New York Giants’ Wide Receiver Trio: What Weak Spot?

During the preseason, the New York Giants were told time and time again that the only weak spot on the entire team was its receiving core.

The defensive line was heralded (prematurely) as the biggest thing since Eli Manning’s latest contract.

The secondary was solid as a whole, because surely second year man Kenny Phillips would play incredible, and what about Aaron Ross? Send him to the Pro Bowl!

The running game would remain as strong as ever even without Derrick Ward because Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw had the talent to carry the rock behind an immensely powerful offensive line.

Wow. How accurate were those assessments?

The defensive line is nothing but atrocious, and has only recently begun to show signs of improvement.

The secondary has been nothing if not banged up and injured all season.

The running game has been mediocre at best, and that’s only thanks to the way we have utilized Jacobs and Bradshaw equally.

The only facet of the Giants’ offense or defense that has performed at a high level week in and week out happens to be the predetermined weak point: The wide receivers.

Hakeem Nicks: The Hands

Season Stats: 40 receptions, 751 yards, six touchdowns

Drafted in the first round out of North Carolina, Hakeem Nicks has taken the team by storm in recent weeks. He has the best hands out of the group. Even after a few key drops in the Philly game, he responded with an acrobatic catch and scamper for a touchdown.

I believe Nicks has a ton of upside and could easily eclipse 1,200 or 1,300 yards next season. The thing that he excels in is running after the catch; he showed it when he bailed Eli out after hurting his foot against Kansas City, and in the aforementioned Eagles game in Week 14.

Mario Manningham: The Deep Threat

Season Stats: 51 receptions, 735 yards, five touchdowns

Super Mario was originally thought to be the No. 1 guy in the Big Blue passing attack, but in the past weeks has relinquished his spot to Nicks. It hasn’t affected his play, as Manning is often looking his way deep down field.

Manningham has had exceptional games against the Cowboys in Week 2 (10 catches for 151 yards) and against Atlanta (six catches for 126 yards). As Nicks improves his game, he will start to see double coverage and eventually open up the opposite side for Manningham. That is when he will be able to thrive in his No. 2 role.

Steve Smith: Mr. Third Down

Season Stats: 90 receptions, 1,093 yards, six touchdowns

Be happy Giants fans. This could be Dwayne Jarrett we’re talking about.

Smith has been the best receiver on the Giants team by far and has excelled in his slot role this year. He will close in on 100 receptions by the end of the year and should finish right around 1,200 yards. Most importantly, he is Eli Manning’s third down go-to guy.

Smith will enjoy time next season playing the entire year out of the slot position and should expect 100-110 receptions again. There is no reason those numbers are not reachable. Don’t forget, he is sixth all-time at USC in receptions and was the 2006 team MVP. This guy is a stud and will be a crucial part to any Giant success.

Next Year…

The best thing that these receivers bring to the team will be seen on draft day. The Giants will be able to focus on their other needs: In the last three years, they have used a first, second, and two third round picks on a wide receiver.

With these boys stepping up their game, they can use those picks to bolster an aging offensive line, work on the running game, or draft a stud linebacker.

Whatever they choose, Big Blue will come back with a vengeance next year…but only after they finish this year’s playoff push.

Travis Rand is a New York Giants Community Leader, and has had articles published to CBSports, Fox Sports, National Football Post. He also thinks you should draft Hakeem Nicks in your fantasy draft next year.

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New York Giants Face-Off with Washington Redskins on Primetime

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NFL’s Class of ’09 Wide Recievers Making Immediate Strides

In the 2009 NFL Draft, Al Davis shocked everyone (and no one) when he selected Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland over the highly touted Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech University.

The first round saw a ridiculous six wideouts drafted in the first round alone. Including the two previously mentioned along with speedsters Jeremy Maclin and Percy Harvin, and crisp route runners with sure hands in Kenny Britt and Hakeem Nicks.

But how have they helped their respective teams? Have they made big plays week in and week out? Do they contribute on special teams as well? In this article, we’ll take a look at the five best wide receivers drafted, and the impact they have had over the course of the season.

No. 5. Michael Crabtree, SF 49ers, Drafted 10th
2009 Stats: 37 receptions, 473 yds, 2 TD

Although Crabtree didn’t start his career until week seven, he has been nothing but consistent since his first career NFL catch, a 12 yarder against the Houston Texans. He has had over 50 yards in five of his seven games, and averages roughly five catches per game.

As long as Vernon Davis continues to occupy the center of the field, they should compliment each other for years to come.

Best Game: Wk 11 @ GB, 4 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD

No. 5. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles, Drafted 19th
2009 Stats: 46 receptions, 623 yds, 4 TD’s

Maclin has been one of the few rookie wideouts to get playing time in every game this season, except for his early departure in week 14 against the Giants.

He has made the most of his playing time alongside fellow burner DeSean Jackson, and both will have a shot at eclipsing 1000 yds. If Jackson didn’t have the explosiveness that he does, than Maclin would be most likely getting some returns as well.

Best Game: Wk 5 TB, 6 catches, 142 yds, 2 TD’s

No. 4. Michael Crabtree, SF 49ers, Drafted 10th
2009 Stats: 37 receptions, 473 yds, 2 TD

Although Crabtree didn’t start his career until week seven, he has been nothing but consistent since his first career NFL catch, a 12 yarder against the Houston Texans. He has had over 50 yards in five of his seven games, and averages roughly five catches per game. As long as Vernon Davis continues to occupy the center of the field, they should compliment each other for years to come.

No. 3. Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans, Drafted 30th
2009 Stats: 38 catches, 642 yds, 3 TD’s

Kenny Britt has done something that no one else on our list has done. He developed chemistry with two different quarterbacks, with almost the exact same results. In his first six games with Kerry Collins at the helm, Britt had 19 grabs for 218 yards.

When the team switched signal callers to Vince Young, Britt snatched 15 catches for 232 yards. The difference lies in all three of Britt’s scores coming from VY, including a leaping game winning grab against the Cardinals.

Best Game: Wk 12 Ari, 7 catches, 128 yds, 1 GW TD

No. 2. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants, Drafted 29th
2009 Stats: 38 catches, 685 yds, 6 TD’s

Hakeem “The Dream” Nicks has pulled in the most TD’s of any rookie wideout this season, tied with our number one ball catcher. The difference is, Nicks missed two games due to injury and could be on the upside of 800+ yds if he had those back.

He will still most likely go over 1000, as he got the start over Mario Manningham for the number one spot in week 14. Nicks also has the big play ability, scoring four touchdowns from 54, 58, 62, and 68 yards.

Best Game: Wk 6 @ NO, 5 catches, 114 yds, 1 TD

No. 1. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings, Drafted 22nd
2009 Stats: 48 catches, 681 yds, 6 TD’s

In case you are curious as to how I sorted out the top three, I figured that Nicks had more TD’s, with even fewer games played, and that Harvin was an absolute machine on kick returns, therefore he clearly deserved to be numero uno.

Harvin has been electric, having a 20 yard reception in nine of his eleven games thus far. As mentioned previously, he also is 8th in the NFL with 986 yards on kick returns, with another two TD’s to give him eight total. Harvin will most likely win rookie of the year, and rightfully so.

Best Game: Wk 12 Chi, 6 catches, 101 yds, 1 TD, 2 rushes, 45 yds

Oh? You wanted an honorable mention? Ok…hmm. How about that Raiders guy? No, not Bey, I was talking about Louis Murphy.

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Giants Edge Chiefs: 3 Studs, 2 Duds, and 1 Play

The Giants made the score look far closer than it should have been. For NFL fans not watching this game, they might get the idea that Cassel may have had a nice showing. Maybe they thought Larry Johnson made the (usually) great run defense look pathetic.

Neither was the case.

The Giants came out guns-a-blazing like always and scored for the fourth consecutive time on their first drive. They controlled the entire first half and lit up the Chiefs for roughly five straight drives, until they finally converted on a third down.

As the title states however, you will get a better look at how this one went when looking at the duds, studs, and the play.

Three Studs

Steve Smith, 11 catches, 134 yards, 2 TD’s
Smith is incredibly agile, sure handed, and an all around phenomenal athlete. He has performed to perfection in every game this season, and some how, some way always finds a way to stay open.

He has only recently been noticed on the media levels, but has been known to Giants fans as the guy that would replace Plaxico Burress.

Smith had eight of his 11 catches come in the first half, and both touchdowns. As far as I can remember, almost every touchdown has been in the middle of the field where Smith likes it best. He will continue to torch defenses for 5-10 catches until they prove they can actually cover him.

Eli Manning, 20/34, 294 yards, 3 TD’s, 1 INT, 104.0 QB Rating
Manning continued to beat defenses when they decided to stack the box and it wasn’t any difference against Kansas City. Two of his three scores as mentioned previously went to #12, and the third was to rookie Hakeem Nicks (more about that later)

Manning had the ball zipping from left to right all day, and sometimes even rolled out or shuffled his feet in the pocket to deliver a pin-point toss. The interception was thrown to the back shoulder of Mario Manningham, so the blame can really go either way.

Big Blue Wreckin’ Crew
The game was more of a killing than it might appear to be, remember? After Manning went down the defense was forced in the game frequently and looked pretty tired when all was said and done.

Michael Boley, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Rocky Bernard all found their way into the quarterback, and to be honest one of these guys possibly had a chance at all five considering how many guys flooded the backfield every time it was infiltrated by blue jerseys. Factor in the fumble on the opening drive, and the New York G-Men brought it to KC.

Two Duds

Mario Manningham and… Mario Manningham…
When you get targeted the second most on the team (8) but you fail to catch even a quarter of those balls, you automatically deserve the only spot on such a list.

Manningham has been extremely dependable up until this point in the season, but he had quite an off day on Sunday. He had at least three passes bounce directly off his hands, and that number is generous. Manning’s interception even could have possibly been negated had Manningham caught what hit him in the hands, though I must admit, not very accurately.

Manningham did have one catch, and it did go for a whopping 43 yards, but even that almost escaped his grasp. Manning threw a fade to MM who was streaking down the right sideline and bobbled the ball two or three times in stride and almost didn’t even make the box score.

One Play

Manning to Nicks… 54 yards of pain
I must admit I kind of cheated here. This is actually a combination of two plays. The first is in which Manning threw an incompletion to Steve Smith for what would’ve been a 35 yards pass. What makes it important is what happened before the throw. Manning appeared to have crow-hopped as an outfielder would before throwing the ball, except no one even touched Eli on the pass.

What has since been described as a bruised heel, Kevin Gilbride called a screen pass on the next play, probably to ensure that Manning wouldn’t have to do much. I don’t think they foresaw Hakeem “The Dream” Nicks streaking for 54 yards after weaving past two defenders. When Nicks got down to the five yard line, he beautifully angled himself for a stutter go after the safety looked foolish.

Look Ahead
The Giants return home against the Raiders and I expect the running game to hit 200 yards for the first time this season. Also, look for Mario Manningham to have a comeback game as Nmandi “Awesome”gha will be all over Steve Smith.

‘Til next week, go Big Blue!!

*As this is my first column in a great while, I must apologize to my other community leaders for somewhat dropping the ball. I entered the University of Southern Maine in the fall and had little to no time on my hands. Don’t fret however, I plan on chronicling the New York Giants season from here on out.*

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Fantasy Factory: Analyzing Picks One Through Ten (No. 4-6)

Fantasy Factory: Analyzing Picks One Through Ten (No. 1-3): Click Here

Alright, here we are back for the second stage of achieving fantasy greatness. Having picks four, five, or six is one of my favorite draft positions. You don’t have to wait extremely long to make your next pick, and it helps gauge who will be available when you do select your next stud.

Drafting at No. Four, Five, or Six

Selecting at these positions opens up a new world of possibilities. Naturally, the top three running backs have already been selected.

** Footnote: If you have pick four, one of the top running backs will be available. Such as Matt Forte or Maurice Jones-Drew. In that case, select them with your number four pick.

It also is a time to start looking at drafting a different position, such as wide receiver. I know it sounds crazy, but he’s just THAT good.

However your style, here are four players, that I find logical choices to draft at the aforementioned draft positions.

Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams
I know what you’re thinking if you were someone that drafted S-Jax last season. He didn’t really get the job done and was often inconsistent. Take a chance though, and see Jackson’s ceiling for this season.

Why Steven Jackson Should Be Your First Round Pick

• New head coach Steve Spagnuolo looks to use Jackson as an “offensive centerpiece,” and will do anything to get the ball in his hands.
• Whether it be on the ground or through the air.
• Improved offensive line with Mike Carney at fullback, sixth overall pick Andre Smith, and outstanding center Jason Brown clearing the way.
• Easiest schedule in the NFL. Yeah…that’s a pretty good reason.

Why Steven Jackson Shouldn’t Be Your First Round Pick

• Team could be down in a lot of games, meaning less carries for Jackson.
• Injuries have been a problem for Jackson in the past, and you should be cautious that a missed game or two is definitely a possibility.
• I went to Florida with a buddy for ESPN The Weekend in March, and he has connections with ESPN so we got to meet and hang out with plenty of athletes. Of the NFL running backs we met, Brandon Jacobs, Brian Westbrook, and Steven Jackson, he was by far and away the least friendly, and downright stand-offish. It’s always annoyed me so I thank you for listening.

Final Verdict: PPR leagues will be great for Jackson as he usually hauls in 50 catches a year (caught an amazing 90 in 2006!).

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
Johnson had an extremely impressive rookie campaign, even with Lendale “Fatty” White sniping a ton (pun most definitely intended) of Johnson’s scores. How will 2009 treat this stellar sophomore?

Why Chris Johnson Should Be Your First Round Pick

• Averaged an incredible five yards per carry in ’08, and more carries in 2009 could equal a ridiculous jump in yards.
• One of the few true “big play threats” in the NFL with five rushes of over 30 yards in ’08.
• There’s talk that the team will be less conservative in 2009 (which could mean less touchdowns of carries within the three yard line…Where Lendale had eight of his TDs).

Why Chris Johnson Shouldn’t Be Your First Round Pick

• Lendale White is apparently at his lowest weight ever coming into camp and is in his contract year. If he sticks around it could mean trouble for Johnson.
• A soft home schedule, but a rough road one could mean inconsistency for CJ.

Final Verdict: Mr. 4.29 should have another great season, and I highly recommend grabbing him at pick five or six if he is still available.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Everyone got a peek at what Fitz could do when under pressure when he set NFL records for receptions and touchdowns during a postseason run. The guy whose records he obliterated? Some old man named Jerry Rice.

Why Larry Fitzgerald Should Be Your First Round Pick

• Third easiest schedule in the NFL, including six divisional games in which the average pass defense was 19th.
• Arizona returns a lot of the same key pieces from last season. In the chance that Anquan Boldin doesn’t return, Steve Breaston could become a viable replacement.
• If Kurt Warner stays healthy, and Beanie Wells can adjust to NFL rushing, than it could mean even bigger numbers for Fitz.

Why Larry Fitzgerald Shouldn’t Be Your First Round Pick

• Running backs have often been something you fill in the first round. Playing with a flex spot means you could stock up and start three great backs. Taking a wideout first means your behind the pack.
• Anquan Boldin not returning, or holding out could mean, as previously stated, that Breaston would fill in. But he would have to match his 1,000 yard rookie season to truly help Fitz get even better.

Final Verdict: Fitz is without a doubt the best wide receiver in the NFL and is well worth a first round choice, assuming you take the best ranked RB the next time by.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
Tomlinson is another one of the players gracing this list that you might be a little nervous about saying their name aloud at your draft day party with some buddies. Don’t be.

Why LaDainian Tomlinson Should Be Your First Round Pick

• Eclipsed 1,100 yards, double digit TDs, and led the NFL in targets for running backs with 77. What more could you want?
• If Vincent Jackson can match his last season’s numbers and Antonio Gates gets back to being a healthy tight end, LT should have no problem returning to 15 touchdowns and 1,300 yards.
• Norv Turner has told reporters that LaDainian Tomlinson could very easily win this years rushing crown. Does that matter? Well, he’s the one who decides how many carries LT will get.

Why LaDainian Tomlinson Shouldn’t Be Your First Round Pick

• He turned 30-years-old. Look it up.
• Chargers franchised Darren Sproles, clearly looking forward, and he could grab some carries from LT on a week to week basis.
• Injuries have been nagging away since last season at Tomlinson, but it might not be that big of a problem compared with last seasons numbers. Factor in that he’s a year older, however, and you could encounter some problems.

Final Verdict: I like LT to have a bounce back year, and he could most definitely fall even a little further if you have a later pick.

Final Thoughts
Some great selections come along at these positions on the draft board. Make sure you pair up your first pick with a great second one if you make a risky decision.

Written By, and Created By Travis Rand, NYG Community Leader and Fantasy Writer

Fantasy Factory: Analyzing Picks One Through Ten (No. 1-3)

I promised I wouldn’t let an article get written about Fantasy Football until at least the Fourth of July. Well, I was pretty close.

To kick off what will surely be another amazing Fantasy season filled with busts, late round gems, and injuries, we will be looking at what to do with one of your most important picks, the first-rounder.

Now don’t get me wrong, I know that most drafts are won in the later rounds, right between your seventh and 10th picks. The ones where you have to draft the sleepers and the promising rookies.

But that doesn’t take away from the severity of your first pick, that is why this will help you make the right decision.

Now, when I get to future articles concerning later picks, I will not be choosing the same players as my final verdict, I will be changing it up to hopefully expand the mind into making what they believe is the final and correct choice.

Is it Too Early?

It is one of the most popular questions in Fantasy sports. And there really is a simple answer, no.

Technically, if you have the second pick in the draft, is it too early to draft Larry Fitzgerald? Well, no.

If you like Larry Fitzgerald enough to draft him at two, there’s an extremely good chance he doesn’t fall to pick No. 19 [assuming a 10-team league drafting snake style] which would be your next selection.

Does that mean that drafting Tony Gonzalez with the fifth pick is ok? Well, no. Tony Gonzalez is someone that can be found in the sixth and seventh rounds. That would mean that taking Gonzo with your fourth- or fifth-round pick would be a better choice.

Remember, mock drafts were made for a reason.

Drafting at No. One, Two, or Three

Now, let’s get down to business.

Let’s assume you have one of the following picks. Many people draft in many different styles. A lot of people think that going WR-WR is the smartest thing [this is scientifically proven as smart, but we’ll get to that later], and some people like getting their running backs early, as they are the most consistent on a week to week basis.

However your style, here are four players, that I find logical choices to draft at the aforementioned draft positions.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Far and away one of the best running backs in the National Football League. Peterson has been one of the more consistent running backs in the league, Peterson will most likely be the first selection in roughly 80 percent of all leagues.

Why Adrian Peterson Should Be Your No. 1 Pick

• He rushed for 100 or more yards 10 times in 2008
• Increased his workload by about six carries per game from his rookie season, edging closer to being the$ full-time back
• Eleven games last season with at least 20 carries
• Added muscle going into camp this season, allowing Peterson to see extra playing time on pass protection

Why Adrian Peterson Shouldn’t Be Your No. 1 Pick

• Only scored 10 touchdowns last season, you can sacrifice all his yards for someone who sees paydirt more
• Type of league. Adrian Peterson takes a serious hit in PPR leagues to the running backs that follow

Final Verdict: Adrian Peterson is still the man, and a completely viable option with the No. 1 pick. Don’t expect Peterson to fall to even the third pick.

Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Turner the Burner rewarded everyone in last year’s draft who took him in the fourth or fifth round with a flyer choice with an incredible 1,600-yard season with plenty of touchdowns to go around. But how does he stack up in 2009?

Why Michael Turner Should Be Your No. 1 Pick

• Has only been a “starter” for one season, and still completely fresh for his second season
• The acquisition of Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez opens up the running game even more
• And don’t forget, Gonzalez can block better than… Wait… Who was Atlanta’s TE last year?

Why Michael Turner Shouldn’t Be Your No. 1 Pick

• An extremely hefty workload last season could catch up with him [over 370 carries]
• An elite passing game may happen this year in Atlanta. Gonzalez, Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, and Harry Douglas could give Turner even fewer opportunities
• Assuming the previous statement is true, or ATL just wants to lessen his load, say Turner gets 330 carries, that puts him on pace for roughly 1,480 yards and 12 TD’s. Certainly great numbers, but maybe not
  No. 1 material

Final Verdict: You might get some slack for passing on the great AP, but don’t worry about it. Turner’s lack of carries in his first few years should make him fine after one long season.

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears

Matt Forte…Another running back that you could’ve had pretty late last season. Factor in DeAngelo Williams, Michael Turner, Chris Johnson, Steve Slaton, and Jonathan Stewart, and that’s a hefty load of great running backs.

Why Matt Forte Should Be Your No. 1 Pick

• Finally…Someone who can catch the ball out of the backfield, major plus in his stock for PPR leagues
• Great Offensive Line + Great Defense + Windy Conditions + Freezing Weather = One great fantasy running back
• Lack of passing options for new man behind the center Jay Cutler should make for lots of checkdowns to Matt Forte

Why Matt Forte Should Not Be Your No. 1 Pick

• An extremely hefty workload in his rookie season could make for a sophomore slump
• If Jay Cutler finds his groove, the running game could lose 5-8 carries a game [or, according to Forte’s average from last season, two or four fantasy points… per week.]

Final Verdict: Even I have to admit I wasn’t a big Forte fan until I wrote this column. Anyone taking a count, that’s only two con’s with three pro’s.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Somewhat of a surprise when most people opened their draft kits, MJD is projected to go in the first five or six picks in this coming fantasy season.

Most people are truly blind to what an incredible season MJD could have, but also be cautious of the downfall that he could also meet.

Why Maurice Jones-Drew Should Be Your First Pick

• MJD will finally be the starter in Jacksonville after a few seasons as a back up. Expect his first season over 1,000 yards
• MJD is the tied with Forte as the most valuable back overall if you’re a member of a PPR league
• Jacksonville will most likely continue to be a run first team, though the addition of Torry Holt is something that I think went a little under the radar

Why Maurice Jones-Drew Should Not Be Your First Pick

• No one, not even the so called experts, not even Jacksonville management can predict if MJD’s body will handle the full workload
• The addition of an excellent wide receiver in Holt could take away a few of the targets that MJD might’ve seen

Final Verdict: In PPR leagues, MJD could be taken even nearer to the top of the draft, though still may fall past Forte due to his proven ability

Final Thoughts

When all is said and done, the four guys that were just mentioned should be within about 30 points of each other, which equals out to about two points per week.

So if you lose by a point or two, it would be easy to blame it on Turner when AD has a breakout week, or you could instead blame it on when it really occurred. The later rounds.

Written By, and Created By Travis Rand, NYG Community Leader and Fantasy Football Writer

Defensive Outlook No. 1 Of 3: The Fierce Defensive Line

The best thing that could have happened for our defense did.

Everyone seems to have forgot about them during the hooplah of the Giants “not having ANY WR’s.”

The Giants defense in 2009, will be one of the best in the entire NFL, and to get a better look, I will brake down all three parts of the fearsome eleven that will often see the field for Big Blue.

This first article will be focused on the defensive line that we have put together this year. We have seen it all so far, with injuries to some of our big men, free agent pick ups that went mostly unnoticed, and some training camp battles that will definitely spark some friendly competition.

Big Boys Up Front: Defensive Line

Two years ago, during our miraculous and unforgettable Super Bowl run, our defensive line was one of the most fearsome in years. Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora will again anchor the end positions, but some crucial free agent signings will keep our line fresh and healthy for the entire season.

Our defensive tackles will hopefully include the recovering Barry Cofield, the big man Fred Robbins and free agent acquisitions Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard.

Speaking of which, I think one of the most underrated pickups this off season is indeed the previously mentioned Chris Canty. He will definitely be playing a major role in the operations of the D-Line this year.

He stands at a massive 6′ 7” which gives him the perfect opportunity to swim around offensive line men, and an even better chance at swatting down balls if he can find a way to get his massive frame near the QB.

Another crucial, and brand new member of the New York Giants is Rocky Bernard. He wrapped up over 40 tackles last year with the struggling Seattle Seahawks and will have a much more important role as he will most likely start if he can outperform Barry Cofield.

Though Bernard will have struggles of his own, as he had shoulder surgery in the off season.

As a whole, I think if we can get the right amount of substitutions in, and Osi Umenyiora can return to being an elusive and speedy force to be reckoned with, then the New York Giants will have one of the best defenses in the entire league.

Written By, Edited By, Travis Rand NYG Community Leader

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