For my first post I thought I would try to establish a rubric, so to speak, for my own dissatisfaction with the MLB situation.  I know it seems sometimes that I (Igs) am only seeing this thing from the ‘glass half empty’ perspective, but in truth there are a number of important angles that inform my reservations:

How close are the Giants?

This speaks more to the general draft and personnel philosophy. Do you see the Giants as a team trying to figure out how to make a championship run or a team that has already put all the pieces together and won a ring? Quite a few of the players the Giants have drafted in the past two seasons would suggest the former, players that were two to thee years away on draft day, like Ramses Barden, Travis Beckum, Linval Joseph, and of course, Jason Pierre-Paul.

If these developmental players were taken late in the draft, did not cost multiple picks, or were drafted to a team without needs, I would be more comfortable with them. But some of these guys were drafted in places where players that filled a need could have been taken, like maybe a middle linebacker.

Quality of depth

Do you agree, like much of the projections, that the Giants will find their next Mike backer in the depth chart? I think if you’re honest with yourself, many of the candidates just wont look viable. Let’s start with the completely unlikely. Gerris Wilkinson doesn’t have a chance. You just don’t take a guy that failed miserably at Will and expect him to become your next starting Mike, a position that requires greater lateral quickness, instincts, and a certain kind of smarts. Precedent-wise, has anyone ever failed so miserably at WLB and gone on to success at MLB?

Phillip Dillard was a productive college MLB. But he is a thumper. He’s a run-stopping specialist, great at filling, but not so great at covering TEs, slot receivers, and RBs. That’s a serious liability in a pro 4-3 defense, especially in a Tampa 2 system, where the MLB has a greater coverage responsibility. Linebackers like Dillard really can’t start unless they’re in a 3-4 playing next to another coverage MLB.

Then there’s Brian Kehl, who hasn’t quite flourished yet, but makes a lot of sense as Michael Boley’s understudy.  Again, just the fact that he has yet to be successful as a weakside linebacker is pretty much a guarantee that he can’t play the middle.

Johnathan Goff, Chase Blackburn, and my favorite dark horse, Micah Johnson are the three MLB prospects that have a realistic shot at starting. Blackburn just isn’t enough of an athlete and his lack of success at the position is well documented, though he brings some good veteran experience to the table.

Goff has questionable coverage skills and instincts. Johnson, the UDFA, has a chance to really emerge from this large group of backup players. Johnson nursed foot and knee injuries during a very productive 2009 campaign (105 Tackles, 51 Solo) and carried those injuries into the pre-draft period, which would explain a very slow 40-time.

Relevence of the MLB in the 4-3 system

How important is all this MLB talk anyway? John Fennelly proposes that the Giants organization places relatively low value on LBs. And I think he’s dead on.

Reese’s recent decisions indicate that he thinks the position is negligible. And it’s funny that Coughlin, this season’s sacrificial lamb, plays along, because he never had LBs in Jacksonville, and that team spent a lot of time not quite getting there. But I just can’t think of a successful Giants team that lacked great linebackers. From LT. Harry Carson, Carl Banks, to Jessie Armstead, Antonio Pierce and Kawika Mitchell.

I can’t think of one successful period in the modern history of the Giants where they haven’t had great LB play. So when did the organization adapt this ridiculous stance? Are they haunted by the ghost of LaVar Arrington?

Furthermore, though the Giants still have major question marks at DT, this is a relatively complete defense outside of this MLB. But in a 4-3, how viable is it to have a complete defense without the MLB that brings it all together, a Brian Urlacher, a Ray Lewis, a Gary Bracket, an… Antonio Pierce.

One has to question the wisdom of the great Jerry Reese for leaving this very strong defense without its quarterback, particularly when there were quite a few great candidates available in the draft, one of them a surefire 10 year starter: Sean Weatherspoon, Donald Washington, and Jamar Cheney among others. These guys actually fit in the Tampa-2 system.

We’ve discussed all these issues in the past on the Giants Blog on some level, and I’m sure all of us are holding out some kind of hope that things workout this season. And by “workout” I mean this team wins a Super Bowl. But if you can put all these angles together and not have just a little bit of apprehension about this season, then I have to wonder if you have a pulse.

Yesterday John Fennelly reported that Goff and Dillard are receiving the bulk of the MLB reps. So one would assume that Goff has emerged as the starter and Dillard as his backup. But one has to ask the question, emerged from what? From Gerris Wilkinson, Brian Kehl, Chase Blackburn, and two UDFAs?

I’m just not convinced. You have a very good 4-3 defense that lacks the most important cog, MLB, as well as some good leadership. Most of the candidates to start don’t look viable. Meanwhile, you’re fielding three RE, two that have proven to be a liability in the run game. Your GM doesn’t think it’s an issue. Maybe Coach Coughlin will cover all those offensive players making money in the middle of the field with a safety.

Oh wait. It’s 2010. Defenses don’t really get away with that kind of stuff anymore.

Two years ago two key players for the New York Giants had off season knee surgery.  Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield both went under the knife during the off season to repair torn up knee ligaments and to no surprise…they had terrible  seasons.

Thinking back upon the players injuries, the press reported these surgeries as common place and routine as drinking Gatorade on the sidelines; however, when there production slipped and there reliability was in doubt…the questions came fast and furious.

Now June 2010 and the New York Giants are only weeks away from Camp Coughlin, and I question why some of the key players(Boss) on the team are having “Off Season” surgery so late in the game and what is Gilbride’s plan to run the ball when all 3 starting running backs(Bradshaw, Jacobs, and Brown) have had recent surgery.

What is to be expected when these players don’t perform to the highest level.

1. Kevin Boss – May 23rd Ankle Surgery.  Why wait 5 months from the end of the ’09 season to have this done?   Boss is an intricate part of the NY Giants offense and will now be shelved for 6 weeks.  This will certainly put the players conditioning in jeopardy as well as a “lack of timing” between Manning and Boss.   The same “lack of timing” Eli used to complain about when missing Pro Bowl Tight End  Jeremy Shockey.

Boss is in a contract year and needs to have a break out season to offer the NY Giants offense more fire power, especially with the recent drought from the running game.

2. Ahmad Bradshaw – foot and ankle surgery.  Bradshaw has had 3 off season surgeries where screws were inserted into each foot to act like an extra bone strengthening  the outer edge of his feet.  The Giants tend to feel that Bradshaw’s bow-legged running style puts pressure on the outer bones of each foot.  Bradshaw also had irritating bone spurs removed from his right ankle.

Once again, can No.44 be counted on to carry the ball 12 times a game after 3 foot and ankle surgeries?   Will he ever be the “change of pace” running back they NY Giants so desire and what about his conditioning when he has been unable to run for 6 months.

3. Brandon Jacobs – underwent arthroscopic surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus that haunted him throughout the 2009 season. The surgery was considered a “clean up”  and should not be considered anything that will hold back the running back from a bounce back year.  My question is when did this injury take place, because the big brash back  was “tip toeing” through the line from the first snap of 2009 season.

Running Back and its overall production will be a position under fire for most part of the 2010 season.

4. Kevin Boothe – The backup offensive lineman will be out for 4 months after tearing a pectoral muscle in late May while working out during the team’s organized team activities.  Boothe was dependable player, stepping in for injured lineman at different time through out the season.

With the pounding O-lineman take, Boothe will be missed; however, this will open the door for rookie Mitch Petrus to step in when needed. Petrus was a 5th round selection from Arkansas.  Boothe will likely miss most of training camp due to the injury, which will make it hard for Boothe to make the team due to this recent set back.

When I look at the roster, the defense is not the only shaky unit I see.

The offensive line is cracking, the running game has disintegrated and – believe it or not – they could use an impact player at tight end.

Plus, if David Carr goes elsewhere, they will need some security at quarterback behind Eli Manning.  I don’t think Rhett Bomar is ready for that role yet.

The best part of all of this is that we don’t need to do anything at WR, except sign Steve Smith to long-term deal.

In free agency, the Giants will look to get some holes filled in areas where it makes sense. But on draft day, they will take the best available player on the board.

This has always been the strategy. They need help almost everywhere, so why take a subpar player out of need when they could draft a star at another position?  The objective is to better your roster, and I think they will do that in the next two months.

Assuming this his order of importance: Top needs: MLB, DL, CB, S, RT, RB

Kiper explains in his little blurb that the reason DL is above CB or safety is because nothing helps a secondary more than a pass rush and the Giants were quietly in the bottom half of the league in terms of producing them.

Kiper also explains that taking Dunlap would be like getting “top-5″ talent at 15.

He may be right on this one. Think about it. Dunlap’s little DUI situation has to be hurting his draft stock at least a little bit, and could be knocking his stock down from a potential top-5 guy to a mid-to-late first round guy. If he’s that talented, then it’s worth the pick.

One guy Kiper wrote down as a possible 2nd round pick for the Gmen is Kyle Wilson out of Boise St. I personally can recall quite a few plays I saw Wilson make throughout this college football season. I recll thinking to myself that this guy was gonn be a quality NFL player.

I remember feeling the same way about Jets MLB David Harris before he declared for the draft, and I turned out to be pretty dead-on with that one.

Wilson seems like the exact kind of CB the Giants would want. a smart guy who won’t dazzle you, but at the same time makes the routine plays without missing a beat.

In terms of possibly their most pressing need (LB), Brandon Spikes would be a good pick if he’s there in the second round, however I doubt that comes true.

If the Giants were to look LB in the first round (which most fans seem to think they should), I think they’d have their pickings of some fine young talent. Rolando McClain may be there, Bowman as I said earlier, and even Sergio Kindle may all be good fits with the Gmen.

Kindle is more of a hybrid guy, but I can definitely see him stepping in and helping with that pass rush.

New York Giants:(15) Carlos Dunlap, DE: Florida: “This is a high-value pick for the Giants, whose defensive line depth I feel has been overstated. There are makeup questions surrounding Dunlap, but for much of this past season, he was considered the premier pass-rusher in the college game. He has the potential to be like Jevon Kearse — the healthy version.” (Kiper)

I also think this would be a good pick for the Giants. We all know the defensive line starters (and backups) did not play anywhere near what they were expected to this season and it is to be expected that a few of them will be gone come the 2010 season. Osi may be gone, wouldn’t be surprised if Canty and one of the other DT’s were gone as well, so a strong defensive end  like Dunlap who seems to know how to get to the quarterback may be a good fit with Tuck and Kiwanuka for the future.

I would like to say that the Giants should look for some help at the CB position in the first round, however it just doesn’t seem like there’s anybody out there worth the selection this year except Joe Haden from Florida. I do not see the Giants trading up for the kid.

RB also wouldn’t be a bad way to look either, however according to Kiper the only one worthy of the first round is Jonathan Dwyer out of GT, whom I personally think wouldn’t be a good fit in New York.

Dallas Cowboys: (27): Bruce Campbell, OT: Maryland: Jerry Jones knows he needs to address the tackle position after the debacle he witnessed against Minnesota in the divisional round of the playoffs, and Campbell, while still learning, is a tremendous talent at this position. (Kiper)

I can see the ‘Boys going one of two ways with this pick. If Mr. Jones is feeling ballsy, he can try and trade up and go after one of the many safeties projected to go in this first round. If he wants to play it safe, he can wait on his pick, maybe hope the player “with the most potential” (that’s me I’m quoting) Taylor Mays is available, or just take an OT like Campbell. The Cowboys definitely showed a bit of weakness this season in terms of depth at the OL position, so drafting a young guy to replace the aging Columbo and Adams in the future would certainly not be a bad move.

Philadelphia Eagles: (24) Navorro Bowman, OLB: Penn State: The Eagles need an athletic OLB, and they get a lot of value by landing Bowman here. Bowman lacks size, but any parsing on measurable can’t overcome his great play on film. Could end up as the best at his position in this class. (Kiper)

Like the pick here for the Eagles. Clearly, their most glaring need is at the linebacker position. Akeem Jordan and Chris Gocong just aren’t going to cut it anymore. Love Bowman, frankly, i’d maybe like to see the Giants show him a little consideration as well.

Washington Redskins: (4): Sam Bradford, QB: Oklahoma: Mike Shanahan and the Redskins can get a quarterback here who might have been the top player taken had he opted to come out last year. The Redskins need to find their franchise quarterback, and when healthy, Bradford is an exceptionally accurate passer with an underrated arm. Shanahan also hit on his last QB selection when he drafted Jay Cutler in Denver. (Kiper)

Not much to say here. Shanny’s in town, and there’s no better way of sending the message that this team is his now than drafting the franchise QB for years to come. Obviously, the injury comes to mind, but I do not think anyone could question the potential this young kid has. Assuming he’s on track, this looks like the right selection in order to restore any faith from the Washington fans back in this team.