Big Blue Huddle

NEW YORK GIANTS: QB DANIEL JONES

There might not be a more polarizing player in the league than Jones and his four-year, $160 million contract. Suffering a neck injury and an ACL tear before Week 9 last year didn't help his case.

Jones' 63.0 overall grade in 2023 was the lowest in his NFL tenure, and he was very hot or cold throughout the season. His games at Arizona and Miami were outstanding, but he struggled mightily against Las Vegas, Dallas and Seattle. Nonetheless, Jones was still a strong runner all around, putting forth a second straight year with a running grade of 82.2 or better.

The former No. 6 overall might not be a world-beater this year, but expect more consistency than he exhibited a year ago. If nothing else, his 4.1% turnover-worthy play rate will probably look more like it did from 2020-22. Adding Malik Nabers to the fray is a reason to project upward trends.



https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-bounce-back-candidates-all-32-nfl-teams-2024

NEW YORK GIANTS: B+

New York's best move this offseason was trading for Brian Burns, forming a legit defensive line trio with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence.

They lost Xavier McKinney and Saquon Barkley but reunited head coach Brian Daboll with running back Devin Singletary to quell the sting of Barkley's departure. They also added a handful of offensive linemen in a much-needed overhaul.

I was a big fan of the Giants draft, as Malik Nabers, Tyler Nubin and Andru Phillips are impact players. They weren't able to change their quarterback situation, but that wasn't totally in their control.

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2024-offseason-grades-for-all-32-nfl-teams#NYG

I found a good article at the The Athletic (pay wall).   It doesn't sound like teaching is a strength.  Its not a weakness but it wouldn't be among his strengths.  His strengths are relationships with players, creativity, and collaboration.


https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2324003/2021/01/15/brian-daboll-bills-coaching/

Quote from: Ed Vette on May 26, 2024, 08:31:51 AMIt would be coming from players, and other coaches. Good point, Rich. I don't think Josh Allen has given him any credit, has he?

I don't recall Allen talking about Daboll, in terms of his development.  I have only heard him mention his private coach.  Although, admittedly, I don't follow Josh Allen that closely.

"In the blink of an eye, everything can be taken away," Price wrote on Instagram. "On April 24th I had emergency pulmonary embolism surgery to remove a saddle clot that was entering both of my lungs. As a healthy 29-year-old, an unprovoked pulmonary embolism with no further medical explanation is terrifying. I am truly thankful to be alive today.

"Unfortunately, I will be retiring from the NFL as the risk of an internal bleed while on blood thinners creates tremendous risk."

https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2024/05/26/ex-new-york-giants-billy-price-retires-from-nfl-after-life-saving-surgery/?taid=6652feed1787b80001911f59&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 26, 2024, 07:57:48 AMI went back and looked at various lists of the best CBs of the 2000s and 2010s. I couldn't find one below 185 and the vast majority were, as @MightyGiants noted earlier in the thread, somewhere in the 190-210 range.

There have clearly been CBs under 180 in the NFL and are now, but it's a small group, and, based on the moderate amount of backward looking I did, the group does not appear to include any who were distinctly above average.

I think the statement that size (including weight) matters much more for CBs than it does for WRs was a pretty accurate one based on the evidence.

I was just watching Greg Cosell's video (I believe I posted it here this week), in which he discusses two ways to play press coverage. A CB can jam the receiver, or he can play up close and immediately mirror. At Flott's size, I would assume he will be pushing for the latter.   

I think where the size hurts more is in run support.


Here are Flott's PFF grades for his defensive efforts on 519 snaps

53.3 overall (he had a higher grade of 67.8 in 2022 on 338 snaps mostly driven by a higher coverage grade)

49.2 run defense

39.9 tackling

41.7 pass rush

59.4 coverage

QBs had a 95.6 rating when targeting Flott

The weekend has finally giving me some down time.   I am reading Mike Lombardi's Football Done Right.   He was reviewing the greatest coaches in NFL history.   Being a good teacher is a common thread among the greats.  Other traits varied, but most have this trait in common.   I really haven't heard much about Daboll's teaching skills.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 25, 2024, 07:21:57 PMWho are the best NFL CBs in somewhat recent times (say the last 20 yrs) who were lighter than 180 lbs?

Can someone provide three or four recognizable names?

This article covers lightest current CBs

https://hortonbarbell.com/average-height-and-weight-of-an-nfl-cornerback/

Quote from: Rosehill Jimmy on May 25, 2024, 12:33:26 PMI'm guessing it still doesn't account for the correct spot

That's what I am thinking, the official still needs to spot the ball.   I can't think of a current technology that could determine where the ball is when the runner is down.   The location of the ball is easy, it's their down part that is the challenge.

https://x.com/mysportsupdate/status/1793056463851598265?s=61&t=RhLqKLKssFU2uI0Nr0nfxQ

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 25, 2024, 07:38:19 AMInteresting that the Rams, whom I suspect any observant/unbiased fan would consider one of the smarter and more forward-thinking franchises in the league, are last in this.

Additionally the Ravens, Dolphins, 49ers, Texans, Bills, and Bengals, all of whom have been pretty successful recently, are in the 19th to 30th range.

Meanwhile the Colts (number one), Jets, Giants, Saints, and Falcons are all in the top 10.

At first glance at least, it's hard to see much of a positive correlation between average RAS score and team success.

I suspect it's a bit flawed to just average up the team.  Projected starters should be weighed more heavily and there seems to be some positions were RAS is more important than others

Kent Lee Platte
@MathBomb
·
May 23
5. New York #Giants
Avg #RAS 7.75

The G-Men, like several others ranked this highly, seem to have made changes over the last few years with the intent of making their roster more athletic overall. After final cuts, they might even jump their highly rated 2023 roster.

https://x.com/MathBomb/status/1793725369390100762

https://x.com/MathBomb/status/1793727283485880798

Quote from: Jclayton92 on May 24, 2024, 02:08:20 PMThey are just making him earn it.

What is perplexing is McCloud ending last season as cb2 along with flott in the slot but now they're switched. McCloud is stiff but with this d you have to have a slot that can tackle.

Three possibilities


1) these are the player's best positions


2). They are trying to light a fire under Hawkins by pumping up Flott


3)  the whole draft status thing

https://x.com/bigbluevcr/status/1794111131901915389?s=46&t=1vcQIN8GqF5J2oLdxEVEJQ

Quote from: Philosophers on May 24, 2024, 01:49:42 PMIt's his weight for his height.

Float is 6' 1/2" so he should be in the range I listed