Big Blue Huddle

I am going to take the optimistic view on the various Giants issues:


1)  Coaching-  Daboll has learned from his earlier mistakes, and his coaching staff adjustments will have this staff firing on all cylinders this season rather than fighting among themselves

2)  The offensive line-  Between the infusion of veteran talent (who knows what it takes to play O-line in the NFL) and a new O-line coach (who never coached a unit that wasn't in PFF's top 10), this unit will finally break free of its decade-plus stretch of futility and poor play

3)  Quarterback play-  Between Daniel Jones and Drew Lock, one of them will elevate their game to provide the team with solid QB play.

4)  Injuries-  While the Giants failed to remove Ronnie Barnes, the team did bring back Aaron Wellman, who as the Strength and Conditioning coach and has proven he can reduce injury.  We can look forward to a middle-of-the-pack injury season rather than leading the league.

5)  Pass Rush-  The addition of Burns to Thibs and Dex will make the Giants pass rush something that keeps OCs up at night.

6)  Explosive plays-   The Giants lost Barkley, but frankly, he was living on reputation.   He wasn't providing the explosive plays a star provides either on the ground or through the air.  Malik Nabers will change that, and his presence will allow others like Robinson and Hyatt to join in on the fun.

So by drinking the Kool-Aid, this team will be going to the playoffs again like they did in 2022.

I respect the positive outlook Rich. It is pretty unique, and it is refreshing to read.

My personal thoughts, item by item:

1. I agree here. Too many people I felt were looking to run Daboll out of town because of one bad year. I was not one of them. Daboll won 2022 NFL COY as a rookie head coach for a reason: he is good, and for the most part I think the players like him. Does he have things to work on? Absolutely, as do most professionals in any field. I am still optimistic he is the right man for this job.

2. I tend to also agree here, with some caution around the view given the multiple unanswered question marks on the unit. Ie, is JMS going to get better? Who is our RT going to be? Can Thomas stay healthy? Who are our two starting OGs? I do think we brought in some solid players like Runyan and Eluemenor though, and I like Bricillo, so, like you, I tend to believe this line will improve into something closer to average than bad.

3. Since we have seen Jones do what he did in 2022, we know that he has it in him to at least be that level of QB. I wouldn't call that high level QB play, but "solid" is a fair enough way of putting it. I would also add that it's hard to imagine Jones not playing better than what we saw from him last year before he got hurt. I have said repeatedly that he is a better QB than that. I have never been overly impressed with Lock, but I'm not closed to the idea of him improving into something better than what he has been so far in his still relatively young career.

4. I hope this is true. I hate hearing Schoen say things like "we have a great training/medical staff" when the results have been so incredibly poor. Really makes me think Mara has drawn a line in the sand that Barnes is untouchable, and Schoen is choosing to fight the battles he thinks he can actually win. I'll need to see improved results before I can get comfortable believing this one, but I certainly hope you're right.

5. Firmly agree here. Burns is a stud, and Thibodeaux is a young, improving player coming off a double digit sack year.

6. I'm cautiously optimistic on this one but am unsure as to the extent. I would agree that this one is likely to improve from last season, given you basically have only one way to go from last season in this category. How much it improves remains to be seen. With better O line play and Nabers in the mix I feel like it has to unless our QB play (from either of our two main QBs) is so limited that it just isn't possible.

Quote from: MightyGiants on May 19, 2024, 08:49:06 AMI am going to take the optimistic view on the various Giants issues:


1)  Coaching-  Daboll has learned from his earlier mistakes, and his coaching staff adjustments will have this staff firing on all cylinders this season rather than fighting among themselves

2)  The offensive line-  Between the infusion of veteran talent (who knows what it takes to play O-line in the NFL) and a new O-line coach (who never coached a unit that wasn't in PFF's top 10), this unit will finally break free of its decade-plus stretch of futility and poor play

3)  Quarterback play-  Between Daniel Jones and Drew Lock, one of them will elevate their game to provide the team with solid QB play.

4)  Injuries-  While the Giants failed to remove Ronnie Barnes, the team did bring back Aaron Wellman, who as the Strength and Conditioning coach and has proven he can reduce injury.  We can look forward to a middle-of-the-pack injury season rather than leading the league.

5)  Pass Rush-  The addition of Burns to Thibs and Dex will make the Giants pass rush something that keeps OCs up at night.

6)  Explosive plays-   The Giants lost Barkley, but frankly, he was living on reputation.   He wasn't providing the explosive plays a star provides either on the ground or through the air.  Malik Nabers will change that, and his presence will allow others like Robinson and Hyatt to join in on the fun.

So by drinking the Kool-Aid, this team will be going to the playoffs again like they did in 2022.

I cant get past 2 and 4 til I see it.  No way I just assume they'll be ok when they've been bad for years.

With or without Kool-Aid, that's the way it should be for all Giants fans at this point whether or not we concur in all items. For example:

3. This season is a final referendum on Daniel Jones and no one else. His and the Giants immediate future- perhaps also that of current management- will require a lot more than just solid QB play for reasons all too obvious.

4. Blaming Ronnie Barnes for the Giants injury history is self-indulgent and vacuous nonsense.

Even assuming Ronnie Barnes won't have crippled their chances, as he has so often with DJ rather than with Eli, I think it's premature to predict a return to the Playoffs although I am always hopeful, and very much looking forward not backward.

Cheers! 

Quote from: MightyGiants on May 19, 2024, 08:49:06 AM6)  Explosive plays-   The Giants lost Barkley, but frankly, he was living on reputation.   He wasn't providing the explosive plays a star provides either on the ground or through the air.  Malik Nabers will change that, and his presence will allow others like Robinson and Hyatt to join in on the fun.

So by drinking the Kool-Aid, this team will be going to the playoffs again like they did in 2022.

I'm leaning more to the overall attitude of @DaveBrown74 in that I don't see a rookie Nablers doing what you are hoping for, nor do I agree with your remarks about Barkley completely. To look at it differently, let's suppose Nabers was going to the Eagles instead of the Giants.  NOW I can see it happening. Conversely, Saquon IS INDEED going to the Eagles, and I expect him to suddenly "appear" two or three years "younger" than he did to you last season.

As for the playoffs, it will take at least 3-3 in the division (actually 4-3, but I'm trying to be lenient here) due to the fact that I believe the number of games we play on the road against solid teams is greater this year than last season.

Nevertheless, as for your overall outlook, I agree on balance and congratulate you for a nice post.

Bob