Signing Antrel Rolle Was Great But The Giants Still Have Much Work To Do

Like every other NFL team the Giants have needed to address virtually every position over the past five years.

The aspect that separates them from the other 31 teams is that rarely has there been more than one part of the team that is desperate for improvement. In fact, the last time this was the case was in 2005.

Throughout that offseason, Ernie Accorsi acted like the general manager of a team that had compiled 10 wins the past two seasons and aggressively signed three marquee free agents.

He inked Antonio Pierce from the Washington Redskins to anchor a defense that had latent talent. He locked up Kareem McKenzie from the New York Jets to help rebuild and anchor an offensive line that was regarded by some as the league’s worst.

The cherry on top resulted from a turbulent negotiation period with a wide receiver that was every bit as unreliable as he was talented. Plaxico Burress had his ups and downs with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Accorsi was confident that his talent would give his prized quarterback an explosive weapon after going to battle with a mediocre receiving core in his rookie season.

This trio would be key contributors to five consecutive Giants playoff appearances, two years in which the Giants finished the season as division champions, and one as the league’s best team.

Even though the 2009 Giants had two more wins, the front office is facing a similar quandary as they did following the 2004 season. The only positions exempt from criticism after 2009 was the group that faced the most after 2008: The quarterback and wide receivers. 

The good news is that the Giants have gotten the two guys they had to get. If they had not lured Perry Fewell into the Meadowlands and away from Chicago, there would have been a serious issue filling the shoes of Steve Spagnuolo; a feat Bill Sheridan did not come close to completing.

Fewell may not be a sure thing but his ability to motivate is unquestionable, and his experience as a defensive coordinator and head coach establishes credibility that Bill Sheridan did not have.

Another issue that was striking week-in and week-out in 2009 was the safety position. The story is well-known; Kenny Phillips was on track to transform into an elite player after a quiet rookie season. And after two interceptions in Dallas, it appeared he was poised to do so.

Four days after this supposed breakout game, his season was declared over due to a serious knee issue that still has his career on hold. After Phillips, labeling the rest of the safeties as average would be a compliment. The Giants had no choice but to aggressively pursue a safety.

And they did just that. On the first day of free agency Antrel Rolle put his John Hancock on a contract that would make him the richest safety of all time. At age 27, he provides a long-term solution and leadership for a secondary that desperately needs both.

However, there are plenty more problems that plague the Giants. The linebacking core looked slow throughout the season and lost its captain, who also happened to be their middle linebacker. The interior of the defensive line was dominated all season as well, and the entire front was unable to rattle quarterbacks as they had the last five seasons.

Even the offensive line sprung some leaks in 2009. Manning was hit more, and the running game was non-existent. Jerry Reese wisely hasn’t ruled out a left tackle competition between the team’s 2009 second-round pick William Beatty and David Diehl, who has started every game at left tackle the last three seasons.

Diehl has been solid, but has always struggled with top pass rushers. With Trent Cole, DeMarcus Ware, and Brian Orakpo coming into their own, an upgrade will have to be made at some point.

Rich Seubert had an extremely disappointing season, part of which was due to an injury. But if the Giants are able to slide Diehl into Seubert’s spot, the Giants may have the best set of interior linemen in the league (Snee, O’Hara, Diehl).

The running backs aren’t immune to criticism either. Right now, the Giants have two complimentary backs that can’t play a 16 game season. Andre Brown was projected to be another Giants late round gem but he has yet to suit up for even a preseason game due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

D.J. Ware was unable to take advantage of any opportunities either, his largest coming in Denver when he fumbled the ball in Giants territory. Bradshaw was unable to dress that night and Jacobs was clearly off; but instead of making a name for himself Ware crippled the Giants chances of putting together a comeback.

In 2009 field position appeared to become a priority for many teams. The value of a Percy Harvin increased exponentially, as well as a David Buehler. The former may be a household name but what about the latter? He’s the specialty kicker for the Dallas Cowboys.

He had 29 touchbacks in 2009. Lawrence Tynes had six. In a league that has become so offensively advanced, defenses can no longer afford the luxury of having opposing offenses start at the 30 or 35-yard line after virtually every score. Pinning the opponent at their own 20 after a score is a big-time play, and it’s something Tynes was unable to do.

Luckily, the Giants brass is no longer negligent of addressing Tynes’s weak leg. They are expected to have Panthers specialist Rhys Lloyd kick for them on Tuesday. Tom Coughlin has always been unwilling to carry two kickers but if he trusts Tynes more on field goals and Lloyd more on kickoffs, he will have no choice but to carry two. And it would be a prudent move to do so.

The Antrel Rolle signing is certainly a great start for the Giants. But in order to go where they want to, the Giants will have to replenish many other aspects of the team. And it may require some creativity.