All-NFC East Team

[DarthMonk]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/ ... eam-week-2

The NFC East All-Division Team debuted last week, but no one had played any real games yet. So the rankings were based on career accomplishments, preseason evaluations and a variety of the kinds of things that just don't mean as much as on-field performance in compiling lists like this one.

Now, with one regular-season week in the books, we do it again. And I struggled a little bit with how to handle this week's rankings. Initially, I thought it should be like a college football or basketball pool, in which we'd work off of the initial rankings, moving people up and down based on performance. But I had an epiphany and decided that the only fair way to do this would be to base it on actual 2011 game performance, which basically means last week's team is irrelevant and this week's will be based entirely on the way these guys played Sunday.

That means Justin Tuck, the best defensive end in the division, isn't on this week's All-Division Team, because he didn't play Sunday. If he comes back from his neck injury and tears it up the way he always does, he'll surely reclaim one of those two defensive end spots. But he can't have it this week because those spots are being awarded based solely on 2011 performance, and so far he doesn't have any.

Now, that said, here's current NFC East All-Division Team. Last week's team is listed, position-by-position, in parentheses, and I'll offer some explanations below:

Quarterback: Michael Vick, Eagles (Last week: Vick)

Running back: LeSean McCoy, Eagles (McCoy)

Wide receiver: Hakeem Nicks, Giants; DeSean Jackson, Eagles (Nicks, Jackson)

Tight end: Jason Witten, Cowboys (Witten)

Fullback: Darrel Young, Redskins (Mike Sellers)

Left tackle: Doug Free, Cowboys (Jason Peters)

Left guard: Kory Lichtensteiger, Redskins (David Diehl)

Center: Jason Kelce, Eagles (Kevin Baas)

Right guard: Chris Snee, Giants (Snee)

Right tackle: Kareem McKenzie, Giants (McKenzie)

Defensive end: Trent Cole, Eagles; Jason Babin, Eagles (Justin Tuck, Cole)

Defensive tackle: Cullen Jenkins, Eagles; Linval Joseph, Giants (Jenkins, Jay Ratliff)

Outside linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys, Ryan Kerrigan, Redskins (Ware, Brian Orakpo)

Inside linebacker: Sean Lee, Cowboys; Greg Jones, Giants (London Fletcher, Bradie James)

Cornerback: Asante Samuel, Eagles; Mike Jenkins, Cowboys (Nnamdi Asomugha, Samuel)

Safety: Jarrad Page, Eagles; Kenny Phillips, Giants (Antrel Rolle, O.J. Atogwe)

Kicker: Alex Henery, Eagles (Lawrence Tynes)

Punter: Sav Rocca, Redskins (Steve Weatherford)

Kick returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks)

Punt returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Dez Bryant)

•Okay, on quarterback, yes, Rex Grossman's passing numbers were better than Vick's. But Vick won the game with a couple of big throws and with his legs, and it's impossible to overlook the overall package here. I honestly wrestled with this (and truthfully, Tony Romo looked like the winner until... well, you know), but I gave it to Vick by a hair for the same reason I ranked him No. 1 in the division before the season began -- because he can and does make winning plays other quarterbacks can't. This doesn't mean he's got the spot for the year, but his overall game Sunday gave him the edge, for me, over Grossman even though Grossman was the better passer Sunday.

•One of the things that really upset people last week was the selection of Weatherford over Mat McBriar at punter. While I love that people get so excited over punter, I don't think you guys really understand how good Weatherford is. As for this week, which is what this vote was about, the two were very close across the board. I thought it was more or less a tie between the two of them. And because of that, I would the spot to the guy who didn't have one blocked. But Rocca, with four punts inside the 20 and two fair catches, was better than both of them, even if he was a couple of yards per punt behind them.

•Offensive line thoughts: I still think Peters is a monster, and that he played very well Sunday. I just think Free played an exceptional game, especially in pass protection... Truly remarkable was Kelce's performance, especially in light of the fact that the Eagles' first-round pick, Danny Watkins, struggled so much with the offensive line schemes that he was inactive for the first game. Kelce, the sixth-rounder, started at center and excelled, especially in the run game.

•Strong honorable mention for Washington's Fred Davis at tight end, yes. No idea how the Giants kept letting him get that open.

•Kerrigan snags an outside linebacker spot basically by virtue of the one play, but (a) it was an incredible play -- tipping the pass, intercepting the pass and running it back in for the touchdown and (b) I thought he looked better in coverage than he had in the preseason. If he's effective there and as good at rushing the passer as he clearly is on raw talent alone, my Rookie of the Year pick is looking good.

•Banks gets both return spots because he's really the only one who returned anything. I do think DeSean Jackson is better at punts, yes, but since we're basing this on Sunday's games only, Jackson offered us nothing on which to grade him. There really wasn't much on which to base kicker either. Henery made his only chance. Some of these will obviously be helped by further results and evaluation.

DarthMonk

[Irn-Bru]

Interesting concept.

[DarthMonk]

Maybe I'll revisit this and make it a weekly thing.

DarthMonk

[Red_One43]

Yes, keep it coming weekly. Your analysis sounds just as good as most paid sports journalists .

[BossHog]

There seems to be some confusion for people. This is Dan Graziano's piece right? You just changed the font colors to represent the teams didn't you?

[Red_One43]

Oops, I didn't notice the link at the top of DarthMonk's post. No wonder why it it sounded just as good as the paid guys.
Thanks for clearing up for me, BH.

I am still interested in seeing it posted each week.

[DarthMonk]

Oops, I didn't notice the link at the top of DarthMonk's post. No wonder why it it sounded just as good as the paid guys.
Thanks for clearing up for me, BH.

I am still interested in seeing it posted each week.

My bad. I left out his name b/c I had the link. I'm curious and will revive it weekly.

Of course, I'm better than these paid guys!

DarthMonk

[Red_One43]

Oops, I didn't notice the link at the top of DarthMonk's post. No wonder why it it sounded just as good as the paid guys.
Thanks for clearing up for me, BH.

I am still interested in seeing it posted each week.

My bad. I left out his name b/c I had the link. I'm curious and will revive it weekly.

Of course, I'm better than these paid guys!

DarthMonk

+1

[yupchagee]

Oops, I didn't notice the link at the top of DarthMonk's post. No wonder why it it sounded just as good as the paid guys.
Thanks for clearing up for me, BH.

I am still interested in seeing it posted each week.

My bad. I left out his name b/c I had the link. I'm curious and will revive it weekly.

Of course, I'm better than these paid guys! DarthMonk

Setting the bar rather low, aren't you.

[DarthMonk]

Oops, I didn't notice the link at the top of DarthMonk's post. No wonder why it it sounded just as good as the paid guys.
Thanks for clearing up for me, BH.

I am still interested in seeing it posted each week.

My bad. I left out his name b/c I had the link. I'm curious and will revive it weekly.

Of course, I'm better than these paid guys! DarthMonk

Setting the bar rather low, aren't you.

... now that you mention it.

I'll go ahead and say they set it and I sail over it!

DarthMonk

[DarthMonk]

Here's something I meant to post every week but forgot about:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast

Also, I posted a new Cowboy joke in smack I thought you all might enjoy.

DarthMonk


Quarterback: Eli Manning, Giants (Last week: Manning)

Kevin Hoffman-US PRESSWIRE

Running back: LeSean McCoy, Eagles (McCoy)

Wide receiver: Hakeem Nicks, Giants; Jeremy Maclin, Eagles (Nicks, Maclin)

Tight end: Jason Witten, Cowboys (Witten)

Fullback: Henry Hynoski, Giants (Owen Schmitt)

Left tackle: Jason Peters, Eagles (Peters)

Left guard: Evan Mathis, Eagles (Mathis)

Center: Will Montgomery, Redskins (Montgomery)

Right guard: Chris Snee, Giants (Snee)

Right tackle: Tyron Smith, Cowboys (Smith)

Defensive end: Trent Cole, Eagles; Jason Pierre-Paul, Giants (Cole, Pierre-Paul)

Defensive tackle: Jay Ratliff, Cowboys; Rocky Bernard, Giants (Ratliff, Cullen Jenkins)

Outside linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys; Brian Orakpo, Redskins (Ware, Orakpo)

Inside linebacker: Sean Lee, Cowboys; London Fletcher, Redskins (Lee, Fletcher)

Cornerback: Corey Webster, Giants; Mike Jenkins, Cowboys (Asante Samuel, Aaron Ross)

Safety: Kenny Phillips, Giants; LaRon Landry, Redskins (Phillips, Landry)

Kicker: Dan Bailey, Cowboys (Bailey)

Punter: Sav Rocca, Redskins (Rocca)

Kick returner: Devin Thomas, Giants (Thomas)

Punt returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks)

[Irn-Bru]

You know, it's going to be a riot again this year when 10 Cowboys and Eagles — who will probably have 13 wins between the two teams — go to the pro bowl and maybe 2 Redskins do.

[DarthMonk]

You know, it's going to be a riot again this year when 10 Cowboys and Eagles — who will probably have 13 wins between the two teams — go to the pro bowl and maybe 2 Redskins do.

Yeah, no kiddin'.

DarthMonk

[SkinsJock]

.. with one regular-season week in the books, we do it again. And I struggled a little bit with how to handle this week's rankings. ...
But I had an epiphany and decided that the only fair way to do this would be to base it on actual 2011 game performances, which basically means last week's team is irrelevant and this week's will be based entirely on the way these guys played Sunday.

I'm a little slow - if the selection is based "on actual 2011 game performances" how does a 'performance in ANY game in 2011' become "irrelevant"?

thanks for clearing this up

[SkinsJock]

It's really not that big a deal - nobody really cares about the stupid pro bowl anyway

I hope the whole eagles and cowboys teams get selected - make Eli the captain - as long as we beat the crap out of them this season

the eagles season is about to end this Sunday - gotta love it

[DarthMonk]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/

The New York Giants are in first place in the division, so it should come as no surprise that Giants players dominate this week's edition of the NFC East's rolling All-Division Team. Only two changes from last week's team, but both changes were additions of Giants players -- specifically at left tackle and cornerback. This week's team features 11 Giants, six Redskins, six Cowboys and four Eagles, so it roughly reflects the standings, I guess. Not that it was intended that way.

First, the disclaimer that most of you won't read: This is meant to be an All-Division team for the entire season to date -- not simply a review of Week 6 games. For that reason, you will still see some players who haven't played in a few weeks, because they haven't been overtaken by the stellar play of anyone on the list behind them. I'll explain after the team, which is what you came for anyway.

Quarterback: Eli Manning, Giants (Last week: Manning)

Running back: LeSean McCoy, Eagles (McCoy)

Wide receiver: Hakeem Nicks, Giants; Jeremy Maclin, Eagles (Nicks, Maclin)

Tight end: Jason Witten, Cowboys (Witten)

Fullback: Henry Hynoski, Giants (Hynoski)

Left tackle: William Beatty, Giants (Jason Peters)

Left guard: Evan Mathis, Eagles (Mathis)

Center: Will Montgomery, Redskins (Montgomery)

Right guard: Chris Snee, Giants (Snee)

Right tackle: Tyron Smith, Cowboys (Smith) WISH WE COULDA DRAFTED THIS GUY!

Defensive end: Trent Cole, Eagles; Jason Pierre-Paul, Giants (Cole, Pierre-Paul)

Defensive tackle: Jay Ratliff, Cowboys; Rocky Bernard, Giants (Ratliff, Bernard)

Outside linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys; Brian Orakpo, Redskins (Ware, Orakpo)

Inside linebacker: Sean Lee, Cowboys; London Fletcher, Redskins (Lee, Fletcher)

Cornerback: Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, Giants (Webster, Mike Jenkins)

Safety: Kenny Phillips, Giants; LaRon Landry, Redskins (Phillips, Landry)

Kicker: Dan Bailey, Cowboys (Bailey)

Punter: Sav Rocca, Redskins (Rocca)

Kick returner: Devin Thomas, Giants (Thomas)

Punt returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks)

•One of the two changes this week was at left tackle, where I believe Beatty has played well enough in the two weeks Peters has missed to supplant him. This looked like Trent Williams' spot before he left Sunday's game with an injury, and I'd have been perfectly happy leaving it to Peters if I didn't think Beatty earned it. But while he still looks a little too grabby for me in pass protection, I readily admit that it's possible every tackle does the same thing and I've just been watching him extra closely because I think his performance is a big key to the Giants' season. Fact is, he's getting the job done and he's been an asset in the run game -- especially this past week, after Ahmad Bradshaw chewed him out.
•The other change was at cornerback, where I put Ross back in and just rolled with both Giants. Again, I don't think anyone in this division is playing cornerback especially well this year. But Ross and Webster have been very solid and have earned their spots ahead of the erratic Eagles and Cowboys. Josh Wilson of the Redskins gets an honorable mention here, but Week 6 wasn't his best game, and I think it cost him a chance to move into the spot I gave to Ross.•Kept Cole in at defensive end, though once again I gave serious thought to Jason Babin or Osi Umenyiora. Cole's missed two games, but I think his body of work in the first four was outstanding enough that he still deserves recognition as the best in the division for the year so far.
•Similarly, Snee stays in at right guard after missing the game with a concussion. Not a lot of strong candidates at right guard this year in the East.
•I thought about one of the Eagles ahead of Landry at safety, but while Nate Allen is getting close and Kurt Coleman's big game deserves some recognition, Landry's a different sort of presence out there. And I thought about giving Todd Herremans the right tackle spot, even though he played left tackle Sunday, in honor of his all-around value this season. But while Smith played his worst game of the year to date, he's been the better all-around player this year, so he keeps the spot.
•And at the skill positions, not a lot of questions. While Bradshaw has finally surpassed Michael Vick as the division's second-leading rusher, he's still not close to McCoy. Manning is leading in every important passing category (and is 4-2), Witten is unchallenged at his spot and Miles Austin is still making up ground on Nicks and Maclin after missing a couple of games with his injury

DarthMonk

[DarthMonk]

Link: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/ ... k-9-update

Text:

Time once again for our weekly exercise in position-specific agitation: The NFC East All-Division Team.

First, the disclaimer that no one will read: This is an All-Division Team based on overall 2011 performance to date. It is not, I repeat, not based solely on performance in the most recent games. And that, to answer your question, is why Brent Celek is not on it.

Who is on it are the usual suspects at quarterback and running back, as Eli Manning and LeSean McCoy easily held their spots with brilliant Week 8 performances. I made a change at wide receiver, moving Jeremy Maclin back in for Dez Bryant after Bryant's disappearing act against Maclin's Eagles. And I switched up at a couple of spots on defense and on the offensive line.

This week's team features eight Giants, seven Cowboys, six Eagles and six Redskins, and here it is:

Quarterback: Eli Manning, Giants (Last week: Manning)

Running back: LeSean McCoy, Eagles (McCoy)

Wide receivers: Hakeem Nicks, Giants; Jeremy Maclin, Eagles (Nicks, Dez Bryant)

Tight end: Jason Witten, Cowboys (Witten)

Fullback: Darrel Young, Redskins (Young)

Left tackle: Jason Peters, Eagles (William Beatty)

Left guard: Evan Mathis, Eagles (Mathis)

Center: Will Montgomery, Redskins (Montgomery)

Right guard: Danny Watkins, Eagles (Chris Snee)

Right tackle: Tyron Smith, Cowboys (Smith)

Defensive end: Trent Cole, Eagles; Jason Pierre-Paul, Giants (Cole, Pierre-Paul)

Defensive tackle: Jay Ratliff, Cowboys; Rocky Bernard, Giants (Ratliff, Bernard)

Outside linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys; Mathias Kiwanuka, Giants (Ware, Brian Orakpo)

Inside linebacker: Sean Lee, Cowboys; London Fletcher, Redskins (Lee, Fletcher)

Cornerback: Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, Giants (Webster, Mike Jenkins)

Safety: Kenny Phillips, Giants; Abram Elam, Cowboys (Phillips, LaRon Landry)

Kicker: Dan Bailey, Cowboys (Bailey)

Punter: Sav Rocca, Redskins (Rocca)

Kick returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Devin Thomas)

Punt returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks)

OK, first, on the offensive line: Watching Peters play left tackle Sunday night made you realize how important he is to what the Eagles do, especially as a run-blocking line, and how much they missed him when he was injured. Giving him his spot back over Beatty was a no-brainer. Peters is far and away the best left tackle in this division. Yes, I know Montgomery is playing left guard now for the Redskins, but he played center for their first five games and no other center in the division has a seven-game body of work that's more impressive than what Montgomery did in his five. And at right guard ... Snee is the most accomplished guard in the division, to be sure, but like the rest of the Giants' line he is not having a great year. Missing a game with a concussion didn't cost him his spot, but returning this week and playing a poor game did, especially with the rookie Watkins looking very good in Philadelphia. And yeah, the line could have been even more Eagles-heavy, as I took a long look at moving Todd Herremans into that right tackle spot over Smith, who hasn't been as awesome in the last three games as he was in his first four.

Tight end was a tough call for the first time. Fred Davis' numbers match up very well with Witten's, and if the Dallas passing game continues to struggle and Davis gets healthy and has another big game, you could see a change there soon. That was one of those spots that looked as though it might be unchallenged all year, but Davis is making it interesting.

People keep saying Jason Babin over Cole at defensive end, but they're just not comparable players. Babin is a sack artist, and a brilliant one, but that's literally all he is. He'd even admit to that, and credit Jim Washburn for identifying it last year in Tennessee and allowing him to focus on nothing else. Cole's return from injury made that line whole and flexible, and the way they played Sunday night showed you they'd been missing him as the offensive line had been missing Peters.

As I wrote last week, I've really been thinking for a while about putting one of the Giants' 4-3 outside linebackers on this team, even though the 3-4 outside linebackers in Washington had such a great start to the season. This week seemed like the week to do it. Kiwanuka's performance this year has been remarkable, considering he was asked to switch positions for the good of a team that was weak at linebacker. He and Michael Boley have both played very well, but I really think what Kiwanuka does has earned him the spot over Orakpo to this point.

Both Giants corners appear again this week after going back to the Mike Jenkins well last week. Thought about Terence Newman, who's played well since his return, but when I watch the Giants I really like what Ross is doing, and Webster had another big week against a No. 1 wideout, this time the Dolphins' Brandon Marshall.

Oh, and I made a change at safety, moving Landry out after a poor game and giving his spot to Elam. Might not have felt like the right week to elevate someone on the Cowboys' defense, but this is a year-to-date team, after all. The Cowboys' defense had been extremely good up until Sunday, and Elam deserves credit for his contribution as its leader in the secondary.

So that's it. What'd I mess up?

[Irn-Bru]

Hard to believe Banks is retaining his spot. But it does increasingly feel like Fletcher, Davis, Rocca, and Montgomery are the only players worth talking about on the Skins.

[DarthMonk]

Hard to believe Banks is retaining his spot. But it does increasingly feel like Fletcher, Davis, Rocca, and Montgomery are the only players worth talking about on the Skins.

That sounds about right.

DarthMonk

[DarthMonk]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/ ... -10-update

Hanging on to FB, C, ILB, PR, and KR.

DarthMonk