New York Giants: Projecting 2011 Depth Chart
Now that I have projected the impact of the 2011 NFL Draft picks on the New York Giants' depth chart, I will analyze the entire depth chart and predict the opening day 53-man roster.
In that article linked, I did make my prediction of the entire depth chart but did not analyze each position and explain why some players you expected to see on the list were not there.
The Giants will definitely have a fierce competition at several positions in training camp, assuming it actually happens.
Feel free to comment below and I'll be sure to explain my reasoning further for each player I left off the list.
Quarterback [2]
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1. Eli Manning
2. Sage Rosenfels
Should be no surprises here, however the Giants do like Ryan Perriloux, the former quarterback from LSU. That said, the Giants are confident in Eli Manning's ability to stay healthy and only take two quarterbacks on the game day roster.
Personally I'd call that a dangerous precedent, but given that Eli has never missed a start I'm OK with that for now.
The Giants traded for Sage Rosenfels after Jim Sorgi was lost for the season, and given that Sorgi was only on a one year contract he definitely won't be back in 2011.
Running Back [5]
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1. Ahmad Bradshaw
2. Brandon Jacobs
3. Da'Rel Scott
4. DJ Ware
FB - Bear Pascoe
Ahmad Bradshaw is a restricted free agent, but will be back for the 2011 season. The Giants have told him he is a priority to resign so there is no reason to expect he to sign elsewhere.
The two headed monster of Bradshaw and Jacobs will look to improve on a 2010 season that saw the two of them combine for over 2000 yards and 17 touchdowns. After the year, Tom Coughlin admitted that he wished Jacobs would have gotten more carries, so look for there to be a more even distribution of carries in 2011.
Da'Rel Scott may have an impact as a receiver out of the backfield or a return man. Ware is a reliable backup should any of the top two running backs get hurt. If that would happen, Ware would probably jump Scott on the depth chart, which I realize is confusing, but if all are healthy Scott would be more involved in the offense than Ware.
I left Madison Hedgecock off the list because he has been battling injuries the past two years and his production has dipped. Even if the Giants don't bring in a full back from the undrafted free agents, they would let Bear Pascoe be the lead blocker as he did a great job last season.
Wide Receiver [7]
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Starters - Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith
Premier backup - Mario Manningham
Expected contributors - Ramses Barden, Jerrel Jernigan
Special Teamers - Victor Cruz, Duke Calhoun
Again not many surprises here, but the main problem I can see people having with this is Victor Cruz not being listed as an expected contributor.
I realize that Cruz dominated the preseason last year, but that typically hasn't translated into being involved in the offense for the Giants. Several years ago DJ Ware had a great preseason but the Giants still haven't trusted him with more than a handful of carries in blowout wins.
Jernigan's speed and versatility offer more than what Cruz brings. Jernigan reportedly ran a 40 in the 4.3 range and he ran the wild cat in college, along with being a deadly wide receiver in the slot. He is more likely to replace Steve Smith in the lineup if he can't go early on.
Left off - Devin Thomas, Michael Clayton, Derek Hagan, Domenik Hixon. The first three of these players were only signed when the Giants receivers were hitting the injured list, so I don't expect them to make the opening day roster unless one of the above mentioned is injured in camp.
It appears the Giants are not willing to trust Hixon's full recovery to remain the team's kick returner when they drafted Jernigan, and with so many other needs the Giants will probably have to release Hixon and hope they can sign him to the practice squad
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Tight End [2]
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1. Kevin Boss
2. Travis Beckum
The Giants usually have three tight ends, but with the ability of Pascoe to play both full back and tight end, they don't need to have a third behind Boss and Beckum.
They did not draft a tight end, so that means Kevin Boss is definitely coming back. He provides Eli Manning with a nice big target over the middle, but it would be nice to see him more involved in the offense.
Beckum is a nice receiving threat, but is a beyond terrible blocker. Many speculated the Giants should have taken a tight end in the draft to back up Boss given Beckum's liability as a blocker.
They didn't, so it appears Beckum's job is safe as well.
Offensive Line [10]
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LT - David Diehl, James Brewer
LG - Rich Seubert, Shawn Andrews,
C - Shaun O'Hara, Adam Koets
RG - Chris Snee, Mitch Petrus
RT - Kareem McKenzie, Will Beatty
The key here is Rich Seubert's return from an serious knee injury that won't allow him to be fully rehabbed until the beginning of August. So if he is not able to play in the beginning of the year, the Giants will have to either replace him with Shawn Andrews or slide David Diehl over and insert Will Beatty as the left tackle.
The Giants probably feel comfortable with both, and will have to play around in camp to figure out the best possible solution.
The offensive line for the future could be nearly set with Brewer, Koets, Petrus, and Beatty as guys the Giants are very high on. I know most of you won't agree, but the bottom line is Koets and Beatty both played really well last year when given the opportunity and Petrus could learn behind Chris Snee and has potential.
Granted, the 2012 draft will likely revolve around drafting interior lineman, so if they find guys they like better they won't hesitate to draft them.
People seem to feel the Giants backup lineman are not options for the future based on their draft position, but remember they found Diehl in the 5th round and McKenzie and O'Hara were both undrafted free agents. Obviously a high draft pick is not a prerequisite for being a good offensive lineman.
Kicker
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Lawrence Tynes
Tynes had a great year after Sage Rosenfels took the holding duties away from punter Matt Dodge (another reason Dodge sucked last year). It seemed like after that transition was made he couldn't miss—He went 16/17 in field goals when Rosenfels was the holder.
No reason to believe Tynes will be replaced.
Defensive End [5]
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Starters - Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck
Premier Backups - Mathias Kiwanuka, Jason Pierre-Paul, Dave Tollefson
These five guys will definitely all rotate as the Giants like to keep all of their pass rushers fresh, not only for the fourth quarter of games but for the second half of the season as well.
Mathias Kiwanuka is a restricted free agent, but I don't see any reason they don't resign him unless he has a set back with his neck injury he suffered last season
Defensive Tackle [4]
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Starters - Chris Canty (three-technique), Linval Joseph (nose tackle)
Premier Backups - Marvin Austin, Rocky Bernard
Although Canty is listed as a defensive end on the roster, the Giants really like him in the three technique spot. He thrived in 2010, drastically improving on a disappointing 2009 season. I remember watching games and being very impressed with how many times I saw Canty making plays in the backfield and putting pressure on the quarterback up the middle.
Joseph can replace Barry Cofield, who is currently listed as the team's nose tackle. Though not the same as a 3-4 nose tackle, the 4-3 nose tackle does line up a bit more inside and is primarily responsible for stuffing the run. At 328 lbs, Joseph is a big man who will make life easy for the linebackers behind him.
If you read my two most recent articles, you'll know that I believe Barry Cofield will no longer play for the Giants, which is why I left him off the depth chart.
Linebacker [8]
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Weak OLB: Michael Boley, Jacquian Williams, Zak DeOssie (long snapper)
Middle LB: Jonathan Goff, Philip Dillard
Strong OLB: Greg Jones, Clint Sintim
You might be surprised to see Greg Jones in the starting lineup, but I really believe he has the ability to become the Giants starting strong side linebacker. I could take some heat for that, but I don't care. I watched the guy in college and he had four very productive and historic years at Michigan State.
He is the first player in school history to make First-Team All America, and was All-Big 10 three straight seasons.
His best season was in 2009, when he had 154 tackles and nine sacks. Nine sacks is a very impressive from the middle linebacker spot. Although he manned the middle in college, he is very versatile and can play all three positions.
The Giants had a great year from Jonathan Goff and really looked good for moving him to the middle and Keith Bulluck to the outside. Bulluck will likely retire and not be back.
Notables left off - Gerris Wilkinson, Chase Blackburn, Keith Bulluck. There just doesn't seem to be enough room for Wilkinson or Blackburn, and their time with the Giants could be up.
Corner Back [5]
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Starters - Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas
Premier Backups - Prince Amukamara, Aaron Ross
Special Teamer - Bruce Johnson
Not much of a surprise here, but one thing I should note is that I feel Prince Amukamara will have more of a role in the defense than Aaron Ross will. Ross has battled injuries over the years and has lost a step, if he can come back healthy he might contribute, but it doesn't seem likely.
Safety [4]
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Starters - Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips
Premier Backup - Deon Grant
Special Teamer - Tyler Sash
The Giants have one of the best secondary units in the NFL with the option to get even better this year with the addition of Prince Amukamara.
The Giants also like Tyler Sash as a guy who can come up and play in the box in run support, so they may actually let Deon Grant go if they aren't willing to part with one of their young, promising players.
However, with how good of a season Grant had I imagine they will get as much as they can out of him as he starts to enter the latter part of his career.
Chad Jones was a third round pick last year who almost lost his leg in a near-fatal car crash before the season started, and he vows to return to football. Whether that is this year is anyone's guess, but according to a report by Mike Garafolo in February of this year, Jones had started to jog on his leg, which is an incredible improvement.
If he somehow makes a miraculous recovery, the Giants may let Grant go and keep a spot open for Jones.
Punter
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Matt Dodge
The Giants may or may not bring in a punter after the lockout is over and the teams can sign undrafted free agents. I believe they will, but until then there is no other candidate for the position so Dodge is the guy, for now.
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