Draft Review Pt. 2: The Back Seven

Patrick Graham must be a happy man.  Over days 2 and 3, the Giants used seven of their nine picks on back seven defenders. There's a classic comedy you might want to watch during lockdown called, "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid," it stars Steve Martin as a private eye named Rigby Reardon. Whenever Rigby would get in a jam, he'd consult his reminders that read, "What would Marlowe do?" Of course, meaning what would Raymond Chandler's classic PI, Philip Marlowe would do. If you haven't read Chandler or seen "The Big Sleep" or "Murder, My Sweet" do that now then come back.

Anyway, the point is, whenever Graham has mission he probably asks, "What would Belichick do?"  At least that's what it has looked like in the draft and free agency. On defense Belichick believes in building back to front.  And, frankly, with the deep and diverse DL the Giants have built, that makes the most sense. So that what that's what the Giants did. They took one safety, one slot corner, one boundary corner, and four linebackers.

Xavier McKinney, whom they took instead of trading down, is being viewed as a steal. McKinney played 4 different positions in Saban's amoebic defense. He is freakishly instinctive,  for a Giant defense that has been short on instincts since since Jesse Armstead hung em up. Not only that bu McKinney was considered the alpha dog for the Crimson Tide and was the MVP of a bowl game.  Also, he's big time leader who gets the DB's lined up correctly.

In free agency. the Giants hired LB Blake Martinez, in part because, like Antonio Pierce, he can get the front seven lined up pre-snap.

Think about this.  For the last two years the Giant defense has looked uncoached, with the exception of the few games Ryan Connelly played before blowing out his ACL.  So, now, not only have they hired a man Blake Martinez called the "smartest coach" he's ever known, but he seems to have a plan.

In the fourth, the Giants took, UCLA CB Darnay Holmes.  Like Joe Morris, Holmes is short at 5'9" but not small at 195.  He's crazy fast, though he only ran a 4.48 at the combine, he's run sub 4.3 in other testing. He's also got good hands and ball skills. They're probably going to make him a slot corner, which he didn't play until he got to the Senior Bowl, but he did finish UCLA in two years, so learning doesn't seem to be one of his issues. Exciting guy to have.

In the sixth, the Giants took, PSU LB Cam Brown. Sean Spencer "Coach Chaos" just came from Penn State so he knows this prospect well, so Cam counts as a ringer (as did Thomas, McKinney and Lemieux through the first 5 rounds). He needs to add weight, but they obviously think he can.

In the seventh, the Giants took two guys from the Minnesota defense. Not sure what the connection is, but edge guy Carter Coughlin is undersized, but fast and crafty and could be a really valuable rotational pass rusher, as well as a demon on specials and possible kick blocker.  They also took surly CB Chris Williamson He's a very physical corner who can get out of control. He's also played slot corner.  That gives the Giants 3 or 4 ways to cover the slot with 3 or 4 different guys depending on who the other team is lining up there. The Giants will try to get him under control, while he amps up the competition with Baker, Beal, Love and Ballentine.

They also took South Carolina semi-guided missile LB TJ Brunson. He's another guy who is over aggressive like Lamar McGriggs used to be, and like with Lamar, they'll have to get him to play under control, but he will, if there is a camp, make it more dangerous.

They also took Georgia LB, Tae Crowder.  Another ringer.

So, with the draft the Giants eschewed big wide receivers and center prospects and loaded up with tough and talented ringers for the OL and back seven of the defense. They added a coach on the field in McKinney, a slot corner, and some physical competition at the CB and LB positions. This was an exercise in team building, not collecting Christmas ornaments or other shiny objects. This was very much what Belichick would do.