I won't be making a prediction as this season can go in a slew of directions but will offer things that I like and concerns.
I wouldn't say I had a strong opinion on Gettleman but I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and so far so good as far as I can see.
I like Shurmur's approach and demeanor. He seems to have address most the mess that McAdoo left in his wake. Really like that he set up live practice with the Lions, which I have felt is vital to getting a team ready. Looking forward to see this QB whisperer in action.
How can you not like Bettcher. He looks and sounds like a defensive coach. He has his work cut out for him as they have a ton of moving parts and must be ready right away.
A major trade for a LBer! Who are these guys? Certainly, made it clear that they have a new chief in town. Love the move as it was so out of the box for the Giants. Leadership was missing on the defense. A 3 down leader was so needed and Ogletree fits that to a tee.
I know they overpaid but to be honest....cap mgt. is voodoo economics and the Giants has managed it well over the years so I will steer clear of the $$$.....
Solder was a move that needed to be made. He is no superstar but the Giants OL for the past 7 years have been a disaster and he stabilizes the most important position on it. Omameh is another professional NFL OL which has gone under the radar but will be a great help for Flowers. I suspect Big Willie will have some growing pains but he is going to be fun to watch, especially at the end of the play! Having 2 studly guards should help the center who must anchor!
A clean pocket is more important for Eli then preventing outside pressure....Eli must feel comfortable stepping up in the pocket. His feet must be clean to succeed! I hope he can overcome the PTSD that has seeped in over this period of poor OL play. THIS IS THE KEY TO THE SEASON.
We can debate QB or no QB in the draft forever but no doubt that this draft flowed very well for the Giants. Barkley is a stud. Big Willie fell to us perfectly. Carter's potential is exciting and love to see Hill running with the 1st Team.
My only regret was not getting much DB help(Grant Haley UDFA). Gettleman once again surprises us in the Supplemental!
A ton, literally, on the DL that are athletes! I can't wait to see the battle against the Cowboys OL....
As well as Barkley with OBJ, Engram and Shepard, who both were only players that excel last year.....this should be fun! I hope we hear that OBJ has signed an extension.
There several concerns that can bubble up to bite us.
Has Eli Apple matured and his issues behind him? Can he be counted on when things get tough? Jenkins already has off field worries.
OV and hope in Bettcher's scheme is our current pass rush....concerning to say the least.
Is our kicker on the roster? Can we trust him?
A ton of changes....new offense, new defense, new special teams......and an extremely tough start to the season is NOT a good combination.
Well, the entire schedule is tough which leads me to feel that the NFC East will only get one playoff spot and the Eagles must be considered the best in the NFC, until proven otherwise.
OV should do quite well under Bettcher, imv. The only concern is health, otherwise I have zero concern with him.
Agree about Solder and what APPEARS to be a strong draft. TBD..
I am trying to contain myself over the excitement re Shurmur’s PC. I don’t want to overrate it. It’s a difficult containment for me
robbie -- there was a pocket to step into? I don't think so -- Weston and Brett both got pushed around pretty good. Brett held onto his man but he got pushed into the pocket more often than not; and Jerry gave up so many handouts - the pocket was generally narrowed and pushed up into Eli -- giving him very little place to go -- if he didn't get the ball out fast he generally had pressure in his face more often than not -- you combine that with the edge problems with Hart and Flowers and it's a wonder Eli is still relatively healthy
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But, imo, that is so flawed. For years we let pressure come off the edge and that killed Eli even with a pocket to step up into. One of Eli's best traits is maneuvering within the pocket. The proble the last few years is it was like playing whack a mole. I don't know if this is the best way to describe it but my point os that the pressure was neverconsistent from one area. He had nobody he can consistently count on. Eli used to be able to deal with pressure of it was one guy and he knew he had help with a back or TE. The bullets were flying from all over the place and his head was more concerned with not if the pressure was coming but from where. Look at the NFC Championship game against SF and look at the last few years with McAdoo. Any difference? Of course there is. Eli needs to have that trust in his OL again. He's always taken hits. He's always gotten up. But when every play leads to a defender in his face his focus is no longer on reading a defense but rather reading the pressure. It isn't about hqving quality guards amd a center over tackles. It is about having trust along the OL as a whole.
robbie -- there was a pocket to step into? I don't think so -- Weston and Brett both got pushed around pretty good. Brett held onto his man but he got pushed into the pocket more often than not; and Jerry gave up so many handouts - the pocket was generally narrowed and pushed up into Eli -- giving him very little place to go -- if he didn't get the ball out fast he generally had pressure in his face more often than not -- you combine that with the edge problems with Hart and Flowers and it's a wonder Eli is still relatively healthy
Yes. Not every play resulted in the same outcome. Sometimes there was pressure up the middle. Other times when the middle held up it was the pressure on the outside. Even when there was a pocket to step up into, and there was at times, Eli still rushed throws and he was jittery.
I don't think we'll recognize them
The sh*t locker room culture sure didn't help. When it rains it pours.
I think that will help keep pressure off Eli moreso than just Solder being better than Flowers at LT.
OV should do quite well under Bettcher, imv. The only concern is health, otherwise I have zero concern with him.
Agree about Solder and what APPEARS to be a strong draft. TBD..
I am trying to contain myself over the excitement re Shurmur’s PC. I don’t want to overrate it. It’s a difficult containment for me
I'm on the same boat as BB56. Quietly optimistic - having offensive and defensive systems in line with today's game alone should mean a few more wins. A little more depth is needed, but that could sort itself out when roster cuts start.
It is going to be a great test right out of the gate for both lines. Week 1 we have the Jaguars and their Defense coming at our newly revamped OL and new right tackle.
And, week 2 we play the Cowboys who have 1 of the best OLs in the league today. I am really interested to see how the new DL (talent-wise and alignment scheme) stacks up against the Cowboys. I think a couple of those new guys are going to get a fast start right out of the gate (BJ Hill and Armstrong if he gets his health problems straightened out). Also very curious about Carter. The depth chart says he is backing up OV but, Bettcher must have a few packages that have all the speed rushers on the field at the same time on the opposing 3rd and longs .... no?
Anyway, kind of getting excited for the season to start. Don't remember feeling like this in a long time ..... maybe 5 - 7 seasons?
Changing from 2 TE heavy run to 4 wide should lead to hugh mismatches!
And
I honestly do not remember the last time i saw a consistent clean pocket
I am crazy like that ; ) ... I think I was still missing Coughlin, IDK? I know you are probably not going to believe me because it is a easy statement to make after the fact but, Macadoo just didn't look like he belong there. Every time I would see him on the sideline it was like that old Sesame Street routine for me "which one of these don't belong here?" .... Like I said - It might have been I was so used to seeing TC on the sidelines
I think I am excited about the new regime .... I love the moves that Gettleman made/is making. I want to see what Shurmur/Bettcher are going to do after the Macadoo debacle. Now we have Barkley to go with a very promising TE and maybe the best receiver in the league. I do not expect the Giants to win more than 8 games this year .... but, I am excited to see all the new folks (players and coaches) ... get going here.
I can't wait to see Hernandez. He plays that red-faced, angry brand of football we haven't seen lately. One of the things Gettleman and Shurmur wanted to do is create a clean pocket for Eli up the middle. Omameh was let go by JAC in favor of a more dominant run blocker - they simply aren't going to drop Bortles back to pass much. Omameh is a massive dude that doesn't get pushed back in pass pro. He will be a better player here for our style of play.
...Saquon left.
And Saquon up the middle.
Eli will be just fine.
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you didn't feel excited after an 11-5 season, but you are excited after a 3-13 one?
I am crazy like that ; ) ... I think I was still missing Coughlin, IDK? I know you are probably not going to believe me because it is a easy statement to make after the fact but, Macadoo just didn't look like he belong there. Every time I would see him on the sideline it was like that old Sesame Street routine for me "which one of these don't belong here?" .... Like I said - It might have been I was so used to seeing TC on the sidelines
I think I am excited about the new regime .... I love the moves that Gettleman made/is making. I want to see what Shurmur/Bettcher are going to do after the Macadoo debacle. Now we have Barkley to go with a very promising TE and maybe the best receiver in the league. I do not expect the Giants to win more than 8 games this year .... but, I am excited to see all the new folks (players and coaches) ... get going here.
Yeah, I think I largely held my tongue for the duration of his coaching career here, but from the first moment he was introduced as the OC I wanted Coughlin to tell "Sloppy Joe" McAdoo to tuck in his shirt and look like NY Giants employee.... Then he went way too far and off into left field last year.....
Wish him the best in his next endeavors.
...Saquon left.
And Saquon up the middle.
Eli will be just fine.
As would Davis Webb, Lauletta and just about any QB if that were the case.
Lets just hope we don't wear out Saquon in his first several years in vain attempt to reach a level that is outside our reach...
Second, Barkley must be a top 3 back. Sorry, we took him #2 for a reason and we need him to be the "LT of offense" as LT was the #2 pick in round 1 of 1981 draft. Anything less, well, than he's a normal RB. LOL.
Third, we have a number of young guys with potential "upside" and in what would be a MIRACLE statistically, what if they all do come through and have solid seasons?
1. Eli Apple - he has the physical tools to be very good.
2. D. Thompson - hurt year #1, #2 so does he finally develop and at least play solid DIME if not the FS starter outright?
3. D. Goodson - he has talent, just needs health. I think of all the 2nd and 3rd year guys he is the closest to being a lock for developing, even moreso than Apple.
4. J. Hilapio - OC is important and if he is starting in camp over B. Jones it means the coaches think he has the tools and Jones is a backup inside. Eli needs a clean inside pocket.
5. E. Flowers - he's year #4 but was only 20 when drafted so I include him: I think he has a good RT year. C. Wheeler will win the swing tackle job and another veteran with some versatility will hopefully be added via waiver wire.
6. J. Adams - we could use two solid blocking TE's who can catch.
7. W. Gallman - he will be the #2 back. Watch. He's good.
8. D. Tomlinson - we need him to be superb vs the run and if he surprises as a pass rusher its a plus.
9. Rojas - kicker is a position of need if he keeps missing and being inconsistent. Love his leg strength.
10. OG Hernandez - we need this young player to start and start well as our top road grader.
If all this happens, we have a playoff type team.
Yes, give SB the ball often, but make defenses pay if they start to sell out on 1st down to stop the run. Eli has more mental talent than the game manager types out there.
Opposing teams will have there hands full . If Eli is gonna have a Big bounce back year the O-line has to help restore is confidence