Kevros's Depth Chart Prediction V1.0

So here is my first stab at predicting what the 2008 depth chart will look like in Week 1. I probably don't have the full 53 man roster listed yet, but it's still early. There's plenty of changes to be made in the next six months. Changes from the previous version will be shown in italics. As I update the chart, I will change the version numbers for each one. The numbers in the tenths place will increase at each update. The whole numbers will increase as follows:

1 - Between now and April 1st.
2 - Between April 1st and the draft (after April 1st I will predict exactly which rookies will make the team.)
3 - Between the draft and June 1st cuts
4 - Between June 1st and 1st Pre-season game
5 - During Pre-season

For example, if I update again before April 1st (which I'm sure I will if we sign another free agent) the next version will be titled V1.1. And similarly, my first update after the draft will be V3.0.

So, on to the predictions...



QB1 – Eli Manning – Superbowl MVP, enough said…

QB2 – Anthony Wright – The Giants tried to upgrade and they are still talking to Trent Green, but I think Wright is still our best option for the money right now.

QB3 – Jared Lorenzen - The Round Mound of Touchdown!


RB1 – Brandon Jacobs – The Beast has a career 4.6 ypc average with 1009 yards last season in 11 games. Not too shabby.

RB2 – Ahmad Bradshaw – The Lightening to Jacobs’ Thunder, Bradshaw had an impressive rookie season after being 2 picks away from Mr. Irrelevant.

RB3 – Rueben Droughns – Good lockerroom presence that can help coach up the 2 young guys. Stills runs with intensity despite a low ypc average.


FB – Madison Hedgecock – An awesome pickup midseason by Jerry Reese got a contract extension through the 2013 season. Great run blocker and decent hands for a true FB.


WR1 – Plaxico Burress – Is there any doubt he is our number 1?

WR2 – Amani Toomer – I think he has one more year before he slides down the depth chart. I don’t think he will retire for another 2 years.

WR3 – Steve Smith – After missing time with injuries, he came on strong in the playoffs. I like him in the slot.

WR4 – Sinorice Moss – I still have hope for Moss, but he needs to show up this year or he’s gone.

WR5 – Dominik Hixon – Has potential to contribute on offense. Good gunner and decent kick returner.

WR6 – David Tyree – Special Teams Ace and had “The Catch” in the Superbowl.


TE1 – Jeremy Shockey – Hopefully he matures and works on his routes. He’s sill a top 5 TE in this league. His blocking is extremely underrated.

TE2 – Kevin Boss – Good rookie season with great hands. Needs to work on his blocking.

TE3 – Michael Matthews – Undrafted rookie free agent last year is a huge TE and good blocker. He filled in at FB before Hedgecock was signed and Daryl “Moose” Johnston described him as the best H-back in the league.


LT1 – David Diehl – I think he is a better guard, but is by far our best option at LT right now.

LT2 – Guy Whimper – Whimper is highly thought of by Giants coaches and he played great against Tampa Bay in the wildcard game. I haven’t seen enough of him to make me think he can move Diehl back to guard.


LG1 – Rich Seubert – He has one more year as our starter. I can see the Giants taking a tackle or guard early in the draft to take over for Seubert next year. If a tackle, it would allow Diehl to move to the LG spot next year.

LG2 - Kevin Boothe - Boothe is you average backup offensive lineman. Nothing exceptionally good or bad about him.


C1 – Shaun O’Hara – Just got an extension last off-season, he’s the captain of the O-line and a solid center.

C2 - Grey Ruegamer - He is one of the best backup interior lineman in the NFL. He would probably come in to play either of the guard positions before either Boothe or Koets as well as being the backup center.


RG1 – Chris Snee – Has just missed the pro bowl in every season since being drafted. Will probably get there very shortly.

RG2 - Adam Koets - He can play either tackle or guard, but he's not great at either.


RT1 – Kareem Mckenzie – I love this guy. He goes out and does his job. Top 5 RT in the NFL.

RT2 - ROOKIE - Could be anyone in any round.


DEFENSIVE LINE NOTE– These guys shift around and rotate so much it’s hard to predict who will play where. The obvious starters are listed below, but Justin Tuck will see a lot of time at all D-line positions. Kiwanuka will probably play both DE positions and maybe some linebacker. Dave Toellefsen will be a back DE and Jay Alford is a great pass rushing DT to rotate in.

RDE1 – Osi Umenyiora – Only NYG to make the pro bowl last year. Will be dominant for years.

RDE2 – Mathias Kiwanuka – A great pass rusher with great quickness and agility. I hope to see him back at DE this year.


LDE1 – Michael Strahan – I think Giants will pay him more to come back. But this position will get a heavy dose of Justin Tuck and Matthias Kiwanuka as well to keep the old-timer fresh.

LDE2 – Justin Tuck – Considered by some as the defensive MVP of the defense last year. This guy is the perfect replacement for Strahan when he finally retires.

LDE3 – Dave Toellefsen – Primarily a special teamer but he is a solid backup at DE.


DT1 – Fred Robbins – This guy might be the most underrated NYG. He’s no probowler, but he works hard and gets no respect.

DT2 – Barry Cofield – Solid run stuffer and good at eating up blocks. He has no pass rush though and this spot should see a lot of Justin Tuck and Jay Alford on passing downs.

DT3 – Jay Alford – Lacks the size and strength of a good run stuffer, but his pass rush is pretty good for such a young DT.

DT4 – Manny Wright – Another good run stuffer. Has weight issues but has vowed to correct them. I’d like to see him follow through with that because he was considered a 1st round talent after his junior year in college.


WILL1 – Gerris Wilkinson – He was a 3rd round pick in 2006 and this is his chance to prove he can start in this league. Kawika Mitchell went to Buffalo and left him as his heir to the WLB spot.

WILL2 – ROOKIE – Could be any number of players. I like Erin Henderson and Xavier Adibi.


MIKE1 – Antonio Pierce – Has lost some speed but is the smartest player on our defense. He lines everyone up where they need to be and as a result makes them all better players. He is automatic to start in the middle.

MIKE2 – Chase Blackburn – Blue collar guy. He works hard, tackles well and plays through the whistle. He lacks the speed to be an NFL starter.


SAM1 – Zak DeOssie – This is a bold prediction, but I think this guy can step up for us. He would allow Kiwi to move back to DE. He will be a monster against the run and has had a year to learn how to cover at an NFL level. I think he steps up and does an admirable job for us this year.

SAM2 – Tank Daniels – A special teams ace that will fill the role that Reggie Torbor left behind. Much more valuable as a special teamer than on defense, this could be another rookie or free agent.


CB1 – Aaron Ross – Played great as a rookie and showed grit by playing in the playoffs with a dislocated shoulder. He’s a great physical man CB.

CB2 – Corey Webster – He really turned up the heat at the end of last season. It remains to be seen if he can keep that up and win back his starting spot. He played much better in man than the zone coverages he was asked to do in the past.

CB3 – Kevin Dockery – Lack size but one of the quickest players on the field Dockery can stay on just about anyone’s hip. He needs to improve locating the ball as well as catching the ball. His ability to change direction makes him ideally suited as a nickel where he has to cover a lot more options.

CB4 – Sam Madison – Madison might start some games against the bigger slower WRs. He could also be asked to cover some of the better TEs we play. He’s lost a step but he won’t back down from anyone.

CB5 – ROOKIE – Could be any number of guys. Reese has said you can never have enough CBs so this could be an early draft pick. I like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tracy Porter, Antoine Cason, and Brandon Flowers. The CB class is fairly deep this year.


S1 – Sammy Knight – Just signed to the Giants, Knight is a force against the run. He leaves a little to be desired in the pass game but he brings good veteran leadership to the secondary.

S2 – Michael Johnson – Johnson had a good rookie season as a backup and if he improves his ball skills he could win the 2nd safety spot. He’s much quicker than Knight and Butler.

S3 – James Butler – Butler was the starting safety last year, but he didn’t impress many people. Spags thinks he is one of the smartest safeties in the league but so far that hasn’t translated into much on the field.

S4 – ROOKIE – I like Reggie Smith, DaJuan Morgan, Jamie Silva, and Thomas Decoud. There are a few CBs that could be converted to safety as well like Aqib Talib.


K – Lawrence Tynes - Started last year a bit shaky but finished strong and will most likely be our kicker for the next 4-5 years.


P – Jeff Feagles – One of the best directional punters in the game returns for another season.


KR1 - Dominik Hixon - Above average KR last year.

KR2 - Ahmad Bradshaw - A better returner than Hixon but the coaches won't want him returning kicks with such a prominent role in the running game.


PR - Sinorice Moss - I think Moss could win this job if RW McQuarters is cut. Not many people like Sinorice but I am one of the few that does.