The NY Giants Wide Receiver Carousel

    Ever since the second coming of the “Shot Heard Around the World” on the night of November 29th, 2008 the Giants have faced the same question. Will they be able to overcome the loss of Plaxico Burress? Everyone with a football IQ was able to see that the Giants were not the same down the stretch of the season. Teams no longer used a corner back and a safety to shadow Burress and this slowed down the Giants run game. On top of that, Eli Manning lost his safety blanket.

    Going into the off season, everyone knew this was the Giants glaring weakness and all wondered how Jerry Reese would address it. Would they trade for a high profile receiver? Would they trade up in the draft for a better prospect? Just stay put and settle with who was available?

    As trade winds swirled, the Giants were constantly linked to Braylon Edwards, Chad Ochocinco, and Anquan Boldin. Now with late breaking news that Brandon Marshall wants out of Denver, lets add him to the list too.

    The Giants stayed put and drafted Hakeem Nicks with the 29th overall pick, and then moved up six spots in the third round to draft Ramses Barden with the 85th overall pick.

    Lets take a look at what each player brings to the table.

Braylon Edwards – Leading up to the NFL draft, there were constant rumors that Edwards was going to be a Giant and it was practically a done deal. His former teammate, Kellen Winslow now playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spoke out and said how Braylon would be a great fit for the Giants and in New York.

    Good – Edwards is a big play receiver with the size the Giants crave, standing 6’3” and weighing 215 pounds. In 2007, Edwards was a Pro-Bowl player with 80 receptions for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns. He can spread the defense and draw the double teams that Burress often commanded.

    Bad – Edwards can be seen as a diva, and at times struggles catching the ball, leading the league in drops in 2008. Last season there was a huge drop in production with only 55 catches for 873 yards and 3 touchdowns. Some people may point to the Browns’ quarterback situation for the lack of production. There were many various reports about what the Browns were asking for in return for Edwards, but “close sources” believe it was a 1st round draft choice.

Anquan Boldin – After the Cardinals improbable run in the 2008 playoffs, some Cardinals players (Boldin and Darnell Dockett to be exact) felt they should be getting paid more money. Boldin wanted his contract restructured or to be traded. Well neither has happened yet, but with his recent firing of his agent, things could change.

    Good – Boldin is tough as nails after the vicious hit he received last season versus the Jets that practically broke his face. Boldin has been productive his entire career, and is not afraid to go across the middle. He proved he could be a No. 1 receiver in an offense before Larry Fitzgerald ever came to town.

    Bad – Boldin wants to be paid Larry Fitzgerald type money, which is about 10 million a year. For the Giants to have acquired him, it is rumored that it would have cost them at least their 1st and a 3rd round draft pick.

Chad Ochocinco – Lately in Cincinatti, it seems every off season there is talk about Chad “Formerly known as Johnson” Ochocinco to be on the trading block and that he wants out. Nobody questions his talent, but teams are scared away of the presumed Terrell Owens syndrome he has, and that he has the ability to tear a locker room apart.

    Good – Chad was one of the best wide receivers in the league stretching from 2002 – 2007 and had the respect of all opposing defensive coordinators. Ochocinco has the ability to stretch the defense and has the speed to burn the best corners in the league.

    Bad – All the attention he brings to himself, and knowing the locker room can be torn by him. Coming off of a sub par season in 2008, where he was injured, people question if he still has the desire to be one of the best receivers in the league.

Brandon Marshall – The Denver Broncos have had quite the off season, with a new coach coming in, and the departure of Jay Cutler. Marshall could be next. Last Friday, Marshall met with the owner of the Broncos, Pat Bowlen. He was seen leaving with boxes and has no intentions of returning. Marshall is now demanding to be traded because he doesn’t like his contract (what’s new?) and doesn’t like where the organization is heading.

    Good – Marshall is the youngest player (not named Hakeem or Ramses) on this list, only 25 years old. He is 6’4” and weighs 230 pounds, goes across the middle, has terrific hands and great speed. His rookie season was what you would expect from a rookie, but his last two seasons have been phenomenal. In the last two seasons combined he has 206 catches for 2,590 yard and 13 touchdown catches.

    Bad – Legal troubles. Definitely not what you want to hear after the recent Plaxico Burress. He is almost at Adam “Pacman” Jones territory, having seven different incidents with the law since being drafted. At some point, teams have to decide is the potential worth the risk? On top of that, he had minor hip surgery in April.

Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden – The Giants hope these two rookies are the answer to their biggest question mark on the roster. Two is better than one. Instead of losing draft picks, the Giants decided to work through the draft.

    Good – Hakeem Nicks was seen as one of the most “NFL ready” prospects in this year’s draft, and possess’ monstrous sized hands, toting 4 XL gloves. Nicks is not afraid to go across the middle and has the ability to catch every ball thrown his way. Ramses Barden is 6’6” and 230 pounds, with basketball in his background. Don’t be surprised to see Barden used in the “green-zone” for the fade route and the jump balls.

    Bad – To state the obvious, they are both rookies. The Giants are ready to contend for the Lombardi Trophy now, and rookies rarely have impacts in their inaugural season. Both players are unproven in the NFL, and so far to this point, nobody knows what type of production they can expect.

    All Giants fans abide to the unwritten law of “In Jerry We Trust.” Jerry Reese has had great success to this point as the general manager and has made all the right moves to this point. This off season was filled with rumors and big play receivers that many people feel the Giants need if they want to stand on top of the mountain again.

    As it may seem the Giants are content with their receivers going into the 2009 season, keep in mind last off season right before training camp they dealt Jeremy Shockey after many people thought he would stay a Giant after the NFL Draft ended. If the Giants aren’t happy with what they see through training camp, don’t be surprised to see one of these big play receivers in Giants’ blue in the fall.

A True “Giant” Receiver: An Inside Look at Ramses Barden

Ramses Barden was arguably the most intriguing prospect in this years NFL Draft. Being a wide receiver standing 6’6” and weighing 229 pounds, he caught everyone’s attention. Barden may look out of place lining up out wide but make no mistake, this is a wide receiver.

Barden was named after the Egyptian pharaoh—as his dad said he wanted “to give him something that would make him feel different and stand out.” Like a sore thumb, Barden sure does stand out. A “big” corner back is considered to be about 6’0” or a little bigger.

Every average fan that watches football can realize the mismatch Barden creates on the gridiron.

Out of high school, Barden didn’t garner much attention from the big college powerhouses, and decided to attend Cal-Poly. While at Cal-Poly, Barden was a two time All-American.

Barden reeled in 50 touchdowns, 206 receptions, and 4,203 total receiving yards, with a 20.4 average yard per catch. Barden is one of only three players in Division 1-AA/Football Championship Subdivision history, the great Jerry Rice being another, to catch more than 50 career touchdowns.

There are three types of people, those that make things happen, those that watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. Barden certainly falls under the category of a person that makes things happen.

Jerry Reese, the Giants General Manager, said “Small-school guys, we like them to dominate and he stuck out like a sore thumb like Kevin Boss at his level of competition.”

Being an avid fan of the NFL Draft, I wanted to call Jerry Reese myself and ask for him to select Barden. I see all the potential in the world, and Barden has a great head on his shoulders.

One major knock on Barden is that his time speed isn’t up to par with the other wide receivers in the NFL. Last time I checked, games are played in helmets and pads, not in compression shorts and skimpy t-shirts.

Another bad rap for Barden is that he played against lesser competition. Last time I checked, if you are playing down to competition, you better dominate, which he did.

Please note, up until this point I did not point out the “similarities” between Barden and Plaxico Burress. That is because Barden is Ramses Barden and not Plaxico Burress, and Barden will make a name for himself.

Burress was a seasoned veteran when the Giants acquired him in Free Agency. Barden is a young kid that has room for improvement and the Giants can groom him to be the receiver they crave.

In 2009, Barden may not be on the field every down, but you can sure bet that he will be on the field when the Giants offense gets in the “green-zone.” Coach Coughlin refers to the “red-zone” as the “green-zone” because he figures there is no reason to stop and you should go in for the touchdown.

The fade route has become a go-to-play for teams when they get inside the 20 yard line, and now the Giants possess one of the biggest receivers in the league. With his massive wingspan and leaping ability, he will be able to go up and get the ball at it’s highest point and shield the smaller corner from the ball.

As Barden gets older and more experienced, the more he works with Wide Receivers Coach Mike Sullivan, he will refine his route running ability and become a threat on every down. 84 players were drafted before Ramses Barden, and Barden could end up being one of the best players in this draft class.

When this crop of rookies is evaluated three years from now, people will wonder why did he fall so far in the draft?

Al Barden, Ramses’ father, couldn’t have picked a better fitting name for his son as Ramses is a king sized receiver that is a “Giant” among men.

Which Undrafted Free Agents Have a Chance To Make the Giants’ Roster

Warren Moon, Kurt Warner, Rod Smith, Priest Holmes, Antonio Gates, Tony Romo, Willie Parker, Mike Vanderjagt, Wes Welker, Adewale Ogunleye, NY Giant great Emlen Tunnel.

What do these eleven players all have in common?

None were chosen in the NFL draft, but have had great careers.

Most general managers often say how the few hours after the draft are just as important as the draft itself, because it is a time to build depth that can create championships. Every team scrambles to sign players right after “Mr. Irrelevant” is announced, to try to gain an advantage.

 

The Giants signed seven draft-eligible players. Jerry Reese and the rest of the Giants staff is regarded around the league as one of the best at evaluating talent. Here is an inside look at each player and his chances to make the roster:

 

Maurice Evans: Defensive End, Penn State

Evans was a standout player during his sophomore season at Happy Valley, racking up 12.5 sacks.  Draft hype quickly surrounded him. In his junior season though, Evans got into legal trouble and made it to Joe Paterno’s doghouse, and he was never able to get out.

The man who replaced Evans, Aaron Maybin, was drafted 11th overall by the Buffalo Bills. Some feel that could have been Evans—if he had stayed out of trouble. After his disappointing junior season, he declared himself for the NFL draft, but went undrafted.

Checking in at 6’1” and 274 pounds, Evans is a bit undersized, but has the speed off the edge the Giants crave. After a very impressive minicamp, expect Evans to challenge Dave Tollefson for a roster spot.

Evans chose to sign with the New York over Tampa Bay, Detroit, and Buffalo. I believe that shows a lot in his character because it demonstrates he is not not afraid to back down from any competition. The Giants have great depth in the defensive line, and if Evans makes the 53-man roster, he backs Jerry Reese’s statement that you can never have enough pass rushers.

 

Vince Anderson: Defensive Back, Webber International

Anderson is the first player ever from Webber International to sign with an NFL team, and hopes to stay in the league.

Anderson has great size for a player in the secondary, standing at 6’2″ and weighing 205 pounds. One of the reasons the Giants like him so much is because he can play both corner back and safety. With the backup safety spot in question, look for Anderson to get a long look there, as he only has to compete with Steve Cargile and fellow undrafted free agent rookie, Sha’reef Rashad.

 

Sha’reef Rashad: Safety, Central Florida

I believe Rashad has the best chance to make the roster, due to the lack of depth at the safety position.

The Giants thought about taking Rashad at the end of the draft, but opted for Stoney Woodson and DeAndre Wright. Rashad has the flexibility the Giants love, able to play both strong and free safety at 6’0″ and 198 pounds.

Rashad also has a good head on his shoulders, being a two-time Conference USA All-Academic Team selection. Right before the draft, he was named to the 2009 class of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame’s Hampshire Honor Society. The Giants crave intelligent football players with a high “football IQ.” Travonti Johnson, a former teammate of Rashad at UCF, and a practice squad player for the Giants, told secondary coach Dave Merritt that Rashad is extremely bright. 

 

Bruce Johnson: Cornerback, Miami

The University of Miami has a reputation for producing standout performers on the gridiron. Bruce Johnson hopes to continue this legacy.

Johnson has great speed, but the one big knock on him is his lack of size, only being 5’11” and 182 pounds. Johnson hopes to challenge Wright and Woodson for a spot in the secondary. The Giants are set with their first four corners—Aaron Ross, Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, and Kevin Dockery. If Johnson wants to make the team, he should try and shine in the special teams area.

 

Alex Field: Defensive Tackle, Virginia

A behemoth of a man, Field is 6’7” and 270 pounds. With a player of that stature, it will be difficult for coaches to overlook him. The Giants have a lot of depth at defensive tackle, but if Field is able to make an impact on the defensive line or the field goal block unit, expect him to make the team.

Field could be a force blocking field goals, because kickers often struggle to get it over the taller lineman (Julius Peppers).

 

Dwayne Hendricks: Defensive Tackle, Miami

Hendricks, just like fellow Hurricane teammate Bruce Johnson, signed with the Giants after not being drafted. Hendricks was highly regarded out of high school as the third-rated player in the state of New Jersey, and the 19th-overall-rated tackle.

With a rare blend of size and speed, Hendricks is a very athletic defensive tackle. He is a run-stuffing tackle, at 6’4” and weighs in at 300 pounds. Hendricks is a long shot to make the team, but if he plays well in training camp, he could find a spot on the practice squad.

 

Kenny Ingram: Linebacker, Florida State

Ingram is a very interesting prospect to watch, as he continues to make the switch from safety to linebacker. Ingram was too big to play in the secondary, at 6’5” and 239. He lacks the speed of an NFL safety, but packs a serious punch to his hits. It will be tough for Ingram to make the roster due to the depth the Giants have at the linebacker position.

 

Emmit Thomas, a hall of fame corner back for the Kansas City Chiefs, was never drafted. John Randle, the great defensive tackle, played for the Minnesota Vikings, making the Pro Bowl seven times, and holds the record for the most sacks by a defensive tackle in the history of the NFL. As you can tell, the list of great NFL players not drafted goes on and on. If these players want to make the roster, and eventually make a name for themselves in the league, they have to remember that hard work will pay off, and they too can be great.

Breaking Down the NFC East: Power Rankings

The NFC East is the best division in the NFL. That is a fact. No questions about it. There is no need to get into statistics, because all four of these teams are Super Bowl contenders year in and year out. Let’s examine each offense, defense, special teams, and the coaches to take a look at each team to see who the true “Beast of the East” is.

Offensive Rankings:

(1) Philadelphia Eagles—The Eagles have rebuilt their offense this offseason, with the acquisition of Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters from Buffalo. They also added Stacy Andrews, the brother of the Eagles Pro Bowl guard, Shawn Andrews. The Eagles added Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy through the draft, who should have an immediate impact in the offense.

Then comes Donovan McNabb, who endures criticism from the Philly faithful, but always puts the Eagles in a position for a playoff run.

The one downside of the Eagles offense is the wide receiver position, outside of DeSean Jackson, but they feel that has been solved with Maclin on the opposite side. Brian Westbrook is as good as they come and is the perfect fit for the offense. Andy Reid often gets into trouble when calling plays because he will get away from the run.

(2) New York Giants—The “Jints” come in second place, due to the fact their offense is the perfect complement to their defense. The grind-it-out style the Giants offense runs beats up on opposing defenses and wears them down.

The Giants line is regarded as one of the best in the league, which paves the way for Brandon Jacobs. He is the biggest running back in the league at 6’4”, 264 pounds.

After wearing down the defense with his bruising style, the Giants bring in a smaller, more agile back to make defenders miss, also known as Ahmad Bradshaw. Eli Manning, Super Bowl winning MVP, is at the helm of the offense and manages the game. Coming into this season, the Giants have unproven wide receivers but should be able to use short, intermediate routes to keep the defense honest.

(3) Dallas Cowboys—With the loss of Terrell Owens, the Cowboys offense falls solely on the shoulders of Tony Romo.

The Cowboys have a good running game with Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice, and a solid offensive line.

Roy Williams, who was acquired in a trade last off season is now the No. 1 receiver for Romo. Williams was a disappointment for the Cowboys last season after they gave up virtually their entire draft to obtain Williams.

Jason Witten is a great tight end, and gives Tony Romo a safety valve. Tony Romo is “America’s” quarterback and dates Jessica Simpson, so it is tough for him not to be in the limelight.

With the pressure on this season, and with no Owens and all eyes on him, it should be interesting to see how Romo responds.

(4) Washington Redskins—There is no shame to be in this position, but the Redskins lack the offensive firepower the other teams have.

Clinton Portis is the main attraction of the offense, with Santana Moss and Chris Cooley playing as the sidekicks. Moss’ speed is able to open up the field for the rest of the receivers, which allows them to get underneath the safeties and give Jason Campbell short intermediate targets. Chris Cooley is an H-back who creates mismatches between him and linebackers.

Defensive Rankings

(1) New York Giants—The Giants’ complex blitzing schemes are tough for offenses to decipher and they have playmakers throughout the entire defense.

On the defensive front, they boast Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and recently acquired Chris Canty (from the Cowboys).

At linebacker, the Giants have a great run-stuffing middle linebacker in Antonio Pierce.

In the secondary, Corey Webster has turned into a shut-down corner opposite from Aaron Ross.

The Giants will have a top three defense this season, and they will carry the team.

(2) Washington Redskins—The big splash this offseason was the Redskins signing Albert Haynesworth, widely regarded as the best defensive tackle in the business.

Through the draft the Redskins further enhanced their defensive line acquiring Brian Orakpo with the 13th overall pick.

Laron Landry in the secondary has turned into one of the top young safeties in the league, and is a ball-hawk throughout the secondary. The Redskins rely on their defense to make plays and cause turnovers, and create a shorter field for the offense. 

(3) Philadelphia Eagles—Jim Johnson has been a fixture in Philadelphia, and now with his recent battle with cancer, has had to take a leave of absence from the team.

With his blitzing style, the Eagles cause havoc on the opposing quarterbacks. The defensive front includes Juqua Parker and Trent Cole, who have become a presence throughout the entire league.

The secondary has Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown, who are both very good corners.

With the offseason loss of Brian Dawkins, who was the heart and soul of the defense, it should be interesting to see who will step up as the leader for the defense.

(4) Dallas Cowboys—The Cowboys have one of the best defensive players in the league, Demarcus Ware. Ware creates havoc for opposing offensive tackles and the offense always has to know where No. 94 is on the field.

Terence Newman struggled to stay healthy last season, but this season looks to regain his old form as a Pro Bowl cornerback.

The Cowboys are the only team in the division to run a 3-4 defense, and signed Keith Brooking to replace Zach Thomas.

The Cowboys may have the weakest defense in the division, but they can hold their own versus any offense.

Special Teams Rankings

(1) New York Giants—In 2008, the Giants sent their kicker (John Carney), their punter (Jeff Feagles), and their long snapper (Zak DeOssie) to the Pro Bowl. It is tough to argue there is a better special teams unit in the NFL.

Although they decided to not resign Carney during the offseason, the Giants have the man he replaced still on the roster, Lawrence Tynes.

Jeff Feagles is the best placement punter of all-time, as he often pins teams in their own 10.

Coach Coughlin emphasizes the importance of all three facets of the game. The Giants return game suffered when Domenik Hixon became an every-down wide receiver, but the Giants will look to find his replacement this training camp.

(2) Philadelphia Eagles—The Eagles special teams is one of the best in the league, which features return man DeSean Jackson. Jackson is an electric wide receiver that also returns punts. His speed, quickness, and elusiveness makes it tough for kickoff and punt teams to track him down.

David Akers might not be what he used to be, but still is very serviceable.

Sav Rocca has a big leg for a punter and is able to turn the field over on opposing teams.

(3) Dallas Cowboys—Nick Folk was a Pro Bowl kicker his rookie season, but has undergone hip surgery this offseason and his health is in question for training camp.

Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton returned the kicks and punts last season, but this season it could be new return men as both players will be asked to handle more wide receiver duties.

Mat McBriar has a strong leg, and he too is able to turn the field over. Field position is always very important in the NFC East battles.

(4) Washington Redskins—Antwaan Randle El has not lived up to all the money that Dan Snyder spent on him a few years back during the offseason. Randle El was supposed to be the perfect complement to Santana Moss at wide receiver and create havoc on special teams. Thus far, that hasn’t happened.

Rock Cartwright, the No. 3 running back, is the kick return man, and is serviceable. The kicking game is handled by Shaun Suisham and the punter is Hunter Smith.

Coaching Staff Rankings

(1) New York Giants—The Giants’ head coach Tom Coughlin is known for being a disciplinarian and can get under his players’ skin very easily. However, he does things the right way, and the Giants players know Coughlin isn’t going anywhere. It is tough for a team to rebel when they are winning.

(2) Philadelphia Eagles—Andy Reid could make a strong argument to be first on this list, but he doesn’t have a Vince Lombardi trophy under his belt. Reid sometimes can get too fancy on offense and forgets about his running game, but overall the Eagles staff is as best as they come.

(3) Dallas Cowboys—The Cowboys rank ahead of the Redskins because of offensive coordinator, Jason Garrett. Garrett is known as an offensive guru and is expected to take over Wade Phillips’ job when he either resigns or is fired. It is always tough to work under Jerry Jones, but Wade Phillips has been successful by being a “player’s coach.”

(4) Washington Redskins—2008 was Jim Zorn’s rookie season as a head coach in the NFL, and started out with a bang. However, the team cooled off and his job was in question by the media. Owner Dan Snyder keeps a close watch on his head coach, and does not give much leeway for failure.

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