New York GIants 2007 Season Preview

This is the third in my Season Preview Series
again, I'm not a Giants fan, so I won't pretend to be an absolute expert so if there are mistakes, please tell me and I will edit my post
enjoy!


New York Giants

2006 Statistical Rankings:

Total Offense: 14th
Rushing: 7th
Passing: 19th
Scoring: 11th

Total Defense: 25th
Rushing: 14th
Passing: 28th
Scoring: 24th

Third Down Offense: 16th
Third Down Defense: 24th
Turnovers: 18th
Sacks: 23rd

Key Additions:
QB Anthony Wright (CIN)
RB Reuben Droughns (trade-CLE)
DT Marcus Bell (DET)
OLB Kawika Mitchell (KC)
S Mike Stone (HOU)

Key Losses:
RB Tiki Barber (retired)
WR Tim Carter (trade-CLE)
TE Visanthe Shiancoe (MIN)
OT Luke Petitgout (TB)
CB Frank Walker (GB)
K Jay Feeley (MIA)

Draft:

1. S Aaron Ross
2. WR Steve Smith
3. DT Jay Alford
4. OLB Zak Deossie
5. TE Kevin Boss
6. OT Adam Koets
7. S Michael Johnson
7. RB Ahmad Bradshaw


Quarterbacks: oo
Running Backs: oo
Receivers: oooo
Offensive Line: ooo
Defensive Line: oooo
Linebackers: ooo
Defensive Backs: oo
Special Teams: oo
Coaching: ooo

The New York Giants� 2006 season was a story of two teams really. The first team, highly regarded in preseason with the addition of LaVar Arrington, surged out to a 6-2 start beating all three NFC East foes in the process. The second team, immensely struck with injuries, would run the first team�s 6-2 record into the ground, losing six of the final eight games. New York just barely snuck into the playoffs before being beaten by Philadelphia on a last second Field Goal by David Akers. Raining complaints from players about Head Coach Tom Coughlin surprisingly did not result in Coughlin�s resignation or firing as he will be back at the helm of this team in 2007.

What kept the Giants afloat through the turmoil was Running Back Tiki Barber. Barber had announced he would retire following the season and stayed true to his promise following a career performance against Washington (258 yards, 3 TDs) and a solid effort against the Eagles in his last ever playoff game. Barber almost single-handedly carried the Giants through the season and his 2127 total yards in 2006 will be dearly missed. Blocking TE Visanthe Shiancoe signed with Minnesota to compete for a starting job while longtime starting LT Luke Petitgout, whose Week 10 injury was largely blamed for the team�s struggles down the stretch, will now be playing for Tampa Bay. Kicker Jay Feeley struggled in 2005 but bounced back nicely in 2006. He was picked up by Miami, leaving New York virtually Kicker-less. Finally, underachieving WR Tim Carter was traded away to Cleveland.

In return for Carter, the Giants received RB Reuben Droughns who, after two consecutive 1,200 yard seasons, disappointed heavily in 2006 and was made expendable when the Browns acquired Jamal Lewis from Baltimore. Linebacker Kawika Mitchell was also acquired from Kansas City and should look to compete for a starting job. Journeyman Anthony Wright was also signed from Cincinnati. Wright had previously played decently in spot starts in Baltimore and will now backup Manning. DT Marcus Bell was picked up from Detroit to compete at DT for the Giants.

The Giants invested heavily in Eli Manning when they traded away Phillip Rivers and multiple draft picks to San Diego to get him in 2004. Ironically, up to now Rivers has been the better QB. Eli has shown flashes of greatness (Week 2 versus Philadelphia: 371 yards, 3 TDs), but has also been horrible at times (Week 10 versus Chicago: 28.3 Rating). In all Eli Manning has been mediocre. Yet the Giants Front Office is not giving up on Manning quite yet. He is now entering his fourth year in New York and by now it should become clear whether or not Eli Manning will ever live up to his lofty expectations. Manning�s backups are unimpressive, thus the Giants trust him. Anthony Wright could hold up if Manning were to get injured, but will not challenge Manning in any way for the starting job. 275-pound Jared Lorenzen and Tim Hasselbeck, also a younger brother of an established NFL QB, are further unimpressive backups.

The retirement of Tiki Barber leaves Manning without a big time offensive weapon out of the backfield. Enormous 6�4 264-pound power back Brandon Jacobs, who assumed primarily short yardage situations last year, will be looked upon to carry a lot bigger load in the upcoming season. Jacobs scored 9 TDs in 2006 and the Giants are very high on him but it is questionable whether the former fourth round pick out of Southern Illinois is an every down back. Reuben Droughns was acquired in case Jacobs doesn�t pan out. Droughns had a poor 2006 after two consecutive 1,200 yard season in Denver and Cleveland. He is a converted Full Back and should battle Jacobs in preseason. Cedric Humes and seventh round rookie Ahmad Bradshaw provide depth. Helping the running game is Jim Finn, whose excellent lead blocking was a major reason for Barber�s improved play over his last four NFL seasons.

Playmaker Plaxido Burress and his huge 6�5 232-pound frame return as Manning�s primary wideout. Burress has been very solid in two seasons since coming over from Pittsburgh. 33-year old Amani Toomer will start his 12th season in New York. Toomer has been a very good player throughout his career and was on his way to putting up another solid year in 2006 before a Week 9 ACL injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. The Giants have been planning the post-Toomer era in New York, drafting WRs in the second rounds of each of the last two drafts. Sinorice Moss contributed little in his rookie season, but has elite speed and could emerge as a deep threat in his second season in New York. Steve Smith out of USC is a solid route runner who was very productive in college and should at worst wind up a decent slot receiver in the NFL. David Tyree is an excellent Special Teams player and is a high character guy. Darius Watts and Mike Jennings will have to impress to make the roster. At Tight End, New York�s Jeremy Shockey is one of the toughest players in the league and is an elite Tight End in the NFL. The departure of Shiancoe leaves the Giants without an excellent blocking TE whose role is now left to fifth round rookie Kevin Boss out of Oregon.

Another question mark on offense is Left Tackle, where Luke Petitgout�s departure leaves a big hole in the Offensive Line. Rich Seubert is a fan favorite who has been used creatively as an extra lineman and receiver, but is now expected to step in at LG where he played after Petitgout went down in Week 10. Versatile David Diehl will now be forced to man the all important LT position, but is a definite downgrade from the reliable Petitgout. Shaun O�Hara is solid at Center while Chris Snee, a Pro Bowl alternate in 2005, could emerge as one of the NFL�s elite at RG in the upcoming season. Run blocking specialist Kareem McKenize is the RT. There is little depth outside of last year�s fourth round pick Guy Whimper.

New York�s defense was its real problem, where injuries in particular to Michael Strahan and LaVar Arrington severely crippled the Giants down the stretch. Strahan returns and should improve the pass rush which was very mediocre last season. Osi Umenyiora had a breakout season in 2005, but was neither healthy nor spectacular in 2006. The health of Strahan and Umenyiora could make or break this team. Inside Fred Robbins quietly actually had arguably the best season of any Giant of defense. Joining him at DT is Barry Cofield, who had a decent rookie season, but is hardly a lock to start. He will be challenged by disappointing former first round pick William Joseph, Marcus Bell, recently acquired from Detroit, and rookie third rounder Jay Alford out of Penn State, although the latter should be used primarily on third down. Justin Tuck provides depth at DE.

In order to make up for the departure of Arrington, whose destination is still unknown, Matthias Kiwanuka was moved to Strongside Linebacker. Kiwanuka had a good rookie season, but the transition to SLB will be new territory for the grandson of Benedicto Kiwanuka, the first Prime Minister of Uganda. Reggie Torbor is the backup in case the Kiwanuka experiment fails. Torbor has been a good depth guy, but has been less than impressive in 13 career starts. Antonio Pierce is the Middle Linebacker and had yet another strong season in 2006. Pierce is no longer under the radar like he was his last season in Washington and has produced very well since being in New York, going to his first Pro Bowl in 2006. Kawika Mitchell was brought in to start at WLB or alternatively to provide depth at all three LB spots. The 6�1 253-pound Mitchell put two very solid seasons together after being drafted in the second round of the 2003 draft by Kansas City. Another option at Linebacker is last year�s third round pick Gerris Wilkinson, on whom the coaching staff is very high. Zak DeOssie was also drafted in the fourth round out of Brown to provide depth at multiple spots.

The secondary was the biggest problem, allowing 228 yards per game through the air, good for 28th in the league. Thus Aaron Ross was drafted out of Texas in the first round. Ross will initially offer depth at both Corner and Safety, before eventually taking over for 33-year old Sam Madison. Once one of the best in the NFL, the veteran Madison was acquired last off-season to try to replace Will Allen but wasn�t the answer New York had in mind. Neither was former second round pick Corey Webster, who after two years in the league has yet to impress. R.W. McQuarters was also signed last season from Detroit and is a good option at Nickel Corner. Unfortunately, McQuarters was too often forced to start in place of banged up starters Madison and Webster. Kevin Dockery, who had a 96-yard interception return versus Dallas in Week 9, and journeyman Jason Bell provide additional depth.

Gibril Wilson has been a playmaker since his rookie season in New York and is far and away the best member of the Giants� secondary. Will Demps, acquired from Baltimore last off-season, is the Free Safety. Demps is more suited at Strong Safety and weaknesses in coverage showed last year. Interestingly, both Safeties finished the year with over 100 tackles. Seventh round rookie Michael Johnson and Michael Stone, who played in only two games last season, are the depth guys. James Butler enters his third season as backup Free Safety in New York. The Giants are also relying on Bell and Ross to play some Safety if needed to.

The departure of Kicker Jay Feeley left a gaping whole at Kicker that the Giants� have decided to fill in the form of one of two undrafted rookies, Josh Huston and Mark Hickok, who will battle for the job. The veteran Jeff Feagles returns for his twentieth season in the NFL and tied a career high for net punt average last year. McQuarters will take over Return duty unless Sinorice Moss steals his job away.

New York will need to find a way to replace their engine on which the team had run since 2000: Tiki Barber. Jacobs and Droughns are big question marks, so the 2007 Giants will have to be Manning�s team if they want to win. Manning has weapons and a pretty decent Offensive Line so if he should ever break out, now�s the time. Defensively the team should profit from additional pass rush from healthy ends Strahan and Umenyiora, while the Kiwanuka experiment could turn out great as well. The Giants seem to be relying a lot on the added pass rush to fix the dreadful pass defense, as the secondary will see the same starters it saw last year. Additionally, there is no Kicker in the Giants clubhouse with any NFL credentials so close games could be an issue. In all, Eli Manning needs to realize now that he needs to be the leader of this team and play like it too. The Giants don�t look as good on paper as last year, and the only thing that can really offset that is a breakout year from Eli Manning.

Depth Chart: (<>=elite, X=solid, o=adequate, -=below average)

QB
E. Manning o
A. Wright
J. Lorenzen
T. Hasselbeck
RB
B. Jacobs �
R. Droughns o
C. Humes
A. Bradshaw
FB
J. Finn X
WR
P. Burress X
WR
A. Toomer o
WR
S. Moss o
S. Smith o
D. Tyree
D. Watts
TE
J. Shockey <>
K. Boss
LT
D. Diehl o
G. Whimper
LG
R. Seubert o
C
S. O�Hara X
G. Ruegamer
RG
C. Snee X
RT
K. McKenzie X
A. Koets



LDE
M. Strahan X
J. Tuck
LDT
F. Robbins X
W. Joseph �
M. Bell
RDT
B. Cofield o
J. Alford �
RDE
O. Umenyiora X
A. Awasom
SLB
M. Kiwanuka o
R. Torbor o
T. Smith
MLB
A. Pierce <>
C. Blackburn
Z. DeOssie
ROLB
K. Mitchell X
G. Wilkinson o
J. Davis
CB
S. Madison o
CB
C. Webster o
NCB
A. Ross o
R. McQuarters o
FS
W. Demps o
J. Butler
M. Johnson
SS
G. Wilson X
J. Bell
M. Stone



K
J. Huston -
M. Hickok -
P
J. Feagles <>
RS
R. McQuarters X
S. Moss
M. Jenkins

Notable Individual Stats:

Offense:
Eli Manning � 57.7% - 24 TDs � 18 INTs � 77.0
Brandon Jacobs � 426 � 9 TDs
Reuben Droughns � 758 � 4 TDs
Plaxido Burress � 63 � 988 � 10 TDs
Jeremy Shockey � 66 � 625 � 7 TDs

Defense:
Antonio Pierce � 140 Tackles � 7 TFLs
Gibril Wilson � 103 Tackles
Will Demps � 100 Tackles
Kawika Mitchell � 104 Tackles
Fred Robbins � 5.5 Sacks � 6.5 TFLs
Osi Umenyiora � 6 Sacks