ESPNMAG.com - New York Giants

LAST SEASON: 7-9, 3rd in NFC East
PROJECTION: 2nd in NFC East


	The Giants are counting on Toomer putting up his numbers.

Strahan and Barber made up. But their spat was the most exciting thing about this team. Problems on the O-line won't help QB Collins improve, making this a 7–9 team.

STRONG SIDE

WR: Big Blue has strength in numbers at WR. Amani Toomer (72 catches, 1,054 yards) and Ike Hilliard (6 TDs in 10 starts) are veterans who can go deep and make the tough catch over the middle. The addition of rookie TE Jeremy Shockey will be felt everywhere, mostly by opposing DBs. His bulldozer blocking and routes over the middle will give QB Kerry Collins a safety valve when he can't buy time (see Weak Side) and open things up for Tiki Barber, Toomer and Hilliard. If speedster Ron Dixon can learn to hold on to the ball, the Giants will stretch defenses from anywhere on the field.

WEAK SIDE

OL: The Giants decided to rebuild rather than reload their offensive line. Gone are experienced -- i.e., old -- starters Lomas Brown (39), Ron Stone (31) and Glenn Parker (36). O-line coach Jim McNally declined high-priced free agent help. Apparently he likes a challenge. His new starters -- G's Rich Seubert and Jason Whittle along with T Chris Bober -- are all undrafted free agents. This group will crack like an egg.

NFC East

1. Eagles

2. Giants

3. Redskins

4. Cowboys

Scouting Report Index

OTHER UNITS

QB: Kerry Collins has one of the league's strongest arms. Unfortunately it's attached to half of the league's worst pair of hands (NFL-record 23 fumbles in 2001). The good: For the first time, Collins had more TDs (19) than INTs (16) in straight seasons. The bad: He's only once had a QB rating above 80.

RB: Waiting around for Ron Dayne (only two career 100-yard games) to become a decisive downhill runner only lessens the impact of Tiki Barber (5.2 yards per carry, 72 catches), the Giants' best player on offense. That's why Dayne will sit and Barber will run.

DL: If Michael Strahan attacks QBs the way he's gone after the Giants front office and Barber, he might get 22.5 more sacks in 2001. But the real reasons he'll come close? Kenny Holmes will prove his 3.5-sack 2001 season was a fluke, and DTs Keith Hamilton and Cornelius Griffin are healthy.

LB: Micheal Barrow, Brandon Short and Dhani Jones are like E-ZPass lanes on the Jersey Turnpike: They'll slow you down but won't make you stop. Jones has the tough job of replacing five-time Pro Bowler Jessie Armstead, a key to the Giants' strength against the run (No.3 in the NFC) in 2001.

DB: Physical S Shaun Williams and speedy corners Will Allen and Will Peterson are great against the run (NFC's third-best rushing D last season). If Jason Sehorn recovers from off-season surgery on his right knee, this unit dominates.

ST: The Giants decided to fix the NFL's worst special teams by replacing 20-year vet Morten Andersen with untested K Owen Pochman, and P Rodney Williams with unproven Matt Allen.

This article appears in the September 16 issue of ESPN The Magazine.