NFL Preseason 2010: New York Giants Top Storylines

The New York Giants enter the 2010 NFL season slightly under-the-radar.

Only three years removed from Super Bowl title, the Giants are no longer the favorite to win their division, as that honor has been passed to the Dallas Cowboys.

They may have even become second banana in their own city, as Rex Ryan's New York Jets have taken center-stage due to their coach's bravado and Hard Knocks appearance.

However, Giants should not be slept on.

As long as Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning are coach and quarterback, respectively, the Giants are contenders.

But like all teams, New York faces some questions as the start of the regular season draws closer.

5. Ready For a Rebound?

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 13: Justin Tuck #91 of the New York Giants walks off the field after warming up to play the Washington Redskins on September 13, 2009 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

After winning the Super Bowl in 2007-08 and finishing the 2008-09 regular season with best record in the NFC, expectations were high for the Giants entering the 2009-10 season.

The team's 8-8 season was a disaster.

It wasn't a bad luck-induced mirage, either. The Giants allowed 25 more points than they scored, and their defense dropped to 14th in yards allowed.

After a 5-0 start, the Giants dropped four straight and never really recovered, allowing 85 points in their last two games to fall short of the postseason.

After an offseason that brings new personnel and new coaches to the team, the Giants expect an improvement. 

Team leaders like Eli Manning and Justin Tuck remember what it takes to win a championship. After such a disappointing season, they will try to infuse the rest of the roster with the confidence necessary to become contenders once again.

4. Injuries

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 16: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants points to the ground in the first quarter during their game against the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on August 16, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick La

Anyone that watched the preseason game between the Giants and Jets knows that Eli Manning was absolutely obliterated in the second quarter.

Luckily for the Giants, Manning is fine, with the exception of a cut on his forehead.

However, New York has been dealing with other bumps and bruises in the preseason that could be more serious.

Cornerback Aaron Ross will miss the rest of the preseason with a partially torn plantar facilia. After missing most of the 2009-10 season, the promising young defensive back was expected to be a key contributor this season. This is not the way he wanted to being his season.

Brandon Jacobs has yet again been hit with the injury bug, although he expects to play in the next preseason game. Still, it's a bit early for even an injury-prone player like Jacobs to be dealing with nicks and cuts.

2009 third-round pick Ramses Barden has also dealt with injuries this preseason, preventing him from getting on the same page with quarterback Eli Manning.

3. Offensive Line Decisions

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 8: Shaun O'Hara #60 of the New York Giants prepares to snap against the San Diego Chargers at Giants Stadium on November 8, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Chargers defeated the Giants 21-20. (Photo by Nick Laham/

The depth chart for the Giants is mostly settled, with the exception of the offensive line.

Currently, Will Beatty and Rich Seubert are battling for a starting job.

If Beatty wins, he gets to be the starting left tackle. If Seubert wins, he starts at guard.

To have such important positions still up-for-grabs this late in the preseason is a bit disconcerting, to say the least.

The competition has also put the rest of the offensive line on standby.

If Beatty wins the job, former starting left tackle David Diehl will move inside to guard. But if Seubert holds on to his spot, Diehl will remain the protector of Manning's blind side.

This battle remains tightly contested, and will likely stay that way until the end of the preseason.

2. Defensive Additions

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 31: Antrel Rolle #21 of the NFC's Arizona Cardinals looks on during the 2010 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game at Sun Life Stadium on January 31, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-34. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Get

In 2009-10, the Giants defensive unit went from a feared pack of Pro Bowlers to a sieve.

They dropped from 5th in the league in yards allowed to 14th.

This obviously did not go unnoticed by the Giants' front office. In the offseason, they grabbed former Arizona defensive back Antrel Rolle and former Tennessee linebacker Keith Bulluck.

Both are former Pro Bowlers, and both are expected to start for the Giants this season.

They will be expected to provide a spark to a defense that once almost singlehandedly ended the New England Patriots' perfect season.

1. Perry Fewell

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Perry Fewell of the Buffalo Bills looks on from the sidelines against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on December 27, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Steve Spagnuolo quickly gained a reputation as one of the brightest minds in football following his stint as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.

It wasn't a surprise to see the St. Louis Rams give him a head coaching job.

The Giants hired Bill Sheridan to replace Spagnuolo, a decision that proved to be a disaster.

Unsurprisingly, Sheridan was fired after only only season on the job, and former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was hired to replace him.

Fewell's defenses have tended to follow the cover-2 style. However, it has become obvious that the new coordinator is not going to abandon the blitz-happy ways that made the Giants such a feared defense in 2007 and 2008.

It is likely that he will implement a combination of the zone coverage that is a hallmark of the cover-2 and the exotic blitz packages that the Giants used under Spagnuolo.

This combination of the old and new is the most intriguing new development this preseason for the Giants.

Its success will likely prove pivotal in deciding whether New York returns to prominence in 2010-11.