ALBANY, N.Y.- Five observations on the 2003 New York Giants gleaned from training camp practices of July 25:

1. One of the key elements that the Giants appear to have going for them in 2003, and one that's a bit unusual, is a kind of collective amnesia regarding some aspects of last season. People here seem to conveniently forget New York was 6-6 heading into December, and in seeming disarray, coming off an ignominious defeat at expansion Houston and then an overtime loss to Tennessee. In the latter game, New York surrendered a tying touchdown and a two-point conversion with just nine seconds remaining in regulation. But coach Jim Fassel again rallied the troops, the Giants won four straight games down the stretch (with an overtime victory against Philadelphia in the regular-season finale), and they earned a wildcard berth. Of course, in the playoffs, they staged the second-largest collapse in NFL postseason play, squandering a 38-14 lead at San Francisco. That defeat also seems to have been purged from the Giants' memory banks, and there is a palpable sense here that New York has not only closed the gap on the Eagles in the NFC East, but also that this is a roster solid enough to compete in 2003 for a Super Bowl berth. And you know what? Giants players, officials and coaches might be correct in that self-assessment. Rather than dwell on some of the negatives of 2002, the players appear instead to have learned from them, and survived rather nicely. "There's always a lesson to be learned," said tailback Tiki Barber after the first training camp practice. "But nothing is served, either, when you beat yourself up too much, you know? We were on a roll late in the season, and then for three quarters (in the playoff game), before the bottom fell out on us. But we proved, even with the way the season ended, that we're good enough to play with anybody in the league." True enough. Like every other NFL franchise, the Giants have some holes, and the most glaring shortcoming seems to be a lack of depth in several areas. But make no mistake: This is a team that exudes confidence, that believes it is poised for pretty big things in 2003, and feels good about itself. Based on the opening sessions training camp, at least, we're not going to throw water on those aspirations.

	This botched field goal cost the Giants a chance to beat the 49ers in the playoffs.

2. While the Giants typically weren't big players in the free agent market, they placed major emphasis on upgrading their shabby special teams units, and the result appears to be a dramatic improvement in that critical area. New York signed Brian Mitchell, who is arguably the premier return specialist in NFL history, and doubled their pleasure because they weakened a division opponent by prying him away from the Eagles. New York awarded Ryan Kuehl one of the biggest signing bonuses ever for a deep-snapper, but he should pay quiet but significant dividends on that investment. The Giants also signed veteran kicker Mike Hollis, who bounced back from a subpar season with Jacksonville in 2001 to convert 25 of 33 field goal for the Buffalo Bills last year. Hollis has a career 80.3 percent conversion rate and, while his kickoffs characteristically aren't very deep, he is a guy who has faced clutch, late-game situations in the past. But the biggest addition to the kicking game, the one coaches and club officials seem to feel was more critical, was that of punter Jeff Feagles. A 15-year veteran, Feagles is one of the best directional punters in the game. His career averages might not be scintillating, 41.7 yards gross and 35.8 yards net, but he is a master at pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line. That should be a big plus for a New York defense that returns all its starters but which statistically was just No. 16 against the rush in '02. Only twice in 15 seasons has Feagles had more than 10 touchbacks and just once did he have fewer than 20 punts inside the 20-yard line. His career average for "coffin corner" punts is 25.1 per season. To say that the Giants punters of the past few seasons were mediocre would be an understatement. Feagles will help to rectify a bad situation. There is also this ancillary benefit to the special teams upgrade: Especially in 2002, some veterans felt that New York officials simply paid lip service to the kicking game, talked about it more than legitimately addressed it. It became a sore spot for some of the veterans. The offseason impetus to make a viable effort in an area some teams take too much for granted had a positive impact on those veterans.

3. The man nicknamed "Mouse" doesn't always get the attention of some of the other terrific offensive line coaches of the past quarter-century, but Jim McNally definitely has earned the right to be mentioned with guys like Jim Hanifan, Joe Bugel, Bill Muir, and Russ Grimm, among others. Every year, it seems, the organization asks McNally to turn chicken feathers into chicken salad and he usually succeeds. This year, not surprisingly, he's being asked again. New York lost both its rightside starters, guard Jason Whittle and tackle Mike Rosenthal, in free agency and McNally will have to develop replacements. The right tackle spot seems relatively set with Ian Allen, a second-year veteran who had just three regular-season appearances in 2002, penciled in as the starter. The competition figures to be a bit more heated at right guard. For now, Tam Hopkins, another second-year vet who has one start, is running with the first unit. But the Giants like the toughness of fifth-round draft choice David Diehl of Illinois and, at some point, he could supplant Hopkins as the starter. One has to wonder, though, when (or maybe, more accurately, if) McNally will run out of miracles. He turned left tackle Luke Petitgout, a former first-round pick who struggled early in his career, into an excellent player. Last year he took center Chris Bober and left guard Rich Seubert, who between them had never started a single regular-season game entering the campaign, and transformed them into solid starters. McNally said after the regular-season finale in 2002, when asked about the possibility of losing both tackles in free agency, that he had some young players he felt were potential replacements. He's going to get another chance this year to dig into his bag of tricks. But if the miracles run out, the Giants could have some problems, and the line could take a step backwards.

4. The defensive staff is holding its collective breath over 11-year veteran tackle Keith Hamilton, for any number of reasons. At age 32, Hamilton is coming off a severe Achilles injury that limited him to just six games in 2002. And there is the matter of an offseason incident in which Hamilton was alleged to have possessed small amounts of cocaine and marijuana. Hamilton's case will have to make its way through the legal system, and his attorney might keep seeking continuances that would postpone proceedings until after the season, and likely preclude the league from any sanctions. Hamilton had a previous strike against him in the league's substance abuse policy. But that incident occurred in 1998, he has apparently tested negative ever since, and the NFL usually eliminates players from the program after they have been clean for two consecutive years. Privately, the organization feels that Hamilton won't be suspended, but there is still the issue of rehabilitation from the right Achilles tendon tear. And, of course, of age. The situation is compounded by the fact that former University of Miami tackle William Joseph, the Giants' first-round pick, remains a holdout. On the opening day of camp, third-year veteran Lance Legree, who has a dozen career starts, lined up with Cornelius Griffin on the first unit. But the Giants are perilously thin at tackle, like many teams, and need Hamilton healthy and back on the field, and Joseph under contract.

5. One of the local wags who covers the Giants referred to strong safety Shaun Williams the other day as a Seventh-Day Adventist. "You know," said the scribe, "he can't work on Sundays." Good line. Just wish that I had thought of it. For years, I have been pumping Williams, the team's first-round pick in the 1998 draft, as an emerging force in the NFL. And now officially, after five seasons, I'm abandoning the propaganda mill for this guy. Williams certainly passes the "eyeball test," and the onetime UCLA star seems to possess all the qualities teams covet at a position that has been redefined the past few years. Great size, excellent speed, alleged range. But the fact is, Williams simply isn't a big-play guy. In five seasons, he's got 12 takeaways, and has never forced a fumble. Maybe it's the scheme, perhaps the Giants just don't put Williams into position to author the kind of plays that make a difference in a game, we're not sure. At this point in his career, he is a good player, maybe even a notch above good. Williams has the tools, though, to be far better than that. While on the issue of the secondary, this observation: No one here is bemoaning the free agency defection of Jason Sehorn, but his departure does leave the team looking for a "nickel" defender. Fourth-year corner Ralph Brown, with one career interception, gets first shot. Kato Serwanga is in the hunt as well. But the Giants might also tinker with the notion of using a safety in the crucial "nickel" spot.

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