Giant Consistency: Despite Changes, Giant Approach Remains The Same

What do you envision as the biggest changes in your team’s playbook due to shifts in team personnel and coaching staff?

With a few talented new faces joining a mostly experienced core, any changes in the Giants philosophy are likely to revolve around these new faces adapting to the schemes that have seen the Giants win 26 games and a championship over the last two seasons. 

This prior success combined with head coach Tom Coughlin's desire for continutiy means the Giants making any dramatic changes in the play-calling department is highly unlikely.

Offensively, the Giants have shown an ability to put up lots of points in some spots without Plaxico Burress (44 vs. Seattle, 37 vs. Arizona, 34 vs. Carolina). What this means is that the Giants will simply continue to rely on their power running game, and hope that the passing game that deserted them in the 23-11 playoff loss to Philadelphia is more consistent.

The key to the passing game is undoubtedly who emerges at wide receiver. Currently, Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith are penciled in as starters. With the powerful Brandon Jacobs and a potential future star in Ahmad Bradshaw sharing the runnning back position and a talented offensive line intact, the Giants should be able to move the ball between the 20's at will.

However, the Giants ability to consistently put up touchdowns instead of field goals inside the green zone is a major question mark and a potential stumbling block in the Giants quest for a second championship in three seasons.

While Hixon and Smith have proved to be competent receivers as both backups and in limited action as starters, most of their production has come outside of the green zone. The duo has combined for only three receiving touchdowns. Time will tell whether this was due to limited action or Hixon and Smith simply being more effective in other facets of the game.

Even with tight end Kevin Boss likely to improve on last season's 33 catches and six touchdowns, the questions regarding the passing game reaching high levels of consistency remain.

Should the Hixon/Smith combination prove to be up to the task of elevating their games, the Giants will rely not on fancy schemes and strategies, but on doing things the old fashioned way: simply outclassing opponents. Conversely, if the Giants struggle to put up touchdowns, head coach Tom Coughlin and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride will be forced to mix things up.

Ideally, the Giants will ease rookie wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden into limited roles in multiple receiver sets. Should the Giants struggle to put up points, the learning curve for Nicks, Barden, and second year man Mario Manningham is likely to be accelerated, for better or worse.

Another intriguing option who could be primed for an expanded role is tight end Darcy Johnson. In his fourth year out of Central Florida, Johnson has slowly made great strides. A practice squad player in 2006 and injured in 2007, Johnson played in all 16 games last season, had two short one yard touchdown receptions, and caught two passes for 44 yards starting for Boss in the season finale at Minnesota.

A big target listed at 6'5'', Johnson may very well play himself ahead of blocking specialist Michael Matthews into two tight end sets and become a reliable target for Eli Manning.

Even with former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's departure to become head coach of the St. Louis Rams, it is highly unlikely the Giants will stray from the attack style defense that has seen the Giants pass rush become one of the league's best and most feared. As expected, the Giants stayed inside the organization to find their new defensive coordinator, promoting linebackers coach Bill Sheridan.

Sheridan's main task in his first year as D.C. is one that will likely be envied by defensive coaches around the league: finding the right combinations of playing time and positioning for a stable of at least eight talented defensive lineman. The Giants boast an embarrassment of riches at both the end and tackle positions, as well as several players who can play multiple positions either on a full-time basis or as part of certain pressure packages.

While the Giants defensive line depth starts with star ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, the sack parade is likely to be much longer.

A starter last season for the injured Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka appears headed to slide into and excel in a role as a pass-rushing specialist instead of having to play almost every down as he did last season. The 6'7'' Chris Canty, signed away from the rival Cowboys to a six year 42 million contract, can play both tackle and end and can wreak havoc at both positions.

Want more? Tackle Fred Robbins is coming off the best season of his career and was selected first team all-pro by Sports Illustrated. Barry Cofield, a starter and solid contributor the past three years is still listed as a starter even with the acquisitions of Canty and ex-Seahwawk Rocky Bernard. Bernard is likely to carve out a role for himself as a pass-rushing tackle, as will Jay Alford, best known for his crushing sack of Tom Brady during the Patriots final drive of Super Bowl XLII.

Perhaps the only thing more intense than the pressure this defensive line will put on opposing quarterbacks will be the competition in training camp and practice just for these talented players to earn the playing time they all desire.

Outside of finding time for all of the aforementioned linemen, Sheridan's training camp to-do list is relatively short. He will need to select a strong-side linebacker from a pool of veterans and rookie Clint Sintim to play alongside of Antonio Pierce and Michael Boley, a free agent signee from Atlanta. He will also have to help shepherd the transition of last season's top draft pick, safety Kenny Phillips into the starting lineup following the team's expected decision not to pursue a contract extension with James Butler.

The rest of the starting secondary, corners Aaron Ross and Corey Webster, and safety Michael Johnson returns intact along with backups Kevin Dockery and Terrell Thomas.

Even with these changes in personnel and the loss of the beloved Spagnuolo, the Giants formula for victory remains the same: a dominant running game led by an unsung offensive line, a ferocious pass rush anchoring the defense, timely execution in the passing game, and winning the turnover battle.

Should the Giants adere to these principles, the new faces will adjust seamlessly and the Giants winning ways will continue.