Big blow to the G-Men but not as big as what it could be to other teams. The Giants used a system of sending in a lot of fresh bodies to keep their D-Line fresh, and it was productive. Because of that now, instead of having to start someone without much game experience, you still get to play someone who has a lot of minutes in big games. Of course it takes away the subbing in-out, to keep their d-line fresh, but like I said, still better than having to play someone without any experience.

 

Tough blow for the Giants, I hate to see this happen to them. Even being a rival team of my beloved Cowboys I'd take the satisfaction of winning or losing to a team at full strength than a win over a team not at full strength any day. In my honest opinion though I wasn't looking for the Giants to do anything that special this season anyway. I had forecasted around a 9-7, 10-6 record a trip to the playoffs, and thats about it, but for those who had real high hopes that since they got hot when it mattered last year that they would come off and roll everybody, this may now get their predictions closer to mine. But at least there will be an excuse now for underachieving, since many I'm sure are expecting them to do much more than what I expect them to do.

 

I agree with the first part of your post. It does hurt the Giants, but not as much as other teams. They might get Strahan back (small chance) and if not, then they can move Kiwanuka back to DE. He has experience there and he's a better replacement than most teams would have.

 

As for the 2nd part, most people are predicting the Giants to have a let down season. Their coaching staff was absolutely brilliant in the playoffs last year and I expect that to carry over. With good coaching and a solid season from Eli (hopefully) I think they can make some noise.

I agree with the first part of your post. It does hurt the Giants, but not as much as other teams. They might get Strahan back (small chance) and if not, then they can move Kiwanuka back to DE. He has experience there and he's a better replacement than most teams would have.

 

As for the 2nd part, most people are predicting the Giants to have a let down season. Their coaching staff was absolutely brilliant in the playoffs last year and I expect that to carry over. With good coaching and a solid season from Eli (hopefully) I think they can make some noise.

 

They are capable of winning 12+ games, but they as a team would have to get it clicking flawlessly like they did the last six or so games of last season. That would be very hard to do for seventeen weeks. Like you said though a lot of it depends on Eli. When he plays good the Giants win, bottom line. But again going along with the rest of the team, no one can expect that out of a QB for seventeen weeks (even though one is a bye) because no one is superman. But with that said, I will also go on to say that I think that no team will finish with fewer than two losses at seasons end this year. Even the Pats. And once again the NFC East will be by far the best conference in football and will beat each other up and blemish each's record.

I'm really excited to see this confrence as a whole. I really hated to see Osi+Taylor go down last night because I think this Division is going to be exciting. The Eagles took a blow by losing Curtis too as he is their best deep threat. It is definatly going to be interesting to see the Giants - Strahan, Osi + Shockey and too me more importantly the hunted instead of the hunter. Last year I don't think anybody circled that game on their schedule like they would say Green Bay or Dallas. This year it will be circled on all schedules. I'm stoked! I can't wait for the regular season to kick off! I think every team in that Division has the fire power to win the Divison.

Thankfully in the NFC 9-7 could very well get you in the playoffs.

I just don't understand why a meniscus requires the whole season, I tore both medial and lateral at the same time, missed 2 weeks and was able to finish the season on it, granted at the time we didnt know they were torn but still.

 

And this hurts my fantasy team

The Daily News said that Strahan would consider returning for $8 million and some "kind words". That's according to a source close to him.

The Giants wasted no time determining their best course of action when confronted with an unwanted decision: Who replaces right defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who is out for the season with a torn cartilage in his left knee?

 

Mathias Kiwanuka, a natural pass-rushing defensive end converted last season strong side linebacker, will be moved back to end, The Post has learned.

 

LINK

He is out for the year with a torn meniscus? Isn't that a bit long for recovery time?

He is out for the year with a torn meniscus? Isn't that a bit long for recovery time?

 

Their has to be more than just that IMO

Huge loss for the Giants...1) if he is truly gone for the year and 2) if Strahan doesn't return.

 

The defensive line carried the Giants to a Super Bowl title last year. You can't lose the two best players from the unit and not have a significant drop. It's a significant hit for the depth of the line and the players who will be stepping in to replace these two players are not going to be as good.

 

Strahan was the best player on the line, IMO. Umenyiora is one of the best DE's in the league. If they play the '08 season without both of those guys, I can't see their D-line being anywhere close to the dominant unit it was last season.

 

They're just going to have to have some guys step up. Particularly, I think the offense is going to have to pick up some of the slack.

 

If they can get Strahan to come back, the team shouldn't be much different than what they'd have been when they had Osi and didn't have Strahan.

 

Regardless of what happens, I'm sticking with my prediction of 10-6 and a wild card berth for the Giants. (The loss of both DE's just lowers the ceiling and raises the odds of missing the playoffs.)

Huge loss for the Giants...1) if he is truly gone for the year and 2) if Strahan doesn't return.

 

The defensive line carried the Giants to a Super Bowl title last year. You can't lose the two best players from the unit and not have a significant drop. It's a significant hit for the depth of the line and the players who will be stepping in to replace these two players are not going to be as good.

 

Strahan was the best player on the line, IMO. Umenyiora is one of the best DE's in the league. If they play the '08 season without both of those guys, I can't see their D-line being anywhere close to the dominant unit it was last season.

 

They're just going to have to have some guys step up. Particularly, I think the offense is going to have to pick up some of the slack.

 

If they can get Strahan to come back, the team shouldn't be much different than what they'd have been when they had Osi and didn't have Strahan.

 

Regardless of what happens, I'm sticking with my prediction of 10-6 and a wild card berth for the Giants. (The loss of both DE's just lowers the ceiling and raises the odds of missing the playoffs.)

 

The Giants moved Kiwanuka back to DE now. He should provide a good pass rush, but I'm not sure how good he will be against the run.

 

Strahan according to rumors would come back for around $8 million.

 

The Giants pass rush was good from week 3 up until the super bowl. The Giants didn't start playing really well until Eli started playing really consistent. Colin Cowherd made this point and I agreed with it. The Giants will go as far as Eli takes them. If he plays well, they will be fine.

 

I also think getting Strahan back would be huge. He could play a limited role rotating with Tuck and/or Kiwi and the Giants D-Line could still be pretty ferocious.

The Giants moved Kiwanuka back to DE now. He should provide a good pass rush, but I'm not sure how good he will be against the run.

 

Strahan according to rumors would come back for around $8 million.

 

The Giants pass rush was good from week 3 up until the super bowl. The Giants didn't start playing really well until Eli started playing really consistent. Colin Cowherd made this point and I agreed with it. The Giants will go as far as Eli takes them. If he plays well, they will be fine.

 

I also think getting Strahan back would be huge. He could play a limited role rotating with Tuck and/or Kiwi and the Giants D-Line could still be pretty ferocious.

 

Eli started managing games better. The front four dominated to the point that Eli and the offense only had to make a handful of plays each game to win. If they don't have Umenyiora and Strahan, the offense will have to do more than just manage the game and make a couple of plays.

 

I'm not discounting Eli's part in their title run, because he played well and did what was necessary. But, the defensive line carried the biggest weight in the Giants Super Bowl run...they stuffed the run, forced teams to pass, and then got so much pressure on opposing QB's that it didn't seem to matter who was in the secondary. Subtract their two best players, the run defense drops, the pass rush drops and opponents will be able to wear them down late in games..Eli (and the whole offense) will have to do more than they did last year to make up for this loss.

 

I think they can, to an extent. I think the other players will step up and I think the Giants will still win 9 or 10 games and make the playoffs as a wild card. The big hit, IMO, is that this has likely killed their chances to repeat if they can't get Strahan to come back.

 

He might play a limited role early, but he'd eventually work his way back into shape and take over his starting spot on the line. They may rest him more to keep him fresh late in games and for the stretch run of the season. He's just too good of a player to limit his snaps if he's in shape and ready to go.

Eli started managing games better. The front four dominated to the point that Eli and the offense only had to make a handful of plays each game to win. If they don't have Umenyiora and Strahan, the offense will have to do more than just manage the game and make a couple of plays.

 

I'm not discounting Eli's part in their title run, because he played well and did what was necessary. But, the defensive line carried the biggest weight in the Giants Super Bowl run...they stuffed the run, forced teams to pass, and then got so much pressure on opposing QB's that it didn't seem to matter who was in the secondary. Subtract their two best players, the run defense drops, the pass rush drops and opponents will be able to wear them down late in games..Eli (and the whole offense) will have to do more than they did last year to make up for this loss.

 

I think they can, to an extent. I think the other players will step up and I think the Giants will still win 9 or 10 games and make the playoffs as a wild card. The big hit, IMO, is that this has likely killed their chances to repeat if they can't get Strahan to come back.

 

He might play a limited role early, but he'd eventually work his way back into shape and take over his starting spot on the line. They may rest him more to keep him fresh late in games and for the stretch run of the season. He's just too good of a player to limit his snaps if he's in shape and ready to go.

 

While I agree that the defense carried them most of the way, the offense was the reason they beat Green Bay for the most part. Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress came up HUGE in that game, and I believe Favre was sacked zero times that night. Not sure though. Regardless, I'm not arguing with you that losing Umenyiora hurts. It hurts badly. Only thing that can make it hurt much less is if Strahan does come back. Although moving Kiwanuka to DE is a better alternative than most teams would have. He has the potential to be a very good pass rusher and I think he can be just as good as Osi against the run.

 

When I said Strahan would play a limited role, I only meant for a short time. I didn't mean the entire season. He's not going to be in football shape, so putting him out there every down early on would be crazy. I think they could use him on passing downs though, for the first few weeks.

 

I just hope they can talk him into coming back. I at least hope they give it a shot.

So do the G men have an adequate back up to step up and fill Kiwanuka's spot at OLB?

While I agree that the defense carried them most of the way, the offense was the reason they beat Green Bay for the most part. Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress came up HUGE in that game, and I believe Favre was sacked zero times that night. Not sure though. Regardless, I'm not arguing with you that losing Umenyiora hurts. It hurts badly. Only thing that can make it hurt much less is if Strahan does come back. Although moving Kiwanuka to DE is a better alternative than most teams would have. He has the potential to be a very good pass rusher and I think he can be just as good as Osi against the run.

 

When I said Strahan would play a limited role, I only meant for a short time. I didn't mean the entire season. He's not going to be in football shape, so putting him out there every down early on would be crazy. I think they could use him on passing downs though, for the first few weeks.

 

I just hope they can talk him into coming back. I at least hope they give it a shot.

 

If they can get Strahan back, they'll be fine. They could have absorbed the loss of Strahan or Umenyiora as long as the other was playing...it's absence of both that's such a huge hit.

 

I'd say there is a reasonable chance they get him back. Just my gut feeling...

 

Either way, it's doesn't destroy the Giants season. The other guys on defense are just going to have to step their play up. But, more than that, IMO, the offense is going to have to deliver more. They need Eli to pick up from last season and build on that and the guys not named Plaxico to step up and give them some solid options in the passing game.

 

I'm sticking with 10-6.

 

However, in light of the Shawne Merriman situation, I would like to revise my prediction of 15-1 for the San Diego Chargers.