- Messages
- 11,877
- Reaction score
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Currently on roster
Mike Jenkins (age 26, signed through 2012)
Terence Newman (age 33, signed through 2014)
Orlando Scandrick (age 24, signed through 2016)
Alan Ball (age 26, Unrestricted Free Agent)
Frank Walker (age 30, Unrestricted Free Agent)
Mario Butler (age 23, under contract)
C.J. Wilson (age 26, under contract)
Justin Taplin-Ross (age 22, under contract)
Gerald Sensabaugh (age 28, signed through 2016)
Abram Elam (age 30, Unrestricted Free Agent)
Barry Church (age 23, signed through 2012)
Danny McCray (age 23, signed through 2012)
Manny Silva (age 23, under contract)
Cornerbacks – Two things should be gone this next season. The first is Terence Newman and his $8 plus million dollar cap hit. The second is what I like to refer to as the Campo Cushion. Our cornerbacks seemed to give opposing receivers the biggest cushion in the NFL. Even if the players were doing this on their own, where was the coaching to correct it? New Secondary Coach Jerome Henderson should be a huge improvement over Campo. Mike Jenkins erased some of the questions about his toughness by playing through and returning from injury all season. He will be recovering the next several months so hopefully he will enter 2012 completely healthy. Orlando Scandrick got a big extension early in 2011 but continued his up and down play. He is a crushing tackler for a smaller cornerback but still struggles with covering speedy receivers. Scandrick is only 24, so Henderson has time to coach him up and work on his weaknesses. Alan Ball moved back from safety but is still too inconsistent to count on. He’s also still young (age 26), has good size, and the team likes his versatility. He could be back at a reasonable rate. Fans liked Frank Walker when he was first signed off the street. In reality, he showed he has lost a step and relied on holding receivers in coverage. Mario Butler showed some promise last Training Camp and spent the year of the Practice Squad. CJ Wilson will also compete for a reserve job. The official roster has Justin Taplin-Ross listed at cornerback but he played safety the whole time at Utah. With his size, 6’3” and 214 lbs, he would be an intriguing prospect at cornerback.
Safeties – The team saw enough in Gerald Sensabaugh to reward him with a 5-year extension. Personally, I just don’t see it. His coverage issues were made worse by moving him to Free Safety and there were too many times when deep passes were completed and Sensabaugh was on the far other side of the field. Abe Elam was supposed to be a coach on the field but the Secondary still showed a lot of confusion before and during plays. He also made no plays on thrown balls. The hiring of his former position coach Henderson might buy Elam another season here. Reserve Barry Church found his niche as a Nickel Linebacker and does a good job when he fills in at Safety. His speed makes him a liability in coverage but he always gives great effort. Danny McCray continues to be an outstanding Special Teamer and was effective as a blitzer in some of Rob Ryan’s packages. Manny Silva will be back to compete in Training Camp.
Free Agent possibility? Yes. Elam could be replaced and a new starter could be brought in if Newman is released as expected. The team seems intent on keeping Scandrick as the slot corner so they will need a new starter. Terrell Thomas could be an affordable option. The Giants already have Cory Webster under contract, another free agent in Aaron Ross, and 1st round pick Prince Amukamara waiting in the wings. They may be willing to let Thomas, who is coming off an injury, test the market. Some other cornerbacks who will probably command much larger contracts are Tennessee’s Courtland Finnegan, Atlanta Brent Grimes, and Kansas City’s Brandon Carr.
It looks like Washington’s LaRon Landry may be available. He’s had a tough time staying on the field for a full season but he is an effective safety when healthy. His attacking style would be ideal for Ryan’s defense and would give us the first real presence we’ve had at Safety since a pre-coverage issue Roy Williams. Some less costly names are Tampa Bay’s Tanard Jackson (off the field concerns) and Baltimore’s Tom Zbikowski. After spending the last few seasons learning from and occasionally filling in for Ed Reed, Zbikowski looks ready to be an every down player. He also doubles as a punt and kick returner.
Draft possibility? Yes. Many mocks have us going cornerback with the 14th pick. The names you see the most are Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick (6’2”, 192 4.49 40 time), North Alabama’s Janoris Jenkins (5’10”, 191, 4.46 40 time), and Nebraska’s Alfonzo Dennard (5’10”, 203, 4.49 40). Some 2nd round possibilities are South Carolina’s Stephen Gilmore (6’1”, 193 4.52 40), Chase Minnifield (6’0”, 185, 4.49), Jayron Hosley (5’10”, 172 4.52 40) and Georgia’s Brandon Boykin (5’9”, 183, 4.44 40). For the second year in a row this does not appear to be a strong draft for Safeties. Mark Barron (6’2”, 218, 4.56) from Alabama is widely considered the top safety in this class. Two of my favorite prospects this year are Oklahoma State safety Markelle Martin (6’1”, 203 4.47 40) and McNeese State Defensive Back Janzen Jackson (6’0”, 190 4.49 40). Jackson was All-SEC at Tennessee but had some discipline issues and left the team before resurfacing at McNeese State.
Mike Jenkins (age 26, signed through 2012)
Terence Newman (age 33, signed through 2014)
Orlando Scandrick (age 24, signed through 2016)
Alan Ball (age 26, Unrestricted Free Agent)
Frank Walker (age 30, Unrestricted Free Agent)
Mario Butler (age 23, under contract)
C.J. Wilson (age 26, under contract)
Justin Taplin-Ross (age 22, under contract)
Gerald Sensabaugh (age 28, signed through 2016)
Abram Elam (age 30, Unrestricted Free Agent)
Barry Church (age 23, signed through 2012)
Danny McCray (age 23, signed through 2012)
Manny Silva (age 23, under contract)
Cornerbacks – Two things should be gone this next season. The first is Terence Newman and his $8 plus million dollar cap hit. The second is what I like to refer to as the Campo Cushion. Our cornerbacks seemed to give opposing receivers the biggest cushion in the NFL. Even if the players were doing this on their own, where was the coaching to correct it? New Secondary Coach Jerome Henderson should be a huge improvement over Campo. Mike Jenkins erased some of the questions about his toughness by playing through and returning from injury all season. He will be recovering the next several months so hopefully he will enter 2012 completely healthy. Orlando Scandrick got a big extension early in 2011 but continued his up and down play. He is a crushing tackler for a smaller cornerback but still struggles with covering speedy receivers. Scandrick is only 24, so Henderson has time to coach him up and work on his weaknesses. Alan Ball moved back from safety but is still too inconsistent to count on. He’s also still young (age 26), has good size, and the team likes his versatility. He could be back at a reasonable rate. Fans liked Frank Walker when he was first signed off the street. In reality, he showed he has lost a step and relied on holding receivers in coverage. Mario Butler showed some promise last Training Camp and spent the year of the Practice Squad. CJ Wilson will also compete for a reserve job. The official roster has Justin Taplin-Ross listed at cornerback but he played safety the whole time at Utah. With his size, 6’3” and 214 lbs, he would be an intriguing prospect at cornerback.
Safeties – The team saw enough in Gerald Sensabaugh to reward him with a 5-year extension. Personally, I just don’t see it. His coverage issues were made worse by moving him to Free Safety and there were too many times when deep passes were completed and Sensabaugh was on the far other side of the field. Abe Elam was supposed to be a coach on the field but the Secondary still showed a lot of confusion before and during plays. He also made no plays on thrown balls. The hiring of his former position coach Henderson might buy Elam another season here. Reserve Barry Church found his niche as a Nickel Linebacker and does a good job when he fills in at Safety. His speed makes him a liability in coverage but he always gives great effort. Danny McCray continues to be an outstanding Special Teamer and was effective as a blitzer in some of Rob Ryan’s packages. Manny Silva will be back to compete in Training Camp.
Free Agent possibility? Yes. Elam could be replaced and a new starter could be brought in if Newman is released as expected. The team seems intent on keeping Scandrick as the slot corner so they will need a new starter. Terrell Thomas could be an affordable option. The Giants already have Cory Webster under contract, another free agent in Aaron Ross, and 1st round pick Prince Amukamara waiting in the wings. They may be willing to let Thomas, who is coming off an injury, test the market. Some other cornerbacks who will probably command much larger contracts are Tennessee’s Courtland Finnegan, Atlanta Brent Grimes, and Kansas City’s Brandon Carr.
It looks like Washington’s LaRon Landry may be available. He’s had a tough time staying on the field for a full season but he is an effective safety when healthy. His attacking style would be ideal for Ryan’s defense and would give us the first real presence we’ve had at Safety since a pre-coverage issue Roy Williams. Some less costly names are Tampa Bay’s Tanard Jackson (off the field concerns) and Baltimore’s Tom Zbikowski. After spending the last few seasons learning from and occasionally filling in for Ed Reed, Zbikowski looks ready to be an every down player. He also doubles as a punt and kick returner.
Draft possibility? Yes. Many mocks have us going cornerback with the 14th pick. The names you see the most are Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick (6’2”, 192 4.49 40 time), North Alabama’s Janoris Jenkins (5’10”, 191, 4.46 40 time), and Nebraska’s Alfonzo Dennard (5’10”, 203, 4.49 40). Some 2nd round possibilities are South Carolina’s Stephen Gilmore (6’1”, 193 4.52 40), Chase Minnifield (6’0”, 185, 4.49), Jayron Hosley (5’10”, 172 4.52 40) and Georgia’s Brandon Boykin (5’9”, 183, 4.44 40). For the second year in a row this does not appear to be a strong draft for Safeties. Mark Barron (6’2”, 218, 4.56) from Alabama is widely considered the top safety in this class. Two of my favorite prospects this year are Oklahoma State safety Markelle Martin (6’1”, 203 4.47 40) and McNeese State Defensive Back Janzen Jackson (6’0”, 190 4.49 40). Jackson was All-SEC at Tennessee but had some discipline issues and left the team before resurfacing at McNeese State.
