2011 NFL Draft: Best Available vs. Immediate Need

April 15, 2011

New York – There is one question every football fan hears at least once every April. That question is, should their team draft for best available or immediate need? I hear this more then enough from tons of people. I have a philosophy to answer this very question. It is based on logic and an understanding of the New York Giants roster and because I am a fantasy football beast. Who should the Giants invest in the most? The offense or the defense? Well, they were both very good in 2010, regardless of missing the playoffs. My guess is that 3 out of 5 rounds will be drafted for defense within the first 5 rounds in 2011.

Which of the two is a better drafting style? I say drafting takes a little bit of both but only because it means drafting for need first in the early rounds. You do this by simply drafting the best available immediate need player. Save the drafting by “best available” for mid to late rounds. Again, this is only my philosophy on drafting in 2011, I’m not claiming to be Nostradamus or anything. I just think it makes a lot of sense to draft this way.

Round 1: I honestly think a team should draft for need in round 1 without question, there is no debating this topic with me. Take the best LB available if you need a LB. The reason I feel this way (particularly with being a Giants fan) is because let’s say a really good defensive end is on the boards at the 19th pick of round 1, he is the Giants highest rated player on their war room board. I would be shocked if the Giants took another DE to add to an extremely deep group of talented guys running the show in that department. Especially in this years draft, if there is a solid 10-year Center or aggressive DT available, take one of those guys please. Don’t just take the highest rated player. If this is what Jerry Reese does then I apologize and mean no disrespect but I think he knows what I mean. I also think he is smarter than that. The players surely do and so do the fans.

Round 2, 3 and 4: These rounds are a bit more tricky. Personally, I am sticking with drafting for need in rounds 1 and 2 (using the best available player at need of course). Rounds 3 and 4 could be a mix of both. I also think there could be some positions that should not be considered at all. Such as the defensive end position in 2011. There is just too much talent on the team to waste a high draft pick on a DE. With Osi, Tuck, Kiwanuka and JPP alone, the Giants pass rush is insane. There has to be one position on offense and defensive that should not waste anyones time. Still send the scouts out and gather all the intel but get some other positions in the mix come draft day.

Rounds 5, 6 and 7: These rounds should all follow the draft by “best available” philosophy to the letter. Considering the reality that 2 out of the 3, drafted in these three rounds, might not make the team. Always take a WR or CB in the 7th round and be sure he is an excellent special teamer. Stack that area for the next three years/drafts, this includes returners and punters now that it has become a problem area.

If someone came up to you and said “Hey, you can only draft 2 defensive positions within the first 5 rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft. What would those positions be?” For myself, I would have to say defensive tackle and linebacker. Canty and Bernard have a lot to prove in 2011. Cofield hopefully stays and gets paid. The LB group has a lot to prove in 2011 too. We need to see some guys step up including LB Clint Sintim who has the fans on his side. LB Phillip Dillard who looked promising last training camp before going down with an injury. LB Adrian Tracy is another young man who suffered an injury but needs to show up in 2011. What about bringing back DT Jay Alford to help out if he is available?

For defense, I’m most confident in our defensive ends followed by our safety group. The cornerbacks come in third on that list to round out my top three. On offense, I am most confident in the QB followed by the wide receivers. The running backs come in third on my top three list. I’m most concerned with the offensive line followed by the tight end group on offense. Hopefully, FB Madison Hedgecock returns to full strength or I could see FB becoming a problem too.

What do you prefer when it comes to drafting, best available or immediate need?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please support the Eric LeGrand charity walk this June 4, 2011! Check it out at http://www.awalktobelieve.org

Leave a Comment » | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Draft, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants History, Giants Mini Camp, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Training Camp, Giants Transactions, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL New York Giants, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Preseason, NYG Regular Season, NYG Reporter, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Update, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Roger Goodell, Steve Tisch, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn, University of Albany, Wellington Mara | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by robdomaine

nygreporter.com and shop.giants.com forge Merchandising Partnership

March 11, 2011

NEW YORK – We have finally locked down a partnership with Shop.Giants.com. That means you can now find official New York Giants merchandise on our website. This is something that I have wanted to do for a while and think our readers will appreciate the convenience of going straight to the official New York Giants team store if they decide they want to buy something. If you want to learn how you can do this for your own website, using your own favorite team, I suggest you check out an affiliate program and learn how to Find a sponsor for your web site. Get paid for your great content.  You get a percentage for using team ads. You will need to get approved and once you do, just become a partner with a merchant, such as shop.giants.com. As you can see, there are no minefields of advertising to maneuver around on nygreporter and we intend to keep it way. However, we do want the fans to have access to Giants products.

You all know that too many advertisements can ruin a good website. Pop ups and the loud ones are avoided like the plague. That is why I will not let ads ruin our website. You will only be able to purchase New York Giants merchandise on this website. Of course, NFL gear for the NFL Draft, NFL Pro Bowl and the Super Bowls to be included too. But you will never find the clutter we have all come to loathe. You can be sure your getting official Giants gear when visiting us here. I mean, think of the possibilities, you have Eli Manning jerseys and  Steve Smith jerseys and you have a host of other Giants jerseys you can choose from as well. You can always get a team hat if you need a gift for a sports fan. You never see anyone get mad over getting a hat. Other items that nobody ever gets mad at receiving are team T-shirts, just make sure you know the right size.

It’s nice to know that you can always just go straight to specific catalog areas if you feel like browsing too. After all, it can get pretty cold in East Rutherford during the winter at New Meadowlands stadium and people will need to dress warm while they wait for the game to start, tailgate gear might be just the thing you’re looking for. I am proud to have Giants products available on my site, I know our readers are people who represent their team to the fullest. All of this talk about “stuff” has me wondering what your most prized Giants possession is? Mine revolve around meeting a player usually but what are yours? Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

What is your most prized New York Giants possession? My favorite is a helmet that Michael Strahan personally signed for me.

RD – nygreporter.com

Please support the Eric LeGrand charity walk this June 4, 2011! Check it out at http://www.awalktobelieve.org

Leave a Comment » | 2010 Fantasy Football, 2010 New York Giants, 2010 NFL Preseason, 2010 NFL Pro Bowl, 2010 NFL Regular Season, 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Draft, 2011 NFL Playoffs, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Pro Bowl, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Bill Parcells, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, Ernie Accorsi, G-Men, George Martin, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants History, Giants Injuries, Giants Mini Camp, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Super Bowl History, Giants Training Camp, Giants Transactions, HELP SECTION, Interviews, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Josh Berman's Update, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, Monday Night Football, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL Combine, NFL Draft, NFL New York Giants, NFL Playoffs, NFL Pro Bowl, NFL Super Bowl, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG All-Time Records, NYG Blog, NYG BREAKING NEWS, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Hall Of Fame, NYG Holiday, NYG Injury Report, NYG Interviews, NYG LIVE Updates, NYG Playoffs, NYG Preseason, NYG Pro Bowl, NYG Regular Season, NYG Reporter, NYG Reporter Sports Special, NYG Site News, NYG Story, NYG Super Bowl, NYG Top Ten, NYG Trade News, NYG Training Camp, NYG Update, NYG Website, nygreporter, Padua's Time Out, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Roger Goodell, Steve Tisch, Sunday Night Football, Super Bowl XLII, Super Bowl XLV, Super Bowl XLVIII, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn, University of Albany, Wellington Mara | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by robdomaine