Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: LennG on May 15, 2024, 07:40:11 PMWhen our kicker is on a promotional poster and not our QB, says a lot about the opinion of where the talent lies on this team.

You asked for it, you've got it!



Peace!

Wishing you all the very best for getting your tickets and having the experience of your lives in Bavaria Country! Beautiful city, more beautiful countryside, outstanding brats (weisswurst) with sweet Bavarian mustard, doughy pretzel and wheat beer to wake up to in the morning!

Too bad they cannot schedule the game during Oktoberfest! I'd plan to stay the week before AND the week after!

Trip reports required when you get back, folks!

Enjoy with all of our blessings and warmest wishes!

Peace!

Quote from: jgrangers2 on May 15, 2024, 04:38:53 PMIf they're gonna bench anyone, it should be Trouba or Gustafson for Jones. They've been terrible (Trouba's shorty notwithstanding). I think Schneider got caught flat footed and stuck between giving Staal space and attacking him and just did neither. It was ugly and then only got worse from there.

Ultimately, while game 5 was ugly, it's just one game. Hopefully the Rangers come out better tomorrow night and look a lot more like the team from game 4. Carolina needed three bar and in goals to win on Saturday. If the Rangers play like that, they end it tomorrow and we don't have to go through the heart attack of a game 7.

You know, I remember cursing at Trouba last year as the Rangers went down in flames. I'm not sure what's going on with him. But I will say that I remember when he was out of the lineup, the defense came to life when Jones stepped in and added a nice little spark in the transition element of the defensive game. He seemed to hold his own as well against some of the better teams out there. But that's when Foxy was at 100%, which it is pretty clear he is not at the moment.

Ever since that high-flying missed check into the side boards, Trouba seems to have lost something and, along with Miller, they're fading at the end of games now. So are we seeing one player going to pieces, or are we seeing a few players fade because their tanks are starting to hit empty? A scary thought!

But bringing Jones in would make all the sense in the world right now because they need a spark back there and he can provide that. He's fresh, can spell one of them who needs a day off, and tomorrow the world will be on their backs with a relentless attack coming.

But Laviolette needs to take the temperature of his team right now and be smart in the next steps he makes. He's accomplished the gauntlet for Lord Stanley so this shouldn't be any surprise for him. Make smart adjustments, don't sell out your players and risk getting them injured if they're hurting too much right now. Challenge the ones whom he believes they have something to deliver and let them go deliver it.

But, in the end, defend that space in front of Igor, for crying out loud!

Peace!

This is more of an NHL playoffs commentary than anything else.

I guess it's best to not jump ahead and let's just appreciate the drama (NOTE: both good and bad) that comes with the intensity of excellent teams fighting for their lives to get to what I used to think was the hardest round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the semifinal round. After observing the will and determination of both Boston and Edmonton, last night, the second round has been pumped new life and Colorado will have the opportunity tonight to fight off extinction in Dallas. Should they succeed, I think it would be worthwhile to stop, take a step back, put our fanaticism for the Rangers down a moment, and just appreciate what a thrilling story that is unfolding in these hockey playoffs this year. You have plot twists, teams rebounding from star players getting injured by goons, tug of war between two of the best NHL teams, speed race of the two fastest teams to determine which is faster, battle of the two highest scoring teams in the league, this playoff round has it all.

I like the way Boston's goalie Slayman just put the whole thing on his back and he played on his head the whole game. Florida almost tied it at the end but he answered the bell and seeing his emotion afterward is taking this series to a level above Florida's gooning Marchard. I would love nothing more than to see the Bruins run the table and run the goons out of the playoff race. Just a dramatic and intense goalie performance last night!

The Oilers came to play, last night, and this morning the Canucks are being accused of being "soft." Sounds familiar, doesn't it? That's why I posted that article yesterday because it made a salient point that, when excellent teams face each other in the second and third rounds, you start to see casualties and, more obvious, the scars, bruises and the beginnings of wear and tear that the playoffs have on a team. You read what files58 describes as "Machiavellian," but sometimes even that gets beaten by a hero who steps up and refuses to die and puts it on their shoulders, "The Last Samurai" style, and that's why Slayman's performance last night was one for the ages.

These playoffs have more plot twists than the greatest Greek tragedies ever written and there's so much more to come before the second round is in the books.

Turning it back to the Rangers-Canes series, it only takes that one thing to send the momentum swinging one way, or the other, as a testament to how evenly matched up these teams are. Who is going to be responsible for that "one thing" tomorrow night? How is it going to shape the legacy of what has become the greatest series so far in these NHL Playoffs?

Who will be the one to answer the bell when it is rung?

This is why we tune in and find out!

Peace!

Quote from: Ed Vette on May 15, 2024, 01:59:15 PMThey don't know who the starting QB will be.

We didn't know who the starting QB was in 1977 either! The very limited Giants' NFL Properties at the time only featured #10. Great! Which QB was #10? NO! You don't get it, #10 was Brad Van Pelt, our star LB!!!

The Giants shipped Craig Morton to Denver in exchange for Steve Ramsey. They signed Dennis Shaw in 1976. They also signed three kids, Jerry Golsteyn, Randy Dean and the infamous "Patterson Plank" Joe (whose name shall not be mentioned on this board lest one wish an ugly encounter with the "Tru-Blu fan," the tall, dark handsome, now retired CBS engineer parked in front of the Gevalia Urn sipping today's light-roast special). The ugly disaster of six pre-season games in 1977 revealed quickly that neither Shaw nor Ramsey were up for the Giants' QB gig, and that John McVay would go into the season with the three kids with zero (0) NFL experience between them.

Perhaps they didn't know any better, or maybe Frank Gifford's Hall of Fame halftime ceremony charged up the troops, but the Giants, led by Golsteyn, kept pace with George Allen's Redskins all day. George Martin returned an INT for a TD, but the Giants still trailed late in the final quarter. But the Giants' Defense generated a fumble, which they recovered, and "The Beak," Joe Danelo, booted the kick straight and true for the winner and Giants Stadium rocked. Forget those Cowboys and Steelers #12 jerseys, we now have our own #12 hero! Right! Right? Uh, right, everyone, uh, hey, give it up for the "Steen" guys and gals! Where'd everyone go? They went down to Dallas next week where #12 in the blue jersey was squashed like a bug on a windshield by this huge player in a white jersey with the #79 on it (i.e. Harvey Martin). The Giants had a left tackle issue back then; Gordon Gravelle was completely overmatched and the results were very similar to last year's season opener. Golsteyn (#12) was injured and in came our fearless leader from New Mexico State, #9 himself. He didn't fare much better but, at least to his credit, he tossed up a wing and a prayer that became the Giants only "Hail Mary" that was answered that day in a 41-21 whooping in Big D.

So, the point is that this discussion made me chuckle, a little, because it brought back memories from the 1990s as well as the 1970s. You want the QB on the Germany poster? Just be glad we have a poster at all! Sometimes you have to be grateful for even the little things.

Peace!

Three important roles, no question.

But we all know it takes much more than these guys to make a champion. You need impact players. You need catalysts. You need leaders by example. You need players who inspire. You need people behind the scenes who contribute endlessly to optimize the end product on the field. You will find that these folks are equally as hard to find in lock step with the above three.

For every George Young and Bill Parcells, there has to be a Bill Belichick, a Mike Pope, a Lawrence Taylor, a Harry Carson, a Mark Bavaro, a Phil McConkey, a Johnny Parker and so many others who never had their name shouted during roll call. But all of them, taken together, accomplished the greatest achievement in New York Football Giants' history. They deserve to be the benchmark by which all other Giants' seasons should be measured against.

Finding the right pieces to a championship puzzle remains a daunting challenge in the NFL. To find the calibur of staff and players the 1986 Championship team was made up of is a testament to Simms, Parcells and Young; however, it must include Timothy Mara and Wellington Mara for agreeing to hire George Young, on February 14, 1979, and agree to a new set of principles by which they would step back and yield authority for football operations decisions to their new General Manager.

Peace!

Reminds me of the mid 1990s when Dave Brown was benched for Tommy Maddox. Trying times.

Peace.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on May 14, 2024, 06:16:08 PMAfter I watched that goal and the replay I felt ill. I actually like Schneider and think he's a developing, pretty decent young player. But his complete lack of effort on that play was utterly inexcusable. That's the sort of thing I'd consider benching him for a game over and giving Zac Jones or Chad Ruhwedel a shot in his place.

The problem with that, of course, is that he isn't the only one who should be hanging his head after that game. There are plenty of others, including some who make much, much, much more money than he does.

Lots of eggs on lots of faces. Let's leave it at that and let Chef Laviolette figure out how to cook the omelet before his goose gets cooked.

Peace!

For what it is worth, the Giants "Strength of Schedule" Ranks #6 in terms of "toughness" at 0.516.

Every team's Strength of Schedule

In the NFC East:

Giants: T#6 (0.516)
Cowboys: T#12 (0.505)
Commanders: T#16 (0.502)
Eagles: T#21 (0.491)

As if the Giants don't have their work cut out for them within their own walls. But, that's your reward for finishing third in your division.

Whiskey tango foxtrot, over?

 

Peace!

If this thing goes to seven games, and it is a possibility it very well could, this article is a sobering fact facing the eventual winner of the series:

Hurricanes vs Rangers is heading towards mutually assured NHL destruction

Peace.

Quote from: files58 on May 14, 2024, 11:45:36 AMAs far as winning a Cup, I'm Machiavellian.

If the Rangers make it through this round, their next opponent is the epitome of your descriptor.

You need not have watched the third period last night; you described it perfectly without seeing it. The entire space in front of Igor was completely undefended. Inexplicable! Cut to a Daffy Duck cartoon where he says "In---des--picable!" and substitute the word and that sums it up.

They wanted a series for the ages, well, they're getting their money's worth now!

Meanwhile, back in Mile High country, my dream Stanley Cup final took yet another blow as Dallas beat down Colorado into submission last night. A Vancouver - Dallas Western Conference semifinal is slowly starting to take shape. #1 Pacific vs. #1 Central seems inevitable.

Tonight, do the Panthers put the Bruins away? doesn't look good for Beantown.

Peace!

Quote from: MightyGiants on May 14, 2024, 09:31:48 AMFor years, the Giants have substituted hope for plans when it comes to the O-line, and unfortunately, this year is no different.  The Giants hope Evan Neal can significantly improve (at least they have Eluemunor if Neal fails).  The Giants hope JMS can play significantly better than he did last season.  The Giants hope they can find a quality second guard to team with Runyan.

If hope succeeds and the new O-line coach proves to be a difference maker, this unit has a ceiling of average to high average.  Should it turn out that Bobby Johnson was unfairly blamed or both Neal and JMS don't significantly improve, this unit could be at or near the bottom again (especially if injury-prone Thomas misses significant time).

Let's not also forget the new strength and conditioning staff, led by Aaron Wellman, Frank Piraino and Drew Wilson running the show behind the scenes. They are cognizant of the injury history of this team and have already put action plans into place in order to address them and, hopefully, correct and prevent them going forward.

Peace!

The third period came, the Canes showed up to play, a bunch of individuals dressed as Rangers took the ice but certainly didn't look like hockey players.

What a departure from what we've seen in the playoffs thus far.

The Canes are back in this thing. Back to Raleigh everyone goes for Wednesday. Well, to their credit, at least they are trying to shrug the paper part of the champion moniker they've been bestowed.

Peace.

Quote from: files58 on May 12, 2024, 08:55:53 PM"For files58, what did you think about that right poke Bennett gave Marchand thar the refs missed that the whole world is talking about?"

So until just a few minutes ago when they showed a close up replay of Bennet's punch to Marchand's head did I know it was so egregious. When watching the game real time I thought it was a borderline high hit. He punched him, plain and simple. The league should have suspended Bennet. My on ice solution is as follows. First a little history. My worst Ranger moment(there have been too many) was Game 7 1974 against the Flyers when Schultz beat the crap out of non-fighter Dale Rolfe, and not one Ranger came to his defense. Since then I have always thought that Ranger management should teach a few of their players how to fight, and/or some Martial Art punching. In this view since the league didn't step up right now Bennet would be out for the rest of the playoffs with a swollen face eyes almost shut missing about 6-10 teeth. That ability would only be used in a defensive or necessary retaliatory manner, not as an offensive weapon. Hockey is a beautiful, talent laden sport, but it's also violent. If the league allows fighting you might as well be really good at it, just like winning face-offs. Call it a "nuclear detterent" if you will.   

Great feedback, thank you!

On the martial arts, we know that professionals in various sports train in different martial arts disciplines for better body balance, self-defense techniques and inner confidence.

Players like Bennett should have a price tag on their head because their world centers on do whatever you have to for the win. You have to be ready to counter as soon as they play that hand. That shootout win at the Garden against Florida was encouraging because the Rangers took it to them and stayed on top of them. With Florida now up 3-1 on Boston, it's looking like that's the next obstacle.

We'll see if the Rangers tighten up the D for Game Five.

Peace!

Quote from: Sem on May 12, 2024, 07:03:31 PMOr 52 years ago when they drafted a 6'1" DT named John Mendenhall in the third round.

Nice comparison!