[Brendan]

This is what you said on Sept. 6th:

However, I will give a season prediction for the Giants' record. 12-4, and NFC East champions. They'll be in the running for home-field advantage, but it's way too early to guess if they'll get it. It's going to be an exciting year.

This is what you said on Oct. 21st:

P.S. I hate Jim Fassell and I hate the New York Giants.

Now, I'm not mocking your inability to see where this season was going. I was with you. But now comes the obvious question: Should the Giants fire Jim Fassel?
Personally, I like Fassel and I don't want to see him go, but this is getting rediculous. They should not be this bad.
They need to draft a dominant OL badly. They have the pieces, but just can't stay healthy. Also, the Giants should have some cap room to work with next year, with Sehorn's $8 mil off of the books.

[Chris]

They have to fire him. There is simply no other alternative. (Not that it matters - I have read that Fassel has already been informed that he will be fired after the season.) If you keep him, it's like saying that sucking this badly is ok.

The big question is who is next? Right now it looks like Tom Coughlin, who I think the Giants tried to get every time for the last three coaching vacancies. (Remember, they officially offered it to him, but he wouldn't leave Boston College, so they hired Dan Reeves) They need someone who can turn this team around fast. The talent they have on offense is being wasted. Shockey, Collins, Toomer, Hilliard, Barber (I'm really starting to sour on him), even Petitgout and Seubert. On D they have the Wills, Strahan (who is still playing hard)... and well, not much else.

I think the big problem with this team has little to do with Fassel. I hate his game management and clock management, as he ALWAYS coaches scared (i.e. How many fake FGs/punts have you seen since he's been here? How many times to they kneel it at the half instead of taking a shot? Why on earth is Brian Mitchell still returning kickoffs, when Delvin Joyce is so obviously better at it?), but he's not why this team sucks.

The offensive line was much worse than originally thought. This isn't incurable, as they were decimated by injury. Bring back Seubert, Petitgout, Bober, maybe David Diehl at RG, and a free agent RT. Remember, the best thing for an offensive line is stability, not overhauls. Then get some decent backups. Ian Allen is simply awful.

Plus, the RBs don't look that great either. How many times can Tiki fumble? It might be time to spend a big pick on a RB, hopefully someone better than Ron Dayne this time.

In addition, the defense sucks too. The Allens seem like they are for real, but Stoutmire, Shaun Williams, and the LBs always seem bewildered by the concept of zone or even man coverage with deep help. Barrow's a warrior, but he may have to go if you're completely cleaning house. Short has shown flashes, so give him another year. Williams is probably under way too big a contract to cut.

The D-line isn't as great as hoped, and Keith Hamilton is retiring to face drug charges, but they do have a ton of sacks. Strahan, believe it or not, may actually be under-rated. Watching him play as hard as he has with no one helping around him has really turned me in his favor. Umenyiora has shown some real good flashes as well. The good news is that once Fassel leaves, we'll be able to see whether or not William Joseph is any good. Right now, we don't know because he's in the random dog-house where you're not allowed to get on the field and play out of it (see: Dorsey Levens, Joe Montgomery).

On D, the second level of defense is just nowhere near as good as they should be with a D-Line getting as much pressure as this one does.

Yeah - a lot of words, but basically - the players aren't as good as originally thought and Fassel's not a great coach - just a good one. He'll end up somewhere else.

Accorsi needs to come up big this year with one good O lineman, and some defensive help in the LB/Safety area. Plus, a great kicker would be nice, but Bryant will suffice. This team still has about two years for its shot to return to the Super Bowl before Collins/Strahan/Toomer/Hilliard/Barber start looking old. But remember - right now the Giants draft 7th, and they still have to play Carolina and Dallas. It will hurt their strength of schedule, but they WILL be 4-12.

[Brendan]

There are just so many players that I wish the Giants could draft. Kevin Jones from VT should be available, but one of the LBs from Miami will be available as well. I'd like to see them trade up for Robert Gallery from Iowa, but he should be gone. Also, in the second round, they might have a chance at Nathan Vasher from Texas. He's a very good cover corner, but he's an exceptional return man.

But I do agree that Barber's fumbling problems are almost outweighing his ability to make plays. But if the Giants can shore up the O-Line, then their offense SHOULD be one of the best. Maybe an impact WR will help, because Toomer has been on his own most of the year.

Also, maybe the slew of Special Teams coaches not being able to help this team proves that it is really just personnel that is the problem. Brian Mitchell was more of a PR move. Feagles was amazing this year, but the other two additions got hurt.

All in all, don't rebuild just yet, but there will need to be sweeping changes.

[Chris]

Talk about dredging up old posts, but I like looking back only a year and being stunned at the roster turnover.

The biggest difference in this year's Giants team is the depth of talent. It's stunning versus the Fassel years.

Take a look at this post from BBI:

Exciting preseason games. : Thomas : 6/17/05 10:25 AM
Anyone going to turn the TV off when the 2nd team gets on the field?

QB--Palmer
HB--Jacobs
WR--Taylor
WR--Carter
TE-Shank
LT-Whitfield
LG-Seubert
C-Lucier
RG-Whittle
RT-Winey

LDE-Moore
LDT-Joseph
RDT-Allen
RDE-Tuck
SLB-Torbor
MLB-Lewis
WLB-Greisen
CB-Walker, Deloatch, Webster
FS-Burns
SS-Williams

Is it me or has this been the quality of many of our starters the past few years? And now these guys can't crack the starting lineup!

I'm starting to get giddy again.

Then I remember this is Eli's second year. He might put up 3000 yds and 16 TDs / 18 INTs, but he won't be reliable enough to go very far.

Early prediction, a very good 9-7 and a first round playoff win.

[Brendan]

I didn't even notice that I wasn't logged out so whenever I checked I never saw a new post until just now.

Yeah, I'm much more excited about how Eric Moore is going to perform as opposed to say Wesley Mallard.

I'm very excited about this year and I think that it has a lot to do with the depth. In the past I would just turn it off midway through the third quarter, because I knew that if I saw these players on the field for real that we were in for a long season. Now there's real competition at certain positions and I don't get the feeling that there are any "stopgaps".

The interesting thing I keep seeing is G. Wilson at SS and Alexander at FS with S. Williams on the bench. I know Williams never lived up to expectations, but I would have to imagine that Wilson at FS and Williams at SS would be the best combo. Unfortunately I've never seen Wilson play live, because I never caught a game that he played when I was at school.

On a similar note, I went to BBI and found a Sports Bar in Wilmington, DE that shows Giants games. My cable will now feature DC and Balt stations, so my odds increase, but if not then I'll be going there to watch the games this year.

But this year I think I'll be watching the whole game in the preseason.

P.S. This post may have had more focus if I wasn't currently being badgered to come to dinner in the oh-so-familiar way.