NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: Surprisingly enough Jerry Jones made no changes at the helm after the Cowboys stumbled again in the NFC Playoffs. It just may be that there was no one in the open market available to fill the shoes of Wade Phillips after the Skins had made their move on Mike Shanahan. I think it was an intelligent move to maintain Phillips as the head coach, as the team is really starting to come together with all the right pieces. This season will be the Playoff success they truly need to put themselves in the top 2 of the NFC once again.
The biggest and only noticeable move was the addition of former Dolphin Defensive Coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, who we discussed at length last week. Pasqualoni comes back to Dallas in which he was instrumental in the development of Jason Witten. He has also served as linebackers coach in the Dallas organization. Pasqualoni replaces, in an imbalanced trade off, Todd Grantham who is headed off to the SEC Georgia Bulldogs as their DC. Grantham had previously coordinated the defense in Cleveland and coached Cowboy Jay Ratliff into two Pro Bowls.
New York Giants: For Tom Coughlin, there was a perceived need of change at the Defensive Coordinator spot, but the reality is their offense struggled last season and unfortunately for Bill Sheridan he became the focal point for the offseason changes. He exited to the Miami Dolphins Linebacking Crew, as mentioned last week in our discussion and was replaced by Interim Buffalo Head Coach and newly named Defensive Coordinator of the NY Giants Perry Fewell. Fewell has roots with Lovie Smith and the famous Tampa 2.
In regards to defense the Giants had little movement most notably; Robert Nunn comes into coach the line while Mike Waufle exited to the Raider Staff. Conversely the offensive side saw the addition of Asst. O-Line coach J Bicknell Jr. from the Boston College tenure and previous head coach of the La Tech squad. Bicknell replaces Dave DeGuglielmo who bolted to Miami as their primary O-Line coach. Outside of those changes life in New York is pretty much the same.
Philadelphia Eagles: Well Andy Reid, who isn't afraid to move a player or two around, and GM Howie Roseman have been pretty quiet regards to moves in the organization. In fact they made the least moves of all promoting a few assistants and the highest profile name on the list was bringing in ex-Buffalo Head Coach Dick Jauron as a Senior Asst. DB coach. Eagles do need some defensive assistance in the secondary, but what they really needed most was player personnel improvement and they'll get some of that from Senior Jauron.
Washington Redskins: So we save the best and biggest for last. Everyone who isn't fighting a war overseas knows that Mike Shanahan was quickly installed as the 28th Head Coach right after the end of the regular season. Arguably one of the most notorious coaches in the free market at the time, lands in the Capital City. Of course the staff has been swept clean and he has brought in some of the folks as we would expect to occur in a major house cleaning event. His son and prior OC here in Houston Kyle Shanahan, will quickly be addressing the needed changes and it didn't take them long with McNabb. Add to the list Bobby Turner Assistant HC and ex-Bronco RB's coach from ('95-'09), Keenan McCardell will handle Receiving duties who's only coaching experience was had in the East West Shrine game, but has a relationship with Kyle from here in Houston.
Additionally on the offensive side Jon Embree (TE's), Chris Foerster (OL) prior OC for Miami under Norv Turner, he departs San Fran's staff. On the Defensive side big name DC Jim Haslett prior Saints and Rams HC long defense mind with a past in the Linebacking area of the Raiders, Saints and DC in Pitt. DL- Jacob Burney prior Bronco assistant, LB's- Lou Spanos former veteran Pitt LB coach with heavy ties to the U of Tulsa football program, DB's Bob Slowik veteran league coach of various successful defenses and former DC. What to expect out of these changes well D McNabb is no Matt Schaub at this point in his career, but I think the Redskins will reestablish the strong OL, tough running and successful Defense built around a monster Linebacking group. No reason the folks in Washington can't be ecstatic about this needed change.