Five questions facing the Giants

by Ed Valentine on Jul 15, 2007 8:42 AM EDT in New York Giants News

Less than two weeks until training camp starts for the Giants.

Here is a quick rundown of what I think are the five biggest questions the team faces as the season approaches.

1. Can Tom Coughlin really change? The Giants coach has said again and again during the offseason that he will try and relate better to both his players and the media. He needs to. Coughlin, in the final year of his contract, needs fewer distractions and more wins to save his job.

2. Can they replace Tiki Barber? I am on record as saying that Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns will do just fine. Until, however, they actually do it this will be a valid question. Barber is, after all, the most productive running back in Giants history.

3. Can Eli Manning continue to grow? Eli has made slow, steady improvement during his first three seasons. Now, the Giants need him to take a big leap and become an upper echelon quarterback and team leader. If he can't, it might be a long season.

4. Can David Diehl play left tackle? Again, I am on record as saying I think he can. This is an incredibly important job, though, and it widely accepted that Diehl is better suited to stay at guard. If he can't handle the job, Eli will take a beating and we'll be watching Anthony Wright play quarterback.

5. Can Steve Spagnuolo help the defense? Under Tim Lewis, the Giants defense was soft and often sieve-like. Spagnuolo, the Giants new defensive coordinator, brings with him a more aggressive style. Will it help? It better if the Giants want to make the playoffs for a third straight time.

There are, of course, plenty of other questions. These, though, I feel are the biggest ones.

Your thoughts?

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Comments

Quesrions

a. 2 & 5. Without a doubt. Jacobs will be spectacular. and Spags will turn the D into a force to be reckoned with.
b. Diehl won't be great,but he'll get the job done. He'll need help with the better DEs.
c. 1&3. Doubtful, but Eli doesn't have to jump to another level. He has to find his groove and play competently at all times, avoiding the kind of embarrassingly bad performances he has turned in at times in the past. As for C, he can't "really" change, but if he can just smooth out some of his rough edges and avoid losing conrol of himself on the sidelines on Sundays, the Giants should have a good year. I won't be surprised if they win the division. I'd like to see C give some of his volcanic emotion to Eli. If you're one of the top 2-3 QBs in the league, you can succeed with a phlegmatic persona. Anything less than that, you,ve got to occasionally chew out your team mates when they blow an assignemnt and show some excitement when the team's on a roll.

by george cronin on Jul 15, 2007 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

I am loving

the use of the word 'phlegmatic.' Never thought I'd see that here at BBV. Nice work!!

by Ed Valentine on Jul 15, 2007 6:04 PM EDT reply actions

Questions

I agree with you that the running backs will do just fine, so I'd replace that one with: Can Kiwi make the transition to LB successfully? If he can do it, then it gets that much more talent on the field and it gives the defense a huge boost.

If I'm going to break them, I'm going to break them both. - LT

by potroast on Jul 16, 2007 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

Kiwi

I also agree about our backs. As for Kiwi, anybody who has athletic ability, which he has, can make any transition quit smoothly with allot of practice, patience, and studying. I don't know if it is just me, but I can sense a tad of LT in him. I just got a feeling he will be a great LB as he matures.

by Max G-Men on Jul 16, 2007 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Kiwi

I don't know about LT (that's a comparison that isn't fair to anybody), but I do think Kiwi could develop into a real terror as a linebacker. There will be rough spots, but the pass-rushing ability and athleticism he has should serve him well at that spot.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 16, 2007 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Kiwi2

Yes, well I agree that the comparison is way out in left field when comparing to LT, since LT has been my favorite player when I was young. I guess I should have rephrased my comment. I just see something in him that is very special.

by Max G-Men on Jul 16, 2007 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions