1) Hakeem Nicks, WR, NC – Steve Smith has been performing at the top his game since he came into the league yet Jerry Reese decides to pass on a blue chip college MLB (Rey Maualuga) and a blue chip college split end (Kenny Britt) to draft yet another possession receiver. If there were any question marks at the receiver position it was in the X and the slot. Having two possession receivers starting has hindered the Giants’ ability to open up the field, which contributed to the lack of success in the run game this season past. Nicks wasn’t even BPA. He will be a very successful receiver in the NFL, but the pick could have went to an actual need: C-

2) Clint Sintim, DE/OLB, Virginia – A 3-4 outside linebacker? Why? Are the Giants switching to a 3-4 defense? Not in 2009. If they do in the future, the grade on this pick goes up but right now it hasn’t panned out. I still have some faith in Sintim and he’s only going into his second season, but in terms of wisdom, you have to wonder: B

2) Will Beatty, OT, Connecticut – Money in the bank. This guy should be a 10-year starter at tackle. I love it when the Giants catch value at need: A+

3) Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin –A good pick that hasn’t shown up. But remember the great thing about Shockey was that he could block, and got better at it as his career progressed. I guess Reese feels Beckum can learn too: B

3) Ramses Barden, WR, Cal-Poly – It’s hard to call this one. You have to understand that 98% of these huge WRs, who refuse to play TE because the position is not glamorous enough, end up being spot players and backups. The Vincent Jacksons and Plaxico Burresses of the world are a very rare. I also dislike the idea of players that only come in during certain situations because it tells the defense exactly where the ball is going. The fact that Barden was MIA for the 2009 season makes his emergence even more daunting. I like Barden’s potential but was there a more surefire prospect, perhaps at MLB or safety, that would have made more sense in this spot? An if Barden does emerge, which one of the starting three sits to make room for him? Perhaps that’s a good dilemna to have but it is a question that has to be asked: B

4) Andre Brown, RB, NC State – This was a great strategic pick, good value, especially after losing Derrick Ward. If Brown can stay healthy the Giants he should be starting by next season and Brandon Jacobs should be on the trading block. That is, if the Giants continue to nurse a Peyton Manning-lite offense: A

5) Rhett Bhomar, QB, Sam Houston State – You like this guy as a backup? Let’s just stop drafting QBs in the late rounds and bring in a veteran or maybe a mid-rounder with some potential. This pick could’ve been a safety: C

6) DeAndre Wright, DB, New Mexico – We all know how this turned out. But how was it supposed to turn out? Small school, late round corners don’t make it in the NFL. There are some positions that are fairly safe to draft in the late rounds. Reese needs to figure this out: Safety, RB, K, Returner, ST specialists. Maybe Reese though he would be a good special teamer: D

7) Stoney Woodson, DB, SC – Bigger conference same results: D+

Off-season: Reese was very active this off-season, bringing in WLB Micheal Boley and DTs Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard. It looked good on paper but injuries depleted the defensive line. Still I like that Reese was a bit more pro-active this off-season and the signings filled a need. Boley panned out and the DTs still could pan out: B

2009 Season GPA: 2.6

2008 Season GPA: 2.6

2007 Season GPA: 2.6

Keep an eye out: The rumors are swirling about Chris Paul coming to the Knicks. If they pull this off, I won’t forgive them for this era of ineptitude but I will be a happy New York Knicks fan, which is something I haven’t said in a looooooooooooooong time.

I’m just saying… No Champ Bailey? No Tatum Bell? Nooooooooo Brian Westbrook? No Champ Bailey? No Nick Ferguson? No Champ Bailey? I guess Reese is waiting for the next round of cuts to add some depth at some key positions. We’ll see.

At any rate, let’s take a look at some of the reasons that the running game fell apart in the 2009 season:

When the Giants drafted a 6’4”, 264 lb running back, I certainly had my doubts about his ability to be successful in the NFL. Primarily, not having much game tape available of Brandon Jacobs, I thought he would be too slow, too lanky, and too heavy to produce consistently. I didn’t even think of the concept that such a huge back with such a punishing style would, in turn, take a lot of extra punishment. I did wonder if he would take too many blows to the legs. He certainly proved me wrong in respect to being too slow, lanky, or heavy. Jacobs has been good for at least 800 yards the past 3 seasons.

The problem with Jacobs, I’ve come to realize in watching the Giants offense last season, is that featuring a back of his size ties you to the power running game and an offense built around said power running game. And that’s fine. That’s my favorite kind of football and it is among the biggest reasons for the Giants success in 2007 and 2008. However the Giants franchise QB is Peyton Manning’s little brother and the offensive planners, which I’m sure include Eli, want to spread it out and they want to air it out. What you and I witnessed last season was an offense that ran out of single back and shotgun formations more than in the past two seasons.

Being able to run out of those formations is important for the element of subterfuge, which is of growing importance in today’s NFL, but how well does it serve the Giant’s overall game? Jacobs doesn’t get the running start that a guy his size needs to push the pile or break tackles. And he’s a liability in the passing game to boot. Madison Hedgecock, who is built like a textbook linebacker spends way too much time on the sidelines. And the offensive line isn’t run blocking as much. We all know run blocking makes offensive linemen happy. We also know that the Giants line is exceptionally good at it.

Then we have to be aware of how that affected a defense that was already a liability, due to injuries. I thought the 2009 defense took way too much flak coming out of the season. Injuries are injuries. You can’t do anything about guys getting hurt. But you can do something about keeping a hobbled defense off the field. And you do that with the power running game.

Ahmad Bradshaw is my personal favorite RB on the team. He has a great running style. One of the habits that great backs have is that they keep their feet moving. Well Bradshaw keeps both his upper and lower body moving at all times and it gives him incredible balance and tackle breaking ability. He’s also a better passing option than Jacobs. That being, I don’t think Bradshaw is a starter. I think he needs a sizeable contribution from another back to be at his best. Think of how effective Marion Barber when he doesn’t have to be a full-time back.

DJ Ware? Phooey. Has this guy ever not been hurt? Would any team give a player this many chances?

Gartrell who???

Andre Brown has the potential to be a feature back. But at this point that’s all he has, potential. He wasn’t very productive at N.C. State – partly due to injury – and he was hurt coming into his rookie season. He has flashed some good rushing and good receiving skills, but how will a year off affect him and will he ever be able to play a full season?

A major key for the Giants in 2010 will be figuring out the identity of their running game, and transversally, their offense overall. Then they will need to bring in personnel that fit that offensive mode. If they can move in that direction,  an X receiver really emerges as a dominant weapon, and the Giants line gels again like it did in 2007, then the offense will be, as they say, good money.

What do you think? Do you see the Giant rushing attack having a bounce back season? Do you trust in the health of the players? Should the Giants have drafted a RB in 2010?

Keep an eye on – Dominik Hixon is out for the season. That was the Giants’ most developed split end. It’s all about Super Mario Manningham now.

At this year’s draft, there was a buzz that the Giants were going to take a running back high in the draft.  C.J. Spiller of Clemson was a very tempting target and the rumors were that the Giants had coveted the speedster.

Those rumors may have been true, for all we know, but Spiller was long gone by the time the Giants were ready to make their first selection.  They ended up not taking any running backs at all.

There are two theories behind that.  The first is the fact that the RB pool in the draft this year was very shallow.  The other is that the Giants were waiting to see how well second-year RB Andre Brown had progressed from Achilles’ surgery.

Brown blew out his Achilles’ in the last practice before the first pre-season game last summer.  He’s never played in a game for the Giants.  Outside of the TIMEX Center, very few people have ever seen him run, or even know that he exists.

That is all about to change for this humble 23-year-old from Greenville, North Carolina.  This week at Giants’ mini-camp, it was hard not to notice #22.

Giants’ coach Tom Coughlin, always cautiously optimistic, says that Brown is doing better but by the tone of his voice he sounded like a man who has to see some more before he makes his final decision.

Coughlin did admit that Brown “runs with power” and “catches the ball well” out of the backfield. which was something the Giants have been working on during this mini-camp.

Since Brown hasn’t ever worn a Giants’ uniform in anger, he calls himself  a “super rookie” because much of this process here is still new to him.

In an interview after practice yesterday, Brown was very candid with reporters about his injury and the disappointment of missing his rookie season.  Brown suffered a rare injury for football players – a torn Achilles tendon – and his rehab was a lonely one with few players to commiserate with.

He said there weren’t any running backs any of the the trainers could recall that ruptured their Achilles’.  There were some defensive players, but most of them were well into their careers when they got hurt.

By his actions, he’s seems to have studied and rehabbed very well.  He looked like Terrell Davis on some plays, Adrian Peterson on others.  No lie.

Even though Brown is still conscious of his injury, and admitted he was sore after the double-practice on Tuesday, he looked fine yesterday and claimed he’s not thinking about making cuts anymore. He just doing it.

Brown is currently fourth on the Giants’ depth chart at RB.  He was asked if he thought there was a need for  -and a role for – a third running back.  He wouldn’t know the answer to that since he wasn’t here when Derrick Ward filled the role of change-up back / receiver.

“I think there is,” he said, “But I just want to get out there and hit somebody. Special teams, whatever.  I don’t care where I’m at as long as I’m helping the team.” 

Brown is working on special teams as a kick returner.  He may be tried out as a punt returner now that Domenik Hixon is gone for the season, but his name did not come up as an immediate candidate for that in Jerry Reese’s press session yesterday.

As for the third back in the offense, it’s Brown vs D.J. Ware, who also saw a lot of reps this week.  Brown has the better upside and if he continues to build on his strong spring, it may be hard to keep the ball out of his hands this season.

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.

Ouch. This may not look like a big blow on paper, but if Ahmad Bradshaw struggles as Brandon Jacobs handcuff, I am not as sold on Danny Ware as I was on Brown. Get well, Andre.

Brown showed good play making abilities out of the backfield in college rushing for 767 yards and starting all 13 games.

As well as run, Brown also showed he can catch the ball out of the backfield, accumulating 29 receptions for 309 yards during the ’08 season.

Brandon Jacobs only caught six passes during the whole 2008 season and is not particularly known for his receiving. Brown could come in and make an immediate impact as a backfield receiver for screens and dump-offs.

A bit surprising to see the Giants ranked so high in this seeing as they just lost one of the best 2nd string RBs in the league in Derrick Ward.

I like Ahmad Bradshaw a lot (as does every Giant fan) and I think he can definitely step in and pick up where Ward left off. The real question has to be in the depth behind him. Danny Ware has two total rushing attempts in his career and Andre Brown (who just signed by the way) is a rookie.

Barden is a project and he looked it at OTA’S, struggling to get off the blocks and shake the younger corners. The best scenario is that Barden becomes apart of the goal line unit, but as the Brandon London’s and James Hardy’s of the NFL continue to prove, height isn’t everything (and certainly not Plax’s only attribute). Barden may develop into a standout receiver but it is highly unlikey to happen this year.

Fourth round pick RB Andre Brown  signed a four-year, $2.2 million contract. PFT reports the signing bonus as $433,000.

Brown will compete with Danny Ware for the third running back spot. Brown’s deal includes many incentives which he requested. Clearly Brown is confident in his own abilities and is very hungry, not in the Ron Dayne kind of way (ha a fat man joke). Brown was held back at NC State due to injuries, so if he can stay healthy the Giants may have found yet another stud at RB in the later rounds. Brown and Nicks are my favorite picks of this draft, as if you cared….care people, care.

Fifth round pick QB Rhett Bomar  singed a four-year contract, including a $185,183 signing bonus.

Bomar will compete with Andre Woodsoon for the 3rd QB spot. Bomar has excellent QB ‘tools,” but lacks Woodson’s accuracy. Still, Woodson had trouble taking snaps in the 4th quarter of a pre-season game, so I think the edge goes to Bomar. The winner will wind up the emergency QB and the loser will go to the practice squad.  

Running Backs Coach: Jerald Ingram
Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Gilbride

Running Backs: Brandon Jacobs (Starter), Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware, Andre Brown, Dwayne Wright
Fullback: Madison Hedgecock

Overview: the Giants are one of two teams that have had a 1,000-yard rusher each of the past two seasons (San Diego is the other). Ingram has been handling the backs since Tom Coughlin took over in 2004 and previously worked under Coughlin in both Jacksonville and at Boston College. He can be credited with turning Tiki Barber into a superstar, correcting his style to reduce turnovers, and transforming the Giants’ running game into the game’s best. Last season the combination of Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Bradshaw (known as “Earth, Wind and Fire”) generated almost 3000 yards from scrimmage. Ward left via free agency to Tampa Bay in March.

Brandon Jacobs (“Earth”): From the day he was drafted in 2005 to this very day, no one knows what will happen when Jacobs touches the ball. They only know they don’t want to be in his way when it happens. The 6’4″, 260 lb Jacobs is a punishing, vibrant force that wears down defenses. If he gets past the line of scrimmage, he immediately becomes the biggest player on the field and there is little defenses can do except for batten down the hatches. He has been the anchor of the Giants’ backfield since Barber’s departure in 2006 and has racked up 2518 total yards and 21 TDs in his first two seasons as the featured back.

Jacobs came into the league a bit raw and is only now beginning to fine tune his skills and realize his potential. Teams that play the Giants must prepare for a physical battle first and foremost because of his presence, which sets the table for the slew of fleet backs that follow.

Ahmad Bradshaw (“Fire”): With his legal troubles hopefully behind him, Bradshaw can concentrate on becoming more of a presence in the Giants’ running game. He is ‘a change-up’ back, meaning his style is vastly different to that of Jacobs. Bradshaw usually catches defenses flatfooted when he enters the game. A multi-talented player, “Fire” has the ability to run effectively both inside and out as well as receive passes out of the backfield.  He has a knack for making the first defensive responders miss, which has resulted in several big plays for the Giants.  The key this season is to see how Bradshaw responds to the expanded role he will be given.

Danny Ware: Ware is a potential “Wind ” candidate who comes highly touted by the coaches and GM Jerry Reese. The 6’1″, 220 lb Ware is a product of the University of Georgia (Herschel Walker, Rodney Hampton, Garrison Hearst, Terrell Davis, Knowshon Moreno) and could fit nicely into the role played by Derrick Ward the past few seasons.

Andre Brown: Brown was taken in the 4th round this April and according to draftniks his talents are very similar to that of Ward’s. He is proficient at catching the ball out of the backfield and is extremely versatile. He will be in a battle with the others to see playing time, so it is important for him to get off to a good start in training camp.

Madison Hedgecock: The big fullback from North Carolina has proved to be an invaluable asset to the Blue. At 6’3″, 266lbs, having Hedgecock in the backfield is like having another guard in the lineup. He rarely touches the ball, but he has made the Giants’ running and passing game more effective. He slams into the line on running plays and watches Eli Manning‘s back on most pass plays. As Jerry Reese likes to say “We’re a power rushing team”, and Hedgecock is at the forefront of that group.

Outlook: EWF is out to prove they can succeed without Ward. The expanded role of Bradshaw and the addition of Ware and Brown could make the Giants’ running game deeper than before by providing more options. In a season where the passing game is going through a transition, this group will undoubtedly take some pressure of that unit.

Immediately after RB Andre Brown was drafted in the 4th round, Ware had this to say:

I feel like I can replace Derrick Ward all day every day.

But today, Ware took a different approach, saying this:

For all of the fans who want to see who will replace Derrick Ward as Wind in the Earth, Wind & Fire backfield, I’ll tell you: I can’t replace Derrick and I don’t want to be known as the new Wind. Call me Water.

H2O is one of the most important resources known to man. I transform whenever my environment changes. When it’s hot, I’m in my liquid form and can move through any boundary. When it’s cold I freeze and turn to ice. And once I get rolling, nothing can stop me.

If it ever gets too hot, I evaporate, and it’s like I’m running on the clouds. But I never disappear because when it rains, it pours!

That’s who I am. Water.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Giants backfield situation shakes out.  Although Ahmad Bradshaw is expected to be Brandon Jacobs‘ change of pace back, nothing is written in stone.  Ware was impressive in the pre-season and he certainly has the confidence thing down.