Big Blue Huddle

It would be an easy choice for me; IMO, Howard is more ready to contribute now and solid in more areas.

He blocks for the run better than about half of all current NFL offensive linemen (and about three-fourths of all NFL tight ends).

Bob

Quote from: todge on February 26, 2017, 10:33:55 PM
Great article Rich. In looking at the numbers - it looks like the 10% success rate is probably more from the 5th to 7th Rounds.

Irrespective of the numbers - I don't think we as fans should criticize the Giants for their 3rd day picks not making it. There is plenty of valid criticism to be levied to Ross and his Scouts for their first and second day selections!

Ted: Sad, but true. Bob

Quote from: Vette on February 26, 2017, 10:36:03 AM
In that group, what would be bad luck, Bob?

Ed: I'm referring to the fact that the draft is a crap-shoot to start with, so long runs of bad results in the later rounds are not a great surprise to me.

MOST draft picks after round three are already more likely than not to fail, so there are bound to be runs of what I term "bad luck" (meaning that the long-shots just never seem to come in).

I wonder how the data you cited compares to the first six years under George Young or Ernie Accorsi - or - how it compares to the same sixyear period for the Patriots (for example), but I'm too lazy to do the work, so I'm just going to go and look it up, hopefully for my own edification.  For the record, I believe I will find that they fared no better.

Bob

PS. A comparison to the Seahawks' past six drafts might be even more interesting.

PPS. I was too lazy to look up anything except the Seahawks, and I discovered an almost unheard-of run of great drafts, BUT all or virtually all of the successful picks were above round 4.  In fact, IMO, they picked more crap in rounds 4-7 during the past six years than the Giants.  Of course, my knowledge of their roster is a lot less "in-depth" than my knowledge of the Giants' roster.

Quote from: Shoelessjoe on February 26, 2017, 11:35:43 AM
You have to let the draft come to you especially if you are picking at 23.

Quote from: Philosophers on February 26, 2017, 12:11:41 PM
Shoeless - that is 100% correct.  All the "I want this player" means little when the draft moves away from you.  A team has to have a diverse strategy that encompasses various draft scenarios.  One thing we forget is that they are on the clock and when all of a sudden something that seems unfathomable happens such as the 1996 draft when they thought they thought with the 5th pick, they'd get either Simeon Rice or Jonathan Ogden as they thought for sure Lawrence Phillips would be drafted before their pick.  Well, that didn't happen and they had to adjust on the fly and took Cedric Jones.  They didn't have a plan.

Phil and Joe:  I think you just line up the players on your paper and cross off the players picked, then when it's your turn you evaluate the POSITIONS that have been taken with an eye toward what is likely to be left on your NEXT pick, then you make your CURRENT pick.  This system allows you to adjust in two ways: first, if the top remaining player on your list plays a position that has already been "popular" in the picks before you, you can just take that player; second, if the position of the next player has so far been ignored, you also have the option of skipping over that guy if, for example, the next guy below him on your list plays a position where the draft is weak or where there's greater need.

I believe this is what the Giants already do.

IMO, the problem for us "observers" is not the systematic approach the Giants use, but rather that we often disagree with the order in which they've placed the players on their list.  Since they spend more time assembling their list than I do, I usually tend to give them the benefit of the doubt, figuring they know a whole lot more than I do.

Bob

Ed:  Do you believe your study allows us to rule out simple "bad luck" or is that still one of the options?  Bob

Quote from: Jaime on February 25, 2017, 04:50:48 PM
From what I've been able to glean thus far, the Draft is deep, really deep at Corner, Running Back & DT. The hype regarding DE and TE I believe, should be tempered with the availability of the specific skill-set u r seeking. Too many of the DE's are essentially 3-4 Rush Backers. Check out How many of the  TE's are oversized wide receivers?  Both positions have a lot of talent, but lack the size to give us a good fit for our respective Schemes.

With the 23rd overall selection, if the best player there on the board is a Corner, we should take him and run! Can't have too many Corners, damn straight! Four WR sets aside, Think of it this way guys. A twisted knee and your Slot becomes a starter. Two Twisted knees, and your Dime becomes a starter. U can have a good front seven, but if your Corners can't cover, you got major problems in today's NFL

Jaime: This is also my attitude toward the situation. Well said. Bob

Quote from: todge on February 25, 2017, 11:21:02 AM
Sorry Bob but I disagree. Even though the Giants claim they use the BPA philosophy, history tells us that it is "best player at a position of need".  After drafting Apple last year, I would say it is very unlikely they would use another 1st Round pick on a nickel/dime CB.  That type of player might be selected in the latter Rounds. They have too many other needs to fill on this team right now than CB.

Ted: I'm just playing the odds, because IMO the "strength" of free-agency does not match well with the Giants' needs; similarly, although this draft is deep in talent, the depth is also not a great match.

Top-notch free-agents (and 1st- and 2nd-round players) will be available to the Giants, but not at the positions of greatest need.

I believe they will (wisely IMO) flow with the strength of the draft and free-agency and not "force" anything; desperation usually produces bad results.

For these reasons, this off-season should be EXTRA interesting for us arm-chair GM's to watch.

Bob

Quote from: sooners56 on February 25, 2017, 09:59:27 AM
Any chance the best player and value on the board is a CB who the Giants just have to select?

sooner: There is a high likelihood that the best player will be a CB; it's possible they could hope to trade down if that happens.

Generally, it will be interesting to see whether they stick to best-player-available strategy throughout this draft, because it is so deep.

If it does turn out to be a cornerback, I think they will take him IF they think he can cover the slot.

Bob

Slim pickin's.

Everyone:

As I just messaged weeze privately, I'm not going down for spring training this year, so his tickets are up for grabs.

In case you have never been down and are considering it, spring training baseball in Florida is one of the most fun things a sports fan can do.

Bob

Rich: Great work. Thank you. Bob

Al: This seems to me like an unusually large number of changes for a single year. 

Is this about the same amount of changes as usual?

Bob

Quote from: Mikey Ravioli on January 06, 2016, 04:38:33 PM
Bill Belichick

not joking

Mikey:  If Brady were to announce his retirement after they get knocked out of the playoffs, it becomes a possibility, IMO, but I don't think he's ready to hang up his cleats yet.  One or two more years, IMO. 

Bob

PS. A tip-of-the-hat for thinking outside the box (and for courage. . . LOL).

PPS.  Mikey, just found this . . . so there are at least THREE of us loons    . . . . . .  http://ferrall.radio.cbssports.com/2016/01/06/why-bill-belichick-might-actually-want-new-york-giants-job/

Tom Coughlin is my all-time favorite head coach.  He's also the easiest man in the world to get rid of.  You just ask him to leave.  If he's the Giants' head coach next season, it will be because no one asked him to leave.

Excellent post.  Did you draw the cartoon?  If not, your skills at searching the Internet are clearly second to none.  Bob