NFL-Giants: NY Giants football news

I actually wrote about Justin Tuck a while back at in the third round I ahve to agree with Pat Kirwan who said this is a strong value pick:

I spent a lot of time on the phone with him this offseason, and he has put on weight (265 pounds). He had 19.5 sacks the last few years, and frankly, this is a bargain pick. He has good pass rush skills and understands he has to attack the quarterback without always using the speed rush. His added weight will help him with his bull rush.

It’s real nice when going BPA means you fill a position of need too. The NFL.com analysis is encouraging too.

I think Ware will be good but we can hope it takes him a few years to make a big impact. Here’s an interesting tidbit: Ware’s “57 stops behind the line of scrimmage broke the old school career-record of 40 by Osi Umenyiora (1999-2002).” This comes from the NFL.com analysis.

The Redskins are on the clock. I was pretty happy when I learned the Redskins traded next year’s #1 for Denver’s pick this year. I think they gave up too much. I think I’m also happy that Rolle is off the board.

Yes, now they’ve picked. Carlos Rodgers. Time will tell, but I’m feeling a bit smug. I feel Rodgers is a bit of a reach at #9.

Everyone decided to write about Eli Manning today so here goes: We’ve got Newsday talking about how Manning is relaxed about the upcoming draft (unlike last year), and a not on Jeremy Shockey.

The NY Post goes into a bit more detail on the 2004 draft and more importantly says Manning is becoming more decisive and confident. The Daily News has a similar article with many of the same quotes from Manning.

Paul Schwartz reminds us that the Giants do better in the second round than in the first:

player than anyone they might have taken on the first round.

More often than not, the Giants in recent years have encountered greater success in the second round than the first. Left tackle Jumbo Elliott (second round, 1988) had a much better career than first-round offensive lineman Eric Moore. Cornerback Phillippi Sparks in the second round in 1992 fared much better than tight end Derek Brown in the first. Defensive end Michael Strahan, taken in the second round in 1993, is a six-time Pro Bowler, light years ahead of anything quarterback Dave Brown (supplemental draft in 1992) ever accomplished.

There’s more. Cornerback Jason Sehorn (second round, 1994) far overshadowed first-round receiver Thomas Lewis. Do you prefer receiver Amani Toomer (second round, 1996) or defensive end Cedric Jones? Running back Tiki Barber (second round, 1997) or receiver Ike Hilliard? Defensive end Osi Umenyiora (second round, 2003) or defensive tackle William Joseph?

Now I’m not sure if it’s a good thing to screw up as many first round picks as the Giants have, but at least history is on our side when it comes to getting a good player in the second round.

Paul Schwartz lists a few names that might interest the Giants at #43:

The Giants do hope to upgrade three remaining areas: Cornerback, running back and defensive line. In all three, the Giants have the luxury of drafting for depth.

At cornerback, the Giants will have a shot at Justin Miller (Clemson), Eric Green (Virginia Tech), Stanford Routt (Houston) or Bryant McFadden (Florida State). At running back, they might be able to select from a group that includes Ciatrick Faison (Florida), Eric Shelton (Louisville), J.J. Arrington (California) and Vernard Morancy (Oklahoma State). The options at defensive line could include Northwestern’s Luis Castillo (who has admitted to using steroids), Dan Cody (Oklahoma), Mike Patterson (USC) and Ronald Fields (Mississippi State).

I’m not a college football expert, but it seems to me that of those names the best prospects are at the running back position.

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I think the Chargers GM knows how to hold a grudge:

“We had been singled out,” Smith recalls. “The most amazing thing was when he (Eli) said he wouldn’t play for the San Diego Chargers. He shouldn’t have said anything, but when he said that, it’s a heavy thing to say, something he will have to carry throughout his career. He’ll have to live with it. Maybe Steve Foley and Randall Godfrey (Chargers linebackers) will remember him.”

Now those would seem to be fighting words, and they probably are. Smith is a proven counterpuncher, and he can still feel the Mannings’ slap on his cheek.

It’s a good thing that the Giants offensive line should be much improved with the addition of McKenzie, the maturation of Snee, and Diehl (presuming he beats out Whittle) at left guard. Just hope Petigout’s back is stronger…

A lot of Giants fans are crying about the need to draft a defensive end. That’s why I wrote about Justin Tuck yesterday. But Accorsi is not specifically targeting defensive ends in the draft:

With the 43rd overall pick — a spot Accorsi said will net the Giants the same “quality of athlete” as a late first-round selection — the team will most likely address depth concerns at cornerback, running back or the defensive line.

Defensive end is a dangerously thin spot right now. Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora are the starters, but behind them are Claude Harriott and former Rutgers lineman Raheem Orr, who have been active for a combined two regular-season games in their short careers.

For the importance of depth at the position, see last season when Strahan and Keith Washington were lost for the year to knee injuries in the same game. After that week, the Giants defense was never the same.

“We’re not done yet there,” said Accorsi, who said there are some ends he expects to be released on June 1.

I haven’t heard any guesses yet about who is likely to be released after June 1. I hope to hear more about that soon.

Neil Best notes four reasons why the Giants don’t miss the #12 pick: Eli Manning, the lack of consensus top prospects, Chris Snee, and saved cap space. Here’s what he had to say about Snee and cap space:

The Giants likely could have preserved this year’s first-round pick had they been willing to send their second-round pick last year to the Chargers; they are glad they did not because they love the potential of guard Chris Snee.

Another by-product of not having a first-round choice is it saved salary-cap money that would have been spent on a rookie. Accorsi said the Giants could not have signed all three big-ticket free agents — Kareem McKenzie, Plaxico Burress and Antonio Pierce — if they owned a first-round pick.

Personally, I think Snee and McKenzie will really kick some butt working next to each other and I ahve especially high hopes for our short yardage offense.