Mock Draft Time Part 1

It seems like it's mock draft time, and rather than just commenting on other folks mocks I thought I'd put up my view. If for no other reason than for you guys to get a chance to return the favour of critiquing my picks. I'll follow Blue Gates' lead by breaking my mock into two parts. Part 1 will cover picks 1-4. Here goes.

Round 1: Sean Weatherspoon, Linebacker, Missouri

First, let's cover the obligatory Rolando McClain discussion. Let me state for the McClain fan club that if I believed he would be available here I would have to give him strong consideration. I don't think he will be available for us at 15, and I do not see him as a player that warrants trading up (if such a trade partner even exists).  I'm not upset that McClain doesn't slide because I can get the player I really want without controversy over which linebacker stud to pick.

Weatherspoon is the ideal addition to our linebackingcorps as we move forward with Perry Fewell in whatever direction he plans to take us. Weatherspoon is a truely gifted athlete whose skill set allows him to project as any of the 3 linebacker positions in the 4-3 defense. While at Missouri Weatherspoon was responsible for on the field play calling duties and he is a smart prospect making him an ideal Mike for us. He is arguably the smoothest linebacker in coverage of a very talented draft class making him a great player at the WILL if there are any issues with Boley. Weatherspoon's 35 reps on the bench even indicate the strength necessary to play SAM. Weatherspoon is a starter quality player day one. His versatility means we only need two of three currently slated starters with question marks to step up to the plate. Other potential linebacker draft choices can only fit one position which would require making a decision about who currently on the roster will step up before even getting to see them in full offseason action. 

Round 2: Toby Gerhart, Runningback, Stanford

We all know there are some question marks regarding our runningbacks. It's impossible to ignore the fact that our ground game just wasn't up to Giants standards last year. Obviously some of this is attributable to injuries. Bradshaw was practically a cripple 5 days a week and was still giving it his all on Sundays. Jacobs hurt his knee again, and Andre Brown had a ruptured Achilles. We can't simply assume injury was the only problem and hope everything is ok this year though. Andre Brown may never work out because not many runningbacks really come back from a ruptured Achilles. Gartrell Johnson and Danny Ware have not shown anything to indicate they can carry any kind of load. 

A lot of folks have discussed players like CJ Spiller or other flashy backs. I would argue flashy change of pace backs are not where we need to look to solve our ground game issues. Bradshaw played well even hurt. When he is 100% he is a great change of pace back. Jacobs on the other hand was unimpressive even when healthy. He simply wasn't running with power. I believe we need a player in the backfield we can count on to get those tough yards to keep the chains moving. Gerhart can do that for us. Gerhart also possesses skills that are lacking in our current runnigback stable. Gerhart is a better blocker than any of our current backs and also has better hands, so even if he doesn't take over a starting job he can instantly be our 3rd down back. We also haven't had a back we can really count on for short yardage. Jacobs for all his size just isn't that good at pushing a pile. Gerhart immediately improves our short yardage game.

As I see it, we draft Gerhart and one of two things happens. Possibility one: it lights a fire under Jacobs and he goes back to playing like he did before he got paid. Great, we have Jacobs of old back, Bradshaw does his change of pace thing and Gerhart handles 3rd down and short yardage. When Jacobs inevitably hurts his knee in the middle of the season Gerhart can take on a bigger role to fill the void. Possibility two: Jacobs doesn't light up and get back to form. Fine, we cut him and his big salary in the uncapped year and hand Gerhart the reigns sooner rather than later.

 Round 3: Matt Tennant, Center/Guard, Boston College

I've been beating the draft a center drum around here for a bit. I love O'Hara, but I don't think he is around forever and I want time for a young guy to learn from him. Matt Tennant would be a great player to draft with this intention. First and foremost he has the number one quality that the Giants seem to look for in offensive lineman, versatility. Tennant can play both center and guard (and potentially even right tackle) meaning worse case scenario he is an ideal reserve lineman that can fill in at more than one spot. Tennant could stand to add a bit more muscle mass to handle some of the biggest defensive tackles, but his technique is incredible. He is an incredibly smart athlete that will be able to handle making the line calls from the center position. He is quick off the snap and very skilled at redirecting defenders, which Eli will appreciate. He is very athletic, plays great in space, works combo blocks well popping off onto linebackers with ease, and is aggressive at getting downfield and blocking through the whistle. All traits that are ideal for our style of run game that calls for a lot of pulls and a mix in of some zone runs. Last but not least we all know that BC puts out good lineman.

Tennant comes in and competes day  one with Seubert for the starting LG spot and most likely wins it. If as many of us are hoping Beatty is ready to take over the left tackle position Diehl will be free to move to right tackle. Our two big question marks (Seubert and McKenzie) are taken care of. Seubert can be a reserve and McKenzie perhaps gets cut. Tennant spends the next two years playing guard for us while learning from O'Hara how to be a center in the NFL. Then when O'Hara retires Tennant slides over comfortably into center and our offensive line moves forward without skipping a beat. I contemplated here whether to wait on center until a later round (a Kevin Mathews for example), but the value that Tennant brings as player ready to play guard now was just too much to pass up. Later round centers would likely be reserve players only until they had some time to adjust to the pro game.

Round 4: Linval Joseph, Defensive Tackle, East Carolina University

Defensive tackle is a position that most here on BBV are concerned with. There are differing views on how big of a concern and what type of a defensive tackle is needed. Do we need a starter or a reserve? A nose tackle or a 3 technique? I'm personally in the camp that we have our starters in Coefield and Canty. I expect much more out of Canty now that he is healthy. My primary concern regarding defensive tackle is depth at the position. What do we really have in Rocky Bernard and the even bigger question will Alford be healthy enough? I also believe we are ok at the 3 technique because of all of our nickel package options (playing Tuck at defensive tackle etc.). This caused me to look into the draft for a rotational player that can come in at the nose tackle position. Linval Joseph is that player.

Joseph has the size and flashes moments that would have you peg him as a top tier defensive tackle. His main problem appears to be stamina and not being able to perform at a high level series after series. This is going to cause him to slide down a lot of boards which turns out well for us because we are looking for a rotational player. He doesn't need to play every down for us, just rotate in make some plays then come get some Gatorade. He is a massive player at 330 lbs, yet he gets amazing penetration meaning he isn't pigeon holed to run stuffing only. He has some technique issues that could be fixed, but nothing that isn't coach-able. As a 4th rounder there isn't a rush to get him on the field so we can utilize him in situations that he excels at while we coach him up and condition him to be a more complete player.

That concludes rounds 1-4 of my mock. Let the comments fly and I'll get cracking on making the tough decisions with my remaining picks.