New York Giants Column

By: Kelly Grubb

3/2/10

2010 New York Giants Off-season Preview

After an extremely disappointing end to what many fans and sports writers consider a squandered season, the G-men have a lot of work ahead to ensure that history does not repeat itself in 2010.  The scapegoat for the fall from a 5-0 start to a 3-8 finish that eliminated the team from the playoffs was a porous defense.  The team took a step towards rectifying that problem when they fired coordinator Bill Sheridan and defensive line coach Mike Wauffle and replaced them with Perry Fewell and Robert Nunn.   Coaching changes will not completely solve all of last season’s problems; personnel changes are inevitable.

The NFL off-season is complicated based on the fact that the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire.  If the CBA expires, then a host of young players that were eligible for free agency become restricted free agents.  The free agency period, which starts the first week of March, because of the expiring CBA and the uncertainty about the future will cause there to be few quality free agents available.  In this preview, we will analyze the free agents that the Giants have, as well as the likely position that will be addressed in the off-season.  The turbulent CBA will make this article more about needs rather than free agents to replace those needs.

Top 5 Off-season Targets

1.  Middle Linebacker- The Giants defense missed its leader and heart when Antonio Pierce was lost for the 2009 season with a severe neck injury in week 9.  The team released him believing that he would not be the same player because of the injury, age, and cost.  Second year player Jonathan Goff did an okay job filling in for Pierce but is simply not the impact player that Pierce was during his playing time. The team could go into the 2010 season with Goff competing with veteran Chase Blackburn for the starting middle linebacker position, but an upgrade should be acquired.  If the team goes with Blackburn or Goff, I fear another year like when Kevin Lewis was used as the starting middle linebacker after Michael Barrow was let go.

The best defensive free agent is inside linebacker from the Arizona Cardinals Karlos Dansby.  He is a speedy, instinctive, and huge linebacker with a major wingspan.  Dansby is capable of making big plays in run and pass defense, as was seen by his last minute fumble return for a TD in the Cardinals NFC Wild Card win against the Green Bay Packers.  Dansby would command a salary equivalent with the highest paid linebackers in the league.  The team might be willing to give him a $30 million guaranteed deal to make sure the defense returns the team to the playoffs.   If he does not go with the Giants, it seems that the team would go with Goff and Blackburn because a rookie is not the answer and another quality free agent is not available.  The team might take a look at Gary Brackett of the Colts or Larry Foote of the Lions, but they are not long-term solutions.

2.  Defensive Tackle- The Giants middle of the pack defensive rating and run defense rating does not tell the story of the poor play of the defensive tackles on this team.  Returning starters Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield both had surgery after the 2008 season and looked rusty and out of shape most of the season.  Cofield did have flashes of his ability to penetrate an offensive line and cause havoc in the opponent’s backfield.  Robbins had the most disappointing season he has had as a Giant.  He was very ineffective early in the season, which led to his benching.  He is now a 33-year-old unrestricted free agent who will definitely not be back next season.

The disappointments did not stop with Cofield and Robbins.  2009 free agent acquisitions Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard did not make anywhere near the impact that the team thought they would.  Bernard was nearly invisible all season, which has caused the Giants faithful to think he might be released this off-season.  He would not attract much interest given his lack of production and age, so the team might bring him back this next season for depth.

Canty was the team’s most expensive free agent acquisition and he was expected to dominate the middle of the pass rush and run defense. Canty took longer than expected to be comfortable in the Giants scheme.  He started half the season and only got 13 tackles and a half sack.  This is nowhere near the impact that was expected of him. Since he was such a big addition the team will expect a big rebound this season with Canty assuming a position of team leader.

Another bonus is the return of penetrating tackle Jay Alford from injury.  He was improving a rushing the passer and made a huge play during Super Bowl XLII, sacking Tom Brady during the final minute. His addition plus the likely drafting of a defensive tackle will round out this unit for the 2010 season.  This will not be a focus during free agency with the barren and questionable free agency market.

3.  Safety- The Giants defense has been filling in one of the safety positions for the last 8 seasons.  Players like Brent Alexander, Will Demps, R.W. McQuarters, Sammy Knight, CC Brown, and even Michael Johnson.  Big Blue has one solid starter at safety for the last couple of seasons whether that has been Gibril Wilson or Kenny Phillips. Phillips’ 2009 season was cut short by a knee injury that might be career threatening?  If he can return healthy, then one safety spot is okay, but even if he returns one position is completely open and depth is badly needed.

The free agent market has solid veterans like Darren Sharper, Sean Jones, or even Ryan Clark. Besides Sharper, it is unlikely that each Jones or Clark will receive a hefty contract with the uncertain future of the collective bargaining agreement. The problem is that each would be a short-term stopgap at best.  The
draft is the likely place that a long-term answer at position will be found.  I would expect the team to bring in a free agent at a reasonable price tag and draft a rookie to compete with Johnson for the other safety position.

4.  Quarterback- Eli Manning is the team’s quarterback of the past, present, and future, but a backup in the NFL is a priority.  David Carr has filled in well in that role, while resurrecting his career over the past two seasons.  Carr will likely test the free agent market to see if a team will take a shot at him competing with a young player for a starting quarterback spot.  The team has been negotiating with Carr’s agent, but it is in no way a sure thing.

If Carr leaves, it is very unlikely that the team would be comfortable with 2nd year player Rhett Bomar as the starter if Manning were injured.  Another mid round rookie would not be the answer, so a cheaper free agent would be the solution.  The Giants might take a look at Rex Grossman, Kyle Boller, or even Mark Brunell.  Each would be better than a rookie or 2nd year player, but a step below Carr.

5.  Interior Lineman- Two seasons ago, the Giants were operating with the best offensive line and the best running game in the league.  Last season the offensive line looked aging and the running game looked pedestrian at best.  Rich Seubert is 31 years old and spent last season with an ailing shoulder.  Center Shaun O’Hara is coming off of a very solid season that saw him as a Pro Bowler.  He is 33 years old and has likely seen his best seasons go by him.  Kevin Boothe filled in for a few games last season as a starter for Seubert and was not bad, but he certainly did not spark the running game.  Young Adam Koets has recently been converted to playing center, but he is nowhere near a finish product.  Simply said the team does not have the type of player that could be a long-term starter at either the guard of center position.  An upgrade is needed.   However, like each other position that fact the all of the young talent on the free agent market are effectively restricted free agents, this is a position that the draft will answer.

Be back in April with the Draft preview.

7/8/09

5/14/09

2009 NEW YORK GIANTS DRAFT REVIEW

Big Blue went into the 2009 draft with a couple major needs and came away with the players that may be capable of fillings these needs now and others for the long term.  The major need the team had for replacements for last years starters Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer. The other basic needs for the Gmen included a strongside linebacker, safety, a backup offensive lineman, a cornerback, and a backup quarterback.  When you consider that the team selected value players at each of these positions with the exception of safety.  The proposed trade for Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin did not go through because each team was asking for too much.  The Giants responded by drafting 2 wide receivers in the top 3 rounds and a pass catching tight end. While these players may not have the immediate impact that the fan base would hope for, this draft will be a good one in the future.  As any good NFL football analyst would say, free agency is for immediate needs and the draft is for future consideration.  Not only did Big Blue stock the shelves for the future, the name of the game for the Giants in this draft was value picks.

 First Round: 29th pick (29th overall)

Hakeem Nicks- WR 6’1” 212lbs. North Carolina

The problem with having this need at wide receiver going into the draft is that receivers typically take the longest time to develop into NFL players.  While the Giants have decent wide receivers on the roster that they can win with, they need more playmakers.  Hakeem Nicks is one of the most polished an NFL ready receiver in the draft. Nicks was a very productive receiver at UNC that played really well in big games, especially his over 200 yard receiving performance against West Virginia in this year’s Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Nicks is fast enough and has the strength to break a jam at the line of scrimmage to get open.  He has excellent hands, as where evident in his now famous behind the back circus catch in the bowl game.  He is a very good athlete with enough quickness that is tough after the catch and will fight to gain the extra yards.  What remains to be seen is how Nicks holds up speed wise against NFL cornerbacks and how effective he is at blocking.  If he wants to be a starter in the NFL, especially for the Giants, he needs to block downfield.

Nicks will likely fit on the Giants as a number 1 (x  receiver) or a #2 (z receiver).  That will depend on how well he performs in training camp and in the preseason.  If Nicks can show that he can run proper routes, get open, and make consistent plays.  I think Nicks will fit with the top 3 of the Giants WRs with Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith. The team may even go the way of the committee route and start the top 2 performers  in the camp/ the preseason and have the third play the slot position.

 Second Round: 13th pick (45th overall)

Clint Sintim- OLB 6’3” 256lbs. Virginia

As predicted the team looked to shore up the strongside linebacker position in the draft.  Some teams and draft rating services has Sintim listed as being a potential late 1st round early 2nd round pick, so he is a great value where the team selected him.  Sintim is a very big defender that came from a 3-4 defensive system at UVA. Despite being a 3-4 pass rushing backer in college, the Giants are convinced that he can make the transition to a strongside backer in a 4-3 system.  The key reason that they selected him is because he is a great value and an excellent college pass rusher off the edge.

Sintim packs a lot of size and strength into his chiseled body that is capable of delivering hard hits anywhere on the field.  He plays the game with an attitude and aggressiveness that the team really likes and fits on the Big Blue defense.  From watching some film, this backer does a good job fighting through blockers to make a tackle and he has a closing burst of speed that most good one do.  Sintim might be a little stiff in his hips and he is certainly not a proven pass coverage backer but the team is not looking for him to play going backwards, he is going to be used as another pass rusher.

Clint Sintim will be competing in training camp for the strongside linebacker position with    veteran Danny Clark.  Sintim biggest plus is the fact that he collected 26 sacks in college and the fact that Clark is more of a 1st and 2nd down run defender.  Clark will likely play on the run down with Sintim seeing snaps on 3rd and longs and other passing downs.  The team could have the makings of an even better pass rush package if new coordinator Bill Sheridan utilizes all of his players correctly.  I imagine any team would struggle to face a pass rush of Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka at DE, Justin Tuck
rushing from the inside next to our best pass rushing DT, maybe newly acquired Chris Canty, and Sintim rushing off the end as a stand up pass rushing linebacker.  Back that up with newly acquired Michael Boley as the athletic pass covering linebacker and a nickel package of DBs.  Most teams in the NFL would have alot of trouble passing the ball against that front and even fewer offensive lines will be able to block it consistently.


Second Round: 28th pick (60th overall)

William Beatty- OT 6’6” 307lbs. Connecticut

Here is another case where a player that some NFL teams and draft rating services had rated as a late 1st round early 2nd round pick fell to be a great value selection for the Gmen.  Beatty is a very athletic tackle that plays with quickness because he is very light on his feet.  He is able to pull off the line of scrimmage and attack defenders at the 2nd level of the defense.  On film, what impresses is how he locks up defenders and keeps fighting to the whistle.   In the International Bowl against Buffalo, Beatty makes a great play that highlights his skills set where he gets of the snap quickly to place his head up defender inside then then spins to the outside and pulls to be the lead blocker ahead of a designed QB bootleg that ends as a 17 yard TD run with Beatty making the key block at the end zone.  Some question his strength or if he is polished enough as a blocker to contribute right away, but he benched 225lbs 27 times which put him in the top end of the class and regarding the polish comment, the team does not need Beatty to contribute right away barring injury.

The Giants offensive line is set for the upcoming seasons at each position of the offensive line.  Both of the Giants tackles are
reaching their 30s and Kareem McKenzie has recently had minor back issues.  The team has Guy Whimper and Adam Koets as backup tackles but I do not think the team is set on either being a long term solution in case of injury.  Beatty will be competing with Whimper and Koets for the swing tackle position.  The swing tackle is the backup on either side.  While Beatty is probably better suited to play the left tackle position, the need will likely need a right tackle first.  If McKenzie were to break done, I imagine that Diehl would slide back over to right tackle and Beatty would be the left tackle because of his feet.

Third Round: 21st pick (85th overall)

Ramses Barden- WR 6’6” 229lbs. Cal Poly

In their second attempt to fill the shoes of Burress and Toomer, the Giants selected the only receiver in this draft to match the size of Burress, Ramses Barden of FCS Division (IAA) Cal Poly.  This extremely lengthy receiver has a similar skill set to Burress who used that to dominate at a lower level of college competition.  He has great hands, is a very good blocker, and does a decent job adjusting to the ball in the air and winning jump balls.  Barden finished his college career as the leading receiver in the school’s history and the record setter for most TD receptions at the Division IAA level with 50 TDs and the most consecutive games with TD catches.  Questions remain about his speed, route running, and whether Barden can be successful playing against NFL competition.  He played very well against Wisconsin and San Diego State, keeping his team in the game winning against San Diego State and taking Wisconsin to overtime.  Barden had 6 catches for 83 yards and a TD against the Badgers and 7 catches for 161 yards and a TD against the Aztecs.  If these games are any indicator then Barden
should be able to do just fine at the NFL level.

Barden fits on the Giants as the new red zone jump ball threat. Barden has the one thing that no other receiver on the roster has, size.  Each Giants receiver, with a shot to make the roster,  is less than 6‘1”.  In college, his bread and butter play was the fade route in the end zone and that will not change in the pros.  He will likely get early snaps inside the 20 yard line and will be used matched up on the outside against a smaller defensive back.  If Barden shows that he can be the effective blocker that Burress and Toomer were then he will earn even more snaps in the offense.

 Third Round: 36th pick (100th overall)

Travis Beckum- TE 6’3” 243lbs. Wisconsin

Beckum was a stud receiving tight end his sophomore and junior seasons before missing much of his senior year with a broken fibula.  He is a speedy receiver with good route running skills and downfield speed to beat linebackers.  He has good hands and can dodge tacklers to gain yards after the catch.  Beckum has the strength to break jams at the line of scrimmage and the wiggle to make tacklers miss and gain those important yards after contact.  The biggest knock on Beckum is that he
is weak as a blocker and has a history of injuries.  He might be able to overcome his blocking deficiencies with work.  He has the strength as previously mentioned and as evidence by his leading the tight ends at the NFL combine with 28 reps on the 225lb. bench press.  As for his injuries, only time will tell, but he is definitely worth the risk because of his production and ability when healthy.

Beckum will compete for the backup tight end position behind starter Kevin Boss with Michael Matthews and Darcy Johnson.  Beckum will definitely make the roster because he will have a role that is completely separate from Boss.  He will lineup at the H-back position and may even be on the field with Boss.  The H back is a hybrid fullback and tight end that will often line up in the backfield at the fullback spot on passing downs.  The last real H back that the Giants utilized was Pete Mitchell and Beckum is a better receiving threat and athlete than Mitchell.  Beckum will add another dimension and threat to a near potent offense.  The media will look at the release of Burress and say that there is no one on the roster that can replace his production.  While that is true, the team will utilize the combined threat of Beckum, Barden, and Nicks to replace all of the facets of Burress’s game.

 Fourth Round: 29th pick (129th overall)

Andre Brown- RB 6’0” 224lbs. NC State

Brown had a productive college career, but not as productive as it likely should have been because of various injuries and splitting carries in the Wolf pack backfield.   He finished his college career with 523 carries rushing for 2,539 yards and 22 TDs.  Brown has a strength, enough speed, and the wiggle to make a defender miss in the open field.  The Giants like his receiving ability and versatility. Brown had a good average per carry (over 4 yards throughout his career) and could serve as a short yardage and third down back.  His work ethic and versatility will be valuable to Big Blue.

Brown will compete with Ahmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware for carries in the backup role.  The Giants rotation of running backs is extremely important because of the pounding that Brandon Jacobs takes with his running style.  The team selected Brown because he compares favorably to former Giants RB Derrick Ward.  He can be a receiver, change of pace, pounder, or whatever else is necessary.  If Brown can prove that he is a decent blocker on blitz pickups then he might be able to take time away from Bradshaw, but he will likely compete head to head with Ware for the third RB role.

 Fifth Round: 15th pick (151st overall)

Rhett Bomar- QB 6’2” 225lbs. Sam Houston State

Bomar began his college career at the University of Oklahoma as a top high school prospect.  He started 12 games at Oklahoma as a redshirt freshman and led the team to  a bowl winning season.  He was forced to transfer to a FCS team because of an NCAA violation, where Bomar excepted money for work that he did not do.  While finishing his career at Sam Houston State, Bomar passed as a senior for 3,355 yards with a 56.2 completion percentage with 27 touchdowns and 13 INTs. Bomar produced 7,582 yards with a 56.4 completion percentage along with 47 TDs and 29 INTs.

Bomar has a strong arm with solid throwing mechanics and a quick release.  He has a solid build, shorter than optimum, and is athletic enough to avoid the rush and still be accurate.  Bomar has a quick release and good vision for finding receivers downfield for the deep ball.  Many scouts question his intangibles and some take him as cocky instead of an aggressive leader.  Few will question his measurables and the upside that he showed throughout his big and small school
college career.

Bomar will compete in training camp with last season’s 6th round pick Andre Woodson.  Woodson did little to impress in last year’s training camp and preseason.  Woodson spent the year on the practice squad.  In terms of mechanic, Bomar has the edge, but the team will give the edge to whomever performs better in the preseason.  This is a major training camp battle because backup David Carr will be gone after this season.  The winner of this job will be Eli Manning’s backup in the future.

 Sixth Round: 27th pick (200th overall)

DeAndre Wright- CB 5’11” 198lbs. New Mexico

Wright’s durability concerns caused him to fall in this draft.  He had post season shoulder surgeries and has a slight build.  He has the speed, hands, and is a willing run defender despite his size.  Wright played frequently through injuries demonstrating his toughness.  He is not a finished product and has a battle to win a roster spot.   Wright will compete for the last cornerback spot on the roster.  The team is set with Corey Webster and Aaron Ross as starters and Terrell Thomas
and Kevin Dockery as nickel and dime.  Wright has to show that he has special teams ability to make the final roster as well as his ability to make plays on the ball.


 Seventh Round: 29th pick (238th overall)

Stoney Woodson- CB 5’11” 197lbs. South Carolina

Woodson has decent size, speed, and competed against SEC receivers throughout his career.  Spent most of his career as a backup and made 5 INTs as a starter during his senior year.   Woodson has shown he is willing in run support and could possibly play safety in the pros because of his college experience.   Woodson is not a great athlete and must show that he has the speed to be an NFL player.  Not only will Woodson compete for the 5th cornerback spot but he could also compete for the Giants 4th safety spot behind starters Kenny Phillips and Michael Johnson and backup C.C. Brown.  Versatility and showing that he is a capable special teams player is the ticket to a regular season roster spot for Woodson.

Overall

The Giants had a good overall draft filling their few critical needs, finding players that could contribute this season and in the future, and even landed a potential undrafted free agent steal in Penn State DE Maurice Evans.  Evans got 12 sacks as a sophomore on a Big Ten powerhouse and a few mistakes, no worse than Bomars, landed him out of the draft.  Evans will be competing for the teams fourth DE position with Dave Tollefson.  With Evans and Sintim added to an already powerful pass rush, the team has the potential for a lights out pass rush that could be even better than in the Super Bowl.
 

3/31/09

2009 New York Giants Draft Preview

As the team heads into the 2009 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 25^th, they have a short list of absolute needs with a long list of picks and options.  In this draft preview, I will approach the Giants draft from the scenario of best player available, as well as by need, and like the team does not trade or move any of its draft picks.  The team has 10 overall picks in the 7 round draft with 5 being on the first day and 3 within the top 60 picks.  As I mentioned, I will approach this like the team does not trade any picks however I really see the team packaging picks to move up to get a targeted player or two or packaging picks to trade for a player.  This draft for the Giants should be an opportunity to really target 3-4 top player to get and build the future with.

Team Needs

1.      Wide Receiver- With the situation of Plaxico Burress still up in the air and Amani Toomer’s stellar career as a Giant over, this is a top priority.  Even if Burress manages to keep himself from jail or suspension for his November 28, 2008 arrest for illegal possession of a firearm, the team still has getting a receiver as a top priority because Burress will be 32 for this season and is nearing the end of his days as a top QB target.  With Burress, the team has an excellent core of receivers, but without Burress excellence turns to pedestrian, as we saw for the last games of the 2008 season.  Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Sinorice Moss can escape coverage, find holes, and be fairly effective; however no one of the group is a receiver that strikes fear into a defense, demand a double team matchup, or consistently wins jump balls in the end zone.  The team needs a tall target that commands the respect of the defense down the field and in the end zone.  They need someone that could serve as a #1 receiver for the future.  This draft has several options that will be available at the end of the first round at the #29 draft position.   Tall receivers like Kenny Britt of Rutgers, Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina, and Darrius Heyward-Bey of Maryland would all fit the Giants need.  The team must decide which has the brightest future and the best chance to help now, if possible.

2.      Linebacker- The team is set on the weakside with the signing of Michael Boley and likely set in the middle with veteran Antonio Pierce, but the strongside remains a potential weak spot with veteran Danny Clark returning to fill the role.  Not only should the team get a player to compete on the strongside, but the team must also begin thinking of an eventual successor for Pierce, who will be 30 this season.  The team will look for this type of player anywhere from the mid 1^st and mid to late 2^nd round of this draft.  I do think the team will trade up and target a specific player here.  Assuming the team stays put in the 2^nd round at the #13 (45 overall), they should grab the best inside or outside linebacker on the board.  At this spot, one of the better linebackers in the draft will slide to the mid second round.  Players like Brian Cushing or Clay Matthews of USC or Cody Brown of Connecticut, or Darryl Beckwith of LSU will be available.  The team needs a player that will challenge Danny Clark for the starting spot and play the middle in the future. 

3.      Safety- Right now, the team would be okay with Kenny Phillips starting at one spot and Michael Johnson and free agent C.C. Brown competing for the other safety spot.  Big Blue is running dangerously thin at the safety spot and needs to pick up a backup for this season and potential starter for the future.  They will target a player with decent size, speed, tackling ability, and good hands.  Every team wants a safety that can stop the run and make some interceptions.  This draft is not great at the safety spot, but it has several players that will be available at the end of the 2^nd or 3^rd round that could be playmakers in this league.  I personally like the play of Patrick Chung of Oregon, or players like Darcel McBath of Texas Tech or Rashad Johnson of Alabama have the hands, ball skills, and ability to be a solid starter, immediate backup, and great special teams player.

4.      Offensive Tackle and Guard- The Big Blue offensive line is one of the best in the league and is signed through the next 3 seasons.  However, depth is always a great weapon to have and the team could always use more.  I am not sure the Giants are sold on Guy Whimper or Adam Koets as a top reserve and emergency starter for either tackle spot.  The team does like reserve tackle/guard Kevin Boothe, but fellow reserve Grey Ruegamer, who plays guard and center, is aging and an unrestricted free agent that will not be back.  A player that can serve as a backup center and a player that could be an emergency tackle should be mid round targets for the Giants.  Eric Wood of Louisville, Max Unger of Oregon, or Trevor Canfield of Cincinnati fit the bill as an interior reserve.  Phil Loadholt of Oklahoma, Troy Kropog of Tulane, and Gerald Cadogan of Penn State are all tackles that could compete with Guy Whimper or Adam Koets for the back tackle positions.

5.      Cornerback- The team needs a fifth corner despite having a great quartet in starters Aaron Ross, and Corey Webster with nickel and dime corners Terrell Thomas and Kevin Dockery.  This position gets consideration as a need because Dockery will likely be gone after next season and you always need 4 solid corners in the pass happy NFL of today.   Second day corners like Bruce Johnson of Miami, Sean Smith of Utah, or Mike Mickens of Cincinnati among others would make the roster as a special teamer and provide great depth at cornerback. 

6.      Quarterback- After another season of caddying for Eli Manning, David Carr will be ready to again try to prove he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL.  Carr provides an excellent backup for Manning and has proved that he can start when needed; however after Carr, the team has little at QB.  Big Blue tried to find a future backup with the selection of Andre Woodson last season.  Woodson showed little in the preseason going 3 for 9 with an interception.  The team still has Anthony Wright, but he is 33 years old and not a future answer.  The team could look for a QB anywhere from the 3^rd to 6^th rounds, depending on who is available and at what value.  Some of the 2^nd day QBs that I believe could develop and that the team might want are Graham Harrell of Texas Tech, Drew Wiley of Buffalo, or Nate Davis out of Ball State.

Giants Mock Draft

First Round: 29^th pick (29^th overall)

Kenny Britt- WR 6’3” 218lbs. Rutgers

The team targets the top available big playmaker and Britt fits the bill.  He is a muscular wide receiver that gets open over the middle and makes plays.  Britt has impressive abilities after the catch and does a very nice job using his body to shield defenders on jump balls.  He worked throughout his Rutgers career to get better and better as a blocker and helped Ray Rice and R.U.’s other runners.  Britt was very productive at Rutgers despite having an inconsistent quarterback and not much of a running game last season.  He would immediately help the Giants as a red zone target and would help to draw down field coverage, opening things up for Big Blue’s smaller receivers that excel finding holes in the underneath zone coverage.  Even if Burress returns this season without a suspension, Britt would have a role as a 2^nd or 4^th receiver.  Burress could mentor Britt as to how to play the NFL game.  If Britt is not available then Hakeem Nicks out of North Carolina would be an excellent pickup as well.

Second Round: 13^th pick (45^th overall)

Clay Matthews- OLB 6’3” 246lbs. USC

Matthews is moving up draft boards but I am wagering that he may be available at this spot.  Matthews flies around the football field making hard hits while showing an excellent motor and range.  He has excellent ability to blitz the passer, something that the Giants would love him to do.  Matthews was buried behind first rounder Keith Rivers until his senior season at USC, but still received a fair amount of playing time.  While a reserve, Matthews got lots of experience playing special teams, standing out for his kick and punt coverage ability.  He has a football pedigree from his father, an All American linebacker, and his brothers, each a division I defender.  Matthews would compete this season with Danny Clark for playing time on the strong side.  Should Matthews not be available then Cody Brown of Connecticut would definitely be available. 

Second Round: 28^th pick (60^th overall)

Patrick Chung- S 5’11” 207lbs. Oregon

This is one of those player that as a fan, I would really want on my team.  Chung is a very aggressive run supporter and a decent open field tackler.  He was a 4 year starter at Oregon despite getting a late start on football (raised in Jamaica as a soccer player).  He has above average quickness, the ability to change directions, and adequate bulk.  He is a little shorter than the optimum NFL starter, but he makes up for that with excellent hands and ball skills.  Chung would compete immediately with Johnson and Brown for the strong safety spot opposite Kenny Philips.  He also would provide leadership and has great special teams ability.  If he was not available then Rashad Johnson of Alabama would be the next best option. 

Third Round: 27^th pick (91^st overall)

Eric Wood- C/G 6’4” 304lbs. Louisville

Wood is an experienced center that likes to maul his opponents and offers good quickness.  He brings a nasty attitude to go along with excellent strength to the interior of an offensive line.  This lineman has decent mobility and can pull and get to the second level of defenders.  This ability fits what the Giants regularly ask their interior linemen to do.  Despite being a little inconsistent technique wise and a little stiff, Wood has the ability to be an emergency starter at center or guard early in his career.  He would immediately fill the role that Grey Ruegamer filled for the last couple seasons for the G-men.

Third Round: 36^th pick (100^th overall)

Graham Harrell- QB 6’2” 223lbs. Texas Tech

While he is not NFL ready and is already being labeled a product of the pass happy Mike Leach system, Harrell has the most potential out of any of the uber-productive Texas Tech QBs of the last 10 years.  Harrell has decent arm strength, good vision down field, and lots of experience being a 3 year starter for the Red Raiders.  This QB has an excellent football IQ going through his progressions in the complicated spread attack of the Red Raiders.  You also cannot argue with his production throwing for over 10,000 yards and 93 touchdowns in the last two seasons combined with only 23 INTs.  He does not have a huge arm and will have to adjust to taking snaps under center, but I think he is a closer fit for what the Giants do than Andre Woodson, last year’s Big Blue QB draft pick.  I saw several Texas Tech games last season and what impressed me the most about him is his ability to find the open man and place the ball where it needed to be regardless of how big or little the throwing lane was at the time.  Harrell could serve as a clip board holding #3 QB, while learning the offense and how to be an NFL QB under two former #1 overall picks.  I think with a year of learning, he could be Eli Manning’s primary backup for the 2010 season.  If Harrell is gone, then I think the team waits a round or so to select a QB like Drew Wiley of Buffalo.

Fourth Round: 29^th pick (129^th overall)

Gerald Cadogan- OT 6’5” 309lbs. Penn State

Cadogan is a big athlete with the strength and long arms to be an effective tackle in the NFL.  He moves well and is light on his feet with the ability to pull outside ahead of a toss sweep and clear a lane.  Cadogan started for two seasons at left tackle and one at guard for the Nittany Lions.  He did a very nice job protecting QB Daryll Clark and opening lanes for RB Evan Royster.  For the Giants, he would compete for the role of swing tackle backing up either spot and serving as a goal line tight end.  Cadogan will need to fine tune his technique and get stronger to be a long term starter on the pro level.  If Cadogan is gone by this point, the team may take a shot at Troy Kropog of Tulane.

Fifth Round: 28^th pick (164^th overall)

Bruce Johnson- CB 5’10” 174lbs. Miami

Johnson has the speed and quickness to stay with NFL receivers and the ability to read pass while playing in zone coverage.  He is a willing run supporter despite his lack of overall size and strength.  He is a good athlete but he needs further time to develop as a football player and will have to work on turning and running with receivers.  He may struggle jamming NFL receivers on the line but as a backup corner for the Giants he would play off the line of scrimmage.  Johnson would compete for playing time at corner and probably makes the team as a fifth corner and special teams player.  If Johnson is not available, the team could select another corner of equal quality like Captain Munnerlyn of South Carolina.

Sixth Round: 27^th pick (200^th overall)

Stryker Sulak- DE 6’5” 250lbs. Missouri

Sulak was the most consistent pass rusher for the Tigers last season finishing the year with 10½ sacks and finishing his college career with 22½ sacks.  While Sulak lacks the bulk to consistently hold up against the run, he has the type of speed off the edge that you cannot teach.  He will have to work on disengaging from lineman in the pass rush, but he has the quick burst off the line of scrimmage to beat tackles around the edge.  The Giants do not necessarily need another DE but as GM Jerry Reese says you can never have enough pass rushers.  Sulak would compete for the 4^th DE spot behind Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Mathias Kiwanuka with Dave Tollefson.  Tollefson was not as good as expected in his second season and a strong preseason by Sulak could win him as roster spot.  The team could also target a RB, another LB, or a TE.

Seventh Round: 29^th pick (238^th overall)

Rodney Ferguson- RB 5’11” 238lbs. New Mexico

This is strictly a spot in the draft where you absolutely pick the best player available regardless of position, so I have about as much chance of guessing the player the team will pick as winning the lottery.  Ferguson is a big runner that has rushed for over 1,170 yards in all 3 of his seasons as a starter.  He has the ability to pick up needed yards in a goal line or short yardage situation.  He could fill the role as short yardage back taking away some of the pounding that Brandon Jacobs would receive.  He could also compete with Danny Ware as the 3^rd RB on the roster.  The team could just as easily pick anyone at any position here, but I think Ferguson is a decent player that could be available here and add something to the team.

3/3/09