FanHouse NFL Season Preview: New York Giants - The Title Defense Begins

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: Who would have thought a year ago that the perception of Eli Manning would have changed so drastically? That's what happens when you win a Super Bowl. But can you really expect Manning to be as precise as he was during that improbable championship run? Either the light finally went on for Manning, or he simply found a zone. Or a combination of the two. Last year was a step forward, for sure, but I expect Eli Manning v.2008 to resemble something in between the lows and highs of the two Eli Mannings circa 2007. Still, that's good enough to win games. What isn't good enough to win games is David Carr, the team's new backup, so Manning better stay upright for all 16. Heat Index: 7

Running back: The Giants found out exactly how critical depth at running back is, and they also found out that they luckily have it. Great contributions came from Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Derrick Ward, and Reuben Droughns. Danny Ware will likely take Droughns' place this year, but the team is still set in the backfield. Jacobs' combination of speed and power is pretty unstoppable, and while punishing backs don't typically have long shelf lives, Jacobs is in his prime now if he stays healthy this year. Heat Index: 8

Receivers: Plaxico Burress proved last year that he can produce even when unhealthy, but it's still harrowing to know that the team's top receiver isn't a go yet. The contract news, or lack thereof, only compounds the problem. Behind Plax is a solid lineup of young pass-catchers, and Steve Smith in particular should play a larger role this year. I'm not entirely sold on Sinorice Moss or Mario Manningham, but the potential is there, and you know what you're going to get with Amani Toomer. The preseason emergence of Domenik Hixon has been an added surprise. Heat Index: 8

Offensive line: The Giants' offensive line is slightly unsettled, not regarding the depth chart but the fact that the unit is good enough to get by but prone to lapses. They're a unit that clears the way for the team's backs but is middle-of-the-pack with pass protection. In addition, while the front five are solid, there's not much depth behind them, putting their health at a premium. Heat Index: 6

Defensive line: Lucky me, I have to assign this unit a number in the brief window of uncertainty regarding Osi Umenyiora's knee. The injury he suffered last night against the Jets features no ligament damage, but still might require surgery. And, yes, Umenyiora's health is that influential to the success of the team. The Giants' birthmark is their pass rush, and with Michael Strahan retiring, Umenyiora is now the unit's brightest star. He's the guy that draws double teams away from Justin Tuck. He's the guy that frees gaps for the team's tackles. He's the guy that keeps pressure off of a still-developing secondary. Missing Umeyiora for any length of time makes the group significantly weaker. Heat Index: 10 if Umenyiora plays 12+ games, 6 if not

Linebackers: This is another spot that might be disturbed by Umenyiora's injury, as the team might decide to slide college defensive end and NFL outside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka back to the line in his stead. I don't expect that to be likely, though, as they've only just recently settled down at the other outside spot, where Gerris Wilkinson won the job over Danny Clark. Antonio Pierce looks natural as the Giants' middle linebacker, as if he's been playing there all his career. He wants a new contract now, as well, but Pierce is the type to play motivated because of it, not to pout. Heat Index: 7

Secondary: Still young, still developing, but talented. Corey Webster and Aaron Ross showed very positive signs last year, and the team might have upgraded in the long run swapping Gibril Wilson for Kenny Phillips at free safety. Phillips looks like a player, but he is still learning. In the meantime, it's important for the pass rush to keep more heat off of the secondary, but this is a unit that might get much better as the season progresses. Heat Index: 7

Special teams: Three out of four ain't bad? Jeff Feagles is as reliable as the sunrise. Domenik Hixon has proven he can make plays this preseason, and let's not forget his kick return for a touchdown against the Patriots in Week 17 last year. That leaves Lawrence Tynes. You don't want inconsistency at any position, especially one in which two or three appearances per game is the only impression you get to make. Tynes was lucky that his two fourth-quarter misses in last year's NFC Championship game still resulted in a third chance, but you're rarely going to be that lucky, and Giants fans should never feel safe with Tynes lining up to kick. And if his injury keeps him out for a while, will Josh Huston, who missed his only field goal opportunity against the Jets last night, be any better? Heat Index: 7

Coaching: With the troublemakers gone, this team seems to have taken a liking to Tom Coughlin, and his easing up on the reins was a likely contributor. Likewise, Steve Spagnuolo could have moved on to become a head coach this season but decided to hold out for another year with the Giants. Coughlin's been through the lowest of lows and highest of highs in New York, and he's survived, so it's good for a team to be able to turn to their coach when a game is going bad and know that he's got a history of perseverance. Heat Index: 8

Intangibles: The Giants are using this whole Brett Favre thing to keep the chip on their shoulder, claiming to be second fiddle in their own city. It worked last year. But last year was also lightning in a bottle, and any fan hoping for a season like the end of last year is also hoping for a lot of magic. And that's never a sure thing. The team has had bad luck in the past, and great luck in the past, and now I expect them to have no luck. Which, given where they're coming from, is a bad thing. Heat Index: 5

Total Heat Index: 73 / 69

A difference of four points with or without Umenyiora in the lineup may not seem like a lot, but in their division it could be the difference between 10-6 and 6-10.

Last year showed a bipolar Big Blue squad, and the team, like I mentioned with Manning above, will be somewhere between those two versions. They're a better, more experienced, more polished team than the one that started off last season terribly. They're more flawed, more inconsistent, more fragile than the group that raced through the season's final weeks and playoffs.

Nothing went wrong for them last year. That's going to change. From Umenyiora's injury, to Plax's ability to deal with a bum ankle, to occasional reversions on Manning's part, to hiccups in Kevin Boss' development, the Giants will meet their fair share of adversity. And is a still mostly young team ready to handle the pressure that is going to come with every team gunning for them each week?

It might not be fair, but the Giants, a team talented enough to own the NFC East, might miss the playoffs in 2008. Their division is just too good, and they'll have to prove to me that the exception has become the rule.