biggest surprise of preseason?

[fansince62]

Hall and Wilson are challenged in terms of size and athletic ability. It seems reasonable that guys like Amerson, Biggers and perhaps even Chase Minnifield over the course of the season could challenge for starting time.

or Hall slides over to safety

 

[Bulldog]

with Thomas out for the season and Meriweather still wobbly on his knee, safety is the one spot I can see the Redskins signing a veteran.

 

[tshile]

I think in a 3-4 you have to carry a lot of Lb's. You have to be able to rotate them to keep them fresh. One of the reasons the (recently) past giants defenses was so incredibly good was because they were so deep at LB. In the 4th quarter their LB's were fresh and the other teams' O Line was exhausted.

With the offense we have we could easily wind up in situations where our defense can play very, very aggressive early in the game, which can lead to a team being dominate over a season. When you're offense is a threat to put up 30+ points any given game you can go after the other team early.

We have to find a way to keep 6-7 good LB's on the team. Maybe someone is going to have to learn to play special teams.

 

[Fear The Spear]

biggest surprise - Moss proving that he's still got it

 

[Neophyte]

Question for the Group: Does the presence of Brandon Jenkins and Darryl Tapp force Rob Jackson off the final roster?

No, I don't think we let him go. Tapp has been a great surprise but how many years does he have left? Jackson is closer to the beginning of his career than the end while Tapp is just the opposite. Add in the fact that Jackson will always be affordable as he won't ever be a super star and I think it only makes sense that they keep him.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

No, I don't think we let him go. Tapp has been a great surprise but how many years does he have left? Jackson is closer to the beginning of his career than the end while Tapp is just the opposite. Add in the fact that Jackson will always be affordable as he won't ever be a super star and I think it only makes sense that they keep him.

Tapp is only 28, its not like he's ancient. Could have 3-4 solid years left. On top of that, Rob Jackson is 27, only one year younger.

EDIT: they will turn 29 and 28 respectively at the beginning of the season.

 

[Dead Money]

I think in a 3-4 you have to carry a lot of Lb's. You have to be able to rotate them to keep them fresh. One of the reasons the (recently) past giants defenses was so incredibly good was because they were so deep at LB.

What past Giants' defenses? in the 80's? Cause as of late linebacker has been their Achilles heel. As of late running a 4-3 their D linemen have been plentiful and they rotated THEM in well which made them outstanding.

 

[tshile]

What past Giants' defenses? in the 80's? Cause as of late linebacker has been their Achilles heel. But running a 4-3 their D linemen were plentyful and they rotated THEM in well which made them outstanding.

The ones from 2007-2011?

 

[Dead Money]

The ones from 2007-2011?

I get what your saying but they have been rotating their d linemen well since that period of time. The only LB that played worth a damn for them since 08 was our boy antonio pierce. If Anything, I feel that they hid their mediocrity at linebacker well for a long time. I still agree with you though, in regards to our 3-4 defense we need linebackers. One of the ways we suffer by signing all vets though is in special teams. We need to start growing our own in that regard.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

I agree with Kevin - the Giants didn't need great LBs because their DLine was so good.

 

[tshile]

I guess I'm confusing their linebackers with their linemen. Sorry about that.

I hope we do with our linebackers what they did with their linemen.

 

[Dead Money]

I agree with Kevin - the Giants didn't need great LBs because their DLine was so good.

They actually had such a stable of DL that they moved Kiwanuka to linebacker just to get him on the field. Jerry Reese has done some amazing things over there in the draft, hahaha but Kenny Phillips was not one of those things.

 

[Neophyte]

Tapp is only 28, its not like he's ancient. Could have 3-4 solid years left. On top of that, Rob Jackson is 27, only one year younger.

EDIT: they will turn 29 and 28 respectively at the beginning of the season.

Wow. I had no clue. Seems like Tapp has been in the league for over a decade while it feels like we were drafting Jackson just yesterday. My bad.

 

[Bulldog]

The issue though is both players are signed to one year deals and neither will likely be back in 2014 given the starters on the outside. One wonders if Shanahan is thinking Tapp and Jackson are a wash but Tapp is available for 16 games while Jackson is not.

I don't think Jackson is a sure cut, but there is at least a small chance the team goes with the player that is ready to go Sept 9.

 

[Bulldog]

Agreed. I think the coaches were prepared for Minnifield to make an impact last summer before he went down.

 

[fansince62]

I would agree as Jackson was one of my favorite surprises last year and definitely someone that helped this team to the postseason. One wonders how they will fit the numbers in at LB, given that some guys don't play special teams and others like Kehl are special teams 'specialists'.

same issue at DE once jarvis jenkins returns. who makes the roster now that gets dropped when JJ (mr goodtimes) returns?

 

[Bulldog]

I think at DE it is easier to keep a Phillip Merling as a backup for the first 4 games as insurance until Jarvis Jenkins returns than it is to make such decisions at say outside linebacker with Jackson also set to miss the first month.

At OLB, you have a young player in Brandon Jenkins that is a very good athlete and who when healthy was projected to be a first day draft choice. You also have Tapp who seems to be making the most of his opportunity according to Haslett.

It's a tougher decision to sort out the linebackers or the situation at running back than at DE.