Giants Core Begins with Draft

As start of the regular season approaches and I take a look at the Giants roster, it came to my mind that this team is truly built through the draft. Just like any other championship caliber team, some spots are also filled with free agents that can come in and fit in to make an impact. Below I will list the Giants starters and significant back ups for bother offense and defense and list the round they were drafted in.

QB - Eli Manning (1Rd. #1 pick Draft Trade) *

HB - Brandon Jacobs (Draft 4th Rd) *

HB - Ahmad Bradshaw (Draft 7th Rd) Leading rusher in Super Bowl XLII

WR - Hakeem Nicks (Draft 1st Rd)

WR - Ramses Barden (Draft 3rd Rd)

WR - Steve Smith (Draft 2nd Rd) *
WR - Mario Manningham (Draft 3rd Rd)

WR - Sinorice Moss (Draft 2nd Rd)

TE - kevin Boss (Draft 5th Rd) *

OT - David Diehl (Draft 5th Rd) * All Pro

OG - Chris Snee (Draft 2nd Rd) * All Pro

DT - Barry Cofield (Draft 4th Rd) *
DT- Jay Alford (Draft 3rd Rd)

DE - Justin Tuck (Draft 3rd Rd) * All Pro

DE - Osi Umenyiora (Draft 2nd Rd) * All Pro

DE - Mathias Kiwanuka (Draft 1st Rd) Could start for any team in the NFL

LB - Bryan Kiehl (Draft 4th Rd)

LB - Clint Sintim (Draft 2nd Rd)

LB - Jonahton Goff (Draft 5thRd)

CB - Aaron Ross (Draft 1st Rd) *

CB - Corey Webster (Draft 2nd Rd) *

CB - Terrell Thomas (Draft 2nd Rd) Could start for most teams in the league
S - Kenny Phillips (Draft 1st Rd) *

S- Michael Johnson ((Draft 7th Rd) *

* = Starter

As you can see above, this organization has truly established its foundation through the draft. In the NFL unlike most other leagues, success starts with building the core of your team through the draft. Not only do the Giants cherish their picks but they do a great job picking the right players to fit in and contribute.

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Carolina Panthers: Game 1 Preseason

The first football game of the 2009 season is just a few days away. Below, I will breakdown the key things to look for in this game. As we know, winning doesn't matter. All that matters is that the Giants look good in key parts of their team.

• First team offense: Most likely Eli and the rest of the starting offense will only play 1-3 drives. The key is whether or not they can move the ball down the field. Especially with the new starting receivers.
• First team defense: I will be looking to see how Chris Canty is adjusting to being a Giant and the style of defense that is run. I will also be paying attention to how Bill Sheridan is doing getting acclimated to being the defensive coordinator. Most importantly want to see a very good pass rush with a rotation of guys and how all of that works. Kenny Phillips will be someone to watch out for since he is now a starter.
• Wide Receivers: Everyone is excited to see Hakeem Nicks & Ramses barden make their Giants debut's. So far it seems like they care catching everything. But that is in practice. Lets see how they do in a game. Sinorice Moss will be someone to watch, to see how he performs in a game situation. Since he has been limited in his career so far. And, don't forget Mario Manningham, it will be nice to see if he can have a productive preseason.
• Position Battles:

QB (3rd spot) Rhett Bomar & Andre Woodson

HB (2&3 spots) Ahmad Baradshaw, Danny Ware & Andre Brown

WR I would say it is wide open, with the only exception Steve Smith being the #1 guy right now.

CB (Nickel) Kevin Dockery & Terrell Thomas

***I will be breaking down these position battles in the coming weeks...***

What are looking for during Mondays pre-season opener?

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