Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right....

We've looked inside, so now we'll take a look at the guys on the outside as we continue our position previews.  While Tom Coughlin will continue to say that no one is guaranteed a position, there is far less competition for the Sam and Wil spots then there is in the middle.  However, that's not necessarily a good thing, especially when the two expected starters are completely unproven.

Right now, you can pencil in Clint Sintim and Michael Boley to fill the two outside positions.  Both players arrived a year ago, Sintim as a second round draft choice and Boley as a free agent from Atlanta.  Neither was able to have the type of season they hoped for.  Both were slowed by injuries, and Sintim had a little trouble making the transition from the 3-4 he played in college to the Giants' 4-3 scheme.  It's hard to judge players based solely on last year's performance because everyone looked awful.  Whether it was a scheme the players didn't understand or didn't buy into, or whether it was just a lack of trust in the secondary, most of the front 7 looked dazed and confused in '09.  Boley and Sintim were no exceptions.

In my opinion, Boley did show a few flashes when healthy.  He has good speed and showed good pursuit, especially sideline to sideline.  However, he failed to make any plays that could catch the eye of the average half-drunk (maybe full drunk during that grueling second half of the year) Giants fan, and missed a lot of tackles.  I think he is an adequate weakside linebacker--fortunately, that is really all you need.  Behind Boley on the depth chart are probably Bryan Kehl and Chase Blackburn, both serviceable back-ups.  As we discussed in the previous article, Blackburn is probably a career back-up, but Kehl has enough upside at his age to potentially get a look as a starter if Boley struggles.

On the strongside, Sintim is a raw product, and very tough to evaluate.  He played sparingly last year behind the old and slow Danny Clark (the Giants best off-season cast off in my opinion).  Mid-season it looked like Sintim might get his shot to start, but his lack of understanding of the defense (along with a few injuries)  kept him out of the lineup.  He's got that Giants' pass rusher look to him--in the mold of Tuck and Osi--and everyone seems to agree he has the physical tools to play in the NFL.  The question is can he bring it all together?  Honestly, I think he will, and I think by season's end he'll be the team's best linebacker

If I'm wrong and he can't put it together, or if he finds himself injured, the Giants might have a major problem as they lack depth on the strongside.  Looking over their roster, I'm not even sure who the back up SAM will be.  Chase Blackburn can play all 3 linebacker positions, but is better suited as a Mike or Wil.  Same I guess could be said for Wilkinson--if he doesn't stub his toe between now and then.  The only other true SAM on the roster is 6th round pick Adrian Tracey.  Tracey hails from FCS (formerly known as 1AA) William and Mary and was a DE in college, so he appears to be more of a developmental project than a guy you want to be an injury away from your starting linebacker.  There is also last year's rookie free agent Kenny Ingram, who is a converted safety out of Florida State.  He has the size (6-5; 239) but I'm not sure what linebacker spot they are even working him into, nevermind whether or not he can play in the NFL.  It makes you wonder if the Giants might not give Mathias Kiwanuka a few snaps there (again) just in case.

So if I'm right (and despite what my wife says I think I sometimes am) the week 1 backers will be Sintim, Goff, and Boley.  They may be a  far cry from the Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, and Harry Carson days--hell they are a far cry from the Reggie Torbor, Antonio Pierce, and Kawika Mitchell days--but they are what we got, and they will be better than what we saw on the field at the end of last year.