Big Blue Huddle

Wow, disappointment I get here, but the venom? Harsh, folks.

Two ECFs in three years, both losses to teams who were bad matchups to begin with. It was clear this Florida team out-hustled them, out-physicaled them, could pass the puck with great precision and were always in position. In contrast, the Rangers couldn't overcome their pressure and turned the puck over at the worst of times which led to Florida goals. Yet, despite all that, this crappy, piece of garbage group of overpaid, no trade clause losers, lost by one goal margins, less game one which was a one goal game until the end. The result two years ago was comparable, so it should be clear where the gaps are, as files58 has listed, but it will come at a cost for the future, which they seem steadfast on holding on to.

So, a very good season, otherwise, comes to an end. Is Drury going to make the moves to make a serious run for the Cup next year, or does Drury have to go and someone else with the hunger to go for it need to step in and do what needs to be done? Would that work in Laviolette's system or would that upend all he has accomplished this season?

Lots of unanswered questions and unknowns heading into the off-season. But after the frustration of this one settles, I think it was a heck of a ride and one of the most enjoyable seasons I've followed in all the years I've supported them. I'd rather look at it that way versus the one Cup in 84 years, which is a bit too perverse for me.

Peace.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on June 01, 2024, 11:49:38 AMMy contention was that they'll be a lot more fun to watch this year than last year, for the reasons listed. That is a bit different from saying this season will be fun.

You know I want to be optimistic, just like yourself, and others here. But I'm going to sit back, take a deep breath and "let's see what they've got and what they're doing with them" approach.

The O-Line has been worse than a disappointment in recent years. It's made the team almost unwatchable, at times. No matter how many fresh faces they have, they won't be fun to watch if the line gets blown up every play. That's why I've prefaced it with I truly hope they've fixed the O-Line. If they haven't, and they go through the same thing as last season, they won't be fun to watch, nor any element, except for the Scottish Hammer, perhaps, will be anything resembling fun.

I don't want to be a killjoy here; far from it, but the O-Line and the injury bug remain the top two areas of concern until they're proven they've been mitigated. Once the balanced scorecard shows green for consecutive months during the season for the Lost Man-Games Due To  Injury metric, and we witness Carmen Bricillo's work in action, I'll feel more inclined to be merry-making regarding the Giants' chances. But, for now, I hope for only the best while I cautiously observe the areas of concern and see how they go about it.

Peace!

Coincidence in the Western Conference, that Edmonton undoing Dallas to put the Western Conference one win away from the Oilers advancing. No disrespect to Edmonton, but that wasn't supposed to happen. Two power play goals, though, killed the Stars in the end.

Which brings us to what could be the final game of the season for the Rangers or, with a shocking response, the right to fight another day.

There are no newspaper headlines guaranteeing "WE WILL WIN TONIGHT!" Larry Brooks of the NY Post could only conjure up "Rangers' season of belief has built up to this moment of truth." In a nutshell when the chips were down, they responded this season. So, here we are again.

With that, here we are again.

Talk to you all after the game and will have the Messier jersey on tonight for good luck (NOTE: in 103 degrees, that's dedication, my friends!).

Peace!

Personally, I'm glad the Giants are not the featured team for the pre-season. It's been like a badge of honor, historically, as this show used to be a "look at me" love-fest" for Jerry's boys, for example.

It stinks that Goodell is now "forcing" teams to appear on the show. So, the Giants compromised and broke ground this year for the first "off-season" version, which is tied to their 100th anniversary. But they still remain one of a few who haven't been featured on the legacy show.

Peace!

I like your optimism, but they'll only be fun if:

1. They've fixed the damned offensive line, and

2. The Sardine Can Turf Monster doesn't eat them up

Perhaps, one more.

They've closed the gap on their division rivals. If they haven't done this, the season won't be anywhere near as fun, even if they can beat the other teams.

Peace!

Quote from: madbadger on June 01, 2024, 10:32:48 AMIt's how he chooses to handle it. Considering his past demons I'm glad he decided to deal with it by writing a shitty song but and the end of the day he's a human being not the property of the NY Giants and it's fans. It's ok to not have to have an opinion on his off field pursuits.

Well said.

Most fans think of him as a player with a commitment to the team. I get all that. He left the field last season with an injury and nobody knows his status, except the Giants, which is more frustrating. I get that, as well.

But this story speaks loudly of his human side which has a history of substance abuse. God bless him that he fights the good fight every day to stay clean, but understand that fight takes a toll. His recent divorce takes another toll. Being an NFL player, and conducting yourself as an NFL professional requires great discipline and rigor, both physically and mentally, where emotional Well being doesn't always get tended to. It has nothing to do with money. It has nothing to do with acting out. He has a life decision to make that will affect the rest of his life and that stress, on top of all his other issues, he could very well be one thing away from saying f#@k it and start using again. If that were the case, then by all means I'd rather see him write songs and channel that stress in other productive ways.

He's a good guy who helps other people. I want him to make the right decision for him, period.

The fact the Giants are giving him the time and space to allow him to make that decision is a credit to them.

The decision will come and that will be that. 

Peace!

Quote from: MightyGiants on May 30, 2024, 04:26:03 PMThe funny thing is, we're old.  We remember his career.  I wonder how much the young players know of him.

LOL! I keep forgetting that we're old and washed up and we look at SS Sr. as a youngster! Thank goodness for the NFL Films Archive, I guess!

Peace!

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 31, 2024, 06:27:42 PMIt's funny how fast love can turn to hate.

Just last offseason, most Giants fans were beyond excited about Waller. The viewed him as a major addition to the offense and the big play guy that the Giants had previous lacked.

Then he goes on to have a 2023 season that, quite frankly, was pretty similar to his 2022 and 2021 season.

Now everyone wants him to hit the bricks as fast as possible.

Funny how people talked themselves into believing that in 2023 they'd get the 2018/2019 version of Waller instead of the 2021/2022 version of Waller.

Reality is a bitch.

Agreed.

If he decides to move on, and many hints in his few public communications suggest he very well might, then I wish him nothing but the very best with his life as he works through some difficult personal issues which are nothing to throw stones at.

For all intent and purpose, he's moved on and the Giants will make the announcement soon enough. @uconnjack8 nailed it as we'll find out post-June 1st whether or not the Giants will release him.

It's pretty clear the kid is in over his head with dealing with his personal stuff right now and football is not in the forefront. I sincerely hope he can get everything in order because he appears to be a really good guy with a passion for helping others. I wish him only the very best regardless of the decision he ultimately makes with returning or retiring.

Peace!

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on May 31, 2024, 11:42:03 AMI don't disagree but they knocked off the analytic darlings in six and are taking last SC runner up to at least 6.

I don't think the rangers get enough credit for their ability to absorb shots and then counter punch.

But Jess, I'm not digging your viewpoint out and respect it. They just aren't built to play the others do.

To your point, as well as Jess', there are a handful of teams the Rangers needed to stay away from in order to have a reasonably good crack at winning it all. Carolina was never on that list because the Rangers have their number when it counts; two playoff series in three seasons have validated that claim.

The two Florida teams have always been the top two teams on that handful. Tampa whipping the Rangers late in the season, en route to their march to the post-season, is a clear reminder what that team did two years ago, and what they would be doing to them if they took the place of Florida in this third round. In the Western Conference, Dallas would be tough but they can play with those guys. I'd rather play them than Edmonton, and sure glad neither Winnipeg, Nashville nor Vegas advanced because all three are Ranger headaches.

Though they didn't get in, Columbus, Philly and Pittsburgh and the Isles, who did make it, would all have caused problems for the Rangers; however, you would think they'd account for them, but you never know.

But here's the thing we know but don't give Florida their just due on. They are a hungry team who is in the process of writing a wrong which was falling short in the Cup Finals last year. They're going for broke right now and their game clearly shows that. The Rangers aren't at that level right now. It's clear that luck might buy them a win tomorrow, but the reality is that they're going to have to produce something different, in terms of countering Florida's all-out attacking, in order to have a chance. Nobody in the NHL has done that this season. That's the task at hand.

Blaming players at this point is futile. The Rangers have gotten this far, for better or worse, with the group we've followed since early October last year. No matter what happens tomorrow, they've taken this Ranger fan on one of the most memorable rides in the 45 years I've followed this team (less the era after the canceled season when I turned my back on the sport).

For those of you who lived and experienced the highs and lows of the 1993-94 season, honestly, respond to my message here with how you felt after the Devils crushed the Rangers at the Garden in Game Five and took a 2-0 lead in Game Six at the Brendan Byrne Arena. I will account for how I felt which was grave disappointment and why the hell was Messier running his mouth about a guaranteed win? At the end of that game, I sat wide-eyed, mouth open, jaw to the floor, stunned! Every time I watch the highlights of that game, and the subsequent Game Seven at the Garden, back in the days when we were dealing with The Curse on top of the opponent, you realized that something just happened from heaven above.

Again, not suggesting that they need one of those heaven-sent interventions, though that would be pretty cool if it happened, but if they have to succumb to defeat, do it fighting to the very end. If that's how it plays out, I'll be a little sad and disappointed; however, they certainly didn't embarrass themselves out there either. In the end, the matchup was bad, they fought the good fight with their capabilities.

Now, let's see how it plays out.

Peace!

P.S. Sorry for rambling today. Mixed reaction after the game but, in the end, I agree with files58 that the Rangers need to give #19 a  and make him swallow his mouthpiece.

Steve Smith Jr., for all of his talking during his career, backed it with tremendous effort and practiced more than everyone on his team. That he attends NFL camps, such as the Giants, to coach up the young receivers is a gift and blessing for these kids who can look up to him as an example of how to make it in the NFL and, also, have someone they can always turn to as a big brother of sorts.

We may have despised him as an opponent who tore the Giants up in his heyday; however, to see this dynamic of the man, the person who cares about helping the youngsters breaking in, regardless of the team, is one of the positive stories the NFL should be proud of and lucky to have a man of this character to channel his desire to coach in this unique manner.

Peace!

Film study, lessons learned, go to work to improve one opportunity at a time, strive to become a leader of the team while learning from the veterans ... all the tidbits I would expect to hear from the Giants' young Center given his pedigree.

His initial props on Bricillo are encouraging and hopefully they will translate into a cohesive unit on game day.

Thank you for the tidbits, Rich @MightyGiants !

Peace!

Quote from: coggs on May 30, 2024, 08:35:14 AMWhen it is 2-2, I always feel like game 5 is a 2-for-1 deal.  I am sure at some time today, someone will post on twitter the % of series that end in 6 when it is 2-2 after 4.  Going tonight.  Pumped.  They need to come out strong as I fear the MSG crowd will turn on them quickly.

Tonight is huge, no question. Is it the end-all if they lose? It might feel that way. But the legend in the ESPN studio will be there to remind you that his team, 30 years ago, got shellacked by the Devils in Game Five at the Garden and we all know what happened in Jersey that's now part of Rangers' lore.

So, it's not about getting ahead of ourselves now. Keep the emotions and focus for tonight only. The Rangers have to get themselves back on track through certain players needing to break through their funk and make an impact. If they can do that, and stand strong at the end of the game when Florida is going kamikaze on them, they'll be all right.

Forget the dominance narratives. At the end of the day, three games have gone into overtime and they've won two of them. They're still very much in this thing and now they have to demonstrate that resilience that's been their key trait all season.

It's a three-game series with up to two at the Garden, with an opportunity to go to the Stanley Cup Finals! This is it! None of us here, back on opening day, if we knew this would be where the Rangers would end up, would complain or have an issue with. Just remember how the season started with the rotten taste of that Devils' series still fresh in everyone's mouth. That's long past now.

Three-game series for the right to play for the Holy Grail. This is amazing and this series, in my opinion, is far from over and will keep us on edge to its very end.

Fingers crossed for the Blueshirts and LGR!

Peace!

Thanks for sharing this, Rich @MightyGiants . At least fan safety is one element of the organization they get right and that does count for something.

If the Giants ever turn it around, to your point, the fanbase may make it a safer environment. But I'll leave that assessment for the ticket holders who actually show up and can provide their experiences. But, still, your point is well taken.

Peace!

Quote from: MightyGiants on May 29, 2024, 07:56:48 AMhttps://x.com/BigBlueVCR/status/1795590881992393071

This was such a cool story that I used it in 10th grade English class as a current events report.

But I really got a kick (excuse the pun) of Pat Summerall's pronunciation of Tampa's kicker:

"IG-WAYYY...BUEEE-KAYYY ... Donald"

Priceless!

Thanks for the share, Rich @MightyGiants !

Quote from: MightyGiants on May 29, 2024, 11:22:55 AMThey did replace the turf last offseason.  This is supposedly the turf that the players and all involved settled on (outside of natural grass being the player's first choice).

You are correct, indeed. Still, despite the new turf, the opinion of it, and the stadium itself, hasn't changed based on the those who have been injured there:

New Yorks MetLife, the cursed NFL stadium

I don't want to sidetrack from the main point of this thread. My intention was only to express concern for the history he will be delving into and the hopes the Giants' organization are truly taking the necessary steps to mitigate injuries on the field which have a direct cause for their seasons ending up in the ditch.

I hope he turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to Daniel Jones.

Peace!