I started following the Giants religiously in 2001 when I was 11. Looking back at that time, I have my notions of certain players, but because I was so young and so inexperienced in the game, I do not know if my feelings of certain players truly reflect how they performed as Giants. So the point of this thread is to either validate my thoughts, or, if they are incorrect, have renewed opinions of them. So basically, I'd love to hear your views on the following players/units:
1. The O-Line consisting of:
Petitgout-Seubert-Chris Bober-Whittle-Rosenthal
The Giants O-Line of the early 2000's was notoriously underwhelming (actually, they were downright terrible), but it's funny because I remember each of the players listed above as solid individually. Petitgout had issues with penalties (holding and false starts, IIRC), but for the most part he was very solid (though I may think that way because I think Petitgout was rated a 90 in a Madden game. Haha). Seubert was just one tough SOB and the classic overachiever. Bober was whatever, but if memory serves, Wayne Lucier didn't perform as well as Bober did when Bober left for the Chiefs. Whittle returned a few years later and was unspectacular but solid. Same with Mike Rosenthal before he left for the Vikings.
2. The D-Line of Strahan, Keith Hamilton, Cornelius Griffin and Kenny Holmes/Keith Washington
Strahan doesn't need to be discussed. His HOF resume speaks for itself.
I remember Hamilton being just an absolute wrecking ball early in his career, but by the time I began watching religiously he was kind of the aging veteran, yet he remained very stout in the middle.
Cornelius Griffin was a young guy we drafted in the second round out of Alabama. I remember him being okay, but I think Fassel and Johnny Lynn always wanted more from him. Like he never realized his full potential with the Giants. When he left for the hated Washington franchise, that really boiled my blood.
Kenny Holmes had a nice career here after coming over from the Titans. He was a nice complement to Strahan.
Washington was a veteran stopgap who performed admirably.
3. The LB Corp of Brandon Short, Michael Barrow, and Dhani Jones (and I'll throw in Nick Greisen for good measure)
Short was a real throwback and probably wouldn't have performed as well today due to his limited athleticism. But he was okay. I remember he had that key INT in the last game of the season against the Eagles to send us to the playoffs.
Barrow was probably my favorite defensive player of that era. I remember he organized this event for 9/11 families to meet with a bunch of athletes and coaches, so I always thought he was really cool for that. Beyond that, the guy was just rock solid. I don't remember him being as effective against the pass due to his limited athleticism, but I don't think many were better than Barrow against the run. He was just an absolute bowling ball.
Dhani Jones was the most athletic of the three, but I don't remember anything remarkable about him other than the air guitar celebration.
Greisen was an excellent STer and a smart, heady linebacker when he did start.
4. CBs - Will Allen, Will James (nee' Peterson), Ralph Brown, Frank Walker
Allen and James were a shutdown tandem. Both were taken in the same draft. James was the taller of the two, but Allen was the better cover guy. The one thing that stands out to me about Allen was that the guy was known for his stone hands. He hardly ever had an INT.
Brown was a solid nickel. Nothing extraordinary.
Walker was very athletic, but the guy was known for his boneheaded penalties and reckless play.
5. The S duo of Omar Stoutmire and Shaun Williams
I remember Stoutmire for one thing and one thing only: being a heavy hitter. He REALLY laid the wood on guys.
Shaun Williams never lived up to expectations after we took him in the first round out of UCLA, but he held down the fort for a while.
Thanks in advance!
Was a poor mans version of our 2011 secondary
Jerry was pissed at whoever it was .... he had to return all those tickets. But, they did have 12 pro-bowlers.
Jerry was pissed at whoever it was .... he had to return all those tickets. But, they did have 12 pro-bowlers.
You don't remember R.W. McQuarters? :O
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Wasn't he the guy who intercepted the pass in Dallas (in the end zone) that ended the game and sent us to Green Bay? I could be thinking of some one else?
Jerry was pissed at whoever it was .... he had to return all those tickets. But, they did have 12 pro-bowlers.
You don't remember R.W. McQuarters? :O
: ) ... Dam ... my apologies to RW! That was him ... Thanks Anak.
I wasn't even close.
Are you calling McNally crazy or are you his testicles?
A young kid I thought he was one intimidating dude.
I thought Griffin started our dubious tradition of drafting rock solid DTs in the 2nd round, only to let them walk a few years later, shine elsewhere, and make us regret it (see Linval Joseph, Barry Cofield).
Walker was a disappointment, if a 7th rounder (6th?) can be called a disappointment. I remember somebody had a meme (or whatever) of Walker on a milk carton with the Have You Seen Me? caption. (Similar to the meme of a bandaged and bloody Tim Carter.)
The D-Line of Strahan, Keith Hamilton, Cornelius Griffin and Kenny Holmes/Keith Washington
At the time, I thought Hamilton was the only stud. Holmes was a FA bust. Griffin was OK as a young player, but nothing special. I thought Strahan came up small in big games. I was never a big fan of Strahan until later in his career.
The D-Line of Strahan, Keith Hamilton, Cornelius Griffin and Kenny Holmes/Keith Washington
At the time, I thought Hamilton was the only stud. Holmes was a FA bust. Griffin was OK as a young player, but nothing special. I thought Strahan came up small in big games. I was never a big fan of Strahan until later in his career.
Agree with you on Strahan. I think dropping some weight and getting faster really helped him later in his career. He wasn’t fat before, but he got much more explosive in his last four years.
Your memory isn't that off. He was decent but certainly no game changing force. Had a decent 2nd year with us in 2002 but was out of football after the '03 season.
Right. 2001 was when we found out that Lomas Brown had stayed in the NFL just 1 year too long. And 2003 was when they had to start Jeff Roehl at OLT due to a Petitgout injury. And people think Flowers is problematic.
You know, there are years that are exceptions, but OL problems seem endemic with this team.
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I recall Holmes as being kind of a bust after he got here. Came from TEN, I think, w/ high expectations, but then never did much. My memory could be off though.
Your memory isn't that off. He was decent but certainly no game changing force. Had a decent 2nd year with us in 2002 but was out of football after the '03 season.
Decent, but never justified the salary he got as a free agent,
Eric mistook Lorenzo Carter for Jonathan Carter and that certainly brought back memories...albeit not a lot of them.
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And it certainly wasn’t terrible by any stretch
And 2003 was when they had to start Jeff Roehl at OLT due to a Petitgout injury. And people think Flowers is problematic.
No one, and I mean NO ONE, could hold a candle to Ian Allen. That first game of the season against the Rams...I mean, I honestly think I could've done better than Allen in that game.