Draft Night is Here - My 4 Round Predictions

                  

Tonight all 32 teams set course for 2015 and beyond as the first round of the NFL Draft has finally come. All of the speculation will become reality as the best the collegiate level has to offer take the next (and perhaps biggest) step in their football lives.

For the Giants, it will be imperative to find the player that not only fit the system, but can boost the future to great heights right away much like Odell Beckham did last season. There is a vast crop of talent that is most enticing, so deciding on whom to take will be a very difficult and pressured task. All in all the I feel the Giants will do what's best for them and seek to solidify a hopefully promising future for the organization.

With that said here are my predictions for the Giants fist 4 picks of the draft

Round 1: Brandon Scherff OT Iowa - This pick should be pretty easy. Unless something drastic happens early and a talent better than Scherff falls, this is the guy to take. He's versatile, has great run blocking ability, and will help the offensive line immediately. Considering where the Giants line has been the past 4 years, Scherff is a must have

Other considerable picks: Andrus Peat OT Stanford, Erick Flowers OT Miami

Round 2: Shaq Thompson S (Safety) Wahington - The loss of Antrelle Rolle to Chicago leaves a big hole in in the Giants secondary.  Filling it an with a sideline to sideline to sideline threat like Thompson would make a mice upgrade. He has a bug size to him which could be a detriment, but what he can do on the field makes up for it. He also can double as a linebacker making a rare two way player if they should want to go that route.

Other considerable picks: Eric Rowe S Utah, Preston Smith DE Mississippi State, Eli Harold DE Virginia

Round 3: Henry Anderson DT/DE Stanford - The Giants struggled to stop the run up the middle and really need to get more help, Anderson is just the guy. He has the ability to quickly plug gaps with his speed off the line and would provide a nice duo with John Hankins, whom played well last season.

Other considerable picks: Mario Edwards DT Florida State, Kwon Alexander LB LSU

Round 4: Durell Eskridge S Syracuse - The team lost nearly all of their safeties to free agency and adding another for depth is good idea.  At 6'3" Eskridge is very tall for this position and his length alone will cause problems for quarterbacks whom throw towards him.  It also helps that Coughlin has and affinity affinity for selecting players from Syracuse.

Other considerable picks: Josh Shaw S USC, Davis Tull DE UT-Chattanooga, Ramik Wilson LB Georgia

Assessing the Yankees - Week 3

             

Last week was a step in the right direction for the Yankees and this week was no different. Fresh off of a series sweep of the Rays, the Bombers rode their momentum into Detroit taking three of four from a very formidable Tigers team.  Them came a series victory over the red hot cross town rival Mets whom entered sporting an 11-game winning streak and the best record in baseball.  Going 5-2 in any week is great, but doing it against two quality clubs in one week is all the more impressive. It appears the Yankees have put their early struggles behind them, at least for the time being.

The Good: - The starting pitching did a great job with each starter (outside of Sabathia) picking up a win.  Tanaka and Pineda were especially impressive in their outings yielding one run each and stifling the opposition.  This could become a dangerous one-two punch if they can stay consistent

- Mark Teixeira came out of his bating slumber this week going 10-24 (.416) and slugged 4 Home runs in the process.  Seeing him hit the ball had to be a nice sight for the club as Teixeira sorely needed to get himself going.  If he can run off a few good games like this week, it will go a long way towards the playoff push.

- The bullpen flashed it's dominance once again, giving up only 2 total runs during the week.  As I've said before this will be a continual strength for them.

The Bad: - CC Sabathia took the only two losses of the week, dropping his record to 0-4 on the season.  Though he pitched well in Comerica, his awful start against the Mets was a noticeable setback.  He may not be the ace of the staff anymore, but he needs to contribute consistent outings to the Yankees cause.  Continued failures could force the Yankees to deem him unreliable, something a proud pitcher like Sabathia surely does not want.

Rejuvenated Islanders Force Game 7

                

After a spectacularly underwhelming performance in game 5, the Islanders willed their way to victory with an inspired 3-1 victory in Nassau Coliseum forcing a deciding seventh game Monday night.  It was a performance that reminded Long Islanders of the team captivated the league and stole the show for most of 2015.  The determination shown by John Tavares and company provided the spark needed to outwit a Capitals team that was very confident they would put a somber end the Islanders days at the Coliseum.

Now the tide shifts to the Verizon Center where everything hangs in the balance.  It will be do or die in an atmosphere that will not be very forthcoming to the men in blue and orange.  The steady attack and hard nosed skating they showed in Game 6 will be absolutely necessary if they come out on top. The last time these two teams squared off in a game seven was the Easter Epic of 1987, with that kind of history and the physicality this series has brought thus far, this game shaping up to be another one for the ages.

Isles Fall Apart in Game 5

               

After disappointing OT loss in game 4, the Islanders put up a rather putrid performance in game 5. Not only were they outplayed in every facet of the game, it looked as if their spirit had been left back in Uniondale.  They squandered a chance to put the Capitals back on their heels, and with it the precious momentum to finish the series.  Now the Islanders must summon the power to force a game seven or face elimination in what could be the final game at the Coliseum.

Hopefully they can put game 4 into distant memory and surge their way to a series victory. Another performance like this and it will be a most devastating going away present for the loyal Long Islanders that have supported them for the past 43 years.

Assessing the Yankees - Week 2

                      



After a rather poor start to 2015, the Yankees managed to turn things around an impressive sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend.  The victories capped a 4-2 week and upped their record to .500 (6-6), putting back into the good graces of the pinstripe faithful.  The division should be wide open this season, and wins over divison opponents like these will come in handy if they want to be the ones to come out on top.

The Good: - The offense awakened from it's early slumber, putting up 5 or more runs in 5 of the 6 games they played.  The timely hitting from Rodriguez, McCann, and even Chris Young gave the offense the jolt it sorely needed after a dismal beginning to the young season.

-  The defense committed just two errors after a disastrous 9 error performance opening week.  Keeping those unearned runs off the board will lead to more victories for the team, and less headaches for Girardi.

-  Masahiro Tanaka returned to the form he had last season with a stellar performance Saturday night. It's the glimmer of hope the Yankees have been looking for from, showing he is still a force to reckoned with.  If his arm continues to get stronger, the rest of the league will surely be placed on notice.

The Bad: - The starters not named Tanaka were inconsistent this week.  If the Yankees want to win games, the five man rotation has to be firing on all cylinders, there's no other way to put it.

-  Mark Teixeira struggled to hit the baseball going just 3 for 20 (.150) in 6 games.  Struggles are expected for any player over the course of a long season, but it has to irk Teixeira that he did not produce in an otherwise very productive week for his team.  His talent level (not to mention pay grade) should carry him over the hump eventually, but for now things aren't looking too good for the All Star first baseman.

What Has Gotten into A-Rod?

                     


Alex Rodriguez is having a two week revelation that is almost too good to be true.  The effectiveness of his bat is a surprisingly welcome sight for the pinstripes, whom have needed every bit of his production thus far. He currently leads the team in Homeruns (4), RBI's (11) , and batting average (.344) over the first 10 games.  Last night he delivered a throwback performance, belting two homers and driving in the go ahead run in a comeback victory over the Rays, a feat that no one could have possibly seen coming.  Despite the year long suspension and lack of full competition, Rodriguez looks to have not skipped a beat.

It's certainly nice to see him playing at a high level early in the year, especially since no one thought he would even be a moderately viable asset to the roster.  Hopefully he can keep this up for the sake of Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman, both of whom put a great deal on his importance to the teams success this season.  For now Yankees fans can bask (or gawk) in what Rodriguez is doing as he has provided a little bit of optimism for 2015.

Islanders Start Playoffs On Right Foot

                 

The Isles shook off the end of season rust and secured a series opening victory over the Washington Capitals.  Not only did they take away the Capitals home ice advantage, the Islanders gained much needed confidence against one of the bigger and stronger teams in the NHL.  Winning on the road is absolutely essential for mounting a championship run, so having this one in the books puts the team in a good spot going forward.

Though this is a great confidence booster, they are by no means out of the woods.  The Capitals still boast the leagues top scorer in Alexander Ovechkin and will surely look to turn up the offense and physicality in game 2.  If the Isles can weather the storm and keep their poise, they will be in great position to take control of the series and send things back to the Coliseum and the fervently raucous atmosphere that will be felt through the rafters.

Assessing the Yankees - Week 1

                  


The Yankees wrapped up their first week back in action with a blowout victory over the rival Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.  It was nice cap to an otherwise sub-par allotment for the Bombers, going 2-4 through the first 6.  Here is my take on the good and bad of the opening series of 2015.

The Good: - Alex Rodriguez was supposed to be aberration and distraction for the club the moment he stepped into camp, however not only has the 39 year old stayed to himself, he has shown a steady and productive bat that the team may actually be able to count on.  It's still early, but this is a good sign for the Yankees.

- The bullpen has once again shown that it will be as successful as it has been the past 3 seasons. With pitchers like Andrew Miller, Betances, Chris Martin, and David Carpenter there should be no shortage of effective arms at their disposal.

The Bad: - Outside of the 14 run outburst on Sunday, the Yankee offense has been virtually nonexistent.  Producing with runners in scoring position has been a chore and the teams .193 batting average over 5 games is not helping matters.  They will have to be much better if they want to make a serious run in the division.

- Errors have plagued the Yankees each of the first 6 games as they have a Major League worst 9 to start off.  A more alarming fact is that these mishaps have cost the team 9 runs, a trend that has already tested the sanity of fans and cannot continue going forward.  It was expected that the defense would be much sharper sans Derek Jeter, but things have been a little worse for wear to say the least. Hopefully this is just a one week anomaly, otherwise it will be a long year on the diamond for the men in pinstripes.

Duke Wins 5th National Championship

                       

Duke University claimed it's 5th National Championship under coach Mike Krzyzewski, defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 68-63.  Not only did the victory erase the memory of last years debilitating first round exit, it reminded us all of the heart and resilience of this storied program.  Though some may despise it, there is a certain respect and admiration one must have for the determination and will Coach K has imparted on this team.  The maturity and growth of players like Grayson Allen Tyus Jones, Justice Winslow, and Jahlil Okafor speaks volumes to the preparation and trust placed upon them, even as young freshman.

As time marches on and decisions are made, there will be doubt that this team will even come close to repeating such a glorious run.  With the potential to lose much of their talent to the NBA, those doubts could find truth.  However, the allure of the Blue Devils program and the influence of Mike Krzyzewski will always draw the most gifted athletes to the hardwood of Cameron Indoor.  That alone, will keep Duke in the discussion for many years to come.

Yankees Set Opening Day Roster

                          

The Yankees have finalized the 25 man roster to open 2015 One will have to wonder whether Gregorio Petit's stint will be short lived once Pirela and Brendan Ryan are healthy, as well how long Alex Rodriguez and Tanaka can hold up after decent showings in the spring.  The consistency and health of this roster will be the ultimate key how things will shape out this year.

It's disappointing to see young players like Rob Refsnyder and Ramon Flores not get the chance to show their stuff, perhaps an opportunity will present itself over the course of the next six months. However, the team is here and ready to go, so it' time to welcome the Bronx's boys of summer:

Brett Gardner                                Andrew Miller

Jacoby Ellsbury                            Gregorio Petit

C.C. Sabathia                                Masahiro Tanaka

Dellin Betances                            Justin Wilson                    

David Carpenter                           Alex Rodriguez

Brian McCann                              Adam Warren

Michael Pineda                             John Ryan Murphy

Esmil Rogers                                Nathan Eovaldi

Stephen Drew                               Chasen Shreve

Garrett Jones                                 Chris Young

Chase Headley                              Chris Martin

Didi Gregorious

Mark Teixiera

Carlos Beltran

10 Best Giants Draft Picks Of All Time

                         



Over their 90 Year history the New York Giants have had some memorable picks of players whom have helped shape the team past, present, and future.  These young players served as stepping stones for success and built a legacy o their own that many Giants fans remember in a number of different ways, most importantly their impact on the organization.



Frank Gifford (1952) - Taken in the first round, Gifford had a legendary career that every fan knows or should know of.  He captained a team that was a fixture in NFL championship games and helped win one in 1956.  Serving as both a halfback and wide receiver, Gifford compiled over 9,000 total yards and 77 touchdowns all while being the consummate workhorse and professional spearheading the Giants of the 1950s



Tiki Barber (1997) - Spending all of his 9 seasons with New York, Barber was a terrific downhill runner whose even demeanor and high work ethic made him a stand out for the organization.  The Giants all time leading rusher amassed over 10,000 rushing yards in his career before calling it quits in 2006 at just 31 years old.



Mark Bavaro (1985) - His bruising style and great hands made him a fan favorite and staple of two Giants championship teams.  He dominated the middle of the field and provided quarterbacks an ultimate safety net.  Bavaro set a new precedent for all Giants tight ends, paving the way for others to follow in his footsteps.




Amani Toomer (1996) - The Giants were never a wide receiver hot bed, that was until Amani Toomer arrived.  The Michigan alum came to New York and caught a record 668 passes for 9,497 yards and 54 touchdowns.  His smooth hands and calming presence made him a quintessential piece to the offensive puzzle for 13 seasons.



Harry Carson (1976) - The Hall of Fame linebacker had a forceful presence and commanded respect when he stepped onto the field.  Carson captained the defense for 10 years as the first piece of what would become a dominant and fearsome trio.  The creator of the "Gatorade shower" proved his leadership both on and off the field, earning him a high place in Giants folklore.



Osi Umenyiora (2003) - For 9 seasons Umenyiora terrorized opposing quarterbacks with his deceptive speed and agility.  He helped form a powerful front line that lead the Giants to two Superbowl championships, earning two Pro Bowl appearances along the way.  He also sits fourth on the Giants all time sack list, collecting 75 before departing for the Atlanta Falcons in 2013.



Lawrence Taylor (1981) - A virtuoso of the sack and linebacker extraordinaire, Lawrence Taylor may go down as the greatest draft pick in Giants history.  He redefined the linebacker position, getting into the backfield seemingly at will.  Taylor was the finishing piece to a defense that would drive it's way to two championships (86, 90) and created a legacy that stands on its own to this very day.



Justin Tuck (2005) - Though he started out as a bit of an enigma, Tuck proved his worth as a pass rush specialist following a stellar performance against the Patriots in Superbowl 42.  His abilities allowed him to be moved around the front line, keeping quarterbacks guessing as to where he would come from. Though injuries kept him from fully reaching his long run potential, Tuck still compiled 60.5 sacks, good enough for 6th all time in Giants history.



Phil Simms (1979) - Booed vociferously after his name was called, Simms went on to have a very steady career in New York.  He won 95 games and collected 33,462 yards and 199 touchdowns in 14 years.  He had one of the most efficient games in Super Bowl history, completing, 88% of his passes in 1986 against the Denver Broncos, a record that still stands today.  Simms also coined the popular phrase "I'm going to Disney World" after winning Super Bowl MVP honors that same year.



Michael Strahan (1993) -  Perhaps the most well known Giants pick outside of Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan earned his way in fans hearts with his competitive spirit and drive to succeed.  He provided profound leadership and stability for the defense as well as a mentoring mind for other players like Umenyiora and Tuck.  His 142.5 carer sacks are a Giants record and he still holds the single season mark (22.5), which he set in 2001.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.