I looked at the Sporting News 2004 Pro Football Draft Guide last night. Reading the "Team Needs" section, and reviewing the "Projected Depth Chart" made me fully realize that we sure got a whole lot smarter in our draft selections and free agent acquisitions once Tom Coughlin arrived on the scene! Gosh, was our roster pretty putrid! It's also interesting to note that Sporting News gave no chance of us selecting a franchise QB in the 2004 draft when this was originally published.
TEAM NEEDS:
1. Offensive Tackle
Ian Allen struggled as the starter on the right side last year, but Jeff Hatch isn't ready to replace him, and left tackle Luke Petitgout is returning from back probelems. What does it all mean? The Giants could add as many as two tackles in the free-agent market and/or the draft. Iowa's Robert Gallery is the one they're targeting with the fourth overall selection. They also could draft a development type such as Cal State Sacramento's Martko Cavka or UC-Davis' Brad Lekkerkerker in the late rounds.
2. Safety
Omar Stoutmire yields too many big plays for an experienced starter. Johnnie Harris, an unrestricted free agent expected back, is declining. Shaun Williams is coming off a season-ending knee injury and disappointing year, but he was hindered by Stoutmire and injuries at corner. Williams should bounce back if the team adds a safety who doesn't need to be protected in coverage as much as Stoutmire. The Giants could select Miami's Sean Taylor with the fourth overall pick, but drafting Gallery there and using a second-round selection on a safety such as Georgia's Sean Jones, Iowa's Bob Sanders or Purdue's Stuart Schweigert makes more sense.
3. Outside linebacker
New York is expected to re-sign unrestricted free agent Brandon Short, but it's unlikely Dhani Jones, an unrestricted free agent, will return. Wesly Mallard, Kevin Lewis and Quincy Monk provide adequate depth but aren't starting material. Georgia Tech's Keyaron Fox and Oklahoma's Teddy Lehman should be available on Day 1.
4. Defeensive tackle
The Giants want to re-sign Cornelius Griffin, an unrestricted free-agent, but he may be too expensive. If he bolts, this becomes a big need. William Joseph failed to make an impact as a rookie, though he still has the potential to develop into a solid starter. With Keith Hamilton expected to retire and Lance Legree lacking bulk, the team needs a tackle who can push Joseph. If a free agent isn't obtained, Mississippi State's Tommy Kelly, Stanford's Amon Gordon and Iowa State's Jordan Carstens will be good values if they slip to Day 2.
5. Cornerback
Will Peterson and Will Allen form a good starting duo, but depth is needed. Ralph Brown, an unrestricted free agent who probably will return, is an inconsistent open-field tackler and lacks height. Arkansas' Ahmad Carroll, Texas' Nathan Vasher and Florida's Keiwan Ratliff are third-round prospects capable of replacing Brown in the nickel package right away.
6. Quarterback
Jesse Palmer and Jason Garrett aren't expected back. The Giants probably will sign a free agent to back up Kerry Collins and then use a late-round pick on a developmental prospect. Washington's Cody Pickett, LSU's Matt Mauck and Michigan State's Jeff Smoker are Day 2 prospects with upside.
7. Inside linebacker
Mike Barrow continues to play at a high level, but he is aging. Nick Greisen makes his biggest contributions on special teams. The Giants need to start molding a possible replacement for Barrow while also improving their depth. Oregon State's Richard Siegler, Kansas State's Bryan Hickman and Northern Iowa's Jonathan Harrell could be steals on Day 2.
8. Guard
David Diehl did an adequate job as a rookie starter last season. Rich Seubert missed 10 games with an ankle injury, and Wayne Lucier and Scott Peters struggled in relief. Alabama's Atlas Herrion, Wake Forest's Tyson Clabo and UTEP's Trey Darilek are projected late-round picks who could spell Seubert.
9. Defensive end
Kenny Holmes opted to void his contract and is expected to be replaced in the lineup by Osi Umenyiora. Keith Washington, an unrestricted free agent who's expected to return, adds depth. Adding an explosive situational pass rusher would help keep the starters fresh and, hopefully draw attention from Michael Strahan. Western Michigan's Jason Babin, Virginia Tech's Nathaniel Adibi and Florida's Bobby McCray are Day 2 possibilities.
THE OUTLOOK:
It appears that the Giants will end up with Gallery unless a team leap-frogs ahead of them to select the Iowa tackle. After that, the Giants must focus on defense. Ideally, they would draft a potential starter such as Jones at safety in the second round, and then get a cornerback such as Vasher or an outside linebacker such as Lehman in the third round. The Giants have needs at defensive tackle and defensive end, but they spent high picks on Joseph and Umenyiora last year. They might look for a tackle such as Gordon or an end such as Adibi in the fourth round and try to fill the other need with a free agent. In the final rounds, they'll need to address depth issues in the interior of the offensive line and at inside linebacker and quarterback.
2) Fitzgerald
3) Taylor
4) Roethlisberger
5) Eli
I thought Collins just needed a better offensive line. Years later, after seeing what Eli can do, I know realize the clear difference between a quarterback who is decent and one who is great.
And I'm really glad that the Giants picked Eli over Roethlisberger, because I'd rather not be cheering for a rapist.
Richie78 - Seubert missed a lot of 2003, all of 2004 and most of 2005 with the gruesome leg injury.
Had we not come back to beat the Jets in OT we get Eli for free that year
- When the QB plays as poorly as Collins did in 2003;
- When the incoming coach is implementing a complex offensive system that calls for the QB to make difficult reads, often under duress;
- When the incoming draft class has the quality of the 2004 class...
...then QB is absolutely the #1 priority.
I remember the Collins supporters around here stating for sure that he would go to Oakland with Norv Turner (and in 2005 Randy Moss) and light it up. I was lambasted for saying he wouldn't be much different than he had been here. What the Raiders got with Collins as a starter was a 7-21 record in two seasons where he threw 41 total TDs (including 3 in the last game of the season in 2005 against the Giants to bring his '05 total to 20). And that was in the AFC West.
Replacing Collins was absolutely the top priority. I doubt very seriously if Coughlin wanted any part of him at all.
I wish I could bump into the Giants fan I ran into at the 04 draft day party. He would not even let me get a word in edge wise once the trade was announced. I think he said I was as stupid as Ernie Accorsi, lol. Where's that dude now.
Go for what? Under Collins the team was somewhere around 36-32, 2-2 in the playoffs and Collins had clearly displayed a mediocre skill set. He never threw for more than what, 22 TDs? The Giants offense never cracked the top 10 under his watch. The Giants were toiling in mediocrity and they had a shot at a MANNING! And Giant fans, plenty of them, were actually pissed at Eli because he WANTED to play in NY!!! "He's a brat"----WTF! I was thrilled that Eli insisted on playing here. FINALLY, a super star type prospect went out of his way to single out the Giants in a positive light.
And to think....some Giant fans hated that quality in Eli. I still can't get over that.
You know damn well that he had his eye on the Giants job for at least the entire month of December while he scouted the NFL for the entire season.
It was a perfect storm. Fired Coach, mutual interest, top 4 pick and a franchise QB that the GM was gung-ho for.
Collins never stood a chance.
Eli comes along, plays every game from 2005-2007 and wins a division title and gets his team to 3 straight playoff appearances and I still got shit from die hard fans both here and everywhere that not only was Eli a shitty QB, he was a spoiled brat for choosing to play in NY. Again, I can't stress enough how much that just blows me away.
IT's fun to reflect.
Either way, nothing special. Collins was overvalued by many of us (me included) because he was a legit NFL QB, which was something the Giants hadn't seen since Phil Simms. It took 6 years to get one after #11 retired. I mean, Dave Brown never threw for 300 yards in 60 career starts. Not once. Hell, he only broke 250 in 6 of 60 starts.
I didn't like it when Elway did it, when Lindros did it, when JD Drew did it, it just makes you look like you can't play for a perennial losing team and make them better, you look worse for having that attitude, not better IMO.
Accorsi was happy he was able to get Collins's career back on track, but reading his book I got the sense he never really trusted him to get any better. Collins's subsequent seasons elsewhere justified that.
As it turned out Warner had a few excellent years left in him too.
I am glad we got Eli and addressed the Oline too.
It's an unfair comparison because they're not in the same galaxy as players, but when I see a blitzer closing on Eli I'm thinking touchdown.
I also don't have a problem with what Elway did. A player has the right to say whatever the hell he wants to say. Elway and Eli both risked lots of money by eliminating the defacto team from the draft order. Who am I to say they can't do that? If Elway or Eli don't want to play for a certain team, and they have the balls to come out and say it, I applaud their courage. It's their right. It's also the right of every NFL team to punish that player.
Eli and Elway didn't compromise the NFL when they dictated things. They didn't compromise the draft. The NFL recovered just fine, as everyone can clearly see. Eli obviously had his reasons to do what he did. I thank the football gods every day that Eli wasn't afraid to do what he did.
Thank God Eli expressed things the way he did.
SD got the better player PLUS the bounty, right?
I have no problem with Eli saying he wanted to play for the Giants, but saying he wouldn't sign with the Chargers is what bothers me.
Same way Lindros wouldn't play for Quebec. JD Drew wouldn't play for Philly, Elway and the Colts, etc. I don't see any way it makes a player looks good refusing to play for a team that has either drafted them or is rumored to be interested in drafting them.
I don't begrudge any player opting not to go to the team that drafted him. That's his right. It's a move very few attempt because it carries a great deal of risk. That Eli was willing to take that risk gives a clear view into how he viewed the Chargers organization. I doubt very much it had anything to do with wins and losses...the two teams had the same record in 2003, and the Giants were only two games better in 2002.
It's just a personal opinion I have and I understand why others feel the same way, if they do. I also respect that some people don't mind it if a player does this and have no problem with their opinion.
I was just responding to djm, because even though I'm thrilled with how this worked out I still don't think it was handled well.
if Andrew Luck says tomorrow, I'm not going to sign with the Colts, so they shouldn't draft me I'll feel the same way.
Strahan's ego and salary demands needed to be massaged before the 07 season. I was right on that one. We're even!
But can't give you the Sean Taylor being overrated argument. He didn't come out with quite the impact I thought he would when he first came into the league (then again, not many...including our very own Eli...do)...but towards the end of his career before he got killed Taylor was making amazing plays and, IMO, would've become the best safety in the league. I'll argue that point til the cows come home.
Things changed very quickly in 4 years.
read this article from PFT before the season, LOL. Bet this guy wishes the internet was erasable.
Chargers got the better of the 2004 trade - ( New Window )
if you don't agree, that's fine. it's your opinion.
Like I said, if Andrew Luck issues a statement tomorrow and says "I will not play for the Colts, if they draft me they have to trade me or I will sit out the entire season and re-enter the draft next year"
I'll think he's a douche bag too. If you think that's cool, it's his right to play for who he wants to then that's fine and it's your opinion.
Thanks Marty.
Just to reverse the article's point would Eli have a ring by now if he had willingly gone to SD?
Glad we did what we did.