Big Blue Huddle

RIP (although, embarrassingly, I didn't know he was still alive)


https://x.com/nypostsports/status/1803357316084867445

Just days after its inaugural season came to an end, the UFL has announced that eight players have already earned themselves NFL contracts.

The spring league, which formed this year as a merger of the USFL and XFL, allows players under contract to leave for the NFL after the season. If those players stick in the NFL they'll stay there, but if they return to the UFL they will go back to their old UFL teams.

The UFL's announcement identified defensive end Jalen Redmond signing with the Vikings, cornerback Gareon Conley signing with the Cowboys, guard Liam Fornadel signing with the Patriots, wide receiver Daewood Davis signing with the Panthers, kicker Jake Bates signing with the Lions, offensive lineman Kohl Levao signing with the Jets, linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. signing with the Cowboys and running back Jacob Saylors signing with the Giants.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/ufl-announces-eight-players-have-signed-with-nfl-teams

Quote from: kingm56 on June 18, 2024, 02:53:30 PM3259 / 14 = 232 * 17 = 3,957.

If he achieved this output, it would be on par with Sam Howells' 3,946 passing yards; It may be a positive, but not a significant one IMO. 

Matt,

I am curious; the 17-game projected yardage for DJ at 3957 yards puts him closer to Matt Stafford's 3,965 yards than Sam Howell's 3,946 yards.  So why did you pick Howell instead of Stafford for your comparison?

Jacob Saylors, RB | East Tennessee State
Strengths: Productive ball carrier who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons. Displays outstanding vision, patiently waits for blocks to develop, and then finds the hole and runs with authority. Keeps his feet moving, uses an effective straight arm to keep plays alive, and has enough quickness to bounce around defenders or piles.

Runs with an aggressive style, falls forward when tackled, and displays himself to be an effective blocker. Sees the blitz, stays with assignments, and squares into defenders. Solid pass catcher out of the backfield who adjusts to the throw and then extends his hands to snatch the ball out of the air.

Weaknesses: Runs with an upright style. Plays to one speed. Not a creative ball carrier and gets in trouble when he tries to run east or west.

Overall: Saylors was very productive on a small-school level, but he comes with average physical ability. His pass-catching skill gives him an outside shot to make an NFL roster as a fifth back.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/fcs-2023-nfl-draft-scouting-reports/

Quote from: Bob In PA on June 18, 2024, 12:55:21 PMRich: Injuries aside, Hawkins' fate IMO could turn on which vets are cut elsewhere near opening day. Bob

Hawkins was a small school prospect with outstanding measurables.  I am sort of hoping he takes a step up this season.

Quote from: londonblue on June 18, 2024, 07:20:09 AMQB Jones Lock, De Vito (will get picked up if on PS)
RB Singletary, Tracey, Gray, Miller
WR Nabers, WDR, Hyatt, Robinson, Slayton, Gunner/McKenzie
TE Bellinger, Johnson, Stoll
OL Thomas, Eleumenor, Schmitz, Runyan, Neal, Ezeudu, Stinnie, Schlottmann, T tbd

DL Lawrence, Riley, Nunez Roches, Davidson, Phillips, Anderson
Edge Thibodeaux, Burns, Ojulari, Basham/TBD
ILB Okereke, McFadden, Muasau, Simmons, Adams
CB Flott, Banks, McCloud, Herndon, Phillips, Hawkins/TBD
ST Pinnock, Nubin, Belton, Owens

Gillan
Gano
Kreiter

I think most close races will break to the younger guy/guy Schoen drafted or otherwise acquired, with an emphasis on ST ability on the roster margins (eg RB, WR, LB and CB depth).

I also see a chance for camp cuts for other teams to strengthen us. I think OT, Edge and CB are the most likely areas of interest given the importance of quality depth.

So you are not sure Hawkins makes the team.  That would be quite the plunge from training camp star last season to potential roster cut this season.   Are the TBDs potential waiver wire pickups after final cutdowns?

Quote from: coggs on June 18, 2024, 10:50:42 AMFriend of mine has been a golf pro for over 30 years.  Said he definitely saw an increase in the number of black kids picking up golf after Tiger first won the Masters. 

Anyone who doesnt think race plays a factor in the Caitlin Clark attention is fooling themselves.  The questions is the amount of the attention.  If Clark was black, she is Chamique Holdsclaw.  Great player, known to those who follow women's basketball closely, but the attention she is getting outside of it.  Not drawing eyes to watch just her.

When you compare college careers, you claim doesn't hold up

Catlin Clark (leading all-time Division 1 scorer for both women and men)  3951 pts in 139 games 28.42 per game another record

Chamique Holdsclaw (14th among only women) 3025 points in 146 games 20.4 per game


You are comparing a very good college player in Holdsclaw against the best college player of all time in Clark.   

Quote from: Philosophers on June 18, 2024, 09:45:53 AMJust another hope ticket if you ask me.

You're probably right, but at least he starred in the USFL

https://x.com/JamesLarsenPFN/status/1802883926819504483

https://x.com/rydunleavy/status/1803050643407483295

https://x.com/BigBlueVCR/status/1802868836859060310

Quote from: Jclayton92 on June 17, 2024, 05:14:07 PMQB- Jones Lock
RB- Singletary, Tracey, Corbin
WR- Nabers, WDR, Hyatt, McKenzie, Slayton, Gunner, Robinson
TE- Bellinger, Johnson, Manhertz
OL- Thomas, Eleumenor, Schmitz, Runyan, Neal, Ezeudu, Stinnie, TBD

DLìne- Lawrence, Riley, Nunez Roches, Chatman, Phillips, TBD
Edge- Thibs, Burns, Ojulari, Simmons
Mike- Okereke, McFadden, Muasau, Adams
CB- Flott, Banks, McCloud, Henderson, Phillips, Hawkins
Safety- Pinnock, Nubin, Belton, Owens, Johnson

Gillian
Gano
Kreiter

1 UDFA

Beavers,  Aaron Robinson, Gray, Basham, Davidson left off

BFW, Hodgins, Jalen Mills, Miller for PS

That's an excellent breakdown.  The only thing I am not sure of is if NYG sees Simmons as an edge rusher

What's your early 53 man roster prediction? 

Here is a Giants depth chart (via Ourlads) to help figure out your roster


OFFENSE

LWR   9   Nabers, Malik 24/1   15   ROBINSON II, ALLEN CC/Pit   18   Hodgins, Isaiah W/Buf   88   Houston, Dennis SF23   6   Ford-Wheaton, Bryce CF23
RWR   86   Slayton, Darius 19/5   13   Hyatt, Jalin 23/3   81   Boykin, Miles U/Pit   5   Cota, Chase SF24   0   Jiles, John CF24
SWR   17   Robinson, Wan'Dale 22/2   87   McKenzie, Isaiah U/Ind   80   Olszewski, Gunner SF23   19   Asante, Ayir CF24      
LT   78   Thomas, Andrew 20/1   70   Cajuste, Yodny SF23   71   Johnson, Marcellus CF24            
LG   72   Eluemunor, Jermaine U/LV   75   Ezeudu, Joshua 22/3   62   Mayfield, Jalen SF23            
C   61   Schmitz Jr., John Michael 23/2   65   Schlottmann, Austin U/Min   67   Morrissey, Jimmy SF24            
RG   76   Runyan, Jon U/GB   64   STINNIE, AARON U/TB   60   McKethan, Marcus 22/5   63   Kubas, Jake CF24      
RT   73   Neal, Evan 22/1   68   Nelson, Matt U/Det   77   Miles, Joshua P/Atl            
TE   82   Bellinger, Daniel 22/4   47   Johnson, Theo 24/4   89   Stoll, Jack U/Phi   85   MANHERTZ, CHRIS CC/Den   83   Cager, Lawrence SF22
TE                            84   Jackson, Tyree SF23
QB   8   Jones, Daniel 19/1   2   Lock, Drew U/Sea   15   DeVito, Tommy CF23   3   Rourke, Nathan W/NE      
RB   26   Singletary, Devin U/Hou   20   Gray, Eric 23/5   29   Tracy Jr., Tyrone 24/5   35   Corbin, Jashaun CF22   25   Miller, Dante SF24


DEFENSE

DE   0   Burns, Brian T/Car   55   Basham, Boogie T/Buf   48   Whitley, Benton P/Min            
NT   97   Lawrence II, Dexter 19/1   95   Riley, Jordon 23/7   98   Davidson, D.J. 22/5   96   Horne, Timmy P/Atl      
DT   99   PHILLIPS, JORDAN U/Buf   93   NUÑEZ-ROCHES, RAKEEM U/TB   90   Anderson, Ryder CF22   91   Rogers, Casey CF24   94   Chatman, Elijah CF24
RUSH   5   Thibodeaux, Kayvon 22/1   51   Ojulari, Azeez 21/2   45   Fox, Tomon CF22   46   Oghoufo, Ovie CF24      
MLB   58   Okereke, Bobby U/Ind   49   Adams, Matthew U/Cle   57   Muasau, Darius 24/6   43   Beavers, Darrian 22/6      
WLB   41   McFadden, Micah 22/5   19   Simmons, Isaiah T/Arz   52   Coughlin, Carter 20/7   54   Johnson, Dyontae CF23      
LCB   28   Flott, Cor'Dale 22/3   44   McCloud, Nick W/Buf   36   Thomas-Oliver, Stantley SF23   38   Hayes, Kaleb SF23   25   Johnson, Alex CF24
SS   31   Nubin, Tyler 24/2   24   Belton, Dane 22/4   34   Riley, Elijah U/Pit            
FS   27   Pinnock, Jason W/NYJ   21   MILLS, JALEN U/NE   39   Owens, Gervarrius 23/7            
RCB   3   Banks, Deonte 23/1   37   Hawkins III, Tre 23/6   33   Robinson, Aaron 21/3   20   Long Jr., David SF24      
NB   22   Phillips, Dru 24/3   23   Herndon, Tre U/Jax   30   Holmes, Darnay 20/4
            
SPECIAL TEAMS

PT   6   Gillan, Jamie SF22                        
PK   9   GANO, GRAHAM SF20   99   McAtamney, Jude IPP                  
LS   59   KREITER, CASEY U/Den                        
H   6   Gillan, Jamie SF22                        
KO   9   GANO, GRAHAM SF20   99   McAtamney, Jude IPP                  
PR   87   McKenzie, Isaiah U/Ind   80   Olszewski, Gunner SF23                  
KR   29   Tracy Jr., Tyrone 24/5   87   McKenzie, Isaiah U/Ind   80   Olszewski, Gunner SF23

https://x.com/Brilafm889/status/1802721161517609169

Quote from: spiderblue43 on June 17, 2024, 01:33:18 PMNeal has been in dry dock and should be kept there. I'm on board with those that have zero faith for him to even grade to average. Stubbornness never worked with Flowers, now they seem intent to repeat it.

 

I am in favor of putting our faith in the new O-line coach.  It's up to him to determine what the team has in Evan Neal.  If we don't have enough faith in the O-line coach to do that, we are all in trouble.

Quote from: Jclayton92 on June 17, 2024, 01:02:10 PMI remember because I was a bigger fan of Ekwonu than Neal, but I was just saying that the selection of Neal was universally praised as a great pick.

I agree, Neal was considered the best or one of the best coming out, despite the concerns.   The Giants got nothing but praise for the pick