Hakeem Nicks is a special player.  He is Michael Irvin without the attitude and the antics. He is big, strong, and has huge hands.  Hakeem is a match-up nightmare for most teams, and coupling him with a few other special players has made him, and will continue to make him, a dangerous threat anywhere on the filed.

Victor Cruz had the best year any wide receiver has ever had for the New York Giants.  Just that statement alone takes a minute to digest.  An un-drafted free agent who had to sit his first year due to injury, not only made the team, but made the team better and more explosive. Cruz has medium speed, but a quickness and shiftiness that allows him to beat anyone at anytime.

Ramses Barden is 6′ 6″ receiver that was originally supposed to play the role of Plaxico Burress.  Ramses entering his 4th year has a total of 15 receptions and seems to be having trouble not only staying healthy, but learning to play big time football on a consistent basis.  Playing wide receiver in the NFL requires more than catching a ball, it is precise route running, running hard to influence players away from the intended target, and effective blocking on running plays.  Ramses often has been a healthy scratch from games, leading one to believe his practice sessions or film grading is not up to Giants standards.

Domenik Hixon is entering his 7th season, but has missed many games due to injury.  Hopefully Domenik can return to the team fully healthy this year and not only add to his receiving numbers, but bolster the return game as well.

Jerrel Jernigan is a 5’8″ 189 pound speedster out of Troy.  He showed some flashes in the return game towards the end of this season and will look to bolster those numbers this season.  He should make the team easily and add great depth to the Giants  passing attack.

Added to the equation for this training camp are the following: Brandon Collins 5’8″ a rookie out of SE Louisiana, Dan DePalma, 5’11″ from West Chester, David Douglas 6’1″ from Arizona, Julian Talley 6’1″ from Massachusetts, and they welcome back Isaiah Stanback a four year man from Washington at 6’2″.

The big addition here is Rueben Randle 6’2″ 208 from LSU.  Randle showed very well in mini camp.. He is hands catcher, and will compete with Hixon and the others to replace Mario Manningham who now resides in San Francisco

The Giants receiving corps will be a strength again this year.  With Hakeem Nicks taking it a bit easy and slow in the upcoming training camp, not only will more guys get reps in camp, but in the pre-season games as well.  This will be another great watch in camp.  Who will step up this year?

On a night where past and present New York Giants gathered for a good cause, it was the future that was on the minds of the Giants.  Eli Manning has recently said that he is going into the 2012 season looking at the 2011 Giants as a 9-7 team, and not as the Super Bowl champions.  His teammates apparently share in that attitude and are looking to improve–and repeat–in 2012.

They lost Kevin Boss and Steve Smith to free agency. They lost Domenik Hixon and Terrell Thomas to injury. Prince Amukamara held out and proceeded to get injured on his first full practice day. Things looked to be a mess in Big Blue Nation.

This offseason, the hysterics are far from that of last year given the results, but their is still a cause for concern. The Giants lost wide receiver Mario Manningham, cornerback Aaron Ross, and running back Brandon Jacobs to free agency this year

They are also in danger of losing Super Bowl hero Chase Blackburn, defensive end Dave Tollefson, and long-time o-lineman Kareem McKenzie. The average fan may fret over this, but their are comparable players already on the roster who can step in and produce equally, if not better.

The Giants will also look to the draft to improve their roster, as they have done in year’s past. This year, I see Reese and co. taking much talked about wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery, with the 32nd pick. Jeffery would add a different dynamic to the Giants receiving corps and would fit in great with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. According to Todd Mcshay’s latest mock draft, Jeffery will be available when the Giants pick in the 1st round. Jerry Reese loves to go best available, and Jeffery would certainly be a valuable pick late in the first round.

March 28, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Alshon Jeffery participates in drills during the South Carolina pro day at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

The Giants will most likely look to their offensive line, running back and defensive tackle with their later round picks.

With Jeffery taking the hurt out of the Mannigham departure, a healthy cornerback on both sides in Webster and Thomas, experienced sophomores in Herzlich, Paysinger, Sash, and Hynoski, and the tight end corral returning by mid-season— the Giants should be in just fine shape for the upcoming season.

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“Super Mario” has become a sudden star thanks to the gushing of Cris Collinsworth, Al Michaels, and the need for NBC to find a David Tyree moment in Super Bowl 46.  Mario did make a great catch…of a magnificent throw.  In the third quarter Collinsworth had thrown Mario under the bus for his poor route running, something he had studied throughout the season, and we know all too well in New York.  The fact that NBC had a graphic all set to show how poor Manningham’s routes are run, shows it is a consistent problem.  Mario is a nice receiver that serves a purpose in the Giants offense.  He is the speed merchant, he draws coverages deep to open up routes for the other guys underneath.  He is not, and should not be, the top “Numbers” guy on anyone’s team.  This obsession with wanting the ball more is mind- boggling.  Here is a guy that caught a TD pass against Atlanta to seal the first playoff win.  He then caught a TD pass against Green Bay to send them home.  Next up San Francisco, and a crucial TD catch to keep the Giants in the game, and then three catches on a Super Bowl Winning Drive.  Is that not enough?  You want to go catch 10 balls a game for 8 yards each from Josh Freeman and finish 8-8? Why? I though it was all about winning?  Just say you want and deserve more money, and see where the market takes you.  Don’t knock the team that gave you chance after chance to stay on the team, and the opportunity to win a Super Bowl, on the way out the door. Mario had 160 catches in 4 years, not exactly number one stats.  How that attitude makes you attractive to other teams is beyond me.  You think that shows your desire to compete? You think it shows you have confidence in your ability?  It shows me you are selfish, and will become another WR complaining that your QB doesn’t look for you enough.  Mario has made some great catches, and has dropped a few key balls also in his time with the Giants.  If he thinks the grass is greener…God Bless..Have fun…See you when we see you.  There is no reason to say anything about this organization on the way out of town.

The other point that needs to be made about the catch in 46 is that there were 5 guys on the field that day that could have made that catch.  Nicks, Cruz, Welker, Hernandez, and a healthy Gronkowski.  There are 5 maybe 6 QB’s that could have made the throw in the League.  ”Super Mario” will win the Super Bowl Lottery this year.  It happens almost every year.  Gibril Wilson and Kavica Mitchell won it after Super Bowl 42…..Mario thinks it’s his turn, I wish him the best of luck.

I sat down with Spreecast Producer Chris Delgado and discussed some of the keys for the upcoming matchup this Sunday at Lambeau Field.  Click the link below to see the whole show.

Giants Packers Playoff Preview

Plan remains the same…No Herzlich, No Ballard.  Everyone else says they are ALL IN!

Here is the rather short and promising Giants early injury report.  The thought is the only players who will miss the game are Herzlich and Ballard.

The Giants will make a trip to Texas Sunday Night to begin what they hope to be a successful run to the playoffs;  And a run is what they will need.  The Giants got a nice effort from the running game yesterday and that will need to continue for the foreseeable future. Eli Manning has backed up his words with his actions this season.  He is an Elite QB and definitely in the top 5 or 6 in the league.

The Cowboys have been a very inconsistent team this entire season.  For the first part of the season they had no running attack, then they found DeMarco Murray.  Murray has rushed for 5.4 yards per carry in the 10 games he has played.  Now they have a more balanced attack, but make no mistakes this is a team that wins and loses with Tony Romo.  Even when the defense has had exceptional days, Romo can put points on the board for either team at any time.

The Giants defense should be able to get pressure on the Cowboys Qb this week.  They have allowed 25 sacks this year, that’s two a game against teams that have half the pass rushing talent of the New York Giants.  The Cowboys allow 100 yards a game rushing and 5.5 yards per play on defense.  They still have a weak secondary that the likes of Nicks, Cruz, Ballard, Beckum, Manningham(?) and others should be able to exploit.  The question will be can the Giants run the ball effectively enough to keep Eli upright.  If the Giants go back to being a one dimensional team, they will be eaten up by the Cowboys pass rush.  Stay balanced, hit big plays, and keep Romo under pressure and force him into mistakes.

Injury Update:  This of course will change as the week progresses but initially it looks like Kenny Phillips will be missing for the next two weeks and Osi is still out. OL Stacey Andrews will be out for the remainder of the season with blood clots that moved from his legs to his lungs.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves and focus on this messy game.

(more…)

GIANTS

NYG Ahmad Bradshaw RB Foot:    Out

Derrick Martin S Hamstring:    Out

Will Beatty T Eye:  Out

Michael Boley LB Hamstring:   Doubtful

Michael Clayton WR Knee:   Questionable

Mario Manningham WR Knee:   Questionable

Osi Umenyiora DE Knee:   Probable

Danny Ware RB Concussion:   Probable

Kareem McKenzie T Toe:   Probable

Justin Tuck DE Ankle :  Probable

SAINTS

Turk McBride DE Ankle:   Out

Jonathan Vilma LB Knee:   Questionable

Cameron Jordan DE Hand:   Probable

Patrick Robinson CB Stomach:   Probable

The game, although sloppy, was extremely entertaining in both the defense and offense side of the ball. Eli Manning had a pair of picks, but also had some spectacular throws that proved his elite status thus more. Alex Smith, the former 1st overall pick, did his best to shush the critics on his way to his 8th win of the season.

After the 27-20 loss many names started to get thrown around as to who was at fault. Manningham could have had a spectacular grab in the end zone had he laid out more. Manning had a costly interception on the drive before that set up the game winning drive. Diehl was not successful in covering Justin Smith that led to the turnover on downs, and the game ending.

These 3 man do take a share of blame for the loss, but the man that should be looked at more than anyone is Kevin Gilbride. His lack of creativity on the offensive side of the ball, and his need to run on almost every 2nd down is a great cause of concern. If a draw play was an actual person, I am pretty sure Kevin Gilbride would be married to it.

On the last drive of the game, Manningmanaged to convert 2 out of 3 desperation 4th down conversions. Pretty impressive if you ask me.

Just say No to Gilbride

While in striking distance of the redzone and what seemed to be another Eli Manning 4th quarter comeback, Gilbride did the opposite of his gameplan — He called a passing play on 2nd down. The ball went through Manningham’s hands, and Gilbrides attempt to look like a hero failed. The Giants were only 2 yards away from securing a 1st down, so wouldnt that be the perfect time to run it? Gilbride defies logic, goes for it, and fails. Then to make matters worse he runs it up the gut with DJ Ware instead of Brandon Jacobs on 3rd down and he comes up with no gain.

Incomplete pass, Turnover on Downs, Game over.

Now do not get me wrong, the whole team is at fault for the loss. A loss is the culmination of things not going right. But if you were watching the game or any game for that matter  involving the Giants, then you would see that Gilbride needs to be canned. Plain and simple.

 I don’t blame Buddy Ryan for punching him on the sideline in the Houston Oilers days. Lord knows I would.

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