Big Blue Huddle

It's amazing the facts one can learn when you talk to a person rather than listen to people talk about a person.  In this case Gruden shows how Newton was in a very simplistic college system:

Quote

When asked about favorite players people tend to list the stars.  However most hard core fans have a few favorites that never reached the level of stardom but their hard work, effort and character make them personal favorites.   Who would make your list?

http://subscribers.footballguys.com/2009/09bramel_idpguide.php

From former NFL scout:

QB Dominic Randolph (Holy Cross)- No report

TE Jake Ballard (Ohio State)- Ballard is simply a solid free agent signing with size for an NFL team next spring. He has played in a lot of
big games over the course of his career with limited production. He has just enough ability to get into a camp
as a 4th/5th TE for a team with a need. Overall, Ballard is not likely to be drafted, but may be given a chance
as a free agent. He is going to need to improve as a player if he is going to stick and make an NFL roster.

WR Tim Brown (Rutgers)- Brown is a player that was not highly thought of entering the 2009 season because of his size and lack of great production, but he changed our mind
with his consistency making big plays throughout the 2009 season. He is a smart receiver who knows how to get open and has shown the hands
to make tough catches seem routine. When he gets the ball in his hands he is a dangerous play maker who can make tacklers miss, has excellent
instincts running with the ball and a quick burst thru holes. He does not however have the size or playing strength to consistently run thru contact
or break tackles to gain yards after contact. An added bonus is his experience returning kickoffs where he is a good returner

You can take the Giants pick or anyone below that choice (no trades).  I will archive this post so we can revisit it after the season is over.  Feel free to do the top pick or the top 3 or the entire 7 picks.

Here is a helpful link to build your draft list:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/draft;_ylt=ArCyEAdoptbgaLMqDuCCTPDXb6x_

good memories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMkN2H1_O3I

As you know, we have always tried to recruit and retain the most thoughtful and knowledgeable Giants fans for our forum.  The success of this board has been and always will be because of all of you.  We believe this is the best discussion board about the NY Giants on the internet thanks to your efforts and contribution.   

The purpose of these discussions is to form a collaboration between BBH and Inside football to provide benefits for both.  If this comes to fruition we will be the message board for Inside Football.   We feel this would be a good marriage because the fan base of both seems to be a mirror image of each other.  Pat has a quality premium product that she publishes on a weekly basis to fans just like you.  We provide a discussion group that transcends the average run of the mill sports message board.  Pat herself has said many of her ideas have come from her fans and our board may serve as a resource for new and fresh ideas. 

We realize that we can't get everyone to agree on everything, however we will not proceed with out the blessing of the majority of our membership.  Therefore we are asking you to vote on this and if you vote no, please state the reason why.   

Be assured that we will never allow this board to be out of control, so if you have any reservations about it becoming too big city we don't for see that happening.   Here is a link to her existing message board called the Tailgate Club and here is a link.

http://insidefootball.websitetoolbox.com/

Reader Dave writes:

Could you address the different wide receiver positions: split end, flanker, and slot? How are their routes different? What makes certain guys suited to one position but not others? What roles do they play in the offense? I have read that in most West Coast offenses everything is designed to funnel balls to the flanker. Why?

First, the terms: a split end is a receiver on the line of scrimmage several yards from the five interior linemen. A flanker is aligned one or two yards off the line of scrimmage and split wide. A slot receiver is aligned between the main formation and another receiver. If he is inside the split end, he is off the line of scrimmage. If he is aligned inside the flanker, he is often (but not always) on the line. A receiver can also be "flexed," placing him on the line of scrimmage and four to six yards wide of the offensive tackle. This is usually a tight end's position, but in modern offenses wide receivers are often flexed. See the figure for some default positions.

Basic Wide Receiver Positions


I use these terms when explaining playbook diagrams, but they are really out of date. The terms are holdovers from T-formation offenses, in which the flanker was often one of the backs who reached the flanker position via presnap motion. Modern offenses use letter names for receivers: X and Z for the starting receivers, Y for the tight end, letters like F, H, or W for third, fourth, or fifth wideouts. Different systems have different preferences. In one system, the X receiver is typically on the left, Z on the right. In others, X is usually on the line of scrimmage, Z off. As offenses become more complex, even those in-system generalities get blurred.

Instead of explaining the difference between an X and a Z receiver, which is nearly impossible, let's go over the advantages and disadvantages of each position. A receiver on the line of scrimmage can release immediately into his route, and he is in good position to block his defender at the line. On the downside, he can be jammed easily. A receiver a yard or two in the backfield has extra space to beat a jam, which is why smaller receivers are often "flankers."

The wider a receiver's split, the more space he has in which to isolate and beat his defender. However, a receiver split wide of the field numbers has little room for running out-routes and other patterns that work the sidelines. Wide spacing also creates longer throws for the quarterback, which can be dangerous. Slot or flex receivers have space to work to the inside or out, can catch shorter, safer passes, and have a better chance of getting mismatched against a linebacker, safety, or nickelback in coverage. On the downside, they are working in tighter space; a slot receiver running a crossing route quickly moves from one defender's zone to another, making it hard for him to get open.

I have heard that old versions of the West Coast Offense funneled plays to the flanker, who was usually the Z receiver in their system. I have seen some WCO playbooks from the 1980s, and one thing that is striking is how often the Z-receiver went in motion. Factor in the motion and the fact that a flanker is hard to jam, and you have the perfect short-pass target from a three-step drop. That's an oversimplification, and I think the Z receiver got so much attention because his name was usually Dwight Clark or Jerry Rice.


http://www.footballoutsiders.com/walkthrough/2009/walkthrough-camp-adventure

http://www.ericwinston73.com/blog.html

http://history.giants.com/page/New+York+Giants+Uniforms

Very interesting article about the year the Giants started to turn things around.


http://bigblue101.com/2009/05/1981-a-critical-year-in-giants-history.html

RAMSES BARDEN

Height: 6'6"
Weight: 229
College: Cal Poly
Conference: Great West
Hometown: Altadena, CA
High School: Flintridge Prep
ARM / HAND - 34 1/2 -- 10 3/4


Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.68 seconds
Bench Press : 17.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 33.5 inches
Broad Jump : 118.0 inches
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.26 seconds

Strengths:

Barden is a huge receiver with great/rare height and long arms. He has excellent hands and combined with tremendous
ball skills is consistently able to make great catches. He can twist body to catch off-target passes with
remarkable ease and combined with his jumping ability can get up high to consistently make catch over CB
in jump ball situations. He has no hesitation or fear catching pass in traffic, takes hard hit and holds onto the
ball. He does a very good job of using long arms to push off defender to get a little space and can make catch
with defender trying to go over him to break up the pass. He is a very competitive blocker who consistently comes
down the LOS aggressively and will blow up the LB on crack-back block. He does a very good job of blocking
down the field, stays after blocks and consistently eliminates defender to spring ball carrier for big play. He
gets started upfield quickly after the catch and can make quick cuts to avoid tacklers running after the catch.

Weaknesses:

Barden is thin for his size. He lacks the explosiveness off the ball to get behind cornerback immediately,
does not show burst out of cuts to get separation and lacks the top end playing speed
to stretch the field and get separation deep. His inability to get separation vs small school cornerbacks
is a major problem because he is not going to be able to get separation from NFL defenders.
He is a long armed and legged receiver who does a lot of swinging of them in routes which slows
him down. Despite his size, he is not a big play runner after the catch - Gets tripped up by low
grab tackles too easily and does not show the strength to run thru or break tackles to gain yards
after contact consistently.

Summary:

Barden is a huge small school receiver who was dominant at Cal. Poly State, but even as he was dominating he did not show the explosiveness/
speed to get separation from defenders and did not break tackles consistently to make big plays running after the catch. He
is going to need a lot of work on his routes to get them more compact and efficient if he is ever going to get in and out of cuts quickly to
get a little space. Overall, most receivers who could not get separation vs small school defenders and lack good playing speed would
not get drafted. However, with his great size, hands and excellent ball skills he should get a chance because he will be able to make
plays in the redzone from day one. In the end, he will end up as a backup receiver who only contributes as a redzone receiver and
as a special teams coverage man if he does not greatly improve his route running and hopefully by doing so will be able to improve
his quickness in route to get separation from defenders. If he can improve in these areas then he has the talent to become a starter.

BBH NFL Draft Preview 2009 - Offensive Tackles

The talent available
The group of Tackles available in the 2009 NFL Draft is comparable in if not better overall than last years group

I know Jerry Reese is a firm believer in this

QuoteWhen evaluating the cornerback position, it

Here is a sample

QuoteWhen evaluating the middle linebacker position, the first and most important aspect to note is the prospect

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/03/behind-the-measurements-height-vs-arm-length/

Here is his chart, the article then lists all the top OT prospects along with their arm lengths

A Defender

good stuff

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80dc02a5

The good and the bad and well worth watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9f4bmOcYxM

Please post game comments here:

I have to confess that I really don't know much about them, other than they were Giants running backs.

Ralph was nice enough to pay us a visit at the BBH BBQ.   What a nice guy!  He spent a few hours talking football and the Giants with us.   He is a great Giants fan and he kept us captivated with his stories and insights.   

So Ralph on behalf of BBH I want to extend our deepest gratitude. 

Also for all you BBHers it would hurt to show your support by considering buying his new book.  It comes out Sept 25th and it's called: Eli Manning and the Making of a Quarterback: The Incredible Rise of the New York Giants
Here is the link to Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Eli-Manning-Making-Quarterback-Incredible/dp/1602393176/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217810885&sr=1-2

You can also visit his blog here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/

You can comment on his blogs and ask questions.  I can tell you from personal experience, that he will make every effort to respond to him.   

If anyone wants Ralph's email, just PM me

Again thanks Ralph Vacchiano

Great pictures and great trip down memory lane

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_GfAx6KZvEQ&feature=related

and another

http://youtube.com/watch?v=o6eTNySaOn0&feature=related

Purhaps the second best play in Giants history (after the catch)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nn2r8Ft5wWs&feature=related

Painful memories but also a reminder of how far the team has come.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wziVV5p2tKQ

This is a great article that explains the various zones, and how you can attack them.  It also includes a really good passing tree.

http://www.trojanfootballanalysis.com/zone_coverages_attack.html

Here is a sister article that focuses just on the cover 2

http://www.trojanfootballanalysis.com/attacking_cover2.html

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/ny-spymagfb5748822jul06,0,1473034.story

Legend has it that on Dec. 28, 1958, when the Giants and Baltimore Colts tangled in the NFL's first "sudden-death" championship scuffle, Yankee Stadium became the scene of "The Greatest Game Ever Played."

"It wasn't," Giants owner Wellington Mara always said. "Because we lost."

With the Giants leading 17-14 and two minutes to play, Frank Gifford swept end on a third-and-4 attempt near midfield and was stopped short of a first down, both Gifford and Mara forever believed, by the referee's bad spot. Which forced a punt, which led to a Baltimore march toward the tying field goal with nine seconds to play, which triggered the overtime format cooked up only a week earlier by commissioner Bert Bell, which ended eight minutes later when Baltimore's Alan Ameche punched into the Giants' end zone over right tackle.

It has been called a defining moment in the ever-more-lucra- tive sports- television part- nership, as a national TV audience - be- yond the 71,163 in attendance - was thrown into a swoon over a league that previously had modest, provincial followings but since has grown into a central piece of popular culture

MORE

I am not an artist, so give me a little slack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvpTF61-k_U

  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dp82t-bT1I

http://bluenatic.blogspot.com/2008/06/charley-conerly-december-3-1956.html