2008 Giants draft retro ... Bryan Kehl

by Ed Valentine on Feb 16, 2009 7:00 AM EST in New York Giants News

Bryan Kehl had some good moments as a rookie for the Giants, including this sack of Tarvaris Jackson.

We have agreed that our New York Giants need to upgrade their linebackers for the 2009 season.

With that in mind, the next couple of players we look at in our 2008 Giants draft restrospective are very interesting.

Today, we will discuss outside linebacker Bryan Kehl, the fourth-round selection from BYU. Next up will be middle linebacker Jonathan Goff.

For now, though, let's focus our attention on Kehl.

This is a player who had some nice moments in limited rookie-season opportunities. His best game was a nine-tackle, one-sack effort in the regular-season finale against Minnesota.

He had 13 tackles in three October games, but played very sparingly the second half of season. He is athletic and showed some good instincts. I think, simply, that the Giants were more comfortable in 2008 with the more experienced Chase Blackburn on the field. Kehl finished with 31 tackles and a sack.

Kehl, I believe, is a player who should compete for one of the starting outside linebacker slots in 2009. With a year of learning the NFL game under his belt, Kehl might be ready to take Blackburn's job this season. I know that I would rather see Kehl, with his potential, get playing time instead of veteran Danny Clark.

The Giants will likely be hunting for linebacker help in the draft and free agency. One of the players who can answer their need might, however, already be on the roster.

Rookie Season Grade: C

Bryan Kehl

#53 / Linebacker / New York Giants

Height: 6-2

Weight: 237

Born: Jun 16, 1984

College: B-Y-U

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2008 - Bryan Kehl	10	1.0	8	1	17	0	22	9	31

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Comments

I love this pick in retrospect

because he’s very athletic and has the potential to be a solid three down linebacker.. the problem is that we simply need more depth at the position. Chase just isn’t fast enough for me to be comfortable with him in an every down role

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

by Hoyadestroya85 on Feb 16, 2009 9:54 AM EST reply actions

Agreed

Blackburn is a solid run defender and terrific special teams guy. But, he is what he is. Kehl could become a real playmaker off the edge.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 16, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions

Kehl is itneresting

but i’m far more intrigued by what Goff can do because Pierce’s five million a year salary did not pay for itself last year.

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

by Hoyadestroya85 on Feb 16, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

He is only listed at 6'2?

My mom is 5’ 11 and likely wearing some sort of heel. Call her 6’ in this photo. Do the math.

Im just shocked because he was one of the bigger guys Ive seen in person.

by ryanwk628 on Feb 16, 2009 12:58 PM EST reply actions

At first I didn't see your commentary underneath the picture

and thought that posting a picture of Kehl next to some random lady wasn’t the best way to judge his size – she could have been 5’1 or 5’11 and we’d have no frame of reference. The fact that it’s your mom is pretty cool – how did you guys meet Kehl?

by cjmulrain on Feb 16, 2009 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

she is a photographer, played basketball in college, loves sports, has been doing college football for a long time and started working for the giants this year. Its worked out nice because she gets hooked up for a lot of things.

by ryanwk628 on Feb 16, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions