Giants Draft: What I Mean By Giant Type

I talk a lot about Giant Type OL's or WR's or what have you over the years, and I realize I might not have defined it beyond giving examples.   I think it's an important concept, because I've never ever seen the Giants win anything without tough linemen, great pass rushers,  and physical skill guys.  I've also never seen them win anything without a sturdy, strong armed play action pocket passer.

Because the Giants will still be playing their games outdoors for the foreseeable future, I don't expect the kind of players they need to win to change at all.   Speaking about the outdoors thing, it is really hard to go all the way when you play at least half of your home games in the meadowlands.   I doubt it's any colder than Buffalo or Chicago or Green Bay, but the combination of wet wind and turf has made it brutal on players bodies and passing games.  Look at the Jets.  And you'll remember we've won 3 of our NFC Championships leading up to 21, 35 and 42 (that was in GB, but it counts) in windy and super wind chilly conditions.   And you cannot win those kind of games with indoor wussies.   You just can't.

Back in the `80s, when we were really good for the first time in my life,  we used to win because we were tougher than everyone else.  The 49ers were dirtier, but we used to beat them up.   The Redskins had a great OL, but their QB's couldn't take it from us and their pass rushers were not as great as ours.

So when you look at draftable players, you can pretty much take off the list a lot of the warm weather and dome guys, because they're just not gonna be sturdy and tough enough for the Meadowlands.  I loved Ike Hilliard, and I wouldn't question his toughness for a hot second, he was fearless,  but he wasn't sturdy and was constantly diminished by injuries -- dude could really play, too.   And yes, it is fair to still hate Brian Dawkins and laugh when he preaches.

So whether you embrace global warming or not, it's not going to change the Meadowlands for the next few seasons so you should hope the Giants pick a bunch of sturdy guys later this week.    Even Jerrel Jernigan who I like and wanted them to draft is hurt all the time.  So even on the side of playmakers and skills guys, you have to go for sturdy.

That's the crux of why I like power receivers for us instead of warm weather sprint champions.  Some of the other good teams are realizing this too, speed is great, but toughness is greater.  If you can get both, you're in luck.   I actually think Odell Beckham Jr. has both.  He's shorter than I'd prefer but he's not small and has big hands and feet and can break tackles.  And I'm sure there are some days when he's already 200 and that's good for his size.

Some of the reasons why it's tough to find Giant type players these days has to do with the decline of Big 10 and North East football which used to feed the Giants rosters.  Also there are more domes.  So the Giants have to look at guys in their outdoor games and try to figure out if they're tough enough.   Also, sometimes they get so enamored with one dimension or another they pick a guy who doesn't have the requisite toughness.  Will Beatty had long arms and good feet but he lacks some toughness and competitiveness and that's why he's not a great player.  So it's important not to fall in love with AA unless the rest of the package is there.

When you think of the great Giant teams you think of the tough guys like Carson, Bavaro, Snee, Seubert and Brandon Jacobs, who not only did their jobs at a high level but were also crazy tough and exhausting/dangerous to compete against.  These are the Giant Types.  And I don't think you can pick them and think you can make them tougher or sturdier.

So our board should have the Giant Types in blue letters, and whenever possible, we should be taking from that list. We should not be taking guys who project best to domes, WCO's and Tampa 2's.

Later on, I'll try to figure out why we haven't drafted a good linebacker since Armstead.   That's embarrassing.   We're getting close!