It has been less than 18 months since the New York Giants appeared in Super Bowl XXXV as the NFC champion, but the current team hardly resembles the one that was defeated by the Baltimore Ravens in Raymond James Stadium. Known for years as one of the most stable franchises in the NFL, the Giants are still undeniably rock-solid in terms of ownership and the front office, but the product on the field has markedly slipped over a very short period and the feeling in some quarters is that this is a club in decline.

Salary cap issues, most notably the reluctance of defensive end Michael Strahan to abet the cause in that area, have forced the Giants to part ways with some veterans. This might the final season with the Giants for Strahan and quarterback Kerry Collins, both of whom can become unrestricted free agents next spring. The offensive line is clearly in flux and, with the bile that now exists between Strahan and tailback Tiki Barber, coach Jim Fassel will have to be as diligent off the sideline as he is determined on it.

The light at the end of the Lincoln Tunnel is that the Giants roster is quietly undergoing a metamorphosis of sorts, one that should in time transform New York from a stodgy and predictable team to one capable of making big plays. There is youth and speed on offense and, if Collins can bounce back from a poor 2001 performance, he will find promising new playmakers like first-round tight end Jeremy Shockey in positions of importance.

Where will this bring the Giants?

	CAMP AT A GLANCE
	The Giants need a big season from Tiki Barber.
	Location: SUNY-Albany Rookies report: July 24 Veterans report: July 24 Preseason schedule:    Aug. 5: vs. Houston    Aug. 10: New England    Aug. 17: at Atlanta    Aug. 24: at N.Y. Jets    Aug. 29: Baltimore

The transfusion of fresh blood will have hearts pumping a little faster at Giants Stadium this fall, because speedier playmakers like young veterans Ron Dixon and Jonathan Carter and rookie wideouts Tim Carter and Daryl Jones will certainly make life more interesting in the passing game. And, of course, there are holdovers such as Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard, along with Barber, one of the NFL's most versatile backs.

But the offensive line remains a concern and third-year pro Chris Bober, who has yet to start a game, is being counted upon the win the left tackle job. If he can't the Giants will be forced to move Luke Petitgout over from the strongside, further shuffling the unit. The departure of linebacker Jessie Armstead in free agency doesn't seem to concern the New York coaches, who felt he was a step slow the past two seasons, but the veteran was still a locker room leader and will be missed in some quarters.

So it is entirely possible, almost plausible, to expect the Giants might actually slide a bit further from last year's 7-9 mark before beginning the turnaround.

Man in the spotlight
It would be easy, and probably appropriate as well, to suggest that Strahan will be closely scrutinized in what figures to be his final season in a Giants uniform. His interaction, or lack thereof, with Barber will provide the kind of tabloid grist the New York media loves to sensationalize.

But let's put third-year linebacker Dhani Jones, the man who replaces Armstead at the key weakside spot, under the microscope instead. A sixth-round pick in the 2000 draft, Jones is a physical specimen, a player of eye-opening athleticism who runs well, and who New York coaches feel can become a big-time playmaker. Off the field, Jones has gained work in New York as a model. On it, the Giants hope he'll be the model of the new age linebacker, a guy who can run with the backs.

The problem is that Jones is woefully inexperienced, having missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury and playing as a backup in '01, when he collected 11 tackles and one interception.

Key position battle
The situation at left tackle is less a battle than a skirmish of attrition. The club prefers that Bober, who has played just 16 games in two seasons, win the starting job as bodyguard to Kerry Collins, and is counting on heralded offensive line mentor Jim "Mouse" McNally to prepare the youngster for what lies ahead.

Bober is a former undrafted free agent from Nebraska-Omaha, is very raw, and McNally has his work cut out for him. Moving fourth-year veteran Petitgout from the right to the left side is a last resort since, given the shuffling already taking place, the Giants would like some semblance of stability in their starting five. As one of several new "blindside" pass protectors in the NFL this year, Bober will come under heavy scrutiny in camp.

Injury update
The foot injury that has hampered wideout Ike Hilliard for nearly two years now did not preclude him from participating in most spring drills, but it has relegated the veteran to being mostly an intermediate range threat now, and he may never regain his past form. The Giants attempted to trade Hilliard in the offseason, in part because they realize he might never come totally back from the injury, in part because they have grown weary of his attitude. Punter Rodney Williams seems to have all but finished his rehabilitation for a broken wrist suffered last season. Cornerback Jason Sehorn has hardly aged gracefully but claims to feel as good physically as he has in years.

Rookie report
General manager Ernie Accorsi moved up in the first round to grab former University of Miami tight end Jeremy Shockey, and the gambit might have netted him the offensive rookie of the year. Only once in the last seven seasons have the Giants had a tight end catch more than 30 passes and Shockey could reach that benchmark by midseason. He was widely regarded by most scouts as a top 10 athlete in the 2002 draft and one of the premier tight end prospects of the last 20 years.

Second-rounder Tim Carter is still developing as a wide receiver, will have to become more consistent at catching the ball, but can run past just about any corner in the league. Jeff Hatch, a third-round pick from Penn, could eventually challenge for the starting job at offensive left tackle. The sleeper of the bunch is Miami wide receiver Daryl Jones, a real burner, and a player who will team with Carter as the starters in the future.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.