The Antrel Rolle Signing and Other Thoughts

by ChicagoGiantsFan on Mar 10, 2010 9:33 AM EST

I don’t know what to think of the Antrel Rolle signing. On one hand, I do think he is a significant upgrade over incumbents C.C. Brown, Aaron Rouse and Michael Johnson. But for some reason I have a bad feeling about this signing. Maybe it’s memories from last offseason when the Giants shelled out all that money for Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard and Michael Boley and got limited to no production from them. Maybe it’s the fact that we paid so much for his services, 5-year $37 million. Maybe because he was part of a defense, Arizona Cardinals, who were torched by the Drew Brees led Saints in the playoffs.

In Rolle’s Defense

Looking at his stats over the past five seasons, you’d have to say that his best season was 2007 when he played in 16 games, registered 62 tackles and had five interceptions. His 2008 campaign was pretty good as well, though his interception numbers were way down. I guess my burning question is was 2007 an aberration or is it a harbinger for things to come? These are all questions that will undoubtedly be answered by the end of the 2010 season.

Jim Sorgi

I think the signing of Jim Sorgi was a safe move. You could have done a lot worse by trying to sign Jeff Garcia or Daunte Culpepper, who I personally feel are past their prime and more trouble than what they are worth. The question is, do you really want to put your faith in Sorgi to carry your team if Eli Manning goes down? Some say that if Manning goes down the Giants would be “cooked”. Please tell that to the 1990 Giants who went on to win the Super Bowl without Phil Simms. I would have rather seen the Giants sign Chad Pennington. He is familiar with New York and I think he would have fit well in the Giants run-heavy, short pass system. Sorgi should be fine but let’s hope that Eli plantar fasciitis heals and he develops no other injuries that make him miss a significant period of time.

The Draft

There seems to be a lot of people jumping on the Rolando McClain bandwagon, including myself. I would be extremely intrigued if he fell to us at 15. We really haven’t had an impact linebacker since the days of Carl Banks, Lawrence Taylor and Pepper Johnson. We need a defensive leader with a bulldog mentality. A player who isn’t afraid to knock the proverbial “snot” out of an opposing running back. Is McClain that player? I don’t know but I do know that he has talent and has been in the SEC which is basically the junior NFL so let’s give him a shot at becoming the next great Giants LB.

Other Draft Needs

I think the Giants should focus on speed, speed and more speed. I wouldn’t be opposed to drafting another safety as insurance for a recovering Kenny Phillips. I’d also draft another linebacker and possibly a beast on the offensive line. The Giants should also think about signing a punter as well.

Free Agents

The Giants should sign a veteran linebacker. Someone like a Larry Foote or a Keith Bulluck would give the Giants some experience and also provide a important mentorship role for the young linebacking core. I know Bulluck is coming off an injury but he would be serviceable if healthy.

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Comments

2009

Rolle made the pro bowl last year

by NJDuke on Mar 10, 2010 10:09 AM EST reply actions

Rolle made the pro bowl AND was the starting free safety for a shitty Cardinals defense. Adrian Wilson was the strong safety. And, Brees and company torched a LOT of teams (including the Giants) last year…

However, it’s true, he might not live to our expectations. Walterfootball says he had quite a few blown coverages and missed tackles. Maybe with another year as a true free safety? When did he switch positions? Was he already converted to safety in 2007? If he was a corner, those numbers might reflect a ballhawking-safety mentality who had to make up for a lack of speed by jumping routes and then tackling the WR after he’d already caught the ball…

by Charles L on Mar 10, 2010 10:19 AM EST reply actions

I dunno if we can wipe the slate clean with Rolle as far as stats...

but looking at what he is, an athletic big CB who likes to hit and make INT’s.

Hmmmm…………Perry Fewell? Wait, didn’t that Jairus Byrd dude go from a slowish CB to S and become a DROY candidate?

Dude knows his way around coaching up DB’s. I’d rather go with a veteran “learning a new position” then a rook too.

I’m not expecting big things out of Rolle. But I’m not gonna be surprised if he turns out better then we think.

Master of the squeegee

by FreeBradshaw on Mar 10, 2010 10:33 AM EST reply actions

Pro Bowl

I should have fact checked that. My apologies.

by ChicagoGiantsFan on Mar 10, 2010 10:50 AM EST reply actions

only reason why i questioned the Rolle signing

is because i was dead set on taking ET @ 15….so much for that idea.

but ultimately if we were going to give the job to a rookie i would have wanted Sharper on a 1 year deal as well…considering Sharper just had surgery i don’t think he was ever in our plans…and probably why NO let him explore other positions.

so w/ that being said, i’m glad we got Rolle….

"If you don't know what you're doing... just rush the quarterback" - LT

by andiamo708 on Mar 10, 2010 11:19 AM EST reply actions

Sorgi

Im ok with this signing.. pennington would have been nnice.. but i dont know the situation with that.

But about if Elis goes down…well, Take any teams Starting qb and see what happends. cassel did well, but there are few teams with great-to-good backups

by semsemma on Mar 10, 2010 11:20 AM EST reply actions

Tandem

Him along side a healthy KP would take both of their skills to another level, paired with (S) coach dave merrit and Fewell, these two might shock the NFL….. your team is already good if you have one (S) from the U, (Baltimore, patriots, redskins (r..i.p Taylor), and now we have 2 from a place who manufactures great safties paired with eachother and a DC who gets all he can out of safties…….WOW…… Antrel is also a leader and extremely intelligent on the board thats why the cards were wiling to match even tho they have Wilson.

This league will soon need 2 great safties on any defense who wants to go to the big show, it looks like the G men are 1 up on the competition now.

But dont tell em i told you that !!!!!

by Blue Gates on Mar 10, 2010 11:52 AM EST reply actions

No more SS vs FS

The league is obsoleting the theory of a strong vs free safety. I think in the modern NFL you need two SAFETIES. Guys that do it all and are interchangable. It’s the only way to keep up with modern offenses and not key your defense to them. Rolle is a doitall safety.

by bigblue777 on Mar 10, 2010 12:03 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

You need interchangeable parts. Injuries are so commonplace that you need to have athletes with the capability to play several different positions. Belichek has been doing this for years. It’s about time that the Giants follow suit.

by ChicagoGiantsFan on Mar 10, 2010 2:01 PM EST reply actions

No impact at MLB?

What about Pierce in the past 5 years or Mike Barrow a couple of years before Pierce was signed? Were they dynamic? No. But they did their job and thats all you need out of every player. ( I sound so much like Bill Belichik right now… damn it)

by nicnyg on Mar 10, 2010 2:28 PM EST reply actions

MLB

I like the Rollem signing even if it was pricing and the best soloution at MLB would Be Kirk Morrison

by hotshot5568@aim.com on Mar 10, 2010 2:44 PM EST reply actions

if it were up to me id give up the third to bring in morrison. no question about it..

1st round i would love to get mcclain. not sure if hed fall to us but if he did it would be great. im on the bandwagon.

second and fourth round id like to pick up a safety and olineman..

fifth round id go with a DT and than for the last 2 picks id take a K/P and anyone else whos got potential..

so far we got our safety and backup qb. im happy with both signings. now bringing in a solid starting LB would be great

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

by Moshe52792 on Mar 10, 2010 2:55 PM EST reply actions

I agree

“We need a defensive leader with a bulldog mentality. A player who isn’t afraid to knock the proverbial "snot" out of an opposing running back. Is McClain that player?”

I’ve been stressing about this for weeks now. Both weatherspoon and mcclain are great players, but they don’t have that ‘aggression’ quality that MLB’s such as Patrick Willis, London Fletcher, Jon Beason, Ray Lewis, (etc etc.) all have. That football nature of ‘laying the wood’ on a RB/QB. I just don’t see it with both Weatherspoon and McClain.

by Nfpdawg on Mar 10, 2010 4:16 PM EST reply actions

About antrel rolle blowing coverages

I did some research and antrel role did not blow a lot of coverage in 2009. That was more in the year 2008, which was his first year playing as free safety, so that was to be expected. He improved a lot in his second year.

About the missed tackles, yeah, he tends to do miss a lot of tackles (Yikes)

by Nfpdawg on Mar 10, 2010 4:21 PM EST reply actions