Loading ...Here we go again, folks. It’s that time of year. A few things have changed since the last roster prediction. Injuries, recoveries and performances have shifted the balance of certain units, and therefore the roster overall. My Prediction:
QB- Eli Manning, Jim Sorgi
The Giants have carried two QB’s the last couple of years, and Rhett Bomar will really have to impress in the preseason to avoid the waiver gauntlet, and ultimately the practice squad.
FB- Madison Hedgecock
Hedgecock didn’t seem to be in much trouble coming into camp, but a recent bit about Jerome Johnson‘s good camp and Maddy’s handful of drops could be noteworthy. Hedgecock is a trusted veteran, but is coming off a down season due to an injured shoulder that required surgery. Would the Giants be tempted make a mini-youth movement here, saving about $600,000 this year? I’m not ready to go that far yet.
RB- Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, Andre Brown, DJ Ware
For most of this offseason I’ve been suggesting the Giants carry 5 RB’s, but with Bradshaw, Jacobs and Brown looking healthy that extra insurance policy might not be necessary. Gartrell Johnson‘s sluggish start to camp hasn’t helped his cause. Look for Brown to get some situational work out of the backfield if he can prove a reliable pass blocker, and DJ Ware to return kickoffs and perhaps spell the top two guys occasionally.
TE- Kevin Boss, Travis Beckum, Bear Pascoe
This unit seems a little thin, with Boss coming off the ankle surgery (now nursing a hammy) and Beckum’s noted lack of blocking skills (and a hammy, too)! Pascoe has had an up and down camp, and it’s possible Scott Chandler could steal that roster spot or even come in as the 4th guy. Hey, you can’t be stacked everywhere.
WR- Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Derek Hagan, Sinorice Moss, Ramses Barden
Not much to say here, although many Giants fans will be lamenting Moss’ continued presence on the roster. Tim Brown‘s opened some eyes recently in camp, but the Sinorice Moss carbon copy will probably need to wrestle the kickoff return job from DJ Ware to either be carried as the 7th guy or bump someone (Moss?) off the roster.
OL- David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O’Hara, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, William Beatty, Guy Whimper, Mitch Petrus, Adam Koets
We can argue all day about who lines up where, but that’s pretty much what the roster is going to look like. Kevin Boothe‘s placement on the PUP due to a pectoral injury cleared the depth situation up a little bit, but you have to wonder if there is room for him when he’s ready to come back. Assuming everyone is healthy, it probably comes down to who the Giants like better: Boothe or Whimper.
CB- Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Aaron Ross, Bruce Johnson, D.J. Johnson
Again, not a lot of surprises here. If Ross is going to be the nickel back, he’s certainly got my vote to return punts. D.J. Johnson’s only up there because he was on the roster last year, and it’s possible that Seth Williams or Courtney Brown could take hold of that spot. With a WR group that underwhelms (outside of Hagan) on special teams, contributions in that department are going to go a long way in winning that CB last spot.
S- Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips, Deon Grant, Michael Johnson
This is another unit I thought might carry five guys, but with Chad Jones going down early that doesn’t look likely. This unit might shake out a few different ways with Phillips’ health, and Grant and Johnson presumably battling for depth chart dominance over one another, but these should be the four guys. Sha’Reff Rashad has been hanging around since last year, but he’s probably ticketed for the practice squad again. If Michael Johnson does get buried on the depth chart, he’s a good candidate to win a job as a punt gunner opposite Hagan.
LB- Michael Boley, Keith Bulluck, Clint Sintim, Jonathon Goff, Chase Blackburn, Bryan Kehl, Phillip Dillard
This is a crowded group, but for starters I’d think Coughlin would be fed up with Gerris Wilkinson by now, and its doubtful he even gets the chance to win over Perry Fewell. Adrian Tracy, the sixth-round DE convert probably could use a year on the practice squad to get used to a new position. If Goff straight up wins the MLB job from Bulluck, do the Giants even keep Bulluck around? Will Chase Blackburn successfully force the coaching staff to keep him around (again)? Are the Giants ready give up on Kehl? If Mathias Kiwanuka is going to get reps at linebacker, it’s quite likely that the answer to one of these questions will be bad news for somebody on the above list, with the roster spot going perhaps to a defensive back, a tight end or Rhett Bomar.
DE- Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul, Dave Tollefson
DT- Chris Canty, Barry Cofield, Linval Joseph, Jay Alford
Ok, let’s do these two units together, since the decision really comes down to keeping Tollefson or Rocky Bernard. Tollefson sticks because the Giants have more DE’s that can swing inside than vice-versa, and he’s also been the other guy (behind Kiwanuka) taking reps at LB. The fact that he’s on both punt and kick coverage teams and costs a heck of a lot less doesn’t hurt either. Cutting Bernard and allowing Kiwanuka to stand up bodes well for the Giants defensive line, as it indicates the coaches are comfortable with the early progress made by Joseph and Pierre-Paul. Can’t stress enough that a return to form for the D-line is the Giants most pressing issue.
K- Lawrence Tynes
Ugh.
P- Matt Dodge
After a rocky start to training camp, Dodge has reportedly found a groove and shown off the monstrous leg power he was reputed to have. His strong leg should allow him to do a decent job early, but there hasn’t been much of an effort to kick directionally. Plus, the kid’s apparently “built like a linebacker,” so we should all be excited to see the first time he lays someone out.
LS- Zak DeOssie
Not listed with the linebackers, as Tynes mentioned he wouldn’t really be working with them this season. A bad moment in your career, but at least you still have a job! I suppose his presence down here might incline the Giants slightly to carry one less linebacker. Slightly.
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I like it, but I m gonna go with Wilk making it and Chase getting the ax!
NFC East Win total O/U lines:
Cowboys 10
Giants 8.5
Eagles 8.5
Skins 7.5
Jacobs wore a T-shirt today reading, “Free 17 Let Him Ball Out,” and explained that he’d like to see Burress back in the NFL.
“I’m just hoping for the best for him and his family,” Jacobs said, per the Associated Press. “Hopefully, he can get out and continue his career.”
Jacobs said he made the shirt himself to show his support for Burress, who pleaded guilty to weapons charges stemming from an incident in which he accidentally shot himself in a New York City nightclub.
“You won’t see that anywhere unless you go and get it made just like I did,” Jacobs said. “I just had it made. It only took a couple minutes, so you can get one, too.”
I agree with Simon: both Blackburn and Tollefson make the team…
I agree that, while common sense would suggest the contrary, Moss and Brown are competing for the same roster spot and, in that dichotomy, Moss will make this team. I don’t wanna hear about Tim Brown being a “carbon copy” of Moss. ****. Brown seems like he’s more like Sproles in that he’s small and shifty whereas Moss is “fast.” I dunno how their 40 times compare, but I’d wager that Brown’s is either faster or the same and that his elusiveness trumps anything Moss brings to the table. Still, this is a Coughlin-coached team, and one of the central pillars of Coughlinism is trust experience above all. And while Brown has infinitely more upside than his counterpart, he loses the battle due to reasons far beyond his control.
Agreed. Looks like Tim Brown ran a 4.44 and Moss ran a 4.41. Both were unhappy with their times…
Although Moss’ may be faster, I still cling to the belief that there’s a difference between fast and quick. I’m not so impressed by running from Point A to Point B; rather, as a PR/KR, it’s much more important to be elusive, have great stop and go speed, and to possess a unique vision. Moss has demonstrated none of that when he’s had opportunities.
F Moss. I think I may be the number Moss hater on this board.
*one
Sean,
I sent you an email for the fantasy league. Can’t wait for the draft. Thanks for the invite writers.
Hey Krow,
I WILL be there tomorrow and Wednesday morning. Should I give you a call when I get there?
Sure… you got my number. Seeya at 2:35 !
What? No Herb?
Exile, here I come.
CORTLAND — Hours after it was revealed that Jets management met with Darrelle Revis’ agents on Friday and Revis’ representatives delivered a contract proposal, Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum on Monday sounded highly pessimistic the two sides will come to an agreement.