Big Blue Huddle

A couple of things I've read this past year:

1) Drake is DJ 2.0, except Drake was throwing to potential NFL receivers, whilst DJ was throwing to future doctors, surgeons, lawyers, nuclear engineers, and scientists

2) The tangibles between Drew Lock and JJ McCarthy are eerily similar, the intangibles, not so much

Regardless, I believe Daboll calls the shots concerning which players see the field. If Lock shows real substance and wows a few times during training, and DJ seems to struggle, I imagine Daboll puts in who he feels is the best of the two

If both show excellent form, throwing, aptitude, etc., or are both average looking, then I imagine DJ gets the nod because of his salary and starting experience

I live in a very rural section of the state, yet I am within a half hour drive of Cornell University, Binghamton University, SUNY Cortland, Ithaca College, SUNY Broome, and Tompkins Cortland Community College and a couple of specialty colleges

If I want to drive 45 minutes, I am at Syracuse University, LeMoyne University, and other community colleges and specialty college

In the last year though, two colleges within 45 mile of me have announced they are closing: Cazenovia College and now, Wells College. Three years ago, Davis College closed in Binghamton. This is disappointing to me as I've been blessed to be surrounded by high quality bastions of education, even though I live in the boonies where Amish in their wagons, snowmobiles, bald eagles overhead, coyotes howling at night, and grazing cows are more common than most rural areas, and far be it to find taxis, buses, or concrete buildings around here. Oh well...a lot of change is usually good. Closing quality schools is not one of them

Losing two very fine educational institutions in a span of one year sucks! 

I am so offended...  

Comedians today that DON'T tow the line, are in great demand and are thriving

Not to drag this never-ending discussion out, but let me tell you a story about Terry Bradshaw. The first overall pick in 1970. In the first five years of his career, he threw 77 interceptions. His average QB rating was in the mid-50s, with a low of 34 and a high point of 64.1 (the only time he had a QB rating in the 60s). He was ridiculed by fans and analysts alike. He was called a bust and a rural hick that would never adjust to the sophistication of the NFL

After 5 years of hell, he only was a 4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV); 2× Super Bowl MVP (XIII, XIV); NFL Most Valuable Player (1978); First-team All-Pro (1978); 3× Pro Bowl (1975, 1978, 1979); 2× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1978, 1982); NFL 1970s All-Decade Team; and is enshrined in the Football Hall of Fame

The list is endless of QBs who had a tough going from the start (especially when going to a bad team and a revolving door of coaches and schemes), but patience sometimes pays off. As a note: DJ has been immensely better than Bradshaw in his first 5 years, who threw 40 interceptions (for which he was taken to the wood shed by everyone with a keyboard), and has had QB ratings of 87.7 (2019), followed by 80.4, 84.8, 92.5, and 70.5...and he has done so working behind the worst rated OL in the NFL and no star receivers. Let that sink in

Can't we all just get behind our QB and watch to see what happens. No one is going to change their opinion on DJ because a person brings up the exact same argument every day (often more than that, every day) for two years. No one is changing their minds after 1,356 posts with the same argument because the person repeated it 1,357 times and it finally "clicked". If a point in an argument is valid and obvious, it only has to be said once, otherwise, it's just an opinion stuck on repeat, like a broken record

Here is my daily prayer: "Dear Lord, please let our message board be something other than more discussions about Daniel Jones that have been discussed with the exact same points more than ten thousand times ad nauseam, by naysayers who are too obsessed with the subject to let it go and move on and cheer our glorious team...the horse is not only dead, but it has been beaten into dust and even the dust no longer exists as it has blown away with the wind. Please don't let it keep coming back...Amen"

Quote from: Uncle Mickey on April 30, 2024, 09:11:43 AMSOme may not agree but I think this draft will have 4 maybe more who become positive to strong contributors to the team and a few day 1 starters. I think we bring in a vet CB and this team will hinge on DJ. If he is the real deal then this team will surprise.

I've spent a lot of time (too much actually) thinking about how many of this year's draftees will become starters out of the gate, which from all I've heard and read over the years (and I'm old), is the true measure of a successful draft

Without a doubt, Nabors is a day 1 starter;  I think Nubin is a day 1 starter as well; and I think there's an above average chance that Philips starts at Nickel. I think Theo Johnson will see quite a few snaps this season, but not necessarily as a starter, but he will be eventually and become to the Giants, what Witten was to Dallas (had to throw that in). Tracy will probably start as a STs player and, like Theo as TE, will eventually become a regular starter as a RB and gadget player. I have no clue about Muasau, unless he's a superb STs player...and to be honest, I'm still scratching my head over that pick; although, it makes sense if our new ST coach, Michael Ghobrial wanted him and thus, had a lot of impact on the pick, as he was a STs demon at Hawaii when Ghobrial was there  I think that's the same reason we picked up Eluemunor in free agency, as he was one of Bricillo's star students/players at the Raiders. It's nice that Schoen respects his coaches enough to allow them a chance to reunite with a player that is special to them...but I digress

So, if I'm right, three of the draft picks will be starters on day one, and two will become starters soon (within two years). If I'm right, that makes this a very successful draft

Quote from: Uncle Mickey on April 29, 2024, 04:28:38 PMWas Wink an increasing cancer last year? That was a very strange dynamic to say the least and the defense did not seem like it had a really sound plan many games.

I think so, but more in the front office and coaching staff then the players. There was a cancer in the Eagles' last year, who started out the season 10-1, followed up by 1-6 to finish the season. That doesn't happen because of a talent void. So the front office made a lot of coaching changes. All was not well in the Eagles' camp last year

Disharmony and unhealthy relationships, whether between players or coaches/staff...it destroys moral, and takes its toll on a team. You have to believe in the system and live for it...from top to bottom. It's why you check character and locker room atmosphere and cut bait with certain individuals before things get worse

IMHO, it's going to come out like this

Eagles
Giants
Cowboys
Commanders

Eagles: about the same as last year...maybe some improvement, but nothing radical. Still not Super Bowl ready, but the team to beat in the division

Giants: improving with dynamic offensive players and solidified defense, but still young. Heading in the right direction with speed and depth...a year or two away from being highly feared

Cowboys: going in the wrong direction after losing key players and saddled with very expensive Dak, and a patchwork OL with aging vets and error-prone rookies. Taking Zeke back tells you just how desperate they are on the offensive side. They could end up last in the division if Commanders are quick studies

Commanders: in a couple of years, they might very well be the team to beat in the NFC East. They are going to have a lot of up 'n coming rookies that make mistakes this year, as well as breaking in a new QB. But they are heading in the right direction, and they aren't going to be bottom feeders in a year or two

Just my opinion. Anyone see it differently?

Quote from: LennG on April 29, 2024, 12:26:46 PMA few more of those 'truisms'

We live in a time when intelligent people are silenced so that stupid people won't be offended.

That is so true, yet hardly a joke or something to laugh at...it's more like a crying shame 

I'm the village homer and believe we are headed in the right direction. I have a lot more faith in DJ than half the fans who believe he's garbage...I believe he will excel if given protection and decent receivers. I will believe that until he proves otherwise, and I refuse to get on the "dump DJ wagon"

I've said it before, but I think it's worth bringing up again

The biggest changes this year are

1) a lot of coaching changes, in which the new coaches are younger than Daboll and hungry. New DC, New STC, New OLC, new Director of Strength and Conditioning...all with good pedigrees. The problem with older coaches with a ton of experience, is they have a hard time taking orders from a HC that is younger and greener than them. I think that's what happened with Wink. That problem "should" go away - this will be "Daboll's Team" now

2) Like last year's acquisition of Okereke, this year it's Brian Burns. Mixing in a stud with the youngsters. We will be better at forcing the QB to get rid of the ball faster, or he'll have grass stains on the back of his jersey, or have to pick mud out of his face mask. Burns is going to be fun to watch and will probably help Thibs on the other side of the line

3) We're young and getting experience under the rookies' belts, and that's imperative. We've added speed and tenacity all over the defensive backfield, and added a ball hawk in Nubin. We have a significantly upgraded receiver room and some interesting young RBs with fresh legs

4) We won't be so predictable as we are no longer a "Barkley-centric" offense. I love Barkley, but every team we faced had a defensive strategy of stopping Barkley first and foremost. Now they'll have to scheme the entire field when facing us

5) Fingers crossed that we will finally have a season in which we don't lead the league in injuries. Hopefully, Frank Piraino (our new S&C coach) will make a dramatic difference

When Schoen took over, we were a mess. A smithering of NFL quality players mixed in with a lot of mediocre and less-than-mediocre players, and a bench made up of "Street Signings" and other teams' castoffs...no depth at all. We are moving in the right direction, but we have to have patience...which is something fans have little of

The fact that NE didn't bother to re-sign him, nor did they draft a RB, pretty much tells me that Zeke is on his last legs in the NFL. If he showed anything last year that excited the Patriots, he'd still be a Patriot

Dallas is heading towards the bottom of the division. They have not improved anywhere, while losing some good talent...and of course, they are led by a choke artist in Dak. I hope we beat them like a rented mule this coming season

Nice overview. You left out a couple of players I think could still step up and be a factor: Isaiah Simmons, and Trey Hawkins III. I'm not ready to kiss them off. Also, I think the OL will be better under a good OL coach and the two new players. I also think the only reason we signed TEs Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz, was to use them as a sixth lineman as they are premier blockers, both in pass protection and run blocking

It will be interesting to see how Bricillo works his magic on the line. Regardless, nice writeup and good read

I'm lost for words...Knicks have so much heart       
Could this be the year there are actually two ticker tape parades on Broadway? 

I think it's a possibility...wouldn't that be a hoot? 

I think the biggest thing that defenses will have to face now, is that they can no longer design their entire game strategy around stopping Barkley. We're in the process of making the Giants an all out air game...which coincidentally should improve our run game...fingers crossed