Category Archives: 2010 NFL Draft
So how good is the Giants second round draft pick, Linval “The Anvil” Joseph? The Giants must have thought pretty highly of the young defensive tackle from East Carolina if veteran DT, Barry Cofield became trade worthy.
Similar to the safety situation of 2009, The Giants are very thin at Defensive Tackle and putting Barry Cofield out there to the point where the New Orleans Saints and the Giants agreed to send Cofield to “The Big Easy” in exchange for the Saints’ second-round pick in 2010 has me scrathing my head.
The talks only fell apart because the Saints’ contract offer to Cofield wasn’t even close to what he wanted otherwise Mr. Cofield would have been wearing black & gold this season. Loosing Fred Robbins was disappointing because he was a fan favorite; however, understandable because of his age and his recent knee surgery, but loosing Cofield just doesn’t make sense.
Without Cofield, the Giants would have started the season with Canty, Alford, and Benard as their experienced starting three. That my fellow Giants fans is sorry. Canty, who accepted a huge payday to come to the Giants in 2009 was non-existent all year and rumors of him being soft, so far ring true.
Alford is coming off knee surgery and his production and health are yet to be measured. Rocky Bernard…well, the 8 year veteran from Texas A&M looked out of shape last season and produced only sparingly in limited playing time. If you’re looking for a bright side…he couldn’t play any worse than he did in 2009.
Outside of that…the Giants are bringing two “rookie” defensive tackles, Collins(Virginia) and Hendricks(Miami) to camp to join second round draft pick, Linval Joseph.
The ’09 season was a terrible showcase for the Giants defense. Rookie Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan was a disaster, MLB Antonio Pierce aged before our eyes, safety James Butler left for St, Louis, Osi Umenyiora all but disappeared and former first round draft pick, Kenny Philips had a season ending knee injury. And lets not forget the CC Brown/Arron Rouse experiment.
Yes, the trade offer fell through but I have to ask, “What is Jerry Reese thinking?”. We need the big boys upfront.
Tagged Barry Cofield |
Bypassing Skill Players in the Draft is a Rarity
If the New York Giants’ draft this season seemed a bit odd, there is a good reason for it.
They chose seven players altogether, one in each round. Very traditional. Five are defensive players. The the other two are an offensive lineman and a punter.
For the first time in 17 years, and only the second time in franchise history, the Giants did not select an offensive “skill” player in the draft.
The first time this happened was in 1956. The Giants selected Henry Moore, a DB from Arkansas in Round One. Moore played one year for the team. He was out of football by 1958.
The rest of the draft did, however, yield a few gems: Sam Huff, Jim Katcavage and Don Chandler. The Giants went on to win the NFL Championship that year, a feat they would not repeat for another thirty years.
Before that draft, the Giants had only one playoff appearance in the previous ten seasons. The team was stacked on offense with Charley Connerly, Frank Gifford, Alex Webster, Mel Triplett and Kyle Rote, causing the Maras and Jim Lee Howell to seek help in the trenches and on defense in the draft.
In 1993, the Giants did not have a first round selection, having used it the previous season in a supplementary draft on Duke QB Dave Brown. George Young still had eight picks in his pocket and needed to re-establish his defense.
He did that with his first and final selections – DE Michael Strahan and LB Jesse Armstead. The rest of the draft was not as fruitful. The Giants were in their first season under Dan Reeves and would rebound from the Ray Handley era with an 11-5 season and a trip to the playoffs.
The club would soon come crashing back to reality the next three seasons, going 20-28 leading to the ultimate dismissal of Reeves. The collapse was not all Reeves’ fault.
Brown was an average player who could barely stave off the likes of Kent Graham and Danny Kanell. The offense,which had only one real star – RB Rodney Hampton – was anemic, and Young made poor selections in the ensuing drafts trying to augment it.
These drafts became turning points in the club’s history. The draft of ’56 completed the team and sent it on a winning path. The ’93 draft was seen as a quick fix (sans Strahan and Armstead) that would damage the team for years to come.
This year’s draft will also be a turning point. Defense was a problem in 2009 and the Giants needed depth desperately at all positions. The offensive line needed interior help and they also needed a punter. They got all of that last week at the draft. The team is chock full of rushing and receiving talent, to there was no need to draft any players at those “skill” positions.
If they need any, there is always free-agency, which wasn’t there in ’56 and was in its infancy in the mid-90′s.
In ’56 they were a good team that filled holes, got back on its feet and won a championship. In ’93 they thought they had long-term answers on offense, but did not.
The current outcome appears to be leaning towards the ’56 one in this case.
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, Jerry Reese, New York Giants, New York Giants News |
The NFL Draft is over and now the rookies – drafted and undrafted – will converge on the Jets and Giants training facilities in New Jersey from Friday through Sunday.
The Jets will feature four draft choices and 10 free agents among the attendees. First round selection Kyle Wilson will join Vladimir Ducasse, Joe McKnight and John Conner and scores of others at the Atlantic Health Training Center in Florham Park beginning tomorrow.
At the same time, the Giants will host their rookie mini-camp at the Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford, adjacent to the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Among the 54 participants will be top pick Jason Pierre-Paul(pictured), Linval Joseph, Mitch Petrus, Phillip Dillard, Chad Jones and several free-agents including Lee Campbell, Nate Collins and Micah Johnson.
No veterans will be participating, but a few had some advice for the newbies.
Former Giants’ first pick Mathias Kiwanuka had this to say to Mike Eisen of Giants.com….”"I think for any player the biggest adjustment is usually going to be physical,” Kiwanuka said. “The speed of the game is something you have to get used to. You have to be able to get the snaps and get the reps and get out there and get more experience.
“There’s a little bit of a whirlwind every step of the way. There are new experiences, things you have never been through. And there are not a lot of people who have been through them to guide you through it. So once you get through the draft, once you get through all the press stuff you have to do and come to rookie minicamp and training camp and the preseason games are another step and then you actually get out there and walk into the stadium for the first time, there are a lot of wow moments. But it’s all fun.”
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, Giants Rookie Mini Camp |
Fans Shouldn’t Be Too Worried About MLB Spot
The Giants lost Antonio Piece to a neck injury last season and then chose to part ways with him shortly after the season. They had no immediate successor to Pierce, who not only played a whale of MLB in his prime, but was an intelligent, cognizant leader in one of the league’s premier defenses.
Since Pierce’s departure, fans have been clamoring nervously about who will take Pierce’s place. GM Jerry Reese did little to calm their fears by not signing a veteran in the off-season, claiming he had the answer right in the building, meaning Bryan Kehl, Jonathan Goff and Gerris Wilkinson.
We now know that to be partially untrue. Had Alabama’a Rolando McClain fallen to the Giants in the draft, they were ready to take him. But that never came close to happening.
Now, those three will compete for the job with two other players brought in by the Giants this week: 4th Round draft choice Phillip Dillard and free-agent rookie Lee Campbell.
Yesterday we introduced you to Campbell. Today, it’s Dillard’s turn. Enjoy.
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, New York Giants News |
Draft, Free-Agency Fortifies Already Solid Units
Last year, injuries turned the Giants’ proud defensive team into a disorganized, nearly non-existent, group. Four months later, circumstances have radically changed.
The Giants have loaded up at nearly every position, which will make for a very competitive and interesting summer in East Rutherford (and Albany). While the cameras are following the Jets around, the Giants will be the ones going through a real-life version of Hard Knocks.
Coach Tom Coughlin has not been in the media much lately, still reeling from his team’s historic defensive meltdown. After the draft, he was back talking about his defense (and running game) with ESPN’s Suzy Kolber.
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, Tom Coughlin |
U of Minnesota Star Brings Physical Style to Big Blue
Minnesota’s Lee Campbell wasn’t selected in this year’s draft, but that has not deterred his quest for NFL stardom. The former Gopher is excited and proud to have the opportunity to play for the New York Football Giants. 
Knowing what I know about both parties, the Giants are feeling the same way about Campbell. The hard-hitting Florida native will be one of a half-dozen candidates plying their wares to win the open MLB spot.
Campbell’s combine numbers do not jump off the page. His production is above average but is not eye-popping. That is why draftniks do not believe me when I tell them that Campbell is the goods.
Numbers do not mean a thing in this case. Campbell brings qualities that numbers cannot accurately gauge. Qualities that Giant fans are going to immediately embrace. Campbell had offers from four other teams whose rosters he would easily make. He chose the Giants and he plans not only to make the roster, but to become their man in the middle.
“My objective is to hit and punish”, Campbell told me on the Football Reporters Online radio program Tuesday night. “And at the same time, not make mental errors…to be in the right place all the time.”
The Giants need someone to emerge at the MIKE position in DC Perry Fewell’s version of the Tampa 2. Bryan Kehl, Jonathan Goff, Gerris Wilkinson and newly drafted Phillip Dillard are all talented players but none have played in the Tampa 2 and called the defensive signals.
Campbell called signals for all four years at Minnesota. He has also played MIKE in Kevin Cosgrove’s Tampa 2. He is a smart, versatile, rugged kid who has succeeded in a program where he had four different playbooks in four years. Coming into the NFL, he’s more than ready, especially to play for the Giants’ LB coach, Jim Herrmann, who was a long-time Big-10 defensive staple at Michigan.
“I have the highest respect for coach Herrmann. He is one of the best linebacker coaches in the country” Campbell told me. Herrmann will be pleased with the intelligence, physicality and desire of his newest student as well.
Campbell will undoubtedly fit right in. He is determined to make his mark.
“I want to make the Giants proud.”
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, Lee Campbell |
54 First-Year Players To Attend Rookie Camp This Weekend
For Jerry Reese, draft day was all gravy. With most of his roster basically in place, the Giants’ GM was merely looking for players that could fit into the Giants’ model. 
That would explain why, in several cases, he chose players who had not reached their potential rather than ones who had. The Giants prefer to draft those types of “solid citizens” and then indoctrinate and nurture them the Giant way.
This weekend the Giants will host their annual spring Rookie Mini-camp, which is scheduled to to be attended by 54 first year players.
That includes all seven selections in last week’s draft and the free-agents signed in the ensuing hours, plus players signed and/or drafted last year that still have first-year status.
In attendance will be Brandon Crawford, the Ball State sack machine, who is an ex-marine and will be 34 years old at the start of the 2010 season. There is also heavy Northeast flavor to the invitees which include Holy Cross QB Dom Randolph, RB Andre Dixon of UConn and Rutgers WR Tim Brown.
Then there are candidates that will get more serious consideration, such as LBs Micah Johnson of Kentucky, Minnesota’s Lee Campbell, DT Nate Collins of Virginia and Ohio State products C Jim Cordle and TE Jake Ballard (pictured).
There may be some gems in this group, but making the current roster will not be an easy task for any of them The Giants currently have 75 players listed on their roster. That includes those players held over from last year, practice squad players and the seven young men drafted this past week. It does not include the 13 free-agents signed after the draft and the 23 at-large invitees who will descend on the Timex Performance Center on Friday.
The team can only take 80 players to Albany with them. That means there will be lots of movement between now and July.
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, New York Giants News |
Ok…it’s the Monday after the biggest day of the off-season. We’re all back at our desks feverishly jumping from site to site, checking every single analyst’s and sports writer’s opinion on the draft. It seems that no matter what, you’re going to get a different opinion. If you watched ESPN’s draft wrap-up last night, you saw that McShay and Kiper disagreed on a multitude of things.
For starters, McShay ranked the Redskins as having the best draft in the NFC east, while Kiper ranked them the worst. Everyone has a different opinion, and to be honest, you really don’t know who did the best until 2012-2013. Regardless, here’s my take.
Washington Redskins: The ‘Skins did the most with what they had in this draft this weekend. After drafting OT Trent Williams with the 4th overall pick (which was 100% the right pick), they didn’t select again until the 4th round. They got an OLB in the 4th, and a TE in the 5th, finishing up with an guard and a tackle in the 6th and 7th rounds.
I’m not going to sit here and talk like I know how any of those guys play, however I do think the ‘Skins did a good job in getting a premier offensive lineman to take the place of Chris Samuels as well as adding two more in the late rounds. Obviously if you only have 1 pick in the first three rounds, your draft isn’t going to look so flashy, but I think the ‘Skins did ok.
Grade: C+
New York Giants: It seems everyone has mixed feelings about the first rounder in JPP, however I think it’s pretty safe to say that the Gmen definitely answered some of the naysayers with a great day 2. DT Linval Joseph was ABSOLUTELY the right pick at No. 46. Many had this guy going in the first round and is projected to have major upside to his NFL career. He’s a good fit in a 4-3 defense, and fills a hole for the Gmen at DT. The safety Chad Jones was also a very solid pick, giving very good value at No. 76.
We don’t know what’s going to happen with Phillips and Deon Grant is certainly not a long-term solution. Jones should be able to
learn a lot from the veteran Grant as well as the pro-bowler Antrel Rolle.
Some think the Gmen should’ve took Sean Lee over the DT Joseph, however let me add a little bit of my own expertise here. I’m a Penn Stater, and I’ve seen Lee play his whole career. He was a GREAT college player, don’t get me wrong…but I do not think he will pan out well in the NFL. 3 and 4 years ago, Lee played in a linebacking core with current NFL’ers Dan Connor and Paul Posluszny. In that system, he played outside linebacker, and he was great.
Last year he played in the middle, and was not the same player. If Lee would have came over, the Giants were drafting him as an ILB, and it wouldn’t have worked.
So here I am telling you fellow Giant fans, don’t be upset on passing up Lee. Joseph was a better pick, he will be a better player.
The 4-7 rounds brought over 2 more LB’s, a guard and a punter. Good selecting based on depth concerns. I don’t really know how these players play, so I won’t speculate, but I do think they drafted to their needs.
Grade: B+
Philadelphia Eagles: I think the Eagles had a fantastic draft. Of course, I think everyone and their mother thought when the birds traded up to 13 that they were going for the safety Earl Thomas. Surprisingly, they did not selecting DE/OLB Brandon Graham. I think this was a bit of a reach, considering many believed Derrick Morgan, JPP, and some other guys should have gone ahead of Graham, however this is just one of those picks where Andy Reid just saw something he liked.
The Eagles made up for passing on the safety, taking safety Nate Allen in the 2nd round. I don’t know much about the DE from Washington, but I do think the Eagles received good value from DE Ricky Sapp, WR Riley Cooper, and RB Charles Scott in the late rounds.
I think Charles Scott was a steal. I watched him a lot throughout his college career and always thought he had the potential to be a solid NFL back. Riley Copper looks like he could be a good possession guy. I do think Earl Thomas should’ve been the pick at 13, but honestly, who really knows?
Grade: A-
Dallas Cowboys: Well, the Cowboys did it again. Leave it to Jerry Jones to take the guy with the most off-the-field issues in WR Dez Bryant. No question, this guy could be brilliant. If he’s as good as some people think, the Cowboys are coming into the season with a hefty set of pass-catchers. Bryant will probably start the season as the No. 4 behind Crayton, Austin, and Williams.
The ‘Boys then took Sean Lee in the second round to supplant the ILB core. As I said before, I do think Lee is more fitted for a role as an OLB in a 4-3, however the Cowboys, and the NFL scouts for that matter feel differently.
I do think the Cowboys left some questions unanswered. They certainly need some help at DE and OL, and didn’t really draft any impact players at either of those positions. Their draft grade truly depends on how much impact the WR has. Overall, I think the Cowboys did the worst of the NFC east teams, primarily because they didn’t fill the holes most needed to be filled.
Grade: C
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, Jerry Reese, Tom Coughlin |
There were many moments during the 2010 NFL draft; were I thought I might throw something through my TV . It wasn’t going as I had hoped.
I didn’t want the NY Giants to draft a project and dress it up by calling it “Raw Talent”, I didn’t want the fourth or fifth best defensive tackle, I didn’t want another safety and I especially didn’t want a linebacker who until the fall had lost his 
starting job and only averaged 7 tackles a game.
However…the gem of the Giants draft came in the fifth round when Tom Coughlin reached out and called Mike Petrus the offensive guard from Arkansas to ask him what he felt about playing football for the New York Giants.
Petrus’ impressed the Giants brass back in February at the NFL combine when the former Razorback tied the bench press record of 45 repetitions (of 225 pounds).
Coughlin said, ‘I’m about to turn your name in for the draft, and how would you like to be a New York Giant?’
Petrus eagerly responded, “I would love to be, and I can’t wait, ” Petrus said.
Mike Petrus is big man at 6’3 and 310 pounds, and will fit in perfectly as the successor to Rich Seubert. Petrus has already done his share of blocking for stud college running backs as he paved the way for Darren McFadden and Felix Jones who both passed the 1000 yard mark in 2007.
An even more impressive note to mention is that in 2005 Mike Petrus arrived at the Razorbacks’ fall camp as a walk-on. With no major college scholarship offers, Petrus sucked it up and headed to Arkansas to prove recruiters wrong and to showcase how much of a hard worker he was.
It paid off, because Mike Petrus is coming to the “new” Meadowlands to blow open some holes for Brandon Jacobs and Amhad Bradshaw.
- Craig J. Santucci is a Senior Writer for Pro Football NYC.com
- Craig J. Santucci is the NY Giants “Fan Voice” for NFLtouchdown.com
Tagged 2010 NFL Draft, Mitch Petrus | ← Older postsNewer posts →
