There has to be an unprecedented level of nervous anticipation swirling throughout the Giants organization right now. This season offers an opportunity to the team unlike any other has in the past -- and likely more than any other will in the future.
These Eli/Coughlin-Era Giants are already legends. They have given their blue-bleeding fans two absolutely thrilling championship seasons; but, on top of that, they have given the general, football-viewing population two memorable Superbowls. If Eli Manning merely plays well and the Giants remain a good, contending football team for the rest of his career, then he and Coughlin are an absolute lock for Canton . . . if they're not already.
But why be content with that?
These Giants have a Big Blue chance to become both New York and all-time football gods on an unparalled level.
Imagine this:
This recent, two-time championship team winning it all for the THIRD time at what may be the only NJ/NY Superbowl ever. Even if the NFL does allow another one here, it will not be with the nucleus of a two-time championship team going for a third . . . this is a one-shot deal.
That's what makes the promise of this season unique and special.
Should they win it, Eli Manning would not only be revered as the greatest quarterback in Giant history (I love you Phil.) He would also ascend to the top of football's Mount Olympus -- right there next to Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, Zeus, Poseidon and Dave Brown.
The proverbially cherry atop this deliriously rich Superbowl Sundae dream is that I will be there. I'll be working in a suite. (So long as God -- or whatever higher power an atheist might or might not believe in -- allows me to still be roaming the earth at that time.)
I like the vision though. With Eli as QB, its hard not to daydream in July about winning another championship.
I think they can.
As far as NY media goes, the Jets will always be the apple of media's eye. No matter what the Giants do there will always be media people in NY with that stock photo of Joe Namath on the wall by their desk and a stack of Giant's superbowl programs buried under the pizza boxes in the corner. Like the Mets, the media loves the underdog.
I just hop they go quietly about their business, win the games they need to win, peak at the right time and make it to the tourney. It would be sweet to do it at home too.
That's the under-the-radar pickup very few people have acknowledged on BBI that could pay huge dividends
"a brilliant move by JR to try and "stack" guys with talent that have something to prove, either as a result of injuries, stalled careers, or wrong address affiliation"
Reese has grabbed hungry guys on the cheap. it may not work, but then again, it MAY.
At least he has a plan. I like your post.
The media may talk about the Jets more because the Jets give them so much to talk about.
The Giants are respected, though.
With how things currently are, they're likely to be around the same team they've usually been -- somewhere between 8-8 to 10-6, with high highs and low lows along the way. They're not going to be good enough to be this uber dominating team the same people set themselves up to be disappointed over every year when they end up what they almost always are instead, but it's not that bad of a fate either, assuming things break more favorably than they have three of the last four years and that ends up enough to make the playoffs and give themselves a shot.
But I do like our chances in the NFC East and this year presents as good an opportunity as any for another ring.
My one prediction this year is regression from the Russel Wilson, RGIII and Kapernicks of the world. They're great players but as Mike Tomlin said, coaches have had a whole summer to figure them out.
This whole perception of there being "a new breed" of running quarterbacks who are going to change the game and replace the pure passer, is a bit premature.
We'll see.
I feel good about this season. I still wouldve used that 4th on a LB though instead of a QB
- Wilson as #1 RB
- Randle as the #3 WR
- New starters through the middle of the defense (Jenkins, Connor, Brown)
- Free Agent TE (Myers)
- Versatile Rookie OL (Pugh)
- Tons of young talent (Hosley, Hill, Hankins, Moore) pushing vets on defense
And don't get me wrong, Coughlin is a fine head coach. This is not a knock on him. But I think Eli would flourish even more under a guy like Sean Peyton or someone of that ilk.
Change has continued, relentlessly: Smith, Jacobs, Bradshaw, Umenyiora, Phillips, Boley, Boss, Canty, Manningham, Hixon, Blackburn, Ballard - all key contributors to championships; all gone, along with many others. Diehl's time may have come. Snee and Tuck probably aren't far behind.
As for the two biggest field-level mainstays - Manning and Coughlin - who knows? If Eli stays healthy and bounces back to his 2011 level with a restored receiving corps, he could be good for another extension and 5-7 more years of championship-caliber play. On the other hand, maybe the probabilities of a violent game finally catch up with him in the next two years (by which time he becomes much cheaper to to cut than keep) and Ryan Nassib shows enough in relief to persuade Jerry Reese that 2015 is the right time to do what the Packers and Eagles did when their Super Bowl QBs showed unmistakable signs of decline. And at that point, maybe Coughlin hangs it up rather than go through a rebuild. Or maybe the challenge of grooming another talented young QB - especially one from his beloved alma mater - reinvigorates him.
In short, we know nothing. True "end-of-an-era" teams, like the 1979 Steelers or 2010 Colts, are rare - and are most readily identified in hindsight.
I have two words for all of you that think the Giants have figured out RG3 --- Randall Cunningham -- who tortured us for years
Yes they are more injury prone - but when healthy - they are hard to defend
HUGE QUESTION MARKS at OL and for the ENTIRE defense.
Right now Snee and Diehl are penciled in as the starting right side. Go and tell me how confident you are in that. It could all work out. I really hope it does, but we are a far, far cry from the awesome 08’ unit.
And after the last 2 seasons, we are looking at a serious mess on defense. I am hopeful that the new parts will make this unit much more stout in the middle, but at least going in to the season, every 3rd down will make me uneasy.
Not saying that the potential isn’t there for a great season, but there is much more to be concerned about than in any postseason since 2009-2010.
Kinard is correct. Much will be dictated on how well the defense plays. Without it, we'll struggle to make the playoffs.
At the same time, there are a lot of questions and could go bad if some things don't go our way such as injuries to the O line and JPP, defensive back 7, and Hakeem staying healthy.
I think there are several young players poised to break out. If our current stars rebound from last year as I expect them to (JPP, Hakeem, yes, even Eli) and we add a coule more, we could be in for a fun season.
However, and this is a big however, there is nothing to indicate that we have the big guys we need in the trenches. Time will tell, as we have a BUNCH of question marks.
Remember, the game is often won and lost in the trenches.
If we get good line play, we should expect to be able to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league.
The questions are whether the O-Line can hold together and protect Eli and make running lanes for Wilson, and whether the D can stop anybody?
If the answer to those two questions are both "yes", then we have as good a shot at a championship as anyone in the league this year.
The offense looks like a potential juggernaut if any of the potential configurations of the offensive line comes together, and with the right playcalling the Giants could find a way to be a tough running balanced offense that becomes known for long sustained TD scoring drives. They are going to need that bc I see a weak pass rush that can make average QBs look sharp.
Worried for the first time since I cant remember tbat the Giants wont make the playoffs.
This offense has to click on all cylinders to overcome the shortcomings of this defense...
Their offense can take huge pressure off the defense and has for most of 2 years
Kiwi has been moved around so much, between injuries, that no one even knows if this former first rounder can rush the passer.
JPP now we have to worry about his back.
This is Tuck's contract year. If he doesn't turn it on this season then he never will.