New York Giants

New York Giants Head Coach Profile

Tom Coughlin means business and his no nonsense style of coaching has proven successful. Coughlin started his career as the first head coach for the new NFL expansion team, the Jacksonville Jaguars. In eight seasons in Jacksonville Coughlin led the Jags to the AFC title game twice. The Jags become the most successful expansion team in league history. Coughlin was named the 1996 United Press International coach of the year and compiled a 68-60 regular season record. Couglin's last three years in Jacksonville were however not his best years and the Jags were unable to get back to winning ways, Coughlin was let go in 2002.

When Coughlin got to New York in 2003, the team was in shambles. Coughlin turned it around and the Giants were not seen as underachievers any more but more so, as Super Bowl contenders. The Giants made the playoffs in 2005 and 2006 but saw early exits. It unfortunately looks as if Coughlin is repeating what happened in Jacksonville in New York. This year is a big for Coughlin. If the Giants start slow, look for Coughlin to be unemployed.

New York Giants Off-Season Moves

The Giants did not have a very busy off-season but did do well in the 2007 NFL Draft. With their first pick, the Giants selected exciting defensive back Aaron Ross from Texas. Ross is a big game player and will help the Giants ailing pass defense tremendously. The Giants then bolstered their passing offense by selecting receiver Steve Smith from USC. Smith will work well with Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.

The Giants did loose starting left tackle Luke Petitgout but converted guard David Diehl should pick up where Petitgout left off. The Giants also replaced the once automatic place kicker Jay Feeley. Lawrence Tynes of the Kansas City Chiefs will not be in a Giant uniform. Look for Tynes to have another solid season and for him to help energize the Giant special teams.

In a low wattage move that is thus paying off big time, the Giants acquired tailback Reuben Droughns from the Cleveland Browns for receiver Tim Carter. 

New York Giants 2007-08 Season Outlook

The 2006 season started- off strong for Eli Manning and the Giants. However, if any team died a slow death last year, it was the Giants. The Giants second-half decay can be associated with injuries across the board but no matter how you look at it the Giants were a major disappointment last year. The GMen still made the playoffs but just two wins in their last eight games and the beat-down in the playoffs have many fans wondering what to expect this year.

With Tiki Barber retired and Michael Strahan contemplating retirement, the Giants are in need of leadership on both the defensive and offensive side of the ball. To help jump-start the New York offense, Kevin Gilbride was promoted from quarterback coach to offensive coordinator. Gilbride would like to utilize the Giants power running game with Brandon Jacobs. This new style should open things up on the outside and down the field for Eli Manning.

The Giants also have a new defensive coordinator. Steve Spagnuolo brings with him an attacking 4-3 defensive scheme that will help the Giants better what was one of last year's worst pass defenses.

Eli Manning is obviously the key for the Giants, when he is playing well, the team is and when he is off, the team is off. Look for an improved, more mature Eli Manning this year but without Barber, Manning may start slow and hear some criticism from the always loud New York media and fans. This needs to be the year that Eli breaks out and moves a few steps out of the shadow of his older brother Peyton.

New York Giants Trivia

In their infancy, the Giants were known as the New York Football Giants to distinguish themselves from a professional baseball team of the same name.

The years 1964 through 1978 were known as the 'wilderness years" for the Giants, as the team recorded just two winning seasons and missed the playoffs each of those seasons.

Since 1976, the Giants have actually played in New Jersey, prompting then Mayor Ed Koch to refer to them as "foreigners" following their Super Bowl XXI win and question if the team deserved a tickertape parade in NYC. 

New York Giants 2007-08 Roster

New York Giants 2007-08 Depth Chart

NY Giants – Giants Stadium

Construction Began: 1972
Opened: October 10, 1976 
Capacity: 79,469
Location: East Rutherford, NJ
Surface: FieldTurf

Doubling as the home to the New York Jets, Giants Stadium has been the home of the New York Football Giants for over 30 years. It was the result of momentum gained after a proposal from a local sportswriter suggested that the Giants should move from Yankee Stadium to their own home stadium. Due to the overly developed island of Manhattan as well as the 3 other boroughs that could offer a logical home to the stadium, it was decided that a location across the Hudson River would offer the team a larger fan base as well as space to dwell. The Stadium has continued to enjoy technological improvements throughout the years, yet both the Giants and Jets organizations are in discussions in hopes that a new stadium is a possibility within the next few years.