prefers to have a fullback on the field whenever possible. Anderson - who signed a three-year, $3.9 million deal with a $800,000 signing bonus this off-season - played under Parcells for three seasons with the Jets. However, in 40 games, he only totaled 58 receptions, 464 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the passing game, where he has become most dominant.

It wasn't until the year after Parcells left that Anderson broke out, catching 88 passes for 853 yards and 2 TDs out of the backfield; he also averaged 42.5 receptions per season in the two years since. Anderson should be expected to perform somewhere between his production level under Parcells in New York and his production level in the years following Parcells' departure from the Jets. The Cowboys are going to need to rely on someone catching the ball out of the backfield considering the QB situation, and Anderson is a perfect fit for such a job as he can serve as a security blanket along with the TE position to a young QB trying to make strides and keep the chains moving. While this isn't the most exciting of offenses, it leads to a ball-control approach.

Second-year FB Jamar Martin is returning from a torn ACL and should be fine for training camp. The team has also been impressed with his receiving ability out of the backfield, however with Anderson on board the playing time for Martin this year could be few and far between. He was a fourth-round selection of the Cowboys last year, who impressed the team all around before suffering the dreaded knee injury. The team also has FB Jason McKie on roster, but he may not make it through training camp if Martin is completely recovered from his knee injury.

[B]THE KICKING GAME[\B]

Second-year PK Billy Cundiff enters training camp as the incumbent. He was less than impressive last season, connecting on just 63.2 percent of his field goal attempts (12-for-16) and scoring only 61 points on the season. With as few chances as the Cowboys are going to give their kickers, Cundiff has to be able to take advantage of the opportunity when it comes to him. The team isn't very confident in Cundiff's ability, and as a result, they signed undrafted rookie free agent PK Ola Kimrin (Texas-El Paso) in the off-season. Kimrin remains a long shot to win the job, but should push Cundiff in training camp.

The Cowboys signed free agent P Toby Gowin away from the New Orleans Saints in the off-season, rewarding him with a five-year contract worth nearly $4 million and including a $500,000 signing bonus. Gowin, who began his career with the Cowboys in 1997, has a career average of 42.2 yards per punt and placed 15 punts inside the 20-yard line last season. While he will be "pushed" by P Filip Filipovic in training camp, Gowin will likely win the starting job without too much of a problem.

[B]OFFENSIVE LINE[\B]

The offensive line is filled with potential and could actually become one of the better units in the league by season's end. The projected starting lineup is massive - averaging 6-foot-4 1/2 and 329 pounds, with all five starters standing at least 6-foot-3 and weighing at least 305 pounds. The left side of the line is anchored by two of the better linemen in the league in OT Flozell Adams (6'7", 357 lbs.) and OG Larry Allen (6'3", 335 lbs.). Adams and Allen have played together for the last five seasons - Adams' entire career - although they haven't spent that entire time playing next to each other on the left side of the line. The Cowboys signed free agent OT Ryan Young (Texans), who Parcells selected in the 1999 draft. Young (6'5", 320 lbs.) struggled through knee problems last season with the Houston Texans, but was beginning to emerge as a solid, young player in the league before the knee problems began. The Cowboys signed him as such this off-season to a three-year deal that included a signing bonus in the $2 million range. Young's signing means the Cowboys will be able to keep Allen at right guard and plug Young into the starting lineup at right tackle.

The other two starting positions on the line will be determined by the development of second-round draft pick Al Johnson. Johnson (6-3, 305 lbs.) fits into Parcells' prototype of an offensive lineman, and the team would like for him to win the starting center spot. He played the position at Wisconsin in college and should be able to make the smooth transition to the pros. If he is able to win the starting job, that would allow the team to move second-year man Andre Gurode (6-4, 326 lbs.) to right guard. Gurode emerged as a solid starter in his rookie season last year, but would fit the mold better as a guard than as a center. The Cowboys' offensive line has the potential to be one of the better lines in the league, but the lack of playing time as a cohesive unit will likely cause some struggles in the early going.

C Tyson Walter (6-4, 310 lbs.) and OG Matt Lehr (6-2, 304 lbs.) will serve as the top backups, although Walter or Lehr might be called upon to start early in the season if Johnson doesn't develop in time. Further depth up front is provided in Kurt Vollers, Marques McFadden, Noah Swartz, Javiar Collins, Joe Johnson, Justin Bates, Dave Volk, Torrin Tucker, Dustin Keith and Jeff Grau. However, plenty of these faces probably won't find their name still on the team's roster following training camp as many of the group will pan out to be nothing more than training camp fodder.

[B]DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

DEFENSIVE LINE[B]

Parcells wants to see his defense be more aggressive this season, and while that will likely occur at the second and third levels of the unit, the ability to do so will be predicated by the play of the defensive line. The Cowboys searched for a big-time, big-bodied defensive tackle in free agency and the draft this off-season, but were unable to land the type of player they desired. As a result, they will be forced to play with an undersized unit that was assembled under the team's former coaches.

At tackle, La'Roi Glover (6'2", 285 lbs.) leads the way. He is a speedy, pass-rushing specialist who recorded 6.5 sacks in his first season with the Cowboys last year and notched a career high 17 sacks with New Orleans in 2000. Oftentimes, though, he gets over-powered at the point of attack in running situations, which will lead the coaching staff to use a defensive tackle rotation. Glover will most likely see most of his playing time in early downs or obvious passing situations, but could find himself on the sideline on running downs. Third-year man John Nix (6'1", 313 lbs.) is more of the prototypical tackle in Parcells' system. He hasn't recorded a sack in two seasons with the Cowboys, instead serving as a hole-plugger up the middle. Nix will compete with Michael Myers (6'2", 292 lbs.) - who re-signed a one-year contract this off-season - for the second starting tackle position. Daleroy Stewart and Shaun Smith serve as the primary backups.

Ebenezer Ekuban (6'3", 265 lbs.) and Greg Ellis (6'6", 277 lbs.) - former teammates at North Carolina - round out the undersized unit at end. Ekuban became a primary starter last year, his fourth with the team. He recorded just one sack last season, but was able to land 6.5 sacks as a situational rusher in 2000. With his lack of size, Ekuban is often overpowered by the massive offensive tackles he must face, especially when it is necessary for the team to have him on the field for the majority of downs. Excessive wear and tear on his body is always a concern. Ellis, on the other hand, has been a five-year starter and is a sack specialist. He is a little bigger than Ekuban, which helps him withstand the play in both rushing and passing situations. Ellis recorded 7.5 sacks last year and has averaged 5.4 sacks per season in his career. While Ellis will likely stay on the field for the majority of defensive plays, Ekuban might find himself on the sidelines at times in short-yardage and rushing downs. Demetric Evans, Colston Weatherington, Derrius Monroe, and Kevin DeRonde will serve as backups at defensive end, although all four will not likely make the roster.

[B]LINEBACKERS[\B]

Once again, the linebacking unit is undersized. Assembled under the old coaching staff, the linebackers are quick and agile, but lack the size and strength Parcells likes. In fact, it was rumored in the off-season that Parcells might try to deal away Dat Nguyen or Dexter Coakley to cater more to his style of play. Regardless, Nguyen and Coakley are still around and provide capable starters. Nguyen (5'11", 243 lbs.) missed the team's first eight games last season as the result of a broken wrist. That problem is behind him, though, as he was able to record 5.25 tackles per game in the second half of last season, just slightly off the rate of his 91 total tackles in 2001. Not unlike many other middle linebackers, Nguyen won't record many, if any sacks; he had one last season and has recorded just two in his four-year career. Rookie Bradie James (LSU) and Jamal Brooks will serve as reserves in the middle.

Coakley (5'10", 236 lbs.) will man the weak side of the Cowboys' defense. He has shown steady improvement over his six-year career. He improved from 72 tackles and 23 assists in 2001 to 81 tackles and 23 assists in 2002. Coakley, though, doesn't provide a lot in the "flashy" statistics, as he doesn't get to the quarterback too often, most likely a result of his lack of size. If the front line can't keep defenders off Coakley, he will have a tough time finding his way to the football, which is the strength of his game.

The Cowboys went out and signed free agent LB Al Singleton away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this off-season to a four-year contract worth about $4 million with a $2 million signing bonus. Singleton (6'2", 228 lbs.) started 14 games for the Buccaneers last season, but oddly enough, is also vastly undersized, especially for a strong side linebacker. The Cowboys like his speed and athleticism, and desired his playmaking ability over the tight end in pass coverage. However, with three undersized LBs, the Cowboys are likely to struggle against the run if the front line is unable to help out.

Markus Steele - a starter for parts of the season last year - Michael Hawkes, Louis Mackey, and Keith O'Neil will serve as depth on the outside. As usual, all may not make it out of training camp.

[B]DEFENSIVE BACKS[\B]

The secondary is the strength of the Cowboys' defense, and it consists of some of the most talented players in the league. The unit is still very young, and they haven't played together for very long, so it can't be expected that they will be elite this season. However, they could emerge as one of the strongest secondaries in the league in the next few years.

The defensive backs are anchored by their safeties. Strong safety Darren Woodson has been a staple of the team's defense since 1992, and while he is getting up there in age, 34, he can still play. Woodson doesn't put up the same statistical numbers as he used to earlier in his career, but he also doesn't have to. His duties have been limited to coverage instead of attacking the ball at the line of the scrimmage, and most times, the strong safety isn't the position that normally puts up the stats in the secondary. Woodson recorded 40 tackles and nine assists last season to go along with one interception and one fumble recovery. Still, he is one of the better cover safeties in the league. There has been some talk of possibly moving him over to free safety, which could prolong his career another couple of seasons. However, that has not been determined as of yet and all signs point to Woodson opening the year at SS again this season. Tony Dixon has the beat on the top backup spot at strong safety.

Alongside Woodson at free safety is phenom Roy Williams. Williams, who was the team's first-round pick last year, had a fantastic rookie season including 88 tackles (team high), two sacks, three fumble recoveries (team high), five interceptions (team high), and two defensive touchdowns (team high). Woodson is a hard-hitting player, who can not only linger around the line of scrimmage to create commotion, but can also hover in the secondary and pick apart pass patterns. In his second season, Woodson will likely continue to emerge as an elite free safety. As mentioned above, should Woodson get the move to FS that would move Williams over to strong safety, which is an area he may be better suited for. However, entering the season, all signs point to Williams remaining at free safety - at least to start. Keith Davis and Lynn Scott will battle for a roster spot behind Williams at free safety. However, "Mr. Everything" QB/KR/S Woody Dantzler might also factor into the team's plans at safety this season.

The cornerback position hasn't been completely decided as of yet, but it is a position that has some talent. First-round draft pick Terence Newman will likely step into the starting lineup immediately at the left corner position. He has outstanding speed and a hunger for the ball that could be matched in the secondary only by Williams. Even if he doesn't start from week one, Newman will be a staple in the Cowboys' defense for years to come. Opposite Newman will be a battle that should rage on throughout training camp. Mario Edwards and Pete Hunter - who both started at times last season for Dallas - will compete with second-year man Derek Ross and free-agent signee Donald Mitchell. Mitchell served mostly as the nickel back for the Tennessee Titans last season, and while he will have a shot to start on a regular basis, he'll probably serve as a solid No. 3 CB this season. Hunter will most likely be relegated to backup duty, as Edwards is the favorite to win the second starting job. However, don't count out Ross, who could be a dark horse in the competition. Ross recorded 54 tackles last season (4th on the team) and tied for the team lead with five interceptions. The team might be a little concerned with Ross' consistency, but if he is able to improve on that, he could easily find himself in the starting lineup. Clearly, the corner position for the Cowboys is not only talented but also deep this year. Rookie B.J. Tucker, Don McGee and Markese Fitzgerald are also in reserve.

[B]WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON...[\B]

* Who wins the starting job at quarterback. The Cowboys' success on offense should be predicated on how well the quarterback - no matter who it is - performs. The pieces are there; someone just needs to step up.
* How Troy Hambrick is able to perform at running back. After three years waiting in the wings, Hambrick is finally out of the shadows of Emmitt Smith and has center stage all to himself - if he is able to step up and grasp the starting job. He has had potential for a few years now, but he has to prove that he can translate that into production, or else he could be gone after the season.
* Who wins the second starting spot at wide receiver. Terry Glenn is being given yet another chance under Bill Parcells, but if he wins the job, will Antonio Bryant see significant playing time, or will it just hamper his development?
* How the defense performs overall. Parcells already isn't too happy with the fact that the unit is undersized, and if certain players aren't able to perform up to his expectations or wishes, there could be a big overhaul of the unit a year from now.

[B]FINAL ANALYSIS[\B]

Unfortunately for Dallas fans, the Cowboys are still in the rebuilding process, albeit the latter stages of it. The good news is that Dallas has better pieces to the puzzle this year than they did in 2002. They are mostly riding on potential and uncertainty on offense, which could spell periods of inadequacy at times. They are solid up front on the line, which is at the very least is something they can build on for this season and the next few. On defense, the Cowboys drastically improved their talent in the secondary with the selection of Newman. Combined with Woodson, Williams, and most likely Ross, the Cowboys should be able to shut down opposing passing games, which means they shouldn't be blown out of too many games. However, their extreme lack of size up front and with their linebackers could mean they will be dominated in the running and time-of-possession games. There are positive signs looming in the near future, but Bill Parcells alone will not be able to help the Cowboys rise out of the cellar of the NFC East just yet. For fantasy owners, this team doesn't bring many - if any at all - top-flight potential players. There are definitely interesting options like Hambrick, Galloway, whichever WR wins the No. 2 spot and the Cowboys' "D" … however, as noted, most of that will be predicated off of how well the quarterback position pans out for the Cowboys. Don't be overboard in trying to acquire any players from this team, especially not early in your fantasy draft(s).

2003 New York Giants Preview

2002 Record: 10-6

The Giants are one of those teams that you either love or hate. Loaded with talent at skill positions on offense, the team has the potential for fantasy football fireworks in 2003. However, it all comes down to the volatile QB Kerry Collins, who has had more issues in his football lifetime than many care to acknowledge. If Collins can continue improving on the field - both as a leader and a producing player - the sky could be the limit for this team's offense, as all of their skill players return in the starting lineup this year.

[B]2002 FLASHBACK[\B]

The Giants were rolling along in the Wild Card round of the playoffs last season, trouncing the 49ers 38-14 in San Francisco late in the third quarter. Everything was looking bright, as the Giants were eyeing a second-round playoff game. And that is when the 49ers turned it on. In the game's final 19 minutes, the 49ers outscored the Giants 25-0 to pull out the 39-38 win and shock New York. In fact, the Giants botched the snap on what was a 41-yard field goal attempt, although a no call on a pass interference ultimately led to an ugly end.

Unlike Giant teams in the past, 2002's version was led by the offense instead of the defense. Seemingly out of nowhere, QB Kerry Collins bounced back from a few years of inconsistency to put forth arguably his best season as a pro. Even without WR Ike Hilliard for more than half of the year, Collins was able to throw for more than 4,000 yards and complete more than 60 percent of his passes. Tiki Barber began to develop into a start, falling just 16 yards short of 2,000 combined yards for the season and scoring 11 rushing touchdowns. WR Amani Toomer continued his recent success, achieving career highs in receptions (82), yards (1,343) and touchdowns (8). But perhaps the biggest jolt the offense received came in the form of a rookie: TE Jeremy Shockey. In his first season out of Miami, Shockey was simply dominating. While he only scored two touchdowns, he hauled in 74 passes for 894 yards and always found a way to catch the ball when the team needed him most.

On defense, the Giants certainly didn't struggle. New York ranked ninth in the league in overall defense, allowing 309.3 total yards per game. Their pass defense was surprisingly solid - given the poor play by Jason Sehorn - as they ranked ninth in the league in that category, allowing 194.9 passing yards per game. Almost equally surprising, the Giants didn't fare too well against the run. They ranked 16th in the league, allowing 114.4 rushing yards per game, an area they used to be very solid against. The Giants had problems with a constant push up front against the run, which in turn affected the way the team's linebackers and secondary produced against the ground game.

[B]OFF-SEASON MOVES OVERVIEW[\B]

The Giants made 18 off-season moves not counting the players they acquired in the NFL Draft. Fortunately for them, New York didn't lose, or even add, too many critical pieces to the puzzle that made them successful last season. The biggest off-season losses will come on the offensive line, where the entire right side of starters from a year ago is no longer. The team had to re-sign too many other players that they couldn't afford to offer lucrative enough contracts to OG Jason Whittle (Buccaneers) or OT Mike Rosenthal (Vikings). The team also released veteran OL Dusty Ziegler after he failed a physical. The Giants are confident, though, that they have able bodies to replace the players they lost on the line. New York's other big subtraction this off-season was DB Jason Sehorn. After failing to return to form following a knee injury, Sehorn became a salary-cap casualty. The Giants decided to release Sehorn instead of restructuring his contract or moving him to free safety. The team also parted ways with reserve DT Ross Kolodziej (49ers) and TE Dan Campbell (Cowboys).

Most of the team's off-season additions came in the form of help to the special teams. Unhappy with the debacle created by last season's playoff loss, the Giants signed free agent long snapper Ryan Kuehl to a five-year, $3.62 million deal that included a $325,000 signing bonus. They also lured P Jeff Feagles from the Seahawks, inking him for five-years at $4.3 million. PK Mike Hollis was signed to a five-year deal worth a little more than $4 million, making him the early favorite to win the battle with second-year PK Matt Bryant. In the final special-teams-related move, the Giants added future Hall of Fame PR/KR Brian Mitchell, signing him to a four-year, $3.55 million contract that will likely keep him in New York for the remainder of his career. The team upgraded its depth on both sides of the ball by adding RB Dorsey Levens, FB Jim Finn, CB Ray Green, and DE Keith Washington.

[B]ROOKIE OVERVIEW[\B]

The Giants primary objective in the draft was to upgrade its defensive line, and they did just that starting with their first pick. All along, the team had been targeting Miami, Fla., DT William Joseph, at times contemplating whether to move up from the No. 25 spot in the first round to insure his services. However, the Giants decided not to make a move, and it paid off, as Joseph was still available at No. 25. Joseph (6'5", 308 lbs.) is a big body in the middle, and he is quick and agile for his 300+ pound frame. He has loads of experience, as he started every game in his college career after being redshirted his freshmen year. Questions surround Joseph about his work ethic and physical play throughout a game, but the Giants are confident they can turn that around.

New York made an odd pick in the second round, going with the inexperienced DE Osi Umenyiora. Umenyiora lacks a lot of football knowledge and is very raw, as he was mostly a soccer player until late in his high school years. However, he has great athleticism on a big body, with the ability to get at the quarterback. For now, he just needs to learn how to play the position.

TE Vishante Shiancoe was another strange pick in the third round, considering they spent their first-round pick last year on Shockey. Shiancoe is a raw player whose specialty is catching the football. He doesn't look to be too big a part of the team's offense this year, but the Giants did need some depth at the position with the loss of Campbell.

CB Roderick Babers (Texas - 4th round) and OG Dave Diehl (Illinois - 5th round) were both solid selections for need, and both could see playing time in their rookie seasons. WR Willie Ponder (Southeastern Missouri - 6th round), WR David Tyree (Syracuse - 6th round), S Charles Drake (Michigan - 7th round), C Wayne Lucier (Colorado - 7th round), and WR Kevin Walter (Eastern Michigan - 7th round) rounded out the team's selections.

[B]OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

THE PASSING GAME[\B]

Kerry Collins has shown steady improvement over his four-year career with the New York Giants, and he capped it off with a superb performance in 2002. After starting just seven games in 1999 - his first season with the Giants - Collins has thrown for at least 3,600 yards in each year since. His 4,073 yards topped his previous career high by 309 yards, and while his 19 touchdowns weren't the most of his career and his 14 interceptions weren't the least, he also set a career high with an impressive 61.5 percent completion rate.

Collins has never had more weapons surrounding him than he does now, so there is no reason to believe he can't improve upon his statistics in 2003. Entering his ninth NFL season, Collins has shown maturity and leadership that the entire league has been waiting for since he was the first ever draft pick by the Carolina Panthers in 1995. Collins has shown a knack for making positive reads both down field and out of the backfield when he finds himself in trouble, and has displayed a strong, accurate arm in longer pass attempts. Could Collins revert to his old ways? Sure he could, but it isn't likely at this stage in his career. Collins has realized his potential, both as a point producer and as a leader, and desires to win a championship - which the Giants could be close to attaining. Collins has certainly escalated himself into the middle-to-upper tier of both NFL and fantasy quarterbacks in 2003.

The Giants could be in some trouble if Collins goes down with an injury because they don't really have a backup with professional experience on roster. Jesse Palmer will serve as the team's top backup, and while he displayed outstanding skills at the University of Florida under Washington Redskins head coach Steve Spurrier, he has only thrown four passes in his two-year NFL career. Palmer was a very precise passer in college, but it is uncertain how he would perform on the professional stage. Jason Garrett - the team's No. 3 QB - actually has much more experience than Palmer does. Garrett started seven games in his final two years with the Dallas Cowboys in 1998 and 1999, but he hasn't thrown a pass in a game since then. The good news for the Giants is that they do have offensive weapons all over the field, so as long as one of the backups is able to get the ball to them - if they are called upon - the team should still be fine.

The Giants wide receivers don't get the credit they deserve, but their top two starters are developing into one of the most athletic tandems in the league. Amani Toomer has quietly put up four straight solid seasons of at least 72 receptions, 1,054 yards and five touchdowns. Toomer, though, is no longer lingering off the map after his 82-catch, 1,343-yard, eight-touchdown year in 2002. Last season, he was utilized in 143 plays, good for 13 percent of the team's offensive plays called. In the red zone, he saw his utilization drop to just 10 percent. Toomer excels at gaining separation from defenders and burning down field. He has averaged at least 13.3 yards per catch in each season since 1997 and at least 14.6 yards per catch in each season since he became a starter in 1999. At 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds, Toomer also displays an uncanny ability to reach high in the air and grab jump balls, showing great adjustment skills should a pass float high or off target. But perhaps the greatest thing Toomer has had going for him in his career is his ability to stay healthy. In his last six seasons, Toomer has played in all 16 games of every season, even though he did miss two starts in both 2000 and 2001 due to minor injuries. If Toomer can stay healthy again this season, there's no reason he can't continue to produce like he's been. In fact, with more weapons surrounding him on the field in 2003, he could actually improve even more because he will likely attract less attention by defenders.

Ike Hilliard - one of the only University of Florida receivers recently that has been successful in the NFL - was probably one of the most talented unrestricted free agent wide receivers this off-season short of San Diego Chargers WR David Boston. However, he was also overshadowed by the trade of WR Peerless Price to Atlanta and the signing of restricted free agent WR Laveranues Coles by Washington.

After searching around the league only briefly, Hilliard decided to return to New York, re-signing with the Giants for five-years at $12.5 million, including a $2.5 million signing bonus. Hilliard was limited to only seven games last season as a result of a separated shoulder that ended his season. The good news is Hilliard has had plenty of time to recover this off-season, and is all but 100 percent ready for the season. Last season, Hilliard had 27 receptions, 386 yards and 2 TDs before going down with the injury. He was utilized in 5 percent of the team's offensive plays and saw that number drop to 3 percent within the red zone.

Hilliard (5'11", 205 lbs.) is a shorter version of Toomer. He has the speed to burn down the field - as highlighted by his 13.8 career yards-per-catch average - but seems to do his best work down around the goal line. Hilliard has become a favorite target of Collins where it counts: in the red zone. While Toomer will almost always put up better numbers in catches and yards, Hilliard could easily surpass him in touchdowns in any given season. He scored eight times in 14 games in 2000 and six times in 14 games in 2001. Health and stability have always been a question surrounding Hilliard, as he plays his game over the middle for a relatively small guy. If he can remain on the field for an entire season, Hilliard could be primed for a breakout year.

Unfortunately, behind Hilliard and Toomer, the Giants are filled with uncertainty at wide receiver. There is no lack of talent in Ron Dixon and Tim Carter, but both are riddled by injuries. Dixon, who re-signed his tender offer as a restricted free agent this off-season, underwent knee surgery that ended his season last year. He underwent a clean-up procedure on the same knee in mid-June, but head coach Jim Fassel believes Dixon should be ready for the start of training camp. Dixon also worked his way into Fassel's doghouse last season, earning a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. Dixon will not only have to work hard to get back into physical shape to play in 2003, he'll also have to prove to the coaches that he is dedicated to his improvement on the field. He finished the season with 22 receptions, 379 yards and 2 TDs. His 17.2 yards per reception was impressive, but means little if he cannot stay healthy or is troubled by his knee in the upcoming year. He was utilized in 38 plays last year, good for 4 percent of the offense. In the red zone, he was utilized just 3 percent of the time.

Carter, on the other hand, suffered a torn Achilles' tendon mid-way through his rookie season last year. He only played in five games, catching just two passes, up to that point, but he was showing rapid improvement and signs of life. Carter continued to sit out some of the team's minicamp practices in mid-June as a result of discomfort in his injured foot, so he is by no means 100 percent just yet.

Daryl Jones is the next man on the depth chart at wide receiver, but the Giants might choose to take the youth route instead and release him during training camp. That would leave the team with Derek Dorris as the only other non-rookie on roster, with first-year players Willie Ponder, David Tyree, and Kevin Walter competing for a spot on the roster.

The Giants are as solid as anyone in the game at the tight end position for the sole reason that they have Jeremy Shockey, who could emerge as the most dominant player at his position this year, claiming the title away from Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez. Shockey (6'5", 252 lbs.) is a physical presence across the middle, and he plays with an intensity that seems to be unmatched. Not only did he lead his rookie class - which included two other first-round picks at tight end - in receptions (74) and yards (894), he also led the league in those two categories for a tight end. The only reason he might not have been considered the best tight end in the league last season, especially in fantasy circles, was the fact that he only scored two touchdowns; Gonzalez (773 yards - 7 touchdowns), Baltimore's Todd Heap (836 yards - 6 touchdowns), and Indianapolis' Marcus Pollard (478 yards - 6 touchdowns) all put up comparable, if not better, fantasy numbers because of the number of times they scored. Still, consider that Shockey was only a rookie and the he didn't really turn it on until late in the season.

In his first eight games, Shockey averaged respectable numbers of 3.38 catches and 40.13 yards per game. In his last seven games, he improved to 6.71 catches and 81.86 yards per game, including four games of at least 89 yards receiving, two of which he eclipsed the 100-yard mark. He was utilized in 133 plays last year, good for 13 percent of the team's offensive plays. In the red zone, that number jumped slightly to 14 percent. With his size, he needs to become more of a factor in the red zone. Shockey is sure to continue his torrid pace into the 2003 season, which should make him one of the top tight ends in the game.

Behind Shockey, the Giants don't have too much to worry about because their No. 2 tight end will only be called upon to block and make a rare catch or two. Even with the loss of Dan Campbell to the division-rival Cowboys, New York should do just fine. Marcellus Rivers, who had 2 receptions for 25 yards and 1 TD last year, will start the season as the No. 2, but don't be surprised if third-round pick Vishante Shiancoe takes over that spot before the year is up. Mark Inkrott and converted strong safety Darnell Dinkins will all compete for playing time and a roster spot in training camp.

[B]THE RUNNING GAME[\B]

Thunder and Lightning no more. The Giants' two-headed rushing machine became just one-headed in 2002 and will probably continue to be so in 2003 as a result of last year's play and off-season turmoil.

First, and probably the primary reason for the change in scheme, Tiki Barber can no longer be considered a "scat back." Heralded as a slightly bigger Warrick Dunn earlier in his career, Barber (5'10", 200 lbs.) has established himself as an every-down back, and a threat to break one off every time he touches the ball. Barber has always shown good abilities both running and catching the football. In 2000, he combined for more than 1,700 total yards and scored eight touchdowns, but he didn't get a lot of respect because he barely rushed for more than 1,000 yards. In 2002, Barber proved all of his doubters wrong. He eclipsed his previous career high in carries by close to 100, rushed for just shy of 1,400 yards, and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. Furthermore, he was a huge part of the Giants' offense. He was utilized in 399 plays, good for a massive 38 percent of the team's plays. In the red zone, he saw that number jump to 45 percent, which included 21 utilized plays within the five-yard line. Barber has to be considered one of the top threats in the game, as he averaged 5.32 yards every time he touched the ball. The only thing holding him back from elite status is his lack of touchdowns. While 11 touchdowns certainly isn't a miniscule amount, the top backs in the game scored more - Kansas City's Priest Holmes (21), Miami's Ricky Williams (16), and Seattle's Shaun Alexander (16), just to name a few.

Oh, the trials and tribulations of Ron Dayne. It has been a tumultuous off-season for Dayne, to say the least. After being a first-round draft pick by the Giants in the 2000 draft, Dayne has been a relative flop in the NFL. At Wisconsin, he rushed for more yards than anyone else in NCAA history, surpassing the former record set by Texas - and now Miami Dolphins - RB Ricky Williams just a few years before. Dayne hasn't been a complete flop, as he did rush for 770 yards in his rookie season and scored seven touchdowns the following campaign. However, he hasn't produced up to expectations for a back that holds such a respectable college record or one that was selected in the first-round of the NFL Draft. Dayne's arrival in New York seemed to be a case of terrible timing; just as he joined the team, Barber burst onto the scene as a top back. Early in the off-season, Dayne demanded a trade because he felt he wasn't being given a legitimate shot to prove his worth - he was given just 125 carries last season. However, the Giants refused to even look for a suitor, as Dayne - if nothing else - serves as great depth should Barber go down with an injury. Dayne refused to participate in the team's off-season conditioning program, prompting Fassel to put him in the doghouse and wonder what kind of shape he is in. Dayne finally reported to the team in late May in apparently good shape, but he might have dug too big a hole for him to get out of at this time.

As if Dayne thought the situation wasn't bad enough, the Giants signed free agent RB Dorsey Levens in the off-season. Levens (6'1", 230 lbs.) is a little smaller than the 250-pound Dayne, but he plays a very similar game to the youngster, and therefore, should take away most of his carries. With Philadelphia last season, the veteran Levens was able to rush for 411 yards on just 75 carries (5.5 yards per carry) while chipping in 124 yards on 19 receptions. The Giants are already planning to use Levens in short-yardage and red zone situations, which could easily cut out most of Dayne's playing time.

Brian Mitchell also came over with Levens in the off-season; he also played with the Eagles a year ago. While Mitchell comes in on the running back depth chart, he's simply a special teams player and won't sniff the offense much, if at all, this year. The team wants to rely on him to bolster their field position on return teams, nothing more. Delvin Joyce and Antonio Warren also round out the team's running backs, but if Dayne isn't sent packing to another team neither of them stands a good chance at remaining with the team this year.

The Giants don't really utilize a fullback in their offense, as evidenced by last year's statistics. No. 1 FB Charles Stackhouse didn't have a carry last season, and only caught 13 passes for 88 yards. However, three of his 13 catches ended up being touchdowns. While it's nice to have a player on your team who scores a touchdown every 4.33 catches (on pace for 433 touchdowns with 100 catches), last year was probably just a fluke, and Stackhouse can't be relied upon as a producer in the offense. The Giants signed FB Jim Finn (Colts) in the off-season to serve as solid depth.

[B]THE KICKING GAME[\B]

The Giants' kicking game was putrid last season. PK Matt Bryant wasn't atrocious, but he wasn't all that good either. He connected on 81.3 percent of his field goal attempts (26-of-32), and while that isn't the worst he could have been, Bryant did miss five of his 19 attempts in the 30-39 yard range. The Giants felt they needed to have competition for Bryant at the least, so they brought in veteran Mike Hollis. Bryant was actually a lot better than Hollis last season, as Hollis connected on just 75.8 percent (25-of-33) of his attempts. Hollis' signing was an interesting move, as normally, a team wouldn't sign a kicker to a five-year, $4 million deal and not intend him to be with the team when the season begins. However, if he doesn't produce better than Bryant, what will the Giants do? Fassel has already said he will not carry two place kickers, one to handle field goals and extra points, and one to handle kickoffs.

The poor punting of Matt Allen had Fassel irate last season. In 63 punts, Allen averaged just 36.9 yards with 20 landing inside the 20-yard line. Fassel and the Giants had seen enough, and they went out and signed free agent P Jeff Feagles to solve their problems. Feagles averaged 41.7 yards per punt and landed 22 of his 61 attempts inside the 20-yard line. In fact, on his career, Feagles has averaged 41.7 yards per punt, so even on the surface, he is a significant upgrade over Allen. The team has undrafted rookie free agent Steve Cheek on roster to give some competition to Feagles, but he's mostly just going to serve as another leg in practice that won't be around come the start of the regular season.

[B]OFFENSIVE LINE[\B]

The Giants will have an interesting adjustment to make, as they lost both their starting right guard and starting right tackle from last season's team. New York simply couldn't afford to make a big enough push to re-sign OG Jason Whittle (Buccaneers) or OT Mike Rosenthal (Vikings). As a result, they'll have to go with second-year OT Ian Allen and second-year OG Tam Hopkins. Hopkins (6'4", 315 lbs.) played in all 16 games last season, starting one as a primary backup at both guard positions. Allen (6'4", 305 lbs.) is much less experience; he played in just three games last season as a backup on the left side of the line. Not only will he have to adjust to being on the field in 2003, he'll have to adjust to a new side of the line.

The left side of the line is much more stable and heralded. The Giants re-signed OT Luke Petitgout to a multi-year contract this off-season worth approximately $5 million per season and including a signing bonus in the $8 million-$10 million range. Petitgout (6'6", 310 lbs.) is developing into one of the better offensive tackles in the game entering his fifth season. He has great leverage on his 6-foot-6 frame, and has sturdy footwork to protect the blind side of the quarterback. At right guard, the Giants re-signed Rich Seubert to a four-year contract extension, awarding him with about $9.2 million in "new money." Seubert (6'5", 305 lbs.) is a big body in the middle of the line. He started every game last season, his second in the league, and the Giants believe he has the ability to be a starter for a long time to come. Rookie David Diehl, Pat Crummey, Omar Smith and Jeff Roehl will compete for playing time behind the starters at guard. At tackle, Jeff Hatch and Barrett Brooks will be the primary backups, while Vincent Sandoval and Char-ron Dorsey compete for limited time.

At center, the team likes the abilities of Chris Bober (6'5", 310 lbs.). Bober re-signed for one year as a restricted free agent in the off-season, but the team is trying to lock him up to a long-term deal. Bober was also a first-year starter in 2002, but showed enough potential that the Giants feel from center-to-right, they could have one of the best young tandems in the league. They are slowly building a massive offensive line, but they will need some time yet to work together. Rookie Wayne Lucier, long snapper Ryan Keuhl, and Dan O'Leary will backup Bober.

[B]DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

DEFENSIVE LINE[\B]

DE Michael Strahan is one of the premier defensive linemen in the NFL, but after him, the Giants don't have much in the way of well-rounded players up front. Strahan is a monster. He followed up his record setting 2001 season with 11 sacks, 71 tackles and three forced fumbles last season. Strahan has averaged 9.58 sacks per season since 1997 and has recorded at least 10 sacks in four of those six seasons. Strahan is so good because he is able to combine speed, quickness and agility with amazing power. As good as Strahan is, his impact on the field will continue to reduce until the Giants are able to apply pressure from other parts of the line. Kenny Holmes will man the right side of the defensive line. After an ineffective first season with New York in 2000 - and amidst pressure from backup Frank Ferrara - Holmes bounced back to have one of his best seasons in 2002. In 15 games, Holmes recorded eight sacks (tied a career high), 47 tackles and one forced fumble. The inconsistent Holmes must be able to provide production again in 2003 to allow less pressure to be applied to Strahan. If he is able to do so, the Giants will be solid at the end position.

The aforementioned Ferrara will serve as the top backup at end, although he'll really only see playing time in rotation with Holmes. Ferrara developed into a pretty good reserve in his second year in the league last year. At 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, he brings a big body to the table, which is suited more for running downs than passing downs. Newly signed Keith Washington will serve as the team's No. 4 DE. In 10 games, no starts, with the Denver Broncos last year, Washington recorded just nine tackles. He has never been a sack machine - recording just eight in seven years - and is more of a run stopper like Ferrara. Second-round pick Osi Umenyiora was a reach pick by the Giants at No. 56 overall, but the team wasn't looking for him to be an impact player in the first year when they selected him. The Giants love his potential and hope that some day in the near future - Strahan is 31, Holmes is 29 - Umenyiora could develop into a solid starter.

The Giants' biggest problem on defense last year was the play by its defensive tackles. Cornelius Griffin could develop into a nice player. He has the size (6'3", 300 lbs.) necessary to play in the middle, and also has the ability to get at the quarterback. He nearly doubled his sack total in 2002 from the year previous to four, but his tackles dropped by 14 to 49. At the very least, Griffin will be called upon to push the opposing offensive lines backward so that the team's linebackers are able to make some tackles. Opposite Griffin is uncertainty right now. Veteran Keith Hamilton was limited to just six games last season due to an Achilles' tendon injury that he is still attempting to return from. Hamilton provides a big-time push on the defensive line, as highlighted by his seven-sack-per-year average from 1997-2001. Even if Hamilton is able to return from his injury, though, there is no guarantee the Giants' defensive will receive a jolt in the arm. Hamilton was arrested on various drug charges in late May, and since this isn't his first arrest for such a crime, he faces a possible suspension from the NFL, if convicted. Hamilton is currently practicing with the team and is listed as a starter, but that could change any day.

The Giants were hoping they wouldn't have to throw first-round draft pick William Joseph into the fire right from the get-go. While they didn't produce as the strength of the team's defense last year, the defensive line did have enough depth and potential - especially with the looming return of Hamilton - to utilize Joseph as simply a rotational player. Now, with Hamilton's situation in the air, Joseph is forced to play with the first team. Joseph certainly can handle it, as he did play at a big-time college program at Miami, starting every game after his freshmen year. New York was just hoping to bring him along slowly in hopes to refine some of his skills. Lance Legree - who started 10 games in place of Hamilton last year - will be the top backup at defensive tackle, with Ahmad Miller and Matt Mitrione competing for a backup spot.

[B]LINEBACKERS[\B]

The Giants' linebacking unit is vastly underrated; it employs three solid starters who don't necessarily put up amazing statistics, but don't make many mistakes either. They are led by middle linebacker Michael Barrow, a 10-year veteran and nine-year starter. Barrow (6'2", 245 lbs.) is a little undersized for his position, but he is able to compensate by using his strength and quickness. Barrow always seems to find the football. He is a tackle machine, recording 110 last year and averaging 105 per season in his nine years as a starter. Barrow can also produce sacks, as highlighted by his 2.5 last year, his six the year before, and his 8.5 with Carolina in 1997. Barrow is a smart player in the middle of the defense who, like all linebackers, does his best work when the defensive line is able to keep offensive linemen off him. In 2001, when Strahan set the single-season sack record, Barrow had arguably his best season: 135 tackles (93 solo), six sacks, and four forced fumbles. Nick Griesen, a second-year man out of Wisconsin, impressed so much in his rookie season that the Giants could be looking to him as an eventual replacement in the starting lineup. Griesen will serve as the primary backup behind Barrow in the middle. Josh Hotchkiss provides the third-string role at the middle linebacker spot.

On the strong side, Brandon Short is developing into a solid player. Short (6'3", 253 lbs.), out of linebacker-rich Penn State - is bigger than Barrow, which provides him with the ability to take on blocking tight ends and massive offensive tackles, sometimes at the same time. He improved vastly in his third season, improving his tackle total from 60 in 2001 to 87 last year. Short also recorded three sacks and one interception in his second season as a full-time starter. He was re-signed as a restricted free agent this off-season, and you can bet the Giants will push heavily to lock him up to a long-term deal before his is able to hit the free agent market.

Dhani Jones rounds out the group on the weak side of the defense. Unlike the high-profile weak-side backers, Jones doesn't get to the quarterback. He didn't record a sack last year, his first as a starter, and hasn't done so in his short two-year career. However, the Giants won't call upon Jones to record sacks like other teams might, as they get plenty from their defensive line. Jones - also from a linebacker-rich college in Michigan - has the potential to be a solid player. He recorded 82 tackles last season and was heavily sought after as a restricted free agent this off-season. Jones did re-sign his tender offer with the Giants, but the interest in him alone should show his potential.

Kevin Lewis, Wesly Mallard and Quincy Monk will serve as the top backups outside.

[B]DEFENSIVE BACKS[\B]

The face of the Giants' secondary changed dramatically last season when CB Jason Sehorn was unable to recover completely from a knee injury, and the team was forced to turn to younger players who are maturing into solid starters. Both of the Wills - Allen and Peterson - suffered through some injuries last season, but should be ready to go for 2003. Allen was the more highly regarded pick, coming out of Syracuse. In 15 games last year, he recorded 55 tackles and just one interception. Peterson - out of Western Illinois - played a very similar game, recording 40 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games. Both of them display excellent speed and cover skills. Opposing offenses have a lot of trouble finding ways to get the ball to their receivers in one-on-one coverage; they rarely find places to through the ball unless the safeties are responsible for coverage on a particular play. The Giants believed so much in Peterson and Allen that they released Sehorn in the off-season, absorbing an $8 million cap hit for the 2003 season in the process. Ralph Brown will serve as the top backup and nickel corner in the secondary. Behind him, the Giants have a conglomeration of players in reserve. Kato Serwanga, Ray Green - who was signed to a one-year deal this off-season - and rookies Roderick Babers and Frank Walker will compete for reserve roles.

The Giants' safeties are composed of two hard-hitting players. Free safety Omar Stoutmire turned down visits with other teams, choosing instead to re-sign with the Giants for three years at $3.25 million this off-season. Stoutmire (5'11", 203 lbs.) throws around his compact body in the secondary. He recorded 81 tackles and two forced fumbles in his first year as a starter for the Giants, his sixth season in the NFL. At strong safety, Shaun Williams (6'2", 217 lbs.) is an opposing presence on the field just by the look of his body. Williams is also a big hitter, recording 90 tackles last season and averaging 94 per season since becoming a starter in 2000. He is aggressive to the ball, but like the rest of the secondary, he doesn't have a knack for picking off passes. Still, the Giants' secondary will be solid with Peterson, Allen, Williams, and Stoutmire as the starters. Johnnie Harris will be the top backup at strong safety, while Clarence LeBlanc, Ryan Clark and rookie Charles Drake will compete for playing time at free safety behind Stoutmire.

[B]WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON...[\B]

* The continued maturation - or revert to immaturity - of QB Kerry Collins. Collins has put up three straight solid seasons with the Giants, so there should be no good reason that he all of a sudden reverts to his previous self. However, it is a possibility because it was there at one point in his career. The Giants' success on offense revolves around the play of Collins, so he will have to be on top of his game once again.
* How Ron Dayne is used in the offense. All the off-season turmoil surrounding Dayne could have ended his career in New York even if he still is on the roster beyond this season - not to mention he hasn't really produced. Levens' signing probably foreshadowed the team's commitment to anyone other than Dayne next to Tiki Barber.
* How the offensive line responds with two new starters. Barber was able to run all over the place and Collins had plenty of time to throw because the offensive line, while not the best in the league, was a cohesive unit. The two new starters will come from players already on the team, so they should be able to gel quicker than if two starters were brought in from the draft or free agency.
* Whether the Giants are able to create turnovers on defense. The Giants had a minus-2 differential in turnovers last season, mainly because they ranked 25th in the league in takeaways with 25 total. The New York Jets were the only other playoff team that recorded fewer. If they are to become a solid Super-Bowl contender, they will have to improve in this area.

[B]FINAL ANALYSIS[\B]

There is no doubt that the Giants are improving. They sport an explosive offensive attack with weapons coming from every angle in both the running and passing games. They have the necessary pieces on defense to be successful; they just have to put it altogether. New York seems to have established itself as a consistent playoff team for the first time in a while, and they are also expected to push the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East division, at least at this point. From a fantasy standpoint, the Giants should be golden in 2003. Barber, Toomer, and Shockey have the potential to be studs, and Hilliard could be a solid sleeper while Collins is a player that you basically know what you're getting. On defense, New York will record a lot of sacks led by Strahan, and if they are able to create more turnovers, they could be a top unit. From an NFL standpoint, the Giants are probably another year away from being a legitimate Super-Bowl contender. They will have a lot of adversity to deal with, especially up front on both their offensive and defensive lines. Also, while the team improved its special teams in the off-season, the unit is likely to cause the team a game or two during the season because they still do not have a top-notch field goal kicker to depend on in close games.

2003 Philadelphia Eagles Preview

2002 Record: 12-4; 1st place in NFC East; Lost in NFC Championship Game

For the second straight season, the Philadelphia Eagles fell one play short of the Super Bowl. With time running out and the Eagles driving to tie the game, Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Ronde Barber picked off QB Donovan McNabb, running the length of the field to score the decisive touchdown - leading to the Buccaneers' win in that game and their eventual win in the Super Bowl. The Eagles were devastated by the loss, but it might have served for a final wake up call for the team that was near the top of everyone's list of Super Bowl contenders last season. Do they, once again, find themselves in the same position entering 2003? The Eagles are solid at just about every position on both sides of the ball, but is this the year they finally take that step to the next level?

[B]2002 FLASHBACK[\B]

There weren't many teams last year that were able to match up with the Eagles on offense and defense. Even when McNabb went down with an ankle injury in mid-season, the Eagles continued without losing a beat, proving the team is more than just a franchise quarterback and a solid defense. RB Duce Staley became just the second player in franchise history to rush for at least 1,000 yards and gain at least 500 yards receiving in the same season; he also ranked third on the team with 51 receptions. WR Todd Pinkston emerged as a legitimate target in his third NFL season - the pivotal season for a wide receiver - catching 60 passes for 798 yards and seven touchdowns. He combined with WR James Thrash to gain 1,433 yards and score 13 TDs on the year. On defense, the Eagles sent both starting cornerbacks (Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent) plus a safety (Brian Dawkins) to the Pro Bowl.

Philadelphia didn't have many soft spots in 2002, as they even improved on their run defense, which was a weakness a year before. However, even with the emergence of Pinkston and the continued production of Staley and Thrash, the Eagles don't have a reliable threat on offense to come through when they need a play - besides McNabb. They often rely too much on McNabb to make plays and need to play consistently at the level they did when McNabb was out if they want to succeed. Last year also showed that the Eagles don't have a running threat up the middle, which hurt them at times, too.

[B]OFF-SEASON MOVES OVERVIEW[\B]

The Eagles off-season was highlighted by a lot of activity, mostly in the form of players leaving town. First, LB Shawn Barber departed to sign a multi-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, and then, DE Hugh Douglas followed - signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars because he wasn't offered the money he thought he deserved by Philadelphia. The Eagles have apparently bought into the "addition by subtraction" philosophy, as they lost 10 players from last year's team and added only four through free agency.

The linebackers will once again be rebuilt. Barber signed with the Chiefs, Barry Gardner signed with the Cleveland Browns, and the team didn't re-sign Levon Kirkland. Instead, the Eagles will replace the departures with free-agent signee Nate Wayne (Packers) and trade acquisition Mark Simoneau (Falcons). The Eagles exchanged fullbacks with the Oakland Raiders, signing away FB Jon Ritchie and allowing FB Cecil Martin to sign with Oakland. CB Al Harris was traded to Green Bay in exchange for a second-round pick in this year's draft, and the team also lost some depth on the offensive line with the departure of OG Doug Brzeniski (Panthers).

While the Eagles lost players this off-season, this has become a team that has "taken care of their own" over the recent years. The Eagles often lock their young players up to long-term deals before they enter the unrestricted free agent market, allowing them to continue to groom their own players and build not just for the short-term, but also for the long-term. Will this year's "addition by subtraction" method provide fruitful for them?

[B]ROOKIE OVERVIEW[\B]

The Eagles made a great move by sliding up to the middle of the first round to select DE Jerome McDougle (Miami, Fla.). In exchange, they gave up their first-round pick (originally No. 30) and the mid-second round pick they got in the Al Harris trade - a small price to pay for one of the better ends in the draft and for filling what had become a critical hole for them after the loss of Douglas. McDougle could step into the starting lineup immediately, and Eagles' coaches are building him up to be the next Hugh Douglas. In the second round, the Eagles selected TE L.J. Smith, who they would have seriously considered taking with their first pick if they hadn't moved up in the first round. Smith has good pass-catching ability, and should be able to take over for Chad Lewis in the next year or so while being worked into the mix this season as the Eagles' No. 2 TE. Third-round pick WR Billy McMullen (Virginia) is the big receiving threat the Eagles lack, and could eventually supplant former first-round draft pick Freddie Mitchell as the team's slot receiver. Fourth-rounder DE Jamaal Green - a local native and college teammate of McDougle - should also factor into the team's defensive plans right away, which is unusual for a fourth rounder. OT Jeremy Bridges (Southern Mississippi - 6th round) and S Norman Lejeune (LSU - 7th round) rounded out the team's draft.

[B]OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

THE PASSING GAME[\B]

Last year, the Eagles proved they are one of, if not the, deepest team in the NFL at the quarterback position. Even when Donovan McNabb went down with his injury, backups Koy Detmer and A.J. Feeley were able to step up and lead the Eagles to victory. McNabb has emerged as a top-flight QB. He combines that rare mix of passing and running ability, making him one of the most valuable professional and fantasy quarterbacks today. McNabb ranked third in the league in rushing yards by a QB, behind only Michael Vick of Atlanta and Daunte Culpepper of Minnesota. However, McNabb's average of 46 rushing yards per game ranked second in the league behind Vick, and his touchdown rate (six in 10 games) ranked only behind Culpepper. McNabb was showing stead improvement before an ankle injury forced him to the sidelines for the team's final six games of the regular season. If he had played all 16 games and continued at the same pace, he would have set new career highs in passing yards (3,662), touchdown passes (27), rushing yards (736), rushing touchdowns (9.6) and would have thrown a career low 9.6 interceptions. McNabb's completion percentage was finally climbing toward 60 percent (58.4 percent), even though he still struggles with precision passing at times. Even more impressive, McNabb is a gamer. We're talking about a guy that broke his ankle against the Arizona Cardinals in week 11 and then played out the remainder of the game. In that game, McNabb was unable to run so he went to the air - and often. He hit 20-of-25 passes for 255 yards and 4 TDs.

Detmer serves as the top backup to McNabb, and he solidified his position there by signing a new four-year deal worth $3.5 million in late February. Detmer has been backing up McNabb in Philadelphia since he arrived in the league in 1998. He knows head coach Andy Reid's system well and can be a leader on the field. Detmer started and played in just one game - actually one half - last year at quarterback in place of McNabb, as he suffered a dislocated elbow. However, in that game, Detmer led the Eagles to a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football with an impressive performance. He completed 18 passes on 26 attempts for 227 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles are confident that if McNabb were to go down again (knock on wood), Detmer would be able to step in and perform.

When Detmer went down with his injury, things looked pretty glum for Eagles' fans. Little did they know, they had a hero standing in the wing. Feeley, a second-year, little known player out of Oregon, saved the day for Philadelphia with his play. In six games, five starts, Feeley put up meek statistics; he completed 55.8 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,011 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. However, his command of the offense as a whole was what was really impressive - as he led the Eagles to consecutive wins over the 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, and Dallas Cowboys before closing out the season with a loss at the hands of the New York Giants.

Youngster Tim Hasselbeck also remains on roster, but he carries only project value to the team at this time.

The Eagles' receivers aren't respected as much as they probably should be, mainly because neither of their top receivers are prototypical "No. 1 WRs." James Thrash is dubbed the team's No. 1, but he didn't put up the best statistics at the position in 2002. He is somewhat undersized at 6-foot-0, 200 lbs., but he does have solid speed that is used for deep balls and crossing patterns over the middle. Thrash saw his numbers in the three major receiving categories take a dip from his 2001 season: He caught nine fewer balls, gained 198 fewer yards, and scored two fewer touchdowns in one more game last season than in the year previous. However, a lot of that could be contributed to McNabb's absence. With McNabb on the field, Thrash averaged 4.1 catches and 50.9 receiving yards per game while scoring five touchdowns in 10 games; with McNabb out, Thrash saw those averages drop to 1.83 catches and 21 yards per game while scoring only one touchdown in his final six games. Whether his dip in stats is a trend to watch out for in the future, or whether it is a telling sign that he is McNabb's favorite target is anyone's guess at this time.

Someone had to make up for the production Thrash lost when McNabb went down, and that man was Todd Pinkston. In his third season, Pinkston emerged as a legitimate pass-catching threat, trumping his career highs in receptions (60), receiving yards (798) and touchdowns (7). Unlike Thrash, Pinkston's stats - while still respectable in the first half of the season - actually improved significantly once McNabb went down. In his first 10 games, Pinkston averaged 3.5 catches and 44.8 yards per game while scoring four touchdowns; in his final five games - he missed week 17 with a minor injury - Pinkston averaged five catches and 70 yards per game while scoring three touchdowns. Pinkston (6-2, 174) is a bigger target than Thrash in terms of height, but his lack of size makes him very vulnerable, at least on paper, to getting knocked around and also makes him susceptible to injury. Pinkston doesn't have the body type of a player every NFL or fantasy team would love to have as the center piece of their offense, but the Eagles must see something they like, as they are trying - at least preliminarily - to lock him up to a long-term contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2004 season. Furthermore, the Eagles are looking for him to step up again this year and become a focal point of the passing game.

With the departure of WR Antonio Freeman, the Eagles lost a stable threat over the middle of the field. Freeman added 600 yards of offense and scored four touchdowns for Philadelphia last season, and his production will be hard to make up for considering whom the Eagles have on roster. In fact, Freeman still has not signed with a new team, and the Eagles could be in the running to bring him back to town once training camp starts.

But since Freeman's return is nothing more than a pipe dream right now, the Eagles are preparing for life without him. Third-year man, and former first-round draft pick, Freddie Mitchell has been given the coaches' "praise" as the No. 3 WR entering training camp. Mitchell has been altogether disappointing in his first two seasons, not just because he was a first-round pick, but also because he has yet to produce at all. In two full seasons, he has started only two games and caught 33 passes for 388 yards and one touchdown. His size (5-11, 184) also doesn't serve him well as a slot receiver, but there is no room for him on the outside. The Eagles tried to groom him for the slot position entering last season, but Mitchell was unable to handle it, which forced Philadelphia to sign Freeman in the first place. It seems Mitchell will have one final shot to win a top-three spot on the team's depth chart; if he doesn't win it this year, he might never have that chance again.

Rookie WR Billy McMullen is a player to keep an eye on in training camp and throughout the season. While rookie WRs hardly, if ever, put up respectable fantasy statistics, McMullen is a guy who could step in and produce not too long from now. He has the size (6-3, 210) that all of the Eagles' other receivers lack, and he has the strength and grit to be a formidable possession-type threat. The knock on McMullen is that he lacks speed, but lucky for the Eagles, they don't need him to break away down the field because of the rest of their personnel are speedy wideouts. McMullen also has a vast knowledge of a similar form of the West Coast offense that the Eagles run; he played under former New York Jets' head coach Al Groh at the University of Virginia, something plenty of NFL scouts took notice of. While at best he will get a chance to compete in training camp with Mitchell, he is someone to take a close look at for the 2004 campaign.

Behind the top four guys, the Eagles have a conglomeration of receivers serving as deep backups. Freddie Milons tops the list and is almost guaranteed a roster spot. The team loved the way he was playing in training camp last season before he broke his leg. However, with the emerge of Pinkston along with Thrash in the starting lineup, and the presence of Mitchell and McMullen in front of him on the depth chart, won't spell much playing time for Milons unless he overly impresses in camp once again. Further depth is provided in Sean Morey, Kenny Christian, Byron Gassaway, Scooter Monroe, Denero Marriott, Reno Mahe, Sean Scott and Greg Lewis. They'll all be busting their tails with hopes of catching on as a practice squad player as training camp unfolds.

[B]Tight Ends[\B]

Chad Lewis has been a pretty consistent threat for the Eagles over the last four seasons. While he hasn't put up gaudy stats or led the league in any one category, he has put together four straight years of scoring at least three touchdowns, gaining 735 yards in one of those seasons (2000) and scoring six tds in another (2001). Overall, Lewis' 2002 season was a let down. While he caught one more pass (42) than he did the previous year, he also gained 24 fewer yards and scored three fewer TDs than he did in 2001. The Eagles love to use a tight end in their passing game, and they are a little concerned Lewis, who will turn 32 in October, is coming to the end of his prime as a receiver. Lewis will still enter the 2003 season as the team's No. 1 TE, and all indications are that he will still be utilized in the offense more than any other player at the position. However, the team has a fresh rookie waiting in the background just biding his time for more playing time.

The Eagles loved L.J. Smith so much, they were actually thinking of selecting him with the No. 30 overall pick in the first round of the draft. When they moved up to No. 15 to select a defensive end, the organization had all but turned its sights elsewhere for the rest of the draft. But when Smith was still around at the Eagles' next pick (No. 61 overall in the second round), the team was ecstatic. The Eagles love his athleticism; if Smith hadn't played chosen football, he could have played major college basketball. His size (6-3, 258) makes him a prime target in traffic, something the Eagles do not have in their offense. Smith is likely to see a lot of playing time in his rookie season, although he will still be playing behind Lewis for at least the 2003 season.

Mike Bartrum, Brandon Davis, and Kori Dickerson serve as depth at tight end. Bartrum, who also handles long-snapping duties, is the most likely candidate at this point to win the No. 3 job.

[B]THE RUNNING GAME[\B]

The Eagles' running game isn't your ordinary running game. While they ranked 7th in the league with 138.8 rushing yards per game, Philadelphia relies on rushing by their QB (460 yards) and short passes out of the backfield to set up their runs. In actuality, the Eagles averaged just a little more than 100 rushing yards per game from their running backs. However, in the NFL, it doesn't matter how you get the rushing yards, as long as you get them. The Eagles have a lot of talent at the running back position with Duce Staley, Correll Buckhalter, and Brian Westbrook, and they plan to use all of them in the offense.

Staley rushed for 1,029 yards, but his 3.8 yards-per-carry average was less than impressive. Staley's value to the team, though, is much larger than his contributions as a runner. Last season, he ranked third on the team with 51 receptions (11th in the league among RBs), chipping in 541 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. While his rushing and receiving yards separately aren't all that impressive, most fantasy leagues will reward Staley owners for his 1,570 total yards and eight total touchdowns. Staley is in a precarious position entering the 2003 season, the last under his current contract. Staley feels under-appreciated, and rightfully so; the Eagles, the fans, and the city don't give him enough credit for his play, because frankly, his rushing ability, especially between the tackles, isn't all that impressive. They feel Staley is easily replaceable with players already on roster, and therefore, the team isn't offering him the contract he would like. Staley skipped the team's voluntary minicamp workouts in early June in protest, and while they are voluntary, he was the first player under head coach Andy Reid to not attend - along with fellow protestor CB Bobby Taylor. If Staley decides to hold out of training camp, which isn't likely, or if he continues to rant about his contract situation, he could see his playing time decrease throughout the season.

Before he suffered a torn ACL in his knee during minicamp workouts in April 2002, the Eagles were pumping Correll Buckhalter up as the team's next great back. Buckhalter (6-0, 222) has size and strength the team has lacked at the position since Ricky Watters was around. On just 129 attempts in his rookie season in 2001, Buckhalter rushed for 586 yards (4.5 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. What the Eagles like best about Buckhalter is that he is untapped potential. While in college at Nebraska, Buckhalter was a wing back in the Cornhuskers' option system, meaning he didn't get the ball too often on the ground and often served as a diversion. He is bouncing back nicely from the surgery on his knee, as he has already had 14 months to recover, and looks to be turned to often, especially in short-yardage and goal-line situations. While everything out of Philadelphia on his progress has been positive, it is important to remember that an ACL injury typically takes two full years to recover from. On the flip side, there are also plenty of backs that never do recovery - see Terrell Davis, Jamal Anderson, etc. So, while Buckhalter looks to be rounding the corner, he's still not out of the woods yet.

Westbrook is the main reason the Eagles believe they can do without Staley in the near future. Westbrook is comparative to Staley in just about every way. While he is smaller (5-10, 200) than Staley (6-0, 220), Westbrook does play the same style of game - running mostly outside the tackles and having excellent pass-catching ability. He is one of the most celebrated players in Division I-AA history. Westbrook holds the all-time NCAA record with 9,885 all-purpose yards; he is the only player in I-AA history to score 160 points or more in two seasons; and he is the only player in NCAA history to gain 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving in the same season, which he did in 1998. While one Duce Staley is good to have on a team, the Eagles certainly don't need two - which is why Westbrook could be likely to spell Staley more and more as the season goes on, as he prepares to officially take over for him starting in the 2004 season.

The Eagles also have Chris Downs, an undrafted rookie free agent addition this off-season, on roster but he's simply training camp fodder at this point in time.

The Eagles don't really use a fullback in the rushing or passing games too much. They needed a solid blocking fullback to improve their interior rushing game, which is why Jon Ritchie is the perfect fit. Ritchie (6-1, 250) is a big-time blocking fullback that rarely figures into the team's offense with an actual grasp on the football, and he doesn't mind it that way. Ritchie hasn't recorded a carry since 1999, although he did show that he can catch the ball with his performance that same year (45 catches - 408 receiving yards). The Eagles will likely only call Ritchie's number in limited situations, and his value to the team will be much higher helping out the running game. Josh Parry, who played linebacker in the Eagles' training camp last season, has a chance to serve as the team's No. 2 FB. However, even if he wins the job, he isn't likely to see much playing time other than on special teams. The team also has backup FBs Corey McIntyre and Kevin Clemens on roster, but both could be facing an uphill battle to land a roster spot this year provided Parry pans out.

[B]THE KICKING GAME[\B]

David Akers continued to establish himself as one of the top kickers in the game last year. Akers connected on 88.2 percent of his field goal attempts last season, and he didn't miss a field goal attempt until the seventh game of the season. For the year, Akers was second among kickers with 133 points - trailing only Atlanta Falcons PK Jay Feeley - and ranked third in the NFL in scoring behind Kansas City Chiefs RB Priest Holmes and Feeley.

Since they didn't re-sign Sean Landetta, the Eagles are forced to make changes at punter. Reid was not happy with Dirk Johnson, who was given every chance to win the job uncontested, at minicamp, so the team went out and signed free agent P Kyle Richardson to a one-year contract. Richardson is far from the most powerful punter in the game (averaging just 41.2 yards per punt in his career), but he is one of the more accurate punters in the league. He averaged just under 30 punts per year inside the 20-yard line in his last five seasons, and he averaged 34.33 such punts from 1999-2001.

[B]OFFENSIVE LINE[\B]

The Eagles' offensive line is one of the biggest, and most cohesive, units in all of football. The starters consist of three Pro Bowl players, and they have all played together for at least the last three seasons. From left to right and back again, the line is solid. They have been able to build an amazing working relationship on the field because they have been able to avoid major injuries. The unit is anchored by two massive tackles in Tra Thomas (6-7, 349) and Jon Runyan (6-7, 330). Runyan was already respected as one of the best, and nastiest, players at his position before he came to the Eagles in 2000, and Thomas is developing into a premier player. Between them, Jermane Mayberry (6-4, 325) has also become a solid Pro Bowler at right guard, and John Welbourn (6-5, 318) is no slacker himself. Hank Fraley (6-2, 300) patrols the line at center, and the coaching staff thinks he is one of the smartest players on the team. It all starts up front for the Eagles on offense, as the line gives McNabb plenty of time to make his reads and produce, while the backs have plenty of holes to run through.

The only concern for the Eagles on the offensive line is their lack of depth. Doug Brzeniski departed to Carolina this off-season because he felt, and rightfully so, that he was talented enough to be a starter. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, that doesn't leave much behind the starters. C Scott Peters and OT Artis Hicks are the top backups, but rookie OG Jeremy Bridges should also get some time to learn in the mix. OT Jamaal Jackson, OT Dante Ellington, OT Damian Lavergne, OT Kareem Mitchell, OG Bobbie Williams, OG Reese Hicks, OG Taylor Robertson and C Alonzo Ephraim round out the other players trying to catch on as backups, too. Clearly, the team has little here in proven backups with experience, which could leave them in trouble should an injury happen to one of their top players.

[B]DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN[\B]

[B]DEFENSIVE LINE[\B]

It's nice to have a defense as good as the Eagles had in 2002 that you were able to call their line the "weakness" of the unit with Pro Bowlers DT Corey Simon and DE Hugh Douglas. Simon, a first-round draft pick out of Florida State in 2000, is becoming an elite defensive tackle. He doesn't put up a lot of statistics, but unless such a player is a sack specialist, a defensive tackle rarely does put up measurable statistics. In 2002, Simon recorded 33 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery, but his main job, which he does well, is to plug up the middle against the running game and draw double teams to allow the ends and linebackers to get to the ball handler. Opposite Simon, Darwin Walker emerged in his first season as a starter for the Eagles in 2002. Walker recorded 7.5 sacks and one fumble recovery last year, paving the way for him to be an incumbent starter in 2003. In fact, Walker was rewarded for his performance last season with a new seven-year contract extension that could keep him in Philadelphia through the 2008 season.

The Eagles are pretty deep behind their starters at tackle. Hollis Thomas (ankle) has suffered through ankle problems the last year and a half; he missed the Eagles' playoff run in 2001 and also missed all of last season with similar problems. However, he took part in the team's minicamp and appears to be close to 100 percent. In 2001, he recorded 43 tackles, which is a decent amount for a defensive tackle. Thomas (6-0, 306) is also massive, and can plug holes on the line in running situations. Paul Grasmanis is also in the rotation. He has started games in the past, so at the very least, he provides solid support from an experience standpoint.

At end, the Eagles will be without Douglas, who was a Pro Bowl caliber player in Philadelphia for the past five seasons. With Douglas signing with Jacksonville, the Eagles moved up in the first round of the NFL draft to No. 15 to select Jerome McDougle (Miami, Fla.). The coaching staff - and many scouts prior to the draft - had compared McDougle to Douglas. He is a great athlete, with explosion off the edge and a very impressive first step. He is a little undersized (6-4, 250), but if he is able to use his speed to compensate for it, McDougle could become an impact player in his rookie season. Derrick Burgess (foot) is the likely starter on the right side of the line, opposite McDougle, if he is able to return from troublesome foot injuries. The coaching staff has talked up Burgess for a few seasons now, but injuries limited him to just one game last season and have already put a damper on the early part of 2003. Burgess showed potential in his rookie 2000 season, as he recorded six sacks in four starts.

If Burgess can't play at the beginning of the season, or if he can't play every down for the early part, the Eagles have plenty of options. Brandon Whiting would most likely get the majority of starts and playing time if Burgess can't go. Whiting started 15 games last season, and he is a respectable end. He recorded 23 tackles, six sacks, and three fumble recoveries in 2003. Jamaal Green - the Eagles' first draft pick to sign - will work on the right side of the line in training camp and could rotate in on some plays at end as well. Green, a college teammate of McDougle, has the ability to be a decent player, but lacks the strength to be an every-down player against the run. N.D. Kalu will work into the mix no matter who the starters end up being because of his supreme pass-rushing ability on third downs. In limited playing time last year, he recorded eight sacks. The Eagles are trying to keep their options open at defensive end, as they want a full-blast competition when training camp rolls around because they feel competition will bring out the best in each of their players.

Other faces also are abound up front for the Eagles, as Ivory McCoy, Jeremy Slechta, Sam Rayburn, Daryl Whittington and Ron Johnson round out the depth players. They'll all be in a battle to catch on with the team during training camp, or they'll be headed to the waiver wire and could be potential practice squad additions.

[B]LINEBACKERS[\B]

The Eagles experienced an overhaul at linebacker for the second straight off-season. Last year, they used the tandem of Levon Kirkland and Barry Gardner in the middle, but with both now gone, the team went out and traded for LB Mark Simoneau (Falcons). Simoneau (6-0, 234) is undersized for his position, and he has only started nine games in his three-year career - but that was playing behind Pro Bowler Keith Brooking in Atlanta. Simoneau does display a lot of strength for his size, which helps him shed blockers in the running game. He is also a lot quicker than both Gardner and Kirkland in the passing game, which ultimately is what led to the Eagles' loss in last year's NFC Championship game. The coaching staff has been overly impressed with how Simoneau has been able to grasp the offense at this point in the off-season; defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said it was as if Simoneau has been playing in the system for a few years.

On the outside, the Eagles were faced with the dilemma of replacing Shawn Barber, who after signing a one-year contract before the 2002 season, decided to sign a long-term deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Philadelphia got snubbed by just about every potential replacement, until the Green Bay Packers released Nate Wayne as a cap casualty in early March. The Eagles quickly pounced on Wayne, possibly overpaying (four years, $13.23 million including a $4 million signing bonus) to insure his services. Wayne had three successful years in Green Bay after sitting the bench mostly in his first two years in the league while with Denver. Wayne has shown good athletic ability, but he is taking a little longer than Simoneau to pick up the team's offense. Wayne will play the weak side of the defense, and while he won't record too many sacks, the Eagles don't necessarily need him to do so - as their ends normally handle that job quite effectively.

Little known Carlos Emmons will man the strong side of the Eagles' defense. He has been a permanent fixture in the starting lineup for Philadelphia the last three seasons. Like the other players on roster at the position, Emmons doesn't put up a lot of impressive statistics, as his main job in the team's defense is to protect against the pass, especially the tight ends. Much of the team's defensive philosophy revolves around aggressive play up front and in the secondary, leaving the linebackers to be the quiet contributors.

Kalu will spend some time at outside linebacker on passing downs, but much of the backup work at the position will be left up to Ike Reese, Justin Ena, Keith Adams and Tyreo Harrison. LBs Darvin Lewis, Merrill Robertson and Drew Wahlroos also round out additional depth at the position, however they may be on the outside looking in when it comes to locking up a roster spot with the team.

[B]DEFENSIVE BACKS[\B]

The Eagles' secondary is one of the most solid, hard-hitting units in the league; not to mention, they are deep. The Eagles run a different style of attacking defense, utilizing the defensive backs unlike the rest of the league does. They blitz very often with just about every secondary position, and they play an aggressive style of coverage in which the corners are physical. The Eagles ranked a respectable seventh in the league in passing yards allowed (1,934) and tied for seventh in passing touchdowns allowed (18) last year. However, the most telling sign of their style of play is that they ranked 20th in the league in interceptions (15) while leading the league in sacks (56).

The Eagles' success in the secondary starts with their safeties. Perennial Pro Bowler Brian Dawkins is the leader of the unit. He plays his position with a reckless abandon, both in coverage and up near the line of scrimmage. Dawkins recorded 62 tackles (second on the team), three sacks, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and scored one defensive touchdown last year. The Eagles locked Dawkins up for what will likely be the remainder of his career this off-season with a new seven-year deal that included an $8 million signing bonus and could be worth $43 million.

At strong safety, the Eagles released oft-injured veteran Blaine Bishop in the off-season - saving $1 million in salary cap money - because Michael Lewis developed enough in his rookie season last year to warrant a starting job in 2003. Lewis (6-1, 211) plays a very similar game to Dawkins, and could actually be best served as a free safety roaming the field and laying people out. However, Lewis lacks the speed Dawkins has, which makes him a solid player at strong safety. Lewis played in 14 games in 2002, starting four of them when Bishop went down with an injury. He basically took over for Bishop during the Eagles' playoff run, so there should be no concerns about a lack of playing time or real-game experience. Lewis always seems to find his way to the ball; he recorded 43 tackles, one sack and three fumble recoveries in 14 games.

The Eagles are, however, concerned about their depth at the safety position and have considered bringing in a veteran for additional depth at the position. Norman LeJeune, a rookie, and Quintin Mikell currently round out the backups at strong safety. At free safety, Clinton Hart and Jamal Wallace round out the depth. While the team is more than content with their starters, it's easy to understand their concern with their backups.

Philadelphia is also stocked at cornerback with veterans who are at the top of their game. Troy Vincent, another perennial Pro Bowler, mans one of the positions. In his 12th NFL season, Vincent doesn't look to be slowing down at all. He has established himself as such a threat that teams shy away from throwing the ball in his direction before the game even starts. As a result, he has only recorded five interceptions over the last two years, but the Eagles won't ever mind that. With the Eagles blitzing safeties and nickel corners as often as they do, Vincent finds himself in single coverage with no help a lot, which is a further testament to the player he is.

Bobby Taylor mans the opposite side of the field. Taylor (6-3, 216) brings a physical presence to the secondary, as he normally lines up against a team's big wide receiver. He finally lived up to the potential he showed early in his career in 2002, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl as a reserve. Taylor recorded five interceptions (a career high) and scored one defensive touchdown while recording 46 tackles and two fumble recoveries. The Eagles utilize Taylor in blitzes as well as in normal coverage, so his value to the team is impeccable. Both Taylor and Vincent are entering the final year of their contracts, and the team has already said they will only re-sign one of them, since they have able players waiting for playing time. While Taylor has the early edge because of his age (two years younger than Vincent) and size, he boycotted the team's June minicamp to protest his contract situation and threatened to hold out of training camp as well. This does not bode well for Taylor, as he really has no bargaining power in the situation.

Behind the starters are last year's first-round draft pick CB Lito Sheppard and one of last year's second-round draft picks DB Sheldon Brown. Sheppard is the burner of the two, as he will also chip in on returns in special teams. He has the speed every coach covets in a cornerback, which makes him the very early candidate to be the second starter at cornerback in 2004. Brown is more of a physical player than Sheppard, and since the team is lacking depth at safety, the Eagles might use him at that position. The two will compete for the nickel back job this season, and while Sheppard might have the early edge, don't discount Brown because of his physical ability. Further depth at corner is also currently provided in David Hinton, Roderick Hood and Daryon Brutley. However, they will need to prove their worth on special teams in order to be considered as anything more than potential practice squad additions.

[B]WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON...[\B]

* The development of Donovan McNabb. He showed us all his potential and ability when he broke into the league a few years ago, but if he is to become the best at his position, he is going to have to show he can improve in his passing game. Otherwise, he will fall far behind Vick and Culpepper in notoriety.
* How the running back situation pans out. Will Staley perform in his contract year? Will Westbrook be able to provide the same production Staley has? How will Buckhalter rebound from his knee injury, and is he the runner the team is building him up to be?
* Who wins the slot receiver position and how effective he can be. The Eagles relied heavily on Freeman in the position last season, and if Mitchell and McMullen aren't able to step up in training camp, the Eagles could be forced to make a heavy play at bringing Freeman back for another season.
* The play of the linebackers. With all the commotion at the defensive end position, the Eagles will find a way to be productive there; they have too many talented players to not be. And with the stability of the secondary, the linebackers are the only position on defense that isn't a known commodity.
* How Bobby Taylor will perform under pressure. Taylor put a lot of unnecessary pressure on himself when he skipped the team's minicamp and threatened to hold out of training camp. He is going to have to step it up and play extremely well this year to prove he's worth holding onto. The Eagles are forced to play him, even if they want to sit him down to prove a point because their defensive scheme is too complicated for an inexperienced cornerback to come in and produce right away.
* The speed rookie TE L.J. Smith picks up the complicated West Coast offense. The team wants to utilize more two tight end sets and in order for that to be successful, Smith is going to need to learn quickly to become a valuable option on the field in the passing game.

[B]FINAL ANALYSIS[\B]

Philadelphia is one of the most well rounded teams in the league, displaying talent and experience on both sides of the ball. Last year was really their time to shine, and since they were unable to come through and win it all, it will be interesting to see how they respond in 2003. The New York Giants are rapidly improving and should at least challenge them for the NFC East title, although the Eagles might still hold a slight edge there. The Dallas Cowboys are also not too far off, so Philadelphia's window of opportunity is beginning to narrow. However, with the leadership of McNabb on offense and Dawkins on defense, there is no reason the Eagles can't put forth yet another successful season and a run towards the Super Bowl in the playoffs. While everything looks good for another strong season, two straight years of not making it to the big dance could start to play a role on the team's mental game and the losses on defense in addition to the LB shake up could take some time for the "D" to become comfortable with each other and gel.

2003 Washington Redskins Preview

2002 Record: 7-9; 3rd place in NFC East; missed playoffs

The ole' ball coach couldn't revive the Washington Redskins in his first season at the helm. In fact, after climbing back up to .500 in 2001, Washington actually dropped down to 7-9 last season. However, you have to give head coach Steve Spurrier a little bit of a break. He wasn't able to assemble last year's team, and as a result, he didn't have his typical personnel in place to run his Fun N' Gun offense. This year, Spurrier was given more control of off-season moves, and if the Redskins don't succeed in 2003, there will be no one to else to put the blame on. It will be interesting to see how the Redskins' defense responds, having to adjust to their third different defensive coordinator in as many years. Last year's coordinator, Marvin Lewis, departed to become the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.

[B]2002 FLASHBACK[\B]

The season of indecision may best sum up the Redskins in 2002, as you really never knew what to expect other than the unexpected. Just when Spurrier would publicly voice his support for one player he'd then turn around and bench that player in a week or two after the team suffered a loss. No one ever seemed to fit right into the team's offense last season, and that held them back for most of the year. Spurrier toyed around with three different quarterbacks - two of his former players at the University of Florida - in Shane Matthews, Danny Weurffel and rookie Patrick Ramsey. In the end, Ramsey showed some potential, but he only played in nine games, starting five, after it was already too late for Washington to turn their season around. Ramsey, a former first-round draft pick, could emerge into decent starter in a couple of years, but the problem is he will be expected to put up big numbers in 2003 considering all the off-season moves the team made. RB Stephen Davis, a Pro Bowl bruiser before Spurrier's arrival, rushed for only 820 yards last season. His rushing yards and 207 attempts on the ground were both the fewest such statistics since he became a staple of the team's offense in 1999. Ultimately, the Redskins released Davis, and he signed with the Carolina Panthers. On a positive note on offense, WR Rod Gardner displayed massive improvements in just his second year in the league. He increased his receptions by 25 from his rookie season (from 46 to 71), his yards by 265 (from 741 to 1,006) and doubled his touchdowns (from four to eight). Lingering before him is the ever so important third season for an NFL wide receiver, and Gardner seems prepared for the challenge.

On defense, LB LaVar Arrington had his best season as a pro, finally displaying the nasty hunger for the football that made him so highly touted out of Penn State. Arrington recorded more than 90 tackles for the second straight season, but his 11 sacks (a career high by seven) is what earned him his first trip to the Pro Bowl. CB Champ Bailey played well again, establishing himself even more as a top corner. The Redskins got a good push up front from their defensive line, which was able to help them compensate for a lack of skill at the safety position.

[B]OFF-SEASON MOVES OVERVIEW[\B]

Where to begin? The Redskins were by far the most active team in free agency this off-season, significantly changing the face of their team on both sides of the ball. The 'Skins used the rarely-utilized tactic of signing big-name restricted free agents to offer sheets, thereby gaining some of the better "available" players at positions where they thought there wasn't as much talent in unrestricted free agency. In the process, the Redskins lost a few draft selections - including their first rounder to the New York Jets - as they built for now instead of later.

Washington got massive and deep on the offensive, signing free agent OGs Randy Thomas (Jets), Dave Fiore (49ers) and Lennie Friedman (Broncos) to bolster their sagging offensive line. Combined, these three contracts alone cost the team 12 years, $36.53 million and $8.5 million in signing bonuses, which in some cases, might complete another team's off-season signings. The Redskins, though, were far from complete ...

The big signing on offense was that of restricted free agent WR Laveranues Coles (Jets), who the team gave up their first-round selection for. Coles then proceeded to sign a blockbuster seven-year deal worth $35 million that included a $13 million signing bonus! But again, the 'Skins weren't done.

They acquired RB Trung Canidate from the St. Louis Rams in exchange for basically a fourth-round pick in hopes that he could win the starting job.

Also on offense, the team added QB Rob Johnson (Buccaneers) and WR Patrick Johnson (Jaguars) to serve as backups. KR Chad Morton (Jets) might figure into the team's offense this year more than he has for the Jets in the past, and PK John Hall (Jets, again) should improve the kicking game. The Redskins were a little less flamboyant on defense, but they did add a big name in DE Regan Upshaw (Raiders). Upshaw played in just five games last year as a result of knee injuries, but the Redskins are confident he can return to improve their defense - although he did suffer a setback not too long ago. They also improved their starters and depth up front by signing DTs Brandon Noble (Cowboys) and Jermaine Haley (Dolphins).

On the subtractions end of things, Washington really didn't lose too many key players from last year's team, especially considering all the new pieces they were able to add. RB Stephen Davis, who just didn't fit into Spurrier's system, was released this off-season, saving the team $5.2 million against the salary cap in the process. OG Brendan Stai (released), WR Derrius Thompson (Dolphins) and DT Daryl Gardener (Broncos) were the only other starters who departed, either via free agency or were released. The biggest loss for the 'Skins had to be the retirement of DB Darrell Green. Green was an amazing veteran, displaying unbelievable speed at the age of 40, and serving as the team's leader. Washington will have to find someone else on that defense to take Green's place, not as a football player, but as a guide and leader. On defense, Washington also lost DE Carl Powell (Bengals) and S Sam Shade (released). On offense, TE Walter Rasby (released), QB Shane Matthews (Buccaneers), and WR Chris Doering (Steelers) all departed.

[B]ROOKIE OVERVIEW[\B]

Through all of their free agent signings and trades, the Redskins were left with only three draft picks in the 2002 draft, the first coming in the second round. With their first pick, the Redskins ignored an obvious need at safety, passing over Mike Doss (Ohio State - Colts) to select one of Spurrier's former players - WR Taylor Jacobs of Florida. The pick was odd, not because people didn't know about the team's interest in Jacobs, but because they had already apparently addressed the wide receiver position with the signing of Coles. No one doubts Jacobs' talent. He has good size (6-0, 205) and excellent speed to go along with a good character and a hard work ethic. Jacobs has solid hands and has the ability to adjust while the ball is in the air. However, he will have to play behind Coles - who is signed through 2009 - and Rod Gardner - who, in his second year in the league, began to develop as an emerging star in 2002. Maybe this was a look to the future, but it is confusing to say the least. Spurrier, himself, went on to say that this was a pick more by the team as a whole than himself as it appears he did not want to get in a situation where he was zeroing in on one of his former players and using a bias in the selection. In the third round, Washington decided to add depth on the offensive line by selecting OG Derrick Dockery from Texas. Dockery (6-6, 347) might eventually move to right tackle, but the good news is he won't have to start right away with the state of the team's line. The Redskins closed out the draft by selecting QB Gibran Hamdan (Indiana).

[B]OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

THE PASSING GAME[\B]

Patrick Ramsey was a first-round pick in 2002, but by all accounts, he was a second-round selection. The Redskins took him with the final selection in the first round after trading down twice, and only made him a first-round pick because they thought he might be gone by the time their next pick came around. Ramsey didn't have an illustrious career at Tulane, and in fact, he might not have even started in his senior season if current Tulane senior QB J.P. Losman wasn't injured. That being said, Ramsey may have been the most athletically gifted quarterback on the Redskins last season, although it will not be surprising if he struggles in 2003. In 10 games, five starts, Ramsey completed just 51.5 percent of his passes (117-for-227) for 1,539 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. He does have a decent arm, and if anyone can make something out of not too much at the quarterback position, it is Steve Spurrier. Ramsey is going to have to work hard in training camp to improve, but at the very least, he'll have the confidence of knowing he is the team's starter from day one. However, Spurrier showed last year that he's not afraid to have a quick hook with his starters at any position so Ramsey is by no means a "lock" to be the season-long starter if he or the Redskins as a whole struggle. What will benefit Ramsey this year is he'll be in training camp right from the beginning - not like last year when he was holding out - and that will give him additional time working with the first-string offense and preparing for the new season.

The Redskins went with a new backup QB this season, picking up former Jacksonville, Buffalo and Tampa Bay QB Rob Johnson. Johnson has served as a backup for most of his career, but at one time, he was heralded as the next big thing in Buffalo. In fact, he took over for veteran Doug Flutie for a period of time. In seven NFL seasons, he has started 29 games, which is less than a normal starter but more than a normal backup. Johnson has had the lucky experience of learning behind QBs Mark Brunell in Jacksonville, Doug Flutie in Buffalo, and Brad Johnson in Tampa Bay. He will bring security to the Redskins, although we don't think many people in Washington would like to see the team have to turn to him for any reason other than an injury to Ramsey. Johnson started 2 games for the Buccaneers last season and saw action in six total games. On the year, he hit 64.8 percent of his passes for 536 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs. Whether he's not able to read defenses or simply tries to wait for the most ideal situation to throw the football, Johnson has a serious problem with holding onto the ball too long, which leads to sacks, turnovers and potential injuries when bigger defensive linemen are laying the lumber on him.

Seventh-round draft pick Gibran Hamdan will compete with undrafted rookie free agent QB Brad Banks (Iowa) for the No. 3 spot. Both QBs are simply projects for the Redskins at this point in time.

Wide receiver is one of the many positions of strength for the Redskins as a result of their off-season moves. In his ever-important third NFL season, WR Laveranues Coles broke out with the New York Jets. While his touchdowns decreased by two down to five last season, he increased his catches by 30 (from 59 to 89) and his yards by close to 400 (from 868 to 1,264) between 2002 and 2001. Coles developed a great rapport with Jets' young QB Chad Pennington, and the Redskins hope he can do the same thing with Ramsey in Washington. He played a big part of the Jets' offense, being utilized 143 times last season; good for 15 percent of the team's offensive plays. Inside the red zone, he was utilized 8 percent of the time. Coles (5-11, 196) is a little undersized, but he does have blazing speed. At times, though, he often overruns the ball, showing that he still hasn't learned how to handle his own speed. That shouldn't be a problem for years to come, as he will grow and mature as a player with experience and playing time. Spurrier knows Coles well, as the two faced each other four times while at the college level while Spurrier was the coach of Florida and Coles played for Florida State.

Rod Gardner will move over to the No. 2 spot this season, a position he actually played most of last season even though he led the team in all receiving categories. Gardner (6-2, 217) has much better size than Coles, which makes him adept to serving as a possession receiver. He does display a knack for getting downfield, though, as highlighted by his 14.2 yards-per-catch average last season. In just his second go around in the NFL in 2002, Gardner put up impressive numbers to the tune of 71 catches, 1,006 yards and eight touchdowns. He was utilized 14 percent of the team's offensive plays, good for 149 plays on the year. In the red zone, he was utilized 9 percent of the time. Those numbers were even more impressive considering he had to adjust to three different quarterbacks throwing him the ball last season. With Ramsey entrenched as the starter, Gardner should be able to learn his throwing style and put up bigger numbers as a result. It also won't hurt that Coles will be taking a lot of defensive pressure off him.

Jacobs was the team's first draft selection, but he probably will begin the season as a backup, serving in either the Nos. 4 or 5 spot on the depth chart. Off-season acquisition Patrick Johnson is currently No. 3 on the depth chart, and in Spurrier's system, he should see plenty of playing time. In nine games with Jacksonville last year, Johnson recorded just nine receptions for 187 yards, but two of his receptions were for touchdowns. His best year was his second with the Baltimore Ravens in 1999. That season, he played in 10 games, starting six, and recorded 29 receptions for 526 yards (18.1 yards per catch) and three touchdowns; all were career highs. Johnson possesses a lot of speed, which is crucial for a No. 3 receiver on Washington. However, injuries are also an issue for Johnson and he has problems staying on the field. The team would like nothing more than to see Jacobs work his way up the depth chart to become the team's No. 3 receiver. While he'll have a learning curve in going from the college level to the pro game, he'll be stepping into an offense that he knows and is comfortable with.

WR Justin Skaggs (knee) was likely to enter training camp as the No. 4 WR, but he suffered a potentially serious knee injury while playing in NFL Europe. As a result, Jacobs might move up on the depth chart early on, although he will compete with Cliff Russell and Darnerian McCants. Russell is also recovering from a knee injury that he suffered before the season began last year. The torn ACL knocked him out of action for the entire year and he hopes to make a successful return this year after missing his rookie campaign.

McCants started one game last year during Spurrier's oft-changing rotation, and he also saw action in 9 games on the year. He had 21 receptions for 256 yards and 2 TDs, while averaging 12.2 yards per reception on the season. On the year, he was utilized 4 percent of the team's offensive plays and saw that number jump to 6 percent inside the red zone.

Tight end is not a position of strength for the Redskins, but it doesn't have to be with all the pass-catching targets Washington has at wide receiver and running back. Zeron Flemister will serve as the team's starter, but he is a blocking specialist. In his last two seasons, when he began playing in close to every game, he has recorded just 28 receptions for 342 yards and four touchdowns. Flemister needs to pick up his level of play this year or he could be pushed for playing time by the team's backups. Leonard Stephens - who was re-signed as an exclusive rights free agent in the off-season - will be the team's No. 2 TE. Robert Royal and undrafted rookie free agent Kevin Ware (Washington) will compete for a roster spot, with Royal the front-runner for the position.

[B]THE RUNNING GAME[\B]

Last season, the Redskins couldn't get their offense rolling the way Spurrier would have liked because he didn't have the speed he desired, especially at running back. He was forced to play Stephen Davis because he was a proven back, but Spurrier just couldn't find the correct way to use him in his offense. This year, the Redskins have a conglomeration of backs that all figure to be in the mix. Their one similarity - speed and the ability to catch the football.

Trung Canidate will enter training camp as the starter if for no other reason than the team traded away a fourth-round draft pick and OG David Loverne to acquire his services from the St. Louis Rams. Canidate has received limited playing time in his three years as he backed up Marshall Faulk. However, in his second NFL season in 2001, Canidate displayed the play-making ability the Redskins hope he can put forth on every down this season. On just 78 carries, Canidate rushed for 441 yards and six touchdowns, chipping in with 17 receptions for 154 yards; he averaged 6.26 yards every time he touched the ball that year. He slacked off a bit last year, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry and losing his top backup job to a rookie. Canidate, who spent plenty of time in his former coach's dog house, needs to improve on securing the football, as he does have a tendency to put the ball on the turf too often. Last year in St. Louis, he was utilized in just 2 percent of the team's plays and saw just 3 plays go his direction within the red zone. The Redskins, though, obviously liked what they saw. According to reports, he was given a four-year, $6.5 million deal by the team shortly after they traded for him.

Behind Canidate, the Redskins will employ a two-headed monster that is similar in almost every facet. Ladell Betts (5-10, 221), a rookie last year, and Kenny Watson (5-11, 214) are almost identical in body size and style of play. Both have the ability to run the ball up the middle, as well as outside and can catch the football, too. Betts and Watson have the prototype of backs in Spurrier's system that have the potential to succeed - see Jacksonville Jaguars and former Florida RB Fred Taylor (6-1, 232); and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former Florida RB Earnest Graham (5-9, 225). Watson put up the better numbers last season, but both put up similar averages. In 16 games, four starts, Watson combined for 148 touches for 787 yards (5.32 yards per touch) and two touchdowns; while Betts combined for 77 touches for 461 yards (5.99 yards per touch) and one touchdown. Watson was utilized in 15 percent of the team's offensive plays (162) and was utilized in 9 percent of the team's red zone plays. Betts, on the other hand, was utilized in 8 percent of the team's offensive plays (82) but saw his utilization percent jump to 12 percent inside the red zone. By the statistics alone, Watson would seem to have an early edge over Betts, but the two will battle it out in training camp to see who wins the backup job. Word out of Washington is that the team feels Betts is the better pure runner, which could give him the advantage. The loser of the competition might actually be an odd man out for a spot on the roster.

In three NFL seasons, Chad Morton has established himself as one of the better kick returners in all of football. In 2002, Morton ranked fourth among kick returners with at least 20 returns to their credit with a 26-yard return average; he also scored two touchdowns on kick returns, which was tied for the league lead. The Redskins signed the restricted free agent to serve primarily as their kick returner, but he impressed the team so much in off-season workouts that he is the leading candidate for the job of third-down running back, which is why Betts or Watson will likely be out by camp's end. Plus, a five-year deal in the $8 million range is plenty of incentive for the team to find other ways than just on special teams to receive a return investment on Morton. Morton did see some time in the backfield with the Jets in his rookie 2000 season. That year, he combined for 349 total yards on 66 touches, good for a 5.29 yard-per-touch average.

The Redskins aren't likely to keep more than three running backs on roster, so the position is already crowded with Canidate, Morton, Betts, and Watson. However, the team has talked about keeping four tailbacks this time around. Then again, that's also easier said than done in the NFL! As a result, Robert Gillespie and undrafted rookie free agent Sultan McCullough (USC) will either be cut or relegated to practice squad duty.

At fullback, the Redskins have Bryan Johnson, Rock Cartwright and Thad Buttone. However, one has to question how much action the fullback in Washington will actually see this year. With Spurrier looking to utilize his Fun N' Gun offense, the team would utilize more multiple receiver sets and would less utilize the fullback position.

Johnson comes in as the No. 1 FB at this time, and he chipped in 114 yards receiving and 0 TDs a year ago. He had just 1 rushing attempt all season, good for 0 yards. Cartwright, who may have the best name for a fullback in the NFL with the first name of Rock, saw 3 rushing attempts for 22 yards while also adding in 121 receiving yards and 1 TD on 22 receptions. The two of them were both utilized in 2 percent of the team's offensive plays last year; with Cartwright seeing 3 percent of the action inside the red zone. This is a battle that will likely carry into training camp. Buttone is likely the odd man out unless he can truly impress on special teams units.

[B]THE KICKING GAME[\B]

Washington acquired the services of PK John Hall to hopefully improve their scoring game on special teams. While Hall only connected on 77.4 percent of his field goal attempts (24-of-31) last season, he did have to deal with tough winds at Giants Stadium. In Washington, the kicking conditions - both the winds and the playing surface - are much friendlier, and Hall should improve as a result. Hall's best overall season came with the Jets in 1999 when he connected on 81.8 percent of his field goal attempts and scored 108 points. Hall has scored at least 100 points in each of his six NFL seasons, sporting a 110-point-per-season average.

To round out the kicking game, veteran punter Bryan Barker will enter training camp as the starter. In 13 NFL seasons, Barker has averaged 42.4 yards per punt and 21 punts per season landed inside the 20-yard line. Last season, he slumped a bit, averaging 40.1 yards per punt - his lowest since his rookie season in 1990 - and put just 13 punts inside the 20 - his lowest since 1991. As a result, the Redskins brought in undrafted free agent P Brent Bartholomew after an impressive workout in early May. Bartholomew has never attempted a punt in an NFL game.

[B]OFFENSIVE LINE[\B]

The Redskins have put together an impressive offensive line, but like the rest of the team, cohesion will be their biggest concern. Washington will employ at least two new starters this season, at both guard positions, and could add a third new starter at center.

The tackle position is stable, with youngsters Chris Samuels (6-5, 303) and Jon Jansen (6-6, 306) manning the left and right sides, respectively. Samuels developed into a rising star last year, his third in the league. He is a Pro-Bowl caliber physical player, who does a terrific job of using his footwork and hands to compensate for the fact that he is a little undersized when it comes to weight. Jansen, a four-year starter, utilizes the same style as Samuels, but doesn't get as much notoriety for his work as a result of him playing the right side of the line - the less "flashy" spot because he doesn't protect the quarterbacks' blindside and often works with a tight end alongside of him. These two have played together since Samuels has entered the league, and while it isn't as important to establish a relationship between the two tackles - since they are positioned at three players apart - it is nice to have two stable stalwarts at the end of the line. Alex Sulfsted (6-3, 200) will serve as the main backup at tackle.

The guard and center positions have two-of-three starters already set. New free agent signees Dave Fiore (6-4, 290) and Randy Thomas (6-4, 301) will definitely start, with Thomas entrenched next to Jansen on the right side. However, Fiore might be switched to center, which will be mentioned momentarily. Thomas started every game in his short four-year career with the Jets, and he was one of the most sought-after players on the unrestricted free agent market this off-season. He is big for a guard and has the ability to pull if necessary on outside running plays and traps. Fiore, on the other hand, is more of the typical size of an interior offensive linemen. He has been in the league for seven seasons, mostly with the San Francisco 49ers, and his best asset is his ability to use his head and be a leader on the line. He was only able to play in three games last season due to a knee injury, but as long as he is healthy, he should be fine - seeing as he would have had to adjust to a new team anyway. Lennie Friedman (6-3, 285) - a free agent signee from Denver - and Tre' Johnson (6-5, 326) - a veteran who re-signed with the Redskins in the off-season - will serve as the top backups at guard.

Currently, Larry Moore (6-2, 302) is listed as No. 1 on the team's depth chart at center. He has been in the league for five seasons, starting every game for the 'Skins last season - his first with the team. Moore played reasonably well and did everything asked for him, but the team really likes the potential of third-round pick Derrick Dockery. Dockery (6-6, 347) has the size of an offensive tackle, but he played guard in college. The Redskins will give him every opportunity to win the starting left guard job in training camp, which would allow Fiore to move to center and put Moore on the bench as solid depth.

Problems up front is what caused a lot of concern for Washington last year and they've done a solid job at filling their holes and improving their front line. Staying healthy will once again be key, as their depth is still a bit suspect. Further depth is provided in Wilbert Brown, veteran Rod Jones, Akil Smith, Pat Downey, Brad Bedell, Pita Elisara and long-snapper Ethan Albright. Most of this group will be battling for roster spots come training camp, with several that could be sent packing if they don't impress the coaching staff.

[B]DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

DEFENSIVE LINE[\B]

The big story on the defensive line this off-season was the decision by veteran DE Bruce Smith to return for a 19th NFL season. Smith will not be in the starting lineup, and he understands and accepts his duty as a role player at this stage in his career. His desire to return comes from wanting to break the NFL sack record. Smith impressively recorded nine sacks last season in spot duty, even though he was technically the starter each game. Smith has never recorded fewer than five sacks in a season in which he played at least 12 games, and he has averaged 10.83 sacks per season … pretty solid for a backup!

Regan Upshaw, a free-agent addition from Oakland, was scheduled to take over for Smith in the starting lineup, but a knee injury has coaches concerned. Upshaw was limited to only five games last season due to the injury, and he suffered a setback in his return when he was forced to undergo more surgery on the knee in mid-May. The most recent surgery has kept him out of action since, but the team hopes he can return to form by the start of training camp. Before the injury - and a similar one in 1999 while with Tampa Bay - Upshaw displayed a knack for getting at the quarterback, averaging 6.2 sacks in his five completely healthy seasons. If he is healthy, Upshaw should be a nice cog on the line, especially considering Smith should chip in for at least a few sacks off the bench. Renaldo Wynn will start on the left side of the line for the second straight season in Washington. Wynn has never been a sack machine, but he was a solid starter in Jacksonville for five seasons before joining the Redskins. Free-agent signee Peppi Zellner will be the main backup at end along with Smith. Gregory Scott and Mike Cecere will battle for a roster spot.

The interior defensive line will have new players in the mix from a year ago, both in the starting lineup and off the bench. The one constant from the past is Dan Wilkinson (6-4, 353). Wilkinson is a huge run-stuffing plug up the middle and has been a fixture on the Redskins' line for the last five seasons. Surprisingly, even with his massive size, Wilkinson is somehow able to get to the quarterback to record sacks; he averaged six sacks per season in his first eight seasons in the league before not recording one in 12 games played last season. Wilkinson slumped off his previous production in just about every category last season, seemingly struggling as he battled through a calf injury. Brandon Noble, a free agent signing from Dallas, will step into the starting lineup alongside of Wilkinson. Noble (6-2, 312) is another big-bodied tackle up front for the 'Skins. Noble serves as a run-stuffer, which Washington needs considering it's other players specialize in recording sacks. Jermaine Haley might see a lot of playing time in 2003 off the bench or eventually in the starting lineup; he was heavily sought after by Washington this off-season, so there has to be some reason for their keen interest in him.

The Redskins have plenty of additional role players - along with training camp fodder - in the background. Delbert Cowsette, Jace Sayler, Bernard Jackson, LaDairis Jackson, Jonathan Brown, Nic Clemons and Durrand Roundtree round out the mix. Like with many teams, the majority of this group is just fighting to land a roster spot deep on the team or to possibly return to the team as a practice squad player when all is said and done.

[B]LINEBACKERS[\B]

The Redskins have the potential to have a fantastic linebacking corps, but their production last year proved that it won't be outstanding at every position. Instead, the unit will be led by a star (LaVar Arrington) and two able-bodied players (Jessie Armstead and Jeremiah Trotter). Arrington is quickly developing into the star the Redskins thought he would when they drafted him in the first round of the 2000 draft. In his first Pro Bowl season in 2002, Arrington recorded 95 tackles, 11 sacks, and forced four fumbles. He will remain on the strong side of the defense this season, even though his speed and ability to get to the ball carrier could make him a great weak side defender as well. Arrington will also remain at linebacker on third downs instead of moving to a pass-rushing defensive end spot. The team wants to limit the direct wear and tear on his body that he would receive at end, and they feel he might actually be more effective moving all over the place in a two-point stance. Lemar Marshall and undrafted rookie free agent Chris Clemons (Georgia) will compete for the top backup spot behind Arrington.

In the middle is where Trotter roams. He was a big-name free agent signing following the 2001 season and landed a massive contract with Washington. And while he didn't make a lot of noise with the 'Skins last year - most likely a result of Arrington's production - he was on pace to have one of his better seasons statistically. Trotter recorded 91 tackles in 12 games (on pace for 121) before suffering a torn ACL that ended his season. The injury normally takes a full year to recover from, so there is obviously concern there. However, the team said Trotter is making great progress and is expected to be 100 percent by the start of training camp. It's tough to imagine that Trotter will be able to return to his previous form immediately upon the start of the regular season, though, especially in pass coverage - where he was already suspect. If he's able to be at least a reliable player in the middle, Trotter should live up to expectations in 2003 but do not be surprised if he gets off to a slow start. While the team is handling him with caution now, Trotter may have to go at less than 100 percent when the season begins just because he has to get beyond the mental side of the injury, too. The Redskins signed free agent LB Kevin Mitchell as insurance just in case Trotter isn't able to return to form or play every down right away. Mitchell should get plenty of time while Trotter is eased back into the lineup.

Veteran Jessie Armstead rounds out the group on the weak side. He joined the team along with Trotter in 2002 after he spent nine seasons with the New York Giants. Armstead is a tackle machine. He recorded 100 in 16 games, 14 starts, last season and has averaged 109 in his seven seasons as a starter. Armstead (6-1, 232) is a little small, but he has played so long at such a high level that it isn't of a concern at all. In fact, he becomes the forgotten man in the team's second level of defense, as opposing offenses normally key in on blocking Trotter and Arrington, which only benefits Armstead even more. Antonio Pierce - who was re-signed as an exclusive rights free agent this off-season - and Orantes Grant will compete for the top backup spot behind Armstead.

Further depth at the linebacker position is provided in Shamar Finney, Andre Arnold and Clifton Smith. As expected, training camp fodder is likely the name of the game here as the players try to latch on to a potential practice squad position later this year.

[B]DEFENSIVE BACKS[\B]

For the first time in 20 years, the Redskins' defensive backfield will not include the likes of Darrell Green. As mentioned before, Green's presence off the field will be missed almost as much, if not more, than his presence on the field. The starting lineup at cornerback won't change because of his departure, as Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot handled all of the starts in 2002. Bailey is the star in the group. A former first-round draft pick in 1999, Bailey doesn't put his name in the stats book very often because teams simply don't like to throw his way when they have a choice. He recorded 68 tackles, which was a career high, but only picked off three passes - which wouldn't put him near the top of the NFL rankings. Still, the Redskins would probably rather have Bailey be a solid defender, which he is, than a player who takes chances to gain more picks but lets up more long passes.

In his second year out of Mississippi State, Smoot has come on nicely. He started all 16 games last year, picking off four passes following his five-interception campaign in his rookie season. For some reason, the Redskins were rumored to be shopping Smoot around the league in exchange for a first-round pick in the draft. He has good cover skills, but he seems to be too erratic at times. Alex Molden - who was signed in the off-season - will compete with Rashad Bauman for the nickel back job.

Safety is a concern for the Redskins. Not only did they pass over help in the draft at the position, they also lost last year's starter S Sam Shade. The group will have two relatively new starters. Third-year man Ifeanyi Ohalete started 10 games at strong safety last year and has been working with the first-team defense so far this off-season. He appears to have the easy inside track at the starting job, but the Redskins would have liked to offer him some competition. Ohalete (6-2, 220) picked off three passes, scoring one touchdown, and recorded 59 tackles last season. He is a hard hitter with a linebacker-like style, but he is still raw in his cover skills. Matt Bowen - signed away as a restricted free agent from the Green Bay Packers - will enter camp as the starter at free safety. Bowen started six games last year, but is very inexperienced. Bowen (6-1, 210) is another big safety with hard-hitting potential. He recorded 45 tackles and forced one fumble, while logging time in all 16 games for the Packers last season. Bowen is going to have to make a quick adjustment to a new team and playing everyday in order to be successful. David Terrell has the inside track on the top backup spot at safety, but he will do battle with Andre Lott in training camp.

The team has additional depth in CBs Bruce Branch, Wade Davis, Lloyd Harrison, Brian Mance, Jordan Younger, Ade Jimou, Larry Austin and Fred Booker. At safety, Ricot Joseph, Rashidi Barnes and Todd Franz round out the depth at the position. Barnes excelled in NFL Europe earlier this year and may be a possible lock as a backup if the team doesn't find any additional veterans to bring in and compete for the job. The rest, of course, are battling for roster spots and potential slots on the team's practice squad later this year.

[B]WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON...[\B]

* The development of Patrick Ramsey. Even with all of the weapons owner Daniel Snyder has supplied him, the Redskins' offense won't be able to do anything if Ramsey is a flop. He is going to have to overcome a lot of adversity, but he has been preparing to be a starter in 2003 since he was drafted a year ago.
* Whether Trung Canidate is cut out to be a full-time starter. Sure, he's shown potential, but how good can he be over a full 16 games? If Canidate isn't able to perform, the Redskins will be in some trouble, as they'll have to have some sort of running game to keep defenses off balance.
* How Jeremiah Trotter recovers from last year's ACL injury. Normally, such an injury takes at least a year to recover from, and Trotter will be attempting to return in 10 month's time by the start of the season. The Redskins can survive without Trotter, but they'd be much better with him.
* How the safeties are able to respond. Cornerbacks are only as good as safeties allow them to be, especially in this day and age of zone coverage. If Ohalete and Bowen are unable to perform, Bailey and Smoot will be limited in what they are able to do.
* How Steve Spurrier reacts to necessarily adjustments. This year's team is much more catered to Spurrier's offense than last year's version was, but inevitably, there will be some adjustments that will have to be made before or during the season. If he remains stubborn to what has worked in the past for him - as he did last year - the 'Skins will be going nowhere.

[B]FINAL ANALYSIS[\B]

While the Redskins have built what looks like a contender, they are unfortunately going to have to win it all either this year or next, which seems unlikely. While this year's off-season signings took a different form than did those of the 2000 off-season - when the team signed high-profile veteran players to big contracts - they are still going to cause fits for the team's salary cap in the very near future. The team's free agent contracts totaled $114.235 million in new money with $29.9 million of new money dedicated to signing bonuses. In the process, the team had to restructure the contracts of many to get under the salary cap for this year: DE Renaldo Wynn, LB LaVar Arrington, LB Jeremiah Trotter and OT Chris Samuels. What this will do is make those player's contracts very tough to keep on the payroll for future seasons. As early as after this season, the Redskins will be faced with having to re-sign CB Champ Bailey, which doesn't seem likely, and the possibility that they might have to release Arrington just so they can afford the rest of their players.

For 2003, the Redskins will battle all year just to compete with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles in their own division. The improvements on paper are massive for the 'Skins' personnel, but they still don't have a proven threat in the running or the passing game, and they are likely to get bit in the rear once again by a lack of talent on the defensive line and at safety. From a fantasy standpoint, Washington will provide solid talent in Coles and Gardner, and might also have some decent late-round sleepers if the offense comes out like gang busters in Canidate and Ramsey.

Wer zur Hölle soll das alles Lesen? Mal davon abgesehen das es in Englisch ist, wird wohl niemand solche Textmengen lesen - also bitte CWood24 oder Kaeptn Blaubart, postet bitte den Link und nehmt den Monstertext wieder raus.

Ähm, Reggie...soweit ich mich erinnere, hatte CWood das abgeklärt..mit Oxx (?), meine ich.

Und ausserdem: Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanz ruhig, Brauner....:D:D:D

Ausserdem: "Meinen" Preview hab' ich schon gelesen Und sogar den der Packers

Gut, wenn Oxx damit kein Problem hat bitte - mein Fall ist es nicht. Ausserdem braucht dieser Thread bei ISDN Geschwindigkeit mal locker einige Minuten bis er überhaupt angezeigt wird.

@Johnny: Woher soll ich Oxx Einverständniss kennen? In unserern Regeln steht immer noch Du sollst keine kompletten englischen Texte ins Forum kopieren, sondern diese nur kurz anreißen und mit einem Link zu deren Herkunft versehen.
und bei so einem Monster von Text hat das doch sicher seine Berechtigung, oder?

But who cares?

Uiuiui, da is aber heute einer gut drauf, was?

Du kennst doch CWood inzwischen auch ein wenig, oder? Und man kann ihm durchaus zutrauen, dass er sowas nicht einfach so macht, ohne das vorher mit jemand abzustimmen. Deshalb dachte ich, dass Du da vielleicht etwas schnell geschossen hast...aber ich will da jetzt um Gottes Willen kein Aufhebens drum machen, sondern wollte nur zur Klärung beitragen.

So, jetzt aber und wehe, ich sehe in Deiner Antwort keinen ordentlichen Smiley :p

Also ich find´s gut und war ganz enttäuscht, weil wir mit den Steelers so weit hinten waren. Wollte CWood schon fragen, warum er das beste Team der AFC diskriminiert

@ reggie

Gibt´s ein Problem mit der Datenbank oder so?

@Konti - nee, noch nicht.

@Johnny - ich find gerade keinen, nimm den solange [/img]

Wenn ich mich recht erinnere war es nicht nur mit Oxx abgesprochen sondern hatte CWood diese Previews aus Quellen die uns sonst verschlossen sind. Ich finde es schade das die jetzt weg sind. Ich wollte sie heute durchschmökern und plötzlich sind sie weg.

Zitat von FinFan#13

Wenn ich mich recht erinnere war es nicht nur mit Oxx abgesprochen sondern hatte CWood diese Previews aus Quellen die uns sonst verschlossen sind. Ich finde es schade das die jetzt weg sind. Ich wollte sie heute durchschmökern und plötzlich sind sie weg.

Ich schließe mich voll und ganz an. Ich habe gerade per PN die Lions-Preview bei CWood "bestellt", aber viel lieber wäre es mir, wenn alle Previews hier drin geblieben wären. Es wurde ja ganz gezielt ein Extra-Thread aufgemacht, damit diejenigen, die keine langen englischen Texte wollen, sie auch nicht sehen müssen.