Bleacher Report - Articles by Christopher Lane

New York Giants Will Stick with the Run in 2009

Christopher Lane — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:42:52 -0400

The New York Giants have thrived on a strong rushing attack behind Brandon Jacobs since the retirement of Tiki Barber, and things will likely stay the same as the 2009 season approaches.

Derrick Ward was lost to free agency, but the Giants still possess a healthy stable of running backs to relieve Jacobs. Ahmad Bradshaw will likely see an increased role, while Danny Ware and rookie Andre Brown will provide relief as well.

Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride relied heavily on off-tackle and counter plays out of the I-formation, utilizing the superior blocking skills of his offensive line and fullback Madison Hedgecock to open up holes for Jacobs last season.

That recipe for success will likely remain the same, but with their rushing and receiving threat and Ward gone, their secondary attack is still unknown.

In mostly garbage minutes with the Giants last season, Bradshaw failed to live up to the hype after a strong close to his rookie season. Bradshaw has proven to be a strong runner in between the tackles and his extra gear has enabled him to turn nothing into extremely long gains on more than one occasion.

Bradshaw will most likely be used in the shotgun formation, much like Ward was this past season. It remains to be seen whether Bradshaw can repeat the success that Ward experienced, especially in the passing game.

If Bradshaw gets off to a slow start, both Danny Ware and Andre Brown may get looks, but right now they will strictly be in a reserve role.

In terms of the passing game, the Giants sorely missed the downfield threat of Plaxico Burress during the stretch run last season. General Manager Jerry Reese drafted Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden in the draft in hopes of stabilizing his receiving core, but the Giants will enter the season with a largely unproven group.

Hakeem Nicks and Domenik Hixon remain the two best bets for the role of downfield threat, but Nicks lacks elite speed and Hixon suffered through inconsistent hands late last year. Mario Manningham, a big-play receiver at Michigan, could also see an increased role.

With the lack of a proven downfield threat, however, the Giants may resort to a more intermediate passing game. Steve Smith is one of the best slot receivers in the league in just his third season, and the aforementioned Nicks comes in as a very polished route runner with a strong set of hands.

Opposing defenses will almost assuredly load of the box and force Manning and his young group of wideouts to beat them through the air, so the running game may suffer early. The Giants wide receivers will need to prove themselves to really open up the Giants running game.

However, if one word were to sum up head coach Tom Coughlin, it would be stubborn. Coughlin loves to pound the ball, and with horses like Jacobs, Bradshaw and Ware, he will have the ammunition to due so.

Last season, the Baltimore Ravens put eight men in the box on every down versus the Giants, and it didn't matter. The Giants still racked up 207 yards on the ground, despite Baltimore's efforts to slow them down.

Look for much of the same from New York early in the season, until they find a wide receiver who can routinely get down the field.

Kenny Phillips: 21 Questions For The Giants Safety

Christopher Lane — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:13:09 -0400

To the die-hard New York Giants fan, Kenny Phillips came in with high expectations. The fans associated the Miami (FL) product with Ed Reed and the late Sean Taylor, and expected similar production.

Phillips had a quiet rookie year, but gained valuable experience and increased playing time as the season progressed.

Here are 21 questions I would ask Phillips if I had the chance to sit down and talk with him face to face. Some are football related, some are personal, and some I'm hoping will make him laugh.

1. I'm sure you've heard the comparison before, but how does it make you feel to be compared to Ed Reed and Sean Taylor? Is it flattering or do you want to make a name for yourself?

2. Giants fans typically boo their first round draft choices. You received an ovation when your name was called. What does that mean to you?

3. On paper you had a somewhat quiet rookie year with just one interception. How did you feel your year went in terms of your own expectations?

4. Where do you see your career going? What are your goals and expectations when looking at your entire career?

5. I can't imagine what it's like going up against Brandon Jacobs, and I'm sure you are happy you don't have to do it on Sundays. Who are the guys (if there are any) that make you wince when you go to hit them?

6. Outside of football, what was the greatest day of your life?

7. Who was the most influential person on you growing up and why?

8. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you since arriving in the NFL?

9. What is the best thing about playing in New York? What's the worst thing?

10. What's it like playing behind that defensive line? Do you get jealous that they get all the attention?

11. You've got free reign for one day. What are you going to do?

12. Who talks the most smack on the Giants during practice?

13. What would be your initial question to the first aliens to make contact with Earth?

14. Who is the one receiver in the division that you want to crush over the middle and why?

15. What is the one experience you've had since coming to New York that made you laugh uncontrollably?

16. We've heard the offensive line are a bunch of pranksters. Have you been a victim yet?

17. If you were put in front of a camera and had something to say to the fans of New York, what would it be?

18. If you were put in front of a camera to the fans of Dallas, Philly, and Washington what would you say?

19. Describe yourself in one word.

20. Now describe yourself in two words.

21. What can Giants fans expect from Kenny Phillips this year?

Linebacker and Wide Receiver Battles Define The Giants' Training Camp

Christopher Lane — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:12:02 -0400

The New York Giants will enter the 2009 season with high expectations. Certain areas of the team, such as the offensive and defensive lines, are considered among the best in the league. Other areas, however, are unproven and will be the focus of training camp as the Giants begin their campaign towards another Super Bowl appearance.

While the New York defense has been the identity of the team for the past few seasons, its linebacking core has been the clear weak point of an otherwise dominating unit. Antonio Pierce isn't getting any younger, but both Chase Blackburn and Jonathan Goff are inferior players and Pierce will man the middle and remain the captain of the defense.

At weak-side linebacker, Michael Boley was signed to a five-year deal and presents an immediate upgrade to a position that was split between Gerris Wilkinson, Bryan Kehl and Blackburn last season. Boley's speed and athleticism should help him thrive in the Giants' 4-3 scheme.

The strong-side spot is where the competition will be fierce when camp opens. Veteran Danny Clark is back after starting last season, but GM Jerry Reese drafted Clint Sintim out of the University of Virginia in the second round to bring some competition to the position.

Sintim played in a 3-4 scheme in college, and comes in as a phenomenal blitzer off the edge. There are concerns about Sintim's coverage abilities, but he should be another weapon to the Giants' blitzing attack immediately, even if he does not win the starting job outright in camp.

The wide receiver position presents the biggest battle, and not just between two players, but between every wide receiver on the Giants roster. Plaxico Burress was released and Amani Toomer was not re-signed, leaving the Giants without many proven commodities.

Steve Smith will enter his third season, and is the most reliable option that the Giants have. Smith lacks great size however, and is most effective when playing in the slot when he can use his superior route-running to pick apart defenses. As of right now, he is penciled in as one of the starters.

Battling for the second and third spots will be a plethora of young and unproven talent. David Tyree will return from a knee injury that sidelined him for all of last season, but the Super Bowl hero has mainly been a special teams ace in his time with New York. The diminutive Sinorice Moss has never lived up to his potential, although last season represented his best effort thus far.

Mario Manningham will try to separate himself from the pack after a quiet rookie year. The Michigan product excelled at getting down the field in college, a quality that the Giants sorely need after the release of Burress.

Domenik Hixon made his mark as a return man for the Giants, and was forced into a starter's role when Burress went down last year. He demonstrated the ability to get open deep and to catch the ball over the middle, but inconsistency plagued his game, especially down the stretch.

Sensing a major hole in their offense, the Giants also drafted Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden in the draft. Nicks, their first-round selection, comes in as a polished player, but is lacking speed and height. His superior route-running and excellent hands should make him a candidate to contribute immediately. Both the Giants and their fans are counting on Nix to excel quickly.

At 6'6", Ramses Barden is a massive target and the team hopes he will at the very least prove to be a valuable weapon in the red zone. Barden played his college ball at Cal-Poly in the FCS, and is a very raw prospect at this stage. He should find himself on the roster due to his unique skill set.

While these receivers are on the team at the present time, there can always be changes. Jerry Reese was quiet during free agency as he didn't even get in the race for T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but in the weeks leading up to the draft the Giants were connected in trade talks for both Anquan Boldin and Braylon Edwards.

Boldin remains a longshot due to contract demands, but Edwards hasn't been quiet about his desire to get out of Cleveland and move to New York. Cleveland wants more than New York is willing to give—for now. It wouldn't be a surprise to see a deal go down before the start of the season, especially considering that Edwards is entering a contract year and almost certainly will not re-sign with the Browns.

Look for Sintim and Clark to begin the year as co-starters at strong-side linebacker, with Sintim coming in mostly for passing situations where his skills can be utilized. It looks like the fans may have a wait-and-see approach at the wide receiver position. The possibility of a trade remains high, but if nothing manifests than it may be up to Hakeem Nicks to step into the spotlight early in his career.

Super Bowl Or Bust: The 2009 New York Giants

Christopher Lane — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:40:00 -0400

With a 2007 World Championship in their back pocket, expectations have never been higher for the New York Giants.

Last year was a major disappointment, especially after the Giants marched through the regular season to a No. 1 seed, only to fall to the hated Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs.

Since then, Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has left to take over the St. Louis Rams, RB Derrick Ward left via free agency, and the troubled Plaxico Burress was released amid legal troubles.

There will be new faces all over the field this summer, and to many it may feel like a new era is dawning for the Giants.

In reality, the Giants and their fans will be out for revenge this season. Many of the same players are still leading this team, and with the way last season ended, it may be Super Bowl or bust in 2009.

DE/DT Chris Canty, DT Rocky Bernard, and LB Michael Boley join a veteran defense that will enter the season as possibly the league's best with the return of Osi Umenyiora from injury.

On the offensive side, rookie Hakeem Nicks will try to grow up quickly and fill the void created by Burress, and Ahmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware will have to step up and help Brandon Jacobs maintain the punishing rushing attack that defined the Giants last year.

Barring a rash of injuries, the defense will again be among the league's best. Similarly, the rushing game led by Brandon Jacobs and the Giants offensive line should give Eli Manning plenty of help in controlling the game.

The real question lies at wide receiver, and whether the Giants have the weapons to succeed with the departures of Burress and Amani Toomer.

Steve Smith has proven to be a reliable possession receiver, but is best suited for the slot. Domenik Hixon has overachieved thus far, and it would be foolish to expect big production from him over 16 games.

Sinorice Moss has never lived up to expectations, and Mario Manningham did nothing in his first year. So the task may fall to Hakeem Nicks to be that No. 1 guy, although GM Jerry Reese won't close the door on a possible trade.

Nicks is physically ready for the NFL, and is very polished for a rookie. But he lacks the ideal height you want from a No. 1 guy.

If a trade doesn't happen though, Giants fans will look to Nicks to step up, whether he is ready or not.

So what should the Giants and their fans expect this year?

I've always believed that the fans should take on the attitude of their players. And the players are expecting to win.

It may be unfair to expect a trip to the Super Bowl, especially when the passing game is a complete unknown right now, but this team is built to win now, and this team expects to win now.

In 2007 we saw the defense carry the team to the greatest upset in Super Bowl history.

Is it too much to assume that this year's Giants defense will be better than that group?

I don't think so.

The Giants have yet another brutal schedule in 2009, but led by a ferocious defense and a powerful running attack, they should be in contention yet again.

If they are able to add a player such as Braylon Edwards, or Hakeem Nicks develops like the team hopes, many will consider the Giants to be the outright favorites.