New Orleans Coming to Town

Remember 2005? The Giants team that surprised most analysts by going 11-5 and winning the Division? Even with the disappointing playoff loss to Carolina, at the end of 2005 everything was looking up for the Giants for 2006. They had an offense that was virtually unstoppable - a running back that was at the top of his game and close to being the very best in the league. A diverse passing game that featured more options than any one team could cover between Burress, Shockey, Barber, Toomer and Carter. Their defense featured two all-pro bookend ends that led the league in combined sacks. They had arguably the best Special Teams in all of football. And amazingly, this was a team that was only going to get better in 2006.

New Orleans comes to town tomorrow to give the Giants a reminder of just how things have oh so changed since 2005. There aren't many people who, if given the choice between the Giants or the Saints at the end of 2005, would have selected the Saints. In 2005 the Giants were the team that had arrived and was on its way to great things, while the Saints were going nowhere fast. So, here come the Saints tomorrow to remind us all that the two teams are, indeed, headed in different directions.

It is truly difficult to explain what has happened to this Giants team. The pre-season expectations were, after all, based upon the reality of the Giants' strong 2005 performance. It would be easy to explain it all away because of injuries. But that would be a dangerous mindset to adopt. That would lead right into a trap where necessary changes are avoided. And this team needs some change. The loss of your #2 WR cannot be used as the excuse for why your powerhouse offense was crippled. Yes, the Giants had more injuries on defense including the loss of both of their all-pro defensive ends. But, even though the sacks and pressure being generated looked like it was finally starting to warm up, the truth is that the Giants didn't seem to be an improvement over the 2005 version. And how does the best Special Teams squad in 2005 suddenly become one of the league's worst in 2006?

I continue to believe that what 2006 has demonstrated is that the Giants do not have nearly enough impact players - players capable of making game changing plays. Indeed this 2006 squad is shockingly devoid of impact players. While he has had good yardage totals, Tiki Barber has not had many game changing plays during 2006 as he did during 2005. Shockey? Despite the "numbers", the truth is he was more of an impact player his rookie year than any season since. Buress? He catches some long balls but none really stand out as game changing type plays. Manning certainly doesn't qualify, at least not this year. And don't even think about defense or special teams - neither has a single player that can be considered an impact player based upon what we have seen in 2006.

The bottom line is that this team needs 2-3 players that are unquestionably the very best at their position in all of football - the kind of player other teams drool over in their sleep. The Giants need 2 or 3 and their current count? Zero. There is not one single player on their squad that comes close to that qualification. Not one.

That is what is wrong with this team and that is what must change if this team is to go anyplace in the years to come. So, whether the Giants win or lose their next two games - whether the Giants qualify for a wild card or don't - really doesn't matter. Heck, even if they find a way to beat the other lousy teams in the NFC and wind up going to the Super Bowl - none of that will change the fact that this is not a great team. Greatness is not a word that comes to mind to describe any player on their squad, any coach, or anything about the team or its play this season. New Orleans is likely to remind the Giants and all of their fans of that fact tomorrow.