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Questions about the Giants draft prospects? Curious about potential Free Agency additions that may be on the horizon? Wondering who we think will be the biggest difference-maker in 2010? Interested in hearing about how the Giants will fare in their new stadium? Pondering what Eli Manning’s Tuesday night routine is like? ASK (ok, maybe not the last one…we’d have to make that up)!
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Short URL: http://www.giants101.com/3rdand1/ms
(repost)
So… as the draft approaches… here’s my take… all IMHO of course…
Offense or defense? Let’s be honest… scoring points wasn’t our problem. Naturally there are some tempting offensive players… and depending on value they could easily be selected. But as a general rule we need defense. Our D was a sieve. Gutless puss’ies marking time between paychecks. This is not Giant football. We’ve got to return to the basics… and that’s defense.
The holes? It’s not the OL. Forget it. Iupati… or one of the OTs. Hey, it’d be great. But the OL isn’t a problem. Same guys that won the Superbowl. The holes are on the DL and the LB corp. We need at least one body each in those two spots.
DL… Tuck, Kiwi, and Pu’ssy… err I mean Osi …are solid DEs. But DT is a completely unsettled. I believe Canty will return to form. And Cofield is a good, unspectacular DT. Alford is coming off an injury, Freddie is gone, and Bernard is smelling like a can of cat food. Hell, we may need 2 bodies there.
LB… Depth is not a problem, but we need an ILB “difference maker”. Our LBs have su’cked for far too long.
Speed or power? Easy… SPEED. Big, fat NT types… huge LBs that can’t cover… no thanks. Two-down LBs need not apply. Same with run-stuffing DTs. We’ve got to make some plays on 3rd down… and that takes speed.
DL or DE? I don’t care … nor do I feel it makes all that much of a difference. Tuck and Canty can go inside… lots of DEs can… and some DTs can move outside. Just because someone lined up at DE in college doesn’t mean they can’t flex. I’d rather a top DE than a second tier DT.
The who? OK… for our first two picks… I see the pool as… McClain (med eval pending), Weatherspoon, Spikes (r#2), Price, Houston (r#2)… I’d also grab Morgan or Dunlap… big DEs who could also take snaps at DT.
(to be continued)
1. Can a compelling argument be made to draft a non LB/DT in the 1st round?
2. Was last years demise actually due to talent, injuries or coaching?
3. What was Killdrive’s Wonderlic score?
4. Most likely to get cut/traded before the season (not named Osi)
5. Offensive philosophy: rely on the young stud WRs and put the defense at risk of short breaks or go back to relying on the run game with an aging/less effective line and injury-plagued running backs?
1. If reese and co think that having a Goff, surroundedby so much talent will suffice, they believe that ALford, and Canty will be back to (if not starting to) be back to dominating form. and Someone like Spiller is available, I can see us taking him.
2. I think, although not a good enough excuse, the injuries destroyed our chances. And then the attitudes changed, and then we gave up on the coaching, so yes…
3. HAHA!
4. Sinorice Moss, Laurence Tynes
5. RUN THE BALL!!!!!
6. That was awesome dirt thanks!
Here is what I think goes through Gillbride’s head every third down:
“We need three yards. I could run or pass. Oh crap, a decision. They probably think I am going to run, so I should pass. But what if they are thinking that I know they are thinking run…and they drop into pass coverage? Oh no, I need to pass. Shotgun? Under center? Play action? Oh no, there are eight seconds left on the playclock…wait a draw is a run that looks like a pass…RUN A DRAW! RUN A DRAW! Oh no, I hope the defense didn’t hear that…”
I bet it sounds something like that too when he was tryin to make a Junior Gillbride!
HAHAHAHA!
In general, I think two things are valid points that have been touched upon repeatedly, but are not necessarily mutually exclusive:
1. Our entire D roster did not completely forget how to play football. Some of last years performance most certainly can be attributed to a combination of injury, incompetent coordinator, and just general “domino effect” of these things leading to an overall malaise by the defense. It should be safe to assume that some of our previously talented players will indeed return to form with a fresh start this year.
2. That being said, there still needs to be some not only fresh blood but some new STARTERS brought in to bump people out. Not only because we obviously need upgrades in certain spots, but also just to send a clear message that everybody is not guaranteed a second chance if they put in a performance last year. That whether or not you believe extenuating circumstances may have led to your own poor performance, you ARE eligible to be replaced. Basically, just to remind everybody that absolutely nobody’s job is safe due to past performance.
Happy St Patrick’s Day to all of the Irish on G101. I just posted a question on my site here at wordpress about the middle linebacker position. Everything the Giants have done thus far has been great but they still need a defensive leader in the middle.
After looking over the available LB’s again, I think it has become clear to me that the Giants will make a big trade before the season starts for a middle linebacker. They cannot give the keys to the kingdom to a rookie and Jerry Reese will not “settle” on a LB he doesn’t feel can lead the team.
My question is: If the Giants decide to trade for a star middle linebacker, who would the team most likely give up and what player would be worth the effort? Only serious possibilities of course apply. What would be a fair trade that leaves both teams happy?
The Florida pro day started at 10am … anxiously awaiting the first twitters w/ 40 times on Brandon Spikes, etal.
The Texans may be a potential draft day trading partner for us at #20 …
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/17/texans-expected-to-invest-in-running-back-early/
Clemson’s C.J. Spiller and Fresno State’s Ryan Matthews are the clear first-round candidates. Cal’s Jahvid Best could also sneak in, but doesn’t fit what the Texans need.
Spiller should be gone by the time Houston selects, but Matthews could be a tempting prospect.
Approximate value would be our 1&3 for their 1&2.
Okay, you really want questions? Here’s a few that are a bit less repetitive than what we all already know are the questions for 2010:
1) How long will it probably take Coughlin/Gilbride to recognize that they need to get Barden and Beckum (as an in-motion H-back) in the Red Zone offense?
2) Will the brilliant (said with full-out irony) tactic of kicking off short so that opponents will only bring the ball out to their 35-yard line rather than have a shot for a big return continue to be the approach of our astute coaching staff, and if so, why?
3) If there’s a recognition that an increase in team speed is necessary in this era of the NFL why weren’t players like Wilkinson and Kehl given more time on the field and players like Danny Clark and Antonio Pierce less?
4) If Barden is ready to become the #4 wide receiver on the depth chart should Hixon be retained as a #5 receiver and kick return specialist?
5) Is Zak DeOssie promising or is he only sticking around based on the inability of the Giants to find anyone else (or teach someone else) to do long-snapping for them?
6) Given recent reports that David Beckum is expected to come back and play soccer in a year after having completely torn his Achilles tendon, is it possible that new surgical techniques mean that Andre Brown could actually have a successful NFL career as a running back, and if so what are the implications for the Giants, especially in the April draft?
1) We all know (and hate) that Coughlin never plays rookies. I think we see Barden and Beckum in expanded roles in 2010. Barden near the Red Zone and Barden all over the field. How imposing does Nicks and Barden wide with Smith in the slot and Boss at TE look in the “Green” Zone.
2) It seems that the Giants tried to fix the kickoff specialist problem in Free agency but the Vikings beat them to it by signing (his name escapes me). Maybe they take a look at another kickoff specialist in camp.
3) I think Wilkenson was going to see more playing time, but he was injured last season. Old Man Coughlin liked the experience of Clark and Pierce over the upside of the younger players.
4) I think Hixon will be back as the primary return man and depth at wideout. I HOPE Barden is ready to take a step forward and be the #4 and if he is I HOPE the coaching staff throws some balls his direction.
5) Zak DeOssie is a good longsnapper and is always one of the first players downfield in pursuit following the longsnap. I think this is his full time role.
6) I am not sure about Andre Brown. Achillies tears are tough to come back from and have ended careers before (like L.T.’s). When it comes to drafting a runningback, I could see the Giants grabbing one in the 6th or 7th round – maybe a James Starks – with question marks and upside (like Bradshaw).
The Depth Chart is still 1) Jacobs 2) Bradshaw 3) Ware in 2010 and I do not think a lot changes there.
in 1) I meant Barden in the Red Zone and Beckum all over the field. Sorry.
Well Rich, I certainly feel that Beckum SHOULD be used all over the field and certainly in the Red Zone (I’m done calling it Green Zone just because Coughlin insists that’s what it is…maybe I’ll reconsider when they actually have a decent plan in the Red Zone one of these years). Put him in motion, already having Barden and Nicks out wide and Smith in the slot, Boss at TE, and I don’t see how the defense doesn’t have to show itself to Eli immediately, which means he knows where his single coverage is and should have a great opportunity to hit an open man or use his remaining back as a runner or a chipper who then goes to the flat. I just wonder if Coughlin will allow this.
As for Barden, just based on what he did in camp last season against the starting defense (before everyone was injured) he deserves a real shot at pushing Hixon to the #5 spot on the depth chart. And while I am a BIG fan of Hixon and hope he is retained as the returner, once he’s not the #4 guy on the WR depth chart he is subject to being pushed off the roster if they find a rookie who can return kickoffs and think about using Rolle or another D-back as a punt returner. I think Hixon stays, but I also suspect Reese may see what he could get for him during the draft.
I also like DeOssie as a special teams guy (great snapper, gets downfield quickly) but don’t know why the Giants wouldn’t train someone else to take those duties over if necessary. And I’m curious as to just what Zak’s upside is as a SAM. Is he good enough to be the #2 guy on the depth chart behind Sintim? He needs to be good enough to at least be #3 there. As of now I have no idea if he’s an NFL-quality linebacker. He has size and reasonable speed. he was dominating in the Ivies, and he has the right pedigree. But can he play?
I considered Brown’s career over, but now I’m not so sure. If David Beckham can really be expected to play soccer at a high international level after severing his Achilles tendon, that would seem to suggest that surgical techniques have really progressed dramatically, and perhaps my assumption was too pessimistic. I think Brown looked like a potentially terrific back before he was hurt. If he has a future then the Giants really are not at all in need of running backs once they pass on the homerun hitters like Spiller and Best.
I call it the Dead Zone… which I feel is more appropriate.
You might be right about Andre Brown. I have heard that hes back running full speed already. I really hope he can be back
OK, I’ll play…
I’m now 52 years old… what are the chances that I’ll one day be able to watch a Giants team without any Gilbrides on the coaching staff before I die?
Seriously, though, what meaning can we infer from the hiring of Kevin Gilbride, Jr. to provide “quality control” over the offense run by his old man? Does the Giant braintrust sincerely view this as a legitimate tool for self-scouting that will ultimately make the offense run more effectively? Or, is this simply another “Alexander Haig moment” from TC; his way of reminding the world and his legion of doubters that. “I’m in charge here”?
Joe Haden runs in the high 4.3s low 4.4s at Florida’s Pro Day.
Easy Top 10 Pick, Likely got to Cleveland at #7.
Where’d you read that?
Multiple media outlets are reporting it right now.
Also Spikes sucked. He is a 3rd rounder.