My last thoughts were before the Redskins game, here is my latest thinking on what I would like to see happen with the Giants for next year.

We know Tom Coughlin will be back.I think Gilbride will get the UConn job, in which case our new OC will very likely be Tony Sparano.

Even if Gilbride is back, I would like to see Sparabo brought in as a Assistant Head Coach/Running Game Coordinator with Gilbride as the Passing Game Coordinator (and play caller)

I think Fewell will be back.

I don't expect huge turnovers of coaching staff and I am expecting a new CBA.

Reese has identified the defensive back seven as a key area he wants to upgrade. I also think reestablishing a dominant power running game will be a priority.

Note with the uncapped year in 2009 (and rcord number of RFAs), there will be a lot more UFAs this year with a new CBA.


Team Analysis -Veteran Additions - Departures

Quarterback
With Eli and Sage, we are set

Running Back
This is an interesting position, we could either keep the guys we have or even totally overhaul the whole position. I am going for something in between.

Arrivals

Ronnie Brown (Miami) - A powerfull, productive RB who rarely fumbles and knows Sparano's system.

Leon Washington (Seattle) - An ideal complement to Brown and Bradshaw and quality 3rd down RB. Washington is also the quality return guy we badly need.

Departures

Ahmad Bradshaw - Much will depend on whether Bradshaw's fumbling can be redressed, but I think a the moment the fumbling will see him playing elsewhere.

DJ Ware

Fullback

Arrivals
Vonta Leach (Houston) - The smash mouth bulldozer that suits our preferred power running game. The Giants wanted this guy as an RFA and finally get their guy.

Departures
Madison Hedgecock - Hedgecock is on the way out. Leach is a big upgrade

Wide Receivers

Resign
Steve Smith - one of the key pieces of the offense, he will be back

Domenik Hixon - quality return guy and decent receiver

Derek Hagan - invaluable in his return, Hagan will be given the chance to compete for a roster spot, most likely coming down to Hagan or Cruz

Departures
Mark Clayton

Tight End

Resign
Kevin Boss - Boss is a solid TE, but he is a better no two. He should be back cheaply, but if he doesn't return, Beckum and Pascoe can get the job done.

Arrivals
Zach Miller (Oakland) - Miller is a quality all round TE, although not the receiving TE so much in vogue in the NFL, he is reliable receiver and a dependable blocker. This fits the style of TE that Sparano likes. This also allows us to use more two tight end sets.

Offensive Line
Resign
Shawn Andrews - His back may be an ongoing issue, but he does give us experienced depth at multiple positions.

Kevin Boothe - A cheap, young backup lineman with some experience.

Defensive End

Resign
Matthias Kiwanuka - If he tests out ok medically, Kiwanuka will be offered a one year deal to restore his value.

Dave Tollefson - Will be offered a deal for a similar role, but it could be tough to keep 5 DEs again.

Defensive Tackles

Resign
Barry Cofield - Cofield was a big part of the strong defensive line inside, retaining Cofield ensures we have a top quality DT rotation.

Linebacker
Resign
Chase Blackburn - not really in the positional mix, but he is a key special teamer

Arrivals
Paul Posluszny (Buffalo) - Linebackers aren't featured in Fewell's schemes, but we do need to add a good veteran, someone who can play SLB in our three LB fronts and replace Goff in our two LB sets in passing situations. Chad Greenway is another option. Poslunszy does knows Fewell's schemes well, which will be an asset.

Departures
Keith Bullock - Bulluck won't be back, he wants to play full time and with our three safety package, he won't get that opportunity here.

Gerris Wilkinson - Will get a chance to start elsewhere

Cornerback
With the trend of passing offenses this year, we need three genuine starting calibre corners.

Arrivals
Richard Marshall (Carolina) - a physical corner with good speed, Marshall will add genuine competition for Thomas and Webster.

Safety
Safety is a key position in Fewell's schemes, we have good starters, but we badly need depth.

Resign
Deon Grant - we use three starting safeties, Grant plays a key role and is pretty much a starter.

Michael Johnson - cheap depth and special teams. He could compete with Chad Jones if he is healthy

Arrivals
George Wilson (Buffalo) - an under-rated safety, Wilson can play either spot. He had a career year in 2009 under Fewell and will know the system well. Wilson will be a good value pick up.


Punter
We will bring in a punter to compete with Dodge
Arrivals
Adam Podlesh (Jaguars) - A quality Punter to help our field position game.

Draft

19. T Nate Solder, Colorado - The only top quality left tackle in the draft. He is raw, be he has elite tools.

52. C Stefan Wisniewski, Penn State - quality Center to groom for the future

83. CB Curtis Brown, Texas - a good corner to upgrade our CB depth

116. RB Roy Helu, Nebraska

180. DT Ian Allen, Notre Dame

211. RS Leon Berry, Mississippi State - A good return specialist to compete for a roster spot.

Possible Roster

QB - Eli Manning, Sage Rosenfels

RB - Ronnie Brown, Brandon Jacobs, Leon Washington, Roy Helu

FB - Vonta Leach

WR - Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Ramsees Barden, Domenik Hixon, Devin Thomas / Derek Hagan / Victor Cruz

TE - Zack Miller, Kevin Boss, Travis Beckum / Bear Pascoe

T - Kareem McKenzie, Will Beatty, Nate Solder

G - Chris Snee, David Diehl, Rich Seubert / Shawn Andrews, Mitch Petrus

C - Shaun O'Hara, Adam Koets, Stefan Wisniewski

DE - Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul, Matthias Kiwanuka / Dave Tollefson

DT - Barry Cofield, Chris Canty, Linval Joseph, Rocky Bernard / Ian Allen

LB - Paul Poslunzy, Jon Goff, Michael Boley, Phillip Dillard, Clint Sintim, Adrian Tracy / Chase Blackburn

CB - Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Richard Marshall, Aaron Ross, Curtis Brown / Bruce Johnson

S - Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips, Deon Grant, George Wilson, Michael Johnson / Chad Jones

K - Lawrence Tynes

P - Adam Podlesh / Matt Dodge

LS - Zak DeOssie

I think something along these lines would give us a very solid team.

Any thoughts?

Looks pretty good Pete for the most part. I think you might be putting to much stock in Sparano coming and Gilbride going though.

Chad Greenway and Paulosny are possibles at linebacker. Is Greenways contract up this year?

btw Pete, Do you live near them floods over there in Australia? They look pretty bad.

56 Crazed Dogs wrote:Looks pretty good Pete for the most part. I think you might be putting to much stock in Sparano coming and Gilbride going though.

Chad Greenway and Paulosny are possibles at linebacker. Is Greenways contract up this year?

btw Pete, Do you live near them floods over there in Australia? They look pretty bad.

I am pretty sure Sparano will be fired, and he and Coughlin are close, but I would be ok with Gilbride too. One of my issues with Gilbride is when things get tough he goes to a spread offense (likely harkening back to his run and shoot days) rather than featuring the TE and other stuff. Also many of his plays take too long to develop.

Yes Greenway's contract is up.

Other guys available who can upgrade at LB include Barrett Ruud, Thomas Davis, David Harris, Lamarr Woodley and Rocky McIntosh and there are others

here is a decent list of free agents
http://www.nfltraderumors.co/2011-nfl-free-agents/
please note, as it is currently uncapped the 4th and 5th year guys are listed as RFAs but with a new CBA will be UFAs.

I am not near the floods in Aust (I live on the bumpy bit in on top of the country), but I did grow up there. Te real scary thing is much of the area is pretty flat, that is a lot of water.

I am starting to think we need to consider bringing in two veteran Linebackers rather than one.

I would most consider adding someone like

Barrett Ruud, Rocky McIntosh or Thomas Davis as well.

It all depends on how people grade out.

For example someone like Ruud would be awesome in the middle

It may be time to consider moving on from Sintim as well; he isn't a great fit for Fewell's scheme and would have value for a 3-4 team.

Boley may also come under scrutiny, he wasn't that much of a playmaker this year (1 sack, 1 FF). We may consider a WLB with improved coverage ability,