The Giants certainly shed some light on how to beat the Patriots and become an elite team. However their blueprint is just that, one way of doing it. A great pass rush makes the defensive backs look better and the longer defensive backs hold their coverage the more time the front 7 have time to get after the QB. With that in mind here's how I would construct the team for '08 and beyond. Free Agency: Asante Samuel, CB, New England. He's going to command big bucks, there's no doubt about that. But it's not often that a player entering his prime, one of the top 5 in his position and is familiar with the defensive scheme and coaching staff becomes available. We have the cap room to make a splash like this and the total team number continues to rise and will keep going up once a new CBA is established which is after '09. San Diego had a ton of success against Brady running a 3-4 and having athletic ballhawking corners. We should do the same thing. Stacey Andrews, OG, Cincinatti. Note the position. Alot of posters have wanted him to come over as a right tackle and while I certainly think he could be above average on the outside I think he's better suited for the inside. Adding some beef next to D'Brick is a good idea and the left side of the line would be solidified. Isaac Sopoaga, NT, San Fran. I've been on the Ethan Kelley bandwagon but after doing some research I think Sopoaga might be the guy. Great size for the position and only 27. I'm sure the Niners will try to retain him but I don't think he'd cost that much and could have an impact immediately. Bobby McCray, OLB, Jacksonville. Another poster brought his name up, I think it was JasonJets so I'm not going to take credit for this one. 6'6 261 might be on the small side for a Gregg Williams defense but is perfect size for a pass rushing OLB. Having him compete with Bryan Thomas would hopefully push one of them to the next level. Kawiika Mitchell, ILB, NYG. Great 3-4 size would be a valuable guy to bring in during running situations and replace Barton as inside depth. Tommy Kelly, DE, Oakland. Coming off an injury hopefully he won't have too many suiters. Ideal 3-4 end size at 6'6, 300, would really fit in well. Bryant Johnson, WR, Arizona. Big body at 6'3 has the potential to be very good. Former first round pick would allow Coles to move to the slot in 3 WR sets and give Clemens another target. Anthony Becht, TE, Tampa Bay. This one hurt to write. Alot. But there aren't many tight ends who are better blockers and he's a FA. Going to need someone to yell about having stone hands anyway when J-Mac is gone. Might as well bring back one of our favorite whipping boys. Abram Elam, Hank Poteat, Wade Smith. Great guys to have around for depth. Draft: 1.6) Vernon Gholston, OLB, Ohio St. I think this is the pick assuming the draft shakes out how its projected. I'm not usually a fan of taking one dimensial players this early but he fills a huge need and because of the position he plays he could have an impact right away. Best case scenario is we have our Shawn Merriman. 2.6) Godser Cherlius, OT, BC. Polished player from a program that has put a bunch of offensive lineman in the pros. Has the ability to start right away and lock up the right end for a long long time. 3.6) Roy Schuening, G, Oregon State. Really smart, heady player. Can play all 3 interior line positions and would add some depth right away. Long term game plan would be have him play LG and move Andrews to RG. 4.6) Kendall Langford, DE, Hampton. Small school sleeper who's going to start getting some pub. 6'6, 295. Great pass rusher who needs to work on his run stopping ability. I think this guy is going to be a valuable pro and has the ability to become something special. 5.6) Erik Ainge, QB, Tennessee. I like this guy. I think he has the ability to be a better pro then collegiate. With the right coaching he has the physical talent to push Clemens down the road. Until then I'd rather have him as the 3rd QB on the roster than Tui just on pure upside. 6.6) Brad Cottam, TE, Tennessee. Another Vol, Cottam is 6'8, 275. Great intangibles who would be a work in progress. This late in the draft you can't ask for too much more. 7.6) Anthony Aldridge, RB, Houston. Good kick returner and may go earlier than this because of that. Crazy small at 5'9, 170 but runs a 4.39 and how often do 7th rounders make teams let alone impacts? Depth Chart: QB: Clemens, Pennington, Ainge RB: Jones, Washington, Aldridge FB: Posciak, Kowaleski WR: Coles, Cotchery, Johnson, Smith, Stuckey TE: Baker, Becht, Cottam OT: Ferguson, Cherilius, Bender OG: Anderews, Moore, Schuenig C: Mangold, Smith DE: Ellis, Coleman, Kelly, Langford NT: Pouha, Sopoaga, Robertson OLB: Gholston, Thomas, McCray, Bowens ILB: Harris, Vilma, Mitchell CB: Samuel, Revis, Poteat, Miller, Coleman FS: Smith, Elam SS: Rhodes, Coleman
I absolutely love this mock. The only beef I might have with it is that I'm not sure if Ainge lasts until the 5th. If he does, I'd definitely take a chance with him as well. I'm assuming that it'll be close, but we should have enough cap room for the FAs as well. Good job man.
I enjoyed reading this but if we sign Asante, will we have the cash to sign ALL those free agents and our entire rookie class? Not likely. Also, the Giants entered into contract negotiations with Kawika Mitchell two days ago.
We may not be able to sign all those free agents, but I don't think Asante will cost more than $8 million. That leaves 22 million for draft picks and other free agents.
I like the offseason overall but I don't understand why we would pick up Asante Samuel, our secondary was great last year without any pass rush to speak of, and putting a lot of money into your secondary gets you nowhere, look at the Broncos
This team is devoid of talent and playmakers. I dont understand how signing the best FA available still in his prime can be anything other than a positive. Especially considering that the CB spot opposite Revis has been a revolving door of mediocrity for two seasons now & the desire of the CS to play a more agressive man scheme, not to mention a ton of money. You have a secondary of Revis, Samuel & Rhodes & you can be as agressive as you want, which would also free up our best D player(Rhodes) to do what he does best. I dont get the Broncos reference at all, their secondary as a whole wouldn't even be close to the talent level of a Jets secondary that adds Samuel to it.
That is a lot of signings and I don't think it is realistic. I like it I am not saying I dont like it but I don't think its possible. I like the Ainge pick and he is a gamble but some gambles hit big. If he could work with Chad for a season I think that he would really improve from it. Langford might work out well too I like the draft itself
If we got Anthony Becht back i would seriously consider finding a new favorite team.... He stinks the end.
I would love it. Even the Becht signing to be a blocker in the 2-TE sets... The draft would be awesome as well. However, there is no way in hell we sign all of those free agents and draft picks. Also, I doubt Cherilus lasts to the 2nd and even Schuening to the 3rd. We'd need a hell of a lot more cap room than this to pull that offseason off. That would amazing if we could though, but we can't.
cut like all of those luxury fa signings out, but samuel and Andrews,would be good signings. Moving Andrews to guard would be a good idea. I really like your draft If Cherilus lasts to the second round, i would make that pick in a heartbeat I like Langford alot.
