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Giants reset 2015: Eli-to-Beckham-to-Madden?
The Sports Xchange
After making little commotion in the offseason, not counting record replays of a single highlight catch, the New York Giants head into their 12th year with head coach Tom Coughlin looking for his third Super Bowl.
The Giants are counting on the Manning who quarterbacked those two Super Bowl wins for Coughlin. Although still widely referenced as the other Manning, Eli is the one who has two Super Bowl rings while big brother Peyton has only one Super Bowl win. But there are those five NFL MVP awards and one stupendous Super Bowl loss.
Eli is supposed to get help this year from a re-fortified offensive line, scheduled to include first-round draft pick Ereck Flowers, an offensive tackle from Miami who will probably start on the right side.
After showing he has the footwork for Dancing with the Stars in the NFL, he could move to the left side. One might assume the Giants would prefer him on Manning’s blind side, otherwise the big guy might be in the way himself, at 6-foot-6, 329.
The point is to give Eli more time to throw to Odell Beckham Jr., who made the three-fingered catch heard round the world, or something like that, when he was finally healthy enough to join the team last year as a rookie.
His prolific performance in 2014 was so dramatic that Beckham is expected to be on the cover of Madden Football this year. Wait, isn’t that supposed to be a jinx?
Coughlin gets his first look at the newest elements of the 2015 Giants this weekend (May 8-10) during the rookie minicamp.
Here is a look at the slightly evolved Giants as they head into a new season:
2014 RECORD: 6-10, 3rd in NFC East
COACH: Tom Coughlin
12th season with Giants
104-83 overall; 8-3 postseason
20th season as NFL head coach
176-147 overall; 12-7 postseason
2015 CAMP SCHEDULE
Rookie minicamp: May 8-10
OTA dates: May 27-29, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-9, June 11-12
Mandatory Minicamp: June 16-18
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART
(Rookies in capitals)
Offense:
LWR: V. Cruz, R. Randle, K. Ogletree, C. Washington, J. Talley
RWR: O. Beckham, D. Harris, P. Parker, J. Criner, C. Harper, G. DAVIS, M. Harris
LT: W. Beatty, M. Newhouse, M. Bamiro
LG: J. Jerry, D. Reynolds, B. HART
C: W. Richburg
RG: G. Schwartz, A. Gettis, E. Herman
RT: J. Pugh, E. FLOWERS, B. Mosley, B. Jones, E. Cleary
TE: L. Donnell, A. Robinson, D. Fells, J. Cunningham
QB: E. Manning, R. Nassib, R. Stanzi
FB: H. Hynoski, N. Whitlock
RB: R. Jennings, A. Williams, O. Darkwa, C. Ogbonnaya
RB: S. Vereen
Defense:
LDE: C. Jenkins, R. Ayers, D. Moore, J. Stanton
LDT: M. Kuhn, D. Hamilton, K. Ellis
RDT: J. Hankins, J. Bromley
RDE: J. Pierre-Paul, O. ODIGHIZUWA, K. Wynn, G. Selvie
SLB: D. Kennard, M. Herzlich, U. Unga, R. Jones
MLB: J. Beason, J. Mcclain, T. Manning
WLB: J. Thomas, J. Casillas, J. Davidson, V. Butler
LCB: D. Rodgers-Cromartie, C. Brown, T. Mcbride, M. Harris, C. Fenner, J. Gordy
SS: L. Collins, N. Berhe
FS: C. Taylor, M. THOMPSON
RCB: P. Amukamara, J. Hosley, T. Wade, T. Gordon, B. Jackson
Special Teams:
P: S. Weatherford, R. Malone
PK: J. Brown, C. Boswell
LS: Z. Deossie
H: S. Weatherford
PR: O. Beckham, P. Parker, R. Randle
KR: P. Parker, O. Darkwa
GRADING THE DRAFT — B
Per Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
First round pick Ereck Flowers, an offensive tackle, will be perceived by some as a reach, but his combination of length, strength and nastiness is precisely what the Giants have missed along the offensive line for several years. No one will be questioning how high he was selected five years from now when he has helped stabilize New York’s leaky offensive line. Similarly, the Giants should receive an immediate impact from safety Landon Collins and defensive end Owa Odighizuwa, each of whom offer pure explosiveness but lack ideal agility. In terms of aggression and physicality, no club improved more than Big Blue with its first three picks. In a division boasting playmakers, though, the lack of flexibility of these defenders could leave New York vulnerable. Of New York’s Day Three prospects, wideout Geremy Davis has the size and reliable hands to surprise.
SCOUTING ALL DRAFT PICKS
–Round 1/9 — Ereck Flowers, T, 6-6, 329, Miami
The Giants completed their offensive line renovation by adding the raw, but talented Flowers, who projects to right tackle at the NFL level. New York also believes that Flowers potentially could move to left tackle in the future once he gets a little NFL seasoning.
–Round 2/33 — Landon Collins, S, 6-0, 228, Alabama
The Giants traded up seven spots to grab the best safety on the board, thus filling a glaring hole on the roster. While Collins, like incumbents Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor, lacks NFL starting experience, he is projected to be in the lead for one of the two openings at the position in the starting lineup.
–Round 3/74 – Owa Odighizuwa, DE, 6-3, 267, UCLA
For the third year in a row, New York added a defensive line prospect in the third round. Odighizuwa played in a 3-4 defense for the Bruins, but will likely see snaps at both defensive end spots as well as the 3-technique defensive tackle on passing downs.
–Round 5/144 – Mykkele Thompson, DB, 6-1, 191, Texas
The “surprise” pick of the Giants draft, this four-year college defensive back lacks ideal speed and production despite being versatile. He does, however, seem to excel on special teams, having blocked three punts and one kick during his college career.
–Round 6/186 – Geremy Davis, WR, 6-3, 216, Connecticut
Davis becomes the 12th receiver to join a Giants roster that seems to remain worried about whether it will have Victor Cruz back at full strength for the 2015 season. Despite his production — Davis is the FBS record holder in receptions (165) and receiving yards (2,292) — his best chance of making the roster will be on special teams.
–Round 7/226 – Bobby Hart, G, 6-4, 320, Florida State
Big college offensive tackle who will make the switch inside to guard at the next level. Hart started 28 straight games for the Seminoles after being inserted into the lineup as a true freshman and was a two-time All-ACC honoree.
NOTABLE VETERANS ACQUIRED:
–LB Jonathan Casillas: UFA Patriots; $8M/3 yrs, $975,000 guaranteed.
–DT Kenrick Ellis: UFA Jets; $1.5M/1 yr, $300,000 SB/$500,000 guaranteed.
–CB Josh Gordy: UFA Colts; $745,000/1 yr.
–WR Dwayne Harris: UFA Cowboys; $17.5M/5 yrs, $4M SB/$7.1M guaranteed.
–T Marshall Newhouse: UFA Bengals; $3M/2 yrs, $800,000 SB/$1M guaranteed.
–DE George Selvie: UFA Cowboys; $1.2M/1 yr, $200,000 SB.
–LB J.T. Thomas: UFA Jaguars; $10M/3 yrs, $4.5M guaranteed.
–RB Shane Vereen: UFA Patriots; $12.3M/3 yrs, $3.5M SB/$4.75M guaranteed.
NOTABLE PLAYERS LOST:
–CB Zack Bowman: UFA Dolphins; $825,000/1 yr, $80,000 SB.
–OL James Brewer: UFA Jets; terms unknown.
–S Stevie Brown: UFA Texans; terms unknown.
–RB Michael Cox (released/failed physical).
–RB Peyton Hillis (released/failed physical).
–DE Mathias Kiwanuka (released/failed physical).
–LB Spencer Paysinger: UFA Dolphins; $745,000/1 yr.
–S Antrel Rolle: UFA Bears; $11.25M/3 yrs, $3.9M RB 2015/$4.9M guaranteed.
–CB Walter Thurmond: UFA Eagles; $3.25M/1 yr, $2M SB.
–C J.D. Walton (released).
–RB David Wilson (released).
PRESEASON PEEK — Mark that calendar
All times Eastern
Aug. 14: at Cincinnati (Fri.), 7:30
Aug. 22: JACKSONVILLE (Sat.), 7:30
Aug. 29: N.Y. Jets (Sat.), 7:00
Sept. 3: at New England (Thu.), 7:30
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