Rookie safety Landon Collins, Big Blue’s second-round pick from Alabama sprained his Left MCL during his 1st preseason game. The Giants Already thin at safety may be forced to look into other options. No time table was granted for recovery the than a Tom Coughlin “I would say longer than a week” quote.

“The other issue is: How quickly can Landon come back so that he doesn’t miss out on anything?’ He definitely needed Friday night, to be honest with you. He didn’t get much Friday night, so certainly there’s concern.’’ said head coach Tom Coughlin.

With the Collins injury, converted safety Bennett Jackson, Jeromy Miles and Cooper Taylor will get the chance to start. Collins stand he feels good and hopes to miss little time.

The Injury bug did not stop there. Also on Friday night, fifth-round pick Mykkele Thompson injured his achilles tendon and will be placed on season ending injured reserve. The secondary is suffering many bumps and bruises. Hopefully the Gmen can heal up in time for the start of the season.

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Starting middle linebacker Jon Beason remains on schedule for the season opener against the Detroit Lions. Currently Beason is on the physically-unable-to-perform list (PUP List) recovering from a fracture of the sesamoid bone in his right foot and a ligament tear.

“I feel like I’m really close, but I have to go out and do it and I want to test it. That’s going to confirm it for me,” Beason said. “I feel pretty good. We’re just going through the progression. Today should be pretty aggressive.”

Beason hasn’t practiced with the team since the injury, but has been rehabbing on his own efforts. He has always maintained a season opener return since injuring the foot on June 12th. He has even flirted with the idea of returning for a preseason game.

“Going into it, to have the opportunity to play in the last few preseason games was really the goal,” he said. “Whether you do or you don’t, because that is not my decision, they might say ‘hey, it’s not worth risking it to go out and play against the Jets or the Patriots,’ but you have the opportunity and that is great.”

Its unlikely than Beason will see any preseason time as The Giants training staff do not want to rush a return and risk re-injuring his foot during the last preseason game.

“I don’t know if I need the practice. It’s good to kind of spin the wheels a little bit, get out there and oiled up. I would love to have a full training camp and four dress rehearsals, or five dress rehearsals, but unfortunately that’s not going to be the case,” Beason said. “Either way, I expect to go out and be myself and play well and help my team win.”

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The game started at 7pm on Saturday night, but I wasn’t able to watch it until 11pm on NFL network.  I had my phone on silent…no texts, no social media and no phone calls.  I was on an information freeze.  I wanted to see and react to what happened in real time, not by second-hand accounts.

I rolled myself a…uhhh…I rolled myself up under a blanket and got ready to watch.  Then, I had agita all friggin’ night long.

We should be worried, Giants Nation.

Now, I will be the first to say that this is preseason, and this shit does not matter in terms of wins and losses, however in terms of progress, what we saw last night is damn troubling.  Now, we did see some encouraging things from the defense and also some great performances from individuals late in the game, but nothing got me so fired up or excited enough that I was unable to forget just how horrendous this 1st team offense looked the entire time they were in the game.

With that being said, let’s take a closer look at the positives and negatives with a little something I like to call P.N.P.   Positive-Negative-Positive!

Positive:

 The New Kids on The Block!

 Ryan Nassib – 11 for 15, 158 yards and 1 TD  — Nassib looked sharp in the 4th quarter.  Keep in mind he was playing against 3rd and 4th teamers, but he looked confident and was precise with his reads and throws.  He took what the defense gave him in certain spots and made some special throws on that final drive—like the two to Adrien Robinson.  The 27 yarder to Harvey was a pretty pass as well, where he stood tall in the pocket and made an accurate throw 20+ yards down the field on a line.  Hopefully, this ends the debate over who the 2nd QB is, because Painter is God awful.  Nassib has some potential and should not only see time against the Jets as the 2^nd-stringer, he should start the 4^th and final preseason game. From here on out, there is no need for Painter to take reps away from Nassib.

Corey Washington – 3 catches for 20 yards and 1 TD – Three games, three game-winning TDs. #Impressive – Even though it’s preseason, this kid has been quite the pleasant surprise.  So far, he has shown the ability to use his body to get position on opposing CBs while securing the ball for the catch on shorter routes.  However, the thing to take notice of is how he attacks the ball in the air on deep passes and the fade routes.  I don’t know about you, but I for one am ready to see Washington get some reps with the 1st team.

Marcus “Soup” Harris – 4 catches for 41 yards – Soup’s on again, folks. Harris once again showed quickness, toughness and good hands while making some key 4^th quarter catches for Nassib.  Harris seems to just have a feel for the routes and where to sit in the windows that the defense lets open up.  He is another one that we should see get some reps with the ones.

Adrien Robinson – 2 catches for 59 yards and one hell of a spin move – We FINALLY got a glimpse of the talent Jerry Reese has been raving about for years now.  On 4^th and 16, Nassib found Robinson down the seam spinning back around to his left to make a touch-catch in traffic,  but it was the very next play that provided the WOW factor.  On the next throw, Nassib fired a gorgeous pass to Robinson who did a great job lunging forward to snag the ball and then, had the awareness to come down with the ball, plant his leg, and spin away from a would be-tackler to gain some extra yardage.  Hopefully, this is a performance that the young man can build on moving forward.  We saw the talent, now we have to hope he can do it in practice to prove to the coaching staff he can perform on a consistent level.

 Negative:

 First-Team offense?

 Saturday night, Peter King of Sports Illustrated tweeted, “The Giants would worry me a lot. No sign they’re picking up McAdoo’s offense. Cruz invisible. Eli shaky.”

Steve Politi of NJ.com tweeted, “Look: Do NOT draw conclusions from the NFL preseason. That said? Holy crap, the Giants’ offense stinks.”

 Ed Valentine of Big Blue View wrote Sunday Morning...

 “Eli Manning went 1-for-7 for six yards. He had a 51-yard completion to Victor Cruz, but Cruz fumbled and an Indianapolis penalty wiped out that mistake. Manning threw an interception—an awful decision to throw the ball to Cruz—that was also wiped out by a Colts penalty.

 The Giants averaged 1.8 yards per play and gained just 48 yards.

 Three of the Giants five first downs came thanks to Indianapolis penalties.

 The Giants ran the ball 13 times for 41 yards, an average of 3.2 yards per carry.

 Those are just the raw numbers. Discouragingly, the Giants could not block any of the Indianapolis blitzes or stunts in pass protection. They couldn’t move the pile to create running lanes either.

 “I’m not frustrated. We’re not frustrated. We’re working out the kinks,” Cruz told Beck during a sideline interview.

 Cruz can say that, but it has to be alarming that no noticeable progress has been made offensively. The Giants, right now, don’t block, pass, or run very well. They have two preseason games left to find some answers.”

 So, I am not the only one starting to get a little concerned when it comes to this offense.  There was zero push from the offensive line and hence, no running game to speak of at all. Blitzers were coming through, untouched, causing Eli to throw off his back foot. Eli threw a horrible interception that was negated by a penalty.  And when they finally did do something right—like the long pass to Cruz—he fumbled.

Did I expect the Giants to look like the greatest show on turf last night?  No.  Did I expect to see improvements and progress in the new offense? Damn right I did.  All we saw last night from this unit was ineptitude.

The line looks shaky to say the least, and unless Mosley wakes up or the Giants make a move for Alex Boone, sign Richie Incognito or find Chris Snee a fountain of youth—we should all be worried that he alone may get Eli killed this season.  The blitz pressure was coming right up the middle at Eli, forcing him to rush the throws and make them off his back foot…like last season.  Uh oh! That alone is cause for concern and when you add in the fact that the line—except for one play last week (Jennings’ 73 yard TD run)— has not provided a push at the line of scrimmage, it raises multiple red flags.

On a side note…one has to wonder if Eli is losing confidence in Rueben Randle in general.  In Thursday’s practice it was reported that Randle again ran an incorrect route.  Randle neglected to turn around for the ball, and that mistake resulted in an interception by Bowman.  This is the reason why I would let Harris and Washington get some 1^st  team reps…it may be time to send a message to Randle and Jernigan…step up, or sit down.

 Positive:

We always like to end on a positive note, so let’s try to find a silver-lining to this black cloud…

It’s preseason and there is nowhere to go but UP.  How is that for optimism….?

Hey, I expected to see vast improvement between the Hall of Fame Game and now, but that hasn’t happened.  Am I throwing in the towel? Not at all.

But, to sit here and say—after seeing this offense last night—that I am not concerned, well…that would make me full of shit, and although I maybe an asshole…I am not full of shit.

Listen, they should get better.  There is talent here and sometimes it takes time to come together, but seeing week-to-week progress from this unit is not asking for too much.  I am not of the mindset that we need this offense to score 30+ a game.  I think with this defense and a solid running game, this team can win the division as long as they protect the ball.

However, a solid running game is not a given though because we now have Jennings and Williams…we need this line to play better and fast.  I don’t care about all the weapons.  Cruz, Jennings, Randle, Williams, Washington, Harris, Jernigan and last but not least ODB won’t be setting off any fireworks unless Beatty, Schwartz, Walton, Mosley and Pugh gel as a unit.

Can this be as simple a fix as just letting this line keep playing together? Maybe.

It was Beatty’s first live action this preseason. Schwartz is new to this system and these players, as is Walton, who missed time last year with an ankle injury.  These problems may all alleviate themselves in time with the players just getting more comfortable with the scheme and each other…let’s just hope Eli is still standing by then.

We have time, three weeks ‘till opening night in Detroit, but tic-toc, fellas…it’s getting late early.

The post Giants 1st Team Offense is Scary, and Not in a Good Way. first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Running back Andre Brown was released by The Houston Texans early on Monday. The move came after a bad preseason loss 32-0 to the Arizona Cardinals. Brown who dressed for Saturday night’s game against didn’t crack the lineup. Brown, was had projected to be the backup to Arian Foster at running back.

“I take it one day at a time and whatever happens happens. I’m going to continue to get better, compete, support the team and be a great teammate. That’s all I can control.”

Brown A fourth-round pick of the Giants in 2009, is used to preseason cuts and releases having played for several different teams (Broncos, Colts, Panthers, Washington). Until findings a home back with the Giants.

Jerry Reese’s off-season proclamation for the Giants to get younger, faster, and stronger seems to be holding steady. Reese has cut ties with notable veterans Brown and Terrell Thomas who both have long histories of injury.

After the retirement of David Wilson this off-season, the Giants remain thin at running back. Off-season additions of Rashad Jennings and rookie Andre Williams have fueled the running attack this preseason.

Can you see The Giants adding Brown as an insurance policy for the rushing attack. If re-signed this season it will be the third stint with the New York Giants.

Andre Brown finished Last season as The Giants leading rusher. He tallied two 100-yard games and finished with 492 yards.

They say timing is everything. With Wilson now retired and brown released do you think The Giants will add the 27 year old running back?

The post Andre Brown Released By Houston Texans first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Is he still an elite quarterback? Was he ever elite? Is his time running out as the Giants’ franchise quarterback? Will he receive a contract extension in the future and make him a lifetime Giant? Of course, all of these questions regard veteran QB Eli Manning. As the regular season opener rapidly approaches, several questions remain about Eli. His play this season will answer most, if not all, of these Eli Manning expectations and inquiries. But, how will they be answered? What can Giants’ fans expect in 2014?

Reasons for Optimism:
New Offensive Scheme– For the first ten years of Manning’s career, Kevin Gilbride was the Offensive Coordinator. His deep throw, option route-oriented scheme has caused Manning’s completion percentage to decline every year since 2010. His average distance traveled per pass attempt was highest in the league last year with almost 10 yards per pass. Continuous downfield throws cause more third-and-long situations and lack of offensive continuity. But, out with the old and in with the new. Gilbride retired during the offseason and was swiftly replaced with Ben McAdoo. Formerly the Quarterbacks and Tight End’s Coach in Green Bay, McAdoo brings with him a quick-hitting, fast-paced offense that better suits both Manning and his receivers, especially Reuben Randle, who struggled to grasp Gilbride’s system and at times last season caused interceptions with his miscommunication with Manning. This new offense should revitalize Eli, allowing for a drastically higher completion percentage and decreasing his sack total and interceptions thrown.

Revamped Offensive Line– Last season, the Giants’ offensive line was subpar, to put it lightly. Manning consistently faced pressure with no time to go through his progressions. This prompted the front office to make it a priority to fix the broken line during the offseason. There will definitely be at least three new starters on the line this year, if not more. The Giants went out and signed guard Geoff Schwartz, center JD Walton, versatile veterans John Jerry and Charles Brown, and drafted multitalented lineman Weston Richburg in the 2nd round. Also, Justin Pugh continues to improve and Brandon Mosley has opened eyes at right guard with his development. The offensive line will look very different than last year’s underperforming line of Beatty, Boothe, Baas, Snee, and Pugh, which is likely for the best for Eli and the offense.

Refurbished Backfield– The Giants have always prided themselves on a strong run game, but last year that was not the case. They finished 4th worst in the NFL in rushing yards and 2nd worst in fumbles. Along with rampant injuries that forced the Giants to sign veteran Brandon Jacobs off of the scrap heap, change was necessary. They let injury prone Andre Brown walk and signed free agent Rashad Jennings. Jennings, along with good ball control and power, gives the Giants an immediate boost in pass-protection and receiving. They also drafted Andre Williams in the 4th round. Williams has turned heads and is rapidly earning more and more touches. Manning has always excelled in play action, and with the new tools at runningback, he should thrive. A good ground game always facilitates the passing game, and if the Giants can improve on the ground, Manning will undoubtedly improve.

OBJ– The Giants drafted speedy receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the 1st round with hopes that he can give the offense a big play threat on the outside. If he can stay healthy and return to the practice field, he will immediately help the offense, and Eli, return to shape. Also, the presence of OBJ will allow Victor Cruz to move back into the slot, a position in which he has dominated in the past. With Cruz in the slot, Manning’s completion percentage should drastically improve. Also, with OBJ and Reuben Randle on the outside, Eli could have several weapons at his disposal that he did not have last season.

Reasons for Pessimism:
Age- At 33 years old, Manning is the 5th oldest starting quarterback in the NFL. At this age, most quarterbacks are on the decline in their careers. Manning’s numbers have dwindled every year since 2011 as well as increased turnovers each year since. Also, he experienced his worst season as a pro last season. In the final game, Manning suffered a very serious ankle injury that required surgery. Although he has fully recovered from the injury, he has never missed a game in his career and has never experienced a serious injury like this before. At 33, high ankle sprains could potentially have lingering effects, which is something to keep an eye on.

New Offense– Although Ben McAdoo’s new quick-hitting system better fits Manning’s playing style, it is the first time in his entire career he has had to learn a new offense. In the first two preseason games, he has apparently struggled to grasp the new scheme. It is imperative that Manning masters the offense if he is to rebound from his worst season as a pro.

Lack of Established Tight Ends– Ben McAdoo’s offense counts on a vertical threat tight end that can stretch the defense. Jermichael Finley provided this role in Green Bay for the past five seasons where McAdoo was Quarterbacks Coach last season, and was Tight Ends Coach from 2006-2011. The Giants, however, do not have any established talent at this position. Larry Donnell was listed as the starting tight end on the preseason depth chart, but this is obviously subject to change. Along with Donnell, the Giants have Adrien Robinson, Daniel Fells, Kellen Davis, Xavier Grimble(r), and Jermaine Cunningham(r), on their current roster. With two undrafted free agents, two young and inexperienced tight ends (Donnell and Robinson), and two veterans (Fells and Davis), neither of whom have ever had more than 400 receiving yards in any season, Manning will need one or more of these players to step up in order to bounce back.

It will be incredibly hard to bounce back from the worst season of his career, but if the offensive line can improve and stay healthy, if Manning can fully grasp OC McAdoo’s system, if the Giants can establish a legitimate ground game, and get production from the TE spot, Manning should have a substantially better season and return to his 2011 form, if not exceed it. If there is one quarterback who can comeback from such a devastating and disappointing season, it is Eli.

The post Eli Manning Expectations first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Sometimes you just a have to prove people wrong. In sports this is often the case. We all love the underdog story. Its simple when you are given an opportunity, you run with it you seize the moment. This is the case for Corey Washington.

Washington, a 6-foot-4, 214-pound wide receiver from Division II Newberry College went undrafted and originally asked to join the Arizona Cardinals in camp. The Cardinals eventually cut Washington later that May. The Giants lacking a big target wide out signed the undrafted free agent.

I have a big chip on my shoulder,” he says. “I feel like if I’d been to a big school, I’d have been a top-10 wide receiver. People just fell asleep on me because I went to a small school. They expect me not to do nothing big at this level just because of the name of the school. I’m here to prove my point. said Washington.

Washington has impressed in his first two preseason games, scoring impressive touchdowns each game,.

“I feel more at home,” he said of his second NFL team in a career that isn’t even two months old. “The guys here, they welcomed me right away. I love the coaches, the coaches love me. Everything is great.”

His hustle and handwork seem to be paying off.

“I’ll work, that’s it,” Washington said. “Keep showing them I have that ‘want to.’ Get after it every day, grind hard, and show them I can make plays and that it doesn’t matter what school you come from.”

“It’s the Big Apple, man,” Washington said. “It’s every player’s dream. It’s a great organization. I love the players here. I love the fans. It’s just a great opportunity for me.”

It’s looking good, The Giants have a good track record with undrafted wide receivers.

The post Corey Washington Seizing The Moment first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Preseason is preseason.  It should be taken with a grain of salt.  No reason to yell and scream at the TV or get agita for a day or two. At least not yet.

Preseason football is a necessary evil.  I personally hate it.  It’s great to see the team play again especially after a year like last season, but the outcomes mean nothing. I saw some people talking smack on social media and it left me quite befuddled…Talking smack to Bills and Steelers fans over these preseason games makes us look like Eagles fans. STOP IT! These games mean nothing!!

These games are a glorified practice sessions. It is a platform for guys trying to make a roster and work on their games…that it is and that is all.  So don’t watch these games with fire and brimstone, watch them with a careful eye. Try to look at specific players and their performance to see how they can help us during the games that matter.

I watched and took notes and then watched it again and took more notes. I had a handful of things I was looking for going into Sunday night and what I saw was good in some cases and troubling in others.  Keep in mind through the preseason that this team is a work in progress.  They are growing accustomed to a new offense and new players up and down this roster.  We need to have patience and perspective as fans and resist the temptation to make more out of these games then we should..

With that being said here are some players we should be excited about, along with some negatives from the Hall of Fame game last Sunday.

Cause for Concern:

Right Guard : Brandon Mosley is not a guy who should be starting at RG at all.  He was completely over matched by the talented defensive line of the Buffalo Bills (the Bills have 3 players on the D-line who had 10+ sacks last year).  It was a good test for our revamped O-line but one we did not pass with flying colors.

We shouldn’t be writing this unit off at all, but we should be keeping a close eye on how they progress.  Keep in mind they were missing Will Beatty at left tackle. Weston Richburg played well so Mosley’s days maybe numbered in the starting line up, but until Richburg is ready this is a spot we should keep a close eye on.  Will John Jerry or Weston Richburg step up?  Another guy to watch is Eric Herman…Herman is a tough kid with a mean streak.  He can’t do any worse then Mosley did.

Jayron Hosely, CB: The former 3rd pick from Virginia Tech didn’t do himself any favors on Sunday night in the highly competitive  race to make the team as a cornerback.  Hosley was beat repeatedly and was called for a penalty as well.  With the depth we have at this position Hosley’s days look numbered.

Mario Manningham, WR:  We love you Super Mario, and we will never forget “The Catch PT.II” but it looks as if the knee is holding you back.  Unless things change dramatically, I’d rather the Giants keep the kids like Washington and Harris around rather then have to worry about Mario’s knee all season long.

Players who caught our eye:

Andre Williams, RB: Kid just looks like a football player.  Williams seems to hit the hole hard and run down hill which leads to yards after contact (YAC) — Williams can be the steal of this draft for Big Blue.  And even though Jennings looked good as well, he is 29.  Andre Williams is the future at running back for this franchise.

Corey Washington, WR: The 6’4 undrafted rookie out of tiny Newberry College (enrollment 1,042) in South Carolina, made the play of the night for Big Blue.  You can forget the fact it was the game winner…means nothing.  What does mean something is how Washington made the play.  He went after the ball, he attacked it and he took a interception away and turned it into a TD. After Cruz, Randle, Beckham and Jernigan the WR spots are wide open.  With Manningham looking like his best days are behind him, Washington is one to watch through the next 4 games.

Cooper Taylor, Safety: Forget the missed assignment on the block punt, shit happens.  Look at the way this kid played his position on Sunday night.  Taylor led the Giants in tackles with 8 and had an interception as well.  Taylor played 38 plays on Sunday and according to safeties coach David Merritt, Taylor received a negative grade on just one.  He made tackles at the line of scrimmage, the right sideline, the left sideline and made a big play on a 3rd and 17 to knock the WR out of bounds and prevent him from securing a 1st down.

“The kid is a big height-weight-speed guy already,” Merritt said. “He has all the intangibles there that’s needed to play the position. But I think confidence — I think that’s the one thing that has happened with that young man, he has displayed more confidence this offseason.” 

I’ve been trying to tell you guys about Taylor…keep an eye on him.

Marcus Harris, WR: Victor Cruz on Marcus Harris: “From the game he had and streaming into practice, he’s been really taking advantage of his opportunity.”

Yes he has.  4 catches for 49 yards and showed good hands and quickness doing it.  Excited to see more from this kid in the coming weeks.

Jameel McClain, LB:  One player who jumped out on the tap in limited action was McClain.  He was constantly around the ball and made 4 tackles with one being for a loss.  McClain was fast to react showing great anticipation and was solid wrapping up and securing tackles.  Pairing McClain with Beason and an emerging Jacquian Williams (who looked good as well) gives us nice combo at the linebacker spot.  When was the last time we said that?

Ryan Nassib, QB: The one thing I am looking forward to through preseason is being able to see Nassib play for the next four weeks.  He has received a lot of criticism so far in his career and it is all unwarranted.  This is the 2nd offense this kid is learning in two seasons, so to say he didn’t look to sharp in OTA’s and the 1st weeks of training camp was exactly going out on a limb.  It takes time.  He underthrew Washington on the long TD and I’m sure he would tell you that he held the ball a little too long on that one, but he showed good accuracy and velocity on all of his intermediate throws.  This kid can play, and we should see vast improvement from here on out as gets more comfortable and confident in this offense and in himself.

Have a great week Giants fans — and as always…Bleed Big Blue!!!

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NY Giants Positional Strength

As minicamp begins, the Giants’ roster is fitting into shape. With additions in free agency and the draft, the front office has drastically improved certain positions, while did not do much to change others. On a scale of 1 (very weak) to 7 (very strong), I will assess the strength of each position on Big Blue:

Quarterback:
This positional strength almost completely depends upon Eli Manning. Coming off of the worst season of his 10-year career, the 33-year-old quarterback is still the Giants’ franchise quarterback. The front office has complete confidence that Manning will rebound from his 2013 campaign that included a league-worst 27 interceptions and his lowest completion percentage since 2007, thanks to additions in the running game, offensive line, receiving corps. Also, a change in offensive system with new OC Ben McAdoo simplifies the offense and allows for higher percentage throws, which former OC Kevin Gilbride’s system lacked.
However, this is cautious optimism. Manning, although never missing a game in his career, had ankle surgery over the offseason for an ankle injury he suffered in the final game of last season. He is participating fully in camp and says he has recovered fully from surgery, but it is worth keeping an eye on in the future. Also, it is the first time in his entire career with a different offensive coordinator. He has no experience in learning a new offense in the offseason. Finally, Manning has had declining numbers for consecutive years and is the 6th oldest starter in the league.
As for the backup position, there really isn’t much depth. Neither Curtis Painter nor Ryan Nassib gives the Giants any help if Manning goes down. It is likely that the Giants only keep two quarterbacks on the active roster for the regular season, so whichever makes it, the Giants hope they never see the field.
Even though there is a great deal of uncertainty with the backup position, the starter coming off the worst season of his career, and a new offensive system being implemented, the Giants did upgrade other positions on offense and still have a 2x Superbowl MVP winning quarterback.
Grade: 5 (Above Average)

Runningback:
First and foremost, the Giants came into the offseason with a drastic need to upgrade the runningback position that was 29th in the league in yards per carry and yards per game in 2013. So, the front office quickly acted in free agency and signed free-agent Rashad Jennings. Jennings is an all-purpose back who has never found a permanent home. At 6 foot 1 and 231 lbs., he has ideal size and strength of a workhorse back. He has bounced around with Jacksonville and Oakland predominantly as change of pace back. However, he is capable of being a physical yet explosive every-down back. When he has played, he has thrived with a solid career average of 4.6 yards per carry. He is also a good pass-catcher and very rarely fumbles. New OC McAdoo frequents halfback screens, so Jennings is primed to be a major part of the screen game as well as the workhorse back.
Even with Jennings, there are several question marks behind him, starting with the health of David Wilson. Wilson is coming off major neck surgery, which has some doctors even questioning if he can ever play again. He has been limited in OTAs but many within the organization believe that he will be ready for the start of the season. If true, Wilson is slated to be the primary backup to Jennings and is a perfect change of pace to Jennings due to his lightning speed and explosiveness. He blew his opportunity to permanently secure the starting job in the beginning of last season when he had fumbling issues and then suffered season-ending injury, but in a lesser role, Wilson can be a huge factor in the running and passing game.
After Jennings and Wilson, the Giants have Peyton Hillis, Michael Cox, and this year’s 4th round draft pick Andre Williams behind them. These three are likely fighting for one roster spot. Any of these backs that ends up making the roster is not likely to have a huge impact on the running game.
The addition of Jennings will be a huge boost to the running game, but much of the success will likely depend on the effectiveness of David Wilson. If he can stay healthy and hold onto the ball, he and Jennings have the potential be a top tier backfield duo this season. But, there are very big assumptions. This position has the prospects of being a major strength, but can very well flop like last season.
Grade: 5 (Above Average)

Fullback:
The training camp battle between Henry Hynoski and John Conner will be one of the most intriguing battles in Giants camp this year. Because the Giants will almost definitely only keep one fullback, so the one who wins the battle will likely be the one who fits OC Ben McAdoo’s system better.
Hynoski injured his shoulder in the beginning of the season, prompting the signing of Conner, who did a great job last season in run and pass blocking. Before his injury, Hynoski was emerging as a top fullback in the league and is fully recovered from his shoulder surgery. The Giants expect him to fully return to his pre-injury form.
No matter which fullback wins the battle, the Giants are in great shape in the fullback position.
Grade: 6 (Strong)

Wide Receiver:
After an unproductive year from Hakeem Nicks, the Giants let him walk in free agency. Victor Cruz has continued to establish himself as a top tier receiver. He was the only major bright spot for the receiving corps last season. Reuben Randle led the team in touchdowns last season, and continues to develop into an all around productive receiver. He did have miscommunications at times with Eli Manning, but that was due in most part to former OC Gilbride’s read-and-react option routes. With the new system, these errors will be corrected.
Also, the Giants spent their 1st round pick this year on LSU receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham has immense speed and route running skills. He is a perfect fit in OC Ben McAdoo’s system of quick release routes due to his ability to get yards after the catch. He is slated to make an instant impact on the offense and allows Victor Cruz to move back to the slot, where he has had the most success. Cruz has a mismatch against most slot corners, and Beckham’s presence prevents opponents from double-teaming him.
Behind these three, Jerrel Jernigan can make an impact as well. Jernigan emerged at the end of last season as a quick, shifty receiver with potential to be a solid pro. After him, the Giants resigned Mario Manningham, who had two forgettable, injury-plagued seasons on San Francisco. This former Giants’ Superbowl hero will not likely make a huge impact on the field, but can be a veteran presence in the locker room and help mold the young receivers. Finally, Trindon Holliday has shown flashes in OTAs as a receiver, but likely will make the team solely as a return specialist, where he has thrived in years past.
The abundance of quality receivers as well as the implementation of OC Ben McAdoo’s offensive system makes the wide receiver position a great strength on Big Blue.
Grade: 6 (Strong)

Tight End:
The Giants lave lacked stability at the tight end position since Jeremy Shockey left, as they have not had the same Week 1 starter any season since he departed. This year will be no exception. Last year’s starting tight end Brandon Myers was a complete bust and never got acclimated into the offense. He is now on Tampa Bay, and the Giants are left with several unproven tight ends.
They did not address the position in the draft, and in free agency they signed Kellen Davis, who is most notable as a run blocker. He will help in the redzone and goal line situations, but not much elsewhere.
The Giants are hoping that Adrien Robinson emerges as the freaky athletic, pass catching tight end that they hoped they would get when they drafted him in the 4th round of the 2012 draft. He had great expectations when Jerry Reese notably said that he was “the JPP of tight ends,” referring to his crazy athletic ability. He has not stayed on the field his whole career, and cannot be counted on as an everyday starter. They also have Larry Donnell and Daniel Fells on the roster, but neither is expected to make much of an impact. Also, UDFA Xavier Grimble has opened some eyes in OTAs, and he may be a sleeper to make the active roster in September.
The front office did not do much to improve this position over the offseason. Due to the lack of proven talent and experience, the tight end position is one of the weaker positions on the whole team. There is, however, potential for breakout years from the likes of Adrien Robinson, who understands it is now or never for him, Larry Donnell, and Xavier Grimble.
Grade: 2 (Weak)

Offensive Line:
In years past, the Giants’ offensive line was consistently comprised of the same starters each week. They dominated the line of scrimmage: giving the runningbacks holes to run through and Eli Manning time in the pocket to throw. In fact, in 2012, Manning led the league in lowest sack percentage with 3.4%.
But this was not the case last year. Issues on the offensive line were the single biggest reason the 2013 season imploded. Just one year after leading the league with the lowest percentage, last year Manning’s sack percentage almost doubled. Starters were in and out of the lineup with injuries. And when they were in there, they were ineffective to say the least. Changes had to be made in the offseason, and they were.
First, the Giants signed guard Geoff Schwartz from Kansas City. Schwartz is a very good run blocker who does not get injured. He was a major part of the Chiefs’’ success running the ball last season and will be immediately inserted into the starting left guard position, where Kevin Boothe played last season. Boothe struggled in both phases last season and the Giants let him walk, and Schwartz should be a major improvement.
At left tackle, the Giants had hoped Will Beatty would be the franchise left tackle, when they signed him to a huge deal last offseason. But, like most of the offensive line, he struggled immensely keeping Eli Manning upright. He said that he felt pressure to live up to his huge contract, which led to his poor play. If this is the case, then there is reason for hope that he can become the player the Giants thought they would get when they gave him a huge contract. However, he severely injured his knee in the final game last season and required surgery this offseason, but should be ready for training camp. If he can play the way the Giants’ thought he could when they signed him, the left side of the line is in great shape.
At center, David Baas struggled to stay on the field with the Giants in his time here, and they cut him this offseason. They have three players pushing for the starting job going into this season. Veteran Dallas Reynolds can play all over the line, and will likely be used primarily as a backup. They signed JD Walton, who flashed potential to be a quality center with the Broncos a few years ago, but has not played since 2012. Finally, they drafted the center of the future Weston Richburg in the 2nd round of the draft. He was seen by many as plug-in ready at center, a perfect fit for the Giants. Many see the starting job to be Richburg’s job to win. But whoever wins, they seem to be in better shape than last year.
At right guard, the Giants played several different players in this position last year, all of which struggled mightily. They hope that the aging Chris Snee can recover from offseason surgery and return to his days where he played every game, but this is a long shot. Snee is slated to start, but things can change if he gets injured again. If healthy, he is still a quality right guard.
At right tackle, Justin Pugh was the only bright spot on the line last year. After drafting him in the first round in 2012, he started all 16 games of the season. He did an admirable job last season, and he will continue to develop. He gained about 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, and is poised to continue to start at right guard.
What mainly killed the Giants’ line last season was the lack of quality backups. This offseason they signed veteran linemen Charles Brown and John Jerry to provide depth and a veteran presence. The younger linemen, such as Brandon Mosley and Eric Herman, will not be pushed into starting like last season and continue to develop as backups.
The offensive line is one of the most, if not the most, important group on the offense. If strong, it allows the offense to run smoothly and successfully. If it is weak, it makes quarterbacks as well as runningbacks look awful (Re: Giants in 2013). This year, it is still to be seen whether the line will triumph. But, it should better than last year. I mean…How can it be any worse?
Grade: 4 (Average)

Defensive Line:
The Giants’ calling card for years has been getting after the passer. The two franchise defensive ends who were with Big Blue for both recent Superbowls, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, are both gone. Linval Joseph, who was becoming a premier defensive tackle in the league, is gone. So who do the Giants still have on the defensive line?
Jason Pierre-Paul is only 25 years old. In only his second season, he recorded 16.5 sacks. But, since then, injuries have taken their toll. Last season, still feeling the effects of his June back surgery, JPP finished with just 2.0 sacks and missed the final five games with a shoulder injury. But, the two-time Pro Bowler feels healthy and strong as he prepares for his fifth NFL season. He has blamed his struggles on his poor health, so a healthy JPP should again wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
Opposite JPP, the other defensive end spot is up for grabs between veteran Mathias Kiwanuka, whose play has been declining over the past few years, second-year player Damontre Moore, and free agent acquisition Robert Ayers. New Jersey native Ayers underperformed in his five years with Denver, but did show some potential last season, where he recorded 5.5 sacks. Damontre Moore will compete for more playing time this season. In his rookie season, he flashed some potential when he had a dominant preseason, but was limited by injuries and never really fit into the defensive line rotation. He has the quickness and athleticism to become a dominant defensive end, and could end up winning the starting spot alongside JPP. The Giants like to rotate defensive linemen in and out, so these three will all see the field plenty, regardless of who starts.
At defensive tackle, the Giants have several players who will compete for playing time. They will likely keep 4 DTs on the roster, so there will be competition in the preseason to determine who makes it. They will likely keep Johnathan Hankins, Cullen Jenkins, and this year’s 3rd round pick Jay Bromley on the roster. So, there will be competition between veterans Mike Patterson, Markus Kuhn, and UDFA Kelcy Quarles for the last DT spot. Whichever one wins the spot remains to be seen. Whichever four make the roster, one thing is certain: all four will be quality players.
The defensive line has the potential to be very, very good this year. But, a few things have to happen in Big Blue’s favor. JPP needs to stay healthy and regain his old, dominant form. The other three in Ayers, Kiwanuka, and Moore all have to contribute. They have to stay healthy for the most part and take advantage of the depth they have at defensive tackle. If these things all happen, the defensive line can dominate the game like it did in 2007 and 2011. But, that is a lot to ask for.
Grade: 5 (Above Average)

Linebacker:
This group was a big question mark going into last season, and will again be one coming into this season. The biggest is the health of MLB Jon Beason. In OTAs, he suffered a broken bone and torn ligament in his right foot. He will not need surgery, but is out at least through July, therefore missing some training camp, and perhaps a lot longer. When he came over from Carolina last season, he quickly became a defensive leader and sparked a turnaround: joining the Giants when they were 0-5 and finishing 7-4. A three-time Pro Bowl linebacker, Beason had 98 tackles in only 11 games and the defense finished eighth in the league overall after being near the bottom of the rankings before he arrived. The Giants hope he can return for week 1, but his level of play when he does return will still be in question.
On the outside, Spencer Paysinger and Jacquian Williams will compete for one of the spots. Both of these backers have experience on the outside and are developing into solid starting caliber players, but both compete for one spot. Paysinger had 65 tackles last season splitting time with Williams, who had 39 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries.
Opposite them last season was Keith Rivers, who the Giants did not resign. In free agency, they signed Jameel McClain. McClain was slated to start on the outside but may now start on the inside in Jon Beason’s absence. The 28-year-old McClain has played inside in Baltimore’s 3-4 defense, but he also has played some outside linebacker as well. McClain notched 52 tackles in 10 games for the Ravens in 2013. The Giants also have Mark Herzlich at middle linebacker who has been with New York for four years, as well as 5th round pick Devon Kennard. Kennard blew the Giants away when he visited the facility several weeks back. They value his versatility, as he can play middle, strong side linebacker and defensive end. He is a quality character (team captain with highest GPA on team) who has good instincts and plays smart.
The linebackers for the Giants can be a weak spot on the defense this year, but this all hinges on the health of Jon Beason. If he returns to his form of last season, they can be a solid group. But, this is a huge “if”. Williams and Paysinger solidify one side, Beason in the middle, and McClain on the other side, with Kennard making an impact off the bench.
Grade: 3 (Below Average)

Cornerback:
Firstly, Prince Amukamara has consistently improved in each of his four seasons and has been relatively healthy, starting all 16 games last season. He led all NFL corners in tackles last season while consistently matched up with the opponent’s best receiver. He will keep getting better and better with experience. He represents one side of the defensive backfield.
In free agency, the Giants made it their top priority to improve the secondary. They signed several quality corners to bolster this group. Most notably, they signed rising star CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a 5-year deal. With 19 career interceptions at only 28 years old, DRC is entering his prime. He is slated to start opposite Amukamara and create one of the top corner tandems in the league, while guarding the other team’s top wide out.
But, the Giants almost always use 3 or more corners in a nickel or dime package. Because of this, a strong nickel corner is imperative. Last year, Terrell Thomas did a good job in this position, but his continuing health concerns about his knee kept the Giants from resigning him. So the Giants went out and signed arguably the best nickel corner in the league, Walter Thurmond III. Coming over from the Legion of Boom, or Seattle’s vaunted secondary of last season, Thurmond is emerging as a quality cornerback with great athletic ability. The only question mark about Thurmond is his past injury and suspension history. But, the Giants are protected if he gets hurt again or violates league policy and gets suspended.
Towards the end of last season, Trumaine McBride was forced into a starting role with injuries to others such as Aaron Ross and Corey Webster. In that role, he did an admirable job. Because of this, the Giants resigned him to a 2-year deal. He gives them added depth at corner.
They also signed veteran corner Zack Bowman from Chicago. He will most likely see more time on special teams, where he has thrived in the past. Other players who could possibly contribute are Jayron Hosley, a former 3rd round draft pick who’s inability to stay on the field may cause him to fail to make the team altogether, and this year’s 6th round pick Bennett Jackson, who is a high character guy who may have trouble making the final 53-man roster with the Giants already considerably deep at cornerback.
The Giants are as deep as any team in the league at cornerback. The additions of Rodgers-Cromartie and Thurmond along with Amukamara will cause problems for opposing offenses trying to move the ball through the air against Big Blue.
Grade: 6 (Strong)

Safety:
This group was very good last season, and should continue to be solid. But, the loss of Will Hill is huge. Hill was released after being suspended again for testing positive for marijuana. Last season, Hill ranked 2nd in the entire league in player efficiency rating for safeties. He will be tough to replace.
The Giants do get Stevie Brown back, who is almost back to 100% healthy after missing all of last year with a torn ACL. He should be completely healthy by the start of the regular season. If so, this will go a long way towards replacing Hill. In 2012, his 8 interceptions were tied for 1st in the NFL. He should be able to get back to his play before the injury.
Along with Brown, he and Pro Bowl Safety Antrel Rolle create a dominant duo. He had 80 tackles and 6 interceptions last season and has taken over as the defensive leader with Justin Tuck’s departure. His veteran presence will protrude all throughout the defense. Also, he courted Rodgers-Cromartie and was a key reason why DRC signed with New York, as they were former teammates and close friends in Arizona.
They also signed safety Quintin Demps from Kansas City, who had 4 interceptions last season. He provides valuable depth at safety because of the health concerns of Brown. They also have 2nd year safety Cooper Taylor, who continues to develop, and Nat Berhe, this year’s 5th round pick who is a solid tackler and should immediately contribute on special teams.
With Rolle, Brown, and Demps this group should be a strength on the team. Along with the skilled corners, could potentially emerge as the best secondary in the league.
Grade: 5 (Above Average)

Special Teams:
There are several aspects of special teams. In some, the Giants were very good last year, such as kicking and kick-offs and poor in other aspects, such as punt coverage.
The return game will be vastly improved due to the Trindon Holliday and Quintin Demps signings. Both are elite returners with experience and should start at kick returner and punt returner, respectively. The Giants added several quality special teamers in the offseason and should improve in kick and punt coverage, which was uncharacteristically bad last season. Josh Brown did a great job in field goal kicking last season, making 23 out of 26 field goal attempts. He also was strong on kickoffs and did not give the opposition a chance for returns. Steve Weatherford is still a very good punter with a knack for pinning the opposition deep in its own end.
Grade: 5 (Above Average)

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Win Free tickets to Giants vs Colts.

Giants vs. Colts on Aug 18th at 7pm. Package includes 3 tickets and 1 parking pass. 1 winner will be chosen at random. Announcement of winner on Aug, 16th 2013.

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1. Follow @Bleedsbigblue on twitter & RT the photo Above.

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Winner must be claimed by midnight on August 16, 2013 or the will be re-raffled.

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