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Monday, August 27 Updated: August 28, 6:01 PM ET Giants won't sneak up on anyone By Paul Schwartz Pro Football Weekly |
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In this new age of worst-to-first ascensions and one-year wonders, it should not have been so shocking that the lowly regarded Giants somehow conquered the NFC and plowed their way into Super Bowl XXXV before their magical mystery ride was cut short by the Ravens. The good news for 2001 is that the Giants did not suffer any damaging post-Super Bowl defections. The bad news is that their schedule is far more demanding, and they no longer can fill the upstart role that served them so well. Every key player returns from a team that went 12-4 and closed with a flurry of wins after head coach Jim Fassel boldly guaranteed a playoff berth. Their marquee free agents, cornerback Jason Sehorn and running back Tiki Barber, were both re-signed. They fortified their defense by signing defensive end Kenny Holmes to provide increased pass rush on the right side. They believe they've restocked their secondary by drafting cornerbacks Will Allen and William Peterson. The organization also assured stability by giving Fassel a new four-year contract. The potential roadblocks standing in the way of another NFC East title are almost exclusively on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Kerry Collins made dramatic strides last season, but he must prove he's over his four-interception Super Bowl nightmare. Barber must remain healthy, and a slimmed-down Ron Dayne must improve from an uneven rookie year. The offensive line was slapped together in 2000 and emerged as the team's most pleasant surprise. The Giants now hope they can squeeze another year out of 38-year-old left tackle Lomas Brown and 35-year-old left guard Glenn Parker.
Offense
Running backs: Barber was considered a change-of-pace back with extreme
versatility, and few believed he would ever approach the 1,000-yard mark.
But he did last season, racking up 1,006 yards rushing. He also caught a
career-high 70 passes. Barber was easily the team's offensive MVP, and
keeping him healthy this season is imperative. Dayne, the thunder portion of
the "Thunder & Lightning" backfield, gained 770 yards as a rookie, but he
slumped badly down the stretch. He's down to his high school weight of 245
pounds and could be the key to the season. Injury-plagued Joe Montgomery
will miss the entire season with a torn Achilles' tendon. Damon Washington
is a backup known more for being a special-teams ace. A boost could be
supplied by Sean Bennett, a gifted pass catcher who always seems to be on
the shelf with injuries.
Receivers: The image of the Giants as a plodding attack is slowly changing,
and wide reciever Amani Toomer is a main reason why. His occasional lapses in
concentration are gone from his game, leaving him with 157 catches for 2,277
yards in the last two years. His teammate, Ike Hilliard, is a slasher who is
unafraid to go over the middle, but toe surgery will keep him sidelined
early this season. Team officials and coaches are intrigued and excited
about Ron Dixon, who could emerge as a play maker if he becomes more
professional in his approach. Joe Jurevicius will start until Hilliard
returns, but despite his size, Jurevicius has yet to live up to his
second-round draft status. The Giants did not actively pursue re-signing
Pete Mitchell, which leaves them without a proven pass-catching tight end.
However, starting tight end Howard Cross is considered just a blocker.
Offensive linemen: Last year's overhaul was a smashing success, but a repeat
performance will not be easy. Offensive line coach Jim McNally gets kudos for last year,
but he had better hope that the bodies of his two aging warriors, Brown and
Parker, hold together. The best player of the bunch is right guard Ron Stone, who
gained his first Pro Bowl nod last season. There are no complaints with center Dusty Zeigler, and after a rough rookie year at guard, right tackle Luke Petitgout
improved dramatically in 2000. If anyone goes down, trouble could follow.
Mike Rosenthal has some experience, but Jason Whittle, Chris Ziemann and
Chris Bober do not.
Defense
Linebackers: Once he fully grasped the system in his first year with the
Giants, Mike Barrow added athleticism and speed to the middle linebacker spot and was a
top play maker by the end of the season. Jessie Armstead, who gained his
fourth-consecutive Pro Bowl selection, picks and chooses his spots more than
in the past, but he remains the team's emotional leader and most forceful
locker-room presence. On the strong side, second-year man Brandon Short
moves in as a first-time starter, replacing Ryan Phillips. The depth is all
young -- Jack Golden, Dhani Jones and Kevin Lewis.
Defensive backs: The Giants believe they have fortified this area and are
now brimming with talent here. Sehorn, who could miss the season opener
because of a skin infection on his right leg, is a gazelle-like athlete with
remarkable cover skills when fully healthy. However, he could miss the
regular-season opener if he has arthroscopic knee surgery, which was
expected. The weak link was considered to be left cornerback Dave Thomas,
who is huge and rangy but lacks speed. Thomas remains on the scene, but his
job may be taken by first-round pick Will Allen of Syracuse. William
Peterson, a third-round pick, will also get playing time, as will Ralph
Brown, who missed his entire rookie year following knee surgery. Cornerback Emmanuel
McDaniel, who played the nickel, led the team last season with six
interceptions. Strong safety Sam Garnes is solid, and Shaun Williams is a rising star
at free safety, where he is a terror in run support.
Special teams Paul Schwartz covers the Giants for the New York Post.
Material from Pro Football Weekly. |
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