The Giants drafted WR Sterling Shepard and S Darian Thompson. Shepard was ranked 49th by us out of our top 50, so he’s a good solid player. He’s got good hands. He’ll be able to help the team because he’s a good WR. But just like with Eli Apple, another good player, the Giants missed another opportunity to get a terrific Offensive Tackle. This time the pick was Jason Spriggs. He fell right into the Giants lap at 40 in Round 2. The Giants went elsewhere. As in Wide Receiver. And this is CRITICAL TO THE DISCUSSION.
We don’t talk about identity enough on this NY Giants blog. So let’s drill down with a great case study in the WR toy vs the OT foundation. In 2012 Reese selected a RB and a WR in Round 1 and Round 2. From an architecture perspective it was completely flawed because the OL was aging. All the toys in the world weren’t going to allow Eli the protection or the running game to control the ball consistently.
When I was a kid watching the draft, if I got the toy, I was so excited. If they drafted the lineman, it was like being told to eat your vegetables. This blog gets to take the high ground because it has consistently asked for Offensive Line, even more than Linebacker in recent years. It is even more important now than ever, with an aging franchise QB that must be kept upright.
Jerry Reese was misinformed (what else is new) when he kept on saying how close the Giants were to winning during this offseason. Yada yada 6 close games lost at the end yada yada. The defense could not stop the offense and the offense could not control the ball. At root to the problem is that the team (1) had no pass rush on defense and (2) it could not impose its will by running the ball to consistently get some yardage and move the sticks. Which lineman in our team is a road grader? Ereck Flowers will be. But as a young rookie thrust into the starting role along with an ankle injury, it wasn’t him, not yet. There was never any surge from the OL to reliably get a couple of yards when they needed that. McAdoo knows this. His playcalling adapted to this reality.
So here it is in 2016 and Olivier Vernon is brought in to help the pass rush. Good. Overpaid but at least he’ll help. Snacks is a gem who will help control the DL. But what about that OL? Newhouse torpedoed the entire season as much as anybody. He was a stop gap. Between him and his committee at Right Guard, it needs an upgrade.
Laremy Tunsil wasn’t an upgrade. He was a permanent 10 year fixture. Missing the opportunity here at 10 overall was so incredibly disappointing because we had the answer between him and Flowers for the next 10 freaking years. But as if this was not enough of a missed opportunity, Reese was given another swing at the plate to still make it happen- T Jason Spriggs fell to the Giants at 40 and he was going to be a great fixture too. It was there. And they went for the toy. You had the opportunity to protect Eli the rest of his career and also get a road grader who can get you two yards when you need it. And you let him slip through your fingers for yet another WR in an endless parade of toys.
Want to see what the other side looks like? That would be the Green Bay Packers, who “UNCHARACTERISTICALLY” traded up from 57 to 48, gave up a 4 and a 7, and took Spriggs. GM Ted Thompson rarely moves up like that but he saw what we saw. The Giants didn’t even have to do that; their 6-10 record enabled the location to get it done. Thompson priorized keeping Rodgers upright. Does anyone remember what that turnstile looked like at RT for New York last year?
This is architecture. In 2013, with the OL about to crumble, the Giants reached for Pugh, a Tackle who is now a Guard. In 2014 they got a good Center in Round 2. And last year they got a Tackle. Hart may help at Guard but they still need a Tackle. Incredibly, they passed on the position not once but twice when offered permanent solutions. We have the track record to question the move. This blog wanted Iupati or Pouncey in 2010. It wanted Castonzo in 2011. It wanted Glenn in 2012. It wanted the architecture of OL before Reese could remove his head from his behind and react years too late. In the only time since he’s been GM, we were in complete agreement on Flowers last year. This year we wanted Tunsil and Spriggs. Either one. Tunsil is projected as an All Pro. Spriggs is projected as a solid starter. Both would have given Eli the opportunity to win. Without that right side McAdoo is going to have to keep making adjustments which will limit what those toys can do.
I believe in Eli. I’d rather him have the OL at this point in his career. He’ll get it done with whatever toys he has if he is upright. This is architecture. Where are your priorities? Shepard is not going to keep Eli Manning from getting hurt. At 35 years of age, injuries are a very big deal. It takes longer to heal and you miss something when you come back. Sure, I get the excitement about OBJ having help on the other side. At this point I will take my chances with Cruz and another WR somewhere. WRs are always available. They are an endless parade. Getting a fixture at Tackle is not always available. Reese found that out the hard way in 2013. He still doesn’t understand the architecture for Eli in 2016. I can have 38 WRs on my roster but if Marshall Newhouse kills my franchise, it does not matter.
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