TheMachBlue Monday... A look ahead to what the new NFL season holds for the New York Giants
August 29th 2011 14:38
'IT' is almost here...
For a long and frustrating period of time, we thought 'it' might never happen.
But now we find ourselves staring straight down the barrel of some football with the regular NFL season less than two weeks away.
For the majority of football fans it is a time of speculation and great optimism. The perils of the previous campaign are forgotten and everyone begins on a level playing field... at least for one week.
However, for a select group of NFL followers it is an uncomfortable period, full of worry and a daunting sense of foreboding looms in the air - that has nothing to do with Hurricane Irene.
The Big Blue Wrecking Crew has dragged itself through a tumultuous pre-season in which transition has been the order of the day. Salary adjustments have forced their hand in making cuts on the roster in areas of real strength, new targets chose to go elsewhere whilst other integral pieces on the Giants depth chart took advantage of free agency and upped sticks leaving them thin on the ground offensively with very little time to address these issues.
Fans of the New York Giants could be forgiven for feeling a little negativity with the 2011/12 NFL season on the horizon. Whilst they have stould by powerless as star performers have walked out the door weakening them both literally and psychologically, everyone in close proximity appears to only be getting stronger;
the Philadelphia Eagles have the MIchael Vick factor making them an attractive option for the movers and shakers adding Ronnie Brown at RB and former Giant Steve Smith to the offense whilst managing to persuade integral players such as DeSean Jackson to return.
Last years last placed team in the NFC East the Washington Redskins look set for a much improved season after shedding their unsettling influences whilst making two very big offensive signings over the summer in Jabar Gaffney and Tim Hightower. Two opening pre-season wins over the Steelers and Colts are a sure fire sign of good things to come.
Many also expect the Dallas Cowboys to be stronger contenders than last year. With Head Coach Jason Garrett getting a full pre-season to work with his roster, he will be looking to build on an impressive finish to the previous campaign after acquiring the team as his own midway through the previous season and turning their fortunes around.
Whilst their closest competition in the NFC East show signs of promise and strengthening, it's been one low blow after another for the New Yorl Giants in the off season. They began with the re-signing of free agent and leading running back Ahmad Bradshaw amid fears that he was keeping his options open. From this point on it was all downhill.
Firstly the reliable Kevin Boss sprung the unwanted surprise that he was using his free agency to move to Oakland leaving the Giants extremely thin on the ground in the Tight End position.
The next culture shock was from top wide reciever Steve Smith, although a damaging injury had seen him miss the majority of the previous campaign he was seen as an integral part of the Giants offense on the opposite flank to the mercurial Hakeem Nicks they were forming a very promising duo for the disposal of Eli Manning. Opting for a move to the Philadelpia Eagles must have been a real kick in the teeth for Tom Coughlin and the Big Blue faithful.
Whilst rumours of in-fighting and dishonesty were enflamed by leading defensive end Osi Umenyiora during his contract renewal talks, further disappointment came once again from very close to home. Plaxico Burress' return to the game after serving a jail sentence seemed the perfect tonic for the New York Giants. The man who took the winning catch in their last Superbowl victory was intent on returning to the New York/ New Jersey area but instead chose to take up the offer of Rex Ryan... at the neighbouring New York Jets leaving the Giants staff licking their wounds on another target missed out.
After a less than impressive pre season opener in Carolina against last seasons 32nd ranked Panthers, the New York Giants signalled their intentions and left many clues as to how they intend to shape up in their first home pre season tie against Chicago last week.
A resounding 41-13 win over the NFC North's big contenders, a scoreline that was enough to inject a little optimism into even the most cynical Giants fan.
The manner of victory and the style of play suggested that the Giants have not been pushing any panic buttons and were intent rather on making the most of what they had left at their disposal after a squad depletion throughout the summer.
Light on their feet as far as passing options go and taking auditions for the tight end position, the Giants predominantly ran the ball for 218 yards whilst opting to pass for less than half of the Bears total passing yardage. More emphasis on their strength in the running game will seem like uncharted territory for Eli Manning who has been no stranger to 1,000 yard passing seasons in the past. Brandon Jacobs seems likely to have a more prominent role on the offense again as he took 6 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown, averaging a reliable 8 yards per carry which will be a huge advantage to the Giants on first and second down plays this season.
Another Giants trait that seems to have returned with them this season is the defense. Their star players Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre-Paul will be all present and correct for the 2012 NFL season and they will be required to up their game even more if the Giants are to be successful in the upcoming season. The Bears passed for a seemingly impressive total of 333 yards, but didn't record one passing touchdown. In fact, their only score came with 24 seconds on the clock with the game finished as a contest. This kind of ruthless, selfish streak from the G-Men's D-Line will be integral to their tactics this season especially considering they have to play of course the free flowing Eagles twice, as well as the offensively dominant Packers, Saints and Patriots.
The road ahead may be rocky, and their are still many questions unanswered. Off season occurances will have sown the seeds of doubt through the minds of the New York Giants supporters and perhaps even some of the current roster and coaching staff. Tom Coughlin faces perhaps his most important season yet as head coach. He has come under intense scrutiny recently, and to steady this ship will be a mammoth task. The former Super Bowl winning coach has to reinvigorate team moral and to an extent reinvent the philosophy and style of the G-Men. Many pre-season predictions are born from all the signs that point towards doom and gloom, and a largely uninspiring season ahead. But if they play to their strengths, stick to what they're good at and use the surrounding negativity to fuel their fires and motivate themselves.... who knows.
For a long and frustrating period of time, we thought 'it' might never happen.
But now we find ourselves staring straight down the barrel of some football with the regular NFL season less than two weeks away.
For the majority of football fans it is a time of speculation and great optimism. The perils of the previous campaign are forgotten and everyone begins on a level playing field... at least for one week.
However, for a select group of NFL followers it is an uncomfortable period, full of worry and a daunting sense of foreboding looms in the air - that has nothing to do with Hurricane Irene.
The Big Blue Wrecking Crew has dragged itself through a tumultuous pre-season in which transition has been the order of the day. Salary adjustments have forced their hand in making cuts on the roster in areas of real strength, new targets chose to go elsewhere whilst other integral pieces on the Giants depth chart took advantage of free agency and upped sticks leaving them thin on the ground offensively with very little time to address these issues.
Fans of the New York Giants could be forgiven for feeling a little negativity with the 2011/12 NFL season on the horizon. Whilst they have stould by powerless as star performers have walked out the door weakening them both literally and psychologically, everyone in close proximity appears to only be getting stronger;
the Philadelphia Eagles have the MIchael Vick factor making them an attractive option for the movers and shakers adding Ronnie Brown at RB and former Giant Steve Smith to the offense whilst managing to persuade integral players such as DeSean Jackson to return.
Last years last placed team in the NFC East the Washington Redskins look set for a much improved season after shedding their unsettling influences whilst making two very big offensive signings over the summer in Jabar Gaffney and Tim Hightower. Two opening pre-season wins over the Steelers and Colts are a sure fire sign of good things to come.
Whilst their closest competition in the NFC East show signs of promise and strengthening, it's been one low blow after another for the New Yorl Giants in the off season. They began with the re-signing of free agent and leading running back Ahmad Bradshaw amid fears that he was keeping his options open. From this point on it was all downhill.
Firstly the reliable Kevin Boss sprung the unwanted surprise that he was using his free agency to move to Oakland leaving the Giants extremely thin on the ground in the Tight End position.
The next culture shock was from top wide reciever Steve Smith, although a damaging injury had seen him miss the majority of the previous campaign he was seen as an integral part of the Giants offense on the opposite flank to the mercurial Hakeem Nicks they were forming a very promising duo for the disposal of Eli Manning. Opting for a move to the Philadelpia Eagles must have been a real kick in the teeth for Tom Coughlin and the Big Blue faithful.
Whilst rumours of in-fighting and dishonesty were enflamed by leading defensive end Osi Umenyiora during his contract renewal talks, further disappointment came once again from very close to home. Plaxico Burress' return to the game after serving a jail sentence seemed the perfect tonic for the New York Giants. The man who took the winning catch in their last Superbowl victory was intent on returning to the New York/ New Jersey area but instead chose to take up the offer of Rex Ryan... at the neighbouring New York Jets leaving the Giants staff licking their wounds on another target missed out.
After a less than impressive pre season opener in Carolina against last seasons 32nd ranked Panthers, the New York Giants signalled their intentions and left many clues as to how they intend to shape up in their first home pre season tie against Chicago last week.
A resounding 41-13 win over the NFC North's big contenders, a scoreline that was enough to inject a little optimism into even the most cynical Giants fan.
The manner of victory and the style of play suggested that the Giants have not been pushing any panic buttons and were intent rather on making the most of what they had left at their disposal after a squad depletion throughout the summer.
Light on their feet as far as passing options go and taking auditions for the tight end position, the Giants predominantly ran the ball for 218 yards whilst opting to pass for less than half of the Bears total passing yardage. More emphasis on their strength in the running game will seem like uncharted territory for Eli Manning who has been no stranger to 1,000 yard passing seasons in the past. Brandon Jacobs seems likely to have a more prominent role on the offense again as he took 6 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown, averaging a reliable 8 yards per carry which will be a huge advantage to the Giants on first and second down plays this season.
re-emerging - RB Brandon Jacobs
Another Giants trait that seems to have returned with them this season is the defense. Their star players Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre-Paul will be all present and correct for the 2012 NFL season and they will be required to up their game even more if the Giants are to be successful in the upcoming season. The Bears passed for a seemingly impressive total of 333 yards, but didn't record one passing touchdown. In fact, their only score came with 24 seconds on the clock with the game finished as a contest. This kind of ruthless, selfish streak from the G-Men's D-Line will be integral to their tactics this season especially considering they have to play of course the free flowing Eagles twice, as well as the offensively dominant Packers, Saints and Patriots.
The road ahead may be rocky, and their are still many questions unanswered. Off season occurances will have sown the seeds of doubt through the minds of the New York Giants supporters and perhaps even some of the current roster and coaching staff. Tom Coughlin faces perhaps his most important season yet as head coach. He has come under intense scrutiny recently, and to steady this ship will be a mammoth task. The former Super Bowl winning coach has to reinvigorate team moral and to an extent reinvent the philosophy and style of the G-Men. Many pre-season predictions are born from all the signs that point towards doom and gloom, and a largely uninspiring season ahead. But if they play to their strengths, stick to what they're good at and use the surrounding negativity to fuel their fires and motivate themselves.... who knows.
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