QUICK OUT: The Giant Difference
By Todd Toombs
| GIANTS | |||
| 2011 | Pos |
Pick(Rnd) |
2012 Projection |
| Prince Amukamara | CB |
19(1) |
Starter |
| Marvin Austin | DT |
52(2) |
Backup (IR 2011) |
| Jerrel Jernigan | WR |
83(3) |
Backup |
| James Brewer | T |
115(4) |
Backup |
| 2010 | Pos |
Pick(Rnd) |
2012 Projection |
| Jason Pierre-Paul | DE |
15(1) |
Starter |
| Linval Joseph | DT |
46(2) |
Starter |
| Phillip Dillard | LB |
115(4) |
Cut 2011 (out of League) |
| 2009 | Pos |
Pick(Rnd) |
2012 Projection |
| Hakeem Nicks | WR |
29(1) |
Starter |
| Clint Sintim | LB |
45(2) |
Starter (IR 2011) |
| William Beatty | T |
60(2) |
Starter (IR 2011) |
| Ramses Barden | WR |
85(3) |
Backup |
| Travis Beckum | TE |
100(3) |
Backup |
| Andre Brown | RB |
129(4) |
Practice Squad |
| 2008 | Pos |
Pick(Rnd) |
2012 Projection |
| Kenny Phillips | CB |
31(1) |
Starter |
| Terrell Thomas | CB |
63(2) |
Starter (IR 2011/FA – will start somewhere) |
| Mario Manningham | WR |
95(3) |
Starter |
| Bryan Kehl | LB |
123(4) |
Cut 2010 (Rams) |
In 2011 and 2010, the Giants had 7 picks – the same as the Cowboys. But, they got one perennial Pro Bowler in JPP, a likely starter in Amukamara, a solid starter in Linval Joseph, and 3 solid backups. They “missed” on one player but so did the Cowboys on Akwasi Owusu-Ansah. In 2009 and 2008, the Giants separated themselves from the Cowboys a bit with a total of 10 picks (Cowboys had 9). Out of those 10, they got 6 starters (although 3 were put on IR at some point in 2011) and 2 solid backups. They only cut one player so far with another still on the practice squad.
So, my takeaway from this analysis is this:
1. The good news is that the Cowboys drafts have improved the last 2 years. Let’s hope we have another solid draft in 2012 and continue the trend. Whoever is giving Jerry advice these days needs to keep doing it and Jerry needs to listen – let’s not do anything wild and try to trade up for that one key player. That’s essentially how we got Roy Williams.
2. The architect of the generous Viking trade (according to Jerry) got hoodwinked on the Roy Williams trade – that among other things killed our 2009 draft and left big holes to fill moving forward. It will likely take a couple of years to recover so it is going to require a few more years of patience. How long do we really have before some of our key players lose their window of opportunity?
3. Jerry Reese, the Giants’ GM has done a remarkable job looking not only at the draft but also at what he’s picked up in free agency: former Cowboy Chris Canty, Jake Ballard, Michael Boley, Antrel Rolle, David Baas, and of course, Victor Cruz. It’s amazing what having a true football mind at the helm can do for a team instead of being a billionaire’s favorite hobby. To be completely fair, the Cowboys scouting team did a great job this year too picking up Laurent Robinson and Tony Fiammetta to name just two players who contributed significantly in 2011.
Clearly we’re not going to get a new GM, but if Jerry is as smart as he thinks he is, he at least will start getting good advice and making better football decisions even if he saves face and doesn’t officially hire someone as the GM. That appears to be what has happened in the last couple of years; let’s hope it continues.
So, let’s make a prediction for the game – I don’t see any way that the Patriots defense can stop the suddenly hot Giants offense and I think the Giants’ defense is more than capable of at least slowing down the Pats – especially with a gimpy Gronkowski. I think the Giants win – 28-17. Ugh, that hurt to type…
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