GIANTS 101

When the Giants drafted two freakishly athletic but admittedly raw defensive linemen in the first round, GM Jerry Reese tried to soothe a confused fan base (“another DE?!”) by explaining that the value in both picks were long draws. Sure, they might not jump right onto the field in 2010 and blow everybody away; but with a little patience and coaching the Giants thought they might have a couple of near-superstars on their hands in a few years.

Well, so much for that.

Early reports from training camp indicate that both Linval Joseph and Jason Pierre-Paul are excelling at this point. While a few early training camp practices certainly don’t mean these guys are ready to go, it’s a good sign for fans who were hoping that such immense athletic ability would help these guys overcome any “rawness” that might hold them back. Moreover, both seem to have avoided some of the silly pratfalls (showing up overweight; not learning the playbook) that often befall rookies, especially the “raw” ones.

Pierre-Paul especially was expected to be slowplayed into the lineup. He could certainly use some time to let technique catch up to talent, and the Giants have a fantastic DE rotation in front of him in the meantime. But JPP, whose draft-day selection made even the usually Stonewall Jackson-like Reese giddy like a teenage girl with a pony, has been tossing people around in the early goings of camp. All reports from camp indicate he’s beaten some starters while making backup O-linemen look silly, while using both speed and bull-rushes.

I know it’s just camp, but that is impressive for a guy who most expected to start making an impact next year. It’s a great weapon to have lurking behind your top 3, especially if one of Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka or Osi Umenyiora goes down. Speaking of Kiwanuka, he’s been (much to everyone’s surprise) taking reps at linebacker. Does that have anything to do with JPP’s emergence? We’ll see.

Joseph was also reputed to be raw, but not to the extent of JPP, and most expected some kind of contribution from the big-boy this year. I mean heck, if you have bona-fide NT size and athleticism, you can throw your weight around on any football field. In camp he’s both swallowed up runs and gotten to the passer (I wonder if Shaun O’Hara would have anything to say about that). Linval’s readiness, it would be a huge shot in the arm for a DT unit that’s nursing Jay Alford back to full strength and carrying the mostly useless Rocky Bernard. If Joseph were ready to go right out of the gate, he could easily find himself as the first DT off the bench to spell both Barry Cofield and Chris Canty, and could help reestablish physical, “beat-your-man” toughness to the middle of the DL.

Cue the anti-Coughlin rhetoric: he’s an old, crotchety curmudgeon who will never give these rookies a shot. Well, possibly. But on the other hand, at least these kids are on the defensive side of the ball, and Fewell should get to move his chess pieces around as he pleases. Secondly, it’s not like these kids would be entrusted with starting roles (barring injury).

But nevertheless, these two “freakishly” athletic premium draft picks bring to this D-line exactly what it lacked last year: healthy, youthful, physicality. Keep an eye on them in preseason, when full pads are on and the offensive linemen they are going against are wearing different uniforms. If they look like they belong, that’s one step closer to being ready to go.

Tags: Barry Cofield, Chris Canty, Jay Alford, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Osi Umenyiora, Rocky Bernard, Shaun O'Hara

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