Giants needs: G-Men are lacking at linebacker

The New York Giants are synonymous with defense, only last season they were synonymous with bad defense. There were more holes in the Giants D than the West Side Highway, with the club leaking at every position en route to one of its worst seasons in years.

I'm not talking about the 8-8 finish. I'm talking about surrendering 427 points, including 31 or more seven times and 40 or more five times. Worse, they limped to the finish line -- outscored 85-16 in their last two losses -- with owner John Mara saying the season felt "a lot more like 2-14 to me."

Mara had that right. The Giants stunk, and something had to change.

And something did. The club jettisoned its defensive coordinator, hired Perry Fewell away from Buffalo, signed free-agent safety Antrel Rolle and hoped Kenny Phillips' recovery from a serious knee condition was on schedule. The Giants have issues, but they also have players -- a lot of good ones -- and their returns from injuries or desultory seasons are critical to the team's recovery.

It might be critical to Tom Coughlin's future, too. Coughlin has been good for the Giants, but there was nothing good about losing eight of his last 11 games -- especially with the Giants mailing in their last two performances. Coughlin better get his 2008 team back, otherwise he could be the next change.

This is what he has to play with:

QB: Eli Manning didn't have a bad season. He didn't have a great one, either. But he played well enough to win under normal circumstances ... only there was nothing normal about what happened to the Giants. Manning threw a career-high 27 touchdown passes, had a career-best 62.3 completion percentage and produced a career-best 93.1 passer rating. But he also hit career highs in sacks (30), fumbles (13) and lost fumbles (8). Manning wasn't the issue with the Giants; the defense was. The guy is a solid quarterback, best suited to the balanced offense the Giants used to be, and when you start talking of where this team can improve leave him out of the conversation. Replacing David Carr as a backup is Jim Sorgi, who goes from sitting behind one Manning (Peyton) to another.

RB: This was the strength of the club two years ago when the Giants hammered opponents with Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw. But then Ward left, Jacobs hit the wall and Bradshaw was asked to carry more of the load. Result: The club that led the league in rushing in 2008, averaging 5 yards a carry, dropped to 17th, averaging 4.1 yards a carry. Jacobs was a disappointment, with his figures dropping across the board until he bowed out late in the season. Afterward, he said he had been dealing with nagging injuries all year. But isn't everyone? The guy is a pile driver who runs over tacklers -- at least he used to be -- and the Giants need that hammer back. Bradshaw is the perfect complement, but not if Jacobs is sputtering as he was last season. People tell me they need another back, but I think they have one in former N.C. State star Andre Brown. He spent last season on injured reserve but could be an enormous help. So could D.J. Ware.

WR: When the 2009 season opened the primary question was: What would the Giants do to replace Plaxico Burress? Answer: Plug rookie Hakeem Nicks and former second-round choice Mario Manningham into the mix, and see what happens. Result: The Giants solved a crisis, with Manningham and Nicks combining for 104 catches and 11 touchdowns. The star, of course, was Steve Smith, who led the club with 107 catches, 1,220 yards and seven TDs. Smith is a bona fide star, but he's not the guy to stretch the field. Nicks is. He averaged nearly 17 yards per catch. Domenik Hixon was more important on special teams, where he handled kickoff and punt returns. Keep your eyes on Ramses Barden, last year's third-round choice. He did nothing a year ago, but the club has high hopes for him.

TE: Kevin Boss is no Jeremy Shockey, but that can be good. The guy just does his job, keeps his mouth shut and makes catches. A year ago he was the team's fourth-leading receiver with 42 catches and five touchdowns, and that's about right. Boss is good, not great, and that's OK. Look for backup Travis Beckum to push Boss, and look for the Giants to get both more involved in the passing game.

Michael Boley could use some good company in the linebacker corps. (Getty Images)

OL: These guys have played together for years, but it might be time to for a shake-up with an infusion of young talent. Left tackle Dave Diehl is versatile, but he might be better suited to left guard. The club could use another tackle to push him, and Will Beatty is the logical choice -- though he could make it at right tackle, too. In fact, he did a year ago after Kareem McKenzie wore down. McKenzie turns 31 in May, but he seems to be at or near the end of his career. Beatty is the future, and the Giants like him. Right guard Chris Snee is the best of this group, and center Shaun O'Hara is reliable and durable. But he's also 32, and it's time to start grooming a successor. If Diehl makes the move, Rich Seubert sits down, and that means more depth at this position. The Giants could use it. Guy Whimper and Adam Koets haven't shown much of anything to this point.

DL: When I dropped by the team's Albany training camp I thought I was watching the deepest and most talented defensive line in the NFL. Then the season began, and the defensive line did nothing. The club that was supposed to terrorize opposing quarterbacks terrorized nobody. Osi Umenyiora wasn't himself, dropping to seven sacks, and that might have had something to do with an apparent personality clash with former coordinator Bill Sheridan. Justin Tuck was disappointing, but he played with a sore shoulder that was hurt in Week 2. Mathias Kiwanuka didn't make an impact in his return to end. Defensive tackles Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins disappeared, and newcomers Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard contributed nothing -- with Canty hurt nearly half the season. Defensive tackle Robbins is gone, but Jay Alford is someone to watch. He missed all of last season but should be a factor. The talent is here; the Giants just need to pull it together again and keep guys off the injury report.

LB: Another area of need, especially with the release of middle linebacker Antonio Pierce. Injuries didn't force out Pierce; poor play did. He can't cut it anymore, at least not as a starter, and his disappointing performance helped contribute to the defense's self-immolation. People figured that former Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby was a lock here, but the Giants weren't interested. They need help at the position, and they need help on the outside where Danny Clark was underwhelming. Michael Boley, who battled through injuries, probably had the best season of any linebacker, but the Giants still could use someone to cover the tight end. They have hopes for Clint Sintim on the strong side, and he looked good after overcoming groin problems. Nevertheless, this is an area where the Giants can start dialing 911.

DB: When you play in a division with Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo, you better be able to defend the pass. The Giants could not, ranking 15th overall and surrendering a whopping 31 touchdown passes. In 2008 they gave up 17. You can blame some of that on the loss of Phillips. The guy is a star waiting to happen, and his absence forced the Giants to rely on people like Aaron Rouse and C.C. Brown. Not good. Opponents feasted, with three of the last four scoring more than 40 points each. The club is solid at cornerback, with Corey Webster, Aaron Ross and Terrell Thomas the top three, but the Giants were downright dreadful at safety -- one reason they spent a fortune to hire Rolle. He already has made an impact with the team, saying he and Phillips are the league's most dynamic safety tandem "hands down." Maybe, but Phillips first has to recover from his knee condition, and he still isn't running. The Giants paid a lot for Rolle, who started his career as a cornerback, but they desperately needed a safety. Now, they can exhale.