MY TWO KEYS

While there are many factors to every new season, and many you cannot control, I believe this season will come down to two key elements.

1. Road Play.  The GIANTS have an extremely difficult road schedule this year.  They play prime time games in Dallas and Indianapolis.  They travel to the farthest reaches of the northwest, and they face some all too familiar foes in Green Bay and Minnesota.  They will need to win at least 4 of their 8 road games to have a chance at post season play.  This will be a major test for the new defense, and an offense that can be explosive at times, but is mainly a steady force.  A return of the road warriors would be a welcome sight this season.  While the normal trips to Philly, Washington and Dallas always a challenge the added  pressure of facing Houston, Indy, Seattle, Green Bay and Minny will define this team.

2. Covering the Tight End.  The new defensive scheme has yet to be unveiled. The new defensive coverages, pressures, and blitz packages have yet to be seen.  One thing that did seem to be an issue all preseason, and the past few years in general has been how to cover the tight end.  We have tried line backers, safeties, corners, and even defensive ends dropping into coverage.  The GIANTS defense needs to figure a way to be physical and proactive in covering the tight end position.  This years opponents reads like an all star squad at that position.  Brent Celek, JerMichael Finley, Owen Daniels, Olsen, Shiancoe and of course Jason Witten.  This position alone could cost us games this year.  The pass defense and run defense in general must be good enough to hold the opponents to 17 points or less, this will not happen if the tight end position is allowed to roam the field freely.  Look for this as a key element in the early part of the season.

Game notes and scouting report for Carolina published on Friday.

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