Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: MightyGiants on January 10, 2025, 09:25:01 AMI think it's worthwhile conducting the exercise that Bobby Skinner did.   Take the Giants top 10 players.  Then, compare those top 10 players with the top 10 players of the teams that made the playoffs.  You will find that the Giants simply don't stack up when compared to the playoff teams.

The importance of the exercise is that every team in the NFL, including the worst teams, will have a few good players, maybe even a great player or two.   You only really get a proper feel for the team's true talent level when you give the roster a reference point, like the rosters of other teams.

I agree they won't stack up with the best of the best.  But to compare them to teams like the Texans or the Steelers or Broncos or even Washington they match up pretty close in my opinion.  Except for that pesky QB. If they get a good one of those the Giants could absolutely be right at that level with those teams.

The Giants lost to Washington twice this year, once by 3 points the other time by 5 points.  That's not a world of difference.  One or two plays here and there and those results could flip.  And that's with practically no QB of any substance.  The Steelers beat them by 1 TD.  Another one possession game.  There's plenty of reason to believe the Giants are close to a wild card team if they get the right QB.  But that's of course easier said than done.

Quote from: Gmo11 on January 10, 2025, 09:35:48 AMI agree they won't stack up with the best of the best.  But to compare them to teams like the Texans or the Steelers or Broncos or even Washington they match up pretty close in my opinion.  Except for that pesky QB. If they get a good one of those the Giants could absolutely be right at that level with those teams.

The Giants lost to Washington twice this year, once by 3 points the other time by 5 points.  That's not a world of difference.  One or two plays here and there and those results could flip.  And that's with practically no QB of any substance.  The Steelers beat them by 1 TD.  Another one possession game.  There's plenty of reason to believe the Giants are close to a wild card team if they get the right QB.  But that's of course easier said than done.

I am going to do a quick down and dirty comparison of just three teams (2 from your list) using PFF grades.  Top 5 grades (quick I am not going to name players, just the grades with min 200 snaps)


Giants

Offense

86.7
75.4
69.3
63.4
63.4

Defense

89.9
79.2
79.0
77.5
74.9

Texans

Offense

91.6
79.0
78.9
76.5
75.1

Defense

85.1
82.7
78.2
77.1
74.6


Steelers

Offense

92.9
77.9
77.5
76.9
76.8

Defense

92.2
90.3
89.5
82.0
77.2


Can you see the difference, you don't see players with grades in the 60s on playoff-caliber teams

Quote from: MightyGiants on January 10, 2025, 09:47:32 AMI am going to do a quick down and dirty comparison of just three teams (2 from your list) using PFF grades.  Top 5 grades (quick I am not going to name players, just the grades with min 200 snaps)


Giants

Offense

86.7
75.4
69.3
63.4
63.4

Defense

89.9
79.2
79.0
77.5
74.9

Texans

Offense

91.6
79.0
78.9
76.5
75.1

Defense

85.1
82.7
78.2
77.1
74.6


Steelers

Offense

92.9
77.9
77.5
76.9
76.8

Defense

92.2
90.3
89.5
82.0
77.2


Can you see the difference, you don't see players with grades in the 60s on playoff-caliber teams

I suppose it's impossible to replace any of those players next season via free agency or the draft, or for any of those players to improve as the quality around them improves?  A QB that knows how to run an offense probably doesn't help improve a few of those numbers either?

Despite those numbers the Giants played the Steelers pretty well and as I mentioned came very close to beating Washington a couple of times.  I like the direction they are heading provided they get a good QB. If they don't then none of this matters anyway.

I wonder... if the players are so bad, and the Giants played those playoff teams so well anyway, was it solid coaching that got them there?

Quote from: Gmo11 on January 10, 2025, 09:56:29 AMI suppose it's impossible to replace any of those players next season via free agency or the draft, or for any of those players to improve as the quality around them improves?  A QB that knows how to run an offense probably doesn't help improve a few of those numbers either?

Despite those numbers the Giants played the Steelers pretty well and as I mentioned came very close to beating Washington a couple of times.  I like the direction they are heading provided they get a good QB. If they don't then none of this matters anyway.

I wonder... if the players are so bad, and the Giants played those playoff teams so well anyway, was it solid coaching that got them there?

I can respect that you feel that the team is headed in the right direction.  I just don't think the team's roster is a QB away from being a playoff contender.   Schoen needs another couple of really good drafts, have a solid free agent signing period or two and somehow find a franchise QB.

I  don't care what the stats say.  This is a team with no identity, not enough impact players, which won 3 lousy games and lost to the Eagles backups  .To think they are close to a playoff team is ludicrous to me.  Looking at their opponents next year they have a legit shot at 0-17.  7-8 wins??????  Every bounce, every break, every piece of good luck, every fluke will be needed to get 8 wins.  Then delusion will set in thinking they are close, followed by disappointment when they crater again the following year.  Sounds eerily familiar to recent history.