Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: Trench on November 24, 2024, 10:31:19 PMFor everyone saying Mara is a meddling owner - it appears he was 100% correct on keeping Saquon.

I was happy going with RB by committee (I still am because I don't think Saquon would've changed much here)...but at the end of the day regarding Barkley, the owner wasn't wrong.

When did Saquon have a game like that for the Giants?  Eagles have the best OLine and the best OLine coach in the game. Hell, Stoutland is turning Mekhi Becton in a pro-bowler.

Quote from: uconnjack8 on November 25, 2024, 06:58:14 AMThere was a number here that said Barkley had lost a step, would have a better year but wasn't anything special at this point because his ability had diminished with wear and tear. 

You're right. I do remember that now.

Quote from: uconnjack8 on November 25, 2024, 06:58:14 AMThere was a number here that said Barkley had lost a step, would have a better year but wasn't anything special at this point because his ability had diminished with wear and tear. 

He had lost a step; you could literally see it on the field.  Now, with the Eagles and their first-rate medical program, he has regained that lost step.

Those are the hidden reasons why the Giants are so bad

https://x.com/AlbertBreer/status/1860885146062217675

10th most yards from scrimmage in a game in NFL history

Quote from: Trench on November 24, 2024, 11:19:13 PMI don't get it ...last year the Eagles were dead to rights, the coach was to be fired...now look.

When can we see good fortune like this?

Philly was a good team that was starting to slip. They had a good foundation, so adding a couple of new pieces was all that was needed to get them back to the top. Running backs are one of the last positions filled when building an offense.

The Giants were in need of a total rebuild on offense. They had an aging, immobile QB and totally inadequate offensive line. They used a top draft pick to fill one of the last positions good teams fill when they needed to build a foundation (line & QB). Since then, they have failed to build a foundation around Barkley.

I always felt Mara pushed Gettleman to draft Barkley, foolishly thinking Manning could still win. With the poor condition of the line at that time, neither Barkley nor Manning could succeed. 

The reason RB's like Barkley aren't taken early in the draft is because team's drafting that high need many other pieces to build around. WR's, RB's and most TE's are the last positions to fill. (Good blocking AND receiving TE's are an exception)

Quote from: uconnjack8 on November 25, 2024, 07:56:58 AM10th most yards from scrimmage in a game in NFL history

"touched by the hand of God"

Quote from: MightyGiants on November 25, 2024, 08:00:07 AM"touched by the hand of God"

Did anybody say Barkley wasn't a great player?  Even the day he was drafted his talent was never in question.  Just his position.  And I liked the pick thinking that they would be attempting to win one more time with Eli.  But every thing Gettleman did from that point on ruined any chance of that, and ruined any chance of proving picking Barkley was the right decision.  I don't think he should be in any position to take some sort of victory lap here.  He's the literal reason Barkley couldn't thrive with the Giants.

Quote from: Gmo11 on November 25, 2024, 09:10:45 AMDid anybody say Barkley wasn't a great player?  Even the day he was drafted his talent was never in question.  Just his position.  And I liked the pick thinking that they would be attempting to win one more time with Eli.  But every thing Gettleman did from that point on ruined any chance of that, and ruined any chance of proving picking Barkley was the right decision.  I don't think he should be in any position to take some sort of victory lap here.  He's the literal reason Barkley couldn't thrive with the Giants.

Amen.  Drafting guys like Toney and Baker for example, is a huge part of the reason he didn't thrive with the Giants

Quote from: Gmo11 on November 25, 2024, 09:10:45 AMDid anybody say Barkley wasn't a great player?  Even the day he was drafted his talent was never in question.  Just his position.  And I liked the pick thinking that they would be attempting to win one more time with Eli.  But every thing Gettleman did from that point on ruined any chance of that, and ruined any chance of proving picking Barkley was the right decision.  I don't think he should be in any position to take some sort of victory lap here.  He's the literal reason Barkley couldn't thrive with the Giants.

In fairness, Gettleman was mocked mercilessly for saying that.  It seems only fair to mention the comment now that the lighting has changed.

Quote from: Gmo11 on November 25, 2024, 09:10:45 AMDid anybody say Barkley wasn't a great player?  Even the day he was drafted his talent was never in question.  Just his position.  And I liked the pick thinking that they would be attempting to win one more time with Eli.  But every thing Gettleman did from that point on ruined any chance of that, and ruined any chance of proving picking Barkley was the right decision.  I don't think he should be in any position to take some sort of victory lap here.  He's the literal reason Barkley couldn't thrive with the Giants.

I am enjoying the revisionist history; most of this board wanted Barkly over Jones. Moreover, it was never in question that Barkley would have a good year in Phili, IF he could stay healthy.  What was in dispute was could the Giants field a reasonable team around Barkley to compete, before time catches up with him.  A run-centric team hasn't won a SB in over a decade....

Quote from: kingm56 on November 25, 2024, 09:15:47 AMI am enjoying the revisionist history; most of this board wanted Barkly over Jones. Moreover, it was never in question that Barkley would have a good year in Phili, IF he could stay healthy.  What was in dispute was could the Giants field a reasonable team around Barkley to compete, before time catches up with him.  A run-centric team hasn't won a SB in over a decade....

I think the larger point is that Barkly looked washed up last year; he was slower than he used to be (and the stats support what was seen on the field.  Barkley looked like, at best, one of the better running backs in the league.  Barkley leaves the Giants, and suddenly, he is playing at a level so great they are talking about him being a viable MVP candidate.

That speaks volumes about the dysfunction of a team.  It's not even isolated to Barkley.  We saw a similar resurgence from players like McKinney, Love, and even Feliciano.   That sort of pattern is a strong indicator the Giants are failing to get the most out of the talent they get and failing to properly evaluate the talent they have.

Quote from: kingm56 on November 25, 2024, 09:15:47 AMI am enjoying the revisionist history; most of this board wanted Barkly over Jones. Moreover, it was never in question that Barkley would have a good year in Phili, IF he could stay healthy.  What was in dispute was could the Giants field a reasonable team around Barkley to compete, before time catches up with him.  A run-centric team hasn't won a SB in over a decade....

And Gettleman's destruction of the roster is the reason they couldn't ever build around Barkley.  They had a chance to at least try....but he went another way. 

Quote from: MightyGiants on November 25, 2024, 07:39:06 AMHe had lost a step; you could literally see it on the field.  Now, with the Eagles and their first-rate medical program, he has regained that lost step.

Those are the hidden reasons why the Giants are so bad

Quote from: Gmo11 on November 25, 2024, 09:23:56 AMAnd Gettleman's destruction of the roster is the reason they couldn't ever build around Barkley.  They had a chance to at least try....but he went another way. 

Exactly, GMO.  I also think some fans are finally realizing it was Barkley and not Jones who was primarily responsible for the moderate 2022 success.