Big Blue Huddle

Mike,

I have heard multiple scouts, coaches and GMs complain about how the spread offense (what you refer to as the modern offense) has made it much more difficult to scout NFL QBs (and once drafted develop them).   The spread offense is so different from what is done at the NFL level, as compared to the more traditional college level pro style offense) that the QBs coming out lack experience as something as basic as taking the snap under center or calling a play in the huddle or at the line of scrimmage.  Most of the spread QBs haven't even worked a full route tree.   When it comes to spread offense QBs the best NFL scouts can do is scout athletic ability.   That makes the difficult job of scouting college QBs much more difficult.

Mike,

Simplified is not the same as modern.  Even the more pro style college offenses do not match up the the complication of the NFL offense.  You talk about an offense that is all of 40 or 50 plays.  In the NFL you are talking offenses that are all of 400 or 500 plays.   While the NFL style play calling may seem overly complex, the reality is that the NFL simply have too many plays to memorize.  So what seems like gibberish to the casual fan is actually a full description of the play so the players know what's going to be run.  
Based on what I have just said, I have to disagree with your assertion that running Auburn's simple but effective (at the college level) offense has prepared Cam for what he will face in the NFL.   At the NFL level being the QB is incredibly difficult.  First of all the QB not only has to know his role in the 400-500 plays he has to understand what the other 10 players around him are doing.  He has to understand the offensive line scheme called.   Based on that offensive line scheme he has to understand what potential blitzer his RB will pick up and which one the line will pick up.   He has to understand that his WRs are going to run different routes based on the what the defense does.   An NFL QB is going to have to recognize blitzes and understand what his hot routes are.   The more advanced QBs will have to look over the defense (which the defense is going to disguise) and he not only needs to understand how the offense will run based on that defense, he may be given 1 or more (Peyton has nearly the entire play book at his disposal) of plays to check off to, if he doesn't like the defense that was called for the offense.     That sort of complex offense is light years ahead what Cam saw at Auburn.    As Ed said this lack of experience dealing with the complexity of the NFL offense has not been lost on the NFL scouts.   I have noticed that it has been lost on many of the so called draft experts though.

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:

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Just heard Pat Kirwin on NFL radio.  Pat says he knows that Pouncey has fixed his snapping problems

After watching Koets botch snaps like he did and then perform nearly flawlessly when the time came to do it for real, I am not too distressed by Pouncey's shotgun problem. 

I would like to see the Giants pick up Luke Stocker.  I think he could fit well into the Giants system and we have seen that the Giants like former team captains.

Good work as always Ceri.  When I did my needs evaluation (based on all free agents leaving) TE was a major area of need.  As you pointed out his injury history (especially his concussions make him a risk even if the team does resign him).

My heroes:

Jim Burt-  He was just a fun guy and a solid NT.  Had a great relationship with Parcels.

Leon Bright-  The former Canadian footballer who didn't believe in fair catching punts.

Quote from: Webster29 on January 21, 2011, 12:10:35 AM

So I sort of have a question for some of you Giant fans who are a bit long in tooth like me and remember Red.    Was he a star??? 

My teeth are not quite that long, but he was selected to 2 pro-bowls so I am not sure he wasn't at least considered a star in his day.  Then again, this is sort of a free form type of discussion and so he may have gotten some recognition as you point out his name has not exactly lived on strongly in Giants lore. 

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?

The Eagles seem to have been the NFC east biggest thorn in the Giants side for the past few decades.  Freak plays, spectacular come backs, sweeps and beating them out seem to be the norm

Very well done, thanks for posting this.

Thanks for posting, this is good stuff.

Thanks that was an enjoyable video

I'll bring cheese and crackers and a veggie platter