MVN - Most Valuable Network

NFL Draft Thoughts

I love what Jerry Reese and the New York Giants front office did over this past weekend.  While I liked the draft class last year and grew to realize how good it was as the year went on, I think this year is even a better haul.  Here are my thoughts:

• Round 1, Pick 31 - Kenny Phillips - S, Miami -It is no secret that I was pushing for Arkansas State Safety Tyrell Johnson with the 31st pick, and I was wrong.  It was really a two horse race for the top safety, and the edge went to the talented Kenny Phillips.  With the Giants pass rush, Phillips could become a superstar, if he puts all of his physical skill together in the NFL.  Phillips had a great sophomore season at Miami, but did not make a lot of plays as a junior, and inconsistency hurt his draft stock, which turned out to be great for the Giants.  I think Phillips will benifit from the Giants pass rush, play the role of centerfielder in the Giants defense, and make a lot of plays as a rookie.  He should see significant time and may start from day one, an instant upgrade to the Giants secondary. 
• Round 2, Pick 63 - Terrell Thomas - CB, USC - Terrell Thomas really fits the Giants defensive scheme better than any of the corners that were selected in the first round.  He is a big (6′1 202lbs), well built corner, who physically reminds me of Aaron Ross.  Thomas is strong enough to jam receivers at the line, and is a great blitzer and hard hitter for a cornerback.  All of the strengths of his game really translate well to the Giants defense, and jamming the receiver is a key with our rush, because it makes the QB hold onto the ball longer.  The problem with Thomas is the fact that he cannot stay healthy, and dislocated both shoulders and blew out his knee while at USC.  If he is able to stay healthy, Thomas could be a great nickleback and eventual starter at cornerback. 
• Round 3, Pick 95 - Mario Manningham - WR Michigan - Wow, this one surprised everyone, and I think every Giants fan was thinking what my brother and I were yelling “They have GOT to take Manningham!”  There are some concerns with “Super Mario” like a few failed drug tests for marijuana and a troubling Wonderlic score of six out of fifty possible points.  However, the value that Manningham has in the third round is off the charts, and he could turn out to be the steal of the draft.  His skill set really reminds me of Chad Johnson’s, who is currently still with the Cincinnati Bengals as I write this article.  Manningham is deadly on the fly pattern and always seems to come down with the ball and space to run with it.  He just knows how to get open and is a force with the ball in his hands, scoring 27 touchdowns during his three years at Michigan.  I can say that I am very excited to see Eli throw his first 40 yard fly pattern to Mario in one on one coverage, this is going to be fantastic. 
• Round 4, Pick 123 - Bryan Kehl - OLB, BYU - Kehl is an athletic outside linebacker, who has good speed and the frame to add bulk.  I found this pick a little curious, because the Giants have pretty good depth on the outside, but we all saw how important depth can be at linebacker (like when we played Carolina in the first round three years ago and we were signing linebackers off of the street to play).  Another interesting fact about Kehl is he turns 24 in June, and is older than most of the 2008 draft prospects because of the Mormon mission all BYU students must attend.  Kehl’s speed will allow him to contribute right away on special teams, and he should be a solid reserve. 
• 5th Round, Pick 165 - Jonathan Goff - MLB, Vanderbilt - I watch a lot of SEC football, and I love this pick.  Goff was one of those players that just stood out whenever I watched Vanderbilt play over the last two seasons.  It seemed like the name Goff was called after every defensive play, he is always around the ball and will really hit opponents.  He looks the part at 6′2 243lbs, and has great range for his size.  Goff will be a solid reserve as a rookie, but I think he is a player that will be a great starter and key to the defense as he gets stronger in a few years.  He plays with a mean streak, is a great leader and has shown great character.   
• Round 6, Pick 198 - Andre Woodson - QB, Kentucky - You cannot knock Woodson on productivity, he was great at Kentucky and is the best quarterback in school history.  At one time, Woodson was thought of as a first round pick, but the NFL scouts found a hitch in his release, and his draft stock began to slide.  Woodson also did not perform well at the senior bowl or at the combine, but as a backup quarterback, you have to love his upside.  Woodson has enough talent that with a year to learn the offense, he could run the offense effectively if need be.  Of course, I hope that he never has to see the field, but depth all over the field is very important.
• Round 6, Pick 199 - Robert Henderson - DE, Southern Miss - Henderson is a stout (6′3 276lbs) defensive end, who may be asked to play on the inside on passing downs at the next level.  He has good strength and plays with a low center of gravity, but does not have great speed to come off the edge.  If I had to guess, I would think Henderson will be on the practice squad this season. 

Final Thoughts - Think about the offensive weapons that Eli Manning has at his disposal now.  Jacobs, Bradshaw and Ward in the backfield.  Burress, Toomer, Smith, Manningham, Moss and Tyree as receivers.  (I could see Moss fighting to keep his roster spot).  Shockey, Boss and Matthews as tight ends.  There is so much depth on this team right now, and I think offensively the GMen will be even more explosive than they were last season.  I also think the defense looks even stronger following the draft.  I think Kenny Phillips has a lot more upside right now than Gibril Wilson ever did, and he will instantly upgrade the secondary.  If I had to guess, I think Phillips is the starting free safety and Sammy Knight is the strong safety for the opener.  I expect Thomas and Manningham to contribute right away on their respective sides of the ball and the rest of the rookies to make an impact on special teams.  There is more depth on the Giants right now than ever before, which is key in the NFL.  We can lose a player or two due to injuries, which are bound to happen, and we have a guy who can step in and play at almost every position.  You have to be excited with this draft class as a Giants fan.  At first glance this was another job well done by Jerry Reese and the front office.               

Giants Sign Undrafted Free Agent S Nehemiah Warrick Among Others

Fresh out of the war room, Giants GM Jerry Reese has gone ahead and signed undrafted free agent safety Nehemiah Warrick. I don’t know too much about the guy, but from what I’ve read, Warrick is a great athlete with good size (6′1″, 208 lbs.) and speed. He is very physical, can play well against the run, and has a good upside. A lot of his flaws have to do with the fact that his game is still kind of raw, having played only two season in division one. His mechanics are not great, he does not always do a great job wrapping up the ball-carrier, and he sometimes looks hesitant and out of sync on the field. Lastly, Warrick, though a former wide receiver and cornerback, does not have great hands, recording zero interception in his 2-year, 23-game career with the Spartans.

In his first season after transferring from Hutchinson to Michigan State, Warrick had 45 tackles and three pass breakups in 11 games. In his senior year he recorded 61 tackles and three pass breakups in 12 games. Aside from a minor leg and knee injury which only sidelined him one game each, he has been injury free.

Warrick, who was clearly upset with not being picked in any of the 7 rounds in the draft, appears to be extremely motivated to go out and prove to GMs that they made a mistake. He’s also very excited to be part of the New York Giants team and anxious to compete for a job on the team.

Here’s what Warrick had to say regarding the situation, as per BradentonHerald.com:

“I want to get in there and compete,” he said. ‘This is my job. . . . It’s time to tighten up right now.’

“I’m a New York Giant.”

In his conversation with Coughlin, the Coach told the safety that after looking through his tapes, he felt he would fit in nicely with the team’s system.

“He said a lot of great things about me,” said Warrick. “I’m blessed to be part of the organization.”

Surely, Warrick plans on reporting to rookie camp, which is a little over a week away.

“That gives me a few days to regroup,” he said. “I’ve got a new home now.”

Here’s a nice video I dug up that demonstrates the hard-hitting ability of this young player. Enjoy.

Hopefully he’ll make for some nice competition. It will definitely be interesting to see if he makes the team. He’s at least someone to keep your eye on. For now, welcome to the NFL and the New York Giants, Mr. Warrick. More on the Giants actual draft picks to come…**Updates** According to the Sun-Sentinal, The Giants have also signed undrafted free agent Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Andrew Bain. There should be some interesting competition in camp to look out for this season, so stay tuned.

According to The Star-Ledger, the Giants have signed OL Glenn “Digger” Bujnoch out of Cincinnati and DE Wallace Gilberry out of Alabama. Bujnoch plays every position on the line, including TE. Gilberry (6′3″, 263 lbs) has nice size but needs to add more bulk.

According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Giants have signed DE Antonio Reynolds out of Tennesse. Reynolds also has good size (6′3″, 266 lbs.) and plays alright against the run but lacks ideal burst and pass-rushing ability. Reynolds totaled 31 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and an interception in 2007 after a season in which he recorded 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack in 2006.

The Giants have reportedly signed two more undrafted free agents in OT Dylan Thiry out of  Northwestern and Carnell Stewart out of LSU. Thomas, who won Northwestern’s Spirit Award, was a big contributor in the team’s top passing attack, which also lef the big ten in total offense. Stewart is also good against the pass but is sometimes overpowered on the line.**Updates**

These names will continue to pile up over the next coming days so check back for more updates.

Meet the New York Giants 2008 Draft Class

After a rather smooth running 2008 NFL draft, the New York Giants met several goals heading into the draft.  The had several needs, and while they did not address all of them, they did handle the most glaring needs: safety, cornerback, linebacker depth, and wide receiver.

GM Jerry Reese has preached to Giant faithful the importance of finding value and need, and while I felt he did do that for the most part, I also believe Jerry reached a bit on some picks.  However, I will get to that a bit later in the article.  Without further ado, let us meet the newest members of the Super Bowl Champion New Football Giants.

Kenny Phillips - Safety - University of Miami

I think we all knew that this was the consensus pick for the Giants.  In the media briefing, Reese hinted at the fact that many of the war room combatants did not feel as though Phillips would be available at #31, and they felt fortunate that he was.  The did have a contingency plan of about 4-5 players, with one of those players already taken in an earlier slot. True to form, Reese did not elaborate on who those other players were, or what positions they play, but we can assume safety and cornerback were among the list.

What the Giants like about Phillips is he plays fast, long, and is versatile.  He has a great combination of size (6′2”, 213 lbs), speed, and ability and that is what earned him the right to be the first safety taken in the 2008 draft.  Reese has also emphasized how “clean” Phillips is, on and off the field, and that should bode very well for the legacy of the New York Giants.  What I love about this guy is his ability to close in on the ball quickly, avoid unnecessary contact in the secondary, and deliver big hits at big moments int he game.  These are attributes that are hard to teach, and for a player to come in and already possess these talents only strengthens the value of this pick.

Terrell Thomas - Cornerback - University of Southern Cal

I was not surprised of the positional pick, but I was rather surprised over the player chosen.  Terrell Thomas was a phenomenal player at USC, however, he never seemed to stay off of the operating table.  He has underwent several surgeries including both shoulders and a knee.  Reese has stressed the need to rid the locker room of injuries and Coughlin has also spoke injuries as a “cancer.”  So what gives in this pick?  Simply put, Reese believed in his medical staff, and trusted their opinion in whether or not Thomas would be able to endure the excruciating 16 game regular season as a nickel back/special teamer.  Thomas carries a lot of versatility, as he can play the slot, outside, and even safety.  He is a big (6′1”, 198 lbs), strong corner who can tackle, cover, read, and catch.  Bottom line, even despite his health shortcomings, Terrell Thomas is a playmaker and will leave a mark in this league.  Hopefully, his mark won’t be a imprint of his body on the turf at Giants Stadium.

Mario Manningham - Wide Receiver - University of Michigan

I love this pick for several reasons, and I would love to hear your reactions to Manningham being a New York Giant.  Manningham is the full deal.  He can catch in traffic, has great hands, sharp route runner, and knows what a big stage is and how to perform on one.  Also, he is a smart football player, physical off the break, and he can make great adjustments on the ball without much separation from defenders.  He does come with character red flags, but most athletes do, so this is a low risk liability.  Manningham was a steal in Round 3, and Reese & Co. had to be ecstatic that he landed in their lap.  I was getting restless in the Round 2, because I wanted to see Malcolm Kelly or Limas Sweed fall in Reese’s lap, but I will take Manningham/Terrell Thomas with no regrets or second guessing.  Mario has said he is a low risk guy, and has reiterated that the past is the past and his problems are long behind him.  Reese also added that he will meet with Mario and make sure he knows what is expected of him, similarly to the conversation Reese had with troubled 2007 pick, Ahmad Bradshaw.  Manningham should be fine and will keep his nose clean.  The WR corps is a proud unit and former Michigan standout, Amani Toomer, will certainly bring him in as his own, and set him straight.  Giants fans, do not worry about Mario Manningham.  He will produce on and off the field!

Bryan Kehl - Linebacker - BYU

The Giants must have thought pretty highly of Kehl because they traded up in the 4th round to nab him.  They traded picks 130 and and 194 to move to 123 and I believe this was a bit of a reach.  There was quality left on the board for linebacker at this time, and I would have liked to see Erin Henderson chosen at this spot.  Although, seeing as though he went undrafted, perhaps either 31 GMs will kick themselves over the next 10 years for not selecting Henderson, or they know something we do not.  If the Giants were hellbent on trading up, I would have liked to see the Giants make a play for Xavier Adibi.  However, perhaps they did, and Houston was unwilling to trade down.  Either way, Kehl is on the roster and should provide good, smart depth on special teams as well as linebacker depth.  He is a high character player, and was pretty productive during his tenure at BYU. He has pretty good speed vertically, but lacks lateral speed.  His tackling is sound however, and what he lacks in lateral speed, he should be able to compensate in football intelligence and tackling. I just wonder if this could have been a 5th-6th round pick.

Jonathan Goff - Linebacker - Vanderbilt

I really like this pick, because he was a value and a need pick at 165 overall.  Goff is an extremely intelligent player on and off the field, and has tremendous speed.  He can penetrate into the backfield and get after the running back or the quarterback.  He uses his speed and adequate strength to shed blocks and get to where he needs to be.  Most importantly, he seems to always be around the ball has he led Vandy in tackles in two consecutive years.  Goff will make the roster and add depth to the linebacker corps and may make a push for a starting role once Kiwanuka moves back to defensive end (which will happen, folks).

Andre’ Woodson - Quarterback - Kentucky

This was a great pick, and at the spot they got him, the draft grade has to be an “A”.  Woodson threw the ball all over the place, against top-notch competition in the SEC.  He withstood unrelenting pass rushes, and tough, physical corners to allow his vertical playmakers make catches.  He can make every throw on the field, and do it under durress. Woodson will not be challenging Manning for the starting job, but he will challenge David Carr.  He had a disappointing offseason in preparation for the NFL Draft, but while examining his entire body of work, it is difficult to say that Woodson is not deserving of being drafted in the 3rd round.  Chris Palmer will develop him more, and fix his erratic throwing delivery, and he will project nicely as a career back-up/spot starter.  Coughlin is old school so expect Woodson to be #3 on the depth chart, but that will change in 2009.  The writing is on the wall for “Battleship Lorenzen” and Anthony “Can’t do no” Wright.  The time is now to put those jerseys one eBay.

Robert Henderson - Defensive End - Southern Mississippi

I know one thing about Henderson and that is he is a product of hard work and great coaching.  If he can make the roster, I think he certainly has the physical tools to be a depth player on the defensive line.  He can play outside or inside, and he has a pretty hard running motor.  I watched exactly two Southern Miss games this year, and he showed up several times with stops in the backfield.  He plays the run extremely well, and can penetrate with ease.  Obviously, he was not playing against top-notch talent, so it will be interesting to see how he will shake down the roster.  As the Giants adage goes, “you can never have too many pass rushers” but do not be surprised if he is used in run stopping situations, because he can certainly hold his own.

In summation, this draft may not seem as romantic as the afterglow of the 2007 draft, but keep in mind, many fans were not jumping for joy when Aaron Ross and Steve Smith’s names were called.  I think this was a relatively weak draft class as a whole, but Reese found two or three future starters out of the rubble, and found key depth contributers.  The 2008 Draft Class will leave a mark next year, and it will be very fun watching them all develop.  Here’s to another successful Jerry Reese draft!

G101 Live Draft Blog

Here we are.  Draft day.  We are blogging live.  I am at a party in Philly.  Last night ended with my brother and I yelling at Eagles fans.  “It’s all about rings!!!” I am live from enemy territory.  We are about to get underway. 

• Who do you like better McShay or Kiper? - ROC
• So we all did mock drafts, and my one friend had someone named Daryll Ledbetter going seventeenth to Kansas City.  As you know, I pretty much know every D-I football player, so I googled him.  No stats.  So we all thought he was listening to Pearl Jam  “Yellow Ledbetter” and got confused.  Turns out it was the author of the mock draft that he copied and pasted in.  He will be made fun of all day. - ROC
• I think the Falcons messed up with that one. Dorsey and Brohm seems like the much better way to go in my opinion. -Sean
• I am also not not a fan of the Ryan pick.  If he was in Eli’s draft he would have been the 4th QB  off the board.  Reminds me of Matt Schaub talentwise.  19 picks last year.  Yuck.  - ROC
• Chiefs must really like Dorsey. Saints were offereing their 1st and 2nd this year plus next years 1st to get him. -Sean
• Saints trade up to get Ellis. I hope they didn’t give the Patriots too much. -Sean
• So Jacksonville is picking at 8th now.  Ravens are going to try and get Henne with the Jags pick.  The Jags need D-ends.  Derrick Harvey?  There are none worth taking.  They have corners, they have backs.  I am thinking Brandon Albert.  O Line? This is weird. - ROC
• Hate to say I told you that Mayo would be gone at 31…No wait.  I love it.  Mmmmmm, Mayo.  - ROC
• So we were just arguing about the top quarterbacks in the league.  This turned into a conversation about the worst quarterbacks in the league.  Which turned into a conversation about Brodie Croyle.  Which turned into a conversation about Brodie Croyle’s wife.  All I can say is google her…trust me.  - ROC
• Flacco just went ahead of Brian Brohm…I think I just threw up in my mouth. - ROC
• This draft has been absolutely insane. I don’t even know what to think- Sean
• Rashard Mendenhall.  Pro Bowler in Pittsburgh.  Right guy on the right team.  Mark it down.  - ROC
• Are the Titans the worst drafting team in the league? This guys says yes. - ROC
• Giants are on the clock! Lets Go Kenny Phillips!- Sean
• Sean…it’s gonna be my boy Tyrell Johnson! -ROC
• Days like this when I am glad I am glad I am not a Jets fan…That pick should have taken Brohm.  Keller? Ugly…Or at least a Henne on the rocks…not funny? My bad - ROC
• Kenny Phillips it is! I’m stoked. -Sean
• Good call Sean - I like the pick.  We knew he was the target.  After a crazy first round we went projection. - ROC
• Um, Donnie Avery is the first receiver off the board.  Did the Rams GM fall asleep and think it was round six? - ROC
• By the way, that song they keep playing on the Nike comericals is “List of Demands” by Saul Williams.  The beauty of google. - ROC 
• Kansas City is having one hell of a draft. -Sean
• Does anyone else have a man crush on Steve Young? I do…Give me one lefty QB to win a game…Stevie.  Man can announce too. - ROC
• It looks like Shockey is staying a Giant. However, if the pick was anyone besides Porter I would be convinced of this. Now I’m not so sure they didn’t take him for the Giants. Interesting situation. -Sean
• Why do the Eagles have to take a Notre Dame player. Now I can’t root for Laws. -Sean
• I really like what Pittsburgh has done on the first day. -Sean 
• Eagles are having a sick draft.  Hate it.  Laws and DeSean.  Yikes. - ROC 
• Aaron Rodgers…I know you hear footsteps - ROC
• Terrell Thomas in the 2nd. I like it. I have been saying Safety in the 1st and Corner in the 2nd for weeks. -Sean
• Manningham was an excellent pick at the end of round 3. Great value and a position of need. I really like what Reese has done so far. -Sean
• And now the giants trade up to get Bryan Kehl OLB from B.Y.U. I like this kid as well, but I thought for sure we traded up for Erin Henderson and I would have prefered that. -Sean
• A lot of Defensive tackles the Giants may have been targetting have gone high in this round. -Sean
• With their 5th round pick the Giants select Jonathan Goff LB from Vanderbilt. Another great value selection and a good eventual replacement for Pierce. -Sean
• I like the pick of Woodson, could end up being a very solid backup for years to come. Don’t know too much about Henderson but you can never have enough pass rushers.

Final Giants Draft Thoughts

We have speculated for months.  We have watched college football, the senior bowl, the combine and draft coverage.  We have debated pretty much every draft eligible prospect at one point or another.  Tomorrow is finally the big day.  Let’s talk Giants draft. 

• Is this Jeremy Shockey’s last night as a Giant? It sure could be, if one of the interested teams offers enough tomorrow.  I wrote a lengthy post on this last time, so I am just going to say this.  Saints, Seahawks and Falcons - if you want a Pro Bowl playmaking tight end, now is the time to pony up. 
• With the 31st pick, I am still picking Tyrell Johnson of Arkansas State.  I think he will be a better pro than Kenny Phillips as I have documented before.  This is my trade free Giants only mock draft.  This is best case scenario, a dream draft:
• Round 1 (31) - Tyrell Johnson, S - Arkansas State
• Round 2 (63) -  Trevor Laws, DT - Notre Dame
• Round 3 (95) - Erin Henderson - OLB, Maryland
• Round 4 (130) - Keenan Burton - WR, Kentucky
• Round 5 (165) - Orlando Scandrick - CB, Boise State
• Round 6 (194) - Robert Felton - OG, Arkansas
• Round 6 (198) - DJ Hall - WR, Alabama
• Round 6 (199) - Jameel McClain - DE, Syracuse

I realize that the Giants would need more than a few breaks to have this draft, and I’m sure I’ll get destroyed in the comments field.  This is a best case scenario.  I did select the players within the area where I project them to be drafted.  I did have Trevor Laws slide a bit, but the fact that he had 112 tackles as a DT last season makes me want to see him in blue.  You can substitute him with Pat Sims from Auburn.  I was also about to pick Duane Brown - OT, Va Tech in round 3 but it was about 10 picks after his draft projection.  I love Erin Henderson anyway.  Man I am pumped up for tomorrow.  Rip me, I’m cool with it.   

• I expect the Giants to leave this draft with a safety, a linebacker, a pass rushing defensive tackle (some names to keep in mind are Laws, Sims, Fluellen, Moore) a wide receiver, a corner, and a tight end.  The other picks could really be any position.  Depth is key.  
• I could see value being more important than need is to Jerry Reese, since the Giants really do not have a lot of needs.   
• Osi Umenyoria will not hold out and will report to training camp!!!
• The Saints are now offering the tenth overall pick and possibly 2006 Pro Bowl Offensive Tackle Jamaal Brown to move up and draft either Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis.  Good idea.  Give up a starting tackle to move up a few spots.  I am being sarcastic.  The rumor is that the Chiefs would give up the fifth pick to move back to the tenth pick and add Jamaal Brown.  The Saints would then draft Sedrick Ellis at fifth overall.  The Chiefs would use the 10th selection on Florida DE Derrick Harvey.
• The Carolina Panthers are seriously trying to move up in order to draft BC QB Matt Ryan.  I am not sure what they are offering or who they are dealing with yet.
• Atlanta’s dream first round would be drafting Dorsey at third overall and then trading back into round one and drafting Louisville QB Brian Brohm.  This is possible, because Atlanta has three second rounders.
• Expect Leodis McKelvin to be the first corner off of the board tomorrow.  Personally I do not like the fact that he has no hands.  After suffering through the Will Allen years, when dropping picks was an art form, I only like DBs with hands. 
• Enjoy the draft everyone! I will be at a draft party (the keg-o-rater is the key) and I hope you all are doing the same.  Check the site, because Sean and I will be updating it with our thoughts on the GMen and the draft in general. 
• GO BIG BLUE!!!

Top 50 Overall Prospects and My Final Giants mock

The NFL Draft is so close to finally being here and we are starting to finish up our draft coverage. Here are my top 50 prospects in this years draft and the Giants draft that I am hopping for.

1. Darren McFadden RB Arkansas

2. Glenn Dorsey DT LSU

3. Chris Long DE Virginia

4. Jake Long OT Michigan

5. Matt Ryan QB Boston College

6. Sedrick Ellis DT USC

7. Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State

8. Ryan Clady OT Boise State

9. Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois

10. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee St.

11. Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon

12. Leodis McKlevin CB Troy

13. Keith Rivers LB USC

14. Branden Albert OG Virginia

15. Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh

16. Derrick Harvey DE Florida

17. Desean Jackson WR California

18. Mike Jenkins CB South Florida

19. Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt

20. Devin Thomas WR Michigan State

21. Jerod Mayo LB Tennessee

22. Kenny Phillips S Miami (FL)

23. Limas Sweed WR Texas

24. Felix Jones RB Arkansas

25. Antoine Cason CB Arizona

26. Phillip Merling DE Clemson

27. Aqib Talib CB Kansas

28. Brian Brohm QB Louisville

29. Dan Connor LB Penn State

30. Gosder Cherilus OT Pittsburgh

31. Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina

32. Reggie Smith S Oklahoma

33. Quentin Groves DE Auburn

34. Calais Campbell DE Miami (FL)

35. James Hardy WR Indiana

36. Sam Baker OT USC

37. Tyrell Johnson S Arkansas State

38. Lawrence Jackson DE USC

39. Joe Flacco QB Delaware

40. Ray Rice RB Rutgers

41. Chris Johnson RB East Carolina

42. Curtis Lofton LB Oklahoma

43. Tracy Porter CB Indiana

44. Dajuan Morgan S North Carolina State

45. John Carlson TE Notre Dame

46. Trevor Laws DT Notre Dame

47. Mario Manningham WR Michigan

48. Cliff Avril DE Purdue

49. Dustin Keller TE Purdue

50. Jason Jones DE Eastern Michigan

Giants Mock;

1. (32)- Kenny Phillips S Miami (FL)

2. (63)- Tracy Porter CB Indiana

3. (95)- Tavares Gooden LB Miami (FL)

4. (130)- Red Bryant DT Texas A&M

5. (165)- Barry Richardson OT Clemson

6. (194)- Dennis Keyes S UCLA

6. (198)- Mario Urrutia WR Louisville

6. (199)- James Blair OG Western Michigan

A lot of wishful thinking on a couple picks in the Giants mock but we’ll see what happens. Bash away!

New York Giants Draft Buzz

We are less than a week away from the most important day of the football offseason, the 2008 NFL Draft.  There is some news regarding the Giants and a lot of news from around the league:

• The Giants are still sending mixed signals on if they will trade Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey, who apparently is unhappy with his roll on the Giants and asked for a trade before his 2007 season was cut short by a broken fibula.  As we all know the Giants went on to win the Super Bowl without Shockey, and some think Eli Manning played so well towards the end of the season and in the playoffs because he was not forcing the ball to Shockey to keep him happy.  Shockey feels he is being used too much as a blocker, and misses the days of former offensive coordinator Sean Payton, who is now the head coach of the Saints.  It seems Payton misses Shockey as well, because it has been confirmed that the Saints offered the Giants a trade package for him, which is believed to have included 25 year old safety Roman Harper and their third round draft pick.  Jerry Reese then asked for the Saints second rounder instead but was shot down.  SI’s Peter King is one of many who believes that Jeremy Shockey will be traded on draft day, when the Saints up their offer, and thinks other teams will make offers too.  We know for a fact that the Raiders, Bills and Seahawks have all expressed interest.  Shockey’s agent Drew “The Shark” Rosenhaus claims that he has had conversations with the Giants in regards to Shockey’s current status with the team and that the “the ball is going to be in their court.” I have a feeling we will be getting offers for Shock on Saturday, and this topic has been debated quite a bit on this site, with many fans taking each side of the argument of if Reese should trade Shockey.  We’ll finally see what happens on Saturday.   
• Giants starting tailback Brandon Jacobs surprised everyone in attendance at a Golden Gloves event at MSG when he arrived in a cast and sling.  Jacobs had very minor surgery on his left risk and said he just had it “cleaned out”.  He says he will definitely be ready for training camp.
• In other Giants injury news, David Tyree had some minor knee surgery and may miss the start of training camp.  He said the knee locked up on him during an offseason workout and an MRI revealed some stuff that ”didn’t look good.”  Sounds like he just got it cleaned out, and this shouldn’t be a big deal.       
• The New York Post is reporting that the Giants prime target with the 31st pick is Miami safety Kenny Phillips, which has been speculated since the start of the draft process.  There is a pretty good chance Phillips is on the board when the Giants select, and he would be an immediate upgrade to the secondary.  The Post’s source, when asked about Phillips, said “I hear that is the player they are targeting”.  As everyone knows, I like Arkansas State’s Tyrell Johnson more than Phillips, but either would be an upgrade to a need area. 
• Ralph Vacchiano, who is a reporter with the New York Daily News, says to expect the Giants to draft a pass rushing defensive tackle at some point.  The Giants like Coefield, but see him as a run stuffer and think Jay Alford has potential, however they are looking for a better pass rush from the interior line.  From what I hear Dre Moore of Maryland and Trevor Laws of Notre Dame could be some options in the second round. 
• The Kansas City Chiefs look like they are about to trade the NFL’s reigning sack leader, defensive end Jared Allen, to the Minnesota Vikings.  The Vikes have been looking for a rush end forever and missed twice in recent first rounds, when they selected Kenechi Udeze from USC and Erasmus James from Wisconsin.  Minnesota will part with the 17th pick in the first round and a later round pick to obtain Allen’s services.  Jacksonville and Tampa Bay have also expressed interest, and Allen would have to sign a contract extension before a trade can be completed. 
• A rumor that has gained a lot of steam over the past few days has Detroit trading star receiver Roy Williams to the NFC East.  Philly looks like the leading candidate to land Williams, but Dallas and the Redskins have also both expressed interest.  Any team who trades for Williams would give up their first round pick and probably another player or pick.  One of the rumors that I have heard said that Philly told Detroit to get the best offer they can for Williams, and they plan on beating it no matter what.  It will be interesting to see if Philly includes Lito Sheppard in a deal with Detroit, because he clearly needs to be moved.  Word is the Eagles offered Sheppard and a late round draft choice last week, and Detroit’s front office basically laughed in their faces.  Matt Millen says that Detroit will not trade Williams, but as we know, every GM says that and it is rarely true.   
• The Cincinnati Bengals still claim that they will not trade disgruntled receiver Chad Johnson, and I doubt they do so before the draft.  I do think he will be traded somewhere this offseason, but think it will come later.  UPDATE: ESPN is reporting that the Redskins (who are ready to pay him $21 million in guaranteed money) called the Bengals and offered their first rounder this year and a third rounder next year, that could become a first if certain conditions are met for Chad Johnson and the Bengals rejected the trade.   
• The NFL Network is reporting that the Dolphins have reached a deal with Jake Long.  Rumor has it the contract is a five year deal, worth $57.5 million, $30 million of which is guaranteed.  Looks like the Rams are on the clock. 
• The draft rumor that is circling that surprises me the most is Michigan quarterback Chad Henne will be drafted in the teens.  One team loves Henne’s arm strength and experience and is planning on taking him somewhere in the teens and Carolina, Chicago and Minnesota have been mentioned as possible destinations.  Do not rule out another team who has already selected in round one trading back in to obtain Henne.  Parcells likes QBs with Henne’s arm strength and Kansas City, Baltimore and Atlanta are also on the lookout for a new signal caller. 
• Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart was considered a sure fire first round pick until he had to go under the knife to have turf toe repaired, and he could miss some or all of training camp.  Teams worried about Stewart’s injury, and his stock slipped into the second round range.  As the draft approaches, teams have realized that passing on a running back who is 235lbs who had 4.46 speed with a bad toe, is a great receiver out of the backfield and can return kicks would be a mistake.  His stock has jumped back up, and while he will still be the third back off of the board behind McFadden and Mendenhall, he should still be a top 25 pick.   

A Comprehensive List of Giants Pre-Draft Interviewees

NFL teams are allowed to bring in 30 prospects for interviews plus a number of local exceptions based on a player’s hometown or college. Using only trusted sources, I can only confirm 23 of the 30 prospects, and they are listed below for your draft researching pleasure (thanks ny92mike for the suggestion). Please add to this list in the comments section as more information becomes available.

Miami LB Tavares Gooden
Wisconsin WR Paul Hubbard
Duquesne WR Bruce Hocker
Eastern Kentucky CB Antwaun Molden
UNC DE Hilee Taylor
Valdosta State (Ga.) QB Willie Copeland
BC OT Gosder Cherilus
Auburn DE Quentin Groves
Michigan WR Mario Manningham
Arkansas State S Tyrell Johnson
Vanderbilt OT Chris Williams
Utah DT Gabe Long
Ohio State LB Larry Grant
Winston-Salem State DE/LB William Hayes
Florida S Tony Joiner
Montana RB Lex Hilliard
Virginia Tech WR William (Eddie) Royal
Arizona State RB Ryan Torain
Appalachian State S Corey Lynch
Arkansas DL Marcus Harrison
Mount Union WR Pierre Garcon
Northern Iowa OT Brandon Keith
Wake Forest TE/FB John Tereshinski

Note: The Giants hardly draft the prospects they interview this close to the draft (none last year). Keep in mind that by this point Jerry Reese’s staff already has a significant list of “definite yes” players, and for a player to jump from the “information-gathering” stage to the “definitely yes” column this late in the process is a bit of a stretch. For this reason, I would have serious doubts especially about any early-round prospects who come in for the pre-draft interview (doesn’t look promising for your boy Tyrell Johnson, Rich). This because the Giants have likely secured their top choices long ago. Aaron Ross, for example, had such little contact with New York before the draft that he wasn’t even in the room when they drafted him. So while I suggest taking a look at the stats of the players on this list, particularly mid-to-late rounders, I wouldn’t hold my breath for any of them getting drafted this weekend.

Final Positional Rankings

Well its almost that time again. The NFL Draft is less than a week away and I for one am very excited. I have finished ranking prospects by position and instead of listing every single prospect that has a chance of getting drafted I have my top 5 at each position;

QB

1. Matt Ryan Boston College

2. Brian Brohm Louisville

3. Joe Flacco Delaware

4. Andre Woodson Kentucky

5. Chad Henne Michigan

RB

1. Darren McFadden Arkansas

2. Rashard Mendenhall Illinois

3. Jonathan Stewart Oregon

4. Felix Jones Arkansas

5. Ray Rice Rutgers

WR

1. Desean Jackson California

2. Devin Thomas Michigan State

3. James Hardy Indiana

4. Limas Sweed Texas

5. Mario Manningham Michigan

TE

1. John Carlson Notre Dame

2. Dustin Keller Purdue

3. Martellus Bennett Texas A&M

4. Fred Davis USC

5. Kellen Davis Michigan State

OT

1. Jake Long Michigan

2. Ryan Clady Boise State

3. Jeff Otah Pittsburgh

4. Chris Williams Vanderbilt

5. Gosder Cherilus Boston College

OG

1. Branden Albert Virginia

2. Roy Schuening Oregon State

3. Chilo Rachal USC

4. John Greco Toledo

5. Mike McGlynn Pittsburgh

C

1. Mike Pollak Arizona State

2. Jeremy Zuttah Rutgers

3. John Sullivan Notre Dame

DE

1. Chris Long Virginia

2. Vernon Gholston Ohio State

3. Derrick Harvey Florida

4. Phillip Merling Clemson

5. Quentin Groves Auburn

DT

1. Glenn Dorsey LSU

2. Sedrick Ellis USC

3. Kentwan Balmer North Carolina

4. Trevor Laws Notre Dame

5. Marcus Harrison Arkansas

OLB

1. Keith Rivers USC

2. Erin Henderson Maryland

3. Phillip Weeler Georgia Tech

4. Cliff Avril Purdue

5. Xavier Adibi Virginia

ILB

1. Jerod Mayo Tennessee

2. Dan Connor Penn State

3. Curtis Lofton Oklahoma

4. Jonathan Goff Vanderbilt

5. Beau Bell UNLV

CB

1. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Tennessee St.

2. Leodis McKlevin Troy

3. Mike Jenkins South Florida

4. Antoine Cason Arizona

5. Aqib Talib Kansas

S

1. Kenny Phillips Miami (FL)

2. Reggie Smith Oklahoma

3. Tyrell Johnson Arkansas State

4. Dajuan Morgan North Carolina State

5. Josh Barrett Arizona State

Notes: 

I have Chad Henne lower than most people, I just don’t believe the guy is a very good prospect. There is something about him that screams bust. I don’t want to put him in the top 5 at all actually but the only other QB that’s even worth a thought there is Josh Johnson as I don’t like John David Booty much either. I also am no Rutgers fan and actually far from it, Ray Rice reminds me so much of Maurice Jones-Drew that’s its hard for me to imagine him not having success in the NFL. He barely beat out Chris Johnson for the 5 spot. I believe John Carlson is a better overall prospect than Athony Fasano was and should be getting much more recognition. He was extremely sick when he preformed at the combine and did very well at his pro day. Other then that there of course were some tough decisions and it shouls spark up some interesting conversation. We’re almost there!

Breaking Down the 2008 Giants Schedule: Love it/Hate it

Here’s the way I see our schedule this season.

Love It:
at Cleveland and at Pittsburgh in October, at Arizona in late November.
When it was announced in January that we would be playing at Arizona and take Steelers at Heinz and also away at Cleveland my hope was to get the two cold AFC North teams out of the way earlier and then take a week vacation to sunny Arizona later on in the season. Sure enough, the NFL gods have smiled on the Super Bowl champs, and so this season we will play the coldest away games when the weather is warm and the warmest road contests while the rest of the league freezes over. Life is good at the top.

The NFC West.
Ahh the NFC West. What’s not to like? The Rams imploded last year, and even if they do pick up the pieces hopefully we’ll play them before they remember how to play football. The last day the Seahawks were a talented team was when they beat the Panthers in the 2005 NFC Championship Game. The 49ers put all their chips on Alex Smith in the 2005 NFL Draft and he is one more season from getting his head coach fired, who, by the way, has publicly displayed his hatred for the first overall pick. And don’t forget the Cardinals, who lost one of the most promising young pass rushers in free agency because they badly mismanaged Larry Fitzgerald’s contract and who also need to keep the beer bong away from their franchise quarterback Matt Leinert (not to mention the fact that he is hanging out with Nick Lachey).
Limited travel.
Though we play the NFC west, the farthest our away schedule takes us is Arizona. In 2005 we had to travel way out to San Francisco and Seattle. You all remember the Seattle game as the night Jay Feely punched his ticket out of New York, but the game at San Francisco we looked sluggish against a very mediocre team. Fact is that despite the cushiest of arrangements, traveling affects athletes’ play. The schedule from Monday through Saturday is a tight one, so adding all the exogenous elements of travel certainly makes an impact. Overall I like the way our traveling schedule works out.

Hate It:
The Early Bye.
The football gods giveth, and the football gods taketh away. Our week 4 bye is as harsh as our travel schedule is benign. I don’t need to impress on you the merits of the bye week and how getting one this early devalues it’s extreme importance. It’s a bummer but hey, we’ve overcome worse.

At Minnesota Week 17.
This is how I feel about Minnesota: They will be in the thick of the playoff race in the last couple of weeks but that will be despite the fact that Adrian Peterson will suffer from a Vince Young-like sophomore slump. In fact, I think the Vikes of this season will be much like the Titans of last season: they will make the playoffs on the backs of the supporting cast around the superstar. What does all that matter to the Giants schedule you ask? Well, that means first we will have to play a team that has something to play for at the end of the season and second that team is one that has just owned us lately. It’s not just Eli Manning (2 TDs 6 INTs – 4 pick sixes – in two games) that has looked terrible in the last two encounters with these people eaters from Minnesota, it’s the entire team. Much of our playoff run was predicated by a strong finish to the regular season and I would be lying if I told you this game doesn’t worry me.

Weeks 13, 14 & 15.
These three weeks will most likely determine our seeding in the NFC East Division. They will be intense hard fought contests that will make for three great weeks of football. What’s not to like you may ask? Injuries. I know we play them more often than any other teams, but it seems like the Giants suffer more season-ending injuries in games against our division rivals than at any other point during the season. Amani Toomer shredded his knee two years ago in Dallas and Jeremy Shockey broke his leg vs. Washington this season, among others. My hope is that nothing serious happens in these three weeks, but can’t you just see one or two important players go down in this stretch?

Oh, and for those who are curious, here is how the NFL makes the regular season schedules every season. Thanks to Giants 101 reader Nick Tusa for bringing that to my attention. Happy Passover Everyone!