Glauber's NFL Insider: Giants GM Reese loves roster

If it seems as if there was some major smack talk just about every day from the Jets this summer, you're right. In what has to go down as the most colorful training camp experience in franchise history - capped by the expletive-filled "Hard Knocks" series on HBO - the Jets dominated the headlines.

The Giants? Radio silence from a franchise that is typically buttoned down, even though there has been much more to crow about for a team with three Super Bowl championships since 1986.

But there is at least one person in the Giants' organization who is sounding a bit more outwardly confident than most. General manager Jerry Reese, the man in charge of constructing the roster that will take the field for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Panthers, is feeling very bullish about his team.

No curse words to embellish things. Just some good old-fashioned confidence heading into the season.

"I like this team. I like it a lot," Reese said. "This team I think, right now, if we get it right between our ears, we'll make a run."

By the Jets' standards, that's a lukewarm assessment. But in the world of the Giants, Reese's confident outlook is downright exuberant.

"I like our tempo," Reese said. "I like our enthusiasm at practice. I like our effort and energy. There are a lot of people with something to prove out there, and that's a good thing."

Reese had a similar feeling in the run-up to the 2007 season, his first year on the job as GM after succeeding Ernie Accorsi. Back then, the team also was coming off an 8-8 year, and embattled coach Tom Coughlin's tenure was in question. The Giants went on to win their third Super Bowl that season.

Though Coughlin's status is much less shaky now, there still are some occasional questions about his long-term future, especially if the team underachieves this season. "The coach has something to prove," Reese said. "The players have something to prove. I have something to prove. Our front office has something to prove. I think there are a lot of motivated people around here, and I like that."

Reese believes the biggest key to the season is what happens on defense under new coordinator Perry Fewell, who replaced Bill Sheridan.

"[Fewell] is proven, he's been in the fire," Reese said. "But Perry's not going to make one tackle. It's up to the players. Bill Sheridan took a lot of hits, but he didn't make or miss one tackle last year. You could have Vince Lombardi calling the defense, but guys on the field have to make plays."

Reese places particular emphasis on the defensive line, where the Giants are stocked with big-time talent such as Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka and newcomers Jason Pierre-Paul and Linval Joseph. There's a lot to like for Reese, but he knows the potential must translate into results. And he knows not to be deceived.

"On paper last year, I think we had the most talented team since I've been the GM," he said. "But we went 8-8. Now we all need to do our jobs better."