Tag Archives: Tim Brown

With the announcement that Sinorice Moss is headed to IR, Victor Cruz‘s chances of making the final roster increased substantially.

For those of you who have been  living under a rock or in the Peace Corps since July, Cruz has been having the most productive preseason of any WR in the NFL.

That said, the numbers game is always a dangerous one for unrestricted free agent rookies and Sinorice Moss has dodged a few cut day close calls in his time.

With Moss out of the picture, Cruz should have no problem making the team.

The updated WR corps looks like this: Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Ramses Barden, Derek Hagan, Victor Cruz

Tagged Derek Hagan, Duke Calhoun, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Ramses Barden, Sinorice Moss, Steve Smith, Tim Brown, Victor Cruz |

Three months ago, there wasn’t much room for change amongst a crowded receiving corps.

Ramses Barden was guaranteed a spot as was the talented and versatile Domenik Hixon. Hixon in fact freed up 3 roster spots in essence, due to his ability to return both punts and kicks.

Add in the three starting receivers (Smith, Nicks, Manningham) and the receiving corps of a “run first” team is up to 5 players.

With Hixon now out for the year and Barden quite possibly lost for some time, the WR corps is suddenly “accepting applications.”

Barden has a back injury that has the potential to end his season. Even if the 6’6 receiver would be available by October or November, the Giants may very likely decide to place him on IR. Frankly, he has yet to impress in game situations and cutting a bright young star like Victor Cruz in order to garner a catch or two by the struggling 2nd year player down the stretch isn’t wise.

Cruz came out of nowhere. Usually, an undrafted free agent receiver from a small school will find himself hard pressed to make a roster with depth. This is especially true if the receiver doesn’t even wear a double digit jersey number. Regardless, Victor Cruz is not a training camp body.

After getting the nation’s attention by notching three TD grabs against the Jets, Cruz underwhelmed the following week versus Pittsburgh. Last night, he redeemed himself, hauling in 3 catches and 1 TD late in the game.

Cruz will make this roster. In the course of doing so, he will beat out Sinorice Moss who as Carl Banks says “Can’t make the club from the tub.”

Ahead of Cruz will be Derek Hagan who has had a solid preseason. Hagan caught on with the coaching staff upon his arrival because of his work ethic and steady progression.

Hagan has nice hands and is developing into quite the receiver. I would not at all be surprised if Hagan turns his tenure with the Giants into a starting gig with another organization in the future.

Along with Moss, Duke Calhoun and Tim Brown will not be part of the final roster. Calhoun has been silent all preseason and made a poor special teams play last night. Brown’s value to the team lied in an ability to return kicks.

Due to the loss of  Hixon and possibly Aaron Ross, the Giants need a solid return man. Unfortunately for Brown, his return game success in practice has not been made evident when it counts.

If Barden dodges IR the final receiving corps will be as follows:
Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Derek Hagan, Victor Cruz, Ramses Barden.

That is 6 players. Should Barden not dodge IR (and I feel this is far more likely) the Giants can either keep an extra player along the offensive line or in the secondary and carry only 5 WRs.

The team could also opt to sign a veteran with return experience if one becomes available after final cuts.

Tagged Derek Hagan, Duke Calhoun, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Ramses Barden, Sinorice Moss, Steve Smith, Tim Brown, Victor Cruz |

The lack of a set return man has provided players like Tim Brown with a legitimate shot of making the final roster. Unfortunately for the Rutgers Alum, he made the wrong call and ran out a kick from deep in the endzone. He was tackled at the ten. Not good for his chances.

Tagged Tim Brown |

If you’ve been paying attention over the past two days, you
are well aware of the mounting injuries infesting the Giants locker room.  The injuries are hampering nearly every
position group and with September fast approaching, the Giants front office has a mess on its hands.

In a matter of days, the organization will be forced to finalize the 53 man roster and thus compile a rough depth chart.  The injury to Aaron Ross, cripples the team.

Ross is suffering from plantar fasciitis, the same injury Eli Manning played through (successfully) a year ago.  Unfortunately, Manning is far from a scrambling
QB and while it may have been tough to fight through, Manning never had to truly test his injured foot.

Ross depends on his feet to play all three of the positions that the Giants are counting on him for (cornerback, reserve safety,
returner).  If Ross needs to miss significant time because his injury precludes him from cutting or running at a fast enough speed,
the Giants will lose another multi-use player of value.

(more…)

Tagged Aaron Ross, Antrel Rolle, Corey Webster, Kenny Phillips, Scott Chandler, Terrell Thomas, Tim Brown, Travis Beckum, Victor Cruz |

A 7 point loss?…we’ll take it.  This was no ordinary game for the Giants.  No the game didn’t count.  However, meaningless or not, the Giants found themselves with their back to the wall in the early month of August.

A 24-17 defeat is not exactly disappointing when you consider the circumstances.  New York played the entire game with a third string QB.  How many times have you witnessed a third string QB even play a series at the pro level, let alone an entire game?

That said, here’s what we learned:

-Rhett Bomar had an oppurtunity to solidify a roster spot and perhaps the nod for immediate backup to Manning.  He struggled tonight and despite some good plays, including an impressive deep toss to Steve Smith in tight coverage, Bomar did not play up to par.  He seemed to struggle more agasint Pittsburgh’s reserve players and was unable to keep a critical pass to Tim Brown in bounds on the final drive.  In a regular season game, his play would be unnaceptable.

I still expect a veteran QB to be brought in after final cuts.  The Giants waited on two major free agent signings this year (Keith Bulluck and ShawnAndrews).  Just because they didn’t look to make a deal this week, don’t overlook the possiblity of a veteran presence being added.

Even if Jim Sorgi is healthy by Week 1, the fact remains that he is a veteran with very limited “hands on” experience.  Bomar is a young player with very little experience period.

If Kerry Collins is cut by the Titans, the Giants will likely be interested.

-Victur Cruz was unable to match his explosive first game.  His single catch for 10 yards coupled with his botched punt returns likely didn’t wow the coaching staff.  He’s a work in progress but he is probably still in good shape roster wise.

Sinorice Moss was barely used tonight (if at all).  Regadless of Moss, Cruz has shown the same amount if not more potential that Moss has in a fifth of the time.  The Giants want to see what the young man can do.  There is no sense in cutting him, only to see him wind up with another team as a main offensive weapon (see Ryan Grant, Packers 2007).

There are two other threats to Cruz’s claim for the final WR spot. Rutgers alum Tim Brown had a nice catch towards the end of the game.  Unfortunately, that catch came on the same throw mentioned earlier by Bomar.  The ball sailed too close to the sidelines for anyone to haul in with both feet in.  Brown is likely headed to the practice squad.  His main selling point this training camp was his return game prowess.  He hasn’t been used thus far in a game situation as a return man though.  The Giants like him and if he clears waivers they’ll have an oppurtunity to keep him.

Travis Beckum is also an indirect challenge to Cruz’s spot.  Beckum is techinically a TE.  However, he has promise as a slot receiver.  He also showe some nice blocking ability tonight. despite being undersized.  If the Giants choose to bring in 3 true TE’s and Beckum, Cruz might run into problems.  This isn’t likely though.  Scott Chandler isn’t making noise.

-DJ Ware was carted off the field waving and smiling to the fans.  In all seriousness, that may have been because he was completely out of it.  The Giants confirmed that Ware did in fact suffer anotehr concussion tonight.  Ware makes Sinorice Moss looks like a pictures of health.  He simply can’t stay off the injury report.  For this reason, and the fact that he has now suffered multiple concussions, the Giants may have to part ways with him (or at least place him on IR).  Aaron Ross’s big return tonight could help him solidify a return job, which would lessen the need for Ware on the roster. That said, Ross may see time as a starter this year and at the very least he’d be the nickel corner.  Andre Brown will have to nail down the other return job for the Giants to feel comfortable.

-The defensive line made a statement on the opening drives.  Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora had a good night and made plays in the backfield.  Chris Canty got decent pressure, as did Rocky Bernard. Bernard helped the Giants escape the first half with a goal line stand when he laid on top of the Steeler ball carrier an extra few seconds to keep the click winding down to 0:00.

Interestingly enough, Jay Alford entered the game after Linval Joseph.  It would appear that the Orange, NJ native is now 5th on the depth chart at DT.  Jason Pierre-Paul flashed potential tonight, but left the crowd wanting more.  He let a sure sack slip through his grasp.

-Kenny Phillips and Keith Bulluck played 1 series during the first half.  Bulluck, making his Giants debut was in on a tackle deep in the redzone.  Phillips looked good after nearly a year away.  The Giants hope that both him and Antrel Rolle become a staple tandem in the backfield for years to come.  Both players have enormous potential and both players are from the legendary U.

Tagged Aaron Ross, Andrew Brown, Antrel Rolle, DJ Ware, Jason Pierre-Paul, Jim Sorgi, Justin Tuck, Keith Bulluck, Kenny Phillips, Linval Joseph, Osi Umenyiora, Rhett Bomar, Rocky Bernard, Sinorice Moss, Steve Smith, Tim Brown, Travis Beckum, Victor Cruz |