In the running game we try to create a numbers advantage at the point of attack by coming up with complex blocking schemes. Such is the case with the Redskins’ zone-blocking attack.  However here we have a play designed to earn 5-8 yards turn into a 28 yard TD. Why? Because two players showed they lacked the ]]>

In the running game we try to create a numbers advantage at the point of attack by coming up with complex blocking schemes. Such is the case with the Redskins’ zone-blocking attack.  However here we have a play designed to earn 5-8 yards turn into a 28 yard TD. Why? Because two players showed they lacked the number 1 defensive skill: tackling!

The Situation

Redskins have the ball on the 28 yard line, right hash, 3^rd and 3, 4^th quarter, 9.57 on the clock, Seahawks lead the Redskins  7-17. Redskins spread the field with Ace personnel, 3 Wr, 1 Te, 1Rb, TE #83, Fred Davis is detached , Grossman is in shotgun position, Helu is to his left.

The Seahawks match the offensive personnel with their defensive Nickel package. In this personnel grouping they have 2 LB’s and 5 DB’s on the field. The Seahawks defense plays a 2 high defense.

The Redskins shift TE #83, Fred Davis from the right to the left side of the formation.  The Skins run a very common high school play, the Quick Pitch. As the QB receives the snap he pitches it to the RB without a reverse pivot. A reverse pivot is when the QB turns away from the direction he is going to pitch and is common in these outside running plays. Because they don’t use a reverse pivot in this play it’s a Quick Pitch.

The Result

Usually a long TD run is accompanied by some great blocking on offense and most of the time by missed assignments and/or miss tackling on defense. In this play you will see some great blocking with some missed assignments on offense and very poor tackling on defense. Defensive back are very chirpy by nature but both #34 Roy Lewis, and #31 Kam Chancellor would have had to listen to some harsh words in the DB meeting room after the game!

The blocking from the Redskins isn’t perfect but the design of the play is very good, they would have had a hat on a hat and that would have left the Safety to make the play. Here’s what happens:

1. #83 TE Fred Davis cracks #91 DLE Chris Clemons
2. #91 DLE Chris Clemons, who lines up in a wide 9 technique comes of the ball so hard that he slows down #71 OLT from the Redskins
3. #71 OLT Trent Williams pulls and should block the force player on defense, the player who needs to keep the runner from breaking outside. Because of the hard charge of #91, #71 never really has a shot of getting in front of Helu and be effective as a blocker
4. #85 WR Leonard Hankerson blocks the second level inside linebacker #57
5. #19 WR Brian Hernandez stalk blocks #39 DBC Brandon Browner
6. #56 LB Leroy Hill and #57 first shows blitz, #57 drops back to depth but Hill stays close to the LOS and therefore is a easy target for #63 OLC Will Montgomery and #66 OLG Chris Chester to wall off.
7. The Seahawks defensive front has two 3 techniques which put #77 OLT Jammal Brown in a great position to cut block #93 DLE Lazarius Levingston
8. #78 OLG, Kory Lichtensteiger puts a good reach block on #94 DLE Jaye Howard
9. # 29 Roy Helu shows his athleticism on the way to a TD

In the end the Redskins get away with not blocking the player who should have made the tackle. This is because he drops his head and is basically on his knees before he even has a chance to make the play. Even worse, his angle to the ball carrier is also bad, he over runs the play and has to stop his feet before he is shown up by Helu.

The unblocked Safety who should have made the play tries to make a shoulder tackle – emphasis on tries! In his Pop Warner years he was told to bring his helmet across the bow, this means that he has to have his helmet in front of the ball carrier and not behind! For you Rugby players and/or fans, this is the opposite of the technique used in Rugby. What Chancellor shows in this play would be great in Rugby, providing that he make the tackle! Here? It’s not the case and Helu is away.

The Redskins have a well drawn up play, designed for quick, short yardage. However it’s a lack of discipline that truly allows Helu to break out for the big gain and TD.

WHAT PLAY NEXT? IT’S UP TO YOU!

Have a play from last season you’d like diagnosed by our resident Coach? Let us know in the comments including a clip from youtube for reference. If Coach likes it you’ll see it in the very next edition, published (usually!) every Sunday afternoon.

This week’s play was suggested by our esteemed editor Dominic. Big thanks to Coach for indulging his Redskins fandom.

Also, if you have a specific question about the coaching side of the NFL and Gridiron in general you’d like to ask be our guest. We’ll endeavor to answer any and all questions.

Don’t forget to include a clip with your own requests!

Time to kick off the AFC side of this series so why not start with the most controversial and dominant division of them all? The AFC East.

Here’s a great stat for you which probably won’t surprise: The Patriots have won this division 8 times in the last 9 years. Surely with that sort of domination you would ]]>

Time to kick off the AFC side of this series so why not start with the most controversial and dominant division of them all? The AFC East.

Here’s a great stat for you which probably won’t surprise: The Patriots have won this division 8 times in the last 9 years. Surely with that sort of domination you would think the Patriots would own this list right?

Well maybe, but not totally. Keep reading to find out who are the 5 best players in the AFC East Division.

Honorable Mentions.

• Fred Jackson
• Wes Welker
• Vince Wilfork
• Cameron Wake
• Nick Mangold (Unlucky 6th)
• Tim Teb…… Just kidding

The Top 5 Players In The AFC East

5. Mario Williams - DE – Buffalo Bills

The former number 1 pick Mario Williams made a big move this offseason in shipping off from the contending Houston Texans to move to the long suffering Buffalo Bills. Williams might have been higher on this list were it not for a season-ending injury last year. However despite the injury his reputation as a disrupting force in the backfield has not changed.

Can Williams pass the 10 sack mark again this year?

4. Rob Gronkowski - TE – New England Patriots

The Gronk really came into super-stardom last season after amassing 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns (The best ever season by a tight end in the NFL). With his big body, great hands and deceptive speed he’s a genuine match-up nightmare for any defensive coordinator.

Can the Gronk get better in 2012/13? What a terrifying prospect.

3. Jake Long - LT – Miami Dolphins

When you can erase the opposition’s most damaging pass rusher game after game you have yourself a clear advantage on offence. Jake Long has been the most consistent player for a struggling Dolphins franchise for years now.

With a rookie QB Tannehill hoping to earn a starting spot sooner rather than later Long will play a huge part in how comfortable in the pocket he feels during those early games.

2. Darelle Revis – CB – New York Jets

Well we come to the man who has his own island. ‘Revis Island’ has been around in the NFL for 3 years now and there is still no sure way of escaping it. There is no way to describe how valuable Revis is to the Jet’s with the ability to literally lock down one half of the field. His coverage skills and eye for the ball are second-to-none.

Is Revis the best defensive player in the NFL?

1. Tom Brady – QB – New England Patriots

Wow! Are you surprised? Of course not. Brady has long been one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks and perhaps one of the best in history. Tom Terrific is still hungry for success and shows no signs of slowing down after throwing for a personnel record 5,321 yards in 2012.

Everyone except Patriots fans sure do hate Brady, but boy, do we all respect him.

Okay, I know we all won’t be happy with the list. So I want to hear your thoughts and views. Who got snubbed?

Welcome to our new series celebrating some of the best NFL fans in the world, Australian ones! First up, a cheesehead from that forgotten land known as Tasmania.

Firstly, who are you, what do you do, where do you live and who do you support?

My name is Tasman Stacey. I’m an MBA student and freelance business writer. I ]]>

Welcome to our new series celebrating some of the best NFL fans in the world, Australian ones! First up, a cheesehead from that forgotten land known as Tasmania.

Firstly, who are you, what do you do, where do you live and who do you support?

My name is Tasman Stacey. I’m an MBA student and freelance business writer. I live with my wife & 3 kids in Launceston, Tasmania. I support the Green Bay Packers.

How did you come to support that team?

When I started to get into NFL in a serious way a few years ago I picked them.

I love that they are team with some heritage. Their name, location and colours are old. They didn’t pick green & gold because that colour palette tested well in focus groups with key demographics. They didn’t move to Green Bay because it would allow them to dominate the local media markets. They didn’t run some dinky fan competition to pick the name.

So yeah, what’s not to love about a fan-owned team in a small town that still wins Superbowls? Also cheese.

Who is your favorite player currently on the roster?

Clay Matthews. Long hair don’t care.

Who is your all-time favorite player?

Not a player as such, but Vince Lombardi will always be my favourite Packer. “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

What was your best moment as a fan?

Watching GB win SB XLV at the NFLDU party in Melbourne was pretty awesome. I usually watch the game wrapped in a blanket on my couch with the volume down so I don’t wake the house, so being able to, you know, actually cheer was a nice touch.

How do you follow the sport as an Aussie?

Honestly my biggest involvement is through fantasy football. It is stupid how much time I put into my fantasy team. I check my yahoo team page more often than my FB account. Which is nuts. During regular season I try to watch at least one game a week, and I try to watch as many playoff games as I can. As I’m self-employed, I can take Monday mornings off usually without too much bother.

I love that NFL makes monday mornings the best part of the week. I love that fantasy makes every game interesting, even if GB aren’t playing.

Is there anything about the NFL you wish was in Australian sport?

Tailgating. Having a BBQ in the stadium carpark before/after the game seems like such an awesome thing to do.

Is there anything about Australian sport you wish was in the NFL?

I wish more/all NFL teams were owned through a similar structure to AFL teams. I hate that personalities like Dan Snyder, Jerry Jones & etc are so important to the administration of the game. It’s bullshit. Like, we have big personalities like Joe Gutnik and Eddy McG, but they are influential rather than dominant. No way could Jeff Kennet relocate the hawks to Tasmania without the support of Hawthorn members.

Which of your friends/family members have suffered the most due to your fandom?

Haha, my kids kind of hate that I dominate the TV for hours when a game is on. Every ad break they ask hopefully if they can play madden instead of watching ads. NO CHANCE KIDDOS.

Hey, at least they’re already Madden fans, that’s mighty fine parenting. Big thanks to Tasman for being the first in this new series!

Are you a huge Aussie NFL fan? Let us know!

We need more volunteers to showcase their fandom to the rest of Australia.

Have a love of the NFL you want to proclaim? Need to show off your excellent NFL swag?

Please, contact us here and let us know if you’d like to be our next Aussie Fan Spotlight. All you need to do is answer a few fun questions and send us a few pics of your awesome gear! Easy!

Help us show the world how much Australia truly loves the NFL!

The Cowboys and Redskins lost their claim that they did nothing wrong during the uncapped season of 2010, while the NFLPA is now taking action about new information that has come to light. There is also another performance enhancing drug suspension and more in This Week In The NFL.

Special ]]>

The Cowboys and Redskins lost their claim that they did nothing wrong during the uncapped season of 2010, while the NFLPA is now taking action about new information that has come to light. There is also another performance enhancing drug suspension and more in This Week In The NFL.

Arbitrator Denies Cowboys and Redskins Claim, NFLPA Files Suit

Special Master Stephen Burbank dismissed the salary cap grievance filed by the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins after each team was penalised $10 million and $36 million against their salary cap respectively for front loading contracts during the uncapped year.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Redskins owner Dan Snyder tried to argue that because the season was uncapped, there were no rules preventing them from front loading the contracts.

However, the NFLPA has now filed a lawsuit against the NFL, claiming the NFL and it’s owners colluded to create a  salary cap in the 2010 season, which was supposed to be an uncapped year as stated in the previous CBA. The NFLPA claims that on March 12 of this year it found out that the four teams penalised for their actions during the 2010 season, the Cowboys, Redskins, Saints and Raiders, had failed to abide by a secret $123 million cap.

The NFLPA may be unable to take any action due to the fact that in the new CBA it is stated that all litigations are settled, meaning they would be unable to take action about anything prior to the current CBA. The NFLPA is claiming that they only waived all claims that they knew existed.

 OT Allen Barbre Suspended Four Games While Others Seek Reduced Sentences

Seattle Seahawks Offensive Tackle Allen Barbre has been suspended for 4 games by the NFL for violating the league’s rules on performance enhancing drugs. 

Barbre may lose his spot on the Seahawks' roster due to his 4 game suspension.

Barbre, who was taken in the fourth round by the Packers in 2007, is one of 15 offensive lineman currently on the roster of the Seahawks, so this hit jeopardises his chances of securing a place on the 53-man roster, especially after only playing for 5 snaps last season.

In other suspension news, Texans punter Brett Hartmann who was ruled out for 4 games due to testing positive for performance enhancers, has had his suspension reduced by one game. Hartmann has said he was banned because he took Ritalin, a substance players are required to have approval for. Hartmann was taking Ritalin to treat ADD and he now has approval from the league to take it.

New York Giants RB Andre Brown, another player suspended for violating the performance enhancing drugs policy, has said he will appeal his suspension. Brown was suspended for taking Adderall, a drug used to treat ADHD. Adderall is another drug players are required to have permission from the league to use.

Johnny Knox May Miss Entire Season

The Chicago Bears WR may miss all of the 2012 season after suffering a serious back injury in December 2011. Knox was hit by Seahawks DE Anthony Hargrove as he went to ground trying to recover his own fumble. The hit caused his upper torso to bend backwards, causing a spinal injury.

Knox has said he is remaining optimistic about his chances the return this season, although he has conceded there is a possibility he wont be back until 2013. The loss of Knox thins out the depth a little of the Bears WR corps, which still boasts 3-time Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall and the dynamic return man Devin Hester, for whom the offence is reportedly more friendly towards.

Cowboys Keeping Jenkins

After trading up to get LSU standout CB Morris Claiborne, many suspected that the Dallas Cowboys would trade last years starting CB Mike Jenkins. But head coach Jason Garrett has said that the team will be keeping Jenkins and will have a large role with the team.

Jenkins will not be attending the Cowboys OTA’s in an effort to push for a trade to a team where he will start and possibly get a contract extension from. The former first-round pick is currently playing on the last year of his rookie contract, which is playing him $1.052 million in 2012. That low cap figure makes it all the more easier for the Cowboys to keep Jenkins for the remainder of his deal as a backup CB and just let him go at the end of the season. 

Despite suffering shoulder, neck and leg injuries, Jenkins still managed to play 12 games in season 2011 for the thin Cowboys secondary.

Hakeem Nicks Suffers Fractured Foot

@FauxJohnMadden reveals the truth behind Nicks' unfortunate injury.

New York Giants WR Hakeem Nicks has fractured his right foot fight during the second OTA of the offseason. Nicks injured his foot while running routes and will fly out to have surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina before the week is through.

Nicks had a breakout year last year, catching 76 passes for 1,192 yards and seven touchdowns, helping the Giants win their second Super Bowl in 5 years. He is expected to be out around 3 months.

The Giants also lost CB Brian Witherspoon during the week, when he re-injured the ACL which kept him out of the season last year.

Every year a few players surprise us with breakout performances, think Victor Cruz in 2011 or Peyton Hillis in 2010. Here’s who we think could find themselves putting up big numbers in the coming season from the NFC. One candidate for each ]]>

Every year a few players surprise us with breakout performances, think Victor Cruz in 2011 or Peyton Hillis in 2010. Here’s who we think could find themselves putting up big numbers in the coming season from the NFC. One candidate for each division, enjoy!

NFC North

Mikel Leshoure, RB, Detroit Lions

University of Illinois product Mikel Leshoure was drafted with the 57th pick in the 2011 draft by Detroit with the hopes of him becoming the ‘bell-cow’ running back for a franchise that has been tormented with injuries at the position.

But this recurring theme came to light yet again as Leshoure suffered a torn achilles in August of his rookie year, causing him to miss the entire pre and regular season.

While I generally have a rule of reserving hype for players returning from injuries (especially ones as serious as an achilles), Leshoure has a legitimate chance of breaking out due in most part to the Lions’ circumstance.

Detroit’s rushing attack ranked 29th in the league last year and as a result did not allow the offense to control the clock as it would have liked to.

This meant Detroit’s sieve-like defence was on the field more frequently as quarterback Matthew Stafford engaged in high-scoring shootouts just to give the team a chance to win. But this became their undoing as they succumbed to New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs.

Rushing the ball more is of critical importance to Detroit, as they know how lucky they were to get through such a pass-heavy season without Matthew Stafford sustaining an injury.

Playing the same type of football in 2012 would only increase the chances that the injury prone Stafford will once again find himself with the tracksuit and clipboard combination.

While Leshoure is returning from an achilles injury, it’s important to note that unlike other running backs on the Lions roster this was not of a chronic nature.

Leshoure may have the best chance of becoming the feature running back due to the nagging knee and ankle injuries to Kevin Smith as well the concussion-related issues surrounding Jahvid Best that ended his 2012 season, and may even prematurely end his career.

Throwing the football will still be priority No.1 in Detroit, but Leshoure could have a breakout season no so much statistically but due to what he offers the offence in terms of balance.

Projections: 908 yards rushing, 4 touchdowns, 300 yards receiving, 2 touchdowns

NFC South

Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Julio already had an outstanding rookie year. 2012 could be even better.

Usually I wouldn’t go with such a blatantly obvious choice (and some may argue that he already broke out in his rookie year).

The only reason I went with Julio over other possibilites is that I believe in 2012 we are going to witness something special.

Last season Atlanta went through an identity crisis of sorts – trading up to the sixth pick to acquire Jones and then sticking to the mantra of being a ‘ground n’ pound’ team with ageing running back Michael Turner.

With Turner enduring yet another 300 carry season and the league ever evolving with the passing game, this could well be the year when the Falcons take the training wheels off quarterback Matt Ryan and allow him to put the team on his back (hopefully as much as Greg Jennings. Excuse the unsavoury language – Editor Jim).

Like all rookies last year, Jones did without a rookie mini camp and as a result his receiver route tree greatly diminished, only truly relying on his speed and height to make receptions.

With a full year under his belt, a rehabilitated foot that hampered him throughout his rookie season, an expanded route tree and a more pass-oriented offense, there is no reason why Jones couldn’t quickly pass Roddy White as Matt Ryan’s favourite target.

With all these factors, combined with the freakish physical tools at his disposal, Julio Jones is poised for a breakout year of the highest caliber.

It may well border on the fringe of a ‘monster’ year once all is said and done.

Projections: 82 receptions, 1,512 yards, 13 touchdowns.

NFC East

Brandon Graham, DE, Philadelphia Eagles

A highly touted defensive end out of Michigan, Brandon Graham hasn’t been able to replicate his college dominance at the professional level so far.

Drafted 13th overall in 2010 as a long term book end to fellow defensive end Trent Cole, Graham played admirably in his rookie year learning via on-the-job experience before suffering a torn ACL in week 14.

This injury carried into his 2011 campaign as he was listed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list heading into the season and was unable to take part in the first six games. He was activated for only three games in total last season.

It was in part due to Graham’s injuries that the Eagles aggressively pursued proven pass rushers in free agency last year, landing Cullen Jenkins from Green Bay and Jason Babin from Tennessee.

These acquisitions allowed Philadelphia to have the No.1 ranked pass rush in the league with 50 sacks last season.

While it may seem there is little room for improvement in terms of the pass rush, this could work in favour of Graham as he will only be activated as a situational pass rusher.

This role in a defence cannot go understated, as was evident last year as San Francisco’s Aldon Smith racked up 14 sacks as a third down specialist.

Considering Philadelphia’s defensive line consists of Pro-Bowlers Trent Cole and Jason Babin, the run stuffing Cullen Jenkins, a returning Mike Patterson as well as incoming first round pick Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham should have no issue with double teams and will often be on the receiving end of some favourable match-ups.

Projections: 10.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 5 pass deflections

 NFC West

Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers 

It's now or never for Michael Crabtree.

It’s safe to say that Michael Crabtree has fallen well below expectations since entering the league in 2009.

From post-draft holdouts to nagging injuries and dropped passes, the only thing that has gone right for the wide receiver has been San Francisco’s defence (only because they took the focus away from him).

For the 49ers – who were only two lost fumbles away from a Super Bowl appearance last year – the pressure to perform at the same level will be immense. Especially for a former 10th overall pick.

Fortunately for Crabtree, the 49ers organisation spent the entire offseason adding offensive weapons with the signings of former Giant Mario Manningham, future hall of famer Randy Moss as well as drafting running back ‘home run’ threat LaMichael James out of Oregon.

Last season Crabtree was copping double coverage in passing situations due to the lack of any other threats at wide receiver. The additions of Moss and Manningham will allow him to exploit man coverage with his athleticism and yards after catch ability.

The difference between last year’s 49ers offense and now is that opposition teams will have to respect the deep ball with Randy Moss on the team. This should allow more space for the short to intermediate passing game, a perfect opportunity for Crabtree to make use of his strong frame.

It may not be as monstrous as my projected Julio Jones year, but Crabtree should comfortably affirm his spot as the No.1 receiver on the team and become a go-to target especially on third downs

Projections: 75 receptions, 1,090 yards, 9 touchdowns

What do you think? Who are your breakout candidates for the 2012/13 season? Let us know!

I cannot imagine how Terrell Suggs and Jason Peters feel right now. To have an entire season cut short before they even came to camp must be devastating. Unfortunately, insults are now being added to literal injuries and an ]]>

I cannot imagine how Terrell Suggs and Jason Peters feel right now. To have an entire season cut short before they even came to camp must be devastating. Unfortunately, insults are now being added to literal injuries and an odd question is raised: to what extent does an NFL franchise have the right to tell a player how he should relax, play and train during the offseason?

The answer is, at first, obvious. It’s the offseason, their bodies are their own, let them play. But when you factor in the multi-million dollar contracts, extremely short seasons and huge pressure to perform in the NF,L the issue becomes extremely cloudy.

Take Terrell Suggs, arguably one of the best linebackers in the league. He partially tore his Achilles tendon while taking part in his own offseason workouts. At first it was reported he was playing basketball when he suffered the injury. Cue the uproar.

The internet kneejerk brigade mobilised in full force and immediately began pointing at Suggs ‘stupidity’, saying he shouldn’t have been playing ball in the first place and deserves what he got. Wait, what?

When did players lose the right to work, rest and play how they like during the offseason?

Was it when Carolina’s Steve Smith injured himself playing flag football with friends in 2010? Actually, he’d been playing in that league his entire life, no problems until then, a great way to stay in shape. A freak accident.

Listen, when a player turns up to camp, and for the rest of the season, sure, his team owns his body and his mind. And sure, it is his responsibility is to turn up to camp healthy. But how they stay fit should be their decision. If a player wants to keep in shape by shooting some hoops or catching some wobbly passes from his buddy, then cool (actually Smith played DB in the flag league). These players were not injured because they played a sport other than American Football, they were injured because they were unlucky.

As it turns out, Suggs wasn’t even playing playing basketball. Instead he was working out when he suffered his injury. Exactly what every other player in the NFL was doing at that time. Whoops.

The Ravens, thankfully, are most likely not going to reduce Suggs’ salary because of the “non-football injury” even though it’s supposedly in their right. Good, he may even be able to return mid-season if he heals quickly.

Players are always going to be injured during the offseason, sometimes due to non-football related activities. They deserve the chance to have some fun after the physical and emotional ride of the NFL season. Sometime that has tragic results for the rest of the season but as Suggs and Peters have shown us, injuries can occur even when you are doing the right thing (in Peters’ case it happened twice in two months).

So can’t we all just give the players a break?

Unless you are Chad Johnson (Ochocinco), then pretty much anything you do during the offseason  is probably ill-advised. Seriously, Chad, stop.

Oh, and it would be pretty classless of the Eagles if they reduced Peters’ salary because he tore his Achilles not once but twice this offseason. Just saying.

In what is perhaps the most competitive, talented and supported division in football it’s time to find out who is the real ‘Beast of the East’.  Who are the best players in this storied division?

Unfortunately there will be some disappointed fans out there, narrowing a division from 212 players to 5 sure isn’t easy. But because we ]]>

In what is perhaps the most competitive, talented and supported division in football it’s time to find out who is the real ‘Beast of the East’.  Who are the best players in this storied division?

Unfortunately there will be some disappointed fans out there, narrowing a division from 212 players to 5 sure isn’t easy. But because we here at NFLDU are fearless (or stupid! – Editor Dom), we will do just that.

But first let’s look at those players who could feel hard done by.

Honorable Mentions.

• Brian Orakpo
• Victor Cruz
• Hakeem Nicks
• London Fletcher
• Michael Vick
• Justin Tuck
• LeSean McCoy

The Top 5 Players in the NFC East

5. Jason Witten – TE – Dallas Cowboys

Jason Witten is the rock that every team needs. He can always be relied upon to produce at a high level and has for years. Witten is not only a rock solid force in the passing game but also an able blocker in the run game and has hovered around the 950 yards per season mark his entire career.

Without a doubt Jason Witten is the most consistent tight end in the NFL.

4. Jason Peters – OT – Philadelphia Eagles

Jason Peters elevated his game last season along with LeSean McCoy – who is brutally unlucky not to make this list. Unluckily for Eagles fans, Peters has recently ruptured his Achilles tendon (again!) while training. When healthy, Peters is regarded as one of the best LTs in the league.

At the age of 30 we should all be hoping this terrific football player can make a swift recovery.

3. Eli Manning – QB – New York Giants

Eli Manning easily makes this list following a dramatic 2011/12 campaign, ending in a terrific playoff series and the record for 6th most passing yards in a season by a quarterback. The ‘coming’ of Eli holds the Giants in good sted and with the additions of David Wilson and Reuben Randle, Eli comes into 2012 with an even better offense. After a rocky offseason Eli truly came into his own in the 2011/12 season.

Eli Manning is easily the Giants most indispensible talent.

2. Jason Pierre-Paul – DE – New York Giants

Jason Pierre-Paul shocked the NFL world last season and produced 16.5 sacks and a team high 82 tackles. Not only great in the pass rush JPP can stop the run too. The Giants have made their defensive line one of the most dangerous in the league and JPP is a big reason for that.

Pierre-Paul is poised to take over the #1 on this list very soon.

1. DeMarcus Ware – OLB – Dallas Cowboys

Ware is a superhuman quarterback-wrecking machine. 19.5 sacks was the total for Ware in 2011/12 season and he shows no signs of slowing  up. He can take double and even triple teams with ease. Because of his consistent elite-level production Ware is easily the best player in the NFC East.

In fact, Ware could be the best rusher in the NFL.

Okay, I know we all won’t be happy with the list. So I want to hear your thoughts and views. Who got snubbed?

Editor’s note: While I wish there were Redskins on this list it’s hard to beat those five players. I would consider London Fletcher for the 6th spot (if there were one). 

In the second installment of our draft reviews we’ll take a look at some of the key picks made in the NFC East.

As expected the Redskins drafted Robert Griffin III ]]>

In the second installment of our draft reviews we’ll take a look at some of the key picks made in the NFC East.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

As expected the Redskins drafted Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick of the 2012 draft. Much like the Colts taking Andrew Luck first overall, this pick was a no-brainer for Washington. The Redskins gave up a tonne to move into the No.2 position but look to have locked up their franchise quarterback. Griffin has a strong arm, throws accurately and his blazing speed makes him a threat in both the rushing and passing game. But Griffin is no glorified running back. He is a pass-first quarterback that should come in and make an instant impact for the Redskins.

In the third round, Washington moved to protect their newly-acquired asset by drafting guard Josh LeRibeus out of Southern Methodist. LeRibeus had a turbulent collegiate tenure to say the least. He was dropped to the practice squad for academic reasons and having his fitness and dedication questioned by the team, but he fought his way back into the team and has shown that he has the physical strength and drive to be a starting guard in the NFL. Look for him to excel in pass protection.

The Redskins fourth round pick had me scratching my head. By drafting Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins, Washington added a safety net for RG3. In all honesty I can’t see the value here. While I’m pretty sure no Redskins supporters want a return to the days of Rex Grossman as the starter, he does provide a proven veteran backup for RGIII that can come in and play straight away if required. They may have drafted Cousins here in an attempt to train him up and use him for trading fodder down the track, but with so many other current needs, this selection doesn’t make sense to me.

Texas outside linebacker Keenan Robinson was the first defensive player drafted by the Redskins. He comes into the league with plenty of upside but will need to improve his tackling and instincts. Robinson’s biggest strength is his speed which allows him to cover ground when playing zone and makes him a danger when blitzing. With coaching, Robinson should become an effective player for the ‘Skins.

Washington went back to addressing the offence with their fifth pick, Iowa guard Adam Gettis. The major criticism of Gettis coming out of college is that he is undersized in comparison to existing NFL guards although he does have great footwork and speed off the ball which helps hide his size deficiencies.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Eagles’ defensive line was awful last season and they set out to address this problem with their first draft pick, Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. The Eagles traded up to land Cox and they got themselves a run stuffer with great strength and quickness who should prove to be a handful for any offensive linemen. Cox should provide the push up the middle the defence so sorely missed last year which will reduce the need to use the secondary and linebackers to apply pressure on the quarterback. This isn’t a fancy, headline pick by Philadelphia, but it is a great pick.

Mychal Kendricks could be the Eagles' best pick of the draft.

Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks looks to be an interesting player moving forward for the Eagles. He is incredibly athletic and quick for a man his size (he ran a 4.47 40 at the combine) and is effective against the run and pass. He is smaller than a prototypical inside linebacker but with the physical tools he possesses it will be hard to keep him off the field this season.

The Philadelphia defensive front is starting to take shape with their first three picks. The pass rush continued to be bolstered with the Eagles’ second round pick being spent on Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry. Curry is a quick, disruptive force against the pass who is also a solid run defender. He will find it difficult to supplant the current Eagles starters of Jason Babin and Trent Cole and will likely be used in rotation with this pair but is nonetheless an exciting addition to the group.

In 2012, many believed Philadelphia would draft a backup quarterback for Micheal Vick that they could groom into a future starter ala Kevin Kolb. They did just that in round three when they selected Arizona quarterback Nick Foles. He has a great arm and has shown good accuracy, albeit in a spread system that was focused on short, quick throws. Expect him to come on in leaps and bounds under quarterback guru Andy Reid.

Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin will add depth to a position left a little thin after Asante Samuel was traded earlier in the offseason. Boykin does have some injury concerns coming out of college after suffering two concussions but with his elite straight-line speed and his above average kick return abilities he was obviously too good for the Eagles to overlook.

NEW YORK GIANTS

New York had several needs coming into the draft which left many unsure which position they would address with the 32^ndpick. The Giants surprised many when they ended up drafting Virginia Tech running back David Wilson. Running back was a position of need after Brandon Jacobs was released during the offseason but few thought they would address it in the first round.  The odd thing about this pick is that with Wilson’s speed and agility he is very different to Jacobs and more in the mould of existing running back Ahmad Bradshaw. How Bradshaw and Wilson will complement each other this year is unclear, but what is clear is Wilson’s tremendous upside. The Giants look to have found their running back of the future.

The Giants were delighted that Randle fell to them late in the 2nd round.

After Mario Manningham left for the 49ers in free agency, New York decided to remedy his loss by taking LSU wide receiver Rueben Randle in the second round. Randle is a big, physical player who will be a solid possession receiver who will produce yards after the catch for the Giants and be a presence in the run game with his blocking. Randle provides depth to an already intimidating receiving corps that will be among the league’s best once again this season.

Round three of the draft saw the Giants make another surprising move when they took another Virginia Tech player, cornerback Jayron Hosley. Coming in to the draft New York seemed stacked at cornerback and it wasn’t viewed as a pressing position of need, but the Giants still deemed Hosley worthy of a third rounder. He is a poor open field tackler but shows good speed and positional play, and could be used for punt returns if needed. Hosley looks like a nice pickup for New York but I would’ve liked to have seen them address other needs here.

The Giants addressed a massive need in the fourth round by drafting Cincinnati tight end Adrien Robinson. Robinson has the physical tools to be a successful tight end and shows good blocking skills. He just needs to put some polish to his game to take the next step.

DALLAS COWBOYS

It didn’t take long for the Dallas Cowboys to make an impact on the opening day of the draft. The Cowboys traded the 14^thoverall pick and their second round pick for the sixth overall. With it they selected the highest rated cornerback in the draft, LSU’s Morris Claiborne. Dallas made an aggressive move and it will pay dividends for them immediately. Claiborne can be inserted into the line-up from week one and coupled with free agent addition Brandon Carr, the pair form a formidable secondary duo that will make the Cowboys very hard to throw against.

Claiborne is the final part of what has been a huge overhaul for the Cowboys' secondary this offseason.

Defence was again on the mind of the Cowboys when they drafted Boise State defensive end Tyrone Crawford in the third round. Crawford only had a single year as a starter in college which is reflected in his somewhat small repertoire of rush moves, but he is a maximum effort guy with a high work ethic that should allow him to be trained up and become a regular contributor for Dallas this season.

The Cowboys’ defence continues to get stronger with the addition of Kyle Wilber. The Wake Forest outside linebacker shapes to be another pass rushing weapon for Rob Ryan to use. Wilber has long arms, quick footwork and good speed but will need to work on his strength if he is to really worry NFL calibre linemen. There are also some concerns for Wilber against the run but he shapes as a good prospect moving forward.

Safety was finally addressed by the Cowboys in the fourth round with Dallas drafting Matt Johnson out of Eastern Washington. Johnson is an aggressive run stopper but doesn’t have top end speed and is poor at changing direction quickly. I’m not sure whether Johnson is going to solve the Cowboys’ problems at safety and I would’ve liked to seen them draft a safety earlier.

Virginia Tech wide receiver Danny Coale looks to be in contention for the slot receiver role this season. He won’t be challenging Dez Bryant or Miles Austin for a starting spot but his speed and strong route running could see him get some solid game time this year.

Overall I think the NFC East had a great three days and all teams will take improvement out of the draft. Let me know who you think had the best draft and why or the picks you liked/disliked. I look forward to your comments.

While it appears the New Orleans Saints can’t catch a break, some injured players might also cop a financial hit. Also, another team has taken their name out of the running for the latest edition of Hard Knocks in This Week In The NFL.