Big Blue Huddle

TYRONE TRACY JR., RB, NEW YORK GIANTS
The New York Giants made the (wise) decision to let Saquon Barkley walk in free agency after six years of production. The Giants are in a semi-rebuild, so throwing even more money at a running back who has struggled to stay healthy didn't make sense. Instead, the Giants signed Devin Singletary to a modest contract and didn't select a running back in the first four rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, they added one of this class's most intriguing backs in former wide receiver Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Tracy started his career with the Iowa Hawkeyes, appearing in 38 games as a wide receiver. But after modest production, he transferred to Purdue and started five games at receiver (2022). Ahead of the 2023 season, Tracy transitioned to running back, which likely saved his career. In his first year playing the position, Tracy led the Big Ten in yards per carry (6.3) and scored eight rushing touchdowns.

While Tracy isn't ready to be a full-time running back (146 career carries in college), he is an incredible athlete who is a threat to score on any play. He posted a 9.78 RAS score, which ranks 42nd all-time (out of 1,903 running backs) after posting a 40-inch vertical jump at 209 pounds.

Only Singletary is ahead of him on the depth chart, so Tracy should find a role right away. He is the most explosive running back on the roster and could have a Tony Pollard-like impact on the Giants in Year 1.

https://www.the33rdteam.com/day-3-nfl-rookies-who-could-make-instant-impact/

Quote from: Sem on May 05, 2024, 05:52:41 PMLOL. No, but that would have made a way cooler story.
Our paperboy was busy playing school sports so his parents would deliver for him. One winter late at night we had an inch or so of snow, and his mother apparently slipped stepping off our one-step front patio. She broke her ankle, or so her lawyer said. He also said she laid there screaming in agony for 30 minutes, (strange, our bedroom window was about 12 feet away and we didn't hear a sound). In fact we had no idea this even happened until about 3 months later when we got a letter from her lawyer advising us we were being sued, and to contact our insurance company. My agent told me their lawyer was a known ambulance-chaser. They paid without questions, and I canceled my subscription. End of story.

Did an ambulance come and get her?  How did she go from sitting in the snow screaming to receiving medical care and a diagnosis?

Quote from: zephirus on Today at 10:00:39 AMIt's a really good question and there's a very high likelihood his fate has already been decided.  Didn't we already play this game going into 2022?  Is there any 1-year resume that washes out bad taste of 2023 from our mouths? 

Schoen has shown some real prudence by not reaching for a new quarterback (or any position really).  He didn't give up a big ransom to move up to 3.  He didn't panic and take JJ McCarthy.  He understands the implications contracts have on the cap and generally has the economics under control.  Next off-season, there are no rules for him.  Frankly it's sad that we'll have to wait until Year 3 of a GMs reign to see what he'll actually do when there are no handcuffs on him. 

Schoen doesn't have a QB on a cheap rookie deal.  Schoen's appreciation of positional value does mean the team has an OT, Edge, CB, and WR all on cheap rookie deals.   Those are all the highly paid positions behind QB

This is similar enough (topic-wise) to be put here.



https://x.com/clt_ny/status/1787455913705529555

https://x.com/EDNJACK53/status/1787334586441085283

Bobby Skinner
@BobbySkinner_
Giants 90 man roster makeup by GM

Joe Schoen 79
Dave Gettleman 11

It was Joe Schoen 62/Dave Gettleman 27/Jerry Reese 1 before camp last year ending at Schoen 34/Gettleman 18/Reese 1 at 53 man cutdown day.

Sterling Shepard's departure makes the roster Jerry Reese free for the 1st time since he became GM in 2007.

The 10 Dave Gettleman players are Daniel Jones, Andrew Thomas, Dexter Lawrence, Darius Slayton, Azeez Ojulari, Darnay Holmes, Aaron Robinson, Gary Brightwell, Graham Gano, Casey Kreiter & Carter Coughlin.
8:36 AM · May 6, 2024
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1,411
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https://x.com/BobbySkinner_/status/1787461394259947926

Quote from: 4 Aces on May 05, 2024, 07:49:09 PMProduce.

I was going to say "win games" but I think there's a scenario where he produces but the team doesn't win, and he still comes out looking favorably.

The winning thing isn't just a Daniel Jones problem. That problem existed before DJ arrived. The most you can say is he couldn't elevate them out of the dysfunction. Few QBs (if any) would've. You've got to be careful reading too much into that, given the overall state.

However - careers are short and struggle is real. As Perry Fewell told Justin Tuck once (after his shoulder injury) "you don't get these years back". First time in his career he's got a legit WR1. Good slot WR. He's set up to have success in the passing game. I myself have defended him many times pointing out the impossible nature of having a bad OL w/bad skill players.

If he fails to produce, there's no more wondering what if. He's got enough now.*


*Provided Nabers isn't a bust, of course.

I think the victories are needed.  I don't think the wins factor significantly into the evaluation so much as a QB on a rookie contract is quite attractive.   If the Giants are in a position to draft a QB next draft, I think it would be hard for them not to pull the trigger because they would get that QB on a cheap rookie deal, which is a big help in terms of team building.

If you break the Giants offense out into units, how do you rank each of the units? 

Bold- projected starter

QB

8 Daniel Jones
2 Drew Lock
15 Tommy DeVito

RB

26 Devin Singletary
23 Gary Brightwell
20 Eric Gray
?? Tyrone Tracy
35 Jashaun Corbin
34 Deon Jackson
25 Dante Miller

WR

?? Malik Nabers
86 Darius Slayton
88 Dennis Houston
5 Chase Cota
81 Miles Boykin
17 Wan'Dale Robinson
87 Isaiah McKenzie
13 Jalin Hyatt
18 Isaiah Hodgins
6 Bryce Ford-Wheaton
80 Gunner Olszewski

O-line

78 A. Thomas
70 Y. Cajuste
76 J. Runyan, Jr.
75 J. Ezeudu
64 A. Stinnie
61 J.M. Schmitz
65 A. Schlottmann
63 J. Morrissey
72 J. Eluemunor
60 M. McKethan
62 J. Mayfield
73 E. Neal
68 M. Nelson
77 J. Miles

Quote from: WheresDayne on Today at 07:44:18 AMLT was the only Defensive player on that list.  Damn he was special! 

Yeah, I noticed that as well.  I looked at the historical list, there was only one other defensive player ever to win that award (from my examination of the list)

1971   NFL   RDT   Alan Page   Minnesota Vikings


I think the one that surprised me was:

1982   NFL   K   Mark Moseley   Washington Redskins   


Beyond that, I didn't see a single WR on the list


https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/ap-nfl-mvp-award.htm

Quote from: B1GBLUE on Today at 07:58:21 AMnot for nothing but i feel this is a big reason why we didnt reach for jj or penix. it would have literally been the same thing all over again, and taking a qb just to take one. i think caleb or maye are the only two we would have taken, had one of them fallen.

Drafting just to draft a QB no longer sets a franchise back 5 years or so.  It still sets the franchise back two or three years.  With the historically low success rate (less than 50%) of first-round QBs, dating a QB hoping they will prove to be a franchise QB is not a good idea.  With the 6th pick (and with an elite WR prospect available), it would be akin to malpractice to ignore the elite prospect and reach for a QB prospect, hoping that they turn out (rather expecting) to be a franchise-caliber QB.

For what it's worth, I heard Jordan Raanan say the Giants were also high on Jayden Daniels.  So, presumably, the Giants would take a QB if one of the top three were available to them. 

My best guess-  Jones needs to do what he did in 2022, lead the team to a record that makes it difficult to impossible to draft his replacement

Here is another part of the interview.  I would suggest what Gettleman witnessed is how little the NFL thought of him.  If Gettleman's experience, knowledge, and opinions were good, I think he would still have NFL people seeking him out.  If he had made true friends in the NFL I suspect this wouldn't have happened as well.


"You know, really and truly, I miss the people. It's kind of fascinating," he said. "People told me it would take me at least a year to get settled, and they were absolutely right on the money. It's amazing how the emails, texts, and calls stop. It's like you died."


https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2024/05/05/ex-new-york-giants-gm-dave-gettleman-goes-off-on-media-clowns/?taid=66375e97e0be9300019dd73f&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

After transferring from Iowa to Purdue, you transitioned from wide receiver to running back. It was a swift, successful transition, with you rushing for 716 yards and eight touchdowns this season. What allowed you to make such a smooth transition?

Tyrone Tracy Jr.: I would say coaching and natural God-given ability. To start with the coaching aspect of it, head coach Ryan Walters, the offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, and running backs coach Lamar Conard–all placed their faith and trust in me.

They allowed me to be myself on the field. They didn't place any restrictions on me. They allowed me to go full throttle. Most importantly, they allowed me to make mistakes along the way. They gave me a chance to correct those mistakes. They didn't place me on a short leash. They allowed me to play through it and be my authentic self.

Regarding my God-given ability, I've had experience with the running back position my entire life. When I got out there on the field, going from receiver to running back wasn't totally foreign to me. It was no different from what I did in high school, just a little more detailed. I had to focus more on the fundamentals.

I also had to jump into the film room a little more. My film study of the running back position had to grow. I had to step up my knowledge of the position to play at a higher level.

How do you think that background as a wide receiver has helped you play the running back position at a higher level?

Tyrone Tracy Jr.: It was huge. It helped me get comfortable faster. I've only been playing the position full-time for a little over a year now. I started making the change in April of last year. It's literally been one year and one month.

I feel great because I've had some experience with the position my entire life, as I said earlier. It allowed me to get comfortable in the backfield. Once you're making that change from a new position, it's natural to have some worry and doubt in your mind at the very beginning of the change.

It took a while, but I would estimate I got the hang of it around mid-spring last year. I got my confidence. I noticed I was starting to make plays with more consistency. I was generating explosive plays. I started doing everything I wanted to do at the position.

The background of playing football from a young age, both the wide receiver and running back positions, that helped me tremendously.

You run the football with terrific contact balance. You forced 46 missed tackles on just 113 carries and finished fourth in the country in yards after contact per rush. How did you develop that area of your game?

Tyrone Tracy Jr.: Wow, that's a great question! I would credit my training. I do a lot of balanced-based stuff. When I'm in the weight room during the offseason, I'm still doing balance stuff. I use different exercise balls and foam mats to challenge my body. I know it's going to benefit me on the field.

I try to stay on my feet--that's the truth. Sometimes it's that simple. I don't want to let one person tackle me. I try to gain as many yards as I can. I try to counterbalance the types of hits I'm getting. I don't want to get tackled. Who wants to get tackled? (laughs).

You can read the rest of the interview here

https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/giants-tyrone-tracy-position-switch-bowling

Conspiracy theories have shown to be dangerous and even deadly

How to Immunize Yourself From Conspiracy Theories
We can all do our part to tamp down the frenzy of conspiracy theories with a few simple steps:

1)Don't assume that "secret" information is more accurate than public information. The information we get from newspapers and news magazines often requires fact checks and editorial reviews before publishing. Such reports may prove more accurate because of its need to withstand public scrutiny.

2)Examine the emotional payoff you get from going down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories. Do you find it an exciting way to bond with friends? Is it engrossing and entertaining, like an exciting game? Ask yourself if the payoff is worth the agitation and feelings of fear that follow (Wilbur, D. et al., 2021).

3)Think like a scientist by looking for evidence against the conspiracy. Examine evidence from credible sources: peer-reviewed journal articles and books, for example, or mainstream news outlets with a professional, bylined editorial staff. Non-credible sources may include social-media posts without named authors or cited sources of information. The more extreme and outrageous the claim, the more evidence should be required.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/frazzlebrain/202309/why-conspiracy-theories-are-fun-but-dangerous-0

Quote from: TONKA56 on May 05, 2024, 09:42:10 AMVictor Cruz
Jake Ballard

Thanks, I added them to the list