OK, we all know that a season never goes completely as expected or hoped for. With that in mind, which of the following do you have most confidence in? Which are you most concerned about?

What you saw down the stretch last year was Eli officially turning the corner and beginning to blossom into the QB we all hoped for from the beginning. There's no going back from here - Eli has arrived.

Same is true about Corey Webster. He's now a real deal CB, ready to match up with anyone every week.

Staying with the DBs, Ross will pick up right where he left off, too. No sophmore slump here. Also, the greybeards, Madison & McQuarters will continue to provide quality depth and not suddenly show their age.

Spags will knit together an effective safety package from Knight, Phillips, Michael Johnson & Butler.

Between Wilkerson & Clark, Mitchell won't be missed at all. Kiwanuka will continue to play and develop at SOLB and our LBs will be fine.

Toomer will stay healthy and productive....but if not, Smith is ready to step in and be a bonafide starter.

This is the year Sinorice Moss stays healthy and shows what he can do. Also, Manningham is the 3rd round steal of the draft.

Diehl gets even better in his 2nd year and puts to rest all talk of possibly looking for another tackle and moving him back inside.

The Giants play with the same frightening intensity, brushing aside the bullseye they will have on their backs and continue to line up and beat the hell out of people, week in, week out.

That's enough for now, I guess. Discuss.

Nice Post Gmen, and I must admit I agree with you on many points

My breakout Giants to watch this year are Sinorice Moss and Guy Whimper; don't be surprised if Whimper gives Seubert a challenge for a starting spot (with Diehl moving inside to LG). Either way with Diehl and Whimper LT is extremely solid.


I am also expexting standout years from Kiwanuka, Wilkinson, Butler and Johnson with significantly improved play this year.

Two points points I'm not as sold on as much as you are.

I think calling Webster the real deal is still a bit early. I realize Webster came up big by making some plays in the play-offs but he also made some big mistakes too. Donald Driver play in Green Bay and Randy Moss TD in SB. He really bit the dust on both.
I still think CW made big strides compared to his first two years but I wouldn't start him over Madison yet.

I'm not sold on Wilkinson or Clark yet either. I think Mitchell's experience will be hard to replace this year. He was very solid last season.
We have a deep linebacker corps but not a lot of real experience. I do have faith that out of all these backers, that we'll find a gem but I'm just not sure who it will be yet.

The Giants will remain a very solid team if they stay healthy this year and at several positions we have a player that can step right in.

Love your optimism though Gman and especially love this line:

The Giants play with the same frightening intensity, brushing aside the bullseye they will have on their backs and continue to line up and beat the hell out of people, week in, week out.

I think you misintepret my post - probably because I wasn't clear enough. I don't necessarily believe all those things, I was just putting the most optimistic statements I've heard out there and asking which you were confident in and which you were not.

To be honest, I'm not 100% rock solid sure of ANY of those points! I'm especially doubtful about S Moss, for instance. I DO think Webster will remain the starter over Madison but don't expect him to be a lock down guy, by any means. However, I AM optimistic about Wilkerson. He really looked like he was ready to be a big time player in this league when he got his opportnities down the stretch.

Ok, I get ya now.
You definately make some valid points then and there's some good reasoning to be optomistic this coming season.
I know that I can't wait to see how some of these players progress. Ross, Webster, Diehl, Wilkinson, etc...

I think the defense will be a lot better than everyone expects.

What gets me most excited about this group is the majority of them know/have played in Spags's system. No relearning for everyone. A few guys have to learn it all but the majority of guys know it.

Imagine the blitz packages Spags's can draw up with some of our new 'backs, corners and safeties? Not to mention, the stunts on the defensive line he's probably come up with. Instead of learning the whole thing in camp, a lot of new packages can be installed pretty quick.

The blitzing in the SB was great I think. And now Spags' had a whole offseason to think of more, plus he knows the guys in the system better.

Bottom line, this group could be scary good.