Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: Trench on August 18, 2024, 11:37:12 AMMy causes for concern regarding Jones:
1. Why in hell does he insist on running and taking a hit head first instead of sliding?!!!!!!....he won't make it past 1/2 a season doing that

2. He needs to show more emotion both when he messes up and when he has success. I remember seeing him play better when he shows emotion

3. His ability to learn from mistakes is still lacking (not giving himself up and sliding, and also not understanding he needs to throw balls away)

He needs to play next week. If he doesn't then we should expect major rust and mistakes for games one and two

Number one I agree with

Number two reminds me of the incorrect criticism leveled at Eli during his career.

Number three is questionable (QBs will make bad decisions throughout their careers, but that doesn't mean they don't learn from them)

I still have concerns over the OL. YES, they have played much better, like a REAL OL should but they have also only faced vanilla defenses. I want to see them face stunts and blitzes and THEN let's see how they stack up. They are fine when a few guys rush right at them, something last year's crop couldn't even do, but once the real action starts, the DCs will really try and test them, so I will be concerned ned until I see they can handle those things.

How can we not be concerned with Jones? He has everything he, and just about everyone else, has asked for him yet he still makes those moronic throws. Sure he improved but against again, a vanilla defense of 2nd and 3rd teamers.  Still a big concern. And to add as Trench stated, why in hell, in a practice game must he go headlong into the defense? You want to show the team you are tough, fine, but it is really stupid play in a meaningless game.

Concern--our entire defensive backfield still looks like a mess. Even Banks who we need to be a cornerstone, looked shaky, weak safety play. A huge concern unless we can generate a good pass rush.

Positives

Nabors is the real deal and with a good QB, he can be one of the best in the league.
Slayton still has a burst where he can get deep.
This is the best crop of WRs we have had since the early Eli days. This is our main weapon but only if our QB will look down the field on more plays.

Quote from: MightyGiants on August 18, 2024, 12:48:39 PMNumber one I agree with

Number two reminds me of the incorrect criticism leveled at Eli during his career.

Number three is questionable (QBs will make bad decisions throughout their careers, but that doesn't mean they don't learn from them)

Regarding playing with emotion, I remember this guy playing so much better when he shows it. So much better. Regarding #3 and bad decisions, at what point has he had enough chances to "learn" before we can unequivocally say he has a deficiency which cannot seemingly be corrected?

I can forgive DJ for the INT going to Hyatt but the pick six INT was among the worst I've ever seen.  A good sixth year QB knows better.

Quote from: Philosophers on August 18, 2024, 10:56:10 AMBo Nix is making mistakes but has confidence in himself to come right back and make a tight window throw.  That is how I want DJ to think, believe and perform.  Not make a mistake then resort to check downs the rest of the game.  No, attack again.

All of this. DJ needs to have amnesia when it comes to his bad throws. Stay aggressive and get the DBs on their heels. Nabers, Slayton, and Hyatt can make plays.

Quote from: MightyGiants on August 18, 2024, 09:15:11 AMComfort-  The offensive line play

Rich: I only saw the game one time and was not comforted. Can you fill in the blanks on this one for me? Bob

Quote from: Bob In PA on August 19, 2024, 07:13:28 AMRich: I only saw the game one time and was not comforted. Can you fill in the blanks on this one for me? Bob

I will admit their run-blocking could be better.  However, the QBs were not running for their lives, which is a huge improvement

Quote from: Philosophers on August 18, 2024, 09:23:17 PMI can forgive DJ for the INT going to Hyatt but the pick six INT was among the worst I've ever seen.  A good sixth year QB knows better.

You obviously didn't catch the Cowboy's game a few years ago when on the very first play of the game, Eli hit a Dallas LB on the numbers, when there wasn't a Giant within 10 yds of him. I can't remember screaming louder at the TV than that one. It was if Eli saw only one person on the field who was wide open, so he threw a dime to him. Unfortunately, it wasn't a guy on his team     

No way to start a game...especially against a hated rival. As I've read on bumper stickers now and then, " happens". Even to the best of them

https://x.com/GiantInsider/status/1825356109206462663

Quote from: Jolly Blue Giant on August 19, 2024, 08:40:55 AMYou obviously didn't catch the Cowboy's game a few years ago when on the very first play of the game, Eli hit a Dallas LB on the numbers, when there wasn't a Giant within 10 yds of him. I can't remember screaming louder at the TV than that one. It was if Eli saw only one person on the field who was wide open, so he threw a dime to him. Unfortunately, it wasn't a guy on his team     

No way to start a game...especially against a hated rival. As I've read on bumper stickers now and then, " happens". Even to the best of them

Ric

Every QB makes bone-headed decisions from time to time.  It's really more repeating DJ's perceived reputation than a legit criticism to suggest it was something more than a stupid decision in a PS game.

I feel good about the trenches, both sides, provided we stay relatively healthy. Year 2 Eric Gray has also impressed.

Chapman in particular I am excited to see how he continues to grow.

My main concerns are DJ & Injuries, as both of these things can completely derail the entire offense. And CB2.

I like the WR Room, like the combo of Theo/Bellinger at TE, and the RBs are solid enough. Hopefully Tracy comes back fine from the Ankle and Gray, and maybe Miller, can do enough on the bench. Singletary is a vet, who has always beens olid, not great but serviceable, I think he will be fine in real games.

Believe it or not, the Giants actually had to play Defense on Saturday, if that is what they call it. For me it overshadowed everything except the two picks by Jones.

Therein lies by biggest concern from game 2.

Quote from: Ed Vette on August 18, 2024, 09:20:47 AMThe oline play was the number one positive take away. Two games in a row. They executed on many levels. If they can take that into the regular season, it will go a long way to the Giants being competitive.

Competitive is and has been the operative word for every Giants team for at least the past 11 years. Except for just the 2-winning seasons in that span, it would be hard to suggest that they otherwise have been competitive. We are talking 3 GMs, 5 HCs, and hash of Coordinators/ Assistants and a totality of then to now roster turnover which leaves me to wonder what "competitive" actually means?

While it certainly doesn't mean "contender", would it mean beating the Vegas Over, or winning at least 8 games, or simply not playing like crap as they did for much of last season? I won't even mention the subliminal effect of the 2025 QB Draft- I guess I just did. My question to myself is, is there something in between those places by which I might define "competitive"?

Cheers!

To reiterate what I've kinda said previously...preseason games mean nothing, except for tryouts of those on the fence, and basically a harder practice session against players you're unfamiliar with. Of course a team wants to win, but if winning meant more to the coaches than getting a last look at players, they'd play their starters for the majority of every game - they don't. It serves no purpose

Case in point: 2014, the New York Football Giants kicked ass in preseason, going 5-0. Fans were excited about the possibilities before them. The Giants followed up that preseason euphoria with a 6 win regular season. Likewise, a lot of football teams that had dominant seasons, sucked in preseason and dominated in the regular season, or vice versa

We've had a monkey on our back in preseason games for years, as we usually lose a starter or two to bad injuries in meaningless games. The best outcome of preseason is an injury-free game, and hopefully finding a couple of players at the backend of the roster who stepped up to the challenge

Preseason is the next level of "practice", nothing more, nothing less

Quote from: MightyGiants on August 19, 2024, 08:06:24 AMI will admit their run-blocking could be better.  However, the QBs were not running for their lives, which is a huge improvement

Rich: I'll accept your observation about pass-blocking in general (although I do recall a number of plays with serious issues and didn't see even one play where Jones/DeVito was comfortable in the pocket (ignoring every play designed so the QB could unload the ball immediately). My point... play-calling in that game was IMO designed to avoid truly challenging the OL with a lot of deep drop pass plays or pass plays that would have (in one way or another) required the QB to hold the ball for a while. Do you disagree with that? Bob