Big Blue Huddle

Hi All,
         Am not sure how much time I'll have to write in-depth articles at each position this year so am going to try to use the technology available - at least I HOPE I will be able to! - to give you all things to think about and discuss when it comes to the draft and the Giants.

The link below should take you to my first draft value board so you have an idea as to how to I think things are shaping up at present.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Asdx0POyk_aTdFpsWHBYSVBKaTk5eGFGOFRlS3RyNHc#gid=0

NB: This is nothing more than a first stab so it will change markedly by the time I get around to publishing the final one on the morning of the first day of the draft.

Keep as is. This is about the only NFT I've bothered to open in months save for the Lin one and that was only because I didn't know who the hell he was 

What do I think the Giants should do?
Starting pairing Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas are both good players and can make plays on the ball but neither has incredible speed or rank in the upper echelon of players at their position in the NFL. Having struggled with injury former 1st round pick Aaron Ross has been downgraded to the nickel spot but he could do with being challenged for that role too. It

The talent available
A great year for teams in need of DE help whether for the 4-3 or 3-4 defense with a combination of high quality and considerable depth. There are literally a couple of dozen prospects who could

The talent available
One of the weakest positions in the entire draft - not only is there no potential

The talent available
There are plenty of good players available but not quite as much

BBH Draft Preview 2011 - Outside Linebackers

The talent available
With the exception of one mega talent who fits nicely in either system - and will be a sure-fire top 5 pick - there isn

BBH Draft Preview 2011 - Top 10's at QB & WR

I haven't really got time to cover either of these position's and don't consider either of them in any way to be a 'position of need' so am simply providing a top 10 list and where i have them rated in my overall list. If I get time I will return to this nearer draft day to add a bio for each player.

Note: Where I have them rated personally does not correlate with the mock 1st round I put up earlier

QB
Blaine Gabbert (Missouri) - Top 10
Cam Newton (Auburn) - Top 10
Jake Locker (Washington) - Top 32
Ryan Mallett (Arkansas) - Top 32
Christian Ponder (Florida St.) - Top 40
Andy Dalton (TCU) - Top 40
Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) - Top 64
Ricky Stanzi (Iowa)
Greg McElroy (Alabama)
TJ Yates (North Carolina)

Summary: The Giants have no need to 'force' a pick at this position now they have a veteran back-up in place once again. Were one of Stanzi and McElroy to make it into the draft's third day I wouldn't rule them out as options but I'm hopeful we'll spend our picks on other positions

WR
1. AJ Green (Georgia) - Top 10
2. Julio Jones (Alabama) - Top 10

3. Randall Cobb (Kentucky) is a small-framed 5

BBH Draft Preview 2011 - Running Backs

The talent available
While there is plenty of depth, there aren

BBH Draft Preview 2011 - Full Backs

The talent available
Due to the change in the way the game is played in college nowadays there hasn

BBH Draft Preview 2011 - Tackle's

The talent available
Whilst there is great quality of depth and likely to be future starters drafted for both LT and RT positions well into the second day of the draft (if not beyond) there isn

Quote from: todge on April 18, 2011, 12:10:09 PM
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).

Re: Hudson. Disagree! Who exactly are the mammoth 3-4 NT's he's asked to face? I'd suggest winning the Division is more important than worrying about teams we play in a rotation over a period of years.

Dallas' Pro Bowl NT is around 300lb's and wins based on superior quickness. Washington don't have one worth worrying about right now and Philly play a 4-3. That's 6 games covered and no issues in our Division. I'm also not aware of any DT that whipped Hudson in college despite the talent he faced. 

Re: Pouncey, he may end up as our 1st round pick but our interest in him is no more than in other players. We're just doing more research on him because we have so many unanswered questions...

Like why is it a guy so talented can't execute a shotgun snap? And why his QB constantly has to reach forward, left or right to take the ball? Or why the QB needs a 40" vertical jump to catch the high ones?

It's not like the days when Ernie Accorsi was GM and he stood dribbling at Miami Hurricanes Pro Days giddy as a school-girl watching the likes of Shockey and Moss, invited them in for visits and  then tried to pretend he didn't want them in the worst way when everyone knew he did!

A better indication nowadays may be TC as when he goes to a Pro Day it's because the scouting department have told him a player in attendance and working out is high on our 'wish list' and to look at him and see what he thinks so it is easier to form a consensus on taking that player if he's available. Find out where TC went and you'll find our 1st round pick, possibly even our 2nd round pick as well... After all, he went to South Florida and East Carolina last year...

Pouncey by announcing who he is linked with is simply trying to drum up more publicity for himself - after all, he's already anointed himself as Dallas' selection with the 9th pick overall. By talking Giants as well I'd suggest he's trying to ensure he is positioned in the draft somewhere between them. Oh yeah, he's announced lots of contact with Miami too and they pick 15th.

Quote from: vette on April 17, 2011, 11:07:54 AM
I have a question about the Penn St. player Stefan Wisniewski. How many games did he play in as starting Center in 2010?

Wisniewski started every game at RG in '10 so didn't start at C at all.

Quote from: bighitterdalama on April 17, 2011, 11:11:32 AM
Ceri,

We are presently sh!tty at center. Presuming that these idiots decide to settle the lockout instead of cutting their own nouts, do you have any handle on the potential free agent talent available at this position?

I assume that you will be at Loftus Road tomorrow for the game against Derby. Best of luck. Go QPR!

Brian

Free agent talent is hard to figure out right now but the cupboard isn't exactly well stocked there either. Ryan Kalil (Panthers) and Jonathon Goodwin (Saints) are the sure things and recent Pro Bowlers. Interestingly though there are a pair of collegiate C's - Leroy Harris (Titans) and Chris Chester (Ravens) - who have started at RG because their teams already had C's. One of that duo could be asked to shift back to the pivot if they hit free agent markets.

As for QPR, well of course I'll be there! 6 pts needed from 4 games to secure the Championship Trophy let alone get promoted!! A win tonight means if we beat 2nd place Cardiff at the weekend the trophy is in the bag! Alternatively, we'll have to wait for Hull to come to town on Easter Monday to clinch it.

Quote from: vette on April 16, 2011, 07:34:29 AM
Nice review. Why do you believe that the Giants won't re-sign Boothe? You mentioned that in both previews.

There comes a point in a players career where the minimum salary is simply too much for a back-up. For Petrus to progress up the depth chart Boothe has to go.

BBH Draft Preview 2011 - Guard's

The talent available
Some of the top Guard prospects have already been covered in the Center preview but there are also some appealing players who project inside in the NFL that played Tackle in college, including some with experience inside already. Whilst there may not be any