It's too early for '09 season previews, and too late for '08 season reviews. What's an NFL blog to do in the never-ending quest to overcover the bejeezus out of the NFL? Offseason progress reports. Let's go in alphabetical order. Today, the New York Giants.

Free agents lost: WR Plaxico Burress(notes), S James Butler(notes), RB Reuben Droughns(notes), S Sammy Knight(notes), CB Sam Madison(notes), LB Edmond Miles(notes), TE Martrez Milner(notes), CB Brandon Sumrall(notes), RB Derrick Ward(notes), DE Renaldo Wynn(notes)

Free agents gained: DT Rocky Bernard(notes), WR Shaun Bodiford(notes), LB Michael Boley(notes), S C.C. Brown(notes), DE Chris Canty(notes), OT Andrew Carnahan(notes), RB Allen Patrick(notes), G Tutan Reyes(notes), LB Kelvin Smith(notes), TE Lee Vickers(notes), TE George Wrighster(notes)

Drafted: WR Hakeem Nicks(notes), OLB Clint Sintim(notes), OT William Beatty(notes), WR Ramses Barden(notes), TE Travis Beckum(notes), RB Andre Brown(notes), QB Rhett Bomar(notes), DB DeAndre Wright(notes), DB Stoney Woodson(notes)

Let's say you've got one glaring weakness, one overwhelming strength and one offseason to play around with your roster. Would your top priority be addressing the big critical weakness or strengthening the strength to the point where it might not even matter what else is on the roster?

The Giants went with the second option. They have a front seven that generated a very healthy 42 sacks last year, allowed fewer than 200 passing yards per game, allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards per game, and was in the top five in the league in total defense. They did this without (arguably) their best player, Osi Umenyiora(notes).

In 2009, not only does Umenyiora return to the line-up, but the Giants also also added Chris Canty, the best defensive lineman available in free agency, Rocky Bernard, a massive pile of beef that chews up space in the middle of the line, Michael Boley, one of the better young linebackers in the game, and linebacker Clint Sintim, a second-round draft pick who might have first-round value.

So the front seven is going to be absolutely filthy. It's hard to imagine that it won't be the best in the league.

That afore-mentioned glaring weakness is still there, though. I speak, of course, about the void left by Plaxico Burress when he decided to head out one evening and shoot holes in himself. The Giants offense was pretty much lost without him.

There have been free agent wide receivers available, but the Giants have chosen not to pursue them. Maybe the plan is to re-tool the offense so it isn't so heavily dependent on a number one receiver, and if that's the case, good for them. But if the offense is going to remain largely the same, and the Giants are hoping to get Plax-like production out of rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, then that's a losing proposition for 2009.

Progress: Offensive line coaches in the NFC East have got to be having nightmares about what the Giants defensive line can do to them. It's a wealth of talent that almost borders on unfair. Health isn't even a tremendously big issue, because there's such great depth. A good pass rush can win games for you. It is the one surefire way to cripple the opposing offense. The Giants have built one that should be superb, and they're banking on it.

Plus one game. 12-4 last year, 13-3 this year.

Related: Progress Reports