NEW YORK – Yesterday was a good day to be a Giants fan. The Mike Francesa Show did their annual broadcast from Giants training camp. This is one of the better shows for Giants fans because we get to hear from everyone including owner John Mara, GM Jerry Reese, Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning and a ton of other players. Although the practices are being held at the Timex Performance Center this year, Mr. Mara confirmed that the team will head to Albany next year to honor their agreement. This has been a hectic week for Big Blue and the team continues to make roster adjustments as the season nears. One of the biggest re-signings this week was S Deon Grant. Fans fell in love with Grant over his no nonsense approach to the game and veteran leadership. The Giants defensive backfield must look like a dangerous minefield to opposing offenses with all of the talent back there. I’m glad we don’t have to play against them.
I have a question for you. What do you do when your special teams have been atrocious for the past two seasons (2009, 2010) and look horrible in their first preseason game of 2011? You eliminate special teams from the game by signing a kickoff specialist that will boot the ball through the endzone and make opposing offenses start on their twenty yard line. Brilliant! Fans were scratching their heads when the G-Men signed a kicker this week, who doesn’t kick FG’s. Yes, you heard me right. K Rhys Lloyd was signed to help the Giants in the special teams department. Lloyd (5’11” 230 pounds) comes to Big Blue from the Carolina Panthers and is known for being a specialist that averages about 67 yards per kickoff. With the rule changes to kickoffs this year that state teams must kick from the 35 yard line, you can see what the team is trying to do. Replacing K Lawrence Tynes isn’t a bad idea but Lloyd has never kicked a regular season NFL FG, so it looks like he will be strictly a special teams weapon for kickoffs. It would be worth keeping Lloyd on the final 53 man roster simply because of how bad the special teams group has played. His roster spot is justified and I think he will be a welcome upgrade to the sloppy play as of late.
The Giants also cut S Cary Harris and WR Samuel Giguere this week, clearing up some roster space for other signings. The tight end position could be a real problem this season. The team might be better off just getting a blocking tight end until they are able to find one that can fit the traditional mold. The Giants did sign veteran TE Daniel Coats (6’3″ 264 pounds) last week and since he only has 30 catches in four NFL seasons, perhaps they intend to use him as that blocker I’m talking about. TE Jake Ballard and TE Travis Beckum should compete for the pass catching TE role. Another big move this week was the return of DE Osi Umenyiora to practice. The Giants need Osi on the team and I’m glad he was able to stick it out this year and honor his current contract. If Umenyiora has another season like he did last year, it will be impossible not to pay him what he is asking for. The guy deserves to be paid according to his on-field production. The Giants will play the Bears next on Monday night in the Meadowlands at 8 P.M.
Are you starting to feel more comfortable with the direction the Giants are headed in for 2011?
RD – nygreporter
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I was angry a couple of weeks ago with the g-men looking like they were asleep through free agency,and now looking at deon grant returning and then signing k.rhys loyd from the panthers to kick off,im feeling as if slowly but surely the g-men have a plan,i know we need a few missing pieces,but im starting to believe in jerry reese again.i love the idea of the blocking tight ends,especially with the o-line having questions,and i believe travis beckum will show up huge for big blue this year, as well as the wideouts.all and all,im starting to get happy with our team.
Hey Bobby, I wasn’t angry a couple of weeks ago but I sure was concerned. Jerry Reese has no choice but to be a pragmatist when it comes to the roster. So many things changing all of the time in the NFL and so many players to try and make happy. It’s a whirlwind and something that must be extremely stressful. I would never pit down my own team and could never understand the fair weather fans that do that on twitter and the internet. Have faith until the man proves you wrong I say. God Bless!
i have to agree,let the people who know what there doing,do it.its funny how i get to the point of thinking i know whats right for an organization lol,i also know that this is a team that will be playing to prove a lot of people wrong this season.im looking forward to what i call,the chip on our shoulders game against philly.i have faith that big blue is going to be a lot better than projected this season.god bless you too mr.domaine,and keep those great articles coming.
Hey man, you’re not alone lol we all think we are mini-GM’s out here to some degree. It doesn’t make us wrong or right but we clearly can read the big picture without getting emotional, ya know? We need to beat Philly tis year, just for the psychological value alone. I totally agree with you on that one. I appreciate the compliments too buddy.
you hit the nail on the head as far as the psychological boost that would give big blue this year. after desean jackson ran that ball back last year,i needed therapy myself,just ask my wife lol.have a great weekend.
lol you and me both buddy. I probably could have used some therapy myself after that Eagles game. Avenge us Big Blue!! Enjoy the weekend Bobby!
Im looking forward to seeing much improvement on that o-line tonight mr. domaine.i keep hearing whispers from quite a few nfl analysts,that the new york giants will be well in the mix this season and that so called dream team they pick to win it all,might not be all that successful.flying under the radar seems to suit the g-men,like coughlin always says,better to do the talking on the field.i hope we see a lot of talking on that field tonight and for the rest of the season.i think the plan is taking shape and the questionable o-line will begin to gel very soon.anticipating all the good play talk in the next article.
I am looking forward to tonight’s game as well. The Giants have a very talented team, there is no doubt about that. Te key is going to be the offensive line in 2011. We have good WR’s and RB’s. The TE’s need work and the special teams are bad. I’m not worried about the defense under Perry Fewell. But if Manning can’t stand up and throw the ball, we’re in trouble. That O-Line is the key to the whole season in my opinion. I will write an article tonight following the game. Enjoy!