Disclaimer: This is going to be a long article and while I would love it if you guys read it, my thoughts on who we should draft will be at the end.

We have a pretty solid bead on what the Giants look for out of prospects at the various positions, and what qualities they demand on a round-by-round basis. The question is which prospects fit what the Giants want to DO on the field. Let's start with the offense.

In 2007 and 2008, the Giants featured an absolutely dominant run-blocking offensive line, a couple of excellent run blocking tight ends, an array of running backs with a wide variety of skills and a few good-but-not-great wide receivers with SIZE. Most importantly, we had a quarterback that was still developing as a passer. It made sense that we were a power running team, leveraged our strengths and to an extent, hid our weaknesses.

It's 2012. Our offensive line was piss-poor in the run game, and only slightly better in the passing game (and a lot of that is on Eli Manning). We have (had?) a couple of serviceable tight ends. We have two dominant wide receivers under contract, both of whom can make plays in the deep, intermediate and short parts of the field. Most importantly, our 2-time Superbowl MVP quarterback has become excellent under pressure, and astoundingly accurate. As an economist would say, big plays are our comparative advantage. This isn't the Eagles though; we don't rely on just talent to find the big play. As long as Tom Coughlin is the coach, we'll use the run to draw those safeties in and get our outside threats the single coverage that they just eat up.

What does that mean? What kind of players are we looking for?

RB: The Giants don't want a guy whose presence indicates to the defense what the play is going to be. Any running back we draft better be a solid runner AND an asset in the passing game, both as a receiver and a blocker. Unless the value is there, I don't see us dropping a first-round pick on a RB. You get a first-round running back to be the focal point of your offense and we don't need/want that.

WR: HAS to be able to make that big, field stretching play. I disagree that we need a third down outlet. Cruz and Nicks are excellent on third down. Cruz is everything that SS12 was and so much more.

TE: A lot of people on this website love to say that the Giants shouldn't draft a tight end high because they'd fall into the black hole of the Gilbride offense. I agree and disagree with that statement. Unless the next Rob Gronkowski falls into our laps, tight end will not be a focal point of our offense. We do need tight ends though, and whoever we pick should be able to run block AND receive. Basically, we're looking for a guy that is versatile, but is going to be a red zone threat for us. What does that mean? Size, reliable hands and short area quickness are more important than straight line speed.

OL: We need to run the ball well, but these guys can't be one dimensional. We need dominant run blockers with the ability to pass block. The Giants have had success with guys who have been less than dominant pass blockers and they can continue to do so going forward.

So who are some guys that I like (2 players per position)?

RB: Chris Polk (2nd Round); Isaiah Pead (3nd Round)

WR: Mohammed Sanu (2nd Round); A.J. Jenkins (3rd-5th Round)

TE: Dwayne Allen (1st Round); Coby Fleener (2nd Round)

OL: Kelechi Osemele (1st round) Cordy Glenn (1st Round)

Final Note: This is my ideal draft. Not what will happen, but what I WANT to happen.

1. Kelechi Osemele, OG/OT, Iowa State

2. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford University

3. Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

4. (via Trade) A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois

4. Nigel Bradham, LB, Florida State

5. (Traded)

6. (Traded)

7. Might need to be traded to get that 4, but BPA otherwise.

Hey folks, let me know what you think. I'll try to use feedback as I create new versions and add rounds. I love hearing feedback about GM/Owner/Coach tendencies especially.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

If they stay in this spot, he has to be the pick. If he’s as good as everybody says he is, he’ll mask for the fact that the Colts are woefully thin everywhere else.

2. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

I’m not saying Ponder is the answer, but if you want him to develop and you want Peterson to stay healthy, give them the best OT in the draft.

3. St. Louis Rams: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Listen, if you’re going to be drafted in the top 3, you’d better have something nobody else has. Blackmon doesn’t bring anything game-changingly unique about you. Richardson is an all-around back with that can put an offense on his back. At this point, it just makes more sense to me.

4. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

RGIII passes Barkley because his ceiling is higher, and in this division, you need to be able to avoid the pass rush. Mobile quarterbacks tend to make the running game better as well, and we all know that’s what Shanahan wants to do.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Jaguars need to rebuild that offense. I don’t think Barkley is worth giving up on Gabbert after one season, so rebuilding might as well start with a potential cornerstone. Martin is an excellent run blocker, which should help keep MJD going and take some pressure off of Gabbert.

6. Carolina Panthers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

After lighting it up in the beginning of the season, Cam Newton has come back down to Earth (a tiny bit). That said, I have full faith that he’ll be a great one. Carolina’s problems are in the defensive secondary. Getting a great cornerback prospect is a good first step.

7. Miami Dolphins: Matt Barkley, QB, USC

I genuinely believe that if Miami is just a few pieces away from being good. It’s too bad for Sparano that one of those pieces was the most important player on the field. Barkley brings leadership, accuracy and football intelligence. Since his arm isn’t the strongest thing in the world, South Florida will be good for him

8. Cleveland Browns: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

I have to admit, I forgot about Coples. He wasn’t great most of this season, but he has really come along lately. He could go as high as six to the Panthers, but if Cleveland is serious about transitioning to the 4-3, they need a guy like him..

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Luke Kuechly, LB, BC

Mason Foster is better suited to the outside and Keuchly should flourish behind what should end up developing into a pretty solid offensive line. I though about Kirkpatrick or Barron, but it just seemed too early to pick either.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State University

Desean Jackson has to be as good as gone. Blackmon plays the possession/YAC role and allows Maclin to step out of that role, which I don’t think is ideally suited for him. People might disagree with me there, but IMO Maclin could be more effective as a more well-rounded Desean Jackson.

11. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Everybody can pass on the Bills. Part of that is the utter lack of a pass rush, but there isn’t anybody good enough here that fits their scheme. Kirkpatrick is big an physical, which is useful if he ever has to defend the good tight ends in this division.

12. Kansas City Chiefs: Zach Brown, ILB, UNC

Put Brown next to Derrick Johnson and you get two ILBs that can cover a lot of ground. The Chiefs will be better off if they can let Tamba Hali do what he does best and rush the passer; having ILBs that can cover for him when he overpursues is a big part of that.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Reilly Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Cardinals need offensive line help. Not much more to say about that. It’s like Ken Wisenhunt hasn’t realized that most quarterbacks can’t get rid of the ball as quickly as Kurt Warner.

14. Seattle Seahawks: Alfonso Dennard, CB, Nebraska

I don't think the Seahawks take the risk on Jenkins, so Dennard is the pick here.

15. San Diego Chargers: Michael Floyd, WR, ND

If you ask me, this guy will be the best WR from this class. He fits the style of WR that the Chargers like to have and in that offense, you can never have enough WRs. Might be a bit of a cliché pick, and might not be the biggest need on the team, but I think it’s solid value.

16. Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Northern Alabama

Kind of a headcase, but that didn’t stop the ‘Boys from taking Dez Bryant so the Cowboys get a guy who has the coverage skills to be a true shutdown corner

17. Tennessee Titans: Peter Konz, OC, Wisconsin

I was going to go with DeCastro here (and I’m still on the fence) but I think that Mawae was the biggest loss for the Titans. I think they go with Konz and lock that position up for 10 years

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Chase Minnefield, CB, Virginia

Could be a pretty good playmaker, and improving the secondary will make this already good defense better.

19. Chicago Bears: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Continue improving that offensive line and they’ll get better. Though it’s getting closer and closer to that time where they’ll have to restock that defense.

20. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

He’s going to run a solid 40, and because of that, he’ll probably rise up a few peoples’ boards. Cedric Benson is in the twilight of his career and it would help to get some fresh legs behind that sold offensive line.

21. Cleveland Browns: Alshon Jeffrey, WR, South Carolina

The Browns need a WR and while Jeffrey may never light up the world, this spot is actually good value for him.

22. New York Jets: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

Yes, I have him above Upshaw, but only for the Jets. The Jets need a natural pass rusher, and Mercilus is one. Upshaw is more in the mold of Calvin Pace, a good-all around OLB.

23. Detroit Lions: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Lions are going to have to run the ball well if they want to close out games. Adams should help with that and he can play on either side of the line.

24. Houston Texans: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Just keep making that defense stronger. Fits a need and matches the value attached to Still

25. New York Giants: Kelechi Osemele, OG/OT, Iowa State

The Giants love versatile offensive linemen. Osemele has put together an excellent season and I think the only thing holding his draft stock down is his school. He could play guard or right tackle in the Giants’ scheme.

26. Denver Broncos: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

Anything Tebow has done over the past couple of months isn’t possible without a surprisingly good defense. Brandon Thompson lines up next to Broderick Bunkley to really solidify the middle of that defense.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

You have to think that the Ravens are the only ones with the cojones to pick him up in the first round. If he flourishes, it’s with the Ravens or with the Steelers. Nobody else would do it.

28. San Francisco 49ers: Jared Crick, DT/DE, Nebraska

Justin Smith is AMAZING, but also kind of old. As a player at a physical position like that one gets in to his 30s, it’s hard to expect them to consistently be healthy and as dominant as he has been. Get Crick in there for the future and to develop a bit of rotation.

29. New England Patriots (from NO): Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The Patriots’ safeties are just awful. Barron is the best safety on the board, it just makes sense.

30. New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

As a Giants fan, I know what the hoodie can do with a good set of linebackers. Upshaw will immediately be a better OLB than anybody they have on that roster.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

Casey Hampton is starting to drop off, and the Steelers can’t put off drafting his replacement anymore.

32. Green Bay Packers: Jerel Worthy, DT/DE, MSU

People have said that B.J. Raji has had a down year; I think that’s partially because he doesn’t have Cullen Jenkins lining up next to him anymore. Jerel Worthy should do well as the disruptive DE and he’ll help Raji play better as well.

A lot of people have argued that the Giants are depleted and that’s part of the reason they lost. I agree with that, to an extent. The big names that were on the field did a lot wrong. While I may have a lot of negative things to say in this post, I still believe this is a good team that can get it together and make a run to the playoffs. Even if that is a BIG if. They also have the potential to be last in the NFC East. These guys did not help us out on Sunday:

• Kevin Gilbride: I've gotten used to the fact that KG is an ‘up and down’ offensive coordinator. Against the Redskins, he abandoned the run too early, and in doing so, he became predictable. He ran too many WR screens to stay on schedule, something the run game is supposed to do for our offense. The conventional wisdom is that pass protection is harder on an offensive line than run blocking. If that is the case, why was he passing so much with a refurbished O-line? Why not run the ball and give then time to gel?
• Perry Fewell: Are we that afraid of Santana Moss, Anthony Armstrong and company that we give them massive cushions on 4th down? They’re tiny! Get some hands on them. Redirect their routes. Chip Fred Davis! And when we have a depleted secondary, it stands to reason that we should rush MORE, not less. We had bottled their running game up, so our defense should have been able to pin its ears back.
• Tom Coughlin: I like TC. That said, he has never trusted young players. That’s fine when you have Steve Smith, Kevin Boss, Amani Toomer etc. on your team. When you’re playing Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Jake Ballard, Henry Hynoski, Victor Cruz, Will Beatty, etc. you can’t be like that! Simply put: Sure Cruz dropped the ball on a key 3rd down. Tough shit. Giving him the cold shoulder for the rest of the game doesn't help the team. He’s clearly talented and maybe he could have helped Eli. A young team is going to make mistakes, but that is something you live with if you’re in the middle of a youth movement.
• Corey Webster: A couple of good plays don’t negate generally bad coverage. Let me pain you a picture: Corey Webster sucked playing zone before Spagnulo came around. Then he got to play press-man and he excelled. With Fewell, we switched back to zone and he wasn’t that good. I can’t believe that the coaching staff hasn't considered that Corey Webster may not be ideally suited to a read and react defense. He screws our cap over too.
• Eli Manning: I’d consider myself an Eli apologist, and frankly he did some good things on Sunday. The interception wasn't entirely his fault and he was better with throwing the ball away. That said, he was entirely too jumpy and when you have a young team and offensive line, that attitude is contagious. Beyond that, Eli also needs to trust his receivers more. If Victor Cruz drops the ball, go back to him! I guarantee you Peyton, Brady, Brees, and Rodgers don’t lock guys out that drop passes on them. It just doesn't help the offense, especially when the O-line isn't doing a good job blocking for you. 

What do you guys think? This list isn't exhaustive, but there is a pattern. I'm starting to get frustrated with our coaching staff and the attitude they bring to this team. Before anybody jumps on me saying that I want a Rex Ryan circus, I mean a lack of adaptability. We're so rigid and regimented that the moment something goes wrong, we're in trouble. We have a young team but coaches won't change to address that. Travis Beckum gets injured late in the week, but instead of complaining, we should have another option. I've seen this for the last couple of years. Last year our offense struggled because of the injury to Steve Smith. The year before that, our defense sucked because KP was injured. The year before that it was Plax. We won the Superblow because we replaced Shockey, and we replaced Tiki. I have not seen that same resilience since. 

First, let me apologize for the stupid cliché of a title, but after the last few days, I think it applies. It's hard not to get caught up in all the hysteria when faced with a constant barrage of football news after months of nothing.

All of us need to take a breather. The Eagles got significantly better this offseason. Based on how they've been performing over the last few years, this does not surprise me in the least. To say that signing Nnamdi somehow makes them unbeatable is just further evidence of how much they've gotten in out head. I want to emphasize that the Eagles are a pretty freakin' good football team with a legitimate chance to win it all this season; however, they are far from unbeatable. Let's break it down, starting with their offense: 

Their OL does not bother me in the least. Do they plan to keep Winston Justice at tackle? Come on now. I like the rookie from Baylor, but he's already 26. 

Michael Vick has a fantastic season, but that's all he had. One fantastic season. Even the Eagles brass isn't ready to give him a long-term contract. His playing style lends itself to injury. Beyond that, he is probably one of the better deep passers in the league, but it's no coincidence that Celek's production dropped off last yet, he isn't as good at those short and intermediate passes. Let me hedge by saying that another year in the system means he could get better, but it isn't like he was hanging out with the coaches all summer. Combine Vick's relative lack of intermediate passing to Desean Jackson's unwillingness to run those crossing routes and that is a serious flaw in the Eagles' offense game. I do think the Maclin and McCoy are damn good players that will have long, successful careers. 

Let's look at the defense:

Trent Cole is a beast, no question about it. I still don't get how he flies under the radar. The trio of cornerbacks they have are excellent. It is most definitely one of the best trios in the league. One big question is, are they going to keep all three? 

Beyond that, Jason Babin really just had one good season. Brandon Graham is coming off of a pretty serious injury. Their defensive tackles don't bother me at all. Their linebackers are meh, to say the least. Jamar Chaney shows some skills in pass coverage, but how often do we pass to the tight end anyway? With the loss of Quentin Mikell, they are starting Nate Allen (coming off a season-ending knee injury) and a rookie safety. we all know how knee injuries can affect even the most promising safeties. What does all of this tell me? They are soft up the middle, a pretty good sign for a team looking to run the ball between the tackles. 

Just a note on Asomugha, I personally think he played with a more well rounded secondary in Oakland. Stanford Routt had a pretty good season despite being targeted all the time and the Raiders safeties are better (or at least more proven) than the ones the Eagles will have. Don't get me wrong, the Eagles corners are significantly better, but it's just something to think about. 

Finally, the coaching:

They have an OL coach trying become a defensive coordinator in...a few weeks? There will at least be some growing pains there. 

For my last point, consider this. The Eagles have never one a Superbowl. They're in our head after beating us 6 times. Don't pretend that it isn't in their head. Andy Reid has to have thought about it. Eagles fans hate whenever other NFC East teams bring that up. It's a pretty big monkey. A superbowl isn't won in free agency, it's won..well, in February. That's one month Andy Reid has not been successful in. 

Just so I don't seem like a huge homer, I do think this Eagles team is built for a SB run this year and would not be surprised if they one. I would be livid, but not surprised.

I am currently studying for the last final exam of my undergraduate life; this is my (long) study break:

Our New York Football Giants are faced with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to young talent at split end. With all this talent though, comes a problem. Only two wide receivers can start for an NFL team, especially a team like the Giants. Barring injuries, only four or five will truly contribute to a team over the course of a season. Money, individual ambition, or injury could force players we like to leave. Here's my breakdown of the wide receivers:

Hakeem Nicks: He is already a star. Barring injury, he will be a superstar, and the best wide receiver in Giants' history. Now excuse me while I knock on every piece of wood in the library. He has less than ideal speed, elite agility, elite strength for the position, a nose for the endzone, and strong route running skills. Can lose concentration, but makes spectacular catches and is dangerous after the catch. He put on some muscle this off season. I hope it doesn't affect his agility, while making him more durable.

Steve Smith: One of the most reliable receivers in the league. Phenomenal route runner, great agility, very reliable hands and clutch on 3rd down. Defenses have to account for him on 3rd down.Does not have the ability to regularly contribute big plays. We have to wait and see how the knee injury affects him. He will get a one year tender/contract, but it may take longer than that to get back to it, considering how reliant he is on agility. Here's where it gets hard.

Mario Manningham: After losing his starting position to Hakeem Nicks, a player with his purported character issues should have sulked. Despite coming into this season as the third WR on the depth chart, he stepped up when the starters went down. He almost posted his first 1000 yard season despite defenses keying on him. Right now, he is our deep threat and one of the most exciting Giants with the ball in his hands. He is 24 and has shown signs of improvement every year. He probably wants to start and get that big contract.

Ramses Barden: His first two years have been underwhelming at best, but not all WRs explode onto the scene like Nicks. What's worse is he has to sit behind the guy! He showed a little (and I stress a little) bit before getting injured last year. The physical tools are there. Size, leaping ability and hands. He isn't fast and his route running is mediocre. This is his magical third year. Can he displace Manningham and Smith? He may become that redzone guy, but can he be that big play guy? 

Jerrel Jernigan: I personally loved this pick. We needed a kick returner, so why not invest in a guy that will play WR for us as well? An unknown quantity right now, but he is the fastest player on the team. I saw Rorschach compare him to the 'other' Steve Smith. I see it. This kid is TOUGH. He takes the lid off of defenses, making life easier for the entire offense. I'm calling it right now, barring injury, Jerrel Jernigan will be a starting WR for the New York Giants. 

Domenik Hixon: Poor Domenik. The pick ups of Da'Rel and Jerrel (poetic almost) indicate we were ready to move in a different direction with the return game. If he regains his explosiveness and speed, he'll find a place somewhere else.

Victor Cruz: He flashed in the preseason, but let's emphasize that. It was the preseason. If he wants a spot on the team he has to play on special teams and show us something on the field. It's a great story, but his clock is ticking. 

Derek Hagan: Good depth to have. Contributes on special teams. He should never be more than that though.

Michael Clayton: Clearly talented, clearly unsuccessful. He's working out with Eli this summer even though he is technically not on contract. What does that indicate? More often than not, nothing.

Duke Calhoun: Pretty useless. Was supposed to be a good special teams player, but kind of sucked. Not a good WR either. 

Samuel Giguere: Again, intriguing. Fast and strong, though not as fast as Jernigan. Probably a practice squad player, though is my pick for a roster surprise. He has the tools to be a good gunner or even a returner. 

Devin Thomas: Showed up on special teams. Intriguing talent, disappointing production. Could be that the Redskins just sucked that much. 

To sum up, here's what I think will happen to the depth chart over the next few years. I stop at 4, clearly we will probably have 7 or 8 WRs on the roster. 

Early 2011:
1.Hakeem Nicks
2.Mario Manningham,
3.Ramses Barden
4. Jerrel Jernigan (KR/PR)
PUP: Steve Smith

Mid-2011/2012:
1. Hakeem Nicks
2. Mario Manningham
3. Steve Smith
4. Ramses Barden/Jerrel Jernigan (depending on field location, package)

2012-2013:
1. Hakeem Nicks
2. Mario Manningham
3. Jerrel Jernigan
4. Ramses Barden (A solid #4 though)

Note: I would prefer SS12 to Manningham, both financially, mentally and for what he brings to the field. I just don't see how a player as reliant on agility as he is can be 100 percent after microfracture surgery. Call it pessimism, but knee injuries and football don't mix. If he is 100 percent, Manningham could still win out if he continues to improve.

Onwards:
1. Hakeem Nicks
2. Jerrel Jernigan
3. Mario Manningham
4. (Insert ballin' Jerry Reese draft pick here)

As always, comments and questions are appreciated and encouraged. I know this was long, thanks for reading!

As the draft rapidly approaches, I want to hash out which players I would be happy with when the draft's first round is complete. Does it matter? Probably not a whole lot,  I hated the JPP pick and I wanted an LB instead of Hakeem Nicks, so what do I know? 

Round 1

Jimmy Smith: Smith has the chance to be a truly special player. It would also rock if he did not go to one of our division rivals. He has as much physical talent as Patrick Peterson, and with the help of our secondary-focused d-coordinator, he could be incredible. I subscribe to the belief that if you think a player is going to be special, you take him regardless of who is one the depth chart in front of him. Let's not kid ourselves, cornerback is a need. We have a decent secondary, which will get better, but our division is set up to have some of the best receiving corps in the league for years to come. Smith has the size and speed to handle the likes of Dez Bryant, Miles Austin,  Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.

Anthony Costanzo: Costanzo seems like one of those guys that will be good for a decade but never great. I don't think we need great though. Our offensive line was the best in the league with a bunch of guys that were good but not great (except Chris Snee). There's not much you can say about Costanzo. He'll probably crack the lineup a few games into the season, which means on any other team he'd be the starter from Day 1. Tackle is not as big a need as C, but having one of the bookends locked in gives us more versatility on the inside. 

Mike Pouncey: I worry a little bit about those picks where everybody just assumes its a foregone conclusion. I know it's stupid, but it almost feels like people stop looking into the guy. Pouncey does look like he could be good, but he does not look like he could be as good as his brother. Forget the snaps, snapping can be taught. KC Joyner (i know, he blows) uses a stat to show how he's highly overrated. I don't love everything he says, but Joyner did predict that Nicks would be the best WR of the 2009 draft, for the right reason, his route running. I would not mind the pick because he has the physical talent to be good, and probably hasn't has as good a line coach as Flaherty. He is not plug and play though.

Corey Liuget: Another guy I see as a potentially special player. He is a potentially dominant 4-3 DT. He has talent, technique and a supremely high motor. DT might or might not be a need; however, see my comments on Jimmy Smith. Probably won't last past Spagnulo. 

I was on Shutdown Corner today and I generally have a lot of problems with their articles (they tend to be unnecessarily abrasive) but I've been really intrigued by the prospect profiles that they've been doing. Either way, they posted this profile on Quan Sturdivant (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner) the OTHER UNC LB. 

I am personally a huge fan of some Bruce Carter, but chances are he may be gone in the second round and he's too risky for first round consideration. Most people have dismissed Sturdivant because 

A. He's not even the best linebacker on his team
B. He's an MLB 
C. He might require a second round pick, which seems steep.

All of that being said, I feel like he's a better prospect than somebody like Greg Jones should we have to wait until the 3rd round to pick up a linebacker. Let me pull a couple of quotes from the article:

Former quarterback and safety with the speed and agility to drop back into coverage either at middle depth of from the line — could be an interesting zone blitz player because of this. Excellent understanding of zones and coverages; he will pass off one receiver and head to another assignment like a really big safety.

Does that sound familiar to any of you folks? Seems like Perry Fewell was starving for a linebacker than could cover last season. One more things that I like:

His adaptability would serve him well in a defense that needs a rebuild, but he'd be best off in a system that allows him to play inside nickel and outside 4-3.

He sounds like a more aggressive and instinctual Michael Boley, and I think we can all agree that Boley has all of the tools and nothing else. I'm not saying we should go for broke and pick this guy in the second round, but he seems a little under the radar and could be a steal in the 3rd.

Many of you compulsively read mock drafts like I do. Generally explanations for picks aren't perfect. That's fine because you can't expect one person to know every little detail about every team in the league. What annoys me is when I see the Giants given an offensive tackle in the first round with an explanation along these lines: 

"The Giants once strong offensive line really struggled last year and so blah blah should be help the Giants to protect Eli Manning's blindside."

I hate that explanation because it simplifies so many things.

A. Our O-line did pretty well. Our running backs had solid seasons and our passing game was solid except for turnovers. 

B. Our O-line had a TON of injuries to deal with so some of the 'struggles' can be attributed to that. 

Let me outline what I think are the REAL problems with out offensive line:

A. They're getting long in the tooth. Sad but true.

B. We couldn't run left to save our lives. That takes a great deal of mystery away from the running game.

C. When we needed to run the ball on third and short, we couldn't do it. That's a drive killer; that will lose you games. This ties in to point B. Everybody knew we were running behind McKenzie and Snee.

D. Let's not kid ourselves with that consecutive games without a sack streak. They scaled back the offense after we lost some linemen. (It didn't help we were down 329084029384 wide receivers)

Here's what I think our offensive linemen should look like at the beginning of next year.

Beatty-Andrews-Seubert-Snee-McKenzie

From the look of this we should approach the draft looking for a G/C and/or a developmental right tackle. I would say elite LT so we move Beatty to the right side but there are none in this draft.

Here’s the deal. Free agents won’t be signed until the new CBA is finished and any mock draft for the Giants has to be contingent on who they keep, lose and add in free agency. Obviously I can’t provide a complete picture of what’s going to happen, but to supplement this 7 rounder for the G-Men, I’m going to ‘mock’ free agency as well. Its pure conjecture but I enjoy doing it. I also enjoy debating it so...tee off!

NYG Free Agents

Steve Smith (Keep)
-He’ll probably get a one year deal to show he can get back up to speed and then ideally he’ll cash in next year.

Barry Cofield (Keep)
-I don’t think we let Barry Cofield get away this time. I don’t think Reese and company. expected him to play as well as he did when they were shopping him to the Saints last year.

Mathias Kiwanuka (Lose)
-If and only if he can show that he can return to play, some team is going to take a risk and pay him the big bucks. Not too often to you see a guy as versatile as he is. Plus Kiwanuka wants to start and who knows if he’ll get that opportunity with the Giants.

Kevin Boss (Keep)
-Let me be clear, I love Kevin Boss, and he’s a good all-around tight end.  We keep him because of his injury history and regression over the course of last season. I don’t think anybody will drop a significant amount of money on him.

Ahmad Bradshaw (Keep)
-Not many guys in the NFL can break a touchdown every time they get the ball. Fumbling and durability will be an issue but I think that he can excel as part of a backfield tandem. He is a sparkplug for our offense.

Brandon Jacobs (Lose)
-I know he isn’t a free agent, but considering Bradshaw I had to mention Jacobs. We can’t afford to pay both. People say Jacobs is the identity of our offense and he got it together towards the end of last season. That doesn’t a simple fact. Big Jake is an almost 30 year old power-back who takes a lot of hits. To me he doesn’t pass the eyeball test anymore. When he lines up on a 3rd and 1 or a 3rd and 2 are you confident he’s going to get it? A lot of that is down to the offensive line but it seemed to me like he wouldn’t even fall forward.

Big Name Free Agents/Trade Options

I don’t think we get anybody. I think Green Bay moves Charles Woodson to safety alongside Nick Collins and then they add Nnamdi Asomugha. Almost seems unfair right? I think Chad Greenway stays in Minnesota. One wild card is Greg Olsen. He showed how talented he was by having success in a Mike Martz offense despite being a tight end. He isn’t a free agent but he might want to go somewhere more TE friendly.

Alright...take the fake jump for the draft!

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The Giants first 3 picks. I tried to go best available player, while considering need. With the picks and the alternates, some of these guys may not be around when we pick, some may be around long after but it’s January so obviously we have no idea what’s going to happen. I appreciate comments, criticism etc. For what it’s worth, my thoughts on the Giants needs in no particular order.

-OLB
-CB
-All offensive line positions (Not depth, immediate or future starters)
-RB (One that can handle 20-25 carries a game/doesn’t fumble)
-TE
-DT (Pending Cofield)
-WR/Returner

1. Gabe Carimi (OT) Wisconsin

I like this guy. He’s big, like the Giants like them, and he was a star for a power-running football team. That being said, he also battled some of the nation’s best end’s in Clayborn and Heyward to a complete standstill. If Beatty pans out as LT, then he’ll be an excellent right tackle. If Beatty doesn’t, then he’ll still be better in our system than David Diehl

Alternates: Akeem Ayers (LB) UCLA, Brandon Harris (CB) Miami

Let’s get this straight. I love Brandon Harris. He’d add some much needed speed and physicality to our team. Unfortunately, I think he’s going to get a bump post-combine and be out of our reach. Unless the guy is an elite athlete on defense, I don’t want him. Akeem Ayers is an elite athlete, but I worry he’s kind of like Michael Boley in that he’s soft. I could be wrong but New York Giants defenders are supposed to be physical.

2. Bruce Carter (LB) North Carolina

Remember what happened last time we drafted a UNC outside linebacker? No? Me neither. In all seriousness, Carter should fall because he won’t work at the combine. If he shows enough regarding his health, this could be the steal of the draft. This guy is elite, he’s physical, he plays the run and he plays the pass. The only thing he doesn’t do is rush the passer and I’m pretty sure we have our fair share of those guys.

Alternates: Kris O’Dowd(C) USC, Jimmy Smith(CB) Colorado

Kris O’Dowd is awesome, I totally wouldn’t mind picking him here. When O’Dowd was a true freshman he dominated the soon to be NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Jimmy Smith is a big physical corner with decent speed. I like him to match up against the Dez Bryant/Miles Austin types. Carter is still light years ahead of them.

3. Rashad Carmichael (CB) Virginia Tech

Walterfootball has Kris O’Dowd going 2 picks before ours in the third. If we somehow draft him, these first three rounds would be mindblowingly amazing. Not going to happen. No way O’Dowd gets past the second. I worry that Carmichael won’t be around, he’s fast, he’s got ball skills and he’s a proven blitzer. It’s still January though so he’s the pick for now, and that would be fantastic.

Alternates: Orlando Franklin (OG) Miami, Mark Herzlich (OLB) Boston College

Franklin is a big strong dude, but he may be too tall to play guard. He definitely doesn’t have the feet to play tackle though. Herzlich we all know about. Intelligent player, vocal leader but not that elite athlete at linebacker that I think we need. Not saying he wouldn’t be a good fit, but I don’t know that he would make us significantly better.

Well gentlemen (and ladies), this season was clearly a heart breaker. It hurts knowing what this team could have been.

That being said, we were 10-6 despite a number of key injuries. Let's not don the brown bags yet. This season saw Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, and countless other receivers go down with injury. How many times did we actually have the same OL play from week to week? I'd like to take a second to recognize a couple of players who have gotten a fair amount of grief from Giants fans over the course of the season and their career. 

Mario Manningham (WR): He doesn't run the routes of Smith and he doesn't have the physicality of Nicks. The guy has made some key mistakes. For those mistakes he is criticized plenty. That being said, he let our offense function despite the injury bug. Lining up next to walk-ons for countless weeks he still ALMOST recorded his first 1000 yard season of his career. He may never be THE guy, but he deserves credit. Part of me is worried that other teams will take notice of him and take him once he reaches free agency. 

Rich Seubert (LG/C): Most of us expected him to be a solid backup this season with David Diehl sliding over to his spot while Will Beatty took over left tackle. His injury sucks and brings his future into question, but Richie was our best and most versatile lineman this season. I say that with all deference to Chris Snee; and while Snee deserved his Pro Bowl nod, Shaun O’Hara most certainly did not. Seubert may be in the twilight of his career but he put forth a solid effort for us all season.

Osi Umenyiora (RDE): Despite everybody telling us it takes more than a year to come back from an injury like Osi’s Giants fans (myself included) were ready to kick him to the curb last year. 11.5 sacks this year is solid, but what makes him special is his mastery of the strip sack. 10 forced fumbles this season as a defensive end. He also showed that he’s better at defending the run then we give him credit for. It’ll be interesting to see what our defensive line looks like next year with Cofield and Kiwanuka in interesting positions.

Jonathan Goff (MLB): I had to think twice before I put him in here. Maybe it’s because the LBs around him didn’t do a great job this year, (I’m looking at you Keith Bulluck) but our linebackers don’t fly around to the ball like they should. It’s not like we have a mediocre defensive line that is unable to occupy blockers. That said, Goff played well and emerged as a defensive leader. He’s a heady guy and a strong run defender, but he isn’t the fastest or most athletic guy which begs the question. Is he the right MLB for Perry Fewell’s defense. This is actually a decent draft for LBs so we’ll see.

I’m sure there are guys I’ve left out but let’s applaud these guys. Here’s to the offseason, where hope springs eternal.

I hate watching the Knicks lose. The Celtics loss devastated me. The Heat made me want to punch Lebron in the face and pull a Delonte on his mom. Part of this post is just catharsis for me I guess, but I think there is definitely a silver lining. 

We fight over how much Carmelo is worth, if he'll help or hurt or whatever. The biggest thing we need to take from the losses are that the Knicks are CLOSE, but not there yet. I think that if we had won 2 of three (Nugs, Celts, Heat) and then taken the Bulls without Noah, the team might have gotten to the point where they thought that they didn't need to add other parts. I know some fans feel that way, but that just doesn't seem to be the case. 

It's pretty clear nobody can guard Amar'e one on one. 3 on 1 is a different story. We need another dominant scorer or teams will continue to try and force the likes of Danillo and Chandler to win games. Those guys are good enough to do that SOMETIMES, but not all the time. Especially not in a playoff series. Carmelo is a dominant scorer. Yes he has negatives in other areas, but the fact of the matter is that we need at least one more dominant scorer.This post is NOT jut about getting Carmelo though. If there are any other guys on the market that force defenses to pay attention then they should be considered. 

Beyond that we need a Center. I know a lot of people like Turiaf as a chemistry guy, but if we're going to seriously challenge some of the better teams in the league, we need a better big man. He is NOT playing well. Against a team like the Lakers? Gasol would be a serious issue.

This is a playoff team right now. I'm just in the camp that believes that we need more parts if we want to be a championship team.

I know I know, it’s early, the season isn’t even over yet. Trust me, I still believe we will make and go deep into the playoffs. All of that being said, I’m in the middle of final exams and I need a study break so this fanpost is going to be about the draft.

I’m not going to do a mock draft or talk to you about WHO I think the Giants will pick come next Spring, but I’m going to talk about a few positions and how I think they will be addressed.  

Cornerback: You have to love this cornerback class. Good year for cornerback to be a position of need for the Giants. I like our starters, but two good corners aren’t going to cut it in the Beast. DJax, Maclin, Bryant, Austin etc. All of that being said, I don’t think we take a corner just because. Since they aren’t going to start right away, we don’t need the most polished guy out there. Look for a physical freak; either ridiculously fast, very physical, or both. The Giants don’t shy away from drafting DBs in the early rounds.

Options: Brandon Harris (Miami), Jimmy Smith (Colorado)

Offensive Tackle: Our left tackle is up in the air. Diehl is no longer the player he once was. I have a bad feeling about Andrews, I don’t think he can handle the rigors of an NFL season. Beatty has talent, but a lot to prove. Kareem Mackenzie has put together a fantastic season, but let’s not forget, he’s been lucky to stay healthy this season, he used to be the least healthy of our linemen. In all honesty though, this OT class is not great. I don’t think we go first round here. Derrek Sherrod and Gabe Carimi will be solid I think, but they won’t be stars. If JR does one thing consistently, he’ll take a risk in the first round to find a star. See: JPP. Look for guys they can develop.

Option: Joseph Barksdale (LSU)

Linebacker: The Giants will never draft a linebacker early. Or at least that’s how the line goes right? Clint Sintim may not be working out, but he was an early pick. Goff is doing a solid job in the middle and unless Greg Jones falls to us in the SECOND round, there’s no way we go mike. The guy has to be a physical freak to be a first round pick, so look for Bruce Carter or Travis Lewis. I like Akeem Ayers, and I think he has the versatility to play 4-3, unlike Sintim. Even if Sintim is showing something to the coaches, Bulluck is not long for the Giants and Reese loves depth so I genuinely believe we go backer early.

Options: Bruce Carter (UNC), Travis Lewis (OU), Akeem Ayers (UCLA)

Running Back: Big Jake is running well but I still thing that his time with the Giants is running out. The Giants have OPENLY admitted that they worry about Bradshaw’s durability. A running back will be picked, it’s just a matter of which round. I’m begging for a back with breakaway speed. A bruiser to replace Jacobs might not be a bad thing either.  Murray out of OU is an explosive player and as ridiculous as player comparisons are, I see him as a Marshall Faulk, Tiki Barber type. He caught 52 passes this season. He’ll go early as well. Daniel Thomas is that big bruiser who is slightly underrated. IMHO, he is the next of a rare breed, a feature back in the NFL. He does everything well, run, catch, block...and he can even run the wildcat as he has played some quarterback. My one worry is his ability to create when there isn’t anything there.  

Options: Mark Ingram (Alabama), Demarco Murray (OU), Daniel Thomas (K-State)

This is more than long enough. Let me know what you guys think. I love draft debate.

via www.mkrob.com

Warning: Most of what I say is irrelevant, KG and TC are too conservative to enact most of it, but here's to hoping...and recognizing that the Giants don't have the same personnel they did in 2007.

In the past I took pride in the Giants being one of those few old school NFL teams; they ran the ball down your throat and backed it up with an in your face defense. While I still love that brand of football, and I definitely always will...I don't necessarily think that's the way forward for these Giants. Let's take a look at some of our offensive players:

Eli Manning: People say his stats were up because we were constantly playing from behind. I say we turn it around. How many of our drives start with authority and fizzle out for a short field goal? I'm so sick of that. Let's score quickly and put pressure on the other team.

Hakeem Nicks: Barring injury, he is the future. Our 'playmaker' with all the skills necessary to be a superstar in this league. Pure conjecture, but he looks like a decent blocker.

Steve Smith: Prototypical possession receiver. Always open, always reliable, needs to figure out what 'run after catch' means in order to maintain his No. 1 spot. Important note: Won't ever be the blocker than Amani and Plaxico were.

Mario Manningham: Most frustrating and exciting player on the team. Don't get me wrong, I hate the drops, the lack of awareness and all the other stupid mistakes. This guy with the ball in his hand is exciting. Deep threat. Bubble screens. Could be a returner. Has the potential to be an incredible offensive weapon. Doesn't seem like a great blocker. (Conjecture again.)

Ramses Barden: Pure potential. Red zone, red zone, red zone. Is taller than every DB and has the ability to out leap them. Pretty much catches anything sent his way. If he can get the discipline, he has the personality to be a star in New York. Again, I hear he's a bad blocker.

Kevin Boss: Give him more targets. Great blocker. Reality is that he's kind of slow, but in the red zone, that doesn't matter much.

Travis Beckum: Sorry to see him wasted on KG's offense. I want to see him succeed, but he's hamstrung by an offense that can't find a place for him and too talented of a WR corps. Also can't block.

Brandon Jacobs: I love the guy. I hate wasting money on jerseys (that aren't QBs) because 90% of the time those players leave. Still bought his jersey. He defined Giants football for those 2-3 years, but it's apparent he's got nowhere to go but downhill (no pun intended). His style of football was always going to limit his shelf life.

Ahmad Bradshaw: Ridiculously exciting player to watch. He will be at his best if we limit his carries and keep people from stacking the box. Fast, elusive, stronger than he looks. MJD-light.

Andre Brown: Question Mark.

I know this is a long post, but look at the big picture. We've invested money in and our talent is centered around the QB/pass-catchers. We don't have solid blocking WRs like Plax and Amani. Let's take advantage of what we've got instead of trying to play a brand of football that we don't necessarily have the personnel for anymore.

I know this post isn't necessarily the consensus, that's fine, I just want to hear what people have to say.

If you guys want it, I'll write a part 2 for the defense. It's not as drastic though.

It's one of those questions that just aren't brought up enough. Linebacker hasn't been a strength in years and the only decent ones in recent years have been Mitchell and Pierce. Neither of those guys were drafted. 

I have a theory that I wanted to throw out there, see what people thought. Bill Sheridan was our linebackers coach right? He was a terrible d-coordinator, especially in terms of motivating his players and getting them to give their all. Maybe he was just as bad at doing that with his linebackers. Just a thought. Any idea who our new linebackers coach is? Hopefully he can develop our backers.

It seems like everybody is doing their own mock draft lately so I figured I'd submit one of my own. Aside from the obvious pick in round 1, I tried to change it up while keeping it realistic. One thing I will let everybody know is that I think that if you're picked in the first two rounds of the draft, you SHOULD be able to start at some point in your rookie year. I'm not big on projects in the first two rounds. That said, we all know how TC is; even if a rookie could be starting, that doesn't mean he will be. 

Round 1: Rolando McClain; ILB, Alabama

If he falls to us, there is a 99 percent chance this is the pick. People worry about the 4.7 40 (which isn't terrible for a linebacker), but 4.7 speed is a huge upgrade over AP. This guy  has the potential to be the "QB" of the defense, which was the most important thing we lost when we released AP. One of the worst things about our defense last year was that they were constantly out of position. The lack of speed shone through because we don't have the kind of guys that can recover once they are out of position. Get an MLB that can make sure our defense is in position and we're in much better shape. 

Round 2: Jon Asamoah; OG, Illinois

This could prove to be my most controversial pick. I know FreeBradshaw loves Nate Allen here and I agree we need to draft another safety earlier rather than later. I just don't think we can spend a second round pick on a guy who MAY end up backing up Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle for all but a few games of his rookie contract. DT is also a possibility, but the draft is so deep for DTs it's ridiculous so I think they'll wait.

Conventional wisdom is that we need to upgrade the O line at RT but the problem is that outside of Davis and Williams, too many of the OTs available project as LT's. That said, since Beatty will probably take over LT, Diehl can slide over to RT, and Asamoah could start at OG. Not only would this upgrade our offensive line, but Rich and Kareem are pretty solid backups to have. This pick is also pretty dependent on how he works out on April 8th.

Round 3: Darrell Stuckey; SS, Kansas

He's a strong safety but he's pretty adept at zone coverage, something safeties need to be good at in a Perry Fewell defense. Fewell is known for getting his money's worth out of DB's so that's why I'm willing to wait till the third round to pick up our insurance policy. If Burnett or Allen fall to the third round (unlikely) then of course take them, but Stuckey should do just fine. In fact, I like him better than Chad or Reshad Jones. Aside from the fact that Fewell can develop a DB pretty well, there are two more reasons we shouldn't use a first day pick on a safety. Both Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips were huge investments, and if we over allocate our resources to one position, holes are going to show up elsewhere. 

Round 4: Torrel Troup; DT, UCF

I like Linval Joseph here too, but Troup is more likely to fall to the fourth and I love what I've been reading about him. Every scouting report says that he collapses the pocket extremely well. That is what we need to get our DE's sack numbers back up. He's a big man at 315 lbs, but he has a strong work ethic, as he's worked to lose 30 pounds over the last couple of seasons. Troup could end up being a great compliment to Canty, Cofield and (maybe a year or so down the road) Alford. Lot of people see him as a NT prospect, but I think that's exactly what we need in the middle. Joseph is a great prospect as well. He's bigger and (slightly) faster than Troup and despite that is less of a NT. That said, he is more of a project in my opinion. 

Alright, lemme know what you guys think of the first four rounds. I didn't take into account any real "insider information" regarding what the Giants want. I just looked at their needs and the players. The next 3 rounds should be more BPA style. 

Hey everybody, I'm going to try and follow Ed's guidelines on this post; feel free to point out any mistakes I make.

I understand our need for a defensive tackle, but I just can't understand why so many mock drafts have us picking up Brian Price. They keep mentioning improving the pass rush but that doesn't really take into account how the Giants rush the passer. Most of our pass rush seemed to be generated by the defensive ends. The tackles were supposed to be able to push back or collapse the pocket so that the ends could get around to the passer. Last season our interior line didn't get any push, allowing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket to avoid the ends. This was especially bad for somebody like Osi, because of his looping pass rush. It seems to me that in order to get our pass rush back, we need our push back. Everything I read about Price says that he penetrates well, but doesn't necessarily get a good push. I know he may not fall to us, but why don't we see Dan Williams more often? I genuinely think that Price would not be a good fit for the Giants. Am I misunderstanding the problem?

If we're on the clock, the premier OT's are taken, Rolando McClain is off the board and Brian Price is the only DT worth a #15 left, I don't think we should take him. It would be better for us if we either traded back or went with C.J. Spiller.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this guys.