| Andrew Perna & The RGM Giants Forum. 31st March, 2008 - 4:37 pm
 Here at RealGM our hearts beat thanks to the thousands upon thousands of posters who frequent our forums on a daily basis. With the NFL season still months from kicking off, but the ever-important NFL Draft just weeks away, what better time than now to check in with the people who care about football even more than some of the players on the field?
2007 Record: (10-6) (2nd in NFC East)
Additions: David Carr, QB, Sammy Knight, S, Danny Clark, LB
Subtractions: William Joseph, DT (OAK), Kawika Mitchell, LB (BUF), Reggie Torbor, LB (MIA), Gibril Wilson, S (OAK),
Draft Picks: 31st
The Answers
1. What was the best thing(s) that happened in 2007?
I_Love_NYK: Any Giants’ fan will answer this one the same way - winning the Super Bowl.
VinnyTheMick: Not only winning the Super Bowl but beating the Patriots to win it. No one gave us a chance, yet the players and coaches believed. This team will always be remembered for stopping perfection, for ‘Eli to Tyree’, and for winning a game that some argued we had no business playing in.
marbury2curry: Winning the Super Bowl and seeing Tiki [Barber] eat crow.
randomhero423: Super Bowl. Duhhhh.
Da Schwab: Well this one's pretty obvious, but I love saying it: Defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
2. What was the worst thing that happened in 2007?
I_Love_NYK: Tiki Barber did not get a ring, just playing. Nothing for the Giants really went wrong, but outside of New York it would have to be Sean Taylor's death. And outside of the NFL, the New York Knicks still suck.
VinnyTheMick: Giants related: Kiwanuka missing the season. Entire NFL: Sean Taylor's death. I have no doubt in my mind he would have been a Hall of Famer if he hadn't been murdered.
marbury2curry: Nothing, I suppose.
randomhero423: Our first two games of the season.
Da Schwab: Watching our players drop like flies throughout the year.
3. Who had a breakout season?
I_Love_NYK: Who would have thought Justin Tuck, a second string back-up to a pair of Pro Bowlers, would be among the league leaders in sacks and a key factor in the Super Bowl victory.
VinnyTheMick: Justin Tuck, no question. The man came out of nowhere and became one of the best in the league.
marbury2curry: Justin Tuck.
randomhero423: I'm going to go with Justin Tuck.
Da Schwab: I'm going to say Steve Smith, just to be different, and it's no disrespect to Justin. Smith, especially in the playoffs, made his name as a solid possession, ‘Keyshawn Johnson’ type of wide receiver. If he didn't make some of the catches he did, the Giants wouldn't have sniffed the championship.
4. Who was the biggest disappointment?
I_Love_NYK: Jeremy Shockey may hear some boos on Opening Day. He showed he was a distraction to the huddle, and Eli propelled when Shockey was out. He can only win the fans back by having an Antonio Gates/Tony Gonzalez type of year.
VinnyTheMick: Shockey. Getting injured was the worst thing that ever happened to him. Now, he may be on his way out because [Kevin] Boss has emerged. I say Shockey comes into camp with a new found respect for Eli and keeps his mouth shut. He knows the Giants won without him and that he must prove his worth all over again.
marbury2curry: Shockey (injury) and Moss (never getting on the field; injury too)
randomhero423: Sinorice Moss.
Da Schwab: Once again, Sinorice Moss. He showed some flashes of his incredible speed and agility, but he did have trouble holding onto the ball.
5. How could the team have been more successful?
I_Love_NYK: What more can you do? The Giants won the Super Bowl. They didn’t go 19-0, they went 14-6, but I don't really care they got the ring.
VinnyTheMick: They could have beaten the Patriots by more [laughs]. Seriously though, they should not have lost to the Vikings or Redskins at home.
marbury2curry: If they let Eli run more ‘no huddle’, which he seemed comfortable doing.
randomhero423: If [Ahmad] Bradshaw played sooner and the defense made their adjustments in the preseason instead of Week Three.
6. What do you make of the team’s offseason progress at this point?
I_Love_NYK: They didn’t re-sign Kawika Mitchell and Gibril Wilson, which is okay considering the money they got elsewhere. Both are good players and were very productive for the Giants. However, Wilson is now the third highest-paid safety in the league, and he has yet to even make a Pro Bowl. I also think Gerris Wilkerson can do a good job of Kawika Mitchell. Sammy Knight has put up consistent numbers of 90-100 tackles, 2-3 INT's for seven-straight years. I think the guy can still play.
marbury2curry: [GM Jerry] Reese knows what he’s doing. The Carr and Knight signings weren’t bad, but we could have done better.
randomhero423: Very good. A lot of other players got overpaid, and the two signings look good. The draft will be where it’s at, though.
Da Schwab: It’s been pretty lackluster, but with the way Reese has improved the team via the draft, I'm not worried. I did like the Carr signing, though. It's a tiny bit reassuring to know we have a semi-competitive back-up quarterback now.
7. Where are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
I_Love_NYK: The team needs to get young talent, and Reese showed he is good at that with Aaron Ross, Bradshaw, Smith, and Boss. All were major factors in our Super Bowl run. The team still needs to improve in the secondary and get a good prospect in the offensive-line, though. Some members of the o-line are getting older.
marbury2curry: Safety, corner, and line-backer.
randomhero423: Defensive back, outside line-backer, and wide receiver – in that order.
Da Schwab: The secondary needs major improvement. I think speed is the main aspect that needs to be addressed; Ross seemed to be the only guy who could keep up this year.
8. Who do you hope the team drafts with their first pick?
I_Love_NYK: If Kenny Phillips drops, I hope we get him. If not, a solid line-backer or offensive-linemen.
marbury2curry: Kenny Phillips, Antoine Cason, Dan Connor, or Keith Rivers.
randomhero423: Reggie Smith or Keith Rivers
Da Schwab: I truly wish Aqib Talib would fall to us, but I know that's a heckuva fat chance.
9. Which player will be on the hot seat in 2008?
I_Love_NYK: Very obviously, it will be Jeremy Shockey. He is expected to hear boos on Opening Day, and the only way to turn them back to cheers is to have a Pro Bowl season and keep his mouth shut. If he has a mediocre season, where Boss outperforms him, he is out.
marbury2curry: Jeremy Shockey
randomhero423: Shockey, easily.
Da Schwab: Honestly, I think it will be Plaxico Burress. He needs to stay healthy and maybe even get on the practice field a bit next season. Shockey wasn't the only one who gave up on routes and ‘mailed it in’ on occasion last season.
10. What are the realistic expectations for 2008 at this point?
I_Love_NYK: As long as the Giants do what they did in last year's playoffs, they can easily win the division and get back to the Super Bowl. Their pass rush is the best in the league, and they proved with an excellent pass rush you can get away with a mediocre secondary. I also see Eli and Burress making their first Pro Bowl.
marbury2curry: First place in the NFC and a trip to the Super Bowl/Conference Championship Game
randomhero423: NFC East Champs, but the Super Bowl is hard to say for anyone.
Da Schwab: I expect another deep run in the playoffs next year. The team will be returning almost every starter (why didn't they resign Kawika?!?) and can only get better through the draft. Maybe not another magical championship run but they should definitely be feared next year. Though, most of this depends on Eli realizing the season starts at Week One, not Week Seventeen.
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