As a follow up to last week, here is my latest attempt at a roster projection. Some notable changes include Whitlock and Farrand to the practice squad, and Unga over Herzlich at LB.
QB (no change)
1. Eli Manning
2. Ryan Nassib
RB (no change)
3. Rashaad Jennings
4. Andre Williams
5. Shane Vereen
6. Orleans Darkwa
I kept four RBs because I think you cannot rely on Jennings to play a full season, and it is reasonable to assume that Darkwa has drawn attention from other teams in the league and might not make it to the practice squad. Akeem Hunt to the practice squad.
FB (no change)
7. Henry Hynoski
WR (no change)
8. Odell Beckham Jr
9. Victor Cruz
10. Reuben Randle
11. Dwayne Harris
12. Geremy Davis
13. James Jones
Of course this is the way too early prediction, but I just don’t think Corey Washington is a complete WR. I think he is good vertical guy, but doesn’t offer much else. With Larry Donnell already providing a very strong red zone target, and WRs like Randle and Davis already offering decent size, I just don’t see a big enough role for Washington to warrant keeping him over Jones or Davis. Preston Parker is one tough player, but not the same talent as the 6 listed.
TE (no change)
14. Larry Donnell
15. Daniel Fells
16. Jerome Cunningham
I’m declaring an end to the Robinson project. I only hope Reese and the coaches feel the same way. Fells is the better player, and Cunningham has potential.
OL (Hart added)
17. Ereck Flowers (T)
18. Justin Pugh (T/G)
19. Weston Richburg (C/G)
20. Geoff Schwartz (G/T)
21. Marshall Newhouse (T)
22. John Jerry (G)
23. Bradon Mosley (T/G)
24. Dallas Reynolds (C/G)
25. Bobby Hart (T)
26. Adam Gettis (G)
This group continues to be the hardest to predict. I don’t see the Giants parting ways with Newhouse, Jerry or Mosley as they are one injury away from being a starter, and Newhouse already is (at least for the time being). I don’t see Jones beating out Reynolds at this point, but I’d like to see Jones on the practice squad for a season. He is young and still has upside. Bennett Jackson to IR allows the team to keep 10 OL if they want, but I’m not sure keeping 10 is any better than keeping 9, unless the Giants think Mosely still has upside and Gettis can develop into a quality back up. Reese and Coughlin have both praised Hart in recent days, and his combination of youth and size brings great potential.
DE (no change)
27. Robert Ayers
28. Kerry Wynn
29. Damontre Moore
30. George Selvie
31. Owamagbe Odighizuwa
I don’t think there will be much disagreement here. The funny thing is I see Spags finding ways to use all 5 every Sunday. Wynn has been a steady performer all preseason and I would not be surprised to see him win a starting job or at the very least split snaps between starting LDE and RDE. Moore simply has mountains of potential, but remains inconsistent against the run. Ayers has been up and down, but when he is playing well he is disruptive. Selvie seems like the most consistent run stopper, and Owa is demonstrating a non-stop motor, but very raw pass rush skills.
DT. (no change)
32. Cullen Jenkins
33. Jonathan Hankins
34. Kenrick Ellis
35. Jay Bromley
With 5 DEs, you keep 4DTs, especially when Ayers and Wynn can kick inside on passing downs. I can’t believe that Coughlin was entirely sincere in his comments about Kuhn over the weekend. The 29 year old DT project has shown nothing to suggest he can play at a high level in the NFL.
LB. (Unga over Herzlich)
36. Jon Beason
37. J.T. Thomas
38. Devon Kennard
39. Uani Unga
40. Jon Casillas
41. Jameel McClain
I am not as down on Herzlich as some, as I think he has a role on this team, however, with Beason being a walking mash unit, and his primary backup McClain dealing with a chronic neck injury, the Giants have to keep 3 LBs that can effectively play MLB. I don’t think the Giants want to go into the season with Kennard as the 3rd MLB as it would detract from the pass rush and the units’ overall strength. Unga has shown enough in two preseason games to suggest he can fill in at MLB if needed and is a solid special teams player. Essentially Herzlich may be overtaken by circumstances. Now it would not surprise me if the Giants keep nine OL and make room for Herzlich.
CB. (no change)
42. Dominique Rodgers Cromartie
43. Prince Amukamara
44. Trevin Wade
45. Jayron Hosley
46. Trumaine McBride
I’m only really confident in the top three making the roster at this point, but the coaches seem to have hope for Hosley, and McBride is a valuable veteran. The loss of Jackson really hurts the CB depth (in addition to S) but I don’t see 6 CBs worth keeping. I’m sure Reese will be scanning the waiver wire for a vet that can play the 4th CB, but good CBs rarely get cut unless it’s a salary cap related move.
FS/SS (Jackson to IR)
47. Landon Collins
48. Brandon Meriweather
49. Cooper Taylor
50. Nat Berhe
I still think Meriweather has the edge over Miles, and if the three young safeties are healthy they will all make the team. Only Taylor is on the bubble. Could Miles make it over Taylor, perhaps, but Taylor would have to be injured or just plain awful on the field. If a quality vet shakes loose I think Meriweather would be the first to go.
Specialists
51. Josh Brown – Kicker
52. Steve Weatherford - P
53. Zak DeOssie - LS
IR
1. Marcus Harris (WR)
2. Mykkele Thompason (S)
3. Bennett Jackson (S)
PUP
1. William Beatty (T)
Suspended
1. Victor Butler (LB)
Practice Squad (Whitlock and Farrand added)
1. Michael Bamiro (G/T)
2. Julian Tally (WR)
3. Akeem Hunt (RB)
4. Cole Farrand (LB)
5. Will Tye (TE)
6. Sean Donnelly (T)
7. Brett Jones (C/G)
8. Nikita Whitock (FB/Special Teams)
The rest, on paper, is hard to disagree with at this still very early juncture
Washington is a tough cut, and will probably be picked up by someone else, but that happens every year.
I don't think the fourth safety spot is secure. I could see someone like Meriweather being replaced after final cuts, but I agree that as of now, he's likely on the team.
Unga should make the team, at least as of now.
Good job.
Washington is a tough cut, and will probably be picked up by someone else, but that happens every year.
I don't think the fourth safety spot is secure. I could see someone like Meriweather being replaced after final cuts, but I agree that as of now, he's likely on the team.
Unga should make the team, at least as of now.
Good job.
I would love to keep Hunt but I wouldn't put Gettis near the bottom of that list. From what I have seen he has played well. I like him better than Mosley.
James Jones have proven he can catch passes against starting NFL secondaries and be a no 2 & 3 WR. Washington has proven he can make a catch over guys who are not even PS players. Veterans are 1 thing - veterans who can still play are entirely different.
OL - you are keeping a b/u for C, G and 2 guys who can play T if need be
Come Sunday, who is inactive from the list
James Jones have proven he can catch passes against starting NFL secondaries and be a no 2 & 3 WR. Washington has proven he can make a catch over guys who are not even PS players. Veterans are 1 thing - veterans who can still play are entirely different.
OL - you are keeping a b/u for C, G and 2 guys who can play T if need be
Come Sunday, who is inactive from the list
Jones was not signed until late for a reason.
6 CBs would be nice, but I don't think the 6th CB is that good at this point. Losing Jackson really hurt. I could see Berhe playing 3rd in the "big nickel" provided it is in the playbook, but I don't see any safety with CB cover skills on the roster right now.
A 53-man projection needs to designate primary KO returner, primary P returner, your first and second gunners, etc. You might get a somewhat different projection that way. I also think that's why guys like Herzlich make the team and fans end up thinking it's a BC/coaches' pet. His real value is on specials, not as a linebacker. Dwayne Harris is going to be 4th WR, not 5th or 6th, because he's a primary returner. And so on.
1) Preston Parker will be on the team. 76 grabs over the last 2 seasons and a similar style of play to Victor Cruz. I love and believe in Cruz, but we need to have a backup slot receiver who's had proven success in the NFL in case something happens. Parker is as good as you're going to get for that role.
2) Herzlich... I do think it's possible that his time here might be coming to an end, but it ain't gonna be for a 27-year-old who's never made an NFL team before. It's going to take a proven or younger player to unseat his roster spot.
3) I think ultimately with JPP (probably... maybe?) going to return to the team at some point, that the Giants are going to keep 5 DTs and 4 DEs in the early going. Then, based on how the season plays out, either drop one of the DE's when JPP comes back or drop the 5th DT and keep 5 at DE.
Again though... great job.
By keeping 5 DTs instead, all "fringe" players across the entire defensive line will have an opportunity to compete for a job once JPP is ready to go.
I like Unga making the team but so will Herzlich. With Beason out indefinitely, the Giants will carry 7 LBs I believe.
As for CBs, I would be surprised to see Hosely make the team. Mike Harris will find his way on to the final 53.
- Miles looked pathetic on his deep coverage responsibilities Saturday night; hard to believe he's an NFL vet, with Ravens no less
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Agree! The JPP of TEs spent himself @ UCinn doing backflips and has never been the same. Just ask Jerry.
Emil, did you see Cunningham break straight down the middle, leap high and have Nassib's ball glance off his fingertips. PI on the play, but Cunningham, while by no means a speed merchant, broke hard and went for the ball aggressively. He's a big, strong due who plays with some passion, unlike the ghostly AR. We need to see more of him blocking at point of attack and on some shorter routes to see what he's got.
Just cut bait Reese and admit your mistake.
i also agree w/jtgiants i think miles over meriweather. if they liked meriweather better he'd have been here first. something 2 consider
Ironically, the better Pierre-Paul looks when he shows up, the worse it is for his college teammate George Selvie, who is in the odd position of being both a potential starter and a potential cut. With Cullen Jenkins getting significant reps at DE, I think there's a real chance the Giants will cut Selvie and keep five DTs rather than five DEs. If Selvie continues to miss time, he could be a candidate for "IR/Designated"; and if Pierre-Paul is a realistic medium-term possibility, Selvie could be gone altogether. The argument for conceding him a roster spot is largely that he sets a floor under the position, and he can hold the fort until Moore proves himself and Odighizuwa is ready to contribute. Unfortunately for Selvie, it's hard to hold the fort in street clothes.
I doubt Butler has made enough of an impression to affect roster decisions. His availability might relieve the need to carry a seventh linebacker as "Beason Insurance". In any case, he will be there in October as a potential injury replacement. Speaking of Beason, the worst-case scenario is that he lands on IR with the return designation. That's one of the few ways to create a roster spot for Devin Unga. So, to those rooting for Unga to make the 53, be careful what you wish for.
Robbie -- not sure I agree with you - JJ is looking like a very dependable receiver out there -- and his route running has been superb -- he could end up being a solid go to guy -- a 4 receiver set with OBJ, Randle, Cruz and Jones would be deadly - and if Cruz is gimpy this year Jones becomes a real 3 Receiver weapon option
Washington and Parker have never shown they can be dependable