Rolling along at 11-1 and lauded as the best team in the league, the Giants last season were convinced they were headed and destined for a repeat Super Bowl appearance. But a shot rang out in a Manhattan nightclub to compromise the offense, Justin Tuck’s ailing foot robbed the defense of its pass rush and the Giants free-falled down the stretch and were ousted quickly and quietly from the playoffs.
Refortified on defense and leaning more heavily than ever on franchise quarterback Eli Manning, the Giants are geared for another division title and extended postseason run. Other than questions about their pedigree and talent at receiver, there are no glaring speedbumps to slow the Giants.
QUARTERBACK
Eli Manning shouldn’t be the highest-paid player in the league but timing is everything and don’t worry, he won’t be for very long because the next big guy will come along. His makeup and mental consistency sure is worth plenty, though. Now he needs to improve his accuracy and command and kick the door in on stardom.
RUNNING BACK
Brandon Jacobs remains a beast but must show he can carry even more of a load. Given the pounding he gives and gets, a complimentary partner is required. Derrick Ward is gone to Tampa and now exciting Ahmad Bradshaw gets to show he’s an understudy no more. Don’t sleep on Danny Ware, who will push for playing time. Madison Hedgecock at 266 pounds is the perfect blend of contact and crazy on the field as a blocking fullback.
RECEIVER
Raise your hand if you see a bonafide No. 1 target? Hmm, no takers. Steve Smith is great in the slot, but now he steps up in class as a starter on the outside and must show he can inflate his yardage. Domenik Hixon is consistent and certainly capable but must prove he’s more than just better than adequate, and gifted Mario Manningham must take a quantum leap in his second season. Some sort of contribution is needed from rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden. Nicks is more polished and there’s no reason he can’t make some noise very quickly.
TIGHT END
Kevin Boss is a solid two-way player with soft hands and improved blocking skills, but he hardly is dynamic. Probably a stretch to think rookie H-back Travis Beckum can get much done in Year 1, but he is an interesting pass-catching prospect. There is no true plow-horse blocker in this group.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Seasoned, grizzled unit has blue-collar mentality, and best asset of the group is smarts. These guys can make in-game adjustments better than any other line in the league. RG Chris Snee is a star, LG Rich Seubert is a better athlete than he looks, C Shaun O’Hara is a leader and LT David Diehl is a worker. RT Kareem McKenzie is a force in the running game but can’t show signs of age.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Best pass-rushing end trio around with Osi Umenyiora (returning from knee surgery), Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka. When they are on the field together, pick your poison. Unit is solid and incredibly deep in the middle with Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, ex-Cowboy Chris Canty (once he recovers from torn hamstring) and Rocky Bernard. There’s the luxury of having a group of pass rushers or run-stoppers and all sorts of combinations.
LINEBACKER
Potential problem area. Antonio Pierce, coming off a difficult offseason with his involvement in the Plaxico Burress mess, has something to prove in the middle and appears physically fitter. Rookie Clint Sintim will push veteran Danny Clark on the strong side. Former Falcon Michael Boley, once he recovers from hip surgery and returns from Game 1 suspension, had better be the real deal on the weak side, as backups Bryan Kehl and Gerris Wilkinson are athletic but perhaps not playmaker material.
SECONDARY
Athletic, young group of high draft picks — CBs Corey Webster, Aaron Ross and Terrell Thomas — make up the guts of this position. Webster is physical and could be a Pro Bowler if he increases his interceptions. Thomas is someone to watch coming off a great training camp and could push Ross for a starting job. Kevin Dockery is a fine No. 4 corner. If 2008 first-round pick Kenny Phillips pans out in his second year (and first as a starting strong safety), watch out, as he and free safety Michael Johnson have loads of range.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Still searching for someone to make something happen in the return game.
Mario Manningham, anyone? Maybe Danny Ware is the answer. Coverage units are getting faster, but there’s no one breakout stud, though LB Chase Blackburn comes close.
KICKERS
Jeff Feagles at age 43 enters his 22nd NFL season and remains a marvel at angling his punts. Will he ever wear out? Lawrence Tynes last year got hurt and then was supplanted by John Carney. Tynes has talent, but isn’t an especially deep on kickoffs. Despite kick for the ages in Green Bay, do you have great confidence when Tynes attempts a field goal?
COACHING
Tom Coughlin has things on a roll and greater perspective, but he never takes his foot off the accelerator. Key will be how well first-year coordinator Bill Sheridan takes command of the defense and puts his own stamp on a unit that should be able to dominate.
PREDICTION
11-5
The Giants will take the NFC East by one game over the Eagles, win one playoff game at Giants Stadium and then lose in the NFC Championship game in Atlanta.
Paul Schwartz’s Giants crystal ball
MOST IMPORTANT OFFENSIVE PLAYER
Eli Manning. For $106.7 million, the Giants anticipate their franchise player improving on last year’s Pro Bowl season and making the young receivers around him better.
MOST IMPORTANT DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Corey Webster. Stud cornerbacks are hard to find, and the Giants think they’ve found one in Webster. They need him to be great and pick up the pace with big plays and interceptions.
ROOKIE TO WATCH
Hakeem Nicks. First-year Giants receivers almost always contribute little, but Nicks has the goods to break that mold. He’s polished enough to make an impact, as long as he keeps up the intensity.
STAR ON THE RISE
Terrell Thomas. The second-year cornerback from USC already has earned himself loads of playing time and could challenge Aaron Ross for a starting job. Watch him fly around on special teams.
BIGGEST GAME
Nov. 1 at Philadelphia. It’s already late in the season when these two rivals square off for the first time, but it’s never too early to circle a game that could decide the division title.
BIGGEST COACHING DECISION
Keeping all the pass-rushers happy, getting them all on the field and best utilizing all their diverse skills so there’s no Osi Umenyiora-type blowup during the season.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF . . .
The Giants’ defense starts getting a bit frustrated after a few dominating performances don’t result in victories because the offense can’t generate enough points.
SURE TO MAKE BIG BLUE FANS GRUMBLE
Seeing opposing defenses stack the box to stop the run because there’s no receiver on the outside worthy of much respect.
THE GIANTS WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IF . . .
Brandon Jacobs plays 15 games, they sweep the Redskins, Eli Manning throws fewer than nine interceptions, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka combine for 35 sacks, Mario Manningham has 40 receptions and David Diehl continues his iron-man streak.
THE GIANTS WILL MISS THE PLAYOFFS IF . . .
They get swept by the Eagles, Hakeem Nicks doesn’tcatch 30 passes, Michael Boley doesn’t start 14 games, guards Chris Snee and Rich Seubert miss more than two games, Aaron Ross spends more time on the trainer’s table than he does intercepting the ball, Eli Manning fails to throw 24 touchdown passes.