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2011 NFL Offseason: New York Giants

Draft Grades, Season Previews, Offseason Needs, Free Agents

New York Giants (Last Year: 10-6) - Buy Tickets

2010 NFL Season Preview:

Veteran Additions:
G Stacy Andrews, C/G David Baas, NT Gabe Watson.
Early Draft Picks:
CB Prince Amukamara, DT Marvin Austin, WR Jerrel Jernigan, OT James Brewer, LB Greg Jones, S Tyler Sash.
Offseason Losses:
FB Madison Hedgecock, WR Steve Smith, WR Derek Hagan, TE Kevin Boss, G Rich Seubert, C Shaun O'Hara, DT Barry Cofield, DT Rocky Bernard.

2011 New York Giants Offense:
New York's focus in this brief offseason has to be on ball control. The Giants led the NFL in turnovers with 42, with the next-closest team being the Bills with 39. The difference, however, is that unlike Buffalo, New York had tons of offensive talent on its roster. Those 42 give-aways were unacceptable.

Eli Manning was responsible for 25 of those turnovers via interceptions. Well, at least on paper he was. Many of Manning's picks were tipped or bobbled by his receivers that bounced into the arms of defenders. Hakeem Nicks was mostly guilty of this. Nicks is a stud No. 1 receiver, but he sometimes has lapses in concentration; he finished tied for fifth in terms of most interceptions when thrown to, finishing only behind Johnny Knox, Steve Johnson, Terrell Owens and Larry Fitzgerald (horrible quarterbacking).

Still, Nicks is entering his third season, so there's definitely room for improvement. Mario Manningham, meanwhile, will reprise his role as the No. 2 wideout with Steve Smith officially gone. Manningham isn't the best route runner in the world, but he produces; in his final three games last year, he caught 16 balls for 346 yards and four touchdowns.

Smith wasn't the only one of Manning's targets who hit the road. New York also lost Kevin Boss, who signed with the Raiders. Boss wasn't a very consistent pass-catcher, but his blocking will be missed. Replacing Boss in the receiving role is third-year tight end Travis Beckum, who has just 21 career receptions (13 last year for 116 yards and two scores).

The Giants did have some good news in free agency, as they were able to retain Ahmad Bradshaw despite rumors that he would sign with Miami or Washington. Bradshaw is a talented runner, but he has to clean up his act as well. He lost a whopping six fumbles, so if that continues, a fresh Brandon Jacobs will see more work.

There is some concern with Bradshaw and Jacobs' blockers, however. Continuity is key this offseason, but the Giants lost two starting offensive linemen, guard Rich Seubert and center Shaun O'Hara. Sure, they wouldn't have been very effective because of age and health issues, but the fact remains that New York has two new starters up front, one of whom is at the left tackle position.

It remains to be seen if William Beatty can protect Manning's blind side. He has just two career starts, in which he committed three penalties and wasn't very effective in pass protection. Beatty does possess solid athleticism, so the move could work. If not, David Diehl could always switch back. Diehl is now at left guard, which is a more natural position for him, as he struggled at left tackle last year, giving up eight sacks.

The other news starter on the line is center David Baas, who performed well for the 49ers in relief of Eric Heitmann last season. He'll play next to right guard Chris Snee and right tackle Kareem McKenzie, both of whom had terrific 2010 campaigns.

2011 New York Giants Defense:
Osi Umenyiora has been through quite the saga this offseason. First, he held out. Next, he and his agents were talking to teams about a possible trade. Then, he wasn't allowed to be traded. After that, he faked a knee injury to get out of practice. Umenyiora had 11.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in 2010, but the Giants probably don't even think he's worth this headache.

The unfortunate news for Umenyiora is that he's lost all of his leverage. Last year's first-round pick, Jason Pierre-Paul, absolutely manhandled Pro Bowl left tackle Jordan Gross in the team's preseason opener. Pierre-Paul is an athletic freak, and it was only a matter of time before he exploded. If Umenyiora plays effectively this year amid all the trade talk, the Giants are going to have one of the fiercest pass rushes in the NFL. How can any offensive front stop Umenyiora, Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck, who also had 11.5 sacks in 2010?

Tuck will kick inside on passing downs, which is absolutely necessary because the defensive tackle position is iffy. Chris Canty is a solid, well-rounded player, but the other starter is Linval Joseph, a second-year lineman who was barely on the field last season. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes this year's second-rounder, Marvin Austin, to emerge as a possible starter. Austin has immense talent, but he's been out of football since 2009.

The Giants spent April's first-rounder on cornerback Prince Amukamara, who was supposed to bolster the secondary and really make it difficult for teams to throw against them considering all of the pressure coming from the front four. Unfortunately, Amukamara fractured his foot and is out indefinitely, meaning Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas will be penciled into the lineup again. The inconsistent Webster surrendered six touchdowns in 2010 and was torched in the Week 16 battle at Green Bay. Thomas, meanwhile, was even worse, yielding seven scores of his own.

It's even worse at safety. Kenny Phillips is a really good player, but Antrel Rolle is one of the worst starting free safeties in the NFL. As Arizona fans could have told the Giants supporters last offseason, Rolle is a sieve in coverage. Opposing quarterbacks completed nearly 78 percent of their passes against him. Only Jacksonville's Don Carey maintained a worse figure.

New York's linebacking corps should be solid. Weakside linebacker Michael Boley is good in coverage and is coming off a solid year. Jonathan Goff, stationed inside, is an underrated player and a stout run defender. Strongside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka missed most of 2010 with a neck injury, but is now completely healthy.

2011 New York Giants Schedule and Intangibles:
During their Super Bowl run, the Giants won all of their playoff games on the road and boasted about how they were "road warriors." That's pretty factual (they were 9-1 as visitors and 3-0 on neutral sites in 2007). They were 5-3 in away games in 2010, matching their 5-3 home mark.

Lawrence "New York" Tynes hit a Super Bowl appearance-clinching 47-yard field goal in overtime of the NFC Championship at frigid Lambeau in January 2008. After a year off because of injuries, Tynes has gone 46-of-55 the past two seasons, including 3-of-4 from 50-plus.

Seventh-round rookie Matt Dodge had a solid 44.8 average with 20-of-72 punts inside the 20 as a replacement for the retired Jeff "Philadelphia" Feagles. However, Dodge made that one critical error - kicking it to DeSean Jackson on the final play of the game in Week 15 that ultimately cost New York a playoff spot.

The Giants were terrible on returns last year, especially on punts. They were outgained by 8.8 yards per return, as they surrendered two scores while failing to find the end zone.

Six of New York's first seven opponents didn't make the playoffs in 2010: Washington, St. Louis, Arizona, Seattle, Buffalo and Miami. However, the Giants' schedule is set up for a late-season collapse; they face the Patriots in Week 9, Eagles in Week 11, Saints in Week 12, Packers in Week 13, Cowboys in Weeks 14 and 17, and Jets in Week 16.

2011 New York Giants Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):

Quarterbacks	Offensive Line	Secondary
Running Backs	Defensive Line	Special Teams
Receivers	Linebackers	Coaching

2011 New York Giants Analysis: The Giants could certainly make the postseason this year. To do that, they have to really cut down on the turnovers and ensure that they don't suffer their perennial late-season collapse. That's easier said than done, however, and with the Eagles becoming the "Dream Team" and the Cowboys sure to be improved, New York will probably be watching the playoffs on TV come January.

Projection: 8-8 (3rd in NFC East)

2011 Fantasy Football Rankings

More 2011 NFL Season Previews

*** 2011 NFL OFFSEASON NEEDS BELOW COMMENT BOARD ***

Ted Nelson 05-02-2011 09:51 am xxx.xxx.xxx00.6 (total posts: 3)

UGA Dawgs and NY Giants-

With free agency coming after the draft this season, I feel that need is less important than most seasons. I think value should be weighted more heavily than need every season (you need, say, a LB... you draft a crappy LB... not only have you not improved your LB position, you've also lost the chance to draft a good player at another position...), but especially this season when needs can still be addressed through free agency.

Furthermore, I think ESPN was going with the MSM narrative (typical) and ignoring some subtleties of the situation. If the Giants plan not to bring back Coefield, or are even considering it... DT is a need. If the Giants are planning to keep Andrews and are still high on Beatty and Petrus... OL isn't really a need.

Draftdude101 05-01-2011 10:47 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.135 (total posts: 1)

@uga dawgs it's espn, that's why

PigmeatVT 05-01-2011 10:42 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.74 (total posts: 1)

giants needed a QB; ELI smells; WhoDey dem Bengals

UGA Dawgs and NY Giants 05-01-2011 09:31 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.111 (total posts: 3)

Walt, if you read this I'd really like to hear your opinion.

On ESPN's Draft Wrap-Up Special they gave the Giants draft a B-. Pretty insane, as I think they had an outstanding draft. Seems as if they didn't like that the Giants ignored some needs.

Any thoughts on that?

Gene 05-01-2011 11:50 am xxx.xxx.xxx7.71 (total posts: 1)

What makes Jerry Reese different from other GMs is that he isnt afraid to draft for depth at a position of strength if it means getting a great player. Sometimes it works out to perfection, like im hoping this draft will, sometimes not as much, like the JPP pick, the guy is a stud but we would have been better served this season had picked a LB or OL, but the situatios are different, we have a need for DT, CB, and WR, whereas we had 3 stud DEs last year.

@KLL 05-01-2011 12:33 am xxx.xxx.xxx.225 (total posts: 1)

Can't bank on signing anyone as a free agent with the mess going on right now... Can't give teams time to see what you saw while evaluating the undrafteds during the lockout

slater 04-30-2011 10:51 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.123 (total posts: 1)

jacquain williams is a guy the giants have had their eye on for a while. He went to JUCO with JPP and they both went to USF. He only has 1 year of production, but is an elite athlete. He's also (according to ralph V.) bulked up and is at 235 and he's got the frame to add even more weight. 6'3" guys that run 4.5's don't grow on tree's. He was also a team captain and is an immediate improvement to special teams, with the possibility of developing into a quality Lb'er.

KLL 04-30-2011 10:48 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.139 (total posts: 4)

It's weird the Giants picked up Williams in round 6, because they probably could've just as easily picked him up as a priority free agent if they really liked him. Unbelievable draft otherwise, Amukamara will be a stud. Take it from a Husker fan who's seen him play in Memorial Stadium several times.

jmcsports 04-30-2011 10:06 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.246 (total posts: 1)

great analysis. i think Reese aced this draft by letting players fall to him, and not being afraid to take the best player available.

a veteran OL and LB in free agency, sort through the RB situation, and the giants are ready to go.

XNYrnLA 04-30-2011 09:26 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.113 (total posts: 1)

I was also very pleasantly surprised at the availability of those players to the Giants... so I did have those " How the hells" too.

The Giants did definately have one of the top 5 drafts between all the NFL teams, along with N.E., the Bills, the Rams and the Packers.

Mike 04-30-2011 08:53 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.178 (total posts: 4)

Williams, according to Vacchiano, may have weighed in at 235lbs now.

Perhaps the kid is just filling out later.

HazyDavey 04-30-2011 08:23 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.151 (total posts: 1)

I think the Jacquain Williams pick is about getting help for special teams - a weakness in 2010. Look at who's around in the 6th round. You won't find too many Division I linebackers with his kind of speed.

ilikethegiants 04-30-2011 07:58 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.104 (total posts: 1)

Loved the Amukamara pick. Actually saw him play against us (Texas A&M) last season and he shut down our top receiver to three catches for 20 yds. Patrick Peterson on the other hand allowed 6 catches for 80 yds. I like the pick, great value, it's gonna open up our defense.

Marvin Austin was more of a luxury pick but tremendous value. If Barry Cofield leaves (I hope not) we're covered. I like this pick a lot because we have such high-character guys that will keep him from being lazy and inconsistent.

I don't know much about Jernigan, but I'm taking Walter at his word. Provides depth and return ability which we needed. Like.

James Brewer is huge, I bet he can play guard too. But he is a developmental prospect so he doesn't have to start right away. Provides depth and is next in line for McKenzie's job. Still wanted a guard though.

Greg Jones. I LOVE this pick. People said he was supposed to be a late 1st round pick last year and to have him fall to us is awesome. Hopefully he can show the coaching staff something over training camp (whenever that is) so he can start for us.

Tyler Sash. Eh, I mean, we didn't really need a safety but Walter gave us an A so what the heck, I'll take it.

Would have loved to have Herzlich instead of Williams, hopefully we can sign him as a free agent whenever we get the chance.

Da'Rel Scott has good size and thats what I like. He will produce as a change of pace back so he will have some productivity next season, count on it.

Giants Fan 04-30-2011 07:35 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.137 (total posts: 5)

If williams makes the squad and makes only special teams tackles, he is worth the 6th round pick because no one made special teams tackles last year

KLL 04-30-2011 07:04 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.139 (total posts: 4)

@Not a Gay Man Fan

Considering your name is "not a gay man fan", you seem to enjoy talking about intimate/sexual situations between men quite a lot.

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2011 NFL Draft Grades:

Henry J., a friend of mine from back in high school, sent me a short e-mail Friday night: "You're totally sounding like a Giants fan with all your Jerry Reese love."

I'm not a Giants fan, but if I were, I would be really excited. Reese put together a masterpiece on Draft Weekend. All of his selections were incredible value picks, and he filled some needs in the process. This is an easy A+.

Overall 2011 NFL Draft Grade given on 5/1/11: A+

2011 NFL Draft Individual Grades:

19. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
Giants fans have to be thrilled. Thanks to an early quarterback frenzy, Prince Amukamara was pushed down from the 7-13 range all the way to No. 19. Jerry Reese just made the NFL Draft look easy. (Pick Grade: A)

52. Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
And the Giants land another steal who inexplicably falls. Marvin Austin could have gone at the bottom of the first round. He'll fill a need in the interior of New York's defensive front. (Pick Grade: A)

83. Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy
And the Giants land another steal who inexplicably falls. Wait, didn't I just say that? Jerrel Jernigan was projected to go in the second round. Steve Smith may not be able to play in 2011, so this pick makes a ton of sense. Jerry Reese is putting together a great draft. (Pick Grade: A)

117. James Brewer, OT, Indiana
Surprise, surprise, Jerry Reese makes another incredible pick. James Brewer could have gone as high as the end of Round 2, so this is yet another steal. Brewer could eventually protect Eli Manning's blind side. (Pick Grade: A)

185. Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
How the hell did Greg Jones fall to No. 185? He was once considered a late first-round prospect. Unbelievable. Jones could start next year at strongside linebacker. (Pick Grade: A)

198. Tyler Sash, S, Iowa
I'm going to sound like a broken record. How the hell did Tyler Sash fall to No. 198? Unbelievable. Sash doesn't fill an immediate need, but could start eventually. (Pick Grade: A)

202. Jacquain Williams, OLB, South Florida
The first Giants pick I don't like. Jacquain Williams wasn't in the top 400 of most services, so while he provides some depth at linebacker, you have to wonder why Jerry Reese didn't go for a better prospect. (Pick Grade: D)

221. Da'Rel Scott, RB, Maryland
Da'Rel Scott could get a lot of playing time for the Giants next year depending on what happens in free agency. That, and the fact that he's good value in the middle of Round 7, makes this another great pick. (Pick Grade: A)

Season Summary:
The Giants had control of their own destiny going into a Week 16 matchup against the Packers. Unfortunately, their lack of ball security betrayed them as it had all year. Since their Super Bowl victory, New York has developed a habit of struggling late in the season. They lost two of their last three this year; three of four in 2009; and four of five in 2008.

Offseason Moves:

Eagles sign WR Steve Smith

Lions sign S Michael Johnson

Giants announce retirement of TE Ben Patrick

Raiders sign WR Derek Hagan

Raiders sign TE Kevin Boss

Giants sign DE Dave Tollefson

Giants re-sign DT Rocky Bernard

Giants sign G Stacy Andrews

Giants sign NT Gabe Watson

Giants cut G Herman Johnson

Giants re-sign RB Ahmad Bradshaw

Giants sign QB David Carr

Giants sign P Steve Weatherford

Giants cut FB Madison Hedgecock

Giants re-sign DE Mathias Kiwanuka

Giants sign C/G David Baas

Giants cut DT Rocky Bernard

Redskins sign DT Barry Cofield

Giants cut OT Shawn Andrews

Giants re-sign G Kevin Boothe

Giants cut C Shaun O'Hara

Giants cut G Rich Seubert

Giants sign LB Mark Herzlich

Giants sign OT Jarriel King

Giants sign FB Henry Hynoski

Giants re-sign WR Domenik Hixon

Giants re-sign WR Darius Reynaud

Giants re-sign RB D.J. Ware

Offseason Needs:

Left Tackle: William Beatty hasn't played much, but he hasn't shown any signs that he can be New York's franchise left tackle. The team will look at Tyron Smith with the No. 19 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Drafted James Brewer
Running Back: Brandon Jacobs is wearing down, while Ahmad Bradshaw is a fumble-prone free agent. There will be plenty of talented running backs available in Rounds 2-3 of April's draft. Re-signed Ahmad Bradshaw; drafted Da'Rel Scott
Center: Shaun O'Hara, 34 in June, is entering the final year of his contract. He played in only six games this season because of various injuries. Signed David Baas
Strongside Linebacker: Keith Bulluck played relatively well this season, but is a 34-year-old free agent. Drafted Greg Jones; signed Mark Herzlich
Left Guard: Rich Seubert, 32 in March, just had major knee surgery. He's also entering his contract year. Signed Stacy Andrews
Wide Receiver: There's talk of the Giants re-signing Plaxico Burress; Steve Smith's nasty knee injury may cause him to miss training camp. Drafted Jerrel Jernigan
Free Safety: As Cardinals fans knew and Giants fans know now, Antrel Rolle blows coverages. New York may give him another shot, but he's severely overpaid at $5.25 million in 2011. Drafted Tyler Sash
Punter: Think the Giants can coax Jeff "Philadelphia" Feagles out of retirement after Matt Dodge's ugly rookie year? Signed Steve Weatherford

2011 NFL Free Agent Signings:

David Baas, G/C, 49ers. Age: 29.
Signed with Giants

David Baas should have been the team's left guard this year. However, he was forced into playing center in the wake of Eric Heitmann's season-long injury. This versatility can only help him in the open market.
Steve Weatherford, P, Jets. Age: 28.
Signed with Giants

Steve Weatherford averaged a meager 42.6 yards per punt, but that's because he had a league-leading 42 attempts placed inside the 20. However, he really struggled in the playoffs. He inexplicably lost his confidence.
Mark Herzlich, ILB, Boston College. Age: 24. -- Signed with Giants
Jarriel King, OT, South Carolina. Age: 24. -- Signed with Giants
Stacy Andrews, G, Seahawks. Age: 30. -- Signed with Giants
Gabe Watson, DT, Cardinals. Age: 27. -- Signed with Giants
David Carr, QB, 49ers. Age: 32. -- Signed with Giants

New York Giants Free Agents:

Salary Cap: No cap.

Barry Cofield, DT, Giants. Age: 27.
Signed with Redskins (6 years)

Barry Cofield is a great interior lineman who excels against the run and provides a decent enough pass rush. He's due for a big contract this offseason.
Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Giants. Age: 28.
Re-signed with Giants (multi-year)

Mathias Kiwanuka looked like he was going to have a monstrous season, racking up four sacks in the first three weeks. Unfortunately, he landed on injured reserve with a season-ending neck injury.
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants. Age: 25.
Re-signed with Giants

Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 1,235 yards and eight touchdowns on a 4.5 YPC average in 2010. He also caught 47 balls for 314 yards. However, Bradshaw has fumbling issues, and the Giants coaching staff told the media that they aren't confident that he can stay healthy.
Steve Smith, WR, Giants. Age: 26.
Signed with Eagles (1 year, $4 million; $2 million guaranteed)

Steve Smith is an outstanding possession receiver; he caught 107 balls for 1,220 yards and seven touchdowns in 2009. Unfortunately, he suffered a nasty knee injury in December and may not be ready for the start of the 2011 season.
Kevin Boss, TE, Giants. Age: 27.
Signed with Raiders (4 years, $16 million)

Kevin Boss is a decent end zone target (16 TDs last 3 years) and a solid blocker.
Rocky Bernard, DT, Giants. Age: 32.
Re-signed with Giants

Rocky Bernard is a rapidly declining player, but he can still be a solid rotational defensive lineman.
Rich Seubert, G/C, Giants. Age: 32.
Rich Seubert is a skilled, versatile interior offensive lineman. The problem is that he's a 32-year-old coming off major knee surgery and may not be ready until the middle of the 2011 season.
Keith Bulluck, OLB, Giants. Age: 34.
Keith Bulluck bounced back from his knee injury and played well for the Giants this season. However, he's an aging 34-year-old, two-down linebacker at this point in his career.
Shaun O'Hara, C, Giants. Age: 34.
Shaun O'Hara is a 34-year-old coming off Achilles surgery. He says he'll be healthy by September, but that remains to be seen.
Shawn Andrews, OT, Giants. Age: 28.
Dave Tollefson, DE, Giants. Age: 29. -- Re-signed with Giants
D.J. Ware, RB, Giants. Age: 26. -- Re-signed with Giants
Jim Sorgi, QB, Giants. Age: 30.
Domenik Hixon, WR/KR, Giants. Age: 26. -- Re-signed with Giants (1 year)
Deon Grant, SS, Giants. Age: 32.
Derek Hagan, WR, Giants. Age: 26. -- Signed with Raiders
Madison Hedgecock, FB, Giants. Age: 30.
Kevin Boothe, G, Giants. Age: 28. -- Re-signed with Giants (2 years)
Ben Patrick, TE, Giants. Age: 27. -- Announced retirement
Michael Johnson, S, Giants. Age: 27. -- Signed with Lions
Chase Blackburn, ILB, Giants. Age: 28.
Gerris Wilkinson, ILB, Giants. Age: 28.
Darius Reynaud (RFA), WR, Giants. Age: 24. -- Re-signed with Giants
Herman Johnson, G, Giants. Age: 26.

2011 NFL Free Agent Rankings Coming Soon

Divisional Rival History:
Dallas Cowboys: The Giants, for whatever reason, dominate this rivalry; they've taken five of the past seven meetings.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles have taken the past six matchups, including the Miracle at the New Meadowlands.
Washington Redskins: New York dominates this NFC East rivalry, having won the past six meetings.

Features to be Posted This Offseason:

2011 NFL Draft Grades (Pick-by-Pick NFL Draft Grades as well - Live on Draft Day!)
Detailed season preview
Fantasy football projections
Positional rankings
Daily updates on free-agent signings

More 2011 NFL Offseason Pages:

DAL / NYG / PHI / WAS /
CHI / DET / GB / MIN /
ATL / CAR / NO / TB /
ARZ / SEA / SF / STL /
BUF / MIA / NE / NYJ /
BAL / CIN / CLE / PIT /
HOU / IND / JAX / TEN /
DEN / KC / OAK / SD /

2011 NFL Offseason Pages

2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 18

Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 17

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - June 16

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

NFL Picks - Feb. 3

2011 NFL Offseason: New York Giants Draft Grades, Season Previews, Offseason Needs, Free Agents