Big Blue Huddle

https://x.com/geoffschwartz/status/1821869437781471702?s=46&t=1vcQIN8GqF5J2oLdxEVEJQ

If you recall after they drafted him, the team said his biggest strength was avoiding making directional mistakes at the second level.

The one (and only) thing I didn't like about Saquon was that he was prone to making directional mistakes in the open field.

Gray also showed last night that another of his strengths is the ability to make his head move in one direction while his feet are moving in another direction. That is why they tell you, just like when you're playing defense on a basketball court... do not watch the head or the feet... watch the hips.

Bob

https://x.com/PFF_Giants/status/1821975011009183843

so much for the Saquon Barkley "Face of the Franchise" illusion

be interesting to see what he does in Philly

"51 of 52 rushing yards after contact". It appears the long run is considered "after contact". I guess a piece of dandruff from one of the Lions landed on Gray as he went through the hole.

To those you with good X and O and observational skills, how did Gray do in pass protection?

Quote from: MightyGiants on August 09, 2024, 11:36:01 AMhttps://x.com/geoffschwartz/status/1821869437781471702?s=46&t=1vcQIN8GqF5J2oLdxEVEJQ

they should have given him more touches last year

Quote from: MightyGiants on August 09, 2024, 11:36:01 AMhttps://x.com/geoffschwartz/status/1821869437781471702?s=46&t=1vcQIN8GqF5J2oLdxEVEJQ

reminds me of bradshaw ALOT on this run.

Everyone needs to watch Jalen Mansfield (62) on this play. It is a microcosm of how good he was last night. He makes the double team block on the lineman. Now it is a two man D-line so those DLs are simply trying to keep the Linebackers clean so they can make the tackle. Mansfield starts to pull off to get to the second level and the DL tries to hold him by the jersey so he can't release but Mansfield just drags him to the second level. Mansfield not only makes the second level block but winds up dragging the lineman out of the hole leaving Gray 1 on 1 with the safety.

I could watch that all day.

You know how you know it's the 1st game of preseason?  You get to see phrases like "Eric Gray barrels into the endzone for his 2nd TD of the night".  Super glad our backup OL played well against their backup DL and that one catch Gray had on the wheel route was beautiful.  I'm still not sure Gray will have any significant role this year though.  I think Tracy still beats him out for 2nd most touches on the team.

When going with a RBBC approach, always good to be pleasantly surprised by the backups.

Quote from: AZGiantFan on August 09, 2024, 04:29:05 PMTo those you with good X and O and observational skills, how did Gray do in pass protection?

AZRich: Adequate with no outright blunders. Under the circumstances (i.e., the likelihood that he'll be no better than number two on the depth chart) his performance IMO was easily good enough to fill that roster spot. Bob