Some general observations

...and insightful ones as well!

My bottom line take on this Giants team:

Very, very happy we are NOT in the NFC West because we would then be an also-ran team, outclassed in personnel.

In the mediocre NFC East, there's always a chance. And, like our last two Super Bowl runs, if we can just get into the play-offs, just about anything can happen.

But regardless of what division the Giants find themselves in, nothing is going to matter very much if we don't get our O-line at least playing at a mediocre level. I'm assuming we can given the off-season additions and the drafting of a really fine Center, Weston Richburg.

After QB, the Center IS the most important player on the team IMO.

The Giants should have the best defense in the NFC East.....but would be the worst in the NFC West.

How long did it take to grasp the new defense put in by Steve Spagnuola? I guess you could say after the first two games. And I'm sure we all remember the Super Bowl against the undefeated Patriots!

Granted the offense this year will have plenty of new parts, but it still does have Eli. One can only hope.

Spags D was more agressive and instinctual.....which easier. Fewel's seems to have in moving parts and dependency.....so players must be on same page.

With that said, offenses take more time. Just look at the OL.....they must work as a unit.....to be effective.

There was no doubt that we'd take care of the things that has caused Eli to have little to no protection up the gut the last 2 years, in addition to fortifying/improving other areas in this parity-laced league..

Sometimes, overanalysis does not work..We've got Eli, TC and a new OC..

Just you watch..

.

...given how he can snap the ball, spin on his heels, and get to the perimeter so effortlessly, it's almost like having a 6th offensive linemen at the LOS.

for a change, things were getting stale, but he produced the most prolific offenses over a period of time in Giants history.

I'm feeling pretty optimistic about the NFC East, but as you point out it is the West that is the beast these days. But by playoff time we may be a different team than in September (in a good way, I hope) - we have seen that scenario play out before.

We must first determine if we are building off the 0-6 team or the 7-3 team...I suspect it is somewhere in the middle.

Was the 7-3 team, any different than the 0-6 team? 4 wins against teams without qb's, 2 wins against a stellar Washington team, and a tipped pass returned by Hill led to a win over Detroit, whose top receiver was a shell of himself....



I feel Reese has done a great job of re-stocking our roster .....

You may get two contributors from the draft, and the OL problems are still there, until proven otherwise....has he restocked the DL?



We must have JPP also show that JPP-type talent....if we want to compete with the big boys of the NFC West.

This team is not ready to compete with them yet...





on the other hand, Perry's defense started to gel last year...the additional DBs is eye opening...I also feel Ayers will be a great addition...but the bottom line is it falls on JPP and the DTs....to get to the QBs and stop the RBs....if things fall into place, our defense can be special.

Gel? It gelled against lack of competition that padded it's defensive stats......we may be stronger at cornerback, but Prince has to justify that last year just added and DRC has to live up to his....Safety position? Brown coming back from ACL, Hill may be suspended, Taylor has shown nothing, and how will the new guys fit in? Beason is the only legitimate linebacker on this team....the defensive line is a huge question mark?




of all the draft picks...Nat Berhe intrigues me the most, ever since someone compared him to Brian Dawkins....the only Eagle I respected.

After the first round, you cross your fingers and hope for the best, they way the Giants draft...You "respected" Brian Dawkins?




Although, BBI convinced me to jump on the Donald band wagon...OBJ was the right pick. He looks like pro. I love the Eli connection.

With Nicks gone, Randle was not ready to take his place....hope that Odell can....



We can dicker about picking Bromley too early....but who cares...I liked all the other picks...that center and RB look like great additions.

They look great, because they were a need....whether they address the need is another story...hopefully they do....but it won't be this year....



I do not believe in the first year of a new offense....with new RBs, new TEs, new WRs and a new OL...the team will grasp the offense well enough to compete for a Super Bowl....

I agree....this was really a 4-5 win team last year, and this team has too many question marks to compete for a SB...




but the NFC East can be had and as Eli has shown...when their in.....never to count them out.

The NFC Least, is a weak division.....it can be had by the Giants......this is a team in transition.....it goes as far as Eli can take it.....his last two seasons have not been memorable, but it's not all his doing...if he has a line that can protect and block in short yardage situations, and if he can grasp this new offense, along with the other guys, then there is hope for the future....but man, where is that TE?

it was a 16 game season?

If things work out right.

In comment 11683423 M.S. said:

Quote:

...given how he can snap the ball, spin on his heels, and get to the perimeter so effortlessly, it's almost like having a 6th offensive linemen at the LOS.

It'll be like having Mike Webster and Jim Otto on the field at the same time!

I think we all hope Richburg is solid, but you might want to temper this enthusiasm just a bit...

Did you come over from the Lions or Browns fan base.

I suspect you feel those recent Super Bowls wins were not really valid and just lucky.

I guess, I could counter and bring up that we gave Denver the competitive first half.....

But your right, we suck.....why bother.

especially the one regarding it will take this Offense some time to grasp what they are doing. I believe there is just too much "turmoil" on the Offensive-side of the ball to believe they will be very efficient this season.

New players, new scheme, new coaches, new plays all need time to become a cohesive squad. Besides we still have some fairly large problem areas at a few positions.

I can expect we will see some glimpses of improvement, particularly if the Giants can just run the ball better than last season. But just turning on the switch to a more West-coast offensive approach doesn't mean we will see dividends in 2014.

Of his true feelings. He could have wanted to upgrade the TE position but the scenario he was looking for never happened.

Secondly Beatty was a second round pick who proved over a full year in 2012 , he was one of the better pass protectors in the entire league.

He deserves another chance. Reese did also really upgrade the OL depth as we now are pretty much two deep across the whole line with guys who have been starting material. Our line may not be perfect but it should be a ton better than last years.

1. Because of the cap implications it would be disastrous to dump WB two years into a large contract

2. Robinson has been hurt, I think they will give him another year before dumping him

One of 2 TE they had targeted would had been available in the 3rd.

I feel we are much deeper and younger across the OL.... we are better suited in the interior....but we are still abit thin at tackle......especially considering Beatty is coming off an injury.....do you think we are 2 deep at both tackkes?

In comment 11683390 George from PA said:

Quote:

Spags D was more agressive and instinctual.....which easier. Fewel's seems to have in moving parts and dependency.....so players must be on same page. With that said, offenses take more time. Just look at the OL.....they must work as a unit.....to be effective.

Actually It seemed like every wide receiver, including the scholarly Mario Manningham, was able to grasp Gilbride's offense while he was here. JJ until garbage time of last season and Randle were the only notable ones who did not.

The bigger concern for me is how Cruz adapts to the new offense. His college ran a version of Gilbride's offense and he thrived with it in the pros. That's being taken away for the first time in his career.

Gilbride's offense.....2 of the 3 wrs that were playing last year....."only?"

In comment 11683584 George from PA said:

Quote:

Gilbride's offense.....2 of the 3 wrs that were playing last year....."only?"

I guess you're not counting Nicks, which is fine considering he may as well have not played. But in any case a 3rd and 4th wide receiver does not a trend make.

More likely is that JJ is not a good, consistent football player and most around here readily admit it's time for Randle to remove his head from his ass.

Vets, dullards, first time starters, and rookies alike thrived in Gilbride's offense for years. Here's a stronger correlation with the downfall of the offense: the offensive line was the worst it's been since the days of Ian Allen.

And your right.....I completely negated Nicks....what a disappointjng ending.....who would expected that....after the hail mary at Green Bay..... But Cruz got hurt....which actually resurrected JJ.

I don't get me wrong...I am a fan of Gillibrides....but it was time for a change

Aren't buried alive. They went 10-6 in a extremely competitive division. That division all around will be tough to defeat. Rams less so because of Sam Bradford and the Ram receivers.

My point is...they might go 10-6 and not sniff the playoffs.....

In comment 11683552 George from PA said:

Quote:

One of 2 TE they had targeted would had been available in the 3rd. I feel we are much deeper and younger across the OL.... we are better suited in the interior....but we are still abit thin at tackle......especially considering Beatty is coming off an injury.....do you think we are 2 deep at both tackkes?

Sort of , Brown can back up both T spots. Don't know if Jerry can back up RT. Or Maybe one of our guys like Mosely will finally emerge.

They must all regain form, AND stay healthy, for the Giants to win the division and be able to compete with top caliber teams in the playoffs.

Giants invested a lot of money/high draft picks/faith (not to attempt to replace them). If all 3 cant, I think Giants will have a hard time over coming another off year by any of the 3.

with this new offense. Frankly,I don't think it is the right offense for Manning. He isn't a consistently accurate enough passer to run it. The downfield offense levels that out since you don't need to hit 5 or 6 or 6 of 7 to get into the red zone, all you need to hit is one.

But you all didn't like that offense and have decided it is all the offensive line's fault even though Manning wasn't in the top 10 in sacks or hurries and a couple of notably mobile qb's with successful teams were sacked more.

If Manning is throwing the ball well, we'll win the East. If he throws like he did last year, he will be riding the pine and Freeman will be the qb.

In comment 11684049 HomerJones45 said:

Quote:

with this new offense. Frankly,I don't think it is the right offense for Manning. He isn't a consistently accurate enough passer to run it. The downfield offense levels that out since you don't need to hit 5 or 6 or 6 of 7 to get into the red zone, all you need to hit is one. But you all didn't like that offense and have decided it is all the offensive line's fault even though Manning wasn't in the top 10 in sacks or hurries and a couple of notably mobile qb's with successful teams were sacked more. If Manning is throwing the ball well, we'll win the East. If he throws like he did last year, he will be riding the pine and Freeman will be the qb.

You dont even know what the offense he will be running is.

In comment 11683775 George from PA said:

Quote:

My point is...they might go 10-6 and not sniff the playoffs.....

Perhaps, but I can't see two teams from the NFC East going 10-6 or better. Very likely one gets it, and the second place team wins about 8-9 games.

Another factor is the teams from the East play the West this year, so it will be certainly challenging.

And only one from the nfc east

Wow - you sure sound off your feed tonite - Manning can't throw the ball accurately? That's quite a statement. Musta been somebody else who threw the most accurate pinpoint strike to Manningham - placing it perfectly in the only place it could be thrown to and the catch made in stride.

Consistently accurate. Can Manning be accurate? Absolutely. Can he be consistently accurate? That's the question if we are going to be running some semblance of the Green Bay offense. The benefit of the downfield passing game was that Manning didn't need to be consistent. He could be awful in stretches and deadly in others and still run a prolific offense.

However, that could change very easily of young guys step up; older guys return to form; and we stay healthy overall.

Best case sceanrio we have a year where Cruz, Eli, Snee, Pugh, Will Hill, Antrelle Rolle, J. Beason, JPP and Cromartie have probowl caliber seasons and we win he division. Or we can have 2013 and flop.

My gut tells me we rebound from last year and rally around McAdoo, TC and the new blood and hard working rookies.

In comment 11684353 SGMen said:

Quote:

However, that could change very easily of young guys step up; older guys return to form; and we stay healthy overall. Best case sceanrio we have a year where Cruz, Eli, Snee, Pugh, Will Hill, Antrelle Rolle, J. Beason, JPP and Cromartie have probowl caliber seasons and we win he division. Or we can have 2013 and flop. My gut tells me we rebound from last year and rally around McAdoo, TC and the new blood and hard working rookies.

We dont lack it. We have it. But as you said the guys who have played like stars namely Eli and JPP have to play like it again. And I think they WILL !

No reason why this team cant seriously contend with JPP and Eli returning and perhaps Beatty to form.

In comment 11684292 HomerJones45 said:

Quote:

Consistently accurate. Can Manning be accurate? Absolutely. Can he be consistently accurate? That's the question if we are going to be running some semblance of the Green Bay offense. The benefit of the downfield passing game was that Manning didn't need to be consistent. He could be awful in stretches and deadly in others and still run a prolific offense.

Manning has historically played better when we seem to play uptempo or establish some rhythm offensively. From all the reports it sounds like this will be a much more rythym based offense vs a deliberate one. I think this has a big positive effect on Eli.

The issue I think, and this was sort of relayed in Cruz's comments. is that since both WR and QB are making reads it takes a little longer to develop. It isn't as straight forward as "Cruz will be here", it all depends. So the QB and WR needed another second or two to make the proper read. Unfortunately with the state of our OL this was impossible, so Eli would guess a little and chuck it. Lots of times the WR would see something different, cut a little different, but the ball was gone by then The system is unstoppable when the offense has time. At least in 2011 we gave the passing game time (even though we couldn't run).

Quote:

... ever since someone compared him to Brian Dawkins....the only Eagle I respected.

Brian Dawkins was one of the few players I never respected. He was a lousy cheap shot artist. Spearing defenseless players was his specialty.

I can see how an Eagle fan would like him though. You first have to rationalize away his dirty play.

A Giants fan respecting Dawkins? I can't see how.

I feel bad knowing most of this is on him but it quite frankly is at this point to no fault of his own, Giants think he might be a better player than he actually is.

2nd Eli's accuracy - With no large targets Eli will need to be very accurate this season. Coming off a foot injury makes this a little more difficult in driving off that foot.

3rd Staying healthy.