Nobody in the NFC was better last season than the Giants, but nobody in the NFC was worse in the playoffs. The team that was supposed to repeat as Super Bowl champion fizzled down the stretch, losing three of its final four games before bombing out against Philadelphia.
With Osi Umenyiora returning to join prime new talent, the Giants should be scary on defense. (Getty Images)
The Eagles beat them two out of three times, and that's a problem because they share a division. The Giants won the NFC East -- not the Eagles -- but it was Philadelphia that was the last team standing. That means the Eagles are the team to target for the rest of the division.
The question with the Giants, of course, is what the future holds for troubled wide receiver Plaxico Burress, and we won't have an answer before he goes to court in April. In the meantime, the club is divided in loyalties, with players and the front office supporting his return, and the head coach against it. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, the Giants have been busy shoring up their defense for another run at the top, and nobody did a better job in free agency. Not only will they have Michael Boley, Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty to add to their front seven, but pass-rusher extraordinaire Osi Umenyiora is back. That will present problems galore for opposing offenses and the rest of the NFC. Don't say you weren't warned, Andy Reid.
QB: Eli Manning hasn't missed a start since stepping in halfway through his rookie season, and he hasn't missed the playoffs the past four years. David Carr is a suitable backup, but he won't play as long as Manning is winning ... which means he won't play.
RB: A year ago the Giants had two backs rush for 1,000 yards, but that group was cut in half when Derrick Ward left for Tampa Bay. No problem. There is leading scorer Brandon Jacobs as well as backup Ahmad Bradshaw, whom the Giants value.
N.Y. Giants Draft Needs
POS Meter Description
QB
Not at all
RB
Needs depth
WR
Biggest need
TE
Needs starter
OL
Needs depth
DL
Not at all
LB
Needs starter
DB
Needs depth
WR: Your guess is as good as mine as to what will happen with Burress. All I know is the team wasn't the same without him, and Manning suffered. No Burress means no go-to target and no red-zone threat. Amani Toomer is gone, Steve Smith is a no. 2 receiver and nobody knows what to expect from Mario Manningham.
TE: Kevin Boss is not as talented as Jeremy Shockey, but he is more reliable. He plays more games, runs better routes and he knows how to find the end zone. Boss had six touchdowns last season; Shockey had none. Still, the Giants could use a blocker at this position.
OL: The Giants' offensive line gets a lot of credit for the team's success, but I know people who think it's overrated -- saying it's good, just not great. Reggie McKenzie is winding down at right tackle, while Dave Diehl is adequate at left tackle. It's time to start looking for generation next, people.
DL: There is not a better collection of defensive-line talent anywhere: Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Rocky Bernard, Chris Canty, Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield. Whew. Not only is there talent; there is depth. Look for the Giants to rotate these guys to keep them fresh and effective.
LB: This became an area of need last year after Kiwanuka left to replace Umenyiora at defensive end. Now, he's on the defensive line for good, and the newly acquired Boley takes over at one outside position. Antonio Pierce is decent inside, but his play declined dramatically near the end of last season.
DB: James Butler is gone, but there's no need to dial 911. The Giants have last year's first-round pick, Kenny Phillips, waiting to step in and signed C.C. Brown from Houston. They can use depth here but seem set with their starters.
