Loading ...It's the age old debate when it comes to the NFL draft – positional need versus drafting the best player available at your selection. If you ask some of the top GM's around the National Football League the question, they'll tell you it's a combination of both. As toward leaning a little more in one direction than another – that just comes down to the drafting style of the individual making the final call on a draft pick.
Looking at the New York Giants roster specifically, there really are not very many glaring weaknesses, as the team has a very impressive balance of talent across the board. New York wasn't far from contention last season, and played at a high level on both sides of the football. The problem came in their turnovers and most times they found themselves their biggest enemy.
The Giants have already been linked to linebacker Akeem Ayers of UCLA and interior offensive lineman Mike Pouncey of Florida, which is certainly understandable as their needs in those areas are clear.Today, we look at the positions the Giants can look at drafting in the first round that not only address their "need" positions, but also the positions that may have the best value at that 19th pick of the first round.
CORNERBACK
Looking at the Giants cornerback unit, there is a group of strong, physical corners who come up and support the run, and play a very in your face brand of football. What the unit lacks however, is a true cover corner, as well as real depth in the unit. New York's coverage deficiencies were exposed by teams like Indianapolis and Green Bay last season.
You've heard all the talk about Patrick Peterson out of LSU and Prince Amukamara of Nebraska, and while both will likely be going in the top 10, they aren't the only top-25 caliber cornerback prospects in this years draft. Brandon Harris of Miami could be a dark horse option for the G-Men with his impressive man to man coverage skills, to go along with his top-notch athleticism and physical approach to the game.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Expect to see a lot of defensive linemen drafted in the first round of this years draft, and with good reason. If Barry Cofield's price tag is out of the Giants range (which is rumored to be the case), this unit becomes more of an issue for this Giants team, as Cofield was their most consistent defensive tackle in 2010.
Marcell Dareus and Nick Fairley make the noise at the head of the class, but Corey Liuget of Illinois, Muhammad Wilkerson of Temple, and Stephen Paea of Oregon State have all had first round buzz. Liuget's active motor and ability to create pressure on the quarterback could lead to him being selected in the top 20 on draft day.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
While there isn't a player in this years draft agreed upon as a true franchise NFL left tackle prospect, there are several tackles expected to go in the 15-32 range of picks including Tyron Smith of USC and Anthony Castonzo of Boston College.
The Giants have a pair of slightly above average bookends in David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie, and a solid young tackle prospect in William Beatty who has been progressively improving over his first two seasons with the team. Offensive lineman Rich Seubert has also proved capable of handling the tackle position when he was shifted outside due to injuries across the Giants line. All that being said, the Giants are getting up there in age at tackle and could look to groom a top young talent at this position.
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I dont think Harris has ther measurebles that Reese likes. Look at the Corners we have drafted. I doubt we go after a 5″9 corner in the 1st all of a sudden. Guy is just to small to be a top 20 pick imo..
Great to have a Haz piece! It MUST be draft time!
I think you nailed it–this year, the *needs* and the *wants* are kind of all over the place. We have need of a corner to replace or push for playing time behind Aaron Ross; if Cofield walks, we’ll need to seek for another DT; with the future of Seubert and O’Hara in question, it becomes important for us to look towards locking down the interior of this offensive line.
I’ve been the guy banging the drum for a center for 2 years, and now seems like the time. Pouncey isn’t the guy I’d take, certainly not in the 1st at least. My eyes are set on Fitzpatrick, Wiesniewski and Barnes. Any of those guys would be great for us!
Left guard is a funny area–we’ve got plenty of would-be’s who could all step up and fill the role. But it seems like the most obvious choice is Diehl, which would necessitate replacing him at left tackle. For that reason, it’s gotta be OT in the 1st. At the very least, he and Beatty would be looked at as the longterm future of our line, along with Petrus and a yet-to-be-drafted center. Over the last week or so, I’ve become fixated on Costanzo, but wouldn’t be upset with either Carimi or Tyron.
Costanzo just seems like a natural fit for this team. I wouldn’t hate if we got Pouncey, but I see him more as a project at center. There are a few centers that I’d have no problem with taking. Wiesniewski is the number 1 in my eyes. If he’s there in the 3rd round I’d be all for taking him.
I like Carimi a lot, the guy is a mauler, but I don’t think he’s ready to step in right away. I like Smith a lot, but doubt he’ll get past the Lions. That leaves Costanzo as the #1 option. I loved Nate Solder, but something about him just makes him seem so soft. He actually reminds me of Diehl. Costanzo on the other hand makes me think of someone like Joe Staley.
I hope we get a decent tackle though. We *need* O-line help.
If we were talking about Pouncey as a 2nd round option, I’d be all for it. Because of what you said–he’s *not* a ready-made center just yet. He could step in at either of the guard spots on day one and be pretty damn good, of that there is little question. But his mechanics as a center leave something to be desired, which is natural when you’ve only been a center for a single season and your team ran so much out of the spread. Any idiot can snap the ball when the QB’s hands are on your taint! Shotguns are more difficult and require precision and nuance. He needs more work in that area.
I wonder whether Reese would take him in the 1st, though. He will probably be as good as his brother, long term. There’s no reason to think otherwise.
When I look at needs I always think in terms of ‘game impact’. In other words, where were we so weak that it cost us games… and where can we improve so that it will win us games.
If you look at our losses the bulk of the reasons for them fall into three areas; turnovers on offense, defensive meltdowns, and special teams incompetence.
Now there isn’t anything we can do in the draft to prevent turnovers. Maybe another TE target might allow Eli a safety valve that could help. But that’s a reach. And special teams are typically late rounders or UDFAs. Which leaves us with the defense. So… unit by unit…
Line – run defense lapsed in some critical times. They were often weak up the middle. Not tragic mind you. But this will get worse now that Cofield has gone contract crazy. We have to assume he’s gone. That means that DT is a need. Not a critical one, but not a minor one either.
Linebackers – poor as a unit. No intimidation. No real speed. No sack-ability. Let’s face it. They stunk. Goff was pedestrian. Boley was OK in spots, but not a star by any means. Everyone else had a lousy year, and werebasically non-factors. We simply cannot endure another season with this gaggle of scraps. This is my #1 need. I feel improvement here most benefits the team.
Defensive backs – safeties did not provide adequate deep help. Now I know we’ve discussed this before. And I believe it’s due to the poor LBs. But if it’s not then we need someone with deep cover skills. We could also use a 3rd CB to fill in for Aaron Ross when he’s injured… and that’s a lot. Depending on the front office assessment this could end up our #2 priority.
I admit freely that value can trump need in any round. If a player is clearly the top of the board then we have to take him. And I know there’s justified concern on the OL… especially at center. But until that shakes out a bit more we can’t make a determination of exactly what we need. It’s too risky… unless the value supersedes need.
I like this thought-process, but disagree that there’s nothing we can do draft-wise about turnovers. I believe that we can upgrade our offensive line, which would a) give Eli more time to make better decisions, b) give our running backs better running lanes and allow them not to be forced to make something out of nothing (which led to fumbles from Bradshaw), c) allow our offensive to be more balanced.
Our running game disappeared at times due to pressure up the middle. That also clearly affects Eli and the passing game. Shore up that deficiency and I believe we have 3-5 less turnovers as a team.
I agree Eli could use more time, but Bradshaw was as likely to fumble after a 50-yard free run as a 5-yard scramble. He just wants that extra half yard at the end too much.
While I agree that LB is a very big need…I just don’t see anyone who really fits being worth drafting that early. I still think the best course for that would be to go for someone like Mason Foster in the 2nd round. That guy is a real football player. He’s a throwback type. When you think of great LBs you think of the Giants back in the day. That’s the kind of player Foster is. He’s just a football player. He can play any spot, he’s a 100 % hustle, all day kind of player. Coughlin will fall in love with him. I’d rather use a 2nd rounder on him than reach for someone like Ayers.
If he is so great, why will he be available in the 2nd round?
kujo… I’m all for upgrading our OL. I’m with you. But we disagree on method.
Center – possibly our weakest, most worrisome position. But we have O’hara, Seubert… even Koets played credibly there. We could draft Pouncey #1… and watch him sit for a couple years if O’hara returns to form.
Offensive Right Tackle – McKenzie played reasonably well there, and could go for another couple years. He’s 32. There isn’t any depth behind him, but that’s hardly a priority.
Offensive Left Tackle – Diehl just seems to go on and on. He’s 31, and does a pretty good job year in and year out. Beatty and the enigmatic Andrews supply more than enough depth.
** In both instances drafting a tackle means drafting someone for the future who will almost certainly sit the bench in 2011… if not 2012 as well.
Offensive Left Guard – Seubert. I know he’s injured, but he’s resilient and has come back from injury before. I agree it’s a position of concern, but he’s already backed by Petrus. If that’s not enough there’s always Andrews who played there some in 2010. And if Beatty wins the LOT slot it slides Diehl over as well.
Offensive Right Guard – Snee, possibly our best lineman. A pro Bowl talent and 29 years old. ‘Nuf said.
** Do we really need another guard to throw into this mix?
Now I would not be upset with an offensive lineman as our #1 or #2 pick if that’s the value at the time. But unless O’hara can’t make it back there’s no open slots. And even then… do we really think a college center can just slide into the pros? Pouncey-the-Elder was an anomaly. Usually it takes a couple years.
I absolutely understand all of what you said but still believe we need better than what we have. Particularly at the first two areas that you addressed– center and left tackle. I don’t believe Andrews will return so that leaves Diehl, McKenzie and Beatty. If one of those guys goes down for any significant period of time, we are street sweeping for bookends to guard Eli. Needless to say, I think we need improvement there. And I disagree with you that Costanzo or another LT would be doomed to ride the pine for a year or two. Last season showed that the team is not married to Diehl as the LT. And given the timing and severity of Seubert’s injury, I don’t see how he could start the season for us at LG. Thus, the natural–and, I believe, preferable– conclusion would be to seek a replacement for Diehl at LT. Doing so at #19 would be the perfect confluence of need and value.
As for the center spot, I agree that taking one in the first would be ill-advised. If we aren’t going for an OL in the 1st, I think the value will be at DT, CB or TE. So I would look towards the middle of the draft for a center, regardless of what we currently have on the roster. O’Hara is going to be, what, 34 at the start of the season? And Koets did okay until he tore his ACL. Cordle? Petrus? No way of knowing. And as I said before, Seubert simply cannot be relied upon as an option at this point. While he is exactly the type of center we need, his age (32 tomorrow, actually) prevent him from being a solution there. You draft someone in the 3rd or so and you let him come up behind O’Hara. At worst, he learns for a year; at best, he beats out O’Hara and completes the youth movement on our line.
Im of agreement that a LBr is needed early. #1 need to fill to make our team better. The value at 19 might be OT, Constanza would be nice. I m not sold on Ayers and see plenty of value at LBr in the second round but a quality C is also needed.
All excellent views. And Sam; The Giants real problem in the secondary is they do not have eliet speed…….anywhere. If Jimmy Smith were solid character wise, I’d be all over him as pick 19. However, I’ll say again, it’s very hard to ignore either of the Miami cornner backs. Brandon Harris is a football player. Five/nine means very little in light of what he can do covering the likes of Jackson or Mclian.
Harris (maybe) does’nt have eliet speed. But 4.3 aint too shabby.
And compair that to what the Giants have back there right now. NO CONTEST. Plus none of our present DB or Safetys are return men. None “shifty” or straight line fast enough to turn corrners on returns, or even after interceptions.
Harris brings that and more. And you wont have to “teach” him how to play cornner. You’ll just have to teach him how to play in “your” system.
All the rest is his………….”NATURALLY”.
Harris is capable of putting a charge in the return game and that’s K/O or Punts.
He posseses what the Giants sorley lack at many positions…..speed and ball skills. The kid is killer good. You can have 6’2″ 215 all day long. But the Giants prototypical DB is not ever going to be quick enough, or straight line fast enough to blanket a speed wide out. Not unless you get Peterson, or (maybe) Amukamura
That is a non-existant dream.
Harris’s backfield mate VanDyke is also interesting. But he will be drafted for one thing…….speed. Sick speed. A 4.2 fourty guy who though not (yet) a coverage ace (like Harris IS) can make up for a lot of sins. Teach this kid to play corrner, and you have a cure for the secondary ailments. And you have the fastest guy on the team since……………ROCKY THOMPSON?????!!!!. Poor Rocky was a one trick poney however. The fear with VanDyke would be; Is he Rocky 2.0? Somehow, I dont think so. He just needs time to develop. During that time, what say they let him help out on special teams, and break him in playing “DIME” DB.
My linebacker of choice is Travis Lewis. That too is a non existant dream. He’s staying in school. No doubt to put on about 15 to 20 pounds and hopefully retain his speed and agility. He is by far the best backer this year and next. He can play linebacker in ANY alignment. And is smart enough to play any backer position in any alignment. The bomb in short. He’s a “FOOTBALL” player. (IMHO)
Houston is a 34 guy, but I love his aggressive attitude. Ayers is really the only linebacker in this draft that fits the Giants “need”. He is a strong side backer, who is capable of making plays. He is far and away the best linebacker on the team the day he is drafted. But his faults will raise some eyebrows. Namely, his effort against the run. Stoping the run is somewhat of a prerequisite for a SAM.
And I have a gift for understatement.
But in the Giants “current” scheme, he also needs to be able to drop into coverage and be a deadly tackler. That, in a nutshell is Ayres.
He, (as he himself said) will “fit in”. He has upside, and at 250, is the right size.
The other “required” backer is Bruce Carter. He is (provided his knee is sound) the perfect WIL backer. He plays side line to side line and he too if selected becomes by default the Giants best linebacker….DAY ONE. He loves to hit people and has the speed and range to make his presents felt over a wide area.
Let me say this now……Ayers at 19, and Carter at 52 would totaly transform the defense….for the better. Specifically because they both are bonafied linebackers.
They are both athelitic, and will both get better game by game, year by year.
The have ideal size to man the positions (SAM and WIL) repsectively. Neither is a “project” linebacker. The both are playmakers.
Are either of them LT or Carson, or Banks? Nope. Are they better than anything we’ve had since Jessie Armstead? You bet your **** they are. The youngster Mason from Washington aint bad either. I would not be angry if he were chosen.
I was the “crazy” guy wanting Reese to make a play for both McClain and Weatherspoon LAST YEAR. And I’m still crazy. And the Giants still “SUCK” at linebacker. And they will until they draft or otherwise obtain the “Real McCoy”
to play the position(s)
Offensive line is simple. If Reese and TC covet a center, tackle or guard. They have to take the best one on the board when it’s time to select.
But in my opinion, they can take a center and a tackle in rounds 3 & 4 respectively.
They can also “reach” for either with the picks they have garnered via the departure of “Fat Freddy and the QB”. Even a tight end and running back could be considered with those picks.
But in truth, suring up linebacker and DB should be the top consideration. Because with solid additions there, and more healthy bodies along the offensive line the ball club will stay in every game. Like everyone is fond of saying, there are no “once in a lifetime” players in the entire draft this year. I begg to differ as far as Peterson is concerned.
But if that is the case, then Costanzo, Smith, Pouncey, Carmini, Solder…..all of them can wait. And the defense can be cemented. And turned into the beast it must be for the Giants to thrive.
Another thing I hear quite a bit of is the Giants rarely use early round draft picks on offensive lineman. So they should not be too much of a problem for our scouting department to find quality players to play center and tackle.
Same deal for running backs. And I’ve heard the same thing about virturally every position with the exception of defensive line.
This team has put Dehl at LT, and McKinze at RT for the long haul. That is despite having viable options to draft for a few years. So I expect Reese to load up his defense for the last time this year. And that to me means:
19: Ayres
52: Carter (If Giants dont take him here, he’s history)
82: Ros-I Dowling, DB Virginia.
(Could develope into a cover cornner. Poor mans Jimmy Smith no red flag issues)
116: Derek Hall, OT Stanford (Already have 2 LT’s sure up RT)
180: John Moffitt G/C Wisconsin OR Jake Kirkpatrick, C TCU
(If they are not around, take the kid (center) from USC)
I have done some homework on the 6th round, and here it is:
Round 6: Giants have 20th, 33rd and 37th picks.
20th: Derek Newton, OT Arkansas State (Sleeper LT prospect)
33rd: Schuylar Oordt, TE N. Iowa
37th: Mark LeGree, FS Appalachain St. (Ball Hawk)
Round 7: Giants have 19th pick the running Backs I like there are:
Da’Rel Scott, Maryland
Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech
Nick Grigsby, Arizona
Emmanuel Moody, Florida
Brandon Saine, Ohio State
There you go. I know our Giants will never take LB with first two picks………
BUT THEY SHOULD!!!!!!
I forgot about your crazy scheme to take both McClain AND Weatherspoon in the 1st last year. That was great! Based on trading Osi, right?
Anyway, if we went LB and LB in the 1st and 2nd, I would join Terrence and others in being apoplectic. I’m not “against” Ayers, per se. Just question how he represents a good option for us given our need to get better run support out of our linebackers. And while I want to believe that the Giants are looking to replace Boley, you and I both know that it ain’t happening. I want Carter on this team anyway.
I thought Osi was going to get his self shipped out of town, ala Shockey for running off at the mouth. I aslo hated his run defense. He redeamed himself last year.
But I did not think we could get early first round value for Osi, becasue he was such a punk vs the run. That was then, this is now. And I honestly think he (Osi) heard some of the criticism about his run D. Because I might be crazy, but I’m not alone.
But I really wanted to give up this years number one to obtain an additional early first round pick. That way we could have taken McClain and Spoon and been done with it.
If we need a DT, then slide one in on the sixth round. Anywhere you like.
But dont pass on Newton. He could be a find at either tackle spot. But looks like a fit at LT…..with some technique help.
Anthony Gray, DT Southern Miss.
rlh ftw !
LOL Krow, does ftw = Fix The World? LOL.
for the win !
I’ll be honest… right here and now… I want Aldon Smith at #19.
Smith and Houston seem to be cut from similar cloth. Houston is 268, Smith is 263.
Smith ran a 4.7, Houston ran a 4.6. Both are nasty and dont mind busting you in the chops. In fact, they like it. So there are two Harrison clones.
I think we could get Pouncey, Carimi, and Castonzo… and together they wouldn’t make the same impact in 2011 as a Clay Matthews.
Game, set, match.