Hello Bleed Big Bluers ..here is Round 2 of the questions I received from our brethren out there in social media land on some pressing issues concerning our Giants heading into this year.  In this post we will answer some of the questions from our Bleed Big Blue Faithful and provide you with ways at the end to get your Giants questions answered for the next go round…and I hope to see you all at the Bleed Big Blue pig roast with Pig Guy NYC  to open the season at Mad River Manayunk in Philadelphia…(shamless plug)…visit bleedbigblue.com for tickets…and now your questions.

Corey Aron from Big Blue United asks…”Do you think chemistry with the team will click instantly or will they have to wait until a certain point of the season for them to truly get the wheels going in this new system?”

What up Corey?  And thanks for the question.  I think anyone telling you that they are going to come out firing right out of the gate is being a bit naïve.  Eli, the WR’s, the RB and TE’s are playing in a new system and there is a new O’Line in front of him.  It is going to take time.

Now don’t get me wrong…This doesn’t mean they are excused if they come out and shit the bed like they did last year.  There is no excuse for playing that bad….ever again.  These are still professional football players being led by a two time Super Bowl MVP.  A level a competency is expected. And with the talent they have and how the game caters more to the offense they damn well better put up points.

With this defense, even being able to play field position, by moving the chains and punt is a win instead of a turnover or a 3 and out.

In my season preview I finished up by saying …”Do the Giants have question marks this season?  Hell yeah they do…but what team doesn’t? In the NFL nowadays it’s not about who the best is in September, but who can continue to get better in October, November and December to prepare for a run in January.”

I think this offense could be very balanced this season.  The running game should be back, the WR’s have big play potential and the line is going to surprise some people as well, even with the loss of Snee.  This is team that should get better as the year goes along…if they stay healthy I think there will be a vast improvement from September when X-mas comes around.

Greg Wilson (whom I am Champion over because my fantasy team Ka-kaaaw is a fantasy football 3 out of 4 years effin juggernaut) asks…”Who’s going to be #2 WR? Will Cruz have a huge year? Can Wilson become the #1 back? Can u ever stop Kakaaaaawing?”

Let’s take these one at a time…

1. # 2 WR? – I think the depth chart is meaningless for the WR’s. If we are talking depth chart, it probably reads Cruz, Randle, Beckham Jr, Jernigan etc… but you can bet in all 3 WR sets Cruz will be in the slot and flanked by Randle or one of the others. The answer to your question technically is Randle but it depends on the offensive formation.
2. YES!! – Salsa away my friend on the beaches of Del Ray…. Cruz is going to be used much like Randall Cobb was last year.  Eli and Cruz have a good rapport already so look for big things from Cruz all season long.
3. I don’t think we need Wilson to be the number one back.  I think Jennings and Williams can handle the load and Wilson can be explosive returning kicks and getting 7-10 carries a game along with a catch or two. All of this depends on if he doesn’t fumble of course and his neck...(This was written before the stinger…we are all holding our breath for #22)
4. And NO…not ever. Kakaaaaw

Tom Farish asks via the Facebook asks….”Do you think Hillis will be used as a trade option down the road, since they’re so stacked at RB?”

What ‘s up Tommy…and thanks for your query.  Would you trade for Hillis if you were another team?…I wouldn’t at all. I can get a younger back in round 7 next year with less wear and tear on his legs.

But I’d keep Hillis for a couple of reasons.

1. I don’t think we are as deep as we think we are at RB. Jennings we all like and I think he will be a great fit, but who’s after him?  We have a rookie, a question mark named David Wilson and Michael Cox.  Hillis should make this team as the 4^th back and provide some depth.
2. Hillis should be learning the FB roll in camp as well.  The Giants will only be keeping one FB on the roster and having Hillis know that role would be vital if an injury occurred.  Look at how Green Bay used John Kuhn all these seasons… Can’t you see Hillis being used the same way?

Jennfer Jovino-Small ponders via the Facebook — “What is the plan for our linebackers? Our tradition has always been to pound the rock and play good defense and we haven’t had that in the past 3/4 yrs.”

(In my The Ladies Man voice)…”Look gentlemen, it’s a lady.”

Thank you for the questions Jen.  I’m going to assume that the 2nd part of the question ties in with the linebacker question.

First off…this defense was good last year.  8th in the league is pretty damn good. The problem was the offense and the turnovers.

2nd…If you look at the last decade since Eli and Gilbride came along, this has been a more pass orientated offense. Yes, we’ve had good years running the ball but remember we won the Super Bowl in 2011 with the worst running game in the league.  It is more about balance then anything else and the additions of Jennings and Williams should improve the run game drastically.

3rd… linebackers? I think you all are going to be surprised by the TE’s and these backers.  Everyone I talk to is so worried.  Well I am here to tell you like I’m Frankie on my way to Hollywood… “Relax don’t do it…When you want to go to it….Relax don’t do it…When you want to come…”

Beason will be back during preseason and we all know what he brings to the table.  Jacquian Williams as Beason said this week is ready to take the next step and Devon Kennard looks like the real deal.  With Paysinger, McClain and Herzlich around as well, I expect big things from this group this year.  This may be the best group of linebackers we have had in a long time around these parts.  What you can expect from this crew is to be fast, excel in coverage and be physical in the run game.  We have a nice group of talent and Perry Fewell will utilize them based on the defensive call,  sub-packages and down and distance. They have a lot of quality pieces.

Questions from the Twitter…

@barzfrommers asks … “How do Eli’s footwork and mechanics look with the new line?”

All reports we are seeing say Eli looks good.  During an interview with Mike Francesa this week Eli said he went back to look at the film from last year.  Now this can’t help him with the new offense, but he did say it helped him point out some mechanical flaws and bad habits he had.  A lot of this goes hand and hand with the offensive line.  With the improved line and the new offense, which is going to call for the ball to be out of Eli’s hands quicker, have faith our 2 time SB MYP will correct last years bad habits and have great command of his game as well as this offense.

@pdemar16 asks…“Are there any Giants signings anytime soon?”

We have heard the name Jermichael Finley thrown around at times, but I for one think Finley and his inconsistent hands and big mouth would be a waste of money.  There is always a chance that a guy gets cut and Jerry Reese pounces, but it wont be anyone huge.  With 7 million to spend cap wise the Giants can add players if they wanted to but it really begs the question who is out there to add?  One player I would kick the tires on is Richie Incognito…I know he is certifiably insane, but I like that in my lineman and he could come cheap and with a chip on his shoulder…not like we couldn’t use a right guard.

@dash4life ponders “Will this years Giants be better then last years team?”

Dear 8lb 6oz new born infant Jesus we all hope so!!  The bottom line is they should be.  Now that means jack shit once the games start.  Having more talent and playing like shit stills means you lose the game.  I don’t think last years team was as good as we thought before the season started.  But as Giants fans be grateful that your owner, general manager and coach recognized changes needed to be made and made them.  36 Free agents were brought in this off season and that alone is reason to be excited.  This roster is younger, more athletic and they seem reenergized.  This secondary, a revamped LB unit, a healthy JPP and a emerging duo of Hankins and Damontre Moore should improve a defense that was 8th in the league last year.  And this offense should be night and day with the additions on the line, at WR and RB positions.  This team will go as far the 2 time Super Bowl winning pair of Coughlin and Manning can take them.

Keep em coming Big Blue Family — And enjoy the Hall Of Fame Game — Remember it’s pre-season, so don’t get hell bent on winning the game.  I’d rather them go 0-5 and come out of the preseason healthy.

The post Giants Fans Questions and Answers Part 2 first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Hello Bleed Big Bluers I have been getting some questions from our brethren out there in social media land on some pressing issues about our Giants heading into this year.  In this post we will answer some of the questions from our Bleed Big Blue Faithful and provide you with ways at the end to get your Giants questions answered for the next go round…and I hope to see you all at the Bleed Big Blue Philly Pig Roast with Pig Guy NYC  to open the season at Mad River Manayunk in Philadelphia…(shamless plug)… 

George Perry from the Facebook asks… “I’d like to know what you think about the rookies they drafted this year?  And do you think this will benefit the Giants team?  Hoping the rookies will do something to make this and 2015 a good year? Thank you.”

Hello George and thank you for the question.  Every fan of every team has high hopes for the incoming class.  We all hope that our GM hits one or two “homeruns” during draft night every year.  However, to know the true value of a draft it takes something a lot of fans don’t have…patience.

It’s a lot easier said than done for a rookie to come in and make a tremendous impact right away, however this class does have a lot of promise.

I’d temper expectations on Beckham, Jr a bit, especially early in the year.  Not because I don’t think he will be an explosive player in the future, but mostly because WR might be the most difficult position to transition into from the college game to the pro level.  It takes time.  I fully expect  Beckham to “wow” us a couple of times this season with his raw God given abilities, but it would be unfair to expect him to light it up in his first season.  His polished route running and big play ability will get him on the field early, but it will come with growing pains.  Don’t fret though…he is going to be breaking ankles and making plays well beyond 2015 for Big Blue.

The two guys that I’m more excited about helping us right away are Weston Richburg and Andre Williams.

Richburg is day one starter and should be around here for a decade or so.  He’s a throw back, Tom Coughlin type player who should fit in and contribute immediately in turning this offensive line around from a weakness to a strength.

Williams may have been the steal of the draft when we look back in a couple of seasons.  This is a guy that should also contribute right away, as unlike WR, RB is one of the easiest transitions from college to pro ball.  His downhill, north/south, yards after contact type runs should make him a fan favorite right away. He did lead the nation in rushing last season and was a Heisman finalist…Reese may have “gone yard” with this 4th rounder.

Ren Kocsis from the Facebook asks… “Do we have a lock at TE with Daniel Fells or are we still open to other options?”

Hello Ren, and thanks for the question.  First off let us look at Fells career numbers.

https://www.giants.com/team/roster/Daniel-Fells/9894ca89-b394-43dc-b4fe-0b925345f274

As you can see, Fells isn’t exactly a #1 threat at TE throughout his 6 years in the NFL, with his best season coming in 2010 when he had 41 catches for 391 and 2 TD’s.

I think Fells is getting a chance with the 1^st team for two reasons…

1. He is the veteran TE on the roster with the most pass catching experience….that doesn’t say much.
2. I think it’s a message to Adrien Robinson and Larry Donnell that nothing will be given this summer. The #1 TE spot is going to have to be earned by one of them.

I think that is fair to assume that the Giants are hoping that either Donnell, Robinson, or both, will jump Fells on the depth chart as camp continues.  I do not think that Fells is the answer at TE at all.  In the end I am expecting the GMen to keep 3 TE’s and I’d be surprised barring injury if it wasn’t, in any particular order, Robinson and Donnell who make the cut as the first two.  The 3rd would be Kellen Davis,who is a tremendous run blocker. (Answer Update: As of yesterday Donnell was the #1 TE on the depth chart.  The depth chart is meaningless this early, but you can see that Fells is more for depth in case of injury.)

Johnny “Diamonds” Kaya  asks via the Facebook…”Well let’s see I’l start off with my first question here…….Given the fact that we are entering a new era as far as our D-line is concerned without anyone of the “Big 3″ being there, (no Strahan, Osi, or JT), do u think management was so concerned that there would be such a major drop off in our ability to get to the QB and that is why they concentrated so much on strengthening the back end with the signings of DRC, Thurmond, and Demps? Are the Giants conceding the fact that we better be able to cover the receivers a lil longer since the pass rush just simply won’t be there?”

Great question Diamonds….my answer? No and No!

I don’t think they are conceding the pass rush at all, nor do I feel that was the reason for investing in the secondary.

First off, let’s remember despite Tuck’s gaudy 11 sacks last year, 6 of them came in 2 games against the Redskins who’s offensive line last year was just as bad as ours.  Tuck did finish 10^th in overall performance per PFF for 4-3 defensive ends, but the Giants went out and signed a younger player who was ranked 11^th  in Robert Ayers…and Ayers did so playing in a rotation.

I for one am not concerned about the pass rush.  A couple of reasons why…

1. A healthy JPP makes the other 6 guys in the front 7 that much more dangerous.
2. Scheme.  Perry Fewell’s defense last year was not the problem.  The Giants finished 8^th in total defense last season and did not have a ton of talent on that unit at all.
3. Redemption and Development – I got my fingers crossed about Kiwi making a nice comeback from a awful 2013 season but I am more counting on Ayers, Moore, Kuhn and Hankins to take the next step.

Ayers, was a 1^st round pick at DE, he got shuffled to LB and ended up in a rotation at DE in Denver last year and still produced.  DaMontre Moore is developing nicely and might just be the next great Giants pass rusher in training.  Hankins is a guy who can take on blockers and disrupt in the backfield.  If JPP is healthy and getting double teamed along with Big Hank taking on some blockers it’s open season on QB’s with Fewell’s complex blitz packages.

As far as the secondary goes, I think this was more about the NFL then our pass rush.  Cornerbacks in the NFL are like starting pitchers in baseball, you can never have enough.  Throughout the league we see 3 WR sets being used more frequently, and the game is  more spread out and hands off then it has ever been.  You have to be able to cover 3-4 wide outs on a given play, and a TE.  The Giants are now equipped to do that.  If healthy, the combo of Prince, DRC and Thurmond coupled with Rolle, a healthy Stevie Brown and up and comer Cooper Taylor should provide Big Blue with options to make things difficult on opposing offenses.

All said and done Diamonds, I think to your point, yes, these units go hand in hand.  If you can cover longer you can get to the QB more.  Or, if you pressure well, there are more errand throws to pick off or make a play on.  However, I don’t think they addressed the secondary because of a lack of pass rush or change in philosophy.  I think Reese and crew just wanted to get  more talented all over. Going into this season they are faster and more athletic on defense across the board.  Hopefully, we see the moves pay dividends this fall and winter.

Stay thirsty my friend.

Cousin Joey from Jersey ponders…”How much longer will Jerry Reese’s patchwork plan work or will it crash and burn this year? It’s worked in previous years and I believe he did a decent job this off-season, but again neglected linebacker and no viable TE on the roster?”

This is a loaded question…so many things factor into the making up of a roster.

In my opinion, it is hard to address every roster need in today’s NFL with a hard salary cap and a QB making 15-20 million per year.   It’s impossible to pour money into all the teams needs. That makes it extremely important that you hit on certain players in the draft, find a player or two that can help from the undrafted rookie free agent pool and to find free agency bargains. Then you have to have the patience to sick to a plan and see how it pans it out.

But let’s stay with the positions you asked about specifically.

Tight End – I’m not going to lie.  I was shocked that Reese and company did not draft or sign some of the bigger TE names this off season.  But what is “In Reese We Trust” if we don’t trust Joe?…

We as fans speculate and speculate but maybe Mr. McAdoo, who coached the TE’s in Green Bay, saw something he liked in Donnell and Robinson and decided to coach them up.  The Giants addressed huge areas of need via the draft at WR, C/G, D-line and RB…the value was not there for Reese at TE and he was content to roll the dice on the players in house, hoping we have another Kevin Boss or Jake Ballard in the making.  My pick is Donnell to surprise a lot of people.

Linebacker… Yes, they could have splurged a little more here or drafted a guy that is more touted then the names we currently have (Chris Borland in RD 3 for one), but they didn’t.

When you look at the backers now, we have Beason, who I think we all love and for good reasons.  Jameel McClain who will be a lot more then serviceable on the strong side this season with his ability to play the run physically and aggressively.  And maybe a Pro Bowler at the WILL spot in Jacquian Williams.  Don’t laugh; it looks like patience has paid off for the Giants in letting this kid develop over the years.  Williams has turned himself from a speedy coverage and spy type backer, to an all three down linebacker who has put on some extra weight this off season and is primed to have a break out year.

When you look at linebackers in the league now they are more situational. A lot of guys play according to down and distance.  In the Giants system, using two backers and three safeties is a lot more common against the spread sets shown by the Eagles, Redskins and Cowboys.

That’s why the development of later round picks and undrafted talent like Williams, Cooper Taylor, Markus Kuhn, Adrien Robinson and Larry Donnell are so vital to this teams success. Young, cheap homegrown talent is a must have in this league with a expensive QB on the roster.

Hopefully, Jerry’s bargain shopping and patience with some of the drafted is about to pay off.

Love the banter Giants fans!!

If you have any questions you want answered about our GMEN hit me up on Twitter @Trifecta24,  Facebook Fan Page —Or better yet leave a comment below.

The post Giants Fans Questions and Answers first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.