I hear a ton of hype about Parsons. I'm watching highlight videos and such...but I'm not seeing an Edge LB. Everything I've seen he's playing inside. Almost every sack is a delayed blitz through the middle coming in untouched due to creative defensive schemes. I'm not seeing him take on at the POA, and beating anyone outside, or containing the boundaries. Don't get me wrong, dude is athletic as he'll and plays sideline to sideline, but again. Not edge. Anyone have some clips or anything that shows what I'm missing?
I think the beauty of Parsons is he has the size and speed to be effective in any LB position. He is way faster and bigger than Shaq Barrett of Tampa Bay.
He is also a perfect fit for Graham’s defense.
It’s also nice that Graham’s defensive philosophy doesn’t necessarily require a billion-dollar EDGE to work (as long as he has other guys who can successfully push the pocket and rush the passer, and guys like Parsons who fly sideline to sideline with pure athleticism and instinct all over the field).
I certainly won’t be angry if the pick is Parsons, and even if we instead got an LB in the 2nd round or something, I’d also like to look to get Dayo Odeyingbo who IS more of a classic and very versatile and athletic EDGE. I think Dayo + Parsons (or a different impact LB) could be huge steps to helping this pass rush and shoring up this front 7 in general. Our secondary has the potential to be one of the best in the league IF we could help them out w/ just a little pass rush.
I think Devonta Smith is the one “can’t miss” player if he’s somehow there at #11, but assuming he’s gone I’d love to see Parsons at #11, two solid interior linemen in the 2nd & 3rd, and Dayo in the 4th.
I think the beauty of Parsons is he has the size and speed to be effective in any LB position. He is way faster and bigger than Shaq Barrett of Tampa Bay.
He is also a perfect fit for Graham’s defense.
I didn’t realize he was originally recruited as more of an EDGE. I guess it makes sense— with his skill set and physical tools I can imagine he could probably play any position on the field, and typically teams put their nastiest most dynamic player at EDGE. He’s been said to be a bigger faster version of Devin White (wow). It sounds almost sounds like he could be a hybrid of Shaq Barrett and Devin White, with the qualities of both players wrapped up in one. If that’s the case, I think he’d immediately elevate our defense moreso than any other single prospect in this draft (even greater than the impact either Sewell or Smith would have on our offense, although it’d be close).
Luckily a player like Parsons will likely be successful in pretty much any role he’d be asked to do, but I agree with what you’re saying — it’s enticing to think about Judge and Graham figuring out what Parsons does best and then basically designing schemes based around maximizing his impact. Judge and Graham certainly have the minds to do that IMO. Now that would be fun.
Coverage can use some development.
Assuming Parsons is there in Round 1 and no other receivers the Giants like fall to 11, Parsons either will be the Giants’ pick or off their board. All the other edge players (OLBs or DEs) are in the next tier.
Giants s can use a few more stars with ego, not sure why that s bad. Didn’t Strahan kind of fit that description?
As for attitude, character, star ego etc...the hazing bit needs to be investigated but despite all the noise in that department literally nothing else has been quantified. There havent even been any "anonymous leaks" about anything.
As for his personality and if Judge wants a star ego or big personality...what about Golladay? There were some questions as to whether he mailed it in late in the year due to injury, and he took to twitter to direct comments at the Lions like "That shit gonna cost you" after posting a big game. That is absolutely star ego, and they rolled out the red carpet for him. He passed the culture test and it was all hands on deck. So i dont think we can just rule guys out automatically. The regime has a threshold for that kinda stuff, but A) we dont know what it is and B) we don't really know Parsons.
As for attitude, character, star ego etc...the hazing bit needs to be investigated but despite all the noise in that department literally nothing else has been quantified. There havent even been any "anonymous leaks" about anything.
As for his personality and if Judge wants a star ego or big personality...what about Golladay? There were some questions as to whether he mailed it in late in the year due to injury, and he took to twitter to direct comments at the Lions like "That shit gonna cost you" after posting a big game. That is absolutely star ego, and they rolled out the red carpet for him. He passed the culture test and it was all hands on deck. So i dont think we can just rule guys out automatically. The regime has a threshold for that kinda stuff, but A) we dont know what it is and B) we don't really know Parsons.
For guys wanting to get an idea of his hands,twitch and bend, I suggest going to YouTube and watching his pro day. His quickness, fluidity and hand usage are too notch. I see him as a starting OLB that could move inside. I could see a starting LB unit of Ragland and Martinez inside with Parsons and the best player of the rest ( Anderson, Carter, Ximines, Odenyigbo, Coughlin, Brown ) playing outside. The switch to the hybrid 3-4 would be complete.
It’s also nice that Graham’s defensive philosophy doesn’t necessarily require a billion-dollar EDGE to work (as long as he has other guys who can successfully push the pocket and rush the passer, and guys like Parsons who fly sideline to sideline with pure athleticism and instinct all over the field).
I certainly won’t be angry if the pick is Parsons, and even if we instead got an LB in the 2nd round or something, I’d also like to look to get Dayo Odeyingbo who IS more of a classic and very versatile and athletic EDGE. I think Dayo + Parsons (or a different impact LB) could be huge steps to helping this pass rush and shoring up this front 7 in general. Our secondary has the potential to be one of the best in the league IF we could help them out w/ just a little pass rush.
I think Devonta Smith is the one “can’t miss” player if he’s somehow there at #11, but assuming he’s gone I’d love to see Parsons at #11, two solid interior linemen in the 2nd & 3rd, and Dayo in the 4th.
I would like Odeynigbo in round 4. Parsons round 1, OL and WR round 2 & 3.
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Your whole defense around so if he is your Joker or Buck or whatever, that’s fine. Certainly, his ego can handle being a Star. I’m not sure Judge or Graham want that kind of player.
Giants s can use a few more stars with ego, not sure why that s bad. Didn’t Strahan kind of fit that description?
Agree! This D needs that Alpha male if you will. That crazed dog leader!
If you take an inside linebacker at #11, he had better be another Patrick Willis.
Assuming Parsons is there in Round 1 and no other receivers the Giants like fall to 11, Parsons either will be the Giants’ pick or off their board. All the other edge players (OLBs or DEs) are in the next tier.
Parsons being moved to ILB at Penn State implies that this is his best position. Edge pass rushers are much rarer in the college game, too. So he’s an ILB. I don’t necessarily see that as a problem. Was Luke Kuechly overdrafted? No.
The question the Giants may be faced with when it comes to Parsons would be is a guy with a draft grade of 90 at ILB better than a guy with an 85 grade at edge or WR?
The Giants may have an edge or a WR with the same grade as Parsons available when they pick, which, I think would make that decision much easier. We shall see come draft night.
If Graham's defense is premised on multiples and not being predictable from game to game, then I assume he would use a player like Parsons different from game to game and series to series. What does he do well? How does he match up against X player? What is the down/distance and game time situation? If the Giants take Parsons at 11 then I think they will have various packages for him to be deployed to take advantage of his strengths and not just relegate him to one role on D.