It is impossible to judge a GM’s results one transaction at a time and it is pointless to try to gauge a GM’s vision before his tenure has a chance to unfold. At this moment in time, post Free Agency 2019 (at least the bulk of it), I think there enough transactions have occurred and time has passed to give Dave Gettleman a grade as a GM thus far.
My Grade A+
(Point 1) The Offensive Line: From Flowers - Pugh - Richburg - Jerry - Hart & lt;---& gt; Solder - Hernandez - Halapio/Pulley - Zeitler - Wheeler/FA/Draft Pick: WOW! What an overhaul. In his interview with Bob Papa today, Dave said something that really helped me appreciate our o-line NOW even before RT is figured out. He said that bringing in Zeitler, a proven stud RG with Wonderlic results off-the-charts, "settles down the right side". We still need a RT, but even with an average or slightly below average RT in place, Zeitler + Player X results in an above average side of the line. Think about all of the stunts on the right side that killed us last year. With Zeitler in place, communication between the RT and RG we will be strides ahead of last year.
(Point 2) Eli Manning: My handle speaks for itself how I feel about this player. Is he as good as he was physically in 2011? No. But he still has the skills, is even more experienced and most importantly HE CAN WIN IN THE PLAYOFFS. He came to-mother-fucking-play in Green Bay in 2016. Real Giant Fans know this. I have been spending the past half a decade talking to other sports fans about how Eli is portrayed as a bad QB because of how Sports Center and the media represents him. I tell them, those of us that have never missed one play of Eli Manning's career know that he is an elite QB. Yes, he has bad games, and has plays that leave you scratching your head. And sometimes, in big moments, when you need Eli to shine, he doesn't. And he needs a quality O-line to be good. These statements are true. But he is good enough in the regular season to lead a winning team, he is the best teammate and leader you can ever ask for, he makes players around him better, and if you get to the playoffs his game elevates to another level. FINALLY, WE HAVE A GM WHO SEE THIS AS WELL. Dave started telling the media that Eli's narrative is wrong, and people can't get off of this portrayal because it is baked in their brains. HE IS SPOT ON. So, what does he do? He focuses on the O-line to give Eli the time he needs, and together with Pat Shurmer, is building an offense with a running game where Eli can thrive off of play action pass and throwing the ball less. Well done Dave, thank god you are our GM.
(Point 3) - Got rid of Odel: Listen guys, I loved watching Odel more than the next guy. His rookie season made watching games bearable, and quite honestly, I looked forward to each Sunday even in a losing season, which has never happened in my lifetime. His game against Josh Norman and the redskins, the first game after the Carolina game, when he juked him with a spin move next to the sidelines, is my top 5 favorite plays of ALL TIME. I love his spirit, energy and ability to go 99 yards on any play. BUT, he had to go. His energy was a cancer for this team. When he was upset, everyone felt it. He made the HC cringe often. He cared more about beating Jerry Rice than winning Super Bowls. And most importantly, he went on an interview and bashed ELI, the coach and the organization. He had to go, and Dave got a hell of a haul for him, even though he knew how hated he may be for it. Bravo Dave, you have balls, and stuck to your vision. And I'll throw this in there. I have been critical of Mara because it seems like the further away we get from Wellington's passing, the worse our organization has become. Mara could have told Dave not to trade Odell. As an owner, allowing your GM to trade the most marketable player in the NFL, someone with Michael Jordan type fame, is very hard to do. But Ownership is allowing the people they hire to do their jobs, and a GM who faces obstacles from ownership that stops his vision to come to fruition, will fail. Kudos Mr. Mara!
(Point 4) 2018 Draft was a hell of a draft. Great picks, and I have a lot of faith this continues with more good drafts to come.
(Point 5) He got rid of Pugh, Perkins, Wing, Eli Apple, Darian Thompson, Hart, Jerry, Jerrel Adams and Roger Lewis. All players that in my opinion do not belong on winning football teams. These are the types of player that in the Jerry Reese Years would stick around on a roster for a year or 2 or 3 too long.
(Point 6) He isn't afraid of admitting mistakes. Al a Jon Stewart, trading OBJ after the contract and Omameh. You gave it a try, it didn’t work out, cut your losses.
(Point 7) He has maintained complete trust and partnership with our Head Coach. Not sure if it has been easy to do so behind closed doors, but regardless, this is crucial for a winning football team. He is always overly positive when talking about Pat Shurmer, and vice versa.
(Point 8) He drafts, signs and keeps quality football players, with INTELLIGENCE that are consummate professionals with high character. Golden Tate, Alec Ogletree, BJ Hill, Saquaon Barkley and the list goes on and on. Next thing you know we are going to have a roster of guys that are mentally strong, know how to play the game, play the game with passion and do it together as a team.
You don't change culture through gimmicks, you change culture by building a team with players and coaches who embody the traits of the culture you are aiming for.
AND FINALLY, the guy got cancer and beat it last year. Never made it about him, he just showed the same toughness that he demands from his team. I freaking love this guys!
Link - ( New Window )
You don't hit on every pick in any Draft...it just doesn't happen very often.
With Eli in the seat, that move was very questionable. Especially given the needs of the team from DB to LB to Oline. A 4th rounder was a hefty price for another QB project.
But more of a b+
The FA mistakes werent costly but they were mistakes
Of course, some good work has been done, especially the period from the end of this year to this draft. So that helps.
To me, all of this blends out to a soft C. But still plenty of upside to get the future pointed in a better direction...
Here is a plausible scenario:
Murray goes #1
Redskins trade up to #2 and take Haskins.
THEN WHAT? Now we have no QB. You cant cut a QB until you have a replacements. If we actually tried to move forward with Lauletta, or some scrub, we would do damage to our team's future.
Here is a plausible scenario:
Murray goes #1
Redskins trade up to #2 and take Haskins.
THEN WHAT? Now we have no QB. You cant cut a QB until you have a replacements. If we actually tried to move forward with Lauletta, or some scrub, we would do damage to our team's future.
But you can trade an Edge Rusher, or Interior D-Lineman, or a Star #1 WR without finding a replacement?
not other options? Untrue.
With that being said....
#1 WR - Tate (Not a true #1, but game breaking ability and will bring 70% of Odel's production...
Edge Rusher - #6 pick
Interior D-Line- BJ Hill and Tomlinson
With that being said....
#1 WR - Tate (Not a true #1, but game breaking ability and will bring 70% of Odel's production...
Edge Rusher - #6 pick
Interior D-Line- BJ Hill and Tomlinson
So then using that argument you believe the Giants shouldn't have drafted Barkley?
Again, my grade is thus far, time will tell on who he drafts at QB. I dont want him to take a QB this year, but I am fine if he does.
Vegas Steve, thank you brother!
Again, my grade is thus far, time will tell on who he drafts at QB. I dont want him to take a QB this year, but I am fine if he does.
I wasn't even getting at the QB thing based on your handle.
You're talking positional value, which I agree with, but based on that, if you don't want a QB, Bradley Chubb should have been the selection.
So now we know Marc Ross' BBI handle
He GREATLY improved second half. Add Zietler and a second year Hernandez (learning curve mostly conquered) should be much smoother sledding.
Christ.
I would rather have more draft capital and more dead money than less draft capital and less dead money.
And I wish I could be as wildly optimistic about a team that has won 8 games over two seasons and is still, by any measure a good 2-3 years away from competing for the playoffs.
Forget the moves to separate from good to great players like Collins and Odell. If the team is 2-3 years away from competing they should not be putting the franchise into the hands of a 38 year old QB clearly on the decline.
Do what it takes, turn over rocks, and give a shot to young QB’s. I for one, hope Murray, Rosen or Haskins is on this roster by training camp. But even if not, what is the upside to paying Eli $17m+ to try and continue “improving” (Gettleman really said that?) to go from 3 wins to 5 wins to maybe 7 wins?
You sure that 07, 11. Eli is still here?
E-Hive Member #1 : 8:33 pm : link : reply
Signing OBJ to a contract is the reason we were able to get so much for him via trade. What do you think we would have gotten for him on the franchise tag? What would you have done? Can you tell me a better move?
I would rather have more draft capital and more dead money than less draft capital and less dead money.
You use your 5th year option for 8M, instead of giving him a 5 year contract, saving 13.5M.....Now you have the option this year of franchising him and trading him, and you aren't 16M in a hole......
Great defense of your ridiculous A+ argument.
I’ll say it again, this team hasn’t play a down. What has he done to earn an A+?
We should give him a an A+ because he’s built a potentially great roster? Wonderful. Bravo. He gets an A+ for painting a pretty picture. Until we see what the roster produces, grading him right now is ridiculous.
I'm not sold on Lauletta being a "hack pick" just yet. Lets see him in camp #2 and in a pre-season game or two before we jettison him.
Further, as for Solder, it was a bad signing SO FAR. If he has his "best season" ever and Hernandez dominates well the left side could be worthy. The right side still needs a RT and I think a deal will be made with Remmers before draft day.
#10. Drafts from TOP school with people who have the biggest brains! A lot of people are learning this now for only first time!
#11. Employs the best people. I hear people say this all the time. And it's true. Very true. I hear them say it. Even OBJ thanked Jose on his way out. BEST sloppy joes in NFL.
#12. His best adviser is himself and he listens to himself all the time! Chris Mara is low IQ!
#13. He didn't go on a wide-out hunt. NO WIDE-OUT HUNT! Traded BEAUTIFUL wide-out and then just got another one. No time for hunting!
#14. Prominent NFL insiders are saying these moves are TOP MOVES and he is SMART to make them! They AGREE with Gettlemen.
#15. He is building WALL of greatness in front of Eli! The previous administration tried to build the wall but FAILED. He is doing it. He is addressing the CRISIS on our offensive border!
I'm excited to see what he can do with 12 picks this year, 13 if you include Beal. Building through the draft and supplementing through FA with guys like Solder, Tate, Golden is a great way to build a roster.
I don't think you can "fall" to the 4th round if no one ever thought or predicted you should be drafted earlier than that round.
What round was he projected to go before the Giants' selected him? Was he considered more likely a UDFA target?
And I don't see how anyone can have the balls to give him an A+ when he hasn't won anything yet. We won 2 more games last year than we did in 2017 and that was WITH Saquon and a full wide receiving corps (which we did not have in 2017). He's made a few moves this offseason and we haven't even gotten to the draft and you're already sending him home with a report card?