NFL Camp Preview: New York Giants
The Giants raced out to an 11-1 record last season and looked like the odds-on favorites to repeat as Super Bowl Champions until that ill-fated night when Plaxico Burress shot himself in the thigh resulting in him getting suspended and ultimately released by the team. Once Burress was declared done for the season the wheels fell off the offensive wagon and Eli Manning looked lost out there as the Giants limped to the finish line with a 12-4 record and getting bounced from the playoffs by the Eagles. The success of the Giants for the upcoming season hinges largely on whether or not they will be able to find comparable receivers to replace both Burress and Amani Toomer.
The core of the Super Bowl from two years ago is still relatively in tact minus the wide receivers and they will be getting Osi Umenyiora back from a knee injury to help bolster the defensive front. The Giants were able to add some quality depth via free agent signings and what looks to be a pretty solid draft class. If the Giants find a rhythm with the passing game they could be as good as anyone in the NFC, if they don’t it could be a long frustrating season for Giants fans.
Key Veteran Additions – Chris Canty (DT), Rocky Bernard (DT), Michael Boley (LB), C. C. Brown (S)
Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield both solid last year but wore down towards the end of the season. The Giants went out and signed Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard to add some depth at the defensive tackle position. Bernard gives them a pass rush presence in the middle of the line while Canty gives them a someone with height and long arms who can disrupt passing lanes. Look for both to battle Robbins and Cofield for playing time.
The linebacking core has basically been Antonio Pierce and little else the past couple of seasons. Michael Boley gives them an upgrade in the athleticism department, is solid in coverage and has shown an ability to force turnovers in the past. The biggest knock on the guy is he struggles to shed blockers when taking them head-on.
C. C. Brown will provide some veteran depth at safety behind Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips.
Key Rookie Additions – Hakeem Nicks (WR), Clint Sintim (LB), William Beatty (OT), Ramses Barden (WR), Andre Brown (RB)
A lot could be riding on whether Hakeem Nicks can adapt and become a quality NFL receiver during his rookie season. He catches just about anything he gets his hands on and ran a lot better at the combine than teams thought he would but he put on 14 pounds between the combine and his Pro Day raising some red flags about his dedication and conditioning. He has a good thick frame, is tough to bring down, and runs well after the catch. If he stays focused and in shape he could contribute to the Giants success right away.
Sintim gives them a guy who can rush the passer off the edge but his coverage skills are lacking quite a bit. Sintim could challenge Danny Clark for the starting job but he will need to improve his coverage skills to do so. He is likely to see action as a situational pass rusher off the edge.
William Beatty’s pay off is likely to be two or three years down the road once Kareem McKenzie and David Diehl start to lose a step. Beatty was considered by some to be a first round prospect at left tackle and he should give them some depth and probably needs a year or two of seasoning before being ready to start at the NFL level anyway.
Checking in at 6′ 6″ Ramses Barden looks like Plaxico Burress in pads unfortunately he does not have the same skills as Plaxico does. With the receiving corps being a mixed bag right now Barden could get a chance to contribute. He catches the ball well and is adept at using his size and body to create separation from defenders. The biggest knock on him is that his top end speed is adequate at best and he is not a very elusive runner after the catch. It is doubtful that Barden starts for the Giants but he has the potential to be a very useful weapon in short yardage and goal line passing plays where his size can be used to his adavantage to catch fades and quick slants.
Andre Brown could potentially be a steal in this past draft. Brown has all of the physical attributes teams love in running backs and he posted a 4.4 40 time at the combine which means he has the speed to go with it. The only reason he slid as far as he did in the draft was his inability to stay healthy for an entire season during college. If he stays healthy he could very well develop into a top flight back in the NFL the way Terrell Davis and Willie Parker did after injury-riddle college careers. Brown could pick up Derrick Ward’s carries from last year.
Key Position Battles
The biggest question facing the Giants this summer is who Eli Manning is going to be throwing the ball to this season. Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith are the top veteran hold overs from last year’s squad. Hixon led the Giants in receiving yards last season and keeps teasing with his tremendous speed and play-making ability as a kick returner. However, he has yet to put it altogether in the passing game and he tends to drop a lot of passes that he should be hanging on to. Smith was a solid contributer in the slot last season but there seems to be a feeling that he is better suited as a secondary receiver in the NFL. Hakeem Nicks is probably the most well-rounded player at the position and should earn a starting spot as long as he stays focused and learns enough of the playbook to be ready to go by week one. Second year man Mario Manningham was not ready for prime time during his rookie season and could get a look provided he has put in the off season work to get there. Expect Nicks and Hixon to come out of camp holding the starting jobs.
With the additions of Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard who will the starting defensive tackles be? Fred Robbins’ big play ability almost makes him a necessity. He started the season strong and ended with 5.5 sacks and 8 tackles-for-loss last season he just simply wore down as the season progressed. Canty is a solid presence but it remains to be seen what he brings to the table now that he is going from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme. Will the Giants just merely go with the pair of tackles that match up best against their opponent? Go with Robbins and Bernard who are better pass rushers against pass-oriented teams and Canty and Barry Cofield against run-oriented teams. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I do not really have a good feel for who the guy is going to be just yet.
