I think it goes without saying that the 2009 season was an utter failure for the New York Giants. Just ask Osi Umenyiora. Or Tom Coughlin. Or millions of Giants fans. 

After a season that saw a 5-0 team lose seven out of their next 10 games, change is certainly coming. It is not impossible that the Giants' defense may be completely blown up, with the possibility of nine starters from Week 16 not taking the field come next September.

Without a doubt, the coming months are going to be extremely difficult for General Manager Jerry Reese and the rest of Big Blue's front office. The moves that they make in the offseason will be crucial for both the success of the 2010 New York Giants, and the stability of the young GM's job. For more on that, click here . 

However, I believe that next year's Giants can be competitive as they move across the parking lot into their brand-new stadium. But it will take a flurry of successful additions, bitter subtractions, and a fraction of the injuries that marred the 2010 campaign. 

Jerry, I understand the road ahead is going to be very difficult. But my five-step plan is here to help you along the way.


Step One: Right a Wrong

When Jerry Reese took over as Giants' GM in 2007, he made one of the most astute coaching hires in recent history. Plucking a relative unknown from the grasp of a rival, Reese hired Philadelphia Eagles Linebacking Coach Steve Spagnuolo to take over as Giants Defensive Coordinator. Spagnuolo's lively demeanor and his creative blitzing schemes brought a new dimension to New York's coaching staff.

Eight months later, Eli Manning was hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

Perhaps it's only fitting that Reese made an equally poor decision when he hired Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan last spring. The Giants' former linebacking coach has been horrendous in 2009, building the league's 28th ranked scoring defense.

A unit that was feared just 12 months ago now plays an uninspired and ineffective brand of football. In 2008, the Giants fifth-ranked scoring defense sacked the quarterback 42 times, even without Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora. Through Week 16, Umenyiora and the 2009 Giants are ranked 28th in scoring defense and have amassed only 32 sacks. 

The only defenses ranked behind them in those two categories? The Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans, whose combined record is 13-47.

It sure hasn't been helpful to Sheridan that two of his best players, Antonio Pierce and Kenny Phillips are on injured reserve, or that five other defensive starters missed time. But the first-year defensive coordinator has designed conservative gameplans for a defense that was once known for its aggression.

He has shown a tendency to forget to blitz for long periods of time, even as unscathed quarterbacks complete pass after pass on his soft-zone defense. Despite the fact that his once-great defensive line has struggled to apply pressure, he often drops his pass-rushing defensive ends into zone coverage.

Things often get ugly when the Giants play man-to-man. The depleted secondary has been unable to stay with the league's faster receivers, never more apparent than when Eagles' wideout Desean Jackson caught six passes for 178 yards and a TD en route to a Week 14 victory.

Besides play-calling difficulties, Sheridan's unit has come out flat on several occasions this season, something that rarely occurred during Spagnuolo's tenure. And as that lifeless defense has been torched in the first half of several games, Sheridan has shown an inability to make halftime adjustments.

The bottom line is that Sheridan absolutely needs to go, but finding a replacement may prove to be difficult. There has been much speculation that the Giants are going to hire former Bills head coach Dick Jauron, but Buffalo's defenses have been far from impressive in recent years.

That is why I suggest that Giants take the same approach to this hiring that they did with Spagnuolo: hire an assistant coach from a successful, compatible defense. Someone such as Vikings linebackers coach Fred Pagac, who has helped turn Minnesota's defense into a perennial powerhouse and linebacker Chad Greenway into a bonafide threat, may prove to be a more intelligent hire than Jauron would ever be.

There are plenty of candidates out there. The only question is whether the hiring will be as successful as when the Giants took Spagnuolo on board, or as disastrous as when Sheridan took over.


Step Two (optional): Improve What Has Been Successful

In Week 16, the Giants playoff hopes were on the line versus Carolina. On a drive that appeared to be destined to end in a touchdown, third-year wideout Mario Manningham fumbled a third down conversion and the Giants turned it over.

Eli Manning completed nine out of his first 10 passes,  yet Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride called two straight running plays to Brandon Jacobs that netted one yard. The Giants punted two plays later, and the game was soon out of hand.

Many people are going to be confused when I say this, but firing Gilbride may greatly improve the 2010 Giants. Despite the fact that he was essential to the growth of Manning, and even though he called the plays for the league's eighth ranked scoring offense, I believe Gilbride needs to go. 

On several occasions in 2009, Gilbride single-handedly slowed down the Giants offense for long periods of time. When the pass was working, he often abandoned it. When the running game was successful, he often aired it out. 

I also believe that a large amount of Jacobs' struggles in 2009 have been a result of his misuse. The same running back that averaged over 1000 yards and 5.0 yards-per-carry in his previous two seasons has rushed for only 3.7 a touch in '09.

Jacobs was rarely given an opportunity to get in a groove, as he was often yanked from the field after one or two carries (successful or not) for long stretches of time. The hulking running back feeds off of adrenaline, and giving him 10-15 spaced-out carries-per-game is not beneficial to the Giants' rushing attack.

Gilbride has been a liability for the Giants, and it is time that that the front office stops settling for an offense that is merely efficient, and starts pushing for a unit that is fatally potent.


Step Three: Do What May Be Difficult

No GM likes saying goodbye to veterans. But several tenured players need to be cut if the Giants wish to progress in 2010. 

Let me start by saying that I am not a scout, and therefore I cannot evaluate the status of the players on the Giants offensive line. But it has been apparent that the unit has regressed in 2009, and some changes will be made to the once-cohesive group.

I believe the first man to go will be right tackle Kareem McKenzie. McKenzie has been outstanding in recent years, but was inefficient for most of the season before getting injured in Week 14. With rookie tackle Will Beatty right behind him, this cut makes the most sense.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see either left tackle David Diehl or left guard Rich Seubert be cut as well. Although he was widely viewed by scouts as one of the league's best guards in previous years, Seubert has been far less impressive in '09. Diehl's days on the outside may be numbered, so its possible that he could take over for Seubert if the Giants see fit. 

On defense, I would be shocked if safety CC Brown wasn't cut. Reese's offseason addition has been atrocious in 2009. It also wouldn't be out of the question to cut another offseason addition, defensive tackle Chris Canty. Former Pro Bowl middle linebacker Antonio Pierce's contract is up, and its unlikely he will be resigned.

The Giants may also consider cutting defensive tackle Fred Robbins, who is a shell of his former self, a move I advocate.

But one cut that is absolutely unnecessary is the subtraction of Osi Umenyiora. Coming off knee surgery that obliterated his 2008 season, the former Pro Bowler was average in 2009. He appeared a tad slower than his 2007 counterpart, and was a liability against the run.

But knee injury victims often take long periods of time to rehabilitate completely, and its possible that Umenyiora could be revitalized in 2010. It would be unwise to give up on such a talented player before you were sure he was finished.

It is clear that Reese will not hesitate to make a difficult to decision. Following his hiring in 2007, he cut veterans Carlos Emmons, Luke Pettigout, and LaVar Arrington.

We all know what happened the next February.


Step Four: Improve What Has Failed

Free Agency

There is a plethora of top talent on the free agent market this spring, and the Giants should do everything they can to add a few of the top players available.

With the possible cutting of several offensive lineman, the Giants may need to look to free agency to solidify the vacated positions. Several prominent players, including Tampa's Donald Penn and New England's Logan Mankins are available, and would look quite good in a Giants' uniform.

The Giants have been desperate for an impact linebacker for years, and several impressive players dot this year's free agent class. The contracts of former pro bowlers Shawne Merriman and DeMeco Ryans will expire at the end of this year. Players with more upside, such as Thomas Davis or Barret Ruud may also hit the market.

The name of the game in the Giants secondary is depth. If Kenny Phillips returns at full strength, then the Giants may only be one safety and a short injury report away from an outstanding secondary. Phillips appears headed for a Pro Bowl, and corners Terrell Thomas, Corey Webster, and Aaron Ross are above average. Nick Collins and Antoine Bethea may be available, and they could fill the void very nicely.

 Lastly, defensive tackle may be the Giants most pressing need, but there is a scarcity of talented players available. The Giants may need to do well with step five in order to enhance their run defense. 

New York will not have the cap room to make all of these moves, or even a few of them. They will most certainly, however, need to make an impact signing or two in order to compete in 2010.

And f Reese is able to find value in a lesser-known player, that would greatly help the 2010 team—and his job security.


Step Five: Improve What Has Failed

The Draft

As I stated earlier, the Giants are in desperate need of an impact defensive tackle to solidify their porous run defense. However, that player is not available in free agency.

Fortunately, however, there is top-level talent in April's draft. 

The Giants will have any where from the 13th to the 20th pick in the draft. And while they will not be able to add projected top picks Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, there are a few other options available. UCLA's Brian Price, North Carolina's Marvin Austin, and Tennessee's Dan Williams are all first-round talents, and would fill the Giants void at DT very nicely.

If the Giants don't go for a tackle, they could also look to Florida's Brandon Spikes, who is an outstanding run-stopper as well a viable option in coverage.

Past the first round, its all about filling the vacancies that remain from free agency. Whether that is defensive back, a defensive lineman, or depth at any position, it is vital that Jerry Reese have an outstanding draft.

It may be difficult to top the Giants' 2007 draft. The effort produced several instantly contributing players, and directly resulted in a Super Bowl championship. But matching or surpassing it may prove to be the difference in contending and faltering come next fall. 

Perhaps no offseason in Giants history has been as important this one. The New York Giants are at a crossroads. The easy path leads to several frustrating years of constant defeats and bitter dismissals. And while the other, more bumpy road may not lead to the instant gratification of a Super Bowl title, the Giants have the potential to make the playoffs for the fifth time in sixth years. 

Let's just hope that the Giants take the road less-traveled.