Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Daily Blitz: Giants trio makes CBS’ Top 100

Senior columnist Pete Prisco, composer of the annual list, included three Giants in the NFL Top 100 – Jason Pierre-Paul, Eli Manning, and Victor Cruz. Unlike some outlets that base their rankings on production from the previous season, Prisco looked at where they rank heading into 2013, and here’s what he had to say:

21. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants: “He didn’t have the kind of year the Giants hoped he’d have. He looked heavy and wasn’t as explosive. But he remains as talented a pass rusher as there is in the game.”

28. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants: “He didn’t have the season the Giants expected, but there were a lot of reasons why. He’s still one of the best.”

72. Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants: “He had 86 catches and 10 touchdowns, but he wasn’t as good as he was in 2011. He seemed to struggle with all the extra attention at times.”

Three quarterbacks made the top five, including Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, who came in at No. 1 for the second consecutive year. And while we’re on the subject of rankings, the crew at CBS Sports also counted down the best front offices in the NFL. The Giants came in fourth in that department behind the Ravens, Patriots, and Packers.

“I’m putting a premium on winning a Super Bowl recently, which this team has done twice,” Jason La Canfora wrote. “And they’ve done it despite a regime change with Jerry Reese expertly taking over for Ernie Accorsi, which I think gets overlooked and underappreciated. The strong hand of ownership, supporting coach Tom Coughlin through rough patches, has been vital as well.”

QUICK HITS

» Aaron Curry optimistic about Giants career

» Cooper Taylor has high regard for Coughlin

» RB Michael Cox on football influences

» QB Ryan Nassib talks first impressions

» WATCH Eisen’s Mailbag: How will rookies perform in NFL

WATCH: Giants do “Roll Call” at Yankee Stadium

WATCH GIANTS PARTICIPATE IN ROLL CALL AT YANKEE STADIUM

Accustomed to having fans chant their names, three Giants had their roles reversed on Wednesday night in the Bronx.

David Wilson, Rueben Randle, and Bear Pascoe took in the Yankees game against the Seattle Mariners with the Bleacher Creatures, assisting “Bald” Vinny Milano and the fan group in the “Roll Call” tradition.

PHOTOS: GIANTS ON THE MOUND

“I’ve never witnessed anything like that. One guy screaming and the whole crowd is involved,” Wilson, a Virginia native, told MLB.com. “This was my first time being a part of something like that.”

Before the game, which the Yankees lost 12-2, the Giants trio toured the stadium and watched from the field during pregame warm-ups.

“It was really fun. That was the first time I got to be there at that level and just to see guys getting ready and preparing for the game and getting ready to go out,” Pascoe said.

“It was pretty neat. It was pretty similar to us before a game – we go out and each guy does his own thing and does what he has to do to prepare for the game.”

That included batting practice, where Wilson believed he could hit one out of the park if given some time.

“Give me a little while, a little practice,” he said. “[Give me] about a week.”

Randle, a fellow second-year draft pick, disagreed.

Thanks to @Giants Bear Pascoe (L), David Wilson (C) & Rueben Randle (R) for joining in Bleacher Creatures Roll Call. http://t.co/Eafa67huvg—
Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) May 15, 2013

Batting practice at Yankee Stadium, awesome!! Thank you @LicensePlateGuy http://t.co/iuHlVspScR—
Bear Pascoe (@BearPascoe) May 15, 2013

Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks instagram.com/p/ZWNahCjX7Z/—
David E. Wilson (@4stillRunning) May 15, 2013

Giants’ preseason dates & times

The NFL has confirmed the dates and kickoff times for all 65 preseason games on the 2013 calendar, beginning with the annual Hall of Fame Game between the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday, Aug. 4.

For the Giants, their preseason schedule is as follows:

Saturday, August 10
NY Giants at Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, August 18
Indianapolis at NY Giants (FOX) 7:00 p.m. ET

VIEW COMPLETE 2013 SCHEDULE >>

Saturday, August 24
NY Jets at NY Giants 7:00 p.m. ET

Thursday, August 29
NY Giants at New England 7:30 p.m. ET

QUICK HITS

» RB Michael Cox on football influences

» QB Ryan Nassib talks first impressions

» Giants add six to roster after mini-camp

» WATCH Giants Insider: Safety Cooper Taylor

NJ Senate passes “Steve Sabol Day”

The New Jersey Senate approved on Monday a resolution to make Oct. 2 “Steve Sabol Day” in honor of the late NFL Films president, who passed away last September at the age of 69 after an 18-month battle with brain cancer.

Sponsored by Senators Diane Allen and Dawn Marie Addiego, the day – which coincides with Sabol’s birthday – will remember the creative force behind the unique brand of storytelling and cinematography who brought America closer to the game of football for the past five decades.

“Steve Sabol is one of New Jersey’s most innovative entrepreneurs and his creativity has revolutionized both sports and documentary cinematography around the world,” Allen said. “He has made Mount Laurel the home of America’s favorite sport, having created a model business employing hundreds of people and boasting the world’s largest sports film library. He showed us the passion of the game — and made it our passion, too.”

“With ingenuity and grace, Steve Sabol has humanized America’s favorite sport bringing people inside the hearts and minds of their football heroes,” added Addiego. “Continuing Steve Sabol’s passion, NFL Films will continue to make Burlington County proud, as it chronicles the season of Super Bowl XLVIII.”

QUICK HITS

» Giants owners remember NFL Films’ Steve Sabol

» QB Ryan Nassib talks first impressions

» Giants Insider: Tackle Justin Pugh

» BBK – 5/13: Rookies who impressed

Twitter: Rookies wrap up mini-camp

Great rookie mini camp in the books! #NYGiants—
Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh67) May 12, 2013

Chillin with my boyz #RookieClass #giants—
Damontre' Moore (@tmoore94) May 12, 2013

New beginning instagram.com/p/ZOranlJc5I/—
Damontre' Moore (@tmoore94) May 12, 2013

Rookie Mini Camp officially over, lovin the offense. Now getting ready for the next stage #gmen—
Ryan Nassib (@Ryan_Nassib) May 12, 2013

The Giants are all coming together tomorrow, I don't think I will sleep tonight. #AnotherStep #dreams #Giants—
Eric Herman (@Hermans_House) May 13, 2013

Loving the new hat. instagram.com/p/ZGiXZUGqLC/—
Eric Herman (@Hermans_House) May 09, 2013

#Rookie minicamp has finished. Another great start to the #2013 #nyg #giants season. #nfl #nygiants instagram.com/p/ZN3hMrhIbw/—
Joseph Skiba (@JosephSkiba) May 12, 2013

MINI-CAMP QUICK HITS

» Giants add six to roster after mini-camp

» DT Johnathan Hankins adjusting to Giants

» Quotes: Coaches assess rookies at camp

» NYG signs former 1st rounder Aaron Curry

» Quotes: Coordinator Kevin Gilbride

» Eli helps Rookies Pugh & Nassib adjust

WATCH: Rookie Mini-Camp Wrap-Up Report

NFC East: Who’s coming, going, or staying

With rookies reporting to mini-camp this week, Giants.com takes a look at the comings and goings around the NFC East as the league moves one step closer to competition:

Washington Redskins

Coming: QB Pat White, T Jeremy Trueblood (from Tampa Bay), DE Phillip Merling (Green Bay), CB E.J. Biggers (Tampa Bay), LB Darryl Tapp (Philadelphia)
Going: LB Lorenzo Alexander (to Arizona)
Staying: CB DeAngelo Hall (released, re-signed), TE Fred Davis (UFA), G Kory Lichtensteiger, FB Darrel Young, DT Kedric Golston, LB Bryan Kehl, P Sav Rocca, LB Rob Jackson, TE Logan Paulsen, LS Nick Sundberg, T Tyler Polumbus, QB Rex Grossman (UFA)
TBD: DE Chris Baker (RFA), WR Brandon Banks (UFA), T Jordan Black (UFA), T Jammal Brown (UFA), TE Chris Cooley (UFA), SS Cedric Griffin (UFA), FS Madieu Williams (UFA), LB Chris Wilson (UFA)

Drafted: CB David Amerson (N.C. State), TE Jordan Reed (Florida), S Phillip Thomas (Fresno State), RB Chris Thompson (FSU), OLB Brandon Jenkins (FSU), S Bacarri Rambo (Georgia), RB Jawan Jamison (Rutgers)

Dallas Cowboys

Coming: LB Justin Durant (from Detroit), S Will Allen (Pittsburgh)
Going: CB Mike Jenkins (to Oakland), DE Kenyon Coleman (to New Orleans), DE Marcus Spears (released, signed with Baltimore), S Gerald Sensabaugh (released), LB Dan Connor (to NY Giants), WR Kevin Ogletree (to Tampa Bay), TE John Phillips (to San Diego), LB Victor Butler (to New Orleans)
Staying: LB Anthony Spencer (franchised), C Phil Costa, LB Ernie Sims, WR Anthony Armstrong (released, re-signed), S Danny McCray
TBD: RB Felix Jones (UFA), P Brian Moorman (UFA), S Danny McCray (RFA), G Derrick Dockery (UFA), S Charlie Peprah (UFA), S Eric Frampton (UFA)

Drafted: C Travis Frederick (Wisconsin), TE Gavin Escobar (San Diego State), WR Terrance Williams (Baylor), S J. J. Wilcox (Georgia Southern), CB B.W. Webb (William & Mary), RB Joseph Randle (Oklahoma State), OLB DeVonte Holloman (South Carolina)

Philadelphia Eagles

Coming: LB Connor Barwin (from Houston), S Kenny Phillips (NY Giants), DT Isaac Sopoaga (San Francisco), S Patrick Chung (New England), CB Cary Williams (Baltimore), FB James Casey (Houston), CB Bradley Fletcher (St. Louis), LB Jason Phillips (Carolina), P Donnie Jones (Houston)
Going: DT Cullen Jenkins (released, signed with NY Giants), CB Nnamdi Asomugha (released, signed with San Francisco), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (to Denver), DT Mike Patterson (released; signed with NY Giants), T King Dunlap (to San Diego), DT Derek Landri (to Tampa Bay), DE Darryl Tapp (to Washington), QB Trent Edwards (released), LB Akeem Jordan (to Kansas City)
Staying: S Colt Anderson, LS Jon Dorenbos
TBD: G Jake Scott (UFA)

Drafted: OT Lane Johnson (Oklahoma), TE Zach Ertz (Stanford), DT Bennie Logan (LSU), QB Matt Barkley (USC), S Earl Wolff (N.C. State), DE Joe Kruger (Utah), CB Jordan Poyer (Oregon State), DE David King (Oklahoma)

Three Giants make PFF’s ‘Top 101′

Every year, the people over at Pro Football Focus get together to rank the top 101 players from the previous season. Their countdown is over, and three Giants have made the list: DE Jason Pierre-Paul (No. 46), LT Will Beatty (No. 85), and QB Eli Manning (No. 90).

Here is a look at what PFF had to say about the Top 101 of 2012, and keep in mind players were graded solely on 2012 with all positions weighted equally.

46. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants (Last year: 17^th)

The danger was always there with how people viewed “JPP”. As good as his 2011 season was the emphasis placed on his sack numbers were always going to come back to bite him. And while it’s true he didn’t have quite the same impact as he did when the Giants won it all, it shouldn’t take away from a tremendously complete season he put forward. Excellent against the run, there’s no shame in the 55 QB disruptions he managed.

Best Performance: Week 14 versus New Orleans, +6.0 WATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Key Stat: His 30 defensive stops in the run game were the third-most of any 4-3 defensive end.

85. Will Beatty, LT, New York Giants (Last year: Unranked)

Injury meant Beatty didn’t start the season as the Giants’ left tackle. Whether injuries handed him his starting job back, or it was the Giants’ plan all along, the former second-round pick didn’t take much time showing everyone what he was capable of. A fine pass protector, Beatty is one of those left tackles who can actually generate some movement in the run game as well.

Best Performance: Week 3 at Carolina, +5.4 WATCH HGHLIGHTS
Key Stat: Allowed just three sacks and zero quarterback hits all season long.

90. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants (Last year: 8^th)

While Eli was unable to replicate his marvelous 2011, let’s not pretend he didn’t play extremely well for most of the season. While some performances disappointed (notably against Pittsburgh and Atlanta) Manning was able to almost carry his struggling Giants into the playoffs with his usual array of clutch throws.

Best Performance: Week 2 versus Tampa Bay, +6.3 WATCH HGHLIGHTS
Key Stat: Completion percentage under pressure dropped to 47.9% in 2012, after it was 55.6% a year earlier.

While the 49ers led all teams with 13 selections, the top player ranked was DE J.J. Watt (Texans), followed by RB Adrian Peterson (Vikings), DT Geno Atkins (Bengals), LB Von Miller (Broncos), and CB Richard Sherman (Seahawks).

QUICK HITS

» Eisen’s Mailbag: Stevie Brown’s role

» Giants add Bill Parcells to Hall of Fame wall

» Fact or Fiction: Which rookies will start?

» Senior Bowl scouting helped Giants Draft

» O-Line preps Justin Pugh for initiation

Giants move up in post-draft power rankings

With the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, the Giants find themselves up in ESPN’s latest power rankings released this week, climbing two spots to No. 12.

In the post-draft poll, the Giants landed right behind the Washington Redskins, who moved up the same amount to No. 11. Meanwhile, the Cowboys, who face the Giants in the season opener in four months, fell to No. 20 (previously 18), and the Eagles moved up one spot to 25^th.

Over on NFL.com, the Giants cracked the top 10, moving up one spot and passing the Redskins right at No. 10. Dallas dropped two places to 18th, and Philadelphia jumped to No. 23.

The Giants drafted seven players last weekend — four on the offensive and defensive lines – to build on a 2012 team that finished 9-7 but fell short of the playoffs a season after winning it all.

QUICK HITS

» Senior Bowl scouting helped Giants Draft

» O-Line preps Justin Pugh for initiation

» Experts grade Giants’ 2013 Draft Picks

» WATCH: Giants Draft Picks at NFL Combine

QB Ryan Nassib the best pick of 2013 Draft?

When Ryan Nassib was still available after 109 picks in this year’s draft, Jerry Reese and the Giants traded up for the Syracuse quarterback and took him with the 110^th overall selection.  After the draft, Reese, the Giants’ general manager, said the value was too high to pass up, and Bill Polian agreed.

The former six-time NFL Executive of the Year and current ESPN analyst placed the decision to draft Nassib at the top of his list of best moves from the weekend. Here’s his analysis:

As I mentioned before the draft, there were no quarterbacks that I believed warranted an early selection. But that doesn’t mean the position is devoid of talent. Just that these prospects need time to develop and make use of some of their tools and ability. With Nassib, he’s going to get precisely that.

Playing behind Eli Manning, there will be no rush in his development. He can sit back, watch and learn, all while providing the Giants with a terrific safety net in the event of an injury to Eli and perhaps even proving to be Manning’s successor.

By Nassib’s third year in the pros, Manning will be 35, an age at which statistics have shown QBs usually start to break down physically. Their skills may not have diminished, but the accumulation of the punishment they’ve endured starts to take its toll and injury becomes far more common. By the time that starts to impact Eli, Nassib should be experienced to the point where the Giants will feel comfortable inserting him into a game and still feeling they have better than a 50-percent chance to win.

It may have seemed like a strange pick because quarterback isn’t an immediate need for the Giants. But this pick was made with the long view in mind. And I think it was a very savvy selection.

QUICK HITS

» Photos of the Giants 2013 Draft Class

Players welcome new draft picks

Welcome Mr. Pugh. And good night Twitfam—
Justin Tuck (@JustinTuckNYG91) April 26, 2013

Welcome to Big Blue @JustinPugh67—
Andre Brown (@drebrown35) April 26, 2013

Welcome to the squad Justin Pugh! #NYG—
Spencer Paysinger (@SpittyP) April 26, 2013

From Syracuse to NYC, keeping it in state! Lets go G-men! Can't wait to get this thing started!!!! Best day of my life!!!—
Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh67) April 26, 2013

“@davediehl66: Congrats @JustinPugh67 and welcome to the Giants O Line room.” Thanks ready to learn from the best. See you soon.—
Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh67) April 26, 2013

See how many new followers my newest teammate gets after joining the greatest franchise in the NFL!!! Welcome to the family @JustinPugh67—
Steve Weatherford (@Weatherford5) April 26, 2013

Best of luck to all the players in this years draft…wish you all the best in your upcoming NFL careers!—
Henry Hynoski (@HenryHynoski) April 25, 2013

Me and @Ryan_Nassib are the newest New York Giants. Lets go! http://t.co/0g3psaGhk7—
Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh67) April 27, 2013

Welcome @Ryan_Nassib I'm freaking!!!—
Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh67) April 27, 2013

Ok Ryan Nassib! Welcome to #NYG you get to learn from one of the best in the game—
Spencer Paysinger (@SpittyP) April 27, 2013

Congrats to all the gators drafted this week!! And watch out for all those gators that were signed as UDFA's!!!! Don't sleep on em!—
Justin Trattou (@Justin_Trattou) April 28, 2013

To all those UDFA out there…stay the course…im living proof that everyone will get a chance if they work hard and want it enough!—
Henry Hynoski (@HenryHynoski) April 27, 2013