Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduces offensive tackle Lane Johnson (Oklahoma) as the fourth overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles:

Many expected Philadelphia to select either Dion Jordan or Geno Smith at the four spot. Jordan was off the board thanks to a Miami Dolphins trade with the Raiders. The Eagles wisely chose to bypass Smith, who remains available in round two. Philly ends up with Lane Johnson, an offensive tackle from Oklahoma. While not the most polished lineman in the draft, Johnson fits perfectly into the new system implemented by Chip Kelly. Bob Stoops ran a similar hurry-up spread attack at Oklahoma in which the offense routinely ran 70 to 80 plays from scrimmage. Johnson is also one of the quickest linemen in the draft, running a combine-best 1.61 10 yard split. Philadelphia improves greatly on the offensive line, and more importantly, did not overdraft for a franchise quarterback. Geno Smith and Ryan Nassib are both available if that’s the direction Kelly wants to go.

Cowboys:

Dallas was unfortunate during day one, as players coveted by the coaching staff were taken from the board before the Cowboys were able to select at 19. Reports indicate that the Cowboys were hoping one of the elite linemen- D.J. Fluker or Chance Warmack- would be available for their selection. With no player exciting enough for Jerry Jones available, Dallas opted to swap first-round picks with the 49ers in exchange for an additional third round selection. It was a logical move for the Cowboys, who needed additional selections and now have three in the third round. However,the Cowboys were hoping for a different result.

With the 31st overall selection, Dallas drafted Travis Frederick, a center from Wisconsin. At 312 pounds, Frederick will be a mainstay on the Cowboys offensive line for years to come. Football evaluators frequently reference his “high football IQ” as one of his best attributes. He also addresses a serious need for the Cowboys, as the team was beset by injuries along the line a season ago. There is still the general consensus that he was “overdrafted”, as many mocks had him going in the late second or third rounds. Of the three NFC East teams who had selections in the first round, Dallas had the least impressive showing.

Giants:

New York kept its position in the first round and selected offensive tackle Justin Pugh from Syracuse with the nineteenth overall pick. The Giants have an aging line protecting Eli Manning, and Pugh figures to start immediately at either tackle or guard. He was one of the best pass protectors available in the draft and was responsible for the emergence of Ryan Nassib this past season. His only shortcoming appears to be his shorter than average arm length. Still, General Manager Jerry Reese insisted he got the best available player on his board. Pugh’s presence figures to improve the Giants’ passing game, which has served as a formidable foe to the Redskins’ secondary in recent years.

Post your comments on NFC East selections below, and stay tuned for continuing draft coverage on Day 2 and 3.

New York Giants owner John Mara is one of the main reason penalties were given to in-division rivals Dallas and Washington. Coincidence or conspiracy?. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

On Tuesday, the NFL owners voted to unanimously uphold the harsh penalties imposed the Redskins and Cowboys for “violations” that weren’t even violations. During the 2010 off-season, an uncapped year, the two teams are accused of “front-loading” their expensive contracts into that year. In other (more…)

Image provided by Google Images

After losing in the final minutes of Week 3, Washington looks to pull the upset as they host the Cowboys. Here are the key area’s the Redskins must excel in, in order to get the win:

1)      Protect Grossman: The Redskins quarterback received a lot of criticism after being benched in Week 5 against the Eagles, due to his weakness with turnovers. Although he looked decent last week, he was rushed a lot and forced to make bad throws. If the offensive line can hold off some of the most brutal linebackers in the league, Grossman will have the opportunity to make accurate throws, and more importantly, touchdowns.

2)      Get the run game going early: Ranked dead last in the league in rush yards with 86.7, the running back system has been out of form since lead rusher Tim Hightower was lost to injury. In order to make this a close game, Roy Helu and Ryan Torain will have to step up and make plays.

3)      Catch the ball: Something the Redskins have been lacking at is catching the ball. Sure, the receivers on this team are young and learning the system, but they need to learn quicker. Veteran Donte’ Stallworth was re-signed this week and looks to lend a hand, along with David Anderson and Jabar Gaffney. Also, after a quiet game against the Dolphins, team leader in receiving yards Fred Davis will look to rebound with a strong, difference making game.

4)      Keep Murray contained: Cowboys rookie star DeMarco Murray has been a big help this season, rushing for nearly 700 yards on 100 carries. Week by week, he has shredded opponents, shaking defense’s out of their shoes. The Redskins need to chalk up some defensive schemes on how the will contain him and limit the run game. The strong defensive ends Stephan Bowen and Adam Carriker will look to keep him from running wide, and the linebackers will try to clog up the middle.

5)      Hit Romo: Hobbled by injuries in Week 3, the Redskins had every opportunity to make Cowboys QB Tony Romo feel the pain, yet they failed, barley laying a hand on him. The Washington defense will have to put pressure on Romo early and hit him hard, even if the first one draws the flag. If they can efficiently hurry and trap Romo, he will be forced to throw a bad pass (a good thing), or take a big hit (a great thing).

One more for good luck: Maybe the biggest factor in the game is Kyle Shanahan. He will need to be smart and call what is best for the team in the long run, not just at the moment. If Helu runs wild, let him run wild. If the pass game gets going, trust the receiver’s and take advantage of it. If not, someone else on the coaching staff may be calling plays the rest of the season.