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Tom Rock Has a Very Positive Giants Outlook Today

gidiefor : Mod : 7/27/2016 10:32 am
Let The Season Begin!!!!!
Giants training camp will have some continuity despite major changes - ( New Window )
On paper they should be a playoff team  
Tom from LI : 7/27/2016 11:52 am : link
Stay healthy and everything will fall into place
staying healthy has been a problem  
Chip : 7/27/2016 12:02 pm : link
They need the front four especially to stay healthy. Cruz to be productive as the third receiver if Shepherd can play well. I am optimistic as well. Hopefully, paying Vernon like JJ Watt works out for us.
I feel better  
mrvax : 7/27/2016 12:20 pm : link
about this team's chances than I have in a long time.
Other than injuries  
robbieballs2003 : 7/27/2016 12:40 pm : link
The two areas that could be our achilles heel are our offensive line and our LBs.

You can talk about the middle of our defense as DTs, MLB, and Ss. Imo, we have upgraded our DTs and Ss. MLB? Huge question mark. You can also talk about the middle of our defense as our whole LB corps. This will hopefully be masked/helped out by our DL and DBs but they will have to make plays.

Our OL has been beaten to death. It seems that we will not be getting another vet in here so it is up to them to let our receivers shine and give our RBs a chance.
re: LBs/Ss/OL  
giants#1 : 7/27/2016 12:59 pm : link
I expect a solid improvement from Collins this year, but the other safety spot is still a big ?. It certainly should be better (partly because Merriweather/Dahl were awful), but Thompson hasn't even participated in camp yet and the other guys can't stay healthy.

LBs - definitely agree with your concerns there, though I do think the talent level entering camp has improved relative to a year ago.

OL - I'm cautiously optimistic Jerry's offseason will translate to improved play on the field and I think Flowers will take a big step in his second year especially if he stays healthy. I can also see improved play from Richburg (only his 2nd season at OC) and Pugh (his 2nd at LG). Newhouse still scares the shit out of me though. But if Flowers can take a big step forward, then they should be able to scheme around Newhouse.

Our three biggest weaknesses on defense  
SGMen : 7/27/2016 1:41 pm : link
Our biggest weakness on defense is staying healthy. We enter this camp with everyone pretty much ready to go. A guy like S C. Taylor (sports hernia) might be limited along with S M. Thompson (Achilles) and LB JT Thomas (lower leg) but outside of those three everyone should be 100% right out of the gates.

Our next hole is the WLB position. My guess is that our opening day lineup ends up being WLB K. Robinson, MLB Brinkley (run downs only), and SLB Kennard. On obvious pass down we will see Robinson slide over to MLB and LB J. Casillas move to WLB as a coverage guy more or less. We are clearly faster thiis year with Robinson on the field and a healthy Kennard.

Our third and last hole is simply a center-fielding FS. Everyone has penciled in rookie D. Thompson and it would be great if he proves himself in camp and starts but he is unproven along with the rest of the FS candidates.

I am wondering if Spags won't play it safe for the opening quarter of the season, or until the bye week even, and prefer the veteran over the rookie?

FS: B. Jackson (starts season, slides to nickel CB often)
D. Thompson (plays FS when B. Jackson is in slot)
SS: L. Collins (LOScrimmage jack hammer)
N. Behre (3rd safety in dime packages)

M. Thompson, due to his injury, will likely be brought along slowly. He can cover and I think he makes the team as a 5rh safety, special teams player.

The problem with the scenario above is that the nickel slot corner probably takes what 2/3 of the defensive snaps of every game? He'd be a starter at CB essentially and part-time FS until D. Thompson works his way up and he will rather quickly.

Thoughts? I think our safety situation will be much better than we thought, what the pundits thought, and will flourish just maybe not right out of the gates.
Robbie I think the LB's will surprise  
Makogman : 7/27/2016 2:32 pm : link
Whether it be Sheppard or Brinkley, the MIKE will be productive. I believe that Robinson will start at WLB and Kennard at SLB. The wild card is how fast Goodson can adapt as the future MIKE. That being said, we may see a complete upgrade on all 3 levels of the D. I know that Robinson has the injury stigma attached to him but, none of those injuries have been to his legs. Therefore his coverage ability and tackling should not be affected. When on the field he has produced at a high level.

If the LB corp plays to their talent level, this D will jettison to top 10. As far as the OL, Solari is renown for getting the most out of his players. Injuries will be key, the last few years we have lost a few starters before training camp. This year has been different, lets hope the trend continues. If so, watch out because the Giants will be a tough match up for everyone.
RE: Robbie I think the LB's will surprise  
SGMen : 7/27/2016 2:53 pm : link
In comment 13047180 Makogman said:
Quote:
Whether it be Sheppard or Brinkley, the MIKE will be productive. I believe that Robinson will start at WLB and Kennard at SLB. The wild card is how fast Goodson can adapt as the future MIKE. That being said, we may see a complete upgrade on all 3 levels of the D. I know that Robinson has the injury stigma attached to him but, none of those injuries have been to his legs. Therefore his coverage ability and tackling should not be affected. When on the field he has produced at a high level.

If the LB corp plays to their talent level, this D will jettison to top 10. As far as the OL, Solari is renown for getting the most out of his players. Injuries will be key, the last few years we have lost a few starters before training camp. This year has been different, lets hope the trend continues. If so, watch out because the Giants will be a tough match up for everyone.
I mostly agree. I like Brinkley on 1st and 2nd down and short yardage. He knows our scheme, he is a leader, he is a hard worker too. I believe that due to his familiarity with the scheme he sticks as the starter this year.

I don't know enough about Shepard to say he sticks on the roster for sure BUT if he can play MLB and SLB plus special teams he may take LB Herzlich's spot. He is purportedly solid vs the run much like Brinkley.

Best case scenario is SLB Kennard stays healthy for once; MLB Brinkley plays well enough with starting WLB sliding over to play MLB on pure pass downs (coverage) and WLB Casillas playing as well.

I believe MLB Goodson will "learn" this year by playing special teams and getting some defensive snaps as the year moves along. I'd be psyched if by the last four games of the year he's playing a lot, playing really well, and we have our MLB of the future on the roster.

LB play will be better if we just stay healthy and rookie Goodson improves. We have a veteran group behind a veteran DL.

I truly believe that this defense can improve enough to go from 32nd and worst to 10 - 15 area. And if we are playing like a top 5 defense late in the year all the better. The talent is "possibly there" but will take time to mesh and show its very best. Stats aren't everything, it is how you are finishing and playing during the playoffs that counts the most.
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