Submitted by ChaChing, Dec 20, 2007 15:29

This is one of the youngest teams in the league. Manning's in his 3rd full year of starting, Shockey about 5, Jacobs & Moss two, Smith one and 2 linemen are very young in Diehl and Snee. Those are several solid pieces that need better play call and time to develop. Barring injuries, Smith probably has the best hands on the team, Shockey is one of the best all around tight ends out there...solid receiver, beast of a blocker and a leader (his 'we were outcoached' comments last year led to an immediate 5 game win streak). Jacobs is huge, runs a 4.4, and tends to hurt DBs on tackles. The D: Tuck, Umeniyora, Cofield, Kiwanuka, Wilson, Ross, Butler, Johnson...all 4 years out or LESS. Truth is, not too many teams have this much upside and a 9-5 record (even if we shouldnt!).

Gilbride needs to go, if he doesnt soon its on Coughlin and they both should go. Getting rid of Hufnagle last year shows it can happen, but being back to the same a year later doesn't help. Draft a decent backup to give Eli a little pressure and attempt to set us up for the future. But jumping ship on him already is just bad practice. We need a new offensive system thats significantly less predictable every down. More simple misdirections, counters runs, pump fakes etc. Moreover someone who can adjust in game (52 passes in the WIND!? And maybe stone-hands BJ should have been pulled sooner when we were pass committed late? ) Coaching that doesn't leave games in the balance (not killing the clock in Chicago to avoid giving them the ball and any chance to win?). Someone who puts players in comfortable situations and builds their rhythm, not 5 wide, empty backfield sets when there is ridiculous pressure (MN) or repeated mid to deep passing on 3rd or 4th & 1 when we are a running team ('Skins). Get guys to make open catches; so many by a team is more coaching, less the individuals. Whether thats a new play caller, OC, and / or HC, it needs to happen. Thats one reason why they offensively go from great in the first Dallas game to worthless against Washington (Plax is another, of course). Making the playoffs certainly could slow that process, but starting from scratch would be counterproductive. Not to mention, Reese's other moves (ie Petigout and Arrington out, drafting Ross, Boss, Matthews & Bradshaw in year one, signing Hedgecock) show he just might have something up his sleeve. Agreed they're likely the worst team with a legit shot at the playoffs right now the way they are playing. But they're much closer than fans and the media seem to think...and they've really only been together for a couple years. So rebuilding is far from the word, especially for '08.

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