Monthly Archives: March 2010
Okay, all you draftniks…HE’S COMING!
Rolando McClain, the superstar linebacker from the BCS Champion Alabama Crimson Tide revealed today that he will be in New York on April 12th and will meet with the Giants.
There have been rumors that the Giants are interested, but McClain is more a fan favorite to end up a Giant than anything else.
The team is still figuring out if: a) McClain fits their defensive scheme; b) he’ll be there for them at #15 and c) can they get a player more suited to their needs in later rounds.
Either way, they will see him in person before draft day, which should help them with their decision. Many, including myself, feel the team will go offense or secondary in the first round.
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, New York Giants News |
Philadelphia Eagles: The Donovan McNabb trade talks have went from explosive to quiet in a matter of a few days writes Scott Bomboy of Myfoxphilly.com
Last week, rumors flew around the NFL airwaves of a potential deal involving the Rams 33nd overall pick and safety Oshiomogho Atogwe for the quarterback. Although the Rams denied the rumor, many still thought that a deal was imminent and within days of occurring, with the Rams or another team.
This week, the feel is a bit different. For one, both coach Andy Reid and president Joe Banner have taken time off, leaving Philadelphia beat reporters clinging to their return to the city of brotherly love. Also, more importantly, McNabb’s roster bonus of 6.2 million on May 5 leaves other teams with virtually no incentive of making the deal before the aforementioned date.
Therefore, if a team wanted to make a deal before May 5, they’d be investing a total of 11.2 million in the aging quarterback for the 2010 season.
Dallas Cowboys: Jean-Jaques Taylor of the Dallas Morning News thinks that if WR Dez Bryant was to fall to the ‘Boys at 27, he should be snagged.
Bryant, who is considered by many to be the best WR talent in the draft, is dropping on various boards because of his suspension for most of last year’s collegiate season. Bryant’s agent Eugene Parker, who is also Michael Crabtree’s agent, will surely still demand Bryant be paid like that of a top ten pick. Potentially good news for the Cowboys however is that Parker was also former representation for both Deion Sanders and Emmitt Smith, so working out complex deals between the two wouldn’t be something they haven’t worked at all ready.
I agree with Taylor (and mostly everyone else) when I say that Bryant is a top ten talent in this draft. The only guy that comes remotely close to Bryant is Benn from Illinois, and even he doesn’t truly compare to Bryant’s skill set. Whether or not the Cowboys should really take him, that’s a different question. Regardless of his potential, the Cowboys are already pretty stacked at WR, and selecting another one in the first round may not be the right way to go…ESPECIALLY if he’s demanding a top ten picks contract.
Washington Redskins: New head coach Mike Shanahan believes in his zone blocking techniques…and that’s why they work so well.
“I think if you believe in something, you do it better,” Shanahan said recently. “In Denver, we believed in a philosophy, the zone-blocking scheme, we ran it more than anybody else, so we had a lot of success.”
In Shanahan’s last season in Denver, the Broncs went through 7 different runningbacks, yet they still were second in the league in YPC at 4.8. Despite a large inconsistency in who was taking the rock, the consistency of the people protecting it was more than enough to establish Shanahan’s rushing and blocking systems as some of the best.
This year, there’s no doubt that Shanny will be bringing his zone blocking philosophies over to Washington. In my opinion, I think these new schemes will do wonders for this Redskins team…not only for Portis and the rushing attack, but for Campbell and his protection in the pocket as well. It was truly painful to watch Campbell drop back in the pocket last season, for you knew he was going to get hit.
This Washington team could finally be experiencing that turn in the right direction they’ve been waiting so long for…
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk believes that certain teams, including the Dolphins and Giants, could consider trading up into the top ten to draft Clemson RB C.J. Spiller.
RB is certainly not the Giants’ biggest need, but Spiller is the type of game changing running back that can take it to the house on any play; the kind of player John Fennelly suggested that the Giants could use in his last post.
I personally love Spiller, and I believe he has the abilities to do some of the things Chris Johnson does, although I could go either way on trading up to draft him. If he fell to the Giants at 15, I would love to snatch him up (even though he doesn’t fill a huge need…I like him that much). But to trade up for him and possibly lose another valuable pick…I’m not sure…
I will say this again: the NFL is morphing into a grander version of arena football. The teams that succeed are the ones that:
A) have a franchise quarterback
B) have 5-7 receiving options including a tight end who is mainly a receiver
C) a running back that can catch and/or take it to the house every time he touches the ball
D) a defense based on speed to counter teams that possess the above qualities
Now with that in mind, go back and redo you mock drafts.
The Giants have A, are still figuring out B but could use help at C and D.
With the 15th pick, it is doubtful, based on what I just laid out, that the Giants will take a defensive tackle. If they do, then they just don’t get it.
Everyone is clamoring for Rolando McClain. He is not suited for the 4-3 and he has even said he would rather play in a 3-4. He may end up being a star and if the Giants pass on him they may regret it. But you can’t pick everyone….
Here are the determining factors of what will drive the Giants’ choice in the first round:
Are they comfortable with their current options at MLB? Maybe Gerris Wilkinson turns out to be the guy…
What is the prognosis on Kenny Phillips? If there’s any doubt he won’t be able to help them this season they might pick a safety…or a corner. Aaron Ross could moved to safety. There are 8-10 quality secondary players in this draft.
You can never have enough offensive lineman, but which position is the priority? This draft is loaded with quality lineman.
How about that home-run hitter on offense? A RB like C.J. Spiller would give the Giants that extra dimension they’ve been lacking.
You want to see Eli smile? I guarantee he will if Jerry Reese takes TE Jermaine Gresham or a WR such as Arrelious Benn or Demaryius Thomas…
No matter who the Giants take at #15, they will instantly be a better team. In fact, this draft has so many good prospects experts are saying each team should emerge with three, if not more, players that can help immediately.
So, Giant fans, choose your weapons. The obvious ones may not be the best. In this ever-changing game, you need to stay ahead of the curve….
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, New York Giants News |
NY Giants Talk is podcast hosted by Ed Valentine of Big Blue View. Last night, Giants beat writers Pat Traina and Ernie Palladino filled in for Ed.
Special Guest: Giants RB DJ Ware. The show features a question submitted by yours truly…
Tagged DJ Ware |
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In a blog post from Mike Garafolo’s Giants blog on NJ.com, Bryan Kehl expresses his opinion on what the linebacker situation looks like going into both off-season workouts and the draft.
In regards to the earlier date, that being the NFL draft, Kehl seems to think that the Giants will be drafting very high at the linebacker position. Especially middle linebacker.
“My guess is they’re going to draft a middle linebacker. Maybe first round. I think first round,” Kehl said
Besides a possible high-talent coming in at the middle linebacker position, all of Jonathan Goff, Gerris Wilkinson, Chase Blackburn, and Kehl will be vying for reps at the spot.
On the other two sides, Michael Boley pretty much has the WILL locked up heading into workouts, and the SAM job seems to be 2nd year linebacker Clint Sintim’s job to lose. That leaves Kehl, along with the three other veteran backers all basically competing against one another.
Out of those players, Kehl believes he’s ultimately the longshot to win the job. According to Kehl he’s fourth in the “hierarchy” of linebackers currently with the Gmen. He believes both Goff and Blackburn are starting off higher on the food chain than him and fellow LB Wilkinson.
Keep in mind. Everything written above is BRYAN KEHL’s opinion…although Garafolo seemed to actually think it was a pretty good one.
In terms of what the front office and Jerry Reese are thinking, well, the GM told Sirius radio that both Kehl and Wilkinson were in the mix for that starting job.
Personally, I think there going to go with someone who could fill that MLB spot in the 2nd round of the draft, latest, possibly first round. If Rolando McClain is there, I don’t see any reason why to pass up, or possibly trade up to get. If not there, I sure wouldn’t mind waiting around to possibly the third round and grabbing a steal with Penn State LB Sean Lee.
Lee, who I’ve watched extensively, just has a plain knack for getting to the ball at the line of scrimmage. There’s always that extra sense of urgency with him it seems as soon as the ball is snapped. He’s definitely a guy whom you wouldn’t have to question his work ethic, and a lot of times, that’s what makes a good MLB.
Giants center Shaun O’Hara was in Nintendo’s midtown store yesterday for a video game promotion (Ubisoft’s Just Dance) with Jets center Nick Mangold and Danilo Gallinari of the Knicks. (That’s O’Hara and Mangold posing with the author).
All three seemed to be having fun playing the game and interacting with the media and fans.
O’Hara has always been a favorite of mine, and now that I met him and talked with him at length, he will always remain so. We chatted about topical Giants issues such as the draft and what its like to play eleven seasons in the NFL, but that is not what impressed me most about Shaun.
He generally wanted to be there yesterday. He told me its part of the NFL’s initiative to promote exercise and physical activity for young people (i.e. Play 360). Just Dance for Wii combines dancing, fun and lots of physical activity without having to leave your home.
O’Hara does quite a bit of charity work. In 2009, Shaun and his wife founded H.I.K.E (Helping Increase Knowledge and Education in life-threatening diseases) which focuses raising awareness and funding for diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
Most recently, Shaun established a scholarship fund at his alma mater, Rutgers University. The fund endows a scholarship at the $100,000 level to be granted to a walk-on football player that “has earned a scholarship during his playing career at Rutgers.
O’Hara is not forgetting his roots. He himself was a walk-on at Rutgers who eventually earned a scholarship. Shaun also went undrafted in 2000 and takes pride in the fact.
He is a self-made guy, a conscientious guy, which makes me want to root for him even more.
Thanks to Anthony Quintano of QuintanoMedia for the photo.
Tagged New York Giants News, Shaun O'Hara |
According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, there is a trade currently on the table that would send QB Donovan McNabb to the Rams in exchange for the 33nd pick in April’s draft and free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe.
According to Profootballtalk, a Ram’s source has come out and said that there is “zero truth” to the reported interest in McNabb, let alone the trade offer that’s supposedly on the table.
Don’t you love when this kinda stuff happens?
Obviously McLane wouldn’t have written this up unless he heard it from some sort of legitimate source To me, it sounds like the Rams didn’t want to make this potential trade too public…at least not yet.
Mclane also pointed out that McNabb has voiced that he would be willing to play in St. Louis given he received a contract extension.
As of now, nothing’s gone down. But keep your ears to the floor on this one…something’s about to.
Another observation: if this report were true from McLane, which team put the alleged trade “on the table.” In other words, is it the Rams’ or Eagles’ move to accept.
If I had to guess, it’s the Rams move to accept, not the Birds.
in a post from Adam Schefter in his blog on ESPN.com, he rates the top 5 free agents still available. They go like this:
1. Darren Sharper
4. Willie Parker
5. Shaun Andrews
Honorable mention: Kevin Mawae, Derrick Burgess, Charles Grant, Josh Reed, Jay Feely
I’m not sure if I see the Giants going after any of these players. The only one who could possibly blip on the Gmen’s radar in my opinion is Owens. Andrews is a solid offensive guard, but the Gmen would be looking for tackle depth if anything.
TO would be interesting. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Giants core young depth at WR, however I don’t think last season was a fair look at what TO could still do on the field. Buffalo had virtually no one to throw him the ball and it truly just wasn’t the right fit for him.
TO loves the spotlight, and New York would give him just that. TO’s a big body, and a big target for Eli. Granted he’s not as tall as Burress is, but he’s just as intimidating on the field; he could supply Eli with a little more dynamite to play with on the offensive side of the ball.
Of course, TO could bring more negative than positive effects, both on and off the field…but that’s on Mr. Reese and the Giants front office to decide whether or not he’d be worth the risk.
Don’t take this post as a rumor of any validity. I’m just voicing my opinion. Thoughts are welcome on TO or any other free agents the Giants could or should look at as we edge closer to the draft.
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