Loading ...Training camp is over, preseason has come and gone, and the New York Giants are now just days away from kicking off their 2010 NFL season, after a disappointing 2009 campaign that left a bitter taste in their mouths.
The Giants come into 2010 with a new defensive coordinator in Perry Fewell, along with some new additions on the defensive side of the ball in safety Antrel Rolle and veteran linebacker Keith Bulluck. New York’s defensive backfield is healthier than it’s been at any point over the past two seasons, with Kenny Phillips, Aaron Ross, and Corey Webster all expected to be ready for the first week of the season.
On offense, New York goes into the season with 10 of its 11 starters from a year ago, with the lone exception being Ahmad Bradshaw taking over the starting running back role, with Brandon Jacobs now becoming the “change of pace” back for the offense.
On paper, this looks to be one of the more talented rosters in the NFC, and arguably the most talented Giants roster since the start of the Tom Coughlin-Eli Manning era in New York. The question is – how well will the Giants handle a schedule that features seven games against 2009 playoff teams.
PROJECTED 2010 RECORD: 10-6
PROJECTED NFC EAST STANDINGS
1- New York Giants 10-6
2 – Dallas Cowboys 10-6
3 – Washington Redskins 7-9
4 – Philadelphia Eagles 6-10
OFFENSIVE MVP : RB Ahmad Bradshaw
One of the most dynamic runners in the NFL when healthy, Ahmad Bradshaw has taken over the starting running back role for the G-Men and the team expects a very productive season if #44 can play a full 16 game slate. Bradshaw has a terrorizing combination of quickness, vision, and power and will provide the Giants with a big play threat out of the backfield. But he’s not just a homerun threat. Bradshaw has shown that as long as he’s in the game, he can consistently run well between the tackles and has improved in his blitz pickup ability as a pass blocker. Expect big, big things from the fourth-year back as a lead runner in 2010.
DEFENSIVE MVP: DE Justin Tuck
Who else? This guy is one of the most complete and dominant defensive players in the league, and yet is probably one of the more under-the-radar defensive superstars in the league because he just goes to work and does his job week in and week out, year in and year out. But don’t expect a quiet year for Tuck in 2010, who seems anxious to put his injury-plagued 2009 behind him. Size, strength, athleticism, and an extremely active motor will make Tuck a headache for opposing offenses, and the foundation of the Giants front seven this season.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: WR Hakeem Nicks
After an impressive rookie campaign, expect Hakeem Nicks to be recognized as one of the league’s top wideouts at the end of the 2010 season. Nicks is a strong, physical receiver with very good hands that will consistently make plays for extra yardage after the catch. Nicks will be in position to do plenty of damage on slants, screens, and underneath crossing routes for the Giants passing game this season. The dynamic second-year receiver could easily finish with upwards of 1000 yards receiving and 8 scores in 2010.
THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR 2010
Ahmad Bradshaw will be a candidate for the NFL MVP Award
Yes, the former seventh-round pick out of Marshall is that talented. Bradshaw’s excellent vision and rare combination of elusiveness and power in the open field make him the Giants most devastating offensive weapon going into this season, and this certainly looks to be the year that Bradshaw breaks out as a superstar in the league. Taking over the leading back role for the Giants, Bradshaw will see the most touches of his career both as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. Expect those increased touches to turn into a special season for the Giants starting back.
The Giants will boast a top-5 rated NFL Offense
Eli Manning is at the prime of his career, and he’s just been handed the keys to a brand-new Ferrari. Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, and Mario Manningham are arguably the most talented young receiving trio in football, and running back Ahmad Bradshaw is one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the game when he’s healthy. Don’t forget about Brandon Jacobs playing the complementary back role for the Giants running game, and Kevin Boss providing consistency, dependability, and toughness at tight end.
Justin Tuck will have the best season of his NFL career
Tuck is the anchor of the defensive front seven for the Giants, and he’s surrounded with considerable talent on defense. He struggled through a shoulder injury in 2009, but Tuck is committed to having a bounce-back year for New York, and has looked up to the task in training camp. With Antonio Pierce no longer with the football team, Justin Tuck is being looked to as the leader of this Giants defense. Tuck is the type of player who likes to lead by example – with his play on the field. Expect the example to be something like 70 tackles and 14 sacks.
Closing Thoughts:
When you look at the NFC East this year – you see quite a bit of turnover. The Giants have undergone significant changes on the defensive side of the football, Philadelphia has a new starting duo at quarterback and running back, and the Washington Redskins are operating under a new head coach and new quarterback in Mike Shanahan and Donovan McNabb. But when you look for a winning formula – the teams that fits the description seems to be New York. The Giants have one of the league’s top young quarterbacks, in the prime of his career, along with an arsenal of weapons at his disposal, and a veteran defense led by a veteran defensive coordinator Perry Fewell – who knows how to get the best of his personnel. The Cowboys have significant issues along their offensive line, but have so many weapons that they should still be one of the league’s top 10-12 offensive units – and the team also boasts a top 10 defense with an explosive pass rush.
At the end of the day, New York looks poised to make a strong playoff push this season if they are able to come together quickly under Perry Fewell’s defense. The offense is stacked, the players are familiar with eachother and the scheme, and the unit is led by one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. The Giants addressed some of their issues on special teams with the acquisition of return-specialist Darius Reynaud, and the defense is loaded with talent and experience – led by one of the league’s most successful defensive coordinators.
The Giants are a darkhorse in the NFC this season, overshadowed by last year’s NFC powerhouses – Minnesota and New Orleans, and this year’s sexy pick – the Green Bay Packers. But the G-Men are right up there with those teams in terms of talent, and the upside is considerable with the 2010 edition of the New York Giants.
Tags: Ahmad Bradshaw, Antrel Rolle, Brandon Jacobs, Corey Webster, Eli Manning, Hakeem Nicks, Justin Tuck, Keith Bulluck, Kenny Phillips, Mario Manningham, New York Giants, Steve Smith, Tom CoughlinRelated Videos
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I like the analysis and I have no arguments from a Giants perspective personally. I just dont think Dallas will win 10 games.
Not much will make me happier than seeing presumptuous Dallas go 8-8 this year. I will LOVE it!
10-6 is on the low end. 4 of those 7 games against 2009 playoff teams are against Philly and Washington. I say Rolle + Phillips nearly locks a sweep against Philly. We at least split with Dallas.
Who knows if Favre is still alive come December.
Lions, Panthers, Jaguars, Redskins twice, Seahawks, Bears.
That’s 11 right there. Add in a tough win against another good team, make it 12.
12-4, dig it.
4 games against Philly and Dallas, obviously Washington was no playoff team. Nor are they this year…
The thing is, I don’t like to look at the schedule and bank wins against bad teams. I more split the 16 game slate into 3 parts (should win, could win, and tough games) and try to come up with a reasonable range of wins.
I think the Giants are good enough to win 12 games, I just don’t know that they will because I think there are still things to be worked out on defense in the early portion of the season -and the fact that the Giants haven’t been able to keep healthy as of late is something to factor in as well.
I think the key is making into the bye at least 4-3. To me the schedule after the bye is much easier. If we are 5-2 or better it could be a 2008 type of regular season.
Haz… whatever you’re drinking… I’ll have one :)
Lol
This is honestly the most talented offense I’ve seen the Giants roll out in a long time, I think that side of the ball is going to be extremely productive on a consistent basis this year.
If the defense can just hold it together and play at a reasonably high level – they don’t have to come out and be a top 5 unit in the league, I think the Giants are going to be one of the toughest teams to deal with in November and December this year.
It really comes down to the defensive side of the ball.
Spot on about Bradshaw. Been saying it for years and people think I am on crack.
From PFT…
“A league source tells us that defensive tackle Jay Alford, a third-round pick of the Giants in 2007, has agreed to terms with the Raiders…”
Haz – as a fan of course Im going to say GREAT ARTICLE !
I would love to go along with as high as 12-4 but there are always those games
when one of two things happen , first the opposition overachieves and hands the loss to the Giants – Ill take away one game for that
second – the Giants lose a game because of a collective case of the stupids – you know its going to happen so I will have to go with 10-6 which I still think will win the NFC East
Im a little scared though – I was listening to Mike and Mike and their question to Chris Mortensen was (and I paraphrase here )
In your opinion which team is flying under the radar and will be the surprise of this season ?
His answer The Giants
So , naturally I consider this the kiss of death as we watch our opponents get up for the game because the Giants have been overhyped
Believe me man, there is a lot more noise surrounding teams like Green Bay, Minnesota, Dallas, San Francisco, and of course New Orleans. The Giants aren’t going to be one of the first names you hear when people talk about the NFC and I think that’s a good thing.
Around the league, coaches and GMs know how talented the Giants roster is and what they are capable of. But at the end of the day I think they are still under the radar this season, they’re even overshadowed by the Jets in New York going into the year.
Peter Kings picks Justin Tuck for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
NFL MVP huh? I think you’re reaching.
Not saying he’s going to win it for sure – but don’t be surprised to see him in the conversation at the end of the year. He has that type of ability, and I think he’s going to have a big, big role in the offense this season.
I really do not see the MVP at all not even in conversation. I think being a top 5 Rb is more relistic.
I think that calling Bradshaw an MVP candidate is a bit rich. He will be great but not MVP.
I will help you pass out the Bradshaw kool-aid. He is a do it all back he has been our best RB since he has been drafted.