In his NFC East blog, ESPN.com's Matt Mosley served up his early bird power rankings and win predictions within the division. And if you're thinking that the Redskins, following the trade for Donovan McNabb, suddenly jumped from worst to first, think again.
However, at this point, he believes the Kevin Kolb-led Eagles will finish third in the division with 9 wins, followed by the Redskins with 8. Mosley ranks the Cowboys at the top of the standings with 12 wins, followed by the Giants with 10 victories.
While Mosley reserves the right to completely change his mind following the draft, here is his post-Easter, pre-draft analysis of the Eagles:
"First of all, I think Kevin Kolb is going to win a lot of games with the Eagles. But there will be bumps along the way. No one really knows how he'll look as the full-time starter, but he's shown signs he can get the job done. I think he'll immediately be a more accurate passer than McNabb, but I also know that opposing defensive coordinators will go to great lengths to confuse him in coverage.
"Kolb will reach out to fellow Texan Drew Brees this off-season for advice on dealing with all the adversity he's sure to face. I think that's an excellent move. The Eagles will surround Kolb with some potent weapons at receiver and tight end. But what Andy Reid truly needs to do is commit to the running game. That will help an inexperienced quarterback more than anything. Will Reid do that? I have my doubts.
"The Eagles need to add more depth in the secondary during the draft. You can't depend on Marlin Jackson, owner of two surgically repaired knees, to be the answer. I think the Eagles have to draft a safety and a cornerback in the early rounds. Of course, that No. 37 pick should really help. If someone like South Florida safety Nate Allen begins to slip a little bit, the Eagles should be ready to take him.
"I think defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will be much more comfortable in his second season. But with the Redskins becoming more of a force and the Giants likely bouncing back, finding 10 wins will be tough. Kolb will one day lead this team on a deep playoff run. But that won't happen in 2010."
-- Posted by Bob Kent, 9:10 a.m., April 10
