How does the old saying go about where to go when you’re on top?
The New York Giants went on one of the greatest road runs last season. After losing their season opener in Dallas 45–35, they won every one of their remaining away games including the Super Bowl against the undefeated New England Patriots, where they were the road team designate.
Leading up to Super Bowl XLII, New York wide receiver Plaxico Burress predicted a 23–17 victory for the Giants—an outrageous prediction considering the Pats were the regular season’s highest scoring team.
As it turned out, New England would score less in a 17–14 loss.
But the Giants can’t live off memories of 2007 forever, and a new season is upon us. So what will they do for an encore?
D-Line
The G-Men will immediately be shorthanded in an area that was a great strength to them last year.
As a defense last year the New York Giants finished seventh in the league allowing 305 total yards from scrimmage. They bolstered that with a fierce pass rush that racked up a league-best 53 sacks.
In fact, it was first-year defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, whose defensive schemes saw New England QB Tom Brady sacked five times for 37 yards lost in the championship.
The good news is that Spagnuolo resisted an offer to become the Washington Redskins’ new head coach.
The bad news is a number of important cogs in the defensive line won’t see action in 2008.
Although he’s flirted with retirement before, defensive leader Michael Strahan actually hung up his cleats in June. That wasn’t such a glaring loss until Osi Umenyiora went down during an exhibition game against the Jets on Aug. 23.
Umenyiora, who led the team in sacks during the regular season last year with 13, tore cartilage in his left knee, had surgery, and will spend the entire season on the Injured Reserve (IR) list.
The team tried unsuccessfully to convince Strahan to come out of retirement and then opted to return linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka to his natural defensive end position. The G-Men also signed recent Philadelphia Eagles castoff defensive end Jerome McDougle.
The team also lost linebacker Kawika Mitchell, who chipped in with four sacks last season, to the Buffalo Bills.
The cupboards aren’t totally bare for the Giants’ defense, though, as middle line backer Antonio Pierce and defensive end Justin Tuck, who was second on the team with 10 sacks, return.
The New York Giants went on one of the greatest road runs last season. After losing their season opener in Dallas 45–35, they won every one of their remaining away games including the Super Bowl against the undefeated New England Patriots, where they were the road team designate.
Leading up to Super Bowl XLII, New York wide receiver Plaxico Burress predicted a 23–17 victory for the Giants—an outrageous prediction considering the Pats were the regular season’s highest scoring team.
As it turned out, New England would score less in a 17–14 loss.
But the Giants can’t live off memories of 2007 forever, and a new season is upon us. So what will they do for an encore?
D-Line
The G-Men will immediately be shorthanded in an area that was a great strength to them last year.
As a defense last year the New York Giants finished seventh in the league allowing 305 total yards from scrimmage. They bolstered that with a fierce pass rush that racked up a league-best 53 sacks.
In fact, it was first-year defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, whose defensive schemes saw New England QB Tom Brady sacked five times for 37 yards lost in the championship.
The good news is that Spagnuolo resisted an offer to become the Washington Redskins’ new head coach.
The bad news is a number of important cogs in the defensive line won’t see action in 2008.
Although he’s flirted with retirement before, defensive leader Michael Strahan actually hung up his cleats in June. That wasn’t such a glaring loss until Osi Umenyiora went down during an exhibition game against the Jets on Aug. 23.
Umenyiora, who led the team in sacks during the regular season last year with 13, tore cartilage in his left knee, had surgery, and will spend the entire season on the Injured Reserve (IR) list.
The team tried unsuccessfully to convince Strahan to come out of retirement and then opted to return linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka to his natural defensive end position. The G-Men also signed recent Philadelphia Eagles castoff defensive end Jerome McDougle.
The team also lost linebacker Kawika Mitchell, who chipped in with four sacks last season, to the Buffalo Bills.
The cupboards aren’t totally bare for the Giants’ defense, though, as middle line backer Antonio Pierce and defensive end Justin Tuck, who was second on the team with 10 sacks, return.
