NFC East
The Giants improbable run last year has them still feeling giddy and thinking their team is just about perfect. Reality is far from that assessment. I liken the Giants Super bowl win to the season that the Steelers won two years ago. The year after their victory, they experienced turmoil, key departures and a losing year. If the Giants are not careful they can find themselves repeating history all over again.
Offense:
The running game showed flashes. Combining the power of Jacobs and the speed of Bradshaw, thunder and lightning returned to the Giants line-up. But the offensive line did not show consistency last year, and unless they upgrade some of those positions, Eli is just a blind side sack away from an injury time-out.
The G-men had the 21st ranked passing attack and were 12th in the league in sacks allowed. If they hope to repeat, they will need to improve those numbers. During the off-season they have done nothing to upgrade their offense. They still have aging Amani Toomer, off injured Plaxico Burress, and a suspect offensive line. They will need to look to the offensive side of the ball to add depth. A fantasy sleeper pick is WR Steve Smith. He was injured early in the season, and then emerged late during their playoff run. Barring a sophomore slump, look for him to pass Toomer as the #2 WR. Finally as for a draft day rumor, look for the Giants to work a trade to send TE J. Shockey to the Rams.
Defense:
Defense wins championships, and the Giants proved that adage once again. A punishing pass rush from their front four was the difference maker not only against the Patriots, but against all of their NFC foes on their road to victory. Michael Strahan is still playing cat and mouse as to whether he will return, and assuming Tom Coughlin is willing to look the other way, I think he will resign just in time to attend the last week of training camp. The loss of Kawika Mitchell, may prove even more vexing. They resigned Danny Clark as insurance, but the Giants are accepting too much risk at that position. Their front four is dominating, but if they have an off-day, there is not a lot of support in the second and third levels of the defense.
Draft Prediction:
31st Pick: James Hardy WR Indiana
63rd Pick: Cliff Avril OLB Purdue
95th Pick: Kirk Barton OT Ohio State
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