Tag: Darrian Beavers

Giants’ Bobby Okereke impressed with Micah McFadden

New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke says he’s impressed with some of the younger players, including Micah McFadden and Darrian Beavers.

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Bobby Okereke, the free agent inside linebacker the New York Giants signed to a four-year, $40 million deal this offseason, is all about doing whatever it is asked of him to help the defense improve.

If that means wearing the ‘green dot’ on his helmet the season, he’ll do it. The ‘green dot’ is assigned to the player who wears the radio headset and calls the defensive signals.

Last year, under first-year defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, several players wore the green dot, including safeties. That might continue this season, but for now, in OTAs, Okereke is one of the players bearing the responsibility.

“I don’t expect to,” Okereke told reporters on Thursday at the team’s OTA session when asked if he expects to wear the green do this season.

“Whatever is best for the team. I don’t have an ego about it. I know a couple of different guys are wearing it throughout this process… I’ve worn it a couple games in the past.”

Okereke was signed to fortify a very thin group of inside linebackers, but he doesn’t see things that way.

“I love Micah McFadden. I think he’s a technician, great player, smart guy. Obviously, Jarrad Davis is a great leader. And Darrian Beavers is a guy who has a lot of potential,” he said.

Okereke said his strength is pass coverage and is seen as the off-ball linebacker the team has been lacking. He explained why he is seen as a top player in pass coverage.

“I think just my athleticism,” he said. “I’m big, I’m fast and long. But then just from a mental processing standpoint, understanding how offenses are trying to attack you and where I fit in coverage with my teammates. Just kind of putting it all together.”

The Giants hope they got in on the bottom floor with Okereke. If they did, their defense will be much more successful in 2023.

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Giants OTAs: Notes, videos and highlights from Day 3

News, notes and highlights from the New York Giants’ third day of organized team activities.

After a day off on Wednesday, the New York Giants returned to East Rutherford, New Jersey on Thursday for their third practice of 10 at organized team activities (OTAs).

Once again, as per NFL rules, the players were not wearing pads and no contact was permitted.

Prior to practice, head coach Brian Daboll held a press conference and fielded questions from reporters, who were attending for the first time this week.

Below is a recap of Daboll’s presser and the subsequent practice, complete with videos and highlights.

Giants’ Darrian Beavers returning with more than a chip on his shoulder

New York Giants LB Darrian Beavers is returning from a torn ACL with more than a chip on his shoulder and seems to determined to shine.

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Every year during draft season, NFL fans clamor for their team to select players at certain positions of need, not remembering — or realizing — their team may already have a solution on their roster.

That could be the case with the New York Giants and their inside linebacker spot. They signed former Indianapolis Colts veteran Bobby Okereke in free agency and then re-signed Jarrad Davis, who played well for the Giants down the stretch.

Another player many may have forgotten about is Darrian Beavers, who they selected in the sixth round in last year’s draft out of Cincinnati.

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Beavers impressed in training camp and then in preseason games only to tear ACL and miss his entire rookie season. However, he is back in 2023 and is determined to jump-start his career with a chip on his shoulder.

“[Expletive] a chip on my shoulder,” Beavers tweeted, accompanied by a ‘bounce-back’ meme. “I got a whole family-sized bag on my [expletive].”

The 6-foot-4 Beavers was a First Team All-AAC in 2021 and a finalist for the Dick Butkus Award while at Cincinnati.

Here is a quick snapshot of his short Giants career:

So long as he’s healthy, Beavers will have a shot to win the starting job alongside Okereke.

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5 moves Giants need to make to get back to the playoffs

If the New York Giants want to return to the playoffs in 2023, here are five things they’re going to need to settle this offseason.

The New York Giants made significant strides in 2022 under first-year general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, logging a winning record for the first time in six years and winning their first postseason game since Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.

They face a crucial offseason if they plan to continue their climb in the NFC hierarchy, however. Much still needs to be done for them to sustain success and remain contenders for years to come.

Here are five things that they can do in the next few months that can help them get back to the playoffs in 2023.

5 players who could have bigger roles for Giants in 2023

These five New York Giants (who are still under contract) are likely to see a larger role during the 2023 regular season.

The New York Giants got many key contributions from first-year players in 2022 which helped them become a playoff team for the first time since 2016.

But some of the players they brought in didn’t — or couldn’t — help them due to injury or lost snaps in a numbers game.

Next season, we see many of those players stepping back up and contributing. Here are five names to watch in 2023.

19 players Giants have drafted from Senior Bowl over last 6 years

Since 2017, the New York Giants have drafted 19 players who had practiced during Senior Bowl week or played in the Senior Bowl itself.

The NFL draft run-up begins this week with the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. The New York Giants have always had a presence at the game and have drafted many a player who has participated in the game over the years.

Here are some players the Giants met and scouted at the game and then drafted going back to 2017.

Giants’ 5 biggest needs this offseason

The New York Giants are on the right track but there’s still work to be done, including these 5 issues that must be addressed this offseason.

The New York Giants just completed their best season in six years, posting a 10-8-1 overall record, qualifying for the postseason, and winning their first playoff game since Super Bowl XLVI over a decade ago.

That doesn’t mean the turnaround is complete. There is still much work to be done.

Here are the five most pressing needs the Giants need to address this offseason.

7 questions facing the Giants this offseason

The New York Giants have a lengthy offseason to-do list and there are several questions that need answering.

The New York Giants just completed a successful 9-7-1 season which saw them qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Their progress under first-year head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen can be seen as ahead of schedule but that doesn’t mean they are about to rest on their achievements. There’s still plenty of work to be done.

Here are seven questions facing the Giants this offseason.

Giants’ Joe Schoen addresses 2022 NFL draft class

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen offers brief commentary on all 11 players from the 2022 NFL draft class, which was his first-ever as GM.

The New York Giants wrapped up the 2022 season on Monday with year-end press conferences from general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

Multiple topics were discussed throughout the dual presser, including Schoen’s take on the 2022 NFL draft class — an 11-player group that contributed heavily throughout the year.

As a reminder, here’s a look at each of those picks:

  • Round 1: No. 5 – Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
  • Round 1: No. 7 (from CHI) – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
  • Round 2: No. 43 (from ATL) – Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
  • Round 3: No. 67  – Joshua Ezeudu, G, North Carolina
  • Round 3: No. 81 (from MIA) – Cor’Dale Flott, CB, LSU
  • Round 4: No. 112 (from CHI) – Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
  • Round 4: No. 114 – Dane Belton, S, Iowa
  • Round 5: No. 146 (from NYJ) – Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
  • Round 5: No. 147 – D.J. Davidson, DT, Arizona State
  • Round 5: No. 173 (from KC via BAL) – Marcus McKethan, G, North Carolina
  • Round 6: No. 182 – Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati

Although many of these rookies played significant roles, injuries were the theme. All missed time over the course of the 17-game season with the exception of linebacker Micah McFadden.

Some missed the entire season.

Here’s what Schoen had to say about each member of his first-ever draft class.

Giants place Darrian Beavers on IR, trim roster to 80

The New York Giants have placed Darrian Beavers and two others on injured reserve, and moved OL Nick Gates and OL Matt Peart to Reserve/PUP.

The New York Giants officially trimmed their roster down to the league-mandated 80 men on Tuesday ahead of the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline.

Unsurprisingly, one of those moves came by way of rookie linebacker Darrian Beavers, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Beavers, who had stood out this summer and was battling for a starting spot alongside Blake Martinez, suffered a torn ACL in Sunday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

In addition to Beavers being placed on IR, the Giants also moved center Nick Gates (leg) and offensive tackle Matt Peart (knee) from Active/PUP to Reserve/PUP. They will now be required to miss the first four weeks of the regular season.

Finally, the Giants placed tight ends Ricky Seals-Jones (toe) and Andre Miller (forearm) on IR.

Seals-Jones has missed the entirety of training camp with his injury only just now being revealed.

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