New York Giants

New York Giants player profiles, Jonathon Goff

The New York Giants selected Vanderbilt middle linebacker Jonathon Goff in round five of the 2008 NFL Draft. Goff has good size at 6-2, 245 lbs, quickness and is considered very intelligent and a high character guy.

He will likely play on special teams and serve as Antonio Pierce's back up.

Goff is a former All American who led Vanderbilt in tackles the past two seasons. He was also a team captain who contributed to game plans and meetings with the coaching staff.

Here is the scouting report:

Has good upper body thickness and muscle tone, but must improve his lower body thickness and strength…Has a wide chest, broad shoulders, flat back, tight abdomen, large hands and very good arm length…Physical player who might not explode behind his hits, but has the hand strength to drag the ball carriers down…Better when playing in the box than in space, but shows good awareness and urgency closing on plays in front of him…Has a great work ethic, watching lots of film and even sitting in on coaches’ meeting to help with game planning…Leader by example and highly intelligent sort who needs just minimal reps to retain…Plays with good effort and shows the high intensity to mix it up with bigger blockers in the trenches…Wants to make every play and is generally in position to do so, but only when playing in the box…Can read keys and locate the ball quickly, showing the instincts and vision to react to the run with good urgency (has good awareness in man coverage, but tight hips make him just adequate in mirroring the receiver)…Quick to fill the gaps with power and when he keeps his hands active, he can make tackles inside and hold ground at the point of attack (has no problem splitting double teams, but is susceptible to cut blocks)

…Shows good power taking on bigger blockers and a good hand punch to jolt…When he keeps his hands active and inside his frame, he has no problems shedding and creating separation…Does a good job of stacking at the line of scrimmage and it is rare to see him swap out…When he avoids the cut block, he can control the tight end’s movements…Even though he might get cut off at the feet, he does a good job of protecting his chest from blockers…Gives good effort chasing down outside running plays, but just lacks the loose hips to be consistent there (not good playing sideline-to-sideline)…Will use his hands more than his body to catch the ball, but has had just limited opportunities as an interceptor (plays more up near the line than back in the zone)…Has good timing, but just needs to show a more explosive burst on the blitz…Hits the gaps fast and hard and shows good desire closing on the quarter-back from the inside (can’t bend the edge as a pass rusher, though and is best when shooting the gaps instead)…Has good eyes for reading the pocket movement and is not the type that will bite on pump fakes or misdirection…Has the balance and low pad level to slip under most blocks playing near the X’s.

Next we look at Quarterback Andre Woodson.

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New York Giants player profiles, Bryan Kehl

The New York Giants selected a linebacker in round four of the 2008 NFL draft. After the Giants lost Reggie Torbor and Kawika Mitchell to free agency, it was a position that needed addressing.That is exactly what the Giants did in selecting Bryan Kehl out of Brigham Young.

Kehl is an interesting pick, he has good size at 6-2", 242 lbs, great athletic ability, smarts (4.0 GPA), solid work ethic and character, (he took two years off to go on a Church mission....he may not hang much with Shockey...or me for that matter).

He had a reputation at BYU as a play maker who always seemed to be near the ball. The Giants may have gotten a deal in round four.

Here is the scouting report:

   Had broad shoulders, a developing frame with good upper body bulk, tight waist and good bubble, with long arms and soft, natural hands to cleanly field the ball… Shows excellent timing and leaping ability to compete for jump balls at its high point… Has very good weight room strength, but needs to find a way to translate it to the field (does not show a powerful hand punch or punish ball carriers as a tackler)…Runs with a normal stride and quickly accelerates in space…Shows good quickness, agility, and balance on the move…Very smart, productive and hard working athlete that leads by example and always has a high motor...Demonstrates good ability to learn and has good eyes for locating the ball when playing down the line (will lose sight some in zone coverage)…Shows good football instincts and puts in extra hours studying tapes…A team player who is very coachable…Works and trains hard and is a good leader both on and off the field…Plays alert and is instinctive, he is quick to recognize and react to the play, can adjust on the move and has the ability to quickly accelerate and get to the ball... Shows good desire and effort in both short and long pursuit, has the ability to accelerate and get to the ball...Has functional strength at the point of attack, demonstrating the ability to stack and control blocks and to quickly fill and take on blocks and control the point (his problems occur when he “short arms” and leaves his body exposed, as he then struggles vs. double teams)…Uses his hands and strength adequately to take on and shed blocks, but needs to be more consistent…Has quick hands and the ability to slip blocks and work through traffic…Shows the ability to engage and control tight ends and to keep separation in the short area passing game…Exhibits good tackling form, as he will hit and wrap up with proper technique to take the runner down (would be even more effective once he learns to use his weight room strength to punish)...Against the inside run he is decent at the point of attack when trying to control the lead blocker…Quick to fill and take on a block and control the point of attack...On the outside run, he can separate, disengage and work through traffic well, especially in space, as he works hard to get to the ball, showing a good motor and ability to sift through trash…Has the ability to widen with tight-end blocks and to quickly shed to make plays…Separates and disengages from blocks while in pursuit, working through traffic and in space to get to outside runs, as he has enough acceleration to close (will get a bit reckless and out-run plays at times)…Displays good effort on both long and short pursuit, as well as good acceleration to get to the ball…Not used often as a blitzer, but will attack the backfield and use a quick arm-over to defeat the block…Shows good urgency and effort when rushing the quarterback...Is more of a hit-&-wrap-up tackler that a physical one, but has the functional strength on contact to take down the ball carrier…Although not always smooth, he gets to his spots in pass drops/ coverage and shows awareness and the ability to quickly react and adjust with speed and quickness…Shows route and receiver awareness while in zone coverage and is able to extend and catch the ball with ease…Very capable gunner on special teams, doing a nice job of flying down field to break up the wedge.

Next up, we look at the Giants fifth round pick, linebacker Jonathon Goff from  Vanderbilt.

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Giants draft needs/Linebacker

Today we look at the position the Giants have long been famous for, Linebacker. Think of some of the names from the past; LT, Banks, Carson, Reasons, Armstead, Huff, I could go on and on. The  current  Super Bowl winning roster has some players as well.  Antonio  Pierce  is  a  great  leader  on D  and  one  of  the  league's  premier  middle  linebackers.  Mathais  Kiwanuka,  who  was  coming  on strong  last  year  at  his  new  position  before  suffering  a  season  ending  injury  will  be back and ready to go. Gerris Wilkinson came showed promise last year when stepping in for the departed (not dead, but he did go to Buffalo), Kawika Mitchell. Gerris showed excellent speed, anticipation and tackling ability. The newly signed Danny Clark will provide veteran experience and probably compete with Wilkinson at the weak side. I have a feeling this will be a trend...Jerry Reese making these unheralded free agent signings that end up paying dividends (look at Mitchell from last year). Chase Blackburn and Zak Deossie provide quality depth.   

Thus, I don't see this being as big a need position as others do. I feel pretty comfortable with what we have on the roster, but as always, you must improve, especially when you are the defending Super Bowl Champs (sorry....did it again).  I could see this being a 4th, maybe 5th round selection for the G-men. However, if a standout is still there at the 31st spot such as Keith Rivers of USC or Dan Connor of Penn st, Reese would probably have to pull the trigger.

Check back  tomorrow  as we look at the  Defensive line.