Giant Problems at Giants' Camp?
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by DRotch19
Entering the 7th day of Giants' preseason, something is still missing. Yeah, of course the team will miss star RB Tiki Barber, and maybe they are missing the hopeful star quarterback (Eli Manning) reaching his full potential. But physically missing was still Giants' star DE Michael Strahan. The effects of this are enormous and very apparent.
Veteran DE Simeon Rice took a physical for the Giants in New York and met with head coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese. Simeon Rice was to later have dinner with team officials.
If the Giants knew that something like this was going to happen, and Strahan was going to be considering retirement, they may have played the offseason a little differently. Moreover, it could have greatly impacted the way the team acted on draft day. Even with Umenyiora and Kiwanuka rising as DE on the Giants roster, they may have shot after a future star in Purdue's Anthony Spencer or DE LaMarr Woodley from Michigan (these two, the best two remaining at their point in the 2007 draft).
Also, with the retirement of Tiki Barber coming as an enormous detrimental blow, this leaves the running back position in question. Can Brandon Jacobs carry the running game on his back this year, and how much help will adding Reuben Droughns help their running game? Questions that will ultimately be answered this season.
Something that could possibly help this running game would be the growth of quarterback Eli Manning. If Eli can manage to live up to HALF the name that he and both his father and brother share with him, that could take pressure off of this fairly young backfield. I feel that if Eli can step his game up a bit, the running backs will be depended on a little less, and could be a little more free to run wild.
Also, if young receivers like David Tyree and Sinorice Moss can step it up and play to their potential, this could add two more targets for quarterback Eli Manning. Also, veterans Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer need to play as well, if not better, than they have in the past years. If these 4 players can man the top 4 receiver slots, this could help this offense click better than it has in the past.
If the team is clicking on all cylinders, look for them to end the year with 9 to 11 wins, hopefully pushing to the top of their division.
- Note: Some feel that upper management is setting Tom Coughlin up to fail in New York, with hopes of possibly firing him in the next offseason. Who would be possible coaches, you ask? Don't count out recently retired head coach, Pittsburgh's main man, Bill Cowher.
