Bill Walsh once said something to the effect that "your top 7 -8 players" separate you from the rest of the teams out there. Essentially, the bottom 45 or so players from team to team pretty much balance out in talent. I think this statement remains pretty much true today.
So I decided to list my top 8 players for the Giants:
1. Eli Manning - he gets hurt, our season likely tanks as Nassib is unproven. He is poised to have a big year in this offense and needs to stay healthy as usual.
2. Odell Beckham - 2nd year guy will require double teaming and he'll still make plays despite the coverages! He opens things up for EVERYONE else on offense. Praying his hamstring holds up.
3. Justin Pierre-Paul - JPP is likely poised to have a big year knowing big results will likely bring a $90 million or more contract. I see 2011 or better from him this year.
4. DRCromartie - He can handle today's top receivers and has the speed to recover. He was hampered by injury last year and appears healthy this year. We need him healthy all year. Pass happy NFL requires a stud CB and I think he probowls this year. We also lack depth at CB so we need him healthy.
5. J. Hankins - look for him to become a probowl caliber player and make some serious plays again. If Ellis holds the fort as a run stuffer next to him, then Hankins will do even more as a pocket pushing pass rusher inside.
6. D. Kennard - you may be saying "what???" but I think this kid brings heat as a pass rusher and you can never have enough pass rushers. He needs to stay healthy. He can stuff the run and moving forward he'll be solid. I think he has 10+ sacks and solid run defense that gets him some serious recognition.
7. OG J. Pugh - why so high? For one, he is our plan B for LT no matter what anyone says should Flowers falter or struggle. I originally thought they'd move Newhouse to LT and Schwarz to RT, and they may, but if Flowers struggles in camp I'm leaning on Pugh moving to LT. Pugh will likely struggle some but at least he's a veteran. And should Flowers be adequate, I think Pugh becomes a stud OG as the season progresses.
8. LT Beatty - he was my #8 but he's hurt and that just plain sucks for this offense. He was a known commodity and now we have more questions at tackle than answers.
I'm not saying this list is perfect or even in right order outside of the top 4 but I see these 8 guys as irreplaceable if they were hurt. Prince is my #9.
Thoughts on value(s)?
Also, I don't agree with that Walsh statement at all. We have all seen what a sub-par bottom of the roster has done to us in the past. We cannot overcome injuries and our special teams are horrible.
Also, I don't agree with that Walsh statement at all. We have all seen what a sub-par bottom of the roster has done to us in the past. We cannot overcome injuries and our special teams are horrible.
I considered Beason but again he was out last year and we have McClain behind him and that may not be a huge dropoff at this point. I don't know, if healthy, Beason can likely be a super solid run defender and leader.
I have high hopes Kennard really comes on as a blitzer and run defender. We need run defenders and we definitely need pressure from players other than JPP and Hankins if this defense is to flourish. we need to protect those safeties and the pass rush is the only thing that can do that.
Well know a lot more by mid August when the pre-season games begin. My gut tells me they work Cruz in very slowly. We may not see the real Cruz until mid-season.
Beckham
JPP
Hankins
Cruz
DRC
Prince
Beason
That's a big 'if' though.
Richburg
Rookies to keep an eye on:
Flowers
Collins
[quote] Eli
Beckham
JPP
Hankins
Cruz
DRC
Prince
Beason
not so much with your last two. My doubts are based on my understanding that Walsh was referring to the first 8 players as elite talent. If your first 8 are elite, you go. If they are not, it is the same as in computers. "Garbage in, garbage out."
All that said, I am optimistic about this season. If we do not sustain injuries to too many key players, we should be a playoff-caliber team this year. That however, is a big if, as all Giant fans know.
Beckham
JPP
Hankins
Cruz
DRC
Prince
Beason
That's a big 'if' though.
I pray Cruz is 100% again. I really do cause if he is we go 3 wide and tear it up all the day long.
2. Manning
3. Cruz
4. JPP
5. Prince
6. Vereen
7. Hankins
8. Beason
Yikes, this list shows how shitty the defensive talent is.
Richburg
Rookies to keep an eye on:
Flowers
Collins
In matter of fact, I think the entire interior OL will be above average if it stays healthy and gets reps in camp. We really need the starting five to get through camp practicing and healthy.
Our roster the last few years has been old and talentless in a lot of key areas - there's no way you could say our '13 back 45 of the roster was anywhere close to Seattle or San Francisco's.
The lunch pail lower tiered players need to play well in 2015.
The lunch pail lower tiered players need to play well in 2015.
Our LB corps were also a mess with Beason gone; Williams playing poorly and out; and Kennard a rookie though he played with poise & promise.
Finally, we missed Cruz.
I honestly believe had Beckham, Cruz and Schwarz remained healthy on offense and dumb-ass Will Hill plus Prince, DRC and Thurmond just stayed healthy all year and playing at a high level we'd have made the playoffs. Yes, we still had many other holes and injuries but just those 7 or so guys (out of the 20 plus we had hurt) would have given us enough edge to get past some of the teams we lost too.
Injuries are a HUGE part of the game so if we get and stay healthy FINALLY this team could have enough to make a playoff run. I am not as sold on the Eagles as many though they've had our number.