Sorry for the lack of updates from late on Day 1 -- we're in the basement of Giants Stadium, home of dial-up internet and the world's smallest big-screen TV.
Zak DeOssie is the story right now. Yes, he's a beast -- 6-4 1/2, 250 -- and he figures to vie for the long-snapper job right away and be the sort of special-teams animal that TC will love.
He's a SLB, which means if he has as good a camp as he had a combine, Kawika Mitchell might just end up being a WLB if Gerris Wilkinson doesn't pan out. Love the debate on the comments, Rich and Ralph -- oh, and Rich, Ralph meant that Aaron Ross was third on the Giants' draft board, not Mel Kiper's.
As to the second- and third-round picks, after which I sprinted home to grab some Zs before coming back:
-- Gotta say I really like the Steve Smith pick. Not just to parrot Jerry Reese, but the kid is a gamer, he's used to not being the star of the show and he'll be a steadier presence than the other, injury-prone WRs. He's small, so he may end up being one of those injury-prone guys, since he's pretty fearless over the middle, but it seems to be a good pick.
-- Don't know much about Jay Alford, but he gets to the QB well and could be the DT who finally kicks William Joseph to the curb. Figure Alford to be behind Fred Robbins, with Barry Cofield and Marcus Bell manning the NT spot. Far cry from last off-season, when DT was the biggest hole on the defense. Still, I bet the Giants could have gotten Alford in the fourth round.
-- Just got off the conference call with Zak and Steve DeOssie. The son was trying to keep his emotions in check, but the old man was as wild and exuberant as he ever was as a player. "When I got into the Giants locker room (on my visit last week), I immediately called my Dad to see which locker was his," Zak said. "He pointed me to it, right across from LT's. He asked if I could feel the greatness coming out of it."
"We didn't emphasize trying to get to the NFL. We emphasized real life," Steve said. "He loves football, absolutely loves it. He loves learning about football, he loves the violence, loves the action, loves the challenge. That's what's similar between us. In terms of sheer athletic ability, there's very little similar."
More on the way... Maybe a FB and an OL?
Comments (1)
Thanks for the camio. I think that the steve smith pick was the best pick for the value. i argee with the alford stuff too, he would have dropped to the 4th, and they could have gotten similar talent even later. the best thing about him is that he will push joseph out, ha. i like what i see with this draft, though smart kids. i think the deossie pick is great. i think that he will end torbor, and keuhls career as giants. he is a ST gem and could eventually step in and play LB. even if he dosent, he is a solid back up SLB and MLB, a lifetime LS, and ST standout, for many years. what the heck why not in the 4th round. he will be a fan fav with the young and old giants fans. i hope they get a big strong FB in round 5, unless crosby is there.