Big Blue Huddle

You practice hard, you work hard, you make your breaks and sometimes the breaks fall your way. That happens when you are a good football team. The opposite also holds true, most of the time. Your observations were keen, and spot on, but the 49ers are a much better team than the Giants right now and that's what happened.

Look, Bill Parcells' 1984 Giants went through the same thing during Bill Walsh's masterpiece 15-1 season while defeating the Giants and Bears before dismantling the Dolphins to cap one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. Don't think for one second that Parcells didn't use the 31-10 MNF loss, as well as the 21-10 Divisional Playoff defeat as a springboard to improve the team so they could compete against the league champions in the future. Sure enough, they got their revenge in the 1985 NFC Wild Card Game when the 49ers came to Giants Stadium for the first ever Giant home playoff game there and defeated their nemesis 17-3. Only a season later, when the Giants were ready to claim the NFL Championship, they gave the 49ers some retribution of past playoff defeats in the now-legendary 49-3 Divisional Playoff victory.

Daboll is going to have to find a way to get better and compete with the boys by the bay because his team isn't prepared to carry their jock strap at this point.

It's over and nothing can be done about it right now. Onto the Seattle game which becomes an important home game.

Peace!

Quote from: Ed Vette on September 24, 2023, 07:24:46 PMI'm happy for Gannon and Dobbs. It was nice seeing the young HC run off the field trying to hold back a xxxx eating grin. Good for them.

Ossenfort and Gannon have only taken baby steps in rebuilding the Cardinals and may realize they would be better off without Murray when it is all said and done. It will be interesting to see what happens once he's cleared to practice.

Taking out Dallas was a good start to their 2023 campaign. Hoping they can better represent themselves against the 49ers next week than the Giants did this week.

Peace!

Thank you for sharing this. It makes you appreciate how much he has absorbed early into his second professional season. But, it also shows what a gifted group of athletes he has to throw to, as well as protect him.

The kid has the right temperament as a young quarterback who is still very much a sponge but can, for the most part, execute Shanahan's system and yield results. He won't always have the luxury of the line and talent of CMC, Deebo, Kittle and the others throughout his career. But he is in an ideal situation to develop into a consistent outstanding performer.

Finally, J.T. O'Sullivan was the 49ers' QB about 15 years ago. I remember the 2008 Giants beating him up in the old Giants Stadium but he kept fighting on. The Giants won that game 29-17, I think, but I remember he was a fighter that day.

Thanks again!

Peace!

Quote from: LennG on September 23, 2023, 12:30:28 PMOK, Ed. Maybe  I wasn't clear. I don't think Jones was intentionally throwing soft easy passes just to pad his stats, but it seems as if that is his motif if you know what I mean. He is a lot more comfortable with a throw like that than hanging in there and making a better play. PLUS, if you remember during the game, they had a stat on the TV about Jones and his passing while under duress (I think it was something like 2-8) and while not under duress which was something like 12-16. So if he was able to throw 12 passes not under duress and had completions with them, they all were under 10 yards. Add to that, Purdy was rushed the entire game, something like 80% of his drop-backs, yet he fired off several long passes to his WRs that were caught or had a PI on them. Purdy has all of 10 games of experience, yet he trusts his WRs to catch something he throws up. This is Jones's 5th year and we still are talking the same old, same old, every week. Purdey is making the absolute minimum for an NFL player. Yet Jones is making 40 Mil a year and he can't throw a deep pass to a more than speedy WR? Really, something is wrong with this scenario.

Hi Lenn,

I like your observation here. I think what you witnessed on Thursday is less of a 5th year QB versus a 2nd year Mr. Irrelevant. The latter, whom I watch almost on a weekly basis, is a diamond in the rough for Shanahan's offensive system and his work ethic, as was described on the pre-game profile of him, shows this kid has a passion and determination about him which that 49ers team feeds off of and everything just "clicked" when he took the field as a starter last year. The kid has yet to lose a game in this league! (NOTE: I'm not counting that NFC Championship last year because of his injury; I still feel he would have beaten the Iggles had that injury not occurred).

Maybe that's all it is. Even Mr. Irrelevant can have the "it" factor. Seems like it's so in San Francisco.

As far as the Giants are concerned, I share your frustration that the offense, as a whole, has disappointed us greatly to start the season.

Peace!

Quote from: T200 on September 22, 2023, 02:39:48 PMThey need to recalculate the weight of missed tackles. He's credited with 9 solo tackles, 4 for a loss. One of the few defensive bright spots last night.

Giants' Player of the Week, and it isn't even close the first runner up.

Forget the stat sheet, that kid was all over the place and his picture-perfect tackle on McCaffrey belongs on the season highlight reel.

Peace!

Quote from: T200 on September 23, 2023, 07:11:43 PMMeh... what goes around, comes around.

Plenty of folks here were gloating when Kadarius Toney had a case of the dropsies and cost KC the game in the season opener.

Then we go 6 quarters before scoring. And now a team is talking smack about our QB after they beat us. Stones and glass houses aren't a good combination.

Don't want them to talk smack? Play better.

EXACTLY!

DO something about it! You punch 'em  square in the jaw, and keep doing it, until they don't want to get punched anymore.

It's true the Giants' offense did get smacked around in the end when it became one-dimensional. But I thought the defense, penalties and all, played hard and kept them in it for the better part of three quarters which is all you could ask.

All this other crap about the 49ers saying this or that is kind of funny because the Giants were jawing right back at them during the game. We've seen this before going as far back as Parcells and Walsh in 1984 and again with Parcells and Seifert in 1990. These two teams simply do not like each other, and the 49ers are still pi$$ed off at the Giants for ruining their "three-peat" as well as their 2011 NFC Championship.

This is why the Giants need to get better in order to renew this rivalry which is good for the entire league. I'll tell you it's far better than SF-Dallas which is a BS "beauty pageant," instead of a football rivalry. Besides, the 49ers continue to wipe the floor with the Cowboys anyway so there's no rivalry to see there anyway.

Like them or not, the 49ers are the best team in football right now and only the Chiefs can put them in their place during the Super Bowl. A lot can happen between now and then and it probably will. But nobody out of the NFC can lay a glove on them right now and that include the Iggles. A full game with Brock Purdy will demonstrate that.

Peace!

Quote from: Rambo89 on September 23, 2023, 07:07:49 PMThat was also the year they signed Burress and the first full season of Eli Manning as their Starting QB.  So to say it was because they drafted Snee simply isn't true.  Because there were other factors as well that led to that increase in production mainly the QB's play.

The most important factor, which needs to be included here, is Tiki Barber's MVP season (NOTE: despite the fact the league gave it to Seattle's Shaun Alexander) and that 2002 line helped him achieve 1,860 yards rushing that season.

Kareem McKenzie also joined the Giants in 2005 to stabilize the RT position. Shaun O'Hara and Chris Snee were acquired in 2004, David Diehl in 2003, and Luke Petitgout at LT. The O-Line came together and played well for most of the season and considerably better than the previous two seasons.

The young Eli Manning had Barber and Jacobs in the backfield, Toomer and Burress and his primary receivers, Shockey as his TE, and a rebuilt offensive line that was in the process of synergizing into a cohesive unit. It was a surprisingly good season with a terrible ending in getting goose-egged in the Wild-Card round against Carolina.

But the line would continue to develop as Petitgout broke his leg in 2006, prompting Diehl to move to left tackle and bringing in Rich Seubert as left guard. Rich, who had been with the Giants since 2001, and had recovered from a nasty leg fracture in 2003, worked his way into becoming a full-time starter in 2007. That was the final piece of the Super Bowl Offensive Line which would help Eli make history in Super Bowl XVII and terrorize the league in 2008 with the best all-around running game with Earth, Wind and Fire.

Peace!

I want to give kudos to the "King" for the time and effort in putting the data and analysis together to start this thread. QB discussion aside, there are some good points for discussion on how the Giants have, at an individual level, closed the gap against their divisional rivals' individuals.

But rarely do individuals win games, much less titles. So, it still comes down to how the Giants' offense, defense and special teams units, respectively, have closed the gap against their divisional peers in preparation for the season ahead.

While there is no question the Giants have made the most strides in improving their defense, collectively, they have significantly improved their offensive skill positions, and one of the line positions, but questions remain whether JMS Jr., and another year together for the incumbents, will be enough to demonstrate collective growth, and overall improvement, of the offensive line which will be the catalyst for improving the overall offensive performance.

The special teams has an ace in the hole with Graham Gano but continued concerns remain by the decision to give the Scottish Hammer another year to resolve the issues in his skillset. One more issue, such as a dropped ball during a punt attempt, a field goal attempt, or even an extra point attempt, may be the one issue that could break the Giants' chance to make the post-season in what will be a tough season where every mistake will be far more costly than last season. In other words, Gillan has far greater pressure on him, this season, to become an excellent cold weather punter/holder or this will be the end of the line for his career (think of Matt Dodge). The NFC Rivals have better special teams in all which is why I remained puzzled as to why the Giants stayed with Gillan. Head-scratching continues this year and a bald spot has begun to show on the top of my head (NOTE TO SELF: make appointment with doctor for hair loss treatment).

Peace!

Peace!

Excellent post and thank you for taking the time to articulate your observations as well as your thoughts which made for an enjoyable read.

You asked how long Evan Neal will be in concussion protocol. There is no explicit time frame since he, and all players entering such protocol, must complete a five-step process in order to be cleared to return to duty. What separates the NFL from other sports leagues is that the player must be cleared through independent Neurological Medical Professionals who are not tied to any football team.

The following is the NFL's Concussion Protocol (NOTE: a bit of a long and tedious read, but gives you an appreciation on the commitment the NFL is taking on this dangerous trauma to the head:

NFL Concussion Protocol - 5 Step Process For Players To Return

Peace!

Stunning UFO crash retrieval ...

David Grusch has made headlines this week and has put his name and credibility on the line in order to try and get the truth out about the government cover-up of UFO/Alien retrieval and reverse engineering for the benefit of enhancing the Warfighter. The news this week has been nothing short of sensational and, in looking at this morning's news, the events in Las Vegas last night have me shaking my head completely:

Las Vegas Police Body Cam Captures Suspected UFO Falling From Sky, Hours Later Family Complains Of Aliens In Backyard

I have always had an interest in attempting to answer the question "Are we alone in the universe?" I've taken great interest in the Roswell incident, to include visiting the city, as well as its intriguing museum, read books and watched documentaries on the subject. I was a huge fan of History Channel's "Project Blue Book" before they abruptly cancelled it after season two. I've taken great interest in Luis Elizondo's documentary "Unidentified" which presented amazing recounts of sightings across North and South America. In addition, I have a passion for astronomy and contemplating the Cosmos and the Universe while reflecting on that very question, is there anyone else out there. My belief is that we humans would be too arrogant to think that, in the vastness of the universe, the possibilities that we are unable to comprehend due to the limitations of this thing we call our human bodies, given the probabilities of all factors considered, there simply has to be. Whether it conforms to what we define on this rock we call Earth as "life" is less important than the possibility that "life" can adapt beyond the limitations of the Earth and can survive, and perhaps thrive, in the vast unknown of space where radiation, extreme cold, extreme hot, zero gravity, gravity from a black hole, and various other states and conditions we may or may not understand.

Let's consider, for a moment, that the name David Grusch could go down in history for opening the Pandora's box and answering the age-old question, once and for all. My question to you all, are you prepared for the answer and what it means in the grand scheme of things? Would your thought process change in any way? If so, how?

Discuss.

Peace!

Having lived in Texas, New Mexico and now Arizona, it is fairly commonplace to deal with this stuff out here. In fact, on the east side of the Valley here in Phoenix last week, a small brush fire got out of hand and kicked up enough smoke to bump up the health hazard from Apache Junction to downtown Phoenix (NOTE: thankfully, we were spared in the West Valley). We were up to about 103-105 degrees and had the fortune of a small cold front blow through to knock our temps into the low 90s and take care of the smoke issue.

I feel for you all along the Eastern seaboard who have had to put up with the fallout from the Canadian forest fires. Your average instance makes it uncomfortable outside but it looked like a nightmare for you all. I'm glad it is starting to dissipate for you today and, hopefully, will completely wind down soon.

Good luck.

Peace!

As the 10th season of "The Curse of Oak Island," on the History Channel, reaches its crescendo and wrap-up for this season, my Huntsville, Alabama pal Dr. Travis Taylor kicked off the fourth season of "The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch" last night. Travis came clean in that he was planted by the government to study the phenomenon at the ranch as part of the UAP research the government was condu ting in secret. Whether Travis knows of the metal object in the side of the hill is now debatable given he has the government security clearance and need to know which means he knows who the surveillance aircraft are and why they are there.

My thought is that Travis is on-site to facilitate the test requirements development, planning, preparation and execution with the team; however, ensure their endeavor doesn't breach the classified elements of what is on the ranch, their capabilities or their origin.

Travis, knowing where that "line in the sand" is, can then utilize his engineering, science and technology experience to generate cool, gee-whiz tests with plenty of optics to impress the viewers. When I worked in the Missile Defense world in Huntsville, some 15-20 years ago, I attended Agency Headquarter briefings where Travis was briefing Generals. The man has done it all.

But this coming season will be entertaining for the experiments they will conduct in order to characterize the forces on the ranch, as well as identifying the triggers which make the UAP/UFO appear in the sky.

Peace!

Wow, what an inspirational thread! Just turned 54, a bit of a nervous number in that I've lost a number of friends, colleagues, as well as my older brother, at that age. But I've done due diligence last year with check-ups, brain scans, MRIs of my spine, etc. because of the multiple head trauma I experienced during my goalkeeping years on the soccer field. Next month, I'm having a total knee replacement for my left knee, same leg I had complications from Achilles surgery compounded by past ankle fractures which have rendered it an arthritic minefield. Hoping the bionic knee will stabilize my gait some. In turn, the lower back issues which stemmed from all this I hope will be mitigated by my ability to exercise with less pain.

Getting older (NOTE I didn't say old) doesn't mean you are old. I think how the Weezer characterized his dad says it all. If you've still got it between the ears, and think and experience life, even if you're body can't do what it used to, you're still young at heart.

Jackie Gleason cited a quote when he was doing his roller skating skit on The Honeymooners when he said, "It's too bad youth is wasted on young people." Only Audrey Meadows could provide the perfect response, as his dedicated wife Alice, by saying, "You know, Ralph? I don't even mind growing old, just as long as I grow old with you." To which Ralph, in his famous words, replies, "Baby, you're the greatest!"

Peace!

Quote from: Jolly Blue Giant on April 10, 2023, 03:49:03 PMI'm a bit of a prayer warrior so I will add him to my list 

Me too. He is on my list as well. Jim, if you read this, we're thinking of you and sending you our love and warmest of intentions.

Peace!

Quote from: Jolly Blue Giant on February 09, 2023, 09:00:37 PMBrings back old memories when I was just a kid. Let's see...I'm 69, this was 59 years ago...I must've been 10. I remember my parents putting me and my two brothers in the back seat of our 2-door, cherry red '58 super eight Oldsmobile and taking us to get "conies" (white hots) in Binghamton. My baby sister was simply held in the front seat on my mother's lap (the old days huh???). On the way down, the Beatles came on the radio with "She Loves You" and we all said, "turn it up, turn it up". My father had a scowl on his face and told us it was loud enough, LOL

So we get to one of those stainless steel diners and we get a booth. There was a box on the table that you could play the juke box for a nickel from where you sat. I saw "She Loves You" by the Beatles and I remember begging my Dad to let us play it. He did, bless is heart in hindsight

I watched them each time they were on the Ed Sullivan Show and my Dad would scowl and say, "they need a hair cut and I shouldn't let you kids watch that crap". Oh how I miss him

I think a lot of us here really miss our dads for that, and a million other reasons. I was fortunate to have one who actually watched with me some of my own TV selections and that includes the cartoons of the 70s, soccer on PBS in the 70s and early 80s, This Old House was a favorite of both of us and, of course, so too were the Giants, Yankees and Rangers of the day. You try to grow up so fast to get on the same plane as your dad that, when the day finally comes that you do, it's about time for him to pack it up and call it a life. It's the one aspect of life that, if I could change something, I'd make every effort to close the loops on everything with him ... the good, the bad and even the ugly. I see him in my dreams, from time to time, and believe he's doing all he can do to let me know he still comes around. How, it's not for us to know in the life we live and the existence of us on this rock called the Earth which spins around this hot thing in the sky called the sun. Until we all find out, I'll continue to keep his memory alive by telling my daughter stories about him so that, even though she was a year old when he passed, she'll have a good idea who he was, and see for herself from the picture of him holding her as an infant. It was the day a life-long dream of his came true: he became a grandfather.

Peace!