Ralph Vacchiano on Giants' draft needs

[Tempest]

Its practically impossible to figure out who the Giants are going to draft in the first round considering all of the current variables. We will have a better idea after the first 11 picks as guys that are possible targets get drafted. We are sitting at a great spot that gives us some options and an almost ridiculous number of choices.

 

I think if the top offensive receivers are taken before 12, Giants will elect to take an offensive lineman. If I had to choose between Mike Evans and Eric Ebron, I'd go with Evans. Sammy Watkins without a second thought if he falls that far. Giants have done a pretty good job building up the defense in free agency to skip taking a defensive pick in the first round.

[BleedinBlue]

Its practically impossible to figure out who the Giants are going to draft in the first round considering all of the current variables. We will have a better idea after the first 11 picks as guys that are possible targets get drafted. We are sitting at a great spot that gives us some options and an almost ridiculous number of choices.

 

I think if the top offensive receivers are taken before 12, Giants will elect to take an offensive lineman. If I had to choose between Mike Evans and Eric Ebron, I'd go with Evans. Sammy Watkins without a second thought if he falls that far. Giants have done a pretty good job building up the defense in free agency to skip taking a defensive pick in the first round.

Yeah...I don't see them going defense at all in the first round. Between having serious needs in offense, plus having a new Offensive Coordinator - the front office and TC almost have to be thinking O-line or receiving threat. I simply can't see them going any other way.

 

But it wouldn't be the first time the Giants grabbed a DE when we didn't think we needed one. I used to get pissed when they did that, but I would go ballistic if they did it this time.

[Bigblue25]

Yeah...I don't see them going defense at all in the first round. Between having serious needs in offense, plus having a new Offensive Coordinator - the front office and TC almost have to be thinking O-line or receiving threat. I simply can't see them going any other way.

 

But it wouldn't be the first time the Giants grabbed a DE when we didn't think we needed one. I used to get pissed when they did that, but I would go ballistic if they did it this time.

I am concerned they go this route. 1.)Coughlin likes to sit rookies 2.) JPP is in a contract year 3.) Fewell like's a rotation on the Dline. I would be upset of they sacrificed a bigger need, but wouldn't be surprised if they drafted an Anthony Barr and had him rotate his rookie year and then let JPP walk.

[Herc]

not too keen on using the valuable picks on defense. im thrilled with what we did with our secondary and i think it has top 10 talent now. i really think we should be focusing on our offense. i don't like the j.d. walton contract and would like to draft a center and/or guard in the mid rounds. we also need a pass catching TE and badly need to upgrade that wr group

[Bigblue25]

not too keen on using the valuable picks on defense. im thrilled with what we did with our secondary and i think it has top 10 talent now. i really think we should be focusing on our offense. i don't like the j.d. walton contract and would like to draft a center and/or guard in the mid rounds. we also need a pass catching TE and badly need to upgrade that wr group

Not sure how De La Puente got the deal he got in Chicago and why the Giants gave Walton so much. Dalton's played four games in two years and was not very good when he was healthy.

[Herc]

and we fucking gave him guaranteed money. such a joke. but yeah i have no idea how they stole de la puente like that, especially when you look at what alex mack just signed for

[Bigblue25]

and we fucking gave him guaranteed money. such a joke. but yeah i have no idea how they stole de la puente like that, especially when you look at what alex mack just signed for

Had to be something about DLP teams didn't like for him last that long on the market. Jags should of nabbed him.

[fishgutmartyr]

not too keen on using the valuable picks on defense. im thrilled with what we did with our secondary and i think it has top 10 talent now. i really think we should be focusing on our offense. i don't like the j.d. walton contract and would like to draft a center and/or guard in the mid rounds. we also need a pass catching TE and badly need to upgrade that wr group

On paper, our defense looks more balanced than it has in years. Our linebacking starters actually look presentable, the backfield looks really good, and while our line isn't the same as the one that boasted Strahan, Osi, and a healthy Tuck; it still isn't garbage.

 

We could use some upgrades on backups on the front 7 for sure, but there's a decent spread of talent. This will be the first year in a long time I won't be praying for a LB in the early rounds.

[BleedinBlue]

On paper, our defense looks more balanced than it has in years. Our linebacking starters actually look presentable, the backfield looks really good, and while our line isn't the same as the one that boasted Strahan, Osi, and a healthy Tuck; it still isn't garbage.

 

We could use some upgrades on backups on the front 7 for sure, but there's a decent spread of talent. This will be the first year in a long time I won't be praying for a LB in the early rounds.

I love our defense right now. We should have one of the top passing defenses in the NFL if not the BEST in the NFL. Last year we were 7th in pass defense, and ranked 4th in rush defense. And all we've done in the off season is added a shutdown corner, a tough LB, an up and coming CB, replaced Tuck with a guy 3 years younger, etc. If the players gel, they should be pretty damn good.

 

Last year we couldn't score a whore in a whore house waiving a fist full of hundred dollar bills in the air, let alone a touchdown.

 

According to "Football Outsiders", who use an innovative weighted stat system that gradually diminishes the earliest games of the season and puts more weight of the latter games (hence, to find a trend), has the Giants last year as the no. 1 defense in the NFL (based on the trend and how we finished). Not sure I buy it, but our problem last year was not defense, but offense... and we added some serious talent to an already existing fine defense that on paper seems like a solid upgrade.

 

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef

[Nas]

I'm ok with our defense as is.... The only glaring change I can see is the loss of Joseph and it's not like he was a top 5 DT... If Hankin or some else us able to step in its a non issue.

[Pizan]

We had a stretch where we didn't really face a legit starting qb so I'm not that impressed. And I'm glad Reese and the gang wasn't either. I loved the overhaul of the secondary.

 

I'd like to add another DT at some point whether it be middle rounds of the draft or Kevin Williams and it would be great to upgrade our WLB. I have dreams of Shazier flying around when we run our 4-2-5. Since we use a lot of 3 safety defenses I could see us spending a high pick on a safety.

[Bigblue25]

We had a stretch where we didn't really face a legit starting qb so I'm not that impressed. And I'm glad Reese and the gang wasn't either. I loved the overhaul of the secondary.

 

I'd like to add another DT at some point whether it be middle rounds of the draft or Kevin Williams and it would be great to upgrade our WLB. I have dreams of Shazier flying around when we run our 4-2-5. Since we use a lot of 3 safety defenses I could see us spending a high pick on a safety.

Hearing they like Ed Reynolds from Stanford. Hearing anywhere from 3rd to 6th round. He would be a good fit has a Cover 3 robber in Fewell's system. My guess is they use one of the 5th rounders on him.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lyFc1S6kdtI

[Nas]

We had a stretch where we didn't really face a legit starting qb so I'm not that impressed. And I'm glad Reese and the gang wasn't either. I loved the overhaul of the secondary.

 

I'd like to add another DT at some point whether it be middle rounds of the draft or Kevin Williams and it would be great to upgrade our WLB. I have dreams of Shazier flying around when we run our 4-2-5. Since we use a lot of 3 safety defenses I could see us spending a high pick on a safety.

Didn't we draft a high potential safety last year? Out if all the positions our D backfield is the least of our worries.

[Bigblue25]

Didn't we draft a high potential safety last year? Out if all the positions our D backfield is the least of our worry.

Yeah Cooper Taylor. Never healthy and looked lost when he played. We have Brown coming off injury and is only a year deal, Hill is a malcontent, Rolle is great, but pricey and is going into the final year of his contract. plus, like he said we like 3 safety sets.

[Nas]

Yeah Cooper Taylor. Never healthy and looked lost when he played. We have Brown coming off injury and is only a year deal, Hill is a malcontent, Rolle is great, but pricey and is going into the final year of his contract. plus, like he said we like 3 safety sets.

Yea that makes sense.

[Virginia Giant]

Height isn't everything, but it's a nice bonus. I would kill a bunny on Eater to have a healthy young Plax back. If Evans has the physicality, I'd like to have him.

[Nas]

Height isn't everything, but it's a nice bonus. I would kill a bunny on Eater to have a healthy young Plax back. If Evans has the physicality, I'd like to have him.

 

a WR is the mold of Fitz is my ideal... or Dez Bryant... Hakeem Could have been that guy but he didn't seem motivated... Height alone doesn't cut it and very very few tall guys are athletic... it's just physics.

[Herc]

nicks is 6'1 and won us a superbowl. dez is 6'2 and you can def win a superbowl with him--2nd best wr in football imo. good is good and if you're tall but don't play like it (barden) it doesn't mean much. guys like plax are really nice to have but there just aren't too many out there. not sure how long they can last anyway. i would not be surprised to see those injuries start to further pile up on cj

[gmenroc]

Okay, reading through the thread, I can't comment on all the posts individually and there's too many to multi-quote...so here goes.

 

Defense - I agree that it's more balanced and improved. The secondary improvement will vastly improve the defensive line more than any personnel additions/deletions. Also, there's been a lot mentioned about our 3-safety sets. I believe 100% that that was a direct result of our linebacker group. I don't see us abandoning the 3-safety set completely, but I envision a much reduced usage given that there's actually some attention being paid to the LB group.

 

Linebackers - agreed that we finally have a crew here that is serviceable and not a total bullseye for opposing offenses.

 

Secondary - again, vastly improved, though I'd caution labeling DRC as a shutdown corner. #1 on our defense, sure...but shutdown corner is too exclusive a club to toss this guy into. He and Prince with Thurmond coming in, I'll take it though any Sunday.

 

D-Line - loss of both Tuck and Joseph sucks and hurts our depth more than anything. I feel ready to see Hankins step into a starting role next to Jenkins. I think Moore is ready for more snaps, starting snaps even, with JPP on the other side. I am comfortable with Kiwi in a backup role at this point. That said, JPP's health and the uncertainty that goes with every new starter (Moore and Hankins) - addressing depth here in the draft would be a good move.

 

Offense - in general, I agree that this was a huge issue last season. I've stated on here before that I put a ton of that on the shoulders of Gilbride's offense. Granted, it was the players' responsibility to execute it, but I still believe that there are more sure-fire ways to be successful than having 11 guys all read a defense exactly the same way all game long. There are too many intricacies to constantly rely on that approach in my opinion. You watch the Broncos, Patriots...some of these offensive-built teams and they coordinate in such a way that the play itself gets a guy open...and doesn't rely on chance so much. So by installing a new offense, I think it goes a long, long way to having players just play and removing a lot of the thinking/analyzing.

 

Offense line - despite the coordinator and offense, I think there were still some glaring issues, primarily on the offensive line. There's no question that aside from the pleasant surprise of Pugh (being a first year, 16 game starter), that the other 4 spots were questionable at best. Schwartz is an upgrade and was a need in FA. I still think we went a little bargain basement at center with Walton. There should've been a bigger push for Mack, BDLP, or EDS in my opinion, especially given the health concerns with Snee.

 

Skill positions - RB, I like the fact that we grabbed one given Wilson's and Brown's injuries. I think Brown has been incredibly unlucky in his career with injury. He had a decent 2nd half after he came back and I'd be lying if there wasn't a part of me that wanted him back. But, I can understand the Giants letting him walk too. If he can put together a healthy season, I can really see him doing well in this league. WR, we need a guy because Randle can't be relied upon just yet. Cruz, Randle, Jernigan...that's kinda blah, and isn't scaring anyone away from doubling Cruz. I think inserting youth into the position is crucial come May.

 

QB - it's Manning, Freeman, Nassib, and Painter. What's interesting here is roster spots. With Trindon Holiday, Zak DeOssie, and the other return specialist we brought in in FA whose name is escaping me - we are essentially tying up 3 roster spots to special teams only guys. Those roster spots are going to be taken from other areas and I have to believe one will come from the active roster QBs. So, of the 4 above, you're only looking at dressing 2 on game day. Practice squad likely for 1 other. And the 4th guy is cut.

 

So, with all that said - the poster who wanted OT, WR, G/C...in that order, put me in that camp too. That, as it stands now I should say. Depending upon what happens draft day, I think that strategy could be adjusted.

 

-you have to figure on at least 2 QBs going in the top 11 picks based on team need.

-you have to figure that on at least 2 OTs (Robinson, Matthews) going in the top 11 based on value alone.

-Clowney, is a top 5 DE

-throw in a LB (Mack) and a CB (Gilbert)

 

That's 7 guys that we'll likely not have a shot at. If a 3rd QB goes, which is not at all out of the question given the drop off after Bortles, Manziel, Bridgewater - suffice it to say we're going to have a couple good options at #12.

[Treehugger]

God I hope the JPP/Moore DE combo reaches it's potential. That could be an amazing thing to watch every Sunday.

[gmenroc]

God I hope the JPP/Moore DE combo reaches it's potential. That could be an amazing thing to watch every Sunday.

 

As I mentioned in my novel above, I have to believe that the revamped secondary will help them out a bit.

[Allstarjim]

Don't forget about Ayers in that DE mix. Solid player.

[gmenroc]

Don't forget about Ayers in that DE mix. Solid player.

 

Agreed. Was admittedly an oversight.