Big Blue Huddle

I don't know why you guys are down on this player.  He was a basketball player who only started playing football later on than most.  So there is plenty of opportunities to grow into the position.  As MG pointed out - former NFL Scout Russ Lande had him as solid 2nd Rounder and has "the ability to start at RT in his first season at the NFL level".

This is a 4th Round selection - so the value is certainly there.  Of course time will tell what we actually have, but regardless, this kid has the potential to be a very good player in this league.

In the Sporting News - NFL Draft Preview edition, Russ Lande assigned the "best" category to Jones in two categories: (1) vs. the inside run, and (2) versatility.  So the Giants may try him at the Sam spot - barring any Free Agents signed.  It looks as iif his strengths are similiar to Goff - so I would suspect that if they slot Jones at MLB, whoever can cover the pass better will win the starting job.

In the Sporting News - Draft Preview Edition, Russ Lande assigned the "best" tag to Jernigan in "after the catch".  As to being small, DeSean Jackson is smaller than Jernigan and how is he making out?

In the Sporting News - NFL Draft Preview edition - Russ Lande assigned the "best" label to Prince in the following categories:

Zone Coverage - Amukumara
vs. the Runn - Amukumara

I still think he fell in the Draft due to incredible reaching for the QB position.  Every player has "negatives" - there are no exceptions - so I don't buy the whole soft because he is Nigerian garbage.  He is labeled as the most physical CB in this Draft - so where is the legitimacy in that claim?

Kiper agrees - he stated that if Marvin played this season that he would have been a top 15-20 pick.  Once again, the Giants stick to their value Board.

Quote from: TDToomer on April 28, 2011, 10:23:57 PM
I hope you guys are right.  I think CB was not a day 1-2 need position and that we should have taken Ingrim or an OL.  It seems like Reese loads up at some positions (DE, DB, WR) but lets others go thin (LB, RB).  Maybe I have more faith in TT than others.  We needed to address our aging OL, not a position that is relatively young by NFL standards.

The Giants don't pick positions - they pick the highest rated player on their Board at a position of need.  There are plenty of other picks to address the OL.

Teams don't draft BPA anymore.  They draft "BPA at a position of need".  Since we are not privy to Giant Draft grades - it is conceivable that Pouncey might be the highest rated player on their Board at #19.  We will find out soon.

Auburn's offensive plays were called from the sideline via large numbers written on poster boards.  After Cam pockets whatever millions in his bank account, where is the motivation to thoroughly memorize a 250+ play book?  Can anyone see him being the first in the office and the last to leave every day? 

So I agree with most of you.  This guy is going to be a classic boom-or-bust type. But I am inclined to lean to the latter.  Given his background and character, I just can't imagine Cam spending every night mastering the playbook and ultimately having total command of the offense. 

Thanks Ceri -

it will be interesting to see what the Giants do.  It's almost a mortal lock that they take a Center at some point in the first 3 Rounds.

As to Pouncey- I never thought of the angle that his agent has advised him to "stir the pot" in attempts to drive up the interest in him (which of course means more dollars for both!).  As to his snapping issues - Russ Lande feels they are all technique-based.  Apparently there wasn't a coach at Florida who knew how to help him. 

As to Hudson - I certainly wouldn't be disappointed in him in the 2nd Round.  He has the look of a solid 10 year starter.  If the Giants plan this route - then who do they take in Round 1?  There are no LBs or DBs worthy of the pick.  Which would lead me to believe the Giants just might take one of the tackles.  That would make OL the first two Rounds which is something I wouldn't mind one bit. 

Well done as usual Ceri -

IMO, Rodney Hudson's playing weight in the high 290s just might be too light to hold ground against the mammoth 3/4 NTs he will be asked to face. Agree?

According to Pouncey - the Giants have had a "lot of contact" with him.  That tells me they are truly interested and not just gathering more information to "rule him out".   I still believe that he is the safest OL pick in the Draft and will be the Giants' selection at #19 (if there of course).

I would prefer the Free Agent route - but it doesn't look as if that is going to happen.

According to Pat at Inside Football - inside sources have stated that Spiller was the Giants' first choice, followed by McClain and then JPP.   

JPP

That would explain Miami passing on him.  Regardless, Kindle is a Sintim-clone and the Giants are not going to want another conversion project on their hands.

I still think they have Lee targeted for perhaps even a move-up.

Keep your eye on McClaughlin from BC in the 4th.

Thoughts?

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George Selvie looked just as good as Pierre-Paul over his career, if not better, and they played on the same team.

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Pierre-Paul will be a Top 20 selection.  Selvie will be a 3rd-4th Rounder.  So the professional talent evaluators who do that for a living will be disagreeing with your assessment that Selvie looked better than Pierre-Paul.

Elvis Dumervil fits well in the scheme he is in - he would not be a good fit for the Giants.  Every team runs different defenses and tries to find players that match their schemes.  The Giants have never had a 6-1 DE with 30 inch arms on their team - so I doubt they will be looking at Graham.   Instead they look for 6-5 guys with long arms and wingspans - which is Pierre-Paul.

Pierre-Paul is the son of Haitian immigrants.  Upon coming to this country, the language barriers prevented him from enrolling in four year colleges. He spent several years in community and junior colleges before enrolling at South Florida for his senior year.  As evidenced by his 45 tackles, 6.5 sacks and First Team All Big East selection - he is more than just a gymnast.  Granted, there is not a four year body of work to measure him by - thus the boom-or-bust tag is well deserved.  But seeing that he didn't even start to play football until his senior year in high school, and given his prototypical body type - his best years are probably ahead of him.

Once again - it is not all about "production" and numbers.  If it was, then Tim Tebow would be the #1 pick in the Draft.  The NFL is full of busts who put up big numbers in college but whose skill-set does not translate into success at the Pro level. 

Kindle has been a DE at Texas - so with his hand on the ground all those years, he may have a hard time learning his coverage responsibilities at the Sam LB position.  Being that the Giants already have someone like that, I just don't see them picking another conversion project.