First, I'm as bored as anyone with the virus quarantine situation so I've had more time than usual to read threads and even draft thoughts.
Here are some of my observations that lead me to believe this is looking like a ".500" type team in 2020:
1. OL - we really weren't able to address our line in free agency as the better guys are locked up. Our #1 hole this off-season wasn't "fixed" even in part as Fleming is no better than Remmers and Solder is our likely OLT again. OC is a massive hole even if Hilapio comes back healthy. If we draft an OT round #1 and OC round #2 and start both expect rookie mistakes and Jones to be running like hell again. Simply put, the OL is still a MESS until proven otherwise.
2. ER - pass rushers are a premium and I didn't like Clowney for big money. Too much risk. we played it safe with Fackrell and we may still land Golden, perhaps? I don't think we'll address pass rush in this draft as there aren't many worthy guys. We have to hope the young guys develop: Carter, Ximines, and Lawrence.
3. FS - I believe Love has the job but we need a veteran to take Bethea's spot. I do believe our starting secondary will be a strength this year with Bradberry, Baker, Ballantine/Beal at nickel, Peppers at SS and Love at FS. Depth remains questionable.
4. WR - we still don't have a proven true #1 WR who challenges any defense. I do believe Slayton will be our #1 and will catch for 1,000 yards. Coleman could rebound from the ACL and be that #4 WR and ST ace with speed. Hopefully Tate keeps the chains moving with savvy cuts and inside moves. There is potential here but no one that truly scares you.
5. DL is the strength of this team and remains the #1 reason I believe we'll be a .500 type team. This team should be strong against the run if healthy.
Overall, I like our coaching staff as Judge feels like a true leader. There is always a learning curve with new coaches so expect some mistakes especially early.
My prayer is we get an "easier" schedule to start the season and just progress and stay healthy. I figure we could be competitive IF we stay healthy and draft well. I'd rather take a CB like Okudah who is a stud as a rookie than an OT like Wirfs who struggles and becomes "average at best" 2021. I'm for "top end" talent FIRST so regardless of position lets get a PLAYER.
I am fairly convinced that they will not be competitive in the league though until they stabilize with better personnel at OT & C. And that needs to begin this year by drafting well at these spots.
[quote] competitive in games for certain.
I am fairly convinced that they will not be competitive in the league though until they stabilize with better personnel at OT & C. And that needs to begin this year by drafting well at these spots. [/quoteI'm with you on the "competitive" part and definitely with you on the OL weakness at OT and OC.
I still "see" us lining up Solder-Hernandez-Pulley-Zeitler-Fleming on opening day as this would make for a veteran group. This assumes we go OL in the 2nd and 3rd round possibly meaning they aren't "MUSTS" to start like a first round OT would be.
I still see the GIANTS going BPA at #4 and that BP is not an OL. If we trade down with the Chargers and get their #6 and a #2 from them I still see us drafting BPA available round #1 and that won't be an OT.
My gut says its Simmons at #4.
Interesting observations, thanks for sharing.
I don't think we are an 8-win team, which would be a very pleasant surprise in 2020!
First year Head Coach; new coaching staff; plenty of holes at OT, C, EDGE, Safety all translate into (drum roll):
5-11.
Interesting observations, thanks for sharing.
I don't think we are an 8-win team, which would be a very pleasant surprise in 2020!
First year Head Coach; new coaching staff; plenty of holes at OT, C, EDGE, Safety all translate into (drum roll):
5-11.
However, I do believe Jones and the rest of the youth will really step up. This defense will be better even without a dominant ER. The Cowboys are looking 8-8 at best and the Skins too. The Eagles are going to win this division. I mean, there is no super dominant team in the NFC East so ???
We saw this with the Cowboys as they've really spent premium draft picks over a few years on their offensive line.
Imagine Wills/Becton and Ruiz? Wow. You are talking plug and play or close to it.
Especially on a trade down that could net us an extra second....
Solder and maybe Gates gives us further insurance in case they aren't ready to take over from day 1.
I actually had hoped the OL was improved last year but disappointed. We can add depth and maybe improve at center....but I doubt any other rookie will start.
We should be able to fine an excellent WR and hopefully a centerfield FS.
Now, the primary issue...Pass Rush. They must get lucky
And they have not been very lucky
Let's just hope they pick the best player available. We can use whoever it is. Frankly the hardest commodities to get are Offensive Tackle and Edge Rusher.
Simmons is not really an edge rusher, but he has dynamic tape in multiple positions. I do respect the opinions of those that don't think he is designed for going up against NFL Linemen. That's a problem if true.
If that is the case I would think Offensive Tackle is a more solid pick. I like the tape on Wirfs and Wills. I think Wills is a little more polished than Wirfs, but Wirfs has more of a prototypical "Giant type" body and mechanics. He also engages better with opposing linemen. Wills seems to have a fiercer punch and gets into the second level with his punch.
If Young and Okudah are off the board and you have Brown, Simmons and Wirfs in the next row which one do you take? I'd take Wirfs.
If Young is there he outranks the three of them as an impact player and is the dynamic ER the Giants really need and have had problems replacing since Strahan, Tuck, Osi and JPP. The Giants sorely miss having a group like that.
If Okudah is there and not Young I think he also outranks the Simmons, Brown, Wirfs row and will be a better CB than anyone we have on the roster right now.
Then there's the QBs - I still think Burrows, Tua and Herbert are all better QBs then Baker, Darnold, Rosen, Allen were coming out. Two of those were taken in the top three. I also think Jones fits into that better category as well. I think Tua has better skills than Jones, but he's short and Jones is more of the kind of QB the Giants value size and skills wise I rank Herbert and Burrows just a notch behind Jones. Herbert because he peaked and has gone backwards a little in college, Burrows because of his measurables. So I'm not taking Tua because of his height if I'm the Giants, nor Herbert or Burrows.
Here's the thing. If teams like Miami, LA, Carolina, have fallin in love with any of them you have to trade up to make sure you are getting one of them in the top 3. Does Washington or Detroit trade and the true value of the QBs happen? or does Miami duke it out with LA and Carolina to get the Giants pick after Washington and Detroit take Young and Okudah off the board?
Or does each team stay where they are and just wait for the draft to come to them. Does Washington and Detroit, each take a QB themselves - as they should. All three of those QBs are better than Haskins. Detroit has a good QB and a mandate to win - but IMO would be better served taking the QB of the future with a good class of them coming through.
It's going to be interesting and I think it's far from settled. There are a lot of possibilities to this draft. The only really sure thing is that Cinci seems smitten with Burrows and he's going # 1 - so the draft really starts with Washington.
The Giants are going to get a good player in the first round. This is the only ting I'm sure of.
Let's just hope they pick the best player available. We can use whoever it is. Frankly the hardest commodities to get are Offensive Tackle and Edge Rusher.
Simmons is not really an edge rusher, but he has dynamic tape in multiple positions. I do respect the opinions of those that don't think he is designed for going up against NFL Linemen. That's a problem if true.
If that is the case I would think Offensive Tackle is a more solid pick. I like the tape on Wirfs and Wills. I think Wills is a little more polished than Wirfs, but Wirfs has more of a prototypical "Giant type" body and mechanics. He also engages better with opposing linemen. Wills seems to have a fiercer punch and gets into the second level with his punch.
If Young and Okudah are off the board and you have Brown, Simmons and Wirfs in the next row which one do you take? I'd take Wirfs.
If Young is there he outranks the three of them as an impact player and is the dynamic ER the Giants really need and have had problems replacing since Strahan, Tuck, Osi and JPP. The Giants sorely miss having a group like that.
If Okudah is there and not Young I think he also outranks the Simmons, Brown, Wirfs row and will be a better CB than anyone we have on the roster right now.
Then there's the QBs - I still think Burrows, Tua and Herbert are all better QBs then Baker, Darnold, Rosen, Allen were coming out. Two of those were taken in the top three. I also think Jones fits into that better category as well. I think Tua has better skills than Jones, but he's short and Jones is more of the kind of QB the Giants value size and skills wise I rank Herbert and Burrows just a notch behind Jones. Herbert because he peaked and has gone backwards a little in college, Burrows because of his measurables. So I'm not taking Tua because of his height if I'm the Giants, nor Herbert or Burrows.
Here's the thing. If teams like Miami, LA, Carolina, have fallin in love with any of them you have to trade up to make sure you are getting one of them in the top 3. Does Washington or Detroit trade and the true value of the QBs happen? or does Miami duke it out with LA and Carolina to get the Giants pick after Washington and Detroit take Young and Okudah off the board?
Or does each team stay where they are and just wait for the draft to come to them. Does Washington and Detroit, each take a QB themselves - as they should. All three of those QBs are better than Haskins. Detroit has a good QB and a mandate to win - but IMO would be better served taking the QB of the future with a good class of them coming through.
It's going to be interesting and I think it's far from settled. There are a lot of possibilities to this draft. The only really sure thing is that Cinci seems smitten with Burrows and he's going # 1 - so the draft really starts with Washington.
The Giants are going to get a good player in the first round. This is the only ting I'm sure of.
Yes, we signed Bradberry; yes we drafted Baker #1 last year; however, if he is your BPA and the surest thing as a blue chipper you take him and you move Baker to slot corner. In today's NFL, if you have three quality corners on the field 75% or more of the time you are ahead of the game!
I do believe Simmons is a safety in the NFL. If you feel he is a superstar safety he isn't a "bad choice" either.
While Young looks to be a stud pass rusher, even teams like the Redskins have to think about all the holes on their roster and where they have recently invested/where they haven't. Much like how Okudah and Brown, while they represent strong individual talent, may not fit well as to how the roster has been constructed to date.
It also is shortsighted to think that teams will not be inquiring, if not actually, trading up to take QBs. Not a guarantee but it happens way too frequently to think it won't again this year.
Giants sitting in a solid position to actual greatly help their team, once again. Though this trend has to stop sometime soon...right?
@JordanRaanan
The Giants are expected to run a tight end heavy offense under Jason Garrett. After the signing of Eric Tomlinson these are the TEs currently under contract:
Evan Engram
Levine Toilolo
Kaden Smith
Eric Tomlinson
Garrett Dickerson
CJ Conrad
Twitter link. - ( New Window )
@JordanRaanan
The Giants are expected to run a tight end heavy offense under Jason Garrett. After the signing of Eric Tomlinson these are the TEs currently under contract:
Evan Engram
Levine Toilolo
Kaden Smith
Eric Tomlinson
Garrett Dickerson
CJ Conrad Twitter link. - ( New Window )
Engram is an enigma cause when he is healthy he is a mis-match for most Safeties and LB's. He is not a blocker so that limits him.
I would not be shocked if K. Smith is on the field as much as or even more than Engram in this offense.
Anything else is just a luxury. We can stop the run on D. We can create a pass rush. We have some guys who can cover. We have all sorts of young WRs & TEs.
We do not have the bodies or the talent to field a respectable OL and our two greatest assets are depending on that concern being addressed.
I'd love to trade down and address multiple needs. ILB- Kenneth Murray & one of the top Safeties could do wonders for our D while still allowing us to address the OL with some of our 1st & 2nd day picks.
If we traded down with the Jaguars or the Raiders we could get a lot accomplished.
I'd love to trade down and address multiple needs. ILB- Kenneth Murray & one of the top Safeties could do wonders for our D while still allowing us to address the OL with some of our 1st & 2nd day picks.
If we traded down with the Jaguars or the Raiders we could get a lot accomplished.
Cause at #6 we get the top OL, very likely, or the top WR like Lamb. We basically get a solid player still.
I'd love to trade down and address multiple needs. ILB- Kenneth Murray & one of the top Safeties could do wonders for our D while still allowing us to address the OL with some of our 1st & 2nd day picks.
If we traded down with the Jaguars or the Raiders we could get a lot accomplished.
We would definitely have to run to the podium if Young is available, but I am okay with letting Carter & Ximines develop. Fackrell can be productive. We might even see some development from guys like Chris Peace & Devonte Downs.
On Defense I believe that we need to cover the deep middle. If Simmons is that guy for us then I could see them drafting him for this purpose. I would feel safer with Okuda or Brown.
We would definitely have to run to the podium if Young is available, but I am okay with letting Carter & Ximines develop. Fackrell can be productive. We might even see some development from guys like Chris Peace & Devonte Downs.
On Defense I believe that we need to cover the deep middle. If Simmons is that guy for us then I could see them drafting him for this purpose. I would feel safer with Okuda or Brown.