After a very disappointing season, the OTA’s are finally here, along with new coaches and what seems like 50% a new Giants team. Along with the optimism of a new season come questions that we would like the Giants media that covers the OTA’s to provide fans some answers
OG Eric Herman- last year our high hopes for Herman for helping a dysfunctional offense line were dashed by his clumsy feet and difficulty adjusting to the speed of the game. It’s a new year. Herman spent the offseason in the weight room, but also spent time doing yoga and cryotherapy. He already had the mental approach and physicality of the position.
Question 1 for the Giants media-does Herman appear more nimble and athletic, and ready to contribute?
DE Damontre Moore- last year we saw some impressive special team plays by Moore. Our hopes for him contributing in 2013 were dashed when we saw OT Trent Williams just manhandle him play after play against Washington. Other teams shied away from Moore in the draft supposedly because of his lack of strength with his hand in the dirt.
Question 2 for the Giants media- has Moore gotten stronger? Has Moore’s body changed and is Moore ready to help the Giants as a useful edge rusher in 2014?
WR Kris Adams-the rail thin journeyman receiver had seemed to finally found a long term home during the Giants training camp. Constantly mentioned as having a very impressive practice, our hopes were stalled when Adams broke his ankle and ended up on IR for the 2013 season
Question 3 for the Giants media-Is Adams fully recovered from last year’s injury? Has he used this offseason to put on weight and get stronger? Could he be the answer for our #5 receiver position?
WR Preston Parker- does this largely unnoticed offseason signing have any chance at contributing? The Giants MO for this offseason has been to sign leaders and outstanding citizens. Parker breaks that mold. One of the most heralded athletes in the nation in 2006, he signed with Florida State and was team MVP as a soph wide receiver in 2007. But then the trouble hit. After multiple arrests he was thrown off the team, and went undrafted after finishing his college career at Northern Alabama. He showed flashes and promise with the Tampa Bay Bucs in 2011, catching 40 passes as their 3rd receiver, but was eventually released and spent 2013 out of football.
Question 4 for the Giants media- how impressive (or unimpressive) is Parker? If he has straightened out his life, does the thrilling athleticism and ability catch your eyes and give fans a thought that he could be a surprise contributor in McAdoo’s offense? Or is he just camp fodder with no shot at making the Giants roster?
OL Brandon Mosely- Giants fans had high hopes for Mosely, after a solid final year at Auburn and his selection in the 4th round. Since then it has been injuries, an ankle in ’12 and a broken right hand in ’13, that have left fans wondering.
Question 5 for the Giants media- last week, this season was labeled “do or die” for TE Adrian Robinson. With all the free agent signings on the O-Line and the drafting of Richburg, is this also a “do or die” year for Mosely. How does he look in practice, and how does Mosely feel he needs to do to contribute in 2014?
S Stevie Brown- Brown has had close to a year to recover from last year’s preseason injury. He has provided Giants fans many reasons to be optimistic about the back secondary.
Question 6 for the Giants media- does Brown look ready? Is he being limited or held back from any drills or plays? Is it realistic for Giants fans to expect the old Stevie Brown?
DT Jonathan Hankins- Giants fans have not heard from Hankins since the loss of Linval Joseph to the Vikings. Hankins found himself more often on the inactive list then on the playing field, after being a 2nd round pick in 2013
Question 7 for the Giants media- How does Hankins feel about his new starting role? Is he ready to replace the always impressive Joseph? What has Hankins done this offseason to prepare for the high expectations Giants fans will have for his much needed contributions?
OG John Jerry- this former Dolphin spent every snap in 2012 and 2013 as a starting guard. If not for some injuries, the same could also be said for 2010 and 2011.
Question 8 for the Giants media-As articles are written this offseason with predictions of the starting 5 on the offensive line, Giants fans have not heard Jerry’s name mentioned even once. Can Jerry spend 2014 concentrating just on football, and surprise Giants fans by earning a starting role and contributing? Can he achieve the same success he did with the Dolphins?
DE-Emmanuel Dieke- the Georgia Tech edge rusher went undrafted, but was quickly signed as an UDFA by the Giants
Question 9 for the Giants media-How does Dieke look in his first OTA’s? The Giants signed 10 players last week as UDFA’s. Why was Dieke the only one that received a signing bonus in addition to the rookie minimum
TE Larry Donnell- the former Grambling quarterback has taken several years with the Giants to learn the tight end position
Question 10 for the Giants media-last year TE coach Mike Pope stated that 2 of his TE’s were in the 280’s and that 1 was in the 290’s. Is Donnell at his same weight as last year, or has he tried (like Robinson) to adjust his weight downward to be a better fit in the McAdoo offense? How does Donnell think the new offense helps his ability to contribute?
Any other questions that fans hope the Giants media can attempt to get answers with the start of OTA's?
One thing to remember though -- there is no live contact in the OTAs and they're generally not run at full speed. I don't know that we'll get the full picture of the pit players right now, but certainly we can try to gauge things such as improved technique, etc. (that is IF we get close enough to watch all of the drills --sometimes they keep us on the patio and they work all the way at the opposite end of the practice fields).
For those who are "sort of" familiar with OTAs and what you can get out of them, Matt Bowen wrote what I think is an outstanding article that breaks it all down, if you're interested. These are some of the things I try to watch for at these OTAs/minicamps.
Link - ( New Window )
that's a 70lb swing!
really? luck with that.
TTH-Did you read BBI last season? There were daily threads with optimism for Herman
TTH- Being dressed and playing are two different things. Hankins had 3 games in which he dressed but didn't make a tackle. He also had 4 played games in which he only had one tackle or assist per game. The thought of Hankins replacing Joseph is one of the biggest question marks on this team.
Moore was 260 when he got to the Giants and is reportedly up to 267 this year. His strength issues were in his legs and hips, not his chiseled upper body, as reported by Marc Ross.
What interests me the most during OTA's is the line up of the OL, from first string to third string and just as importantly, how they are re-arranged when one of them needs to sit out practice? This is a fluid situation and needs to be chronicled on a daily basis (rather than just stating the depth chart on day one and mostly leaving it at that).
I don't think the coaches themselves know yet how the OL will shake out and so keeping track of the player movement both up and down the depth chart as well as from position to position will be the best window into what the coaches are thinking.
Who is expected to be 100% by summer camp and who will likely miss some or all of pre-season.
Who is the likely #1 and #2 at each spot at the conclusion of OTA's?
Betcha if Herman doesn't get it in gear they'll stick his fat butt back in the freezer!
TTH-Did you read BBI last season? There were daily threads with optimism for Herman
TTH- Being dressed and playing are two different things. Hankins had 3 games in which he dressed but didn't make a tackle. He also had 4 played games in which he only had one tackle or assist per game. The thought of Hankins replacing Joseph is one of the biggest question marks on this team.
That is not 'inactive'.
He was part of a rotation. He saw more action as a rookie than Linval Joseph did. You might be of the opinion that he didn't show much, but that's not the same thing as saying he was inactive. It gives the reader the idea that he wasn't good enough to deserve playing time, when that wasn't the case.