Tag Archives: Terrell Thomas
The Giants’ leading tackler the past two seasons – CB Terrell Thomas – has become somewhat of a forgotten figure in this latest Giants’ Super Bowl frenzy…
Thomas tore his ACL in the preseason game vs Chicago and the Giants have been scrambling to cover receivers ever since. Only as of late has the secondary started to rebound.
Thomas has stayed low-key all year, doing most of his rehab away from the Giants and TIMEX to avoid being a ‘distraction’. He recently rejoined the team for the stretch run….as a spectator…
“The swagger is back and I don’t think they’re going to lose it,” Thomas told The Star-Ledger’s Mike Garafolo.
One wonders what would have happened had Thomas not gotten hurt. The secondary would not have been in such disarray and the Giants may be playing a home game this weekend instead of traveling across the country.
Thomas is proud of the way his team has responded to all the adversity. More from Mike…
“The way they really came together this year, obviously we had our ups and downs and struggled at times, but we played together. That’s the main thing I missed most and the hardest part,” he said. “Last year, we were a roller coaster. Sometimes we played as a team and sometimes we were all individuals out there. But they’re all playing together right now. From offense, defense and special teams and it’s working for them.
“They had two (playoff) games to win and they did what they had to do. They’re jelling and they’re hot right now.”
Tagged New York Giants, NFC Championship, Terrell Thomas |
CB Terrell Thomas, the Giants’ leading tackler the past two seasons, will have surgery on his torn-up knee next Friday.
In an entry on his new blog, TT thanked the fans and vowed to return better than ever in 2012….
Tagged New York Giants, Terrell Thomas |
OK…well as long as no one was injured in the last ten minutes, I think I’m ready to unveil my final roster projection for 2011. We still have two preseason contests to go, but right around now is when the decisions start to become clear. So let’s jump right in with QB.
QB Keeping 2: In 2011, NFL teams now have the luxury of dressing 46 players on game day. This essentially means that the 3rd string QB is no longer an “emergency option.” The Giants have chosen to forgo the 3rd QB all together since 2008, and I’m not so sure that changes this season. Obviously Eli is the number 1, but he heads up a current corps of 4 talented signal callers.
David Carr (first pick ever of the Houston Texans in 2002) is my favorite to win the job, and not just because he is less expensive than the other veteran alternative. Yes he is about 2 million cheaper than Sage Rosenfels, but he is also equally talented and more versatile. Quite frankly, I expected him to win the starting job in San Francisco last year and I still think he will be a starter again in this league before he retires. Rosenfels may also be trade bait for another CB (more later).
I don’t see Ryan Perrilloux, the raw first year player out of LSU/Jacksonville State making the team despite the new accommodation on gamedays for QBs. The roster is too tight in other areas to find room for a project at a position with an established starter.
Tagged Andre Brown, DJ Ware, Eli Manning, Hakeem Nicks, jimmy kennedy, Linval Joseph, mark herzlich, Matt Dodge, Terrell Thomas, Tyler Sash, Victor Cruz |
What else could go wrong?
Justin Tuck: “It is devastating. He was primed to have another great year for us. That’s a big void.” (ESPN).
Tagged Terrell Thomas |
The dreams of Nnamdi Asomughaare are probably just dreams and no one knows if Prince can start right out of the gate?
Why should Giant fans have so many questions. Johnathan Joseph is ready to play. Send him a check.
9 interceptions in the last two years and averages over 55 tackles a year. He has a reputation has a tough player who can also ball hawk. With this move you could put a young, fast guy on the corner…moving Thomas back to the inside as the nickel where he flourishes.
Perry Fewell plays a ton of 5 db’s because Thomas or Rolle can play in the box or run with receivers.
Signing Joseph will also give Prince Amukamara, the Giants 1st round draft pick some one to compete with. They both share some of the same attributes; ball hawk, sound fundamental tackler, good hips movement when turning and running in space with receivers.
The Bengals still want him. Maybe the Giants should want him more.
- Craig Santucci is a NY Giants Featured Columnist for Giantsfootballblog.com
Tagged Antrel Rolle, Johnathan Joseph, prince amukamara, Terrell Thomas |
We sure hope so. Two years in a row the NY Giants have gotten what the franchise deems as a true play maker. No one wants to see a good player loosing playing time; however, I am pumped to see first round pick Prince Amukarmara fight for a starting spot.
In my humble opinion his game does bring a few players to mind. The 6 foot 206 lbs pound corner back reminds me of one part Sheldon Brown(Browns/Eagles) for his form tackling skills and one part Charles Woodson(Packers/Raiders) for his ability to be active around the ball and the ability to work close to the line blanketing underneath routes.
After watching some video on Prince, who could be the new No. 21 in this town, I was left with mixed emotions.
Pros:
Prince is a very fluid player and is very impressive underneath the linebackers. He comes up and actually wraps up and tackles….which is a huge plus in today’s NFL. Most corners in 2011 shy away from contact and only want the glory of an interception. On occasion most NFL corner backs might give you a shoulder. This technique is sponsored by the worst tackling corner in the league…Asante Samuel.
Prince takes great angles to the ball and showcases plenty of “giddy up” when he needs to explode through a receiver or catch a running back from behind. Looking at this athletically…he will challenge DeSean Jackson, Miles Austin, and Michael Crabtree on those underneath wheel routes.
Cons:
On video he seems to struggle a bit with big, fast, physical receivers like Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall’s, and Andre Johnson who can catch the ball in traffic or burn past you.
With the addition of Prince Amukarmara from Nebraska, he will challenge Giants corner back Aaron Ross for the starting nickel back position right out-of-the-gate at the first day at camp…if there is a season. If the Prince has a great camp he may even challenge Terrell Thomas for the starting right corner position.
So where does Prince fit in for Big Blue?
Terrell Thomas, who had his finest season as a pro and should have made the Pro-Bowl does lack great foot speed and explosiveness in the open field. The NFL has become obsessed with the vertical passing game and the drafting of Prince Amukarmara will make a huge difference when it comes to covering Jeremy Maclin, Dez Bryant and Greg Jennings.
If the season started today, Prince Amukarmara would be penciled in as the starting nickel back and Aaron Ross as the dime; however, I would guess that Prince will push and challenge Terrell Thomas for that right corner back position. The Giants have changed for the better.
If there is a season…the Giants defense has an interesting battle on it’s way.
Tagged 2011 Free Agency, 2011 NFL season, New York Giants, prince amukamara, Terrell Thomas |
Worried about how the Giants D will match up against the likes of DeSean Jackson and Dez Bryant? Giants’ should-be pro bowler Terrell Thomas isn’t.
“When you play in the NFC East, you are going against three wide receivers. Go look at Dallas, look at the Eagles, they have all three wide receivers.”
“Prince will give us a lot more depth, Aaron having another healthy year, getting Bruce Johnson back, Michael Coe came on very strong,” Thomas said. “I think we are going to be a pretty good defense.”
Thomas is, of course, referring to first round pick Prince Amukamara. In an article by Ohm Youngmisuk’s of ESPN New York, Thomas lauded the pick of Amukamara, even if it could have consequences on his own playing time.
Tagged New York Giants, prince amukamara, Terrell Thomas |
The draft can unfold in many unique ways. Everyone was sure that at pick No. 19 the Giants would go Offensive lineman due to the fact that all the “skill players” would be long gone that fit the Giants system.
Enter…Prince Amukamara
In a very unlikely situation 4 QB’s were drafted in the first round altering many draft boards across the NFL.
How can anyone argue with this pick? Surprised…yes, but that”s the way the NFL Draft can be. Prince Amukamara is very good corner. He was rated the No. 2 corner in the draft and was thought to be drafted in the first 10 picks. He can be a shut down corner in the NFC East and plays tough against the run and the pass.
This Nebraska corner stands at 6 feet tall and 206 lbs and can play safety if asked. With the Giants drafting another corner in the first round this is likely the end to the often injured Aaron Ross.
Prince brings some desperately needed speed at corner as he ran a 4.43 40 at the combine and could possibly challenge Terrell Thomas for a starting position.
For any reason he doesn’t win the starting corner back spot out of camp, look for the Prince to play in the Nickel or Dime package. Over all this is a fantastic pick…however; he’ll have to change his jersey number from 21 to….
Draft grade: Grade A+
Tagged Aaron Ross, Corey Webster, prince amukamara, Terrell Thomas |
1. Terrell Thomas
Much like Hakeem Nicks was on the offensive side of the ball, Terrell Thomas was the breakout star of the Giants’ defense.
It’s hard to imagine that going into the season, some Giants fans wanted Aaron Ross to start over Thomas opposite Corey Webster. Thomas showed promise in his rookie season as a second round pick out of USC, and established himself as a starter in the NFL in his second season, but some still favored Ross’ superior raw skills.
In his third season, Thomas took a giant step forward, improving in almost every aspect of his game. He led the Giants with five interceptions, and his 21 passes defensed were third in the NFL. Most impressively, he led the Giants with 101 total tackles, which is most in the NFL for a CB. His four forced fumbles were tied for tenth in the league.
Thomas was one of the brightest bright spots for the 2010 season, and an argument could be made that he was the team’s defensive MVP. Antrel Rolle made the pro bowl, but anybody who watches the Giants can tell you that Thomas had the bigger impact this season. Thomas was one of the bigger pro bowl snubs, but if he keeps playing the way he did this season, he will be playing in Hawaii before long (although I’d rather him have to skip the game to prepare for the Super Bowl).
Like everyone on the Giants, Thomas had some ups and downs. The Giants struggled against some top tier passing offenses, and while Thomas is not above all criticism for these deficiencies, the problems certainly would have been far worse with out him. He is one of the best tacklers on the team (not too often a cornerback leads a team in tackles), and he has great playmaking abilities.
As far as I’m concerned, Thomas is now the Giants’ best defensive player that does not play on the defensive line. He’s not in the same class as guys like Revis or Asomugha, but he has established himself as one of the better starting CBs in the NFL.
Tagged pleasant surprise, Terrell Thomas |
2007 was a defining year for the New York Giants. They came away from the NFL Draft with eight players, all of whom would make the team and contribute to the Super Bowl run later that season.
Giants CB Aaron Ross
But in reviewing that draft here in 2011, I can’t help but catching myself on the glaring error the Giants may have made in the first round.
At the time, the Giants had Antonio Pierce at MLB and were not looking to daft an heir apparent to him. In retrospect, maybe they should have. At the time, though, it may not have been wise.
Pierce was signed to a five-year, $26 million dollar deal that would make him a Giant through 2009. He played well for the Giants, and fans have no regrets over his Giant career other than it was cut short by a neck injury.
That does not change the fact that they passed on Miami LB Jon Beason with the 20th pick to take Texas CB Aaron Ross in Round One. (Beason was taken five slots later by Carolina).
Tagged Aaron Ross, Antonio Pierce, Brian Urlacher, Corey Webster, Jon Beason, New York Giants, New York Giants Blogs, Patrick Willis, Terrell Thomas | ← Older posts
