Big Blue Huddle

Maybe not that much different than Steve Young being a lawyer and we know how that worked out.

I just can't help but think that John Mara's words about getting a big, strong RT are going to be the dominant theme guiding the Giants #9 pick unless someone falls that they did not expect like one of the WRs.  I am firmly convinced Ceri your conclusions fall in line with what the Giants are thinking as well.  I think it's Collins or Peat in their minds for the better option at tackle with Scherf a secondary consideration at this point.

Ceri - I'm glad you wrote about Mason's blitz pickup blocking.  The few times I watched him, he looks like he absolutely loves to pick up the blitzer and really puts as you said his helmet into the chest of the oncoming blitzer.  Additionally, he looks to sink into his stance so he doesn't get pushed back.  I think he gets drafted in the second round.  Unlike a lot of guys who may get picked ahead of him, Tre Mason actually played really well in the big games against the best competition.  I like that attribute a lot.

As Ceri noted, we seem to have a DE mold and it's a few inches taller than Donald.  The guy who intrigues me as a sort of play every position along the DL is Hageman out of Minnesota.

The DE class is just exciting to me.  I think we clearly have other positions of need that are much greater than reaching for a DE in a less than stellar class.

What about Bryan Stork?

You've got to think Zack Martin will get a hard look by the Giants.  Just like Pugh, he is versatile.

The civility on this board compared to others is downright amazing.  Sometimes these posts sound more like two friends who live down the street from each other having a conversation about their beloved Giants.  Living so far from NJ, it's nice to connect with Giants fans and discuss all things relevant to the team.  I don't miss the pre-BBH days of "you suck" or "you're an idiot."

Scoring is not our problem.  Stopping the other team is.

If we draft anyone among these three groups on day 1, I will likely drop dead given our needs elsewhere and the fact aside from maybe 1 player, none of these guys interest me as a Giant.

Jaime - The 22 mile Napali hike (to/from) is generally considered one of the top 10 hikes in the world.  Kudos to you.  It's an incredible experience.  I can definitely see why'd you think you were with dinosaurs.  I live about 3 miles off the main road on the North Shore.  1 mile in from the highway, it rains 30 inches per year.  By the time you get to my house it rains about 100 inches per year.  Lots of microclimates along the way.  Actually very cool.  We own a 110 pound Newfoundland who loves to swim.  They're bred to rescue people who are drowning.  I'm teaching her to rescue.   She loves to swim.  When I take her to the beach to swim, it is "game on" as soon as my head goes underwater.  She comes charging out to swim to me regardless of whether or not I need to be saved.  If I go for a swim, she just follows me whereever I swim and sometimes, I go pretty far offshore.  She's like my "other" wife according to most people who see her following me out there.  I can't surf with her because she cries and follows me out into the water.  Got to leave her home.  Great life here.

If I trust my eyes (and I usually do), I'd love to have Barrett Jones in the 3rd round for us.  I think he is a very cerebral player which I believe is very important at the center position.  The concern I've read is that he got protected a lot by Warmack lined up next to me, however he won awards playing OT as well so it speaks more about his overall talent.  I think his versatility would make him a hot prospect for the Giants.

Been raining out here in Kauai today Jaime.  My dog is bugging me to take her to the ocean to swim.

It'd be one thing to be a starter on a crappy team in a conference after only two years of playing but to start at Florida State and produce what he did with only two years experience speaks volumes to me.  If we could get him in round 2, great, but I don't think he leaves the first round.

I used to love Barrett Jones as a pick and thought he was a very complete player based on the games I saw, but I keep reading how there is this concern of him getting blown apart by NFL level caliber.

Watson, an OL who has considerable time boxing and playing basketball, has two things that NFL coaches kill themselves trying to teach to players - footwork and balance.  Players spend their careers trying to attain both and this kid already has it.  It seems to me that the most difficult stuff he already has in spades and with those skills, I'd think he'd project to OLT as well.  Plus, he learned the position so quickly then played in a very competitive conference and performed?  These are exactly the types of players destined to do great things.  Sign me up.  If we could move back a bit, acquire another pick in the 2nd or 3rd round and still get him, that'd be solid.

Ceri, what do you think of Tyrann Mathieu overall and potentially as a slot corner?

I completely agree with you Ceri that we have the Under Tackle position set but can use a run stuffing nose tackle.  I'd be thrilled if we got either Jesse Williams or John Jenkins in say the 2nd round, but I doubt either will be there when we pick.  Maybe.  If we did that in round 2 and were lucky to have a top flight DE, CB or LB to fall to us in round 1, I'd be thrilled with that as a round 1-2 combo.  Think we need help on D, but also feel that OL is a great need.  IF we went OL in round 1 and got one of those DTs in round 2, I'd also be happy as well.