New York Giants notes: Some light Sunday reading
by Ed Valentine on Feb 21, 2010 7:00 AM EST
in New York Giants News
Email
PrintHere are a few stories of interest to New York Giants fans on a lazy Sunday morning.
- ESPN's 'Outside The Lines' is airing a special today at 9 a.m. ET about Florida safety and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle. If it is already too late for you to see it, you can read about Rolle here. This is a fascinating look at a young man who is much, much more than a terrific football player.
It is a looooong story. Bu, hey, it's Sunday. Act like you are sitting down and spending some time with the Sunday paper, like you -- or your fathers -- used to. It will be worth the time.
I know what most of you really want to know about Rolle is what kind of player he is, and whether he should be on the list of safeties the Giants should consider in the April draft. I will do a Prospect Profile on him at some point. For now, though, read this and learn about the life of a young man with seemingly endless opportunities.
Here's Clayton: "I honestly think that too many teams are making the switch to the 3-4 and that there aren't enough good nose tackles or five-technique defensive ends to make the 3-4 work well."
My take: These things are cyclical in the NFL. Right now, the 3-4 is "in." Five years from now, the 4-3 will probably be "in." Makes no difference, really, as long as you have the right players and the right coach. The Giants may benefit from all these teams switching to 3-4 simply because the type of players they will be looking to add will, in some cases, be different than the ones being sought by the 3-4 teams. Thus, maybe players the Giants otherwise would not be able to get will slide to them.
-- 'Kudos' to Arrowhead Pride
With an uncapped year seemingly looming, though, Cofield is expecting to be a restricted free agent — and said "odds are" he’ll be with the Giants for the 2010 season.
"The teams have the leverage," Cofield said Saturday afternoon at 6th Avenue Electronics in Paramus, where he was helping the store and Sony Electronics support the YCS non-profit children social services agency. "They have the opportunity to tender guys, keep them for cheap, and I expect them to do that. They’re businessmen, this is a business, so that’s what I expect."
Cofield said there has been "a little talk" between the Giants and his agent, in which the team "pretty much made it clear" he would be tendered in an uncapped year. There hasn’t been official notification from the team nor was a specific level identified, but Cofield said he assumes it would be a second-round tender."Fewell's job is clear: Restore the Giants' defense to what it once was, which was a formidable unit that won ballgames by squeezing the pocket. The resurrection of Umenyiora is one project. He was a non-factor last season. The return of Justin Tuck as a premier player is another. And getting something, anything out of Chris Canty and Michael Boley and shaping up the secondary is yet another.
"The Bills last season ranked 19th in overall defense but second against the pass. They also had 28 interceptions, second in the NFL and 15 more than the Giants. What's more, when Fewell coached Chicago's defensive backs in 2005 the Bears led the NFC in interceptions with 24. When you're in a division with Donovan McNabb and Romo it's probably a good idea to find someone who can teach players how to defend the pass. Fewell may be that guy."
51 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Sundry predictions --
The dbs will struggle for a bit then settle in down the stretch as a solid unit (duh!)
Osi will again show flashes of greatness but remain the “good not great” player he’s always been.
Jacobs will remain with the team but in a diminished role because —
The Giants will draft an RB within the first two rounds. Don’t be surprised if it’s in the first round. I won’t. In fact, I’m kinda betting on it.
The Giants get back to 10-6. Wild Card. Win that one. Then are out.
The Cowboys take the division again. The Redskins surprising everyone by challenging for the WC vs the Giants. The Eagles hit a major speed bump and become the East’s basement team.
Of course, this is all conjecture, but fun for me nonetheless, and I expect to be correct on most of them.
F the Cowboys.
I have that ugly star on my toilet paper.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 8:30 AM EST up reply actions
and its nice to get a dose of optimism Zill.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 8:36 AM EST up reply actions
Hey Bradshaw....I hear ya bro..........
I hate that f-ing star!!!! I can still remember how good it felt wayyyyyy back in september when Tynes kicked the FG to give the Giants the win to beat JJ and the Cowboys in the 1st game in the new Cowboys stadium! Remember the look on JJ’s face when we won? Looked like the same face when we beat them in the div round back in 07’………………f-ing priceless!!!! I cant stand Washington, despise the god damn Eagles, but I absolutely F-ING HATE THE COWBOYS!!!! Minny knocking out Dallas this year was my Super Bowl!!
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 8:41 AM EST reply actions
I have a question here though Ed........
We drafted this kid Andre Brown out of NC State. By all reports he has great size, power and decent speed and is really good as a pass catcher out of the backfield. Now granted he tends to be injured alot, but reports say barring his injuries he would have been one of the top RB coming out last year. Knowing all this, I keep hearing that the Giants may go with a RB high in the draft. This seems like a waste to me knowing our MAJOR needs on “D”. Are the Giants not as high on AB now as they were when they drafted him? Is he not progressing from his achilles injury well? Whats the deal here cuz if they go RB w/ either a 1st or a 2nd I will be dissappointed for sure.
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 8:56 AM EST reply actions
Running Backs are a HUGE question mark
Bradshaw: Starting to look like an important role player but not a workhorse back. It seems like he’s pushing his body too hard and can’t make it through 17-18 games (like i hope we play each year). He seems like the 6th man in b-ball, the sparkplug off the bench.
Danny Ware: All potential, but the NFL is full of guys like that. There’s gotta be a reason TC keeps him benched even after he does well in the preseason.
And Andre Brown: He ruptured his Achilles Tendon. That’s an injury that you can never fully recover from. Brown might not yet be done, but if he can’t make NFL-level cuts, it’s over.
I’ll never understand the draft all defense idea. These guys are rookies. They could use impact players, and yea…RB is a big question mark so if they are sold on a RB in the 1st 2 rounds its likely.
They need a safety in the 1st 2 rounds. IMO that’s it. That’s the big need to find on defense, a safety capable of starting. Every other position on defense could be filled by someone here and/or just needs competition for playing time and depth, that’s all.
If RB is the impact player available in the 1st 2 rounds..get it. As long as the other pick is a safety, doesn’t matter. They can find DT, MLB and OT later on cuz IMO aside from Rolando McClain, they ain’t gonna get a starter just a rotational player.
Bradshaw and Jacobs haven’t been healthy their entire careers with the Giants. So I can’t rely on Andre Brown or Gartrell Johnson.
I’d love to see Andre be a player. His skill set was Derrick Ward + Speed.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 9:35 AM EST up reply actions
You cant understand the draft all defense idea?
Im pretty sure you were watching our defense this year right? And i use the word “defense” very loosely cuz the Giants did not defend anything. Now granted the “D” had alot of injuries to contend with but this unit needs alot of help here. From S to LB to DT to depth at CB. I think the giants should draft 2 safeties not just one. They should go high at LB. I was starting to think getting Dansby was a good idea but the more I think about it, he would cost way too much and would not be worth all the money. He’s good but not great. I know we need a RB but not at the expense of the defense. We made history this year on defense, and not in a good way………………
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 9:47 AM EST up reply actions
Rookies man. Rookies.
What are rookies gonna do? 3 years for rookies to make an impact, normal rookies. If we’re gonna get real lucky…he starts in year one, or makes an impact in year 2. If we’re going for real rare, he makes an impact in year one.
No, I don’t undestand drafting all defense. You build for the future with the draft. If an impact player is a RB or an OT, someone who’s gonna start right away and help the team in a variety of ways…that’s who you pick.
You build for 2011 and beyond in the draft.
We had a good defens in 2009. Most of the same players are here. Most of those players were hurt and mismanaged.
Drafting all defense will make the defense potentially better in 2011…but it will be ignoring potential holes in 2011, like the OL. Probably RB too.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
I dont know, I am one of those guys who puts alot of stock into
Jerry Reese and his decisions. i mean look at the 07’ draft. We would not have won the SB without the success of that draft. Now granted I do realize that you dont get a draft like that every year or every 5 years but the man knows what he is doing………(uhhh barring last years FA signings.) JR has to be aggressive this yr in the draft. He has to trade up possibly to get a Rolondo Mcclain in the 1st, or come away w/ ET in the 1st and try to nab a Spikes in the 2nd or whatever. Moves can DEF be made to improve this defense right away for next year dont you think? It’s not ALL about impfoving for 2011.
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
the only reason those guys played was cuz of injury.
And if memory serves me….Players were playing all over the field, not just defense or offense.
Moves can be made for this year of course. But as 2009 told us, you don’t focus on one need.
They improved the pass offense in 2009. Congrats. They focused basically on one side of the ball, and it shot them directly in the asshole. Clint Sintim was the only defensive player they drafted.
OT and RB are as big a must as LB and DT.
Jacobs and Bradshaw will get hurt. I can’t be 100% on anything else, but I can be 110% on that. They need a capable 3rd back, and I dunno if Brown is that.
Kareem McKenzie is getting up there. They could use a RT to groom. He also may be becoming injury prone, so that new RT should be capable to play.
I’d rather a 2nd year player take over for Kareem in 2011 then worry about a FA or a rookie.
Safety is the #1 need. All the rest are holes as well.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 10:13 AM EST up reply actions
Last year's draft
What I really didn’t understand was the wasted 6th & 7th round picks. Before the season, we looked stacked at CB with CWeb, TT, Ross, & Dockery. There was no room on the team for those two CBs we drafted and based on their draft reports, they seemed to have a ceiling of Special Teams to begin with.
I think there was a spot. Bruce Johnson beat them out.
One of the other killers was Aaron Ross being hurt, but not hurt enough to be on IR.
He was basically taking up space the whole time and they couldn’t add anyone else, of course untill they added Aaron Rouse with KP on IR.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 10:30 AM EST up reply actions
They weren't wasted
Giants were obviously trying to build depth at corner. Thhey knew what they were trying to get, and you can never have enough guys who can cover. Just turned out that neither player panned out, and Bruce Johnson was actually better.
by Ed Valentine on Feb 21, 2010 11:57 AM EST up reply actions
We def need to address our o-line for sure
but I dont knowif it’s as pressing a need as our LB situation. We have a glaring hole at MLB and at the Will backer spot as well. The way I look at it, the G-men have always been about defense and thats why we should concentrate on that side of the ball. i am of the belief that you can get servicable o-linemen later on in the draft or thru FA. Go top heavy on “D” and the rest will even out…………………no?
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
No.
Will? They signed Mike Boley. Why do they need a WLB?
Sam? Clint Sintim was a pick last year. We giving up on him? I’m not.
Jon Goff? I think he deserves a chance. Competition, absolutely, he should not be given the job, but competition is needed.
An all out replacement at MLB? I dunno about that. I like Goff, he’s smart and he loves to hit people.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
ok well i screwed up on that i meant the strong side Lb spot
Sintims strength is rushing the QB and can play at the line. a situational player maybe? i hope not. i would hate to relegate a 2nd round pick on a backup or not an every down LB but he has not been given enough playing time to be able to tell. But as far as MLB that is the one spot you want a stud and I really dont think Goff is the answer. Neither is Bryan Kehl for that matter. But you do need quality backups in this league at all positions. Michael Boley when healthy is very productive he def showed us that. If we get a stud in the middle and if Sintim can justify a 2nd round pick with a healthy Boley, all of the sudden LB becomes a strength for the Giants………not a weakness. I stll have agita over this team and its almost march, thank god theres some really good hockey to watch today………..
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 12:18 PM EST up reply actions
The Giants have had Mike Barrow and Antonio Pierce as MLB’s. Studs? I’d say above average to very good at times, but not studs.
The DL is what its all about.
As for Sintim, he was injured basically all year, like everyone else.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 12:47 PM EST up reply actions
What i said was the MLB spot is where you "want"
a stud, a sideline to sideline type guy. Not that the Giants have had a stud or a clearly above average middle backer. One that can do it all. Both Barrow and Pierce had there strong points, both being good tacklers but both were athletically challenged in coverage. Defending the pass was not where they excelled, or neither being able to blitz the passer. And as far as the D-line I do agree that you can never have enough pass rushers or in the Giants case run stuffers but I wouldnt use a 1st rounder on a DT. Giants have enough of a rotation I feel to get away with it w/ Robbins, Alford, Canty…..(if he can get going) And Cofield if he sticks around. And healthy DE’s finally will make a big diff. Giants will draft a LB with there #1 I think.
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 2:06 PM EST up reply actions
that’s the thing.
Aside from Rolando McClain…there isn’t a LB worth it, so it would be a hell of a waste of a pick to reach for one, someone who they can get in the 2nd or 3rd round.
Safety, the same thing. Earl Thomas seems like a good pick. Is he there? Dunno, is he worth it? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe there’s a 2nd round S they’d like better.
You don’t go “round 1” with a position, cuz there is really no LB’s worth round one for them.
…this is why, OT or RB may make sense. Cuz there could be a first round OT (Bulaga) or RB (Spiller) sitting there.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 2:09 PM EST up reply actions
Ok so the Giants are picking at 15 and Mcclain
is projected to go at or around the 10th pick or so. Alot of mock drafts have him going to Denver at the 11th pick. If the Giants want there man you dont think the can move up 5 spots? What would it cost an extra 3rd or 4th….(probably a 3rd) to get that impact player you were talking about? I would do it in a NY second! Look, would I be content with going w/ a o-linemen w/ our 1….yes. Is it sexy enough of a pick…no. Would you give up a 1st and a 3rd for a beast MLB to man that spot for the next 10 or so years?
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
And lets say they dont trade up in the first
and they grab ET at 15 and pick up Brandon Spikes at the 46th pick. Would that be considered a good draft so far for the Giants? What do you think of Spikes?
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
Spikes in round 2 would be OK.
Nothing sooner then that.
I’d rather go
1) Brian Price DT, Brian Bulaga OT, CJ Spiller RB
2) Nate Allen, Chad Jones S, Spikes
3) S/MLB/DT/RT whatver they didn’t get in the first 2
4) whatever they didn’t get elsewhere.
Either McClain at #15 or no McClain.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
No way they get Mcclain then
And im terrified with taking a DT in the first, Memories of William Joseph come to mind. taking a DT so high doesnt usually pan out, just ask the Jets w/ Dewayne Robertson. And didnt they trade up for him? He was taken in the top 5 if memory serves me correct. B-U-S-T!!
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
William Joseph didn’t do much in college.
Dewayne Robertson was misused by the Jets for the most part, but was actually a solid player.
He was pretty good when they were in the 4-3, but when they switched to the 3-4, he was not (just like Jon Vilma). Plus, they’re the Jets. They’re idiots.
Someone like Price, who’s a pass rushing DT…is a lot like Kyle Williams with the Bills, which is a great thing cuz that’s the dude that Perry Fewell coached into a Pro Bowl caliber DT.
Price has a lot more talent then him too.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
its all about the best player available.
If that’s a DT like Price, then get him.
If that’s a RB like Spiller…get him.
If that’s an OT like Bulaga, get him.
If that’s a DE like Derrick Morgan, get him.
…all of these guys can help the team out in some way. If one of these guys is going to be a Pro Bowl caliber player, and the other not…why exactly would we get the dude who’s not?
If the BPA is Earl Thomas a safety, then get him. We’d be in luck cuz that’s a huge need.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah I can agree with the best player available
concept going into the draft if you cant use the drafting for need concept which is how most teams would rather go about things but thats not totally in your control. There are so many ways they could go, I know but I am absolutely obsessed with getting a LB. No matter where they get it. Do I sound like a broken record?….lol.
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe it that was possible , but that’s not what it would cost.
Moving up to 10, or 9 would cost them at least their 2nd round pick, and I don’t do that.
McClain might be worth that #15 pick, but is he worth their first, 2nd and 5th? Not sure about that…leaning towards no.
Plenty of other MLB’s available, probably with that 2nd and 3rd (or 4th).
Guys like Pat Angerer, Darryl Sharpton, Jamar Chaney…all could be there by the 3-4th round pick.
Even someone like Micah Johnson, who could fall since he’s injured right now.
Sean Lee, was a 1st rounder before he got hurt, they take a flier on him in the later rounds.
I’d rather not gamble for anything other then a franchise QB.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 3:05 PM EST up reply actions
I'd give up a 3rd.............not our 2nd.
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
the move you are talking about
wouldn’t cost a 2, but a 3 AND a 4
At least that is what the draft charts say
Thats a steep price for a guy who doesn’t grade out higher than Patrick Willis
People need to get back to reality on McClain, he is the best MLB prospect in this draft, not the last 10 years.
GM's don't see the draft chart as something set in stone
if the jags want to move back they will take whatever they can get, whoever their GM is could use the draft chart as a guide but if the giants offer is a 100 points short or whatever its still better to take it than to not take anything at all if nobody else is giving them a better deal.
Their biggest needs are QB, DE and S and most teams between the Jags pick and the Giants pick are 3-4 so they are unlikely to take Morgan or Griffen (best pass rush DE) who grade out strickly as 4-3 DE’s and not 3-4 OLB’s.
by mclaren_is_the_best on Feb 21, 2010 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
thats true
But it is a good yardstick (ie 90% of trades come in around this measure)
100 points is definitely in the ball park
I’d love to see Derrick Morgan in Blue, you can never have enough guys like that. He is not like the other DE’s more in the mold of Strahan, power, will seal the edge himself and get a pass rush.
I still think that a trade back could be best.
I’d love to see a way to get a DT, S and MLB before pick 65 is announced. You might not get a star, but very good players (occasional pro bowler like Leonard Marshall) at 3 positions.
Brown
Well, first of all let’s just realize that the Giants themselves have said NOTHING about their draft priorities. They won’t even put together a draft board until a few weeks before the draft itself. So, our chats and anything else you read is just conjecture and what people outside think they ‘might’ do or ‘should’ do.
Now, as for Brown. The Giants love the guy as far as i can tell, and he was very impressive in training camp last season before he got hurt. BUT …
An Achilles Tendon injury for a running back can be devastating. I have said this before, but I know what it is like because I have torn my left Achilles twice.
A running back relies on planting his foot and cutting sharply and quickly to make a living. He may very well never have the same strength, explosion or quickness he had before the injury. So, he is a huge question mark.
by Ed Valentine on Feb 21, 2010 9:52 AM EST up reply actions
Have you heard anything on Brown
as far as how he is progressing from his injury? I do realize that an achilles is a major injuryfor anyone but more so for a RB. And I know that Jacobs is not a feature back and that we need a rotation like in 08’but I really hope with the stable of backs on the roster already we should have a high end rushing attack in 2010. Now question is did our o-line overachieve in 08’or underachieve in 09’?
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
Some of both, I'm sure
I think one problem was Seubert’s shoulder, I think he just couldn’t shove off against people. I also think McKenzie took a bit of a step down, age and his back are not being kind to him.
We really are starting to get old on parts of the o-line......no doubt about it.
Beatty was a high draft pick and am hoping he will have an impact next year. And Booth was a decent back up but we still need help. i had visions coming into last year that the Giants would have the best lines in the NFL on both sides of the ball………….it didnt work out like that.
by giantsNYrangers on Feb 21, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
The O line, as currently constituted, is creaky.
It didn’t play up, or down 2008-2009. It played to its ability at the given time. Players age. Get slower. (Duh on me) And now it needs an upgrade. That’s about it. Offense will, maybe to the surprise of many, be our achilles heel this season — unless RB and O-line concerns are addressed. The D will stumble, adjust and be decent. The O is the problem this year.
Let’s talk in 9 months.
Yes your right...
I never suffered that injury but have seen it end careers…( even that average Baltimore QB Johnny Unitas had his career ended from one). Brown and Phillips with that knee of his are my two biggest concerns..
"When I was a boy and had no sense I got my pecker stuck in an electric fence..Well it curled my hair and tickled my balls, and made me shit in my overalls"
It Seems To Me
That FreeBradshaw makes some excellent points. The draft is for the future, and rarely do rookies make huge impacts. If the Giants don’t allow themselves to look to the offensive side of the ball during this draft they could be passing up players that could really improve the team. Yes the Giants defense sucked last year, but there were some extenuating circumstances and the Giants have already moved to make these circumstances more favorable to them this coming year. Some players gained valuable experience that could lead to improved performance this year, and of course, there’s a new DC in town…Don’t think it’s the end of the world if the Gmen go offense early. The draft is about accumulating the best possible talent, regardless of where it may lay…
Hakeem Nicks card trick
Just saw this today; it’s probably fake but Hakeem is the man and I could see him actually being able to do this. Either way I am psyched for his sophomore effort.
by SonictheHedgecock on Feb 21, 2010 1:47 PM EST reply actions
I seen that a few times.
I don’t really focus on what Hakeem’s doing tho. I can’t.
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 21, 2010 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
Hakeem is a smooth operator
that is for sure
by mclaren_is_the_best on Feb 21, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
There is no way we draft all defense boys i'm telling you right now so get used to that....
so your not disapointed come April.And yes I did see the defense last year.
As far as us not tipping our hand about the draft well,thats true but....
we do have some things to go on.If you remember JR and TC alluded to wanting to get back to dominating the line of scrimmage with power-running and of course we want to add a push at DT to go along with our DE’s who are still an excellent group to me!As far as offense goes we will get an RT that is not going to come from the bottom of the draft.We as a team would be useless if Eli was to get pounded play after play and are only as good of an offense as we protect him and can pound the rock going forward,not just this year.Sorry FB but I think Spiller will not be the back of choice.We will probably go with someone like Dwyer IMO.I think they want a guy who runs with power and explosion.We will get a good DT somewhere,maybe even 1st.Price might be the guy.But JR will not reach for need at any slot on the draft.Also PW’s ability to get more out of DB’s is a possible sign that we won’t get one early.Although if he does more with less what could he do with KP21,ET,and a reinvigorated DL?Maybe something scary!
Dwyer is not even a first round talent
Reese will have to be dumb to take him in the first round
by mclaren_is_the_best on Feb 21, 2010 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
4-3 to 3-4 or 3-4 to 4-3
The smart time to do a change over is when the team drops out of the top half of the teams. Most times a top rated teams players dont make the transition from one to the other easily. Trades and new picks would be needed. This is why the teams watch what system a player comes from, it takes time to change for a player. Some players could be average in one system while excelling in another.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Get Your Giants' Gear
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Victor Cruz, fellow Giants hit Grammys and Fashion Week
- Ahmad Bradshaw says Cowboys won’t win with Tony Romo at QB
- Cruz: Manningham’s Super catch wasn’t drawn up that way
- Whitney Houston performed the greatest national anthem in sports history (video)
- Justin Tuck visits New York City cop who survived gunshot wound to head
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
