Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 08, 2024, 05:33:06 PMI respectfully beg to differ. Last August there were people on this board arguing that the Giants were going to be "something special this year." I don't think any of those folks, or even a number who were less emphatic but still cautiously optimistic, would have told you last August that the Giant would go 0-5 in those five games.

I remember most fans were less than thrilled at the killer row the Giants opened with.  I think most were hoping to come out of that stretch maybe 2-3 or, at best, 3-2 (this was considered a longshot). 

Quote from: kartanoman on May 08, 2024, 10:11:06 PMLots of bantering in the NY Post comment section about that today. It's hard to make a change when you have a winning formula (6-0 in the playoffs). Sometimes it's important for a kid like Rempe, who literally AND figuratively tilts the ice, who has both the opponent's AND the referee's heads' all jumbled up in knots, to do something as simple as "snow" Andersen, following Igor's getting tripped and flipped, to deliver an unspoken message that gets across clearly in a manner that no other way would prove effective. Johnny Brodz won't give you that.

In general, Laviolette knows how to make it to the top of the Everest of this sport. His tracks are there at the peak from '06. He knows what he's doing with his Rangers' team AND with keeping Rempe out there, even if for a handful of minutes.

The dynamics of this series change with the scenery now shifting to Research Triangle, NC. Will Rempe still be a role player remains to be seen. But the evidence is undeniable that the refs are whistle-happy when he's on the ice. That they scolded him yesterday was laughable. If he is in the ref's heads, in the opponent's heads, none of them are primarily focused as they should be on what they're supposed to be doing and that just benefits the Rangers.

Laviolette is brilliant!

Peace!

I was a bouncer for a few years when I was in college and right out of college.  I see Rempe presence as the same.  If I wasn't working the front door checking ID's, I was standing against a wall observing what was going on.  Ready to pounce if needed, but most nights I was just looking around and didnt have to do anything.  Not saying mine and my co-workers presence prevented things from ever happening, but our presence did make people think twice and we were able to take care of a situation when needed.  DeAngelo starts running his mouth or playing like an XXXXXXX, Laviolette can put Rempe out there.  Yes, may result in a minor or even misconduct, but the message will be sent. 

Secondly, you are not sitting Artemi Panarin or Mika for Rempe.  I like Brodzinski, but he is a 4th liner. How many minutes do people really think he is going to play if put in the line-up and Carolina is only rolling 3 lines?  Chytil, yes talent wise there is a huge difference.  But, he hasn't played in over 6 months.  Yes, he is apparently practicing without a non-contact jersey, but we have no idea how he feels or how he looks in practice.  If they win tonight, maybe you give Chytil a look in game 4.  But again, I doubt if he decided to go with Chytil he is being inserted to anything higher than the 3rd line and is also going to have his ice-time limited.  He is not going to re-unite the Kid Line. 

Strands #67
"Tap to play"
💡🔵💡🔵
💡🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵

Connections
Puzzle #333
🟩🟨🟦🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟦🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Quote from: Jclayton92 on May 07, 2024, 10:09:18 PMI like his pocket presence significantly more than Devitos.

DeVito's pocket awareness is very good, I might even say special. Rourke must really be something. 

Quote from: H-Town G-Fan on May 08, 2024, 04:49:45 PMSome around here have argued he was top-10 in 2022, largely based on his QBR that season (he was 6th and largely so due to running contribution). But to me, 2022 would not be good enough in 2024 because it would be a "top-10" season by efficiency. Again, my point was that it hinges somewhat on the "top-10" season we're talking about. If 2024 is like 2022, that "top-10" performance doesn't do the trick.

I agree with you.  Must be more than 2022 for sure.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on May 08, 2024, 07:26:52 PMBias is fine.  Except when it causes you to ignore facts, like the difference between a bad group of receivers and the 7th ranked group of receivers. 

Then you do you, but it doesn't help when some here disrespect dissenting though and it happens frequently. I called it out earlier and nobody even responded. Speaks volumes. Facts have been stated on both sides but many just refuse to accept it. To each his own. Time will tell.

Rempe playing 4 minutes in a 2OT game is a lot different than when Stu Bickell only played 6 in a 3OT game in 2012 as Bickell was a dman.  Their first series in 2012 went 7 games and that series was tied 1-1.  Having your 12th forward hardly play is fine, especially when the opponent is pretty much running with only 3 lines.

Quote from: Rosehill Jimmy on May 08, 2024, 09:54:18 PMRempe got all of 4 minutes TOI.  I understand benches get shorter in the playoffs and in fact, Carolina had 2 with 6+ minutes of TOI. Tough to mess with a winning formula but would PL contemplate swapping Brodzinski for Rempe?

Lots of bantering in the NY Post comment section about that today. It's hard to make a change when you have a winning formula (6-0 in the playoffs). Sometimes it's important for a kid like Rempe, who literally AND figuratively tilts the ice, who has both the opponent's AND the referee's heads' all jumbled up in knots, to do something as simple as "snow" Andersen, following Igor's getting tripped and flipped, to deliver an unspoken message that gets across clearly in a manner that no other way would prove effective. Johnny Brodz won't give you that.

In general, Laviolette knows how to make it to the top of the Everest of this sport. His tracks are there at the peak from '06. He knows what he's doing with his Rangers' team AND with keeping Rempe out there, even if for a handful of minutes.

The dynamics of this series change with the scenery now shifting to Research Triangle, NC. Will Rempe still be a role player remains to be seen. But the evidence is undeniable that the refs are whistle-happy when he's on the ice. That they scolded him yesterday was laughable. If he is in the ref's heads, in the opponent's heads, none of them are primarily focused as they should be on what they're supposed to be doing and that just benefits the Rangers.

Laviolette is brilliant!

Peace!

This 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!