Last Year:
You really can?t come much closer to winning a football game than the New York Giants did in the first round of the playoffs. Nonetheless the Giants have slowly taken baby steps over the past few years and have closed the gap between themselves and the Philadelphia Eagles. Even with a heartbreaking defeat at the end of last year, the New York Giants have a lot of positive to extract from last season?s journey and may even be able to top last season?s success.
What we Learned from Last Year:
Can somebody please tell the New York Giants to cut Ron Dayne? This guy runs like he has a piano strapped to his back. Every team goes through busts in the draft, and everyone gets their fair share of bad apples, but at some point you?ve got to cut the ties. Not to worry, the end is near for him.
Now that that is out my system, it?s hard to find any other weaknesses on this Giants? offense. The Giants very quietly climbed all the way to the 6 spot in total offense, but here?s a little secret that most people haven?t noticed. The Giants played without a second and third wide receiver all year long. Ike Hilliard on played 7 games, and his backup Tim Carter only played in 2 games. How much better can they be now when there is an extra target for Kerry Collins to stretch the field? Not only that, this offense sports every type of weapon you could possibly want. You want a tall, playmaking wide receiver who can jump up and pull the ball away from DB?s? Well you have Amani Toomer. You want a trash-talking, walk-the walking, haunting and taunting, in your face, smash-mouth tight-end that nobody wants to tackle? Well you have Jeremy Shockey. You want a speedy route-runner? You have Ike Hilliard. You want a good consistent running back who can carry the load and can also play a big part in your passing game? Well you have Tiki Barber. And how about that ?drunk? that so many people (especially fantasy players) forgot about at the beginning of last year? Well pour me a glass of whatever he?s drinkin? because he is the distributor, and he?s doing a mighty fine job. As long as the offensive line gives Collins the time he needs these guys are all very hard to stop.
As the team has molded into its current shape, the strengths have shifted from defense to offense. In the past it used to be the offense that frustrated this team but now it?s the defenses? turn. The defense wasn?t defective all year long, but they definitely were in the biggest game of the past season. For a team that needs to beat the Eagles to win the division, the Giants? defense is not too far off. We know the Eagles would struggle in a shootout so if the Giants defense can just improve a little bit then the division is theirs.
What has Changed?:
With Ike Hilliard back in the lineup, it adds one more crumb to the offense. He is a very fast possession receiver who can catch slants very well. He?s also one more player that you have to defend when playing against this offense. Of the three major targets between Hilliard, Tommer, and Shockey, you know the Hilliard will have the least coverage and that could lead to a lot of success for him.
On defense, they will need a few players to step up. The Giants drafted William Joseph, and Osi Unmenyiora, two D-linemen in the first couple of rounds to add some playmakers on the line. Now this defense is fairly average. They have a lot of good/average players in the secondary and line-backing corps. What can make these guys look a lot better is if they get good pressure from the line. Better linemen will keep the line-backers fresh, and it will also give their young DB?s a better shot at defending. In reality that will be the key to their success. If they can?t put stress out opposing quarterbacks, then their defense is just middle of the pack. If that?s the case then expect the Giants to be in a lot of shootouts.
O/U 8.5:
Asking a team that made the playoffs last year just to be one game above .500 seems a bit easy. They are in a division where they can beat the Eagles, and they are also better than the Cowboys and Redskins who will both be inconsistent. Worse case scenario they should get a split with Philly, a split with Dallas, and judging how Washington played last night we?ll say they sweep them too. That means the Giants need five more wins against: Rams, Dolphins, @Patriots, @Vikings, @Jets, Falcons, @Buccaneers, Bills, @Saints, and Panther. This total is so low because of an apparently tough schedule but keep in mind that the Giants will be a very tough opponent this year as well when their offense is on its game.
Fantasy Sleeper:
After his 4000+ yard performance Tom Collins is no longer a sleeper and neither is virtually anyone else on this offense. Toomer had more than 1000 receiving yards again, Tiki Barber had another solid year and Jeremy Shockey has already exploded on to the scene which means that there is only one sleeper left. That?s Ike Hilliard. With so many other targets fantasy players will shy away from taking him but he will be matched up on lesser DB?s and will face a lot of one-on-one?s. Jim Fassel is a good co-ordinator and should find a way to involve him.
You really can?t come much closer to winning a football game than the New York Giants did in the first round of the playoffs. Nonetheless the Giants have slowly taken baby steps over the past few years and have closed the gap between themselves and the Philadelphia Eagles. Even with a heartbreaking defeat at the end of last year, the New York Giants have a lot of positive to extract from last season?s journey and may even be able to top last season?s success.
What we Learned from Last Year:
Can somebody please tell the New York Giants to cut Ron Dayne? This guy runs like he has a piano strapped to his back. Every team goes through busts in the draft, and everyone gets their fair share of bad apples, but at some point you?ve got to cut the ties. Not to worry, the end is near for him.
Now that that is out my system, it?s hard to find any other weaknesses on this Giants? offense. The Giants very quietly climbed all the way to the 6 spot in total offense, but here?s a little secret that most people haven?t noticed. The Giants played without a second and third wide receiver all year long. Ike Hilliard on played 7 games, and his backup Tim Carter only played in 2 games. How much better can they be now when there is an extra target for Kerry Collins to stretch the field? Not only that, this offense sports every type of weapon you could possibly want. You want a tall, playmaking wide receiver who can jump up and pull the ball away from DB?s? Well you have Amani Toomer. You want a trash-talking, walk-the walking, haunting and taunting, in your face, smash-mouth tight-end that nobody wants to tackle? Well you have Jeremy Shockey. You want a speedy route-runner? You have Ike Hilliard. You want a good consistent running back who can carry the load and can also play a big part in your passing game? Well you have Tiki Barber. And how about that ?drunk? that so many people (especially fantasy players) forgot about at the beginning of last year? Well pour me a glass of whatever he?s drinkin? because he is the distributor, and he?s doing a mighty fine job. As long as the offensive line gives Collins the time he needs these guys are all very hard to stop.
As the team has molded into its current shape, the strengths have shifted from defense to offense. In the past it used to be the offense that frustrated this team but now it?s the defenses? turn. The defense wasn?t defective all year long, but they definitely were in the biggest game of the past season. For a team that needs to beat the Eagles to win the division, the Giants? defense is not too far off. We know the Eagles would struggle in a shootout so if the Giants defense can just improve a little bit then the division is theirs.
What has Changed?:
With Ike Hilliard back in the lineup, it adds one more crumb to the offense. He is a very fast possession receiver who can catch slants very well. He?s also one more player that you have to defend when playing against this offense. Of the three major targets between Hilliard, Tommer, and Shockey, you know the Hilliard will have the least coverage and that could lead to a lot of success for him.
On defense, they will need a few players to step up. The Giants drafted William Joseph, and Osi Unmenyiora, two D-linemen in the first couple of rounds to add some playmakers on the line. Now this defense is fairly average. They have a lot of good/average players in the secondary and line-backing corps. What can make these guys look a lot better is if they get good pressure from the line. Better linemen will keep the line-backers fresh, and it will also give their young DB?s a better shot at defending. In reality that will be the key to their success. If they can?t put stress out opposing quarterbacks, then their defense is just middle of the pack. If that?s the case then expect the Giants to be in a lot of shootouts.
O/U 8.5:
Asking a team that made the playoffs last year just to be one game above .500 seems a bit easy. They are in a division where they can beat the Eagles, and they are also better than the Cowboys and Redskins who will both be inconsistent. Worse case scenario they should get a split with Philly, a split with Dallas, and judging how Washington played last night we?ll say they sweep them too. That means the Giants need five more wins against: Rams, Dolphins, @Patriots, @Vikings, @Jets, Falcons, @Buccaneers, Bills, @Saints, and Panther. This total is so low because of an apparently tough schedule but keep in mind that the Giants will be a very tough opponent this year as well when their offense is on its game.
Fantasy Sleeper:
After his 4000+ yard performance Tom Collins is no longer a sleeper and neither is virtually anyone else on this offense. Toomer had more than 1000 receiving yards again, Tiki Barber had another solid year and Jeremy Shockey has already exploded on to the scene which means that there is only one sleeper left. That?s Ike Hilliard. With so many other targets fantasy players will shy away from taking him but he will be matched up on lesser DB?s and will face a lot of one-on-one?s. Jim Fassel is a good co-ordinator and should find a way to involve him.
). I've been reading all your team previews and caught up A LOT about them with very little work on my own. Just wanna thank you for your hard work. It's much appreciated.