30-year old Lawrence Tynes will be the placekicker for the Giants again in 2008 and they need him to have another good season.  Tynes played in all 16 games for the Giants last season and he connected on 23 of 27 field goals (85.2%).  Tynes also made 40 of 42 extra points last year.  Tynes sometimes loses his concentration and misses some easy kicks so the Giants’ special teams coach must keep him focused on the job at hand.  Tynes has now played in 64 games in his NFL career and he has made 91 of 114 field goals (79.8%).  Tynes has also nailed 177 of 183 extra points (96.7%) in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B-

With the way the Giants have loaded up at WR you have to think that the TE won’t get near as many passes thrown to them in 2008.  Still, 2nd year man Kevin Boss made some big plays for the Giants in the post season last year.  Boss is a big guy at 6′6″, 253 pounds and he has a solid set of hands.  He will likely catch whatever is thrown to him and he has a few moves to help him get down the field.  Boss played in 13 games for the Giants last season and he caught 9 passes for 118 yards (13.1 avg) with 2 TD grabs as a rookie.  He should have a good season in 2008 for the Giants.

6′4″, 270 pound Michael Matthews might play some fullback and some TE in 2008 for the Giants.  He is a good blocker but he doesn’t have the speed to get downfield in the passing game.  Matthews played in all 16 games for the Giants last season and he caught 6 passes for 28 yards (4.7 avg). 

The Giants like 25-year old Darcy Johnson but he hasn’t shown much in his NFL career to this point.  He has played in 1 game in his NFL career and he has yet to catch a pass.  Johnson does have upside so he could move up the depth chart this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C-

The New York Giants will have a very deep and talented WR corps set up for the 2008 season.  It all starts with 30-year old Plaxico Burress.  Burress is a big, physical receiver at 6′5″, 232 pounds and he can outjump almost anyone that plays on defense.  Burress played in all 16 games for the Giants last season and he caught 70 passes for 1,025 yards (14.6 avg) with 12 TD grabs.   Look for Burress to put up big numbers in 2008 as the Giants’ won’t be throwing as much to the tight ends this year.  Burress has now played in 118 games in his NFL career and he has caught 470 passes for 7,391 yards (15.7 avg) with 51 TD grabs.

33-year old Amani Toomer seems to be slowing down but he still is effective.  Toomer played in 16 games for the Giants last season and he caught 59 passes for 760 yards (12.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Don’t look for Toomer to catch as many balls as he did last season as the Giants will turn to youth a little bit at the position.  Toomer has now played in 174 games in his NFL career and he has caught 620 passes for 8,917 yards (14.4 avg) with 50 TD grabs.  Toomer has also carried the ball 12 times for 110 yards (9.2 avg) with 1 TD run.

The Giants are expecting big things from 2nd year man Steve Smith who really stepped up in the post season.  Smith only played in 5 games as a rookie for the Giants last season and he caught 8 passes for 63 yards (7.9 avg) without catching a TD.  Look for Smith to catch a bunch of passes in 2008 for the Giants as he is a very skilled receiver. 

Rookie Mario Manningham is a tad small at 6′0″, 178 pounds but he’s a playmaker.  Manningham played in 12 games (all starts) with Michigan last season and he caught 72 passes for 1,174 yards (16.3 avg) with 12 TD grabs.  Look for Manningham to have a chance to battle for the #3 job on the Giants as a rookie.  Manningham played in 34 games (24 starts) in his career at Michigan and he caught 137 passes for 2,310 yards (16.9 avg) with 27 TD grabs.

Sinorice Moss better get his act together as the Giants have brought in a ton of competition for catches.  Moss is very small at 5′8″, 185 pounds but he’s very fast.  Moss played in 13 games for the Giants last season and he caught 21 passes for 225 yards (10.7 avg) without a TD grab.  The thought here is that Moss will be buried on the depth chart for the Giants this season.  Moss has now played in 19 games in his NFL career and he has caught 26 passes for 250 yards (9.6 avg) with 0 TD grabs. 

28-year old David Tyree made the biggest catch of the Super Bowl for the Giants but he hasn’t done much in his career before that.  It will be interesting to see where Tyree fits in with the Giants’ offense in 2008.  Tyree played in 12 games for the Giants last season and he only caught 4 passes for 35 yards (8.8 avg).  Tyree might have a hard time making the team but I have a hard time believing he won’t just because of his place in history for the Giants.  Tyree has now played in 73 games in his NFL career and he has caught 54 passes for 650 yards (12.0 avg) with 4 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B

When the Giants acquired fullback Madison Hedgecock last season the Giants’ running offense took off.  Hedgecock is an unselfish football player who likes to throw his 6′3″, 266 pound body into defensive players so that the tailbacks of the Giants can get the glory and a lot of yards.  Hedgecock played in 16 games (9 starts) last season for the Rams & Giants and he caught 7 passes for 52 yards (7.4 avg).  Look for Hedgecock to have another outstanding season for the Giants.  He has now played in 48 games (25 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 2 times for 2 yards (1.0 ypc).  Hedgecock has also caught 23 passes for 150 yards (6.5 avg) in his NFL career.

Robert Douglas is on the small side at 6′1″, 230 pounds and he came into last season as the backup fullback but it didn’t last long as he got injured.  He played in 1 game (0 starts) last season for the Giants and he didn’t touch the football.  That is the extent of his NFL experience.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B

The Giants are lucky that they have a lot of depth at running back because this crop isn’t the most durable around.  It all starts with Brandon Jacobs.  Jacobs would rather run over you than around you and he is often successful at that but he also takes a lot of punishment due to his style.  He has a hard time staying healthy but he is very effective when he plays.  Jacobs played in 11 games (9 starts) for the Giants last season and he carried the ball 202 times for 1,009 yards (5.0 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  He also caught 23 passes for 174 yards (7.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Look for Jacobs to have another 1,000+ yards rushing in 2008 as long as he can stay in one piece.  Jacobs has now played in 42 games (9 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 336 times for 1,531 yards (4.6 ypc) with 20 TD runs.  He also caught 34 passes for 323 yards (9.5 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

Rookie Ahmad Bradshaw was a big surprise for the Giants at the end of last season filling in for injured players.  He has the speed that complements Jacobs’ power running game perfectly.  He played in 12 games (0 starts) for the Giants last season and he carried the ball 23 times for 190 yards (8.3 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 2 passes for 12 yards (6.0 avg).  Look for Bradshaw to have a much bigger role on the offense in 2008.

Derrick Ward filled in well for Brandon Jacobs before breaking his foot late in the season.  Ward has a good mix of power and speed which plays well in the Giants’ offense.  Ward played in 8 games (5 starts) for the Giants last season and he carried the ball 125 times for 602 yards (4.8 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He also caught 26 passes for 179 yards (6.9 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Ward will likely have an important role in the offense this season as long as he can stay healthy.  Ward has now played in 35 games (5 starts) in his NFL career and he carried the ball 160 times for 725 yards (4.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He also has caught 28 passes for 192 yards (6.9 avg) with 1 TD grab.

Reuben Droughns is a hard runner with a style like Jacobs’ except he’s not nearly as effective at it.  Droughns played in 16 games (1 start) for the Giants last season and he carried the ball 85 times for 275 yards (3.2 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  He also caught 7 passes for 49 yards (7.0 avg).  Look for Droughns to have a small role for the Giants in 2008 unless they suffer injuries or he tries out for the fullback job, which he could win.  Droughns has now played in 102 games (51 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 929 times for 3,602 yards (3.9 ypc) with 19 TD runs.  He has also caught 123 passes for 989 yards (8.0 avg) with 6 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A-