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I know a lot of you are out there talking smack about the mailbag. I just know it. You're all like, "He says he's going to use the mailbag but it's just a bunch of baloney. He won't really. He's just new and trying to make nice."

Well, you're WRONG! And I'm about to show you just how wrong you are. And maybe even blow a little part of your mind in the process. Ready? Here goes:

Dipped into the mailbag this afternoon and found an interesting note from Damien (Philadelphia) pointing me to a story on Pro Football Focus about the best-tackling safeties in the league. Leading the list is Eagles part-timer Kurt Coleman, who apparently made all 24 tackles he attempted (and one assist) without missing one.

Now, 24's not a huge number, obviously. And Sheil Kapadia of philly.com's Moving the Chains blog did a good job of digging into Coleman's numbers to provide a decent analysis of what this means. Kapadia seems to conclude that Coleman could parlay this (as well as the likely departure of Quintin Mikell and the limited practice time rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett is likely to get thanks to the lockout) into a larger role in 2011. Coleman did a good job filling in last season when Nate Allen got hurt, made a contribution on special teams and could play his way into more playing time.

As for the rest of PFF's lists, only one other NFC East safety made the top 20. That would be the Giants' Kenny Phillips, with just 61 tackles and 11 assists to just five misses. But they also did a "bottom 20" list of the league's worst safeties in tackle attempts per miss, and the division had a couple of guys on that list. Washington's Kareem Moore managed 13 missed tackles against 42 tackles and 11 assists, giving him the fifth-worst ratio in the league among safeties with at least 15 tackle attempts. And the Giants' Deon Grant was 12th-worst, with 10 misses against 48 tackles and six assists.

Giants fans might get a chuckle, though, out of seeing former Giant C.C. Brown at the top (or, I guess, the bottom) of the bad list. Toiling in 2010 for the Lions, Brown missed 10 tackles while recording just 32 (and three assists). I know Giants fans who knew Brown by his unfortunate nickname ("Can't Cover") during his time in New York are sitting there thinking his initials ought to have been "C.T."

Anyway, Mailbag FTW. Thanks, Damien. Have a Dock Street IPA on me.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 16

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The New York Giants are going through an identity crisis. Just when we had them pegged as a perennial playoff team, they went out and lost eight games in one season.

There are plenty of players on the roster who own Super Bowl rings from the '07 season, but some of them also took the field in disgraceful losses to the Panthers and Vikings to close out '09. Coach Tom Coughlin seemed invincible two years ago, but it's not a stretch to say that his job's on the line heading into this season. Co-owner John Mara has suggested that's not the case, but it's hard to envision Coughlin surviving another .500 season.

The good news for Giants fans is that Coughlin's been here before, and he's come out on the other side. He told me Monday that two books he read over the summer -- a biography of Harry Truman and a remarkable story involving four Navy SEALs -- have had a profound effect on him. He'll spend the next three weeks in training camp attempting to inspire his players to be "uncommonly good."

"I don't remember anyone saying I was on the hot seat when we were 5-0," he said Monday. "But believe me, the most intense pressure comes from within. The outside stuff doesn't affect me."

Coughlin has personally challenged veteran players such as defensive end Justin Tuck to get out of their comfort zones and take larger leadership roles. He also brought in fiery defensive coordinator Perry Fewell to create more energy on the practice field. The former Bills assistant can be heard from across the University at Albany campus shouting at his players and he even tried to throw a block for cornerback Corey Webster during an interception return Monday.

"With our group of players, a coach has to do something phenomenal for us to wholeheartedly follow you," Tuck told me Monday. "[Fewell] had to win our trust. But every day, he shows us how much he loves the game with his actions. And when you see a guy with that much energy, it's hard not to get behind him."

Shortly after Fewell was hired, Tuck stopped by his office to say hello. When he walked into the room, he said Fewell grabbed a marker and started drawing plays on the board.

"He went through a bunch of different scenarios and then asked me how I thought they might work this season," said Tuck. "I got more and more excited as he talked about all the possibilities."

Tuck didn't want to give too much away, but he did disclose that one of the scenarios involved him and Osi Umenyiora both playing linebacker at the same time. But keep that confidential if you would.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. What happens if Osi Umenyiora doesn't win back his starting job? For the first two days of camp, Umenyiora was all smiles. He's only practicing once a day in order to manage his hip injury, but he doesn't think the injury will keep him out of any games. Umenyiora's a prideful player who felt humiliated by losing his job to Mathias Kiwanuka last season.

The good thing is that Fewell's going to be up front with all of his players and let them know where they stand. Coughlin remembers how the Giants came at teams with waves of pass-rushers in '07 and '08. Tuck, Umenyiora, Kiwanuka and first-round rookie Jason Pierre-Paul have the talent to be a special group. But last year players along the defensive line started trying to do too much individually and didn't play as a unit. I don't see any circumstance where Umenyiora embraces a reserve role, so that will put the coaching staff in an interesting situation. My guess is that Umenyiora meets the challenge and wins back his job.

"Osi's in for a fight because Kiwi's not going to back down," said Tuck. "Those two are going to push each other and I think that's a good thing."

2. Is former second-round pick Will Beatty ready to take over at left tackle?

Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese love creating competition and it's going to be interesting to see if David Diehl can hold onto his left tackle spot. The good news for Diehl is that he's going to end up starting on the offensive line no matter what happens in that competition. Coughlin's going to do whatever's best for the team, and I think that will ultimately be Beatty at left tackle and Diehl at left guard. Beatty, a second-year player, has shown a lot of quickness in the first three practices of training camp.

It won't be a completely smooth transition, but I believe he has the athletic ability and size to succeed at left tackle. The Giants have had a lot of continuity along the offensive line, but that won't keep Coughlin from pulling the trigger on a move. In talking to Reese, I get the feeling he's enjoying this competition quite a bit.

3. Can the Giants re-establish the running game?

Of all the things that went wrong last season, the lack of a consistent running game might have been the thing that disappointed Coughlin the most.

The Giants went from the No. 1 rushing team in the league in '08 to a No. 17 ranking in '09. They averaged almost a full yard less per carry in '09, which put too much pressure on Eli Manning and the passing game.

Tiki Barber told me early last season that he'd advised Brandon Jacobs to learn how to protect his body more on runs. It may have been solid advice, but Jacobs appeared tentative in '09 and began to doubt himself as the season unfolded. If he looks tentative early in this season, I believe a healthy Ahmad Bradshaw will be prepared to take over as the featured back.

I've been impressed with how quick and decisive he's looked in camp. And Andre Brown appears to have regained his speed after missing last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Brown should be a good change-of-pace back and he has soft hands that could make him a decent option on third down.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I think the most pleasant surprise so far is the Giants appear to have a ton of competition at cornerback. Aaron Ross missed so much time last year because of hamstring issues that he sort of faded out of the picture. Now, he's getting his hands on lots of footballs and he's regained that quickness that we saw a couple seasons ago. The problem for him is that Terrell Thomas and Webster have both been excellent in this camp. Webster was a disappointment last season, but he's been one of the best players in camp through three practices.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

It's hard to give up on someone after three practices, so I'll go with an injured player in safety Kenny Phillips. He has an excellent attitude, but the fact that he's on the physically unable to perform list isn't a great sign. He was on the verge of stardom before a serious knee condition required microfracture surgery. The Giants brought in plenty of insurance for Phillips this season, but it would be really disappointing if he's not able to make a full recovery.

OBSERVATION DECK

• If you think the Giants are going to slowly bring along Pierre-Paul and Linval Joseph, think again. They want Joseph breathing down Rocky Bernard's neck this season. And so far, Joseph's done a tremendous job soaking up a lot of information. But when Coughlin's standing a few feet away, Joseph had better know when he's supposed to be in a drill. Reese told me Monday afternoon that Pierre-Paul and Joseph have to help out immediately.
• I thought former Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck would look a little stiff since he hasn't done any live scrimmaging since his ACL surgery last December. Instead, he's moved around really well and seems to be comfortable in Fewell's defense.
• Second-year tight end Travis Beckum's going to get every opportunity in the world to contribute, but it's not good to flat-out drop a ball when Rhett Bomar threads the needle in team drills.
• Defensive end Dave Tollefson is one of those steady players who refuses to go away. Nothing flashy, but he's relentless in pursuing the quarterback. I noticed that he's added a little inside spin move to his game. Some of the young offensive linemen haven't known what to do with him.
• Sixth-round draft pick Adrian Tracy is a fish out of water at linebacker. The former William & Mary defensive end has some athleticism, but he could use a redshirt (practice squad) year.
• Former Cowboys defensive end Chris Canty is in remarkable condition in this camp. Even Coughlin marveled at how Canty breezed through sprints. Canty has some close friends with the Cowboys (Jay Ratliff, Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher) and he'd like to send a message that Jerry Jones made a mistake in letting him walk.
• I've given up trying to cut Sinorice Moss. I already have him on my 2013 projected Giants roster. It's crowded at receiver again, but the little guy won't go away. And he had a really nice day Monday.
• If Ramses Barden ever finds a way to take his practices to the games, the Giants will have a remarkable weapon in the red zone. Manning told me Monday that Barden has won him over. He has some Plaxico Burress-like tendencies -- and I'm talking about the good tendencies. Even when he's covered, Barden has a knack for making catches. He's just an enormous target.
• Reese refuses to give up on linebacker Gerris Wilkinson. The former Georgia Tech player has teased the Giants with his athleticism, but his career has been hampered by injuries and inconsistency.
• Fullback Madison Hedgecock has a little competition in rookie Jerome Johnson. Hedgecock drops way too many passes. If Johnson shows anything in the passing game, this thing could get interesting.
• I don't know if he'll hold off Bulluck, but middle linebacker Jonathan Goff looks so much more confident to me in this camp. He's doing a great job communicating and he's done a nice job in coverage.
• Clint Sintim went through some growing pains last season, but he looks the part of a starter now. He hasn't let any of the Giants' misdirection plays fool him.
• Either Antrel Rolle is really, really good at safety or I spent too much time watching C.C. Brown and Aaron Rouse chasing cars last season. I think Rolle's an excellent fit for Fewell's defense. If Phillips can return to form, he and Rolle could be one of the best tandems in the league. Deon Grant was a good pickup because of his durability. He just doesn't miss any games, and the Giants need more of those players.
• I know Steve Smith had a breakout season, but Hakeem Nicks looks like a No. 1 wide receiver to me. I thought it was telling that he was the one receiver whom Manning asked to join him at the Manning Passing Academy. Those two are putting on a show early in camp.

Let's take a quick look around the division this morning:

Cowboys

• Ed Barkowitz of the Philadelphia Daily News thinks the Cowboys have a Super incentive.
• Emmitt Smith thinks that someone will eventually "approach" his NFL rushing record.
• David Moore of The Dallas Morning News has the latest on the Dez Bryant negotiation.
• Here's what ESPNDallas.com's Calvin Watkins reported on the Bryant negotiations.
• DallasNews.com blogger Gerry Fraley files a report about Emmitt Smith's latest prediction.

Eagles

• Rich Hofmann of the Daily News wonders why athletes like Michael Vick keep putting themselves in dangerous situations.
• Reuben Frank takes a look at some of the top position battles.
• The Inquirer's Ashley Fox has done some excellent work on the newspaper's series about the Eagles' decision makers. She has a piece on owner Jeff Lurie today.
• T.O. and Donovan McNabb will reunite on Spike TV's "Pros vs. Joes" this week.

Giants

• Paul Schwartz from the Post has a pretty strong take on C.C. Brown's recent comments.
• Tight end Travis Beckum tells the Star-Ledger that he's ready to take the next step.

Redskins

• Chris Samuels is starting the next chapter of his life.
• Dan Steinberg of the Post brought back some interesting odds from Vegas.

Let's take a quick look at what's going on around the division.

Cowboys

• Tony Romo shot at 72 on the golf course and then shared his thoughts on Doug Free.
• Romo's looking forward to playing with Dez Bryant, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
• So what did the Chicago Bears make of Jerry Jones' draft-board photo?
• How are the luxury townhouses around Cowboys Stadium doing? Jeff Mosier of the Dallas Morning News has the latest.
• Nick Eatman of Dallascowboys.com has the latest on the safety situation.
• Alex Barron will make $2.73 million next season, according to DallasNews.com general columnist Todd Archer.

Eagles

• Paul Domowitch says that yards after catch (YAC) will be a big deal with Kevin Kolb at quarterback. Take a peek at what Jeremy Maclin says about YAC.
• Les Bowen takes a look at the Cowboys' draft board from an Eagles perspective.
• John Gonzalez of the Inquirer says Donovan McNabb's response to DeSean Jackson reminded him of an Otis Redding song, "Mr. Pitiful."
• DeSean Jackson tells ESPN that he doesn't have a problem with McNabb.

Giants

• Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News talks about Danny Clark and C.C. Brown finding new homes.
• The Giants' 2014 Super Bowl bid becomes official today.
• Very interesting story from Mike Garafolo on a Barry Cofield trade that nearly happened with the Saints.

Redskins

• Rick Maese and Jason Reid from the Post discuss Brian Westbrook's visit to Redskins Park.
• Barry Svrluga of the Post reports that Adam Carriker is hoping for a fresh start.
• Lindsay Czarniak from NBC 4 in DC sits down with Skins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to discuss the 3-4.

"Just the unknown of where you’re coming from, who’s blitzing, who’s not blitzing," Haslett said of the 3-4. "You can just do so many things out of it that you can’t do out of a four-man line. Now, if you got great four-man line people, then you play that. There’s no reason you can’t go 3-4, 4-3. I’ve played in both, coached in both, been successful in both. I think its just the type of players you have. I think the cornerstone of the team on defense is Brian Orakpo. He had 11 sacks last year, rushed 200 some times. In this defense, we’ll rush 600-700 times."

And there's your quote of the day. Thanks to the excellent Redskins blogger Matt Terl for tipping us off to Czarniak's post.

The New York Giants and free-agent safety Antrel Rolle have agreed to a five-year, $37 million contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Rolle will become the highest-paid safety in league history and his new contract includes a $15 million signing bonus.

Judging by that contract ($22.5 mil in first three years), the Giants are still angry about how their secondary was torched in '09. If Kenny Phillips is fully recovered from microfracture surgery on his knee, he and Rolle should form one of the best safety duos in the league. They both played at the University of Miami and both possess excellent range. In fact, Rolle entered the league as a cornerback.

General manager Jerry Reese was very open about his disappointment in the way Michael Johnson and C.C. Brown performed at safety last season and he vowed not to let something like that happen again. With Rolle in the fold, the Giants have to feel a lot better about their secondary. The Cardinals are quickly becoming the top talent supplier in the league with Rolle, Anquan Boldin and Karlos Dansby already joining other teams.

In his 59 starts with the Cardinals, Rolle had 12 interceptions and four forced fumbles. He'll obviously be an immediate starter for the Giants. Not a lot of $37 million backup safeties in the league. I think this decision also had a lot to do with the fact the Giants play in the same division with some very talented tight ends in Jason Witten, Brent Celek and Chris Cooley.

Dallas Cowboys

Potential unrestricted free agents: G Montrae Holland

Potential restricted free agents: NT Junior Siavii, WR Miles Austin, DE Stephen Bowen, CB Cletis Gordon, DE Jason Hatcher, WR Sam Hurd, T Pat McQuistan, C Duke Preston, G Cory Procter, S Gerald Sensabaugh, DE Marcus Spears, S Pat Watkins, K Shaun Suisham.

What to expect: Anything is possible with Jerry Jones in charge, and the Cowboys could make a big splash after an underwhelming offseason a year ago. But in terms of team needs and what is required to take the next step, Dallas really doesn’t need much. A big-time impact safety makes some sense and could make a very good defense great, but that might be a project for the draft in a trade-up scenario for someone like Earl Thomas. But Darren Sharper might pique their interest. They also need to get younger along the offensive line, particularly at tackle, but that seems like a draft-day project, too. Maybe Jones gets real aggressive in the wide receiver market, as Roy Williams certainly is not living up to his billing, but the Cowboys are still rather stacked with pass-catchers. All in all, this is a team that is sitting pretty and doesn’t have a prominent unrestricted free agent who is poised to leave.

New York Giants

Potential unrestricted free agents: QB David Carr, LB Danny Clark, P Jeff Feagles, DT Fred Robbins

Potential restricted free agents: WR Domenik Hixon, TE Darcy Johnson, DE Dave Tollefson, G Kevin Boothe, S C.C. Brown, DT Barry Cofield, CB Kevin Dockery, WR Derek Hagan, WR Sinorice Moss, T Guy Whimper, LB Gerris Wilkinson.

What to expect: Big things could be in the works here, as there are already rumors swirling that New York could be a prime suitor for linebacker Karlos Dansby. An impact linebacker is certainly near the top of their wish list and Dansby fits the bill. Plus, he is extremely versatile. Getting faster on defense is a huge priority with new coordinator Perry Fewell stressing the ability to cover a lot of ground. However, Dansby isn’t really the thumper they need in the middle and is more of an outside linebacker for this system, although he would be great on passing downs. This is a group of decision-makers who might be starting to feel some heat, so do not rule out a big move or two.

Philadelphia Eagles

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Jason Babin, S Sean Jones, LB Jeremiah Trotter, LB Tracy White

Potential restricted free agents: LB Akeem Jordan, P Saverio Rocca, WR Jason Avant, C Nick Cole, LB Omar Gaither, LB Chris Gocong, CB Ellis Hobbs, G Max Jean-Gilles, TE Alex Smith, FB Leonard Weaver.

What to expect: There are questions on the offensive line, but overall, the Eagles are in a prime situation to improve their defense, particularly up front and at safety. Remember, they have quarterbacks to dangle as trade bait and really do not have any unrestricted guys that they need to bring back. This is a possible landing spot for Julius Peppers and he would be terrific on the opposite side of Trent Cole, who is among the most underrated players in the game and could blow up with someone taking pass protection attention away from his side. Count on the Eagles being aggressive in the free-agent and/or trade market. It might just be enough to get them that ever elusive Lombardi trophy. Stranger things have happened.

Washington Redskins

Potential unrestricted free agents: LS Ethan Albright, DE Phillip Daniels, T Levi Jones, C Casey Rabach,
P Hunter Smith, T Mike Williams, DE Renaldo Wynn, TE Todd Yoder.

Potential restricted free agents: DE Lorenzo Alexander, T Stephon Heyer, LB Chris Wilson, QB Jason Campbell, S Reed Doughty, DT Kedric Golston, LB Rocky McIntosh, DT Anthony Montgomery, C Will Montgomery, CB Carlos Rogers.

What to expect: This is a difficult team to get a grasp on in terms of what they might do in free agency, but I think it is safe to say that ownership will not hold Mike Shanahan and company back from opening up the check book and signing (and even overpaying) players whom they desire. It would be wise for Washington to have an excellent idea of what they are going to do with the fourth overall draft pick in terms of going quarterback or offensive tackle before really devising a free-agency plan. Rebuilding the offensive line is a must and Shanahan needs lighter, quicker (and younger) linemen than are on the roster. A running back they can trust wouldn’t hurt either, although it looks as though Clinton Portis will return, which they may regret. But don’t forget, this is a team that -- unwisely in my opinion -- is switching to a 3-4 scheme, so inside linebacker help is required, as are defensive linemen who fit the new scheme. The Redskins have a long wish list, but also have the ownership to endorse big spending when free agency opens.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Morning News concludes its position-by-position breakdown with a look at the team's specialists.

In preparation for next month's draft, owner Jerry Jones says he is examining every position except quarterback. "There's not a position we wouldn't take with that first pick other than quarterback," he said.

New York Giants

Giants co-owner John Mara says the team will spend wisely on free agents this offseason.

The Giants have offered a low tender of $1.226 million to safety C.C. Brown.

Philadelphia Eagles

John Gonzalez of the Philadelphia Inquirer revisits the Eagles' decision to release veteran running back Brian Westbrook.

Quarterback Michael Vick created a bit of a stir when he told an Atlanta radio station "if I could play for any team in the league, it would probably be two teams, but if I had to pick one, it would probably be the Carolina Panthers."

Washington Redskins

As it becomes more apparent the Redskins will employ a 3-4 defense, it's now time to analyze the current roster and see what changes need to be made.

With free agency on the horizon, is Washington gearing up for another spending spree?

Considering their reputation and level of play in 2008, the New York Giants’ defense was very disappointing last season. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo took the head-coaching job in St. Louis and his innovative and timely play calling was missed. Also, there were conflicts between new coordinator Bill Sheridan and the Giants’ defensive players. Now both the run and pass defenses need an upgrade.

The Giants’ pass rush was middle of the road last year. That is unacceptable considering the talent they have at the defensive end position and the overall resources they dedicated to their defensive front last offseason. Did this dip in production stem from coaching or the players? Surely it was a little of both, but with Perry Fewell taking over the defense, expect a step up from the perimeter rushers. Fewell stresses fundamentals and is considered a players’ coach. One worry up front is the defensive tackles’ run defense, which clearly was not up to par.

There is no getting around the problems in personnel last season in the pass defense, which also hindered Sheridan’s play-calling options. The loss of talented safety Kenny Phillips was crushing. Safety is a huge need going forward, even if he is expected to return at full strength. Michael Johnson, Aaron Rouse and C.C. Brown were simply overmatched in coverage. The Giants were very weak up the middle with their pass defense, and because it lacked qualified coverage safeties, New York forced players to line up out of position. It was a desperate -- and unsuccessful -- ploy. If Philips returns to form and the Giants add one starting-caliber safety, this secondary can be quite good. They are strong at cornerback and have found a real keeper in Terrell Thomas to go along with Corey Webster and Aaron Ross, who too often was forced to play safety instead of his natural corner position.

There are issues at linebacker though. Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce was released, which is a move I agree with. Never the most physically gifted player, it appears as though what Pierce did have from an athletic standpoint began to fail him. Much more range and playmaking ability is needed in the middle against both run and pass, especially considering the tight ends and pass-catching running backs in the NFC East.

The Michael Boley experiment on the outside did not yield enough overall, but he was particularly poor against the run. Boley is more of a run-and-hit player and running at him directly exposes his weaknesses. Perhaps his best role would be as a sub package linebacker; they need to create competition for his starting weakside spot on early downs.

While the Giants have several mediocre options for both the Mike and Will linebacker spots, I don’t see a lot of upside with that crew outside of Boley. On the strong side, Danny Clark isn’t flashy, but he is tough and effective. He is an unrestricted free agent and hopefully the Giants lock him up, but his backup, Clint Sintim, does has more ability, speed and potential. However, neither of these two project well to the middle or weak side.

Having a new coordinator could yield immediate results, but Fewell’s scheme is based a great deal on speed and range. With that in mind, New York needs to find one linebacker with elite playmaking abilities, maybe Rolando McClain in the draft or Karlos Dansby in free agency.

I see safety as the No. 1 personnel need here, followed immediately by a difference-maker at linebacker. A nose tackle-type would be third, as the foursome of Rocky Bernard, Chris Canty, Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins were all underwhelming, but there is ability among this defensive tackle rotation. Robbins can push the pocket, but more was needed from him stopping the run and his stamina is questionable. He is an unrestricted free agent and could be replaced. A second linebacker to battle for a starting spot would be ideal.

This sounds like a long list, but the Giants are set on the offensive side of the ball, so expect their resources to be dedicated to fixing this once-proud defense.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The optimist in New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese believes that help is coming from within the roster. But like any personnel chief, that's not going to prevent him from making contingency plans. Reese knows injuries to key players in 2009 hampered the Giants -- but they won't receive any sympathy from their NFC East rivals.

“I think there are some holes we need to fill defensively,” Reese said Saturday during his news conference at Lucas Oil Stadium. “Are there some guys on the roster? I hope there are, but we’re still going to try to go out and fill some spots.

"If there’s a guy on the roster that we don’t see yet that emerges, fantastic. But we’re definitely not going to depend on that. We’re going to try to bolster a lot of positions offensively and defensively."

Reese isn't one for trashing players, but he called out safeties Michael Johnson and C.C. Brown for their poor play in '09. And he also took some of the blame for not getting the right players on the field. I remember him telling me in training camp last year that safety Kenny Phillips was about to become an absolute star in the league. Phillips indeed had a remarkable first two games, but then he missed the rest of the season with a serious knee injury that required microfracture surgery. Reese said Phillips is making excellent progress in his rehabilitation, but that won't prevent him from trying to upgrade the position via free agency or the draft.

Reese didn't spend a lot of time talking about defensive end Osi Umenyiora, but he confirmed that a meeting took place between the two of them. He dismissed Umenyiora's recent complaints as offseason "chatter" and said that it's something he's used to by now.

"I don’t get upset about players in the offseason,” Reese said. “Again, it happens every season with almost every team. That’s just what you get in the offseason. It doesn’t bother me a bit."

The one player that Reese went out of his way to praise was cornerback Terrell Thomas, who took over as the starter while Aaron Ross battled a hamstring injury. From a news standpoint, Reese hinted Will Beatty is in the mix to become the starting left tackle. If that happens, David Diehl would likely move to left guard. Reese believes Diehl's versatility is a huge asset for this team.

Reese also talked at length about new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. We'll have more on that over the next few days.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: biggest team needs.

Dallas Cowboys

I had a chance to visit with owner Jerry Jones on ESPN 103.3 in Dallas-Fort Worth on Tuesday and he made it pretty clear that he's not feeling pressure to fill any certain positions. In some ways, the Cowboys will be rolling out two draft classes in 2010. The '09 class was taken out by a wide variety of injuries, so Jones is anxious to see how some of those players respond. Jones didn't confirm this, but I've been told that the scouting department is taking a long look at the safety position with the No. 27 pick overall. The organization is disappointed in the play of Ken Hamlin and it's time to start looking for his eventual replacement. Alan Ball has looked good at times, but I'm not sure he's ready for full-time duty. The Cowboys also would like to add depth along the offensive line. Doug Free emerged as a solid contributor in '09, but the team needs to continue drafting and developing young linemen. I'm not sure where the Cowboys will find a place-kicker, but it's certainly a major need. In fact, it's probably their biggest need heading into the 2010 season.

New York Giants

The Giants have to figure out what went wrong on defense and start adding talent. Linebacker Clint Sintim is a player from the '09 draft who's expected to take a major step this offseason. And there's also speculation that the Giants could go after Karlos Dansby in free agency. The Cardinals linebacker would give the Giants much-needed speed and power. You also have a major need at safety. The Giants were burned when Kenny Phillips went down with a season-ending knee injury after Week 2. C.C. Brown flamed out as Phillips' replacement and Aaron Rouse wasn't a lot better. You cannot enter the '10 season on a wing and a prayer that Phillips will stay healthy. The Giants will have plenty of options at No. 15. I wouldn't rule out a linebacker with that pick. But if a talented offensive tackle is available, general manager Jerry Reese will be ready to pull the trigger.

Philadelphia Eagles

The back end of this defense needs help immediately. You can't just depend on Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown to get you through another season at cornerback. With that No. 24 pick, the Eagles should look long and hard at another cornerback. And obviously safety is a position of need. Quintin Mikell can't line up next to Macho Harris or Quintin Demps next season. The lack of a reliable safety really put the Eagles in a tough spot against teams with elite tight ends such as the Chargers and Cowboys. The Eagles also need to be on the lookout for another pressure player on defense. Trent Cole is one of the top defensive ends in the league, but he needs some consistent help. Defensive tackle is another need. I thought Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson looked tired late in the season. The Eagles can't afford for that to happen again. On offense, you have to figure out the Stacy Andrews situation. If you think Nick Cole can be a long-term answer at right guard, you have to think about releasing Andrews and his big salary.

Washington Redskins

If defensive coordinator Jim Haslett is going to make the transition to the 3-4 scheme, the Skins will have a different mindset in this draft. London Fletcher's a great player, but he wasn't made for the 3-4. It just won't work. The Skins will start looking for big thumpers at inside linebacker and excellent pass-rushers on the outside. Brian Orakpo should make a seamless transition to the new scheme, but I'm not so sure about Andre Carter. The Redskins also need to think about drafting cornerbacks and safeties. The back end of this defense needs to show major improvement. But obviously, all the talk will be about the quarterback position. I think Jason Campbell is a legitimate starter in this league, but Mike Shanahan has to go with the guy he's most comfortable with. That's why I think the Skins likely will stay at No. 4 and pick Sam Bradford. Then the Redskins have to start building an offensive line. The offensive line has suffered from years of draft neglect. It's time to start investing in the trenches.

New York Giants second-year safety Kenny Phillips appeared to be on his way to a Pro Bowl season in '09, but his season was cut short by a left knee injury that required microfracture surgery. The Giants never came close to replacing Phillips the rest of the season. C.C. Brown and Aaron Rouse were overwhelmed in starting roles and that contributed to a miserable finish.

Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger caught up with Phillips while he was in South Florida. Phillips played at The U and he's been doing the majority of his rehab work in the area.

"I kind of knew I wasn’t going to finish the year,” Phillips said. “I figured we’d ride until the wheels fell off. I didn’t think they were going to fall off in Week 2."

Makes you wonder why the Giants didn't have a better Plan B. Brown, who once started for the Texans, was not a viable starter. And then the Giants had to sign Rouse, a Packers castoff. Phillips suffers from a condition called patellofemoral arthritis, which is the erosion of cartilage between the patella and femur. It's rare for someone as young as Phillips to have this degenerative condition. But he remains upbeat about his prognosis.

"It’s fixable, very fixable. A lot of guys have had it,” Phillips said. “It should be a full recovery.”

One of the most frustrating things about the injury is that Phillips had finally convinced the defensive coaches to allow him to freelance within the scheme. Given more freedom, Phillips responded with two interceptions against the Cowboys in Week 2. Pretty much everyone in the Giants organization thought Phillips was headed toward a Pro Bowl season. Now, he almost has to start from scratch with new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

"Coming back from my injury, I’m going to have to prove it all over again, that I can cover enough ground for them to take the shackles off,” Phillips said. “I have to show them I’m still all that. I’m willing to do it, though."

All the good will that Tom Coughlin built with a Super Bowl title two years ago is all but gone. It's not like his job is in jeopardy, but the Giants' final two performances of the season were a disgrace. The Vikings had been fading down the stretch but the Giants' once-proud defense offered the perfect pick-me-up.

Brett Favre torched the Giants' secondary and once again we saw a bunch of missed tackles. We'll see if Coughlin makes immediate changes to his defensive staff. I wouldn't be surprised to see defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan fired this week. The players have supported him in public, but the numbers speak for themselves.

How did this go from one of the most feared defenses in the game to one that has given up 40 points or more five times this season? It's an embarrassing way to end the season. The Giants will need to make some significant changes. I think Justin Tuck was banged up for much of the season, but he's about the only player who has an excuse.

I know the loss of Kenny Phillips hurt, but New York should have been better prepared. C.C. Brown did not get the job done. But it's not like he did anything with the Texans to make us think he could.

This is a flawed team that needs to make changes on the defensive line and at linebacker. There's a possibility that the Giants could move on without veterans Antonio Pierce and Danny Clark.

This is not one of the season where you look back and think the Giants were a play or two away from being a playoff team. They earned their .500 record. Now they have to find a way to rectify the situation.

While we rev up the engines for the Redskins' coaching "search" next week, we should also keep an eye on the Giants' defensive coordinator position. Head coach Tom Coughlin has defended Bill Sheridan at times this season, but he can't be happy with the first-year coordinator's results. On Thursday afternoon, Sheridan may have addressed reporters for the final time as Giants defensive coordinator. Asked about his shaky job status, Sheridan provided this response:

"I'm not concerned about it," Sheridan said. "I know you guys are very concerned about it, but I'm not concerned about it. You guys do a great job of being concerned about it, but I'm not."

This is either the most focused guy in the league or Sheridan has attended the Jim Zorn school of denial. There's no doubt that Sheridan's job is in serious jeopardy. You can certainly give him the benefit of the doubt on the injury to talented safety Kenny Phillips and the late-season loss of linebacker Antonio Pierce. But there's no good reason for why some of the most feared pass-rushers in the game came up empty for much of the season. A secondary comprised of men such as C.C. Brown, Aaron Rouse and Bruce Johnson was torched, in part, because Pro Bowlers Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck couldn't get to the quarterback. And almost as disturbing, the Giants were gashed in the running game by the Cowboys, Eagles and Panthers. This is suddenly a defense without an identity -- and someone will have to pay the price.

Sheridan was asked Thursday what he would say to Coughlin if the head coach asks him why he should keep his job:

“The same reason why he gave me the job, because he thinks I’m competent and do a conscientious, diligent job,” Sheridan said. “That’s what I told him when I interviewed for it before. I said, ‘To me the most important thing is competence, that you can give [the players] a plan on a weekly basis that will put them in the best position to defend and beat your opponent. That’s why he gave me the job. And if he’s evaluated I’m still competent in that area, that’s what I would tell him."

Sheridan has said that he "absolutely" thinks he'll return as the team's defensive coordinator. Again, he's either living in denial or Coughlin has privately assured him that his job is secure. I highly doubt the latter part of that statement.

Perhaps Tom Coughlin is erring on the side of caution, but his injury list reached double digits Wednesday. You know it's bad when players who haven't been listed on the injury report (wink) are being placed on injured reserve as was the case with tight end Darcy Johnson.

Here's the rundown on the players that Coughlin listed on the injury report:

Players who did not practice Wednesday: LB Michael Boley (triceps), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankles/foot), CB Corey Webster (knee), RT Kareem McKenzie (knee) and G Rich Seubert (knee). If Boley can't go against the Panthers, it would pose quite a problem. The Panthers' running backs can catch the ball and they'd likely be matched up with players such as Jonathan Goff, Clint Sintim and Chase Blackburn. As we saw the other night, Blackburn's most effective when he's allowed to focus mostly on special teams. I thought his play on special teams set the tone early in the Giants' blowout win over the Redskins.

Here are the players who were limited in practice: CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), LB Chase Blackburn (ribs), S C.C. Brown (hamstring), CB Kevin Dockery (ankle), LB Jon Goff (hamstring/rib), WR Hakeem Nicks (hamstring), K Lawrence Tynes (right hamstring).

I had a good visit with Nicks immediately after the game Sunday night and he was very optimistic about his quick return. It seemed like Coughlin was more worried about the injury than Nicks. But from what I'm hearing, Nicks should be good to go against the Panthers. And if New York could somehow slip into the playoffs, I sense that Nicks is about ready to take off. He didn't get off to the fast start like Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson did last season, but he's now a big play waiting to happen.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For the first time this season, Giants coach Tom Coughlin has decided to sit down his former starting defensive tackle Rocky Bernard. The Giants signed Bernard to a lucrative free-agent contract last March but he hasn't performed up to expectations.

The Giants will also have rookie wide receiver Hakeem Nicks starting ahead of Mario Manningham. That's a move that could've happened several weeks ago. Nicks is becoming a big-play receiver and he's more consistent than Manningham at this point in their careers. Aaron Ross will start this game at strong safety instead of C.C. Brown. That was another move that Coughlin hinted at this week in practice.

The rest of the Giants' inactives: WR Ramses Barden, DB D.J. Johnson, RB Gartrell Johnson, T Adam Koets, T Guy Whimper, WR Sinorice Moss, TE Bear Pascoe.

The Eagles' inactives: Emergency QB Kevin Kolb, CB Geoffrey Pope, RB P.J. Hill, RB Brian Westbrook, G/T Stacy Andrews, G Mike McGlynn, WR Kevin Curtis, DT Trevor Laws.