Pro Football Articles Opinion & Fantasy – Football Diner

Drafting Smart:
The Secret Behind The Giants Success
by Rob Staton
6/2/2008
 
Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin, Steve Spagnuolo. All have taken their fair share of credit for arguably the biggest upset in Super Bowl history. But the Giants’ draft class of 2008 are the unsung heroes, and deserve just as much praise for helping their team achieve the impossible.
 
None of the names listed amongst the Giants rookies stand out as stereotypical big name college players who were expected to make an immediate mark on the NFL. The group has implemented itself into the current team structure and helped the club in an hour of need when suffering injuries to key players.
 
The most notable of those injuries is surely Jeremy Shockey, who was able to enjoy the Super Bowl from an executive sweet sipping margaritas and beer. After a broken left fibula ruled him out for the season, his replacement came in the form of Western Oregon Tight End Kevin Boss (right). In what was regarded as a relatively weak draft class for the tight end position, Boss has slotted into the team and sparked a chemistry with Eli Manning that has driven the Giants not only in the playoffs, but in particular the Super Bowl. Boss only made one catch during the game, but it was a crucial 45 yarder with the Giants starting on their own 20 at the beginning of the 4th quarter. It set up good field position and consequently led to their first touchdown.
 
Boss’s appearance is somewhat deceptive. Unlike the rock n roll appearance of Shockey, Boss cuts a more honest figure. He has size at 6’6 and 253 lbs and the bulk shows. Boss looks like the proverbial brick outhouse. But he can move for a big guy, and showed that mobility to run a perfect route for that reception in the Super Bowl, then running with the ball for a further 25 yards after catch. The talk now is whether or not the Giants will trade Shockey this off season and apparently, might even accept a knock down price. Such a move would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago, and is surely testament to the impact Boss has had on this side.
 
Looking at the other Giants rookies, there have been other big game performers too. The first round pick (20th overall) Aaron Ross is a mature rookie at 25 years of age and has slotted into the defense nicely at corner. Much attention has been paid to the Giants pass rush which put an end to any 19-0 hopes for Tom Brady and friends, but a solid and persistent pass rush will only work if you can trust the guys in your secondary. The fact the Giants and defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo were able to rush Brady with such regularity is a credit to a secondary containing Ross that was able to largely keep quiet the many talented receiving targets of the Pats.
 
Steve Smith (left) entered the NFL under a spotlight simply for having the same name as, well, Steve Smith of the Panthers. Also playing at receiver, he was snapped up in Round 2 (51st overall) and struggled to make much of an early impact in the NFL starting only 5 games in the regular season. As with much of this Giants side though, he came into his own during the playoffs and this culminated in a much under rated performance in the Super Bowl. Catching 5 balls for 50 yards, Smith made a crucial diving catch on 3rd and 4 that sustained the drive for the first Giants touchdown.
 
With 45 seconds to go, he made a play on the winning drive that was arguably more important than the David Tyree helmet catch. On 3rd and 11 with time running out, Eli Manning threw the ball to Smith by the right sideline. Smith dragged in the catch and kept his feet in bounds showing tremendous balance, and was able to stretch and get the first down despite pressure from Pats Safety Brandon Merriweather. A couple of seconds later, the Giants scored the winning touchdown.
 
As you head down the draft board you notice that nearly all of their draft picks contributed in some way. Jay Alford (3rd round, 81st overall) landed a huge sack on Tom Brady as the Patriots desperately tried to claw their way back, leaving a memorable image of Brady down on the ground dramatically trying to signal a quick time out. Zak DeOssie failed to record a stat but was part of a dominant defense. Safety Michael Johnson did record a tackle, and helped keep things tight in the secondary at safety. Saving the best till last, Ahmad Bradshaw a compensatory pick in the 7th round rushed for 45 yards from 9 attempts.
 
The Giants ability to find value in the 7th round, and in fact all through the draft, has helped them fend off injuries and sustain their run to the Super Bowl and get the job done.
 
Credit will go to Eli, Coughlin and Spagnuolo, and rightly so.
 
But the Giants scouting network and front office also deserve some too. With the 2008 draft only a couple of months away, the teams hoping to emulate the Giants success could do worse than take a few tips on how to draft smart.