Projecting the Giants Starters: Special Teams

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With training camp just around the corner, we here at Pro Football 366 want to take a look at the potential starters for each team. Today’s team: The New York Giants.

Check out the Projected Giants Offensive Starters here.

Check out the Projected Giants Defensive Starters here.

Kicker- Josh Brown

Josh Brown had a solid season last year kicking for the Giants. He made 23/26 FG attempts and all of his extra point attempts. He also nailed 35 touchbacks on 70 kickoffs. Barring an injury he will be the Giants kicker next season.

Punter- Steve Weatherford

Steve Weatherford was busy last season. The Giants spiraling offense led to many punts and Steve Weatherford turned out to be one of the lone bright spots on the Giants last season. He is also a very good holder on field goals. I look forward to many punts inside the twenty this season from Weatherford.

Long Snapper- Zak DeOssie

Zak DeOssie has been an excellent long snapper for the Giants for many years. He is always the first one down to make a tackle on punts and he is the captain of the special teams unit. Zak DeOssie is a true New York Giant.

Kick Returner- Trindon Holliday

Trindon Holliday has been a force to be reckoned with on special teams the past few seasons. He does have a fumbling problem which would drive Tom Coughlin mad but if he could get them under control then he will make this team and be the kick returner.

Punt Returner- Odell Beckham Jr. 

One of the many intangibles that Odell Beckham Jr. brings to the table is his ability to return kicks and punts. He has good speed and in college he constantly put the LSU offense in good field position to score.

Projecting the Giants Starters: Defense

MADDIE MEYER/GETTY IMAGES

With training camp just around the corner, we here at Pro Football 366 want to take a look at the potential starters for each team. Today’s team: The New York Giants.

Check out the Projected Giants Offensive Starters here.

Right Defensive End- Jason Pierre-Paul

Jason Pierre-Paul is now entering his fifth season in the NFL and it just so happens that this is a contract year for him. After bursting onto the seam in 2011 with 16.5 sacks he has had two lackluster seasons to follow. I am expecting big things from Jason Pierre-Paul this season.

Defensive Tackle 1- Cullen Jenkins

With Linval Joseph signing with the Vikings via free agency Cullen Jenkins is now the number 1 DT on the Giants. He is a versatile pass rusher who can even slide outside and play defensive end if needed. I expect a better season from Jenkins this year.

Defensive Tackle 2- Jonathan Hankins

Jonathan Hankins is a big body who can stuff up the gap. He is entering his second year in the league and big things are expected from him. I think he will rise up to the challenge and take that second DT spot.

Left Defensive End- Damontre Moore

For the first time in well over a decade the Giants have a question mark at the left end position. For years Michael Strahan dominated as one of the best pass rushers in Giants history. His successor, Justin Tuck, was a more than capable replacement and was a great leader of the defense. It is now time to pass the torch to the future who is Damontre Moore. There will be a competition between Moore and Robert Ayers but at the end of the day I believe Moore will get the job.

Strongside Linebacker- Jameel McClain

The Giants signed an excellent player when they got Jameel McClain from Baltimore this offseason. McClain is a good leader and a versatile player. He is very good against the run and is a tackling machine. He is going to help this team this season.

Middle Linebacker- Jon Beason

Jerry Reese got a steal when he traded a 7th round for a franchise MLB in Jon Beason. Beason is now the defense’s signal caller and is definitely in consideration to become one of the captains of the defense. He did break his foot during OTA’s which does put his Week 1 availability in some doubt, but he will still be available and effective in the majority of the games this season.

Weakside Linebacker- Spencer Paysinger

Many people like Jacquian Williams in this spot because of his speed and athleticism but I am giving the nod to Paysinger here. Paysinger has always been willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win, whether it be special teams or regular duty linebacker. He is less injury prone than Williams and he averaged close to five tackles per game last season and I expect that production to go up this season.

Left Cornerback- Prince Amukamara

Since Prince Amukamara was drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft he has been a solid cornerback in the NFL. He is a good tackler and he is a good cover corner. He has done a very good job and I believe that he will continue to do a very good job for the New York Giants.

Right Cornerback- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

When Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie decided to sign with the Giants this offseason I was elated. He has had a very interesting career with stints in Arizona, Philadelphia, and Denver but I think that he can make the Giants his long term home. He will be the guy who we can stick on Dez Bryant and DeSean Jackson when we play the Cowboys and Redskins. This is the number one cornerback the Giants have needed for a while.

Strong Safety- Antrel Rolle

For the past few seasons Antrel Rolle has been the vocal leader of the New York Giants. He isn’t afraid to call people out or talk trash. He backs up what he says and he plays at a high level. He is entering a contract year so I expect more big things from Rolle this season.

Free Safety- Stevie Brown

This probably would have been Will Hill’s position before he was released after a third suspension in as many seasons for substance abuse. However, Stevie Brown is just as good as Will Hill when he is 100% healthy and he is the “ball-hawk” type safety that can really be a game changer for the Giants. If his torn ACL is healed (which it should be) I think Brown will pick up right where he left off in 2012.

Projecting the Giants Starters: Offense

Image via Football Schedule/Flickr

With training camp just around the corner, we here at Pro Football 366 want to take a look at the potential starters for each team. Today’s team: The New York Giants.

Quarterback: Eli Manning

Unless he gets injured in training camp or preseason Eli Manning will be the Week 1 starter for the New York Giants. This offseason he did have surgery on his ankle but he is believed to already be 100%. After a rough season last year Eli Manning will be looking to restablish himself as an elite Quarterback in the NFL once again.

Running Back: Rashad Jennings

The backfield of the New York Giants has the potential to be interesting. With the signing of Rashad Jennings and the questions surrounding David Wilson’s health the Giants should have a good competition brewing in training camp. While Peyton Hillis, Andre Williams, and Michael Cox are all on the roster, I believe the starting job is between Jennings and Wilson. I give the slight nod to Jennings simply because we know he is 100% healthy.

Fullback: John Conner

While the fullback may be a dying position in the NFL, it is still an important position for the New York Giants. The Giants also have a tough decision to make at this position in training camp as Henry Hynoski and John Conner are going to be competing for the lone fullback spot on the roster. It will be a competitive race that I think Conner will come out ahead in simply because of his ability to move people in the hole.

Wide Receiver 1: Victor Cruz

This is probably the second easiest position to project on the Giants after Eli Manning. Victor Cruz is entering his fifth season in the NFL (fourth full season) and he has come out and said that he wants to be a leader on the offense. He will have that opportunity this coming season.

Wide Receiver 2: Rueben Randle

The Giants took Odell Beckham Jr. with the twelfth pick in the draft this past May. However, Rueben Randle will still be ahead of Beckham Jr. on the depth chart for at least the first part of the season. Randle had a very good year last season and has a somewhat similar playing style to Hakeem Nicks who was not re-signed after a poor season last year.

Tight End: Larry Donnell

This is the position on the Giants that is absolutely wide open. Every player on the roster is essentially competing for the starting job. When all is said and done I believe that it will be Donnell who comes out on top. He has been in the Giants system for a few years now and Jerry Reese has always been very high on him.

Left Tackle: Will Beatty

If Will Beatty is healthy come week 1 then the job is undoubtedly his. He admits to trying to hard to be the hero last year after receiving a big contract and I think he will bounce back and be one of the leaders of the offensive line this season.

Left Guard: Geoff Schwartz

The Giants signed a huge piece to the offensive line puzzle this season when they landed Geoff Schwartz via free agency this season. Schwartz will provide veteran leadership and stability to an offensive line that needs both of those intangibles.

Center: Weston Richburg

When the Giants drafted Richburg in the second round of this year’s draft they drafted the best pure center in the draft. Richburg has a “throwback” style of play and has a very high football IQ. The Giants don’t normally start rookies but they realize that this guy could anchor down the center position for the next ten to twelve years.

Right Guard: Chris Snee

If Snee is healthy then I think that this is his job for one more season. Snee has been the Giants best offensive lineman in recent memory and he feels as if he has unfinished business after his 2013 season was cut short by injuries.

Right Tackle: Justin Pugh

A lot of people are saying that the Giants should move Pugh to guard but I don’t like that idea. Pugh was excellent at right tackle last season and that was as a rookie. It would be wise to let him continue to grow as a player at right tackle before moving him because his confidence has to be high playing there.

 

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