Fansided

Identifying every NFL team’s biggest weakness in 2018

By Rucker Haringey

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 18: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) calls an audible at the line during the preseason game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Minnesota Vikings on August 18, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 18: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) calls an audible at the line during the preseason game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Minnesota Vikings on August 18, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) gets a hug from offensive tackle La’el Collins (71) after he scores a rushing touchdown in the first quarter against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images)
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) gets a hug from offensive tackle La’el Collins (71) after he scores a rushing touchdown in the first quarter against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys – La’El Collins

The Cowboys are going to need great offensive line play to move the football this season. The passing game just doesn’t have enough weapons down the field to succeed otherwise.

The weakest guy of the group is right tackle La’El Collins. If he can’t find a way to protect Dak Prescott’s front side, it’s going to be a long year in Big D. He’s got some physical ability, but he needs to play much better in 2018 to solidify the Cowboys offense.

New York Giants – Ereck Flowers

The Cowboys aren’t the only team in the NFC East with troubles at right tackle. Flowers is a huge question mark for the Giants as well.

Like Collins, he has some physical ability but the mental side of the game still seems to be an issue for him. For Flowers, it seems to be an issue of focus. If he can really pay attention to his craft this year he could prove to be an adequate starting tackle. If he doesn’t, the Giants will be shopping for his replacement in the offseason.

Philadelphia Eagles – Jordan Hicks

The Eagles enjoyed a magical run to a Super Bowl title in 2017 which means a lot of players had career years. Middle linebacker Jordan Hicks was one of the few guys who actually didn’t play well on their way to championship.

Losing Mychal Hendricks is going to put even more pressure on Hicks to make plays. To succeed this year, he needs to keep things simple and make the easy plays more often. The Eagles need him to steady his game if he’s going to retain his starting spot in the middle of their defense.

Washington Redskins – Shawn Lauvao

There aren’t many starters in the NFL who have been as poor as Lauvao for consecutive seasons. As it stands, he’s one of the worst guards in football. In fact, Pro Football Focus graded him 78 out of 79 players at his position in terms of pass blocking.

Obviously, Alex Smith needs that to get better. He needs a clean pocket on the inside to get throws off down the field. If Lauvao doesn’t pick his game up, the Redskins will need to roll Smith out anytime they want to pressure the defense.

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