(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

When the New York Giants selected Kevin Boss in the fifth round out of Western Oregon in the 2007 draft, he could have been looked at as an afterthought, because the Giants already had established tight end Jeremy Shockey on the team.

Shockey went down with an injury toward the end of the season, and Boss immediately became the No. 1 guy throughout the dramatic 2007 postseason run and has never looked back.

The same could not be said for Travis Beckum, who the Giants selected in the third round out of Wisconsin in this past year's draft. Beckum can be a productive player right away and can be used a number of different ways.

Entering the 2009 season, all the talk about New York's offense has only been about how the Giants’ receivers will replace Plaxico Burress and long-time veteran, Amani Toomer. Along with Beckum, G.M. Jerry Reese selected wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden in April's draft to help rebuild the Giants' receiving corps.

Yet, any great quarterback will tell you that a tight end is a quarterback's best friend, and quarterback Eli Manning's confidence in Boss throughout last season was noticeable. Beckum will also be expected to be trusted by Manning and play a nice sidekick to Boss.

Boss will obviously be the No. 1 tight end on the depth chart this season and will be used in the normal offensive alignment, as well as being spread out as a receiver in some packages.

Beckum on the other hand, who will also line up in the regular tight position, will be used as an H-Back, which is similar to how the Washington Redskins use Chris Cooley. He could line up on the line of scrimmage, as a wing, in the backfield, and also spread out as a wide receiver; he can do a variety of different things whether its catching the ball or blocking.

The Giants have always only had one great tight end on the team, whether it was just Mark Bavaro or just Shockey. This year and years to come could be different because of the lethal combination of the Killer B's, Boss and Beckum.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.blogNYG.com and www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com.

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