Sporting News: 7 Reasons We Like Giants to Win Super Bowl 44

[Gryphon]

Sporting News: 7 Reasons We Like Giants to Win Super Bowl 44
by Emlen'sGremlins at bigblueinteractive.com/

I just received the Sporting News Pro Football 2009 Preview Magazine with Brandon Jacobs (and Thomas Jones on the cover).

They predict the Giants to finish 12-4 and 1st in the NFC East. They predict that the Giants will beat Philadelphia in the Divisional Playoffs, beat Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game and beat New England in Super Bowl 44.

Here are the "7 Reasons":

1) Championship Pedigree: The Giants have been there, done that. Many key players already own Super Bowl 42 rings. They still have the swagger of champions. Last season made them even hungrier. Until Plaxico Burress' gun incident derailed them, the Giants looked ready to repeat. They feel cheated, as if their season went up in smoke when a gun went off in a nightclub. Burress is now gone and will not stand in their way. Nothing will.

2) Depth: This team is well equipped to handle injuries. Significant players have gone down over the past two seasons - Jeremy Shockey, Mathias Kiwanuka, Osi Umenyiora. Yet the Giants kept winning. General Manager Jerry Reese has assembled a formidable roster. The Giants are toast if Eli Manning goes down for the long term. But overall their roster is rock-solid.

3) Offensive Line: Guard Chris Snee and Center Shaun O'Hara are coming off Pro Bowl seasons. David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie are excellent tackles, and Rich Seubert is a dependable guard. The Giants led the league in rushing last season, as their backs were provided with gaping holes. Few backs run with Brandon Jacobs' power and Ahmad Bradshaw's game-breaking speed. Derrick Ward, who signed with the Buccaneers, will miss the Giants offensive line more than the Giants will miss him.

4) Ferocious pass rush: Justin Tuck became a star last season after Umenyiora suffered a season-ending injury. Together, they will make sandwiches out of quarterbacks, while Mathias Kiwanuka will rarely see double teams, making him even more effective. The Giants will miss defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, now head coach of the Rams. But the franchise was smart to promote former linebackers coach Bill Sheridan to defensive coordinator. Sheridan sat in meetings with Spagnuolo, and knows best how to deploy personnel. Remember Super Bowl 42, when Patriots quarterback Tom Brady spent much of the game on his back? The Giants have the personnel to do that again.

5) Tom Coughlin: The longer he coaches, the more the Giants reflect his tenacity. One of Coughlin's heroes is former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. After the league meetings in March, Coughlin drove up the California coast to meet Wooden for the first time, and they talked for three hours. Like Wooden, Coughlin never thinks he knows it all. Late in his career, Coughlin had evolved into a players' coach, without being too lenient. Hiring young head coaches has become trendy, but the league's oldest head coach (Coughlin will be 63 in August) is still one of the best.

6) Eli Manning: It seems like this guy has been around for a decade, but he's only 28. Manning has his supporters and his crtics, but has yet to reach his prime. He already wears a ring, and often plays his best in clutch situations. Quarterback is the most important position in team sports. In the fourth quarter, the Giants have a quarterback who makes plays.

7) Special teams: The punter (Jeff Feagles) is superb at pinning teams inside the 20. The placekicker (Lawrence Tynes) is reliable. The kick-coverage units are excellent. The Giants usually win the battle of field position and rarely waste scoring drives.

 

[CowboyMike]

Does no one remember how the Giants completely sucked after they lost Plax last year?

We beat them soundly at the end of the year, and at that point we were run down ourselves.

 

[Rampage]

here's my 7 reasons the Giants won't win Superbowl 44

#1championship pedigree(or not). solid team that got hot at the right time. lost some of that pedigree when they released Toomer, Strahan retired and Plax shot himself.

#2 depth. good d-line depth. secondary is suspect and they have little depth on offense. what's gonna happen when Jacobs gets hurt again?

#3 o-line has been very healthy the past 2 seasons which will probably not continue with the way injuries are in the NFL. also they are gonna be facing teams stacking the box to stop the run and teams will be blitzing Manning constantly. we'll see how good they are this season.

#4 wide receivers. no more safety valve#1 and 2 for Eli. the Giants released the man who bailed out manning time after time(plax) and a solid Veteran in Toomer. now they have a bunch of bums are rookie wrs. here comes the pain Eli.

#5 Coaching. just like Garrett we're gonna see what Gilbride(giants oc) has since teams will be stacking the box forcing Eli to beat them through the air. Coughlin is still a good coach but the coach who made them a championship team now is the HC for the Rams.

#6 Eli Manning. nuff said.

#7 the NFC EAST. toughest division in football.

 

[Stash]

As far as their reasons go, the first is the worst.

1) Championship Pedigree: The Giants have been there, done that. Many key players already own Super Bowl 42 rings. They still have the swagger of champions. Last season made them even hungrier. Until Plaxico Burress' gun incident derailed them, the Giants looked ready to repeat. They feel cheated, as if their season went up in smoke when a gun went off in a nightclub. Burress is now gone and will not stand in their way. Nothing will.

Wow!

Really?

No mention of the fact that the offense went in the tank without Burress?

To say nothing of the fact that Toomer - another reliable target - is gone as well.

Who's catching the passes in New York?

Steve Smith?

Kevin Boss?

Yeah, OK............

 

[Apollo Creed]

Does no one remember how the Giants completely sucked after they lost Plax last year?

We beat them soundly at the end of the year, and at that point we were run down ourselves.

Yep. The horseshoe has fallen out their behind. Nicks is a nice prospect but they won't be able to match Burress' production and consistency.

Even though he has a ring, I still don't think Eli Manning is a QB that will ever scare anyone.

They lost Spags, we know exactly what to expect for Canty, and I still think they are a vulnerable team through the air.

Osi coming off a severe knee injury will be interesting to watch as well.

 

[NeonDeion21]

Is it just me who thinks Osi is very overrated? Flo has handled him very well the last few meetings and he just always takes such a wide rush, leaving big lanes for RB's to get through. I think Tuck is a better overall player than Osi ever was.

 

[jobberone]

I don't see the Giants as the top pick in the NFL but they are strong. You cannot overlook teams that play good NFC East football. That's in your face, tough defense, great pass rush, very good STs, ball control, little mistakes, yada yada.

They are in the hunt with the Eagles and Boys. And don't discount the Skins although I still see them fourth in a great division.

 

[Fletch]

What gets me is how Sporting News, as well as most of the media outlets seem to applaud the Giants for releasing Plaxico, a big and talented WR who is nothing more than a team cancer. Somehow the Giants will be better.

But when the Cowboys release T.O., a big and talented WR, also a team cancer, we are scolded by the media and told that we will now be less of a team.

 

[BBWC]

here's my 7 reasons the Giants won't win Superbowl 44

#2 depth. good d-line depth. secondary is suspect and they have little depth on offense. what's gonna happen when Jacobs gets hurt again?

The Giants secondary is only suspect to fans who don't follow the team closely. In fact the Giants have one of the best young secondaries in the league, and are four deep at the CB position with a shutdown corner anchoring the unit in Corey Webster. Promising 2nd year player Terrell Thomas, vet Aaron Ross and solid dime back Kevin Dockery round out the position.

All four players have experience starting and have all demonstrated they can all be solid contributors. As for safety, big things are expected of Johnson and Phillips, Phillips is coming off of a very solid rookie year and the Giants are expecting him to take the next step in his evolution as a player. Johnson is a solid veteran. Depth is a little thin behind these two, but overall our secondary is not a concern.

The Giants coaching staff is very excited about the depth behind Jacobs, just because few people know who they are doesn't mean they have none. People seem to think Bradshaw will win the number 2 spot behind Jacobs, but this is not guaranteed. Danny Ware is the dark horse no one talks about, but the Giants are high on the guy, they also like their promising 4th round pick Andre Brown. The Giants have proven their ability to spot good solid talent at the RB position late in the draft. I'm not worried about the depth, besides it all starts up front.

#3 o-line has been very healthy the past 2 seasons which will probably not continue with the way injuries are in the NFL. also they are gonna be facing teams stacking the box to stop the run and teams will be blitzing Manning constantly. we'll see how good they are this season.

The healthy o-line thing can be said of every team, we have some decent depth in Whimper and Koets, and added 2nd round pick William Beatty, hopefully someone steps up if an injury occurs. And teams stacked the box all year last season, Eli will get the time he needs, our receivers just have to get open, a big question mark.

#4 wide receivers. no more safety valve#1 and 2 for Eli. the Giants released the man who bailed out manning time after time(plax) and a solid Veteran in Toomer. now they have a bunch of bums are rookie wrs. here comes the pain Eli.

Outside of Tyree and possibly Moss (make or break year) none of our WR's can be labled bums. Are any of them as talented as Plax? No. But if that's your criteria for calling a receiver a bum, then all the receivers on the Cowboys are bums. The all have talent, some have higher cielings than others.

#5 Coaching. just like Garrett we're gonna see what Gilbride(giants oc) has since teams will be stacking the box forcing Eli to beat them through the air. Coughlin is still a good coach but the coach who made them a championship team now is the HC for the Rams.

Losing Spags will hurt, tough to replace such a creative mind. But talent wise the personnal on defense is very likely better than any thing the Giants have fielded in years. That is definitely going to help offset the loss, Bill Sheridan is a question mark until further notice.

#6 Eli Manning. nuff said.

Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, you mean?

#7 the NFC EAST. toughest division in football.

According to the media the NFC East was supposed to be the toughest division in decades last year, still didn't stop the Giants from taking the division crown and winning home field throughout. If you're going to hold this against the Giants, than it goes double for the rest of the division.

 

[BBWC]

Is it just me who thinks Osi is very overrated? Flo has handled him very well the last few meetings and he just always takes such a wide rush, leaving big lanes for RB's to get through. I think Tuck is a better overall player than Osi ever was.

Yes, it's just you and a few others who watch few Giants games. But don't worry, this tends to happen when a player misses an entire season. He is easily the Giants best pass rusher, and it really isn't close. Pretty amazng when you consider the talent the Giants field at DE, but a true statement none the less.

It's also amazing what the Giants were able to accomplish without the guy last year, but he was absolutely a difference maker on our Super Bowl run, Matt Light still has nightmares about what Osi did to him.

 

[BBWC]

What gets me is how Sporting News, as well as most of the media outlets seem to applaud the Giants for releasing Plaxico, a big and talented WR who is nothing more than a team cancer. Somehow the Giants will be better.

But when the Cowboys release T.O., a big and talented WR, also a team cancer, we are scolded by the media and told that we will now be less of a team.

The fact that many analysts predict the Giants to be better this season has very little to do with the fact that they released Plax and more to do with the additions of Osi, Bernard, Canty, Boley and our widely hailed draft class.

Basically every publication out there has a big question mark on our passing game, hardly a ringing endorsement of releasing Plax. Although the Giants do get applauded for releasing Plax from a principle standpoint, no one seriously believes the Giants passing game is somehow better without him.

The same goes for TO, although Cowboy fans have in fact convinced themselves they will somehow be better without all of his production, we'll have to wait and see on that one, but most fans outside of Dallas have their doubts.

 

[CowboyMike]

The Giants secondary is only suspect to fans who don't follow the team closely. In fact the Giants have one of the best young secondaries in the league...

Outside of Tyree and possibly Moss (make or break year) none of our WR's can be labled bums....

Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, you mean?...

It's also amazing what the Giants were able to accomplish...

The fact that many analysts predict the Giants to be better this season has very little to do with the fact that they released Plax and more to do with the additions of Osi, Bernard, Canty, Boley and our widely hailed draft class...

:nyghomer:

 

[NeonDeion21]

Yes, it's just you and a few others who watch few Giants games. But don't worry, this tends to happen when a player misses an entire season. He is easily the Giants best pass rusher, and it really isn't close. Pretty amazng when you consider the talent the Giants field at DE, but a true statement none the less.

It's also amazing what the Giants were able to accomplish without the guy last year, but he was absolutely a difference maker on our Super Bowl run, Matt Light still has nightmares about what Osi did to him.

I dont disagree that he is a great pass-rusher. I just think that he wants to rush the QB so much he forgets about his run assignments. I think he is built in the same mold as Freeney, great pass-rusher, bad aganist the run.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

If the G-stringers win the title I'll go skinny dipping in the Hudson River....

 

[BBWC]

You can call me a homer, but the facts are on my side. Without Osi the Giants still recorded 42 sacks last season, good enough for 6th in the NFL. Eli Manning is in fact a Super Bowl MVP winning QB. Our additions this offseason are a large reason many are high on the Giants. Our secondary is one of the best in the league and has the stats to back it up. But you can keep posting more pictures if that makes you feel better.

 

[BBWC]

I dont disagree that he is a great pass-rusher. I just think that he wants to rush the QB so much he forgets about his run assignments. I think he is built in the same mold as Freeney, great pass-rusher, bad aganist the run.

Please God not the Freeney comparison. Nothing personal, but I just hate when people use that comparison, Osi is definitely not in the mold of Dwight Freeney. At one point early in his career this may have been a warranted accusation, but Osi is an all-around great DE that can penetrate the back field and run backs down sideline to sideline.

He's not as good as Tuck against the run I'll give you that, few DE's are. But Osi is not a one dimensional player.

 

[CowboyMike]

You can call me a homer, but the facts are on my side. Without Osi the Giants still recorded 42 sacks last season, good enough for 6th in the NFL. Eli Manning is in fact a Super Bowl MVP winning QB. Our additions this offseason are a large reason many are high on the Giants. Our secondary is one of the best in the league and has the stats to back it up. But you can keep posting more pictures if that makes you feel better.

Eli Manning rode his defensive line through the playoffs and they carried him to the Super Bowl championship. He played mistake free football for the most part, I'll give you that. But he's hardly "championship caliber" and your D-line is the reason you won that game, not Manning. They deserve the Super Bowl MVP.

If Brady hadn't been pressured like he was in that game you're looking at a 30something-17 defeat instead of that win.

I find the fact that you think Corey Webster a shutdown corner laughable, considering how many times a Lost-a-step TO burned him the last three years. I don't think you have one of the best young secondaries in the league. In fact, your front seven is what makes your defense. Your secondary and receiving corps are the weakest units of your team, quite possibly the weakest of the division.

I agree with about half of your points, mostly the stuff about your d-line (althought Osi does need to learn to play the run better, as does Tuck.) But please, stay realistic when you try to hype up your team on a Dallas board. You might get a little more respect if you don't glamorize and exaggerate your team's actual talent level.

Fine if you're a homer. I respect homers. I am one. I don't blame anyone for being a die hard fan of their team. But do that on your own board. Not here. If you plan on being here please be realistic.

 

[sonnyboy]

You can call me a homer, but the facts are on my side. Without Osi the Giants still recorded 42 sacks last season, good enough for 6th in the NFL. Eli Manning is in fact a Super Bowl MVP winning QB. Our additions this offseason are a large reason many are high on the Giants. Our secondary is one of the best in the league and has the stats to back it up. But you can keep posting more pictures if that makes you feel better.

How do you feel about the Giants record (1-4) against Romo?

Do you really feel the Giants match up well against the Cowboys?

 

[BourbonBalz]

As far as their reasons go, the first is the worst.



Wow!

Really?

No mention of the fact that the offense went in the tank without Burress?

To say nothing of the fact that Toomer - another reliable target - is gone as well.

Who's catching the passes in New York?

Steve Smith?

Kevin Boss?

Yeah, OK............

Exactly. I'm continually surprised that the so-called football experts say our receiving corp. is a weakness, but not so with the Giants. I'd rather have our receivers/TEs 10 to 1 over the Giants. Same with our RBs. Our RBs are both rushing and receiving threats. Jacobs isn't much of a threat receiving out of the backfield. Just a bunch of mediots on the Giant's nuts. I'd bet my house that they don't win the Super Bowl this year.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Exactly. I'm continually surprised that the so-called football experts say our receiving corp. is a weakness, but not so with the Giants. I'd rather have our receivers/TEs 10 to 1 over the Giants. Same with our RBs. Our RBs are both rushing and receiving threats. Jacobs isn't much of a threat receiving out of the backfield. Just a bunch of mediots on the Giant's nuts. I'd bet my house that they don't win the Super Bowl this year.

that is funny

their most experienced wideout is Steve Smith, and him being their #1 receiver would be the equivalent of Crayton being our #1 target

both are better in the slots, but by default, have to assume the lead role