Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 25, 2024, 10:33:54 AMSeems like he's about 7% below the absolute dead bottom of that range, yes.

Dead bottom or lower end of average, say within a couple of standard deviations from the median?

Quote from: Jclayton92 on May 22, 2024, 09:03:44 PMDevito played in the ACC and the Big10 conference, if he was a better qb he would have been drafted. After the 2022 draft teams were trying to find their Brock Purdy considering 66 qbs started in 2023 its understandable. Given all that Devito still wasn't drafted while 14 qbs were. If he had undeniable talent, he would have been found. We signed a guy from west Florida University, if there's talent they are found.

FYI Illinois and Syracuse aren't small programs, he had an opportunity most don't get so I have no sympathy.

No one drafted Victor Cruz either.


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Quote from: Ed Vette on May 25, 2024, 04:21:45 PMI read the words from the bottom up and then scan for pairs. It's usually the case where I have three pretty solid matches and then there are a couple of words that could match as a 4th. Then I search for another set of words before I commit to that set. I try to get three sets with at least two word matches and then go process of elimination. Often I pick four and one is wrong. Sometimes two are wrong. Occasionally the purple is obvious but that's rare.

Not too dissimilar from me.

I read through the whole thing once ideally without rushing - sometimes twice - and try to spend a few seconds thinking about each word and potential multiple meanings it might have. Once I've gone through that, on most days, I can usually get one right away. Obviously some days are harder than others. Once I get that first one it's generally a process of finding pairs or possibly sets of three that I feel pretty good about and then finding the best candidate(s) for the last word(s).

I think I've mentioned this before, but one thing I try to do is when I think I have one dead right, and then it's wrong, and it's early in the puzzle, I try to move away from that category altogether and find something else. Too many times when I first started doing Connections I'd get stuck on one idea, and then it turned out the whole idea was wrong. By cutting my losses with a given theme when I get it wrong once, I have found the results seem to be better than when I keep using up guesses by just swapping out one word for another. Obviously if it's later in the puzzle you may not have any other option, but I try to avoid that when it's early.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 25, 2024, 01:14:33 PMHow do you "do" Connections, Ed?

In other words how do you approach the puzzle each day? Do you have some sort of process that you rigidly apply to each game, or do you just kind of eyeball it and wing it?

Just curious.

I read the words from the bottom up and then scan for pairs. It's usually the case where I have three pretty solid matches and then there are a couple of words that could match as a 4th. Then I search for another set of words before I commit to that set. I try to get three sets with at least two word matches and then go process of elimination. Often I pick four and one is wrong. Sometimes two are wrong. Occasionally the purple is obvious but that's rare.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on May 24, 2024, 11:33:54 PMWe've seen the horrific stats about the amount of time DJ has had to throw before pressured or sacked, and I wonder if anyone can find those stats for his rookie year. 

For the hell of it I just watched a video of his rookie highlights and while granting they were highlights he was doing a lot of things that he supposedly now can't do - throwing the ball down the field, throwing guys open, putting the ball into tight spots, hitting guys in stride so they could get YAC, etc.  But I also noticed that his protection seemed to hold up better than it did in 2023, which seems to have been a tipping point. 

So I wonder if he really did have more time in the pocket in his rookie year or if that impression was just an artifact of watching a highlight video.  I do know that his rookie OL gave up just over half the number of sacks than the 2023 OL but I'd really like to compare those 'time to pressure' stats if anyone has them.

BTW, watching that video reminded me of what a beast Golden Tate was in getting YAC.  And how good Sterling Sharpe was back then.

2.5 with a pressure rate of 29%

Quote from: jgrangers2 on May 25, 2024, 03:26:31 PMIt's hard to argue the Rangers record with Rempe in the lineup. How much of it is him vs. coincidence is up for debate. Yesterday's game played out very similar to Wednesday's with the exception that the Rangers got the benefit of a slightly fluky early goal. Not sure how much of an impact it can be said he had.

Also, I think people need to stop getting on Kakko. He hasn't become the player we wanted to but he's a highly useful bottom 6 forward that is very good defensively and with regards to puck possession.

All that said, I think Vesey likely being out makes the decision much easier for Lav.

I think you've made a good point. In a nutshell:

Rempe + MSG = overwhelming home crowd advantage (i.e. extra man on the ice).

Rempe on the road < Kakko

That may very well be what Laviolette will go with. I don't know that the first goal was fluky, as you stated. The puck was in the Florida zone and, while it was headed towards Carter Verhaeghe, I thought Alex Lafrenière did an excellent job checking him off the puck and passing to Fox who set up Trocheck for the score. In my mind, that's the perfect way to strike the Panthers before they get settled in their game.

Peace!

Quote from: jgrangers2 on May 25, 2024, 03:26:31 PMIt's hard to argue the Rangers record with Rempe in the lineup. How much of it is him vs. coincidence is up for debate. Yesterday's game played out very similar to Wednesday's with the exception that the Rangers got the benefit of a slightly fluky early goal. Not sure how much of an impact it can be said he had.

Also, I think people need to stop getting on Kakko. He hasn't become the player we wanted to but he's a highly useful bottom 6 forward that is very good defensively and with regards to puck possession.

All that said, I think Vesey likely being out makes the decision much easier for Lav.

Kakko is a disappointment relative to the once high expectations around draft-time, but if you brush those aside, forget about them, and just look at him in absolute terms he's a totally serviceable bottom six guy on a competitive team. I think most fans have moved past the hopes they once had and have come to accept the player he in fact is. But someone had to be scratched last night to make room for Rempe, and I think it's hard to criticize Laviolette's decision.

As for Rempe, playing him on the road might be trickier than at home given the matchup issues you have as the road team with the last change rule, but to me he's close to a no-brainer at home. His presence seems to elevate those around him, and he was doing good things on the ice for the most part. He got the puck deep, he was strong on the forecheck, and he had some big hits and no dumb penalties. I would love to see him parked in front of the net more, but it's very difficult to hold the zone against the Panthers. Overall I thought he was additive last night.

Quote from: files58 on May 25, 2024, 12:54:49 PMI just watched last night's game again without the anxiety. Florida playa a very similar game to Carolina with added offense. Pressure all over the ice, scrambly, puck bouncing, some havoc. Suits this time of year because ice surfaces are going to be a little soft, and chippy. Especially in South Florida where besides the rink surface all other ice are in drink glasses. Lonborg hit Vesey in the head with a slight glance off Vesey's shoulder which makes the hit a non-penalty. In the game within the game I'd like to see Barkov acquire a nagging physical annoyance that throws his game off just a bit. A cute slash to the ankle/foot, swollen hand or face, and at some point an elbow to Lonborg that has him adjusting his jaw. If you hadn't noticed they're targeting Trocheck. As Henrik said on the pre, and post shoot high on Bobrovsky. The OT winner was a high shot. The Rangers improved from Game 1 to Game 2. Keep it going.

Ryan Lomberg was gooning it out there all last night but also proved to be a fast attacker who zoomed through defenders to break in on Igor; thankfully, no scores. But this dude has a very strong lower body/center of gravity and needs to be dealt with. That he only received a two-minute interference call meant the refs were calling a more wide-open game. For these two teams, I think it's better they do that and just let them play and whistle down the obvious ones. Doing so, in my opinion, helps the Rangers. In OT, I thought the Blueshirts carried the majority of the play and it would only be a matter of time before they put it away, which Goodrow did (NOTE: think back to our discussion, before the start of this series, when we talked about the importance of having a Goodrow, who has won the whole thing with Tampa, twice, and can use his intangibles to make a difference; well, last night was a perfect example of knowing to shoot high off Bobrovsky).

I foresee Florida turning up the goon factor in tomorrow's matinee and the Rangers just need to keep their intensity going and be smart on defense. Getting the first goal last night was of utmost importance and, if they can do so again in game three, it would build confidence that will help them the rest of the game.

As for Rempe on the road vs. at home, there is no question the difference in impact he brings to the ice at the Garden. But given Jimmy Vesey will be out now, it's a toss-up between he and Kakko. So we'll have to wait and see.

One other observation I'd like to jot down is that Alex Wennberg is quietly getting closer and closer to making a lot of noise in this series. He's already hit the iron a couple of times and it's just a matter of time before one will finally go in. I really want to see him rewarded for his efforts because he has quietly done a nice job working the boards and taking his chances when shots become available. Jack Roslovic continues to create havoc with his speed; however, Alex W. is long overdue for his body of work to be rewarded with a goal or two.

Already amped for Chapter Three in this intense series! But Edmonton and Dallas hasn't been any less entertaining, except for the lack of physical intensity, as files58 might say. NHL hockey fans, in general, remain the big winners for two outstanding series, thus far.

Peace!

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 25, 2024, 11:07:00 AMI suspect if you polled the players anonymously, they'd say they want him in the lineup. I can't prove that obviously, but it is a hunch. The fact that Messier endorsed playing him carries a lot of weight with me too. He knows way more about the intangibles of winning in the postseason than almost anyone (and certainly than any fan who has never played professional hockey).

Playing Rempe on the road is perhaps a trickier discussion given the matchups and the last change rule. Not to mention you don't have the entire building chanting his name on the road (albeit you get a lot of Rangers fans in some of these venues).

Playing him at home seems like close to a no-brainer to me. At least until he significantly messes up and hurts the team, which he clearly hasn't to this point. I just think the positives outweigh the negatives with this guy, and I think the positives go beyond when he is on the ice.

Does anyone here think Kakko was sorely missed last night?

It's hard to argue the Rangers record with Rempe in the lineup. How much of it is him vs. coincidence is up for debate. Yesterday's game played out very similar to Wednesday's with the exception that the Rangers got the benefit of a slightly fluky early goal. Not sure how much of an impact it can be said he had.

Also, I think people need to stop getting on Kakko. He hasn't become the player we wanted to but he's a highly useful bottom 6 forward that is very good defensively and with regards to puck possession.

All that said, I think Vesey likely being out makes the decision much easier for Lav.

Quote from: files58 on May 25, 2024, 12:54:49 PMI just watched last night's game again without the anxiety. Florida playa a very similar game to Carolina with added offense. Pressure all over the ice, scrambly, puck bouncing, some havoc. Suits this time of year because ice surfaces are going to be a little soft, and chippy. Especially in South Florida where besides the rink surface all other ice are in drink glasses. Lonborg hit Vesey in the head with a slight glance off Vesey's shoulder which makes the hit a non-penalty. In the game within the game I'd like to see Barkov acquire a nagging physical annoyance that throws his game off just a bit. A cute slash to the ankle/foot, swollen hand or face, and at some point an elbow to Lonborg that has him adjusting his jaw. If you hadn't noticed they're targeting Trocheck. As Henrik said on the pre, and post shoot high on Bobrovsky. The OT winner was a high shot. The Rangers improved from Game 1 to Game 2. Keep it going.

I am still trying to figure out how the hit on Vesey was not a penalty.