2008 New York Giants Off-Season Preview

That was my prediction for the 2007 New York football Giants. I wondered if Eli Manning could be the elite quarterback that the Giants desperately needed him to be. My doubts about the offense didn't stop with Eli. The offensive line worried me, as did the backfield. I had minimal faith in the defense. There was even part of me that believed head coach Tom Coughlin would be out of a job before the beginning of December.

Oh, ye of little faith.

The Giants completed an improbable postseason by doing the unthinkable, beating the unbeatable (and undefeated) New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLII. As the franchise and its fans continue to celebrate, one cannot help but look ahead to the 2008 NFL season. The Giants stunned the world by winning the Super Bowl. Can they do it again? The new champs must address a few issues, even before the 2008 NFL Draft. Here is a first glance at the 2008 off-season for the Giants.

First issue facing the Giants during the 2008 off-season: Jeremy Shockey

Shockey has been the backbone of the offense for several years. When he suffered a season-ending leg injury against the Redskins in week 15, it forced Eli Manning to become the undisputed leader of the squad. As my boy Sean pointed out during hour four of the 23-hour Super Bowl pre-game show, Shockey was Eli's "crutch." Without the loudmouthed tight end, everything rested on the shoulders of Eli. Manning was fantastic during the last four games of the season en route to becoming Super Bowl MVP.

Obviously, backup Kevin Boss will not catch as many balls as Shockey. However, he has shown that he can be a reliable tight end (remember that little romp during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl?) and, truth be told, he's a better blocker than Shockey. This is especially nice considering the weapons the Giants have in the backfield.

I don't see offense as being a huge concern for the Giants in 2008. Losing Shockey would force every other guy on the offense to elevate his game. We saw the offense do it in the post-season. Why can't they do it again? Unloading Shockey and his contract would free up some cap space, a good thing for any NFL franchise. Just ask the New England Patriots.

Second issue facing the Giants during the 2008 off-season: Michael Strahan

I believe that Super Bowl XLII was the last NFL game of Michael Strahan's career. Regardless of his decision, Strahan must consider what is best for the Giants before he spends the entire spring and summer "contemplating" whether or not he'll retire. If Strahan simply doesn't want to show up to camp, I'm fine with that. He can tell the press that he injured himself playing online poker for all I care. It's beneficial for everybody involved, though, that Strahan announce whether or not he is coming back for another season.

Third issue facing the Giants during the 2008 off-season: Running Backs

Heading into 2008, the Giants have three very capable running backs. Any NFL team would love to have this problem. The Giants are in a great position to acquire even more talent but the team must be careful. Remember, after all, that the Giants simply cut Ryan Grant. Whoops.

Brandon Jacobs isn't going anywhere. He's the cornerstone of the backfield. It would be nonsensical (stupid) to keep both Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward. Sure, most fans will yearn for Bradshaw. It's easy to forget how well Ward played despite his (several) injuries in 2007. Still, I can't help but wonder about Ward's health. I'm just glad I don't have to make this decision.

Fourth issue facing the Giants during the 2008 off-season: Defensive Backs

I'll be the first to admit that I completely underestimated the defense of the Giants this season. After all, the Giants did hold the Patriots to a measly 14 points in the Super Bowl. Their success, however, was due to an unstoppable pass rush. Yeah, I'm still scarred by the "Sam Hurd Incident."

I'm not suggesting that the secondary needs a complete overhaul. Aaron Ross is going to be special and I look forward to watching him play while he's 100 percent. Corey Webster is good and was responsible for arguably the biggest play of the season (at that point, at least) when he picked off Brett Favre in overtime. Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters brought me many sleepless nights in 2007. I'd love to see the Giants pick up a great defensive back this off-season, either through free agency, a trade or the draft.

The best thing about this off-season for the Giants is that nothing I mentioned above can be classified as a serious problem. In reality, the biggest obstacle between the Giants and success in 2008 is the team itself. Were the Giants a great team all along or did they just get hot at the right time? We'll have to wait and see. Still, this is going to be a great off-season for the Giants and their fans.