Deciphering how well a team drafted is impossible until the players step on the field. However, expectations are going to be set high for this year’s incoming draft class for the Super-Bowl Champion New York Giants.
Jerry Reese surpassed all expectations last year by selecting eight players who all contributed in critical parts of the Giants' run to their first championship since 1990. Okay, so you can argue that Adam Koets’ fill-in role on the line in the Wild Card victory against the Buccaneers was not crucial, and claim that DeOssie’s special teams performance did not blow you away. But, you cannot shrug off the importance of the performance of Ross, Smith, Alford, Boss, Johnson, and Bradshaw.
Good job Jerry, but that was then, this is now. The taste of the Super Bowl will soon leave fans' mouths as the season opener begins to grow closer. What do you have up your sleeves for New York this year? The answer may be even more thrilling then last year.
The Giants used the 31st pick in this year’s draft to select safety Kenny Phillips. The Giants have addressed the loss of safety Gibril Wilson by signing free-agent safety Sammy Knight, who currently is 32 years of age. Adding Phillips to the roster will allow the 11-year veteran Knight to nurture Phillips' understanding of the game, while giving the Giants the depth to allow for competition at the position.
Phillips is versatile enough to play both safety positions in college, and could be expected to do the same in New York. Having a starting-safety tandem of Knight and Phillips is a possibility. Overall, the pick achieves a B+. The Giants gained the best safety in the draft to fill a position it needed. It was the expected pick and a decent one, but with being a player expected to go around 31st overall, it does not receive an A.
Sticking with the secondary, the Giants next selected Terrell Thomas. This is a solid pick, but not a stand out. The Giants gain another corner that will hopefully gain knowledge through veteran Sam Madison, and compete for playing time in formations with more than four defensive backs.
Therefore, this is more of a pick for the future than now. Madison and Ross will probably start next season, with McQuaters, Webster, and Dockery battling for position on the depth chart. Thomas could see himself in this mix by mid-season, if he works hard and impresses the coaches. This could be especially true if corner play is poor in the beginning of the season.
Overall, this pick earns a C. The Giants could have gone linebacker here to replace Mitchell. How about a defensive end to fight for the spot that Strahan will soon leave, or in the case of his return, the ability to keep Kiwanuka at linebacker?
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8 months ago
OK, I'll call you crazy on the Woodson comment. Eli is the solid starter and I doubt very much anyone in the organization is imagining him being challenged for playing time at any point in the next...oh...8-10 years. The Giants have been looking for a solid backup QB for several years and apparently they're still looking and not confident that Carr fits the bill. Or maybe Woodson can be developed into trade-bait down the road, who knows? I also wonder whether Webster will play his way into a starting role at CB. Certainly if he keeps up his playoff performance through training camp it will be very hard for them to leave him on the bench. Do you have any insight into whether Kiwanuka would move back to DE if Strahan calls it quits? I've heard conflicting opinions but I think with no clear replacement at his LB spot that he'd stay where he is and only lineup in a three-point stance on obvious passing downs. As good as the pass rush was last year I can't wait to see what a possible Umenyiora-Tuck-Kiwanuka-Strahan lineup could do if the manage to stay healthy all season long.
And one more thing: the taste of that Superbowl isn't leaving anyone's mouths any time maybe ever! It'll be with the fans for a long, long time.
8 months ago
i agree with "osi". eli is our qb for at least 5 more and will not be challenged, and dont forget what archie said, we didnt see nothing yet from eli
8 months ago
Honestly as long as McQuaters is still on the depth chart, I feel like Reese did the right thing by addressing the backfield in the draft. All I can say is prepare to bump that grade up by the end of this season.
We all knew coming in last season that the secondary was the weakness. Addressing your weakness is key. Sometimes a draft isn't about getting the best available player on the board, but rather getting the best available player on the board who will help your organization.
8 months ago
The Giants' GM himself has indicated they drafted Woodson *because* they had Eli and could take a chance on developing a project QB to later move for value or be a steady backup.
Matt Schaub-ian, if you will.
8 months ago
I hope Eli performs outstanding. In the case that he does not, I personally would not be suprised if we see competition for the QB postition by 2009-2010. Webster plays too inconsistant and was out of position many times, which resulted in a few intereceptions from poorly thrown balls. I wouldn't think that he can outplay either Ross or Madison. And while the fact that that was the best Superbowl ever and the Giants won it does not make me feel comfortable about next season. I want to see them win back to back.
from 8 months ago
Are you saying that Webster's INTs were the result of him being out of position? I agree he's inconsistent but there's no doubt he's faster and more athletic than Madison, and if he has a great camp he has to be considered for the starting position. If that was Madison running with Randy Moss on 3rd and 20 then we're all talking about the Patriots' perfect season right now.
from 8 months ago
The key intereception to give the Giants the game winning field goal was deffinetly a result of a poor throw be Farve. Webster was beat on that play had the ball been delivered correctly. Not all of his intereceptions were results of him being out of position, but I dont think they were all a result of an outstanding play. I (and any Giants fan) have also seen Webster get himself into excellent position and drop intereceptions. I like the guy, I just think that he needs more work than most people think. Is he quicker than Madison, yes. Is he better at deciphering how an offensive play will develope, no. I am not going to knock his success, I just think he has a bit more to prove before you can say he is a better player than Madison.
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