Mandatory minicamps have begun and before we know it training camp this coming summer will begin.  The New York Giants are coming off a championship season and are looking to work in every way possible to defend their title.  Here are the top five keys the Giants need to work on in order to accomplish this goal:

5.  Eli needs to stay elite
I don’t think there’s anything to worry here.  However, to insure victory, you need Eli Manning.  You need this guy to be the QB he was last year:  tough, clutch, and a leader.  Manning has already talked about what he needs to work on personally.  The number one stat he needs to improve is lowering his interceptions.  He led the league in 2010 with 25 and cut them down to 16 in 2011.  Even with his best season on record, Manning is bothered by the stat and wants to make sure it gets better.  Even with the 16 interceptions, Manning was the best clutch QB in the NFL bringing his team to come-from-behind victories almost every week.  When you played the Giants, the game wasn’t truly over until the clock was 00:00 after the fourth quarter, and it’s all because of Manning.  As long as he stays clutch, and continues to be a tough QB, he will have no problem leading his offense down the field.

4.  Find the perfect WR trio
In the 2011 season Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Mario Manningham were an unstoppable trio of receivers.  It didn’t matter who the opposing defenses forced Manning to throw to.  All three were trustworthy and were at their spots to make catches.  Right now that trio is broken up.  Manningham left New York for San Francisco and Nicks is out with a broken foot.    The Giants hope to have Nicks ready in time for Week 1, but until then what do they do?  There is still one spot open to be that third guy.  That guy that will be there to make third down plays.  Domenik Hixon is returning from his second ACL tear and was used last season as a receiver.  His best catch last year was what caused his injury against the St. Louis Rams.  There is also rookie Rueben Randle from LSU.  Jerry Reese is all about this kid and has claimed he is “NFL ready”.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Randle is the go-to guy in third downs.

3.  Defensive backs need to step up their game
Last year, the Giants lost their best CB Terrell Thomas to an ACL tear during a preseason game.  The regular season started off very rocky for the backs and it showed that Thomas was really missed out there.  They had their moments of glory, but also very shaky moments of distress.  Corey Webster had a solid year for the CB’s with six interceptions and Antrel Rolle got more physical with 82 tackles.  Last year’s first round draft pick Prince Amukamara missed most of the season with a broken foot.  Now that he’s returned healthy he will have high expectations coming his way in 2012.  Thomas will also be back with a healthy knee and will remind New York why he’s so valuable.  In 2010 he led the team in interceptions (5) and tackles (81).  The Giants have also acquired Antwaun Molden from the New England Patriots who will be used as a solid backup.  It is a must for the CB’s to work twice as hard as they did last year, especially with the difficult schedule ahead of them.

2.  Protect your QB!
It can’t be stressed enough how important it is to protect your QB.  After being sacked 28 times in 2011, the Giants are lucky they have a tough QB in Manning.  The team did not offer a new contract to Kareem McKenzie, whose job it was to provide protection which didn’t really happen.  David Diehl will most likely serve as the top tackle for Manning and the line will have a healthy David Baas back.  The key right there is Baas at center.  He has the talent and the potential to give the Giants a strong offensive line.  He was riddled with injuries last year and was prevented from proving so.  If Baas stays healthy, you have a stronger line and a better chance at protecting the QB.

1.  Be the best defense in the NFL
The Giants have the talent and the experience the have the best defensive front line in the NFL.  There were some injuries and distractions that prevented it from being so in 2011.  This year, however, is shaping up to be a lot different.  There is a healthy Justin Tuck, a healthy and (key word) happy Osi Umenyiora, and a young, hungry, and powerful Jason Pierre-Paul.  If these three are on their A-game and attacking the QB every single week, it’s game over.  Let’s not forget the potential first string linebackers in Mathias Kiwanuka, Michael Boley, and Chase Blackburn that are showing their worth coming off 2011.  After about three seasons it looks like the LB position has finally been solidified for the Giants.  They need to do everything they can to stay healthy and give 110% every single week and they will be the best defensive front line in the NFL.

To be honest, there really isn’t much of a transition the Giants have to make in order to chase a repeat.  All they need to do is take what they did in 2011 and make it better.  Manning told the media during the first team workouts that his main concern is for the team to find a way to improve.  If they were successful last year, then how do they make it better?  As long as they head in that direction, they have a great chance at defending their title.

Jason Pierre-Paul (Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.)

Another edition of my New York Giants power rankings list is here!  With the 2012 NFL draft done and over with, there are some additions to the rankings.

Offense:

1.  Eli Manning
No need to get into deep specifics.  You know the numbers, you see his leadership, you know how clutch his is in the 4th quarter.  That’s enough said right there.  Manning will continue to do great things for this offense.

2.  Victor Cruz
My last power rank list had Cruz in the third slot, but I changed it up this time.  I think Cruz will bring even more power and speed next season.  If you think you’ve seen everything Cruz can do, you haven’t seen anything yet.  I see even bigger plays and more magic from this kid next season.  The Super Bowl ring will only lighten the fire and more salsa dancing touchdowns.

3.  Hakeem Nicks
Nicks is one of the most athletic players on the team.  He’s able to jump high and make some of the most incredible and acrobatic catches.  He makes some of the hardest catches look so easy.  He finished the 2011 season on a very high note and had some of the biggest highlights in the postseason.  This will give him a lot of motivation going into the 2012 season.

4.  Ahmad Bradshaw
Bradshaw was the starting running back last season and still holds that position.  I probably would have ranked him a little higher had he not injured himself for four weeks.  Bradshaw is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot, but his mindset is on training camp.  He’s not picking up a football until he is fully healed and positive vibes are through the roof.  I’m expecting big things from him.  Hopefully he can stay healthy.

5.  Rueben Randle
Yes, he’s only a rookie.  Yes, we haven’t seen him on the big stage yet.  Yes, he wasn’t drafted number one.  How he was still even available in the second round for the Giants second pick I will never know.  Randle has everything a WR prospect can have:  speed, agility, and major athleticism.  Jerry Reese believes he’s NFL ready.  Tom Coughlin believes it.  I believe it.  Randle will be the perfect fit for the WR trio with Nicks and Cruz.  With no disrespect to Mario Manningham, Giants fans will not miss him.
Defense

1.  Jason Pierre-Paul
There’s only one word that describes Pierre-Paul:  MONSTER.  All opposing quarterbacks better hope their lines protect them.  They will not want Pierre-Paul running in their direction.  His power and speed is unbelievable and he will not back down.  Pierre-Paul will run right through the quarterback until he is down on the ground.  I don’t expect anything less from him in 2012.  Now having a Super Bowl ring in his young career, I see more power, aggression, and hunger for another one.

2.  Mathias Kiwanuka
Kiwanuka got a major bump up on this list.  The Giants just handed Kiwi an three year extension before the draft.  Well deserved, by the way.  Kiwanuka was a defensive-end-turned-linebacker and proved his worth last season.  Health was a question going into 2011, but it’s not a question going into 2012.  He’s going to be a big weapon for the defense.

3.  Justin Tuck
My hero.  Tuck is the definition of leadership.  Tuck is one of the main reasons why the defensive line is as good as it is.  He’s a motivator.  Not to mention he too is an absolute beast.  You let Tuck through your line, you will pay.  He will get to the quarterback, and he will sack him.

4.  Osi Umenyiora
I think a more quiet Umenyiora is a more powerful one.  The last two seasons he was complaining about the Giants not paying him enough money.  He wanted more.  His results on the field were good.  However, he could be better.  Yes, in 2010 he led in sacks, but it was a strangely quiet year for him.  He vowed to stay quiet this offseason.  I only hope that means he’s going to bring his talk onto the field instead of to the media.  If that’s the case, he will not be stopped.

5.  Terrell Thomas
True, Thomas did miss the entire 2011 season with an ACL tear.  But let’s look at what he was able to do in 2010.  He led the entire team in interceptions and tackles that year.  Yes, a corner led a football team in tackles.  There’s no denying that Thomas is one of the better corners in the league, even if his paycheck doesn’t say so.  He will bring those defensive backs to where they need to be.  I expect him to come back with full training and healthy legs.  Thomas will remind all Giants fans why he’s so valuable to this team.

Like always, power rankings will change as the offseason continues.  If the team were to take the field today for Week 1, these are the stars.  These are the players that will make key differences between winning and losing.  We’ll see what happens as the months pass by.

The 2012 NFL draft finally came and is already gone.  The New York Giants wasted no time addressing a lot of their biggest needs to help the team march toward defending their Super Bowl title.

In the first round on Thursday night, the Giants selected David Wilson, the RB out of Virginia Tech.

Brian Spurlock/US PRESSWIR

I was surprised the Giants went with a RB in the first round.  However, Wilson is a great player.  He is 5’9″ and 209lbs.

Everywhere I read talks about Wilson’s off-field personality.  How he’s a well dressed young man that always has a smile on his face.  However, the Giants did not draft him for his smile or personality.

In 2011 he rushed for 1,709 yards, won the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, and ran the 40 yard dash in 4.49 seconds at the combine.

Despite the Giants winning Super Bowl XLVI, their rushing game finished last in all of the NFL.  Ahmad Brandshaw and Brandon Jacbos both suffered injuries and missed a few weeks and DJ Ware had to pick up the slack.  The Giants released Jacobs and Bradshaw is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot.  Wilson will be a great addition to the depleting RB position.

He recently posted a YouTube video of himself doing 21 backflips.  The Giants now how two extremely athletic, backflipping athletes in Wilson and Jason Pierre-Paul.

http://youtu.be/hLUHG2mWhEQ

With Wilson’s height and speed he is going to have a great advantage against defenses.  It’s going to be very hard to catch him.

John McCusker / The Times-Picayune

Friday night in the second round, the Giants selected Reuben Randle, the WR out of LSU.

I really love this pick.  The Giants originally considered picking up Randle in the first round before choosing Wilson.

Randle is 6’3″, 210 lbs and GM Jerry Reese believes that Randle is NFL ready.  Randle is going to be a perfect fit alongside Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.  No disrespect to Mario Manningham, but I believe Randle eventually is going to have an even bigger impact on this Giants team.  Whether it’s next season, or the one after.

Randle wasn’t a stand-out wide receiver in 2011, due to the fact that LSU threw an SEC low of 279 passes. However, when opportunity came, Randle didn’t pass it up.

He finished the 2011 season with 917 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.  He has five career 100-yard receiving games, four of which were in 2011 alone.

In the third round Friday night the Giants selected Jayron Hosley, CB from Virginia Tech.

Hosley is 5’10″ and 178lbs.  He has a great physically presence about him that the Giants love.

Sam Sharpe/US Presswire

Hosley did, however, fail a drug test at the combine after testing positive for marijuana.  The Giants were well aware of the situation and have talked with Hosley about it and plan taking it professionally when he arrives at Giants camp.

In 2010 Hosley led all college players with nine interceptions, and fell three short of that mark in 2011.  However, coach Tom Coughlin believes that it was because of his big year in 2010 that quarterbacks started to avoid throwing in his direction.

Hosley will be a great addition for the Giants secondary, which was riddled with injuries last season.  Terrell Thomas,Prince Amukamara, and Cory Webster are all coming off injuries that sidelined them throughout the season.

Hosley finished 11th 2011 in punt returns with a 12.67 average.  Domenik Hixon is coming off his second season in a row recovering from a torn ACL.  Hosley can be a big help with returning punts and kickoffs and provide a lower risk for Hixon reinjuring his knee.

In the fourth round the Giants selected Adrien Robinson, the TE from Cincinnati.

Despite what other analysts were predicting, I still didn’t think the Giants were going to

The Enquirer/Joseph Fuqua II

select a TE in the draft.  Even though they did lose both Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum to ACL injuries, they still have Bear Pascoe and acquired Martellus Bennett from Dallas.

Robinson is 6’4″ and 264lbs and ran 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the combine.  His speed and athleticism caught the eyes of the Giants scouts.  Speed is something the Giants were lacking in the TE position.

The Giants had a second pick in the fourth round and drafted Brandon Mosley.  An OT from Auburn.

Mosley is 6’3″ and 318lbs.  He was the backup OT for Auburn at the start of 2010 and was the started by the time the season ended.

Vasha Hunt / Opelika-Auburn News

It doesn’t look the like the Giants are planning on resigning Kareem McKenzie after the signing of Sean Locklear.  Mosley will have time to work with guys like David Diehl and Will Beatty and developing into a solid tackle.

What Eli Manning was missing from his offensive line last season was protection from his OT.  McKenzie did not provide that protection.  Hopefully one day Mosley will.

The Giants drafted a second OT in the sixth round.  They selected Matt McCants from UAB. He started 42 games for UAB last season.  McCants will only work to try and strengthen the OT position that was very weak last season.  The Giants still have James Brewer, who was drafted last year, but did not play.

The Giants made their final pick in the seventh round, and that pick was Markus Kuhn, the DT from NC State.

Kuhn is from Weinheim, Germany and is the third Euro-trained player to be drafted in NFL history.  He is 6’4″ and 303lbs.

Kuhn was introduced to the game in Germany and played for a the club Weinheim Longhorns before he came to the United States in search of a college scholarship.  He finished the 2011 season with 45 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

Kuhn’s size and power gives him an advantage and can really solidify the DT position if there are injuries to starters.

Overall, my grade for the Giants in this year’s NFL draft is an A.  I think they were able to collect some of the best players available and were able to address current issues the team was facing.

They Giants pretty much have the same team they had that won the Super Bowl, and even with losing some players they have gained valuable replacements.  Giants fans should be very excited going forward toward the new season.

A source confirmed that New York Giants defensive end David Tollefson agreed to terms with the Oakland Raiders.  He will sign a two-year contract worth $2.5 million.

Tollefson was a great contributor for the Super Bowl winning Giants, but with players like Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Jason Pierre-Paul on the line, finding a bigger contract with the Giants would not have come easy.  The Giants still have Mathias Kiwanuka to fill in the defensive end spot.

Tollefson is now the third Giants player to move to the Bay Area.  Brandon Jacobs and Mario Manningham both recently joined the San Francisco 49ers.

Tollefson grew up in the Bay Area, so the surroundings will not be strange to him.

Getty Images

The 2012 NFL draft is slowly approaching.

Let’s say there was no draft, and the Giants were going onto the field today to play a game.  This is how I place my power rankings on players.

Offense

1.  Eli Manning
What is there to say?  Most of Manning’s career he has been an inconsistent quarterback with a Super Bowl ring.  Now…he’s a beast.  There’s no denying it. You can see the work ethic he puts into his game and the players around him.  He spends endless hours with his teammates to find ways to improve their game.  Will we have Camp Eli in Hoboken again?  We shall see.  It worked last time.

2.  Hakeem Nicks
Nicks is one of the most athletic players on the team.  He’s able to jump high and make some of the most incredible and acrobatic catches.  He makes some of the hardest catches look so easy.  He finished the 2011 season on a very high note and had some of the biggest highlights in the postseason.  This will give him a lot of motivation going into the 2012 season.

3.  Victor Cruz
Victor Cruz…where did you come from??  I had a feeling the Giants had found something special when I watched him at New Meadowlands Stadium  in the 2010 preseason opener against the New York Jets.  He had a big run for a touchdown and all the Giants fans in the crowd were going nuts.  He missed all of that season with a leg injury, but came right back in 2011 as if he was never gone.  I expect him to continue to do great things for the Giants.  I’m looking forward to even more salsa dances in the endzone.

4.  Ahmad Bradshaw
Bradshaw was the starting running back last season and still holds that position.  I probably would have ranked him a little higher had he not injured himself for four weeks.  Bradshaw is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot, but his mindset is on training camp.  He’s not picking up a football until he is fully healed and positive vibes are through the roof.  I’m expecting big things from him.  Hopefully he can stay healthy.

Defense

1.  Jason Pierre-Paul
There’s only one word that describes Pierre-Paul:  MONSTER.  All opposing quarterbacks better hope their lines protect them.  They will not want Pierre-Paul running in their direction.  His power and speed is unbelievable and he will not back down.  Pierre-Paul will run right through the quarterback until he is down on the ground.  I don’t expect anything less from him in 2012.  Now having a Super Bowl ring in his young career, I see more power, aggression, and hunger for another one.

2.  Osi Umenyiora
I think a more quiet Umenyiora is a more powerful one.  The last two seasons he was complaining about the Giants not paying him enough money.  He wanted more.  His results on the field were good.  However, he could be better.  Yes, in 2010 he led in sacks, but it was a strangely quiet year for him.  He vowed to stay quiet this offseason.  I only hope that means he’s going to bring his talk onto the field instead of to the media.  If that’s the case, he will not be stopped.

3.  Justin Tuck
Tuck is the definition of leadership.  Tuck is one of the main reasons why the defensive line is as good as it is.  He’s a motivator.  Not to mention he too is an absolute beast.  You let Tuck through your line, you will pay.  He will get to the quarterback, and he will sack him.

4.  Terrell Thomas
Now I know what you’re thinking:  How can you place Terrell Thomas high in your power rankings when he was out all of last season?  True, he did miss the entire 2011 season with an ACL tear.  But let’s look at what he was able to do in 2010.  He led the entire team in interceptions and tackles that year.  Yes, a corner led a football team in tackles.  There’s no denying that Thomas is one of the better corners in the league, even if his paycheck doesn’t say so.  He will bring those defensive backs to where they need to be.  I expect him to come back with full training and healthy legs.  Thomas will remind all Giants fans why he’s so valuable to this team.

As the offseason keeps on rolling, power rankings could change.  But if I were to put the team onto the field today, these are the players that will make the key differences every single week.

It’s that time of year again! On April 26th we will all be witnesses to the 2012 NFL Draft. After being Super Bowl victors, the New York Giants will have the last pick in the first round.

The last few seasons the Giants had desperately needed to draft a linebacker. This time around, I don’t believe it is a big need. There are four positions that need players this time: Tight end, running back, offensive linemen, and defensive back.
At the end of the 2011-2012 season the Giants lost two of their tight ends in Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum, both to ACL tears. They’ll most likely be out for most, if not all of next season. The only healthy tight end that the Giants are able to rely on right now is Bear Pascoe. They need some help there.

If they can draft a young tight end with fresh legs then it might help that position in speed. There will be plenty of TE’s to draft this year. Coby Fleener of Stanford will most likely be the Giants’ choice if they decide to draft this position first.
The Giants released running back Brandon Jacobs. That leaves Ahmad Bradshaw as the only running back left on the roster. The Giants used DJ Ware for some rushing yards when Jacobs and Bradshaw were nursing injuries, but Ware isn’t an efficient or trained RB. It’s time to look to the draft for a new set of power. It’s going to be hard to find a RB by the time the Giants’ turn comes up in the first round.  Most of the worthy first round picks will be taken by then.  A RB will most likely be drafted in the later rounds.
Last season really opened up the vulnerability in the offensive line. It’s not very hard to figure out that they are weak there given the fact that Eli Manning was sacked 4-5 times per game. Luckily for the Giants, Manning is tough and hasn’t been injured because of it. However, he can’t contine to take all of those sacks every week. David Baas is injured every other week which doesn’t help either.

I don’t care what position is drafted. Whatever will provide Manning a little more protection is a step in the right direction. Some choices that could be available in the first round are Mike Adams (OT, Ohio State), and Amini Silatolu (OG, Midwestern State).
Defensive backs were an issue before the beginning of last season, and the loss of Terrell Thomas to an ACL tear was no help. Thomas is healthy and resigned with the team, but it is still important that the Giants look for a new and young corner, especially after losing Aaron Ross to the Jacksonville Jaguars this week.

This is probably the weakest position for the Giants right now. Antrel Rolle stepped it up last season and they’ll have a healthy Prince Amukamara, but they and Thomas can’t do it all. They need help.

And hey, if the Giants do decide to draft that defensive linemen they no longer need, the best available player would most likely be Dont’a Hightower from Alabama. With guys like Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Osi Umenyiora a defensive lineman is not, or at least shouldn’t be, a priority right now. A corner is much more needed in defense.

As always, who knows which player or what position the Giants decide to draft first.  We could be completely surprised.  We’ll just have to wait and see…