DALLAS COWBOYS
Last year's record: 5-11
Head coach: Dave Campo (3rd year with Cowboys, 10-22 career record)
Offensive starters: QB - Quincy Carter (6-2, 230, starting second year), RB- Emmitt Smith (5-9, 215, 13), FB- Robert Thomas (6-1, 273, 4), WR- Joey Galloway (5-11, 198, 8), Raghib Ismail (5-11, 183, 10), TE- Tony McGee (6-4, 250, 10), LT- Flozell Adams (6-7, 335, 5), LG- Larry Allen (6-3, 326, 9), C- Andre Gurode (6-4, 315, R), RG- Kelvin Garmon (6-2, 330, 3), RT- Solomon Page (6-5, 321, 4).
Key offensive reserves: QB Chad Hutchinson (6-5, 230, R), RB Troy Hambrick (6-1, 255, 2), WR Antonio Bryant (6-1, 185, R), WR Ken-Yon Rambo (6-1, 195, 2), C-G Matt Lehr (6-2, 292, 2).
Offensive strength: The offensive line returns four starters, including All-Pro Allen, which should get Smith the career rushing title (passing Walter Payton) six-to-seven games into the season.
Offensive weakness: Quarterback position might take a step back this year as last year's starter Carter is going to have to look over his shoulder at Hutchinson. Fans who accepted Carter's mistakes last year are going to want Hutchinson to take over. Whoever can use weapons Galloway and Ismail will win the job.
Defensive starters: DE- Greg Ellis (6-6, 275, 4), Peppi Zellner (6-5, 262, 4). DT- La'Roi Glover (6-2, 285, 6), Brandon Noble (6-2, 305, 4). OLB- Kevin Hardy (6-4, 250, 7), Dexter Coakley (5-10, 230, 6). MLB- Dat Nguyen (5-11, 240, 4). CB- Bryant Westbrook (6-0, 198, 6), Mario Edwards (6-0, 190, 3). S- Darren Woodson (6-1, 220, 11), Roy Williams (6-1, 220, R).
Key defensive reserves: DE Ebenezer Ekuban (6-3, 282, 4), DT Michael Myers (6-2, 292, 5), LB Markus Steele (6-3, 240, 2), CB Derek Ross (5-10, 195, R).
Defensive strength: With All-Pros Coakley and Hardy and tackling machine Nguyen, the linebackers are the strength of what could be one of the top five defenses in the NFL.
Defensive weakness: Westbrook is coming off a major injury and Edwards has been inconsistent over his first two seasons.
Crystal ball: As long as the Cowboys keep the scores low and the offense hangs onto the ball, they can win. Carter will either take a big step forward or a big step back and that will spell the difference between 7-9 and playoffs.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Last year's record: 7-9
Head coach: Jim Fassel (6th year with Giants, 46-37-1 career record)
Offensive starters: QB - Kerry Collins (6-5, 245, 8), RB- Tiki Barber (5-11, 200, 6), HB- Dan Campbell (6-5, 260), WR- Amani Toomer (6-3, 208, 7), Ike Hilliard (5-11, 195, 6). TE- Jeremy Shockey (6-5, 252, R), LT- Chris Bober (6-5, 305, 3), LG- Rich Seubert (6-5, 295, 2), C- Dusty Ziegler (6-5, 305, 7), RG- Jason Whittle (6-4, 305, 4), RT- Luke Petitgout (6-6, 310, 4).
Offensive strength: The Giants have very good talent at skills positions in Collins, Barber, Toomer, Hilliard and first-round pick Shockey. And after a couple of disappointing seasons, Ron Dayne could finally show why he was a first-round pick.
Offensive weakness: Unfortunately for the skill position players, the line has lost a ton of experience. Management is under the illusion that three undrafted players with a combined two NFL starts are going to be just fine.
Defensive starters: DE- Michael Strahan (6-5, 275, 10), Kenny Holmes (6-4, 270, 6). DT- Keith Hamilton (6-6, 295, 11), Cornelius Griffin (6-3, 300, 3). OLB- Brandon Short (6-3, 255, 3), Dhani Jones (6-1, 240, 3). MLB- Michael Barrow (6-2, 240, 9). CB- Jason Sehorn (6-2, 215, 9), Will Allen (5-11, 190, 2). S- Shaun Williams (6-2, 215, 5), Omar Stoutmire (5-11, 198, 6).
Defensive strength: Defensive line, led by the NFL's greatest single-season sacker Strahan, is the strength of the team. But there is no depth behind Strahan, Holmes, Hamilton and Griffin.
Defensive weakness: The secondary could be great, but with Stoutmire at the playmaking free safety position it will be very average. The Giants would be wise to move Sehorn to free safety (he played there in college) and move Will Peterson into the starting lineup.
Crystal ball: This team has been gutted by free agency. There is no depth and the offensive line is going to leave Collins looking out of his ear hole.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Last year's record: 11-5 (2-1 in playoffs)
Head coach: Andy Reid (4th year with Eagles, 30-23 career record)
Offensive starters: QB - Donovan McNabb (6-2, 225, 4), RB- Duce Staley (5-11, 220, 6), FB- Cecil Martin (6-0, 235, 4), WR- James Thrash (6-0, 200, 6), Freddie Mitchell (5-11, 185, 2). TE- Chad Lewis (6-6, 252, 5). LT- Tra Thomas (6-7, 349, 5), LG- Jermane Mayberry (6-4, 325, 7), C- Hank Fraley (6-2, 300, 3). RG- John Welbourn (6-5, 318, 4), RT- Jon Runyan (6-7, 330, 7).
Offensive strength: McNabb can make things happen and plays smart. If Mitchell becomes the kind of receiver the Eagles thought they were getting when they picked him in the first round last year, McNabb will be even more dangerous.
Offensive weakness: Staley hasn't been the same runner since injuring his foot in 2000. He is needed only to close out games as McNabb can carry the rushing game as well as the passing game.
Defensive starters: DE- Hugh Douglas (6-2, 280, 8), Brandon Whiting (6-3, 285, 5). DT- Corey Simon (6-2, 293, 3), DT- Darwin_Walker (6-3, 294, 3). OLB- Carlos Emmons (6-5, 250, 7), Shawn Barber (6-2, 237, 5). MLB- Barry Gardner (6-0, 248, 4). CB- Troy Vincent (6-1, 200, 11), Bobby Taylor (6-3, 216, 8). S- Brian Dawkins (5-11, 200, 7), Blaine Bishop (5-9, 203, 10).
Defensive strength: Even with All-Pro corners Vincent and Taylor, All-Pro safeties Bishop and Dawkins, the Eagles spent their first three picks on DBs to make this the most talented and deepest secondary in the NFL.
Defensive weakness: Losing middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter weakens the NFL 18th-ranked run defense. Gardner, who started at outside linebacker two years ago but sat the bench last year, will have to play strong.
Crystal ball: This is a Super Bowl-contender who has loaded up to stop the Rams' passing game, but it was Marshall Faulk who ran through them for 159 yards in last year's NFC Championship Game. They need a big year from Gardner, Simon, Staley and Mitchell to make it to San Diego.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Last year's record: 8-8
Head coach: Steve Spurrier (1st year with Redskins)
Offensive starters: QB - Shane Matthews (6-3, 196, 9), RB- Stephen Davis (6-0, 235, 7), WR- Rod Gardner (6-2, 218, 2), Jacquez Green (5-9, 170, 4), Reidel Anthony (5-11, 180, 5). TE- Walter Rasby (6-3, 256, 9). LT- Chris Samuel (6-5, 305, 3), LG- David Loverne (6-3, 300, 4), C- Larry Moore (6-2, 296, 5), RG- Rod Jones (6-5, 335, 7), RT- Jon Jansen (6-6, 311, 4).
Offensive strength: Spurrier has been an offensive genius at whatever level - he even took Duke to a bowl game. But what does he do with a team that's built for running the ball?
Offensive weakness: He may have won at Florida with Matthews and Wuerffel, but Spurrier needs to realize that they are not NFL starters anywhere else.
Defensive starters: DE- Bruce Smith (6-4, 261, 18), Renaldo Wynn (6-3, 280, 6). DT- Dan Wilkinson (6-4, 325, 9), Daryl Gardner (6-6, 310, 6). OLB- LaVar Arrington (6-3, 246, 3), Jessie Armstead (6-1, 240, 10). MLB- Jeremiah Trotter (6-1, 261, 5), CB- Champ Bailey (6-0, 188, 4), Fred Smoot (5-11, 172, 2). S- Sam Shade (6-0, 205, 8), David Terrell (6-0, 187, 3).
Defensive strength: Arrington is developing into the second coming of Lawrence Taylor. Add All-Pro free agents Armstead and Trotter and you have the best threesome of linebackers in the NFL.
Defensive weakness: Safeties Shade and Terrell are serviceable, but will not make game-changing plays.
Crystal ball: With a stout defense and a solid running game, Spurrier can play a different game than he is used to and sneak into the playoffs. Or he can force his will, throw the ball all over the place and not make the playoffs.
- John Allen
