With their first round selection in the 2011 Draft, the Giants selected Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara. The 6'0 CB will be a welcome addition to the Giants secondary. We take a closer look at how this rookie may contribute in 2011.
College Career:Widely regarded as one of the finest cornerbacks in the nation, Amukamara played in 49 games with 31 starts at Nebraska. He started 16 games at right cornerback and 15 on the left side, His career totals included 161 tackles (100 solo), five interceptions (returned for 63 yards, a 12.6-yard avg.), 26 pass deflections, four sacks for minus 29 yards, six stops for losses totaling 34 yards, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. As a senior in 2010, Amukamara was a unanimous All-America selection and an All-Big 12 first-team choice. He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (top collegiate defensive back). The defensive captain started all 14 games at left cornerback and ranked 6th on the team with 59 tackles (36 solo), including one sack for minus nine yards.
Strengths:Amukamara boasts a rare blend of size, strength and speed that make him capable of matching up against today's big and strong NFL wide receivers. He is outstanding in press coverage, where he has the physicality to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, and the quick feet and fluid hips to stick to their every move. Combined with exceptional instincts, Amukamara can excel in both man and zone coverage.
How He Fits In:Amukamara provides skill and depth at a position where both are vital. Terrell Thomas – the team leader in tackles and assists each of the last two seasons – and Corey Webster seem entrenched as the starting cornerbacks, though the coaches will love the increased competition at the position. But Amukamara could challenge Aaron Ross for the job as the No. 3 corner. Those two players will inevitably be compared to each other, because Ross was the 20th overall selection of the 2007 draft and Amukamara the 19th pick this year. They could soon share time in the Giants' secondary.
The Quote:"You can never have enough cover guys. If you watch the way people play today with the addition of the receivers, they go one, two, three, four until they figure out what are you going to cover some of these third and fourth receivers with. The more cover people that you have, the better off you're going to be. Plus this young man is physical, he's fast, he has very good size, he's confident, which you have to be as a corner in this league." – Coach Coughlin
