My good friend Jesse Bartolis of NFL Mocks has a great report on Miami CB Brandon Harris today.
As far as Giants team needs go, now that the Super Bowl is over we’re going to hit this topic hard on GMENHQ. And Bartolis is right on the money – the Giants need to upgrade their CB’s this offseason big time. Here’s why:
As I think Harris plays like a college Revis I also think he is similar to Aaron Ross in college. I think the difference between Ross and Harris though is I believe Harris has a much better love for football. Ross came into the league as a willing tackler and a player with very good athletic ability (he also returned punts in college, unlike Harris), but Ross has a questionable love for the game, even admitting that he had not really cared about football as much as he should until he was injured and had to miss a year. Ross is also made of glass, but that’s a different story.
Yes, linebackers are an issue but the Giants need to seriously look at their CB’s and figure out what they can realistically get out of them. As of week #1, I went on record as saying CB was an area of concern for me. That continues to be a Giant concern today as I look at the roster.
It’s a passing league now, right? The Giants need 4 or 5 QUALITY players that can not only cover well, but step in during Nickel and Dime sub packages and not create severe mismatches for the running game like the Giants currently suffer from. The Packers just won a Super Bowl with their passing defense, New Orleans did it a year ago, the Steelers a year before that. It’s not a 3-4 vs 4-3 issue it is a talent level issue… and the Giants are thin as can be here at CB.
Pressure on the QB is only going to get you so far, and in a 3 step drop if you can still get over the top of the defense and put the ball in the exact right spot like Aaron Rodgers can consistently do you’re not going to win games. You need good pressure and great coverage to win consistently. As Matt Bowen points out, the Packers had an offensive game plan that seriously exposed gaps in defenses throughout the playoffs – expect to see it copied and perfected next year across the league. The Giants need to get on board with improving their secondary and getting T-Thomas and C-Webb some help. Aaron Ross is not the answer, and neither is a 3 safety look.
Brandon Harris has serious potential, he’s fast, athetic, he’s fluid and loose — and has great size for a CB. The Giants need him high on their draft board… bottom line.
