I wasn't even born yet so I did not know how to feel about him. I started watching the Giants in 2003 and he was a mega star back then. How did you react to his name being called?
and the draft wasn't what it is today. No real internet either. I remember reading his name in the newspaper the next day on my way out of Stewarts where I used to get my coffee in the morning. Thats it.
and the draft wasn't what it is today. No real internet either. I remember reading his name in the newspaper the next day on my way out of Stewarts where I used to get my coffee in the morning. Thats it.
Ha so the good old days kept fans in the dark about their draft picks?
you have to understand how different those times were. There was no widespread internet at all. So everything was either newspapers, magazines, or tv, and ESPN was a cable network and lots of people didn't have cable back then so not everyone saw it on TV.
that followed the draft, but not like today. I went to the draft when Hilliard was drafted, and when we drafted Cedric Jones. You just showed up at the theater next to MSG by 9am got a bracelet and you were guaranteed a spot to get in . they gave us little gift bags with and FM radio.
The Giants had spent their first rounder in the supplemental draft so this was their first pick that year. All I knew was from draft guides and such but his name was definitely out there and I think I was mildly surprised we got him in the 2nd round. In those days I always loved the guys from smaller schools as I thought that they were under valued even though by 1994 they probably weren't.
The draft was a staple on ESPN by then and was pretty widely covered. Not like say, when Simms was taken.
RE: He certainly wasn't an overnight sensation... Â
and the draft wasn't what it is today. No real internet either. I remember reading his name in the newspaper the next day on my way out of Stewarts where I used to get my coffee in the morning. Thats it.
He didn't have great measurables as far as size and speed but he was very productive at Texas Southern and was viewed by many, Dave Te' included, as a very good selection at the spot he was selected in.
Well, there was no first round pick that year - they gave it up to pick Dave Brown in the supplemental draft - but if you can get a Hall of Fame player with your second pick, you'd take it every time. But Dave Brown... Ugh.
And most didn't know what to expect.
It was Reeves and Nolan's defense and it wasn't overly accepted.
The transition took awhile and Strahan looked like a bust.
That was a dark time
The first rounder was Dave Brown in the Supplemental draft Â
Strahan was the 2nd rounder from a small school, Texas Southern. There wasn't much known about him due to his time in Germany, but he was highly regarded for what he was. He looked promising, but got hurt almost immediately (foot, I think) and mostly missed his rookie year. Once he got healthy and got going, it was pretty obvious he was going to be very good. But it took a year.
And most didn't know what to expect.
It was Reeves and Nolan's defense and it wasn't overly accepted.
The transition took awhile and Strahan looked like a bust.
That was a dark time
This is a good answer. I didn't know about the 4-3, thanks for providing something instead of "We didn't know. No internet."
I thought he predicted he was going to have 10 sacks in his rookie season only to get hurt... I could be wrong, but for some reason I think he said that when he was drafted...
I wanted Dan Footman from FSU or Steve Tovar from Ohio State. That's the day I learned that we know nothing about who is out there, how they may progress or what the big college bias makes us think. From that day, after Strahan struggled, got injured, got a huge contract and was ridiculed here, then went on to be the best DL this franchise has ever seen, I decided to trust the front office. I was livid when we took Luke Petitgout, but the guys I wanted before him were bums in the NFL. It's really those two events that made me realize that we as fans know about 10% of what talent evaluators do and we suck at knowing what we watch compared to them.
I remember hating the Eli pick, I wanted Big Ben and the picks, not Eli and I ended up witnessing two of the most sensational playoff runs I've ever seen and I don't regret it one bit. NFL teams are simply smarter than we are, and despite bold predictions and the occasional lucky nugget we find, they are professionals and we are idiots.
It wasn't like it was the dark ages; it was still on ESPN all day... Â
real effective until he became stronger and switched to the strong side. He learned technique and leverage and in his third year started to look like something. He started very slowly... but back in the day, that was expected and ok.
In comment 14442520 Nomad Crow on the Madison said:
Quote:
was the second-best second round pick in Giants history (at least since 1967). Leonard Marshall was the best second round pick.
Marshall was an absolute rock but objectively if you have a choice of Strahan or Marshall you take Strahan everytime. Annoys me he wasn't first ballot. bw wanted to cut/trade him in 98 of course.
RE: He certainly wasn't an overnight sensation... Â
...and Strahan was their second choice. I recall reading in TSN prior to the draft that Strahan was a guy who was late to football (from Germany) and needed development coming from Texas Southern but that in five years he could turn out to be the best of the bunch (at the time I think they had him ranked 5th among the DE prospects). That proved to be prophetic!
I wanted Dan Footman from FSU or Steve Tovar from Ohio State. That's the day I learned that we know nothing about who is out there, how they may progress or what the big college bias makes us think. From that day, after Strahan struggled, got injured, got a huge contract and was ridiculed here, then went on to be the best DL this franchise has ever seen, I decided to trust the front office. I was livid when we took Luke Petitgout, but the guys I wanted before him were bums in the NFL. It's really those two events that made me realize that we as fans know about 10% of what talent evaluators do and we suck at knowing what we watch compared to them.
I remember hating the Eli pick, I wanted Big Ben and the picks, not Eli and I ended up witnessing two of the most sensational playoff runs I've ever seen and I don't regret it one bit. NFL teams are simply smarter than we are, and despite bold predictions and the occasional lucky nugget we find, they are professionals and we are idiots.
I disliked the Eli trade at the time too. But the pros are wrong too, I disliked Pugh, Flowers, Wilson and wtf Apple. Or maybe our previous regime wasn't professional XD
Like Joey, I didn't want Petitgout. I wanted LJ Shelton or Aaron Gibson. I took solace in the fact that both were still available when Petitgout was selected so I knew the Giants had their choice and chose Luke. And as Joey said, they were right, I was wrong.
I wanted Dan Footman from FSU or Steve Tovar from Ohio State. That's the day I learned that we know nothing about who is out there, how they may progress or what the big college bias makes us think. From that day, after Strahan struggled, got injured, got a huge contract and was ridiculed here, then went on to be the best DL this franchise has ever seen, I decided to trust the front office. I was livid when we took Luke Petitgout, but the guys I wanted before him were bums in the NFL. It's really those two events that made me realize that we as fans know about 10% of what talent evaluators do and we suck at knowing what we watch compared to them.
I remember hating the Eli pick, I wanted Big Ben and the picks, not Eli and I ended up witnessing two of the most sensational playoff runs I've ever seen and I don't regret it one bit. NFL teams are simply smarter than we are, and despite bold predictions and the occasional lucky nugget we find, they are professionals and we are idiots.
Actually looked more like he might better suited to DT, until he started to figure out how to play the end with leverage, ability to set the edge, and ability to chase down from the backside. He got the avalanche moving.
Actually looked more like he might better suited to DT, until he started to figure out how to play the end with leverage, ability to set the edge, and ability to chase down from the backside. He got the avalanche moving.
Yes, he developed and if I remember it right he really came on once he started playing at a lower weight.
And most didn't know what to expect.
It was Reeves and Nolan's defense and it wasn't overly accepted.
The transition took awhile and Strahan looked like a bust.
That was a dark time
This is a good answer. I didn't know about the 4-3, thanks for providing something instead of "We didn't know. No internet."
Thank you for the response.
In Strahan's rookie year the Giants were still running a 3-4. It was LT's last year. Corey Miller and LT were the OLB. Michael Brooks and Carlton Bailey were ILB. Nolan was a 1st year Defensive coordinator. Strahan was playing a hybrid and learning LT's spot. Nolan even pegged Strahan to replace LT in an interview post 1993. Problem is in '94 much of the defense was revamped. Gone were Mark Collins, Myron Guyton, Greg Jackson, LT. Also Phil Simms was gone and Dave Brown was now QB, impacting the defense even more.
Strahan had potential but did not start really showing it until mid/late '95 and taking off in '96. Different error. BTW the Giants went full blown 4-3 in '95.
Strahan started at RDE and I thought he was switched to LDE because Â
Recently I read, maybe here, that he was switched to accommodate Cedric Jones blind eye.
Not true, just the opposite. He refused to switch from the left side to the right side to accommodate Cedric Jones (who was partially blind in his left eye).
The story of how Strahan wound up on the left side is an interesting one. Initially, Strahan didn't want to make the switch, but Reeves told him it was just a training camp experiment for versatility purposes. When Nolan was later interviewed, he revealed that it was a permanent move and Strahan was pissed. After that, Reeves made it a policy that assistant coaches were not allowed to speak with the media.
The irony was that once Strahan realized how well he matched up against right tackles compared to left tackles, he never wanted to switch back. Not even as part of a rotation.
The masses may not have followed the Draft like they do today but I have been immersed in the draft since before that time. We would buy printed material from Pro Football Weekly and other publications.
Strahan was not mocked to us...mock drafts were not what they are today. You would get a mock draft in the publications but all were static and late riser, etc were not accounted for.
When we picked Strahan they played a video of him at Texas Southern playing DT and just blowing up Guards. That was the first hat I heard of him as I am sure was the case for many.
It took him a while but a Strahan turned out to be one of the best ever. He was our best Second round pick ever.
Newark Star-Ledger, Dave Klein, had Strahan going to us in the first round. When we got him in the second, I was thrilled.
Based upon some of the other comments, I have another recollection about Stray that must be faulty. I could swear he hurt himself in preseason celebrating a sack and lost significant time his first year.
I didn't pay attention to the draft mycg back then Â
I would catch up on a lot of what the Giants did during the off-season during camp and preseason. That's when I'd learn about many of the new faces back then. Different time.
Ha so the good old days kept fans in the dark about their draft picks?
The draft was a staple on ESPN by then and was pretty widely covered. Not like say, when Simms was taken.
Or on here during his first minicamp..
lol - pretty much like this.
Murderer!
He was a monster in '01.
Hated TC, then loved him. Sat out '07 camp, recorded 10 sacks or so that season, & had a huge sack of TB12 in XLII.
Retired a Super Bowl champion.
Been a huge success post NFL career.
Love #92.
It was Reeves and Nolan's defense and it wasn't overly accepted.
The transition took awhile and Strahan looked like a bust.
That was a dark time
It was Reeves and Nolan's defense and it wasn't overly accepted.
The transition took awhile and Strahan looked like a bust.
That was a dark time
This is a good answer. I didn't know about the 4-3, thanks for providing something instead of "We didn't know. No internet."
Thank you for the response.
I remember hating the Eli pick, I wanted Big Ben and the picks, not Eli and I ended up witnessing two of the most sensational playoff runs I've ever seen and I don't regret it one bit. NFL teams are simply smarter than we are, and despite bold predictions and the occasional lucky nugget we find, they are professionals and we are idiots.
We didn't have a first round pick that year because of Dave Brown in the supplemental draft. I was more pissed about that than anything.
Also, Jessie Armstead was the same draft. 8th rounder!
Marshall was an absolute rock but objectively if you have a choice of Strahan or Marshall you take Strahan everytime. Annoys me he wasn't first ballot. bw wanted to cut/trade him in 98 of course.
I remember hating the Eli pick, I wanted Big Ben and the picks, not Eli and I ended up witnessing two of the most sensational playoff runs I've ever seen and I don't regret it one bit. NFL teams are simply smarter than we are, and despite bold predictions and the occasional lucky nugget we find, they are professionals and we are idiots.
I disliked the Eli trade at the time too. But the pros are wrong too, I disliked Pugh, Flowers, Wilson and wtf Apple. Or maybe our previous regime wasn't professional XD
I recall Mel Kiper saying that the Giants got a bargain, he had Strahan rated with a first round value.
I remember hating the Eli pick, I wanted Big Ben and the picks, not Eli and I ended up witnessing two of the most sensational playoff runs I've ever seen and I don't regret it one bit. NFL teams are simply smarter than we are, and despite bold predictions and the occasional lucky nugget we find, they are professionals and we are idiots.
Hear, hear. (applause)
Yes, he developed and if I remember it right he really came on once he started playing at a lower weight.
Scouting report, Strahan - ( New Window )
^^^This
And I love your handle.
Quote:
And most didn't know what to expect.
It was Reeves and Nolan's defense and it wasn't overly accepted.
The transition took awhile and Strahan looked like a bust.
That was a dark time
This is a good answer. I didn't know about the 4-3, thanks for providing something instead of "We didn't know. No internet."
Thank you for the response.
Strahan had potential but did not start really showing it until mid/late '95 and taking off in '96. Different error. BTW the Giants went full blown 4-3 in '95.
Recently I read, maybe here, that he was switched to accommodate Cedric Jones blind eye.
Recently I read, maybe here, that he was switched to accommodate Cedric Jones blind eye.
The story of how Strahan wound up on the left side is an interesting one. Initially, Strahan didn't want to make the switch, but Reeves told him it was just a training camp experiment for versatility purposes. When Nolan was later interviewed, he revealed that it was a permanent move and Strahan was pissed. After that, Reeves made it a policy that assistant coaches were not allowed to speak with the media.
The irony was that once Strahan realized how well he matched up against right tackles compared to left tackles, he never wanted to switch back. Not even as part of a rotation.
Strahan was not mocked to us...mock drafts were not what they are today. You would get a mock draft in the publications but all were static and late riser, etc were not accounted for.
When we picked Strahan they played a video of him at Texas Southern playing DT and just blowing up Guards. That was the first hat I heard of him as I am sure was the case for many.
It took him a while but a Strahan turned out to be one of the best ever. He was our best Second round pick ever.
Based upon some of the other comments, I have another recollection about Stray that must be faulty. I could swear he hurt himself in preseason celebrating a sack and lost significant time his first year.