New York Giants
Owner: John Mara and Steve Tisch
Founded: 1925
Stadium: New Meadowlands Stadium
2010 record: 10-6
Last playoff appearance: 2008, 12-4, NFC East Champs, L23-11 PHI
General Manager: Jerry Reese (2007 – current)
Head Coach: Tom Coughlin (2004 – current, 65-47 as Giants Head Coach, 133-107 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Gilbride
Defensive Coordinator: Perry Fewell
Defensive alignment: 4-3
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 24.6 PTS (8th) 380.3 YDS (5th) 242.8 PASS (10th) 137.5 RUSH (6th)
DEF: 21.7 PTS (17th) 310.8 YDS (7th) 209.5 PASS (9th) 101.2 RUSH (8th)
Pro Bowlers: Chris Snee OG, Shaun O’Hara C, Justin Tuck DE, Antrel Rolle FS, Zak DeOssie LS
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 at Redskins 4:15 PM Tickets
2 Sep 19 vs. Rams 8:30 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 at Eagles 1:00 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 at Cardinals 4:05 PM Tickets
5 Oct 09 vs. Seahawks 1:00 PM Tickets
6 Oct 16 vs. Bills 1:00 PM Tickets
7 Bye
8 Oct 30 vs. Miami 1:00 PM Tickets
9 Nov 06 at Patriots 4:15 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 at 49ers 4:15 PM Tickets
11 Nov 20 vs. Eagles 8:20 PM Tickets
12 Nov 28 at Saints 8:30 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 vs. Packers 4:15 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 at Cowboys 8:20 PM Tickets
15 Dec 18 vs. Redskins 1:00 PM Tickets
16 Dec 24 at Jets 1:00 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 vs. Cowboys 1:00 PM Tickets
TEAM NEEDS: OT, OLB, MLB, S
Potential Free Agents:
Jim Sorgi QB
Ahmad Bradshaw RB – re-signed
Steve Smith WR
Domenik Hixon WR - re-signed – 1 yr
Derek Hagan WR
Kevin Boothe OT/OG – re-signed
Mathias Kiwanuka DE – re-signed –
Dave Tollefson DE
Gerris Wilkinson OLB
Keith Bulluck OLB
Chase Blackburn OLB
Michael Johnson FS
Deon Grant SS
Free agent acquisitions:
David Carr QB (49ers)
Ben Patrick TE (Cardinals) -
Stacey Andrews OG (Seahawks) -
Gabe Watson DT (Cardinals)
Steve Weatherford P Jets) -
Free agent losses:
Michael Clayton WR – signed by Buccaneers
Kevin Boss TE – signed with Raiders – 4 yrs, 16 million
Rich Seubert G
Shaun Andrews OL
Shaun O’Hara C
Rocky Bernard DT
Barry Cofield DT – signed by Redskins
Picks in 2011 NFL Draft (overall draft grade: A): I was in disbelief when Prince Amukamara continued to fall in the first round of the draft. Luckily for the Giants, he was there for them. I still believe that Prince was just slightly below the level of Patrick Peterson. So we’ll see how that turns out. As for the rest of the Giants’ 2011 draft class, it was more of the same: great value and steals. Marvin Austin in the second round, Greg Jones and Tyler Sash later on were all great values. I like Sash to provide some help after Chad Jones may not be able to get back onto the field. Jerrel Jernigan was taken as well to help the Giants’ situation at wide receiver since they have quite a few impending free agents at that position.
(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 19 (19) Prince Amukamara CB, Nebraska – I still don’t see why Prince was dropping throughout the entire draft process. He’s a top 12 talent (8 on my board). Huge steal for G-Men.
Grade: A+ Rated: 8
Rd 2, Pick 20 (52) Marvin Austin DL, North Carolina – Austin began to gain some traction back towards the first round after having his draft stock dropped to the late second after being suspended for the entire 2010 season at UNC. Perhaps he will have a consistent motor when he’s getting rotated in and out during games.
Grade: A Rated: 35
Rd 3, Pick 19 (83) Jerrel Jernigan WR, Troy – Jernigan’s senior season began to create some buzz about him. He’s got good kick return skills and dominated small school competition despite his small frame. He’ll be used in the slot.
Grade: A Rated: 76
Rd 4, Pick 20 (117) James Brewer OL, Indiana – The Giants get the offensive lineman they were looking for in the first round, but they unexpectedly had Prince Amukamara available to them then.
Grade: A- Rated: 123
Rd 6, Pick 20 (185) Greg Jones LB, Michigan State – Jones dropping this far is criminal. He’s undersized, but can that really be that big a detriment to his stock?
Grade: A+ Rated: 62
Rd 6, Pick 33 (198) Tyler Sash SS, Iowa – What is it with the Giants getting great value for their defensive backfield? Shows great instincts and takes good angles to receivers.
Grade: A+ Rated: 106
Rd 6, Pick 37 (202) Jacquian Williams LB, USF – Good speed at linebacker. The Giants had a distinct need at linebacker. There were many other better ones available, however.
Grade: D Rated: NR
Rd 7, Pick 18 (221) Da’Rel Scott RB, Maryland – Scott is a change of pace back. Good value here.
Grade: A- Rated: 213
2010 Giants Draft review:
Here are some interesting nuggets of information I saw from the draft press conferences that the Giants held: On first round pick Jason Pierre-Paul: he had biggest upside of anybody in the draft. He was one of the 30 player visits they had. Was an easy pick but they took their time when they were on the clock, talked to JPP on phone for a while, and made sure he was ready to play and healthy. JPP was the highest graded player on their board when they took him, according to Coughlin. Ross watched every game of JPP. Ross said he saw JPP do things that he hasn’t seen in scouting. Overall, their scouts have the most input on the prospects and coaches have some as well. GM Jerry Reese on Linval Joseph: he was a value and need pick. Some people had Joseph as a late first rounder. The Giants never go for need, they try to go for value. Director of College Scouting Marc Ross said that the picks in first three rounds (Pierre-Paul, Joseph, and Jones) were all value picks. When Ross sets up the board, they go off of that, but if there’s a need in the value range of when they’re picking, GM Jerry Reese, Tom Coughlin and him will talk about who to pick. They didn’t have a lot of guys of high value at MLB in the draft. When asked how Ross projects players who aren’t from SEC, he described it like this: He watches them against the better competition and looks at their individual skill set compared to others at his position. Marc Ross said Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini said LB Philip Dillard helped DT Ndamukong Suh some, too, not just the other way around. They talked about taking Dillard in round three, but decided to wait it out to see if he lasted until their next pick. There was a gap between tiers of linebackers and Dillard was in the upper one, so they took him in the fourth. If you go after needs you get burned, according to Ross.
Rd 1, Pick 15 (15) Jason Pierre-Paul DE, USF – 16 games, 30 TCK, 4.5 SCK, 6 PD, 2 FF
Rd 2, Pick 14 (46) Linval Joseph DT, East Carolina – 6 games, 8 TCK
Rd 3, Pick 12 (76) Chad Jones FS, LSU – in a single-car crash in June with serious injuries. Unclear if he’ll be able to play in 2011.
Rd 4, Pick 17 (115) Phillip Dillard LB, Nebraska – 7 games, 4 TCK
Rd 5, Pick 16 (147) Mitch Petrus OG, Arkansas – 11 games
Rd 6, Pick 15 (184) Adrian Tracy DE, William & Mary – IR
Rd 7, Pick 14 (221) Matt Dodge P, East Carolina – 72 PNT, 44.8 AVG, 69 LNG, 20 IN20
Looking back at my grades for the 2010 Giants draft class:
After the 2010 NFL Draft was over, I gave the Giants an overall grade of B-. I liked the Jason Pierre-Paul pick and gave it an A. It may have not been a need, but it was great value, and I value value above need any day. Especially if Umenyiora will be gone in a year or two, or if trade rumors were true, they’ll have him waiting in the wings. I thought the Linval Joseph pick was a bit of a reach, but they did have some weakness and need in the middle. Chad Jones (B-) and Mitch Petrus (A) were good values, but Adrian Tracy (C), and Matt Dodge (C+) I didn’t think were. Dodge became the punter, but didn’t have any competition. The way his season was (mainly the DeSean Jackson return for TD) pretty much solidified his C+ grade. I wouldn’t change any grades I gave the Giants’ draft class, so I’m keeping their B grade. If Chad Jones will ever be able to recover from his car crash, it’d be great news for him. He was a good talent.
Last 5 First Round Picks: Jason Pierre-Paul DE, Hakeem Nicks WR, Kenny Phillips FS, Aaron Ross CB, Mathias Kiwanuka DE
2010 Stat Leaders
Eli Manning 339-539 62.9% 4002 YDS 7.4 YPA 31 TD 25 INT 85.3 RTG
Ahmad Bradshaw 276 ATT 1235 YDS 4.5 YPA 48 LNG 8 TD
Hakeem Nicks 79 REC 1052 YDS 13.3 YPC 46 LNG 11 TD
Lawrence Tynes 19-23 82.6% 53 LNG
Terrell Thomas 101 TCK
Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora 11.5 SCK
Terrell Thomas 5 INT
Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)