May 26th, 2010 
Jesse Bartolis 
Posted in 
Taken from: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/11/05/sports/05giants.1.600.jpg
Up next in our series is the frist player that I’m profiling that you can say is an established player in the N.F.L. But here’s the last profile I did that you might have missed: S Kenny Phillips
Mathias Kiwanuka is a DE/Strong Sidelinebacker who has had four very solid years with the New York Giants and is entering the final year of his contract, but has not been spectacular in any one season with the New York Giants.
The question about Kiwanuka is how much of his “progress” is to blame on Kiwanuka’s abilities, how much is it to blame on the Giants testing him out at another position (similar to the Yankees fiddling around with Joba) and how much of his numbers have to do with having to share the position with Osi Umeniyora.
Before we can look at Kiwanukas future, we must first look at his past.
Let’s look at what Kiwanuka was “suppose” to be when he entered the 2006 N.F.L. Draft.
| FantasyfootballJunglePros: I dont think anyones stock has fallen as far as “Kiwi’s” has this season. Once considered a lock at a top 10 pick has now fallen to either a late 1st or early to middle 2nd rounder in this years draft. Has great athletic ability and I still feel that he could be a great DE at the next level. Good size for a DE at around 6-5/256 and solid speed, ran around a 4.75, 40. | |||
| Cons: His only fault is that he dosent play to his potential 100% of the time. Some plays he’ll make unbelievable moves on an OL and sack the QB, but on other plays he’ll get slapped around and knocked to the ground. | |||
Overall: I think he could be a real sleeper in this years draft as he could fall into the 2nd round. Love his athletic ability but question his dedication to the game, and that could hurt him. Possible fits for Kiwi could be Tampa at #23, the Jets at #29 or Seattle at #30. I dont see him falling anywhere past Detroit in the 2nd round. A sleeper pick for Kiwi could be New England at #21.
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| Pros: Has the height and long arms wanted by most NFL teams. Has great pass rushing skills and and can pressure the quarteback nearly every play. |
| Cons: Forgets to play the run and needs to add bulk to do so. Needs to be polished on using his hands but has potential in that area. Needs to hit the weights. |
| Overall: Could be a big risk in the NFL as a consistent defensive end. But overall seems like a solid pass rusher for a team in need. |
What did the scouting reports say before Kiwianuka entered in the draft?
That the Giants got very solid if not good value for their pick at #32 and that Kiwanuka was a hard working DE who would be able to provide a boost as a rushing defensive end, but that there might be some concerns about his ability as a run defender.
What have we seen from Kiwanuka at the N.F.L. Level?
He has 19.5 sacks in four years, and only three this past season. 2008, when Osi Umeinyora was injured Kiwanuka had 8 sacks in 16 starts (not bad).
According to profootballfocus.com in 2009 Kiwanuka was the 34th best DE (for a 4-3 defensive) with a positive 3.4 pass rush ranking and a positive 0.6 run stoppage rating. He was 25th overall rushing the QB and 35th overall playing the run.
That is solid, but no spectacrular.
And that’s what Kiwanuka has been in his career, solid but not spectacular.
But he has shown some flashes.
There was a four game stretch this past season in October ( @ KC, vs Oak, at NO, vs Arizona) where had three sacks in four games.
But the rest of the season he had no sacks.
Mathias Kiwanuka is 6-5 265 pounds. He’s a hard worker. He doesn’t get pushed around in the run game, and he has some pass rushing ability.
But does he have more?
Can Mathias Kiwanuka break out this season and have 11 or 12 sacks?
That is the kind of ability the Giants were hoping for when they drafted him in the first round, and while he hasn’t shown that yet. He has shown that he is a solid all around N.F.L football player.
Kiwanuka this year though has to show that he’s worth big time pay and that he’s also worth the playing time. Kiwanuka has to show that he should be on the field and not Osi or Jason Pierre Paul.
He has the perfect opportunity for a breakout season in front of him?
Can he take it?
Mathias Kiwanuka breakout candidate #9 for the New York Giants.
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Hindsight being 20/20, we should have traded Kiwi before the 09′ season for a second rounder. But he adds excellent depth, so 8 sacks this year with no starts will be acceptable, anything less and I’ll be screaming we should have put JPP on the field.
JPP goes in anyway — I have a feeling Fewell likes a steady diet of ROTATION
Andrew …
Coach Fewell said a rotation isnt for Dlineman, he wants his best players to be in all the time and if they need a rest then they need to let the coach know.
I just dont understand why people dont give Kiwi more props, I think hes more versatile then Osi and I think if we would’ve had decent back ups in 2008 him and tuck wouldnt have wore down and he would’ve had a great year. I really like Kiwi,I feel like hes very consistant, hes good against the run and pass and he can play LB if needed
Doesnt anyone know for sure if the media is going to have access to the OTA tomorrow?
its so early to be ‘certain’ of anything right now. I like Kiwi, and I like seeing Osi and Tuck in together side by side as well. Will it happen that way all the time? No… will JPP get in there and shake things up? YES!
Last year the best line they had was Osi, Tuck, Kiwi, Sintim on third downs… in that order from the QB’s blind side on over. They shut it down every time.
Sintim will hopefully move back to OLB and JPP will step in at DE to provide some youthful punch.
rotation is how they won the damn superbowl… dont ever forget that. they were FRESH all game because of that rotation, playing rookies. Alford’s sack at peak time.
I don’t mind rotation at all, conversely what i mind is playing guys that dont get the job done for extended periods of time.
andrew,
I completely agree with you on a rotation especially because we have ALOT of pass rushing threats, i wasnt going against you i was just letting you know what fewell had said.I think we should completely blow people up on definite passing downs I believe that we should run 5-1-5 in definite passing downs ,with all the pass rushing threats and all the db’s we have its not crazy to say we should NEVER allow anything over 3rd and 10+… Go Giants I can’t wait!
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