Loading ...After a long discussion with the Giants 101 chieftain, and some long reflecting on his most recent piece, I simply could not overlook the accuracy of his view on the 2010 season.
Rather than feel like I had allowed the dreary reality of another 8-8 season to set in before opening weekend even occurred, I began to think of ways (or rather players) who could help make this prediction flat out wrong.
1. Osi Umenyiora
Thats right folks. The whining, pouting, heartless, second string defensive end.
After being raked over the coals by the media and fans alike, Osi Umenyiora has a chance to earn his starting job back and become the All- Pro we know he is. Osi Umenyiora is the type of player that can cause opposing offensive coordinators to stay up at night devising ways to keep him blocked up (that is, of course, when Osi is on his game).
I expect Osi to be on his game. He is a very prideful man who has a load of talent and ability. If he is indeed fully healthy and motivated, he and Justin Tuck will be a force this coming season.
I know it breaks the heart of all those Mathias Kiwanuka fans out there to read this (and I am a Kiwi fan myself don’t get me wrong), but he will never be the type of pass rusher Osi is. He will never record the type of numbers and wreak the type of havoc that Osi can (and has). I’ll admit, in 2009, Kiwanuka defended the run better than Osi Umenyiora did, but that does not make him a better player.
I hope this bout it judged fairly and that Osi emerges victorious in camp this summer.
2. William Beatty
I almost had to include Beatty on this list. If he plays well, that changes a lot of things scheme wise which will help the Giants thrive both in their run game and in their passing game.
If Beatty plays, and does not play well, that will have a very negative effect on everything.
None the less, he can certainly offer better blindside protection and conversely some better guard play id David Deihl can effectively slide over.
3. Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle
Yes, I grouped these two together. They both represent a massive upgrade over anything The Giants have had at safety in recent years, and both provide range, leadership, intensity, and play- making ability to the back seven.
If Phillips is healthy, I have little doubt that the pass defense wizard Perry Fewell can work wonders with them.
Each team Fewell has been associated with has had a top 5 pass defense with significantly less talent than The Giants currently sport.
4. Hakeem Nicks
I won’t waste time putting guys like Ramses Barden or Travis Beckum here, as I know they may not even play.
Nicks on the other hand, showed that he take a quick pass to the house, which is a threat that The Giants have lacked. He is an incredible compliment to Steve Smith and should be an amazing presence this coming year.
Any type of home run ability can really change an offense.
Cue the next guy
5. Ahmad Bradshaw
Most Giants 101 followers will know that I believe this man holds the keys to offensive success.
The reasoning is simple: he can break a tackle, find the cutback lane, and catch passes out of the backfield.These are all abilities which limit how great of a back Brandon Jacobs can be.
I believe that if healthy, Ahmad Bradshaw can be one of the top backs in the league.
Who’s Missing?
Well, in the words of Dan himself, “Unless Eli Manning can protect his own blindside, improve team effort in the green zone, tackle, rush the passer, and average 4.5 yards per carry, his improvement won’t matter.”
Once again, the G101 sage is correct.
I think it is worth mentioning this to the Giants fan base. We expect a lot of Eli, but this statement should ring loud, because it’s the truth.
$100 million only goes so far
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I see Em’s newest has you optimistic.
Really good piece Kyle. As you probably know, I fully agree.
I would, though, make one revision. If Kenny Phillips is 95-100% (and even the conservative Coughlin is starting to sound like they expect that to be the case) he and Rolle aren’t only a massive upgrade over what the Giants have had in recent years. They will not only be the best combo (and with support from Grant and Jones, quartet) of safeties that have ever worn Giant uniforms, but also one of the best I can remember anywhere in the league.
I’m particularly glad to see the love for Osi. About time some others started admitting the obvious. Osi Umeniyora has already been one of the best DEs in the NFL, so we know he can do it. He isn’t fabulous against the run (although not worse than average among DEs in that regard) but to claim that Kiwi (whom I really, really, like) is better because he plays the run more consistently well just doesn’t wash. He has not shown himself to be, when healthy, one of the premier players in the league, at least not yet. Osi has done exactly that. He should have a great year if given a fair chance. Of that there is absolutely no assurance thanks to his being in Coughlin’s doghouse. I hope Fewell just plays the better player after a really fair competition, with no regard for the history or prejudices in any direction. I’d expect Osi to “win” that competition handily.
Sounds like G101′s biggest fan, Paul, loved this piece.
1st off from the last post, i am 1 who rooted for johnson but i mean we all know who i wanted to get at MLB…..however i still rooted for him. i am a lil interested to see what dillard brings to the table.
love this piece and i 2 agree with the osi love. i jus dont know if he will be around if jpp turns out to be the next best thing
What has Osi done since Strahan left?
Basicaly **** & MOAN. Proably cuss under his breath at Stra for leaving him
all my his little self :(
Kyle
these 5 could all be real important
here’s a few push-back concerns:
1. even if Beatty demonstrates in pre-season that he is ready, does Coughlin give him the chance? I’ve been thinking of this one a lot. People talk about “open competition” for positions, but what does that really mean when the consequence of Beatty “winning” would mean Diehl slides inside in place of Seubert, or across the line for McKenzie. Either way, Diehl has to re-learn a position he hasn’t played in over 3 years and the chemistry of the line has to be re-established. As a result, in my mind, unless the Giants commit to Beaty as the LT (or I suppose the RT) before the first pre-season game, he rides the pine lest there be injuries. Kyle, it may have been you who said it a week or 2 back: the line will be the same 5 it has been.
2. All who have posted here since 2006 know that I am one of Bradshaw’s biggest boosters. Ever since the fourth quarter of the first pre-season game of 2007 I was chomping at the bit for Bradshaw to get playing time. It took until week 15 and a season ending injury to DWard and a minor but game-ending injury to Jacobs for him to see the field. Despite then carrying us through the 2007 playoffs as our best back by far, 2008 resumed with BJ and DWard as the tandem and Braddie out in the cold. When Ward moved on before 2009, the season began with BJ first, Bradshaw second. And although both were injured all season and each less effective than hoped, Bradshaw was still the more effective of the two and yet second fiddle in terms of opportunities. The reason is simple: TC and KG have it in their reptilian brains that the highest and best use of these guys is batter first with Jacobs and run them later with Bradshaw. I know plenty of G101 fans support this approach. I’ve always thought it was upside down at best; but now that the league has figured out how to neutralize Jacobs, it is downright idiotic. Unfortuneately, idiocy has never been an impediment for the two headed hydra known as Cough-Bride. So if healthy will Bradshaw get enough touches to be as dynamic as I agree he can be? We shall see. Call me skeptical.
3. KP is all about health. We know he can be electric back there. We need the health Gods to be on our side for once.
4. Hakeem is also the real deal. If healthy I expect huge things from him this season. I was troubled that two minor surgeries kept him out of mini-camp. What’s the word on him?
5. Then there is Osi. Can he be dominant again? If he starts and Tuck is healthy I think the answer is yes (assuming the knee is truly fine). If Tuck gets nicked or the coaches think he is best used as a situational pass rusher I just don’t know. I think the Osi/Kiwi management will be a big key to the success of the defense. If Fewel pulls this off he’ll earn big kudos. (Remember, Spags never had to deal with this because Kiwi was the SAM until injured in ’07 against Detroit, and Osi was out all of ’08. Sheridan of course butchered it even though Tuck was the one-armed man the whole year).
6. The one point of disagreement I have with respect to Eli is that I think there is one more level he can elevate his game to that would make us a significantly better team: that is, carrying the team on his back when all others are playing miserably. I am thinking of Denver, Philly 1, Carolina and Minnesota. But, Denver especially. The team was miserable that day at a point in the season where they still had the chance to control their destiny. Despite the horrendous defensive play that day, only 26 points were surrendered. If Eli could have somehow elevated his play enough to put points on the board, who knows. I know it is a little unfair to put it on him when he was under tons of pressure the running game stunk and people just were not getting open. Still, a QB truly enters the pantheon of greatness when he excels at just that moment.
Well done, Kyle. Paul also gives this two thumbs up.
Haha. Thanks for your compliments. Screw Paul
Paul wanted me to pass along a GKY to Kyle as well! LOL JK What a tool! Nice write up!!!
Apparently I’m getting a sex change. Paul has diagnosed me as needing one.
Little does he know that I already HAVE a meatlocker.
Jim- Great point about the O- Line
Krow- Been hurt, and then he had a mediocre year. If Tuck is healthy and DT play is improved things should return to normal with Osi. And if not, he still better than Kiwi
Kyle, Only the O-Line?
LOL! could Paul be the latest and greatest installment of the many faces of Gianthinker?
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Nah, the visage on Facebook doesn’t match up.
Nice Piece Kyle.. I would say Perry Fewell and the Trainers could be huge factors as well, considering injuries and complete ineptitude / lack of Leadership at the DC were the 2 biggest reasons we were 8-8 last year..