Giants Daily Blitz Blog

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

Rookie Randle looks forward to more career firsts

Ramses Barden wasn’t the only receiver to benefit from the bump up after Hakeem Nicks (foot) and Domenik Hixon (concussion) were scratched from Thursday night’s game against Carolina.

Rueben Randle, the Giants’ second-round draft choice, got his first career catch under his belt. While it officially went down as a quiet four-yard pickup late in the first quarter of a 36-7 road win, every stat line has to start somewhere.

“It is worth something being a rookie and getting your first catch,” Randle said on Monday. “But I’m just looking forward to more.”

His first reception was also the first time he had been targeted by Eli Manning this season, and Randle knew there would be a good possibility of it coming in Charlotte given the injuries at the position.

“I just went through it like a normal week,” Randle said. “I just go out every day and get better and try to continue to build trust each and every week with the players around me and also the coaching staff.”

He added: “I’m picking up each and every week, that’s my objective. I’m just trying to progress through things and play faster each and every week as the season goes along. Then hopefully by midseason I’ll be clicking.”

Meanwhile, returning punts has helped the LSU product build a comfort level on an NFL field despite the lack of reps on offense. Randle assumed the role in Week 2 after the coaching staff went with the veteran Hixon in the opener. He has returned three punts for an average of 9.7 yards with a long of 12 (in addition to four fair catches).

“I enjoy returning punts,” Randle said. “That’s a big play for your team. It just gives you confidence that your team has the faith in you to field the ball, get the ball back to the offensive end. That’s a big bonus.”

Rookie Blog: CB Jayron Hosley

Cornerback Jayron Hosley was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round this past April. Throughout the season, the Virginia Tech product and Florida native will provide an inside look at his journey of making it in the NFL. This week’s post begins with the Giants’ first road trip of the season to Carolina, where Hosley made his second start and notched an interception before halftime of the 36-7 victory over the Panthers on Thursday night.

It’s a business trip. From the flight down to meetings at the hotel, everyone basically focuses in on the game. It was good to get on the road. You want to go on the road and get a win, and we went out there with that mentality. We had a short week so we didn’t get as much time to prepare, but we spent a lot of time getting in a lot of mental work. We were ready. I was ready. It was our first official road game and I was looking forward to it. I think it went pretty well.

Coming to the Giants, I knew they were road warriors and I liked that. Like in college, I always look forward to going with my boys into another team’s territory and getting a win. When you’re at home, you’ve got to defend your home. But when you go on a road trip, you want to make that your home, too, in a sense. It’s just one of those things that everyone wants to compete and fight. When you go to another team’s territory, it’s like we’re here to take something.

It was a game that, being that it was my second start, I felt like I have to go out here and prove something. I still have a lot to prove, and I was just doing my job. Everyone was just doing their job. Everybody was playing with one accord. It just so happened that it opened up for me to get the interception. We had great pressure up front, which allowed me to make that play. I think overall it was a pretty good second start for me and something to grow off of.

When I was drafted, I couldn’t say that I’d already have two starts in the NFL, not at all. Really for me, it was just making the team and making my name on the team and kind of getting that respect by doing what’s expected. It played out well for me though and I’m just continuing to work. Keep it humble. Keep it focused.

» Rookie Blog Week 2: First NFL action

» Rookie Blog Week 1: Anticipating NFL Kickoff

» Rookie Blog Training Camp: Making a name for yourself

» Rookie Blog Training Camp: Arrival

You can also follow Jayron on Twitter @hosley_jayron

German Kuhn living an American dream

Under the lights. Primetime network broadcast. Running out of the tunnel with the defending champs onto the NFL stage for the first time.

In the United States, that’s a typical dream growing up.

But what about overseas?

“This kid from Germany dreamed about it, too,” said Markus Kuhn, tapping his chest with his index finger.

The expat from Weinheim, Germany and the New York Giants’ newest defensive tackle will be living that reality come Wednesday night. From starting to play football at age 15 in his home country to traveling up and down the eastern seaboard in the States with his father showing college coaches a highlight DVD, the 26-year-old rookie has more than just an extraordinary story to tell.

He has opportunity.

He also has talent, as evidenced by his inclusion on the Giants’ 53-man roster, which was finalized on Friday.

“That’s what I worked for every day, and that was definitely the goal in coming here,” the seventh-round draft pick said. “Now my next goal immediately after was to be part of the rotation or see playing time, especially with all the injuries right now. They need me to step up. I’m just excited out at practice every day. I know what I have to do in the playbook, and now it’s me going out there executing the plays.”

With Marvin Austin still not participating in practice due to a back injury and Chris Canty on the PUP list, Kuhn is it behind starters Linval Joseph and Rocky Bernard.

“I have to give Rocky or Linval a breather whenever they need it,” Kuhn said. “I’m excited to do it. There’s nothing better than starting the season playing against Dallas here at home. I’m excited as I can be.

“My dad is in town right now and we were sitting together, talking about how I imagined it six years ago in Germany and thought, ‘You know what, let’s maybe come to the U.S. and try to play some college football.’ Now I’m with the New York Giants and I’m about to play in the NFL against the Dallas Cowboys in New York.”

Yesterday defensive coordinator Perry Fewell spoke about his confidence in Kuhn, who had six tackles and a blocked pass in the preseason, and how he has no hesitation throwing him in the deep end.

“Shoot, that’s why we drafted him,” Fewell said. “He’s a New York Giant. He’s going to get his feet wet really early and, shoot, we’re going to play his butt…He’s going to get in there and mix it up. He’s not afraid to mix it up. He’s a German guy, so he doesn’t know the difference. He just says ‘I’m going to get in there and play ball.’ We’re going to play ball.”

Giants vs. Jets Live Blog: 3rd QTR

0:00 — Giants 16, Jets 3 (key stat: David Carr is 4/6 for 86 yards in a quarter of work)

1:52 – WR Jerrel Jernigan gets into the mix with a 19-yard catch-and run. It was his second reception of the night.

3:28 – Jets kicker Nick Folk clanks in a 30-yard field goal, bringing the score to 16-3 in favor of the Giants.

11:55 — FIELD GOAL. Lawrence Tynes makes a 40-yard kick, his third of the night (35, 30, 40). Giants 16, Jets 0 (drive: 7 plays, 58 yds, 3:08).

14:25 – Rookie WR Rueben Randle makes an impressive leaping catch down the middle of the field for a 49-yard gain from Carr.

15:00 – Backup quarterback David Carr subs in for Eli Manning.

Giants vs. Jets Live Blog: 2nd QTR

0:00 — Giants 13, Jets 0 (key stat: Giants recorded 3.0 sacks in the first half)

1:55 – JPP notches his second sack of the night on Sanchez.

2:16 — TOUCHDOWN. Rookie CB Jayron Hosley intercepts Sanchez and takes it back 77 yards for a touchdown. XP is good. Giants 13, Jets 0.

6:11 – Steve Weatherford’s punt is partially blocked.

7:46 – The Jets go for it on fourth down from the Giants 36. DT Rocky Bernard and the Giants stuff RB John Conner for no gain, turning ball over on downs.

9:53 – Eli Manning throws his first interception of the preseason. He’s currently 7/13 for 62 yards.

11:30 – LB Keith Rivers snags Rb Shonn Greene coming around the left end, tackling him for a loss of 4 yards. The next play, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck team up for a sack of Sanchez.

12:14 — FIELD GOAL. Tynes hits 30-yarder, his second of the night, to give the Giants a 6-0 lead (drive: 13 plays, 39 yards 4:33)

What do players do on a rare day off in Albany?

My driver for the day. @Big_Brewski going to the movies #totalrecall #TrainingCamp http://t.co/1ixEq24p—
William Beatty (@willbeatty65) August 05, 2012

Nothing like spending a quality off day with your family…—
Henry Hynoski (@HenryHynoski) August 05, 2012

Days off are the best! Breakfast time. Hmm let's see what you got Albany—
Victor Cruz (@TeamVic) August 05, 2012

Catching up on some rest and #GameOfThrones after that amazing Sushi Pizza with @DConti710—
Mark Herzlich (@MarkHerzlich) August 05, 2012

What a nice day! #relaxin movies and more… Sleep!—
Domenik Hixon (@domenik_hixon) August 05, 2012

Had a great few days with the family. Hate to see them go. #solucky—
Justin Tuck (@JustinTuckNYG91) August 05, 2012

Spending the day off at the mall with some of my teammates just enjoying the simple life…. #TrainingCamp #NYG—
William Beatty (@willbeatty65) August 05, 2012

This day off is going to be lovely.—
Rueben Randle (@RuebenRandle) August 04, 2012

Tweet of the Day: Rueben Randle’s gift

My gift to @teamvic this morning instagr.am/p/N6X447ABI6/—
Rueben Randle (@RuebenRandle) August 04, 2012

POLL: Rookie Impressions