The New York Giants are poised to defend their Super Bowl title, starting with the load of talent that they have in their backfield. Quarterback Eli Manning, the three-headed running back monster, and reliable fullback Madison Hedgecock form the core of what could potentially be the 2009 Super Bowl champions.
Quarterback
Eli Manning
Entering his fifth season as an NFL quarterback, Eli Manning, for the first time in his career, will have not only the support of his team, but that of the media as well. Coming off his Super Bowl MVP performance, as well as a remarkably positive and consistent playoff run, Eli Manning is poised to become one of the top passers in the league.
His first three seasons, and the first 15 games of the 2007 season were marred with inconsistency and frustration. Once Week 16 rolled around, along with the then 15-0 New England Patriots, something clicked, and for the remained of the season and the playoff run, Eli was a calm and collected, consistent passer who made all the throws and did not turn the ball over.
That begs the question: which Eli are we going to get this year?
What We Know
Eli has shown that he has the ability to be consistent, and he has shown the ability to bring his team back in the fourth quarter, time and time again. He has an outstanding No. 1 receiver in Plaxico Burress, a steady No. 2 man in Amani Toomer, and a plethora of young and talented receivers to fill in the third, fourth, and fifth hole.
Eli also has one of the best offensive lines in the league. Anchored by left tackle Dave Diehl and center Shaun O’Hara, Eli will have the time needed to involve his talented skill players in the offense.
The TE position is unsettled. Kevin Boss proved he has what it takes to be worthy of the No. 1 role, and Darcy Johnson had a stellar minicamp in early June. The big question mark still is, and probably will always be, whether or not Jeremy Shockey wants to get with the program.
If he makes amends with GM Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin, Shockey would prove to be the X-factor that will make the Giants' offense one of the most explosive in the league. Eli has all the tools around him he needs; now it is on him to make it all work
What We Don’t Know
Is this the year Eli stands tall in the pocket, hits his open receivers, and makes all the plays he is capable of making? Or is this the year Eli continues to miss open receivers, take sacks when he should throw it away, make the rookie mistake, and throw unnecessary INTs and pick sixes?
Will being the Super Bowl MVP drive Eli to be consistent, if not great? Or will the Super Bowl MVP give him a sense of accomplishment and lead to complacency and further inconsistency? Does Eli have the ability to take over as not only the face, but the voice of the team, now that Strahan is retired?
Prediction
Call me a homer, but I think this is the year that Eli breaks out in the regular season and carries it straight though to the playoffs. Eli will complete over 60 percent of his passes, pass for 4,000 yards, and will lead the NFC in touchdown passes. Eli will be the starting quarterback for the NFC Pro-Bowl team.
All signs point to this being a great year for the fifth-year star out of Mississippi. I believe the Super Bowl title and all the trappings that come along with it will give Eli the confidence and respect he has not had for his first four years.
As for being the face and voice of the team, I have always held the belief that since the moment he was drafted, Eli was made the face and voice of the team. The magnitude of the draft-day trade thrust Eli into the largest media spotlight an NFL player has ever seen. Since the moment he donned that draft-day cap, in one way or another, Eli has been the leader of the team.
Running Backs
Brandon Jacobs
Brandon spent his first two seasons being the “Thunder” to Tiki Barber's “Lightning”, before being thrust into the starter's role upon Tiki Barber's premature retirement.
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