Big Blue Huddle

IMO no longer do we have the luxury of blowing off the last preseason game by resting all the starters.

Face it, we have 3 QB's and NO honest idea of who will/might lead us. Factor in for you DJ fans what IF he is not ready.  I realize he is the default starter, but he needs work, lots of work.  Not the kind of work you get in practice (where you make few if any reads) or playing one series in the first 2 preseason games.  And let's not even factor in him getting comfortable with his NEW offensive line and receivers.

So how would you handle all of this ?? Who plays when and for how long  ??  And should it affect the pecking order as to who is the starter each of these 3 weeks ??

Me???  We have no designated #1, every one gets a half minimum each of the first 2 preseason games. And no sticking it to #3 by playing with camp fodder that will be cut on Monday.
I mean cmon 85 players dressing and getting appreciation time for PS game 3 ????  When you already know as coaches who a solid 15 - 20 cuts will be. 

We need competition.  We need answers.  Injuries happen, be it preseason or inseason, so that can not enter into our thinking at this point.  We need players and cohesion. 

And we need it before 40 - 0 or when we are 1 - 7 at midseason.

Back in the day (the 50's and 60's) preseason games 5 and 6 (yes Virginia we played 6 of those boogers) were treated as dress rehearsel games for the regular season.  Starters players and a lot.  They viewed it as a springboard into the regular season.

Frankly, I am less concerned about the QB rotation as I am the offensive line.  If the Giants get the O-line ready and play at an NFL caliber, the quarterback situation will work itself out.  Although, admittedly, if DJ doesn't return to his 2022 form, this could be a long season as one of the other 3 stepping up seems like a really long.

I remember back in the era of the 14-game schedule when they had six pre-season games and QBs often had most of a game to be evaluated and the final quarter was rotated if the game wasn't close.

Aren't the Giants going to practice with the Lions once again this season? I would think this is another opportunity for the QBs to face opposition and be evaluated comparably to the pre-season games. After last season's performance, I would imagine the Giants have learned that the joint practices could be a valuable opportunity to push and evaluate players, to include their QBs, under near real-time scenarios and get their energy up as close to game day but managed for player safety.

So, the opportunity will be there and I believe this pre-season will look and feel a little bit different than last season. I am expecting to see more motivation, sense of attention to details and energy. But, we'll have to wait and see.

Peace!

Quote from: MightyGiants on June 03, 2024, 06:58:55 AMFrankly, I am less concerned about the QB rotation as I am the offensive line.  .

Totally agree, Mighty. The depth is not there. If Neal flops, that's going to leave a big hole at guard, too.

I think whether fans like it or not, DJ is the #1 QB heading into the season.  If he is not medically ready that's another story and one I think people at the facility will be more in the know right now than those outside its walls.

While I am not against starters playing more in the preseason, I am not sure that those reps are much better than live practices against other teams.  The vast majority of preseason snaps are pretty bland in terms of Xs and Os. 

Quote from: uconnjack8 on June 03, 2024, 11:37:34 AMI think whether fans like it or not, DJ is the #1 QB heading into the season.  If he is not medically ready that's another story and one I think people at the facility will be more in the know right now than those outside its walls.

While I am not against starters playing more in the preseason, I am not sure that those reps are much better than live practices against other teams.  The vast majority of preseason snaps are pretty bland in terms of Xs and Os. 

True, there is little to no game planning in PS games, and defenses tend to keep things vanilla.  For a QB with DJ's experience there is little to gain from PS games.   The offensive line, on the other hand, could probably use the work, since there are going to be at least two new linemen.

Quote from: spiderblue43 on June 03, 2024, 11:26:10 AMTotally agree, Mighty. The depth is not there. If Neal flops, that's going to leave a big hole at guard, too.

Aaron Stinnie was a solid starter for Tampa until a knee injury felled him. He could step in and do a fine job


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I am not sure we are at the point that DJ doesnt need to play the preseason
When did he get that good

Quote from: ralphpal1 on June 03, 2024, 08:44:34 PMI am not sure we are at the point that DJ doesnt need to play the preseason
When did he get that good

I think this is a pretty reasonable point, in particular given how last season went.

Doesn't mean he needs to play more than 1.5 quarters or so in any given game, but if he is deemed fully healthy, which is what the docs have been predicting, I don't see why he should not play at all. What about his new linemen and guys like Malik Nabers and Theo Johnson getting a feel for him against live competition?