The New York Giants' secondary is once again the team's greatest question mark as the season opener approaches. That is unfortunate, given that Dallas will have both Dez Bryant and Miles Austin starting on Wednesday night.
Austin is a former Pro Bowler and Bryant has the potential to be one of the best in the league. Bryant's physical skills are off the chart. It has been his lack of conditioning and mental approach that have held him back up to this point.
But if word from Cowboys training camp is correct, Bryant has a much better grasp of the offense and is in top physical condition. This could be bad news for a Giants secondary that has been inundated with injuries.
The Cowboys started the 2011 season in New York on September 11. On Dallas' first possession, Bryant was having his way with Darelle Revis. You read that right. Revis was being beaten repeatedly by Bryant.
Fortunately for the Jets and Revis, Bryant suffered a deep thigh bruise on a punt return and wasn't the same player the rest of the game.
Even if he hadn't suffered the injury, it is possible that Revis would have adjusted and limited Bryant's effectiveness; we'll never know. But what we do know, is that Revis is the best corner in the NFL and Bryant was eating his lunch.
Many people have made the statement that the only person who can hold Dez Bryant back on the field is Dez Bryant. His troubled upbringing is well chronicled, as are the new "Dez Rules" that created such a buzz last week. The Giants were fortunate enough to benefit from Dez holding Dez back last year.
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On Wednesday night, however, the Giants will need to make their own luck with their pass rush.
There is no one in the secondary that can stop Dez Bryant, which is why the pass rush will need to get to Romo before he can get the ball to Bryant.
The trouble with doubling Bryant is that Austin, the Cowboys' former No. 1 receiver, has game- breaking ability as well. He has all the motivation in the world to have a big game, after taking a poor angle on Romo's pass late in the first matchup with New York last year.
Had Austin taken the right angle, Romo completes that pass and New York doesn't see the post season, let alone win a Super Bowl. Austin hasn't forgotten that. So Austin is a potential Giant killer in addition to Bryant.
Now, we all know that the Giants have a fantastic duo at wide receiver as well. Furthermore, the Giants have Rueben Randle. But the issue for the Giants is that Dallas actually has, at least on paper, an excellent secondary this year. That wasn't the case last year when Manning, Cruz, Nicks and Manningham were shredding them.
This is why the Giants secondary is such a major concern heading into Wednesday night. Dallas looks to have at least a fighting chance of slowing down the New York offense due to their acquisition of Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne.
But the Giants can't really say the same thing.
The best chance of stopping Bryant and company starts and ends with the pass rush.
The Giants will most likely win this game. After all, they are the defending Super Bowl champions, playing at home with an amazing pass rush and a fantastic offense.
But if they manage to lose this contest, all anyone is going to be talking about on Thursday is New York's train wreck in the secondary and Dez Bryant's monster game.
Think good thoughts for your pass rush, Giants fans.
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