“As long as the chemistry is there, I almost feel like I know we can do it.”
Safety Deon Grant
HUH?
Well that doesn’t exactly ring with confidence, does it? Coming off of a down year and disastrous pre-season start, predictions are all over the board on the G-men. Personally, I think they have too much talent, are too well-coached and too strong organizationally to not be in the hunt for the division championship.
Offense: Poor Rhett Bomar got cut. I hope they told him that it was more about Sage Rosenfels suddenly becoming available than it was about Rhett’s nervous pre-season play. Honestly, I feel much better about Big Blue now that they have a legit #2 QB – good move guys. I’m kind of surprised that the team cut Andre Brown, but that may also have been because the Vikings were willing to give up Darius Reynaud as a RB/return man. Remember how I said that the team needed to think about who was eventually going to replace standout Center Shaun O’Hara? Well, think fast – the All-Pro has a nagging ankle injury that kept him out of the last two pre-season games, although he was on the field in Week 1. Rookie G Mitch Petrus is trying to learn the position and will probably serve as depth across the line if LG Seubert has to step in at center. Second year Tackle William Beatty is in the mix as is newly signed Shawn Andrews TE is a bit iffy since Boss has been hobbled by ankle problems and now a concussion and neither backup has his talents. However, to say that the RB position is solid in NY is to say that Manhattan is a little busy. Jacobs may be a little miffed (can a guy that size get miffed?) at not being the titular starter, but he and Bradshaw are supposedly both healthy. If true, the NFC should look out for a pounding and dashing rushing attack that should open things up nicely for Manning and his corps of young ballcatchers. Off-season injuries and Manning’s forehead gash have adversely impacted the timing between Manning and the guys – but it all started clicking again towards the end of the pre-season. And how about Victor Cruz? I sure hope that his success continues, since players like that are good for football. This unit wasn’t exactly overwhelmingly successful in WEek 1 – and in fact the whole team just looked abyssmal in the first half, but if the aging Oline can hang in there, I think they’ll settle into a good playing rhythm.
Defense: Talk about “letting down the side! Last season’s Giants defense wasn’t even worthy of that name. New Coordinator Perry Fewell is trying to recapture the tough, physical play for which Big Blue’s D has always been known. Tuck and Unimyora are reported to be healthy and happy with the new system, which establishes Tuck as a force and Osi as more of a versatile havoc-wreaker. The younger Dlinemen are coming along quite well. Amazingly, MLB Jonathan Goff appears to have become the starting MLB instead of Keith Bullock, who is now on the strong side situationally. Corey Webster is having a grand time in the new defense and Terrell Thomas impresses me on the other side. SS Antrel Rolle is the new generation of Rodney Harrison (penalties and all) and Kenny Phillips does seem to be recovering well from his knee injury of last year. There are so many backup DB’s that I’m sure a few will be cut, but I hope veteran Safety Deon Grant sticks around. He just refuses to get old. I love it. This unit was embarrassed last season and should come out fighting – as long as enough of them stay healthy.
Special Teams: Retired Jeff Feagles may be mentoring new Punter Matt Dodge – but if I were Coughlin I’d be begging him to come back for one more year. Oh wait, Tom did that LAST year. Dodge has a hell of a leg, but is frighteningly inconsistent. Tynes is a dependable pro and the return men should do well, assuming Reynaud will be back there along with Manningham.
“As long as the chemistry is there, I almost feel like I know we can do it.”
Safety Deon Grant
HUH?
Well that doesn’t exactly ring with confidence, does it? Coming off of a down year and disastrous pre-season start, predictions are all over the board on the G-men. Personally, I think they have too much talent, are too well-coached and too strong organizationally to not be in the hunt for the division championship.
Offense: Poor Rhett Bomar got cut. I hope they told him that it was more about Sage Rosenfels suddenly becoming available than it was about Rhett’s nervous pre-season play. Honestly, I feel much better about Big Blue now that they have a legit #2 QB – good move guys. I’m kind of surprised that the team cut Andre Brown, but that may also have been because the Vikings were willing to give up Darius Reynaud as a RB/return man. Remember how I said that the team needed to think about who was eventually going to replace standout Center Shaun O’Hara? Well, think fast – the All-Pro has a nagging ankle injury that kept him out of the last two pre-season games, although he was on the field in Week 1. Rookie G Mitch Petrus is trying to learn the position and will probably serve as depth across the line if LG Seubert has to step in at center. Second year Tackle William Beatty is in the mix as is newly signed Shawn Andrews TE is a bit iffy since Boss has been hobbled by ankle problems and now a concussion and neither backup has his talents. However, to say that the RB position is solid in NY is to say that Manhattan is a little busy. Jacobs may be a little miffed (can a guy that size get miffed?) at not being the titular starter, but he and Bradshaw are supposedly both healthy. If true, the NFC should look out for a pounding and dashing rushing attack that should open things up nicely for Manning and his corps of young ballcatchers. Off-season injuries and Manning’s forehead gash have adversely impacted the timing between Manning and the guys – but it all started clicking again towards the end of the pre-season. And how about Victor Cruz? I sure hope that his success continues, since players like that are good for football. This unit wasn’t exactly overwhelmingly successful in WEek 1 – and in fact the whole team just looked abyssmal in the first half, but if the aging Oline can hang in there, I think they’ll settle into a good playing rhythm.
Defense: Talk about “letting down the side! Last season’s Giants defense wasn’t even worthy of that name. New Coordinator Perry Fewell is trying to recapture the tough, physical play for which Big Blue’s D has always been known. Tuck and Unimyora are reported to be healthy and happy with the new system, which establishes Tuck as a force and Osi as more of a versatile havoc-wreaker. The younger Dlinemen are coming along quite well. Amazingly, MLB Jonathan Goff appears to have become the starting MLB instead of Keith Bullock, who is now on the strong side situationally. Corey Webster is having a grand time in the new defense and Terrell Thomas impresses me on the other side. SS Antrel Rolle is the new generation of Rodney Harrison (penalties and all) and Kenny Phillips does seem to be recovering well from his knee injury of last year. There are so many backup DB’s that I’m sure a few will be cut, but I hope veteran Safety Deon Grant sticks around. He just refuses to get old. I love it. This unit was embarrassed last season and should come out fighting – as long as enough of them stay healthy.
Special Teams: Retired Jeff Feagles may be mentoring new Punter Matt Dodge – but if I were Coughlin I’d be begging him to come back for one more year. Oh wait, Tom did that LAST year. Dodge has a hell of a leg, but is frighteningly inconsistent. Tynes is a dependable pro and the return men should do well, assuming Reynaud will be back there along with Manningham.