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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 ***

JF 07-11-2012 10:14 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.116 (total posts: 1)

The 2011 Giants join the 1995 Cowboys as Super Bowl champions that inexplicably got swept by awful Redskins teams during the season.

Goose 07-11-2012 06:12 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.12 (total posts: 2)

301

557

Wow. 401 idiots can't stand hearing the truth. Why am I not surprised?

I'll say it again - the author of this write-up is dead wrong. The Giants had no intention of drafting Doug Martin at #32. David Wilson was their first choice from the get-go, and this was known before the draft even began. Anyone who says otherwise has absolutely no idea what they're talking about.

@KF7LCE 07-11-2012 04:26 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.250 (total posts: 1)

there were rumors because NY fans are idiots but he has always been an amazing coach

Goose 07-11-2012 02:57 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.12 (total posts: 2)

562

426

What a joke. Insiders at BigBlueInteractive.com knew that Reese was targetting David Wilson a half-hour before the draft even began. Doug Martin was never seriously considered by the Giants, not in the 1st round anyway.

Mike 07-11-2012 02:31 pm xxx.xxx.xxx4.59 (total posts: 2)

@Robert K Reese has said he wanted Dwayne Jarrett over Steve Smith. Aaron Ross wasn't the number CB they wanted.

No one is being naive, Reese hasn't lied about a player he wanted and settled.

Mike 07-11-2012 02:28 pm xxx.xxx.xxx4.59 (total posts: 2)

Would you stop saying the Giants wanted Doug Martin over David Wilson. It's not true.

KF7LCE 07-11-2012 11:57 am xxx.xxx.xxx.176 (total posts: 1)

Wait a second.... Tom Coughlin was in all likelihood going to be fired if the Giants missed the playoffs, and now they get five stars for coaching?

Riley 07-11-2012 09:48 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.76 (total posts: 2)

Walt...thank you for the team previews. I love your website.

However, the claims made by you, which started with Adam Shefter at the draft about David Wilson and Doug Martin are kinda baseless. Other than opinion, where have you heard from either the Giants camp or the Buccaneers camp which says that the Giants were going to take Doug Martin in the first place? Jerry Reese never panics, and took the man they wanted all along in David Wilson.

Now, on the offensive line, I have to disagree with you on Kevin Boothe. It was when David Baas went down, and Booth combined with Mitch Petrus, a player I think will surprise this year as well, that the line started to create running lanes again.

With all that being said, I completely agree with you about my Giants.

@peterman 07-11-2012 08:23 am xxx.xxx.xxx.205 (total posts: 1)

If the giants had drafted martin, then those same people would be saying that martin is better than wilson.

Peterman 07-11-2012 04:45 am xxx.xxx.xxx.207 (total posts: 1)

Its hard for me to believe that people like Wilson over Martin.. But this is the giants. They love drafting speed. David Wilson is sort of a 'boom or bust' at the hb spot - something that they love. And he is very similar to a young Bradshaw. He has fumbling issues, but so did Tiki and Ahmad, so its something they believe they can fix. I don't think it's IMPOSSIBLE that they prefer Wilson.

Robert K 07-08-2012 07:55 am xxx.xxx.xxx.237 (total posts: 1)

You mean Jerry Reese is claiming that the RB he got is the one he wanted all along? Jeez, why would he do that? What harm could come in saying "we really, really, REALLY wanted Martin, but unfortunately had to settle for Wilson. It's a shame."

The naivete of sports fans never ceases to amaze me. LOL

Michael 06-17-2012 03:28 am xxx.xxx.xxx.167 (total posts: 3)

Actually, Jerry Reese admitted that there was one RB rated higher than Wilson not including Richardson which was Doug Martin. Martin>Wilson.

Tom P 05-22-2012 08:28 am xxx.xxx.xxx.103 (total posts: 1)

God willing in a year or two us Giants fans will be able to shout "Kuhhhhhhhnnnnnn" (just like Packers fans for their fullback) for every sack Markus records.

RickP 05-13-2012 12:33 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.195 (total posts: 1)

I believe Reese panicking and taking Wilson is ridiculous. Pro Football Weekly had Wilson as the 23rd rated player in the draft regardless of position. Martin was the 30th. Only one player rated higher on their board than Wilson wasn't drafted by the 32nd pick and that was Courtney Upshaw who I guess the Giants didn't like more than Wilson.The next highest rated player on PFW's draft board who wasn't already picked when the Giant's turn came was ironically Reuben Randle, who was rated #25. I love this sight, I refer to it often leading up to the draft but Walter,I think your wrong.

jd 05-09-2012 05:14 pm xxx.xxx.xxx8.50 (total posts: 1)

according to reese he did not want martin so somebody is lying....

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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

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 19

Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 16

2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 15

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3

NFL Picks - Feb. 3

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