Last Year
After starting seven games as a rookie, Eli Manning was handed the keys to the car in his second season. The Giants weren't sure what to expect, but they surrounded him with several offensive weapons that supported him and helped return an NFC East crown. The Giants have made improvements to their defense, but once again, all eyes are on the younger Manning to determine if he's getting closer to his big brother and if he is ready to carry the team.
What We Learned From Last Year
After posting a quarterback rating which was only 7.2 points higher than his completion percentage in his rookie season, expectations were much higher of Manning in his second season.
While he only completed 52.8% of his passes, he posted a respectable touchdown-to-interception ratio (24/17), but more importantly, flashed the unique intangibles that made him the first pick overall in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Although he flashed the inconsistencies of a relatively green starter, Manning saved his best for the fourth quarter in generating several comebacks.
Out of all the quarters, his completion percentage and QB rating were at its best in the fourth period.
He had a ton of support and no one was more vital than running back Tiki Barber.
At the age of 30, the over-the-hill age for running backs, some outsiders wondered if Barber would hit that invisible brick wall. But he did the exact opposite, setting career-highs in carries, rushing yards, and per-carry average.
Barber had always been one of the better receivers out of the backfield and continued to be a safety valve for Manning, reeling in 54 of his passes.
The Giants signed Plaxico Burress in the offseason to take over as the team's number one wideout and that he did. Although he was maligned for disappearing in the playoff game against Carolina, Burress was good for 76 receptions and developed a solid chemistry with his quarterback. Along with Amani Toomer and dynamic tight end Jeremy Shockey, the offense was not short of receivers.
The front five protecting Manning gelled and proved to be an up-and-coming unit. The interior with guards Chris Snee and David Diehl was solid, while right tackle Kareem McKenzie, who was signed away from the cross-town rival Jets, secured the right tackle position.
Even with an inexperienced signal caller running the offense, the Giants were forced to rely on outscoring their opponents simply because their defense was not up to par.
While the defensive line was outstanding, the linebackers and secondary was much maligned.
Up front, the trimmest tandem of ends in Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora combined for 26 of the 41 sacks. Many people were wondering if they had lost too much weight to last a full season, but Strahan stayed fit and Umenyiora burst onto the scene with a breakout year.
In the middle of the line, New York took a flier on Kendrick Clancy, who looked somewhat mediocre in his five prior seasons in Pittsburgh. But Clancy was a stout run-stuffer and formed a decent rotation with William Joseph and Fred Robbins.
At the second level, outsiders questioned the decision to ink Antonio Pierce to a pricey contract to become the starting middle linebacker, but he quelled those concerns, proving to be a valuable playmaker. He finished second on the team in tackles, while adding 2.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions in 13 games.
Although the linebackers struggled, particularly late in the season, more of that had to do with incessant injuries than underperforming.
The secondary, on the other hand, lacked talent.
Will Peterson was slated to be the team's top cornerback, but back problems limited him to only two games. Former first-round pick Will Allen continued to disappoint with his work, leaving the team fairly thin at the position. 2005 second-round pick Corey Webster performed reasonably at times, but was obviously still a freshman, while Curtis DeLoatch was abused often by opposing wide receivers and the New York media.
Second-year strong safety Gibril Wilson quietly put together another strong season — even though his rookie campaign was shortened due to injury — and isn't going to be a secret for much longer.
The Giants have revamped their secondary, while adding a couple of playmakers on defense to complement last year's third-ranked scoring offense, but they find themselves in the toughest division in football and face an uphill climb to retain their top spot in the NFC East.
This Year
By signing veterans LaVar Arrington, Sam Madison, and Will Demps in the offseason, the Giants have by no means had a quiet downtime, but their moves have been overshadowed by the more heralded acquisitions by division rivals Washington and Dallas.
While their potent offense returns all of its starters from last season, the defense was the sector of the team that required — and received — attention.
But the question persists: have they improved?
On paper, Arrington alone figures to secure the strong side linebacking position that wasn't up to par last season, but his contract only becomes lavish if he plays at a high level. It is incentive-based and there are concerns regarding his knee, which has undergone surgery twice in the last two years. It is worth watching as it may weaken as the season continues.
But supposing that it is fine, because along with Pierce, the Giants will have two outstanding playmakers in the middle of their defense. Carlos Emmons, who is coming off a down year, will battle Brandon Short for the last role.
With Strahan, Umenyiora, sure fire first-round pick Mathias Kiwanuka, and second-year project Justin Tuck, the Giants have the deepest rotation of defensive ends and will clearly wreak havoc in passing situations, but there are concerns that most opponents will rather focus on attacking on the ground.
There are serious concerns about the interior linemen.
The Giants thought they had a verbal agreement from free agent Kendrick Clancy to return, but the Arizona Cardinals ended up signing his services.
Fred Robbins, who came over from Minnesota in 2004, has been effective at times, but not consistently enough to be full-time, and 2003 first-round pick William Joseph, who is mediocre at best, are the remaining starters. And there isn't much serviceable depth.
The secondary has introduced Madison, R.W. McQuarters and Demps this year, but they may not be a whole lot better.
Demps is a decent safety, but considering his former team, the Baltimore Ravens, who know a thing or two about evaluating defensive talent, didn't hurry to re-sign him, it might raise a red flag.
Madison is past his prime and similar to Demps, his former team wanted little to do with him. He still has decent cover skills, but has slowed down significantly. The good news is that Corey Webster should continue to develop and be much more reliable this season. McQuarters and DeLoatch will battle for nickel duties.
Gibril Wilson is an excellent all-around safety and will have to be the cornerstone of the secondary. They should be a bit better in coverage this year, but they will have to rely on a steady pass rush for support.
The offense will be the bread and butter of this team and the growth of Eli Manning will determine whether they return to the playoffs.
The Giants have the toughest schedule among NFC East teams and although they have a well-rounded roster, the Cowboys and the Redskins are more seasoned and just a little bit better.
One position that could allow the Giants to leapfrog those two teams is at quarterback.
Eli Manning has a lot of potential because, of course, he is a Manning. If he can develop into a top-five quarterback, the Giants will have a clear advantage over the Cowboys and Redskins, and will rival them for the division.
That is a pretty lofty expectation, but keep in mind that big brother Peyton truly established himself as an elite NFL quarterback in his third season.
The offensive line returns the same five characters who allowed only 28 sacks last season. They have some depth with Bob Whitfield, Rich Seubert, and Greg Ruegamer and they might need it early on, as Chris Snee is battle a knee injury.
Manning's targets all return, but they are slated to be even better than last season. Plaxico Burress now has a season under his belt in this offense and Amani Toomer looks to be in tip-top shape, but they will have some company in the slot. Second-round pick Sinorice Moss figures to be a valuable addition — when he recovers from the bumps and bruises that have limited him early on — because he adds an element of breakaway speed that the receiving corps was missing. But the real surprise has been Tim Carter, who was expected to be that missing speed demon for a couple of seasons, but has been limited by injuries. With Jeremy Shockey around, these receivers cover the spectrum of speed, outlets, size, route-runners, and possession targets.
Tiki Barber is now 31-year-old and there has to be some trepidation about a possible drop in production. It's unlikely that he will have a Curtis Martin-like drop-off after a career year in this offense, but signs of age can surprise at any point in the NFL. Brandon Jacobs got a lot of hype prior to last season and has worked with Eddie George to improve his game, but there isn't a ton of confidence in him.
A lot of unexpected things fell in place for the Giants last season to make their run and with such an arduous schedule, they can't be expected to return to the playoffs.
Over/Under: 8.5
The Giants have the weakest defense in the NFC East and that will not bode well in a tough division. Much will bank on Eli Manning's development, but the Giants will have to consistently win in shootouts again this year. They are not balanced enough to win this division again. They play: IND, @PHI, @SEA, WAS, @ATL, @DAL, TB, HOU, CHI, @JAC, @TEN, DAL, @CAR, PHI, NO, and @WAS.
Fantasy Sleeper
Tiki Barber is 31-years-old and coming off a career-year, be careful drafting him. Curtis Martin did the same thing before hitting the wall last season, so be weary of spending a high pick on Barber. Expect second-year back Brandon Jacobs to see expanded time, especially in short yardage situations, which simultaneously increase his value and decrease Barber's fantasy use.
This is the fourth consecutive season of comprehensive NFL previews by Dave Golokhov. Stay tuned as he brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! He can be reached at [email protected].
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