Ben, a relatively new Big Blue View community member who goes by the screen name 'BigTrueBlue,' sent an intriguing e-mail recently. It included a fairly exhaustive, comprehensive, off-season plan for our disappointing New York Giants.
I disagree with several of Ben's suggestions. But, this is a well-thought out piece of work by Ben that lays out the potential free agents the Giants have to make decisions on, and shares some draft thoughts.
It's well worth the time, so give it a look. And I'm sure it will generate some discussion. We all love to play amateur general manager.
The New York Giants - Planning for 2010
|
Quarterback |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
David Carr |
28 |
2010 |
What to do: David Carr is going to want to revive his career and I think a team will take a chance on him as a teacher to one of the many rookie QB's coming out of this draft class. I think we look for a veteran in free agency that has some NFL miles under his belt and sign him for a couple years behind Eli.
|
Running Back |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
Danny Ware |
24 |
2010 (RFA) |
What to do: With a young RB core of Jacobs, Bradshaw, Andre Brown and Hedgecock (FB) we really do not need Ware. But with the injury histories of Jacobs, Bradshaw and ABrown keeping a pass catching and versatile back that can help on special teams is a must. Signing Jacobs was a mistake, but the good news is Andre Brown is going to be a great back with healthy size and solid hands.
|
Wide Receiver |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
Domenik Hixon |
24 |
2010 |
|
Sinorice Moss |
25 |
2010 |
What to do: The Giants have established their WR core with Manningham, Steve Smith, and Hakeem Nicks. Hixon is an average returner with weak hands and poor body control -- he has been given all the opportunity to succeed and has not proven worthy, let him go. At this point Sinorice Moss is a veteran presence that has really done nothing in his career. With promising training camps the past two years and no actual real production - it's time to let him go. Ramses Barden and Derek Hagan will now have to prove themselves.
|
Offensive Tackle |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
Guy Whimper |
26 |
2010 |
What to do: William Beatty has stepped up big in his rookie year. I am not sure about Whimper's versatility, but if he is able to move around the line keep him. If not just let him go.
Beatty is ready to go. He can play at any position on the line. He has even seen time at the TE position in goal line situations. That said Kareem McKenzie is old, constantly fighting injuries, and a penalty liability. At 5 million a year, its time to cut ties with the veteran. The Giants have been able to turn mid-round offensive linemen into productive contributors, and it is definitely worth looking to the draft to continue this trend.
|
Guard |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
Kevin Boothe |
26 |
2010 |
What to do: Has been a solid backup. Similar situation to Guy Whimper.
|
Defensive End |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
David Tollefson |
28 |
2010 (RFA) |
What to do: Although he is relatively old, this guy can flat out play. Having depth at the DE position is key. With Tollefson the Giants have a solid 4-man DE rotation
|
Defensive Tackle |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
Barry Cofield |
25 |
2010 |
|
Fred Robbins |
32 |
2010 |
What to do: The Giants handcuffed themselves with the signing of Bernard and Canty. Canty is 26 years old and has battled injuries this year -- he will be fine. Canty has played decently these past two weeks against Dallas and the Eagles, he is clearly getting his strength and confidence back. He is also the ideal DE in a 3-4 defense in case the giants ever plan on transitioning. Rocky Bernard has been crippled by injuries and is worth keeping for another year to see if he still has what he had in Seattle. As much as I love Fred Robbins, he has been banged up through his career and while he might have a few years left, I think it is time to say good bye. Resigning Barry Cofield is a must. Additionally Jay Alford is a great DT that hit the IR in preseason. Canty, Bernard, Alford, Cofield could prove to be a top DT rotation.
The Giants and a 3-4 defense might work out. Tuck is a bit under-sized but he is about 275/280 and would be a light DE in a 3-4, but his athleticism would surely make up for it. Kiwanuka and Umenyoria might be best suited as OLB's with Sintim playing 3-4 OLB in college. That rotation would be deadly. Goff and Boley are surely athletic enough and good enough tacklers to play the Inside linebacker spots. The Nose Tackle spot, which is considered the key to the 3-4 could be handled by Cofield who is listed as 6-3, 305, but I think he is a tad ashamed of his true weight. Jay Alford is a bit small as well, but he is athletic enough to make up for it.
|
Outside Linebacker |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
Danny Clark |
32 |
2010 |
What to do: Time for Clint Sintim to play. Chase Blackburn can play all three line backer positions decently and will serve as a solid backup. Danny Clark, you had a solid career - enjoy retirement. Sintim and Michael Boley complement each other well with Sintim being a big LB and Boley being an athletic veteran.
|
Middle Linebacker |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
Antonio Pierce |
30 |
2011 |
|
Chase Blackburn |
26 |
2010 |
What to do: AP is signed through 2011 and is finished -- time to say good bye. Although he is an extremely intelligent linebacker, he lacks the quickness to cover backs and tight ends and therefore is useless in the Giants 4-3 defense. Jonathon Goff has played much better than I expected. He is a smart guy that definitely has a future in the NFL. He is a smart guy that has a knack for reading qbs and being around the ball. He has definitely earned his spot, and will hold on to it for now. Chase Blackburn is a great goal line linebacker that has the versatility to play all three linebacker positions and is a must re-sign.
DRAFT -- A MLB in the draft might not be necessary. The Giants generally don't draft by need so Brandon Spikes may still be a target on our draft board.
|
Cornerback |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
Kevin Dockery |
25 |
2010 |
What to do: Corey Webster is an elite corner back with great instincts and shut down capabilities. The Gants issues lie with the second cornerback and nickel back. Aaron Ross was a first round pick who has surely not lived up to his expectations, but is only 26 and still has good football left in him. Ross has been playing safety. He is a bit slow out there and is definitely not 100% yet, not to mention he is playing out of position, but I expect him to be playing at a high level come next year when he moves back to corner. Terrell Thomas filled in for Ross and did ok as a cover guy, was active in the run game and had a few interceptions. Thomas is a great athlete and definitely has all the tools, but I fear he lacks the fluidity to become a top cover corner. Undrafted free agent Bruce Johnson is a bit undersized at 5-10 170lbs but his footwork and speed make him a great asset to a team against some speedy receivers. Due to the emergence of Johnson, Dockery seems expendable in his contract year. The core of Webster and Ross with Thomas for bigger receivers and Johnson against quick receivers -- I think the Giants will be fine. They may want to consider looking in the later rounds of the draft for a physical corner back.
|
Safety |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
C.C. Brown |
26 |
2010 |
|
Michael Johnson |
25 |
2011 |
|
Aaron Rouse |
25 |
2011 |
What to do: Kenny Phillips is 22 and has a lot of football ahead of him. I hope he can recover from his injury and be on the field during training camp picking up where he left off. The Giants had him playing at SS although being 6-2 215lbs. I think with his speed and coverage ability he is better off playing the Free Safety position. Michael Johnson was a nice surprise in the 7th round and is definitely an above average Free Safety - but if Michael Johnson is playing, that means Phillips is playing out of position and is not being utilized correctly. Rouse is actually a very interesting prospect as he is a big kid that with a little time in the weight room could have played some linebacker. His problem is he lacks the agility to be a play maker in the passing game. Also, his name is oddly similar to cornerback Aaron Ross. C.C. Brown is an elite tackler with almost linebacker tackling skills. As a strong safety his main priority is to be the running games final level of protection. His coverage skills are atrocious -- if I was the opposing team's coach I would send receivers deep at him all game. Bottom line here is we have four extremely hyped out of college and talented safeties that could play on many teams around the league. We just lack a true SS that can be a factor in coverage, cover deep, while being a force in the run/screen game. I think we let Brown go, keep Rouse and Johnson around and then look to the draft in the early rounds for a true strong safety.
|
Special Teamer |
Age |
Free Agency Year |
|
Lawrence Tynes |
31 |
2013 |
|
Jeff Feagles |
43 |
2010 |
What we need: Feagles, you had an incredible run. You deserve to be in the hall of fame and you were an integral part of the Giants success during the past few years. I am sure your behind the door leadership was much appreciated by the coaching staff. You may still be the best at pinning the ball in the 20, but your leg strength is atrocious. I wonder if Madden gave you a 98 for accuracy and 50 for leg strength. I remember watching a Michigan football game and watching their punter (who looked like a good athlete that could make a tackle if need be) kick a 52 yard punt and put it out of bounds at the 4 yard line. I am sure there are better punters, but we should definitely spend a 4th-7th round pick on a punter. Might be worth using our 7th round pick to draft a kicker for some healthy competition with Tynes in training camp.
The Giants lack an elite kick returner. While it is extremely difficult to find a good kick returner, I think there value is generally underappreciated with the thinking that many guys can be good kick returners. But look at guys like Josh Cribbs, Devin Hester, Tedd Ginn, Johnny Lee Higgins, Sproles, Leon Washington, Welker and Percy Harvin these guys constantly get their team good field position. Returners are generally difficult to scout but if a guy s like Wes Welker and Josh Cribbs can go undrafted I'm sure Reese and Co. can find a quality kick returner.
Summary:
Cut -- Carr, Hixon, SMoss, Booth Or Whimper (maybe both), Robbins, Clark, Pierce, Dockery, Brown, Feagles.
Re-sign- Blackburn, Cofield, Tollefson, Booth or Whimper (maybe both), Ware.
FA- Veteran QB and Punter
Draft needs in order -- OL, LB, Punter, KR, Safety, DT, Cornerback, Kicker