4bubba - First off I wanted to say that although few people post it there are many of us who appreciate what you do in this thread. I have been at MJ's for quite some time and often don't say something unless I am betting in NCAAFB, have an angle, opinion or disagree.
If there is anything to learn from betting the NFL the past 4-5 years it is that any team can win ANY game ANY where. While the preseason got off to a rocky start Coughlin will come in and shape things up. Anyone remember the Ray Handley nightmare season for the Giants? The next year Dan Reeves came in and the team went 9-6-1 and turned things around quickly. While no TRUE Giant fan believes that quickly a miracle can happen this team has talent at key positions. The offense has explosive players like Shockey, Toomer, Hilliard and Barber. It has not been a question of talent, even with Barber's fumbling problems, but rather the O-line coming together. Last year the Giants were starting rookies or 2nd year players and the result was Collins get the s**t kicked out of him all year. Palmer looked bad because he had NO protection. This year the Giants brought in Stokes and O'Hara from CLE and Ellis from SD. In 2000 the Giants brought in Lomas Brown and Glenn Parker who were unheralded signings at the start of camp. These aren't All-Pro guys but they are veteran guys who can help anchor a line which is all NY can ask. If anything the beating the young guys took last year can only help going forward. Petitgut, Lucier, Allen and Diehl give depth to the team which has been decimated by injuries and FA the past 3 years.
The team's biggest concern is DL as I stated before. This was not at all adressed in the draft or the off-season with the loss of retired Hamilton leaving a gaping hole to fill. Yes, NY signed a bunch of veteran guys (Norman Hand, Fred Robbins, Martin Chase, Glen Steele) but there is no upgrade from what the unit had last year. Unless one of these guys has a career year or they make an acquisition before the season starts this is arguably the biggest area to deal with going forward. William Joseph, the team?s 1st round pick last year, has looked like a bust so far and it will be interesting to see if and how he responds.
Looking at the schedule although I said any team can win anywhere the Giants seem to not be able to beat Philly, especially in Philly. There are many ?IF?s? for all team but we?ll take a worst-case scenario and say the team stays somewhat healthy in looking at the schedule. Many, including myself, felt the Giants season was over when Westbrook returned the punt against NY last year. That being said I still think the Giants will give the young Eagle defense all they can handle and would bet on the Giants getting the points but not for them to win. A home-opener the following week against the Redskins could go either way but let's look at talent alone and WAS has more. 0-2. Cleveland is the first winnable game as they possibly chalk up the first W. 1-2. Typically the Giants win at least one game on the road each year that they aren?t supposed to or have supposedly no chance. They shouldn?t be favored and probably won?t win either the Packers game OR the Dallas game so now we are at 1-4 WORST-CASE headed into the bye.
I truly believe Coughlin will not only get the most of his players but have them believing that they can win. If they are at this point in the season looking at the schedule they can easily improve. DET is a winnable game. 2-4. @MINN might be asking too much considering NY took them behind the woodshed last year 2-5. Here is where it gets interesting from a fan?s perspective: Fassel had an outstanding record with the G-Men in December games during his tenure. I could see the same pattern happening with Coughlin BUT starting in November. With Chicago, Arizona, Atlanta and Philly NY should be able to win 3 of 4 putting them at 5-6 conservatively. I actually believe they will be 6-6 after the Redskins game. If you believe they can?t win on the road and lose to BAL and CIN but beat PIT and DAL at home that puts them at 8-8. I?m basically saying they go 6-2 at home and win @ARZ and @WAS OR @DAL. That?s what a .500 team has to do. Win 75% of your home games and two road games. The playoff teams and Super Bowl contenders go 4-4 on the road and 6-2 or 7-1 at home.
I?ll be interested to hear the thoughts and opinions of others but this is what I see?