Brad Bars, LB: pushing Mark Herzlich at strongside linebacker/special teams ace. Bars, a converted defensive lineman, dropped 15 pounds this offseason and brings more athleticism than Herzlich. He is also an intriguing option as a pass rusher and linebacker who can set the edge and defend the run.
Hes a guy that plays with great effort. Hes good on his feet, coach Ben McAdoo said. He was a little bit lighter for a defensive end, but he does have some rush ability and some flexibility there.
Haven't seen him at all as of now, but hope he has the talent to replace MH..
Bars is an intriguing name. I haven't heard much about him this camp, but losing fifteen pounds to be able to change positions is encouraging. 6'3", 250, is plenty good enough for a LB.
what they said about Donte Deayon bringing energy. That "energy" is vital and it's contagious. Add to that the energy of Shepard, OV, Odighizuwa, Apple, the young-gun RBs, and Darian Thompson and we have youth and energy in abundance.
I'm nervous about getting my hopes up, but I'm starting to be convinced that this team can be very special and exciting to watch...knock on wood!
If Gettis turns out to be a decent backup center...
...you sort of have to wonder why the previous regime didn't try him there. It was such an obvious solution to his lack of versatility that I just assumed they had tried it and he flopped. Maybe Dallas Reynolds had pictures of Flaherty and Coughlin with that same goat Coach Quinn caught Coughlin with.
Sorry if I'm a Negative Nelly, but the first thing out of McAdoo's mouth seems like a death knell. "He's a guy who plays with great effort" = "He sucks but he sure does try hard." Frankie Ferrara played with great effort, too.
From an organizational cost to carry for the next few years point of view, he is the least desirable. He would logically also have the least room for continued improvement. Been with the Giants long enough that he is close to "he is what he is."
I believe the Giants would much rather keep Tye, LaCosse, Adams and Donnell needs to beat them out by a significant margin to stay. The only wiggle room would be through use of the PS for any of the others that were eligible.
that Donnell sticks and don't know why Raanan is so certain. Otherwise a nice little article.
Have you been to camp and observed, or are you just throwing something out there based on who knows what? Raanan is saying this because he's been there observing. Last week one of the writers on Giants.com listed Donnell as the top offensive player in camp, so he is not alone. He was also just listed as top of the team's first unofficial depth chart, he's seeing a lot of reps with the 1s, he was the starter last year prior to being hurt, the competition at the position is not very strong, he has best size among the group, he has ability, he caught the game winning catch in SF last year, he's having a good camp, and both McAdoo and his position coach have noted him as working hard and improving with his blocking.
But aside from that, I can't think of any reasons Raanan might have.
I realize I may be starting to come off as big Donnell supporter, and I am not as much so as I may sound, it is just that the negativity towards him is a little puzzling.
Sorry if I'm a Negative Nelly, but the first thing out of McAdoo's mouth seems like a death knell. "He's a guy who plays with great effort" = "He sucks but he sure does try hard." Frankie Ferrara played with great effort, too.
There's a place on every roster for that guy. Special teams.
An example: if Adams is showing close to Donnell, and there is enough TE position scarcity in the League that you know you cannot get Adams to the PS, which one do you waive?
You make many fair points, and while I have not been at camp and would never claim to know as much as the coaches, I have tried to keep up with the reports. My statement is based on the following:
1. As much as I/we appreciate everything Donnell has done in the past, any team and especially the current Giants have to decide who is the best player now and in the future. This applies both to ability and cost (as Bob in N hinted).
2. Donnell is not a great blocker, in the past or, if I have correctly, in this training camp.
3. Donnell drops or bobbles almost as many passes as he catches.
4. Can you honestly say that you don't hold your breath every time Donnell catches a pass? Granted, that is not a reason for him not to make the team, but it surely is something that could lead me, at least, to say he is "not a lock."
at all. He's really bad. Don't understand how a guy who's 6'6'' and weighs 260 can't block. I know he's a dunderhead. Maybe that has something to do with it. He's is a big target but he's only good in the redzone. Any place else he's liable to make a catch and run, landing on his head and then fumbling the football.
As you can tell, I don't want this guy on my team!!! I've seen enough.
that Donnell sticks and don't know why Raanan is so certain. Otherwise a nice little article.
Have you been to camp and observed, or are you just throwing something out there based on who knows what? Raanan is saying this because he's been there observing. Last week one of the writers on Giants.com listed Donnell as the top offensive player in camp, so he is not alone. He was also just listed as top of the team's first unofficial depth chart, he's seeing a lot of reps with the 1s, he was the starter last year prior to being hurt, the competition at the position is not very strong, he has best size among the group, he has ability, he caught the game winning catch in SF last year, he's having a good camp, and both McAdoo and his position coach have noted him as working hard and improving with his blocking.
But aside from that, I can't think of any reasons Raanan might have.
I realize I may be starting to come off as big Donnell supporter, and I am not as much so as I may sound, it is just that the negativity towards him is a little puzzling.
Not to me. :)
Seriously, though, my biggest issue with Donnell is that he's still not catching the bulk of his passes cleanly. That's the main reason his YAC is so poor. It's not his speed - Jake Ballard wasn't a burner, either...neither was Kevin Boss - but their YAC was much better because they caught the ball cleanly and could turn upfield much faster. Donnell still bobbles an awful lot of catches. Besides limiting his YAC, it can also lead to incompletes if he's hit while bobbling, or, what's worse, turnovers.
Your opinions I respect. I can count on you to back it up and you aren't just throwing something out there based on reputation or what you read on the board. That can't be said for everyone on here.
And as I wrote that, Donnell just made a diving one-handed catch...which is freaking maddening to me. He's good for a highlight reel catch (as in the SF game), but it's the routine catches he flubs that just kill me. Heavy sigh.
of the great catch and highlight reel play. He's a physical specimen and an imposing athlete. But he'll drop the easy ones and turn the ball over with an equally great highlight reel flub. It's hard to have faith in this guy. He also disappears in games. And once again, can't block a lick. He makes the offensive line and the running game in general look anemic at times. I've seen him get knocked back into the backfield on more than one occasion. How a 260 lb guy gets knocked backward so easily is beyond me. All things being equal it's time to turn the page on this guy.
I would offer that when your strategy is to build a unit off of undrafted players or late round picks, that's sort of the expectation, barring hitting it lucky. The chances at landing someone who is the complete package and shows consistency with no flaws are remote. There are flaws in all of their games.
I suppose the easy answer to Donnell's blocking woes is technique, pad level, etc. That's another thing that bugged me about his 2015 campaign. Reportedly, he'd spent the offseason working on his blocking, but I didn't see any evidence of that in the eight games he played.
And as I wrote that, Donnell just made a diving one-handed catch...which is freaking maddening to me. He's good for a highlight reel catch (as in the SF game), but it's the routine catches he flubs that just kill me. Heavy sigh.
It's not the greatest analogy, but I think the anti-Donnell crowd on BBI is a bit like the anti-Manningham crowd a few years back after Mario's bizarre no touch fumble opened the gate for the furious Eagles' comeback win on the DSJ last minute punt return.
But the coaches see something in Donnell that they think is highly desirable I think, along with the vast majority of press and ex-players that contribute to Giants.com, that Donnell possess a type of athleticism you just don't see from many guys 6'6" and 265#. I looked up their pro day stats (neither Donnell nor Tye were invited to the combine) and saw that Tye was much faster and more agile with better 3 cone and short shuttle times, but Donnell had better leaps, both vertical and broad jumps. At 6'6" he posted a 34.5" vert and 9'8" broad jump. Those jumps are 3" and 4" better than Tye's, respectively. So Donnell has some "hops" or explosion to his frame that perhaps Tye lacks.
On the field he simply looks more athletic than Tye does.
is likely the better in the redzone or "short area" due to his frame. But why Donnell seems to "flop" with no YAC when he brings the ball in is beyond me.
Donnell's blocking is still not up to snuff based on the camp reports I've read. He is 27, will be 28 during season I believe, so what we have with him we likely have with him.
Our redzone offense was poor last year so my hunch is Donnell sticks based on his frame and short area "I'm open" ability.
I'm perfectly comfortable letting the TE coach turned Head Coach
It's on tape. We have all seen the questionable hands but we are now a bunch of gossips. Oh, and I know of no one who claims that he is even consistently adequate as a blocker.
Supposedly a new broom was brought in. Here hoping that the new broom does what a new broom is supposed to do.
Hopefully we trumpet oversell his abilities and get a late round draft choice for him at some point.
It's hard to take people seriously when they cite the "eye test"
Brad Bars, LB: pushing Mark Herzlich at strongside linebacker/special teams ace. Bars, a converted defensive lineman, dropped 15 pounds this offseason and brings more athleticism than Herzlich. He is also an intriguing option as a pass rusher and linebacker who can set the edge and defend the run.
Hes a guy that plays with great effort. Hes good on his feet, coach Ben McAdoo said. He was a little bit lighter for a defensive end, but he does have some rush ability and some flexibility there.
Haven't seen him at all as of now, but hope he has the talent to replace MH..
I'm nervous about getting my hopes up, but I'm starting to be convinced that this team can be very special and exciting to watch...knock on wood!
Probably because there seems to be some talent on defense
I believe the Giants would much rather keep Tye, LaCosse, Adams and Donnell needs to beat them out by a significant margin to stay. The only wiggle room would be through use of the PS for any of the others that were eligible.
But aside from that, I can't think of any reasons Raanan might have.
I realize I may be starting to come off as big Donnell supporter, and I am not as much so as I may sound, it is just that the negativity towards him is a little puzzling.
There's a place on every roster for that guy. Special teams.
An example: if Adams is showing close to Donnell, and there is enough TE position scarcity in the League that you know you cannot get Adams to the PS, which one do you waive?
1. As much as I/we appreciate everything Donnell has done in the past, any team and especially the current Giants have to decide who is the best player now and in the future. This applies both to ability and cost (as Bob in N hinted).
2. Donnell is not a great blocker, in the past or, if I have correctly, in this training camp.
3. Donnell drops or bobbles almost as many passes as he catches.
4. Can you honestly say that you don't hold your breath every time Donnell catches a pass? Granted, that is not a reason for him not to make the team, but it surely is something that could lead me, at least, to say he is "not a lock."
Hope that clarifies my position. Back to you.
As you can tell, I don't want this guy on my team!!! I've seen enough.
Quote:
that Donnell sticks and don't know why Raanan is so certain. Otherwise a nice little article.
Have you been to camp and observed, or are you just throwing something out there based on who knows what? Raanan is saying this because he's been there observing. Last week one of the writers on Giants.com listed Donnell as the top offensive player in camp, so he is not alone. He was also just listed as top of the team's first unofficial depth chart, he's seeing a lot of reps with the 1s, he was the starter last year prior to being hurt, the competition at the position is not very strong, he has best size among the group, he has ability, he caught the game winning catch in SF last year, he's having a good camp, and both McAdoo and his position coach have noted him as working hard and improving with his blocking.
But aside from that, I can't think of any reasons Raanan might have.
I realize I may be starting to come off as big Donnell supporter, and I am not as much so as I may sound, it is just that the negativity towards him is a little puzzling.
Not to me. :)
Seriously, though, my biggest issue with Donnell is that he's still not catching the bulk of his passes cleanly. That's the main reason his YAC is so poor. It's not his speed - Jake Ballard wasn't a burner, either...neither was Kevin Boss - but their YAC was much better because they caught the ball cleanly and could turn upfield much faster. Donnell still bobbles an awful lot of catches. Besides limiting his YAC, it can also lead to incompletes if he's hit while bobbling, or, what's worse, turnovers.
WTF? He'll be the day one starter. I think that's a good reason to be fairly certain.
It's not the greatest analogy, but I think the anti-Donnell crowd on BBI is a bit like the anti-Manningham crowd a few years back after Mario's bizarre no touch fumble opened the gate for the furious Eagles' comeback win on the DSJ last minute punt return.
But the coaches see something in Donnell that they think is highly desirable I think, along with the vast majority of press and ex-players that contribute to Giants.com, that Donnell possess a type of athleticism you just don't see from many guys 6'6" and 265#. I looked up their pro day stats (neither Donnell nor Tye were invited to the combine) and saw that Tye was much faster and more agile with better 3 cone and short shuttle times, but Donnell had better leaps, both vertical and broad jumps. At 6'6" he posted a 34.5" vert and 9'8" broad jump. Those jumps are 3" and 4" better than Tye's, respectively. So Donnell has some "hops" or explosion to his frame that perhaps Tye lacks.
On the field he simply looks more athletic than Tye does.
Coaches probably are not enamored of having defeat snatched from the jaws of victory no matter how athletically gifted the player is.
I will be the first to concede that ignoring straight-line speed, Donnell is closer to the athleticism of a WR than any of the others.
Donnell's blocking is still not up to snuff based on the camp reports I've read. He is 27, will be 28 during season I believe, so what we have with him we likely have with him.
Our redzone offense was poor last year so my hunch is Donnell sticks based on his frame and short area "I'm open" ability.
Supposedly a new broom was brought in. Here hoping that the new broom does what a new broom is supposed to do.
Hopefully we trumpet oversell his abilities and get a late round draft choice for him at some point.
And he fumbled four times, losing all four.