Big Blue Huddle

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http://insidefootball.websitetoolbox.com/

Jim it was great to meet you and your family.  I hope we can do it again next year.

That was a great recap Pagan    As someone who would be a stone's throw from the Giants fancy practice facilities, I am really hoping they continue with their Albany camps.

Reader Dave writes:

Could you address the different wide receiver positions: split end, flanker, and slot? How are their routes different? What makes certain guys suited to one position but not others? What roles do they play in the offense? I have read that in most West Coast offenses everything is designed to funnel balls to the flanker. Why?

First, the terms: a split end is a receiver on the line of scrimmage several yards from the five interior linemen. A flanker is aligned one or two yards off the line of scrimmage and split wide. A slot receiver is aligned between the main formation and another receiver. If he is inside the split end, he is off the line of scrimmage. If he is aligned inside the flanker, he is often (but not always) on the line. A receiver can also be "flexed," placing him on the line of scrimmage and four to six yards wide of the offensive tackle. This is usually a tight end's position, but in modern offenses wide receivers are often flexed. See the figure for some default positions.

Basic Wide Receiver Positions


I use these terms when explaining playbook diagrams, but they are really out of date. The terms are holdovers from T-formation offenses, in which the flanker was often one of the backs who reached the flanker position via presnap motion. Modern offenses use letter names for receivers: X and Z for the starting receivers, Y for the tight end, letters like F, H, or W for third, fourth, or fifth wideouts. Different systems have different preferences. In one system, the X receiver is typically on the left, Z on the right. In others, X is usually on the line of scrimmage, Z off. As offenses become more complex, even those in-system generalities get blurred.

Instead of explaining the difference between an X and a Z receiver, which is nearly impossible, let's go over the advantages and disadvantages of each position. A receiver on the line of scrimmage can release immediately into his route, and he is in good position to block his defender at the line. On the downside, he can be jammed easily. A receiver a yard or two in the backfield has extra space to beat a jam, which is why smaller receivers are often "flankers."

The wider a receiver's split, the more space he has in which to isolate and beat his defender. However, a receiver split wide of the field numbers has little room for running out-routes and other patterns that work the sidelines. Wide spacing also creates longer throws for the quarterback, which can be dangerous. Slot or flex receivers have space to work to the inside or out, can catch shorter, safer passes, and have a better chance of getting mismatched against a linebacker, safety, or nickelback in coverage. On the downside, they are working in tighter space; a slot receiver running a crossing route quickly moves from one defender's zone to another, making it hard for him to get open.

I have heard that old versions of the West Coast Offense funneled plays to the flanker, who was usually the Z receiver in their system. I have seen some WCO playbooks from the 1980s, and one thing that is striking is how often the Z-receiver went in motion. Factor in the motion and the fact that a flanker is hard to jam, and you have the perfect short-pass target from a three-step drop. That's an oversimplification, and I think the Z receiver got so much attention because his name was usually Dwight Clark or Jerry Rice.


http://www.footballoutsiders.com/walkthrough/2009/walkthrough-camp-adventure

There are a couple of Holiday Inn Express's in Albany. The closest one is in walking distance of the practics fields (or at least my walking distance)

http://www.ericwinston73.com/blog.html

Me 1 for each

http://history.giants.com/page/New+York+Giants+Uniforms

Welcome Cal-G-meister!!!  I hope you enjoy becoming part of our little group.

Thanks Brian, good stuff

Very interesting article about the year the Giants started to turn things around.


http://bigblue101.com/2009/05/1981-a-critical-year-in-giants-history.html

DeAndre Wright

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 198
College: New Mexico
Conference: Mountain West
Hometown: Clinton, MD
High School: Gwynn Park HS



Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.59 seconds
Bench Press : 17.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 34.5 inches
Broad Jump : 122.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 7.02 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.44 seconds

Strengths:

DeAndre is a solid and smooth athlete. He has a good size and quick feet. He uses his sound footwork
to break and close quickly and his ball skills to breakup passes surprisingly well. He is an instinctive
player and combined with his quick feet is able to transition out of pedal and close on
passes in front of him fast. Is a solid ball hawking corner that has a nose for the football. Has the
quickness, agility and balance to stick with quick reicevers in tight M/M - Can stay right on WR

Rhett Bomar


Height: 6'2"
Weight: 225
College: Sam Houston State
Conference: Southland
Hometown: Grand Prairie, TX
High School: Grand Prairie HS
View Combine Page >>


Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.82 seconds
Bench Press : 25.0 reps
Broad Jump : 106.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 6.91 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.06 seconds

Strengths:

Bomar has good size and strength for the position. Good athlete who can win with
his arm or feet. Big time arm strength who can make every throw in football. Has
good play speed and plays under control. Tough as nails and will do whatever he
can to win. Has a quick set up in the pocket and reads through his progressions
well. Smart player who reads coverages well. Can make plays on the move and is
a run threat. Bomar is a leader and a hard worker. Competes in everything he does.


Weaknessess:

Needs to be more consistent, especially in terms of accuracy. Has
room to improve on his mechanics. Will force throws at times and
try to make something out of nothing. Can be a streaky thrower.
With his outstanding arm strength, will rely on his arm and
lose his mechanics. Needs to put more air under deep throws.


Summary:

Bomar is a competitive player who leads by example and with words. Has the temperament to be a starter in the NFL. Tough both mental and physically. Muscular built player. The
right hander plays mostly from the shot gun, but has taken snaps under center. Holds the ball high to his chest in his drop and does not have any wasted motion in his delivery. Has
a lot of arm talent and can make any throw in football. Has a very quick release and will let the ball go from different arm angles depending on the situation. Mostly a 3/4 release
point thrower. Sets his feet quickly and keeps his eyes down field to read through his progression. Has quick feet and can avoid pressure in the pocket with his mobility. Bomar is
an above average athlete who is a run threat. Not looking to slide or get out of bounds. Has good accuracy outside the pocket and can make plays down field when on the move.
Accuracy is up and down. Will have games where he is on fire, then others where he gets sporadic with the ball. Will force some throws. Good touch short and on intermediate
throws, but needs to put more air underneath his deep ball. Has such a strong arm, will simply get too amped up and overthrow the receiver. Does not ever give up on a play and
will work to create until the whistle, sometimes with poor or amazing outcomes. Bomar is a hard worker and wants to be the best player on the field every time he suits up. Has
some mechanical work to do to his game, but will likely be a 3rd/4th round pick because he has the physical tools to become an NFL starter if he can become much more consistent.

ANDRE BROWN

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 224
College: North Carolina State
Conference: ACC
Hometown: Greenville, NC
High School: Greenville Rose
ARM / HAND - 31 1/4 -- 9 1/2


Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.49 seconds
Bench Press : 24.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 37.0 inches
Broad Jump : 115.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 7.35 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.33 seconds

Strengths:

Brown is tough, smart and passionate. He is a leader and a decent athlete as well.
Runs the ball with good foot quickness, vision and balance. Will break tackles
and finishes all his runs with a forward body lean. Has soft hands and catches the
ball with good focus and concentration. Is a powerful blocker as a run and pass
blocker. Is a willing blocker and looks for contact. Outstanding ball security.

Weaknesses:

Despite running a very good 40 at the Combine, he lacks
top end speed. He looks like a bit of a

TRAVIS BECKUM

Height: 6'3"
Weight: 243
College: Wisconsin
Conference: Big 10
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
High School: Oak Creek
40- 4.66 (estimated)
ARM/HAND-  34/9


Combine Results:
Bench Press : 28.0 reps

Strengths:

Beckum is a top athlete for a tight end who accelerates to full speed in a flash and has the playing speed to get
separation on deep routes. He runs very sharp/precise routes and uses his foot quicks to burst away and get
separation from defender. He is a quick and elusive runner after the catch with the balance and enough strength
to keep his feet vs hard hits. He has outstanding hands and has consistently shown the ability to adjust and
make great catches seem routine. He consistently reads the defense fast, knows how to get open and sets up
the defender well. He does a very good job of reaching out and plucking the ball with his hands and does not
hesitate catching passes in traffic - Will take the hard hit right after the catch and holds onto the ball. While
he is far from a good blocker, when he gives the effort and gets after man well he usually does a solid job as
a positional run blocker.

Weaknesses:

Beckum clearly lacks the ideal bulk/weight for the position and this will limit his
ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact in the NFL. While he is a competitive
runner after the catch, he is not aggressive and does not deliver a blow to
defender. He gives a questionable effort most of the time as a blocker and combined
with his lack of bulk/strength he struggles to consistently keep his man from making/
impacting the play. On film he often looks like a big receiver rather than a tight end.

Summary:

Beckum nearly came out as a junior and while he will definitely help himself by returning for his senior season, he probably would have ended up being a
1st round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft because he was widely viewed as a better NFL prospect than Purdue TE D. Keller. Beckum is not the ideal all around
tight end who can be a top notch receiver and blocker which was so popular a decade ago, but with under-sized tight ends making such an impact as receiving
threats in today