Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: MightyGiants on Today at 03:30:27 PMI am going to add an observation I think is reasonably on topic. What is a really great driver of an offense is a long-time pairing of a receiver (WR or TE) with a quarterback. I think the longer the pair works together, the better they get.

I was thinking along that line when considering whether or not to bring Slayton back. He's worked a long time with DJ and has done a bit better than average because of it. The two know exactly how to work together

To add to the Tom Brady conversation, not only did he do a lot of dink and dunk, he usually had two great TEs to take the ball further down the field. Not wanting to take anything away from Brady, but he wasn't without some pretty good receivers to help out

I think we hit this year with Theo and Tracy...time will tell 

Pearls before Swine is one of favorite comic strips, Steve Pastis is hilarious

I love reading a real newspaper, but I can't afford them. The Binghamton Press used to be 3 or 4 sections with about 30 pages of news for 50 cents. Now it's 2.50, 1 section, 8 pages (3 are obits) and the rest basically taken from the USA Today. Awful

Syracuse Post only prints a paper a couple of times a week, plus weekends, and the Cortland Standard (1.75) every other day, not including Sunday

I now get my news off the internet Binghamton Press, Syracuse Post, NJ.com and NY Post. A lot cheaper and more content. I particularly miss "local news" that used to be the bulk of local newspapers. I suspect the day will come when there are no more printed newspapers 

Quote from: AZGiantFan on Today at 11:21:09 AMAnd both times the Giants beat Brady-led teams in the SB they did it by breaking down his OL.

Ha, ha...I remember reading the patriot message board the following day and one guy wrote, "I just want to shoot myself in the eye...and who the f..k is Jay Alford anyway?" (who got one of the 5 sacks on Brady in 2008 SB)

 

I'm finding a certain amount of joy watching the drama unfold between CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons and the Cowboys; although, neither has been declined a 5th year option (so it doesn't really address this thread), but a good story anyway. They both want an extension and more than double what they're being paid, and looking at 30+ million per year. Jerry's in a pickle because there's nothing they can do about Dak's huge contract, who flat-out refuses to have it altered or restructured in any way in order to help out the team

Minnesota has the same problem with Jefferson, who says he won't play this year unless he's paid a salary commensurate with top WRs (30+ million per). Will probably be our problem in a few years with Nabers, LOL

Hmmm...hard question 

Winners: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Slayton (if he returns), Hyatt, Neal (due to better RG beside him as well as Stoll and Manhertz to help block)

Losers: All RBs from last year whose name isn't Singletary or Tracy; maybe Bellinger as there's a new kid in town; Azeez Ojulari will be sucking hind tit behind Burns now; Gunner Olszewski if the stories about Tracy's p/k return prowess are true; Ezeudu; Cager

Quote from: MightyGiants on Today at 10:21:47 AMThe sense I got (although I couldn't find a quote that nailed it down) is that Slayton wants an extension.

He should get one. He took a measly salary because he wanted to be a Giant. He would've gotten much more if he took the FA route

I think he loves playing for Daboll. I'll never forget the play a year ago where he looked up field a nanosecond too soon and dropped a very catchable ball. He went to the sideline devastated (not sure if he wasn't crying), and Daboll was the first one to meet him on the sideline and instead of going into a tirade, Daboll put his arms around him and patted him on the back. From a player's perspective, you can't ask for more than that from your coach

Quote from: sxdxca38 on Today at 10:20:38 AMWhat is more important to the QB than the WR is the offensive line.

Go and look up the offensive line rankings Tom Brady and Eli Manning both played with in the prime of their careers.

It is no coincidence that both had elite level line play to give them time to dissect a defense.

You bring up the great point that it's "team work" that makes the plan work as schemed...not a single individual. Football ain't golf!

The current standoff is not the same as last year's standoff with Barkley. Slayton is very underpaid compared to WRs with the same stat, and he's been the Giants' most reliable and productive receiver on the team. With Nabers getting the brunt of defenders dogging him, it should open up Slayton and Hyatt...and maybe a TE

Anyway, a pretty good article: https://gmenhq.com/posts/darius-slayton-provides-positive-update-ny-giants-contract-drama-01hwx0s93mgb?sc=be165671da3b347e2b57f31b3de62ada4335dd4eb041bc409f5188d150192a90

Is a great WR behind an average QB better, or is a great QB with average receivers better? That is the question

I was reading through Great Blue North this morning and saw this blip and figured I'd share https://gbnreport.com/giants-report-thoughts-on-the-draft/

Maybe there's more hope than some believe 

"...in fact, there have been rumblings that head coach Brian Daboll had been lobbying for the Giants to take a WR with their first round pick, possibly even if one of the top QB was still on the board at that point. Just maybe Daboll recalls that Josh Allen, whom he has been credited with 'developing' in Buffalo really didn't emerge as a top player in the NFL until the Bills went out and acquired a true #1 receiver in Stefon Diggs. Whatever, Giants fans probably shouldn't underestimate how impactful a really good receiver can have on a team.

Indeed, in addition to the Bills' Allen, Joe Burrow didn't really take off in Cincinnati until the Bengals' selected Ja'Marr Chase, his former teammate at LSU with the 6th in 2021, while there questions being asked in Miami whether Tua Tagovcailoa was indeed a legitimate franchise QB before the Dolphins brought in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. And we could go and name QBs from Jaylen Hurts to Geno Smith whose careers improved dramatically once given elite receivers with which to work.

And one can also look at the Giants own history. Back in 2008, for example, they appeared to be on cruise control to a possible second straight Super Bowl appearance before Plaxico Burress shot himself – and his career – in the leg and the 11-1 Giants finished the season 1-4 and crashed out of the playoffs in the first round. They were crowned champions again in 2011 with Eli throwing to a couple of Pro Bowl receivers in Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, only to have the bottom fall out the following season, which coincided with Nicks being injured and never playing at that level again. And while there has been a tendency to dismiss the impact of Odell Beckham, the reality is that Eli had the best three-year run of his career from 2014-2016 during which the Giants had a top 10 offense in both 2014 and 2015 and made the playoffs in 2016. It's also hard not to notice that the bottom really fell out for the Giants in 2017 around the time that Odell was injured. Indeed, the fact is that over the course of his career, Eli was a very good QB when he had special receivers, but was closer to ordinary when he didn't..."

I'm happier than a squirrel living in a nut tree alongside a bird feeder, with the way things turned out. IMO, there was only one QB in the draft that would become a future star: Caleb Williams...and it could turn out to take a year or two before he shines, and the Bears are in great position for him to do so with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze at starting WRs. The Bears are loaded with offensive targets, that should make Williams looked very good out of the gate

I figured all along that we'd take a WR, and was hoping it would come down to Harrison or Nabers, and at that point, I didn't care which way they went because I figure Schoen and crew would be far more qualified than me to make the choice. Bottom line: Happy as a kitten with a ball of string and a catnip stuffed play mouse

Next year, maybe we'll be in a position to draft Carson Beck...who knows? 

If you listen to nothing more than the last ten minutes or so, it's worth it. Toomer goes into a lot of detail about becoming a pro, what it takes physically and mentally...about not fearing about competition, but actually wanting it, etc. Amani tells it like it is (it's simply business) from a player's perspective and his unique point of view on DJ as well as running backs. He explains to players that you have to get better every year or you're gone, and don't fear being replaced, but embrace it and use it to push yourself further

A good example is Kayvon who spent the offseason getting bigger and stronger, as shown here in Spring workout...exactly as Toomer explains in his dialogue. He looks jacked and will look great across his new bookend Burns. They will push each other

Quote from: Jclayton92 on May 02, 2024, 10:18:59 AMThe thing with Lock is that he isn't scared to throw the ball down the field. If Jones comes in with his dink and dunk approach yet again while Lock is throwing deep in camp then there might be traction from everyone for him to get the nod.

The thing is, DJ does exactly what he's told to do. Daboll knew that DJ had almost no time for big plays to run their course, so DJ was told to "dink and dunk", which also cuts down on interceptions, while avoiding the never-ending pass rush due to the poor line

Hopefully, getting some decent vets on the offensives line and a new OL coach will allow time for plays to play out as planned. DJ can make long throws, but he has to have time for the receivers to get down the field. It should be real interesting to see what the OL does this season with the changes made

I've never listened to Amani Toomer in the past, but I found his take incredibly interesting. Really smart guy. Probably the best and most honest post draft review, but much, much more

We traded this year's 7th rd pick for Boogie last season, but he barely saw the field 

He was a 2nd round pick of the Bills in '21 (I think) and was highly rated. I've read that Wink didn't like (or want) him. I have no idea if that is true or not, but I know there was ongoing animosity between Wink and Daboll and I "think" that Boogie was a guy Daboll wanted and it rubbed Wink the wrong way...who knows

I've also read that he's a perfect 3-tech more so than a LB/ER. As closely as I follow the Giants, I have almost no knowledge of this guy. He was highly rated in 2021 as one of the top ERs in the class. I don't know what went wrong in Buffalo that they would give up on him and take a 7th for him...or if that was just a handshake over beers with Daboll...or if he just didn't fit in with the Bill's where they were overloaded. So hopefully, some of you will fill me in. I would love to find out that he's the real deal and politics caused him to sit the bench last year