By:Carrington Caul
New York Giants (Record: 10-6) (Playoff Appearance: No Playoff Appearance)
The New York Giants finished their second back-to-back season without reaching the playoffs, which is confusing and shocking because the Giants are a top 5 NFC team. You can blame their playoff shortcomings on their meltdowns in the 2nd half of the season in the past two years the giants have been 8-9 after week 8 and out of those 9 losses 4 of them came from NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles. If the Giants want to get over their hump and make a deep run in the playoffs they have to learn how to pull together during crunch time, and they have to find a way to beat the Eagles. This season was a little different that most people expected.
The Giant’s lost at least three games that they basically gave up on in the 2nd half including Titans, Packers, and the memorable 2nd Eagles game. Even after losing to the Titans and being dropped in a gut wrenching, heart breaking, stomach jerking 2nd lost to Eagles the Giants were still looking to gain the #1 wild card seed until they just gave the game to the Packers in the second half. If you believe it or not they still had a chance to make the playoffs all coming down to the last game of the season. The Giants needed to beat the Redskins and the Bears needed to beat the Packers for the Giants to still clinch the wild card, but the Giants beat the Redskins, the Bears came up short against the Packers on the final drive of the game and the Packers earned the top wild card spot and never looked back until they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.
The Giants were ranked in the top 10 in passing yards, rushing yards, and points in a game in offense, they were also ranked in the top 10 in passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, and points allowed in a game on defense. This is a good team, and only a few players removed from the 07 team that made the run to the Super Bowl. If they can get over their hump this is definitely a tough team to stop.
1)Prince Amukamara (CB, Nebraska)
Amukamara fell to the Giants at number 19 and there was no way they could pass on him. Amukamara was ranked the 2nd best CB in the draft and a top 10 prospect, I had him ranked above a lot of other players who went before him and so did a lot of other scouts. The Giants didn’t need a lot of work on their CB but like I always said before you can never have too many WR’s and CB’s in this league. One thing that stood out to me about the Giants secondary this season is that they ranked well in pass defense and rush defense they still gave up a lot of deep balls, my mind instantly goes to the games against Cowboys, Colts, Packers. Amukamara will bring a solid hitting, great coverage and ball hawking skills to this defense, with Amukamara, Terrell Thomas, Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, Antrell Role, and Kenny Phillips this can become a deadly secondary not to mention that the Giants have arguably the best defensive line in the whole league. This is an excellent value pick, something the Giants are great at getting. (Personal Grade: A-)
2)Marvin Austin (DT, UNC)
This to me is possibly one of the biggest steals in the 2nd round behind possibly Da’Quan Bowers, and it’s still hard to decide. Austin was projected to be a top 3 pick this year after Andrew Luck and A.J. Green but Austin never played this season after the NCAA Investigation at UNC Austin was dismissed from the team, during his pro day at UNC Austin wowed so many scouts and GM’s that even after a year off he was still projected to be a mid to late 1st round pick. Austin slipped to the Giants in the second only because of his off the field issues but Jerry Reese, John Mara, and Steve Tisch are good at getting the best out of players and getting them to act right. Austin is a guy with incredible size, speed and talent, he’s definitely a pro bowl caliber player and with the likeliness of Barry Cofield being gone this season we can see a rotation with about 3-4 DT’s so Austin has a chance to learn from some of the best players and best coaches, this is an incredible pick for the Giants. (Personal Grade: A-)
3)Jerrel Jernigan (WR, Troy)
Jernigan is a safety pick for the Giants but he brings a lot to the team, he needs work on his routes, but he’s a hard worker and he can play the slot and even return the ball if Hixon and Smith aren’t a 100% during the season and he becomes another weapon for Eli Manning, and Manning is one Quarterback that knows how to utilize all his weapons on the field. (Personal Grade: B)
4)James Brewer (OL, Indiana)
The Giants biggest need of the whole draft was OL and LB, and they picked up some great value in Brewer, he was projected as a 2-3rd round pick and slipped to the Giants in the 4th. After the proper coaching Brewer will be the eventual starter to protect Eli’s blind side. He’s not an athletic player but he brings great strength and length and the proper coaching he will be a great o-line men. (Personal Grade: B+)
5)Greg Jones (LB, Michigan State)
You have to chalk the Giants draft up to the NFL God’s because Jones was once a late 1st to 2nd round pick that slipped all the way to the 6th round, there is no reason to why he slipped. The only explanation is a lot of players (mainly QB’s) were taken early leaving other players to slide like Prince Amukamara, Jones is a going to contribute this season on special teams and will probably compete for the starting strong side LB spot either this season or next, Jones has great tools and great football IQ, he can make plays in the run defense or pass and can be a captain and leader later on down the road. (Personal Grade: B+)
6)Tyler Sash (S, Iowa)
I know you’re probably tired of hearing me saying this but Sash was a 3rd to 4th round player who slipped to the 6th round. The Giants don’t have a great need for safety but there’s a chance that Deon Grant won’t be back because he feels like he is a starting safety and I would have to agree so Sash could be a potential back up and insurance plan for Kenny Phillips if he isn’t 100% yet from his injury. Sash has instincts, toughness, and intelligence that you can’t coach, he isn’t that athletic but he makes up for it with his work ethic. He will more than likely contribute immediately on special teams. (Personal Grade: B-)
7)Jacquian Williams (LB, South Florida)
Williams has the tools to be a great backup but he’s undersized, he needs to add some weight and muscle and work hard, he can possibly contribute on special teams, but I expect him to go to practice squad for year. (Personal Grade: C+)
8)Da’Rel Scott (RB, Maryland)
“Scott is too small to be an every down back; he would be a change-of-pace back. He needs to get better on picking up the blitz and trying to find out where he fits in” does that sound familiar? If you are a Giants fan you heard the same thing about current Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw, I’m not saying that Scott is the next Bradshaw, just pointing out that Scott was picked in the same around, close to the same spot as Bradshaw with the same scouting report. If Scott comes in and works hard and can be what they wanted Andre Brown to be, he can be the 3rd string back and contribute on special teams and 3rd downs. (Personal Grade: B-)
You remember the 2007 Giants draft team that helped them get to and win the Super Bowl, that’s what this team reminds me of, I’m not saying they’re the same or that they are even going to take them to the playoffs, I’m just saying that the Giants draft group for this year has the potential to come in work hard and contribute in big ways like the 07 team did. I liked the way the Giants drafted, If Jerry Reese thinks that the BPA is better than the player that plays the position of need he takes them and that doesn’t hurt a team it only makes it better. The Giants came away with a very good draft class this year and you can only hope it shows on the field.
OVERALL GRADE: A-
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