GIANTS' PRACTICE SQUAD SLEEPERS TO WATCH

[RoanokeFan]

GIANTS' PRACTICE SQUAD SLEEPERS TO WATCH

"Who Makes The Giants Practice Squad?

That is a good question.

The
Giants will have probably their bestpractice squad in recent years in 2012.
Usually, the Giants philosophy is to re-sign the best eight players they cut who
fit into their system. Now that may not always translate into the most talented
player as GM Jerry Reese and Head Coach Tom
Coughlin have always stressed in practice squad players a high level of
intelligence along with talent.

They want kids who can learn their
assignments and get through a practice with a minimal amount of mistakes.
Because of that you can have players with more “talent” left off the squad
because he can’t learn the playbook!

The Giants have done very well in
most recent years with their practice squad players. Some have found themselves
on the 53 man roster and contributed on game day. The Giants, along with every
other team in the NFL are required to carry up to 8 players on the practice
squad.

An NFL practice squad player makes roughly $5200 per week for
developing and hopefully making the 53 man roster. Often is the case that a
player on the practice squad could be released and then re-signed within a
week’s span; which was the case for Giants QB Ryan Perrilloux.


For 2012, the Giants will have difficult decisions to make
regarding who to keep and who not to keep on the practice squad, as the number
of candidates has grown and the Giants can only assign up to 8. The following is
my final assessment of who makes the Giants practice squad in
2012:

Ryan Perrilloux (QB): Perrilloux
seemed to have been on a merry go round in 2011, as the Giants released him and
then re-signed him a number of times. Still, I believe the Giants like his
makeup enough and have him on the 2012 practice squad
again.

Julian Talley (WR): Talley is a Victor
Cruz clone in appearance and the Giants can only hope that he develops
into a Victor Cruz in ability. The former WR out of Umass will
get a long hard look during training camp, but with the current depth on the
Giants WR squad; Talley will most likely end up on the practice
squad.

Matt McCants (OT): McCants will have every
opportunity to make this team. However; with the signing of Sean
Locklear and the drafting of Brandon Mosley.
McCants could find himself starting out the year on the
practice squad and possibly returning as the year unfolds.

Dwayne
Hendricks (DT): Hendricks will have an extremely tough time making the
53 man roster with the recent arrival of Rogers, the drafting
of Kuhn and the return of Austin at DT. Now
this can all change if Rogers has nothing left in the tank and
Kuhn’s is a bust. Then Hendricks has a shot at
the 53 man roster, but in my opinion; Rogers and
Kuhn will outplay him.

Adewale Ojomo (DE):
Ojomo is a project and I could be reaching here. However; from all the
reports and video I’ve seen Ojomo, the Giants would be wise to
assign Ojomo to the practice squad. The former Miami Hurricane
has untapped talent and maybe, just maybe the Giants can have him develop at his
own pace and hopefully produce another pass rusher in the
end.

Jack Muasau (OLB): Muasau is from a small school
(Georgia State) and didn’t get the exposure he deserved. Described as a tackling
machine with an endless motor, Muasau will impress in training
camp, but will eventually find himself on the Giants 2012 practice
squad.

Janzen Jackson (S): Jackson is a solid player who
had personal issues in college; which effective his draft stock. I believe the
Giants have enough depth at the safety position and would most likely place
Jackson on the practice squad. Jackson will show enough during
training camp and preseason games to warrant the assignment.

There are
some names I left off that many may feel should have been added to this list.
Players like Joe Martinek, Christian Hopkins, Adrian Tracey and
David Douglas come to mind. I believe that
Martinek will make the 53 man roster, Hopkins
could start the year on the 53 man roster and Tracey and
Douglas are long shots making the practice
squad.

Footnote: Rod Smith (WR) is the only non-drafted
player to go from the practice squad to a Pro Bowler. He is also the only
non-drafted WR to amass over 10,000 yards in receiving."

[Toadofsteel]

I'm down with extra depth on the practice squad...

[giantsfan420]

[quote user="Toadofsteel"]I'm down with extra depth on the practice squad...[/quote]

Its pretty amazing when we have a ps full of guys thatd likely be con tributing to other teams on gameday...

[rcrane082985]

who writes up these articles that Roanoke posts? whoever it is, believes that martinek will make the 53 man roster....or are these roanokes write ups? just curious..

[Captain Chaos]

[quote user="rcrane082985"]who writes up these articles that Roanoke posts? whoever it is, believes that martinek will make the 53 man roster....or are these roanokes write ups? just curious..[/quote]

Roanoke has the link up top; this article happens to be from yardbarker. Too much opinion most of which I don't agree with. I know Martinek is a homey but he is the same size as Ware and Brown, may be interesting to watch but I don't think that he will unseat both of these guys. Also I really think Jackson and Hill will be worth watching at S throughout the Camp. Both are athletic and have decent cover skills, they could be a couple of sleepers.

[buddy33]

I know I always root for the local guys, but I really think that Martinek and Hill can make a name for themselves on this team.

Martinek is a good character guy that will put everything he has into making it. He is a very good blocker and runs physical. Two things the Giants love.

Hill has lots of talent and admitted he he got caught up in his rock star status coming out of high school as the #1 athlete in he country and playing for the best team in college football. IF he is serious about his game he could be a huge pick up for the Giants.

[Snappinnecks]

I'm just hoping, one of these years, that a LB comes in and just dominates. It would be nice considering the proud tradition of this franchise...

[JimC]

Can't a practice squad player be claimed by any team?

[GMENAGAIN]

[quote user="JimC"]Can't a practice squad player be claimed by any team?
[/quote]</P>


Yes, but the claiming team has to sign the player to its active roster. In other words, another team can't take one of your PS guys and put him on its own PS . . . . . . </P>

[nygsb42champs]

Excellent read. Thanks RF.