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Here we are again. Practice soon, Coughlin and the players later.
While we're waiting, has anyone noticed Clint Sintim out there? He's been given a real shot here at strongside linebacker, but hasn't made much of a splash at all. In fact, Keith Bulluck's move this week to the outside could be an attempt to light a fire under the second-year player.
Sintim is saying all the right things -- that he's doing everything he can to improve as a player, that he's happy Bulluck is there sharing his knowlege with him. But to me, it hasn't shown up on the field. Anyone else feel the same way? And is it worrisome?
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Goff, Boley, Wilk, Kehl, Blackie, old Bulluck in addition to DeOssie are all not Pro Bowlers. The competition is weak hopefully a few of them step up. I think the LB situation has been worrisome since week 5 and nothing done in the offseason or training camp has dispelled this.
ReplyDeleteThe linebacker problem is magnified because the Giants have done a very, very, very poor job of drafting them. Do I have to reiterate that the last time we drafted a LB (Carl Banks) #1 was in 1984. This team always had dominating linebackers in the past. The Giants knew their weaknesses and everyone who reads this blog was clamoring for LB's. Reese had opportunities last year and also in this years draft and once again he ignored it. I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteMitch - I believe Mcclain was the one that was destined to be Giant blue, until uncle Al pulled the plug on that dream. I would add that Jessie Armstead in round 8 1993 was a steal, but I understand what you mean. For evey Jessie Armstead in round 8 the NYG's have a Kanavis Mcghee in round 2.
ReplyDeletelets hope Clint Sintim falls in Jessie's category instead of Mcghees.
It appears that Reese has adopted a philosophy that a strong, aggressive DL backed up by strong DBs and safeties means you can "plug and play" guys at LB position. Unfortunately, neither the DL or DBs are THAT strong and both suffer from chronic injury issues, exposing the weakness of the LBs. It also the raises the question, again, is this a team that can afford to spend a first round pick on a project like JPP? Or should that pick have gone towards someone "safer" that could bolster the LB corp, i.e. Sean Lee, who has taken over the starting LB job in Dallas due to Brooking's injury and has looked good so far? If Eli is holding up the Lombardi come February, all will be forgotten. But if NY fails to make the playoffs, I suspect the boys in the press box will have their knives at the ready and Reese will have some questions to answer both in the press and in Mara's office.
ReplyDeleteSintim was an absolute reach, and yes the Giants front office has done a poor job at evaluating LB talent. We're in the habit of plugging in FAs, which is a bad thing. Sean Lee is one example of a missed opportunity, there are others.
ReplyDeleteMany teams have had success with inserting rookies as starters at LB, the Giants make it sound as if Sintim is still on the learning curve. he was a down lineman for the Cavs, and did not display any "freakish" ability. The Giants just don't have the proper metrics for evaluating linebackers.
Sintim was too good in college to be a "reach" where we drafted him. However, I don't think it's unreasonable to start breaking out the "B"-word. He's just not showing NFL talent. I agree with the poster above regarding the poor job the front office does evaluating talent at the LB position overall. I think their record speaks for itself. How many years ago did they draft Jessie Armstead?
ReplyDeleteLou, I think it is too early for the "B"-word. I am going to give the guy some slack for last year due to transition from 3-4 to 4-3. Let's not forget everyone, we are only coming up on 3rd game of the pre-season. There are two weeks left to make adjustments! First of all, I know Ernie will be okay with this, but check out Ed Valentine's post yesterday about the blogosphere and information overload. I think we all tend to over-react a bit. Second, an 18 game season will make all of this worse! No two extra weeks to make adjustments. Dudes will get classified as busts way too prematurely. Everyone was calling for Webster's head, calling him a bust, then BOOM! The dude finally got "it". Will Sintim be the same? Who knows. I just don't think we are giving this guy enough time yet. I think he has shown just as much as Beatty and they are in the same boat basically. By mid-season, if Sintim is blowing every game and proving to be a liability, give me an "I told you so". But right now, give Sintim some more time to develop in his SECOND YEAR!
ReplyDeleteI agree CE, these guys need time. Look at Tuck. The guy was a bench-warmer his first few seasons.
ReplyDeleteNo, the front office hasn't drafted great LBs, but in a 4-3 you don't need great ones. Look at the trio we had in 07: Pierce, Mitchell, Blackburn. And that was good enough to win the SB.
Could we have gotten Lee, absolutely, but a lot of teams (not just the Giants) stayed away from him because of his injury and the fact that Linebacker U hadn't produced a quality LB since...Arrington?
I actually thought the Sintim pick was a good one, so let's wait and see if it starts clicking. He hasn't been in the league long enough to be classified a bust, that's not fair.
All Al Davis's fault....
ReplyDeleteWe probably should have made a bigger push for Dansby than Rolle in free agency, but pick your poison.
Sintim just looks out of place in our system. The guy can definitely hit hard, but he's more of a pass rushing 3-4 OLB or a DE and he's just lost in our scheme.
I'm still more worried about Goff in the middle than I am with Sintim on the outside, but the coaches know best...
Hey Ernie,
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love this blog, why weren't you offered a position at ESPN New York to cover the Giants? Ohm and McManus stink. Obviously I don't want to lose this blog, but that's a position you should have absolutely gotten.
Did you not apply? Was ESPN stupid enough to hire (this is not hyperbole, but fact), the two worst Giants beat reporters in the state. Or could you not work for a blood-sucking company like ESPN.
Just wondering, I'm trying to look out for you Ern.
Doesn't the fact that Ernie is literate automatically disqualify him from working for ESPN? Seriously, if you ever worked for ESPN or ABC (both Disney companies and I worked freeelance, very briefly, for both), you wouldn't ask that question. Both places are companies you work at only if 1) you're 22 and don't know better, 2) you have no talent and therefore will work for basically minimum wage (they LOVE people like that!), or 3) you're neck deep in bills and any paycheck, no matter how poor the working conditions, is better than none.
ReplyDeleteErnie's a hell of a lot better off where he is.
Paul Posluszny, Navarro Bowman, Dan Connor, Tamba Hali...all recent Penn state LB, all playing currently in the NFL...
ReplyDeleteRealistically speaking, the Giants do not place much emphasis on the LB position because they're one of the few teams that do not run a 3-4 scheme. Personally, I wouldn't mind 1 big time play-maker at the position. I think they made a big mistake when they passed on Demeco Ryans, and I think they should have continued with the Kiwanuka experiment at LB. They seem to hit or miss when trying to convert a former DE to a LB, but Kiwanuka showed promise, Adrian Tracy currently shows promise, and Reggie Torbor turned out to be a respectable LB.
ReplyDeleteObviously, Fewell is not going to show his hand before the season, so we may be in for an unexpected surprise. Nonetheless, the Baltimore match-up will be a good barometer. Ray Rice is exactly the type of back that the Giants have had troubles containing.
Anonymous, the Giants have enough injury related issues. Why mention Paul Posluszny? Dan Connor has been nothing more than a special teamer so far, Navarro Bowman is still an unknown commodity, and Tamba Hali was a DE converted to LB.
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly was the point in citing the Penn State LB's?
Right on dweez. Instead of objectivity, ESPN now caters to its leagues and sponsors. In addition, its reporting standard appeals to a low common denominator.
ReplyDeleteTom - If there were any reporting standards, I never heard about them. It's trailer trash broadcasting. Except for football games, I stopped watching ESPN years ago. I coach my son's soccer team and we had to write a "sportscenter" rule than bans all the crap ESPN shows everyday. Showboating, high stepping, posing - you do it, you're benched. I'll watch the Monday Night games, but only with the sound off. Jaws and Gruden should be sent to Guantanamo. If we're going to torture people, let's bring in the best. Listening to that broadcast should be considered cruel and unusual. I had finally had enough when I heard Jaws rip into a QB for about the hundredth time that the "only reason he got sacked was he held onto the ball too long. A NFL QB has to get rid of the ball!". That from a guy who still flinches everytime he hears Lawrence Taylor's name because of how many times he ate Meadowlands turf. You have to love the hypocrisy. Glad Ernie isn't working under the "Mouse". Treat people like they're disposable razors. Use 'em and toss 'em.
ReplyDelete