BleedinBlue

Happy Father's Day Tree...that boy of yours must be getting up there and giving you a run for your money. No better feeling though.

I have been a huge fan of Kennard since he was drafted by the Giants and predicted he would become a stud LB. Apparently, a few professional analysts and stat freaks feel the same way. Not only is he a physical freak, but he has the quintessential "football brain" that constantly brings praises from the coaches for his understanding of the most difficult nuances of the game. He's a complete footballer. From NJ.com Despite the outside noise deeming the Giants linebackers as one of the worst units in all of football, the team has one very good reason to be optimistic going into the 2015 season. While two of the three linebacker spots on the team will go to veterans, with Jon Beason and Jameel McClain manning the middle and J.T. Thomas, and Jonathan Casillas in the mix for playing time on the weakside, the strongside spot will likely be manned by one of the few bright spots from the Giants' 29th-ranked defense: Devon Kennard. Kennard, a fifth round pick out of USC in 2014, was limited by a hamstring injury early in the season, and did not crack the rotation as a regular until around Week 7. From then on, Kennard was easily the team's most effective linebacker, and evidently, has become a darling of the popular analytics website Pro Football Focus, who named him as the Giants' "Secret Superstar." By now, you probably know the deal with PFF, which we cite in our articles fairly regularly. They analyze every single NFL player in every play of every single NFL game, and provide a negative or positive score based on how they perform on each play. Their holistic view of the game beyond the superficial stats has helped NFL laymen evaluate players who might not pop out on the screen if they're not sacking the quarterback or catching a touchdown. Kennard is a case of a player passing the eye test, while also having the numbers to back it up. It was pretty apparent to anyone who watched the Giants' defense in 2014 that while the unit as a whole was atrocious, Kennard added a spark when he entered the lineup, especially as a pass rusher. (from PFF) "Kennard led the way statistically at outside linebacker for the Giants. He registered five sacks, and eight total pressures for a 19.1 Pass Rushing Productivity score. His 8.9 Run Stop Percentage topped the unit, as did his 0.65 Yards per Cover Snap, though that may be misleading as he was only targeted nine times. His 23 total stops to one missed tackle (when he fell victim to a DeMarco Murray stiff arm) gave him a 38.0 Combined Tackling Efficiency, which not only topped the team, but ranked third in league among 4-3 OLBs". Those are pretty good numbers for a fifth round rookie, especially one who missed so many game reps early on. However, the usual "small sample size" caveats apply here, as Kennard played only 12 games, starting only 6, and many of his biggest games came against some of the Giants' weakest opponents, including the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins. As PFF also points out, Kennard, a defensive end at USC, was not tested in coverage all that much, partly because the Giants did a good job of playing to his strengths. Kennard has good straight-line speed and burst off the line of scrimmage, but it's a different story when you have to drop back and cover the middle of the field, where ball awareness and lateral quickness are more important. But as a blitzing weapon in Steve Spagnuolo's aggressive scheme, Kennard could see a real spike in his pass rushing numbers. If he can get to the quarterback on third down and set the edge with the tenacity he did as a rookie, alongside dynamic talents like Pierre-Paul and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, the Giants' front seven could end up being a lot better than people think. http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2015/06/who_did_pro_football_focus_name_as_the_giants_secr.html

Robbins was one of my favorite lunch pail DT's that quietly did a great job with little to no fanfair. Then we let him go. Well he's back...but not in uniform. He's assisting the defensive line coach, possibly setting himself up for a coaching job in the future. I say good for him and good for the Giants bringing him in. His work ethic and attitude can be nothing but a plus for the guys like Bromley, O-Diggy, and Ellis and any of the guys on the line.

. "Death by a thousand papercuts" indeed...what a great line

Oh ye of little faith. I feel just the opposite. With Spags on board - a more aggressive style defense - an improved line against the rush - Kennard taking over as leader of the LBs (and I think JT Thomas is going to surprise a lot of people in a good way) - a healthy Prince and Rogers-Cromartie....I think there'll be drastic improvement. If we start having injuries again - then all bets are off. If we stay healthy, we'll be very competitive.

I take all analysts with a grain of salt. They are projecting their (the writers) gut feelings which is worth about as much as a fistful of dried assholes. I think Collins will be a stud and Taylor is going to surprise. I'd wait until they played a few games before judging them a disaster...or "the second worst in the NFL". I think Collins is going to be on a mission. He's pissed that he was passed up on the 1st round and he wants to show the other teams they fucked up big time. I hope he's the second coming of Sean Taylor.

Everyone is focused on the OL, which makes sense because it has let us down in the past and there's a bunch of new faces that need to learn to gel. But my biggest worry is at CB. I love Prince and Rodgers-Cromartie, but CB's have a tendency to go down with injuries. I don't think we have enough depth. A potential solution (stolen from Fansided - Sports Illustrated): Tarell Brown - Cornerback (free agent) Seasons: 8 Drafted: San Francisco 49ers 5th round (147th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft Teams Played For: San Francisco 49ers (2007-2013), Oakland Raiders (2014) Super Bowl Appearances: 2012 (Lost to Ravens) Brown has started 56 games in the last 4 seasons. During that time he played for a San Francisco defense that made life difficult for everyone it faced ( 2011-2013) as well as pretty bad Oakland squad (2014). He was probably elevated by the play around him with the 49ers but was still a very solid player and frequent contributor. Brown is a guy who could be brought in to reinforce the depth on this roster, which along with the offensive line was the biggest problem over the past 2 dreadful seasons. He can play on the outside as well as in the slot and in my eyes would be the 4th corner. If starters Prince Amukamara, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and nickel corner Trumaine McBride were to go down (which has happened to Amukamara and Mcbride during their time in New York) Brown could step right in. He is an instant upgrade over Chykie Brown who, before being signed by the Giants, was released by the Ravens. Giants new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was the coach of that Ravens secondary. You can never have enough corners in this league, especially with pass happy teams like the Eagles, Patriots, Falcons, and Saints on this years schedule. I really believe we need more CB depth before stepping into this coming season.

Another opinion: "We Absolutely Must Sign Him" http://gmenhq.com/2015/06/12/new-york-giants-absolutely-must-sign-evan-mathis/

From NJ.com What Evan Mathis' release will reveal about the Giants A Pro Bowl guard is on the free-agent market after the Eagles released Evan Mathis on Thursday. The Giants offensive line, as currently constituted, doesn't need a guard. Arguably their two best linemen, Geoff Schwartz and Justin Pugh, are running with the first team at organized team activities this spring. Yet the availability of Mathis should expose just how the Giants feel about their current offensive line. The Giants are trying to determine this spring whether their offensive tackles are sufficient without Will Beatty (out until at least mid-October with a torn pectoral muscle). First-round pick Ereck Flowers is being thrown into the fire at left tackle. Veteran journeyman Marshall Newhouse is manning the right tackle spot. The goal was to get through the spring and re-evaluate then, if necessary. "We'll see what happens," coach Tom Coughlin said several weeks back about the need to add another lineman. "We'll see how we finish the spring here and so on and so forth." Before the Giants even hold their line mandatory minicamp this offseason, they will be forced to show their hand. Mathis' availability will display just how comfortable they are with their current situation. Do they seriously make a play for the proven guard and throw Pugh back at tackle? General manager Jerry Reese has always said this team is willing to look at everything and, right now, this could be their top option for this season. If they think that is the case, they will enter the mix. An argument can easily be made that Pugh, in his third season, or Schwartz are the best healthy tackles the Giants have on the roster, even if their best positions may be guard. Pugh played right tackle his first two seasons in the NFL, and showed signs of being a quality player at that position. A hobbled Schwartz filled in admirably at right tackle for a game when he returned from a toe injury. There will undoubtedly be a market for Mathis. Even at 33 years old, he's better than a lot of current penciled-in starters around the league. That's why he was unhappy with his contract in Philadelphia, even though he was scheduled to make north of $5 million this season. The Giants aren't going to break the bank for Mathis. They're not going to guarantee big money and commit for several seasons to a linemen who isn't an ideal fit (at 6-5, 298 he's not their typical mauling guard). But if they do anything more than make an exploratory inquiry ‐ which is the norm on almost all free agents ‐ it will be awfully telling. It says the Giants are not content with their first-team offensive tackles. All offseason the Giants shied away from the "big name" guards. Even after losing Beatty, they never made a play for veteran Justin Blalock, a solid starter for years with the Falcons who was released for salary cap reasons. Blalock remains a free agent. They wanted Pugh at guard and stuck to the plan even with Beatty injured. But the Giants did bring in veteran tackle Jake Long several weeks back. That alone said they were at least somewhat interested in upgrading that position. They don't seem to have closed the door on that either. "He's a veteran, he's played a lot of football, and so we brought him in, gave him a physical to see where he was," Reese said last week. "We'll keep an eye on him." A push for Mathis would speak loud and clear. Despite Reese's hope that the selection of Flowers would put an end to talk about upgrading a questionable line, it would prove that it's still a serious concern. Not just with large contingent of fans who remain skeptical, but with the opinions that matter within the walls of the Quest Diagnostics Training Center as well. The link: http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2015/06/what_evan_mathis_release_will_reveal_about_the_gia.html

Yeah...I concur. 34 is the twilight of a football player's career. I have to believe it had to do with more than just money because it sounds like he had a good contract....which makes me wonder how much of it the Eagles have to pay him after cutting him. Still - if he's healthy and is willing to work on a 1-yr contract, he might be a good stop gap until Beatty returns. On the other hand, if McAdoo and Flaherty are hell bent on getting the young kids on the line, they might pass just to build future chemistry with a line so that they can say, "a line that stays together, plays together" like a single unit. Still, I'd be kicking the tires, but that's probably why I haven't been hired by the Giants as a coach.

I'm for any move that simultaneously strengthens our team, while weakening an in-division foe. Not to mention, they carry the knowledge of the coaches' playbook and it's like purchasing a spy from the other team. That's why I've always hated it when a Giant signs with the Cowboys, Eagles, or Skins. You just know their new coach is going to interrogate them for every little thing they can about the playbook.

There seems to be a push for the Giants to sign Mathis who was released by the Eagles yesterday. Good idea or bad? I personally don't know enough about him to state a reasonable opinion. Just read that he's a two-time pro-bowler, but I don't know his injury history or why the Eagles cut him. http://gmenhq.com/2015/06/11/new-york-giants-evan-mathis-would-be-a-key-signing/?utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

I'm kind of anxious to see how Landon Collins does. He says is life-long idol was Sean Taylor and that he patterns his game after him. That would be something if he's anywhere near that. Also anxious to see how Bromley has come along. He's added weight and muscle and has worked out with JPP during the offseason getting pointers from him. And Moore has also put on weight and muscle. And Cooper Taylor is finally healthy and I'm curious to see if he can hold on to the starting position. The health of the team is everything this year. We can't keep losing starters for the season and picking up street players off other teams' practice squad or those who've been out of the game because they are "has beens". BBV has a good writeup on who's to blame for the Giants' injury woes: http://www.bigblueview.com/2015/6/4/8726069/new-york-giants-injuries-problem-is-obvious-solution-is-not

On paper - I think the defense looks strong and should be very competitive. Replacing Fewell with Spags should be huge if the team can quickly grasp the new system. I feel that our line is going to be good - younger, more athletic guys coming in. I feel good about our linebackers and even our safeties. My only concern is CB...which will be good as long as both Prince and Rodgers-Cromartie can stay healthy all year. If one of those two go down, I see some problems. Hopefully we have a good year in which key players stay healthy and the younger new guys surprise.

No shit? I don't think one has to do a complicated regression or correlation analysis to find the problem. This info really bugs me. Did not know that.

An interesting anaylsis from Sharp Football shows what we already knew, but didn't know it was this bad. The Giants have been hit the hardest by a long shot. The Eagles have fared the best. One of the graphs: To read the full article, go here: http://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/blog/2015/analyzing-nfl-injuries-how-2014-was-affected-and-who-will-benefit-in-2015

He left NY without a contract. Not sure if that means the FO doesn't think his health warrants a deal, or that Long is looking for a payday beyond what the Giants feel is reasonable. If he's healthy enough to fill in for Beatty for 8 games and play up to his past potential, he would certainly be worth an incentive laden, short-term contract. I trust the FO knows what it is doing (knock on wood)

There's a lot of talk that they might try Schwartz at RT with Flowers at LT and Pugh at LG to work with Flowers to keep the QB clean. I'm not sure Schwartz can handle the RT position even though he's played several times there with other teams. I keep thinking Bamiro is going to surprise. He's a huge man (6-8, 340+) and strong as an ox wowing everybody he works out with. He played starting LT in college (Stony Brook - small school, light competition), but doesn't have the feet to play tackle in the NFL. He's more of a bulldozer. Since Schwartz is also a bulldozer type monster lineman....perhaps Schwartz and Bamiro take the right side and simply flatten everyone on the right side. I have no idea what they are going to do. Flaherty is going to earn his money this year figuring it out. As far as Bamiro goes, I think he's still a year away from being NFL ready so he's likely to get backup time. I don't think the Giants will put him on their practice squad because some team will definitely take him. Eagles fans are still upset that the Giants signed him off their practice squad and would like him back.

I agree with you right down the line except an injury on the offensive line is worse than a lot of other positions. That's because it takes a couple of years as a unit to become cohesive. The guys in the middle MUST know what each guy is going to do on either side of him and the tackles need to know and trust the lineman next to him. When the ball is snapped, there is chaos in the trench and the defense is always trying a different scheme to mess up the offensive linemen. It all happens in less than a second and the guards, center, and tackles have to know who is going to shore up the area they have to give up because the defense went the other way this time. The line as to think "as one"...and that takes time to develop as making mistakes is their greatest teacher. The longer a unit plays together and maintains their original position, the better the line. Unfortunately, with Beatty's injury, it means a shift in order of the whole line as they try to find a setup that works best. We could lose several games by the time they come up with a viable lineup that can work as one....and that sucks! Maybe we'll transition through it fairly quickly, but I suspect Eli is going to get hit a lot in the early games and when the QB is rushed or hit a lot, he's not the QB he needs to be. One of the things we got when we signed Shane Vereen that won't show up on a stat's sheet, is Vereen’s pass-blocking ability. He is one of the best RB's in the NFL at blocking. So he'll probably see more time on the field as a result of needing a RB to step up and help block. Hynoski also better show up to camp in tip top shape as he'll also be counted on to help block. Regardless...I hate going into the season with uncertainty in the offensive line and the Giants ability to keep Eli upright and given time to throw after being set. Hopefully, TC, McAdoo, and Flaherty will be able to work it out before season starts.

Actually, I think Beatty did well last year. He's not a pro-bowler, but he's kept DE's off Eli and wasn't tagged with penalty after penalty. I think about 27 teams in the league would take him in a heartbeat. The unfortunate thing with an offensive lineman is, you only get noticed when you make mistakes. If you do a good job, you go unnoticed and that's a good thing.

Agreed. Flowers will push open holes for the run game. The left tackle is extremely important for protecting the QB if the QB is right handed like Eli. It makes the QB's left side his "blind side" and he has to be able to trust the LT to keep an opposing player away from him while he sets to throw. Pugh did a stellar job at Syracuse keeping DE's off Nassib's blind side. Pugh is much better with his feet than Flowers and is better suited for keeping the QB clean rather than shoving open holes for the RB as is Flowers. I suspect it is Pugh who will be expected to fill the void on the left as he's good at pass protection. Marshall Newhouse has NFL experience as LT, but at least 2 teams cut him for reasons unbeknownst to me. But teams don't cut LT's unless they are 100% sure he can't handle the job. At best, Newhouse spells the tackle position now and then and is an emergency backup. We're looking at a starting lineup (IMHO) as: PUGH - ?? - RICHBURG - SCHWARTZ - FLOWERS I suspect there will be a battle between JONES, HART, MOSLEY, HERMAN, JERRY to take the final guard position. I suspect Jones or Jerry to win the starting position as they groom Hart. But maybe Mosley and Herman have gotten themselves in tip top shape and are ready to contribute.

And one more thing: The Giants look like freakin geniuses for using their 1st round pick on a tackle. Imagine the chagrin and the sheer panic if we had chosen Trae Waynes, or Gurly, or Shelton instead of a pure tackle that everyone said we took too early. There's a reason Flowers and Peat were off the board in the first 13 picks of the draft and why La'el Collins was so sought after when the draft was over. They were the only "pure" tackles (and future franchise left tackles) in the draft. There were others (Humphries, Ogbuehi, Fisher, Clemings, etc.) but they are long term projects that require they add 30 lbs of muscle and 2 years experience before being thrown into the fire and likely could end up as right tackles or even guards. So, so happy we took Flowers. I preferred Peat over Flowers at the time, but am very happy with Flowers. Those two were the only true career top-shelf franchise left tackles available....and thank heavens, we got one.

The problem though, is no team in their right mind cuts a starting Left Tackle...they don't even cut LTs that are not good enough to start, but are being groomed for LT in a year or two. It's the hardest position (beside QB) to fill in the NFL. We'll be cutting a couple of tackles after camp and no one (except the most desperate teams) will take them. If a team has a tackle that is NFL ready - they keep them no matter what. The only reason Long is even available is because of his injuries.

Yeah...we put a lot of money out for Beatty and it was a long term contract that favored him far more than the Giants. The front office also knew Beatty's value on the open market (even if fans don't) and couldn't let him become a free agent. NFL tackles who can handle the job are the cornerstone of a good line and a successful QB. The Giants had few choices and none of them good.

I think it is imperative that we look into Long. And I have no doubt the Giants have considered it if they haven't already contacted his agent. The facts: Jake Long was the number one overall draft pick in 2008. 4 time pro-bowler, and after two serious injuries, still is listed as 59th out of the top 100 players in the NFL. He has the size and length for a LT (6'7", 322) and has the long arms and makeup that eludes the talented but smaller Pugh. And he has 7 years of NFL experience at LT. The problem(s): He wants money like a number one overall pick. He also wants it to be for more than 1-year (probably hunting for 3). It's his last hurrah to fill his personal coffers. And after two torn ACLs in the past two years, no team wants to layout that kind of big money for a 30-year old with a serious injury history. I think the Giants have to bite the bullet on this one. Sign him. Make the contract incentive driven and get him in the lineup as soon as possible. Since no team has tried to sign him, he is probably willing to be a little more flexible in negotiations. But on the other hand, he probably also has been waiting for just this kind of situation where a left tackle goes down before the season begins and some team will be desperate. I don't think we have a choice if we want to salvage this season. Bite the bullet and make Jake Long our LT for the next 2 years (rotating him with Beatty once he heals to keep both in better health) and hope like hell he holds up...at least until Beatty is back to 100 percent. Both Long and Beatty just turned 30 years old and probably good for 2 - 3 years before their big fall off. Long is actually a couple months younger than Beatty, but both are entering the twilight of their careers. On an interesting side note, Fox Sports pre-game show panel with Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, and Jimmy Johnson would be more interesting...it would tip the scales as both Strahan and Howie would now show partiality towards the Giants as Strahan always is, and now Howie's kid would also be a Giant. Johnson can continue to pull for his Cowboys and Bradshaw his Steelers, but there'd be two Giants fans. It could make for some fun bickering on the panel. Reese - sign him you imgrate!