Losing Goff, and Losing Hope in Giants?

Sam Borden writes about the latest blow to the Giants’ defense: the season-ending injury to middle linebacker Jonathan Goff.

With the Giants reeling and the Redskins looming, it seems as if the Giants may have little choice, at least in the short term, but to go with the players already in their locker room.

It is a familiar strategy. When the Giants lost wide receiver Steve Smith this past off-season, there was a clamor from fans about what free agents the Giants should target as a replacement. Instead, they went with in-house options like Domenik Hixon and Victor Cruz. When tight end Kevin Boss left for the Oakland Raiders, there was the same uprising but the Giants stuck with the familiar tight ends Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum.

The Giants are said to be interested in bringing back Kawika Mitchell for another tour. But relying on young players for the short term may not be as damaging as one might think. Andrew Furman of the Ultimatenyg blog spoke with the former Giants linebacker Carl Banks, who has high hopes for the newcomers Greg Jones, Jacquian Williams and Mark Herzlich.

Extra point: Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger caught up with the Redskins’ Barry Cofield, who said the Giants haven’t treated some of his former teammates right, including Shaun O’Hara, Rich Seubert, Chase Blackburn, Kevin Boss, Steve Smith and Osi Umenyiora. If you’re a Giants fan, given all the off-season losses and the preseason injuries, are you starting to lose hope before the season has even begun?