I am not sure you would believe me if I tell you how I highly I think of Jerry Reese.

Despite only being a General manager for three years, I think he has quickly cemented himself as a top five G.M. in this league. I mean he has a long way to go be in Bill Polian’s class (he who orchestrated 4 BILLLS teams to Superbowls and chose Manning over Leaf).

Reese has my own personal highest graded drafts the past three years (to me the Bengals are second).

However, with the recent problems on the Giants people are starting to question his wisdom.

“Oh the Giants should have traded for Braylon Edwards”

“they suck, yadda yadda yadda”

But let’s look at facts.

New York Giants: 14

St. Louis Rams: 14

Kansas City Cheifs: 15

Colts: 15

Baltimore Ravens: 18

Philadelphia Eagles: 20

New England Patriots: 22

Minnesota Vikings: 23

Denver Broncos: 24

New Orleans Saints: 27

 

Anyone have any idea what that number is?

That’s the number of players on a random sampling of teams throughout the league of players who are in their 6th or later year in the National Football League.

Notice anything?

A Lot of BAD Teams are Inexperienced.

The New York Giants are one of the YOUNGEST teams in the league!

And they have been, but they have been super competitive. This team is YOUNG

And there are two areas where the team is very young.

Wide Reciever and Secondary.

The eldest member of the Wide Receiver corps is 4th year players Domenik Hixon, Derek Hagan, and Sinorice Moss.

The eldest member of the secondary is 5th year player Corey Webster and 5th year player C.C. Brown (who has missed a couple of years because of injuries).

 

The New York Giants most experienced players are Jeff Feagles, Danny Clark, Fred Robbins, and Shaun O’hara. These are the only players with 10 or more years of experience in the N.F.L.

This team IS talented, but it is young.

Young players suffer from incosistency.

It just happens.

That’s what’s part of the problem with this team. They are not playing consistent.

The other problem is that the Giants are suffering injuries all over the field.

Really, they shouldn’t even be competitive with all the injurires they’ve had this season.

Canty is  suppose to be our primary run stuffer-out.

Boley is supposed to be the player to cover Tight Ends and Running backs-out.

Kenny Phillips is our primary cover safety-out.

Jay Alford was supposed to add a pass rush burst at Defensive tackle becuase Robbins is getting old and coming off surgery-out.

Aaron Ross gives the secondary depth.

 

People want to complain about Reese because he didnt’ have the foresight to have enough depth in the secondary, but no one is being honest with the fact that teams HAVE To make choices about what units to leave short on depth.

Teams only have 53 players and only 45 of those can dress.

With 11 starting offensive players, 11 starting defensive players and a kicker and punter that means each unit gets one backup on game day.

The Giants recognizing that Fred Robbins and Barry Coefield were coming off injuries (as well as Osi) decided they needed depth along the Defensive line. Also knowing that the Giants were VERY young at wide receiver knew that there would be inconsitencies at the position and they should have a variety of options to find someone to make plays each week. They also chose to carry a good amount of cornerbacks (Webster, Thomas, Dockery, Johnson, Ross)

In order to have depth at DL and WR the Giants had to cut back on other positions: they went short on three major positions: TE, Safety, and QB.

The Giants also brought in a Former starter for another N.F.L. team

We didn’t realize how bad he is.

It’s harder to find a cover safety than it is a “box” safety.

It just sucks.

I also truly believe the Giants believed if something happened to Phillips that they would move Terrell Thomas to safety if they needed too, which is why they went short on safety, HOWEVER as we know Aaron Ross has ruined that becuase he hasn’t made it on the field yet.
But the N.F.L. is a win based league. No excuses.

How do we fix the problem?

The Giants could go with Thomas to safety anyway, insert Bruce Johnson into the starting lineup and let it fly.

OR They could think outside the box.

Cut Sinorice Moss or another player low on the depth chart (or just C.C. Brown). And call…

 

RODNEY HARRISON!!!

Harrison might be one of the dirtiest players to ever live and he’s not the fastest any more

BUT HE”S NOT DUMB!

 

He’ll be able to line up all the secondary members and shouldnt’ get fooled everytime a running back is in the backfield on a passing play.

He also knows what a Cover 2 is suppose to cover.

what do you have to lose?

This defense has been embarassing.

C.C. Brown has been their 9 months and he still doesn’t understand the defense.

Sure Harrison isn’t in football shape, and he doesn’t know the defense, but like I said neither does C.C. Brown!

And I think Harrison could provide a veteran presence on this team that may be the biggest thing missing for the defense.