Giants’ Roster Prediction
Guest Article by Jay Vultaggio.
QB – Eli Manning, Jared Lorenzen, Anthony Wright
As everyone knows Eli Manning is entering his 3rd full season as the starter. This should be his breakout season. He has thrown for 48 touchdown passes over the past two years which is the most in the NFC during that time.
Jared Lorenzen was the #2 quarterback last season and barring a terrible showing in training camp and preseason will be so again. There were rumors earlier in the off-season about the Giants wanting to give Lorenzen a lot of playing time this preseason in order to try to trade him for draft picks next off-season.
The third quarterback most likely will be Anthony Wright. I am not a big fan of Wright but I think that he will be the third quarterback due to his starting experience. There is speculation that if Eli were to be injured Wright not Lorenzen would be the immediate starter.
RB – Brandon Jacobs, Rueben Droughns, Ahmad Bradshaw
The Giants will most likely only carry three running backs again. Jacobs will get the majority of the carries but he will split time with Droughns to form a powerful running game.
Ahmad Bradshaw will make the team unless he gets into any more trouble. Bradshaw will most likely be the 3rd down back due to his receiving skills out of the backfield. Also, he should compete for the punt and kick return jobs immediately.
FB – Jim Finn
The Giants tried to upgrade the fullback position in free agency but were unable to due to the Texans matching the offer sheet for Vonta Leach. Finn will most likely be entering his final season as the starting fullback. His job is safe because there currently isn’t a player on the roster that is a legitimate threat to take his job.
TE – Jeremy Shockey, Kevin Boss, Darcy Johnson
Jeremy Shockey is one of the elite tight ends in the game. However, the depth behind him is thin. I really liked the Kevin Boss draft selection. In time he should be an excellent compliment to Shockey due to his size, speed, and athleticism. He comes from a small school so he will take some time to develop. What the Giants really need is a tight end who can block and that is something that Boss needs to work on. It is nice to hear that Boss is really looking forward to becoming a great blocker and learning from TE coach Mike Pope. Tom Coughlin said that Darcy Johnson has really improved over the offseason so I expect him to be the blocking tight end until Boss improves enough in that area.
WR – Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Sinorice Moss, Steve Smith, David Tyree, Brandon London
I would like to see the Giants keep only 5 wide receivers this season so that they can keep 6 cornerbacks. This is one of the deepest positions on the team. Burress and Toomer are the starters, unless Toomer is slow to recover from his knee injury suffered last year. Second round pick Steve Smith will battle last years second round pick for the 3rd wide out spot. A lot of giant fans are down on Sinorice but I am not one of them. I am still really excited by his potential and I think that he will eventually be a starter along with Steve Smith after Burress and Toomer are gone/retired. Keep in mind that Santana Moss only had two receptions during his rookie campaign. The final spot will go to special teams standout David Tyree who has done a decent job when he has gotten playing time at wide receiver.
OT – David Diehl, Kareem McKenzie, Guy Whimper, Adam Koets
The left tackle position is the biggest question mark on the team. Everyone’s eyes will be on Guy Whimper and David Diehl during training camp. The hope is that Whimper has progressed enough to be the starter this season. If Whimper is ready then that would allow Diehl to move back to his more natural position at left guard. If not then Diehl will be the left tackle where he started two games last year. He didn’t start off well but he did improve noticeably over the two games he played at left tackle. Whimper is very athletic with quick feet but he is still learning the position and trying to get stronger. Both Coughlin and Jerry Reese had encouraging comments in regard to Whimper. Only time will tell. If Whimper does not start this season do not look too much into it. When he was drafted most of the front office said that it would probably be two years before he is ready to start. Kareem McKenzie is the starting right tackle. He is an excellent run blocker. Sometimes he has trouble with speed rushers but is generally solid in pass protection. Kareem McKenzie is one of the best right tackles in the game. Adam Koets, this years 6th round pick, is another interesting prospect. He has a lot of starting experience in college. It is said that he is not very strong and some question his desire. Every scouting report I have read on Koets says that he is a very good athlete that is very technically sound and a good pass blocker. The negatives comments say that he is not strong or a good run blocker. With time he should be a very good backup offensive tackle.
OG – Rich Seubert, Chris Snee, Zach Piller
Chris Snee has established himself as one of the premier guards in the league. He should have made the pro bowl last season but he lost out due to other players being voted in on reputation. Rich Seubert looked like he was on his way to a pro bowl career until he suffered a horrific injury a few seasons ago. He has shown the heart and determination to fight his way back and the Giants rewarded him last offseason with a contract extension. He has played very well when he was called upon the past two seasons. Last season he was used mostly as a tight end on running plays. He started the playoff game versus the eagles and played well. Assuming that Diehl starts at left tackle Seubert will be the starting left guard. Zach Piller was signed to bolster the offensive line depth. Piller, 31, is a proven veteran who has started 58 games over his career. He will be the primary backup guard behind Seubert and Snee. If an injury should occur to either guard the coaching staff has the piece of mind to put in Piller.
C – Shaun O’Hara, Grey Ruegamer
Shaun O’Hara has been a pro bowl alternate the past two seasons. He is a very smart player who is also a leader among the offensive linemen. He does get overpowered at times versus big nose tackles but he is a solid run blocker and a good pass blocker. Ruegamer provides solid veteran depth at both center and guard. He started at left guard in the season finale versus Washington and played pretty well. He is a player that you do not want to see start more than a few games but he will do a good job when called upon.
CB – Sam Madison, Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, RW McQuarters, Kevin Dockery, EJ Underwood
The Giants have a very nice blend of veteran experience and exciting young players with potential on the roster. As of now Corey Webster and Sam Madison are the starters. Madison had an up and down season last year. He battled injuries and inconsistency all season long. Corey Webster had a very disappointing season to say the least. Fans were waiting for Webster to take the next step and become the playmaking cornerback the giants envisioned when they drafted him. He was not a good fit in Tim Lewis’ system as he was often asked to play a lot of zone coverage. He seems to be a good fit for Spagnuolo’s system, since it relies on a lot of man to man coverage, and seems very motivated to prove the doubters wrong. Many Giant fans have already given up on him but I am cautiously optimistic that he will show great improvement this season. It was recently reported that Webster was battling a hip injury all season which may have affected his play.
“Corey was playing injured most of the season and he didn’t tell anybody about it, about how serious it was, until after the season.” — Giants’ CB position coach Peter Guinta.
Aaron Ross is expected to battle for one of the starting jobs immediately. He is excellent against the run and is a playmaker as a cornerback and return man. At worst he should be the nickel back this season. Kevin Dockery was a pleasant surprise last season. He played very well as a nickel back and appeared to be a ball hawk. Due to his size he will most likely never be a starter but he is very fast and good in man to man coverage. He should have a solid career as a nickel back as long as he continues to progress and get stronger. If the Giants carry only 5 cornerbacks as many think they will R.W. McQuarters may be the surprise cut of the offseason. Prior to the draft there were rumors that the Giants were trying to move McQuarters, which was a little surprising since he was arguably the best cornerback on the team last year, but were only offered a 6th round pick for him. He is an excellent nickelback and played pretty well when called upon to start. McQuarters should battle for the punt return job next season assuming that he is still on the team.
EJ Underwood is an intriguing prospect. He was working with the 1st team dime defense last training camp prior to his injury. Underwood went to Ohio State where he was once considered to be a better prospect than former Buckeye Ashton Youboty. He was ruled academically ineligible prior to the 2005 season and transferred to Pikesville College. He has the skills to start in the NFL.
S - Gibril Wilson, Will Demps, James Butler, Michael Johnson
The starters are Gibril Wilson and Will Demps. Both safeties had a rough 2006 season especially Will Demps. Demps was signed to bring stability to the safety position but failed to do so. He missed a lot of tackles which was supposed to be his strong point. He started the year off really slowly and was a liability in coverage. However during the last four games of the regular season Demps played much better. The hope is that Demps just needed a year to fully recover from his knee injury.
Gibril Wilson seemed like a superstar in the making during his rookie season. He was a real playmaker and punishing hitter. Unfortunately during the past two seasons Wilson has not played up to his potential. While he does have excellent speed for a safety he struggles at time in coverage. He is a punishing hitter and is an excellent blitzer. Wilson should have a big year in Spagnuolo’s attacking defensive scheme. The belief is that Wilson will be used to blitz a lot like the Eagles use Dawkins.
Michael Johnson was drafting in the 7th round of the 2007 NFL draft. In almost every scouting report I read had Johnson going in rounds 3, there were some that had him in round 2. Johnson played strong safety in college but will move to free safety in the pros because he is better against the pass than the run. Johnson is very good in coverage and especially zone coverage. Johnson needs to get stronger and become more of a punishing hitter. He isn’t terrible versus the run but it is not his strong point. Johnson had upside and does have the skills to eventually start at free safety.
James Butler is entering his 3rd season with the Giants. He is very similar to Michael Johnson. He is solid in coverage but needs to be more aggressive versus the run. Butler played very well during his rookie season and looked like the heir apparent to Brent Alexander. Last season he missed a lot of time early in camp due to a kidney problem. He had a very quiet season and did not get much playing time besides special teams. Butler has great size and speed for a safety but he does not always use his size to his advantage.
LB – Kawika Mitchell, Antonio Pierce, Mathias Kiwanuka, Gerris Wilkinson, Chase Blackburn, Reggie Torbor, Zak DeOssie
The team is set with Antonio Pierce who is one of the best middle linebackers in the game. He was voted to his first pro bowl last season. Pierce is the leader of the defense and should put up better numbers this season due to the defensive tackle depth that the Giants have added this off-season.
Mathias Kiwanuka has been moved to outside linebacker in order for the Giants to get their best players on the field. He will start behind Michael Strahan at strong side linebacker where his pass rushing abilities will be used often. There is some concern about how he will do in man to man coverage since he has not had to do this before. The good news is that he played well last season in zone coverage. He will surely be tested early on by opposing offenses.
The weakside linebacker will most likely be Kawika Mitchell. Mitchell currently has the edge over Gerris Wilkinson due to his experience. Mitchell is not flashy but he is solid versus the run and in coverage. He is not much of a playmaker but you know what you are getting from Mitchell game in and game out. Mitchell is eager to prove himself to the league in order to earn a big payday next off-season.
Gerris Wilkinson, last years 3rd round pick, will back up Mitchell on the weakside. He is very intelligent and has sideline to sideline speed. Chase Blackburn will return as the backup middle linebacker. The great thing about Blackburn is that while being an outstanding special teams player he is also versatile enough to play the strong side also. Reggie Torbor has been somewhat of a disappointment since his rookie year. He looked like the future starter at strong side linebacker due to his speed and pass rushing abilities but he has not progressed as the coaches had hoped. He is in the final year of his rookie deal and will have to improve in order to remain a Giant after this year. Zak DeOssie is a player that every giant fan will love. He most likely will be the long snapper/special team standout during his rookie year. He is making a jump from the ivy league to the NFL so he will take some time to develop but his upside is very exciting. He has excellent size and speed for a linebacker and is a great person. He will work as hard as anyone to improve upon his game. I believe that DeOssie will be the starting strong side linebacker in 2008 with Kiwanuka moving back to defensive end.
DE – Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, William Joseph
Michael Strahan returns for his 15th season. Expect at least a slight drop off in performance due to his age. However he should still remain one of the best run stopping defensive ends in the game and form one of the better defensive end combinations in the league. Sadly this may be his last season with the Giants due to his age, salary, and injury concerns.
Chief Osi Umenyiora, sorry I couldn’t resist, will be entering his 5th NFL season after suffering through an injury plagued 2006 campaign. He has improved dramatically against the run since his rookie season and is among the league’s elite pass rushers. He should have a big season under new defensive coordinator Steve Spanuolo and the added defensive tackle depth.
Justin Tuck missed most of last season due to a serious foot injury. He has been limited during the offseason but will be ready for training camp. Tuck is the forgotten man among the defensive ends. He is a very athletic and fast defensive end who is more than capable of being a very good starter in the NFL. He is a good pass rusher and is excellent as a run defender. If he recovers fully from the foot injury as the team expects him to I would like to see the Giants sign him to a contract extension.
William Joseph has been a disappointment since the Giants drafted him in the 1st round. They are now moving him to defensive end in order to provide better depth. I believe he will be back for his final season as a member of the giants. The thought is that he will want to have his best season in order to earn a big payday from another team when he hits free agency after the season. I personally like the move because of the versatility of having Joseph as a backup DE/DT.
DT–Barry Cofield, Fred Robbins, Marcus Bell, Jay Alford
Saying the play of both starting defensive tackles was a pleasant surprise last season would be a dramatic understatement. This time last year it was the position that everyone was worried about, how things change. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has told Barry Cofield that he is moving to right defensive tackle and will be given more of an opportunity to get at the quarterback. He played very well last season until he hit the rookie wall late in the year due to the lack of depth behind him. The good news is that the Giants have addressed their lack of depth during the offseason.
Fred Robbins had a career year last season and in my opinion deserved pro bowl honors. He had a career high 5 ½ sacks and 2 interceptions. It was reported that he showed up at OTA’s in excellent condition which is great to hear after past weight issues. He should have another solid season.
Marcus Bell came over from the lions after he was a salary cap casualty. He is a very solid run stuffer but doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher. His experience is a solid addition to the team and will allow the Giants to get rid of the immortal Jonas Seawright who had 1 tackle last season after being hyped up by fans and the media.
Jay Alford was drafted by the Giants in the 3rd round of this year’s draft. He is an inside pass rusher who should add pressure up the middle which the Giants have been unable to consistently do over the past few years. He needs to improve as a run defender but he will be used early on in passing situations in order to collapse the pocket.
K – Lawrence Tynes, Josh Huston
As much as I don’t like it I think that the Giants are going to cut Ryan Kuehl in order to keep two kickers. Tynes will be the place kicker and Huston the kickoff specialist.
P – Jeff Feagles
Jeff Feagles is entering his 20th and most likely final season. His leg strength is average but his ability to pin kicks inside the 10 is a thing of beauty. Every time that a kick is downed inside the 5 I am never surprised.
So there you have it. This was my prediction for the opening season roster. Just keep in mind that this was done for fun and to create discussion so please do not get all worked up if you disagree with some of my selections.
I would really like to see the Giants work out some contract extensions with their younger players like they did two years ago. I hope that they extend the contracts of Chris Snee, Justin Tuck, and Gibril Wilson
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90 Responses to “Giants’ Roster Prediction”
June 11th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Very nice article.
June 11th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Good article. I agree with extending the three that you mentioned. They are/will be great starters. It seems that all of our D-backs struggled the last two years after showing promise earlier in their careers (Wilson, the Wills, etc…and Webster before becoming a pro). Coincidence that this was under Lewis? You don’t lose talent that quickly at that young an age. Let’s hope spags can get the talent out of them.
I hope they cut Kuehl. Who spends over a million a year on a guy who only snaps the ball? I haven’t forgotten the SF game, but really, we have many players and at least 2 new rookies (Deossie and Alford) who can snap.
Carrying two kickers seems like a waste. I still don’t understand why they let Feely go. He certainly wasn’t great, but you don’t cut someone unless you have someone equally as talented or better to plug in– that we don’t have.
What makes you think that Kiwi playing the strong side is a one year experiment? Seems like a waste to do that, moving him back and forth may screw up his development, and I’d be perfectly happy with Tuck coming in and taking over for Strahan when he retires.
The one thing about the Giants that I haven’t understood since they drafted shockey is what is their deal with the tight end situation? Shockey is more or less of a receiver. He is a very good blocker, but that isn’t what we want him to do– we want him catching the ball and making big plays. So, we always seem to be looking for that blocking tight end. Yet, then we go out and draft receiving tight ends– Shiancoe and Boss and try to develop them into blockers. Why not just draft a blocking tight end or keep Seubert as the blocking tight end?
June 11th, 2007 at 9:09 am
If the Giants get Oliver in the supp. draft then does RW get cut? Underwood, Dockery, Webster, Ross, and Oliver would be a nice group with alot of potential. Then Madison could be the leader and the veteran.
I like the safeties. I think Michael Johnson will be starting at FS for the Giants in the next couple of years. He will give Demps some competition for that spot in Albany. At SS, Gibril Wilson will have a huge year.
June 11th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Jay Vult. - Very good breakdown. I agree with just about everything. But why don’t you want them to cut Kuehl? If DeOssie is a good LS like everyone says than it shouldn’t be a downgrade at LS and would lead to an upgrade at K. Seems smart to me. If we are going to carry two of something I’d rather it be 2 kickers than 2 longsnappers.
June 11th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Aaron, i think the Kiwi to linebacker move was done because the Giants wanted to get him on the field more. They feel he can handle the transition. Sadly i believe this is Strahan’s last season with the Giants and after this year Kiwanuka will be moved back to DE.
June 11th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Kevros, i should of been more clear. I want the Giants to cut Kuehl what i don’t want is for them to keep two kickers.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Good Article, I think/hope we will keep 5 WRs and 6 Corners.
Having Kiwi at SAM Linebacker is still very intriguing to me. I think what could end up happening is Wilkinson or Mitchell could play a lot at that position as well, but I like the thought of having Strahan Osi and Kiwi going after the QB at the same time.
Some day I hope we answer this Place Kicker issue once and for all. A FG kicker can win a game or two per season, so we need to get the position stabilized. I thought Feely was good and brought a little stability, but now we need two kickers.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:13 am
I think the Giants grab Clancy from the Cardinals and Bell is cut.
Do not think Joesph makes the team. Patience is thin.
Tuck is just fine to replace Strahan. Possible that Kawinika stays at OLB and the defense goes to a 3-4 to leverage his rushing skills.
Webster and Ross are the starting CBs by mid year.
Bradshaw will be a surprise as a third down back.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Jay — Excellant analysis. I dought we will cut Kuehl and keep 2 kickers unless DeOssie or Alston both make the team and excel as long snapers in the pre-season. One area of concern — FB. I thought Finn was done before the shoulder injury which may need surgery. I believe the Giants will keep a close watch on the waiver wire.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:24 am
clancy is signed with the saints i believe and moving kiwi back to the DE doesnt make that much sense to me if we are moving him to the SAM this year. if he has a great year or a Shawn Merriman type year at the SAM then i believe he stays there and we look in the FA for the next DE. i dont know but i think that Julius Peppers is a FA next season….i dont know if carolina extended his contract.if he is and that is a HUGE IF i really think we go after him hard esspecially if Fox is the next HC of the Giants… dont kill me with this, i have no links or articles stating these things, this is all speculation and you never know…
June 11th, 2007 at 10:25 am
CT Giant Fan,
Clancy signed with the Saints.
About Joseph making the team and a possible transition to the 3-4. I think after Strahan retires, Kiwinuka could be our best defensive talent with another year or more under his belt. The possibility of transitioning to a 3-4 to maximize his impact on the game could happen. If it does, Joseph may prove more valuable as a 3-4 DE.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:27 am
CT Giant Fan -
Clancy got signed by the Saints
Joseph will make the team. Fan patience might be thin but he is actually a pretty good backup and he can play DE and DT and we are VERY thin at DE without him.
I doubt we move to a 3-4 because Osi and Tuck would have to move to OLB and Cofield and Robbins would have to move to DE and we would have to find a NT somewhere. That a lot of movement and learning. Plus Spags is a 4-3 guy.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Terrence T - I agree with Jay Vult. about the Kiwi situation. We need him to play SAM this year because he is by the most talented player that can play the position and also because he wouldn’t be on the field very often unless he plays at that position. So it makes sense for this year.
Next year, if Strahan retires AND DeOssie steps up or we sign a good FA SAM then I think Kiwi should move back to DE. He would be on the field at the position we have a need at (he is more talented than Tuck even though I like Tuck).
I just don’t think the switch will “screw up his development” like some are saying.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:42 am
While Joseph has been a disappointment he has flashed at times which is more than you will get from most backups. This is his contract year so he will want to have a big year in order to earn a big payday when he hits free agency.
From listening to Kiwanuka talk about his move to linebacker he believes this is just a temporary move and that he will go back to defensive end. I really like the young defensive talent that the Giants have on their roster. I am a huge fan of DeOssie and i firmly believe he is the future starter at SLB.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Good break down, however, I feel you forgot Anthony Mix, a receiver with size and speed… There is a reason he was on the practice squad and not the final roster but that just means he had more time around an NFL team and system to grow. I would take him over London, a UDFA.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Is anyone giving Michael Jennings a shot?
Also, I thought Jason Bell played well as a reserve safety last year so he may not be easy to cut.
Are they actually moving Joseph to DE? or was he just working there in Tuck, Strahan, and Osi’s absence. Otherwise, I think Adrian Awasom sticks on as the 4th DE.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:05 am
I agree with Kevros that a FG kicker can win you a couple of games a year, but how many games did it cost us last year with those short kick-offs ?? If it takes 2 kickers to do that ,then i think it’s worth keeping 2.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Rotoworld has William Joseph signed through 2010 but next year is voidable. Does that mean the FO can void his contract or Joseph can void his contract?
Big Ray - I’m not. Jennings had his shot last year. I think Mix will get his this year. Either way it doesn’t really matter. Ross and Moss should handle our returning duties and other than that the 5th WR probably won’t see more than a few minutes of playing time.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:28 am
What do people think will happen if Finn is not ready to go by the start of the season? Will we sign another FB? Convert somebody to FB/H-back? Just run singlebacks until Finn heals up?
My guess at this point would be to sign another vet FB….but who?
June 11th, 2007 at 11:38 am
LOL! That funny because I have been working on one of these myself. Well done. There are a few things I have to comment on. First thing there is to remember is we have about 54-56 players who could make the roster. One you left our is long snapper Kuehl. Now, he could be borderline because the coaching staff does like both DeOssie’s and Alford’s snapping skills. The kicker situation is another that could free a spot. If Tynes gets the job we’ll still carry Huston for kick offs. If Huston can win the job he can do both field goals and kick offs making an extra roster spot. They could go with one less OL like you wrote but I dont like messing around with the line so I’d keep Matt Lentz as my 4th gaurd. I personally thing we shoudl carry 6 WRs but if we dont Brandon London will be sacrificed. I believe we can still keep 6 WRs and 6 CBs. What would I sacrifice to do so? Reggie Torbor. I dont feel we need a 7th ST linebacker. A 6 CB are more valuable. Another spot to keep an eye on is safety. The could easily keep 5 safeties. Bell could easily be brought back with his ability to play S and CB. It will be interesting to see how it all works out. It seems like there will have to be a few guys who can play a bunch of positions in order to make the roster. One such example is William Joseph. His move back to DE allows us to use him as our 4 DE and our 5 DT. That being said I’d be very happy for Darcy Johnson if he made the team and I’ve been under the belief we’d carry 3 TEs but our roster is streached by doing so. A possible way to get around that is to carry 2 TE and use an OL like Ruegamer or Piller as our blocking end. We’ll see. Anther spot to look at is FB. It looks like Finn is done with his injury. We cant wait 10 weeks for our FB. He could be replaced and I’m for it. But again we could use a OL as our lead blocker if we needed to. But I do expect us to pick someone up. Again, keep an eye on the Texans who have 4 FB on roster and probably cant keep more than 2. Corey Anderson, please come to us! Anyway, good write up. Good job. There are interesting numbers to be crunched to make the roster this year.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Kevros-I think we have to replace Finn anyway but especially since he wont be ready. We can find someone wonce camps start and people are cut loose. However, lots of teams use OL as their FB so thats not out of the question either. Not carrying a FB would allow us an extra roster spot. We’ll see. But seriously watch the Texans because they could be where we get our FB.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:45 am
gianthinker - I don’t think we will keep Torbor. At the very least he gets a lot of ST tackles.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:55 am
oops…I meant I think we WILL keep Torbor.
Also, Fred McCrary from ATL is a FA at FB.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Good analysis. However, watch out for Craig Dahl. He could replace Butler if he has a good camp.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Ed, I think Dahl will be placed on the practice squad. I think that the Giants will keep 7 linebackers in case of the team suffering multiple injuries at linebacker or defensive end. In the event that injuries pile up at end again than the giants will be forced to move Kiwi back to DE.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Nice analysis, I would be very pleased if thats what our 53 man roster looked like. There is some nice depth there, especially across both lines. If Moss develops and Smith comes as advertised, we will be deep at WR too. Now that I look at it I really like this roster. It has to be the deepest we have fielded in a very long time. The 3 keys to the season are finding a fit at LT, the offense adjusting to Tiki’s retirement, and Spagnuolo being a competent coordinator. If those 3 things fall into place, we may very well have a nice playoff run on our hands.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Peter King thinks that NYG is the best place for Culpepper, but doesn’t see it happening.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....mqb/3.html
I think the best place for Culpepper right now, and the place I’d do anything to get to if I were him, is with the New York Giants. I don’t think it’s going to happen; Coughlin doesn’t want the Culpepper soap opera mucking up his make-or-break season. And the Giants are only $4.5 million under the cap, and they’ve got to sign their rookie class with most of that money. But I say Culpepper would be well-suited for this team because it’d be a great insurance move for 2008.
The Giants have to know that it’s no better than a 50-50 shot that Eli Manning will do enough in this season to enter 2008 as their no-doubt starter, particularly with the prospect of a new coach coming on board to replace Tom Coughlin. And they have to know current backups Anthony Wright and Tim Hasselbeck are just stopgap guys. Why not structure a deal with a small signing bonus that would give the club a chance to pay Culpepper a decent roster bonus in March 2008 if Culpepper is the quarterback of the near future? That way, the G-men could simply release Culpepper if Manning plays well enough to commandeer the job for the future.
June 11th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Peter King doesn’t make sense. He feels that Culpepper’s best place is here because he would sit on the bench for this year and would get the chance to start if Eli falters?? Culpepper has been awful ever since he lost Randy Moss. So our long term solution to the QB situation is signing a washed up 32 year old QB. Brilliant
June 11th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Jay Vult. - I agree that it doesn’t make sense nor does it seem plausible. I just thought it was interesting that it was mentioned.
June 11th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
gianthinker - What teams use OL as FBs? I’ve seen the Pats use DL, but I haven’t seen OL. And the Pats only do that in goalline situations. I don’t think that we have an OL that could handle switching to a full-time FB position.
P.S. I’m not doubting that they do, I was just curious which teams have done it?
June 11th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
McQuarters is currently ahead of Webster on the depth chart.
June 11th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Terrance T-if Kiwanuka has a Shawn Merriman type of season at LB, I can bet you he will stay at LB for the future. Hell Im just hopeing he works out at SAM, some of you guys are getting a little to far ahead of yourselves if your expecting a Shawn Merriman type of season from Kiwanuka
June 11th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Culpepper hahahahaha that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. Yea lets get a thirty two year old has been to be our QB of the future. Also did Peter King miss the huge extension we gave Eli? Yea we are going to bench a guy we just gave a multi-million dollar extension to.
I just can’t wait to see all these Eli doubters eat crow. The kid has played all of what three seasons? Honestly how many of the star QB’s of the NFL became super stars in their first three years? And how many of them did it with injury ravaged teams. Not to mention this is the first year we got a real QB coach for Eli.
For crying out loud you have to put the kid in the situation to win before you throw him under the bus. Our play calling on Offense has been as unpredictable as the sunrise in the last three years. Run first down chuck the ball as deep as you can the next three. Any QB would have trouble being effective if his offensive coordinator made those calls every offensive series of every game.
June 11th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
i expect them to look for a FB in the cuts to replace finn
June 11th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Jexxel - nice try, but plenty of NFL QBs get bad raps or benched or disregarded because of injuries/lack of talent. Besides, plenty of QBs have lost jobs and careers with less talent than Eli plays with, even considering injuries. You don’t think some of the QBs who fail out of the dreg teams could have had different careers if they had been drafted by better teams?
And “all of what 3 seasons” Well, 3.5, and actually, year 4 is considered the year that “tells” what kind of QB you are. Even assuming that you don’t count last year (which one could argue you should), this is THE year for him to show what kind of QB he is.
King is pretty good and like it or not, most people who looked at the situation honestly would agree with him. King didn’t say Eli would be benched, he said that if he plays poorly it would be 50-50 he was a “no-doubt starter.” “No doubt starter” doesn’t mean he doesn’t start, just that he is no longer considered the “future of the franchise” and the team considers that maybe he isn’t the “one.” He may start for another year, maybe two, but he’s no longer a shoe in for the next 10 and you start looking for a possible replacement instead of bringin Anthony Wright in.
Also, I think King was saying that the situation would be perfect for Culpepper, not necassarily that it would be perfect for the Gmen. Though he seems to think it wouldn’t be bad for them. In any case, the Gmen are TOO CLOSE to the cap to sign him anyway.
June 11th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
JEXXEL - And if you think anyone who doubts Eli is going to eat crow, you are sadly overrating yourself and Eli and Football. These are OBJECTIVE observations and thoughts by PROS who study the game. They make mistakes and will miss sometimes. He is merely stating how things are NOW. He isn’t saying Eli will never make it, he’s saying if Eli throws as many INTs this year as last and plays as inconsistently, then the Gmen have to be honest and consider what that means for the future.
If the don’t, then they are just wasting time and money stringing along a QB who probably won’t be good enough. This isn’t a FANBOY analysis, its legit. Maybe Eli will still turn out to be great, but if he isn’t more consistent this year, or at least cuts down on the INTs, then you have to wonder if he’s the ONE.
June 11th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Bryan, Eli has been the starter for 2 1/2 years not 3 1/2. As Giant fans we need to realize that Eli will not be judged like other QB’s because of refusing to go to San Diego and because he plays in New York. Even when he finally wins a championship there will be doubters criticizing him. The facts are that Eli has thrown the most touchdown passes of ANY NFC qb over the past two years and has led the Giants to back to back playoff appearances despite all the injuries. Numbers don’t lie
Jexxel the Giants did not give Eli an extension they picked up an option in his contract where if they didn’t pick it up he would be a free agent after this season.
June 11th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
im not comparing kiwi to shawn merriman…im just saying if he had that type of impact or something similar. lets face it, kiwi had a better season than mario williams the 1st pick of the draft and did a very good job for the G-Men last year. i cant wait to see him play this year to see what he can do at the SAM position. the only reason why so many people are critical of eli is because 1. he plays in NY and 2. his last name is manning. you think people will be downing this kid if he was the Bears qb or the dolphins, bills, cards, browns, etc. QB….. absolutely not! eli will be fine guys so ignore King and lets just move on
June 11th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Jay - my bad on the years.
Let’s say Grossman and the Bears had won the SB this year, would criticism of Rex be illegitimate because they won? Legit criticism is still legit. Especially in such a team sport like football. Just because you win a SB doesn’t make you a GREAT QB.
He had the most TDs, yes, and that’s not entirely unexpected with one of the best recieving teams in the league, but that still got the Gmen an 8-8 record.
He throws TOO many INTs and is inconsistent. Its not always what he does, but what someone else COULD do. More consistent QB maybe goes 10-6 and WINS a playoff game.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Jay Vult. - I like Eli, but to state just those stats are misleading. Add his completion percentage (54.1%), and his interceptions (44) compared to his TDs (54), and you have a much more complete picture of his career so far.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Kevros - thanks for bringing some sanity into the conversation. You like Eli and think he’ll be something; I respect that. But I agree, for Jay to only quote the “happy” stats is misleading. You can do that for most players in the NFL.
Terrence - Puhleeze! People were ripping Rex Grossman APART last year and calling for him to be benched, both in Chicago and else were. And the Bears went to the SB!!!
And as much as people rip on Rex, here’s his first 16 game season v. Eli.
REX - 54.6 comp. 3193 yards 6.65 YPA 23 TDs, 20 INTs 73.9 Rating
ELI - 52.8 comp., 3762 yards 6.75 YPA 24 TDs, 17 INTs, 75.9 Rating
So Eli wins 2 categories, Rex wins 2, and 2 are draws.
Even head up last year Its Eli 2, Rex 0, and 4 ties.
REX - 54.6 comp. 3193 yards 6.65 YPA 23 TDs, 20 INTs 73.9 Rating
57.7 comp. 3244 yards, 6.21 YPA, 24 TDs, 18 INTs, 77.0 rating.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Oh, and would ANYONE here want to trade the Bears O for the Giants O? I would take the Gmen’s O everyday, and thrice on Sundays.
Rex has a good but not better RB and worse WRs and TE. Not sure about the Oline, but I can’t imagine its worse.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Bryan, you forget to mention how many times Chicago’s D & special teams bailed Rex out.
How many games did Eli make a comeback in just to have the Giants D lose it?
June 11th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Bryan - Rex only had 1 better stat out of both of those comparisons and it was a 2% better completion rating. Eli is a better QB than Rex because he far exceeds him in things that don’t go down as stats like playcalling, reading defenses, etc. When both of their careers are over they will not even be put in the same category (obviously just my prediction).
June 11th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Giants fan - that’s really neither here nor there. The stats are similar, who cares how many times the Bears D bailed him out?
Kevros - well, completion percentage is pretty important, maybe the most important stat. And no, Rex doesn’t have better numbers, but his numbers are similiar to Elis. Neither is heads above the other. Eli’s better obviously, both numbers wise and talent wise, but my point was that their numbers are close. Rex only has 1 year in the league and people absolutely BERATED him last year. He got way more fire than Eli did. If I recall, not many reputable sources called for Eli’s benching, while the entire world called for Rex to go. I wasn’t arguing that Eli wasn’t better than Rex, I was showing that other players also get criticism, contrary to Jay and Terrance’s argument. Even SB QBs with similar numbers.
I happen to agree that Eli is better and can probably read defnses better than Rex, but where has that shown up for Eli??? Certainly not in less INTs or more YPA.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Bryan - I think that some of Rex’s criticism came from the fact that fans wanted Griese to start the season anyway. Griese was better than Lorenzen and a much more realistic starting option.
I get your point, and I think it has some merit, but IMO Rex and Eli are in two totally different situations.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
The debate about whether or not to carry an extra CB, LB, or WR is a great debate. we have several guys with talent that are right on the fence. What about only carrying 2 TE’s? Will Darcy Johnson ever really help us during the season? Since we have the ability to use Seubert as a blocking TE wouldn’t roster post be better used elsewhere?
June 11th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Kevros - Agreed, not many are going to argue to start Lorenzen or Hasslebeck. What about if Griese was the back up, or say Culpepper?? Do you think the calls to replace Eli would be there.
Eli is actually somewhat insulated by not having a viable option behind him. I think what King was saying is taht if this year is another like 05, the Gmen have to think about bringing in a legit guy as back up, and as with Rex, that can create all kinds of problems.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
” WHO CARES HOW MANY TIMES THE DEFENCE BAILED HIM OUT ” and it dos’t make any difference how many times our D blew the game ?? Now thats a fair way to compare 2 QB’s .So anything Eli does is because the team is better ,but if goes bad ,it’s all on Eli !!!
June 11th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Guard53 - no, Rex obviously went to the SB because of his D, and the Gmen’s 8-8 record is obviously related to their D, but that doesn’t change the fact that their STATS are similiar. I was talking about their play, not the teams play or record. If anything the poor D inflates Eli’s stats becaus he has to throw more and longer, since Rex gets half a field to work with so often and doesn’t have to score much to win.
Also, the topic was wether a SB QB in another city would get the same heat as Eli. Terrance insinuated that he wouldn’t and that Eli only got heat because of his draft status and name. I was merely showing that a QB with similiar stats on a SB team in another city got MORE heat.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Four disagreements:
1) Finn will likely be replaced by a bigger FB blocker who is currently not on the roster.
2) Anthony Mix is ahead of Brandon London as of the moment. Mix was a good special teamer last year. London to the practice squad.
3) I doubt the Giants keep four OTs on the roster. Adam Koets, who did not look good in post-season bowl games, to the practice squad.
4) The Giants will keep nine D-linemen including Adrian Awasom.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Brian I’m not trying to argue with you ,but saying if your D keeps puting you in a hole so everybody knows you have to pass often and deep is an advantage ? Sorry I can’t undestand tht one.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
I don’t understand all this hoopla about MIx. What did he show to warrant all of this? And if he was good, how come he didn’t beat out Jennings? I’m not saying London is better (I know nothing about him). I’m just curious about this Mix argument. It’s been a few offseason chats now saying MIx has tons of potential, but he never makes the lineup.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Luzz, the problem with having Seubert lined up as a tight end is that it tells the opposing defense that it is going to be a running play.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Frank E. Kurk. - I think Koets will make the roster. I’m pretty sure that we’ve almost always carried 4 OTs and I don’t see any reason to stop.
giant’s fan - I don’t know much about Mix but the reason he didn’t beat Jennings is because Jennings was supposed to be the returner. He flopped with that and now he doesn’t really have a role on the team since he is a trackstart not a WR.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Not an advantage as such, but if you are down 21-0, you are going to throw more. If your D lets teams drive 60 yards before punting, you have a longer field to throw down. Rex never had to “catch up” much or drive 80 yards, because he got it at midfield. So he only had 50 yards to go and the Bears could afford to run it, while Eli might have had 80 and needed 14 points. Ala Eli’s stats could be inflated by the poor D.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Oh okay. Thanks Kevros. I just feel that Mix must not be good if he keeps failing to make the team year after year haha.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Kevros - OT is too important to only have 3. If one gets hurt you have no back up. That really kills you if say, a guy gets poked in the eye and has to come out for a play. having a “fill in” OT would kill you. I agree, you need 4.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Bryan - Eli only threw 40 more passes than Grossman. That’s not really an inflation…
June 11th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Good Chart.
Personally i think S Johnson is practice squad material, Joseph will make the team because he’s cost efficient and he is a solid reserve. Also Bell can play CB, S, and he’s one of our best ST players.
June 11th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
I dont think a team looses games because of ONE player, all need to be in it or not, Eli can’t bring down the team, the recievers need to catch the damn ball, the running needs to be there, the O line’s need to open holes, the Defence needs to stop to opposite team, ONE player does not kill your team!! is everyone!!!
I will laugh so hard to everyone who doesnt think the KIWI transaction is not going to pay off. That move was the most exciting move the Giants have made in years, and I hope they keep him there and bring another Osi to the DE side next year in the draft. For everyone how thinks that is not going to be case, we’ll just see in October how the opposite teams stays aways from the short passing game against us, if they are going to beat us is going to be in deep and even then I hope we have figured out how to cover people well. my 2 cent. good day everyone. GIANTS 07!!
June 11th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
if we were to switch to the 3-4 it would complely nullify OSI and his talents. I dont see him being able to transition to an OLB position in the 3-4 or playing DE in the 3-4 either. Considering we gave him a pretty nice contract not too long ago i dont see the gmen switching defenses anytime soon.
June 11th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Re: Culpepper
It’s been stated above that, at the end of the day, the Giants can probably not afford him in any case, nor would Coughlin be particularly interested in him considering the pressure he’s under this year. But are the Giants really the best fit?
For the Giants, almost everyone here would agree the team has no credible backup. Though King leaves out J-Load in favor of Hasselbeck, who will likely be cut, you can’t be excited about that prospect if Eli goes down. In addition, there has to be real worry about an injury based on the LT situation, which is among the worst in the league. And certainly, though I am an Eli fan, having a legit veteran to both teach him and push him to improve would have to be a positive. So assuming that Culpepper can heal up and play at even 75% of what he was doing at his peak, you’d have to say it would be a good move for the Giants.
For Culpepper, there isn’t a starting job out there. So you want a spot behind a shaky starter. Is Eli that guy? Probably not. Leftwich in Jacksonville is a lot closer, and there is mutual interest. The Ravens have a situation that will need to be addressed in the next year. The Lions have no long-term QB set up, and you wonder, if Vick gets suspended, how interested the Falcons would be. At a bare minimum, those are four teams who would probably be willing to take a chance on Culpepper, and are teams he could get the starting job for without anyone getting injured.
So it would probably be a better move for the Giants than Culpepper, as it would not be the best possible opportunity for him to start. Again, the money is an issue. But however you feel about Eli, if you think we should ignore Culpepper because “Eli is the MAN, he’s going to the Pro Bowl, etc, etc,” you need to reconsider the logic behind that. Culpepper is a proven winner when healthy, and while he sadly may not be healthy again, he’d be a great insurance policy for an injury or Eli’s potential for mediocre play.
Of course, Reese hates aging, injured veterans, we’re broke, and we already got a (horrendous) backup. So forget the whole thing.
June 11th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
for the last time. the giants will not switch to a 3-4. even if strahan retires, it would take osi out of the picture completely.
June 11th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
The Giants have carried four OTs only recently.
June 11th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Jay…very good article. I do hope the Giants keep two kickers. Especially if it improves our kickoffs.
Off topic….I heard Mike Ditka today pleading for the NFL and Gene Upshaw to step up to the plate and help some of the NFL retired players that are currently up against it. I commend Mike, who is not showboating but obviously really believes in the cause which I think is a worthy one.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Culpepper is not what the Giants need unless he can play FB it looks like Finn is done. This argument about Eli or Rex is nonsence. I don’t think Eli is that good but he is better than Grossman. Grossman plays for a team with a great defense and that makes a big difference in field position. As for having a better backup, who knows how good Lorenzen is. He has never had a chance. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kiwi back at DE if Strahan or Osi go down Tuck is iffy because of last years injury. I think LB is the position with the most depth on the defense.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Love the article, however, five thoughts:
1. I don’t think the Mathias Kiwanuka move will be for one year. I think he will develop into a great SLB and DeOssie will have to wait behind what will be one of the best SLB in the game.
2. What if the Giants pick up Paul Oliver from Georgia in the supplemental draft? That will really change the landscape and the average age of the cornerbacks.
3. I think Diehl will end up at guard and Whimper at tackle and while he may have some growing pains, Guy will become a very good left tackle.
4. William Joseph will make the team as DE and then will not be resigned and the Giants will once again take a DE first or second round. Strahan will also be gone leaving the Giants with Osi and Tuck with Kiwi coming off the edge, something I am fine with.
5. I think this may be the last season of Gibril. He will see a big payday at the end of the season and the Giants will move Will Demps over to the SS position and Michael Johnson will take over the FS position.
2008 Giants Draft Picks(for fun)
1. DE
2. LB
3. None(used in supplemental for Paul Oliver)
4. FB
5. SS
6. OL
7. DL
June 11th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Comparing Grossman to Eli is a joke. Remember the game this past year where Grossman had more interceptions that completions and the Bears still won comfortably. If Eli had a defense that allowed him to manage games he would be amazing.
June 12th, 2007 at 12:22 am
I like reading all the posts but i didn”t see RB ryan grant on the list , everyone is so hooked on bradshaw already and we havent seen him in pro football pads yet, also the kid from tennesse mitchell id like to see how he plays in pads , i read his coach in college rated him the best LB he had in 20 something years that is some accomplishment with the quality of linebackers comming out of that school . as far as WR i was hoping the last spot was going to be mix , with his size he could be the red zone killer , remember what happened when we let WR Joe Jurevicius go
June 12th, 2007 at 12:51 am
SyracuseGiants i agree with 100%, however is this kid Oliver really this good. and if he is this good you dont think he is worthy more then a second rounder. many teams are in needof a quality young DB so i feel the price is going to be high for oliver and i have a feeling that the Gaints wont pay it. so with that, next years top 3 postions will be
#1 DE
#2 OT
#3 CB
not in that order
June 12th, 2007 at 8:44 am
I’m fiending for new reading material…anything in the pipeline?
June 12th, 2007 at 8:45 am
can someone help me out. i know Oliver is a very good CB and he has great size and speed. i think he was projected as a high first rounder in 2008. so why do i hear that he could go 3-4th round in the supplemental draft. is it a different format than other drafts. what does this mean? how does it work.
also i don’t remember the giants doing much in the supplemental draft since the dave brown dibacle. anybody else of note taken since Brown?
June 12th, 2007 at 8:51 am
lol…dave brown, now theres a qb we can all agree on that he just plain sucked!!!! when is the supplemental draft? and that is a good ? kevo. 88 days until kick off…. god i cant wait. any news on burress? i didnt see him on the wr segment on giants.com. is he still missing from our ota’s?
June 12th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Kevo - whatever pick you use in the suppl. you lose in the next year’s draft, so teams aren’t likely to use a #1 b/c they would lose it next year. Most teams don’t use their picks or only use small number. Face it, for the great majority of players, if they were good enough to get drafted they would have. I don’t know much about him, but surely Oliver knew he was failing out and could have declared for the real draft.
If he’s failing out, that says something about his mental abilities to actually follow what is a pretty complex D at the pro level. Suppl. draft picks usually don’t work out that well.
Also, keep in mind the Gmen have barely enough money left to sign the picks from the real draft, so it questionable as to whether they would even be able to draft Oliver.
June 12th, 2007 at 9:14 am
The supp. draft is Jul 10 I believe.
Here is more info on it…just scroll down a bit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N…..ntal_Draft
June 12th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Well John Clayton seems to think it is likely and a good move. Though I am just repeating what someone else posted. And who’s to say he wasn’t taking a summer class that he has now failed.
June 12th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Jexxel - Even if he failed a summer class…that still doesn’t look good. It makes him seem either lazy, not very smart or both.
June 12th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Clancy signed - thanks for the update. It would have been nice.
Move to 3-4? Agree. it makes no sense given the young talent the Giants have at DE.
Culpepper is hurting and inconsistent. Can you say Luke Pettigout? No Culpepper signing will occur.
One reason Kiwi stays at SLB for the long term is that by year end he will be a star in the making. The other reason is Tuck. Don’t forget the potential this guy has.
There will be some great competition at CB and Safety. How it plays out will be critical to how the D plays. Front seven are solid. Not spectacular but solid. I still think Webster surprises and he and Ross become the starting safties my mid year.
Finn? How bad is he hurt? Sounds like he may be a goner.
June 12th, 2007 at 9:47 am
make that starting CBs not safeties
June 12th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Last I heard Finn nobody knows how bad Finn is. He could be ready for camp of maybe not until pre-season but probably won’t end his career.
June 12th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I don’t think Oliver could have failed out of a summer course yet. Graduation would only have been a month or less ago. I think most college summer courses are just begining. I can’t believe his entire GPA depended on a month-long summer course. Even if he was given some kind of month-long summer course, like Kevros said, if he can’t get the smarts or motivation up to pass it, it doesn’t look good for him. And he had to know he wasn’t doing well and could have declared for the April draft. Unless he was doing OK and just bombed his finals.
June 12th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Kevros at 76 - great find and post, man.
June 12th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
figure people are dying for something new to read…
http://weblogs.newsday.com/spo.....ants/blog/
It’s not breaking news on the field, but it’s certainly a nice touch and a typically class move by the Giants. We’ve learned that Jessie Armstead, the Giants’ heart-and-soul linebacker for nine seasons, will sign with the team tomorrow so he can officially retire a Giant.
Armstead was an eighth-round pick out of Miami in 1993 and, much like his protege, Antonio Pierce, fought his way onto the field and hardly left. Armstead went to the Redskins in 2002 and spent two seasons there, then one on injured reserve with the Panthers in 2004. He worked out for the LB-depleted Giants around Christmas in 2005, but hasn’t played a down in three-plus years.
June 12th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Here is an article about how contract clauses affect OTAs:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/ne.....;type=lgns
June 12th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Does anyone hear no when the Supplemental Draft is? Also, do you guys no if Paul Oliver is any good?
June 12th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
#1 Giants fan - The supplemental draft is in July, not sure of date but last year it was July 13, so around there. Maybe the 12th. Paul Oliver did very well his junior year getting 3 ints 2 sacks and 3rd on team in tackles. However I don’t think he will garner a 2nd round selection as he did fail out of school.
June 13th, 2007 at 2:10 am
Sounds good to me for a third round pick like they are reporting. I say this is right up Reese’s alley getting good young players at a low price.
June 13th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
1 - Jexxel - “good” young players is a stretch. They guy can’t stay in school - that doesn’t say much for his desire or ability to pick up a system.
2- Give me one name (Other than B. Kosar) who came out of the supplmental draft who is any good.
3 - Its an bid auction, so if you put in a 3, you have to hope no one ahead of you put in a 3 or higher.
June 13th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Vinny DiTrani, of the Bergen Record, reports the New York Giants appear to be more interested in Nebraska OL Chris Patrick than Georgia CB Paul Oliver in next month’s supplemental draft. The team will not likely sped a high 2008 NFL Draft pick on either player.
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