Loading ...In an eerily similar fashion to the New York Giants tumultuous 2011 preseason, the team has already lost multiple key contributors to the defensive backfield due to injury. With Terrell Thomas' re-aggravated ACL injury, along with Prince Amukamara's high ankle sprain, Big Blue has some serious questions to answer tonight in their final preseason bout with the New England Patriots. Not only is there no starter set in stone to take the field alongside Corey Webster next Wednesday against Dallas, but there is no defined nickel cornerback either.
Let's take a look at who defensive coordinator Perry Fewell may call upon to start come week one.
Michael Coe – The fifth-year veteran out of Alabama State has never been more than a depth-chart filler at cornerback for the duration of his career. While he can can be a contributor on special teams, Coe has never received starters minutes on defense. With that said, he has shown some great cover skills throughout the preseason. While he has trouble guarding players that are bigger than him, Coe is athletic enough to cover most receivers in this league.
After Bruce Johnson's poor performance against the Chicago Bears, Michael Coe seems to be the most likely candidate to start against Dallas. While he certainly will not be able to shut down Miles Austin or Dez Bryant, hopefully Coe can hold his own and not make any critical mistakes. That's about all we can ask for at this point.
Bruce Johnson – When Prince Amukamara was carted of the field in the Giants' third preseason game, it was Bruce Johnson who got the call to replace him as the starting cornerback. However, after getting toasted by Brandon Marshall for a 21-yard touchdown pass on just his third play, Bruce Johnson was benched in favor of Michael Coe. Although he is undersized for his position, Johnson is fast and has great closing speed on the ball. Similar to Coe, he will have trouble guarding the bigger receivers in the NFL, but there's no reason this guy can't become a serviceable player.
Justin Tryon – As we've said before on Giants 101, Justin Tryon played well in dime packages last season. He was eventually injured; however, he showed flashes of being a really good player. That said, we have not seen the same potential in him throughout this preseason. Tryon's aggressive style of play has left him open to making mistakes, which has burned the Giants on more than one occasion. With all the injuries in the secondary, Tryon is almost a lock to make the roster. However, he has not played well enough to merit starters minutes, nor has he played up to his capabilities. At this point, the Giants can not afford to put him out there in anything other than a reserve role, or as a special teams player.
Jayron Hosley – Obviously, the Giants want Jayron Hosley to become a key contributor down the road. With that, he has shown he has the potential to become a great cornerback in this league. However, after suffering through turf toe and in all likelihood missing the final two preseason games, the coaching staff will give him some time to get used to the NFL game. Don't look for him to contribute much early on this season.
In nickel packages, we will most likely see the Giants go with three safeties, with either Will Hill or Antrel Rolle covering the slot receiver. Bruce Johnson and Justin Tryon will also be given opportunities to showcase their abilities in that role tonight as the game wears on. Expect Perry Fewell to try several different options tonight, as the team must figure out a viable solution before the week one.
Overall, the Giants are fortunate to have three candidates to fill-in for their injured starters at cornerback. Obviously, the secondary will be weakened with either of these players in the game for significant periods of time. However, with the Giants ferocious pass rush, the team will be able to hide their deficiencies in their defensive backfield better than other squads around the league. Hopefully one of these career backups can come out and surprise us tonight against the New England Patriots.
Photo Credit: Mike Gannon
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2013 … draft another DB.
0r 2 or 3
Here’s my shot at the final 53:
Quarterbacks:
10 Eli Manning
8 David Carr
Halfbacks:
44 Ahmad Bradshaw
34 David Wilson
28 D.J. Ware
Fullbacks:
45 Henry Hynoski
Wide Receivers:
88 Hakeem Nicks
80 Victor Cruz
87 Domenik Hixon
13 Ramses Barden
82 Rueben Randle
12 Jerrel Jernigan
19 David Douglas
Tight Ends/H-Backs:
85 Martellus Bennett
86 Bear Pascoe
81 Adrien Robinson
Offensive Linemen:
66 David Diehl
75 Sean Locklear
65 William Beatty
73 James Brewer
76 Chris Snee
77 Kevin Boothe
64 David Baas
63 Jim Cordle
Defensive Linemen:
91 Justin Tuck
90 Jason Pierre-Paul
72 Osi Umenyiora
98 Adrian Tracy
97 Linval Joseph
95 Rocky Bernard
78 Markus Kuhn
61 Marcus Thomas
96 Marvin Austin
Linebackers:
59 Michael Boley
94 Mathias Kiwanuka
55 Keith Rivers
93 Chase Blackburn
57 Jacquian Williams
58 Mark Herzlich
49 Spencer Paysinger
Cornerbacks:
23 Corey Webster
20 Prince Amukamara
36 Jayron Hosley
37 Michael Coe
25 Bruce Johnson
30 Justin Tryon
Safeties
26 Antrel Rolle
21 Kenny Phillips
38 Will Hill
27 Stevie Brown
Kickers and Snappers:
5 Steve Weatherford
9 Lawrence Tynes
51 Zak DeOssie
Notes:
Greg Jones, Da’Rel Scott, Andre Brown, and Mitch Petrus get cut.
Perrilloux, McCants, Hendricks, Laron Scott, Selvish Capers, Dan Depalma and Muasau go to PS.
Thomas and Rogers goes on IR.
When Sash returns, Stevie Brown gets cut.
When Canty returns, either Marcus Thomas gets cut or someone (Marvin Austin?) goes on the IR.
Good job. I could go with the whole roster except Stevie Brown over Scott. We can get by with 3 safeties until Sash returns. if an injury occurs Brown isn’t going to help more than a street free agent or a CB could IMO.
Thomas if we get decent news on his recovery I would keep. Bruce Johnson can be picked backup if TT recovery goes bad later. He’s just not good enough to keep over the chance of TT returning.
No way T2 goes on IR, but Marvin Austin may,
Where’s Terrell Thomas?
IR
Again I think Coe should get no more than a few series tonight. Nothing that happens tonight is going to move him out of the #2 CB role for game #1. Only healthy returns of Hosley and/or Prince can change Coe’s spot at #2 CB. So to me the most important thing he needs to do tonight is remain healthy from a CB perspective.
I think Douglas can stick. He can be the PR and backup slot receiver.
Jernigan, Hixon, and Barden. Why keep all three?
Jernigan is a backup PR and backout slot reciever.
Hixon is a backup returner and backup outside receiver.
Barden is a backup outside receiver.
Randle is the future at outside receiver.
If we keep Jernigan, we don’t need Douglas. They play the same exact roles. Jernigan has more invested in him, but Douglas has shown more so far. Tough choice.
That brings it down to Barden and Hixon. Why keep Barden AND Hixon? If we don’t trust Barden now, and Randle is the future, then what is his role? It just doesn’t make sense. Honestly, if you don’t believe Ramses is ready to be the outside receiver in 3WR, and only as long as you’re willing to keep Randle on the bench, then why keep him?
Depth and Hixon could just could be better. Hixon though still his durabilty questions long term so you want to have players that could step in if needed. And Randle is still a rookie. Barden can still play a roll as a redzone WR.
I like Douglas but I think he makes it to PS. A lot of teams will release similarly talented WRs. We just need to find a PR but we always have Hixon in reserve.
I guess I just don’t see the purpose in keeping Barden and Hixon when we have Randle waiting in the wings.
Barden will provide ONE role on this team in this scenario. He will be insurance for an injury to Hixon UNTIL we are comfortable putting Randle in the game.
That’s a microscopic role. I’d rather upgrade PR and coverage units.
Can’t see Douglass making it. Someone else will field the punts.
In a total copycat move, CBS Sports Alex Raskin takes his shot at the NYG final 53:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nfl-rapidreports/19967427/giants-projected-roster-getting-to-53
Quarterbacks:
10 Eli Manning
8 David Carr
Halfbacks:
44 Ahmad Bradshaw
34 David Wilson
28 D.J. Ware
Fullbacks:
45 Henry Hynoski
Wide Receivers:
88 Hakeem Nicks
80 Victor Cruz
87 Domenik Hixon
13 Ramses Barden
82 Rueben Randle
12 Jerrel Jernigan
Tight Ends/H-Backs:
85 Martellus Bennett
86 Bear Pascoe
81 Adrien Robinson
Offensive Linemen:
66 David Diehl
75 Sean Locklear
65 William Beatty
73 James Brewer
76 Chris Snee
77 Kevin Boothe
64 David Baas
63 Jim Cordle
62 Mitch Petrus
Defensive Linemen:
91 Justin Tuck
90 Jason Pierre-Paul
72 Osi Umenyiora
98 Adrian Tracy
97 Linval Joseph
95 Rocky Bernard
78 Markus Kuhn
61 Marcus Thomas
96 Marvin Austin
Linebackers:
59 Michael Boley
94 Mathias Kiwanuka
55 Keith Rivers
93 Chase Blackburn
57 Jacquian Williams
58 Mark Herzlich
49 Spencer Paysinger
Cornerbacks:
23 Corey Webster
20 Prince Amukamara
36 Jayron Hosley
37 Michael Coe
24 Terrell Thomas
30 Justin Tryon
Safeties
26 Antrel Rolle
21 Kenny Phillips
38 Will Hill
27 Stevie Brown
Kickers and Snappers:
5 Steve Weatherford
9 Lawrence Tynes
51 Zak DeOssie
I like yours better than mine.
For all that we disagree on I only have one difference with your projection. Scott over Steve Brown. Petrus replaces Mosley from my past weekend projection. Surprising.
Is the reason for Steve Brown that you’re assuming Rolle plays some slot CB?
Exactly.
I think they’ll be very cautious with Hosley, and Thomas and Prince as well. Rolle may not be the best option at nickel, but he may be OUR best option for a time.
Let me also say that I am shocked that they haven’t signed Deon Grant to the roster. I guess the thinking is that they’re not going to carry 5 safeties–Sash, Rolle, KP, Hill and Grant– and Stevie Brown will already be in competition with some of the bottom guys for a spot once Sash, Canty and Beckum make their returns.
I endorse this projection.
Ohm takes a shot at predicting the defensive roster:
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/giants/post/_/id/16365/roster-analysis-defense-and-special-teams
Ed V:
http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/8/28/3273305/new-york-giants-53-man-roster-prediction-trrell-thomas-shaun-rogers-marvin-austin
This surprised me:
Cornerbacks (5) — Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, Jayron Hosley, Michael Coe, Justin Tryon
They clearly need to keep more CBs than this with Amukamara and Hosley questionable at best.
Okay, I’ll watch Locklear carefully and spend time focused on Barden’s blocking and the play of the corners and safeties who will be outside the television screen. I think the defensive tackle play should be pretty obvious to anyone watching.
Why Steve Brown over Scott? Because Rolle it’s assumed he will play some slot CB?
Well, in my case, it’s because I’m an idiot. As we carried 4 safeties on last year’s roster, I did the same this time around … completely overlooking that Rolle was mostly a corner last year and Sash pretty much a ST’er.
I think eventually Sash will be that 4th safety. I just don’t think we have to carry a body for 4 weeks in Steve Brown. sash can replace and extra DT or CB when he returns.