A little tidbit bout the draft this weekend!
Reese will be hard-pressed to top his inaugural draft class. The Giants by virtue of their Super Bowl glory pick last in the first round. They have eight picks altogether, including three in the sixth round and none in the seventh. Unless they opt to trade up don't hold your breath waiting for that the Giants will wait until 30 players are off the board before making their first selection. If that sounds discouraging, consider this: Two years ago, the Giants traded down and with the 32nd-overall pick got Mathias Kiwanuka, a defensive end/outside linebacker who looks to be a future star.
This year's needs center around the defense, specifically the back seven, and it will be shocking if on Saturday during the first two rounds the Giants do not pick at least one cornerback or linebacker. Antoine Cason, a cornerback from Arizona, would fit the mold, as would linebacker Jerod Mayo, a junior from Tennessee, or perhaps Penn State's Dan Connor.
Before the two-day draft is complete, expect the Giants will try to load up on defense. They lost Gibril Wilson in free agency and added veteran Sammy Knight, but a safety is a consideration. Look for the Giants to also add a speed receiver, an offensive tackle and a defensive tackle.
Reese said the Giants will not focus solely on defense early in the draft.
"I want to hone-in on good players that can help us contribute to winning football games," Reese said. "Not necessarily defense, not necessarily offense, not necessarily special teams. We are always looking for good football players who we can add to this football team and try to stay at a high level."
THREE WHO COULD BE GIANTS
S Kenny Phillips / Miami, 6-2, 212:
Reputed to be the top safety in this year's draft, albeit in a weak crop at that position. He has desirable size and speed and can cover tight ends. Extremely competitive but not a huge hitter and is not considered as high a prospect as former first-round safeties Sean Taylor, Ed Reed and Brandon Meriweather.
CB Antoine Cason / Arizona, 6-0, 191:
Great NFL bloodlines. Father (Wendell) played for Falcons and two cousins (Aveion Cason and Ken-Yon Rambo) also played in NFL. Great ball skills and hands (15 career INTs) but not very physical. Won Jim Thorpe Award as nation's top defensive back in 2007.
LB Jerod Mayo / Tennessee, 6-1, 242:
Mayo is a three-year starter who is leaving college after his junior year. He's a versatile player, who can play inside and out. He is strong and productive, but has had knee problems. He also has had some character issues in his past. He was arrested in April, 2005 and charged with felony aggravated assault. Charges eventually were dropped.
Rick from Pitt
On the Giants getting a cornerback
"Cornerbacks are premium in this league. Everybody wants cornerbacks," If they don't get Hall (because another team offers a better deal to Atlanta or they can't negotiate a new contract with Hall's agent), the Giants will likely go to the draft to find their corner. And while it's still extremely early in the process, there's a chance they could wind up with their second consecutive winner of the Thorpe Award (for best defensive back in college football) after drafting Aaron Ross last year.
Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason is projected by many draft gurus to be selected late in the first round or early in the second. A few scouts, who requested anonymity because they don't want to publicly reveal their team's draft boards, agreed Cason is currently a late-first to early-second selection. The Giants, at No. 31 overall, are likely taking a long, hard look at Cason.
At 6-0, 191 pounds, Cason has a similar build to Ross'. And like Ross, Cason played a lot of zone coverage in college but has a long build -- something the Giants knew would help Ross play tough on receivers at the line of scrimmage. Cason has also shown the ability to play man-to-man coverage.
Plus, he's got a lot of confidence he can do it all.
"A good cover guy, who can play man (and) zone," Cason said yesterday when asked to describe a shutdown cornerback. "Good tackler, good awareness on the field and knows what's going on in the backfield, knows where his help is on the field. And just pretty much knows (everything) overall defensively and makes pla
Of course, a player who falls under that description would likely be an early first-round pick. Concerns about his speed are a reason Cason isn't up there.
Perhaps the Giants will relate -- and be impressed -- enough to make Cason their latest attempt to firm up the corners of their defense.
Rick from Pitt
Prospects the Giants may lean toward in the draft!
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