Sephiroth

Every team is going to have injuries and it's rare if the backup is an improvement or equal to the guy who he replaced, but I feel like it's odd to say, "if this guy goes down there's no other blocker on the team." In this case I feel it's accurate though.. there'd be no blocking TE. There's no fullback. Physical press defenses may eat us alive (though I do think Marshall is pretty physical too in a different way). Also, there were players available in this draft that can do both. Lbs that can cover and play the run (Cunningham). TEs that can block and catch (Kittle and Sprinkle). I agree this is probably the McAdoo system, but I guess I'm just not sure I'm a fan of the system. It's great to have speedy players all over the field but if your QB isn't able to chuck the ball 40 times a game you're going to have a hard time putting points on the board. This team was the 25th ranked offense but they don't look a whole lot different than last year's group.

I disagree that the Hankins loss was a big loss. Hankins was an above-average one-technique, but an average 3-technique. I think he'll once again be a very good one-technique for the Colts but he's not the penetrating, disruptive player a 3-tech needs to be. Dude is a run stuffer, and we already have the best one in the league. This team hasn't had a QB on defense since the Antonio Pierce days, and I personally think that's much more important than having a 3-technique DT (i'd argue Tomlinson is another one-technique) on a team with JPP, Harrison, and Vernon. Hell, Beason's one healthy year at least kept our defense respectable... those players were bad... and Beason was over the hill. Go back and watch that Green Bay playoff game and tell me how many intermediate routes were caught over the middle in the second half. THAT's why we need a two way middle linebacker. I'd have taken Cunningham in the first; the fact that Reese passed on him in the second just goes to show that he really doesn't value that entire unit. I like the Engram pick from a flashy standpoint, but not from a physical one... again, he's great at what he does but he does one thing at a position where ideally you do three. In fact, I'm having a hard time figuring out how we got more physical on offense aside from the Vikings TE we signed (Fluker at this point in his career is pretty much a bust). If Ellison sprains an ankle in training camp, who do we have on offense that can block? Last year we lost Will Johnson and never replaced him, and the team acted like blocking FBs and TEs are really hard to find (they're not). I guess we'll see. I hope we score tons of points but I'm not really seeing how we got bigger or stronger, or how we're going to cover the middle of the field. I'm just not buying this "we're going to be more physical" thing based on this draft, and I like physical Giants teams... and there were lots of tough players out there to be had.

We entered the draft weak on the OL and at LB (of course), and needed to get more physical at the TE position. The draft was also deep at DB and TE with lots of value available late. We took the least physical of the day 1 tight ends, passed on a 3 down linebacker to draft our 4th best D-lineman, and took a developmental QB instead of quality depth on the OL, TE, or at DB. I'm really not trying to be a Debbie Downer but there's sure not much I like about this draft.

He's got a fantastic TD celebration.

All right! Only missed time in 3 of 4 seasons with injuries!

Get used to this name: Jeremy Sprinkle. He's going to be owning the middle of the field against us for as long as Jerry Reese is our GM.

Guys I'd be thrilled to get: Issac Asiata Samanje Perine Marlon Mack Dorian Johnson I also feel it's imperative to get another TE in this very deep draft. Will Tye is 100% replaceable and should be a backup. I'd love to see George Kittle Jeremy Sprinkle Jake Butt Jordan Leggett Who we'll actually get: A marginal LB, WR, or O-linemen with "NFL upside."

I know you're a believer Jim, and you research this shit a whole lot more than I do... and I hope you're right... but I went back and watched some of his college tape and saw a guy who was adequate, but not a playmaker and really nothing special. A typical Giants linebacker. It's incredibly frustrating to see a unit with no legitimate playmakers pass over a 3-down, 2 way 'backer to draft their fourth guy on the line, especially when we already have a high pick there (Bromley). We have four legit stars (or at least very good players) in the D-backfield, 3 on the line... would it fucking kill Reese to have ONE impact linebacker? We apparently have our answer. I know I should have figured, but holy fuck... this guy would pass over Lawrence Taylor if Chris Canty were on the board...

I don't personally think Goodson is much of a playmaker, but even if I did, I'd rather draft my second playmaker in a unit than my fourth in a unit. The middle of the field will once again be open all day every Sunday.

That's a good point that I didn't think about. He did lead the league in unnecessary somersaults too one season.

Fuck it, I give up on this draft. Hopefully we can find some quality street free agents to play linebacker, OL, and blocking TE for us.

BREAKING NEWS: Turns out MLBs can play the run too. Someone send the memo to Jerry Reese!

Jason Witten just caught another 12 yard slant on us!

Of course I'd love Kevin King, Zach Cunningham, Tyus Bowser, Forrest Lamp, Quincy Wilson, Cam Robinson, or Dalvin Cook, but I think those guys will all be gone. I have to admit I'm a little intrigued with Curtis Samuel. Reminds me a little bit of Reggie Bush, and I love how he was lined up as a RB/WR/H-back in college. I could see lots of interesting pairings with Engram with one or both starting out in the backfield, shifting into the slot or vice-versa. i'd also be OK with Dion Dawkins.

I AM really excited about that. This guy is definitely going to help against the Cover-2, no doubt about it.

Honestly, I'm just having a really hard time deciding whether I like the pick or not. Can someone post a highlight video, please? Preferably one with a really bad hip hop soundtrack? I can never seem to find those.

This is true, but I feel like as a team we should be moving away from finesse, "throw the ball 40 times a game" and into a more power-based, "50/50 run-pass split" type of offense. Eli is old and can't chuck the ball 40 times a week for the rest of his life. I'd have been happier with a big O-lineman and a TE like Kittle than a finesse TE, but I guess we'll see. If we're going full finesse Lamp might be a good pickup if he's there in the 2nd.

Yeah he seems like a willing blocker, if not a very good one. The other thing too is we had the TE that only did one thing well (Larry Donnell) for four years and he never set my world on fire either. Hopefully Engram can be a better player with a more useful role. And if you check out the Engram/Reed simulcast there's no contest. The biggest question I feel is if he's really a TE at the next level or a big WR. While he's faster than Reed for sure, he also looks to be quite a bit smaller.

I have mixed feelings about this pick. The good: I really think Engram is an elite talent from an athletic standpoint, and is going to be a great H-back/Move TE in the future. I can see him being like a Chris Cooley, but way better than Cooley was. Dude's speed is insane and he fits really well into the MacAdoo system. I think he can be better than Jordan Reed (who I think is a little overrated anyway). The bad: I'm disappointed that we (once again) passed on a more complete linebacker (Foster, Cunningham), O-lineman (Lamp), Running Back (Cook) TE (Njoku) or CB (King) for a guy that's great at 1/3 of what you ask a TE to do, but is likely never going to be a very good blocker in either the run or pass game. Moreover, the team vowed to get more "physical" but this pick doesn't say they're serious about that with other, more physical players still on the board. Also, this pretty much takes George Kittle (the guy I really want on the team) off their draft board, and I think you can get a TE in this draft pretty much all the way into the 4th round that will give you most of what Engram does is the pass game, but much more in the blocking department. Not horrified with the pick, but I don't feel great about it either. In the past though I've felt pretty iffy about Giants 1st rounders, but Reese seems to find good players there.

I'd be OK with the pick, but only so I have an opportunity to say, "Bolles to the wall" on a regular basis.

Yeah me too. The plan will be to bump JPP to the 3-technique on passing downs and let Taco rush from the LDE spot. That's not what I'd personally do... JPP pretty much never makes a play from the DT position... but I know the Giants' thinking, and I'll bet that's what they'd like to do.

Who would I like them to take? Pie in the sky: OJ Howard Realistically: Zach Cunningham Who will the Giants ACTUALLY take? Taco Charlton

If Adoree Jackson is gone I can see the Giants going Kevin King. I think they'd like Jackson's return ability but I think King gives them a big corner to match up with the big WRs of the league.

Looks tenacious too. I'd take him.