I had the chance to interview Matt Loede from Giants Gabs and NFL GridIron Gab and get his take on the state of the Giants and where the team is headed.
NK: The Giants have shown that they have an elite offense and defense in their first four games. What has been more important for the G-Men so far?
ML: I think the defense simply due to the fact that they lost two main cogs to that D with the retirement of Michael Strahan and the injury to Osi Umenyiora in the preseason. Many felt that the D would take a step back due to those two factors, but instead, based on their play so far, they seem almost better than last season – if that is possible.
NK: What NFC East team will give the Giants the most trouble in their quest to win the division?
ML: For sure it’s going to be Dallas. The Skins are playing tough right now, but the Giants have already beaten them and I think they will be hard pressed to be as good all season as they are playing now. Philly is very up and down, and they reek of a team that is well on their way to an eight or nine win season at best. Dallas has awesome offensive firepower and a defense that can play well when they need to step it up. Despite the playoff win a year ago, they did best the GIants twice during the regular season, and I think the Giants will have trouble with them again in ’08.
NK: With the kicking controversy still an in issue in East Rutherford, who should get the call to kick?
ML: I like Lawrence Tynes and felt despite the miss at the end of the NFC title game in regulation, he came through clutch in OT and the Super Bowl. But, right now 44-year old John Carney is 9-for-9 in field goals and has been great on kickoffs. Right now, if they can get away with two kickers on the roster, I would keep Carney kicking and ease Tynes back in, if that’s possible. Bottom line, you can’t release or bench Carney – he’s been perfect.
NK: There are several players who have had outstanding performances over the first quarter of the season, but who has been the MVP of the team?
ML: They have the #1 ranked offense in the league and that starts and ends at the QB spot, so I have to go with Eli Manning. Look at his numbers – 1,032 yards, 6 TDs, and one pick with a 99.7 QB rating. So much for a Super Bowl hangover. I just hope he keeps it up, and doesn’t have one of those “Vikings” games like last season. Right now though, he’s playing as well as anyone on the roster.
NK: The Giants are already 4-0 and appear to be the top team in the NFL. How many games do you think the Giants will win this season and how far will this team go?
ML: This has all the makings of a 12-win team and I really think the division is going to come down to the two games with the Cowboys, with the December 14th game in Dallas on Sunday night being for the division. I will say even with 12 wins they are a wild card, and their Super Bowl defense ends sadly with an NFC title game loss to the Cowboys in Dallas.
– Once again thanks to Matt Loede for taking the time answer these and give us his take on the Giants. Check out his blog at Giants Gabs.