Giants vs. Patriots: 6 Ways Teams Have Changed Identities Since Super Bowl XLII

Tom Brady might not be thinking about the last time his New England Patriots faced the New York Giants in a competitive contest, but we, the fans, certainly are.

How could we not? The two teams are forever linked by one of the most dramatic Super Bowls in recent memory.

The quest for perfection. The swarming Giants pass-rush. The miracle catch by David Tyree. A close, tense finish. Super Bowl XLII had it all.

That was four years ago. Then, the 18-1 Patriots appeared set to dominate the NFL landscape, while the Giants had a blend of youth and experience that could keep them in playoff contention for years to come. 

Neither team has won a playoff game since.

While the head coaches—Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick—remain the same, much has changed on both of their rosters. Both are accustomed to winning seasons, but fatal flaws have undone their campaigns in recent times.

Let's compare the 2011 editions of both franchises with their Super Bowl counterparts from four seasons ago and examine the key changes in identity over that period.

Pass-First Tendencies: Giants

Perhaps the biggest transformation on either team over the last four years comes in the shape of Eli Manning.

Manning's preseason declaration that he belongs in the elite company of Tom Brady as one of the best signal-callers in the game raised a few eyebrows, but nobody's laughing now.

Currently on pace to set career highs in passing yards, completion percentage and yards per attempt, and with a passer rating bettered only by Brady and Aaron Rodgers, his graduation party has been a pleasure to watch.

When the Giants won the Super Bowl in February 2008, Eli had been a pale imitation of his older brother Peyton throughout the regular season. Poor accuracy and a 23-20 touchdown-to-interception ratio told the story of a quarterback that couldn't be relied on to do much more than manage a game.

Now, the success of the team rests firmly on his shoulders, and it is a responsibility he appears to relish. Credit must also go to quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan, whose transition from receivers coach two seasons ago is beginning to bear fruit.

The chemistry with his receiving corps is one of the big surprises of the season. Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and tight end Jake Ballard have all stepped up in the absence of Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith and Kevin Boss, creating a dynamic and young offense capable of putting up points on anyone.

Most impressive in all aspects of Manning's improvement this year is his ability to protect the football. After his 25 picks last season, he has thrown just five through seven games. This development alone may be key to their playoff chances, having missed out with their 10-6 record last year.

If the Giants have learned to develop their pass-first approach over time, the Patriots have been built to throw since 2007, following the departure of running back Corey Dillon and the recruitment of Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth for the record-breaking antics of the perfect regular season that year.

Rise of the Tight Ends: Patriots

The Patriots shifted their offensive focus in 2010 with the draft selections of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in the second and fourth rounds respectively.

In 2009, Tom Brady was forced to over-rely on the production of Randy Moss and Wes Welker to put points on the board. Having one of the best deep threats and slot receivers in the league is generally not considered an issue, but without a third option—either a reliable running back or third receiver—the best defenses found ways to shut down the Patriots.

This isn't the first time New England has tried to draft the ultimate mismatched tight end. Benjamin Watson was a first-round pick in 2004 whose off-the-charts athleticism failed to mask deficiencies in his awareness and basic technique. The Patriots grew frustrated with his dropped passes and released him in 2009.

The sure hands of Gronkowski and Hernandez are therefore likely to keep them in Patriots colors for a long time.

Gronkowski is the better blocker, utilizing his size with impact at the line of scrimmage, whereas Hernandez is quicker, with shiftier moves after the catch. The former can look like an extra offensive lineman at times, while the latter does a mean wide receiver impersonation.

Both, however, are pass-catchers of devastating effect on all routes, short or deep. Line both up in formation, with Welker, Branch and a running back, and the one-on-one matchups present themselves.

YAC Attack: Giants and Patriots

In 2007, the Giants didn't have a single player in the top 50 rankings for receiving yards after the catch (YAC).

Nowadays, their offensive identity revolves around it.

In the days of Plaxico Burress and Steve Smith, once the ball was caught, that was it. Now, when Victor Cruz catches the ball, he hustles, breaking tackles and pumping his legs for every yard. The stat sheet highlights the difference: Three receivers in the YAC top 50 with a combined 520 yards.

The Patriots, meanwhile, have always valued what director of player personnel Nick Caserio calls "the hidden yards."

However, without Randy Moss for over a season now, the Patriots have been forced to rely on YAC for their offensive production more than ever before. Without a real outside burner on the roster, Brady has returned to the old dink-and-dunk style of passing that characterized the Super Bowl years in New England.

You can be sure that no Patriots player on the current roster will come close to emulating Moss' record-breaking 23 receiving touchdowns in 2007.

In 2011, the responsibility for moving the chains is shared, and the team fights for every yard in crowded passing lanes. Touchdowns are a team triumph; gone are the days when Brady's receivers grab jump-balls on double-coverage.

In both teams' cases, the focus of the offense has shifted, but the production remains strong.

Lack of Running Game: Giants

Super Bowl XLII set the stage for Ahmad Bradshaw's coming out party, rushing nine times for 45 yards. His tandem with Brandon Jacobs looked set to become the premier one-two punch in the NFL.

In 2008, they became exactly that. The Giants ranked first in the league in rushing yards, with Jacobs carrying the bulk of the load. By 2010, the roles had reversed, with Bradshaw taking on the workload of a lead back, with similar results.

So, what has changed this season?

Giants' Featured Columnist Michael Dixon covers this in more detail, but in summary, Bradshaw has cracked a bone in his foot, and with a history of foot and ankle injuries, his mobility this year has probably been compromised.

His yards per carry have steadily decreased with each year in the league, which is a product of his durability issues but also his increased use as a first- and second-down back, facing more defenses designed to stop the run.

Changes along the offensive line have been disruptive, too. Running lanes that once resembled wide highways have shrunk to the size of country lanes.

With Bradshaw out indefinitely, the focus will return to the outspoken Jacobs this season, who can still produce, but as he nears the cliff-edge of 30 years old—the magic number for the fall in running back production—he cannot be expected to shoulder the burden alone.

The Giants may improve on their 30th-ranked rush offense down the stretch, but with a tough schedule ahead, Eli Manning will be expected to continue his run of form to keep them in contention.

Over in Foxborough, there have been no real changes in the running philosophy: They have used a committee approach as a complement to the passing game over the past four seasons.

In future years, this approach may change. Rookies Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley were drafted in the second and third rounds of the 2011 draft respectively, which could be key in relieving the pressure on Tom Brady to carry the offense to the end zone.

Front Seven Changes: Patriots

While the Giants' defensive schemes have barely changed, even with three defensive coordinators—Steve Spagnuolo, Bill Sheridan and Perry Fewell—calling the plays since their Super Bowl victory, over in New England, their front seven couldn't look more different.

With a shortened preseason, Bill Belichick explained to Sirius Radio that the change to a 4-3 base front created a greater overlap with sub-packages, which would be quicker and simpler to install for the season-opener.

To assist with the transition, Belichick brought in free agents with 4-3 experience: Enter Andre Carter, Mark Anderson and Albert Haynesworth. The results have been underwhelming.

With the worst-ranked secondary in the league, the onus on the pass-rush to get after the quarterback is greater than ever. Other than Carter—who has been a rare bright spot on defense this year—the Patriots have struggled to generate pressure when the team has needed it the most.

Behind the line, the linebackers have struggled to make plays. Jerod Mayo—MCL injury aside—must take most of the blame as a Top 10 draft pick. Mayo tackles as well as any linebacker in the league, but he shouldn't be confused with an impact playmaker such as Patrick Willis.

Consider the names from the 2007 season. Seymour, Bruschi, Vrabel, Thomas, Warren? The current crop doesn't bear comparison.

The sheer volume of turnover has denied the defense continuity or experience. Belichick has drafted his fair share of second- and third-round busts in recent times; Shawn Crable and Tyrone McKenzie barely took the field before they were released, while Ron Brace and Jermaine Cunningham are on borrowed time with their slow development.

The Giants have had no such issues. Jason Pierre-Paul, the second-year product out of South Florida, is growing into the heir apparent of Michael Strahan, and Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka and Osi Umenyiora have been with the team throughout.

Continuity and talent provide the key to long-term success. Leading the NFL in sacks this season, the Giants figure to give Tom Brady nightmares at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

Loss of Defensive Leadership: Giants and Patriots

Both teams have lost veteran leaders on defense since the last time they met. For Antonio Pierce and Michael Strahan for the Giants, read Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison for the Patriots.

The difference between the two franchises is that Tom Coughlin has done a better job than Bill Belichick of managing the transition between generations.

Justin Tuck has gone from the breakout defensive star in Super Bowl XLII to team captain in just under four years. Corey Webster, just 26 years old when he lifted the Lombardi, is now a veteran leader in the secondary.

In New England, only nine defensive players remain from the 2009 season, and just four of those—Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton and Mike Wright—survive from the 2008 roster.

On Sunday, the 2011 Giants and Patriots will take the field, new identities and all. Of all the changes on both teams, the key to the game will be Eli Manning's chrysalis from pretender to king and whether he can exploit New England's defensive struggles.

Either way, expect the Giants' pass-rush to remind Brady of Arizona, whether he likes it or not.

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