2009 New York Giants Football Preview

2008 Record: 12-4, 1 st NFC East; 1 st round playoff bye, 0-1 in postseason

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Head Coach: Tom Coughlin; 6 th season

Key Additions: DT Rocky Bernard, LB Michael Boley, DT Chris Canty

Key Losses: WR Plaxico Burress, RB Derrick Ward, DE Renaldo Wynn, S James Butler, S Sammy Knight, CB Sam Madison, RB Reuben Droughns

1st Round Draft Picks: Hakeem Nicks – Wide Receiver

2nd Round Draft Picks: Clint Sintim – Linebacker; Will Beatty - Tackle

2009 New York Giants Schedule

New York Giants 2008 NFL Season in Review

The New York Giants had a strong regular season only to flame out in the postseason without winning a game. They were undone in equal parts by injury and the loss of wide receiver Plaxico Burress. The team had the best running attack in the NFL, averaging over 150 yards every game thanks to the Earth, Wind and Fire trio of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw. Eli Manning completed over 60% of his passes but after Burress went out the team struggled to find a consistent offensive threat, having also gotten rid of Jeremy Shockey in the previous off season.

The defense was surprisingly stout given the retirement of Michael Strahan and the season ending injury to the other starting defensive end Osi Umenyiora. This was thanks in large part to the emergence of Justin Tuck and other pass rushers on the defensive line.

New York Giants 2009 NFL Season Preview

The Giants are finally looking to move on from the Burress fiasco and reestablish themselves as one of the premier teams in the league. In the competitive NFC East however, what separates a 1 st place team from a last place team isn't much at all and anything can happen. The defense should be stronger and the team should be distraction free.

2009 New York Giants Offense:

The Giants used their first round pick on wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, a player they hope can immediately step into the fold as a downfield threat. As of the time of this writing it was still unclear whether Amani Toomer would return to the team. Another loss was running back Derrick Ward, but the Giants have high hopes for fourth round draft pick Andre Brown to eventually take some of those carries.

With the offensive line intact, Eli Manning has the opportunity for another solid year with his horse Brandon Jacobs behind him. The team will need someone to step up at tight end, and for young wide receivers Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon to continue emerging as consistent weapons.

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2009 New York Giants Defense:

The defense for the New York Giants will be buoyed by the return of Pro Bowl player Osi Umenyiora on the defensive line. This will eliminate some of the pressure on Justin Tuck to always be the playmaker. Those two lining up at the same time is a scary thought for many teams, particularly since the Giants also added two big names to the defensive front, Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard. This adds to a unit which also features Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield.

The pass rushing eliminates some of the pressure on the thin ranks of defensive backs, which are led by young players Aaron Ross, Corey Webster and Kenny Phillips. Antonio Pierce remains a great leader at middle linebacker however the linebackers also do not have much depth.

2009 New York Giants Prediction: 1 st NFC East

By Jake Emen
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer

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