Big Blue Huddle

Josh Allen was considered by most to be a lock to go in the first 5 picks in the draft. Then the Raiders surprised everyone and drafted Clelin Ferrell from Clemson with the 4th pick. Suddenly Allen was sitting there for the Giants at number 6 and I was overjoyed.

Then, the Giants reached past him to take Daniel Jones. With the next pick, the Jags sent the card up for Josh Allen in about 3 seconds. It is right up there with the Mathias Kiwanuka selection as the most upset I have ever been during the draft as a Giants fan.

The Jags fans know what they have. Do we?

We draft a guy in the second round, and he steps in immediately and starts 13 games. Maybe he was worn out blocking Dexter Lawrence in practice every week.

I hope we draft 6 more guys like that this year. 

Indianapolis was great. A few thin high clouds but sunny overall with no obstruction whatsoever. It was my son's girlfriend's first view of an eclipse, and she was completely in awe and giddy. Good time all around and the "Lunacy in Indy" put on by the city was terrific for all ages.

Next Eclipse is the US is in 2044. If anyone needs a pair of glasses, I'm, selling six pairs......cheap. 

Quote from: FL GMAN on April 04, 2024, 04:28:32 PMIs Odunze faster than Bowers. To my untrained eye, on the field, Bowers seemed faster. I'm probably wrong because Bowers is probably 20 lbs. heavier.

Bowers is in the 4.5s and Odunze is in the 4.4s. Bowers would be a worthy choice if Waller decides he is retiring. He is a nightmare cover. Too quick  for LBs and Safeties and too big for CBs. Productive, smart, and hard-working. Some would not be happy with this pick, but after watching him shred Defenses in the SEC for years, I would have no complaint.

Thanks Ed. He seems to chew up zones but against man I can see where the concerns are coming from. Still, he looks like a beast after he gets the ball.

So, I had heard during the last few months that there were some concerns about Odunze's ability to separate and that despite his size it could limit him in the NFL. A pre-draft comparison to another highly thought of receiver - Laquan Treadwell - was made. Does anyone have any concerns about that? I have seen plenty of highlights but have not seen Odunze play.

If you really want to have some fun, you can pair him with his teammate at Washington in Round 2.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/2024-nfl-draft-espn-releases-qb-mock-draft-pick-team-predictions-for-12-quarterbacks/ar-BB1l50iI?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=da36a9a8787d426aa4965b97edaa05f9&ei=26

I think the trust Daboll showed in him in 2022 at critical times, and the fact that he would not promise competition for the starting job to QBs seeking a landing spot in New York, tells me Daboll sees something in him.

I hope he's right. 

Do we think we know who the top 4 are? I ask because the top 4 now were not the top four last month. It changed the month before that, and it changed again from the month before that.

I don't get the love for Drake Maye. He has all the tools but he isn't a guy who can carry a team. I you are looking for a guy with a live arm, scrambling/running ability who throws some WTF interceptions and could be the next Ryan Tannehill, he's your guy.

Caleb Williams looked great in 2023, and again to start 2024, then the back half of the season happened. Yes, those were better teams. However, throwing 1 TD or less in 5 of the last 7 games has raised some questions. I still think his best football is ahead of him. He is worth the #1 overall pick.

Bo Nix was the best QB in college football last year and nobody wants to talk about it because we all watched several years of so-so quarterbacking while we waited for him to become this player. He HAS matured and is the most NFL ready NFL QB in this draft mentally and physically. Has an NFL body today. If you want to spread the field with a QB who can make the right reads in a dink and dunk offense, adjust and scramble when the first read isn't available, and hit a guy downfield when you try to sneak someone over the top every now and then, he could be very, very good. I wish his release point was higher but I said that about Oregon Duck Justin Herbert too. At 6'4" Herbert can get away with it. The 6'2" Nix may have some work to do, but he is a steal in Round 2.

Jaden Daniels is amazing but still raw and didn't shine throwing the ball against good teams, using his legs instead to move the ball. That's what COLLEGE QBs do and very few have had much success doing that at the next level. He has good height but he is not big and threw to two incredible receivers last year which would make almost any QB look good. The next Justin Fields?

If five years in college helped Bo Nix mature, it resulted in an advanced degree for Michael Pennix who played parts of six seasons. In my opinion he has the best arm of the top QBs in the draft (Joe Milton's arm is the best of all) but needs to work on his footwork and reads to bring down those interceptions and raise his completion percentage. After the knee injury in Indiana he didn't move out of the pocket as much but seemed to be regaining some mobility toward the end of last year. He's one of those guys who could win a preseason competition for the QB position or be a backup for a decade because everyone just loves watching him throw the ball, but he does need some work. He could be a very nice find early in Round 2 for someone. Geno Smith type skills and potential at this point.


JJ McCarthy has become the darling of this draft. He's the Daniel Jones of 2024. Looks great, but what has he really done? He didn't make many mistakes but to my eyes rode  a stout Defense and impressive running game to the national championship. Decent height, below average size, below average arm, only one pass over 50 yards last year. Does that sound like anything more than a game manager to you?

Quote from: LennG on March 28, 2024, 04:59:29 PMMaybe Ed, but I wouldn't have bet on that. But, as the original theme is, we can only raise our kids a certain way. After that, we need to let them fly on their own and make their own way. We may not be happy with the path that they chose to take, but, after that, the ball is in our court as one might say. We can either accept it and move on as a family or cut ties (as I have seen several families do). As for Wade, he does what he feels is right for his life and family. Maybe he isn't completely happy his children aren't considered Jewish, but we will never know that as I would never but in and ask. As I said, we have accepted their lifestyle and like it all or not, we have moved on.

It is nice to see the virtue of tolerance practiced in this day and age of polarization. We could all do well to look at our similarities rather than our differences. While I wish at times my children would have made different choices I can't help but think maybe the problem is with me and not with them. They have to find their own way in the world, even if it pushes me a little off center.

One of my favorite quotes, "God has a plan for me. I don't understand the plan, and that appears to be part of the plan."

I will be in Indianapolis with my wife and one of my children and his girlfriend. I have a daughter (Meteorologist - North Dakota University) who will be coming to Tyler College in Indiana for some weather balloon launching during the eclipse. Thinking of JimV.

Think sunny thoughts! 

With all the free agent linemen now, who were on the roster last year, the turnover at the guard spot was inevitable. It remains to be seen where Eluemenor will be used, but he seems to be the new swing tackle who can play guard in a pinch. Some of the recent signings at Guard seem to be stop gaps just in case they don't get one they want in the draft. I see now they are also considering moving Neal to Guard.

Sometimes players are signed to fill holes and sometimes they are signed to plug a hole for a little while. I still think Safety, Guard, CB, and RB are near the top of the Giants' list of draft desires in Rounds 2-7, with WR and DT getting some consideration. No, I didn't forget QB. I just don't see a QB as an option now without reaching for McCarthy or settling for Pennix or Nix in Round 2.

 

If they don't move up or down I would be happy with Bowers at #6. He has been a man among boys in the SEC for two years. He could be the Pro-Bowl TE they thought they were getting with Waller. That's what you need to get with a top 10 pick. In the second round they need someone who can step in as a starter or in a rotation right away, mid-season at latest. Safety, and DT make sense but CB, RB, and WR are all in play. QB is still an option too as Pennix or Nix may still be there.

For a second I thought this topic was a question about who we wanted for our next president. 

Quote from: TDToomer on March 13, 2024, 11:10:14 AMDid anyone not see how Dillon flopped when Jones was out and was banished to the bench when Jones returned from injury? AJ Dillon sucks period. Hard pass.

It has always been odd that Jones is was the physical back and Dillon was the finesse back in the Green Bay Offense. You would think it would be the other way around. Like you, I am not interested in Dillon.