Spotlight On Devon Kennard

[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_js]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[/vc_raw_js][vc_column_text]Looks like the New York Giants  are excited about their 2014 5th Round Pick LB Devon Kennard.  Standing  6-foot-3 and 249 pounds, Kennard has the ability to play multiple positions, or as Jerry Reese describes it as “Joker”.

“He was great on the [chalk] board, he did an excellent job of that,” coach Tom Coughlin said after the draft. “He really convinced the coaches that he was a really sharp football player, a multiple position guy, a guy that would come in here and play the linebacker position for us, which is what he’ll do. So we’re excited about that.”

Kennard’s road to The NFL was not an easy one suffering setbacks to injures. Playing 13 games as a freshman in under USC Coach Pete Carroll, starting as a strongside linebacker. Kennard also earned some time playing middle linebacker and defensive end before finishing his senior year  as an outside linebacker tallying 60 tackles and 9 sacks.

Along with many of the Giants 2014 draft picks Devon Kennard was team captain for the Trojans and thought of as having a high football IQ. The ability to learn multiple positions under a new playbook would be a key for him to see some  nice playing time.

“Right now they have me concentrating on middle linebacker,” Kennard said. “My focus is there, that’s what I’m focused on. They also want to make sure I know the SAM as well. “I definitely think SAM linebacker is the position that I feel most comfortable with. But that’s because I did it last year, I feel like I can come on the inside as well. I definitely have a passion for rushing the passer, passing situations and things like that but I can also cover and do things like that.”

Check out thepostgame article on his recovery.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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NY Giants 2014 Draft Class

It would be silly of me to rank and grade how Giants GM Jerry Reese drafted. Did he draft his needs, or Best player available? None of the players have worn the big blue uniform, but everyone has an opinion. Below are some of the thoughts on this years draft class by writers who know, Ill let the pros handle it.

1st Round

WR – Odell Beckham JR (pick 12)

Odell Beckham Jr. has a chance to be a really dynamic NFL player, a reliable pass-catcher with both the quick-twitch explosiveness to make plays after the catch, and the straight-line speed to run away from defenders.

Mel Kiper

2nd Round

C – Weston Richburg (pick 43)

The Giants addressed an immediate and long-term need with the selection of Colorado State center Weston Richburg with the 11th pick of the second round. Richburg played multiple positions and in a variety of different offensive schemes in college, and his versatility, athleticism and intelligence make him a strong fit for the center spot in the Giants’ new Ben McAdoo offense.

Dan Graziano

3rd Round

DT – Jay Bromly (pick 74)

The selection of Syracuse defensive tackle Jay Bromley in the third

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round is the one that really left some Giants fans scratching their heads. Nobody, not even Bromley himself, thought he’d be a Day 2 pick. Based on the scouting report, it seemed a questionable selection, at best.

Jordan Raanan

4th Round

RB – Andre Willimas (pick 113)

It is rare when a team can wait until the fourth round of the NFL Draft and land such an accomplished player, but that’s what the Giants did Saturday when they selected Boston College running back Andre Williams.

Paul Schwartz

5th Round

S – Nat Berhe (pick 152)

Intriguing prospect who played a hybrid linebacker/safety position in college that’s similar to how the Giants used to deploy veteran safety Deon Grant. With Will Hill’s future in doubt, Berhe could end up playing a bigger role right out of the gate with a strong training camp and preseason showing.

The Sports Xchange

LB- Devon Kennard (pick 174)

A closer look at the Giants’ picks: Round 5/174 — Devon Kennard, LB, 6-3, 255, Southern California…Versatile linebacker who can play on the strong side or in the middle. Kennard started his collegiate career as a defensive end in a 3-4 but showed enough football acumen to encourage coaches to trust him with multiple roles, including that of a pass rusher. With the Giants still short on defensive ends, Kennard figures to contribute at that position in certain packages.

The Sports Xchange

6th Round

CB – Bennett Jackson (pick 187)

Jackson is a wide receiver-turned-defensive back who the Giants believe has big upside. He’s also a New Jersey native.

Jordan Raanan

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Big Blue Wants You

Potential Targets for the 1st 3 Rounds.

Pick 12, Pick 43 and pick 74.  The Giants are in position to grab three of the top 75 prospects in this years upcoming draft, and we can’t miss. #IRWT

In year’s past Jerry Reese and the crew have been given plenty of leeway when draft time comes around, two Super Bowls in 5 years gives you said leeway.  Not this year.  The clock is ticking on Reese, Coughlin and Manning, and the pressure is on, their proverbial backs are against the wall.

This is the biggest draft for Big Blue in 10 years.  And with the talent coming out in this draft class the Giants can’t miss, not with anyone of their first three selections.  Rounds four through seven are up for debate, you can always take a shot on a project, or a player with pedigree that might be coming off an injury or disciplinary issues who’s stock has dropped.  I got no problem with that, but miss with 3 picks in the 1st 74 picks this year and, well, that may cost folks their jobs.  Tic-Toc….

The Giants set the tone this off-season.  Revamping the secondary, adding offensive lineman, depth at linebacker and wide receiver and adding a new toy at running back.  Reese has been plenty busy so far this off season, and it’s all for not if he misses this Thursday.

So who are we targeting?…Well, I think it can go a number of different ways come Thursday night.  Names like Eric Ebron, Mike Evans, Aaron Donald and Zack Martin are being tossed around.  Do we trade up or trade back?…What do we expect when expecting?…Truth is the Giants can end up drafting a TE, WR, OL, DT or a LB.  All areas of need, so what does it all mean and what will Jerry do?

Don’t be surprised if we trade up.  I think the Giants want Mike Evans and will try to move up to get him.  If that don’t work and the price is to steep, I think they would be happy with Eric Ebron or Aaron Donald.  And if all three are off the board, they are fully prepared to take Zack Martin. Considering the talent of the four players in question, I don’t think trading down is an option unless someone unexpectedly drops to 12 and the Giants get an offer they can’t refuse from another team looking to move up.  Then you may see them move back and target a player such as Florida State beast WR Kelvin Benjamin.  As you can see, we have options galore, and adding a quality player who can help ASAP is possible in any scenario.

So, with the information we have at hand, let’s take a look at the 1st three rounds and see who are options may be with said pick.

PICK 12 —

WR – Mike Evans — Hearing rumors the Giants are kicking the tires on moving up to land Evans, and as long as the price isn’t to steep, IRWT, this is a move that can happen on Thursday night.

TE – Eric Ebron — If I was running the war room, this would be the only guy I’d be willing to trade up for, as I have Ebron ranked higher on my board then Evans.  You may have to get to pick #7 to land Evans, and only three spots to #9 to land Ebron.  Both Evans and Ebron are gifted players who probably don’t make it to 12 without the Giants making a move up the draft board.  If I’m going to trade up, I’d take Ebron…I just think he’s better then Evans straight up.

DT – Aaron Donald — Don’t see the Giants trading up to get this freak DT, but if Ebron and Evans are off the board and Donald is sitting there, it may be hard to pass up the best defensive tackle in the draft, which is also a position of need.

THE PICK — OT/OG – Zack Martin — Polished offensive linemen who can step in and start on day1 for the G-Men.  If we end up selecting Martin, no Giants fan should be upset.  Yes, it’s not a sexy pick like Evans, Ebron or Donald, but it is a very good pick and fit for our boys in Blue.  I think Jerry and the fellas will try to trade up, but if  it costs to much to do so, the pick can be a simple as ranking Ebron, Donald and Martin and taking the one that’s still available.

PICK 43 — Assuming the pick is Martin at 12, WR and TE are in play big time for round 2, with a couple of wild-cards at safety and running back if all else fails.

WR – Kelvin Benjamin — Benjamin (6-foot-5, 240 pounds) is a big target with very good hands, but his attitude is a question. At one of his workouts, he told a coach who had just arrived that he was too tired to work out. He played only two years with Florida State after redshirting in 2011. He ran the 40 in a hand-held time of 4.53 seconds at the combine. — Landing Benjamin with the 43rd pick could depend on what happens with the 12th pick.  If the Giants trade up for or end up drafting Evans or Ebron, forget Benjamin, but if they end up drafting a player such as Donald or Martin, that can put Benjamin in play at 43.

WR – Jordan Matthews — Matthews (6-foot-3 1/8, 212 pounds) had 206 receptions for 2,800 yards over the past two years. He has great ball skills and should catch a lot of passes to move the chains, and no one will outwork him. He ran the 40 in a hand-held time of 4.40 seconds at the combine. — Again, Matthews would not be in play if a WR or TE or selected in round one, but if not, Matthews can get a look, especially if Benjamin is gone.

TE – Austin Seferian-Jenkins — Seferian-Jenkins (6-foot-5 1/2, 262 pounds) is still recovering from a foot injury and did not run or jump for teams in the pre-draft process. The Huskies ran more in 2013, which contributed to him catching only 36 passes for eight touchdowns. He can and will block. He served a one-week suspension last season after a DUI arrest in the spring. — If Ebron is gone in round one, a TE will be selected at some point…Seferian-Jenkins may be the best of the rest.

TE – Jace Amaro —  (6-foot-5 3/8, 265 pounds) will be a tough matchup in the NFL. He caught 106 passes and seven touchdowns last year. He wasn’t asked to block a lot at Tech and will need work in that area. At the combine, he ran a hand-timed 4.63 seconds in the 40, but his stock dropped a bit after he interviewed poorly. He also has had some off-field problems in the past.

RB – Bishop Sankey — Sankey (5-foot-9 1/2, 209 pounds) has good quickness and running skills and will work hard on every play. He ranked No. 1 in the nation last year at breaking tackles. He has good hands and can be an every-down back. At the combine, he posted a hand-timed 4.45-second 40 and 41 1/2-inch vertical. — I know RB is a dire need at this point, but with questions mark surrounding David Wilson, if all options are gone and Sankey is the highest player on your board, he can be a steal here at pick 43.

Safety – Deone Buccanon — Bucannon (6-foot 7/8, 211 pounds) has above-average ball skills for a safety and provides good support against the run, with 13 interceptions and 300 tackles in three years. He’s a physical player with 4.5 speed and should also be good on special teams. — Yeah we revamped the secondary, but if Buccanon  is there at 43, and Will Hill is still impersonating Cheech and Chong, selecting Buccanon would be ideal.  In my opinion, this is the 2nd best safety in the draft.

The Pick — Can go a bunch of ways here as you see…but I’d target Benjamin.  Might be better to stay put at 12 and select Martin, and then trade up into the early 2nd if possible to select Kelvin Benjamin.  If not, pencil in Amaro or Seferian-Jenkins.

Pick 74 — Really all depends on who is here, there are always surprises on draft day. People are selected to early, or in some cases player drop like a stone.  Here might be a couple of guys we can target in round 3.

TE – Troy Niklas — Niklas (6-foot-6 1/2, 268 pounds) is a three-year player who played linebacker in 2011 as a true freshman. He can block and catch (32 receptions, 498 yards, five TDs in 2013) and is very athletic. He has not run for teams after having double-hernia surgery in March. — Assume Ebron, Seferian-Jenkins and Amaro are gone, the Giants need to find a way to land Niklas. Not coming away with one of these players in the 1st 74 picks would be discouraging, as all for look like they will be very productive players in the future.

C – Travis Swanson — Needs to get stronger at the point of attack, but brings experience and competitiveness that may get him picked right around #74,

WR – Donte Moncrief — Terrific size. Smooth accelerator — jets off the line, eliminates cushion and has speed to stretch the field vertically. Good balance and body control. Can stem his pattern and leverage defenders. Drives off cornerbacks and creates separation. Knows where the sticks are. Outstanding leaping ability to elevate and pluck throws out of the air. Flashes playmaking ability. Able to sidestep the first tackler and pick up chunk yards after the catch. Gives effort as a blocker to engage and seal. Has experience going head-to-head with NFL-caliber cornerbacks. Will be a 21-year-old rookie and has upside. Tied for the longest broad jump (11-foot) among receivers at the combine.

WR – Martavis Bryant — Superb body length with a long, rangy frame. Very good straight-line, separation speed. Can drop his hips surprisingly well for as tall as he is and is fairly shifty after the catch. Good red-zone target — effective making back-shoulder catches. Flashes the ability to climb the ladder and highpoint the ball. Has return experience. Needs to improve his hands to be more consistent.

LB – Kyle Van Noy — Has a muscular, well-proportioned build. Quick get-off. Knifes gaps. Good pass-rush ability — can push the pocket or pressure the edge. Keeps working to the quarterback and has deceptive closing speed. Eyes the quarterback and tries to get his hands in the passing lane. Athletic with good movement skills in all directions — equipped to keep pace with backs and tight ends in coverage. Is rangy and can open up his stride and run vertical. Glides on the field. Scheme versatile. Football smart.

LB – Chris Borland —  Is built low to the ground and bends his knees. Keen eyes and instincts — has a nose for the ball. Quick to fill downhill (see goal-line play vs. Ohio State when he stuck RB Carlos Hyde in the hole and drove him back). Motor runs hot — pursues hard and seldom quits on plays. Flows well laterally. Aware in zone. Capable of bringing pressure as a blitzer. Good leaping ability. Intense competitor who loves to play and it shows. Defensive playmaker — piled up 50 career TFL and 14 FFs. Special intangibles.

DE – Kareem Martin — Has very long arms. Good eyes and recognition — senses screens, locates the ball and understands contain. Strong-handed to punch and extend. Good short-area burst. Uses his length to force his way into gaps. Flashes power potential. Nice closing speed. Wrap tackler. Football smart. Durable three-year starter. Solid personal and football character with leadership traits. Showed explosion at the combine, recording a 10-foot, 9-inch broad jump (best among defensive linemen) and a 35 1/2-inch vertical jump.

The Pick — I got a soft spot for Borland, who despite his athletic deficiencies, is a straight up old school football player who can  produce for Perry Fewell and on special teams from day 1.  Again, all this depends on how Reese attacks the 1st 2 rounds, his picks through two rounds will determine who is in play and who is not come round 3.

What say you Bleed Big Blue?…Who did I leave out? Who have I targeted that you agree with?….Again, anyone who tells you it’s a forgone conclusion who will be selected at any given pick is lying…one trade up or down changes everything.  One thing we can expect is Reese to bring his A game come Thursday night, and he damn well better. Tic toc…The Giants are now on the clock, In Reese We Trust.

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Who’s Your Team Taking?…The Trifecta’s 1st Round Mock Draft 2014

Mel Kiper, Todd Mcshay and Mike Mayock have the luxury of doing mock draft after mock draft. Not The Trifecta. What is the point of doing 7 mock drafts? I don’t get it. Instead, here at Bleed Big Blue, I have waited patiently. I have sifted through all the information and misinformation, took it all into consideration and put together my 1st round predictions for this upcoming Thursday.

Later this week, I will be

putting together a list of names I can see the Giants considering through the first 3 rounds. Predicting rounds 4-7 is pointless…no one knows, or can predict the later rounds without

seeing how said GM’s attack the 1st 3 rounds of the draft.

This is not a science. The information put out by all 32 NFL teams this time of year is more bullshit than pertinent information we can take into serious consideration. Forget the predraft workouts and visits…all bullshit. The comments by GM’s leading up to the draft is filled with innuendo’s and very rarely will a GM or head coach give out any important tid bits of info to reveal how they really intend on building said franchise.

I will be making selections for all 32 1st round picks as if I were the GM for each team. I will try to read between the lines and decipher who each one of these teams will target come May 8th….

Without further ado….The Trifecta’s round one mock draft…

First let me say that I fully expect at least 3 trades in the first round. Who will be involved in said trades?..That’s up for debate, as we have seen in years past, it can be anyone to make a big move, and odds are we will be surprised more than once on Thursday night. While making the picks for this mock draft we will not take trades into consideration, rather I will pick straight 1 through 32 as if no trades were going to take place. I think it’s safe to assume, come Thursday, teams will be moving up and back in the draft, who they are remains to be seen.

Also, let it be known that on my big board I have Johnny Football as the best player in the draft….that being said a draft day slip could be in the works for a lot of QB’s…Manziel being one of them. This draft is full of talent, more than any draft I can remember in recent history, and especially in the first round. So if it were me, I’d take Manziel at #1 overall, but it’s not me… and the NFL is can be a harsh place for a guy with a lot of questions surrounding him and such a rare amount of talent coming out the same year. I have Manziel land sliding all the way to 4th…LOL…Woooohoooo Leggo!!!

The Texans are now on the clock….

1. Houston Texans – DE – Jadeveon Clowney – Again, I think passing on Manziel is certifiably insane, but the Texans aren’t the only team that will. Clowney brings a rare combination of size, strength and speed. Could be the next LT or could set the Texans back a decade.
2. St. Louis Rams – WR – Sammy Watkins – A legitimate No. 1-caliber receiver who stepped onto the field as a true freshman and made an immediate, game-changing impact. Was slowed by injuries as a sophomore, but responded with a strong junior season and capped his career as one of the most impactful receivers in school history. Has rare speed, soft hands and the big-play ability to challenge NFL defensive backs as a rookie.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – LB – Khalil Mack – A havoc-wreaking rush linebacker with the burst and acceleration to excel as a right defensive end in a “40” front, Mack has demonstrated the instincts, toughness, athletic ability and explosive power to line up at any linebacker position in an even or odd front and factor readily. Might be better then Clowney…In my opinion Gus Bradley lands the best defender in the draft.
4. Cleveland Browns – QB – Johnny Manziel – **#STEALOFTHEDRAFT** A once-in-a-generation, run-around, ad-lib, sandlot-style quarterback who consistently won games playing a brand of fast-paced, jailbreak football that often goes off script and can be difficult to game plan with and against. Has defied the odds and proved to be a great college-system quarterback, but still must prove he is willing to work to be great, adjust his hard-partying, Hollywood lifestyle and be able to inspire his teammates by more than his playmaking ability. Perfect fit for a Browns franchise looking for a savior.
5. Oakland Raiders – OT – Greg Robinson – Big, strong, athletic, overpowering OT with the raw potential to become a premiere, franchise left tackle. Is only a third-year sophomore and two-year starter and still must improve his hand use, footwork and technique. However, he is undeniably gifted and capable of walking into a starting left tackle job in the pros and paving the way in the run game.
6. Atlanta Falcons – OT – Jake Matthews – Smart, tough, versatile franchise left tackle capable of playing all five positions on the line. Can plug into a starting lineup immediately and will play a long time at a consistently high level. One of the safest picks in the draft, Matthews’ best position might even be center. Falcons may consider trading up, but if they stay put at 6, it’s hard to argue with selecting Matthews.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WR – Mike Evans – Evans is a big, physical, strong-handed, West Coast possession receiver with playmaking ability who projects as a No. 2 in the pros, where he will make his money as a chain mover and red-zone target. Bucs get the guy they’ve wanted all along to pair with Vincent Jackson.
8. Minnesota Vikings – LB – Anthony Barr – A highly disruptive, athletic specimen with the pass-rush potential to effortlessly emerge as a double-digit sack producer. Is far from a finished product, and his best football is still ahead of him. Mike Zimmer gets a new toy.
9. Buffalo Bills – OT – Taylor Lewan – An experienced, finesse left tackle with the length, agility and temperament to hold down a starting job for a long time. Is nuanced in pass protection and would fit best in a slide-lateral movement, bucket-stepping, zone-based blocking scheme. Lewan can step in and start from day one, and brings a must needed attitude adjustment to Buffalo where he will become a fan favorite in no time.
10. Detroit Lions -TE – Eric Ebron – Highly athletic, highly productive “F” tight end loaded with upside and mismatch capability. Possesses the speed, movement skills, hands and run-after-catch skills to emerge as a playmaking weapon in the pros, though he has room to continue developing as a blocker. Yeah the Lions resigned Petigrew…big whoop. Ebron is an immediate upgrade and could thrive right away creating mismatches all over the field as team worry about Megatron.
11. Tennessee Titans – DT – Aaron Donald – Short, scrappy, instinctive, highly productive defensive penetrator who does not look the part, but inspires confidence he can be an exception to the rule. Is the type you root for and has the first-step quickness, athleticism and motor to emerge as a havoc-wreaking three-technique in a fast-flowing 4-3 scheme. Titans get a steal at 11, as Donald is the best DT of this class by far.
12. New York Giants – WR- Kelvin Benjamin – A tight end-sized, intimidating, big-play receiver with a rare wingspan, Benjamin has the overall strength, length and wide catching radius that will demand extra coverage be rolled his way. A very intriguing mismatch weapon with ascending talent. —Ok Bleed Big Bluers…let’s take the worse case scenario, let’s assume the Giants don’t trade up for Evans or Ebron and they are both off the board…and all three Tackles are gone, and Aaron Donald has just come off the board. The Giants would probably take Zack Martin instead here, but also consider that Big Blue needs a big time playmaker NOW and always has a surprise for us on draft day. With depth in this draft on the OL, taking a shot on Benjamin may be one of those pics that looks a lot better 3 years from now then it will on Thursday night.
    
13. St. Louis Rams – CB – Justin Gilbert – The most talented cover corner in this year’s draft class, Gilbert has size, speed and flexibility to blanket receivers at the next level. Also brings impact ability as a kick returner. In the 1st 13 picks, the Rams solidify the LT spot and CB spot for years to come.
14. Chicago Bears – LB – CJ Mosley – Smart, instinctive, fast-flowing, every-down linebacker capable of manning any position in a “40” front or steering a defense from the weak side in a “30” front, where he starred for a national-championship defense as a junior and carried the Tide as a senior. Bears need help on the defensive line, but can address that later in the draft, as Mosley is too good to pass up here.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers – S – Calvin Pryor – Perhaps the most explosive hitter in this year’s crop of safeties, Pryor is a big, physical hammer in the run game, bringing the ability to intimidate and erase. Factor in his instincts and range, and Pryor has the ability to start as a rookie. Great get for the Steelers here to bring some youth to that safety spot.
16. Dallas Cowboys – LB – Ryan Shazier – Shazier offers a tremendous combination of speed, tackling and coverage skills to become a playmaker as a run-and-hit 4-3 Will or perhaps a 3-4 weakside ‘backer if protected by a block-occupying nose tackle. Value is increased by the fact that he will not have to come off the field. Cowgirls need help on defense and this 3 down versatile linebacker can step in and play right away.
17. Baltimore Ravens – OL – Zack Martin – Athletic, smart, competitive, dependable college left tackle whose length dictates a move inside, where he has plug-and-play ability in a zone-blocking scheme. One of the cleanest prospects in this year’s draft.
18. New York Jets – CB – Darqueze Dennard – Solidly built, athletic, instinctive, press-man cover man who took his game to another level as a senior. Brings intensity, confidence and competitiveness to the corner. Offers size to lock horns with bigger receivers, and has a ceiling as a No. 2 cover man. Jets need help in the secondary big time, Clinton-Dix gets some consideration here, but pairing Millner, who came on strong late last year, with Dennard give the Jets a solid combo of corners for the future.
19. Miami Dolphins – RB – Carlos Hyde – A big, strong, powerful, NFL feature back who carried the Buckeyes’ offense as a senior and proved he can be a workhorse. Solid all-around, chunk runner well-built for the physicality of the NFL. I know they signed Moreno, but it was a one year deal, and considering the problems the Fins have had at RB lately, this pick makes sense for the long term.
20. Arizona Cardinals – WR – Marqise Lee – An extremely motivated, dynamic, playmaking receiver, Lee’s junior season was plagued by shoulder, knee and leg injuries and a revolving door at head coach, of which he cycled through three.
21. Green Bay Packers – S – Ha Ha Clinton-Dix – Hype exceeded his performance in Tuscaloosa, but Clinton-Dix offers starter-caliber instincts, range, coverage skills and tackling ability as a free safety. Should be a Day 1 starter.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – CB – Bradley Roby – Urgent, confident, competitive athlete with an intriguing combination of speed, suddenness, ball skills and tackling ability. Has broad appeal, given his scheme versatility, and should be able to contribute readily as nickel slot defender and special-teams contributor.
23. Kansas City Chiefs – QB – Teddy Bridgewater – A calculated, football-smart, precision-matchup rhythm passer, Bridgewater would be best suited entering a warm-weather or dome environment, such as those most common in the South divisions. Would stand to benefit heavily from operating a short, dink-and-dunk rhythm passing game.
24. Cincinnati Bengals – CB – Kyle Fuller – Narrow-framed, confident, competitive off-man/zone corner with nice length, field speed and awareness. Is capable of contributing early on special teams and in sub packages.
25. San Dieg0 Chargers – WR – Odell Beckham Jr – Talented, competitive, productive, inconsistent college split end who projects as a big-play receiver in the pros. Offers versatility to toggle between “X,” “Z” and slot, given his ability to stretch the field and run after the catch.
26. Cleveland Browns – WR – Donte Moncrief – Big, physically gifted “X” receiver with deep speed, leaping potential and playmaking ability. Could emerge as a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver in a vertical passing offense. Solid combine showing and pro day workout have ascended his draft standing. Browns throw day ones draft party, knowing they have paired Moncrief with Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron and Ben Tate this off season, oh and Johnny Football.
27. New Orleans Saints – DE – Demarcus Lawrence – A loose, explosive, long-limbed athlete, Lawrence consistently pressurizes the edge and harasses quarterbacks. Lacks ideal stoutness at the point of attack, but could thrive as a 4-3 right end or 3-4 rush linebacker, and should contribute readily on passing downs.
28. Carolina Panthers – OL – Xavier Su’A-Filo – Does not look the part and was miscast when forced to play left tackle for the Bruins, but Su’a-Filo is more effective than he is pretty. Projects best at left guard, where he has starter-caliber ability in a power scheme, though he is athletic enough to appeal to zone teams, too.
29. New England Patriots – DE – Stephen Tuitt – Hulking, long-armed, physically gifted defensive lineman with desirable size, strength, athleticism and versatility to appeal as a five-technique or as a defensive tackle or base end in a 4-3.
30. San Francisco 49ers – DT – Ra’Shede Hageman – Boom or bust project that would benefit from playing for a guy like Harbaugh. Raw size and speed, Hageman is a converted Basketball prospect. 6’6 and 310 lbs….intriguing indeed.
31. Denver Broncos – QB – Blake Bortles – Might be the perfect place for a kid with talent, but needing time to grow. Would benefit from learning from Peyton for the next one or two years before stepping into the starting role.
32. Seattle Seahawks -TE- Troy Niklas – Has the ideal height (6’6″), weight (270), and length (34 1/8″ arms) to be an inline tight end. Tremendous blocker; former offensive lineman. Matchup nightmare up the seam and in the red zone, Niklas is quicker then expected and tough to bring down with the ball in his hands.

Please share your thoughts as we move towards one of the most exciting nights on the NFL calendar.

The post Bleedbigblue.com Mock Draft 2014 first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

The post New York Giants Business As Usual first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

I wonder if I ever thought about shit like this when I was 10 years old. My daughter amazes me every day with something new. Good grades on a test, a piece of artwork, writing short stories, creating pieces of clothing for her dolls, sewing, singing, writing songs and now…sports opinions. I don’t know when it happened. Somewhere between playing with dolls, Finding Nemo and watching Dora the Explorer, my baby girl grew up.

I remember just a couple of years ago waiting for the school bus on cold winter mornings, with the heat blazing in the car, we could never agree on a radio station to listen to. I wanted to wake up with Boomer and Carton on WFAN-NY and she wanted to wake up with Taylor Swift. Some mornings we would waste time joking around by changing the channel when the other wasn’t paying attention. But on most mornings, there I was at 8am singing Taylor Swift like I was trying to earn a gold ticket to Hollywood. I’m still convinced that my raspy, yet sexy rendition of “I knew you were trouble when you walked in”, or whatever the name of that song is, would at least get me through to Hollywood week on American Idol. My daughter wholeheartedly disagrees. Then there were the morning’s when as a parent you have to put your foot down, something happened in the sports world and you need to hear about it, right now. For the most part, Adriana was a good sport about those mornings and took mercy on my soul, but as soon as a commercial came on she’d plug in her IPod and sing “Same Love”, by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. When you are a father and you have a little girl, more times than not you end up losing to them. Watching her sing the words to any song makes me sit and wonder where all the time went. I never realized she was paying attention to what the songs really meant, the message behind them, until now.

Somewhere along the way, my daughter, my little girl, my princess…became a fan. Not a die hard sports fan like her old man, but a fan of Boomer and Carton. I mean she cheers for Daddy’s teams, she takes an interest while the game is on and even gets loud at times. Its really frigin adorable. But for some reason, this ten year old girl has to have Boomer and Carton on every morning now. Before I even get the coffee going in the morning, she has on CBS sports network, “Channel 143 Dad…”, and she is in front of the TV with her cereal of choice, laughing and talking about the many topics that are discussed in the unique way Boomer and Carton discuss them.

Well on this particular day, Daddy was exhausted. Rough night’s sleep. All I wanted was coffee, preferably intravenously. I had heard the story break the night before and honestly, I didn’t give a shit. I have my opinions on it, but we will get to those later. For now, imagine you had no sleep, you are the epitome of a dead man walking. The coffee is brewing, you can smell it, light and sweet salvation. You get the mug ready, cream and sugar just waiting to mix in with that java. You go to pour your coffee and you hear this from your 10 year old daughter.

“Dad, why should it matter that Michael Sam is gay if he is good at football, he should be drafted.” You know when you hear something, but you don’t really hear it? The first thing I thought was, frigin Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

After I cleaned up the spilled coffee and applied aloe to my burnt hand, I finally had the chance to sit down and discuss this difficult topic with a 10 year old girl. A girl who is far beyond the decade she has lived in terms of compassion, understanding, tolerance, love and intelligence. Sometimes I wish I could see the world through her beautiful brown eyes. When I sat down, I ignorantly thought she had forgot about the question, I should have known better.

“Dad, did you hear me before? Why should it matter that Michael Sam is gay? If he is good at football, he should be drafted…right?”

The moment of truth. What would you

do? How do you answer your child when they ask such a deep question? I thought about it for a second and stalled with a sip of Joe. She is way too smart and knows me too well for me to bullshit her. I was trapped. You see, Adriana and I, we have an agreement and I must adhere to what we have mutually agreed upon. No lies…ever.

“Well sweetie, it’s a little more complicated than just that.”

“But it shouldn’t be Dad, if he is good they should draft him.”

“Well there is a lot more than that when it comes to drafting a player Adriana, his ability on the field isn’t the only thing that matters. How a player conducts himself off the field can be helpful and hurtful, depending on the situation.”

“But Dad, Carton just said he was a good student, all the players on the college team knew about him being gay and he was the SEC player of the year on defense.”

God Damn you Carton!!

“Well, Carton is right. He was all those things, but in college. The NFL is a little different though sweetheart.”

“That’s sad and ignorant...” You believe this frigin kid?…she continued. “what he does off the field shouldn’t matter…” It was like she knew I was being honest and yet holding back at the same time…she knew my weakness and she attacked. “Dad, would you want the Giants to draft him?”

The million dollar question, would I want the Giants to draft Michael Sam? There are two answers to this question for two different reasons. The first I had to give right then and there, with this innocent and befuddled face staring up at me. She couldn’t understand why Sam being a gay man, not that there is anything wrong with that, had any affect on him being drafted to the NFL.

Remember our agreement, no lies.

“Would you Dad, If you were drafting for the Giants would you draft him?”

I looked her square in the face and put my GM hat on. I took a sip a coffee, swallowed and calmly said…“No.”

The bleeding heart in her came pouring out all at once. I must admit, it was fun to debate it with her, going wit for wit with her old man will do her good in years to come…but not on this day. I was straight up and honest with her…here is what I said.

“Why not Dad? And it has to be a good reason, not just because he is gay.”

“I wouldn’t draft him because there are 53 other guys in that locker room that a General Manager has to worry about. And those other guys can’t be distracted by one person. The team has to be focused on winning, working together to get better every day. If I was running a team I wouldn’t want the distraction.”

“Distraction? Why would he be a distraction Dad? What does that even mean Dad?”

“Well, whatever team he goes to, all those players are going to be asked questions everyday about how they feel about Michael Sam? How did he do today? This week? His first preseason game? And on and on and on it will go. And that Adriana, is not good for a team to have to deal with. Distractions for a football team are like “creepers” in MineCraft…not good.”

Needless to say, she did not like my answer at all and I wasn’t sure I did either. We walked to the bus stop and exchanged our butterfly kisses before she was whisked away to school. I was left to think about the answer I gave her all day long. The more I thought about it and the more I thought about Adriana, and her passionate reaction to Michael Sam being gay, not that there is anything wrong with that, the more the answer didn’t sit well with me.

Distraction? Was that the only thing I had to base my argument on? Sam shouldn’t be drafted, not because of his talent, but because his teammates may have to answer questions about his sexual preference? Seems harsh, if the guy can play, the guy can play, right? Co-SEC player of the year is one hell of an accomplishment, isn’t it?

I was determined to have a different answer for Adriana by the time she got off the bus. A better answer than the distraction one I gave earlier.

All I knew about Michael Sam was what I heard on TV after his announcement. CO-SEC defensive player of the year, team leader, projected 4th or 5th round pick, and he is gay. First off, Sam should be given a lot of credit. He came out to his Missouri team at the beginning of the season and not only got the team to rally around him, but the entire state of Missouri. His leadership and confidence in terms of coming out, before he was, uh, outted I guess, should be applauded. And then the applause needs to stop.

See, I like to play devil’s advocate, and thanks to my daughter and her inquisition, it got me thinking. Should we draft Sam? Shit, we need a lot of help on defense, so if he can play why not. Let me tell you why not.

Michael Sam is going to be a non-factor in the NFL, not because he is gay, but because when you look at the numbers, he is not that good.

During my research on Sam, I found something interesting. Greg A. Bedard who is a writer for Sports Illustrated wrote this article on Michael Sam.

Some of the key points of the article had me thinking differently about Sam.

1. He doesn’t have a NFL position: He can’t play outside linebacker in a 4-3 or a 3-4 defensive scheme, and he can’t stop the run. He gets cut by lineman and stood up by fullbacks. Sam also brings no value via special teams, something most late round picks need to thrive in. It has nothing to do with him being gay.

2. He can’t get to the QB: But James the guy had 11 sacks, what are you talking about? Let’s look closer than numbers with the help of Mr. Bedard…”Of his first 10 sacks of the season, only once was he engaged with a blocker and defeated him (first sack against Vanderbilt). The rest were seven speed rushes around the end against inferior competition, and two when he wasn’t blocked.” Need more evidence…”Sam showed little ability to convert speed to power on his rush, which is one of the most important traits in a good NFL rusher”. It has nothing to do with him being gay.

3. He is the 4th best prospect on that Missouri D: Take it away Mr. Bedard….”Right end Kony Ealy, who could be a top-10 pick this year, drew much more attention from offenses and had to face the opponent’s best tackle, on the left side of the offensive line. Markus Golden, Sam’s backup on the left side, will be drafted higher than Sam when he enters the draft a year from now. Golden could be a star. He is more athletic and faster than Sam, and watching the Tigers play, I thought Golden was better. There could be other factors as to why he played behind Sam, including Sam’s leadership and smarts. Or perhaps the Missouri coaches didn’t want Golden, a junior-college transfer, to start, in order to increase his chances of staying another season. Sophomore Shane Ray is also more athletic than Sam, a quality valued on special teams at the next level. Same goes for senior end/outside linebacker Brayden Burnett.” Again…It has nothing to do with him being gay.

No way in hell I’d draft Michael Sam, and it has nothing to do with what he does off the field.

Here is a crazy thought, what if Sam knew he wasn’t likely to get drafted? What if his agent and the people around him told him he was likely go 5th round or later, or possibly not get drafted at all?

Is it possible that Sam made the announcement, not to be a pilgrim and forge a new blazing rainbow trail through the NFL, but to try to benefit his own pockets and draft status based on the Big Gay Al circus the media has created surrounding this story? (singing in my Big Gay Al voice) “Sam’s Ssssuper…Thanks for asking…”

Bottom line is the kid plays hard, he is extremely smart and should be commended for coming out of the closet. No one should be forced to live in denial based on what other people think. I hope more players come out like Sam, in all sports. Times have changed and one thing has nothing to do with the other, but there is a flip side to that coin.

Don’t play the gay card if you stink. If Sam doesn’t get drafted now you will hear from all the activists…Elton John, Ricky Martin and Lance Bass will have a charity concert. Rosie O’Donnell will make a Youtube video condemning NFL executives for being prejudice, while eating a Carl Jr’s burger. All hell will break loose.

All I’m saying is if he doesn’t get drafted, which is seeming more likely by the day, it may not have to do with what Sam does in his private time. Let’s give the scouts, coaches and NFL executives a little benefit of the doubt. If Bridgewater, Manziel or Clowney came out of the closet like Sam, they’d still be drafted, and in the 1st round.

So let us not make this about being gay or straight. This is about football, and if Sam isn’t drafted so be it. I wouldn’t take him…and not because he would be a distraction, but because he’s not a NFL caliber player. It has nothing to do with him being gay.

Adriana?…Well she would draft him with the 12 pick in the first round, frigin bleeding heart kids, not that theres anything wrong with that.

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