E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer
for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of
only four sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls.
Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

By DAVE KLEIN
Years ago, one of the Giants' head coaches, then equipped with a reasonably strong team, engineered a few additions to the roster. When asked why, he said: "These are the kind of players you wouldn't sign if you were going to be lousy. These are the things you do to make a good team better."

The coach was Bill Parcells, and some of the players he added included cornerback Everson Walls, linebacker Steve DeOssie, safety Dave Duerson and linebacker Johnnie Cooks. They all made it to Super Bowl XXV, and each took home a ring.

This was before free agency, of course, and before the salary cap. But Parcells was careful to pick and choose, and didn't pursue a high-priced player. There was no "household name" in the bunch, at least not until he pushed and prodded and propelled them to that Super Bowl victory.

It was a difficult season, with Dallas, Chicago and San Francisco providing plenty of NFC competition. Ultimately, it came down to the need to win the NFC Championship game in San Francisco, a memorable, if not classic, 15-13 victory built on five Matt Bahr field goals. Ironically, Bahr was signed that year, 1990.

Now it is 2006, and very quietly the Giants are filling in pieces of their newest puzzle in what they hope will become a finished product that takes them deep into the playoffs at the conclusion of the 2006 season.

The big names are in, biggest of them being veteran free agent linebacker LaVar Arrington (Redskins), already established as the starter on the strongside. But there are such as free safety Will Demps (Ravens), cornerbacks Sam Madison (Miami) and R.W. McQuarters (Lions), defensive tackle Junior Ioane (Texans), quarterback Rob Johnson (Bucs) and offensive lineman Grey Ruegamer (Packers).

So now, having solidified both offense and defense, they are finding a part here, a part there, all designed to allow the overall units to mesh properly and operate smoothly.

Latest is the signing of former New Orleans tight end Eddie Lee "Boo" Williams, 6-4 and 265, who spent the 2005 season out of football because of a knee injury (torn anterior cruciate ligament) that required surgery. He was released by the Saints on Feb. 23.

With his background -- he played in all 16 New Orleans games each season from 2002 through 2004 -- they hope the backup position behind Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey is more secure than it is with Visanthe Shiancoe, was a third round draft pick out of small-school Troy State (Ala.) in 2003 who has never fully vindicated that status.

To make room for Williams, the Giants released tight end Matt Kranchick, 6-7 and 260. He joined the team on Dec. 19, 2005, and played in two games at the end of the season.

Having signed the veteran free agents they did, having spent the money they were able to spend, the Giants continue to address backup roles, in effect swapping players signed for players released.

"I am feeling good about this team," said head coach Tom Coughlin. "We have made several changes and I am pleased with them." Feeling better than he did entering the 2005 season, Coughlin nevertheless took the Giants to a record of 11-5 and the NFC East championship.

But the ignominy of their 23-0 home field loss to Carolina in the first round of the playoffs has clearly spurred the off-season activities, which when coupled with a sensible draft might push the team just a little farther in what might be considered the one of the two toughest divisions in the NFL, the other being the AFC North (Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland).

In other news worthy of discussing, there have been repeated reports that the Giants are going to convert to a 3-4 defense this season. There have been an equal number of reports dealing in denial. There have been explanations offered both pro and con, but perhaps the most telling explanation is this -- at times, all 4-3 defenses are 3-4, and at other times, all 3-4 defenses are 4-3. In between it is the discretion of the defensive coordinator and head coach.

So when teams refer to a defensive lineman as a nose tackle, that should not immediately indicate that a 3-4 defense is being planned. On the other hand, a nose tackle is the kind of player (body build, talents, agility, strength) who would flourish in a 3-4 front; hence, when the defense utilizes that alignment, he's the man in the middle.

A veteran nose tackle once explained his position (and his team played 3-4 all the time). "It's easy," he said. "To be a perfect nose tackle, you have to be as strong as two guys, love getting hit from both sides by very angry offensive linemen and never get any credit except for being part of a defense. I love it."

For the most part, it's true. The nose tackle in a 3-4 front must take the brunt of the initial blocking because the linebackers -- invariably the two inside guys -- are supposed to be free to track down the player with the ball.

So the Giants, who lost their "nose tackle" when Kendrick Clancy bolted to Arizona as an Unrestricted Free Agent, replaced him last week with the 6-3, 335-pound Junior Ioane, last seen as a Houston Texan. To quiet objections to his position, yes, it is true that he played defensive end on occasion in Houston. It is also true that he played defensive tackle in a 4-3 and nose tackle in a 3-4. All that proves is his versatility.

The Giants envision him as a nose tackle, which doesn't necessarily mean they are plotting a conversion to the 3-4 front. But it does mean they are going to use it a lot more than they did last year.

In 2005, the Giants' defense played a 3-4 front, or something like it, about 40 percent of the time. This year, you might expect to see more, perhaps as much as 60 percent. They have apparently realigned their defense to become a pass-rushing machine -- they have two Pro Bowl defensive ends (Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora). They have the newly-signed UFA LaVar Arrington, a strongside linebacker. They drafted Mathias Kiwanuka in the first round, and his claim to fame is as a pass-rushing defensive end.

They have Justin Tuck, drafted in the third round last year -- and guess what? Right, he's a pass-rushing defensive end. Furthermore, coordinator Tim Lewis likes to blitz with a safety (usually strongside Gibril Wilson) or a cornerback (identity to be determined since both are going to be new this year).

As Player Personnel director Jerry Reese said, only half-jokingly: "Let's put 'em all on the field and rush 'em all."

That is easier done with a 3-4 front.

EXTRA POINTS -- Former Giant DE Bob Taylor (1963, 1964) died earlier this week in New York City from complications arising from colon cancer surgery. He was 68 years old and was a ninth round draft pick in 1963 out of Maryland State. Taylor saw action in the 1963 NFL championship game (the Giants lost to Chicago, 14-7).

With the signing of free agent QB Rob Johnson, the Giants appear on the verge of waving goodbye to their current backup, Tim Hasselbeck. He was the backup to Eli Manning last year, taking that job from Jesse Palmer (now with San Francisco). But there are still reports that the team isn't satisfied with this nominal upgrade, and the names Jay Fiedler and former Giant Kerry Collins continue to surface.

Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS where you can subscribe to his newsletters which run much more frequently than what is available here.
- Team Giants

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