Years ago, former general manager Jerry Reese told me that the team's long-time architect, George Young, believed the "Giants need to be Giants" to dominate in the NFL. The Giants' first-round picks, for example, possess the A-plus physical and athletic traits to impose their will on opponents. Reviewing the personnel moves the Giants have made since Schoen's arrival, it is apparent the new general manager wants to build a heavyweight title contender. In Giants' terms, it means building a bigger, faster, stronger team with prototypes at the marquee positions (quarterback, offensive tackle, pass rusher, defensive tackle and cornerback). Considering each coach won behind a stingy defense and powerful running game, Schoen has an appreciation for old-school football that should enable him to rebuild the Giants utilizing a throwback model. In addition, Schoen and I worked with former Giants' defensive coordinator John Fox in Carolina as part of a front office that helped the team reach Super Bowl XXXVIII. Schoen certainly knows the recipe after spending a few years working for Parcells with the Dolphins as a national scout when the Giants' two-time Super Bowl-winning coach and Hall of Famer was the team's executive vice president of football operations. With a star-studded defense and a rock-solid running game leading the way, the Giants needed only timely contributions from their quarterback and skill players to chalk up wins in that era. Moreover, the throwbacks should encourage the Giants' new leaders to follow an old-school blueprint that helped the franchise dominate foes in the NFC. The Giants always have been at their best when playing a blue-collar brand of football that rewards tough guys for their work inside the lines. While the return to the navy helmet with a white facemask and a solid scarlet red stripe - and the iconic blue jerseys and white pants - will not bring Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, Carl Banks, Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick back to the Meadowlands, the retro uniforms should remind general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll of the tradition of the organization.
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