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 three sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls. Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

THE CRYSTAL BALL SAYS: A LAST-MINUTE GUESS ON THE ‘FINAL 53'

(With the first round of cuts complete and the last preseason game looming, Scott Landstrom decided to offer up his prediction for the final 53-man roster, barring post-cuts signings that could happen between Saturday and the team's first regular season game in Dallas on Sept. 13. Note: Jason Pierre-Paul doesn't have a contract and there is no obligation to the team, so he doesn't have to be placed on any list, like Non-Football Illness or Physically Unable to Perform, until he comes in, takes a physical and signs his tender.)

By Scott Landstrom
Ready to take a swing at what the Giants 53-man roster might look like by Saturday afternoon, Giants Nation? Well here is one man's considered take - absent raiding someone else's waiver wire releases, which we can usually count on for at least one change after final roster announcements.

Here goes:

Quarterback (2): Eli Manning, Ryan Nassib Key cuts: Ricky Stanzi Rationale: The easiest position on the team to forecast - a "no-brainer." Stanzi might be kept around on the Practice Squad to give some depth with someone familiar with the offensive system, but I don't see him making the 53-man roster.

Running Back (4): Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, Shane Vereen, Orleans Darkwa Key cuts: Akeem Hunt, Kenneth Harper Rationale: The first three are a "lock" in terms of Jennings, Williams, and Vereen. I think the Giants, given the pounding this position takes, will keep one reserve power back in Darkwa. I thought they would reserve a speed back in Hunt, who ran an impressive 4.36 40-yard dash at his Pro Day in Purdue, and whom they like as a kickoff return guy, with his speed and fearlessness. However, he was cut early, in a surprise move - though he could be re-signed to the practice squad.

Wide Receivers (7): Odell Beckham, Jr., Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle, James Jones, Geremy Davis, Dwayne Harris, Corey Washington. Key cuts: Preston Parker, Julian Talley Rationale: Beckham, Cruz, and Randle are all "locks", provided Cruz finally gets over his calf injury and is ready to play week #1. Jones has caught 11 balls, and only five players in the NFL have caught more, despite a sputtering Giants passing attack thus far. Davis is a drafted rookie (and we all know how general manager Jerry Reese doesn't like to cut his drafted players in the first season), is an intriguing target at 6-feet-2, 214 pounds, and has been second on the team in receptions thus far with eight. Washington continues to be productive and a huge red-zone target, so I think they give the young kid one more year to develop. Plus Washington , Davis, and Harris all have Special Teams value, which helps their cause.

Finally, Harris was just signed away from the Cowboys in March, with $7.1 million guaranteed, so you best bet Reese doesn't want to be made the fool by throwing that kind of cap space away a few months after the ink is dry. Oh, and he is the most experienced returner specialist in both phases on the team and should be entering his prime at 27 years old.

Tight End (3): Larry Donnell, Daniel Fells, Jerome Cunningham Key cuts: Adrien Robinson Rationale: Donnell was the starter all of last season, and was productive, albeit he had a serious fumbling problem. Fells is by far the best blocker of the group, and the Giants need a guy who can move people out of the way in the running game for part of our playbook. Cunningham has simply shown a level of speed and explosiveness that none of the others have, and has caught everything thrown his way - thus out-competing the unproductive "JPP of tight ends," who caught four balls in three years.

Fullbacks (1): Henry Hynoski Key cuts: Nikita Whitlock Rationale: Pretty simple stuff - he is one of the best blocking FB's in the NFL, and can actually catch the ball now and then - and is a tireless worker and unselfish player. Whitlock could easily end up a Practice Squad player as he has some serious upside.

Offensive Linemen (8): Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg, Geoff Schwartz, Ereck Flowers, Bobby Hart, John Jerry, Marshall Newhouse, Dallas Reynolds Reserve/PUP list: Will Beatty Key cuts: Brett Jones Rationale: Pugh, Richburg, Flowers are high draft choices and starters, and Schwartz is a highly-paid free agent signee's with a ton of guaranteed money. Newhouse is starting, as we speak, at right tackle, so absent some sort of change of thinking, he is a lock. Reynolds is the only backup center, and that is a key position both in terms of line calls, as well as clean exchanges with Manning. Hart and Jerry are both versatile and can play guard or tackle, and the Giants value versatility. While one of the tougher cuts on this side of the ball was Mosley, it is thought that the rationale is they want young draft choice Hart (who is also inexpensive) over the capable but (thus far) mediocre Mosley.

Punter (1): Steve Weatherford Rationale: Yes, I know Coughlin has been talking up the competition here, and Robert Malone does have the "bigger leg", but Weatherford only has one punt blocked in his career (and it was a guy who jumped clear over the center - he had no chance) and is adept at nailing the "coffin corner" kicks out of bounds inside the 20, so it says here the Giants keep the veteran. Malone was released earlier in the week in the first wave of cuts.

Kicker: (1): Josh Brown Key cuts: Chris Boswell Rationale: It takes a real rocket scientist to predict the outcome when you have a situation where a one man position only sees one player in camp. Plus, Brown only missed twice all of last season. Even though Boswell was brought back this week, Brown's the man unless he has a more serious injury than we know.

DEFENSE Defensive End (5): Robert Ayers, Jr., Damontre Moore, Kerry Wynn, Owa Odighizuwa, George Selvie Key Cuts: Brad Bars Rationale: Ayers was our best performing defensive end - period - according to PFF, when he was hurt last year, even above Jason Pierre-Paul. Wynn has been a bit of a revelation for a young player, Moore is a valuable speed rusher who led the SEC in quarterback sacks, and Owa is a prized third-round draft choice from this draft with a ton of potential. Selvie could be on the ropes here, but I see him benefiting from the Pierre-Paul situation and sticking around, at least until they activate JPP from the Reserve/Franchise list, upon which he was placed this week.

Defensive Tackle (5): Johnathan Hankins, Cullen Jenkins, Jay Bromley, Markus Kuhn, Kendrick Ellis Key Cuts: Dominique Hamilton Rationale: Well, the Giants already parted ways with Mike Patterson in the off-season. Hankins is a budding NFL star, and Jenkins still has some gas in his tank and is a former Pro Bowler. Bromley seems to have "woken up and smelled the bacon" this year after a lost season as a 3rd rounder inactive for all but three games. Kuhn is just one of those gym-rats who keeps getting stronger and is hard to let go. Finally, Ellis is a free-agent guy who is a real "space eater" in the run game, at close to 340 lbs.

Linebacker (7) : Jon Beason, J.T. Thomas, Devon Kennard, Mark Herzlich, Jameel McClain, Uani Unga, Zack DeOssie Key Cuts: Jonathan Casillas, Tony Johnson, Louisiana Tech, Cole Farrand, Maryland Rationale: Beason, Thomas, and Kennard are your starters, if healthy - so that's three. Herzlich and McClain are valuable veteran reserves who can play SAM or MIKE, which with a guy like Beason starting, given his injury history, is important. Unga has been a training camp sensation and leads the team in pre-season tackles, and is tied for 7th in the NFL. The Giants always seem to have one "undrafted rookie" success story each year, and it says here that Unga is that guy this year.

Cornerbacks (5): Prince Amukamara, Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, Trumaine McBride, Chyke Brown, Jayron Hosley Key Cuts: Chandler Fenner Rationale: Prince and DRC are legitimate, upper-tier CB's and are "locks". McBride, while catching some grief for small injuries this summer, still was one of our best cover-corners according to PFF. Brown and Hosley provide (questionable) veteran back-up with some NFL experience.

Safeties (4): Landon Collins, Brandon Merriweather, Cooper Taylor, Stevie Brown Key Cuts: Jeremy Miles Rationale: Well, losing Nat Berhe, Myykele Thompson, Justin Currie, and Bennett Jackson, all with (likely) season-ending injuries sure took the drama out of what promised to be perhaps the most competitive position on the team. Collins and Cooper should start, but don't be surprised if veteran Stevie Brown works his way into the free safety discussion. I think Merriweather is strong safety insurance against Collins getting hurt, because he is a pure strong safety.

Tune in Saturday, Giants fans, and we'll see how close I came.

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