Big Blue Huddle

https://x.com/DDuggan21/status/1836024098285117448

Two games in, it's definitely not looking good.

I'm in no rush to judge, especially since it's still early in the season. By mid-October, we should have a good feel for what they will be for the rest of the season.

That won't happen until they bring down or sneak one of the Safeties in the Box. Do you know the success rate with 4-3 Base vs 3-4 type players in a Zone Coverage System? I wondered if they have the right personnel to stop the Run in Nickle and Dime Coverage. It may come down to the Opponent as to who they put on the field. Against a team with elite targets, I would expect more DBs. Against Washington, I scratch my head keeping Simmons off the field. They relied heavily on Dru and Banks in Run Support, but was it at the expense of a soft belly with Dex getting double teamed?

For the life of me, I don't know how you start off with the advantage of having a beast like Dex in the middle and be bad at stopping the run.

Quote from: MightyGiants on September 17, 2024, 12:21:56 PMFor the life of me, I don't know how you start off with the advantage of having a beast like Dex in the middle and be bad at stopping the run.

Wink had Dex, A'Shawn Robinson, and Leonard Williams for most of the season and Giants were similarly at the bottom of the barrell against the run at 29th in the NFL (and after 17 games, not just 2). Maybe Bowen is terrible. Or maybe he'll adjust. I don't know, but I would agree with a demand that it needs to get better.

Quote from: MightyGiants on September 17, 2024, 12:21:56 PMFor the life of me, I don't know how you start off with the advantage of having a beast like Dex in the middle and be bad at stopping the run.

I can't prove it but to my naked eye, it seemed like Dex was not playing many downs where I was expecting him to be playing. I wonder what the rushing stats show when he was playing vs when he was out resting

Quote from: Trench on September 17, 2024, 12:45:25 PMI can't prove it but to my naked eye, it seemed like Dex was not playing many downs where I was expecting him to be playing. I wonder what the rushing stats show when he was playing vs when he was out resting

according to the snap count thread, Dex played 82% of the snaps against Washington

Quote from: MightyGiants on September 17, 2024, 12:47:02 PMaccording to the snap count thread, Dex played 82% of the snaps against Washington

Shouldn't he play more?...I know they need rest but he's the all-pro

Quote from: Trench on September 17, 2024, 12:49:25 PMShouldn't he play more?...I know they need rest but he's the all-pro

When you are 350 pounds, you are going to need to take some breaks

Quote from: MightyGiants on September 17, 2024, 12:21:56 PMFor the life of me, I don't know how you start off with the advantage of having a beast like Dex in the middle and be bad at stopping the run.

Having him play 60% of the snaps doesn't help.

EDIT: I guess that was only week 1

Quote from: MightyGiants on September 17, 2024, 12:21:56 PMFor the life of me, I don't know how you start off with the advantage of having a beast like Dex in the middle and be bad at stopping the run.

And third and long we have seen Charmin Soft as a baby's butt zone defense.

It was giving me nightmare flashbacks of Tim LEwis!!!

As Daboll took accountability of his own philosophies for the offense after game 1 he needs to get in Bowens ear to tighten that stuff up big-time moving forward.

You can't be ALWAYS soft zone in between the 20's there needs to be a mix.

Quote from: Ed Vette on September 17, 2024, 12:17:19 PMThat won't happen until they bring down or sneak one of the Safeties in the Box. Do you know the success rate with 4-3 Base vs 3-4 type players in a Zone Coverage System? I wondered if they have the right personnel to stop the Run in Nickle and Dime Coverage. It may come down to the Opponent as to who they put on the field. Against a team with elite targets, I would expect more DBs. Against Washington, I scratch my head keeping Simmons off the field. They relied heavily on Dru and Banks in Run Support, but was it at the expense of a soft belly with Dex getting double teamed?

Ed: Underlying your point is the obvious problem... he doesn't trust the young deep four (I wouldn't either at the start of the season). If (or when?) things drop to a level beyond desperate, I would expect Bowen to then say "what the heck" and play the defense like the Titans played it. Bob

Chatman and Davidson were big liabilities last game.  Davidson didn't make the goat list but I don't think he had enough snaps or he would have been on it.

As others have said, it's 2 weeks. Lets see if they can make adjustments and learn from mistakes.  I am sure opposing offenses will keep running if they don't stop it.

I thought they were in place to make the plays over and over again but they either didn't make the tackles or Daniels/Robinson got 3-5 yards more after contact which made all the difference. I understand those zone defenses are going to drive everyone nuts, but the missed or weak tackles on 3rd down again and again were maddening to watch. That's not Bowen, but if it doesn't get fixed he will certainly be blamed for it.

The Giants had the 8th most missed tackles on Defense in 2023, and they were in about the same place on Special Teams. It looks like that hasn't changed. There's just a new DC driving that bus.