Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: TDToomer on Today at 04:13:12 PMI watched all 5 games and we did almost nothing to tenderize them. They skated all over the Islanders and made them look like they didn't belong in the playoffs. The one win was a miracle. I think you are underestimating them.

The rest of the Eastern Conference contenders should have put a claim in on Kuznetsov when he was waived. Brilliant move by the Canes who got home pennies on the dollar.

No. I've watched enough Carolina games this year and your boys worked hard during your series with them. Just a lot of pressure goals, as well as lucky bounces off the boards, when it counted made it seem easier than what it was.

Don't underestimate what Patrick Roy did for your team this season. Your boys still have a talent gap, no question about it, but they came to play and fought hard. They made the Canes sweat a few out and they're about to get hit with another level of intensity and talent where lucky bounces and goals 30 seconds apart won't be happening.

Your Isles now have to go and get some talent and they're going to be dangerous as long as the boys buy what Roy is selling them. Develop some leaders who can translate his fire into results on the ice. As a Ranger fan, even I can see  the foreshadowing of the New York rivalry coming back to life again. Roy planted the seeds and now it's time to get more talent and cultivate that team into a winner. When they played "never say die" on Saturday afternoon, it was beautiful to watch. It was too much to ask for yesterday's game but not for lack of trying.

Folks on the Island should be optimistic about the future as well as pushing the "paper champions" around, even if only for a little while; the Rangers and their fans appreciate it sincerely.

Peace!

Blame Vegas, I guess, for the "paper champions" (NOTE: lower case intended):

1st-place Rangers open as 2nd-round underdog against Hurricanes

Still makes no sense. But it will make even less sense when the series winner is decided.

Peace!

Quote from: MightyGiants on Today at 08:48:01 AMSchoen talked about Nubin being a "culture setter".   This is exactly how you set a culture, calling out behavior that hurts the team rather than helping it.  I can't wait to see how he is in a couple of seasons.  I have a feeling the Giants have found themselves a true team leader.

He's won my vote with that one! If he follows through, I can't wait to see the cultural development of the defense and, in particular, the secondary.

Peace!

Quote from: Gmo11 on Today at 09:55:20 AMIt's a combination of a couple of things but the gist of it is he's just fun.  He make his debut in the outdoor stadium game and fights a guy in 5 seconds.  Wins the fight.  And the fans go nuts.  Then he goes on a tear fighting everybody and winning just about every fight he's in to the point that they almost had to tell him to tone it down because you can't keep fighting every single day.

His actual play is not skillful by any means but he does set a tone.  I have to admit, for the last like 5 years or so I've agreed with you that a guy like him probably isn't necessary anymore and the team would be better off with another skill guy instead taking that roster spot.  But after watching the impact that Rempe has on the team with his energy and bone crushing hits and the way the fans get going every time he's on the ice...he does provide value to the team that another 4th liner with more skill like say a Goodrow wouldn't. 

Tom Wilson, noted jackass, has terrorized the Rangers in these playoffs games for years with all of his nonsense.  Picking on guys smaller than him regularly and just being a scumbag of the highest order.  But Wilson didn't do much of anything this series besides shove Adam Fox around after the Rangers scored a goal in Game 4. And I don't know that Rempe being around had anything to do with it or not, but I know I kept waiting for Wilson to do something dirty so Rempe could put his fist through his face and it just never happened. 

+1

Rempe adds a very necessary physical factor the Rangers have lacked for a long time. When Laviolette unleashed him, during the regular season, he took on the league's best goons for a reason; to send a message that the days of intimidating the Rangers, during the playoffs, are over.

Bring on the "paper champions" and thank you, Isles and their fans, for tenderizing them up, a bit, for the home cookin' at the Garden next week!

Peace!

There is no guarantee that any of those quarterbacks, even if they demonstrate "success" on their current teams, would accomplish the same with the Giants.

You want the QB, you lose the WR. Slayton remains your #1 for better or worse. The talk about everything else remains the same.

So, it comes down to the same old argument. Is it one of the QBs available at pick six (NOTE: not just McCarthy) or is it Nabers?

You've got your chocolate in my peanut butter! No!!! You've got your peanut butter all over my chocolate!

And, as the legendary Chris Allen would say ...

"And the beat goes on!!!"

Goodnight Gracie!

Peace!

P.S. Joe Schoen revealed his draft strategy and went with plan 1B (Nabers) after taking a crack at 1A (Trading up with NE for pick 3). I think his intent was clear regarding Jones' replacement vs. giving him a real receiver plus fixing the offensive line this off-season.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on April 30, 2024, 07:27:15 PMIsles have played hard in this series. Obviously, they had the big collapse game when they were up 3-0 and lost, but they haven't had one game where they have been blown out for three periods. Have to give them props. Hopefully they win tonight, but even if they don't, they have given Carolina more trouble than the Caps gave us.

I agree. The one thing I will say, as a myopic, one-eyed Ranger fan that, as much as I hate the Isles, I have truly grown to admire, and even respect, the work of Patrick Roy whom I've known only as a winner and a champion from the old days. Further, I don't even mind dropping the "hating" part of it, as I get older, because I appreciate players who wear their heart on their sleeve and put out an honest effort in their endeavor to succeed. The Isles of today do that and, when they add more talent to that roster of theirs, then the rivalry will kick into a gear not seen since the early 80s; I look forward to that!

But back to Carolina, as hard as they've had to work in Round One, many conveniently forget that the Rangers are one of the few teams who love to play in Raleigh and have been very successful there. While their crowds are parochial, my hope is to hear the Rangers close out the series there to the sounds of "I-gor!!! I-gor!!! Let's go, Rangers!!!" It would be quite the joy to hear the deafening silence of all the pre-season prognosticators who picked the Canes to go all the way. Quite frankly, They aren't good enough to make it out of the East and I have a funny feeling an old-fashioned Boston-New York match-up is coming before the dream final between the Avs and Rangers. Let the prognosticators chew on THAT!

Peace!

I suspect midnight will fall on the Isles season tonight and, although their season would end exactly as it did last year, I have to give some due respect to Patrick Roy for putting some character and spirit into his team that has been lacking for a long time. His players' battles against the Rangers, to close out the regular season, infused new energy into a series which lie somewhat dormant since the 1980s. It's good for the northeast if the two Metro New York teams bring back their rivalry to match the old days. It will make for better hockey for the league, as well.

One thing that is really starting to irritate me is this so-called coronation of "paper champions" many are so quick to bestow on Carolina. For starters, they didn't even win their own division. Second, they ended up on the short side of the stick against the Metro Division Champs. Finally, the team which knocked them out last season just sent packing the one team nobody, not even the Canes, wanted to play this playoff season. So, why are so many pundits convinced the Canes are going to make short work of the Rangers when, in the final analysis, all this talk about everyone's "Paper Champion" is merely adding more pressure in their camp, not the Rangers. I just do not understand it at all. Can someone explain it to me?

Maybe I should continue to pull for Patrick Roy and the Isles to pull off a huge upset tonight and send the series back to Long Island.

Peace!

I wouldn't be surprised if Phil wanted it that way. Look at Jim Boeheim up in Syracuse right now. After 47 years as a head coach, he moved into talk radio and is killing it big time with his encyclopedia of knowledge and experience of the game. Phil offers very much comparable credentials that are relevant in today's NFL and he can do these podcasts and radio bits either from his home or minutes away at the local radio station. We have been privileged to have our first Giant Quarterback Hero of the Super Bowl era still with us after all these years. He deserves additional downtime to do whatever he wants to from this point onward.

Fox is Fox and we all know what they are. Actually, not the aughts but since they started in 1994, Bradshaw and Howie Long celebrate 30 years of service on Fox NFL Sunday while James Brown and Jimmy Johnson started in 1994, Curt Menefee took over the lead in 2006, when Brown moved back to CBS, and Johnson left in 1996, to coach the Dolphins, and didn't return until 2002 (NOTE: Ronnie Lott and Cris Collinsworth filled his role in the interim).

The pre-game shows, both Fox and CBS, have become unwatchable because there's too many loudmouths trying to talk over each other and neither are informative as pre-games were in generations' past before the internet. There's nothing better than Brent Musburger starting the show with "You are looking LIVE at Giants Stadium in The Meadowlands!" Irv Cross whose segments were well researched and integrated perfectly with NFL Films back in the day to make outstanding team, player, coach, owner profiles that were meaningful and contributed to the wholeness of the people inside and outside the game. Even NBC's NFL Live! pre-game with Bob Costas had a comparable effective format, although his supporting cast wasn't as talented, in my opinion, as the CBS team (NOTE: I mean, come on, the "Ax" versus the "Greek?").

Fox did more to break up the traditional format of TV presentation of the National Football League with over-sensationalism which was the beginning of the downfall of the romance of watching the NFL on TV. But the internet really opened the Pandora's Box, with the Advent of Fantasy Football, and the latest strides to make gambling in sports easier than ever, it is now what it is and the purists who watch for the love of football, and love of their team, have to endure all of that extraneous "non-value added" fluff to get to what really matters. But, when they finally do, it is there that Phil Simms will be, as he always has been, since he was drafted 45 years ago.

Peace!

Quote from: Jclayton92 on April 29, 2024, 11:26:50 AMIf only we had kept Julian love he could have been the backup kicker.

Imagine if the Giants had signed and kept the holder in this photo, last year's punter, Adam Korsak, the Aussie Rules punter, what a dynamic duo the Giants could have had!

But the Scottish Hammer made amends from a questionable 20222 season and improved significantly and hopes to improve even more this coming season.

For Jude McAtamney, he'll give Gano competition which is a good thing. This is evidence that competition on offense, defense AND special teams now exists which means the head coach has learned some lessons and is now doing things different than from past seasons; a very good thing.

Peace!

Quote from: MightyGiants on April 30, 2024, 09:37:43 AMIn the 2022 offseason, most considered Daniel Jones a dead man walking. 

Consider:

1) The Giants passed on exercising DJ's 5th-year option

2) The Giants signed Tyrod Taylor who many fans claimed was as good or better than Jones (he did have a Pro Bowl to his resume)

3) Jones had injury issues and needed to prove he could stay healthy

4) Worst of all, Jones was going to have to prove himself behind a mediocre, at best, O-line with no significant receiving targets.  He would get a bit of a tangential boost from Barkley (who already lost something after his major knee injury)

Everyone was writing Daniel Jones off, there was much talk about the QBs in the draft. Only Daniel Jones decided he wasn't ready to be dead and buried.  He dragged his under-talented team to the playoffs and beat the 13-4 Vikings in the hostile Minnesota stadium.  He earned himself a solid contract.

From Daniel's perspective, this is just deja vue all over again.  I am not suggesting that Jones will stay healthy and knock it out of the park.  I am just suggesting we shouldn't be shocked if Jones plays like a franchise QB and takes the team to the playoffs again while at least staying healthy enough.

It's definitely a deja vu situation. The schedule is roughly comparable, and the off-season moves have been made to improve his supporting cast. So, for all intent and purpose, it's a one-year "prove-it" deal for him.

I agree that this is about as good a situation that he will have as a New York Giant and so now it is time to be as objective as possible, without mitigating circumstances, to fairly evaluate his performance (i.e. not Super Bowl QB or bust, but an honest QB assessment).

Peace!

(Edit to add)

When I wrote "prove-it," I wasn't referring to the New York Football Giants, or the Giants' fans. I agree with the rest here the Giants' brass have a Long-Range Business Plan which, highly likely, does not include Jones in that plan. Jones, by and large, is auditioning for the rest of the league right now.

Quote from: Uncle Mickey on April 29, 2024, 10:09:28 AMThe attempt here is at a realistic view of what this team could be next year or two. Let me know if you agree or it's overly optimistic 

So I'd like to touch on each unit and see if we of Big Blue Folk Lore can come to a consensus:


OFFENSE

QB: Big unknown for many and rightly so. Flashes of brilliance but supporting cast (WR, OL and OL coaching) has been undoubtedly one of the worst combinations in the league his entire tenure as Giants QB. Does this change, mercifully and finally? See below.

WR: Stark reality stat: The last giants receiver to break 1,000 was Odell in 2018 with 1,052 yards. In fact, no receiver has gotten more than 751 yards in that time span (Darius Slayton 2020). In the modern passing era those are ridiculously low numbers. But now another much ballyhooed LSU WR has been added to the fold.  The recent history has been fantastic: OBJ, J'Marr, Justin Jefferson. Now Malik Nabers. These guys come in and are often day 1 starters who also are 1100+ yard WRs year 1. We have a 3rd year Wan'Dale who did more than flash last year and a 2nd year Hyatt who last year proved at minimum his speed has to be seriously accounted for and requires safety help over the top. Slayton the vet of the group is steady if unspectacular and Hodgins is a nice possession guy and red zone threat.

TE: Waller is probably retiring, big hit here. However under Wellman hopefully Bellinger slims back down a bit and regains some of his lost agilty/speed. He was not as agile last year. There is a thing as too much muscle. Also Theo seems to be a super intriguing option who has some serious upside in the passing game and as a blocker.

OL: Always the million dollar question. Personally I think coaching had just as much to do with it as poor talent the last few years. However Bracillo could be the best guy we've had in here in like ages. Schoen signed a couple guys who are very good pass blockers. JMS was supposedly the best Center in last year's draft and super smart. I think he develops under Carmen. Neal I have no idea. But you hope he can be at least either a half decent RT or half decent RT and Eluemenor can play the other position next to him. No first year players on the line either this year which is a good thing too.

RB: Yes we lost Barkley to the dreaded Eagles. Let's move on. Daboll's offense, is more a passing offense. Singletary is a low key effective Running Back. We got two stabs with Dante Miller and Tracy for an electric one that can be used in an RBBC. Still early, but Gray to me didn't show me much.




DEFENSE


D-Line/Edge: Dexter Lawrence , one of best in business. No more Wink weird DL responsibilities . More traditional DL approach under Bowen. We don't know if Bowen is a product of Vrabel or also an effective DC but in theory his philosophies sound well sound. Burns was a monstrous addition to add to Thibs on other side. Ojulari also is a plus pass rusher but just can't stay on the field. Depth on DL is questionable with Riley and Davidson showing flashes but still very much unknowns. Losing Robinson here hurts a bit but the top end talent could be ferocious. Patterson is a good DL coach who will get to work them in more traditional pass rush and run responsibilities under Bowen (in theory).

LB: Not as premium an impact position but we have a keeper in Okereke now. A heady , smart 3 down sideline to sideline guy who is a still good fit in Bowen's defense. McFadden had some bad missed tackles/reads last year but in the new more straight forward traditional defense of Bowen he should be better this year. Beaver who flashed bigtime might be healthy again. Not a terrible group and with all the sub-packages it will really come down to having one good one which we do and maybe a 2nd one like Beavers or McFadden.

CB: Love Banks and while he may be better in man think he can play some zone too. He will be a 2nd year player now. Problem is there is little veteran presence and not much after Banks. McCloud is down low a decent player but we need more especially when teams base is often 3 and sometimes 4 WR sets. Andru Phillips is interesting but just a rookie. Robinson can't stay healthy. Flott is still kinda an unknown. I thnk if one unit is crying out for a veteran post draft addition it's this one. There are a few options still out there like Gillmore, Peterson and Weatherspoon. One of those options potentially would stabilize the backend.

S: Tyler Nubin if he is everything this front office and scouting department think he is could be the steal of the draft. 13 INTs don't happen by accident in college football. He seems like a perfect fit for a split zone scheme. Extrmely smart and instinctual. Has good size. Pinnock and Belton aren't great but aren't terrible either. Adding Nubin to this mix could make this unit quite dynamic.



Conclusion: Bowen is an unknown. Is he a product of Vrabel only? Is he the Eric Bienemy of DCs? DJ is an unknown too but if healthy, the missing ingredients that QBs normally need to convert talent to actual on field production is apparently there this year.  OL coaching #1, a WR group that could have a true WR1 even though he is a rookie and a half decent cast along the offensive line. Defense has some nice pieces but is still quite young in some areas. Needs a vet presence or two especially at Safety and probably DT.

When you add all this one could argue this team has quite a bit more overall collective talent than the Daboll team in 2022. That team was coached extremely well and miximized it's abilities despite poor OL coaching and talent. That team also won 9 games and a playoff game!  If this team is coached up well offensively and defensively and DJ is a QB that can play well with better parts around him, I could see it surprise a bit.  Daboll in my mind  proved he is capable of coaching up an offense. If he can do more with less and adjust to the parts around him like 2022, I think now with a better OL that won't short circuit what he is trying to do on offense and the #1 WR potentially in the fold this team could be better than it's 2022 predecessor.




Realistic or overly optimistic? 

THANK YOU for taking the time, and investing much effort, into synthesizing your analysis which all of us, including me, greatly appreciate.

Everyone here offers fair opinions but commends your body of work.

My only feedback would be to "fully" complete your analysis by including the special teams. An All-Pro Kicker will be returning from knee surgery and, as one who had total knee replacement on the same knee as Gano's surgically repaired knee, it is far from automatic that he will return to his amazing self. In fact, I'm concerned he might go the way of Brad Daluiso following his knee surgery in 1999. Time will tell. But one of the more pleasing stories of 2023 was the overall improvement of the Scottish Hammer, Jamie Gillen. Every aspect of his game improved from his first year with the club and the hope is that he will continue to improve. Adding Gunner Olszewski to the team was the best in-season signing the Giants have made since Ottis Anderson in 1986. Think about that.

You have transformed our space here in a positive way in just a short period of time. Consider yourself a friend with all of us and certainly with me.

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts; please keep posting with confidence!

Peace!

The question still remains ...

Have the Giants CLOSED THE GAP on their DIVISION RIVALS?

What does that truly mean? It's pretty simple, actually.

Take the Cowboys and Giants lines (i.e. both offensive and defensive) and stand them up against each other. Are the Giants now able to compete against them any better than 0-41? To a man, I have to see it to believe it and I know there's a significant coaching variable in there as well to be accounted for. That's my measuring stick.

Peace!

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on April 29, 2024, 06:10:01 AMI know the Caps were the easiest draw for the

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on April 29, 2024, 06:10:01 AMI know the Caps were the easiest draw for the Rangers but it's hard not to be impressed with a sweep - especially when the games were split 2-2 in the regular season.

As you say, Bread was impressive. A real nuisance and the secondary offensive players really stepped up.

Overall, hugely impressive. Well done.

it's hard not to be impressed with a sweep - especially when the games were split 2-2 in the regular season.

As you say, Bread was impressive. A real nuisance and the secondary offensive players really stepped up.

Overall, hugely impressive. Well done.

BTW, I am in complete envy of you being in Greece, a place I would absolutely love to visit one day. The aqua blue Mediterranean Sea against the beautiful backdrop of the country's seaside towns is where I would love to vacation and explore its ancient history one day.

Enjoy it to its fullest!

Peace!

Well, it's a clean sweep!!!

I'm most impressed by the manner in which the Rangers kept control of the situation, throughout the game, even when Washington was doing all they could to push ahead. No panic, some good fortune in front of Igor and timely scoring; perhaps none more timely than Kakko's goal in the first minute to set the tone and immediately put the Caps on their heels.

I want to call out and commend the work of the Breadman tonight. So many fans get on his case for not scoring more in the playoffs; however, for a player who was in the center of the bullseye of his opponent all series, he worked his tail off tonight grinding, setting up his teammates, yet he still put up a goal and assist, which his goal was the winner to close out the series.

As always, the Z-man and Vinny T. were magnificent. Foxy continues to be a brave warrior in the Lindgren tradition. Trouba, Schneider and Miller took care of business tonight on defense.

The team weathered Washington's storm very well to the point that I wasn't the least bit on edge during the game. I don't know why, but I felt good that they'd get the job done tonight, which they did.

Thank you, Isles, for forcing a Game Five with the Canes. It's probably too much to ask for another rabbit out of the hat to force a Game Six, but give them hell!

The Rangers, the first team out of Round One!

Peace!

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on April 28, 2024, 11:09:38 AMLooking at the games yesterday we saw two teams win who were down 3-0. So anyone who thinks the Caps will just lie down because they want to hit the golf course ASAP could be in for a surprise.

I hope the Rangers are motivated and bring their best today. It's easy to not quite have your A game going when you're up 3-0. Hopefully Lavvy has them fired up though. The fact that the Canes now have to play at least a game 5 is an opportunity for us to gain a bit of a competitive advantage by having a longer break and more time to practice, look at film, strategize, etc.

What I'm most curious to see is if the Caps, who are all whining about Rempe and his "dirty" hits, will retaliate today and try to hurt the Rangers' best players. Their fuses are about to fully blow anyway and, if the Rangers start pulling away in this one, it will be a subject of interest. I wouldn't be surprised if Rempe is given the green light to drop the gloves if it came to that.

But the game plan is clear: avoid being suckered into dumb penalties, despite what they've done on the penalty kill, stay aggressive and alert and play smart as they have all series. Take care of business and move forward.

But it will be a difficult endeavor today.

Peace!