Big Blue Huddle

I tend to look at the UDFAs as guys to fill in spots during camp. As injuries start occurring, these guys have a chance to show something. I always wonder what would have become of Victor Cruz is so many WRs did not get hurt who were in front of him on the Depth Chart.

What I am looking for more than anything is a guy who the other players seem to trust. It is less about finding the next Cruz and more about finding the next Spencer Paysinger who can be Special Teams captain and fill in as a starter in a pinch. Casey Rodgers is perhaps one injury away from making the roster with only 3 DTs in front of him. I thought the Giants might try to draft a Guard so there is an opportunity for Kubas and in particular OL Marcellus Johnson who has done much of his work on Special Teams at both Guard and Tackle and whose father played professionally. The rest of the guys have an uphill battle.     

The biggest difference from last year is I think we are moving from a 3-down back who gets spelled at times to a committee situation with 2-3 backs in the mix. If that turns out to be the case, is remains to be seen which back(s) will be used along with Singletary and how.

Perhaps the most important thing, if you were to talk to Barkley he would probably tell you that Singletary and company have a better run blocking line going into the season than he ever had. With new pieces everywhere on offense and Daniel Jones coming off the injury, I think you will see Daboll/Kafka in the early part of the season "dumb it down" and play to the Defense. Continuous improvement from all groups (QB, Receivers, O-Line, and RBs) during the season is what I will be looking for. If I don't see that, I am expecting a long year because they are not much to look at right now. This team is more unrealized potential than substance at the moment.

TE Theo Johnson was not the player I wanted at TE but like Lorenzo Carter a few years ago, I didn't think he was going to be there either. Rankings had him anywhere from the 3rd to the 9th best TE, possibly due to the off season issue he had, but he was the biggest target in the draft at any position and showed extremely well at the senior bowl practices as a receiver. I don't see him as a split-out TE like Waller or Bowers, although he can do that. He is an in-line TE like Kittle. I think he enters camp as #5 on the depth chart but could be starting by midseason. That is not something I would normally say about a guy who was drafted in Round 4. He is a better blocker today than anyone else they have, and a fantastic redzone target. He needs to work on his footwork coming out of breaks which is a little sloppy at times.

It was a solid draft. It was a nice combination of best talent while addressing biggest need. Nubin was a bit of a surprise to me but I may have undervalued the impact of the loss of McKinney.

I've been a Giant fan for 50+ years and I haven't said this often - I thought they had a good off-season in free agency and did well in the draft on Days 1, 2, and 3.

I know some would have liked a QB or DT, or maybe even a G, but there is a limited number of picks and a limited number of players. The fact that the Giants were not awarded a single Compensation Pick in the 2024 draft should give everyone a sober slap in the face about where this team was. We didn't have much and when we lost players we found out they weren't worth anything.

I feel like I'm reliving the Mets rebuild in 1983 and 1984, or the NY Rangers in 1992-1993. I don't like the results yet but I like where this team is going. 

I think the starting RB position is wide open. Gray is probably pushing Singletary for the starting spot. Singletary, like Hodgins and Isiah McKenzie, are here because Daboll knows what these former Buffalo players can do. He is a placeholder who got a ton of work in Houston last season after Pierce was ineffective. The Giants have already cut Corbin twice, Miller is a project, Deon Jackson is a good receiver who showed he can start in a pinch, and I'm not sure why Brightwell is still here. I think there is space for Tracy to get some touches in the backfield as he develops. He can help on Special teams but I don't believe that is why he was drafted.

Plumlee signed with Pittsburg.

I'm still hoping they will select Dillon Johnson from Washington.

I agree, they need a RB but another small back would not have been my choice. They have several of those now.

I think you will get your wish for a RB before the draft is over, and there are better players than Corum out there to be had. Whoops! THere goes Lloyd. Still 4-5 backs who I would like to see in Giants colors.

Quote from: madbadger on April 26, 2024, 09:53:19 PMI don't get it. Coming into the draft the defense was clearly better than the offense and we chose to use three of our first four picks to add to the defense. I guess they're just lanning on winning games 14-10. Not knocking adding Burns, Nubin or Phillips. Just doesn't make sense to me.

Specifics? Who did you want? What position? They got the best WR and in the opinion of many the best player in the draft and followed it up with who many think was the best Safety in the draft. There were a few good CBs left in the early 3rd. They are not going to get one worth a damn tomorrow.

Now if you want an upgrade at RB, TE, or G, you can get one tomorrow. What do you want?

Remarkably, with the Giants 8 picks away from their 3rd Round selection, the value is STILL at WR and CB. There is a guy here or there at other positions (TE, RB, G) but they may have a a decent CB still sitting there in the 3rd.

Quote from: Bob In PA on April 26, 2024, 01:40:13 PMking: I never fail to read his posts and highly recommend them. They are IMO too few and far between. Bob

You are too kind. 

I invite you to look at the best receiver in the SEC over the last 10 years and look at his track to production and success in the NFL. It is pretty close to "can't miss." You may also notice something interesting if you look at the top 3 lines on each list.

Yards

Player    Yds    Year    School
1    Malik Nabers*1569    2023    Louisiana State
1    Jalin Hyatt*    1267    2022    Tennessee
1    Jameson Williams*    1572    2021    Alabama
1    DeVonta Smith*    1856    2020    Alabama
1    Ja'Marr Chase*    1780    2019    Louisiana State
1    A.J. Brown    1320    2018    Mississippi
1    A.J. Brown    1252    2017    Mississippi
1    Josh Reynolds*    1039    2016    Texas A&M
1    Laquon Treadwell*    1153    2015    Mississippi
1    Amari Cooper*    1727    2014    Alabama

Receptions
Rk    Player    Rec    Year    School
1    Malik Nabers*    89    2023    Louisiana State
1    Malik Nabers*    72    2022    Louisiana State
1    Makai Polk*    105    2021    Mississippi State (Wan'dale Robinson finished with 104)
1    DeVonta Smith*    117    2020    Alabama
1    Justin Jefferson*    111    2019    Louisiana State
1    Kalija Lipscomb*    87    2018    Vanderbilt
1    Ryan Davis*    84    2017    Auburn
1    Christian Kirk*    83    2016    Texas A&M
1    Calvin Ridley*    89    2015    Alabama
1    Amari Cooper*    124    2014    Alabama

Quote from: killarich on April 26, 2024, 10:00:36 AMThink anyone would give a second rounder for Slayton ? lol

I like the dude but I want the team to get a beefy DT and Corner

With all the young WRs still available going into the second round that you could have on a rookie deal, uh.....no. Any trade of Slayton would be initiated by the Giants to free up CAP space and they would take whatever they could get. That said, I don't think he is on the trading block.

Stroud is a little high after one year and Love is a little low, but I won't argue. Nice list.

Quote from: GloryDays on April 26, 2024, 12:17:41 PMTonight I would love it if we took TE Ben Sinnott in the second and OT Roger Rosengarten in the third.
Tomorrow with only 2 picks, if we can get RB Shipley in the 4th and S Kit. Oladapo in the 6th I would be thrilled.

Unless something has changed, the Giants have a 5th (Pick 166) also.