No one was basking in any prolonged Super Bowl afterglow when general manager Jerry Reese cut to the chase at the start of training camp 2013, reminding everyone the Giants haven’t made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. That’s a sobering reality and it is clear Reese and ownership expect coach Tom Coughlin to get this team back into the postseason.
There’s certainly enough assembled talent to do so. The clock isn’t ticking yet on Eli Manning, 32, entering his 10th season (Can it really be nearly a decade?), and though he’s in his prime, the Giants are determined not to waste these years. Reese is taking something of a calculated gamble, as almost half of the players on the roster are operating on one-year deals or are in the final years of their contracts. Can you say urgency?
The nucleus of the 2011 Super Bowl champions is still on the scene, for the most part, but questions abound with so many of them. Can Justin Tuck breathe life into a gasping career? Will Jason Pierre-Paul return to his fearsome 2011 dominance coming off back surgery? Is Hakeem Nicks setting himself up for a massive payday after an injury-slowed and unproductive 2012 season? Does Chris Snee have another quality year in him and does David Diehl have much left to offer? Does
Coughlin, who recently turned 67, have any solution for last season’s appalling late collapse or the fadeouts that ruined previous seasons (other than the two years he won the Super Bowl, of course)?
It was a rough summer in terms of nagging (and in some cases severe) injuries and inconsistent play, especially on offense. It could be a rough season ahead.
OFFENSE
This unit endured uncharacteristic struggles in 2012, but still was able to average nearly 27 points a game. The anticipation is the mess Eli Manning oversaw in the summer will give way to what is expected to be a prolific attack, with Manning having targets aplenty in Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle and new tight end Brandon Myers.
If Nicks returns to his pre-2012 form and shakes off his nagging ailments he’s one of the most productive receivers in the league and he certainly will be motivated in the final year of his contact. Cruz is happily signed and once his bruised heel clears up, he should again be one of the top slot receivers. Randle is a budding star with all the talent as long as he shows all the urgency he needs. Myers caught 79 passes last season for the Raiders. He won’t get near that with the Giants and he’s not much of a run-after-catch guy but he should help prolong possessions.
Manning, as usual, is the man in the middle and, as fantasy owners know all too well, he took a statistical dip in 2012, which cannot happen again. Manning at 32 is in his prime, but players don’t get to stay in their prime too long, meaning a second down year will start the whispers.
He should get a ton of big, big running plays from David Wilson, who defines the Speed Kills warning. Wilson, however, must prove he can be as effective on third-and-2. Losing Andre Brown for however long with another broken left leg is a killer, as he is far-and-away the best short-yardage and between-the-tackles runner on the team.
Will Manning feel protected in the pocket? Will Beatty is solid at left tackle, but the line was unstable in the preseason and rookie first-round pick Justin Pugh gets no initiation. He must be capable right away at right tackle moving in for David Diehl (thumb surgery). A quick return for David Baas (sprained knee) would greatly help solidify the center position. At least the guards (Chris Snee and Kevin Boothe) are set.
GRADE: B-plus.
DEFENSE
No one is asking for the days-gone-by dominance but last year’s performance was unacceptable, as was the 31st ranking in the league. Curiously, the unit did not undergo much of an overhaul, as the decision-makers are counting on strong comeback seasons from defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul (back surgery) and Justin Tuck (coming off back-to-back down years), and CB Corey Webster (who had to accept a hefty cut in salary in order to stay on the roster). If the Giants hit on all three, the defense can be solid, even after the costly loss of ball-hawking safety Stevie Brown, out for the season with a torn ACL.
The pass rush disappeared last season and it remains to be seen if JPP can return to 2011 form and if Tuck can regain his stature as a premier player. If not, it’s big trouble, as coordinator Perry Fewell hasn’t shown much of a flair for creating pressure via the blitz.
Defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka is more comfortable on the line than he was at linebacker and former Eagle DT Cullen Jenkins figures to be a huge addition. There’s hope rookie third-round pick DE Damontre Moore can have an impact right away, but it may be that the Giants’ second-round pick, DT Johnathan Hankins, gets a bigger role.
The linebackers are a mix-and-match group with not a single complete, three-down player, although Jacquian Williams comes the closest. Keith Rivers, if he can stay healthy, can make plays. Former Cowboy Dan Connor in the middle is a decent run-stopper.
Without a quality pass rush, the secondary will struggle, but there are some interesting pieces, starting with indispensable safety Antrel Rolle and CB Prince Amukamara, who appears ready to emerge. Webster is in a make-good year after a down season and if Terrell Thomas can complete his comeback following two ACL surgeries in one year, the entire defensive backfield gets upgraded. The hope is former Steeler Ryan Mundy can pick up some of the slack for injured Brown, at least until Will Hill’s suspension is complete.
GRADE: C-plus
SPECIAL TEAMS
Two-time Super Bowl champ Lawrence Tynes was replaced by veteran kicker Josh Brown, who has a stronger leg and should give Coughlin more options from 50-plus yards away. Brown is steady, as is big-personality punter Steve Weatherford, he of the body-builder physique and reliable right leg. Zak DeOssie is a wonderful long-snapper and is in a select group that can get down the field and make a tackle. As a rookie, Wilson was a dynamic kickoff returner, but he has a starting role on offense and cannot handle both roles, meaning rookie RB Michael Cox gets a shot, unless WR Jerrel Jernigan makes a move. Punt return has been ho-hum for years and Randle is sure-handed but not explosive. CB Jayron Hosley is explosive but not as sure-handed.
GRADE: B-plus
COACHING
Go ask Coughlin when he’s going to retire if you feel like wasting your time. The guy turned 67 on Saturday and his energy and drive remain vibrant. He does all he can to keep his team physically fresh, which is why it is such a mystery his teams too often sag late in the season. Of course, he also has two glorious Super Bowl surges on his resume so go figure. He trusts offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride to call the plays, as the two see eye-to-eye on how the offense should operate.
This is a big season for Fewell. He has a lot of players with close to equal skill-level and he’s going to have to find the right combinations, which is not easy.
GRADE: A
3 BOLD PREDICTIONS
Hakeem Nicks is going to return to playing at a high level. Right after midseason, the murmurs of “The Giants should try to re-sign Nicks before the end of the season’’ will be heard loud and clear.
The lack of a pass rush will rear its ugly head again. The Big Three of Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka will not make opposing defenses cringe in fear.
The Giants are going to miss Ahmad Bradshaw’s toughness on the field and Chris Canty’s leadership in the locker room. Those are qualities difficult to replace.
PAUL SCHWARTZ’S YARDSTICKS
MOST IMPORTANT OFFENSIVE PLAYER
Of course, it’s Eli Manning. It’s always Eli Manning. The remarkably durable Eli Manning, who never misses anything.
MOST IMPORTANT DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Justin Tuck. Let’s assume Jason Pierre-Paul returns from back surgery and is vintage JPP, circa 2011. Without Tuck regaining the form that made him a Pro Bowl-caliber two-way end, the defense comes up short and is in trouble.
ROOKIE TO WATCH
Justin Pugh. The rookie first-round pick from Syracuse moves in immediately as the starting right tackle and he had better be good right away.
STAR ON THE RISE
Prince Amukamara’s career didn’t get off to a rousing start, but not every first-round pick is immediately ready to roll. He’s stronger and more physical than you think and ready to emerge as the team’s top corner.
BIGGEST GAME
Dec. 1 at Washington. Tough stretch (vs. Packers and Cowboys) ends with a trip to face the Redskins, last year’s division champs. Will Robert Griffin III still be upright by then?
BIGGEST COACHING DECISION
How much of a workload to heap on dynamic David Wilson, who is strong but not very big and is now the man in the backfield with Andre Brown out of the picture for a while.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF …
The linebacker position is an ever-changing rotation and very rarely are three of them on the field at the same time. Figure Jacquian Williams and Keith Rivers get the most reps.
SURE TO MAKE FANS GRUMBLE
Seeing Corey Webster give up a big play on third down and Justin Tuck come oh-so-close to a sack. Seeing David Wilson on third-and-2 lose a yard because he tried to take the ball outside. Hearing Victor Cruz isn’t worth the money he got because of reduced production. Hearing ace radio voice Bob Papa say, “That’s another missed tackle by a Giants linebacker.’’
PREDICTION
9-7
This is a good team that has visions of being great, but too many things have to go right and rarely does so much fall into place in a single season. The Giants absolutely will contend for a playoff berth, but this isn’t a championship defense, although the offense has potential for some big, big days. They’re more likely to finish in second place behind the Redskins in the NFC East and miss the playoffs.