Four Young Giants Poised to Rise Up In 2014

Giants football returns - finally! - after one of the most disappointing years in recent memory. It was a Giant dud of a season, filled with interceptions from Eli Manning, a decimated offensive line, a patchwork running backs unit, injuries to key players, a disappearing act by the talented Hakeem Nicks and an ineffective pass rush that produced only 34 sacks.

An unforgivable season for a proud organisation not accustomed to losing. The offseason saw a drastic overhaul on both sides of the ball, and many long-term coaches and players were released. Ben McAdoo replaces the much-derided Kevin Gilbride as offensive coordinator and has brought with him a revamped offensive staff, and Jerry Reese indulged in a shopping spree that brought in big-name free agents including Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Geoff Schwartz and Rashad Jennings.

The G-Men looked to get younger on both sides of the football, and this season a group of relatively unknown or unheralded rookie, sophomore and third year players will be thrust into the spotlight as they look to take the reigns at a host of key positions for the Giants.

David Wilson

If you were to turn the clocks back exactly one year, David Wilson would likely have been featured on many articles just like this one. Wilson may have failed to live up to his billing as a first round draft pick, but the physically gifted running back has been cleared to play by doctors, and is now operating in a scheme that that suits his talents far better than the last. Despite the arrival of Rashad Jennings and rookie Andre Williams, Ben McAdoo's west coast offense will likely utilise Wilson in the passing game, where he should feature heavily. With the potential to break off huge runs from swing and screen passes, he is certainly athletic enough to become a nightmare for defences.

Jonathan Hankins

While the departure of Linval Joseph to Minnesota was painful, the presence of Hankins means the Giants won't miss him too badly. The second-year defensive tackle from Ohio State boasts prototypical 1-technique size and in his rookie season, with limited opportunities, demonstrated he has what it takes to be a more-than-effective run-stopper. With vastly increased playing time, fans can expect Hankins to establish himself as one of the league's best run-stopping defensive tackles.

Devon Kennard

Damontre Moore could have been an option here, but the arrival of Robert Ayers makes the defensive end position a bit of a grey area, so I've opted for a more 'left-field' choice.
Only yesterday I wrote about the replacements for Jon Beason, identifying the now-injured (albeit not severely) Jameel McClain as the leading candidate for the temporary vacancy. Thankfully they may have discovered a gem in fifth round draft pick Devon Kennard. Kennard has a chance to stamp his name on the middle linebacker spot if Beason and McClain miss extended time this season, and if that situation doesn't unfold he could realistically start at either of the outside 'backer positions. Big (6'3", 251 lbs), hard-hitting and - most importantly - intelligent, the USC product has everything it takes to breakout this season.

Adrien Robinson

In the eyes of most fans and analysts, the Giants have no starting tight end. Following the loss of Martellus Bennett prior to last season and the disappointing Brandon Myers in February, there has been no clear starter at the position. In Kellen Davis, Larry Donnell, Daniel Fells, Xavier Grimble and Adrien Robinson, the Giants have five players with legitimate shots at earning the starting job, but only one has true breakout potential. Adrien Robinson was a raw prospect out of Cincinnati in 2012 (he only caught 29 passes in his entire college career) and remains an unknown quantity in his third season, but possesses all of the physical tools necessary to become an elite NFL tight end. He is easily compared to Denver's Julius Thomas which, given the enormity of the  Bronco's performance last year, is certainly a welcome one.

Fixing The New York Giants

The New York Giants' season is officially over. Their lifeless, "pathetic", 23-0 shutout at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks last weekend put the final nail in the coffin and had Giants fans turning their gaze towards next season.

Ask a fan what he or she thinks the Giants can do to turn things around next season and there's a very good chance that the first thing they'll say is 'fire Kevin Gilbride'. It might not be as simplistic as that, but 'fixing' the Giants starts with the coaching staff - and they should clear house.

Tom Coughlin's past achievements speak for themselves and he has done a great job of keeping the Giants competitive in spite of their many flaws, but I think Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has a point when he says that Coughlin has done everything he can for the organisation. Firing him isn't an option - he has earned the right to call time on his career whenever he wants - but this season might be the one to retire after. Conversely if the Giants are going to rebuild, having Coughlin steer the ship wouldn't be a bad idea.

Regardless, the majority of the coaches beneath him need to go; his coordinators - Kevin Gilbride, Perry Fewell and Tom Quinn - have been repeatedly out-coached this season and the Giants will not be contenders if they retain them. Gilbride has enjoyed consistent success in New York, but the Giants' offensive production has regressed in recent years with a difficult-to-execute but easily-defended scheme.

Even so, there is only so much a coach can do - and much of the Giants' struggles this year have been down to the personnel on the field. Many are - through no fault of their own - just not good enough, and some (Hakeem Nicks) have all the talent in the world but aren't playing at a level expected of them.

The good news is that there are a number of young players - including Jason Pierre Paul, Victor Cruz, Prince Amukamara, Linval Joseph, John Conner, Justin Pugh, Rueben Randle, Damontre Moore, Will Hill and Jacquian Williams - around whom Jerry Reese can build a contender.

Much of the Giants' struggles have come from a sizeable number of ineffective veteran starters. If we're 'fixing' the team, guys like Chris Snee, David Diehl, David Baas, Mathias Kiwanuka, Brandon Jacobs and Corey Webster will be finished in New York and others - like Justin Tuck, Kevin Boothe, Mike Patterson and Trumaine McBride - have some value (somewhere close to veteran's minimum) but their days are numbered. Short-term contracts will see important locker room leaders like Tuck help ease the transition, but salary cap restrictions mean that Antrel Rolle would, despite his superlative play this season, be leaving the team.

Without Rolle, and with an offensive line in desperate need of repair, it is vitally important the Giants spend the money they do have (expected to be somewhere around $28 million) wisely in free agency. So who do they go after? The interior offensive line has been a liability all season, and I think Jerry Reese needs to make a move for some underrated talents to fix it - Brian De La Puente (centre, New Orleans Saints) and Jon Asamoah (guard, Kansas City Chiefs) are the stand-out linemen on offer. Prince Amukamara is developing into the player the Giants hoped he would be, but the Giants should turn to the 49ers' underrated cornerback Tarell Brown to help him out.

A lot of fans and pundits are making the point that the past achievements of many Giants players and coaches means that the organisation should resist change in the hope that they once again deliver a championship. This school of thought overlooks the fact that what once worked for the Giants no longer does. The Colts, after a radical overhaul following their disastrous 2011 campaign, made the playoffs in 2012 and 2013. The Chiefs, after posting a 2-14 record in 2012, are 11-4 in 2013. These teams, along with other contenders such as the Seahawks, 49ers, Eagles and Dolphins, experienced major personnel overhauls within the last three years and prove that - in today's NFL - you have to adapt or die.