Reese has joined God on the Nietschean scrap heap in the wake of the Giants' embarrassing loss to the Carolina Panthers in the last game EVER at Giants Stadium. He looks fallible now, having created a defense that is being discussed as perhaps the worst in Giants history. For Giants fans, that is intolerable. We are proud of our history of defense. To watch our team give up over 40 points FOUR times is something none of us ever thought we would do. No, Jerry Reese now has something to prove, and he is going to receive a lot of advice on the Internet on how to do it.
Hey, I'm a Wahoo who remembers In Pete We Trust at the apogee of Pete Gillen's tenure at UVA. We all know how that went. There are no Gods.
So, Jerry, here is my advice on what the Giants need. That's right, more unsolicited advice from a lay idiot.
Jerry, we need some scary linebackers. Have you seen The Blind Side? Yeah, you know that scene at the start where we see Joe Theismann's career end and the NFL change forever? That was The Giants. That IS The Giants. Get us some scary fucking linebackers. We have the wimpiest linebacking corps we've ever had. We need big, fast monsters who are going to fly to the ball, blowing up anybody who gets in their way. Linebackers who are a threat to crush the QB on a blitz, smother a back two yards behind the line of scrimmage on a sweep, and pulverize a WR on a crossing pattern.
Jerry, shame on you for entering the season with 1.5 NFL safeties. We need two NFL starting-quality safeties. I'm sorry about Kenny Phillips, and you get a pass for him, but we have to count on him never coming back. Michael Johnson needs to be the third or fourth safety.
Jerry, get rid of Osi Umenyiora. I've never liked his personality. I think he is selfish and corrosive. Get rid of Osi, move Canty to end, and bring in a new tackle. Canty is not built to be a run-plugging tackle. He's too long. Canty and Kiwanuka can compete for Umenyiora's spot. I'm not ready to bail on Rocky Bernard yet, but the Giants need to come to camp with at least two new bona fide starting DL candidates. We need more push and clog from the DTs, and more plays from the DEs. Mostly, we need the line to provide base pressure and keep the blockers off our linebackers.
Jerry, the offensive line is creaking. I don't know why most of our line got Pro Bowl recognition, because the line as a whole was not dominant. Eli came under a lot of pressure, and the backs didn't have a lot of wide open space. We need a new starter. Whether he wins a job this summer, or just forces the coaches to make a tough decision, he will improve the team. We need one.
More than going down the units, though, the primary needs are turbulence on defense and pressure on offense. Add a couple players on offense who will create competition in camp. And the defense needs turnover. It needs hunger. It needs a flagship player in the front seven. A disruptive force who makes opposing OCs install changes to the system when the Giants are up next on the schedule.
The Giants still have the core of a contender. The QB is in place. The receiving corps is there, and just needs to be kept fresh. At least one new WR and one new TE are likely to be on next year's roster, but not as starters. The other units have NFL-quality components. Three or four new players could have a decisive impact. The changes that are needed can be made with the resources at hand. The toughest job, of course, is finding that Disruptor. It's also the most vital.
The coaching staff also needs some turnover. The defensive staff needs to be blown up and redone. The special teams need perhaps a new coach, or at least the current coach put on the hot seat. Coughlin needs to re-evaluate, because his team was poorly coached. Penalties, mistakes, confusion, poor decisions marked the season.
The Giants will return to the playoffs next year. It was apparent early on that this was going to be a bad year. I said so in July, because of the injuries. Next year should be better. Fewer injuries, a few new players, a professional defensive coordinator, and better coaching will produce a playoff season.
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