This was a difficult season to stomach as a Giants fan. Bright spots: Eli had his best statistical season of his career. That’s about it. In fact, that is it. Overall there was simply a lack of confidence oozing from the pores of every player on the team. The only part of the squad that thrived was the passing game, and there’s definitely reason to be optimistic about the future with this young, athletic playmaking receiving corps.
Something to build on, but there’s lots of building to do. Their special teams are AWFUL. They need to completely start over. They were top 5 in fair catches, 14th (out of 16) in the NFC in kick-off return average and dead last in the NFC in net punt yards. Just atrocious. Cut Hixon altogether, find a punter who was born this century, and overpay (if you must) to get a kicker in whom we all can have even a modicum of confidence to hit a field goal over 38 yards. If you look at the stats Tynes wasn’t that bad, but…that’s news to me. This one in particular still stings. Plus I feel confident in making a million dollar bet with him that he can't kick a touchback. Just one Larry? Please?
I need to take a minute to focus on Hixon. I wish I had a youtube compilation video of his repeated, zero-threat kick and punt returns. I mean, I know he returned a kick for a TD this season, but big deal. He basically got lucky. Somebody fell down or something. He has this wildly undeserved reputation. He’s nearly as bad as a receiver. He doesn’t come back to the ball, is one of the least physical wide-outs I’ve ever seen…ugh. Get him out of my face.
As far as defense goes, there are two universal keys to success in the NFL: pressure the QB and create turnovers. In a league where there’s so much talent on the offensive side of the ball – even on mediocre teams – you need to do at least one of those two things really well if you want to go far. The Giants’ team sack totals the last three seasons are as follows: 53, 42, 32. Uh-oh. And they ended the ’09 season with a -5 turnover differential. Formula for losing right there. They’ve got some pieces they can build around (healthy Tuck, Ross, Phillips, Webster, Boley, Goff, Kiwanuka) though, so it's not a complete demo job.
I’ve got a radical idea for how they can jumpstart the franchise for next season. I’m not a college football expert by any means, but I’ve seen this kid from Nebraska Ndamukong Suh. The kid is a sure thing. He’s an unrelenting beast. If you’re the Giants, why not try to trade up for the number 1 pick and draft him? Call up the Rams, offer them Osi Umenyiora and your 1st round pick, and give them something to think about. If you were the Rams wouldn’t you do that deal? You end up with a first-round pick, plus a proven defensive player that just needs a change of scenery. Plus Spagnuolo has a relationship with him already.
I think that’s a good deal. It breathes some life into the defensive line without shaking it up too much. I didn’t even get into the running game here, but I think it was just kind of a fluky season. Wouldn’t hurt to draft some re-enforcements, though. They’ve got the resources and competent enough management. I'm looking forward to 2010.
