New York Giants
Three days after Christmas of 1958, I was playing with all my new Christmas toys, of which I remember none. What I do remember was that playing on the radio was a football game. During that season I had watched most of the Giants football games on TV because we got one channel and that was what was on. I don’t remember being particularly inspired or fascinated. For whatever reason, the Championship game was not carried on local TV, at least on the channel we got. So, I listened to the radio. The results are well known. The Colt’s Allen Ameche plunged over from the one yard line to win the first overtime Championship game in NFL history. Oddly enough, it was the Gaints that gained a lifetime fan..
So today the blog that no one asked for, no one wants and has a value exactly worth what you are paying for it. The 2009 evaluation of the New York Giants. (Truth in advertising time. For the last forty years I have predicted the Giants would be in the Super Bowl. I have been right four times. Oddly, that makes me one of the most accurate predictors in the business.)
When I first wrote this, I found I used the phrase “barring injuries” 17 times. So let’s just assume barring injuries. Oddly the one place I think the Giants might be stronger with an injury is quarterback. Not that Manning is doing badly, but now that Carr is not a high paid punching bag, he is playing very, very well. At this position the giants are set.
At running back, Jacobs has conditioned himself to 5% body fat and has spent the winter using boxing training for conditioning. He is quicker, more coordinated and better conditioned than ever. I still think he will miss at least half the season with injuries. That means whoever emerges as the back up will be very important. So far, by consistently missing blitz pickups, Bradshaw has shown he can make Carr an instant starter. Ware may be the answer because everyone is thrilled with his potential, but many “great potential” Giants wind up selling used cars in Newark. I think by the season end, the just drafted Rookie will be the back up/starter.
The Offensive Line is set and can withstand one or two short term injuries. More than that an start looking at 2010.
I know the biggest concern is with receivers. I think the biggest concern should be can the coaches use the receivers they have intelligently? Last year, teams had to be aware of Buress all the time.
That made everybody else’s job easier. When he went out, others did not step up. One of the problems is that a team spends all year putting in plays to capitalize on the strengths of players. An entire play book was built around Burress as a receiver or a decoy. To be fair, no team could rewrite their book in the last 6 weeks of the season, so they tried to substitute people without Burress’s skill to fill in. They couldn’t do that. This year they have had time to rewrite the book and let the receivers they have do the things they do best. I am especially interested in seeing Ramse Barden, their 6’6’’ rookie. Imagining him lined up in the slot, covered by a second string corner just makes me warm all over.
Over on Defense, the line is set and should be a nightmare for other teams, the secondary is as strong as I can ever remember. (Full apologies to Patterson who I was ready to run out of town at the start of last year.) The problem will be at linebacker. How long will Pierce hold up? Can Clark play better in coverage this year, and until Boley is ready to step in, who plays the other side? This is the position to watch the closest, as it will be a tough fight all year. I think it is safe to say the Giants season will be just as good as this group.
On special teams, the Giants should be strong, except I think their field goal kicker will lose at least one close game for them. If he wins one close one then it is all equal in the end.
So there you have a totally inexpert, worthless evaluation. As to the prediction, big surprise, the Giants will be in the Super Bowl.