*STATEMENT: Michael Coe will take defensive snaps against the Cowboys on September 5th.
*EISEN: Fiction - Coe is a talented player, but at least four cornerbacks are ahead of him on the depth chart. I'm going to be an optimist and say they're going to stay healthy through the preseason, which will limit Coe's opportunity to play defense in the opener.
SCHMEELK: Fact - There are few things that can easily predicted in a NFL season, but injuries always happen. Last year, the Giants suffered through more of them at cornerback than any other position. My guess is that once again an injury will give Michael Coe the opportunity to play as a dime back against Dallas when the season opens. Right now, I would put Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Jayron Hosley, and Prince Amukamara ahead of him on the depth chart.
SALOMONE: Fact - The position has a complete arsenal right now, but we won't know how injuries and competition will shake out until training camp and preseason. With that said, I'm going to say he will see the field on defense in that first game. Coach Coughlin pointed him out the other week during a press conference, saying he had a couple of outstanding plays (including an interception during OTAs). True, you can't tell much from OTAs and practices without contact, but depth is always called upon, especially at that position.
*STATEMENT: The Giants will carry three quarterbacks this season.
*EISEN: Fiction - They've gone with two quarterbacks each of the last four seasons and I see no reason why that will change now.
SCHMEELK: Fiction - Coach Coughlin and the Giants front office seems to toy with this every season but they are never able to justify a roster spot that can be useful for special teams to be used on a quarterback. I bet the same conclusion is reached this season.
SALOMONE: Fiction - With an ironman at the forefront and a tenured backup, the Giants have shown two quarterbacks are enough. The front office places high value on each and every roster spot, and it would take some convincing to use one on a third-stringer.
*STATEMENT: Jason Pierre Paul will have more sacks this year than last.
*EISEN: Fact - Opposing teams will pay more attention to JPP than they did in 2011. But with so many other good linemen (Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, etc.), plus Mathias Kiwanuka, only so many blocking resources can be devoted to Pierre-Paul. I think the big man will have a big, big season.
SCHMEELK: Fiction - With Osi Umenyiora healthy and taking away some of his snaps at RE, along with NFL teams having more tape on him, I think Pierre Paul's production will drop a little bit. He only had half a sack in the team's four playoff games. That being said, he totaled six in the Giants final four games. I'll say he finishes with 15.
SALOMONE: Fiction - Sacks can be a fickle stat to begin with. While talent and athleticism win out in the long run in terms of career totals, year-to-year numbers go up and down for whatever reasons. It's come to be expected for Giants fans, but 16.5 sacks is, for lack of a better term, a lot. The great Michael Strahan broke that barrier just twice in his 15 years; Reggie White did it three times. So while the sky's the limit for JPP and he'll probably be in double digits in 2012, I won't throw around 16.5 recklessly.
