| | By John Clayton
ESPN.com
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Giants went "retro" and returned the "NY" to their helmets
for the first time since 1974. They could have easily put a question mark
there.
Questions abound, particularly on defense. Can Jason Sehorn come
back from injuries to be one of the league's best cornerbacks? Can defensive
end Michael Strahan return to the 15-sack plateau? Can Dave Thomas, the
former Jaguar, handle the left corner? Can Micheal Barrow dominate at middle
linebacker? Can Shaun Williams play free safety?
|  | | Micheal Barrow adds speed to an already quick linebacking corps. |
"This team may have more unanswered questions than any team in the
league," Giants coach Jim Fassel said. "If all of questions start saying
yes, we'll be a pretty good team."
The biggest yes so far has been Sehorn. Lean and mean has replaced
his bigger and bulkier ways of 1999. Last year, Sehorn, then recovering from
major knee surgery, hit the weights too hard and played at 228 pounds, as
big as some linebackers. Bigger wasn't better.
"The false perception of mine was that when I ran vertically, I
thought I was great," Sehorn said. "When I got on the football field and
they expected me to go laterally and stop and start, it was tough. With the
extra weight, it was like I was coming out of mud."
Sehorn is down to 209 pounds, his lowest weight since college. He's
so light his new bride, actress Angie Harmon, joked it would be like her
coming back from vacation and weighing 185 pounds. Sehorn likes what he sees
of Thomas, a 31-year-old with 35 career starts.
Questions about Strahan and Williams are on hold because of
injuries. Strahan is sidelined with back problems. Williams has turf toe.
Neither injury is considered serious and both players are expected to have
good seasons.
Barrow has pleased Giants management with his range at middle
linebacker. His reunion with his former University of Miami teammate, Jessie
Armstead, gives the Giants one of the fastest linebacking corps in the
league.
"I can roam half the field, and Michael can handle the other half
of the field, and we can together in the middle," Armstead said. "One of
the things we have to focus in on is getting more turnovers. We have to look
back to 1997 when we led the league in turnovers. Things kind of went down last
year, but we have a lot more speed."
Barrow, who comes to the Giants from Carolina, loves the talent on
the Giants' starting defense.
"We've got some gladiators at cornerback, some of the biggest in
the league," Barrow said. "Our whole secondary is big. We've got a Pro
Bowler on the defensive line in Strahan, a Pro Bowler at linebacker in
Armstead and a Pro Bowler at corner in Sehorn. They raise the level of play
at the other positions."
What the Giants defense can't afford is injuries. A tight salary cap
limited their ability to fill the roster with adequate backups.
"Our front line players are good, but they've got to stay
healthy," defensive coordinator John Fox said.
There is no question about that reality.
John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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