Giants Rookie Report Card After Four Games

When I was in grammar school, we used to get quarterly report cards reflecting our progress in various subjects.

So in honoring one of my favorite traditions (can you tell I always brought home good report cards?), let's go ahead and see how the Giants rookie draft class has done through the first quarter of the 2020 season.

Note: In arriving at these grades, I worked on a little bit of a curve since there was no real off-season and no preseason, which I firmly believe has put most of these rookies behind.

Round 1 - OT Andrew Thomas: B

Andrew Thomas was widely regarded as the safest pick among the big-four offensive tackle prospects (Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs, and Jerick Wills being the other three).

Originally projected to play right tackle as a rookie, Thomas, the Giants first-round draft pick and the No. 4 overall in this year's class, was shifted back to left tackle after Nate Solder opted out due to COVID-19 concerns. Let's say it's been an up-and-down showing for the rookie since.

Per PFF, Thomas currently leads all rookie offensive tackles who have played at least 200 snaps with 19 total pressures.

But that's not the sole basis for the middle of the pack grade. Thomas continues to be inconsistent with fundamentals like hand placement and his footwork.

Here's an example of Thomas's inconsistent hand placement. This is the sack he gave up in Week 2 against the Bears' Robert Quinn. Note how in the still image below, Quinn has already initiated contact while Thomas's hands have yet to come up and strike his man.

By the time Thomas strikes Quinn, it's too late as he's past the rookie and on to the sack of quarterback Daniel Jones.

And here is an example of some less than ideal footwork on a second-quarter Daniel Jones scramble. Take note of how his feet are all over the place, which is why he never manages to establish leverage and gets walked back into the pocket.

Once Thomas becomes more consistent with his hand placement and leverage, you're going to see an even better player.

Round 2 - S Xavier McKinney: Incomplete

McKinney has been on injured reserve since the start of the season with a broken foot. The hope is he'll be able to begin working out by late next month, but at that point, it's fair to wonder if the Giants are going to start the clock on him or leave him on injured reserve so that he can get the maximum amount of time to heal.

Round 3 - OT Matt Peart: B

Peart, the Giants' third-round pick out of UConn, made his NFL debut in Week 3 against the 49ers when he relieved starting right tackle Cam Fleming for a couple of plays after Fleming suffered an injury.

Between that and the ensuing week of practice, the coaches must have liked what they saw from Peart, as they gave him nearly an entire quarter of play at right tackle last week against the Rams.

In this clip, Peart does a little chipping on Rams all-world defensive lineman Aaron Donald and then goes looking for work after the chip, which is what you want to see of a young lineman.

Notice how he heads to the middle of the formation--the play is a run by Dion Lewis, which is going away from Peart's side. Still, it was a clean rep for the rookie, who, in his handful of snaps, kept his edge clean and who went looking for work after taking care of his initial responsibilities.

Round 4 - CB Darnay Holmes: B

Holmes has had an up-and-down time in general, as he tries to contribute as a slot receiver, a role he didn't play much in college at UCLA. But there's still a lot to like about this young man's game, starting with So far in 73 slot snaps,

Holmes has been targeted 13 times, allowing nine completions for 105 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions for a respectable 93.4 NFL rating.

But the other part of Holmes' game that doesn't get talked about enough is his blitzing. Holmes, who has two quarterback pressures in four games, came up with this beauty last week against the Rams in which he blew up Darrell Henderson on a corner blitz.

Although he didn't record the sack, he just barely missed getting a hand on the ball, and his pass rush did force quarterback Jared Goff to hurry his throw intended for Van Jefferson, a pass that fell incomplete.

Holms is only 5'10" and 195 pounds, but the young man plays like a much bigger corner who is fearless out there.

Round 5 - IOL Shane Lemieux: Incomplete

Last weekend Lemieux received his first known NFL snap as a jumbo fullback, which he executed well. It was a nice little wrinkle thrown in by the coaches, which helped lead to a 3-yard rush.

Lemiuex probably isn't ready to start siphoning snaps from Will Hernandez or Kevin Zeitler, the Giants guards, but working as a jumbo fullback (is playing jumbo tight end next?) seems to be a good way to get the young man's feet wet.

Round 6 - LB Cam Brown: B+

Sixth-round draft pick Cam Brown might still be looking for the right role o the defense, but in the meantime, he's established himself as a core special teams player who has been quietly delivering some fine punt gunner work.

Just look at this punt coverage play in which the 6'5" Brown splits a double team and hustles down the field to force Cooper Kupp to call for a fair catch.

Round 7: LB Carter Coughlin: Incomplete

Coughlin has only been active twice and has been limited to special teams. The coaches recently revealed that they have been giving him some snaps at inside linebacker--it was initially thought that the first of the Giants' four seventh-round picks might be more of an edge rusher.

Coughlin also dealt with a hamstring injury last month which landed him on the inactive list.

Round 7 - LB TJ Brunson: Incomplete

Brunson, who made the 53-man roster, has yet to earn a gameday hat.

Round 7 - CB Chris Williamson: Incomplete

The third of the Giants' seventh-round draft picks is currently the only member of the draft class on the practice squad.

Round 7 - LB Tae Crowder: B+

This year's "Mr. Irrelevant," Crowder could soon find himself siphoning more snaps from Devante Downs as that No. 2 inside linebacker alongside Blake Martinez.

Against the Rams, Crowder delivered one pressure and made two tackles, while also very nearly coming up with an interception on a ball in which he did a good job not to bite on a play-action pass.

Notice how Crowder not only doesn't bite and immediately goes into coverage, but he does a nice job of timing and making a break toward receiver Robert Woods, anticipating that he might be the target on the play. Then watch how quickly Crowder closes in on the play to break up the pass.

Linebackers either have a feel for playing coverage or they don't. In this play, Crowder showed he has a feel for the role.

(Images and clips via NFL Game Pass.)

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