With the 19th pick of Pride of Detroit's 2011 NFL Mock Draft, the New York Giants select Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget. Elfuego51 is serving as the Giants' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.
The New York Giants finished the 2010 season with a 10-6 record and on the short end of a playoff tiebreaker with Green Bay and Tampa Bay, slotting them at 19th in the first round of the draft. The Giants hovered around the top 10 of pretty much every team statistical category. New York comes into the draft having needs at DT and LB and with a heavy need of developing the O-line in the next couple years. I visited Big Blue View among other resources and the faithful there seem to be split down the middle between two players: G Mike Pouncey and LB Akeem Ayers.
Pouncey would have worked well for the Giants with the veteran linemen with center experience and an O-Line coach with a track record of successfully converting guards to centers. However, Pouncey was gone in our mock and I had to look elsewhere. Their other favorite target, Akeem Ayers, never really sat well with me as a good value pick at 19.
After comparing the Giants' needs to the players still available, I have decided to take DT Corey Liuget, who is 6'2", 298 pounds and from Illinois.
Recently, a strong defensive line has been a signature for the Giants and this pick will continue to keep that strength intact. The Giants are facing the likely departure of Barry Cofield (one way or another), as well as an aging Rocky Bernard and need to reload. Liuget will bring speed and agility to the position and has the ability to make the smart play in the open field on a scrambling quarterback. He will pass up a chance at a devastating hit if all the tackle requires is grabbing the ball carrier's jersey with one hand and dragging him down.
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Check out the 2011 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.