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E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was
the Giants' beat writer for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of only four sportswriters
to have covered all the Super Bowls. Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS
to reprint some of his articles.
POST-DRAFT OVERVIEW:
BURNING QUESTIONS
ABOUT EACH DRAFT PICKS
By Aaron Klein
Now that the draft is over, you must have looked over the list of
the Giants' draftees and wondered: Why this guy? Why in this round?
What about him, or that, or on and on?
To ask questions about any draft class
is not only valid but prudent. So let's ask aloud one question about
each player the Giants selected -- we'll get to the Undrafted Free
Agents in a later transmission -- and try to provide the most accurate
answer for each.
Round 1: Justin Pugh, T, Syracuse
(6-5, 307)
Q: Where will he play on the Giants' aging but experienced offensive
line?
A: Look for Pugh to start out competing at right tackle with David
Diehl and James Brewer, but there's more to the rookie than meets
the eye, and that's his versatility. The Giants love offensive linemen
who can be used as plug-and-play tools and Pugh, if necessary, could
move over to guard or even center. Mostly, though look for him at
right tackle, where some already have him penciled in as the starter,
a move that would give the staff more flexibility with Diehl, Brewer,
Selvish Capers and even left guard Kevin Boothe in the event that
center David Baas gets hurt (it wouldn't be the first time).
Round 2: Jonathan Hankins, DT, Ohio
State (6-2, 320)
Q: Will he move ahead of Marvin Austin and Shaun Rogers on the depth
chart and compete for playing time?
A: Yes and no. Hankins will probably beat Austin off the roster,
and probably Rogers, but don't forget that the team has brought
in Cullen Jenkins to take over Chris Canty's spot for the immediate
future, and picked up Jenkins’ former Philadelphia teammate Mike
Patterson to see what he has left to offer. So, Hankins, a major
league run-stuffer, will get his chances early at camp and in the
regular season, but he's there for the long haul. Look for his biggest
moments to come in 2014, whether as a starter over Jenkins or alongside
him if Linval Joseph, who's entering the final year of his rookie
contract, doesn't return.
Round 3:Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M
(6-5, 250)
Q: Where does he fit behind Justin Tuck, Adewale Ojomo and Adrian
Tracy?
A: Moore is a project with huge potential. He didn't have a great
Combine and only a slightly better pro day. Many have criticized
his work ethic, off-field issues and overall maturity, but the Giants
are willing to work with him, "coach him up" so to speak,
and get him under the wings of Justin Tuck and Matthias Kiwanuka.
He's probably going to have a few "wow" moments as early
as training camp and the pre-season and could give the pass rush
an extra threat with Osi Umenyiora now gone.
Round 4: Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse
(6-2, 227)
Q: A quarterback? A quarterback! Why did the Giants trade up for
him and what's the end game?
A: Yes, a quarterback the Giants even traded up a half-dozen spots
to get him. He's a true value pick with tremendous potential and
has landed in the perfect position, even if he barely plays in the
foreseeable future. He gets to learn under Eli Manning and maybe
even David Carr (that’s a good thing, stop snickering) as well as
the coaching staff. There will be no pressure to perform right out
of the gate and the team can develop him for its own benefit or
as trade bait in two or three years. The team is already considering
going with three quarterbacks, and unless he is an abject failure,
Nassib would be the third. If he wins the No. 2 job he's right on
deck and even though Manning has been an ironman, you never know.
Nassib could make it easier for the staff to put Manning on the
bench to recover a little quicker. This is a no-lose situation for
either party, though there will be no immediate impact from Nassib
and one could argue that a fourth-round pick should contribute quickly,
at least by his second year. However, the quarterback position is
unique and the usual rules don’t apply.
Round 5: Cooper Taylor, S, Richmond
(6-4, 228)
Q: He’s a size/speed guy but inexperienced, so what role would he
have on the defense?
A: We haven't used the word "’tweener" in a while, so
this is as good a time as any. Taylor is a 'tweener': is he a linebacker
or a safety? Well, he's sort of both, but not in the traditional
sense. Look for Taylor to get looks as the third man in a three-safety
set, coming up on the slot, supporting the run and, you guessed
is, as an athletic freak defending guys like Robert Griffin III,
Mike Vick. In fact, just Washington, which fields a vastly underrated
offensive scheme with RGIII and his read-option system, running
back Alfred Morris and that infernal zone-blocking scheme that baffled
the Giants defense last year. Yes, baffled. Oh, and add the San
Francisco 49ers and Colin Kaepernick to that list, too, though those
teams don't meet in 2013.
Round 7a: Eric Herman, G, Ohio (6-4,
320)
Q: Is he just camp fodder or something more?
A: The word on him is that he's a mean, nasty brawler on the field,
a technician who plays above his limited athletic ability. A pure
guard, he could provide excellent support behind Chris Snee and
Boothe, as well as their eventual replacements. However, Herman
has bodies in front of him, guards like young veterans like Capers
and Brandon Mosely. At least he'll provide competition. At worst,
he lands on the practice squad. At best, he earns a roster spot
and finds himself inactive until someone gets hurt. We won't call
him a steal, but he could be a diamond-in-the-rough with the right
development.
Round 7b: Michael Cox, RB, Massachusetts
(6-3, 214)
Q: Does he even have a chance to stick or is he a throwaway pick?
A: At first glance, you figure Cox is there as a training camp insurance
policy so the Giants don't have to work David Wilson and Andre Browntoo
hard. Then again, with just Da’Rel Scott and Ryan Torain ahead of
him on the depth chart for the third spot, Cox could surprise. Problem
is, no one can get a bead on him. Even his size is in question (UMass
had him listed more like 6-1, 222). Regardless, he's a bruiser who
runs hard downfield and he is an excellent receiver out of the backfield.
Note: Cox turns 25 as he was a graduate transfer to UMass from Michigan,
where only had 19 carries in a reserve role.
Have something to say?
Ask a question?
Send it over to aklein22@verizon.net
and follow me on Twitter @_AaronKlein_
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Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS
where you can subscribe to his newsletters which
run much more frequently than what is available here.
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