I was thinking about the last time Tom Coughlin went into an offseason with the Giants following a 6-10 season. The 2004 and 2014 squads were very different teams, but they did share some similarities. Notably, a roster with just a few superstars and lack of talent in almost all phases.
I looked back at what Acorsi did in the 2005 off season and its really quite remarkable:
FREE AGENCY
- Plaxico Burress
- Antonio Pierce
- Kareem McKenzie
The Giants also signed contributors like Jay Feeley and Bob Whitfield, and a variety of otherwise unremarkable depth players
In an incredibly limited DRAFT
- Corey Webster
- Justin Tuck
- Brandon Jacobs
- Eric Moore
Wow. Home runs on 3/4 draft picks and three All-Pro players brought in via free agency. Those six players were essential to the 2007 Championship, and Jacobs, McKenzie, Tuck and Webster were part of a championship core that won this franchise 2 titles.
So, '05 is the best offseason in team history, right? I wonder if we can infuse anywhere close to that quantity and quality of talent into the roster in the 2015 offseason.
the draft that year produced Ron Dayne Cornelius Griffin Ron Dixon Brandon Short Ralph Brown Dhani Jones and Jeremiah Parker - except for Parker who ended up in jail for beating his ex GF's son who eventually died, the other six guys were valuable contributors.
I always believed this. Something most people never mention. First rd picks were much more expensive then, especially in the top 10 where we would have been. We used that money to spend on 3 critical free agent acquisitions.
2004 changed the face of the team, but there were still glaring gaps. That the 2005 offseason filled those gaps with near perfection is amazing.
Tim Lewis was fired
We cut dead weight in Carlos Emmons, Lavar Arrington and Petitgout
Signed two underrated players in Grey Ruegamer and Kawika Mitchell
Traded for Lawrence Tynes
Draft:
Ross
S. Smith
Alford
DeOssie
Boss
Koets
M. Johnson
Bradshaw
7 of 8 contributed to the SB run
I know the conversation is offseason but during the season we picked up Kevin Boothe, Domenik Hixon, Madison Hedgecock and Danny Ware on waivers
That's as masterful of a job by a front office in retrospect as I can recall
drafted JPP and Linval Joseph
Signed UDFA Victor Cruz
Reese didn't need to sign a FA WR because he had Plax, Toomer and Steve Smith. Then he had Smith, Manningham, and Nicks then Nicks, Cruz, Randle.
Ross- Playmaking corner, held welker in check
S. Smith - obvious
Alford- The sack of brady where he went airborne? Probably my favorite single play ever.
DeOssie- Super consistent
Boss- Solid TE, big SB play
Koets
M. Johnson- ST, big fumble recovery in GB
Bradshaw- Shot in the arm of the running game.
I also remember being thrilled that the Giants snagged Tuck in the 3rd Round....they ran to the podium with that selection! One of my two favorite picks in this era (the other being Snee the year prior in the 2nd Round). We need to reinvest in both lines just like that now!
And I forgot who said that the 2000 off season could compare to 2005, but....COME ON, MAN!!
I also remember being thrilled that the Giants snagged Tuck in the 3rd Round....they ran to the podium with that selection! One of my two favorite picks in this era (the other being Snee the year prior in the 2nd Round). We need to reinvest in both lines just like that now!
And I forgot who said that the 2000 off season could compare to 2005, but....COME ON, MAN!!
2005 is better, but 2000 is in the same ballpark. those FA signings help transform a 7-9 team into a super bowl finalist 12-4 team. especially the offensive line signings (brown ziegler and parker immediately turned a weakness into a strength) and barrow/thomas provided veteran leadership on D.
Idol Mind: Good post. 2004 definitely put some key pieces in place.
Round Overall Player Position Birthdate College
1 19 Eric Dorsey DE 08/05/1964 Notre Dame
2 44 Mark Collins DB 01/16/1964 Cal State-Fullerton
2 46 Erik Howard DT 11/12/1964 Washington State
2 51 Pepper Johnson LB 07/29/1964 Ohio State
2 53 Greg Lasker DB 09/28/1964 Arkansas
3 73 John Washington DE 02/20/1963 Oklahoma State
And I was at the NFC Championship Game that year standing and screaming my head off from start to finish.
We all saw what happened the next week. They weren't ready for prime time.
In 2000....we acquired RETREADS to go on a one season magic carpet ride.
Big difference.
The 86, and 07 drafts prove, if you can evaluate correctly, young guys can elevate the whole rosters game play(see OBJ).
i agree that 2005 was a better offseason in terms of building a core.
however, getting to the super bowl in 2000 was a success, especially after finishing 7-9 the prior year. there was nothing BS about making the super bowl. finishing in "second place" (and head of 30 other teams) is nothing to be ashamed of, especially given that the ravens defense was one of the most dominant units since the 85 bears. the guys the giants signed that offseason and a fair number of the draft picks played key roles in getting the Giants to the super bowl and in contributing in subsequent seasons (including 2002). if the giants sign a bunch of retreads to fill some gaps to give eli one or two more chances at a SB is that also a BS offseason?
Round Overall Player Position Birthdate College
1 19 Eric Dorsey DE 08/05/1964 Notre Dame
2 44 Mark Collins DB 01/16/1964 Cal State-Fullerton
2 46 Erik Howard DT 11/12/1964 Washington State
2 51 Pepper Johnson LB 07/29/1964 Ohio State
2 53 Greg Lasker DB 09/28/1964 Arkansas
3 73 John Washington DE 02/20/1963 Oklahoma State
me too. 1983 not too shabby either
Round Overall Player Position Birthdate College
1 10 Terry Kinard DB 11/24/1959 Clemson
2 37 Leonard Marshall DL 10/22/1961 Louisiana State
3 70 Karl Nelson OT 06/14/1960 Iowa State
6 153 Kevin Belcher OG 02/23/1961 Texas-El Paso
7 178 Perry Williams DB 05/12/1961 North Carolina State
8 205 Andy Headen LB 07/08/1960 Clemson
9 237 Ali Haji-Sheikh K 01/11/1961 Michigan
12 335 John Tuggle RB 01/13/1961 California
4 starters, 1 LB who could have started for most teams. People forget how good a C Belcher had become by the end of 1984.
Quote:
..in signing a proven productive FA WR or, until the 2014 off season, a proven MLB.
Reese didn't need to sign a FA WR because he had Plax, Toomer and Steve Smith. Then he had Smith, Manningham, and Nicks then Nicks, Cruz, Randle.
You completely didn't understand my post. he should have signed a legit vet WR instead of drafting the likes of Jernigan and Randle.
Round Overall Player Position Birthdate College
1 19 Eric Dorsey DE 08/05/1964 Notre Dame
2 44 Mark Collins DB 01/16/1964 Cal State-Fullerton
2 46 Erik Howard DT 11/12/1964 Washington State
2 51 Pepper Johnson LB 07/29/1964 Ohio State
2 53 Greg Lasker DB 09/28/1964 Arkansas
3 73 John Washington DE 02/20/1963 Oklahoma State
Defense won Championships. That is an amazing draft.
Might be best draft ever. 84 also gave us Banks and Bavaro,
Back when the draft was like 12-15 rounds, too.
Quote:
....sounds like a term a Jets fan would use.
i agree that 2005 was a better offseason in terms of building a core.
however, getting to the super bowl in 2000 was a success, especially after finishing 7-9 the prior year. there was nothing BS about making the super bowl. finishing in "second place" (and head of 30 other teams) is nothing to be ashamed of, especially given that the ravens defense was one of the most dominant units since the 85 bears. the guys the giants signed that offseason and a fair number of the draft picks played key roles in getting the Giants to the super bowl and in contributing in subsequent seasons (including 2002). if the giants sign a bunch of retreads to fill some gaps to give eli one or two more chances at a SB is that also a BS offseason?
Lol, the Jets wish they could say SB finalist over the last 40+ years...
The 2000 team was far from elite, but the NFC was very weak. We were also lucky not to meet the Rams in the playoffs (they did not make it), since the completely outplayed us at home.
The team overachieved that year, but it was still a good team. Lots of solid, very good players, and no holes. Just lacked enough elite players, particularly on offense, to put them over the top.