Big Blue View - The safety issue: In-house, free agent and NFL Draft options for the GiantsYour place for year-round New York Giants discussion and informationhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47371/bigblueview_fave.png2015-04-09T10:00:09-04:00http://www.bigblueview.com/rss/stream/81455282015-04-09T10:00:09-04:002015-04-09T10:00:09-04:00How early should the Giants draft a safety?
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<figcaption>Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Can the Giants find safety help in the draft?</p> <p>This is a great year to need a defensive back. Many mock drafts have as up to six or seven corners and safeties going in the first round alone. Perhaps, it's a better year to need a corner, but as you'll read later on, some of these players can fit multiple roles.</p>
<p>I expect that the New York Giants won't be in play for the majority of the top defensive backs. They would need to trade back or burn their ninth overall draft pick. It's one of the more controversial ways to fill this area of need, but it's definitely an option. Should New York elect to wait and hope they get value later on in the draft, there should be a few guys who hit the sweet spot for where the Giants pick. Below you can find a profile of a player that should be available in each of the first three rounds.</p>
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<h4><span>Landon Collins</span></h4>
<p>The first safety projected to get drafted this year is Alabama's Landon Collins. I've seen him projected to go as high as No. 6 to the New York Jets and as low as No. 27 to the Dallas Cowboys. In all likelihood, he'll split the difference and get drafted somewhere in the low-teens. But should the Giants take him at No. 9?</p>
<p>This would be immediately criticized as drafting for need as opposed to taking the best player available. The Giants regularly fall into the latter camp, although, they do try and fill each need as the rounds progress. Many would consider New York's slot at No. 9 too early to draft Collins, but I don't agree with that line of thinking. When the guy is the clear-cut top player at a position of need, you take him when you can. "Value" is a subjective term and should be treated as such. You don't have the luxury of picking again where most guys are projected to go, so you take them when you're on the clock.</p>
<p>What we presume is that Collins will be the first safety off the board and that it will happen on Day 1. His projections fluctuate because he is a well-rounded prospect, yet doesn't excel in any one category. He doesn't have elite coverage skills yet he was still very good last year. The problem is how early he may hit a plateau in this area. If the Giants want him at No. 9, it will be because they think he can develop much further under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.</p>
<p>A concern I have about Alabama players is that they're already so well-developed that their ceiling isn't far off. This works great at a college level but many flame out in the NFL because certain deficiencies were masked. Many play alongside other talented guys who also benefited from exceptional coaching. Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix as a rookie wasn't the immediate impact player the Packers were looking for last season. Mark Barron and Javier Arenas never justified their draft position. Blue-chip prospects from dominant programs can be a double-edged sword. Teams expect a leap between college and the NFL, but can sometimes find that a player is already maxed out. This is a legitimate worry for Collins.</p>
<p>He lacks the top end speed to recover against a receiver who gets behind him. Maximizing traits associated with toughness would be a reasonable counter to this. In an ideal situation, he could end up like Kam Chancellor. With good cornerback play in front, he could be an enforcer on the back end. Circumstantial talent is too risky for a top-10 pick, though. The Coughlin-Reese era Giants have never finished poorly enough to pick this high. This pick is an invaluable asset in the quest to pull out of this nosedive.</p>
<p><b><i>Outlook</i></b></p>
<p>Personally, I wouldn't take Collins here. The risk is too high. He is not a "safe" pick when you're drafting ninth with jobs on the line. Last year's draft proved fruitful but the Giants need to build on that with at least two new immediate starters. I think the "best-player-available" mantra wins out and the Giants go in another direction.</p>
<h4><span>Eric Rowe</span></h4>
<p>In 2013, the Arizona Cardinals drafted LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu in the third round. Head coach Bruce Arians declared to the media that Mathieu would be shifting position to safety. This went better than expected. Mathieu was considered a defensive rookie of the year until his season-ending injury in Week 14. Given the success of Arizona in recent years, the Giants would be wise to adopt a similar strategy.</p>
<p>In this case, Utah's Eric Rowe would be the target. He might be there when the Giants select in the second round. His combine and pro day workouts have resulted in a bunch of recent hype, causing his name to pop up in several first-round mocks but Rowe's game tape should come into focus again before draft night and result in a fall back to earth. With such an abundance of defensive backs in this year's draft, if Rowe moves up, someone else will likely fall.</p>
<p>Rowe spent most of his playing time as a cornerback but has experience at safety. His versatility is a premium asset in a game where defensive multiplicity is a game-changer. This is a dynamic free-safety who could help ease the transition to the post-Rolle era.</p>
<p>Unlike Landon Collins, there would be a steep learning curve for Rowe as he learns to adopt the subtleties of NFL play. If he's there in the second round, he would be an inexpensive option with a higher developmental upside. On top of this, his strong play against the run as a corner provides good insight to his potential as a permanent safety.</p>
<p><b><i>Outlook</i></b></p>
<p>I expect him to be there early in the second round but if he went as high as No. 20 to the Philadelphia Eagles or No. 27 to the Cowboys, I wouldn't be surprised at all. If he is still on the board, run this card up to the podium. Maybe even just go ahead and blurt his name out from your table to make sure. I think Spagnuolo can get the most out of defensive backs and would absolutely be the right man to develop a talent like Rowe.</p>
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<li><a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2015/3/18/8227467/2015-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-db-eric-rowe-utah/in/7298040" target="_blank">Eric Rowe prospect profile</a></li>
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<h4><span>Adrian Amos</span></h4>
<p>I have a minor bias towards Penn State players, so I'm announcing that outright. There are several Nittany Lions in this draft that I think could help the Giants. OT Donovan Smith [<a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2015-nfl-draft/2015/4/6/8308449/2015-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-donovan-smith-ot-penn-state/in/7298040" target="_blank">prospect profile</a>], TE Jesse James [<a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2015/2/8/7862361/2015-nfl-draft-jesse-james-te-penn-state-analysis/in/7298040" target="_blank">prospect profile</a>] and MLB Mike Hull to name a few. Adrian Amos as a free safety prospect would be another.</p>
<p>I wouldn't make this my primary safety acquisition, but as an addition to one of the other moves, it would be a great project-pick because if they target Amos, it'll be in the third round or later. There are quite a few safeties on the draft scrapheap at Giants HQ, so this is a need that stretches farther than just this year. They need immediate help, but they need youth, too.</p>
<p>A strong point to consider is that Amos started all 37 games over the last three seasons. Reliability in the secondary needs to be re-emphasized over and over this year. There have been too many crippling injuries to neglect the issue any longer.</p>
<p>Amos performed well on a defense that came close to topping most national categories. His reliability in coverage allowed a stout defensive front to dictate the flow of the game. He didn't produce many big hits or play-making ability but he held his role admirably and was rarely out of position.</p>
<p>Amos is weak against the run and often lets plays come to him rather than relying on instincts. That's usually an area that develops naturally rather than coached so it's a major reason why he's only talked about as a mid-round draft pick. With a proper NFL conditioning program and Spagnuolo's experience, Amos could develop. A more balanced skill set and eliminating over-analysis would help him become an NFL caliber safety.</p>
<p><b><i>Outlook</i></b></p>
<p>The Giants have several developmental strong safeties but nothing at free safety. Amos would be a pick with the future in mind. This three-year starter from one of the nation's best defenses would be a valuable addition anywhere from the third round onward. Amos would be a good pick-up but the desire to thrust him into the line-up too fast would be a major mistake.</p>
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<h4><b>Conclusion</b></h4>
<p>Fans and media members who freaked out over the Giants not signing Devin McCourty or Rahim Moore need to calm down. This three-part series offered just a brief look at a few of the possibilities still remaining at safety. The majority of what I see here is more attractive than tying up huge money to one guy when it's absolutely clear this is a position that requires multiple moves.</p>
<p>Ideally, the Giants adopt one move from each category outlined. They need a minimum of two other safeties to start the season, and likely four or more new guys to make it through training camp. There are many, many options available for them in the draft. I outlined just three of them. It's entirely possible that the Giants spend multiple draft picks on safeties as well as making the position a priority when signing undrafted free-agents. This is their only area where they are totally devoid of sustenance right now. There isn't a safety group in the league that wouldn't be an upgrade in a straight swap. This is obviously an issue.</p>
<p>But don't expect the Giants to force anything. The front-office remains true to its best-player-available strategy in the draft, and for the most part, avoiding high-priced free-agents. This can make things look scary sometimes, but there's still a lot of offseason left to develop this roster. The Giants have won two Super Bowls under this leadership. The Coughlin Era may be dwindling, but there is little sign that Jerry Reese is leaving any time soon. In a sport full of reactionary thought and shock media tactics, the Giants are staying true to their manifesto.</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2015/4/9/8348477/ny-giants-rumors-news-safety-issue-part-3-2015-nfl-draft-landon-collins-eric-roweAlex Sinclair2015-04-08T09:00:02-04:002015-04-08T09:00:02-04:00Jeromy Miles an FA safety who could help Giants?
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<figcaption>Jeromy Miles | Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>With a new defensive coordinator in Steve Spagnuolo and only 37 snaps of experience at the safety position, the Giants have a lot of work to do before this defense is game-ready. Here are two free agents who might help.</p> <p>It appears that the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Giants</a> would like to see how their draft plays out before going after any veteran safeties in free agency. This benefits both the team and the free agents. The draft is an unpredictable beast. Every year, many top players fall to unsuspecting teams. This is the preferred way of doing business in terms of filling roster needs. But, when the draft is over and needs still remain, you get a mini-wave of free agency. Veteran players may have a little more leverage than they did before the draft. It might be glaringly obvious that this team did not get the guy they wanted. They may need to fill a potential starting spot with a replacement level player. (I use this term with no offense to current unsigned players, but they're unsigned because no team thinks they can come in and start right away. Teams would prefer to fill up their depth chart with younger guys who have developmental upside.)</p>
<p>So below I've documented two free-agent safeties who could be attached to the Giants once the draft is over. One is a replacement player, and one is a guy who I believe might be the best safety available right now.</p>
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<h4><b><span>Stevie Brown</span></b></h4>
<p>Fans are well-acquainted with Stevie Brown and he does appear to be a logical re-signing considering what's left on the market. I suspect that the Giants would like to see who they could land in the draft before bringing Brown back. There aren't, however, a huge amount of positive reasons to bring Brown back.</p>
<p>Let's look at Brown's three seasons in blue. We can discount 2013 as he spent the entirety of it on injured reserve.</p>
<p>In 2012, Brown was perhaps at his highest value as a player. He recorded eight interceptions (second-most in the league), which helped the Giants finish third overall in that category. This was a hugely misleading statistic as the Giants were one of the worst defenses in pass coverage that year. A lot of Brown's interceptions were overthrown balls, tipped passes or lucky positioning. Of course, there is some credit due, but not as much as what the numbers indicate.</p>
<p>Every year the guys with the most interceptions get voted to the Pro Bowl because fans notice big plays. In reality, the less you see a defensive back the better they are. If you look at Brown's interceptions in 2012, you don't see a guy constantly outplaying the opposition. You see a bad throw by Brandon Weeden. An off-target one by <span>Robert Griffin III</span>. A tipped ball by Drew Brees. Brown steps in front of one <span>Cam Newton</span> pass in the end zone, but didn't have to make much of a break on the ball. The quarterback just didn't see him. In Week 8 down in Dallas, Brown jumps a pass intended for <span>Dez Bryant</span> but it appears that <span>Corey Webster</span> had solid coverage on the receiver already.</p>
<p>Brown has good instincts, but lacks the ability to individually cover a receiver. This is when he puts the defense in a vulnerable position. In 2012, he played 482 pass-coverage snaps and allowed completions on 17 of the 26 targets into his area for a total of 259 yards. Last season he declined. He played 331 coverage snaps and allowed completions on 12 of the 17 targets for 300 yards. His average yards allowed per completion rose from 15.2 in 2012 to 25.0 in 2014. This is predominantly due to receivers generating more yards after the catch. It becomes clear why he was benched in the middle of last season.</p>
<p><b><i>Outlook</i></b></p>
<p>Brown is a logical signing, but that doesn't mean he's a good one. He plays the strong safety role more than anything, and the Giants would likely want either Berhe or Taylor to be starting in one of those spots. It may be to their detriment, but the Giants could sign Brown before camp. Brown had a good (not great) year in 2012 and a below-average 2014. The best-case scenario would be signing Brown as the No. 3 safety.</p>
<h4><b><span>Jeromy Miles</span></b></h4>
<p>If the <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Baltimore Ravens</a> don't re-sign him first, New York could make an offer to the 27-year-old undrafted safety. Miles doesn't have a lot of pedigree so his name wasn't floated around much in the first waves of free-agency, but he could be a huge pick-up and conceivably start right away.</p>
<p>Prior to last season, he played sparsely for both the Ravens and <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Bengals</a>. From 2010-2013, he logged just 141 career snaps on defense. During this period, he was barely a blip on the league radar. In 2014, something changed.</p>
<p>Under Spagnuolo's tutelage, Miles' role increased dramatically. He played 365 snaps in a defensive secondary that saw a lot of personnel turnover (including cutting <span>Chykie Brown</span>). While he only started two games, his snap count last year more than doubled his career total. As a result, we can get a much clearer picture of Miles as a player.</p>
<p>Looking at <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641761&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprofootballfocus.com%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bigblueview.com%2F2015%2F4%2F8%2F8348351%2Fny-giants-rumors-news-free-agency-2015-stevie-brown-jeromy-miles" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pro Football Focus</a>' metrics, Miles gained a +5.0 coverage grade and a +0.6 for his run-defense. Just four of his 10 targets were completions for a total of 75 yards. He has just one interception for his career but the lack of turnovers don't concern me as long as he shows coverage skills.</p>
<p><b><i>Outlook</i></b></p>
<p>Miles is on the verge of a breakout season. His 2014 coverage grades were entirely positive. This could be an important building block for a new defense that could struggle to adapt to Spagnuolo. Cost-effective reliability in the secondary is necessary for the Giants after missing out on several free-agent safeties. Unlike Brown, Miles is a player I would want to lock up as soon as possible. His low cost and high potential are not found anywhere else in the remaining free-agent pool.</p>
<h4><b>Conclusion</b></h4>
<p>Brown is the likely choice to return, but Miles is clearly the better player at this point. The name-brand players in free-agency are gone. What's left may not be anyone's top choice, but there are still options. If the Giants decide to go with Brown, at least the team will know what to expect and perhaps build around his weaknesses in the hope of another turnover-centric season.</p>
<p><b><i>Tomorrow: Potential draft choices for the safety position.</i></b></p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2015/4/8/8348351/ny-giants-rumors-news-free-agency-2015-stevie-brown-jeromy-milesAlex Sinclair2015-04-07T07:38:25-04:002015-04-07T07:38:25-04:00Can the Giants rely on these unknown safeties?
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<img alt="Steve Spagnuolo" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uFVRpsARmYhuGc45QRzMByPNePQ=/0x0:3504x2336/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46046938/usa-today-2205683.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Steve Spagnuolo | The Star-Ledger-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>With a new defensive coordinator in Steve Spagnuolo and only 37 snaps of experience at the safety position, the Giants have a lot of work to do before this defense is game-ready. For the draft, is it safety first? Will we see some familiar faces in new places? Could an unknown free-agent provide stability for a defense in flux? In this three-part series, we offer an in-depth look at New York's options as they enter a crucial stage in roster construction. </p> <p>Nobody would have predicted the New York Giants' cupboard to be so bare at the safety position by the time April rolled around. <span>Antrel Rolle</span> is out the door. <span>Stevie Brown</span> is in limbo. The current safety depth-chart is rationing two late-round draft picks and an undrafted practice squad player. Between them, they are credited with just 37 defensive snaps. Is the front office asleep at the wheel? Are they aware that the camp roster is 90 guys?</p>
<p>I understand the process of waiting out the initial waves of free agency and scoring some cheap heat on the back end. Still, the danger of this strategy is that it should be employed for depth purposes only. Tardiness has cost many teams a huge number of players. It's a great way of scoring a third wide receiver or a swing offensive lineman, but not ideal for deciding both starting safety positions.</p>
<p>To add to New York's headache, both of their current guys prefer to play as the strong safety. Modern defenses don't have as much of a difference between the safeties as there used to be, so role changes are possible, but still not easy. This task would be made all the more difficult due to a new appointment at defensive coordinator. Out goes the promising but never fulfilling Perry Fewell, and in comes a familiar face in Steve Spagnuolo. The Boston-drawler left New York for a short-lived head-coaching gig in 2009 and spent some time in New Orleans before catching on as a defensive backs coach in Baltimore.</p>
<p>Most fans point to the dominant pass-rush from the 2007 Super Bowl team as a reason to be excited, but nstead, our focus should be on the possibility of a formidable secondary. Even the most rudimentary schemes require an adjustment period, which is why role changes are problematic, but maybe the Giants have hired the right guy for maximizing their talent in this area.</p>
<p>What I've outlined below is an analysis of the current safety options on the roster. In future posts we will look at some potential free agents and a few possible draft choices. We may not know what GM Jerry Reese's final plan is for this position, but we can be sure he's not going into the season with just these guys.</p>
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<h4><b><span>Cooper Taylor</span></b></h4>
<p>Taylor was drafted to be an in-the-box thumper. A strong hypothesis for his place on the roster was the Giants' weak linebacking corps and the possibility that he could have a role in a three-safety package. He could take on some linebacker responsibilities but still provide capable coverage for passing plays.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, we have seen almost nothing of Taylor since he entered the league in 2013. His rookie season was dampened by two separate injuries and his 2014 ended before it began with another injury.</p>
<p>We didn't see much of Taylor as a rookie. He played just five defensive snaps all year, so we don't have much tape to analyze. However, he also played special teams where he yo-yo'ed between average play and poor play. I know this, because <a href="https://twitter.com/pff_gordon">Gordon McGuinness</a> of <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641761&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprofootballfocus.com%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bigblueview.com%2F2015%2F4%2F7%2F8345915%2Fnew-york-giants-safety-position-analysis-nat-berhe-cooper-taylor-chykie-brown" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pro Football Focus</a> knows this.</p>
<p>The Pro Football Focus system for grading special teams plays is maintained by McGuinness and gives us a depth of vision into an oft-overlooked aspect of the game. The system judges a player's ability to shed blocks, release at the line, block down-field as well as more regular categories such as tackles, missed tackles and penalties. In 2013, Taylor played in eight games on special teams. He received two negative grades, five neutral and just one positive "green" grade. Considering he saw little time on defense, this can't be enough to merit thrusting him into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>It's important to emphasize that special teams play doesn't necessarily correlate to defensive play, but core concepts remain. For example, the hold-up (or "vice") players on the outside of punting formations would have a similar skill-set to a cornerback in press-coverage. Another aspect would be the ability to contain. It's a vital part of run defense and the strong safety can often be the last guy with a shot at tackling a breakaway runner.</p>
<p>Taylor looked much better on defense in the 2014 preseason. He showed flashes of promise but there are several caveats to this. Taylor sustained another injury during this period. The majority of his playing time came against backups. Defenses usually play a "vanilla" style to mask key looks for the regular season. And of course, this is year old preseason tape under a different coordinator.</p>
<p><b><i>Outlook</i></b></p>
<p>Expect Taylor to get a lot of looks in camp and this coming preseason. His lack of experience and rash of injuries could prevent him from being anything more than a depth player and special teams contributor. If this is the case, the Giants need to re-assess their scouting criteria for defensive backs.</p>
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<h4><b><span>Nat Berhe</span></b></h4>
<p>Under Jerry Reese's management since 2007, the Giants have drafted seven safeties and only two of them ever started a game in the NFL, Kenny Phillips and Michael Johnson. A high number of these choices were late-round picks but it does point to a potential scouting issue. Many of these players were touted as projects, yet never metabolized into anything other than special-teamers and camp bodies.</p>
<p>While Rolle has held down one of the two starting spots since he arrived in 2010, the Goose to his Maverick has been a rotating cast of free agents. It was no shock that Rolle would move on to another team this year and after he signed with the Chicago Bears it became clear the position was about to undergo a major overhaul.</p>
<p>Nat Berhe, a fifth-round pick last year, has found himself as the default candidate to replace Rolle. His transition to free-safety would be smoother than Taylor's. With just two safeties on the roster, it's reasonable to presume that one will transition to the other spot and Berhe has minor experience in that area.</p>
<p>Another plus is that Berhe was healthy enough to play in all 16 games last season, though he did suffer a knee injury in the season finale. It's reported that he should be in playing condition for the Giants' off-season program, but still, his injury progress adds fuel to worries about a position in flux.</p>
<p>One advantage for Berhe is that he performed well in his limited time on-field. Much like Cooper he didn't play often (just 32 snaps), but it was promising and he added consistent play on special teams to boot. Berhe was a ghost for most of his rookie year, and as a rookie defensive back playing mostly on kicking plays that's probably a good start.</p>
<p>But what is he like as a player and why should he get a shot to start for the Giants? Well, his experience at both safety spots doubles his chances of significant playing time in training camp. Even in a scenario where he doesn't earn either job, he is likely to be first alternate at both positions.</p>
<p>While it is an microscopic sample size, of his 22 snaps in coverage last year, he wasn't targeted once. Take that with a heart-stopping mountain of salt, but it's a good sign. When a lot of rookies enter a game, the offense usually tries to test them immediately.</p>
<p><b><i>Outlook</i></b></p>
<p>The Giants would like Berhe to be one of the two starting safeties and he will be afforded every opportunity to prove himself. It's doubtful that New York will gain two players better than Berhe between now and August, though it is possible. Given his versatility and the lack of options, pencil in Berhe as getting first-team reps on the opening day of training camp.</p>
<h4><span>Thomas Gordon</span></h4>
<p>There is so little data available for Thomas Gordon that I'm reluctant to speculate as to how he may fit in to the Giants' plans for this position. He's a strong safety from Michigan who didn't light it up at the college level and spent some time last year on the Giants' practice squad.</p>
<p>He played 89 snaps for the Giants in last year's preseason and has no real game experience. Gordon is a complete wild-card. He's in a better position than most practice squad guys right now, because he caught on to a team with a dearth of talent at his position. It's not impossible that this practice player makes the roster next year, but he's unlikely to end up seeing many snaps in the regular season.</p>
<p><b><i>Outlook</i></b></p>
<p>Gordon will probably be on the practice squad again in 2015 but could come on board as a special teams contributor and game day insurance if he produces well in the preseason. Projecting him to even be a primary backup would be a reach without seeing how he developed both mentally and physically after a year in the system.</p>
<p>[<a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2015-nfl-draft/2015/4/5/8343997/2015-nfl-draft-sackseer-bud-dupree-randy-gregory-shane-ray-ny-giants">SackSEER loves Bud Dupree</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2015-nfl-draft/2015/4/6/8353315/2015-nfl-draft-xavier-cooper-washington-state-defensive-tackle-ny-giants">Xavier Cooper talks with Big Blue View</a>]</p>
<h4><b><span>Chykie Brown</span></b></h4>
<p>There has been significant talk of the Giants converting one of their current cornerbacks to play safety this season. The similarities between the two positions are often discussed when a team suffers significant injuries in the secondary, but it's rarely a primary option for heading into training camp. Still, with just two safeties under contract, this remains a real possibility.</p>
<p>The most likely conversion candidate is Chykie Brown. He spent the first half of last season with the Ravens while Spagnuolo was the defensive backs coach. This experience could prove useful when learning the subtleties of the team's new scheme. On the flip side, he only ended up available for the Giants to sign because the Ravens didn't think he was good enough to keep on the roster.</p>
<p>Additionally, the 2014 Giants went through cornerbacks like Sean Payton goes through Juicy Fruit. It's unlikely that Brown would have been added to the 53-man roster if there hadn't been season-ending injuries to six defensive backs ahead of him (as well as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie struggling to stay healthy).</p>
<p>But perhaps a change of position would do Brown well. It would be a big ask for a player who consistently presented coverage problems throughout his career but his odds of making the team in a shallow safety group are a lot better than going up against a crowded corner depth chart. Aside from coverage, I'm also scared of how many missed tackles he has under his belt. Many more could occur with a position change, but it's swing for the fences time here. All or nothing.</p>
<p><b><i>Outlook</i></b></p>
<p>I don't think Brown makes the team as a corner, despite starting four games for New York last year. A change to safety would broadcast his flaws immediately, but this may be good. It could telegraph to the coaching staff what areas need to develop. If Brown is wearing blue in September, it'll be as a safety.</p>
<p>[<a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2015/4/7/8360803/ny-giants-rumors-news-bennett-jackson-an-option-for-giants-at-safety" target="_blank">Cornerback Bennett Jackson another conversion candidate</a>]</p>
<h4>Conclusion</h4>
<p>It's clear that all three of these options require significant development before they deserve a starting job. The Giants will need excellent corner play to cover a steep learning curve at safety. Perhaps one of these young guys can step in and impress. Right now, it doesn't look like any one player has a job locked up. With both starting spots up for grabs, it's anyone's guess as to who will be starting come September. Taylor and Berhe could take a developmental leap. Brown could surprise. Perhaps, neither of Big Blue's starting safeties are on the roster and we'll see an influx of new talent.</p>
<p><b><i>Tomorrow: We look at a pair of free agents who could be on the Giants' radar</i></b></p>
<p>[<b>EDITOR'S NOTE: </b>Alex Sinclair joins the staff at Big Blue View today. Alex, who lives in Dublin, Ireland, most recently worked as a college football analyst at Pro Football Focus. He is, of course, a Giants fan. Alex will primarily handle analytics and film breakdowns for us. Please welcome him aboard.]</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2015/4/7/8345915/new-york-giants-safety-position-analysis-nat-berhe-cooper-taylor-chykie-brownAlex Sinclair