Giants risking future for grand plans in 2016

The New York Giants are going for broke, literally.

General manager Jerry Reese knows the story. Once a head coach is fired, the general manager is the next target of a disappointed owner looking for better results. Reese, who has been in his position with the New York Giants since 2007, is feeling the heat.

After agreeing to part ways with longtime head coach Tom Coughlin this offseason, Reese went on a spending spree befitting a Manhattan socialite. The 53-year-old with two Super Bowls on his resume bolstered his defense in both an aggressive and expensive fashion, signing end Olivier Vernon, corner Janoris Jenkins and nose tackle Damon Harrison.

All told, the contracts are worth $193,750,000. Each player received five years. The trio of newcomers account for three of the four largest contracts on the Giants books, with only Eli Manning able to make more than Jenkins and Harrison.

For casual New Yorkers, the moves were brilliant and cunning. For die-hard fans aware of the salary cap implications, it is much more concerning. The contracts had an air of desperation coming from Reese, who has not put together a playoff team since 2011. In the NFL, missing the postseason four consecutive years is a virtual death sentence, even with two rings on your fingers.

What makes the money spent even more questionable is the return. Vernon was the most expensive of the bunch, receiving more guaranteed money ($52 million) than either J.J. Watt or Justin Houston. In four years with the Miami Dolphins, Vernon amassed 29 sacks and only one season in double digits.

Combining the careers of all three, they total zero Pro Bowl berths.

The defense also continues to have legions of concerns. The starting linebackers are Devon Kinnard, Jasper Brinkley and Jonathan Casillas, per the team’s official website. You would be excused if you have never heard of them. The secondary should be improved with Jenkins, but starting two rookies in first-round pick Eli Apple and third-round selection Darian Thompson is risky. Landon Collins is the second-most experienced player on the back end, entering his second campaign.

Reese might have been better served to spend his money in smaller doses. He could have upgraded at linebacker with a player such as Daryl Smith. Reese could have spent $15 million on corner Casey Heyward instead of $62.5 million on Jenkins, who casually mentioned his penchant for taking fourth quarters off. Alas, the deals are done.

New York has to reach the playoffs under first-time head coach Ben McAdoo. If the Giants don’t find their way into the tournament, Reese could be looking for another job. Unfair or not, McAdoo could be as well depending how poorly things go.

The Giants have put themselves in a tough spot with big contracts and frantic executives. Now they need to hope it somehow comes up aces.

Film study

Sam Bradford was the first-overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams, with the hope he would become the stereotypical face of the franchise. We know how that turned out for both Bradford and St. Louis.

Bradford’s career has been marred by both injury and inconsistency. He has torn his ACL twice, missing part of 2013 and all of 2014. When healthy, the results have been mixed. Last year, Bradford set career highs with 3,725 yards on 7.00 yards per attempt. He also completed 65 percent of his throws, never before having topped 61 percent.

Still, Bradford has a habit of turnovers. Last season, the former University of Oklahoma star tossed 19 touchdowns against 14 interceptions and six fumbles. In a season where Philadelphia went 7-9 and missed the playoffs, Bradford’s mistakes were largely the difference.

What should we expect from Bradford in 2016? Let’s go to the film…

Week 2: Dallas at Philadelphia

It’s the third quarter and Dallas leads 13-0. The Eagles are threatening with 2nd and Goal at the Cowboys’ 3-yard line. The Eagles have two receivers to the left and two tight ends on the right side of the formation. The Cowboys are in their base 4-3 defense with man-coverage principles. The linebackers are playing underneath.

The orange arrows are pointing to Eagles tight end Zach Ertz and Cowboys middle linebacker Sean Lee. Lee will drop into coverage and lock onto Ertz, who is running a deep arrow route along the back of the end zone.

Bradford has options here. He can either throw underneath to Josh Huff and hope his receiver makes a play, or run up the gut. Considering how immobile Bradford is, Huff should be the choice. However, Bradford never looks his way. Instead, he has pre-determined that Ertz, who is being shadowed by Lee, will get the ball. This is how interceptions happen.

This is the exact moment Bradford starts to throw. Even with the knowledge that his tight end is breaking right, there is no window. Zilch. This ball should have been thrown to Huff or fired through the end zone. Instead, Bradford hits Lee and kills the drive.

This is the end zone angle of what Bradford is seeing. Lee is all over Ertz. Throwing this pass made no sense, especially with a down to play with.

Week 15: Arizona at Philadelphia

The Eagles have 1st and 10 from the Arizona 22-yard line. Philadelphia comes out in a two-wide set to the left with Brent Celek and Zach Ertz on the right side of the line. Arizona is in a nickel defense with man principles. Tyrann Mathieu is the lone deep safety. Also, the Cardinals are playing with 10 men. That’s an issue.

The play is a staple of so many NFL teams. Bradford has the option of either handing off to Murray or throwing a quick screen to Nelson Agholor (circled). Instead, Bradford uses his intellect, realizing Arizona is short-handed. Celek is running a medium cross while Ertz is going deep on a wide post. Ertz is trying to get his man, Tony Jefferson, to widen out and then cut underneath him.

In theory, Ertz can create space and Bradford can beat Mathieu to the spot with a well-timed throw.

Bradford sees Jefferson turn his hips toward the sideline, biting on Ertz’s initial route fake. Mathieu is occupied by Celek, readying himself to close on a throw. At this point, a good throw means a first down and, at minimum, 1st and Goal.

The throw is perfectly placed between a stumbling Jefferson and a closing Mathieu. Ertz walks into the end zone, tying the game at 10-10. While the play was made significantly easier by Arizona’s counting gaffe, Bradford still shows why he is an NFL-caliber quarterback. Instead of immediately throwing to Agholor or handing to Murray, he waits and unloads a dart for six points.

These two plays represent the Bradford Conundrum. One play is smart and well-executed. Another is forced and costly. The Eagles need much more of the former if they are to compete in 2016.

Power rankings

10 best games of 2016 season

1. Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks, Week 16
2. New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 7
3. Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs, Week 16
4. Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots, Week 10
5. Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals, Week 15
6. Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, Week 2
7. Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks, Week 13
8. Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs, Week 14
9. Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys, Week 12
10. Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers, Week 8

Quotable

"“I like his game a lot. He reminds me of myself, honestly. The guy is not a very talked-about guy, but he goes out there and makes plays. Coming out of the combine, he was one of my favorite receivers. (Even) without me talking to him before, I liked his game a lot.”– DeAndre Hopkins on New Orleans Saints rookie WR Mike Thomas, per the Times-Picayune"

This is high praise for Thomas, who comes into the league as a second-round pick from Ohio State. Thomas was prolific with the Buckeyes, earning a national championship in Jan. 2015.

From all accounts, Thomas has been tremendous throughout training camp. He is in the running to start opposite Brandin Cooks in an offense sure to provide him with plenty of opportunity. If New Orleans and quarterback Drew Brees got a true star in Thomas, perhaps the Saints make some noise in the NFC South.

Random stat

From 1919-79, only two quarterbacks threw for more than 4,000 yards in a season. Joe Namath of the New York Jets amassed 4,0007 yards in 1967, while San Diego Chargers signal-caller Dan Fouts totaled 4,082 in 1979.

In the 36 seasons since, the benchmark has been topped 140 times. Incredibly, no Chicago Bears are on the list.

Info learned this week

1. Broncos to start Trevor Siemian this week

After giving Siemian the nod in Week 2 of the preseason over Mark Sanchez, Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak is doubling down. Kubiak announced on Monday that Siemian will indeed start against the Los Angeles Rams this weekend, sending a strong signal that Siemian is going to be under center come Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers.

Siemian was respectable against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, completing 10-of-14 passes for 74 yards and a pick-six. The 49ers adjusted to the short throws throughout the first quarter, resulting in an Eric Reid touchdown. After the interception, Siemian appeared rattled.

The decision is a curious one by Kubiak. While Paxton Lynch is still learning the offense, he has a veteran in Sanchez who can play to some degree. The only rationale is that Kubiak knows he has a great defense, and that turnovers are the kryptonite. Then again, Siemian was a turnover machine at Northwestern. Either way, it is stunning to see Sanchez lose his grip on this job to a player with such limited upside.

2. Bucs’ Aguayo having major issues

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded up this spring to select kicker Roberto Aguayo in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. It was a stunning move, but one that would have been somewhat justified with a stellar rookie campaign.

To this point, Aguayo has been a mess. In two preseason games, the Florida State product has missed an extra point and two field goals, leading to him hiring a mental coach, according to Roy Cummings. Last week, Aguayo looked lost against the Jacksonville Jaguars, missing badly on two attempts.

Aguayo simply needs to relax and put a few kicks between the uprights. The regular season is still two weeks away. There is time to get this straightened out, and make it a tiny footnote in his career.

3. Colts dealing with rash of corner injuries

The Indianapolis Colts do not have a strong secondary when healthy. Without Vontae Davis? It is even uglier. Davis has been diagnosed with a medial ankle sprain according to head coach Chuck Pagano. The timetable remains unclear, but is enough of a concern to bring veteran corner Antonio Cromartie in for a visit.

Cromartie, 32, was terrible last season with the New York Jets. There have been reports that Cromartie is still dealing with a hip issue that cropped up in 2015. However, he might still be better than any of the players on Indianapolis’ depth chart. With both Patrick Robinson (groin) and Darius Butler (hamstring) also nicked up, the Colts have all sorts of problems.

4. Ramon Foster tells Steelers players to save money

The NFL has been enjoying relative labor peace since coming to terms on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement before the 2011 season. However, there are tensions bubbling. Pittsburgh Steelers guard and player representative Ramon Foster has begun telling players to start saving money now for a 2021 work stoppage, according to ESPN.

This can’t come as much of a surprise. The players are furious with the amount of power commissioner Roger Goodell wields. They also want to revamp the drug policy, which currently comes down hard on marijuana use. With how much money both sides stand to lose, a lockout or strike that extends into the 2021 season remains unlikely, but this is a warning shot.

5. Marcell Dareus entering rehab

After being suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season due to a drug policy violation, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus decided to take control of his life. Dareus has voluntarily put himself into a treatment program, according to ESPN.

Buffalo is doing the right thing by completely supporting its young star, who clearly needs to get his life on track. When he returns remains unknown, but at least Dareus is acknowledging he has an issue.

Aslyum mailbag

Can you give us some really early guesses on which coordinators will become the “hot names” to get next years open head coaching jobs? – Lord Harry

MV: One name that immediately jumps to mind is Mike Smith. Smith was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2008-14 and had a 66-46 record with four playoff appearances. Smith is now the defensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and should he have a good year with that young group, he could get a look.

A potential first-time head coach could be Mike Vrabel. Vrabel has been the Houston Texans’ linebackers coach since 2014 and has enjoyed rave reviews. He’s only 41 years old and hasn’t been a coordinator yet, but he could make the jump. There is talk that he’s the biggest up-and-comer in the league.

History lesson of the week

With the Rams returning to Los Angeles, there has been celebrating over a town getting NFL football back. Of course, this is not the first time we have seen this happen. A few examples:

St. Louis watched the Cardinals move to Phoenix in 1988, but got the Rams in 1995. The franchise would win a Super Bowl there in 1999, more than the Cardinals ever came close to doing.

The Oakland Raiders moved to Los Angeles in 1982 but returned to Oakland, and the same stadium, in 1995.

The Colts famously moved out of Baltimore in the middle of a 1984 night, heading out for Indianapolis. Charm City would be without football until 1996, when the Cleveland Browns became the Baltimore Ravens. Cleveland would get a new version of the Browns in time for the 1999 campaign.

The Houston Oilers left for Tennessee to become the Titans after the 1996 season, but Houston received the Texans prior to the 2002 season.

So which city (prior to St. Louis) is the last to see a team move and never get another one in its place? Portsmouth, Ohio.

The Portsmouth Spartans operated from 1930-33 before becoming the Detroit Lions.

Parting shot

The Lions, Browns and Bills get plenty of heckling for their ineptitude this millennium (and rightfully so), but the Miami Dolphins are right there. The Dolphins have gone through nine head coaches since the turn of the century, and have enjoyed only one division title.

Miami is also without a playoff win since 2000 and has seen 17 quarterbacks start since that time. It has been an absurd run for a franchise that was once the model of the NFL, back in the days of Don Shula and Larry Csonka.

While the Dolphins fly under the radar in terms of laughingstocks, they deserve their spot at the top of the list.