The New York Giants went 11-6 last season and made the playoffs as NFC East champions. All year long there was talk of quarterback Eli Manning. Was she like his more successful brother, Payton? That question was answered in the playoffs when, like his brother, Eli didn’t show up. The Giants were absolutely destroyed in their only playoff game. Eli was nowhere to be found. They hope to turn things around this season.
attacking player
Eli Manning is beginning to mature. Initially, he had real problems with away games. He is beginning to outgrow his childhood in the NFL and become a more stable quarterback. Manning still has trouble completing passes, but he’s expected to grow more this season. If he stays healthy and improves his game, he’ll be a good asset to the team. As quarterbacks, he’s in the middle of the pack.
running backwards
Not surprisingly, the backfield is the strength of this team. Last season Tiki Barber had a tremendous year. He rushed for 1,860 yards and gave Sean Alexander a run for his money. The block for him is Jim Finn. The Giants have one of the best backfields in the league. It’s not the best, but it’s very close.
receptor core
Any receiving team that has tight end Jeremy Shockey is sure to be at least decent. He’s a monster tight end who forces better coverage than a defensive end or linebacker. The Giants added speedster Sinorice Moss. He was selected this year in the second round. The Giants are hoping he adds a bit of shine and helps stretch the defense further. The Giants’ receiving core is definitely above average. If Manning can start putting the pieces together, the Giants have an offense that can score and run time off the clock.
Defense and Special Teams
The Giants’ defense was so-so last season. They didn’t really show up in the playoffs at all. To help bolster the defense, the Giants added LaVar Arrington, who played in Washington last season. They lost their great nose tackle Kendrick Clancy. This key loss could kill them against the run. We will have to see how the replacement goes. Still, the Giants appear to be just above average on defense. I don’t think they’ll crack the top 10 defensively, but they shouldn’t be too far below that overall. The Giants have a great special teams unit and that won’t change in 2006.
2006 prediction
The Giants will have to fight for the NFC East this season. The Cowboys are expected to fight for it. The NFC East could be one of the best divisions in football. Look for them to make another trip to the playoffs. Hopefully, Eli Manning will show up this time and Giants fans will be treated to a true playoff performance. The Giants have a potentially tough schedule. They could finish 10-6.