Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by VDesai:

Giants had some times in 4.4 range on Stoney. Saw a note where he ran 4.35.

On Maclin, I think they had him rated slightly higher than Nicks because of the special teams factor. Once the WRs started coming off the board I think they were prepared to move up to get one (since they had several extra picks). Instead they waited and still were able to get Nicks who was only slightly below Maclin.

I think they made the right choice. Nicks is a true no.1 type, while Maclin, while talented- is a bit of a gimmicky WR who made his living on screens, reverses and the like. He does have deep speed, but I think they have that kind of WR in Moss and Hixon.

I think it was a little more than that. All reports now say that there was a conditional deal in place meaning they tried to get him but he just went off the board. Sometimes the best deals are the ones that don't happen but it wasn't their decision to pick Nicks over Maclin. That's a little eye opener for me.

Posted by NYKBocker:

Posted by VDesai:

Giants had some times in 4.4 range on Stoney. Saw a note where he ran 4.35.

On Maclin, I think they had him rated slightly higher than Nicks because of the special teams factor. Once the WRs started coming off the board I think they were prepared to move up to get one (since they had several extra picks). Instead they waited and still were able to get Nicks who was only slightly below Maclin.

I think they made the right choice. Nicks is a true no.1 type, while Maclin, while talented- is a bit of a gimmicky WR who made his living on screens, reverses and the like. He does have deep speed, but I think they have that kind of WR in Moss and Hixon.

Great point on the Nicks and Maclin comparison. Nicks looks like and every down type WR that can also help in the running game, well at least his size suggests that he should be a good blocker.

You think this kid can stretch the field a little bit? It seems that in his highlight film that he is more of a possession receiver.

Posted by VDesai:

Beckum is a very similar player to the Jets Dustin Keller. He will play H-Back primarily

NEW DC SHERIDAN RUNS SIMILAR SCHEME IN OWN STYLE

By PAUL SCHWARTZ

May 3, 2009 --

It is altogether telling and in some ways fascinating that when it came time for Bill Sheridan to sell himself for the job of defensive coordinator, he stressed one specific attribute to coach Tom Coughlin.

"I told him the most important thing for a coordinator is competence; that you know scheme and that you can give players that," Sheridan said.

Interesting choice. Sheridan could have said leadership or charisma or style. Or even personality. So many of the marquee engineers of great defenses in the NFL are instantly recognizable for whom they are and what they're about. Sheridan, 50, never has been a coordinator at any level and takes over for the highly successful Steve Spagnuolo, who in just two years with the Giants went from nondescript assistant to first-time coordinator to hot prospect to head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

That's the fast-track side of the position, a ride John Fox took before Spagnuolo. It's a ride that dumped Tim Lewis, who, brought in when Coughlin arrived, was ineffective and discarded.

Now comes Sheridan, who before 2005 had never coached a minute in the NFL but during 20 years developed a strong college resume. He had been the Giants' linebackers coach for four years, and when Coughlin needed a replacement for Spagnuolo, he decided to stay in-house and picked Sheridan over defensive backs coach Peter Giunta.

Continuity is the key here, as Coughlin surmised there's a good thing going on defense and why rip it up and start over again? Sheridan says he will keep the system Spagnuolo imported from Philadelphia and make minor adjustments, mainly making the schemes less multiple -- be more effective with less -- and asking his pass rushers to drop in coverage less frequently than the past.

The real change will be Sheridan himself. The diminutive, intense Spagnuolo was no self-promoter, but his honesty quickly won over his players and they followed him with a real zeal. He called the game from the sideline; interpersonal interaction was his strong suit.

Sheridan is soft-spoken, intelligent, thoughtful and, according to those around him, incredibly well prepared. But he's not going to emote a great deal.

"I think you can get up in front of the players and you can be a big rah-rah motivational guy, but the bottom line is, your scheme and your game plan has to be put together each week because the players will know whether or not it is legitimate or not, or it is going to work," Sheridan said. "And so they may love or dislike your personality -- that is irrelevant. If you give them a plan each week to go into the game where they feel they are going to have a chance, they will be motivated and they will respond to you."

Sheridan's main student, middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, has reserved judgment on the promotion for his former position coach, as Pierce is emotional and got what he needed from Spagnuolo. It is fitting that Sheridan, unlike the majority of NFL defensive coordinators, has decided to call the game from on high, up in the press box, meaning no TV face-time clenching his fists or exhorting his troops from the sideline.

"Because you want to make logical, calculated decisions on your play-calling," Sheridan explained. "And really that is not as complicated as you think, either. I think up in the box you have a little calmer atmosphere. You are not down on the sidelines where there can be a lot of mayhem."

Sheridan inherits a loaded deck. The Giants were ranked No. 5 in defense last season and that was without injured Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora and free-agent additions Chris Canty, Michael Boley, Rocky Bernard and C.C. Brown. The new man in charge is excited, even if he doesn't always show it.

"Oh, it is just huge," he said. "I'm sure there are few exceptions, but everybody aspires to be either a coordinator or eventually become a head coach. It is all fun, it is all good, it is all great."

paul.schwartz@nypost.com