Draft Review: New York Giants

1st Round, Pick #19:  Justin Pugh OT Syracuse

For a team that normal goes best player available and sticks to their board, this pick is surprising.  Pugh was getting a lot of attention, but he isn't worth a first round pick.  Pugh has good fundamentals, quickness, and footwork.  But his lack of strength and bulk really cost him a lot.  Pugh doesn't have the length to play tackle and doesn't have the strength to move inside to guard.  He can't anchor in against a good bull rush against defensive ends, so why would he be able to do that against NFL defensive tackles?  Horrible pick!
Pick Grade:  F

2nd Round, Pick #49:  Jonathan Hankins DT Ohio State

What a great value the Giants got with this pick.  Hankins was a fringe first round pick and to get him in the late second is nice.  Hankins fits the Giants very well because he has some versatility to his game.  He can play both defensive tackle spots which helps him see the field more and help when they move lineman around.  Hankins has good quickness and agility for his size, but still needs to improve his pass rushing skills.  He'll likely see the field on early downs where he can clog up the middle and help their run defense.
Pick Grade:  A

3rd Round, Pick #81:  Damontre Moore DE Texas A&M

Do you remember when Damontre Moore was once widely considered as the #2 overall pick for the Jaguars?  Well a poor combine and some off the field concerns really sent him falling on draft day.  However the Giants got a complete steal here.  Watch Moore on film and you'll see a dominant pass rusher that was unstoppable in SEC play.  The Giants have a strong locker room and should be able to keep him in check.  Moore will help fill Osi Umenyiora's role as a pass rusher until he develops enough to be a full time starter.  The talent is definetly worth the gamble here in the third round.
Pick Grade:  A+

4th Round, Pick #110:  Ryan Nassib QB Syracuse

I've never been a big fan of Ryan Nassib and the talk that he was going to go in the first or early second round was just ludacris to me.  He is a smart QB but doesn't have that good of an arm to be a good NFL starter.  Probably just a backup.  However Nassib didn't go that high and was taken here in the fourth round to be Eli Manning's backup.  This will allow Nassib to sit back learn and develop and become a better QB.  The Giants really don't have much for help if Eli goes down, so taking Nassib here will help them out.  Nassib falling here probably helps prevent him from becoming a flop.
Pick Grade:  B+

5th Round, Pick #152:  Cooper Taylor S Richmond

After the past two three picks were good, the Giants went right back to the questionable route.  Taylor is a big (6'4 230) safety who really isn't that great of an athlete.  He isn't fluid and doesn't have great speed.  That hurts him at safety and then add in that he doesn't have the size to play linebacker.  The Giants will probably look to have Taylor help out at safety when they go into their nickel package where like to bring Antrell Rolle down as a nickel back.  But I really wonder how well he'll be in that role.  But you would think they could have taken somebody else here and gotten Baccari Rambo or Robert Lester in the sixth or seventh rounds and had a better player.
Pick Grade:  D

7th Round, Pick #225:  Eric Herman G Ohio

Even though the Giants and Eli throw the ball a lot, they are still a run oriented team.  Because of that they still want offensive lineman that are better run blockers, especially guards.  So here in the seventh round they are looking for player who have potential to develop into a quality backup or an eventual starter.  Herman was a four year starter at Ohio who is a nasty blocker that is always going through the whistle.  Herman will have to battle for a spot on the roster, but he fits with what they want to do.
Pick Grade:  C

7th Round, Pick #253:  Michael Cox RB UMass

In the seventh round a lot of teams are normally taking flyers on potentinal guys and hoping that they turn out to be contributers.  Michael Cox barely played at Michigan and then transfered to UMass after graduation to take advantage of the graduate transfer rules.  Because of this he doesn't have a lot of experience or game film.  However he does have the size and average speed needed to play in the league.  However Cox is going to have an upward climb to make the team with the Giants already having a stable of backs they trust.  I would have liked to see them use this on a tight end like Joseph Fauria or even Onterio McCalebb if they were going to take a RB.

Pick Grade:  D

Overall Grade:  C

Position Breakdown: Offensive Tackles

For the longest time the offensive tackle has been one of the most important positions in football.  Keeping the quarterback upright and opening holes in the run game 

Elite Prospects
Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
DJ Fluker, Alabama

Luke Jockel and Eric Fisher are the top two tackles in this draft.  Both are elite level tackles who have everything NFL teams want out of a left tackle.  Fisher is a better athlete and a little bit longer, but Joeckel is a better run blocker and more proven against top level competition.  Joeckel is the safe pick where as Fisher might have the more potential.  Also fitting into this group is DJ Fluker.  Fluker isn't my third ranked tackle and probably will never play left tackle in the NFL.  But despite that, he is still an elite level player.  Fluker is a massive man who has great strength and is a better athlete than people think.  But he just doesn't have that lateral quickness that you need to man the left size.  He'll be an instant starter and the potential to be a Pro Bowler.

Boom or Bust
Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
Menelik Watson, Florida State
Terron Armstead, Arkansas Pine-Bluff

Every year we see players that come into the draft with a lot of raw talent.  They have the physical skills to be great, but run the risk of becoming a huge flop.  The dreaded Boom or Bust label.  This year we have three players that really fit into this category.  Lane Johnson is the third rated tackle in this class and has a great chance to go in the top 11 picks.  A former quarterback he has the size and athletic ability teams like.  But teams worry about his strength and experience at the position.  Menelik Watson is a former basketball player whose only played two years of football.  He picked the game up pretty quick and footwork is top notch.  He's only played right tackle in college, but has the skills to be a left tackle.  Terron Armstead was the star of the Combine breaking all sorts of records, but he is more than a workout warrior.  He uses that athletic ability as a top level pass protector.  But the way he run blocks isn't going to get it done in the NFL.  He is going to need some serious coaching up.

Right Tackles
Brennan Williams, North Carolina
Chris Faulk, LSU
Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin

The top guys is who everybody wants to talk about, but for years teams have been able to find quality starters in middle to late rounds.  Mitchell Schwartz was a second round pick and started at RT day 1 for the Cleveland Browns.  J'Marcus Webb was a 7th round pick who has started the past two years at LT for the Chicago Bears.  This year we have a few guys here that have the potential to become starters either right away or pretty soon.  Brennan Williams has the athletic ability of a left tackle, but his pass blocking skills keep him on the right side.  But if a team that runs a zone blocking scheme that needs a right tackle could insert him in right away.  Unlike Williams, Chris Faulk and Ricky Wagner both played left tackle, but that's not where they project in the NFL.  Both Faulk and Wagner are big strong powerful blockers.  They uses their size and strength to move defenders off the ball.  They lack the elite athletic ability and footwork to succeed at left tackle, but teams that run man blocking schemes will look to them to open up holes on the right side in the running game. 

Question Marks
Justin Pugh, Syracuse
Vinston Painter, Virginia Tech
Luke Marquart, Azusa Pacific

Much like the boom or bust category, the players that fit into the Question Marks are prospects who could be good, but there are just too many question marks about them.  Justin Pugh is a familiar name to some because he is getting a lot of attention from some experts.  However I see a lot of question marks.  Pugh has good athletic ability and looks like he could be a good LT.  However he has short arms and lacks good strength.  Pugh is going to have to find the right fit and scheme to be successful.  Vinston Painter is another name that stood out at the Combine with a good showing of athletic ability and raised some eyebrows.  However Painter was unassuming at Virginia Tech.  Was he a poor scheme fit?  Or just a workout warrior?  Luke Marquart is a mountain of a man (6'8 315) but coming from Azusa Pacific nobody really knows anything about him.  Maybe that's why 29 teams came to watch is Pro Day.  Marquart is a former basketball player who is still learning the position.  However he was coached by NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Slater and provides a lot of intrigue to NFL team.s

Player Profile: Justin Pugh

Justin Pugh

Height:  6'5
Weight:  301
School:  Syracuse
Position:  Offensive Tackle
Rank:  #9 Offensive Tackle
Projection:  5th Round

Strengths
-Experienced.  Started 37 of 37 games.  All at Left Tackle
-Has room to add bulk to frame
-Very quick (1.67 10 yard split.  3rd fastest for offensive lineman)
-Does a great job of getting set in his pass pro
-Moves well latterly to mirror defenders
-Big hands that help in controlling defenders
-Shows good technique in run blocking.  Very sound
-High Football IQ.  Understands scheme and stunts/blitzes
-Strong Character with excellent work ethic.
-Durable.  Never missed a game because of injury

Weaknesses
-Short Arms (32") for a tackle
-Doesn't have much strength which causes him to have a weak anchor.
-Needs to add weight.  Played under 300 lbs
-Doesn't have the ideal height for a tackle
-Doesn't play with great pad level.  Can be stood up by defenders
-Not an over powering run blocker.  More shield blocker

Summary
Before the draft process started there was a lot of buzz about Justin Pugh possibly making his way into the late first round consideration.  However Pugh was dominated for most of the Senior Bowl and it really raised some questions about where he should play in the NFL.  Pugh has the athletic ability to be a LT.  He moves well, has good footwork, and can mirror defenders.  Add in his good technique and you have something to work with.  But the big issues lie in his size.  He's only 6'5 and barely 300 lbs.  He played most of his career in the high 280s.  With his lack of bulk and not dominant strength he can get pushed around a lot.  There are several times on tape where the defender was able to get under him and move him around or had him pushed back into the QB.  There is talk that Pugh might be a guard, but I don't know how he would do dealing with stronger defensive tackles.  Right now I'd think his best fit would be as a Right Tackle in a zone blocking scheme.  There he could use his athletic ability and technique to beat defenders.  But don't look for him to go anytime in the first couple of days.  Pugh might be a 4th round pick at best.