Big Blue Huddle

It's really amazing, but in a few short years our WR corps went from being one of the worst units on the team to hands down the deepest. Kudos to Schoen!

Nabers / Hyatt
Slayton / Hodgins / A. Robinson
W. Robinson / McKenzie

That's a unit you can be competitive with. It's a unit that allows ST-types like Gunner and Boykin to focus on ST. In year's past, these types were getting meaningful snaps on offense.

DJ and Daboll get most of the press in terms of "pressure's on now," but I actually feel like it's Kafka we should be talking about in that context. He MUST develop strong gameplans that effectively use the talent available if he wants to stay on his current HC trajectory.

A couple of things to add.

Ghobrial was working for a top 5 STC in Boyer at the Jets and was very highly regarded in the building. Has a reputation for being detail oriented, ultra prepared and finding small advantages. That brings back memories of a guy who started out on ST way back when and wound up being a pretty decent DC then HC. Not saying he has that upside but those are good traits to possess.

Gano was already carrying a leg problem that was incurred/visible week one. I remember a chat I had with Ceri a couple of weeks before his season ending injury suggesting we might be wise to IR Gano to prevent a more serious injury. Given his age there is definitely some risk around his recovery and return.

Quote from: londonblue on May 09, 2024, 09:34:29 AMI'd assume he is cheap. Competing with Hodgins for a role? A possibility to get some Waller 'big slot' snaps? He is said to be a good locker room guy and that has some value in our young, inexperienced WR room. No harm in seeing what he has left on a cheap deal IMO.

He appears to be here on a minimum salary.  I also agree with the need for a veteran presence (especially with their only other real vet Slayton holding out)

https://x.com/pfrumors/status/1788562664014180370

I'd assume he is cheap. Competing with Hodgins for a role? A possibility to get some Waller 'big slot' snaps? He is said to be a good locker room guy and that has some value in our young, inexperienced WR room. No harm in seeing what he has left on a cheap deal IMO.

I guess the question would be, what does this mean?  To me, it indicates a team that is tied in terms of big-ticket veterans they wish to retain, and there is less flexibility.



https://x.com/Jason_OTC/status/1788357250681077928

DOB
1993-08-24 (30.7)
HEIGHT
6'3"
WEIGHT
220
SPEED
4.6
COLLEGE
Penn State Nittany Lions
DRAFT YEAR
2014
DRAFT TEAM
Jacksonville Jaguars
ROUND
2
SELECTION
61

Quote from: kartanoman on May 08, 2024, 09:55:33 PMThis is an excellent thread and, if the Giants have any hope of being competitive in the coming season, having a good, if not excellent, special teams could enable them to stay close in games they would otherwise lose or, glass half-full, be the difference in winning a close game (e.g. Polish Power Olszewski's punt return TD last year).

It was one of Bill Parcells' interests, especially punt returners, but special teams in general, that hitting on two of the three cylinders in a football game (i.e. offense, defense, special teams) will put a team in a good position to win a football game. Special teams have become a little more refined since then, and I believe they have even more opportunity for refinement. But a special teams' coach has to ensure that his players can, first and foremost, execute correctly and consistently. That's been a challenge with the Giants for a while now. That Michael Ghobrial is no stranger to the Sardine Can, and all its little details, such as wind patterns, is a good head start. The team has brought in new players, and I trust even more new players from free agency will find their way onto the team via special teams, so it's going to be different.

It's already been noted, and it cannot be understated, that Daboll is handling this off-season very differently than previous years in that he's now bringing in competition to challenge the incumbents and this is sorely overdue. This is going to help the entire team, not just special teams, bring their best every day to compete and fight for their job.

My biggest question mark remains Graham Gano's recovery to include his flexibility in his planting leg, as well as his strength to bear his weight on the planting leg as he goes through his kicking motion, will be something to keep an eye on. I have no doubt he will be ready for camp, assuming his procedure went well with no complications, and he has had time to rehab it so his flexibility and strength should be getting close to normal. But you know with surgeries, things are never the same as they once were. So, we'll see.

Peace!

Another concern with Gano is that even prior to the knee injury, he missed 35% of his field goal attempts.