Giants Preseason Positional Battles: Earn Your Stripes

Let’s fast forward a few months to the first week of August, when Tom Coughlin and the Giants will travel to the University of Albany to begin training camp.  What players should we key in on?  What positions still have roles up for grabs?

Let’s take a look at each spot up for grabs.

Wide Receiver

No. 1—Steve Smith

No. 2—Domenik Hixon vs. Hakeem Nicks

No. 3—Ramses Barden vs. Mario Manningham vs. Sinorice Moss vs. David Tyree

Well, there it is.  The most discussed position for the Giants this offseason.  Will all seven of these players make the team?  Well, it’s a long shot.

I fully expect the Giants’ receiving battle to be open as the season goes on, with players earning their playing time if they showcase the ability to perform on Sundays.  Until someone emerges during the season, we will likely see a rotation of players come in and out at the receiver position.

In my opinion, Steve Smith has earned the No. 1 receiver spot.  He has been Eli Manning’s go-to-guy on third downs and provides the team with a bit of experience.  Plus, it’s going to be Smith’s third season in the NFL, which is typically when most receivers have their breakout seasons (don’t worry, I knocked on wood).

Domenik Hixon will likely be second on the depth chart, but I don’t think he’ll be on the field as often as most No. 2 wide receivers because he should also be used where he excels, on special teams. 

I think the Giants will heavily use a bit of a rotation here to give everyone a chance early on, unless someone clearly emerges during the preseason or training camp as the best receiving threat.  Ultimately, the Giants’ first-round pick, Hakeem Nicks, will likely split time with Hixon heavily.

The third receiver could often depend on the defensive personnel of the opposing team.  The Giants could either take advantage of small corners with the height of Ramses Barden or take advantage of their potential deep threat in Mario Manningham.  Eli Manning said he feels Manningham can step up and contribute a lot to the team this season as a deep threat, so we’ll see how that goes.

David Tyree probably won’t see much time as a receiver, due to the depth already present.  His role on the team is special teams play, still.

Sinorice Moss appears to be the odd man out in New York, after three disappointing seasons.

Predicted Depth Chart: Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Ramses Barden, David Tyree

 

Strongside Linebacker

Danny Clark vs. Clint Sintim vs. Bryan Kehl vs. Chase Blackburn

This position battle should come down to Danny Clark and Clint Sintim, since Bryan Kehl and Chase Blackburn are both naturally weakside linebackers.

Clark has the experience and has already adjusted to the Giants defensive system.  On the other hand, Sintim played college football at Virginia, where they primarily run the 3-4 defense.

Clark will most likely be the starter Week One, but I expect to see Sintim on the field in pass-rush situations.  Sintim had 11 sacks last season for Virginia.  Sintim’s one weakness may be stopping the rush, which may cost him the starting spot during preseason.

Predicted Winner: Danny Clark

Running back

First, you wear them down with Brandon Jacobs.  Then what?  This season, the Giants will be without Derrick Ward, their No. 2 back last year.  However, they have two options competing for the number two spot in Ahmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware, plus rookie running back Andre Brown.

While Bradshaw and Ware will enter the season in a competition for the second spot, I think Bradshaw has the clear advantage, since he was higher on the depth chart last season and has more playing experience.  Ware will definitely see more than the two touches he had last season, though.  Perhaps this is the second version of the three-headed monster?

Predicted Winner: Ahmad Bradshaw

 

Quarterback No. 3

Andre Woodson vs. Rhett Bomar

We all know the first two spots are locked up by Eli Manning and David Carr, but third string is still up for grabs. 

Last season, the Giants drafted Andre Woodson in the sixth round, hoping to groom him into a formidable player they could trade for draft picks in a few years in a similar fashion as the Falcons did with Matt Schaub. 

Woodson had a great college career, but slid all the way to the sixth round because scouts were worried about his throwing motion.  However, Woodson still threw for 40 touchdowns during his senior season at Kentucky, go 325 pass attempts without throwing an interception, and also broke Kentucky’s all-time touchdown passes mark with 81, surpassing Jared Lorenzen’s previous record of 78 touchdown passes.

Since making it to the NFL, though, Woodson has been unimpressive.  Woodson went 3-9 last preseason and threw for just 41 yards.  Even though he saw very limited time on the field, he still managed to throw one interception and fumble twice.

Rhett Bomar was drafted this year in the fifth round and will give Woodson plenty of competition.  Bomar moved his way to the top of the depth chart in just the second game of his freshman season at Oklahoma. 

He started off slow, but improved each week and eventually earned MVP honors in the Holiday Bowl against Oregon.  Bomar was dismissed by head coach Bob Stoops the next season, though, for accepting payments from a car dealership for work he didn’t do.  Bomar then transferred to Sam Houston State for his last two years of eligibility, where he went on to win the Walter Payton Award, which is awarded to the best player in the Football Champtionship Subdivsion.

The battle is really wide open.  Woodson seemed to have the jitters during the preseason last year and struggled learning the playbook, but those problems really should be gone by now.  I feel that Woodson will use the selection of another quarterback as his fuel to succeed, while Bomar will struggle a bit as he tries to pick up the Giants’ in-depth playbook.  I expect the loser of this battle to remain with the team on the practice squad, though.

Predicted Winner: Andre Woodson

The Day I Realized I’ll Bleed Blue for Life

I’ve rooted for the New York Giants since I was born. As a fellow Giants fan, my father made sure to dress me in Giants gear and have me by his side on the couch for every game.

While I may have been watching Giants games before I knew how to walk, I didn’t really become a Giants fan until the 2002 season. 

You see, there’s a big difference between being a fan of a team and being a follower of a team. A fan is die-hard. A fan supports their team no matter how incompetent they may be on the field and/or in the front office. A fan knows the ins-and-outs of the franchise’s history, and can hold their own in any debate regarding their team. 

Now, a follower is much different. A follower may know the entire roster, but you really don’t become a fan until you have a real emotional connection to the team. When that team loses and it stings you for days, you know you’re a true fan.

Which brings me back to the Giants. In 2002, the team was a bit inconsistent, but ended up making the post season with wins in the final four weeks of the regular season against the Redskins, Cowboys, Colts, and Eagles to earn the Giants a spot in the NFC Wild Card game with the San Francisco 49ers. This is one of the few games that will forever be etched into my memory no matter how hard I may try to forget it.

The Giants led the ‘Niners by 24 with four minutes left in the third quarter, but Jeff Garcia, Terrell Owens, and the 49ers offense started to suddenly click.  Garcia led the 49ers offense down the field with surprising ease, connecting with Terrell Owens on a 26-yard touchdown pass over the middle. The Niners went for two and Garcia found Owens again, making the score 38-22.

At this point the young Tommy Barnett was thinking, “Oh, no problem. Kerry Collins is torching this defense. We’ll march down field here.”

Let’s just say I wasn’t too wise back then.

The Giants went three-and-out on their following possession. The 49ers scored again, this time on a 14-yard scramble by Garcia. The score was now 38-30 after another Garcia to Owens two point conversion.

New York went three-and-out yet again. Uh-oh. Somebody has to step up for us here. Right? Nope.

Instead, San Francisco put together a long drive lasting around six minutes, which ended in a 25-yard field goal by Jeff Chandler. Giants still held on with a slim lead, 38-33.

Now was the opportunity for the Giants to get their act together. This is the playoffs. It’s do or die. The Giants would drive all the way down to San Francisco’s 24 yard line, only to have Matt Bryant miss the 42-yard field goal attempt, mainly due to the bad snap by Trey Junkin in his first and only game as a Giant.

San Francisco’s ball with 3:16 left on the clock. Great. Garcia continues to play like he’s the new Steve Young, torching our secondary. Garcia to Tai Streets for a 13-yard touchdown pass. One minute left. 39-38 49ers. I taste vomit in my mouth, yet I can’t even open my mouth to vent my frustration due to complete and utter shock.

Delvin Joyce gets a good 33-yard return to set us up at our own 48 yard line.  Collins led Big Blue all the way to San Francisco’s 23 yard line with just six seconds on the clock. No way! We’re coming back! All we have to do is hit his kick! Trey Junkin snaps the ball low—too low for the holder, Matt Allen. Allen attempts to pass the ball downfield, only for the Giants receiver to be tackled clearly before the ball reached him. Game over. 

A FLAG! Pass intereference? No, wait, the flag is on us for having an ineligible receiver downfield. That’s the ballgame.

I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I walked around with a frown on my face for the next week or so, just playing the game back over and over in my head. 

Not only was I frustrated by my favorite team’s epic collapse, but the next day the NFL came out and admitted the officials missed the pass interference call on the 49ers on the final play of the game. If pass interference would have been called the penalties would have offset each other, giving the Giants one more play un-timed. 

It was at this moment after the game I realized I was a true Giants fan. I had poured everything in my heart cheering for them, only to be teased at the potential of a blowout turned collapse at the end. 

This game made me come to the realization I’ll bleed blue for the rest of my life. I’ll always be there by the side of my team, whether it’s through the good times or the bad.

 

Giants Make The Right Receiver Moves, Without Boldin Or Edwards

Many football fans felt the New York Giants would strike a deal during draft day for Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin to fill the void at wide receiver after the departures of last season’s starters, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.  That didn’t happen.  The Giants filled the hole by adding depth at the wide receiver position with Hakeem Nicks (UNC, 1st round, 29th pick) and Ramses Barden (Cal Poly, 3rd round, 85th overall pick).  They also added another receiver in tight end Travis Beckum.

While Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin would have been sexy additions to the team, they wouldn’t make sense for the Giants.  The Giants have a strong strength drafting and this is how Jerry Reese has taken this team to a higher level.  As we all know, the Giants 2007 draft class consisted of Aaron Ross, Steve Smith, Jay Alford, Kevin Boss, Michael Johnson, and Ahmad Bradshaw, who all contributed greatly to thee Giants’ Super Bowl run.  It’s safe to say that wouldn’t have been there if their class wasn’t that strong.  It doesn’t make sense to give up a first and third round pick for one of these receivers.  Jerry Reese was correct to stand firm on his stance that both Boldin and Edwards were worth the second and fifth round picks obtained in the Jeremy Shockey trade.

Both Boldin and Edwards would have commanded long, luxurious contracts worth $10 million a season.  That kind of money leaves much less room for the Giants to improve on other positions.  It puts the focus on just one player.  The NFL is a team sport where depth triumphs superstars. 

The Giants also aren’t the type of franchise that values players that don’t want to play for them.  As soon as Jeremy Shockey spoke out the Giants made sure they would trade him.  While I really doubt it, the Giants could potentially have a headache on their hands since both players have already shown they’re outspoken by asking for a trade.  Nicks, Barden, and Beckum all want to play for New York and can do it for much less money. 

People can doubt the productivity the Giants will receive from their current receiver corps, but the addition of Edwards or Boldin wouldn’t suddenly make our offense unstoppable.  Let’s not forget that Braylon Edwards led the league with 16 drops last season and Boldin has had injury problems.

Nicks, the 6’1″ receiver from North Carolina, has been compared to Anquan Boldin.  Neither receiver ran an impressive 40 yard dash time, but they both have the skills needed to be successful in the NFL.  Nicks is a big, strong receiver with great hands.  He won’t be the Giants’ deep threat, but he’ll be an excellent possession receiver that can make plays after the catch with his strength.  Nicks averaged 18 yards per reception during his final season with the Tarheels.

Barden is 6’6″ and gives the Giants a tall red zone target.  Barden played at a lower-level of competition at Cal Poly, but dominated their as a big playmaker.  He averaged 25.7 yards per reception in 2007 and 18.8 yards per reception in 2008.

Beckum, the tight end from Wisconsin in the third round.  Beckum was quite the productive athlete in college.  He excelled as both a tight end and a linebacker.  Beckum isn’t much of a blocker and Jerry Reese has said he will most likely be used as a H-Back.

Jerry Reese still hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a trade for Braylon Edwards, saying  “we’ll keep our options open”.  However, I still feel we’ll be fine without him and not make a trade for him.  Either way, In Jerry Reese I Trust.

Giants Targeting Heyward-Bey

The Giants appear to be targeting receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey with their first round pick now according to the Daily News, who cite two unnamed sources familiar with the Giants’ plans.

New York would need to trade up to select the 6’2”, 210lb receiver from Maryland.  There have been mock drafts that have him flying off the draft board early to Oakland, who holds the seventh pick in the draft.  It’s a longshot Heyward-Bey will go that early, though.  Heyward-Bey could go to teams such as the Jets (17th pick), Eagles (pick 21), Vikings (pick 22), Dolphins (pick 25), Ravens (pick 26), or the Colts (pick 27).

Heyward-Bey ran a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, the best speed of any prospect this year.  The only receivers to post better times in the 40-yard dash are Rondel Melendez (4.24), Jerome Mathis (4.28), and Yamon Fingurs (4.3), according to TopEndSports.  40 yard dash times don’t exactly translate to success in the NFL, but it’s always something interesting to look at.

Heyward-Bey’s biggest strength is clearly his speed, his strength at running the reverse, and his ability to separate himself from defensive backs, but critics have said he needs to work on his route running skills.  There seems to be some concern as to whether or not he may just be a workout warrior, similar to Troy Williamson in the 2005 draft.

Last season Heyward-Bey posted 42 receptions for 609 yards with 5 touchdowns in 12 games for Maryland.

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