Big Blue Huddle

No matter what happens next, I think it's fair to say that Brian Daboll has made a nice meal for us Giants fans this season... using mostly scraps, leftovers and day-old bread. But each time I figure I've seen him at his peak, he surprises me. They asked him about Thibodeaux.

"He played a good game," coach Brian Daboll said Monday. "Watched the tape last night on the train, and that's what we expect from him – to go out there and play with effort. That's what we saw in him in college. When we went through the process of selecting him in the draft, that's what we felt really good about: A guy that loves football, that competes, that finishes. He's done a really good job of fitting into our organization and what we want to do."

His words were totally off-the-cuff, amazingly forthright, direct, comprehensive and accurate. But they also contain a sly dose of wisdom and advice for any player - even Thibodeaux - who might happen to hear or read them. He touched all the bases, but unexpectedly finished with a flourish that IMO sets him apart from being just another NFL head coach... a seemingly off-hand reference to Number Five having "done a really good job of fitting into our organization."

Those final words transform a typical head-coach encounter involving the process of "just answering the question and moving on" into a lesson in NFL reality (they also show that the best coaches are always on the lookout for an opportunity to engage in a teachable moment). On a Brian Daboll team, not even high draft picks can expect anything other than the same chance given to Mr. Irrelevant. Every player had better mind his P's and Q's and find a way to fit in.

And those words are additionally important because of the the tough place where Thibodeaux plays. As we all know not everybody makes it "there."  I offer for comparison the brief stints of Toney and many others who failed to appreciate the necessity of accomplishing that vital task. 

Bob

Bob

One of your all time best posts

Dumpster Dan

It took Mara and Tisch the better part of a decade to get it right but we finally have a head coach/GM duo capable of leading this team back to the promised land.

Quote from: madbadger on December 20, 2022, 12:54:51 PMIt took Mara and Tisch the better part of a decade to get it right but we finally have a head coach/GM duo capable of leading this team back to the promised land.

madb: It sure looks that way. 

I hope this off-season a few free agents might seriously consider coming to the Giants.

I've read many recent free agents have not had the Giants on the list of teams they'd be willing to play for.

Bob

Quote from: madbadger on December 20, 2022, 12:54:51 PMIt took Mara and Tisch the better part of a decade to get it right but we finally have a head coach/GM duo capable of leading this team back to the promised land.

It all started with Mara hiring an outsider to run football operations who got rid of the cronies and dinosaurs that had been working for them.

I noticed the word "good" game, not more, and played with "effort". TK also referred to being humble in his interview. Perhaps it adds up to a rookie pick#5 who is humble enough to fit in and play with great effort. Great result. Forgive me for extrapolating!

Quote from: Rambo89 on December 20, 2022, 04:27:16 PMIt all started with Mara hiring an outsider to run football operations who got rid of the cronies and dinosaurs that had been working for them.

Some, not all.  Kevin Abrams and Ronnie Barnes are still around.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on December 20, 2022, 05:10:05 PMSome, not all.  Kevin Abrams and Ronnie Barnes are still around.

 I can handle Abrams as he is supposed to be a wizard on the cap, but Barnes, his time has already left the station. Seems he is still on the 'old' way of keeping fit, while many teams have adopted much newer ways. We want to stay in the Stone Age, keep Barnes, want to matriculate into the modern era, hire some guy who knows this new stuff, how to keep fit and prevent injuries. Injuries are going to happen, we can't prevent them, but there are ways of limiting them and Barnes just hasn't caught on to that yet.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on December 20, 2022, 05:10:05 PMSome, not all.  Kevin Abrams and Ronnie Barnes are still around.

Rome wasn't built in a day.  Think it will take Schoen more time to move on from the holdovers.

Quote from: LennG on December 20, 2022, 05:51:42 PMI can handle Abrams as he is supposed to be a wizard on the cap, but Barnes, his time has already left the station. Seems he is still on the 'old' way of keeping fit, while many teams have adopted much newer ways. We want to stay in the Stone Age, keep Barnes, want to matriculate into the modern era, hire some guy who knows this new stuff, how to keep fit and prevent injuries. Injuries are going to happen, we can't prevent them, but there are ways of limiting them and Barnes just hasn't caught on to that yet.

I'm less willing to give Abrams a pass.  If he is such a CAP wizard he would have understood how they were getting into CAP hell and he did nothing to stop it when he should have been screaming bloody murder instead of just being a yes man.  But maybe he wasn't such a CAP wizard and was complicit in putting them into CAP hell.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on December 20, 2022, 06:08:33 PMI'm less willing to give Abrams a pass.  If he is such a CAP wizard he would have understood how they were getting into CAP hell and he did nothing to stop it when he should have been screaming bloody murder instead of just being a yes man.  But maybe he wasn't such a CAP wizard and was complicit in putting them into CAP hell.

Did you ever think he told the powers that be the ramifications and they did it anyway?

Quote from: Slugsy-Narrows on December 20, 2022, 06:10:21 PMDid you ever think he told the powers that be the ramifications and they did it anyway?

Then what's the point of having a CAP wizard?  Best case is that he was just a yes man.

Quote from: Bob In PA on December 20, 2022, 04:24:14 PMmadb: It sure looks that way. 

I hope this off-season a few free agents might seriously consider coming to the Giants.

I've read many recent free agents have not had the Giants on the list of teams they'd be willing to play for.

Bob

Being one of the three worst teams in the NFL for a half decade will do that to you. Now that they are guaranteed to finish no worse than .500 I expect guys with choices to start adding us back to the list of teams worth playing for. We've come through the darkness and are now on the other side.

Abrams was either not very good at being a cap wizard, or he actually was pretty good but was just such a meek sycophant that he was a waste of a front office seat. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but I am glad he has been ushered aside and doesn't have much influence.

I really like what I've seen so far but no way I am going to draw a hard conclusion based on one offseason and one partial season.  I do like what I've seen so far.