Giant Quandry

For the first time in history, the NFL will simulcast a game on three networks. I can't believe the NFL made that decision without a behind the scenes guarantee from the Giants that they will play to win. But, in the end, whatever the motivation, it is a really dumb move.

Tampa rested their players last week and will do so again tomorrow. Their players will be healthy with three weeks rest when the Giants come to town next weekend in a game that actually means something. Even if there isn't a Shockey like injury tonight, it's simply foolish not to give Strahan and Toomer's older bodies some much needed time to rejuvenate - and nicked up players like Pierce, Bradshaw, and Jacobs some time to heal. And there just isn't much to gain, especially when compared to how much they stand to lose.

The only potential "plus" would be the feeling of invincibility if the Giants some how find a way to win this game. But it is much - much! - more likely that the Giants are blown out and find themselves down by 20+ points heading into the 4th quarter - which won't exactly do wonders for their confidence. And don't forget the emotional drain and emotional fatique factor. This game has been hyped like a mini Super Bowl. And with the players having been told to prepare to try to win the game, it's impossible not to get their emotions going.

With so little to gain and so very much to lose, Coughlin's decision to play to win is just plain stupid. It's no different than being down by 6 points with 5 seconds left on the clock and deciding to kick a 10 yard field goal to end the game. And if he plays this one to win and then he damn better pray the Giants beat Tampa next week. If not, Coughlin may find himself out of a job - something I didn't think possible just a week ago. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Giants Blowing in the Wind

What is there to say? This Giants team just doesn't excite me. It isn't dominant in any way. That is borne out by the pro bowl voting last week - 1 Giant (Osi) and 11 Cowboys. You can argue until you are blue in the face that the Giants were slighted - that as the third best team in the NFC the Giants deserved more recognition. But I'm not convinced they are the third best team in the NFC and, even if they are, that doesn't make them any good. The NFC stinks and there is a huge drop off after the Cowboys and Packers.

The truth is that the Giants just aren't very good. More troubling is that I don't see that changing any time soon. Look at the roster. At first blush, most positions seem fairly solid. There doesn't seem to be glaring needs. Even the secondary is much improved this year. The running game has been fantastic. The offensive line is one of the best. The receivers are better than most in Giants history.

Yet the Giants are simply mediocre. There aren't any real super stars. I found myself thinking this week that the way I feel about the Giants is how I imagine I would feel if I had just blown my life savings on a brand new Mazzaratti only to find that it runs like a 1957 Studebaker. This Giants team makes me feel as though I've just bought a lemon of a car that I'm stuck with. The "all world" Giants offense in reality just plain stinks.

The second thing that has bothered me all week - maybe the first thing - is the play calling. Heading into the game every weather forecast I heard talked about the heady 30 mph winds with gusts even higher. It made me smile and rub my hands together in anticipation. This was football weather - Giants football weather. Perfect weather for our stadium. This would be a low scoring brawl. The Giants were going to run Brandon Jacobs down the Redskins' collective throats and would stuff Clinton Portis so far into the backfield he'd find himself so far down the Turnpike that he wouldn't need the bus ride home.

So, first play of the game the Giants line up with an empty backfield. Incomplete of course. I said to myself the Giants were just trying to throw a feint at the Redskins to help back them off the line of scrimmage. 52 pass attempts later and I'm still shaking my head in pure wonderment. This wasn't rocket science - except for the idiot responsible for calling the Giants plays last Sunday night. It was stupid. It was beyond stupid - it was moronic. And may have cost the Giants a third straight playoff appearance.

I've been a Coughlin defender. I was a voice in the wilderness at the end of last season - one of the few who felt the fire Coughlin talk was out of line. No more. Forget his silly rules. Forget all the other issues and problems. Coughlin has to go because he is an offensive coach and this offense stinks - and has stunk ever since he has been here. It is a Mazzaratti that Coughlin has fine tuned into a Studebaker. And I, for one, have had enough.

Big Win in Philly

Another nail biter. When Aikers lined up for the final 57 yard field goal, I figured the odds were 99-1 against him making it. I know, he'd already hit one that far earlier in his career, but I didn't see any way he'd do that in the cold on Sunday. When the camera man failed to follow the ball and all we saw was the ball bouncing in the end zone, I thought he'd fallen far short, which is what I half anticipated anyway. I was shocked to see on the replay that the ball actually hit half way up the right upright - two inches to the left and it would have been good from over 60 yards.

Again, another ugly game. Brian Westbrook fumbled for the first time after over 500 touches. Brandon Jacobs fumbled twice, his 4th and 5th fumbles in 151 touches this season. Not only does he have to find a way to stay healthy, he has to find a way to hold onto the ball. I read some quotes from him following the game that left me concerned that he doesn't yet fully appreciate how serious the issue is. He vows to have his best game this week in Washington. I'd prefer he'd instead vowed to make it his personal goal to go 500+ touches without another fumble.

My post last week couldn't have been more wrong. I believed the Giants weren't going to beat the Eagles in Philly and therefore was in favor of resting Burress and Pierce. Both played huge roles in the win and it's pretty darn clear the Giants wouldn't have won had neither played. Burress' performance was startling - 7 catches for 136 yards and one touchdown. And they were all big catches in important drives.

Tonight's game against the Redskins at home is important for a lot of reasons. Win and the Giants lock a wild card spot. Lose and the Redskins stay alive - so much so that if Washington finds a way to win out the last three games, the Giants could find themselves on the outside looking in. Not a very likely scenario, but one the Giants can completely avoid by winning a game they should win. Here is their chance to lock up a third straight playoff appearance and do it in front of their home town crowd.

How good is this Giant's team? Is this the year they can actually make some noise in the post season? I don't think so. They aren't playing good football. The offense has disappeared. The defense has been responsible for the wins during the second half and has been doing it without being dominant. In the playoffs, I can see the Giants winning the first game, but after that the competition gets too tough. They aren't in the class of either Green Bay or the Cowboys. But I do see one scenario that can change things. Brandon Jacobs. If he stays healthy. If he doesn't fumble. And if he plays with reckless abandon - runs hard and runs mean - he can elevate this team. His style is such that when he starts running people over, it has an emotional impact on the entire team - on both sides of the ball. And that hope makes this an exciting time of the year.

Giants Hang On In Chicago

It wasn't pretty. In fact it was darn right ugly. But that is a good thing. Giants history is replete with examples of losing ugly and it is a relatively rare phenomenon to the Giants win a game they should have lost. Eli Manning had another tough outing, but hung in there to the end and, in the end, did what he had to do to win.

And the Giants can thank the officials for what I believe was a horrible call. Late in the game, in desperate need of a touchdown, the officials ruled Toomer's catch in the end zone "incomplete". The replay showed Toomer's hands under the ball, but it was impossible to tell whether the front end of the ball hit the ground or his forearms as it rode under his chest. Certainly it wasn't conclusive, but that's what the officials ruled, reversing the call and giving the Giants a huge gift - without which the Giants probably don't win the game.

Regardless of one's view of that call, it is difficult to dispute the fact that the Giants offense is struggling mightily. Last year it was the loss of Toomer that doomed the passing game. This year it is Burress. He hasn't practiced during the week all year and over the past 4-5 games has totally disappeared. And so has the passing game. And like last year, Eli has been unable to overcome that loss and has looked totally lost.

This week the Giants head into Philly for a game that means the end of the season if the Eagles lose. Moreover you can bet Philly is out to revenge their last meeting when the Giants embarrassed them with 12 sacks. But this week Osi will be facing William Thomas not Winston Justice. And the Eagles have Westbrook. And, unlike the Giants, they have their mojo back and are playing their best football of the year, not sliding backwards like the Giants.

The Giants have a lot of injuries. Perhaps most important of all is the season ending injury to Ward last week. A shame too because Ward was having a wonderful year, had come back last week to start after missing several games with a hammy, put up his best numbers for the year with a very, very impressive 154 yard performance. But it isn't just Ward's absence that worries me. What worries me more is the temptation to push Jacobs back onto the field before he's really ready. This is a game the Giants will struggle to win with or without Jacobs.

If I were Coughlin, I'd "take a game off" and rest Jacobs, Burress, Wilson, Pierce, and Ross. I'd give Bradshaw. Smith and Moss their chance to show what they bring to the table. Yes, it makes a win far more difficult. And yes, I do not take lightly what a loss here means to a struggling Giants team who would probably then be hanging on to a bare one game lead for a wild card berth. But it would allow the Giants to regroup, put a more healthy squad on the field next week against Washington, and even provide a mental excuse for a loss to the Eagles.

I know many will feel that what I am suggesting is heresy. But I am certainly not suggesting throwing the game. What I am suggesting is that the Giants play their schedule. They've been fortunate enough to build a solid two game lead for the first wild card spot. They should reap the benefit of that lead right now to help get themselves healthy for the last three games and the post season. Look at the alternative. Play Jacobs and the others and one thing is certain - they won't be healthier at 10:00 Sun night than they were at 12 noon - and the odds are the Giants lose anyway. So I sit Jacobs and I give Bradshaw his chance. And while I dress Burress, I keep him on the bench for much, if not most, of the game and give more reps to Smith and Moss.

Who knows, maybe the Giants win. But to me, this game, while important, is less important than getting healthy heading into the post season. I'm frankly not very interested in a post season entry if the Giants are too banged up to be competitive.

Giants Psyche On The Line

Everyone knows the Giants have had second half failures the past few years and today's game against the Bears is this year's make or break game when it comes to the Giants fragile psyche. While it may not be a critical game from the view point of the standings, it is critical from the stand point of the identity of this team itself. And they head into today's match up with problems.

The Giants' have struggled to put points on the board, scoring a paltry 13 against the winless Dolphins, 20 against the Cowboys, 16 against Detroit, and 17 last week. Plaxico's ankle is getting any better and this week he's even further hobbled with a knee problem. And although Ward finally returns, Jacobs remains unavailable. Some how the Giants have to find a way to get the offense in gear. The problem is they are missing their primary components in both the passing and running game. Indeed, it is my belief that Jacobs is crucial - he not only pounds the defense while running, but his presence freezes the linebackers and frees up the passing game as well.

Worse, the Giants are banged up on defense too. The loss of Kiwinuka makes it more difficult to generate a pass rush, without which the secondary has been exposed. To make matters worse, this week Aaron Ross and Gibril Wilson are both sidelined.

This is a very beatable Chicago team. But the Giants are very fragile emotionally, beat up physically, and Chicago (and Rex Grossman) are coming off a comeback win last week. If the Giants some how manage to limp out of Chicago with a win, it will go a long way towards shooing the demons away. Lose and this team could fall very quickly into a deep black hole and drag Coughlin with them.

Giants Loss To Dallas Limits Them To Wildcard

With seven games remaining, Dallas has a two game lead as well as the tie breaker, which translates into a full three game lead for the division title over the Giants. The loss to Dallas effectively ends any chance that the Giants can win the Division, which means no chance at a bye in the first week of the playoffs and no home field advantage. It was a huge game to lose - and the Giants have steadily built a tradition of coming up short in big games.

Why did they lose? Well, first and foremost, because they are not the better team. OK, well duh. So, why are they not the better team? Much has been made all week that the difference between the two teams is that Dallas has the better QB. Maybe that is true, but I don't believe that explains the difference between the two teams. More specifically, had Romo played for the Giants and Eli played for Dallas, the result last Sunday would still have been the same.

Is the problem the offense? Well, to an extent the answer has to be yes. At halftime the score was 17-17. The final score was 31-20. In other words, the powerful Giants offense scored 3 points the entire second half. So, yes, the offense was a problem. More specifically, the passing attack has become anemic. Toomer isn't getting the ball in clutch situations as he did before he went down for the count in 2006. Plaxico has done nothing for four games now (and remember - four games is basically 50 percent of the games played so far). There is no third receiver. And while Shockey had a lot of catches in the Dallas game, he was more a possession type receiver - with little yardage added after the catch. The passing game has become anemic. But, and I repeat, I do not believe for one second that the game would have ended differently had Romo been playing for the Giants and Manning for the Cowboys. Was there a difference in play between the quarterbacks? You betcha. But not to the extent that Romo would have "saved" the game had he been the Giants quarterback.

The difference is that the Dallas defense made stops when it counted while the Giants defense fell short when a stop was needed. Fell short as they have in every big game in recent memory (and while I haven't gone back and studied each game, I'd define "recent memory" as probably dating back to 1991). In any event, the point is that I have confidence that had Manning been the Dallas QB, the Giants defense would have been unable to stop Manning and the Cowboys when the chips were down. And likewise on the other side of the ball - the Dallas defense would have stopped the Giants drives in the second half regardless of who was playing quarterback. It wasn't the play of the quarterback that made the difference.

It was the play of the men in the trenches - on both sides of the ball - that made the difference. The Giants defensive unit was unable to put the pressure on Romo because the Dallas offensive line was far too superior. The Giants simply could not crack that unit when the chips were down in the second half. Romo went virtually untouched and he didn't even have to rely upon his feet. He was able to sit back in the pocket without worrying about anything but his receivers because the Dallas offensive line was that much better than the Giants defense that they were able to handle anything and everything the Giants threw at them. And on the other side of the ball, Manning was under constant pressure, especially during the second half. The Giants lost the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

I'm not saying Romo wasn't the better QB last Sunday because I certainly think he was. But that simply doesn't bother me. I don't need Eli Manning to be the best QB that has ever lived for me to be happy with his play as my team's QB. And if that is true - that means by definition there will be better QB - in the past and in the future - than Eli Manning. The sole issue for me is whether he is a QB that is good enough to carry his weight at his position. Prior to this season I thought the answer to that question was "no" because I didn't like the way he threw the football - I didn't feel he could throw an accurate pass. But he's changed my opinion this year and I haven't seen anything so far that changes that view. He is still stepping into his throws and he is not making those occasional wild throws that couldn't hit water if he was throwing from inside a boat. That seems to be a thing of the past. He made some mental mistakes on Sunday, but you know what? Mental mistakes are much more easily correctable.

No, my concern about the Giants is not at QB. My concern is defense and, in particular, the front seven. I know, everyone is going to kill me and say I'm crazy - that it is the back seven - the lack of quality safety and cover corners that are the problem. Well, last week the Giants strategy was to commit to pressuring Romo and leaving the secondary alone on an island to hold down the fort by themselves. Did Dallas hit some big plays in which the secondary looked lost? Yup - that's certainly how it looked. But it only looked that way because the Giants generated zero pressure on Romo despite committing the farm to get there. It's one thing to ask your secondary to hold down the fort while Romo is running for his life. It's quite another thing entirely to ask them to stand alone while Romo has all the time in the world. This game was lost because the Giants did not possess the ability to get to Romo even when committing 7 men to the attack. I don't care how good the Dallas offensive line is - despite committing their entire front 7 to the pass rush, the Giants couldn't generate enough pressure to even force Romo out of the pocket.

So, you can talk Eli Manning. You can talk safety and cornerback. But I think the problem is that the Giants defensive front 7 is simply not strong enough to be a dominant defense. The Giants are not going to win a Super Bowl until they have a defense that can force a 3 and out with the game on the line - and the Giants haven't had that kind of defense - a truly dominant defense - since the 1990 Super Bowl.

Showdown Against Dallas

What can be better? A huge November home game against a hated divisional rival. Having dispatched the Dolphins in the mud-bowl in London, the Giants - fairly healthy coming out of their bye week - commence the more difficult second half of their schedule. And it starts off with a real bang.

While they will face other tough games down the stretch, none will be bigger than Sunday's game against Dallas. Dallas leads the Division and has already beaten the Giants once. Lose to Dallas for the second time on Sunday and the Giants will in essence be three games behind and, for all practical purposes, out of the running for a divisional title. On the other hand, a win ties them for the division lead and sets up a season long battle for the divisional crown. At stake is a chance of a first round bye and home field advantage in the playoffs. The difference between a win and a loss is simply huge. For both teams.

This is the type of game that defines championship teams. Seattle went on to the Super Bowl after holding on for their lives against the Giants two years ago. Last year Chicago went to the Super Bowl after downing the Giants in a nail biter at the mid-point last year. Championship caliber teams win the important games - the games with significance above and beyond a mere W or L in the standings. This year is likely to be no different. The winner on Sunday greatly improves their chances of ending up in Phoenix on Feb 3rd.

This is not the same Giants team that faced Dallas in the season opener. Strahan has worked himself back into game shape. Osi is healthy. If not quite comfortable, Kiwi is certainly more familiar playing linebacker. The defense, as a whole, is simply playing better. And the team is emotionally healthy, having been spoon fed six straight wins from the schedule gods (not their fault and certainly better than the alternative). But I believe there are two factors that will make a huge difference on Sunday - two things Dallas didn't have to address back in September - cornerback on defense and Brandon Jacobs on offense.

On Sunday the Giants enter the game with legitimate strength at corner. Although Ross is going to make rookie mistakes, his entry into the starting lineup has made a huge difference for the Giants. Yet it is the play of Madison that really seals the deal for me. Simply put, the transformation between his play in 2006 and 2007 has been nothing short of miraculous. And strength at corner - something that didn't exist back in September - is going to be huge on Sunday.

I am convinced that the secret to stopping Dallas on Sunday will be getting constant pressure on Romo. No small order. Dallas has an excellent offensive line - they have only given up 12 sacks all season - and the Giants sack attack will have their hands full. They will likely need to bring more than just four to get pressure - they need to bring the house. But the Giants have something they didn't have in September - two corners capable of holding up their end of the bargain. Dallas will likely get some big plays - but in the end, Madison and Ross should allow the Giants to be in Romo's face all day long on Sunday - to allow the Giants to attack rather than sit back.

On the other side of the ball, Brandon Jacobs could have an even greater impact. If I had a crystal ball that told me he'd stay healthy (a big "if"), there isn't any running back in the game today that I'd trade head up for Jacobs. A 125 yard game from a break away runner is very different than a 125 yard game from Brandon Jacobs. While 25-50 yard runs are exciting - and a threat - I'll take a steady diet of 4-8 yard runs by Brandon Jacobs, thank you very much. Not only does he move the chains and eat up the clock, he beats defenders into submission - physically and emotionally. And he opens up the passing game in ways a Tiki Barber style runner never dreamed of. Brandon Jacobs has the rare ability to totally dominate a game without having a single run over 10 yards.

The Cowboys didn't get the opportunity to have a "Brandon Jacobs experience" back in September. But on Monday morning I think they'll know exactly how it feels to be run over by a Mack truck.

Giants Down 49ers for 5th Straight Win

The Giants are not just winning games they are supposed to win - they are dominating their opponents. Last week in Atlanta and today against the 49ers, the Giants controlled every aspect of the game much more than will be revealed in the stat sheet. Another 6 sack performance for the defense. Throw in 2 interceptions, including another beautiful interception by Madison, and two fumble recoveries by Osi - and it is difficult to describe the defensive play as anything other than awesome.

One mild disappointment was Plax losing his touchdown streak. But the offense was almost as dominant as the defense. Again, the stats may not show it, but the offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and was totally dominant in run blocking. Brandon Jacobs had his second 100 yard game in a row and appeared to be running at will. Each time he left the game you could almost hear San Fransisco's collective sigh of relief.

The Giants should be 6-2 after next week's game against winless Miami in London. Then they have their bye week and face a more difficult second half of the season. However, there isn't any doubt that they have gained invaluable confidence and momentum as a result of the gift from the scheduling gods during the first half. The question is whether they can use it to sustain themselves when the sledding gets a bit more difficult.

The second half of 2007

Nov 11 Sun Dallas (6-1)
Nov 18 Sun at Detroit (4-2)
Nov 25 Sun Minnesota (2-4)
Dec 2 Sun at Chicago (3-4)
Dec 9 Sun at Philadelphia (2-4)
Dec 16 Sun Washington (4-2)
Dec 23 Sun at Buffalo (2-4)
Dec 29 Sat New England (7-0)

Giants Win 4th Straight Over Falcons

There was plenty to like about last night's victory over the Falcons. The offense looked very strong. Eli Manning, who at one point completed12 straight completions, spread the ball around to more receivers than in any other game than I can recall. The running game was equally balanced with Droughns this time leading the three headed monster with 90 yards and 1 TD.

But Jacobs, if he can stay healthy, remains "the man". It is visibly evident how well this Giants offense plays with Jacobs in the game. Defenses are so hell bent on getting to Jacobs early, that play action passing is like taking candy from a baby. The only issue so far is whether Jacobs can stay healthy. At this point I am liking the addition of Droughns as insurance more and more.

The defense was in control the entire way other than one letdown for a 67 yard TD run. They contributed 4 more sacks in an almost routine, invisible way. They controlled the line of scrimmage as the game wore on, stopped the running game cold, put pressure on the QB, and the secondary is playing better and better now that Ross is in the lineup.

While not dominating on either offense or defense, anyone watching the game could tell that the Giants were in complete control throughout. And that may perhaps be the most impressive part of last night's game - the Giants controlled every aspect of the game while leaving the impression they could "turn it up" several notches on both sides of the ball had it been necessary.

As I've said before, the most important factor for this team this season is the gift from the schedule gods. If they stay healthy, they have an excellent chance to build momentum and, more importantly, confidence. They could (should) end up with at least 10 wins with the schedule they are facing and, if so, they should not only make the playoffs but do so as a unified, confident team. That latter issue is the most important and if it comes to pass, this team could be very dangerous in the playoffs. But first they must take advantage of that gift from the schedule gods and mind their business week to week.

Accorsi Book Reveals The True Coughlin

In a chapter about the Chicago Bears game last year, Accorsi rips Coughlin for his play calling, for his refusal to acknowledge his mistakes, and most of all for shifting the blame all onto Eli Manning.

Accorsi sets the scene. It was a rainy Monday night. The Giants hold a 13-3 lead with scoring "drives" of one yard, three yards, and nine yards. Petitgout is already out of the game and Eli is not just struggling, he is foundering. But the Giants hold a 13-3 lead and it is raining hard. Chicago has the ball on their own 28 facing a 3rd and 22 with 1:30 left to go in the half. And the Giants call a time out. As we all know the Bears took full advantage of that time to go on to score and make it 13-10 at the half. Accorsi was stunned. Not that the time out necessarily led to Chicago's score, but it showed absolutely no common sense.

"It's thirteen to three - the Bears don't think they're going to win the game because they have to beat us by intercepting the ball or causing some other turnover or, somehow, unleashing Hester. What do we do? We give them the opportunity. Why do we want the ball back for thirty-five seconds to begin with? It's raining. We could fumble the kick, we could commit a holding penalty. We could give them life. Our quarterback is having a terrible night. What was to be gained? Had there been a single sign that we could take the ball and march it down the field in thirty-five seconds? After that, it's third and twenty-three. Chicago's giving up the ghost, right? Get in the locker room, Tom, with our thirteen-to-three lead! And when the Bears ran into the locker room, they were a different team."

Then in the second half, the Bears leading by 24-20 with 11:49 to go in the game. The Giants have moved the ball to the Bears 29 yard line with a fresh set of downs. Accorsi has the following to say about what happens next:

"Now we've come back to twenty-four to twenty and we're first and ten on their twenty-nine. We've got control of the situation. We're running the ball and they can't stop us. We ran for a hundred and fifty yards - no one has stopped us from running the ball all year in those conditions - and why we're not using Jacobs, I have no idea. He was unopposed on both touchdowns. We're wearing them down. The weather is bad. Maybe we won't be able to hold them later, maybe we'll screw up on defense later - six starters are out, after all - but we're going to go ahead in the game for the moment at least, if we just play smart. But instead, for some unknown reason, against that pass rush, with Eli having a bad night, we try to throw. Now it's second and twenty-four. We've changed the game. We get to third and fifteen, and Hufnagel says, 'Oh, I think I'll try this pass play to Plax. That's part of my philosophy.'

"Finally, rather than hand the ball to Feagles and trust the best plus-punter in the league to spin the ball inside the twenty and give Grossman a chance to give away the game in bad weather, we try a fifty-two-yard field goal in the same direction a thirty-three-yarder had already been missed. Our big, slow field-goal protection guys then get to watch Devin Hester dance a hundred and eight yards untouched. He would have scored in a two-hand touch football game.

"We could have won a thirteen-to-ten game. That's our kind of game."

But most damning of all was Coughlin's refusal to acknowledge any responsibility for the way the game went and instead, amazingly, blaming Manning for forcing him to make the questionable decisions Accorsi was pointing out:

"Tom said, 'I Told Eli today [the day after the game] that you don't score points by running the ball, you score points by passing it.' That kills any chance of me sleeping tonight. Tom had this long talk with Eli in which he basically told him, 'You're the reason we lost and you're going to have to play much better or we won't win.' Do you think Bill Cowher ever said that to Ben Roethlisberger? Pittsburgh never asks Roethlisberger to win a game by himself. They ask him not to lose by himself. 'I told Eli,' Tom said, 'You know why I made that stupid decision on the field goal, Eli?' Now listen to this. 'Because you weren't playing well and I didn't know how we'd get down there again.' Now I have to go to Manning sometime today and try to reassure him that it's not all his fault."

Taking Accorsi at his word regarding the accuracy of the above, it is truly an amazing condemnation of Coughlin that he would choose to deflect blame against himself by placing it all onto the shoulders of his young struggling quarterback. I've been upset by Tiki Barber speaking out against Coughlin and, while I still don't like it, I am more disgusted by an ego-maniac coach who so willing to throw his young quarterback under the bus because the coach lacks the inner self-confidence to accept blame of criticism directed his way.

Jets Downed, Giants Fly to Atlanta

Can the Giants take advantage of a paddy cake schedule to build some momentum and confidence? They took the first step last week with a win over the Jets. It was not a heady performance like the 12 sacks the week before over the Eagles, but the defense came up with some big plays to seal the win. Ross had two interceptions, and although the first one was an easy gift, on the second he made a very strong play, jumping the route and taking it in for a score. However it was the old pro Madison who had the truly stunning interception. Obviously seeing something Pennington was giving away, Madison abandoned his receiver along the sideline and instead broke 15 or so yards across the middle to grab the ball in front of a totally different receiver. Madison traveled so far I have to believe he broke away from his own receiver before the ball ever left Pennington's hand. A great, great play.

One comment about the defense. While the Giants had some pressure, they were not getting any steady hits on Pennington and the Jets were moving the ball pretty steadily and completed a number of 3rd and very longs. The defense stopped the Jets with some great individual plays that resulted in turnovers. But for those turnovers, the Giants defense was certainly not dominating the Jets.

In fact the Jets were leading this game deep into the 4th quarter. In my opinion the Giants won this game because of Brandon Jacobs who had the first 100 yard game of his career. But it was simply the yardage that mattered. It was the attitude. The Giants first touchdown was a 67 yard 9 play drive that spanned the first and second quarters and included only two passes. The Giants then opened the second half with a 6 play 80 yard drive that included only one pass. In those two drives Jacobs carried the ball 6 times for 9, 6, 6, 7, 8 and 19 yards - an amazing 9.2 yards per carry. And with attitude. The manner in which he ran the ball set the tone for the rest of the players, including the defense.

This week the Giants head to Atlanta for a Monday night match up with the Falcons. They have no QB and they lost both of their offensive tackles last week. And on the other side of the ball the Falcons are horrible defending against the run. The Giants need to avoid anything fancy and play to their strengths. On offense, run the ball and force Atlanta to stop them. That means forget balance and run Brandon Jacobs at least 80 percent of the time on first down. At least until Atlanta is forced to put 8 or more men in the box, when throwing the ball should be easy pickins. And on defense the solution is too obvious to have to say out loud - pressure, pressure, pressure.

The Giants have 11 games remaining of which 7 are against teams currently sporting losing records:

Oct 15 Mon at Atlanta (1-4)
Oct 21 Sun San Francisco (2-3)
Oct 28 Sun at Miami (0-5)
Nov 4 Sun BYE
Nov 11 Sun Dallas (5-0)
Nov 18 Sun at Detroit (3-2)
Nov 25 Sun Minnesota (1-3)
Dec 2 Sun at Chicago (2-3)
Dec 9 Sun at Philadelphia (1-3)
Dec 16 Sun Washington (3-1)
Dec 23 Sun at Buffalo (1-4)
Dec 29 Sat New England (5-0)

Giants Sack Eagles, Now Turn on the Jets

Was the NFL record setting 12 sack performance against the Eagles last week the momentum builder that turns this into a special Giants season? The Giants became the fifth team in NFL history to record 12 sacks in one game. Regardless of the quality of the opponent, one would think a team would have to be pretty darn good to record that many sacks in one game. Looking back at the four prior teams to accomplish this feat, however, reveals that none made it to the Super Bowl and one (the Cardinals in 1980) ended up 4th in their division and out of the playoffs entirely (the other three - Chicago in 1984 and the Cowboys in 1966 and 1985 - all ended up with 10 wins and made it to the playoffs). The losing team giving up the 12 sacks in each of those prior four games all had losing records by the end of the respective seasons.

While history may not, therefore, tell us much about the significance of the sack performance, it does indicate one thing: the Giants have the players to be a dominant pass rushing team. It is also interesting to observe that not all of the sacks were generated by pure speed and instead were, at least partially, the result of good coverage. That is perhaps the most encouraging sign of all from last week's game. While the addition of Ross was not the sole reason, he did play a strong game, especially in view of the fact he is still a rookie combined with the fact it was his first start.

If the Giants can maintain consistent pressure on the QB the rest of the way through the schedule, they should end up with a very decent record. Of the 12 games remaining, only 4 times do they face teams that currently have a winning record (Dallas, Detroit, Wash, and NE). Seven of those games - including the Jets tomorrow - are against teams currently sitting at 1-3 or 0-4. The schedule gods have given the Giants a rare opportunity to build confidence and momentum as they move through the balance of their schedule. If they take advantage, they could easily find themselves with a heady 11-12 wins and brimming with confidence by season end.

I have not changed my view of this team - I still believe there are loads of question marks throughout the roster. But, despite those questions, the schedule is such that I would consider it an unforgivable disaster if they don't end up with at least 9 wins - and purely "ok" play should get them at least 10. And 10 wins means going 8-4 the rest of the way, which translates into momentum and confidence - perhaps the two most important ingredients for success in the NFL. That is the significance to me of what the Giants did last week. Of course, all of this presupposes that I don't find myself sitting here in future weeks writing about a puzzling loss to a losing team.

Sunday Night Test Against Eagles

Last week the Giants put together an emotional win over the Redskins. The defense stood tall all day, especially when it mattered, stopping Washington four straight times on a first and goal at the 1 with only 58 seconds remaining in the game. Washington, 2-0 heading into the game, was leading 17-3 at the half. Those were the only points they would score all day. The Giants limited the Redskins to 80 total yards and zero points in the second half.

Eli Manning (21-36, 232) and the offense got their act together at the same time, converting seven straight third down conversions and three touchdowns to seal a 24-17 win on the road. Ward, 26 for 94 yards against Washington, has rushed for 273 yards on 54 carries in three games and sports a gaudy 5.1 average. It's no wonder Brandon Jacobs had some sort of miracle recovery and returned to full practice by the end of this week.

I've felt badly for Brandon. After enduring all the off season talk - and questions - about his potential, to go down in the 2nd series of the very first game had to be very difficult to swallow. And while Ward's success has been a great thing for the team, it can't be easy watching someone else standing in what was supposed to be your limelight. But Jacobs is a far too valuable asset to risk just because he's itching to get back on the field. If Brandon is the real deal - and I think he is - he'll get plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent once that knee is fully healed.

Tonight the 1-2 Eagles come to town, fresh off a 56-21 thrashing of Detroit. McNabb (21-26, 381) had a near perfect game. Amazingly, despite the powerhouse offense that put up those 56 points, it was probably the Eagles defense that had the more impressive performance, shutting out the Lions in the second half while recording 9 sacks. The strength of the Eagles defense is the defensive line and DT Brodrick Bunkley is a monster who will likely give the interior of the Giants line fits. That means Diehl will probably get very little help handling Cole. This will be a major test for the Giants offensive line and the Giants will need have success in the running game to keep the Eagles pass rushers a bit off balance if the Giants hope to have any chance keeping Eli upright.

Even if the offense holds up its end of the bargain, the game is likely to be won or lost by the kind of pressure the Giants can bring to bear on McNabb. To protect a weak secondary (although I would note that Madison fared pretty darn well back there last week), the Giants must find a way to get into McNabb's face all day long. That's no easy task when your linebackers are struggling protecting against the quick hits over the middle, especially to the TE (although the Eagles Smith is supposedly out for tonight's game). The pass rush can't work if the linebackers consistently give the QB "quick freebies" before the rush can get there. Whether the Giants can mount consistent pressure on McNabb will, in my opinion, be the final determining factor in the outcome.

Winning those match ups, however, is likely to be decided, not on talent, but on pure will power. This is an Eagles-Giants game and talent on either side of the ball means far less than the will to win. I've always believed that football, more than most sports, is less about the physical skills and talents of individual players and more about heart, inner competitive spirit, and an overriding will to win. Organizations with the uncanny ability to see who a person is on the inside and find ways to stock their roster with those types of competitors, routinely knock the socks off teams filled with more individual talent. It is that extra something that can't be seen - is difficult to define - but is critically important in the creation of a true team.

It's too early to yet know what kind of team the Giants have this year - but one of the two teams meeting tonight will be 1-3 by tomorrow morning and may never get the chance to ever know.

The Future Is Now

I didn't think things could get worse after the horrible performance in the season opener, but they did. With the early struggles (putting it mildly) of the defense, a Giants victory last Sunday against Green Bay was clearly on the shoulders of the offense. However, in the home opener, Giants fans were graced with a 13 point performance by this offensive juggernaut. One touchdown and two field goals all day long. Special teams joined the fun with a fumbled return and a botched field goal snap.

After two games the Giants are dead last in the league in points allowed. This Giants defense has allowed 80 points in the first two games, the worst start in over 40 years - second worst in team history. Opponents are converting third downs at an unheard of rate of 54.5 percent. And things don't get easier this week. The Redskins offense is ranked 4th in the league converting on third down (and their defense is ranked 1st by the way).

The Giants defense needs a spark - a jump start. It desperately needs some enthusiasm that gets the entire unit pumped up. I believe they need to get their future on the field now. Madison, McQuarters and Mitchell are known quantities with very little upside at this point in their careers. The Giants need to develop an accelerated plan to get Ross, Webster, Johnson, Wilkinson, DeOssie, and Blackburn on the field more and more. For now I would immediately replace McQuarters with Ross. I would move Kiwi back to DE where he belongs, bench Mitchell, and play Wilkinson, DeOssie and/or Blackburn as the outside backers.

Here is my bottom line. No veteran player should be starting unless the quality of his play demands it. McQuarters cannot start over Aaron Ross unless his play is far superior. The same goes for Mitchell contrasted with Wilkinson/Blackburn. Madison versus Webster. And I'd move Kiwi back to DE, sit Strahan until his play forces himself back onto the field, and get another younger LB onto the field.

It may not make things better in the short term. But it will make the Giants team stronger in the long run. It will also prove invaluable in evaluating their future needs. And it just may provide the emotional spark this team so desperately needs right now. Lastly, as a fan, if the team is going to lose, at least let me have the opportunity of getting excited by watching the Giants younger players - the Giants future - on the field and making some plays.

Death of a Franchise

The Giants traveled to Dallas Sunday night, scored 35 points, and lost. This team has been built around offense. And a good offense it is - an offense dominant enough to put up 35 points on the road against a divisional rival. But it is also a team with a defense that has been ignored - has been the step child of the offense - for far too long. A defense pathetic enough to give up 45 points in a big game against a divisional rival.

Such state of affairs is heart wrenching, especially to an old timer like myself whose first live Giants game dates back to Yankee Stadium. I never thought I'd live to see the day that the Giants organization would turn its back on its own heritage. Through thick and thin, good times and bad, Giants football has always been about defense. Defense came first, front and center, before anything else. Defense has always been the core, the focus, and ultimately the heritage and tradition of this proud franchise. That focus - that defense before anything else mentality - has been lost for quite some time now and the defense has slowly withered and become frail, faltering and hesitant over the past few years. And finally, like a terminal illness, Sunday night brought the sad realization that the proud heritage of this franchise has passed on.

I've been a Giants fan all my life. That won't change because I don't consider it a choice. It just is. But I'm not happy. High powered offensive football - teams that put the emphasis upon offense over defense resided in the AFL/AFC. The NFL/NFC was all about toughness. About mud and guts and lost teeth. The "offense first" teams were for the girls and women - it was entertaining and exciting and put new fans in the seats. But real football - what the men watch - where the gladiators play - has always been the province of the NFC. Today everything has been turned upside down. Tough defensive football is the province of the AFC and my four daughters are suddenly interested watching Eli Manning and the Giants.

I'm not saying what we witnessed Sunday night is what we see all year long. It won't be. The defense will get better - but that's not saying much. I don't see how it can play much worse. But I will not be happy so long as Giants football is more about offense than defense. As far as I am concerned, if you like offensive football, go join the girls in the other room and root for the Colts or the Jets but leave us men - and the Giants - alone.

The current Giants ownership and management should be ashamed. As the guardians of this franchise, they have sullied and damaged its one true tradition. They've broken faith with their own heritage and legacy. I've always enjoyed watching the "fancy boys" and their high powered offenses but for me they were always side shows - warm ups - to the real blood and guts football played by men - by gladiators - by the Giants. I suppose I should be happy that my daughters now show a passing interest in my football team but frankly it just rubs salt in the wound.

Giants Head To Dallas For 2007 Season Opener

I absolutely hate to pick against the Giants for the season opener - and I especially hate picking them to lose to the Cowboys. At least it's an away game. Here is how I see the match ups.

When Dallas Has the Ball
Dallas has one of the better offensive lines in the NFL. They should, they've invested a ton of money. I only saw them once this pre-season but it was enough to see that Leonard Davis is going to be a force at right guard and totally dominating in the run game. Look for the Giants to have trouble stopping Marion Barber up the middle. I also expect Dallas to use plenty of screens and cutbacks with Julius Jones to keep the Giants new aggressive scheme off balance. Lastly, Giants fans can't be happy thinking about defending three time pro-bowler Witten and Terrell Owens with a still learning Kiwanuka and a weak secondary. The loss of Terry Glenn is big, although Giants will have their hands full dealing with TO and Witten, so look for Crayton to have a big game. This will be a major test for the Giants and they are going to have to get to Romo early and often to have any hope of stopping a very solid Dallas offense. Again, my primary concern is Leonard Davis and the rest of the OL mauling the Giants up the middle.

When the Giants Have the Ball
Dallas has invested heavily on defense in recent drafts but still have some question marks. On the defensive line Chris Canty and DeMarcus Spears represent lots of unfulfilled potential, especially Canty. But the key to Dallas, as in any 3-4, is their linebackers. I'm a bit surprised that Bobby Carpenter hasn't broken the starting lineup. In the end, however, the linebackers are all about DeMarcus Ware. Phillips intends to really turn Ware loose this year, letting him roam free ala Lawrence Taylor. O'Hara is going to have his hands full setting the offensive line's assignments. However the big key for Dallas is the health of Greg Ellis and his absence will enable the Giants to put greater focus on finding - and double teaming - Ware.

Although Giants fans are understandably excited about their new pressure defense, expect the Cowboys to "out-Spags" Spagnuolo when it comes to bringing the pressure on Sunday. And, between the two teams, the Cowboys have the better secondary to accomplish that. One of keys to the Cowboys game plan is likely to be to jump the gaps and make Jacobs dance a bit in the backfield before he can get a head of steam. Against the pass they will stunt, blitz, and move Ware around - all designed to keep Canty and Ware in Manning's face all night long. From the Giants perspective the game is likely to hinge on the protection holding up sufficiently to allow Manning to be the hero of the game with Shockey having a big day.

Prediction
In the end, I think the acquisition of Leonard Davis makes the difference for the Boys in this game. I'm afraid the Giants lose the battle of the trenches on defense against the running game. Not necessarily badly and not necessarily all night long, but enough for the Cowboys to keep the chains moving and the Giants off balance. I don't see Jacobs having a big game and he is likely to struggle getting up any head of steam as the Cowboys force the ball into Manning's hand. The danger for the Cowboys is that could end up being a huge miscalculation. Manning looks like a completely different QB this year. He is making crisp, strong, confident throws without any of the erratic off the charts passes of the past. I've not been happy with his play since the day he got here, but I love what I've been seeing this year and if he keeps his mechanics solid all year long, he could easily find himself in Hawaii next February. And I think he will have a good game Sunday night, but with the running game bottled up, the Giants fall short.

Dallas 31, Giants 20

State of the 2007 NY Giants As Season Begins

Is this a rebuilding year? Many people react emotionally to that phrase and since I can't find a good definition, I won't use it. However, whatever you want to call it, one thing is clear - there has been lots of change. Last year's defensive and offensive coordinators are both gone. So is the special teams coach. There is a new QB coach. The most productive running back in team history has retired. And seventeen new faces grace this year's roster.

On Offense
QB - Nobody agrees with me, but I will forever believe that despite Montana's better statistics, Phil Simms was the better quarterback. That's a judgment I made with my eyes, not reading press clippings or the stats sheet.

My eyes haven't made me very happy with what I've seen of Eli Mannning through 2006. His statistics haven't mattered to me nor will they be of much interest to me in the future. And that future seems incredibly bright. I've seen a critical transformation in how Eli Manning is throwing the ball this year. His footwork is noticeably improved. He is stepping into his throws. His release is sharp and his passes crisp. He is throwing the ball with confidence, even the misses. Most importantly there has been a complete absence of wild erratic throws. Not even one wild throw so far this year. I'm not talking incompletions nor am I talking about passes slightly off target. I am talking the equivalent of a wild pitch in baseball - something I believe may very well be a permanent remnant of Manning's past.

While it is obviously very early - and conservative observers will caution against jumping to conclusions, noting the first half/second half disparities in his play over the past two seasons - I believe we are witnessing a totally different quarterback. Yes, his mechanics got worse when the team struggled over the past two seasons - but the emphasis is "got worse" because his mechanics weren't solid to begin with. I have great optimism that there has been a transformation in his throwing mechanics and that Eli Manning will end 2007 as the most valuable player on offense and will compete for a pro bowl this year and many years to come.

WR - On paper this should be a strength. Giants used high (2nd round) first day picks the past two years to add WR depth. Amani Toomer appears to be healthy. If Toomer and Burress stay healthy all year this unit can be special primarily because of the addition of Steve Smith. I think Smith is a natural football player. He may not be the fastest - or the quickest - or the tallest - but he has great football instincts. He gets open and holds onto the ball.

Yet, I'm worried. Granted, I tend to worry a lot and "project" all sorts of calamities around this time of year. But I cringe when I hear Burress and "back problems" in the same sentence. Back problems tend to be chronic and are not a good thing for anyone, but especially so for someone as tall and lanky as Burress. And while this is one of the best receiving corps in Giants history, there isn't a solid replacement for Burress. The loss of any starter hurts, but the dropoff of losing Burress would be steep. I'm confident Smith would hold his own if Toomer went down this year. Moss looks like a specialty player but not a permanent starter. And while Anthony Mix "flashed brilliant" during the 2007 pre-season and he is a great 6th WR, he isn't ready to replace Plax. So I'm just a tad worried about that back issue.

TE - I have said repeatedly in the past that Shockey has unique skills that have been completely misused in the past. The entire passing attack should have been completely designed around Shockey these past few years. Instead all too often he was used to block and as a secondary outlet for short gains. That was a huge mistake. Unfortunately Shiancoe is gone and now the Giants may have no choice but to use Shockey as the blocking TE. Matthews has looked good but he is a rookie and it is going to take time for him to even approach Shiancoe's blocking ability. And Matthews looks better than Boss both blocking and receiving. I look for the Giants to use Whimper in the blocking TE role but any way you slice or dice it, Shockey's role is going to be impacted by the loss of Shiancoe. While I look for Shockey's yard per catch to go up this year, at the end of the day I'm afraid I'll be left still yearning for the player I saw in his rookie year.

RB - Like all Giants fans, I fell in love with Brandon Jacobs the day I read the rave reviews coming out of that first rookie camp shortly after the draft. But as I've said before, I think the expectations being placed on this young man by the Giants faithful are totally unrealistic. The past two seasons we got to see Brandon Jacobs run free and run wild. Fans need to understand that is unlikely to happen with nearly as much frequency in 2007. This year the world's most brillant defensive minds are going to spend considerable time and effort devising game plans designed to stop Brandon Jacobs. You are likely to see lots of three and four yard runs through very heavy traffic instead of the "beast" wrecking havoc in the secondary.

Two caveats. First and foremost is Eli Manning. If he has the break out year I think he will, that is likely to force teams to back off efforts to load the box, which hopefully gives Brandon some additional breathing room. Secondly, those "3-4 yards and a cloud of dust" runs, coming from a big bruising man like Brandon Jacobs, are likely to wear defenses down late in the late 3rd and 4th quarters. At least that's the theory. But will Jacobs be worn down too? Only time will tell.

Many believe the Giants have depth at running back. I'm not one of them. For 2007 the success of the running game, in the end, will be on the shoulders of Brandon Jacobs. Yes, cut downs were difficult. Yes, I like what I see in Ward and Bradshaw is going to contribute. But they add versatility, not depth. If Jacobs goes down, the likely replacement would be Ward (assuming he can block), not Droughns. While Droughns is an upgrade over Carter, his role will be to give Jacobs a breather. While not as bad as the total absence of depth at QB, I believe a successful season depends as much upon Jacobs' health as Eli's.

FB - Not much to say. Douglas is hurt and may not survive the last cut due later today. Giants have practiced with Droughns but he reportedly isn't in love with the move. Matthews may see some time there but in the end the Giants are likely to scrap some of their playbook.

OL - I was against the release of Petitgout and still am. It is not because David Diehl won't do a credible job. He always has and he will now. Rather it is depth that concerned me then and concerns me now. The health of the offensive line is absolutely critical because there aren't any backups. David Diehl at guard and Richie Seubert on the bench, provided great solace to Giant fans everywhere. That no longer exists and the first time an offensive lineman is slow to get up the entire NY metropolitan area is going to hold its collective breath. This should be a very strong unit provided there is not a single injury across the entire line the entire year.

On Defense
DL - The starting defensive line is one of the strongest units of the team. It will be several games before Strahan is in top form and his holdout hurt the team in that regard. And it isn't clear how he is affected by the Lis Franc injury or his advancing age. But Justin Tuck seems ready to take up where he left off at the end of 2005. And Osi, Robbins, and Cofield make a strong unit with my only hesitation being how stout they play the run up the gut. There is considerable drop off after those 5 as evidenced by the continued presence of William Josephs.

LB - Pierce is going to struggle if he doesn't get more help up front from the defensive tackles. He should benefit by the upgrade in speed of Mitchell and Kiwanuka over Arrington and Emmons but that is probably counter balanced by the steep learning curve Kiwanuka is likely to experience.

I was not happy about the Kiwanuka move because I subscribe to the theory that you move a player who otherwise isn't likely to make it at the pro level at his given position. You don't move a probable future pro bowler. You find some other way to make adjustments. Having said that Kiwanuka has an incredible combination of athleticism, size and speed and should excel given time. Lots of time. As in years. That's not to say he won't be a good linebacker at any point this year. But he isn't likely to demonstrate the same level at LB that he showed at DE for at least another full year, maybe two.

Secondary - The Giants believe their future is Webster and Ross. However they didn't keep Madison and McQuarters for backup roles. I think that's a mistake. Ross is very raw with much to learn and Madison, even at this point in his career, is clearly the more accomplished player. However, Ross has a much higher upside than Madison or McQuarters and if this year's goal is to win the Super Bowl, then you bite the bullet early on and throw the kid into the water and let him learn how to swim. Of course the risk you take is that the learning curve may be so great you lose too many games and don't make the playoffs at all. But making the playoffs cannot - and should not - be the end goal. The Giants should be focused on winning the Super Bowl and an experienced Ross and Webster can get them there. Madison and McQuarters can't.

I think the Giants are even worse off at safety. Wilson and Butler have both shown glimpses of potential in the past but no day in and day out consistency. That is why I was so surprised at the release of Demps. The failure to upgrade the safety position is going to hurt in the defensive standings, especially against the run.

Special Teams
New kicker. And new long snapper. Let's hope the Giants don't play any close games.

Conclusion
New offensive and defensive coordinators. New special teams and quarterbacks coaches. No fullback or blocking tight end. Depth on offensive line gone completely. Most productive running back and receiver in team history gone. Linebacker receiving on the job training. No upgrades at all to perhaps the weakest starting secondary in the entire NFL. New kicker and snapper.

I think Eli Manning is on the brink of a great season but even so he can't do it alone. Hope springs eternal, but there are simply too many question marks to objectively conclude this team is stronger heading into 2007 than it was in heading into 2006. I think they will be stronger in 2008 than they were in 2006, but not in 2007. But remember, this isn't a rebuilding year.

Prediction
Philadelphia wins Division (yet again). Dallas second and gets wild card. Giants third with a 9-7 record and in the hunt for the second wild card.

Ready, Set ...

Are the Giants ready to "go"? It will be interesting to see what tinkering the Giants do with their roster between Saturday's mandatory roster reductions and opening day. Of course, when it comes to the roster, one primary unknown remains Strahan. I'm in the camp that believes that although Strahan's play on the field would help win some games, his presence is an overall negative and the team, as well as the Giants organization, is better off without him. NFL players get paid handsomely to be professionals. To be considered a truly great professional requires more than simply excelling at one particular skillset in a chosen profession, even if that single skillset happens to be the most visible. Medical doctors understand it doesn't matter how great their surgical skills may be if their patients don't take their advice because of a lousy bedside manner. Trial lawyers understand all the legal knowledge in the world doesn't mean anything if their demeanor totally alienates juries. Examples abound.

Michael Strahan has excellent physical football skills which make him a very good (great) individual football player. But that doesn't make him a great professional. All the football skills in the world don't matter as much if you don't understand you a being paid millions of dollars to improve the overall team. Mr. jackass isn't a professional because he has never understood why he was being paid all that money. It isn't about the individual accomplishments Mike. You were paid that money to be a member of a team - to help the team - not to be an individual. He was a great individual player, but not a great professional. The Giants, as a team, would be much better off if they could only find a way to pursuade him to retire. Alas, I'm afraid that is not going to happen.

Enough talk about the jackass. The Giants have some pretty large issues heading into the 2007 campaign.

• No OL depth at all. If one guy goes down the season may be over. That is quite a gamble.
• No blocking TE
• No fullback
• Huge question mark at kicker
• Long snapper on IR
• No real depth on DL including DE (unless jackass comes back but even then Giants will probably ask for a roster exemption for a couple of weeks until he gets into playing shape while the Giants play 3 NFC East games in the first four weeks. Nice job Mikey).
• The secondary. I'll feel better when Ross and Webster are the starting corners (on merit) and there are solid backups behind them. But absent injury it appears Madison and McQuarters get the starting nod which means the secondary has not been upgraded. And both safety spots remain a problem. I was going to list "depth" a problem with the secondary, but that is a wrong term when it is the starters who are the problem and your backups aren't good enough to displace them.
• Brandon Jacobs. He's done a workmanlike job in pre-season. He's a load, no doubt about it. But... he has been unable to break free of traffic and run free this entire pre-season and thngs only get tougher during the regular season as teams spend all week long game planning how to frustrate him. Caveat: We haven't yet seen Jacobs into the 3rd and 4th quarters when the defenses get worn down. We'll have to wait and see.

The NFL season is not a race to the finish. It is a grueling 16 round heavyweight fight. It is easy to "blame" injuries for lack of success (ala 2006), but excuses are just that - excuses for failure. Successful teams - like NE - have sufficient depth to deal with injuries. NE didn't dress any of their starters last night and their backups gave the Giants first teamers a run for their money on both sides of the ball (yes, the Giants offense moved the ball but it wasn't necessarily easy, especially at the goal line). How many of you think you would have been "happy" with the outcome had that been reversed with the Giants not dressing any starters and playing their backups against NE's first team offense and defense? Point made. It would have been a total, unmitigated disaster.

I think the Giants are moving in the right direction. Many people objected to the use of "rebuilding" during the offseason. But what else can you call a transition between the end of the Barber-Strahan era and the beginning of the Manning-(defensive unknown) era? Speaking of Manning, I have what I perceive to be a sea change in his play. Yes, many say he has played well before in pre-season and early regular season, only to drop off after the mid-way point. But that is not what I am talking about. I have seen a noticeable difference in how he throws the football. His footwork is much improved and he is stepping into his throws and is throwing with confidence. While he has missed some throws (not many by the way), none have been of the type that worried me in the past - the type Phil Simms compared to a "wild pitch". His misses were still good throws mechanically. If this is indeed a sea change, his statistics will not matter to me at all (good or bad), nor will the record or any perceived "let down" towards the end of the season - so long as his mechanics remain solid. If that happens, all the rest will come with time.

Simms On Manning - Control vs Accuracy

I watched an interesting segment on ESPN the other night. Phil Simms was a guest and, of course, the subject was his view on quarterbacks. He was asked to give his list of the top ten quarterbacks in the league (he gave five and the only thing you need to know is that Donovan McNabb was #3).

They also asked Simms to identify the "up and coming" quarterbacks in the league - quarterbacks for whom he expected big things in the future. Eli Manning was not on either list.

Naturally, the discussion then turned to his views on Eli Manning and I thought his insights were very interesting. According to Simms, Manning's problem is not accuracy but control. Manning periodically loses control of the football resulting in a wild throw - similar to a pitcher who might be having a very good game and then suddenly throws a wild pitch 10 feet over the catcher's head.

Simms noted that, while every quarterback occasionally throws a "wild pitch", Manning does it too often to succeed in the NFL (I believe he said a rate of about four per game). He emphasized that "control" is a basic and essential skill for any NFL quarterback and that Eli Manning would never be a top ten or an "up and coming" QB unless and until his control problems were resolved.

The good news is that Simms believes control issues can be overcome. The bad news is that he hasn't seen any indication of that happening to date.

Giants v Panthers - First Pre-Season Game

This is going to be short and sweet for one simple reason... there isn't anything to write about. It was the first pre-season game so nothing much can be read into it. Pre-season games are for evaluating individual performances, especially the new players who are unknowns in game situations. Negatives, for the most part, can be ignored because they will likely be corrected. Rather, what I always hope to see are some exciting performances from a rookie or two that gets me so pumped up I can't wait to see him (them) again in the next game. To me that was the biggest disappointment about this game - there simply weren't any spectacular performances.

The one thing I did notice is that the kickoffs were consistently inside the ten yard line and, while I would like to see some cross the goal line, the kicking game was better than I had feared, and that is certainly a positive.

Top Ten Preseason Watch List

Things that are on my mind as Giants open training camp today:

1. Brandon Jacobs
Every Giants fan – hell, every NFL fan – has seen Brandon Jacobs instill the fear of God in defenders. Yet, Brandon Jacobs heads my list as the single most important issue for the Giants season this year. It seems Giants fans everywhere do not expect any drop off in the running game with Tiki Barber’s retirement. That is quite an expectation. Not only is Tiki Barber the Giant’s all time leading rusher, he tops the list as all time leading receiver – and contended for the NFL rushing title the last three years of his career. But fans have seen what Jacobs can do and seemingly believe that what they have seen from Jacobs the past two seasons will automatically carry over into his full time, feature back role.

I’m excited about that prospect – but I’m a realist and understand it is likely that Jacobs will find that life as a feature back in the NFL is quite different than life as a back up role player. It is one thing to stand on the sidelines and be called in, fresh, to periodically run the ball some 5-10 carries a game. It is quite another to pound the ball 20-25 times a game… to have the stamina to handle the ball 6 times on a drive, break off a 30 yard run on the 7th carry, run back to the huddle, and hear your number called yet again for an 8th carry – and still have fresh legs. And then have the long time stamina to still be doing that in December, when his body is beat up and hurt more than he has ever experienced before. And the biggest difference of all? This year NFL defensive coordinators will be spending all week long developing game plans for their entire defense to stop Brandon Jacobs – something he has never faced before.

And, let us not forget that the Giants lost more than Tiki Barber, they lost Jim Finn. It is unknown who will be the fullback this year, or even if they will have a traditional fullback at all. Either way, that will make it more difficult for the feature back because a great blocking fullback is a running back’s best friend. And right now Jacobs is without one.

So, while everyone is very excited (and I include myself in that statement), let’s not get carried away with the expectations that there will not be any drop off from the last three years of Tiki Barber’s career. It is asking a bit much to expect Brandon Jacobs to compete for the NFL rushing title this year.

2. Mathias Kiwanuka
This young man is going to be fun to watch, regardless of the position he plays. As I posted back in May, I hated the move to LB, primarily because the reason behind the move was not because LB was his more natural position, but rather to compensate for the weakness at linebacker and a way to get Kiwanuka on the field rather than sitting behind Strahan. My objection was (and is), that while that thinking might provide short term benefits in 2007, it ignored the long term cost – Kiwanuka was drafted to be a DE – he proved in his rookie season that he had god gifted DE talent and had future pro-bowl written all over him. Moving him away from DE, if temporary, would only serve to retard his long term development as a DE. If permanent, would be “making a bet” that he could turn out to be as good at LB as DE. In my book you “gamble” with a player who isn’t going to make it at the NFL level in his drafted position – but you don’t gamble with a future star to meet some short term need.

Now, of course, we have Mr. Strahan injecting himself into this entire scenario. Strahan, the oldest veteran presumed leader of the team, decides at 11:30 on the night before the team is to report to camp, that he wants to retire. It isn’t clear as I write this whether he is trying to leverage himself for more money or whether he simply can’t face another season of football. And it doesn’t matter. If he announced his retirement in February, it is very unlikely the Giants would have moved Kiwanuka and it is likely they would have drafted a second linebacker, probably during day one. To wait until the last minute – until 11:30 on the night before camp opens, speaks volumes about Strahan as a person, as a teammate, and as a member of the Giants organization.

I strongly believe the Giants organization must grab the opportunity Mr. Strahan has handed them. They need to send a message that will be heard by players for years to come. They should totally ignore Strahan and refuse to return any of his phone calls or those from his agent. They should immediately move Kiwanuka back to DE. And if and when Strahan shows up at camp, they should keep him on the roster, pay him his salary, and make certain he never steps on a football field during a regular or preseason game ever again. Message sent and received: You want to treat the New York Giants as your personal dumping ground – this is how you will end your Hall of Fame career.

Add to this drama two other players who are impacted. With Kiwanuka moving to LB, the status of Tuck’s physical health was critically important. With Strahan’s “retirement” announcement, it moves off the charts in importance. And if Strahan doesn’t play this year, William Josephs stock has suddenly gone up because of his value at DE. Go figure.

3. Amani Toomer
With so many needs heading into the draft, it was telling that the Giants used their second round pick on a WR for the second year in a row. And from what I’ve been hearing it seems they made a solid choice. I am really excited to watch Steve Smith this year. Of course, if I’m not willing to anoint Brandon Jacobs as the second coming, how can I possibly even suggest Smith can make any contribution when we haven’t even seen him in pads? And, of course, I can’t. But I’m more excited about Smith than I am about Sinorice Moss. Smith seems more likely to be a starting receiver some day. Moss, I’m afraid, is more destined to be a part time specialist. Don’t get me wrong – a specialist who breaks some home run screen plays or crossing patterns can have a huge impact on game outcomes. My objection is that second round picks are valuable commodities (and let’s not forget the Giants traded up in the second round to select Moss), and in my book you better get a full time starter with your second round selection.

Anyway, enough with the digression. It was (and remains) my interpretation that the Steve Smith second round selection was an indication of the Giants concerns about Toomer in 2007. And, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I have a soft spot for Toomer, especially in comparison with the ulcerating angst generated by the Barber Strahan show these past 12 months. Amani, in my heart, has been a true and loyal soldier, moving over gracefully to make way for Burress and then proceeding to become the primary clutch “go to” guy anyway. So, a good portion of my “eye time” this preseason will be on Toomer, Smith and Moss.

4. Eli Manning
What is there to say that hasn’t been said? Nothing. That doesn’t mean the Eli watch doesn’t continue, because it does. There just isn’t anything much to add to what has already been said (by just about everyone in the entire world, or so it seems). He isn’t going to get many more seasons to establish himself – and if he doesn’t take a big step forward this year, the number of defenders will drop off considerably. And don’t think for a minute that he doesn’t know that – so there will be considerable internal anxiety added to the mix this year. We can only hope and pray.

A related theme (and one that probably deserves its own “things to watch” point) is the offensive line. As goes the offensive line so goes Eli. Reese jettisoned Petitgout as the trash he obviously thought he was –leaving a gaping hole on the offensive line. A GM purportedly doesn’t make decisions regarding who should play where. But I see some gamesmanship here between Reese and Coughlin. Reese clearly wanted Petitgout gone and, from what I’ve been reading, wants Whimper to get a real shot at breaking into the lineup. If I had to put real money on the line, I’d be forced to put my money against Reese on this one. Absent injury, Whimper doesn’t start this year and the offensive line loses a huge amount of the invaluable flexibility we saw last year. Reese obviously didn’t like Petitgout - as we all learned from his unprofessional attack upon Petitgout this week. And I can live with letting Petitgout go. But I am not thrilled with his lack of plan for a replacement and continue to believe the Giants would be stronger today with Luke in camp competing with Diehl and Whimper for the starting job. On the entire subject of Petitgout I have to give Reese a big fat F which I will chalk up to rookie GM learning experience. But it may have huge consequences for Eli Manning who would have benefited from moves that clearly made the offensive line unquestionably stronger than 2006 – not moves that leave the offensive line on a preseason watch list (ok, I know, I didn’t put it on the watch list – so kill me for taking literary liberties).

5. Kicker
It’s on the list of unknowns and I don’t know more than that about the kickers – nor does anyone else – that’s the problem.

6. Return game
It’s on the list of unknowns and I don’t know more than that about the returners– nor does anyone else – and that’s another problem.

7. Backup Tight End
They added Boss in this year’s draft, allegedly a pass catching TE with soft hands. I’m really excited to watch him. But the Giants have no fullback. The offensive line is in flux, including the loss of Seubert as a blocking tight end. And Shiancoe is gone. So tight end makes my watch list primarily because I want to know who will be the road grading blocking TE when Brandon is running the ball, especially in goal line and short yardage situations?

8. Steve Spagnuolo
He makes my watch list because I am excited – really excited – about the change in defensive philosophy. Every defensive player in history loves a defensive scheme that allows him to simply follow his instincts to run to the ball – to attack, attack, attack. Yes, we may see some break downs and get burned for some (a lot? ) of big plays. But I don’t care. If my defense is going to get burned, then at least we’ll go down while we are going after the QB. As a fan, that’s what I want to see – pressure the QB in every way possible. I’m excited about Spags, can you tell?

9. The Rookies
Well, this is a real “duh” for a preseason watch list. I mean, what is preseason for if it isn’t to watch the rookies and hope for some surprises to see who may actually contribute this year. But hey, this is a things to watch list for the preseason and how can you not watch the rookies? So, it made my list and this year is no different than any of the other 40 preseasons I’ve lived through (ok, 37), watching the rookies is what the preseason is all about – and like always, I’m full of hope and excitement about this year’s rookie crop.

10. Team Coughlin
Coach Coughlin is an interesting subject. I’ve heard many express their views. My post at the end of last season – before ownership made their decision – basically called it lunacy to consider firing a head coach who had turned the team into a winner in very short order and taken the team to back to back playoff seasons. So I suppose I was a Coughlin defender. But I suspect that many such “defenders” are as uncomfortable with that label as I am – for I am not a Coughlin fan. I think he likes to think himself as a disciplinarian when in fact all he has are silly rules, displays no self discipline on the sidelines, and frankly has been a relative push over when it has come down to dealing with players whom a true disciplinarian like Lombardi would have benched in a heartbeat without losing a moment’s sleep over it. No, I don’t particularly care for Coughlin. But he should be judged by his record and, for me, based upon the record – especially where the Giants stood at the eve of the Bears game last year – it is hard to find fault with where he had brought this team.

But Coughlin is obviously a mixed bag. He rubs the players the wrong way and today’s “handle with kid gloves” babied players chaff under his silly rules. In many ways a Coughlin is good for these kids – some of them may actually gain some valuable life experience dealing with difficult people. Most, however, are too self centered to understand that life sometimes forces you to adapt and it is actually a valuable skill to know how to thrive under even the worst of circumstances. Sadly, the majority of young players today take the field believing they are god’s chosen few, that they are somehow “entitled” to fame and fortune – and that the rest of the world just better learn to adapt to them, not vice versa. Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan both represent exhibit one of this type of behavior. From the standpoint of talent, the team is worse off with the loss of Barber and Strahan. But from the standpoint of “team”, the organization is light years ahead with both gone. If Strahan keeps his word and retires (highly doubtful but I can always hope), maybe the Giants organization can finally put the last 15 years of "leadershipless" behind them and breathe some fresh air into the locker room - a place which, in the end, is where true championship teams are built.

Reese's Pieces - 2007 Draft

With the 2007 draft in the books, how did the Giants fare, at least viewed from my own biased my pre-draft assessment? First, a question. Does a team's draft selections tell us anything at all about management's assessment of team needs? Comments from Jerry Reese, both before the after the draft, provide some insight. Teams do not make draft selections by slavishly picking from a simple sequential value list of players. They create groupings (Reese calls them "rows") of players with similar values and teams freely consider need when choosing from the players remaining in the highest "row". Armed with this insight, what did we learn from the Giant's 2007 draft selections?

Guy Whimper
As I posted before the draft, "if the Giants have seen enough to be convinced Guy Whimper is their left offensive tackle of the future, offensive line is unlikely to be a day one priority." If the Giants were disappointed in Whimper's development thus far, they would have used a day one pick on an offensive tackle - not for 2007, but for 2008. The fact they waited until the 6th round (Adam Koets) probably indicates they remain confident that Whimper fills that future need (i.e. 2008 and beyond) as much as any day one pick would have.

Amani Toomer
Heading into the draft, I felt the Giants had long-term needs for both a speed and possession receiver, so it was not at all surprising to see them draft a WR. However, this draft was deep at WR and I think it was therefore very revealing that the Giants used another day one pick on a wide receiver after trading up to grab Moss in the second round last year. As I said before the draft: "How long they wait may very well depend upon what Toomer's doctors have been telling them privately." I believe the Giants would not have used their second pick on a WR unless they were uncertain whether Toomer can resume his 2006 production. This was an insurance pick.

Strahan and Tuck
My pre-draft entry left little doubt about my strongly held belief that filling their needs at linebacker would have more impact on the overall team than any other single position - and I wanted 2 day one selections at linebacker (1st and 3rd rounds). Jerry Reese obviously held a similar view. The Giants in essence went linebacker in rounds 1 and 4, selecting Zak DeOssie in the 4th and then, hours after the draft, announcing that 2006 1st round pick Mathias Kiwanuka was being moved to strong side linebacker.

I have very mixed feelings about the Kiwanuka move. On the one hand I am very, very excited about the prospect of watching this young man play LB in 2007. Last year we all saw the pure athletic talent he brings to the table. Clearly he will have a much greater impact during 2007 starting at LB than he would in a backup rotation at DE. At the same time, I can't help thinking we are "stealing from Peter to pay Paul". Kiwi has excelled at DE and there is no doubt the Giants drafted him for DE. My pre-draft analysis for 2006 had DE as a position of need, despite the play of Osi and Tuck, simply because of the importance of the position and Strahan's age. There are not many players who have the god gifted pass rushing talent to play DE in the NFL - and those that do still take years to develop into a complete DE such as Strahan. Playing rotational backup at DE (and I am not sure he wouldn't have had the talent to start in 2007), would have benefited Kiwanuka greatly. It is not as though that development time would have been a waste. What is a waste is to take "pure gold" at DE and turn it into silver at LB. I'm not saying Kiwi can't turn into gold at LB - I'm just saying I already know he is gold at DE and I don't believe in gambling with gold.

I have been an avid fan of the Giants for close to 40 years now, and I have learned that patience in building a champion is a necessity. So, while you can count me as amongst the truly excited for what this means for 2007, my joy is tempered with a tinge of sadness regarding the potential long range cost. As though I've just bought a new sports car by dipping into my life's savings. It's fun for now, but at what cost?

So what does all of this have to do with the heading of Strahan and Tuck? One other conclusion I draw from the announcement of the Kiwanuka move is that both Strahan and Tuck figure prominently in the Giants plans. It is inconceivable to me that Giant's management would make such a move without being extremely confident that Michael Strahan is good to go in 2007 and that they remain very high about the role Tuck plays in their future plans at DE. Both conclusions represent very excellent news indeed.

William Joseph
The selection of Jay Alford on day one is a very telling pick. Indeed, perhaps more so because all the so called "experts" had him as likely being available much later during day two. For the Giants to use their third and final day one pick on a defensive tackle tells me that Willie Joe's days as a Giant are likely over. Absent a small miracle, Alford and free agent pickup Marcus Bell will almost certainly replace Jonas Seawright and Joseph on the 2007 squad. This pick would not have been made if Joseph had demonstrated even the slightest hint that he was finally ready to become even a serviceable DT. The only way Willie Joe is on the 53 man roster in September is if the Giants carry 5 DT (a distinct possibility if the Giants believe they are thin at DE with the Kiwanuka move). Regardless, this day one selection speaks volumes about the disappointment with William Joseph.

How Many Make The Final Roster?
From a purely positional standpoint, the Giants draft looks solid. While obviously impossible to know at this early stage, I believe the first five selections are virtual locks to make the team. And because they fill positions of need, there is an excellent chance Koets and/or Johnson make the squad as well. If there are 6 rookies on the final 53 man roster in September, this would have to be considered a fantastic draft, at least in the short term. The selections:

• Rd. 1: Aaron Ross, CB
• Rd. 2: Steve Smith, WR
• Rd. 3: Jay Alford, DT
• Rd. 4: Zak DeOssie, LB
• Rd. 5: Kevin Boss, TE
• Rd. 6: Adam Koets, OT
• Rd. 7: Michael Johnson, S
• Rd. 7: Ahmad Bradshaw, RB

2007 Pre-Draft Analysis

The 2007 draft finally arrives on Saturday. Much has happened since my last post back on Jan 15th when I put my thoughts regarding needs down on paper while the 2006 season was still very fresh in my mind (before the 2006 Conference Championship games were played). Although I predicted Arrington, Emmons and Whitfield would not be returning, never in my wildest imagination did I think Luke Petitgout would be released. And while I was concerned the Giants might lose Shiancoe, the loss of Feely simply never crossed my mind. Of course this was all in addition to the retirement of Tiki Barber.

Offsetting those losses, the Giants signed LB Kawika Mitchell, DT Marcus Bell, QB Anthony Wright, and defensive back Michael Stone (almost certainly for special teams). And perhaps the most important addition was RB Reuben Droughns, obtained from Cleveland in a straight up exchange for Tim Carter.

These roster changes leave the Giants with some definite needs heading into next week's draft:

Offensive Line
The loss of both Petitgout and Whitfield leaves a huge question mark at offensive tackle. In theory it would appear the Giants have three possible options:

1. Guy Whimper
Guy Whimper, a 4th round "project" selection in last year's draft has the size and athleticism to be a first rate NFL tackle but he almost certainly needs another year before being ready to compete for a starting job. He must be considered a long shot to be starting in September.

2. 2007 Rookie
It would be foolish to plan on finding a left offensive tackle in the draft, no less to expect the good fortune to draft one sufficiently talented to protect your franchise QB starting in September. Besides, if the Giants have seen enough to be convinced Guy Whimper is their left offensive tackle of the future, offensive line is unlikely to be a day one priority.

3. David Diehl
This is really the only true viable solution and almost certainly the lineup we will see in September absent some surprise trade or out-of-the blue performance by Whimper or a rookie during camp.

Wide Receiver
The loss of Toomer in 2006 opened some eyes. When Toomer went down Eli immediately struggled and the Giants offense totally tanked. I believe Amani Toomer was having his best season ever last year before he was hurt. Not just in production as Eli's "go to" guy, but he was also a gutsy performer, leaving everything on the field as we all witnessed in the first Philly game. Having said that, Amani is one year older and coming off a serious injury.

The Giants could use a speed receiver as well as a possession wide out. I would not be surprised to see the Giants use two picks at WR, one of which could easily be a day one pick. On the other hand the draft is very deep at WR and the Giants could do very well at WR in rounds 4 and/or 5. How long they wait may very well depend upon what Toomer's doctors have been telling them privately.

Second Tight End
The loss of Shiancoe in free agency creates a dire need at TE, one I had hoped the Giants would have been able to avoid. As it turns out, re-signing Shiancoe was not an option because of the absolutely crazy amount of money thrown his way. The only viable option on the roster at present is Darcy Johnson. Tight end is one of the most injury prone positions in all of football as Jeremy Shockey seemingly reminds us annually. But more than needing a backup, the Giants need a strong blocking TE to run their 2 and 3 TE formations. The loss of Shiancoe creates perhaps the most "absolute" need on the entire team. It would appear it is not a question of "if" but only of "when" - i.e. what round they make a TE selection. While not requiring a first day pick, I would not be totally surprised by a TE selection as high as round 3.

Defensive Secondary
I honestly don't know what to think about the Giants secondary. They looked so bad at times last year that it was clear there was something far more wrong than simply lack of talent. For most of last year Webster played very soft and made few, if any, aggressive plays on the ball. He appeared afraid of getting beat and seemed to me to have lost his confidence - something that is often the fault of coaching - players playing timid out of fear of making a mistake. You can't play football that way, and certainly not corner. I believe Spags will have a totally different approach - one that focuses upon making aggressive plays on the ball and dismisses getting burned occasionally as something that simply comes with the territory as the price to be paid for aggressive football. I think we will see a totally new Webster next year for this precise reason.

Madison played better towards the end of the year especially in man to man coverage assignments. And I liked McQuarters from the very beginning of preseason. At safety, the word is that Demps was not fully recovered from his injury the year before. However I don't think that can fully explain his woeful displays in tackling in the open field. And Wilson had a better year in 2005 than he did in 2006.

The Giants have clear needs at corner and safety. But, as I've indicated in other posts, I am a big believer in building a dominant front 7 before worrying about the defensive secondary.

Linebacker
I continue to believe this is the one position that would pay the most dividends in overall team improvement and moving the Giants into the upper echelons of NFL teams. Defense wins championships and great defenses are built starting with a dominant front 7. The Giants are solid at DE. They need to upgrade their DT rotation over 2006 and the signing of Marcus Bell should be an upgrade over Jonas Seawright and help make them more stout against the run. I'd like to see them replace William Joseph, but that may have to wait which probably means Willie Joe has, yet again, bought another one year reprieve.

At this point achieving a truly dominant front 7 lies primarily at finding solid long term starters at the two outside linebacker positions. The signing of Kawika Mitchell doesn't meet that criteria. Although he was seeking a multi-year deal, the Giants signed him to a one year one million dollar contract. Clearly they view Mitchell as this year's Brandon Short.

That leaves Wilkinson, Blackburn, and Torbor. Blackburn has made impact plays every time he has taken the field. Having said that, he has remained a backup and must be considered a long shot to make it from street free agent to a 5-10 year starter. Torber is a total enigma. He showed a lot of promise his rookie year and thereafter seemingly disappeared. With all the problems at linebacker last year, he had plenty of opportunity to compete for playing time. His failure to do so cannot give anyone very much confidence about his future.

That leaves Wilkinson. Although he had his ups and downs his rookie season - and didn't even dress for the final game - I suspect the Giants are still very excited about his potential and probably the only linebacker currently on the team that has a realistic chance to be part of the long term solution at OLB for the Giants. That leaves the Giants with a long way to go towards building a truly dominant defensive front 7. In a perfect world they would spend a #1 at WIL, another #1 at SAM, and a couple of second day picks at LB for depth - meaning they are likely 2 maybe 3 drafts away.

Conclusion
Looking purely at need, the Giants biggest concern this year must be LB, WR, backup TE, and OT. Which need is most critical? I believe that depends strictly upon the Giants' internal assessment of Guy Whimper. If they are convinced he is their future, then OT can fall to a day two pick. On the other hand if he hasn't shown enough last year for them to be sure, the need becomes much more critical and may force their hand into day one, and probably even round 1. However, as I noted previously, starting a rookie OT involves far greater risks than starting a rookie LB or WR. Therefore selecting a 1st round OT probably means helping the team in 2008 more than addressing 2007 needs.

Strictly from a positional standpoint, I'd like to see the Giants make the following selections:
1. LB
2. S
3. LB
4. WR
5. TE
6. CB
7a. OL
7b. WR

* Note that I presumed Giants remain high on Whimper thus removing OT as a huge need
** It is interesting to note that my 2006 pre-draft analysis(before the Giants acquired Arrington) called for LB in rounds 1 and 3 also.