WAR ROOM STRATEGIC PLANS OF THE NFC EAST TEAMS
By: Dave-Te' Thomas

ARIZONA CARDINALS

In any other draft, a team owing the second overall pick would be swamped by phone calls from potential NFL suitors by now, but the Cardinals have not received any calls that would entice them to trade that pick. Most teams view this as a deep draft devoid of blue chippers and feel that whatever is available at #2 is equal to what may be available at #10. Despite crying needs on the defensive line, do not be surprised if the team opts to take an offensive lineman, Texas' LEONARD DAVIS in the first round. With Anthony Clements due to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2001 season, most Cardinal brass feel that Davis would be the mammoth tackle they would want to team with left tackle Lonnie Shelton for the next decade.

Logic says that the Cards need help on the defensive line, but after being burned twice with Simeon Rice and Andre Wadsworth, they seem hesitant to grab a player like Missouri defensive end JUSTIN SMITH, even though other teams are clamoring for the pass rusher's services (Green Bay, St. Louis, Atlanta). Coach Dave McGinnis is either a great poker player or that look on his face tells you he is less-than-thrilled by the recent work- outs of Florida defensive tackle GERARD WARREN, regarded as the best interior lineman in the draft.

With eight total picks (an extra seventh), the team will make the defensive line and offensive line their primary attention, but they will still look for a quality tight end an outside linebacker help during the draft's first day. Cornerback should become a need area, as the team is convinced that All Pro Aeneas Williams will bolt to the Rams (first round pick and tight end Roland Williams). Second day draft attention will be focused on the safety slots, along with adding more depth to a depleted offensive line and linebacking unit.

IF I WAS THEIR GM... I would look to trade down. If I can entice St. Louis to toss in both number ones and a mid-round pick, I would have to look at quantity to fill more holes than a high-priced quality pick at #2 to fill one need. Green Bay is another possibility at #10, but the Pack would have to fork over all three of their third rounders in order to make that deal work. If no trade is realized, I'd shock everyone by grabbing Michigan wide receiver DAVID TERRELL to team with David Boston as my receiving corps of the future, as I am not sold on Justin Smith and feel that Gerard Warren looms as a long holdout. In the second round, I'd hope that Arizona State tight end TODD HEAP is still around. If not, I'd look at North Carolina's Alge Crumpler or see what offensive lineman, possibly Nebraska center DOMINIC RAIOLA, is still left. With Mike Gruttadauria coming off neck surgery, I have to hedge my bets in the middle, if the former Ram can not return to form. If Aeneas Williams leaves, it is a no brainer in what I'd do in round two - cornerback WILLIE MIDDLEBROOKS becomes my man. I would then go offensive line in the third, looking at Notre Dame's MIKE GANDY or Washington's CHAD WARD to play guard opposite newly signed Pete Kendall.

DALLAS COWBOYS
Having continued their roster purge, this once-proud franchise will continue to be strangled by poor salary cap decisions for years to come. With Tony Banks signed at quarterback, Dave Campo should be on the unemployment line after the 2001 season. Having traded away their first round pick in the Joey Galloway disaster, the Pokes will go the "best available athlete" route that they made so famous, but in doing so, they will look to improve on the defensive side of the ball first. A smash-mouth defensive tackle to clog the middle is a pressing need, now that Leon Lett is gone, Chad Hennings still questionable due to injuries and Dimitrius Underwood one more incident away from sharing a cell with Darryl Strawberry.

The team also needs to drastically upgrade their cornerback unit and a young quarterback is an area to look at with one of their third round picks. All the scuttlebutt out of Dallas is staying local in the second round by taking defensive tackle CASEY HAMPTON, but if Maryland's KRIS JENKINS is still available at #37, that is the man I'd take to make me quickly forget Mr. Lett. In the third, Georgia's troubled quarterback QUINCY CARTER could warm my form while a corner like Utah's ANDRE DYSON or Western Illinois' WILLIAM PETERSON could still be available with my other third round pick. Later in the draft, look for depth to be added at middle linebacker, center, offensive guard and at least a bruising fullback.

IF I WAS THEIR GM
I'd fire Larry Lacewell, as his draft "expertise" has failed to fill necessary holes and their "panic attack" draft day trades have rarely worked out. Without a first rounder and little depth to try to trade in a move up, I'd have to grab either Jenkins or Hampton with the #37 pick. I then pray that I can find a quality corner still around in the third, but could opt for a receiver like Texas A&M's ROBERT FERGUSON, if he slides, as the loss of James McKnight can not be replaced with the present roster crop. Linebackers that could gain attention from me is North Carolina's SEDRICK HODGE, who can fill a need on the strong side, or Western Illinois' EDGERTON HARTWELL, to compete in the middle.

NEW YORK GIANTS
Since Marv Suderland took over the scouting department, the Giants seem more daring with their draft day maneuvers. This year will be no exception. Look for the team to go after a tight end like Arizona State's TODD HEAP at the end of the first round, or even look at a cornerback, if Ohio State's NATE CLEMENTS or Minnesota's WILLIE MIDDLEBROOKS are still there. There are few pressing needs, but depth is needed across the offensive and defensive lines, while the secondary, wide receiver and the kicking game also need to be addressed on the draft's second day.

The team has a good nucleus on defense, especially after stealing away Kenny Holmes for the defensive line. Still, a big, physical cornerback to groom behind Dave Thomas has to be addressed in the first few rounds, much like at tight end, where Howard Cross has slipped quite a bit and Dan Campbell can not seem to get out of the trainer's room long enough to show what he can do on the field.

IF I WAS THEIR GM... I have to take Todd Heap if he is there, but more than likely, he will not. That will leave me to decide between corners Middlebrooks, Clements or Mississippi's KEN LUCAS at #30. If I can't get Heap, I then hope that North Carolina's ALGE CRUMPLER slides to #61. If Crumpler is gone, I look for offensive line help and reach a little bit for a raw talent with tremendous upside, Temple's MATHIAS NKWENTI. The third round will see me keep close tabs on Washington safety HAKIM AKBAR or if I got that tight end earlier, keep the Notre Dame offensive line tradition (Mike Rosenthal, Luke Pettigout) going if MIKE GANDY happens to slide that far.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
I don't care if he is even fully recovered, if I was the Eagles, I have to look at Duce Staley's injury as a sign that I need to get another running back on board ASAP. When Staley went down last year, the ground game suddenly came to a halt, putting too much pressure on Donovan McNabb to produce with the long ball. Now, that is another story. Do I go running back in the first or grab a receiver their, instead? Either way, offensive skill depth is needed on the first day.

With the receiver position a more pressing need, it is more likely to be the team's first round target. Names we are hearing that the team would like to fit in are Miami's SANTANA MOSS and REGGIE WAYNE and UCLA's FREDDIE MITCHELL, but some in the organization are clamoring for the team to show patience, feeling that Texas A&M's ROBERT FERGUSON will be a perfect fit in the second (#50). If they go wideout in the first, Maryland's LAMONT JORDAN and Pittsburgh's KEVAN BARLOW are nice fits for the running corps in round two.

A placekicker will be nice later in the draft, but none of the prospects are worthy of draft consideration this year. Look for the second day to bring a pass catching tight end like Texas-El Paso's BRIAN NATKIN or a blocker like North Carolina DUANTAE' FINGER into the fold. More depth is needed on the offensive line, especially at guard, if John Wellborn moves over to tackle. With Jeremiah Trotter having contract problems, linebacking depth is another place to spend a second or third round pick on, especially if a guy like Floreida State's TOM POLLEY is still around.

IF I WAS THEIR GM... Pray that the football gods smile on me and that one of the trio of receivers mentioned (Moss, Wayne, Mitchell) is still there at #25. I am not sold on Clemson's Rod Gardner and simply hate Kansas State's Quincy Morgan's attitude. If I get my receiver in the first, I go running back next. If those three receivers are gone, I get a short area pass catcher and take Arizona State tight end TODD HEAP. The second round receiver that I love is Texas A&M's ROBERT FERGUSON, but if I already have that pass catcher, I'd want a power back in the mold of Michigan's ANTHONY THOMAS or Pittsburgh's KEVAN BARLOW. With a pair of third rounders, I look at linebacking help (Vanderbilt's Jamie Winborn), some offensive guards (Boston College's Paul Zukauskas) or safety help (Memphis' Idrees Bashir).

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

No matter what this team does on draft day, they will not get much help. With just four picks in the draft (first, second, fourth, fifth), the old adage, "best available athlete" strongly comes into play. The injury to Michael Westbrook and the free agent boltings of James Thrash and Albert Connell makes wide receiver their most pressing need. There is no way they can move up for Michigan's David Terrell, but at #15, Miami's SANTANA MOSS is the most electrifying pass catcher that they can find. The offensive line is another primary need, especially at the guard spots, so Michigan's STEVE HUTCHINSON is another first round possibility. On defense, the loss of Derek Smith will make middle linebacker a prime concern for Marty Shottenheimer in his first draft.

The second day of the draft will see the Redskins look for that middle linebacker and also for help at free safety and right cornerback. A young quarterback is a possibility, but with only four choices, the team will rely on Todd Husak to spell relief for Jeff George. If Larry Centers becomes a salary cap casualty, a pass catching fullback is another second day target.

IF I WAS THEIR GM... Take Santana Moss at #15 and know I added instant offense. If he's gone, I go for Steve Hutchinson to step in at left offensive guard. In the second round, I target whatever need I did not fill in the first, with receivers, ROBERT FERGUSON (Texas A&M) and CHRIS CHAMBERS (Wisconsin) nicve pickups, or if I already have that receiver, I take a strong look at Washington's CHAD WARD or NOTRE DAME's MIKE GANDY to fill the holes at offensive guard. In the fourth, if linebacker EDGERTON HARTWELL (Western Illinois) happens to slide, he's my man. If not, Tennessee's ERIC WESTMORELAND would be a nice fit for the depth needed at left outside linebacker. The fifth round could be used on a scrappy corner like Notre Dame's BROCK WILLIAMS or a free safety like Virginia Tech's CORY BIRD or Notre Dame's TONY DRIVER.

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