3rd round pick

by NYERinSF on Apr 27, 2008 2:44 PM EDT

from espn

Mario Manningham WR MICHIGAN
Concerns about his character caused Manningham's stock to drop. He also lacks ideal size. However, Manningham simply knows how to get open; he's a smooth route-runner and does a good job reading defenses. He also has the ability to make spectacular catches.

Not sure what the character issues were - always a red flag to me. He is 5'11" and doesn't sound like a burner.

I get the impression he is a possession receiver.

With Plax, Toomer, Smith pretty set as 1, 2, and 3 - chance Smith may challenge Toomer for number 2 this year - looks like at best he'll be competing with Moss and Tyree for number 4

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I like this pick a lot

Actually, he's not a posession guy at all, he's more of a homerun hitter. He's not a blazer, but he just gets open and has great instincts for the ball. The long scouting report on him is pretty positive (only available to ESPN Insiders):

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12156

Basically his big weakness is that he knows he's good and gets too overconfident, and he has had some off the field issues. Hopefully coming to the Super Bowl Champs and working with Coughlin will cure him of those ills. I especially like the last paragraph in the scouting report:

"Manningham made a name for himself in college as one of the nation's most dangerous vertical threats. But there's a lot more to his game than simply catching the deep ball, which is important considering his lack of elite size and top-end speed. He is a skilled route runner with a knack for using subtle moves to separate from coverage. He also possesses good hands and run-after-catch ability. Unlike many former Michigan receivers that failed to live up to the hype in the NFL (David Terrell, Marquise Walker and Jason Avant), Manningham has the quick-twitch athleticism to translate his college production to the next level. So long as he remains motivated and stays out of trouble off the field, Manningham has the tools to emerge as a Tory Holt type weapon for the team that drafts him in the mid-to-late portion of the first round."

by cjmulrain on Apr 27, 2008 5:00 PM EDT 0 recs

Thanks for the correction

Then I would guess that this puts a lot of pressure on Moss. This may be Moss's last chance to step up

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by NYERinSF on Apr 27, 2008 5:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

I read the same report, Dangerous vertical threat

combined with lack of top-end speed sounds like a contradiction, but subtle moves to separate and quick-twitch athleticism explain how he can be a field stretcher. Moss has blazing speed but has a difficult time getting free. When he does get the ball he seems to freeze a moment, which allows the defense to get a step or two on him. When he runs, he goes straight ahead, seemingly lacking the quick-twitch athleticism necessary fot elusiveness. Getting a guy like this in the third round looks like a steal to me.

by george cronin on Apr 27, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Giants are hip deep in receivers

But with Toomer at 33 and Buress at 30, maybe they're looking for someone else to run deep routes. If he catches anything, he seems to have a great run-after-catch ability. Problem appears to be that he drops half of what's thrown his way.

by TerraByte on Apr 27, 2008 10:12 PM EDT 0 recs

Don't like that dropsy stuff

We've had enough of that with Shock (and Moss.) I really can't remember if Toomer had such great hands when we first got him, but during most of his career he has been (outside of Frank Gifford) the most sure-handed receiver the Giants have ever had. The way he digs out Eli's errant, down-at-the-toes passes is extraordinary.

by george cronin on Apr 28, 2008 6:58 AM EDT up 0 recs