How many Core Players do you think a team needs to be a dominant force in a division/conference/NFL?
The Giants in 07' had about 16 contributing core members and 8 Elite Players:
Eli, Jacobs, Bradshaw, Plax, SS, Boss, Seubert, Snee, McKenzie, Robbins, Tuck, Strahan, Osi, Pierce, G.Wilson Webster. I would say of those, Jacobs, Plax, Seubert, Snee, Tuck, Strahan, Osi, and Webster in the playoffs were elite.
The last few years, our core players have diminshed, I think the low was in 2013 when you could really argue there were only Eli, Cruz, Beatty, Pugh. JPP, L.Joseph, Prince, Rolle, and Will Hill. Eli had a terrible season that year, so I don't know if you could even count him. I'd have to say only Hill played at close to an elite level. So that's 9 players.
Fast forward to today. We are in much better shape. Our core consists of:
Eli, Jennings, OBJ, Flowers, Pugh, Richburg, Hankins, Harrison, Vernon, JPP, Jenkins, DRC, Apple, and Collins. Of those players, Eli, OBJ, Pugh, Richburg, Hankins, Harrison, Vernon, JPP, Kennard, DRC could be considered elite, with OBJ being all world elite. That's 14 Core Players, and 9 potential elite players, not all that short of 07'. What's even better, given how young our team is, and some of the veterans coming back from injury, we have the bonus of having some really big breakout stars, I would name Perkins, Williams, Cruz, Shepard, Dable, Adams, Tye, Hart, Bromley, Odighizuwa, Goodson, D.Thompson, and we have some pretty good established role players such as Vereen, Dwayne Harris, JJerry, J.T. Thomas.
I think this team could really explode this year if injuries don't hit. We're pretty deep across the board expect on OL.
Pugh is a nice guard and not elite, Snee was elite.
I think any list like that has to count OBJ twice.
You count Apple? I think Shepard much more likely to be a core player in his first year.
Flashes of what?
Core players are players who have demonstrated they can play and can be counted on for years to come.....Jennings may be in his last year......Flowers has to show that it was being a rookie and injuries, that were responsible for his play last year...He has to have that first good year, to be considered a core player....the same for Collins....if you can't stay on the field, you are not a core player, like Kennard....Apple hasn't played a down yet...
Pugh and Kennard are not elite......
The Giants have filled some of the holes with better players.....but not all of them.....and the drafted players need to produce......this team shows promise for the first time in several years.....things break their way, and this team is definitely a playoff team...
Everybody else fills a role...
Eli, OBJ, DRC, Pugh, Richburg, Hankins (even though he was injured he still is a good player).
Richburg could join them this year. JPP if he returns to form. They paid Vernon to be elite but nothing suggests he ever has or can be an elite player.
Richburg could join them this year. JPP if he returns to form. They paid Vernon to be elite but nothing suggests he ever has or can be an elite player.
I'd agree but add Damon Harrison. He's one of the top NTs in the game. I think he's going to have a tremendous domino effect on this defense. You can't double Hank anymore, and while perhaps not elite he's certainly a red chip player who will win most one on ones. The inside is solid. That leaves the ends with favorable match ups, some one on ones and maybe a back or TE chipping. Harrison might prove to be the best signing.
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Eli and Beckham. That's it.
Richburg could join them this year. JPP if he returns to form. They paid Vernon to be elite but nothing suggests he ever has or can be an elite player.
I'd agree but add Damon Harrison. He's one of the top NTs in the game. I think he's going to have a tremendous domino effect on this defense. You can't double Hank anymore, and while perhaps not elite he's certainly a red chip player who will win most one on ones. The inside is solid. That leaves the ends with favorable match ups, some one on ones and maybe a back or TE chipping. Harrison might prove to be the best signing.
Harrison is definitely a great run defender but to me an elite player is a two way player. Point taken though.
DRC is not elite?
Hankins and Harrison, Jenkins (marginally but still elite because of his returns with INT's), Richenberg and Eli and OBJ twice.
That's nine and I'd add Harris and almost add Vereen.
I'm gonna arbitrarily define "elite" as a player who in the conversation for the pro ball or, it can be reasonably argued, is among the best or most valuable at his position.
And the potential to join the club: Collins, Flowers, Pugh, Kennard, Odi, Apple, the WR drafted no.2 and perhaps Robinson.
DRC is not elite?
Hankins and Harrison, Jenkins (marginally but still elite because of his returns with INT's), Richenberg and Eli and OBJ twice.
That's nine and I'd add Harris and almost add Vereen.
I'm gonna arbitrarily define "elite" as a player who in the conversation for the pro ball or, it can be reasonably argued, is among the best or most valuable at his position.
And the potential to join the club: Collins, Flowers, Pugh, Kennard, Odi, Apple, the WR drafted no.2 and perhaps Robinson.
You're a moron.