Enemy Lines

an opposing team's scout sizes up the Giants

"The Giants became a much better team after signing Kenny Holmes. He had a breakthrough year with the Titans, and now he makes New York a lot like his old team, one with two potentially dominant pass rushers in him and Michael Strahan....

The secondary was already impressive. Re-signing Jason Se-horn was smart. The two rookie corners are both players. Keep an eye on William Peterson. He's a diamond in the rough, and a guy who can play corner and safety....

Kerry Collins should be fine after the Super Bowl nightmare—a lot of quarterbacks had their worst game against the Ravens—but this year is still a bit make-or-break for him. He's always had the skills but only average intelligence.

Which guy will he be this year?...

Ron Dayne, who looks a lot lighter in camp, must step up this year, because Tiki Barber will be a marked man, and he'll be knocked around more. Everyone who expected Dayne to be a smashmouth guy must have never seen him play in college. At Wisconsin he was a patient, nimble back with good vision who waited for holes to develop. He's not a downhill guy. Plus, he needs a lot of carries to get going, and those aren't coming. It looks as if the Giants are like most teams who considered drafting him—they don't know quite what to do with him....

This wasn't the best team in the NFC last year, just the one that peaked at the right time. New York won't come close this time around, even if Jim Fassel makes more predictions."