Land of the Giants, 06.12.09

by Ed Valentine on Jun 12, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in New York Giants News

We will stick with the 'Land of the Giants' headline for now. Anyway, on with today's Giants' notes, of which there are plenty since reporters had access to Thursday's OTA.

Let's start with the various practice reports from some of the beat guys.

Ernie Palladino of the Journal News says Thursday's OTA was pretty pass-happy.
Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News was happy that practice lasted just an hour. Oh, as for stuff that matters Ralph thought Sinorice Moss had a good day.
Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger has his own thoughts on Thursday's strongest performances.

Now let's move on to a few other items of note.

Running back Brandon Jacobs apparently wants to be a boxing manager when he is done with football.

"I've been into boxing a long time, boxing is something that has driven me very much," said Jacobs, who still tries to spar in the gym once in a while.

"I've been wanting to get into the business after I was done playing. If I didn't fight, I wanted to get into the promotion business, but I hear from people that's a lot of headache, so I wanted to do something that was more personable with the fighters."

And here I thought no one under the age of 50 gave a hoot about boxing any more.

Ernie Palladino says this is a tough time of year to be an NFL rookie.
Ernie, who sure seems like he was a busy guy Thursday, also chatted with third-round draft pick Ramses Barden.
New Giant linebacker Michael Boley is adjusting to life with a new team.

"If you've been in one place for more than a couple of years, you have to adjust to how things are different here," Boley said recently. "The players have taken me in like family. Any time you get a new opportunity to show somebody else what you can do, I think that's great. Especially coming from where I was last year. Not taking anything away from Atlanta, but this is a great organization, a great team and I'm loving it."

Boley will move from strong side in Atlanta to weak side in New York.

Considered in Atlanta as a future Pro Bowler, Boley started all 16 games in 2007 -- he never missed a game in four years with the Falcons -- and had a career-high 109 tackles. A new coaching regime arrived last year and Boley either had trouble making the adjustment or the new staff had difficulty recognizing Boley's attributes. Eventually, he lost his starting job and was benched on first and second downs. The Falcons said they made the move because they wanted to fortify their run defense.

"I guess if you really look at it, apparently I didn't fit," Boley said. "After they made changes, they said this is what we think is going to be best for the team. As a player you can't do anything about it. You have to accept coaching, accept what they give you and try to play to the best of your ability."

Boley lined up on the strong side with the Falcons, a tough assignment considering at 6-foot-3 he's a slender 223 pounds.

"They said something along the lines that I wasn't aggressive enough for them," Boley said. "The scheme we did last year, it wasn't a whole lot of aggressive attack defense, it was more base coverage, man-up, play some sound technique and let's make some plays. That was how they felt, I think at this point I can't be in a better situation."

If Boley approaches being the player he was before last season the Giants will be very happy to have him.

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Comments

Alright, i'm trying to contain my excitement here

But it seems like every OTA (QB/WR) report is a positive one? Not only that, it’s the “who”, is do this and doing that. It’s basically everyone! What motive would these writer’s have, to just report the good and not the bad? As an example, i read a couple days ago from the Cowboys OTA writers that they were horrible, they didn’t sugar-coat their performance! From the Giants writers, besides a drop ball here and there, overthrown pass here and there etc… nobody’s perfect, it happens all over the league. Overall though, these reports are very encouraging.

As for RV describing it as pass happy, this is what they need to do. Not only that, it’s creating positive chemistry (especially Eli) and this new group of WR’s. With saying that, is this new practice facility actually beneficial to Eli, considering the players can use it without restrictions? IMO, i think so!

by Hootman on Jun 12, 2009 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

im not really a boxing fan per se

but i sure did enjoy watching manny paquio obliterate ricky hatton and turn his brain into mush with his fists.

All of the mets fans hope that we will not see the bad news mets ever again.

by kendynamo on Jun 12, 2009 9:36 AM EDT reply actions

Boley

In Atlanta, i think he was playing out of position. He did have a good season in 2007 at WLB, but in 2008, with Curtis Lofton’s promotion to MLB, that sent Brooking to WLB (a position he’s played before) meaning Boley was the odd man out. Afterall, he isn’t big by SLB standards and theres bound to be a learning curve with the new position.

Besides, given Atlanta’s new defensive scheme, and Brooking being a career Falcon, it appears neither one of them were in their future plans, especially Boley? Hopefully it comes back to haunt them!

by Hootman on Jun 12, 2009 10:05 AM EDT reply actions

I'm glad Danny Ware received some recognition

It seems that a lot of sports writers are jumping the gun on Andre Brown and have forgotten about Danny Ware. He’s shown flashes in the preseason and I think he will get his share of carries in 09.

LETS GO GMEN

by I_Formation27 on Jun 12, 2009 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

I expect that Ware will be the second or third back

Bradshaw has more game experience, but he’s been most effective as a fourth quarter change of pace. Ware looks physically more equipped to assume the Derrick Ward role. It’ll just come down to injuries and who plays better in camp. I guess Brown could surprise in camp too and jump up the depth chart, but I think he’ll see the least touches of all the backs this year.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Jun 12, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Sinorice Moss

I think it’s interesting that all around the internet fans seem to hold the belief that Moss will be lucky to make the team this year. Meanwhile everything I hear from Giants personnel or from reporters who are actually at the OTAs are that he’s the presumptive third receiver and that he’s showing a lot in camp. I never understood the high level of fan hatred he’s generated. Given his injuries and the fact that Burress and Toomer have gotten most of the reps over the last three years, he really hasn’t had a chance to show whether he’s any good or not. I’m pulling for him to turn out to be the team’s most pleasant surprise this year — if he stays healthy.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Jun 12, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Moss

I think the Giants have to say that, simply because you don’t just automatically put a rookie in that slot. We’ll just see how it plays out, but if Nicks or Manningham can’t take playing time away from Moss eventually that is a problem.

by Ed Valentine on Jun 12, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I mean

Even though Moss only had 12 receptions in 2008, I think he was only thrown to 12 times (Think that’s true but not sure) and 2 of them were for TD’s. I’m not saying that its much of an accomplishment but he has produced when given the chance to play. He definitely needs to step it up this year- He’ll have Manningham right on his heels.

LETS GO GMEN

by I_Formation27 on Jun 12, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Moss needs to stay healthy

and he needs to produce. No question. There’s a lot of competition for that 3d spot. But Manningham didn’t show much of anything last year. The jury’s definitely out on him too. Maybe he’ll show progress, but Moss has the advantage of having been involved with the program for three years. I think that familiarity will give him a leg up. And Manningham is apparently not the brightest of bulbs so it may be awhile before the coaches are comfortable that he’ll be in the right place at the right time. As for Nicks, who knows how quickly he’ll develop. Right now, I don’t think there’s any basis to say any of these guys is better than the others. You hope that as a first round draft pick, Nicks proves to be the best talent, but you just never know. If Moss does happen to prove to be the best talent of that group (and I’m not predicting that), I don’t see that as a problem. BTW, Moss caught 12 out of 15 passes thrown to him last year, not 12 out of 12, but that’s still a really high percentage. Of course it’s too small a number to be meaningful.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Jun 12, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Moss

has been an ‘enigma’. There’s really no other way to describe him. He gets on the field, they throw to him, and it seems that after breaking the corner’s ankles on an AI comeback, he makes the catch.

But then you never see him for 6 games.

I don’t know if its an attitude thing, cuz you never hear from him. I don’t think its a talent thing, cuz he has shown he has some.

But you just don’t know anything about him. I think the animosity about him comes from the fact the Giants never seem to use him, or that he’s hurt all the time.

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 14, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions