Looking Ahead to 2011: MLB
by Charles L on May 14, 2010 12:33 PM EDT
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PrintNow that the draft's over and done with and the shockwave from millions of NYG fans simultaneously howling in despair after the Giants' first round pick of Jason Pierre-Paul has settled down (seriously, Eyjafjallajökull got nothin' on Giants' Nation), what do we do? Work? Study? Read inane editorials about roided-up DROYs? There's no real Giants news, only silly speculation about future Depth Charts and progress reports from players nursing their wounds.
Seriously. What now?
In lieu of working on my final paper covering Classical Chinese History: 2011 LB prospects to watch out for!
Now, I'm not going to pray that the Giants draft a MLB with their first pick next year. That'd mean our current guys failed spectacularly. I have every expectation that Jonathon Goff will finally figure out how to play NFL football and help turn around years of mediocre Giants LB play. However, it's impossible to absolutely predict success and health. Maybe Goff, and Dillard, and Johnson are consistently mauled by running backs and tight ends. Maybe they forget to sacrifice a virgin to the ACL gods and their knees spontaneously implode at 12:59 pm, 9/12.
Location: East Rutherford, NJ
Cause: wrath of the gods.
Who knows? So I looked for guys that have been consistently good (and healthy), year in and year out, that maybe deserve a little extra attention if you happen to be watching their games. Based solely on complete speculation on my part, these prospects should project to MLB in a 4-3 (comment below if you don't think so).
The video evidence and play-by-play analysis on football draft sites is weak, I'll admit (especially on MLB play), but screw it, I'm working with yahoo search, youtube, and a healthy dislike of real research. What do you want from me? I've listed them here according to Walterfootball.com's expected draft position.
Here goes:
#1: Travis Lewis, OLB (Oklahoma)
via a.espncdn.com
6'2, 232lbs. Estimated draft position: Top 20.
2009 Stats: 109 Total Tackles, 9.5 TFL. First Team All Big-XII.
2008: 144 TT, 12 TFL, 3.5 Sacks, 4 Ints. Big-XII Defensive freshman of the year.
Before Free flips a shit, yes, I know he's an OLB. I put that as his position. But if Weatherspoon got a ton of people all hot and bothered on this site, Travis Lewis has to be considered as well. If he had declared for the 2010 draft, there's a good chance Lewis would've been called before Weatherspoon. He's that good.
Iconic moment (based on skimming the first page of results from yahoo image): OU's 2008 drumming of Texas Tech that propelled them to the National Championship Game. Lewis got 13 tackles and an interception of stud system QB (and current CFL benchwarmer) Graham Harrell.
2010 Matchups to watch for:
10/2 (Texas), 11/27 (Oklahoma State) Bleagh, the elite teams only play scrubs...
#2: Greg Jones, MLB (Michigan State)
via a.espncdn.com
6'1, 228lbs(!). Estimated draft position: Round 1-2
2009 Stats: 154 T, 14 TFL, 9(!) Sacks. AP All-American, Big Ten DPOY, First Team All Big-Ten.
2008: 127 T, 14 TFL, 2 Sacks. First Team All Big-Ten.
2007: 73 (or 78?) T, 7.5 TFL. First Team Freshman All-American.
Greg Jones, since becoming a starter midway through 2007 as a true freshman, has been a stud for MSU. He's led the team in tackles all 3 years and was named one of 4 team captains last year. According to his LB coach Mike Tressel (clearly an unbiased source), Jones is "an instinctive player with a great motor [...] a relentless competitor who never gives up on a play." What I like the most about the guy isn't necessarily the gaudy total tackle numbers, but the TFL and Sacks as a true MLB in a 4-3. He's kinda puny, but 5-10lbs more under an NFL workout regimen and he'd be fine. BTW, there are a couple clips on youtube that show how a football player like Greg Jones sheds sacks (as opposed to a monster like Rolando McClain who just pushes around college linemen):
- A series of vids analyzing the Michigan State vs Michigan game here. (Strangely buggy, crashed my browser twice) The first couple show how slippery Jones is.
- I really like this vid. Notice how Huyge, the guard, just sits on the ground afterwards, stunned.
2010 Matchups:
9/18 (Notre Dame), 10/9 (Michigan), 11/27 (Penn State).
Okay, this is taking way too freaking long. This was supposed to be anti-work, not actual work.
#3: Quan Sturdivant, MLB (North Carolina)
Pick Six against Notre Dame
via grfx.cstv.com
6'2, 232lbs. Estimated draft position: Round 1-2.
2009 Stats: 79 TT, 12 TFL.
2008: 122 TT, 5.5 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 FF, 2 Int (1 for TD).
2007: 47 TT, 1.5 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 Int, 1 Blocked Punt.
Well, Quan's listed as an MLB on Walterfootball, but spent most of his playing time as WLB. His wikipedia article ominously states that though he was the starting middle linebacker at the beginning of '09, he was moved back "to recapture his success from the previous year." Though there's didly on youtube for Quan, that move back to weakside backer, IMO, probably reflects an inability to play with blockers in his face. Even with a very talented dline (Cam Thomas, Marvin Austin, Robert Quinn), Sturdivant could only play in space. Oh yeah, and he won some awards from some publications but I ignored everything but consensus, AP, and Head Coaches. Leaving nothing.
2010 Matchups:
9/4 (LSU), 9/25 (at Rutgers!), 10/23 (Miami), 11/13 (Virginia Tech)
and... that's really the extent of guys I care to have a full writeup for. Random Guys!
Dont'a Hightower, ILB (Alabama). 6'4 250. R 2-3.
(Strangely enough, it's impossible to indent without making it look like a quotation...) Rolando's injured former partner in crime. Big, slow, injury-prone.
Matchups: 9/11 (Penn State), 10/2 (Florida), 11/6 (LSU).
Kelvin Sheppard, MLB (LSU). 6'3 239. R 2-3.
Fake writeup. Too lazy. Walter says he can run a 4.62.
Matchups: 9/4 (North Carolina), 10/9 (Florida), 11/6 (Alabama)
Mark Herzlich, OLB (Boston College). 6'4 238. R 2-3.
A late 2nd round OLB who took a medical redshirt for the '09 season. Why include him? Cause he beat the shit out of lethal bone cancer within a year and is going right back to football. This man is a fighter and a playmaker. Would Mark have quit like the rest of the Giants the last 2 games last season?
Matchups: 9/25 (VTech), 10/2 (Notre Dame).
Josh Bynes, MLB (Auburn). 6'2 239. R 2-3
4.63 40. 2 year starter.
Matchups: 10/23 (LSU), 11/26 (Alabama).
Screw it. I'm done. The rest are too slow, too small, or too out of position. Or maybe I'm too apathetic at this point in the year (it is a tad early).
I'm not saying you should definitely look these guys up, scrutinize their every play. But keep their names in mind, especially the first 3, and if you happen to be free one Saturday, might be worth it to flip the channel. Greg Jones could be this year's Rolando McClain.
All info from Walterfootball.com and Wikipedia. Unless it wasn't.
FanPosts are written by community members. This is simply a way for community members to express opinions too long to be contained in a comment.
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Oy-ve...
…I’ll just say Quan Sturdivant was the dude I wanted them to draft in 2010 if he declared. Greg Jones would’ve been nice too.
Don’t forget Chris Gallipo from USC. Can never go wrong with a USC LB and this one’s in the Lofa Tatupu, Keith Rivers, Brian Cushing sort of level.
Next year if some juniors like Gallipo enter the draft..it will be a whole lot better then this year, so those who want them to draft tehz linezbachaz!!! will probably be happy with that. Then be sad when they pass on em
Just keep winning
taking an early guess...
I’d say they draft another DE. I think Osi AND Kiwi are both gone by way of trade or just “don’t let the door hit ya in the arse”…then they draft another pass rusher.
I’d like to see a LB, and its a nice class of them especially the fact that at least 2 are from UNC (and we know the Giants + UNC LB = very a nice) but I really doubt it..again.
I’d hope they dip into the OL class, but I doubt that just like the LB’s.
RB? maybe. Andre Brown and the health of Bradshaw depends on that. If both are healthy, no point..regardless of Jacobs.
CB? I’d go out and say that’s probably more likely then if they get rid of both Osi and Kiwi.
..really, its tough to tell. Simply cuz when healthy this is a solid team with not many holes especially if some of the youngins (Sintim, Goff, even if TT builds off last year, Brown) pan out.
Its a shame, but also WR may be there. Really nice class of GIGANTIC WR probably coming out next year, many of them 6"4 and taller. Depends on who does what.
Just keep winning
by FreeBradshaw on May 16, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I ignored Chris Gallipo because of this quote from Walterfootball
“Struggled in coverage”. and also the estimated 40 time: 4.78.
He has 3-4 ILB written all over.
And hopefully, all of the gigantic WR’s are gone by the time we pick. cough 32nd cough
Walterfootball is off on that
Gallipo is not a 3-4 LB.
At worst he’s Rey Maualuga
Just keep winning
by FreeBradshaw on May 16, 2010 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
How'd Maualuga do this year?
I remember hearing that he was an absolute demon in the run game.
I’d gladly take someone who was awesome at 1 thing then the bunch of guys we have now who are mediocre/below mediocre at everything.
Boley is above average in the passing game
Our other two “projected” starters, Goff and Sintim are not distinguished enough yet to declare their inadequicies at the position. I expect that we will all be pleasently suprised at how well the LBs play this year, which would indicate that our biggest strength, the Dline is performing up to our lofty expectations.
Yeah... linebacker's just the "sexy" player on defense
Nobody cares about them power pigs… Honestly, based solely on my hours of Madden playing time, LB’s the only position that can easily be schemed around. I was just bored and my 67 rating, UDFA rookie was kicking ass.
Greg Jones is a playmaker and a stud
Needs to bulk up, though. Also, we always have good luck with UNC first round picks, don’t we? (Hakeem “the next Irvin” Nicks, L.T) So Sturdivant would be a safe pick (lol).
I don’t think our biggest need next year is going to be MLB. It’s probably going to be offensive tackle, RB (if Jacobs continues to decline), or maybe even WLB if Michael Boley plays very poorly (though Wilkinson isn’t bad at WLB).
wow, actually, we don’t have a lot of needs. if everything works out next year our only need would be offensive line (RT, C) which you could always fill in the later rounds. I smell super bowl bound next year :)
If everything works out
Beatty’s at LT, Petrus at LG, and Diehl at RT.
Other options for MLB: Ruud is unrestricted next year (6 yrs in), Beason is in the last year of his deal, both of their teams not big spenders, and we could give up high draft picks in a trade.
At that point, I'm not sure I'd want Ruud
What’s he gonna be? 28? And both those guys gonna be looking for P. Willis money. 30mill plus guaranteed. Gonna be ugly.
The only positions I think should be taken in the 1st round are
QB, LT, WR, RB, LB,
CB,
that was supposed to be a strikethrough on CB
Unless DJax stares too hard at Aaron Ross’s knees and they just disintegrate, we’re pretty set there.
Nice write-up Charles.
Should do running backs, I have this stinging feeling that’s gonna be our position of need in next years draft.
"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E
by tito (eight and oh) on May 14, 2010 3:07 PM EDT reply actions
Me 2
It looks like most of the top linebackers are too light to play the middle linebacker position and don’t have a lot of experience either……………..i do think the giants will be drafting a running back next year, either in the first or second round
Gotta add on and say that I agree.
Dispite all the praise that the running game has gotten this off season, I am just not convinced that things will change much in the coming season. I have seen few athletes in any sport undergo sugery and came back at 100% of what they were before surgery was performed. I pray that Jacobs and Bradshaw prove me wrong but a running back will more than likely be a priority next draft.
Fan's Creed: (Play well+Win=Praise) (Play Well+Lose=Praise) (Play Lousy+Win=Criticism) (Play lousy+Lose & Bandwagon Jumpers=Off with thier heads!)
by LoNJDTechnology on May 14, 2010 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Great post by the way.
Fan's Creed: (Play well+Win=Praise) (Play Well+Lose=Praise) (Play Lousy+Win=Criticism) (Play lousy+Lose & Bandwagon Jumpers=Off with thier heads!)
by LoNJDTechnology on May 14, 2010 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the trend towards smaller faster LBs is permanent, unless the running game makes a resurgence
The West Coast offense has made Monster MLBs less than they were
The whole scheme is designed to take the classic MLB who isn’t all that mobile and make him move laterally.
It was a problem for Giants Great LBs, and rules are more pass friendly now.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Dillard is the MLB in 2011.
Don't forget the rise of the H-back and scatback
With little guys like CJ Spiller and Jahvid Best becoming more and more popular, and apparently every team getting one of those super athletic tight ends (Beckum-esque), these bruising, monster meatheads are becoming useless…
The H-Back is sort of an off shoot of the West Coast
When your TE isn’t required to do a ton of blocking in the running game, you see fleeter TEs get used more often —> H-Back was the next step
Scatbacks have been around forever, but West Coast schemes have made them much bigger threats, they exploit the open spaces all that horizontal action creates
And defenses are logically countering it with more speed. Even with the advantages, if a defender is in the vicinity its not always so easy to complete the passes.
That's more a function of the QB than anything else, IMO
Guys like Bree’s can thread the proverbial needle blindfolded, while doing backflips.
and I didn’t know those rose with WCO. I only dimly remember the heyday of the Seattle and Packers WCOs earlier this decade. Ahmad Green was a power runner and Shaun Alexander was a finesse between-the-tackles guy, weren’t they? And they had in-line TE’s to block for them, I seem to remember.
When Walsh was working for Paul Brown on Bengals
They couldn’t generate any passing offense because their QB was too weak armed, but very accurate. Back then the vertical offense pioneered by Hutson and Herber was still the rage.
So he came up with the idea to let his fast players run across the field instead of down field. That way his QBs inability to throw the ball over the defense was camouflaged. But it still let his speedy players use their speed to get open. It worked.
The rules changes that immediately preceded Walsh’s hiring in SF, meant that his brain child would be doubly effective.
But yeah, the West Coast offense places a premium on passer accuracy, nice soft catch-able ball. Holmgren modified the original system as have others like Shanahan to take advantage of strong armed QBs like Elway and Favre. Like anything else, the WCO has morphed. Eagles run it, but also with a lot more long passing. But all of that underneath stuff to Westbrook in space, classic WCO.
As for TE’s you have to look back to the 50’s and 60’s, though Ditka, Jackie Smith and John Mackey showed the value of the pass catching TE, most TEs were closer to an extra RT. By the end of the 60’s every team wanted a 2-way TE but blocking came first.
Consider, the Steelers TE Larry Brown (71-84) couldn’t catch enough passes to man the position, after the rules changes. He slid over to RT and started for 5 more seasons. making a Pro Bowl in 1982.
Can you imagine Boss or even Antonio Gates sliding over to RT? It’s a totally different position now.
I'ma say...
if Gerris Wilkinson is healthy..which, in May..why not? Gerris will be the MLB for the future.
He’s always left out of the convo cuz he’s basically Nick Johnson, he’ll get hurt. But if he’s healthy, he’s the dude.
He’s been here forever, played MLB before..and is probably more athletic then Boley (watch some 2007 playoff highlights..he’s covering WR’s…).
Its probably moot cuz he gets hurt. But I really hope he gets some luck finally. Cuz him and Boley are basically as Tampa 2 ideal as you can get for a MLB and a WLB.
Just keep winning
by FreeBradshaw on May 17, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Wilkinson looked like he would be a very good player before all the injuries sidetracked his career
At this point I am not sure what he has left. Its been a long time without playing much football.
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