Big Blue Huddle

I was an early migrant from BBWC for reasons already mentioned and shared by others. I could not be more satisfied with what we now have in BBH, thanks to Rich and his able associates. Whatever you folks are doing to maintain the guidelines based on the understanding that participation here is not a right but a privilege seems to be working rather well. On that basis, I'm all in favor of an increase in the numbers.

Cheers! 

We all have been made better by the Mary Anns of this world. Sorry for your loss, Brian.

Glen Coffee- not related to Junior Coffee- looks like Ottis Anderson? He runs hard and seems to like contact, but it's not a comparison that would occur to me. Coffee is 2 inches shorter, 20 pounds lighter than OJ Anderson, and is kind of slender below the waist. I can't see him looking quite so powerful against the big bullies in the NFL.  He's one of those guys who might have benefited by staying in school for another year. I hope he doesn't expect to go higher than the 5th/6th Round because he's likely to be disappointed.

Kory Sheets is another back with a 5th Round grade who might go a tad higher because he's has a bit more speed, is an above average pass catcher, and is a bonafide return guy. Ironically, although he catches well, he has had some ball security problems when toting it.


Cheers!

Excellent summary, Ceri. Better than anything else I've seen.

Folks talk about the draft being a crapshoot, but it also is a game of dominoes. While I wouldn't expect the Giants to draft a RB at 29, if they still have it,  I can see the possibility of them taking one in the 2nd Round, even trying to move higher for someone they really like; perhaps, McCoy or Donald Brown.

Danny Ware would seem to be the wildcard in what they do and when given that they were willing to stash him away on the 53-man last year.

Cheers!

I can't do any better than that which Rich has provided. I hadn't seen it before.

Cheers!

I can't fault anything you've said; no surprise in that, Ceri. Personally, I like Mack a bit less than Unger for one single reason. He has atendency to jump staight up with the snap which he will have to correct if he's not to be pushed onto his back, or into his QB by some of those meany NFL NTs. I suspect he will make the adjustment, however.

Both he and Unger likely will be considered good value anywhere from late first to early second.  Both might go in Round 1 to Tennessee at 30 and Pittsburgh at 32, or certainly in Round 2 to teams like Seattle and Cinncinnati at 37 and 38, respectively.

I too prefer Eric Wood for the Giants. They may not have him targeted at 45, but they damn well should at 60. As one wag described it: Eric Wood is a complete center who can play in any style of offensive system. If your team drafts him, consider yourselves smart and lucky because drafting Eric in a round other than the 1st will be like buying your favorite gallon of ice cream on double coupon day at the supermarket.

Cheers!

I too am curious about how the Giants have Beatty rated, todge.  As I have said in other threads, I have reservations about him.  He clearly has talent, but I don't know that he has the dedication to go with it. He did look better last year than the year before, but he still showed a tendency to forget all about technique and play terribly in some games.

Cheers!

Excellent summary and analysis, Ceri.  I fear that you are right in your estimation that the "top 5" OTs will be off the board before the Giants pick at 29. Indeed, it is entirely possible that the Eagles will use their 21 slot for Britton, and their 28 for a WR, or a RB. With that in mind, I can't convince myself that the Giants's priorities would lead them to trade up as high as it would take. I'm not even convinced that they would take Beatty at 29 over a WR. I don't think a LB with 1st Round value will still be around at 29 unless Matthews or Laurinaitis survive in what yet may be draft day scramble. However, I have just about conceded the Giants top priority to be WR given the need to replace not just Burress, but Amani as well.

If they really like Beatty, I can see them moving further up in Round 2 to get him. Cadogan needs good coaching and effort to improve his technique, but he might be worth one of their 5th Rounders.

Again, very well done- as usual, CD.

Cheers!

Much like 40 times with Receivers, long arms can be an asset for an OT, all other things being equal. Robert Gallery's struggle at OLT has involved a lot more than the length of his arms; his lack of sufficient lower body strength being most prominent.  They, and a whole lot of others, who had him near the top of their boards, seem to have missed on both of those factors.

In any case, I guess there is no denying that guys estimation that 33-33 7/8 is average arm length for OTs. Three of the top 5 OTs in this year's draft: Jason Smith, Michael Oher, and Eugene Monroe have just the arm lengths to prove it.

Cheers!

I don't know that we can anticipate more man-coverage in the future. The use of Covers 2 and 3 Zone defense has grown largely because there are so few DBs who can consistently cover the bigger, faster WRs who have entered the league in the past 15-20 years. Zone defenses are designed to prevent the big play off a deep throw.

The advantage of a Zone defense in that regard is that the DBs are able to keep some distance from the receivers, face forward and follow the ball whereas in man-coverage the CBs are blind to where the ball is going until the last second. The disadvantage of zone is that it allows some open areas usually in the middle of the field. The Tampa 2 variant of the standard Cover 2 Zone is designed to better defend the middle area in front of the Safeties by dropping the MLB fifteen yards deep. The Colts, Bears, Vikings, Chiefs and Lions have played it that way. But it takes an MLB with above average speed and agility to do it well. And it requires DB who are a bit smarter and faster, at least quicker, and who are especially good tacklers.

Many 3-4 teams like the Cows, Chargers, and Bills play a base Cover 2 Zone. The Fire Zone blitzing, 3-4 Steelers more often play zone in a Cover 3. And so have the Giants in many of their zone blitz packages under Spags.

The more teams adopt a 3-4, the more zone behind it we are likely to see.  That's not to say that we haven't already seen more man coverage, as we have more recently with the Giants. But I think the main reason for it is not so much because of an increase in "pressure" defenses as it is an effort to disguise the coverage. Obviously, man coverage can be riskier if you aren't able to pressure and hurry the QB. But pressure is the objective of all teams whether they favor zone or m2m coverage based on their personnel.

The Giants have tended to switch back and forth between zone and man when playing in a Cover 2 shell ( two deep Safeties).  It helps disguise their intentions both in terms of coverage and blitz pressures.  In fact, they sometimes run counter to  traditional pre-snap alignments.  It used to be that we could anticipate whether a defense was playing man or zone by where the CB was positioned relative to a WR. If he was up tight on his man, or playing off and inside the the WR's shoulder, he probably was playing Man. If he was back and lined up on the receivers outside shoulder, he likely was playing Zone. There even was a time when he would follow his man across the field if he went in motion. But no more.

If we see more man coverage, it will be by teams who have above average cover Corners, and by more teams who seek an advantage by mixing coverage in a Cover 2 shell to better disguise it.

Cheers!   

I found it interesting that Brady Quinn drew the 6 route with an inside slant whereas the play tape showed the X taking it to the outside which is the more common route. 

All good stuff.

Cheers!

Larry

January 25

Dallas, TX / Chicago, IL

That does qualify as a great win, doesn't it, fladan?  It got me thinking back to the start of last season when they gave up 80 points in starting 0-2. Who knew that in beating a tough 5-1, Numero Uno defense, Steelers team, they would have won 20 of the next 25, the Super Bowl, and now 10 of their last 11?  How sweet it is. But sweeter still when they barbeque the Cows, next week.

Cheers!

That was TC being a bit too conservative for my taste. Still, the D ate R'bergers for dinner. A GREAT WIN.

Cheers!

Gilbride didn't make that lousy throw or the one to Boss either.  You seem determined to be the resident troll.  Let's see how long that's tolerated.