New York Giants: 5 Things the Defending Champions Can Do Better in 2012

It's always tough to say "what can a team do better" when they are the defending champions of their sport.

Which is exactly what the New York Giants are.

Two weeks after winning Super Bowl XLVI, the Giants are slowly making preparations and planning out for the 2012 season.

They were 9-7 in the regular season and won the NFC East division crown, and then they rolled off four straight wins in the postseason en route to winning their fourth championship.

But even as the defending champs, the Giants have tons of room for improvement going into 2012.

How can the Giants make themselves a better team by the time September rolls around?

Less Predictible Play-Calling

Kevin Gilbride may be one of the worst offensive coordinators in the NFL, and yet, the Giants have won two Super Bowls with him.

Why is he so bad?

He's way too predictable. The common fan even knows what plays are coming before the offense even runs a play.

Even my own wife, who is not exactly the most knowledgeable football fan, even knows what plays the Giants will run before they happen.

Gilbride needs to be more innovative and creative.

There's a reason why Eli Manning calls audibles on quite a few of Gilbride's playcalls. Even he knows he has to change some of them at the line so the offense isn't taking huge losses.

As long as Tom Coughlin is the coach, Gilbride's job is safe, because he is one of Coughlin's guys, but he needs to be more creative and not so predictable with the offense.

The Running Game MUST Improve

The Giants have always been known as a power-running football team and usually ranked near the top of the league.

In 2011, it was the complete opposite, ranking near the bottom of the league.

Ahmad Bradshaw had 171 carries for 659 yards and nine touchdowns, while only playing in 12 games.

Brandon Jacobs had 152 carries for 571 yards and seven touchdowns, playing in 14 games.

While they do share the carries and Bradshaw is the team's premier back, they must get better play out of both guys.

That is if Jacobs comes back in 2012.

Jacobs is willing to take a pay cut to stay with the Giants, but will it be enough for Giants GM Jerry Reese to want to keep him around?

If Reese keep Jacobs, then he needs to step up his game, while Bradshaw must work on trying to stay healthier in 2012.

Protect the Franchise Quarterback

In 2011, Eli Manning was sacked a total of 28 times, which was 12 more times from the 2010 season.

Keeping the quarterback upright will only help the Giants offense go forward, because when Eli is up and has time to scan the field, he will pick apart defenses.

Statistically, Manning by far had his best season with 4,933 yards, 29 touchdowns and only 16 interceptions.

The 4,900 yards was a career-high for Eli, and with all of his weapons available to him, could surpass the 5,000-yard plateau in 2012 and beyond.

But if Eli is getting sacked, it's shooting the Giants' drives in the foot and not helping them score any points.

The Giants offensive line must work better to keep Eli off his backside in 2012 and allowing him to throw more deep passes and touchdowns to his receivers.

Don't Fall into the Second Half Collapses

The Giants under Tom Coughlin have had roller coaster-like seasons.

In 2004, they started out 5-2 and finished 6-10.

In 2005, they started out 6-2 and finished 11-5.

In 2006, they started out 6-2 and finished 8-8.

In 2007, they started out 6-2 and finished 10-6.

In 2008, they started out 11-1 and finished 12-4.

In 2009, they started out 5-0 and finished 8-8.

In 2010, they started out 6-2 and finished 10-6.

In 2011, they started out 6-2 and finished 9-7.

Under Coughlin, they start out very strong, and then somehow fizzle towards the end.

The 2011 season was the best example of this, going from the 6-2 start to 6-6 and coming very close to being 6-7 if not for an Eli Manning-led comeback against the Cowboys.

Whether it's better preparation or just not falling into bad habits, the Giants shouldn't have to be scratching and crawling at the end of the season just to be alive in the playoffs.

Taking over as an NFL Franchise with Elite Stature

When you think of the really elite teams in the NFL, what teams come to mind?

The Pittsburgh Steelers.

The New England Patriots.

The Green Bay Packers.

The New Orleans Saints.

The Indianapolis Colts—at least when Peyton Manning was healthy.

The New York Giants should definitely be a part of this list.

They have won two Super Bowls in under five years, more than any other team has won in recent time since the Patriots repeated back in 2003 and 2004 and the Steelers winning in 2005 and again in 2008.

When the Giants won Super Bowl XLII back in 2007, they were on the verge of taking off as an elite team in the NFL and were well on their way when they started out 11-1.

Then Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg and the Giants fell apart, and it really set them back a few years.

This 2011 run was the first time the Giants saw the playoffs since the 2008 season.

And now the Giants are once again the defending champions, and they should enter the 2012 acting like it—and playing like it.

Which means having a physical and psychological advantage over every team when they step onto the field.

In the regular season, the Packers took that step following when they won Super Bowl XLV, carrying their run into the season and finished 15-1.

During most games, the Packers played with a certain confidence and swagger on the field.

The Giants need to play with that type of swagger in 2012, because they are the defending champions of the NFL.

If they play with that type of confidence, and given how dangerous they are on offense and defense, there is no reason why the Giants can't be an elite and dominant team in the 2012 season.