OFFENSE – Needs – OL, RB

The offensive line was been slowly dissolving into a weaker unit as a whole. Chris Snee and David Diehl are both getting up there in age, and the need for a rock solid starter for years to come should be a focal point at some point early in 2013. Luckily for the Gmen this year is a great year for lineman and they should have their pick of whoever may fall out of the top 15 this year, or even have the opportunity of taking a solid starter in rounds 2-4. The ability for that prospect to learn the nuances of the line from veterans like Snee and Diehl would also work in the Giants favor.

It’s believed up to 7 offensive linemen could go in the first round. I would not expect the top 4 lineman, Joeckel, Fisher, Cooper, and Warmack to be available at 19; however, guys like D.J. Fluker, and Melenick Watson would be an excellent addition for the Giants. Fluker earned preseason All-SEC recognition in 2012 and went on to earn many honors, including second-team All-America by AP and Walter Camp and first-team All-SEC from the coach and second-team from the media while starting each of the Crimson Tide’s games en route to the national title. Menelik Watson recorded a 27.5-inch vertical jump and 19 strength lifts. He played right tackle at Florida State but the feeling is he can play left tackle. If the Giants decide to go in another direction in round 1, look for Justin Pugh in round 2, or Barrett Jones in Round 3. Both players versatility is unparalleled to the entire lineman class outside of the top 4 lineman in the draft. Pugh may be the biggest reason Ryan Nassib is considered to be a good QB prospect since he kept him on his feet throughout his college career, while Jones was D.J. Flukers’ teammate and has won a national championship playing 3 separate positions on the offensive line (C, OG, and OT.)

Running back is a much smaller need since we’re really talking about a back-up here. David Wilson will be the #1 back going forward and Andre Brown can’t stay healthy, so were looking for a versatile back with some pass catching ability to be a fill in while Wilson and Brown get some rest. Brown will be a free agent after next season so there should be an interest in having some security at the position, but it won’t be until round 4 or lower. Guys I love like Michigan State Le’Veon Bell and North Carolina Giovanni Bernard will be long gone, so the Giants will be looking for a RB who can also be used as a punt returner, or a great blocker on special teams. Enter Florida RB Mike Gillislee. Gillislee went crazy in his senior season after finally getting the starting gig. He totaled 1,152 yards and 10 touchdowns in the SEC. That takes talent, and this kid has some serious upside. Considered a top prep-school prospect coming out of high school, Gillislee sat behind Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps before they both left for the NFL. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not going to be a starter, but he would be more than helpful. He should be chosen in rounds 4 or 5.

DEFENSE – Needs – LB, DB

Dan Connor, Mark Herzlich, Mathias Kiwanuka, Keith Rivers. Those are the best ILB’s on the Giants roster as of now. Kiwanuka is no slouch. He’s a heck of a player and a great LB, but he’s not a natural MLB. Rivers was just signed to a 1 yr. deal, but he’s not a MLB either. Herzlich is a fantastic story, and an inspiration in the locker room, that being said he’s not going to the pro-bowl this year, though I wish him the best on making it one day. The glaring need for a captain in the middle has been a problem for the last two years, and it should be a priority.

The problem is this isn’t a great class of ILB. As a matter of fact I only really like two of them and that’s LSU’s MLB Kevin Minter and Georgia LB Jarvis Jones. Just like Gillislee at Florida, Minter and Jones played in the SEC, which is a tutoring lesson for the NFL. So many great NFL players come from that conference. Minter was clearly the best defensive player on his team at LSU, but is he worth the #19th pick overall? Jones on the other hand would be a gift if he somehow falls to #19. Teams are very skeptical of Jones because of some pretty serious medical concerns. Jones was diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis, a narrowing of the spine that can result in numbness, loss of muscle control, and in some cases paralysis. He has since been cleared by doctors, saying that it was a miss-diagnosis, but that really tainted his draft stock. He is a top 10 talent that will fall some but I’m not sure he makes it to 19. If he should, would the Giants consider him healthy enough for them to draft? That’s a question for Jerry Reece. I think it would be an easy pick myself. Jones isn’t even considered a true MLB, which goes against my own thought process. He’s just too good to pass up if he’s still there. Now if he isn’t I think the Giants should look at OL or a CB in the first round.

With that being said, let’s talk about the CB / S class for the 2013 NFL Draft. This class has some serious talent. Dee Milliner barring any major injury will be a shutdown corner in the NFL. The Giants would need to move way up in the draft to even think about Dee and that’s not Mr. Reece’s style. Instead the Giants should be looking at 3 guys in particular.

(1) Florida State CB, Xavier Rhodes – Rhodes, like Jarvis Jones would have to fall in the draft according to most mock drafts. According to what you read, he could go to the Dolphins at 12, the Bucs at 13 and the Saints at 15. The kid has a 40.5” vertical leap, an 11’ broad jump, and he ran a 4.39 40 at the combine. All 32 teams were present at his pro-day, and is considered by most to be the second best CB prospect in this class.

(2) Texas FS, Kenny Vaccaro – Vaccaro emerged as arguably the best safety in the Big 12 as a junior, posting 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, eight passes broken up and two interceptions. While the Longhorns’ talented defense struggled in 2012, Vaccaro registered a career-high 107 tackles and five turnovers (two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery). He has great instincts and hits hard, 2 qualities needed to be successful as a FS in the NFL. Giants’ fans should be thrilled if Vaccaro is taken at #19.

(3) Houston CB, D. J. Hayden – Hayden, also has similarities to Jarvis Jones. Hayden had what could have been a fatal injury last year. Hayden suffered a heart issue — a torn inferior vena cava — which was called the “most unique injury in the history of the draft” by a Packers executive, but he’s getting good news in his team physicals after checking out at the Combine. Hayden was elected to the 2012 ALL Conference USA team even though he only played 9 games after the heart related injury. He was a team Captain at Houston, and shows the willingness to fight through adversity. I would take him last of the three only due to the unbelievable injury he suffered in a practice! Still, he’s very talented and would be a good pick for the Giants.

For those of you who follow my draft and are wondering how I could have written this entire piece without mentioning Florida State DE Bjoern Werner after having him as the Giants pick for many weeks now, I say… I just did. (HA!) I would like to remind everyone reading this that the article is about players the Giants should be looking at to fill a need, not who they think is the best player available at the time. I know, semantics but hey! What can you do?

Follow me on Twitter @Jferguson631

Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Pugh from Syracuse is projected as an early second day pick, so if he falls to the Giants, it will be another teams mistake. At 6’5 309lbs, Pugh, can play nearly every position on the offensive line with the most experience at LT. He would be a perfect pick for the Gmen with his versatility. The Giants should continue to look at offensive lineman throughout the draft as they need to get some younger talent on the roster.

Stay tuned and see what happens

19. New York Giants – Zach Ertz, TE/Stanford

Eli Manning got a taste of what life is like with a great pass catching tight end and Zach Ertz would bring him up to date with the rest of the elite passers in the NFL. Brady has Gronkowski, Brees has Graham and Manning would have Ertz. He’s smart, he’s huge and most importantly he’s ready to play right now. Ertz is going to create matchup problems all over for opposing defenses and he can beat defenders up the seam as well. Defensive end and linebacker are areas of need as well but Ertz is too good to pass up if the Giants are serious about exploiting Manning’s skills to their fullest.

Ertz is a 6’5″ big time target for Eli Manning, and as Josh Hill wrote, now gives Eli what some of the other elite passers in the NFL have, and that’s a premier catching tight end. Zach ran a 4.65 40 and had 24 reps of 225lbs to lead the class of TE in this years draft. Still, there are questions about his matador-like blocking which would essentially make him only available on passing downs. I like his overall level of talent, but would question taking him over CB Xavier Rhodes or MLB Kevin Minter.

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Joeckel, OT/ Texas A&M – After the combine, Joeckel is still considered the best lineman in the draft, and now that the Chiefs have officially traded a 2nd round pick and a conditional 2014 pick to the 49’ers for Alex Smith he would certainly love a little protection. I am a firm believer a lineman must have great upper body strength. Joeckel did 27 reps of 225lbs. at the combine. Eric Fisher who is also getting some play at #1 also completed 27 reps, but Luke has the force on his side.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Sharrif Floyd, DT/ Florida – NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was quoted as saying, “everybody” has Floyd pegged as a top-five pick.” At 6’3 297 pounds, with a solid 40 time, Floyd racked up 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two kick blocks as a junior before declaring. He is the one player whose stock went up the most due to the combine.

3. Oakland Raiders – Geno Smith, QB/West Virginia – ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported on NFL 32Wednesday that the Raiders have interest in West Virginia QB Geno Smith with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. This is exactly what I have been saying since January 26th when the first mock draft came out. Palmer’s 13 million dollar base salary is a big concern, and then there’s the fact that he’s 33 years old.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Star Lotulelei, DT/Utah –As mentioned in the last draft with the hiring of Billy Davis as DC, The Eagles will run a strict 3-4 defense, as that’s all Davis runs. Any good 3-4 can’t run without a big body in the middle. Just ask the Jets! Lotulelei is considered to be the best DT prospect at this time.

5. Detroit Lions – Dee Milliner CB/ Alabama – According to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, teams wanting Alabama CB Dee Milliner will “probably have to trade ahead of Detroit at No. 5 to get him.” I trust Peter King’s opinion. He has access to information few others do in the industry. Milliner will require surgery right after the combine but should be ready for training camp and my bet is it’s in Detroit

6. Cleveland Browns – Bjoern Werner DE/ Florida State – Werner has an incredible motor, and great hand use to keep separation, He is also very new to this game, after only picking up the game at 15. Remind anyone else of Jason Pierre Paul’s story? The Browns are also rumored to be interested in bringing in some QB competition for Brandon Weeden. I don’t see them going QB here, but I could see them go with Eric Fisher if the new regime believes Trent Richardson is their workhorse for the next few years.

7. Cardinals – Eric Fisher OT/ Central Michigan – Yes, the Cardinals need a quarterback and almost all this years’ QB’s are still available I get that. What’s the point if he isn’t standing upright after most downs? Call me old fashioned but I believe the only way to fix a bad offense is by helping both the run and the pass with a 6’7” 304 pound tackle who has the potential to be an immediate impact for Bruce Arians and his offensive prowess. Plus after the outstanding play of Russell Wilson some teams will feel confident in taking a signal caller later in the draft.

8. Buffalo Bills –Dion Jordan, DE/Oregon – Jordan ran a 4.53 unofficial time at the combine. WOW, that’s lightning fast. He honestly would be a top 5 pick if he was about 30 pounds heavier. At 6’6” but only 248lbs., he’s going to get pushed around at the next level, that is if they can catch him. The Bills defense needs a compliment to Mario Williams, and Jordan fits the mold.

9. New York Jets – Ezekiel Ansah DE/ BYU – With the hiring of Marty Mornhinweg, the Jets will be looking to change the pathetic attempt at ground in pound in an era known for quarterback and 5,000 yard seasons. That means there’s a chance they go offensive line here. Too bad they’re known for making poor decisions on the first day of the draft. As I had mentioned earlier, their defense can’t function without a pass rush. Ansah is as good of a prospect as the Jets could hope for and would certainly help their inept pass rush. Ansah finished as MVP of the senior bowl and one of the studs of the combine putting up ridiculous numbers including a 4.62 40 time.

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, OG/Alabama – Considered the best guard prospect in this year’s draft, Jake Locker should be thanking his lucky stars if the Titans can have Warmack fall to 10. With 40 career starts and the ability to get to the second level, Warmack has developed himself into a definitive top ten selection. CBSSports.com has him ranked as the 2nd best player in the draft as of 2.27.2013.

11. San Diego Chargers – Barkevious Mingo, DE/LSU –Mingo possesses the frame at 6-5, 240 pounds and athleticism to warrant top 10 considerations but at this point he remains an unpolished prospect, and that’s why he will fall slightly out of the top 10. Mingo had a great combine as expected from the athletically gifted DE/OLB. He ran the 40 time in 4.58 which was incredibly fast, and his ten yard splits were also very good which is used to gauge short yardage burst. A skill needed at the OLB or DE position in the NFL.

12. Miami Dolphins – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/Tennessee – Lots of rumors have been spread about Miami and their intentions. I stand by my thoughts that they take Patterson here though I read that he is considered to be as immature as he is talented. I was pretty sure the Dolphins just got rid of Brandon Marshall and have a hard time accepting they’d draft another knucklehead into that locker room. His baggage also come with some amazing talent as Patterson scored a touchdown via kickoff return, punt return, receiving, and rushing, joining Carl Pickens (receiving, KR, PR, INT) as the only players in Tennessee history to score a touchdown four different ways in a career. Since the Dolphins are high on hopes and low on offensive talent, Patterson seems like a likely target considering the shortage of first round talent on skill positions in this year’s draft.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers –Xavier Rhodes, CB/ Florida State – After not even including this guy in my first mock I have come to learn through a lot of reading that people consider him to be the 2nd best CB prospect in this year’s draft. Some even believe he has shutdown corner ability. With a 4.41 40 times, and 6’2 210 pound frame, Rhodes is now expected to be a top 20 pick post combine.

14. Carolina Panthers –. Jarvis Jones OLB/ Georgia – I can’t understand how a player with so many medical questions could choose to not participate at the combine. Think Da’quan Bowers. Bowers injuries weren’t nearly as significant of a concern as Jones. Now there are rumors that Jones has walked off most draft boards. His size 6’2” 242 is prototypical for his position and Mel Kiper loves this guy. Still his health risk is so high since Jones suffers from Spinal Stenosis; a restriction to the spinal canal that causes pain, numbness, and in some cases loss of motor control.

15. New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Richardson, DT/Missouri – The Saints have elected to move to a 3-4. This only makes me more confident in this pick. NO ranked 26th in sacks and 24th in forced fumbles, so evidently they need some help with the front seven. Richardson, became Mizzou’s first-ever All-SEC designee, as he was named to the 2nd-team for his outstanding play in 2012. Richardson led all SEC interior linemen with 75 tackles which is 2nd-best on the Tiger squad.

16. St. Louis Rams – D.J. Fluker, OT/Alabama – Bradford clearly needs protection. His head coach Jeff Fisher knows that and won’t disappoint his quarterback. On Feb 6th I read a post that said; “According to SI’s Tony Pauline, teams are “falling in love” with Alabama OT D.J. Fluker and “some in (the) scouting community” believe he could go as high as No. 19 to the Giants.” Well the Rams aren’t even going to let him get that far. Bradford threw for a miserable 59.5% completion in 2012 while constantly throwing off his back foot on the run. Expect Flukers presence to give his QB a chance for more accurate passes.

19. New York Giants — Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Rhodes is a big, versatile defensive back who would help out an underachieving backfield in New York. They could have some really nice young pieces at CB if they picked him up in round one.

Rhodes was a high school wide receiver, which is something I love in corners. It means he may know whats coming from his opposition. The 6’2 210 pound former Florida State star ran a 4.41 forty, and can be considered at safety as well as corner. The Giants have certainly had a problem drafting corners in recent years. Rhodes was a red-shirt in his freshman year due to a hand injury, but that turned out to be his greatest friend since it gave him the time to watch film and pick up the nuances of the corner position. He has the potential to be a good defensive back, but he’s not a ball hawk. That may just be his inexperience at the position. The Giants should consider Kevin Minter, or any top 15 O lineman that falls to them here as well.

The Giants took a 14-7 lead on a controversial play where Michael Boley picked up a Ben Rothlisberger fumble and ran it back 70 yards for a touchdown. The play was reviewed because it appeared that Rothlisberger’s arm was going forward for an attempted pass, however the call was not overturned. On the Boley touchdown run, Jason Pierre-Paul got away with what looked to be on clip that the referees didn’t see.

Eli Manning didn’t look sharp in the first half and a pattern is starting to develop. The interception he threw in the first quarter was woefully underthrown for Victor Cruz who was also double-covered on the play. Maybe it’s a mid-season slump, however for at least the 3rd straight week Manning has not been on target with his passes to the receivers. It’s flown under the radar because the Giants are winning football games, however should the Giants begin to struggle it may become more of a topic.

Victor Cruz left the game in the 2nd quarter with bruised ribs after taking a vicious shot from Steelers safety Ryan Clark in the end zone after attempting to catch another poorly thrown pass by Manning. Clark was penalyzed for the play although it did not appear as if it was an illegal hit and the Giants took advantage when Andre Brown scored on a touchdown run to tie the game at 7. Brown’s touchdown also looked to be a questionable call by the referees as it appeared he didn’t get the ball across the goal line. Cruz returned to the before the half.

The Steelers run game has been impressive despite missing Rashard Mendenhall and Jim Dwyer today because of injuries. Issac Redman has picked up the slack, carrying the ball 14 times for 87 yards in the first half.

The Giants defense did a good job of getting in the face of Rothlisberger with sacks from Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and Jason Pierre-Paul.

The Giants were fortunate to catch some breaks from the referees in the first half and to their credit they have taken advantage by putting points up on the scoreboard. They are going to need for Manning to play better in the second half.

ELI the obvious:  Eli was spectacular once again running the offense.  His mastery of the game plan is really fascinating to watch.  His ability to get the team in the most advantageous position pre-snap, and his constant conversation and adjustments on the side line with Kevin Gilbride and his players is inspiring.

The O-Line: Since the beginning of training camp I have spoken about the depth of this team, and how it was it’s greatest strength.  This is evident in many areas, and the O-Line is no exception.  Having Kevin Boothe, who played three different positions last season, along with Sean Locklear who can play left or right tackle, is a luxury not many teams have in this league.  One sack in two games speaks volumes.

The receivers: No Nicks, No Hixon, No problem.  It’s not about who you are on the Giants, it’s about executing the offense.  Ramses Barden, Martellus Bennett, Victor Cruz, and even Reuben Randle have made this a very deep and dangerous passing offense.

Andre Brown:  The return of the veteran two back offense will make this team a success this season.  Instead of counting on or waiting for a very talented rookie to develop, they now have a veteran one two punch to create doubt in the minds of defenses, and to take time off the clock when necessary.

Lawrence Tynes:  10 for 10 in FG’s with a long of 49….just another weapon.

Quarter Backs (2): Manning, Carr

Special Teams (3): Tynes, Weatherford, DeOssie

Running Backs (3): Bradshaw, Wilson, Da’Rell Scott (KR)

Full Back(1): Hynoski

Wide Receiver(6): Nicks, Cruz, Hixon, Randle, Barden, Douglas(PR)

Tight Ends(3): Bennett, Pascoe, Robinson

O-Line(8): Brewer, Baas, Beatty, Boothe, Diehl, Locklear, Snee, Petrus

Cornerback(6): Prince, Coe, Webster, Hosley, Tryon, Thomas

Linebacker(7): Blackburn, Boley, Kiwanuka, Rivers, Williams, Herzlich, Paysinger

Defensive Line(8): Bernard, Joseph, JPP, OSI, Tuck, Thomas, Rogers, Hendricks,

Safety(4): Rolle, Phillips, Sash, Hill

That’s 51 players, which leaves decisions on D.J. Ware, Marcus Kuhn, Matt McCants (2012 draft pick), Greg Jones, Marvin Austin (who hasn’t played a real game in three years) Jerrell Jernigan, Adrian Tracy, and Isaiah Stanback just to mention a few.

Either way the Giants will be waiving some very good players, but not everyone can stay.  The questions will be plentiful as the Giants decide how many RB’s to carry, how many safeties, especially with Tyler Sash being suspended for the first 4 games, and how many linemen is enough to start a season.  Some of these players naturally will clear waivers and be re-signed to the practice squad, but others will surely be picked up by teams with needs at certain positions.

What do you think the team will do?  Keep both Thomas and Rogers on the active roster, even if it means giving up on Jernigan and Austin? Is D.J. Ware worth keeping?  Can we really keep 6 receivers?  Is Greg Jones the odd man out at linebacker?

You make the call!

The Giants had 40 yards rushing, and 148 yards passing with Eli going 17/21 with two clear drops.  They had 13 first downs and possessed the ball for 17 plus minutes.  The Bears meanwhile managed just over 100 yards with 5 first downs in 12 and a half minutes.  The defense was without JPP.

The good news first:  Eli Manning had a stretch of 9 straight completions, with the 10th being one of the drops.  All this offense is being generated without Hakeem Nicks and Ahmad Bradshaw.

Ramses Barden may have taken the necessary steps last night to make this team.  He caught 3 passes for 46 yards and a TD, he also drew a pass interference call in the end zone.

David Wilson ran the ball well behind the starting O-Line that finally showed some life.  5 carries for 49 yards to go with 2 catches for 26 yards.  He is not only the future of this team, but a big part of the present.

David Douglas, a rookie out of Arizona may have won the punt return job last night as he is exactly what Tom Coughlin is looking for in a returner.  He secures the ball first, then is elusive enough to break a few tackles and has enough speed to make an impact.

Da’Rel Scott may be the main kick returner since David Wilson is probably now the number 2 back.

Rueben Randle showed how good his hands are, and that he has the ability to stretch the defense, along with Martellus Bennett who showed he will catch anything thrown his way.

Steve Weatherford showed why is such a valuable part of this team.  He was flawless last night.

The Bad News: Prince Amukamara is hurt again, and that leaves the Giants very thin at cornerback.  The extent of the ankle sprain he suffered is still to be determined, but either way it’s not good news.  Look for the Giants to maybe make a move this week to bring in a few guys.

Dan DePalma had a pretty bad game for a guy on the bubble.  He caught the pass that could have won the game, but then fumbled it away without being hit.  he also released too early out of punt protection allowing a punt to be partially blocked.

D. J. Ware also had a forgettable game with 1 carry for 4 yards and 1 catch for 3.

The first cut of 15 players comes Monday afternoon, and then on Friday it down to the final 53.

Aug 10, 2012; Jacksonville FL, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) looks for a receiver during the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-US PRESSWIRE

So the first preseason game of the 2012 NY Giants campaign is over and it wasn’t the prettiest ending to a game. I know it’s preseason and the games don’t count, but you have to think Coughlin is probably not thrilled to give up such a big lead, even if it was the back ups who gave it up. But let’s look at the bright spots.

The new TE Martellus Bennett looked very good. He made some tough catches Including a 12 yd TD over the middle and showed he may be able to be the piece the offense was looking for. Although he needs to keep it up and still has more to prove.

There were some good moments from the WR’s as the coaches look to solidify the third wideout spot. Rueban Randle showed he is talented with two catches for 27 yds including a TD and could be the answer, but he is a rookie and will most likely have some growing pains. I thought Ramses Barden showed a lot of promise and a few big blocks down field.

The biggest bright spot was in the running game. The spot to back up Bradshaw is being tightly contested. Rookie RB David Wilson looked very good and lead the team in rushing on 7 rushes for 43 yds and had a nice catch and run in the final possession. Both DJ Ware and Andre Brown ran the ball hard and had a combined 12 rushes for 55 yds. I look forward to watching this battle throughout the rest of camp and should make all three better.

The starting Defense looked dominating as it should. They had a few sacks and some forced fumbles. The secondary looked extremely good and I even saw a few CB blitzes, one for a sack by Hosley, thats something the D had been lacking in recent years. Mark Herzlich looked very good and he will add depth at ILB and could help in pass coverage over the middle.

Special teams was a big problem with both Hosley and Jerrigan muffing a punt. Considering how important ball security is I believe this area will get a lot of attention and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some new faces back there fielding punts.

After the first look it appears that the areas of preseason concern may have been addressed, but it is still to early to tell. And there is still a lot of work to do for the Giants to make it back to the promised land.

The show will be called “The Blue and Green Review” and will center on the New York Football Scene.  My co-host will be Kristine Reese who writes and follows the New York Jets.  The plan is to have guests from opposing teams, either blog writers or media types, each week to discuss match-ups and what to look for in the upcoming game of the week.  We will talk fantasy football, have a survivor pool, and will feature a very special guest we call our “Resident Wiseguy” to pick the games of the week.

Make plans to join us live, or watch at your convenience as the week progresses.

This opens the door for some competition for the spot behind Ahmad Bradshaw.  Currently on the roster are Andre Brown, D.J. Ware, and Da’Rel Scott.  Scott has tremendous speed at 5’11″ 195 and has shown some potential.  It looks like the Giants will probably draft a RB or two for depth in the middle to late rounds.  Expect the competition to be between these three mainly, with D.J. Ware having a slight edge starting out due mainly to his experience and tenure with the team.  However, if Da’Rel can stay healthy he can contribute in many ways.  Take a look at a few clips of Da’Rel’s work. Da’Rel Scott Fake Punt  Da’Rel Scott 97 Yard Run

Pretty impressive stuff…..Let’s see if he can take advantage of the situation.

Most superstars are neutralized to a degree when opposing coaches have two weeks to figure out how to game plan against their strengths.  The greatest of the greats still make things happen, while others shrink under the pressure.  Every now and then however there is a Jack Squirek , a Rod Martin, a Larry Brown, a David Tyree, or a Timmy Smith that completely changes the path of the game.

Who do you think will be that person this year?

1. Mario Manningham: With Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Mario Manningham all healthy, could Super Mario live up to his nick name?

2. Julian Edelman: Julian has been singled out all week as having the toughest assignment on the field, and having to play out of position.  Could Julian make a few plays that turn the tide?

3. Travis Beckum: Travis has struggled with his health and with the playbook.  Could this be the day we see the potential of the TE out of Wisconsin turn into the reality?

4. Stephen Ridley: Ridley is a young running back with the Patriots and I believe the running game of the Patriots is a key to their success in Sunday.  Could Stephen Ridley be that guy?

Who do you think will be this years David Tyree?

Feb 3, 2008; Glendale, AZ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree (85) make the catch over New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison (37) in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII at the University of Phoenix Stadium. New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots with a final of 17-14. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-US PRESSWIRE

Giants 100 yards rushing:  The Giants finally showed a semblance of a running game.  The re-made Offensive Line looked good, the tight ends blocked well, and the wide receivers got into the act also.  The difference Ahmad Bradshaw makes is palpable.  He even made Brandon Jacobs look like his old self.

Packers leading rusher is Rodgers: The Giants knocked RB Starks out of thegame, and held Ryan Grant to 13 carries for 29 yards.

Eli was 23/40 for 347 and 3 TD’s: Eli throws the long ball as good as anyone, and he used it all night to move the Giants down the field.  He also has great touch and chemistry near the goal line with Hakeem Nicks. Victor Cruz continues to impress as he went over 1,000 receiving tonight, and Jake Ballard is just tremendous at times.

Giants were 6/12 on offensive drives:  The Giants scored on 6 of their 12 offensive drives.

All in all the game WAS as close as the score:  The Giants had 447 total yards, The Packers had 449.   Third down conversions, one extra turnover, and having some inexperience on the field prevented a Giant win.  When the game was on the line Green Bay threw against a rookie linebacker, a third string corner that shouldn’t even be on the team in Wil Blackmon if everyone is healthy.  Give them credit, they had a minute to beat us and they did.  the Giants need to play with this focus, passion, and urgency on their last 4 games.  The Wild Card is still in play, and the Cowboys have beaten the Redskins in OT, beat Miami by one, and lost to Arizona in OT.  The Giants need to continue to show how good they can be.

“My question to them was, ‘Why?’ ” Coughlin said, when asked what he told the players in the locker room. “What did it take to understand what the Eagles were going to be like coming in here? You didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that team is 3-6, back to the wall, they’re going to play their butts off.

“To get where we want to go, we’re going to have to play harder. And better. And we didn’t.”

Coach goes onto say:

You’d think your team would rally around that,” Coughlin said. “We didn’t do that. We had someone try to retaliate, which didn’t help any more than take away a 15-yard [personal foul] penalty. I would expect the team to rally at that point, but I didn’t see that either.

“I’m really disappointed. Coming out of San Francisco, the talk was — by the players — that we’ll fight, we’ll play hard, we’ll do all that. I didn’t see that. I saw the penalties. I saw the skirmishes.”

To see more of what Coach said, click continue reading… (more…)