SB Nation - George Wrighster

With three Tight Ends down, the Bengals will likely look to the free market

Kirkendall — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:42:18 -0000

Now that the Bengals are down three Tight Ends, the question becomes, what now? Reggie Kelly is out for the year after having surgery on Wednesday. On the same day, Ben Utecht suffered a nasty concussion which knocked him out for nearly ten minutes before regaining consciousness and was taken to the local hospital. Daniel Coats is listed as day-to-day after the third-string Tight End twisted his ankle. With Chase Coffman and Darius Hill as the only healthy Tight Ends available (both of whom are rookies), the Bengals are looking into the market for another.

The Bengals were talking about signing another tight end even before they went out to practice Wednesday night with former Packer and Jet Bubba Franks the most well known. Head coach Marvin Lewis acknowledged that Franks "was a very, very good player for a long period of time." He's also 31 and has played in just eight games in each of the last two seasons.

Typically when the Bengals went through a spell of injuries, we'd question the training staff. However, it doesn't seem right this time. The injuries that our Tight Ends are suffering are freak injuries that are unpreventable, placed in the category of "it happens."

Scout.com lists best available free agents at Tight End -- Bubba Franks among them.

George Wrighster - The Giants recently released him.
Bubba Franks - The New York Jets recently released him. Franks fits in as a second tight end at this point in his career.
Mark Bruener - May retire, but if he wants to play, he would fit in as a blocking/third tight end
Daniel Wilcox - Decent blocker who fits in as a second or third tight end.
Jerame Tuman - Fits in as a third tight end.
Courtney Anderson - One very highly regarded by the Raiders, but has bounced around quite a bit the past few seasons.
Nate Jackson - He was selected recently in the UFL draft.
Martrez Milner - Just waived by the Jets and fits in as a third tight end.
Adam Bergen - Former undrafted free agent who fits in as a third tight end.

Likely, the Bengals will rely heavily on Chase Coffman to carry the position banner. However, there's things he must adjust to. Like lining up in a three-point stance, for instance, and blocking. Coffman knows the sudden opportunity he's given.

"It does leave an opportunity for me to step up, make more plays and get more reps in practice and do the things that I need to be doing to be a great player," Coffman said Monday after Kelly was injured. "I have to step up now a lot more, learn quicker and do a lot better."

Satisfied enough that Coffman is doing the right things, head coach Marvin Lewis does see improvement.

"The offensive coaches comment that every day you see improvement," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "It's kind of like riding a bike; the more you do it the quicker it's going to come back to you. I thought tonight he (Coffman) did a good job of both hanging in there physically and being one of two guys for an entire practice."

There's still a decent chance that Coats returns within the month. Who knows about Utecht -- concussions are tricky things and there's no time-table chart. Either way, the Bengals will likely sign a Tight End in the coming days to replenish the ranks -- at least temporarily.

2009 Schedule Preview: Week 5 vs. NY Giants

Saintsational — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:00:10 -0000

The Saints finally finish up their run of three straight New York-based opponents when they take on the Giants in the Superdome during week five of the season. Since last facing each other, the Giants went and won themselves a Super Bowl and became a perennial contender. To be sure, the G-Men will provide a tough test for the Saints, in particular, their agressive defense. Hopefully, the results of this years clash will closely mirror those of the last meeting between these two teams. Something tells me it won't.

Giants Offense

New Orleans native Eli Manning is still running the show in New York but the team around him has seen some change. To offset the loss of their two big receivers, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the Giants used their first round pick to take Hakeem Nicks in this years draft. They also selected receiver Ramses Barden and tight end Travis Beckum for added depth. Steve Smith (not that one), who led the team in receptions last year, will remain one of Manning's favorite targets while Domenik Hixon should develop quite nicely this season.

On the ground, Brandon Jacobs will certainly continue to be the main man for the G-Men, who led the league in rushing last season, but they've lost Derrick Ward, their 1,000-yard backup. Yes, that's right...backup. Ahmad Bradshaw should step up and fill that role in 2009 while a slew of other young backs like Danny Ware, Andre Brown, Allen Patrick and Dwayne Wright all fight for a spot in camp.

This is going to be a tough challenge for the Saints defense but certainly not impossible, especially if improvement really has been made.

Giants Defense

Two years ago the Giants defense was so good they were credited with taking down the almighty and undefeated New England Patriots. So good, in fact, that the Saints used them as a model for getting pressure on the quarterback last season. It didn't really work for the Saints but the Giants kept on rolling with 42 sacks and finished 2008 with the leagues fifth best defense. And all of this without Osi Umenyiora. Now Umenyiora is back and the team has also added defensive tackles Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty to further make their defensive line just scary good.

To help upgrade their linebacking corp, possibly the weakest aspect of their defense, the Giants have added Michael Boley and stole first round prospect Clint Sintim in the second round of this years draft to help veteran Antonio Pierce. This should definitely be an area of improvement in 2009.

In the pass defense department, New York has lost cornerbacks R.W. McQuarters and Sam Madison as well as safeties Sammy Knight and James Butler. The team is hoping that late round draft picks DeAndrew Wright and Stony Woodson along with safety C.C. Brown will offer depth behind Corey Webster, Kenny Phillips and Michael Johnson.

New Yorks defense definitely poses a legitimate threat to the Saints powerful offense. Not good.

Giants 2008 Season

12-4 Record

Last Meeting

December 24th, 2006

Week 16	1	2	3	4	OT	F
Saints	3	10	7	10	--	30
Giants	7	0	0	0	--	7

Why the Saints Can Win

They Saints have been known to shut down very talented running backs.

Why the Saints Can Lose

The Giants defense may be too much to handle.

Prediction

Saints 17 - Giants 15

Newly Acquired

TE George Wrighster

DT Chris Canty

DT Rocky Bernard

OLB Michael Boley

S C.C. Brown

2009 Draft Class

WR Hakeem Nicks

OLB Clint Sintim

OT William Beatty

WR Ramses Barden

TE Travis Beckum

RB Andre Brown

QB Rhett Bomar

CB DeAndre Wright

CB Stoney Woodson

Key Losses

RB Derrick Ward

RB Reuben Droughns

WR Plaxico Burress

WR Amani Toomer

TE Darcy Johnson

TE Martrez Milner

OT Shane Olivea

C Grey Ruegamer

DE Jerome McDougle

CB R.W. McQuarters

CB Sam Madison

S James Butler

S Sammy Knight

K John Carney

Linkage

Big Blue View

SB Nation Giants Coverage

Giants @ Saints Coverage

Giants Roster

Giants Transactions

Poll

What worries you more?

The Giants running game

38 votes

New York's defensive line

88 votes

Both of them

101 votes

Neither of them

38 votes

265 votes | Poll has closed

Boley has hip surgery

Ed Valentine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:30:20 -0000

Michael Boley, signed as a free agent to bolster the New York Giants' outside linebacking group, has undergone arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn hip labrum, the team announced today.

Boley will need 8-10 weeks to recover, which means he will miss a significant amount of training camp -- if not all of it.

This is a serious blow to the Giants revamped defense. Boley, signed from the Atlanta Falcons, is being counted on to be the playmaking outside linebacker the Giants did not have last season.

Missing the majority of camp won't help Boley's adjustment to being with a new team and learning a new system.

This also comes as a surprise to me. I can't recall any indication during the recent mini-camp that Boley was hurt.

The Giants also announced the signings of third-round pick Ramses Barden and fifth-round pick Rhett Bomar. They join Stoney Woodson and DeAndre Wright as draft picks who have signed.

To make room on the roster for Barden and Bomar, tight end George Wrighster (bummer!!) and rookie offensive lineman Mike Fladell were released.

Land of the Giants: Woodson signs

Ed Valentine — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:00:17 -0000

Here are a few interesting New York Giants' stories for you on what promises to be a rainy Saturday here in upstate New York.

The Giants signed 7th-round pick Stoney Woodson Friday, and cut cornerback Rashad Barksdale. Ralph Vacchiano reminds that since the Giants can only bring 80 players to training camp (a really stupid limit), each signed draft pick will lead to a player being cut.
I dropped a picture on you the other day of linebacker Danny Clark and his tricked-out Smart car. Well, I got a note from tight end George Wrighster the other day to let me know that the players have some thoughts of their own about the car.

Players tell him they are gonna "pick his car up and put it in the back of their pickup trucks". Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Chris Canty all think they can not only pick up his smart car but if it were a running back coming through the hole they could tackle it. I know it's not possible because it's a car, but there's a small piece of me that feels the same way.

That's funny stuff. Yes, I do kinda like Wrighster. And yes, he really did shoot me an e-mail to point out his blog post.

How do you feel about the Giants adding corporate logos to their practice jerseys? I really don't care, but I don't look forward to the day when this kind of stuff finds its way on to game uniforms.

Rooting for Wrighster to make Giants

Ed Valentine — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:00:16 -0000

I have no idea if tight end George Wrighster, a 'street' free agent signed by the Giants last month, has a realistic chance to make the team this fall. I have never met him or interviewed him. Regardless, I'm rooting for the guy.

Wrighster, you see, seems like a pretty hilarious dude. Check out the recent entry below from Wrighster's blog.

About a month ago Ramses Barden was popping off on Yardbarker with these allegations that he beat me bowling. Well, the rubber met the road yesterday and I have video evidence of the outcome. I will give Ramses some credit, he did win 1 out of 3 games. All day he had been bragging about an alleged 226 he bowled a couple days before, but it was no where to be found when the cameras were rolling.

This guy showed up fully equipped with all the equipment necessary to play in a PBA television event. He had a gigantic roller bowling bag complete with two balls, two pairs of shoes, towels, powder, and all kinds of other gadgets that only professionals know how to use. I will admit I do have my own bowling bag and balls but I didn't have them yesterday, so Ramses was at a distinct advantage and I beat him down!!! I BEAT HIM DOWN!!!

P.S. Another NYG rookie Travis Beckum also beat him down!

Now that is good stuff. Even after my 'Twitter' tirade Sunday even I have to admit gems like that from an athlete are the positive side of their interaction with fans via any of the new forms of social media.

Wrighster, of course, is also on Twitter. Here's a good 'Tweet' from him. By the way, I guarantee if he makes the team somewhere along the way I will screw up Wrighster's name. Shouldn't it be 'Wrightster?' George, what happened to the missing 't?' Anyway, here's the Tweet.

Why do drugstores make sick people walk all the way to the back of the store for their prescriptions?

That's actually a good question. By the way, you want an example of why some athletes would be better off leaving the writing to the professionals, check out Barden's blog. I hope to God he's a better receiver than writer.

Wrighster is a six-year veteran who caught 39 passes for Jacksonviille in 2006.

Good luck making the team, George. I have a feeling you'd be a fun guy to have around.