Giants’ new DE: For what reason?

By Samuel Groshans  |   Tuesday, August 01, 2006  |  Comments( 8 )

New York Giants
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I'm aware that it's old news to anyone who follows the NFL at all, but the New York Giants took one Mathias Kiwanuka with their first-round pick in this year's NFL draft. Many analysts and fans alike had one question: Why?

If you look at the Giants' previous season, it's very hard to argue that they needed help at the defensive end position. You could argue for the defensive tackles, or even the linebackers, but not the ends. Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan made one of the most prolific one-two punches in the league, combining for 26 sacks. Umenyiora had 14 1/2 and Strahan 11 1/2. Not only that, but the Giants had already taken Justin Tuck in the previous year's draft.

Don't get me wrong: Strahan is getting up in years, but he's still an extremely talented player who can produce, and the Giants were hurting in more urgent areas than that. I'm sure, as well, that the Giants' staff saw something in Kiwanuka that we can't see. However, it still doesn't get them off the hook.

When the draft began, the Giants had a few obvious holes to fill. Defensive tackle was one of them, and cornerback was another. With the loss of Will Peterson and Kendrick Clancy, the G-men had huge holes to fill. They filled one of those holes by stealing Sam Madison from the Dolphins.

New York also had holes to fill on the offensive line, which is a concern every year for the Giants. They could have upgraded at wide receiver, as well, or even looked into getting another corner-piece to line up opposite tight end Jeremy Shockey or to give him a break now and again.

It's hard to really knock the New York Giants this year, considering the talent they brought in (LaVar Arrington, anyone?). But that's not the way of an NFL fan in the least. When you already have one of the best defensive end tandems in the league, you do not bring in another defensive end. Maybe it will pay off in the long run, but until Kiwanuka starts making some big plays and revving up the crowd, the question marks will continue to circulate.

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CommentsComments: 8  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Michael		03:49 AM
08/02/2006
I think its pretty obvious what their plan may be. If Kiwanuka turns out to be halfway decent by the trading deadline either ...
No.2
MSUDAWG77		07:21 AM
08/02/2006
I have noticed that Rookie Willie Evans (73) has been showing great potential during camp. He has really improved. I think he ...
No.3
Shai Ellberger		08:19 AM
08/02/2006
They are NOT going to trade strahan and especially not Osi. Strahan has 2 more yearls left maximum and will retire a Giant. Osi ...
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