Big Blue Huddle

He is an intriguing prospect but for him to have 0 ints in college is a huge red flag for me. Cedrick Dort, Wisconsin's worst starting cornerback the past 20 years managed to pick off one despite having hands of stone and no ball skills. I don't know how much room there is in the NFL for non ball hawk cover guys there are in the NFL.

It's a popular topic to get clicks and attention. I think the financial aspect of the injury guarantee in Jones's contract is going to (quietly) be a very important factor in how this shakes out.

Meh, I've seen enough of Lock to know he isn't a starter in the NFL. If he beats out Jones we'll be in line for a top three pick, which might not be a bad thing for the franchise.

I do not condemn any opinions on this topic.  Although, in my head, I am taking notes on who says what, and when the situation is decided, there will be clear winners and losers in terms of reputation.    As for my opinion on the topic, I really don't know how it will play out.  From my research, I am not overly impressed with Lock to date (I wasn't that impressed when he was coming out, either).   Still, there are many unknowns regarding DJ's recovery from the ACL and how quickly or if he can overcome being shell-shocked (as he was last season).    With so much uncertainty, I will refrain from making a prediction.


https://x.com/RossTuckerNFL/status/1787854707156742416

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 05, 2024, 02:39:41 PM4. Ball security: Max of 11/12 INTs if his passing TDs are in the 25-29 range, and a max of 14/15 if he's above 30 passing TDs. Fumbles need to be low/mid single digits again.

5. Risk appetite: Jones will need to take more risky shots downfield and not always opt for the closest receiver. Tyrod Taylor did it last year on the same team, and with Nabers and better O linemen Jones needs to do it this year.

6. Pocket/rush awareness: Jones will have to show marked improvement in this area.

Outside of staying healthy, a combination of these things are what I'd need to see. He needs to show that he can effectively read a defense and is willing and able to take chances down the field without putting the ball in harms way. Basically, show that you can be a difference maker and not just somebody who can look good against bad competition.

QuoteA handful of teams acknowledged discussing kickoff strategies as part of their pre-draft meetings, with one noting it directly affected at least one of their draft selections.

Running backs Isaac Guerendo (San Francisco 49ers' fourth-round pick), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (New York Giants' fifth-round pick), Dylan Laube (Las Vegas Raiders' sixth-round pick) and Keilan Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars fifth-round pick) are examples of draft picks who also bring with them kick return upside.

A few team officials said they were cognizant of potential new strategies while making their picks but didn't necessarily have a chance to select anyone who would be better suited for the new rules than the old ones. That isn't too surprising. Since the rules are only in place through the 2024 season, some teams acknowledged they've still got time to figure out the variables while being hesitant to make longer-term commitments during the trial-and-error phase.

I thought this was a great quote that could apply to so many changes.

Quote"It's bulls—," a longtime special teams coach said. "This is what the league wanted for years. But you can either complain about it or adapt and find a way."

If you subscribe to the Athletic, you can read the entire article.

https://theathletic.com/5467219/2024/05/06/nfl-new-kickoff-rules-nfl-draft/

These unit-by-unit comparisons are interesting, and I didn't see anything I would strongly disagree with in the article.


Still, as they say, team building is not the same as collecting talent.  I don't have a good answer as to how to best compare teams or evaluate teams to get a better sense of the direction a team is going.   It is something I have been thinking about though-  how to best evaluate a team to get a better sense of the direction it is going in.

The joke I told yesterday was so funny that,
apparently, HR wants to hear it tomorrow 

Jolly- - -  really funny!!!!!