European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 26, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday August 26, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 23 pro football 88 schedule chafes skins chances by David Ginsburg Washington a the prob lems associated with defending the super bowl title does t concern Washington redskins coach Joe Gibbs As much As the brutal schedule his team earned by capturing the pfc East Crown last year. The eight games within the division will be Tough enough. But beginning oct. 30, the redskins go through a stretch in which they play five consecutive games playoff teams that finished a combined 54-20. Our first goal is to make the play offs Gibbs said. Then we d like to get a Home playoff game to get the upper hand. Our third goal is to win the super bowl but with our schedule it will be Tough to  in contrast the new York giants bid to Bounce Back after last season s last place finish will be aided by two games against Detroit 4-11 last Yea Rand game against Kansas City 4-11atlanta 3-12 and the new York jets 6-9. Washington redskins the redskins have the Talent to win the pfc East and become the first team to win consecutive work championships in the 1980s. Rather than play a Pathan after its 42-10 super bowl Victory Over the Denver Broncos washing ton added free agent linebacker Wilber Marshall to bolster a defens that last year ranked 18th interns of yardage surrendered. The defensive line will once again be anchored by 38-year-old tackle Dave Butz the old est player in the league. And opposing quarterbacks will have to face the cornerback Tan dem of three time pro Bowler Darrell Green and Barr Wilburn who last year led the nil in interceptions. On offence quarterback Doug Wil Liams retains the starting Job he took from Jay Schroeder in the regular sea son finale. Williams completed a Story Book season with a Stellar super bowl performance then underwent a fifth operation on his fragile left knee. Williams 33, claims his knee is Fine and he should receive ample Protection from the redskins excellent offensive line. When he s not handing off to Sec Ond year running Back Timmy Smith who inherits the Job from George Rog ers Williams will throw to the Fine receiving corps of Art Monk Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders. But strange things happen to teams trying to defend a super bowl title they become the key game on every oppo nent s schedule and there s a tendency to become complacent although Gibbs in t too worried about his team s Heads swelling through their helmets. Our Guys know we can t win unless we play our absolute Best every game said Gibbs. We re really not a dominating team. With the exception of the super bowl we really weren t All that great last  pfc East preview new York giants last year 11-4 3-0 strike. Beat Chi Cago 21-17 in Divisio Nal play Oil Minnesota 17-10 in pfc championship Den ver 42-10 in super bowl. Strengths defensive line and secondary receivers coaching staff and front office. Weaknesses linebackers despite signing of Wilber Marshall running Back Post super bowl distractions. Key players a a Doug Williams was Gary Clark. Art Monk and Ricky Sanders Des Charles Mann and Dexter Manley lbs Darrell Green and Barry Wilburn of Joe Jacoby and Raleigh Mckenzie. New and emerging faces All pro olb mar shall signed As free agent from bears second year re Timmy Smith who ran for 204 Yards in super bowl Rookie pm Chip Lohmiller third year Strong safety Alvin Walton. Prediction first or second in the division. Playoffs. Will need Breaks to make it All the Way again. Last year 6-9 0-3 in strike. Strengths defensive line line backers running Back quarterback depth weak sched ule. Weaknesses offensive line Spe Cial teams psyche. Key players lbs Lawrence Tay Lor Carl Banks hold out de Leonard Marshall a a Phil Simms re Joe mor Riste Mark Bavaro holdout Zeke to Watt. New or emerging faces Rookie ots Eric Moore and John Elliott Rookie do Sheldon White no. 3 pick third year Dos Eric Dorsey John Washington Erik Howard Sec Ond year was Odessa Turner and Mark Ingram. Prediction first or second in division probable playoff team with a shot at getting Back to super bowl. The giants hardly showed any signs of greatness last season after win Ning the superbowl in 1986. New York dropped two games before the strike three during it then closed witha 6-9 record. Among the fac tors were a terrible replacement team and injuries to 10starters, but for new York to return to the top it must revive its running game. Joe Morris gained 1,516 Yard Sand scored 14 touchdowns in1986, but last year slowed by injuries he ran for 658 Yards and three  key to that is the offensive line where Center Bart Gates and guard Billy Ard Are the Only players sure of  other starters will come from a group including second year Man Doug Riesenberg Damian Johnson rookies Mike Ariey and Eric Moore William Roberts and Karl Nelson who has re covered from Hodgkin s disease. Quarterback Phil Simms had an excellent 1987, compiling a career Best 90.0 rating but he needs a reliable tar get other than tight end Mark Bavaro who missed training Camp As a  s a lot of Promise however in second year men Odessa Turner mar Ingram and Stephen Baker. There s nothing wrong with the giants defense provided linebacker Carl Banks ends his holdout by the season opener. Lawrence Taylor intends to prove that he not Banks is the Best linebacker on the team. It is playing very Well coach Bill Parcells  s playing like he s gota lot to prove. He does t like to lose and he likes to be the Lead  Philadelphia eagles the Philadelphia eagles Are ready to soar. After going 5 10-1 in buddy Ryan s first season in 1986, the Eagle were 7-8 last year including 7-5 in non strike games. We just have to keep getting bet Ter Ryan said. We re Young and we re going to make mistakes. But if we Don t win Well at least scare the hell out of  Randall cunning Ham is the heart of the eagles offence both running and passing. Last season he led the team in Rushing with 505 Yards and passed for 2,786 Yards and23 touchdowns. His favorite target pro bowl receiver Mike Quick led the squad with 46 receptions and 11 ads. The eagles must give Cunningham ample Protection if he is to operate at Peak efficiency. Last year Philadelphia surrendered 72 sacks and much of Cunningham s Rushing Yards were a product last year 7-8 0-3 in strike. Strengths defensive line wide receiver quarterback. Weaknesses cornerback Offen Sive line linebackers key players Brandall cunning Ham de Reggie White or Mike Quick re Keith Byars. New or emerging faces the Keith Jackson no. 1 pick Rookie cd Eric Allen second year do Jerome Brown. Prediction third with a shot at second or even first and a Chance for a wild card playoff berth. Dexter Manley Dave Butz 65 and Charles Mann 71 handle skins Interior defense. Of necessity not design. After Cunningham the eagles had problems moving the football on the ground. Anthony Toney had 473 Yards and Keith Byars rushed for 426 Las year but those totals must improve if Philadelphia is to Challenge new York and Washington. On defense the eagles have three no.1 draft picks on the line Reggie White Jerome Brown and Mike Pitt but Philadelphia was last in the nil in pass defense in 1987 because of a Leaky secondary. Eric Allen a second round draft pick has been pencilled in to Start at cornerback. Dallas cowboys after 20 straight winning seasons the Dallas cowboys went 7-9 in 1986 and 7-8 last year and a another losing Campaign is a Dis Tinct possibility. Running Back Herschel Walker does t have ton Dorsett to share time with and should help the cowboys with both his running an pass catching. But quarterback Stev Pelluer must be More consistent i Dallas is to balance its running game. Rookie Michael Irvin will help. The cowboys offensive and defensive lines have been revamped to in clude a blend of youth and experience As Randy White and too tall Jones Are phased out by Danny Noonan and Kevin Brooks. One of coach Tom Landry s biggest challenges will be improving a pass de sense that ranked 25th among 28 teams in the league last year. Phoenix cardinals last year 7-8 2-1 in strike. Strengths coach Tom Landry running Back hers chel Walker. Weaknesses quarterback Offen Sive line Lineback ers age on defensive line receivers. Key players re Herschel Walker cd Everson Walls de Jim Jeffcoat. New and emerging faces or Michael Irvin no. 1 Choice Sec Ond year de Danny Noonan do Kevin Brooks. Prediction third fourth or fifth. A new Home has brought fresh Hope and More Home fans for the Phoe Nix cardinals who As the St. Louis cardinals had t won a playoff Gamin 28 years. Last year the cardinals were 7-8, missing the playoffs by game. We nearly reached our goal of making the playoffs last year coach Gene Stallings , that whet our  Neil Lomax threw for an nil Best 3,387 Yard last season. His targets include . Smith Roy Green and tight end Rob await who is still recovering from arthroscopic  defense was a problem. The Cardi nals were ranked no. 25 of 28 teams i yardage surrendered gave up 24.5 Points per game and allowed 30 to  Bright spots on defense Are safeties Leonard Smith who led the team with109 tackles and Lonnie Young who finished second in tackles in addition to forcing four  pfc Central last year 7-8 1-2 in strike. Strengths safety kick returning quarterback. Weaknesses wide receiver Offen Sive and defensive lines kicking game personnel selection cornerback key players a a Neil Lomax re stump Mitchell or Vai Sika Hema was Roy Green and . Smith s Leonard Smith. New or emerging faces la Ken Harvey no. 1 pick re Tony Jordan 5th Rounder second year the Robert await. La Rickey Hunley. Obtained in Trade with Denver. Prediction third fourth or fifth