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Topics - Painter

#1
Big Blue Huddle / Nowhere Cold!
March 18, 2024, 09:00:21 PM
In the past couple of days, Deion Sanders has made it abundantly clear that he does not want his son Shedeur, a QB likely to be a high pick in next year's Draft, to be taken by any team which plays its games in cold weather, November- January in the open air.

That could create an Archie/Eli Manning- opposite type squeeze for Our Heroes should it so develop, or for the Jets should Aarogant Rodgers decide to pack it in. Hmm?

Cheers!
#2
Clickbait or not, I'm surprised that Melvin K Jr. would have the cujones to go there.

Per Ed Valentine:

If they can't or don't want to move up from No. 6 in the 2024 NFL Draft to select a quarterback, would or should the New York Giants reach for someone like Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. strenuously objects to that idea, throwing his full support behind Giants quarterback Daniel Jones.


"Daniel Jones is going to be a better quarterback [than McCarthy]," Kiper said. "Daniel Jones has already shown he can be a winning NFL quarterback, a really good quarterback.

"He needs help ... the Giants get more help, stay healthier, get guys healthy, get it together, maintain some consistency and Daniel Jones is the right man for the job."

With Jones coming off two neck injuries and now rehabbing a torn ACL, as well as having only one year of guaranteed money remaining on his four-year, $160 million contract, there is heavy speculation about the Giants being interested in a quarterback at No. 6, or earlier.

Are you buying what Kiper is selling?

My take is that there are too many ifs re Jones, and no reason to work McCarthy into the proposition.

Cheers!
#3
Big Blue Huddle / Meandering the Back Corridors...
November 06, 2023, 01:15:17 PM
Of New York Football Giants history.

Summarizing their 98 seasons from 1925 until the present as
717-645-34 (W-L-T)
25-26 Playoffs (W-T)
4-5 Lombardis
4-11 Pre- SB Championships

But not to worry, I'm not going to journey to the Polo Grounds and Red Jerseys. Rather, I wish to call attention to fact that aside from the glory of the too brief Parcells/ Belichick era and couple of Coughlin/ Eli stunners, the Giants have not been a "winning" franchise for much of the past 50 years and certainly not in 9 of its last 11 seasons whether with McAdoo, Shurmur, and Judge and, perhaps, we might fear also with Daboll.

With a few hardly consistent exceptions- if any- the problem I have with Our Heroes is my so often lack of confidence in their competitiveness year after year.

Cheers!
#4
Big Blue Huddle / Not Very Hot Take
October 30, 2023, 09:38:31 AM
As suggested by Bleacher Report (B/R)

Only the Jets and Giants are capable of playing the terrible/hilarious game they played yesterday.
To (try to) sum up the 13-10 win for the Jets:

➤ There were more punts (24) than points (23). The 24 punts were most since 2003.
➤ There were 15 punts and 0 third-down conversions in the first half
➤ The Giants had -9 pass yards, least since 2000
The over/under was only 35 points. It cleared by 12 ... with overtime.

Ugh! Ugh! Ugly!
#5
Big Blue Huddle / We Are Losing Perspective
October 11, 2023, 08:43:56 PM
I debated beginning this thread, a rarity for me in any case, by saying "As usual" I figured there was no point in stating the obvious. With more than two-thirds of the season yet to be played it is simply too soon to indulge our biases and personal conceits by second-guessing the front office, coaches and/or players.

That's not to suggest that we shouldn't be surprised and disappointed and wondering why. What I am suggesting, however, is that the central issue is the same as it was before the season began which is whether or not Daniel Jones, not can be or will be, but is the Giants Quarterback of the future. And what does that mean? It means capable of winning a Lombardi whether likely or not as was so with Eli whose career Regular Season numbers have been described, arguably and I think unfairly, as "profoundly mediocre"

Quite unfortunately, a fair and proper determination re Jones cannot and should not be made under current circumstances which involves having had and still having to play behind the league's worst Oline (30 sacks, 100 pressures in 5 games). That's not just inadequate, it is totally unacceptable given the absence of Thomas and Schmitz not to mention Barkley for who knows when.

Thus, unless and until as the season progresses, there is significant improvement in that one regard, we won't have had just a losing season but a wasted season going forward. An unhappy outcome for sure and more than just unimagined, unexpected, and unfortunate for Schoen and Daboll.

Cheers! or better yet, À votre santé   
#6
Big Blue Huddle / It is all Greek to Me
October 03, 2023, 10:20:59 AM
It would be wrong for anyone here to conclude that my well-known and longstanding criticism of "prediction-making" dates back to Ancient Greece when it is even more logically a reflection of my long lifetime as a Giants fan.

It has been a franchise which in the last 75 plus years, except for a mere 5 Championships and a paucity of Playoff appearances, has managed to avoid mediocrity by otherwise stinking.
 
Although what we have witnessed through the first 4 games this season is shocking in its dimension, it is much less so from a historic perspective as disheartening as that may be for all concerned.

Frankly, there is no amount of handwringing, bitching and moaning, or blame gaming, or anything else we might say about it that can or will change that fact going forward. Thus, in terms of both Ancient Greek and present day BBH philosophy I am both Cynic and Stoic.

Cheers?
#7
From Jordan Raanan and Dan Graziano

When the New York Giants' veterans reported to training camp on Tuesday, there was a surprise awaiting them as star running back Saquon Barkley was in the building before 8 a.m. Many didn't expect to see him until September.

Barkley had agreed to a one-year deal instead of playing on the $10.091 million franchise tender. He got a $2 million up-front signing bonus and has $1 million available in incentives in a contract that can reach up to $11 million. But he did not get any guarantees the team would not use the franchise tag again next year.

The $11 million cash value on Barkley's new contract ranks third among running backs in 2023 behind only the Tennessee Titans' Derrick Henry ($16.4M) and the Cleveland Browns' Nick Chubb ($14.9M), according to ESPN Stats & Information.

After nine months of negotiations, this was where they landed. Probably not where either side expected this to go when they began talking about a new contract during the bye week last year. Probably not what Barkley's running back brethren wanted to see as they fight for a more lucrative market at the position.

Why did the deal happen now? And did Barkley cave? Giants reporter Jordan Raanan and national NFL reporter Dan Graziano answered five compelling questions surrounding the deal.

Why did this happen now?

Raanan: It seems pretty clear Barkley wanted to get this out of the way and report to training camp. Heck, he didn't even fight until the bitter end for the elimination of the franchise tag next year.

But Barkley is a player who is very conscious of his image. That was evident when he said at his AMPT football camp last month that he didn't like how the negotiations were being portrayed publicly. He said the coverage made him look "greedy." Barkley preaches being a team-first guy who prioritizes winning. Whatever it takes. Getting this out of the way now allows for the cloud that was about to cast over training camp to be removed.

Did Barkley cave by agreeing to this deal?

Graziano: Yes. This is a Secretariat-at-the-Belmont-level win for the Giants. Barkley could have insisted on a clause that prohibited the Giants from franchising him again next year, but he didn't. He could have sat out training camp and taken this deal a month from now, but he didn't. He could have at least sat out ONE SINGLE DAY of training camp and taken this deal Wednesday, but he didn't.

Barkley agreeing to this deal tells us he knew he was beaten, that all of his leverage went out the window once a long-term deal wasn't done by the July 17 deadline. He gets the ability to make $900,000 in incentives, and he gets a chunk of the money up front, but there's no real material win here for Barkley, whose best-case scenario is him going through all of this again next offseason.

What impact will it have on other running backs looking for deals?

Graziano: Yeah, it's tough to imagine Barkley being invited onto the next running back Zoom call, right? This doesn't help anybody. Sure, it provides a framework for the Las Vegas Raiders and Josh Jacobs to find a solution to their identical problem, but there's no reason to assume the Raiders want to offer Jacobs anything more than the tag, and there's no reason to assume Jacobs is as ready to surrender as was Barkley.

If you're Jonathan Taylor looking for an extension from the Indianapolis Colts, this is no help. If you're Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette or Kareem Hunt -- all free agents looking for homes -- this is no help. But neither was Joe Mixon taking a roughly 50% pay cut a couple of weeks ago to avoid being released by the Cincinnati Bengals, or Austin Ekeler's meager resolution to his dispute with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The facts are the facts, and right now the fact is that no one -- NO ONE -- wants to pay a running back or even feels like they need to. In the real-world picture of the current market, this is the absolute best that Barkley could do, and that's a shame for all of them.

What does it mean for Barkley's future with the Giants?

Raanan: This isn't going to eliminate any bad taste left in Barkley's mouth from the difficult negotiations. The Giants didn't give up a ton here. They still have the franchise tag to use or hang over his head next year. Barkley wants to stick with the Giants, and he has said repeatedly he wants to remain a "Giant for life." But this doesn't change the fact that general manager Joe Schoen has his limits on what he believes Barkley is worth.

One executive told me recently that even if Barkley has another great season, his value likely decreases in 2024 because he's a year older with more wear and tear on his body.


How important for the Giants' offense was getting the deal done now?

Raanan: There is a benefit to having Barkley in camp. It allows him to be in football shape for the start of the season and get his timing down with the offensive line. The Giants also made a lot of changes to the receiving core this offseason, and really, the offense as a whole is expected to look different. Having him in the building and on the field (even if his workload is likely limited) can only help work out some of the kinks.

But the biggest benefit might be that Barkley's teammates don't have to answer questions about his absence all summer and deal with the potential distractions that come along with that. Instead, it could be a relatively drama-free camp.

C'est vrai, Es Verdad, Es ist wahr

Cheers!
#8
I suppose that once you become troubled by something, there is risk of becoming oversensitive and perhaps then overreactive in that regard. What it is that has troubled me is the notion that what is stated to be the Home of the best-informed Giants fans would now be more accurately referred the Home of the most uninformed Giants fans.

By that I mean we seem to be devolving into self-absorbed and unnecessary judgements of matters for which we have no standing other than need to display our personal conceits for the benefit of the ignorant or less informed. As it were, I found the certain recent thread to be a perfect example of that.

I found the need to parrot and feature the notion that Daniel Jones may have opened his side's bidding-somehow higher we thought to be reasonable-to be irrelevant, worth no more than a yawn, and thus quite fatuous. It meant nothing and means nothing; is that not obvious?

And that wasn't all there was to it. How many lists and litanies of other QB's current and anticipated salaries, and their ranking/rating tiers- still being debated as if that actually matters, needed repeating, retelling, or readvising?

Indeed, the only thing that seems to have mattered within all those analyses, whatever may be our personal valuation of Daniel Jones, is that he asked for what? He thought he was worth $7 million more than the Giants paid him- or as some would say over-paid him? Don't think that will ever be forgotten.

Was I wrong to have dissented? Apparently so, and all the more so for having repeated myself in an increasingly harsh tone. However, I can assure you that it had nothing to do with fact that most folks don't bother to read the comments of others who have posted earlier unless they sense opposition, individually or commonly shared.

In this instance, it would be foolish of me to not recognize a broad consensus of disapproval, the weight of which seems to have caused Ed to resort to the unabridged use of the king of 4-letter words.

While I can understand that what I cannot understand or accept is any suggestion that I have or would ever question how he runs the forum. Or closes a thread to further comment

That said, I will take a hiatus for at least another week while I review/reconsider my point of view, and await Saquon's decision or the Giants decision if you prefer.

Cheers!
 
#9
Big Blue Huddle / PFF QB Rankings
May 24, 2023, 06:44:06 PM
In an effort to inform- best being more for each to assess- and for any reason for those who may care, here is where PFF ranks the League's 32 QB starters at the moment. Having nothing to do with Daniel Jones's middle of the pack status, I might find the placement of some of those before and after a bit curious as if it actually mattered.


1. PATRICK MAHOMES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Mahomes is the standard by which all NFL quarterbacks are now measured. With Manning and Brady now names of the past, Mahomes is the new benchmark pushing the boundaries of what we have seen previously. Since coming into the league, he has 191 big-time throws including the postseason, the most in the NFL. He has also passed for 8.1 yards per attempt, a figure only quarterbacks playing for Kyle Shanahan have surpassed over the same span.

2. JOSH ALLEN, BUFFALO BILLS
If Mahomes is the obvious starting point, the next two spots are a toss-up between Buffalo's Josh Allen and Cincinnati's Joe Burrow. Each player is capable of elite play and outstanding levels, but the tiebreaker is Allen's rushing ability. It may not be a deal-breaker in every game, but there will be gotta-have-it situations where Allen is virtually unstoppable because of how many different ways he can beat a defense. Burrow can't bring that to the table.

3. JOE BURROW, CINCINNATI BENGALS
Burrow has led the league in PFF passing grade (by fractions) in each of the past two regular seasons. He has shown that, while everybody might be chasing special athletes at the position, just putting the ball in the right place at the right time is still capable of transformative play at the position. He has a career 77.1% adjusted completion rate, and his turnover-worthy play rate has gone down in each of his NFL seasons.

4. JUSTIN HERBERT, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
This is a big year for Herbert to justify the hype that has surrounded him since his phenomenal rookie season. We have seen glimpses of what he is capable of, but he passed for just 6.8 yards per attempt last season and finished eighth in PFF passing grade. Kellen Moore's arrival as the Chargers' offensive coordinator could be the key that fully unlocks Herbert, and if he is, this is where Herbert belongs.

5. AARON RODGERS, NEW YORK JETS
We are only a year removed from Rodgers coming off back-to-back MVP seasons, but at 39 years old any downturn in performance inevitably raises questions about whether this is the beginning of the end. The New York Jets should have a better supporting cast than Rodgers had last year in Green Bay, and he will know the offense, so I expect it to be a bounce-back season for the veteran.

6. LAMAR JACKSON, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Jackson is a former league MVP. He's also coming off consecutive injury-marred seasons and is changing offensive systems for the first time in his NFL career. Greg Roman built a bespoke offense around Jackson, but now Jackson has to adapt his game to a more conventional offense under Todd Monken. How Jackson fares this season will go a long way toward cementing his position in rankings like these, one way or another.

7. JALEN HURTS, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Hurts was phenomenal in 2022, but the hardest part of that kind of play in the NFL is sustaining it. Lamar Jackson one spot above him is a great example of that. Hurts has taken big steps forward every season of his career, and if he has another one in the tank, then he is ranked too low at No. 7. Hurts averaged 8.0 yards per attempt last season and added almost 800 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

8. TREVOR LAWRENCE, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Lawrence arrived last season. It took him half the year to get the Urban Meyer residue off, but from Week 9 onward, only Burrow and Mahomes earned a higher PFF grade. Billed as a truly generational talent when he was drafted, Lawrence showed that ability in 2022, and the Jaguars have continued to surround him with talent this offseason.

9. KIRK COUSINS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Cousins is probably at the top of the second tier of quarterbacks — those who you can win with but are unlikely to transform a team into a contender simply by their presence. Cousins has earned a PFF passing grade of at least 77.7 every season in Minnesota. He is an exceptionally accurate passer with plenty of big plays in his arsenal who maybe lacks that transcendent, intangible talent that every team chases at the position.

10. DAK PRESCOTT, DALLAS COWBOYS
Prescott has shown himself to be one of the most sensitive quarterbacks in the league to changes in his supporting cast. His overall PFF grade has ranged from 71.8 to 85.2 over his career, and those changes tend to go hand in hand with the level of receiving help and blocking in front of him. Prescott's turnover-worthy play rate has been above 3.0% in each of the past four seasons, but when at his best he can lead one of the top offenses in the game.

11. TUA TAGOVAILOA, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Can Tua back up what we saw in 2022, or was his play beginning to be found out anyway when concussions became the overriding factor in his season? That's the big question for him and Miami heading into 2023. Tua led the league with a massive 8.9 yards per attempt last season and also had one of the highest average depths of target, having been in the middle of the pack before that. He has elite potential within Mike McDaniel's offense but now needs to repeat it.

12. MATTHEW STAFFORD, LOS ANGELES RAMS
Is Stafford physically able to be the player he once was? Last season was a nightmare for the Rams from start to finish, and Stafford wasn't far different on an individual level. He went from throwing 50 touchdowns including the playoffs the season before to just 10 across nine games before being shut down for the year. The Rams and Stafford are likely on the far side of their Super Bowl window, but how much he has left in the tank is a big unknown.

13. DESHAUN WATSON, CLEVELAND BROWNS
Maybe the hardest player to rank on the list, Watson has one of the widest ranges of outcomes in the NFL. He finished 2022 with just a 55.3 overall PFF grade after returning from suspension and didn't noticeably improve as one does if they are just shaking off the rust. In his last full season with Houston (2020), he earned a 92.5 PFF grade and was one of the best quarterbacks in the game. I have no earthly idea how good Watson will be in 2023, and neither does anybody else.

14. DEREK CARR, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Last year's 66.6 PFF grade was the lowest of Carr's career outside of his rookie season. In what was supposed to be a solid season, Carr's big plays declined and he was notably less accurate overall. His adjusted completion rate dropped by more than 6 percentage points from the year before to his lowest level since he was a rookie. That likely represents the floor for Carr's play, and he has typically been a borderline top-10 player over his career.

15. GENO SMITH, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Another difficult quarterback to rank, Smith improbably ranked as a top-five quarterback for much of last season before the wheels fell off a little late in the year. Was that the inevitable regression back to the mean, or was it a product of his pass protection suffering a similar late-season collapse? Smith had flashed before in his NFL career, but we hadn't seen the heights he hit last season. He earned three single-game PFF grades north of 90.0 and posted a 5.4% big-time throw rate.

16. JARED GOFF, DETROIT LIONS
Goff is in an outstanding offense with one of the best coordinators in football running the show. Depending on the numbers you look at, his stats will make him look like one of the best passers in football, but it's clear to anybody with a critical eye that that doesn't quite match reality. Goff ranked 19th last season in PFF passing grade and 30th in big-time throw rate. He is a solid quarterback for the offense he's in but is not as good as some of the results would suggest.

17. DANIEL JONES, NEW YORK GIANTS
In his first year with Brian Daboll as his coach, Jones saw an uptick in results, but his performance didn't necessarily match that improvement, albeit with very little help around him in terms of a supporting cast. Jones has now posted a big-time throw rate under 2.0% for two consecutive seasons, the lowest mark in the league. His rushing threat, however, is a huge boost to that offense, and he should have more success in 2023 with better players to target.

18. JUSTIN FIELDS, CHICAGO BEARS
Fields won himself a starting job last season with almost no help around him. New general manager Ryan Poles stripped the roster of talent around him, and Fields was still able to emerge as one of the most dynamic players in the league. His passing is still very much a work in progress, but last season his primary targets were tight end Cole Kmet and speedster Darnell Mooney. This is a huge year for Fields to show what he can do with more help.


19. RYAN TANNEHILL, TENNESSEE TITANS
Tannehill is very much in the decline of his career at this point, but he is being made to look worse by the collapse of talent around him in Tennessee. The Titans ended last season with the league's worst offensive line, and they may be entering this one with the league's worst receiving corps. Tannehill has little chance to prove he is still capable of his best play and is coming off a 75.9% adjusted completion rate and a 2.5% turnover-worthy play rate in 2022.

20. RUSSELL WILSON, DENVER BRONCOS
Wilson ranked 26th in PFF passing grade last season and 29th in overall grade. It's difficult to overstate how bad his first year in Denver was and how much uncertainty that paints his future in. Sean Payton has been brought in to make the best of a disastrous situation, but exactly where Wilson can land on the spectrum between last season and his best play in Seattle is pure guesswork. Given his visible decline in athleticism, it seems likely that his baseline is closer to last year than his peak, but he is a player with a wide range of outcomes.

21. MAC JONES, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Bringing in real coaching on offense has the potential to be huge for Jones. As underwhelming as last season was, it's important to remember that Jones earned an 80.0 overall PFF grade as a rookie, finishing just outside the top 10 of eligible quarterbacks that year. He doesn't have the dynamic athleticism of Justin Fields or the arm of Trevor Lawrence, but he has already shown he can be a very high-level distributor of the football and a better player than many give him credit for.

22. KENNY PICKETT, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The best quarterback in what was deemed an awful quarterback class, Pickett performed admirably in his rookie season even though the statistics weren't necessarily pretty. His PFF passing grade was good enough to rank 16th in the league, but he finished the season with more interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (seven). Pittsburgh's scheme was toothless and predictable in 2022, and that might be the biggest obstacle standing between Pickett and real improvement in these rankings.

23. BROCK PURDY, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Purdy passed for 8.3 yards per attempt last season in his run as the starter — more than Patrick Mahomes and every quarterback in the league other than Tua Tagovailoa — but he attempted just 233 passes in an offense we know to be a virtual cheat code for production. It would be wrong to dismiss his success altogether — he was better than players like Nick Mullens who also had success in that offense — but it would also be crazy to overreact to such a small sample size, even outside of the risk associated with the UCL surgery Purdy had on his elbow.

24. JIMMY GAROPPOLO, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
For his injury history alone, Garoppolo is likely capped at this kind of level in the rankings. He was outperformed by Purdy last season in the same offense and now goes to a new offensive system, albeit one he is familiar with from his stint in New England. The Raiders have a good collection of receivers to throw to, but Garoppolo has a 3.6% career turnover-worthy play rate, significantly higher than his big-time-throw rate (2.9%). Even if he stays healthy all season, he is likely a below-average starter.

25. BRYCE YOUNG, CAROLINA PANTHERS
Young was the best quarterback in this draft by a considerable margin, and the only thing that made the discussion close was his lack of size — something that becomes obvious any time he is captured on film with anything near him to show true scale. Young has elite accuracy, anticipation and decision-making (back-to-back seasons with a 2.0% turnover-worthy play rate), but success at his size in the modern NFL is without precedent.

26. JORDAN LOVE, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Love passed for 9.3 yards per attempt last season and earned a 78.7 PFF grade. On the other hand, he attempted 21 passes and was disastrous the last time he was on the field before that. We have very little idea what Love can become, with the biggest piece of evidence being that the Packers decided it was time to move on from Aaron Rodgers and turn the keys over to his successor. Countering that was the contract they got Love to agree to, which could only have started with the assumption that they were not going to pick up his fifth-year option.

27. SAM HOWELL, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Another almost total gamble, Howell was given one game late last season to audition for the starting job and performed well in it. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 35 yards and another score. Howell was seen as a legitimate prospect before sliding all the way to the fifth round of the 2022 draft, but expecting anything above this would be wildly optimistic.

28. BAKER MAYFIELD, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
It's difficult to argue that Mayfield's 2022 season was easily predictable, but it's equally difficult to maintain any kind of lofty expectations for him going forward after witnessing it. His 50.6 PFF grade on the year was 13 grading points lower than his previous career-worst mark (which involved a torn shoulder), and it speaks volumes that the Rams were happy to let him walk after he led the team to a remarkable win just after stepping off the plane after they traded for him. Mayfield has very good play on his NFL resume, but it's getting harder and harder to see it in the rearview mirror.

29. COLT MCCOY, ARIZONA CARDINALS
With Kyler Murray not likely to be ready until late in the season, if at all, McCoy will helm the Cardinals' offense for most of the season. It would be easy to assume that's the worst quarterback situation in the league, but the chances are that one of the better backups in the game performs better than some of the young starters. McCoy has handled more than 100 dropbacks in each of the past two seasons, completing 71% of his passes at 6.6 yards per attempt over that time.

30. C.J. STROUD, HOUSTON TEXANS
There were a lot of Stroud fans throughout the pre-draft process, but I was always a little lower on him than most. He has NFL stature and elite accuracy, but outside of the Georgia game in the college football playoffs, he had some real issues under pressure or after the play had broken down. His PFF grade under pressure last season placed him in the 18th percentile, and that only improves to the 34th percentile if you look at a two-year sample size.

31. DESMOND RIDDER, ATLANTA FALCONS
There was little we saw from Ridder last season to suggest he will approach even average play at the position. Marcus Mariota played his way to the bench with his performances, and Ridder was simply the young quarterback in line for reps. He posted a 68.5% adjusted completion rate and had two turnover-worthy plays to three big-time throws. He also recorded just 136 dropbacks, so it would be a stretch to draw any concrete conclusions.

32. ANTHONY RICHARDSON, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Richardson wasn't even a particularly good college quarterback last season in the SEC. His overall PFF grade came in at 80.3, which ranked 38th in the nation and was being propped up by his rushing ability — something that will need to continue in the NFL. The good news for him is that he landed with a head coach who just executed this development arc with Jalen Hurts. Richardson will need to rely on the limitless athleticism that saw him average 7.4 yards per carry last season while he develops as a passer.

Cheers!
#10
Big Blue Huddle / 10 Most Improved
May 23, 2023, 04:59:44 PM
I figure I'd better make a small effort to do better in Eds opinion before he reads my response to the other post. I really have no opinion as to where or why the Giants should be ranked in terms of "improvement"- 4th most in this guy imagination. Although there is mention of improved Defense it seems mostly to focus on a too fast to cover, "Track and Field" Passing Offense. No mention of Barkley although with an asumption, I would guess.

In any case, here's the list:

10. Cleveland Browns
Key veteran additions: WR Elijah Moore, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, S Juan Thornhill

Key draft additions: WR Cedric Tillman, DT Siaki Ika, OT Dawand Jones

Analysis: The Browns made a handful of under-the-radar moves to address concerns on both sides of the trenches. Tomlinson and Ika will be tasked with improving Cleveland's run defense, while Jones will give the team flexibility as the swing tackle (with the possibility of pushing for a starting spot). Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who had six subpar performances during his first season in Cleveland, could establish a passing rhythm with the arrivals of Moore and Tillman. The Browns' additions didn't generate headlines, but they might make them playoffs contenders this season.

9. Miami Dolphins
Key veteran additions: WR Chosen Anderson, LB David Long Jr., CB Jalen Ramsey

Key draft additions: CB Cam Smith, RB Devon Achane

Analysis: With Ramsey as the centerpiece of the offseason, the Dolphins went from a wild-card team to a strong contender in a loaded AFC East. Long is an ideal playmaker for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Smith, a second-round pick, adds depth to a stacked secondary with Ramsey, Xavien Howard and Jevon Holland. If this secondary excels, it might be enough for the Dolphins to win their conference, which features a gantlet of star quarterbacks. Achane, a third-round pick, will give Miami's impressive offense another speedy playmaker—he ran a blazing 4.32 seconds during the 40-yard dash at the combine.

8. Chicago Bears
Key veteran additions: RB D'Onta Foreman, WR DJ Moore, TE Robert Tonyan, OG Nate Davis, ILB T.J. Edwards, ILB Tremaine Edmunds

Key draft additions: OT Darnell Wright, DT Gervon Dexter Sr., CB Tyrique Stevenson, DT Zacch Pickens

Analysis: The Bears' lengthy list of offseason additions will likely lift them from the bottom of the NFL power rankings to a promising team during Year 2 of GM Ryan Poles's rebuild project in Chicago. Quarterback Justin Fields will get a fighting chance to prove he's the real deal with Moore (a legitimate No. 1 wideout), Davis (a 6'3", 316-pound interior lineman), and Wright (the team's first-round selection who plays with an edge on the field). Bears coach Matt Eberflus and his defense will also get a chance to compete with free-agency headliners Edmunds and Edwards.

7. Atlanta Falcons
Key veteran additions: WR Mack Hollins, TE Jonnu Smith, DE Calais Campbell, DT David Onyemata, LB Kaden Elliss, OLB Bud Dupree, S Jessie Bates III, CB Jeff Okudah

Key draft additions: RB Bijan Robinson, OG Matthew Bergeron

Analysis: The Falcons had a well-executed offseason plan, improving the defense first through free agency before giving the offense a splash with the first-round selection of Robinson, a versatile weapon who has received comparisons to Saquon Barkley. After generating only 21 total sacks last season, the Falcons bolstered the defensive front with Campbell, Onyemata, Elliss and Dupree. Atlanta also provided help for cornerback A.J. Terrell with the additions of Bates and Okudah. The Falcons will be fun offensively and pesky defensively, but that might not be enough to compete for a postseason appearance if second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder doesn't deliver.

6. Carolina Panthers
Key veteran additions: RB Miles Sanders, WR Adam Thielen, WR DJ Chark, TE Hayden Hurst, DT Shy Tuttle, S Vonn Bell

Key draft additions: QB Bryce Young, WR Jonathan Mingo, DE DJ Johnson

Analysis: The Panthers got the nod over the Falcons because they upgraded at quarterback with Young, who rose to be the No. 1 pick in the draft thanks to his ability to be a quick processor and dynamic playmaker away from the pocket. The offseason additions lacked star power outside of Young, but the Panthers added a handful of quality starters across the roster. Sanders might not be a top-five running back and Thielen might be a step slower, but they'll still make life easier for Young. Taking a glance at Carolina's starting depth chart, it might be the best team in the NFC South.

5. Houston Texans
Key veteran additions: RB Devin Singletary, WR Robert Woods, WR Noah Brown, TE Dalton Schultz, DT Sheldon Rankins, S Jimmie Ward

Key draft additions: QB C.J. Stroud, DE Will Anderson Jr., C Juice Scruggs, WR Tank Dell

The Texans came up from the No. 12 pick to select Anderson at No. 3. Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports
The Texans came up from the No. 12 pick to select Anderson at No. 3. Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports
© Provided by Sports Illustrated
Analysis: After three consecutive seasons of four wins or fewer, the Texans had the most room for improvement this year. They finally took steps forward in their rebuilding process, securing two of the top three draft picks to select Stroud and Anderson. Many have knocked the Texans for relinquishing a 2024 first-round pick to the Cardinals to select Anderson—but the second Houston drafted Stroud, it needed to go all in on helping the rookie QB succeed and not worry about future draft picks. If Anderson produces at a high level, that means the Texans' defense will have improved, which will also benefit Stroud with complementary football. Without having to worry about potentially losing his job to Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, Stroud could have a memorable rookie season with a pass-catching crew of Schultz, Woods, Brown and Dell (a third-round pick).

4. New York Giants
Key veteran additions: WR Parris Campbell, TE Darren Waller, DL A'Shawn Robinson, ILB Bobby Okereke

Key draft additions: CB Deonte Banks, C John Michael Schmitz, WR Jalin Hyatt

Analysis: New York rewarded quarterback Daniel Jones with a massive contract extension followed by much-needed upgrades at the skill positions. The Giants can now deploy a competitive track and field relay team, with new downfield threats Campbell and Hyatt to go with Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard and Wan'Dale Robinson. But Jones will benefit the most with Waller as his new starting tight end. The defense will also be better with the addition of Okereke, a savvy playmaker, and Banks, the promising first-round pick who might develop into a standout No. 1 outside cornerback.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Key veteran additions: WR Allen Robinson, OG Isaac Seumalo, CB Patrick Peterson

Key draft additions: OT Broderick Jones, CB Joey Porter Jr., DT Keeanu Benton, TE Darnell Washington

Analysis: It won't be a surprise if the Steelers post double-digit wins in 2023, judging from their offseason moves—and because Mike Tomlin has never had a losing record in 15 seasons as coach. The Steelers improved Kenny Pickett's offensive line with Seumalo and first-round pick Jones. And perhaps Robinson will have a bounce-back season playing alongside Diontae Johnson and George Pickens. Washington could be a steal for the Steelers as a third-round pick, and even if he doesn't reach his upside, he'll probably have a safe floor as a 6'7" red zone target and stout blocker. Peterson and Porter Jr., on the other hand, will fill needs in the secondary to give a stacked defense more playmakers.

2. New York Jets
Key veteran additions: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Allen Lazard, WR Mecole Hardman, WR Randall Cobb, DT Quinton Jefferson, S Chuck Clark

Key draft additions: DE Will McDonald IV, C Joe Tippmann, OT Carter Warren

Analysis: Rodgers's arrival turned the Jets into Super Bowl contenders, but the team probably could have done more to help their middle-aged quarterback. They waited until the fourth round to address their tackle concerns, eventually selecting Warren. And the new group of receivers (Lazard, Hardman and Cobb) appears underwhelming. McDonald might have been a reach as the No. 15 pick, but coach Robert Saleh needed another pass rusher. Rodgers and a talented 2022 draft class might make the Jets AFC East champions, but they can go only so far in the postseason if the offensive line struggles.

1. Seattle Seahawks
Key veteran additions: C Evan Brown, DL Dre'Mont Jones, IDL Jarran Reed, ILB Bobby Wagner

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Key draft additions: CB Devon Witherspoon, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DE Derick Hall, RB Zach Charbonnet, OG Anthony Bradford

Analysis: After a terrific offseason, the Seahawks have closed the gap on the 49ers in the NFC West; they might be the third best team in the conference, at least on paper. Seattle's two first-round picks, Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon, will give Geno Smith a third quality target alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and form a standout cornerback duo with Tariq Woolen, respectively. Also, the arrival of Jones and the return of Wagner and Reed fill holes on the defensive side. It's time to take the Seahawks seriously in the NFC, especially as the Lions' offseason hype train is taking a hit, thanks to Jameson Williams's suspension for violating the NFL's gambling policy and some head-scratching first-round picks. The Cowboys have a case to be considered at the top of the conference behind the Eagles and 49ers, but they might not be that much better with veteran additions Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore.

Cheers!
#11
Regression, sure. But not from what PFF seems to view as last year's roster. "Improved to a great degree but still lacking" sounds like a whole lot of double talk to me

Cheers!
#12
Big Blue Huddle / As far as I'll go for now.
May 13, 2023, 02:42:42 PM
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/giants-game-by-game-predictions-after-2023-nfl-schedule-release/ar-AA1b6Rlv?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=a78d00bd88c0451e880c9e0f387db7d3&ei=19#comments


I have guessed a 5-5 start and have been willing to bet the OVER on the gambler's 8 1/2 Wins but 11-6 is bit too fanciful.

Cheers!
#13
Before the Draft had even ended the Giants began negotiating a multi- with Saquon, or so it has been reported.

Cheers!
#14
Do we really think that there are Giants fans who are unaware that the team has had a greater than average number of player injuries in recent seasons? But do we really know how bad it has been and how inexplicable?
 
Last season, the Giants led the League in most injuries to players as they have twice before in the past ten years. And while they rank 8th in most total injuries during that time, the picture is far worse when measured as Avg Adjusted Games Lost which doesn't just add up total injuries. It accounts for both absent players and those playing at less than 100%, and it gives more weight to injuries to expected starters and situational players than to expected backups.

In the past nine season (2013-2021), the Giants were second to only the Forty-Niners, both of which were well above League Avg Adjusted Games Lost and perhaps first if we were to add in last season.

As bad as it, and as troubling, we DO NOT know nor is it likely that we will ever know the exact cause or causes. Clearly, it is too consistent a result to think of it as a consequence of chance and misfortune.
 
Still, quite understandably, some of us will feel a need to find fault and to assign blame to someone or something, which no doubt will reflect our biases and preconceptions.

Yet even then, we must overcome the push back from the recent NFLPA player survey in which the often finger-pointed Giants Training Staff was rated A+, and ranked T-1st. Consequently, the Giants T-18th ranked Strength Coach (S&C) got the icy stare despite the fact that 17 other teams gave theirs's the same B+ rating.

Moreover, unless we have evidence that the Giants Medical Staff/Doctors are incapable of proper diagnoses and treatment or tend to clear and return to action their players prematurely thus irresponsibly, I would not want to see them referenced in this context in the future.

In any case, there seems to be no satisfactory explanation for the Giants injury woes as neither are there are for those of the 49ers as analyzed and detailed in this article.

https://www.knbr.com/2022/10/16/the-49ers-decade-long-injury-woes-defy-explanation/

You might wish to begin with the last chart and what follows.

Cheers! or maybe not.
#15
Big Blue Huddle / Surprise Roster Cut?
February 16, 2023, 09:40:44 AM
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/1-giants-player-who-could-be-a-surprise-roster-cut-in-the-2023-offseason/ar-AA17x0jv?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=d8549c22c0994a8887185ce79dc14779

The thought of Adoree Jackson as a possible surprise roster cut had not crossed my mind. But this article has wondering.

Cheers!
#16
Big Blue Huddle / Giants Top-Five WR Options/Targets?
February 10, 2023, 08:58:44 AM
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/ranking-five-of-the-giants-most-popular-wide-receiver-targets-this-offseason/ar-AA17j2dn?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=5c09f917ef9e412cb2e57f0a16e89d54

1.Jordan Addison
2.Brandon Aiyuk
3.Jaxon Smith-Njigba
4.Zay Flowers
5.Tee Higgins

Those probably would be my choices as well. However, if they could get Aiyuk for a 2nd Rounder- which I doubt- he would top my list.

The fact that essentially all of Smith-Njigba's production came in one year 2021 is a consideration but I don't think it warrants a "boom or bust" label.

I like Flowers but I think I'd prefer to see what they can get from a healthy Wan'Dale Robinson, last year's 43rd overall pick.

I love Tee Higgins but he'd be too expensive for the current Exchequer.

Cheers!
#17
Big Blue Huddle / Coach of the Year
February 09, 2023, 10:01:29 PM
Congats to Brian Daboll just named Coach of the Year. Good on ya, Dabbs.

Cheers!
#18
#19
I suppose I shouldn't say so here, but I am pleased by it.

Cheers!
#20
Their win/loss record was surprisingly as exactly as I predicted.
They played hard and were in most games this season which pleased me.
I am pleasantly satisfied by both the performance of and relationship to the players to first time HC Joe Judge.
I think that Gettlemen has done done a decent enough job in areas of his influence and should remain GM for at least another year.
I am close to sold on Daniel Jones as the long time Eli successor who may yet prove to be even better.
The immediate re-signing of Pat Graham was a no brainer.
I think Jason Garrett deserves more time with Jones and with an improved receiver corps.
I continue to have hope but definite reservations about Barkley.
I have little enthusiasm about this season (indeed football in general) and couldn't care less as to what happens in the playoffs at any level.

I am trying to generate enough enthusiasm to engage in the silly season which after year's of study and analyses I have come to recognize as 95 percent subjective.

I'll refrain from non-football comment except to wish you all a Happy New Year, or Four or Forty.

Cheers!

#21
Giants History / Frank Gifford has died
August 09, 2015, 03:02:40 PM
The Gifford family released a statement that read, in part: "We rejoice in the extraordinary life he was privileged to live, and we feel grateful and blessed to have been loved by such an amazing human being. We ask that our privacy be respected at this difficult time and we thank you for your prayers."

He was 84, was and always will be my favorite Giants player.  Requiescat in Pace.
#22
For those who would like to discuss the game without turning it into their own personal bashing thread.
#23
Chalk Talk / Fire Zone Philosophy
February 10, 2008, 08:50:46 PM
When Tom Coughlin introduced Steve Spagnulo as the Giants new Defensive Coordinator, a year ago, he made particular mention of his familiarity with the Fire Zone philosophy. He didn't say Fire Zone blitz, even though he could expect it to be inferred. What he was referring to was more than scheme, it was a mindset which recognizes that pressure on the opposing Quarterback has become essential to successful pass defense, and with it to overall success on defense.

But what does Fire Zone mean in more specific and practical terms; how does it work? The first element of the Fire Zone is to rush more defensive players than the offense has blockers to account for them. It can involve both numbers and location. Almost always, it involves rushing more than four defensive players which means at least five whether playing a 4-3 or 3-4 front. And that constitutes a blitz.

However, that's not all which is involved. Its essence is to blitz unpredictably with linebackers, defensive backs and combinations of both while keeping the Secondary from being undermanned and exposed by dropping one or more Dlinemen into zone pass coverage.

Dropping linemen into zone pass coverage often mean zone coverage behind them, but not always. There may still be man-coverage, and even a double on the opponents best receiver. It does seem. however, that the Giants most often play a three deep zone behind their blitzes which they employ on average about 12-15 times a game.

Whatever shell is played behind the blitz, it is important that the rushers get at least enough pressure to hurry the QB, and that those who aren't rushing clog the passing lanes, and try to identify the hot receiver. 

So, we have blitz (rushing five or more players) and zone blitz ( Dlinemen dropping into coverage), where then does the term, Fire Zone come in? Although not precisely defined, it is considered to mean creating a fire zone or clear path for a blitzer to the QB by overloading one side of a blocking scheme. That may be accomplished not only by attacking with a second blitzer, but also by stunting and looping Dlineman so that they don't rush straight ahead from their original position but overload one side of the offensive protection.

While strictly speaking the term, Fire Zone means blitzing and a propensity to blitz- not all the time, but at almost any time, in almost any situation- certain of its fundamental elements have been employed by the Giants without actually blitzing. For example, it's not uncommon when the Giants are playing their Four Aces package to see them stunt or loop Dlineman while dropping one into coverage and adding a Linebacker to the rush often through a gap vacated by a Dlineman.  Only four rushers, but with a look that can be as confusing to the QB as if there were more. Any extra fraction of a second he takes to figure out that it's only four is to the defense's advantage.

I suppose we could sum it up by saying that the Fire Zone philosophy is to aggressively apply pass rush pressure on the opposing Quarterback by employing extra rushers from any and all angles at any time with the conviction that the more a quarterback is attacked, the more are the chances he is going to be hit, and the more he is hit, the more innacurate he'll become.

How effective were they in attacking?  How about a season with 53 sacks, 61 knockdowns, and 45 hurries. That doesn't include what they did in postseason including the Super Bowl when they sacked and hit Brady a combined 23 times. Philosophically sound it would seem.

Cheers!