If it is true that TC will have final say in personnel, including the draft, then you can bet that the draft and his free agency will reflect a lot of his values. Since I think Caldwell, on the whole, has done a good job stocking this roster, I hope TC values his input when it comes to which players to pick, even if they are at different positions than Caldwell would take at that point. I also hope TC is willing to work within the confines of Marrone's schemes. Dysfunction in the FO doesn't help.
That said, if TC's values will control, I think these are some of the things we will see from TC in the months and years to come:
1. As I indicated in another thread, guys like Alualu and Odrick will be gone. Everywhere TC has been, he has generally stocked the roster with DEs who are relatively thin, with good length, with guys who can get after the passer. Here in Jacksonville, he signed guys like Jeff Lageman, Joel Smeenge, he took a flier on Clyde Simmons and drafted Tony Brackens. With the Giants, working with Strahan already on the roster, he added guys like JPP, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Damontre Moore. (Coughlin was the first coach I've ever seen line up 4 DE-including two inside-on passing downs. ) The one exception to his DE paradigm was Renaldo Wynn. I see Wynn and Alualu as virtual clones of each other, and neither provide the kind of pass rush Coughlin has proven to prefer. While Odrick is more explosive and a better player than either of those guys, ultimately I don't think he fits the mold of a Coughlin DE, especially if the indications that Wash will run a more conventional 4-3 are true. Odrick might be better equipped to slide inside at DT for depth, and that might keep him around a little longer, but I think ultimately his time here is short.
2. On the board there has been a groundswell of support for the drafting of Dalvin Cook. I agree that RB could be upgraded. However, using Coughlin's past actions as a guide, I think if the team were to draft a RB in the first round, whether at 4 or by trade, Leonard Fournette would likely be the target. TC has always preferred bigger backs at his stops. The first RB he drafted here was James Stewart, a 224 pound RB. He brought in a 245 pound Natrone Means in 1996. Means then went on a tear during that legendary playoff run for us. In 1998, after dealing Rob Johnson away for Buffalo's 1st round and 4th round picks, Coughlin originally wanted to use that ammunition to trade from the #9 overall pick obtained from Buffalo to #5 overall to draft a 6-0, 242 RB in Curtis Enis, but Chicago reportedly asked for too much to move up. Coughlin instead drafted a 228 pound Fred Taylor at #9 instead. He also brought in an undrafted 241 pound RB in Stacey Mack. When he went to New York, he brought in 6-4, 256 pound Brandon Jacobs, and later brought in former Jaguars RB Rashad Jennings, who measured 6', 234. At 6-1, 235, Leonard Fournette fits TCs proven ideal for RBs more than Dalvin Cook.
3. There will be no hesitation in spending early picks-or free agent dollars-on offensive linemen. This is a good development because right now, on the whole, our skill positions are fine, but the offensive line needs work. While in Jacksonville, Coughlin's first ever draft choice was Tony Boselli, and followed that up with second round pick Brian DeMarco. When DeMarco did not meet expectations, Coughlin opened up the vault to bring in Leon Searcy as a free agent. Coughlin later spent second round picks on guys like Brad Meester, Mike Pearson, and Maurice Williams. As Giants' head man, he brought in Chris Snee in the 2nd round his first year, spent a second round pick on T William Beatty in 2009, spent a 1 on Justin Pugh in 2013, a 2 on C Weston Richburg in 2014, and a 1 on T Erek Flowers in '15. It would not surprise me one bit to see Cam Robinson as our first pick if he satisfies TC's character requirements, or to make a FA run at OL this March.
I just hope that TC, Caldwell and Marrone can effectively collaborate on bringing in guys who will contribute to a winning culture here and upgrade the roster to bring us Super Bowls.
Worst to 1st. Curse Reversed!
