The Giants are going to be pounding teams on the ground once again in 2010.  27-year old Brandon Jacobs is a monster as he loves running over defensive players.  He sometimes winds up hurting himself in the process but it’s hard to get a tiger to change his stripes.  Jacobs played in 15 games (all starts) for the Giants last season in which he carried the ball 224 times for 835 yards (3.7 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  He also caught 18 passes for 184 yards (10.2 avg) with 1 TD grab last year.  Jacobs has now played in 70 games (37 starts) in his five years with the Giants in which he has carried the ball 779 times for 3,455 yards (4.4 ypc) with 40 TD runs.  He has also caught 58 passes for 543 yards (9.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career.  Jacobs will handle the heavy lifting in the running game for the Giants.

24-year old Ahmad Bradshaw graduated up to the #2 spot at RB for the Giants last season and he was outstanding despite playing hurt most of the year.  Bradshaw played in 15 games (1 start) for the Giants last season in which he carried the ball 163 times for 778 yards (4.8 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He also caught 21 passes for 207 yards (9.9 avg) last season.  Bradshaw is a very elusive running back but he doesn’t shy away from contact either.  He has now played in 42 games (1 start) in his three years with the Giants and he has carried the ball 253 times for 1,323 yards (5.2 ypc) with 9 TD runs.  He has also caught 28 passes for 261 yards (9.3 avg) with 1 TD grab in his career.  The best is yet to come out of Bradshaw as last season was just a preview of things to come.

25-year old Danny Ware is the #3 RB for the Giants.  He played in 8 games (0 starts) for the Giants last season in which he carried the ball 13 times for 73 yards (5.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Ware also caught his first three passes of his NFL career good for 15 yards (5.0 avg).  Ware has now played in 15 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Giants in which he has carried the ball 15 times for 88 yards (5.9 ypc) with 1 TD carry.  Ware would likely share the load with Jacobs or Bradshaw if one of them went down to injury.

23-year old Gartrell Johnson was claimed off waivers from the Chargers before last season started.  Johnson played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Giants last season as a rookie and he carried the ball 13 times for 43 yards (3.3 ypc).  He has a nice little upside but he’s buried on the depth chart for right now.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GIANTS RBs in 2010:  A

29-year old Eli Manning just doesn’t miss games and that’s one of the biggest reasons that he’s a big asset for the Giants.  Despite having a great year throwing the ball last season the Giants would like to get back to the ball control type of offense they were when the won the Super Bowl.  For that to happen the defense is going to have to improve as Manning was often operating from behind on the scoreboard.  Manning played in all 16 games for the Giants last year and he completed 317 of 509 passes (62.3%) for 4,021 yards with 27 TD passes and 14 INTs (93.1 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 17 times for 65 yards (3.8 ypc) last season.  Manning has now played in 89 games in his NFL career and he has completed 1,593 of 2,793 passes (57%) for 18,644 yards with 125 TD passes and 88 INTs (79.2 QB Rating).  Manning has also carried the ball 126 times for 280 yards (2.2 ypc) with 3 TD runs in his career.  Manning has led the Giants to a 50-37 (57.5%) record in games that he has started during the regular season.  Look for Manning to continue playing well as he seems to have learned a lot from mistakes that he made earlier in his career.

29-year old Jim Sorgi has signed on to back up Eli Manning after having the same job the last few years backing up his brother Peyton in Indy.  Sorgi played in 1 game for the Colts last season but he didn’t throw a pass.  Sorgi has now played in 16 games in his NFL career and he has completed 99 of 156 passes (63.5%) for 929 yards with 6 TD passes and 1 INT (89.9 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 31 times for 0 yards (0.0 ypc).  The Giants would be in deep trouble if Sorgi had to start because he has a pretty weak throwing arm, plus, he has never started a game in his NFL career yet.

24-year old Rhett Bomar will likely hang on as the Giants’ #3 QB again in 2010 but don’t expect much out of him.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE GIANTS QBs in 2010:  B

Eli Manning can drive you nuts some games as he appears to be lost on the field.  But, he’s a tough competitor just like his older brother sometimes pulling out games that looked like lost causes in the first half.  The Giants’ running game is the motor of the offense which makes Eli Manning’s play action passing so dangerous.  Manning has more than enough arm to make every throw needed in the NFL and he should be a good QB for a long, long time.  David Carr will back up Manning again this season and he looked very comfortable when he got to play last season.  Carr has a very good throwing arm but in the past he has been erratic with the football throwing quite a few pickoffs.  Still, the Giants are confident that they could win with Carr behind the center.  2nd year QB Andre Woodson spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad and now he will have to hold off rookie Rhett Bomar for the #3 QB job in 2009.  It will be interesting to see how the competition between Woodson and Bomar unfolds this summer.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON:  B+

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-

Eli Manning had another ho hum regular season before transforming into one of the best QBs in the league during the post season.  He helped lead the Giants to an amazing Super Bowl win last season and it will be interesting to see if this jump starts his regular season in 2008.  Manning has a good arm but he oftens throws the ball where he shouldn’t resulting in a lot of interceptions (20 last year).  He also is not the most mobile QB in the league and he sometimes gets rattled in games when he takes punishment from defensive players.  Manning started all 16 games for the Giants last season and he completed 297 of 529 passes (56.1%) for 3,336 yards with 23 TD passes and 20 interceptions (73.9 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 29 times for 69 yards (2.4 ypc) with 1 TD run.  I just have a gut feeling that Manning is going to have his best season in the NFL due to improved confidence.  He has now played in 57 games (55 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 987 of 1,805 passes (54.7%) for 11,385 yards with 77 TD passes and 64 interceptions (73.4 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 89 times for 205 yards (2.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs.

The Giants signed David Carr in the off-season and he will likely be able to beat out Anthony Wright and Jared Lorenzen for the backup job at QB.  Carr got beat up last season in Carolina and that’s because he continues to hold onto the football too long.  He still has a good arm and he is good at running the ball so maybe the Giants can break him of his bad habits.  Carr played in 6 games (4 starts) for the Panthers last season and he completed 73 of 136 passes (53.7%) for 635 yards with 3 TD passes and 5 interceptions (58.3 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 17 times for 59 yards (3.5 ypc).  Carr’s career to this point has been a huge disappointment and this might very well be his last NFL stop if he doesn’t play well this season.  Carr has now played in 82 games (79 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 1,316 of 2,206 passes (59.7%) for 14,026 yards with 62 TD passes and 70 interceptions (74.4 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 285 times for 1,294 yards (4.5 ypc) with 8 TD runs.

Anthony Wright will battle David Carr for the #2 job and he has some experience to draw on.  Wright has a strong arm and good mobility but he’s never really improved since he’s been in the NFL as he often appears to throw balls up for grabs when under duress.  Wright played in 3 games (0 starts) last season for the Giants and he completed 1 of 7 passes (14.3%) for 12 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 interceptions (39.6 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 1 time for a loss of 1 yard.  If Wright plays at all for the Giants this season they are in deep trouble.  Wright has now played in 31 games (19 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 332 of 605 passes (54.9%) for 3,590 yards with 20 TD passes and 25 interceptions (66.3 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 80 times for 221 yards (2.8 ypc).

Jared Lorenzen’s biggest asset is his size as they like to use him on short yardage situations.  The “Pillsbury Throwboy” has a good enough arm to make most of the throws in the NFL but he lacks the mobility to buy time in the pocket because of his size.  Lorenzen played in 2 games (0 starts) last season for the Giants and he completed 4 of 8 passes (50%) for 28 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 interceptions (58.3 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 1 time for 2 yards.  Lorenzen will have a hard time making the Giants with David Carr and Andre Woodson added to the roster.  Lorenzen has now played in 4 games (0 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 4 of 8 passes (50%) for 28 yards (58.3 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 2 times for 4 yards. (2.0 ypc).

Andre Woodson might wind up on the practice squad this season but he has a nice upside.  He can make all of the throws needed in the NFL and he has good mobility.  He also was a winner at Kentucky despite often having inferior help on offense.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B