28. +NEW YORK GIANTS (5-11)
Every reporter and TV screamer and columnist has weighed in on Eli Manning and Daniel Jones and the sanity of the general manager. So let’s spend one paragraph on one of the most interesting things we’ll witness this year: exactly who will be impactful, and who will line up where, on the Giants defense. By my count, nine of the 11 starters on defense on opening day (if they open in a nickel package) could be new to the team over the last 15 months: defensive linemen B.J. Hill and Dexter Lawrence, linebackers Alec Ogletree, Oshane Ximines and Lorenzo Carter, and defensive backs Sam Beal, Deandre Baker, Antoine Bethea and Jabrill Peppers. Chemistry class will be in session at Giants camp in July. It had better be—because no one knows how productive the post-Odell offense will be. |
He's a starting LB in the NFL!
He had 5 INT's, returning 2 of them for TD's.
Talentless hack??
This has to be one of the worst hot takes I've seen - debating the talent level of a guy around as long as Ogletree
...there are 4 to 6 wins in this team.
Until proven otherwise.
Are you equating "proven talent" with being the top player at a position? Seems like you are making up a definition.
A proven talent is a guy who has been a consistent starter over several years.
Jesus.
He's a starting LB in the NFL!
He had 5 INT's, returning 2 of them for TD's.
Talentless hack??
This has to be one of the worst hot takes I've seen - debating the talent level of a guy around as long as Ogletree
I said talentless hack? Now you're making things up.
I said he's a JAG. And that's not as awful as some people think it is.
Your longevity comment is laughable though after the season we just witnessed from Solder.
WTF does longevity have to do with talent?
I feel like you are arguing for the sake of it.
You make it sound like Solder was horrendous last year. Just hot take after terrible hot take.
Was a team captain for NE. Two time SB champion.
But he's not a proven talent.
Ok, LOL, I'm arguing for the sake of arguing.
As usual with you everything blows up into a massive debate.
I do not think Ogletree is a good player, and I do not think Solder is a good player, in fact I think he was a disaster last year.
My definition (that I made up) for "proven talent" has an element to it that a player is a good player relative to their peers. Not just that they start or "have been around" for a long period of time.
I already mentioned Ereck Flowers started for three straight years. Is he proven talent (obviously no longer a Giant, but I like to know people's definition I guess before I make up my own again).
Was a team captain for NE. Two time SB champion.
But he's not a proven talent.
He was brutal last year. I don't know what team you watched. Even in New England he was considered questionable by Pats media and fans. They laughed when the Giants made him the highest paid OL.
I guess we have different standards. You and BillT have an "just be on the field" standard for proven talent, for me you have to excel at least a little bit.
There's not much debate here. There's really nothing to illustrate that Ogletree and Solder aren't proven players.
Ereck Flowers was on the hot seat from Day 1. Ogletree and solder were solid starters. Again - Solder was a team captain. Are they just handing those things out for the fuck of it?
Lengthy debates will only happen if posters continue to stand behind shitty takes.
Ok, LOL, I'm arguing for the sake of arguing.
As usual with you everything blows up into a massive debate.
I do not think Ogletree is a good player, and I do not think Solder is a good player, in fact I think he was a disaster last year.
My definition (that I made up) for "proven talent" has an element to it that a player is a good player relative to their peers. Not just that they start or "have been around" for a long period of time.
I already mentioned Ereck Flowers started for three straight years. Is he proven talent (obviously no longer a Giant, but I like to know people's definition I guess before I make up my own again).
Ereck Flowers IS a proven talent. The three years he started showed he has none.
Totally agree.
Barkley, Barkley, Barkley. He should have a combined 500+ touches. I know it's not going to happen, but this is also why Jones should start. He can hand the ball off and check down to Barkley just like Eli. And, and this is critical, he can keep drives alive with his mobility - making throws and running (assuming you buy into the Jones CV).
Solder and Ogletree are better than JAGs, but have had JAG-type years for certain...
Solder was hurt the first half of the season and performed much better in the second half. Not sure why anyone would make short shrift of that, or, not even allude to it as a factor. A big one
Their OL is still not great, but the additions certainly improve it to what should be an acceptable level. With Barkley in the backfield, that could be enough. As long as they give Manning more than 1 second to throw, the offense can be good enough to win games. I do think engram needs to take a big step forward, though, for the overall offense to be significant.
On D, we are now bringing in players who should fit Betcher's D. Again, some guys need to step up and we may be over-reliant on a rookie to stuff the middle. But, we are getting younger and more athletic.
Obviously Eli is a year older, and teams will no longer have to gameplan for Odell, but I think this offense has the potential to be a top 12 offense (they were #16 last year).
As for the team as a whole, Gettleman says a team needs to do three things well: run the ball, protect the QB, and pressure the opposing QB. The first two could be a strength. But the last one could very well be our Achilles heel.
9-7 if things go poorly. 10-6 if the ball doesn't bounce their way. 11-5 or 12-4 if the luck factor is a push between them and the rest of the division. 13-3 or better if the ball bounces their way. Don't want to jinx anyone by mentioning what could cause 8-8 or worse.
QBs- average/below average
RB- Elite
WR- Average
Tackles- Average
Center- Below Average
Guards- Above average
Tight ends- average
Down Linemen- Average
Linebackers-Below average
Edge rush- below average
Corners- Average-
Safeties- Average-
Coaching- Below Average
9-7 if things go poorly. 10-6 if the ball doesn't bounce their way. 11-5 or 12-4 if the luck factor is a push between them and the rest of the division. 13-3 or better if the ball bounces their way. Don't want to jinx anyone by mentioning what could cause 8-8 or worse.
Of the list of your 'improvements' in the first sentence, one guy is an upgrade (Zeitler). The WR is a 30 year old on his fourth team and the EDGE is a guy who had four sacks last year coming back from a major knee injury. Not sure why you would count rookies as an upgrade. They may end up being good players; right now they haven't played a down in this league. 9-7 if things go poorly is hilarious.
p.s.--Whenever someone asks me how tall I am, I tell them I'm 6'4".
p.s.--Whenever someone asks me how tall I am, I tell them I'm 6'4".
i use objective because i am removing emotion and being hopeful
i would say there is a chance Eli is above average and OTs are, and the front 7 clicks and the rookies are whatever... but what im saying is there is zero reason for anyone to look at the giants the last 2 years... look at the roster now.. and say to themsevles... look out for these guys.
Our secondary has been completely made remade with QUALITY players. Bethea may be nearing the end, but Bettcher just commented that he seems to be playing faster than he did earlier in his career. He's a perfect guy to teach the young pups. Jabrill is an upgrade over Collins. Our new corners are going to be good.
I love our DL now... they are young and have not entered their prime yet.
The big questions are at LB. Much depends on Golden and Carter.
They have Garrapolo returning from injury, they selected who was widely considered to be the best player in the draft for most of the pre-draft process as well as two very promising wide receivers, they signed a guy coming off a 13 sack season, and they may have a sneaky-versatile backfiled with Coleman, Breida, and the return of McKinnon. I wouldn't say that automatically makes them a top-ten team or anything, but I also wouldn't say it's absolutely nothing.
Our secondary has been completely made remade with QUALITY players. Bethea may be nearing the end, but Bettcher just commented that he seems to be playing faster than he did earlier in his career. He's a perfect guy to teach the young pups. Jabrill is an upgrade over Collins. Our new corners are going to be good.
I love our DL now... they are young and have not entered their prime yet.
The big questions are at LB. Much depends on Golden and Carter.
I can see us struggling on defense game 1 against Dallas simply because we have a lot of new faces & a lot of young faces. But I think this defense will gel quickly.
One thing in our favor is that I do believe Pierre, Golden, Bethea all know Bettcher's scheme so we have a bit of a learning curve advantage there.
Our secondary has been completely made remade with QUALITY players. Bethea may be nearing the end, but Bettcher just commented that he seems to be playing faster than he did earlier in his career. He's a perfect guy to teach the young pups. Jabrill is an upgrade over Collins. Our new corners are going to be good.
I love our DL now... they are young and have not entered their prime yet.
The big questions are at LB. Much depends on Golden and Carter.
Who said Peppers is an upgrade over Collins? Collins has led this team in tackles the last two years here, despite missing games last year. Has Peppers? Has he ever made the pro bowl?
And what do you think Bettchner is going to say about Bethea, that he's washed up? He's 34. The cliff is approaching.
I still don't know who's rushing the passer. Golden? He had 4 sacks last year. Is he all the way back from major knee injury? Maybe! I don't take any comfort from the fact that the guy penciled in as our best pass rusher is on a one-year prove it deal.
The rookies could be good! Seems like we are putting a lot of hoping and wishing into it though.
It's not very complicated.
They added two very good edge rushers, a good MLB, and more pieces to the puzzle for Shanahan's offense. They hope to have Garoppolo back there for a full season instead of more prime time killers in Mullens and Beathard.
If the team can live up to that potential and learn to close out games they should have won with those backups last year (Packers AT Green Bay, Chargers in LA, Cards twice), then they can be a force this year.
I'm rather superstitious and don't like to make big projections. But if the team went 12-4 this year, it wouldn't be a huge surprise whatsoever. The Niners going 13-3 in 2011 was something that nobody in the NFL predicted, not even the bigger Niner homer.
Niner fans cautiously anticipate anywhere between 7-10 wins, but believe me, every single game they will feel they deserve to be in it until the end. That's the sentiment.
Meanwhile the Seahawks only bring back Wilson and Wagner from the SB teams, and people will slurp them up as a 10 win team no problem.
That is how the NFL works. How many games of those where we down 2 scores and we'd score a near meaningless TD late? It seemed like quite a few if I remember correctly.
lemme just ask: how do you know they haven't gotten worse?
It would be a huge surprise.
Hell, getting to 8-8 is going to be a tall order.
There's not much debate here. There's really nothing to illustrate that Ogletree and Solder aren't proven players.
Ereck Flowers was on the hot seat from Day 1. Ogletree and solder were solid starters. Again - Solder was a team captain. Are they just handing those things out for the fuck of it?
Lengthy debates will only happen if posters continue to stand behind shitty takes.
While we are on semantics, I wouldn't equate proven with good, or even quality. I think it's a fair point that Solder wasn't terribly good, certainly not worth the price. Moreover, being a captain of a team doesn't have a lot to do with how good a player is. Jonathan Casillas was a team captain.
People constantly get into arguments about semantics, which message boards are ripe for, but we shouldn't throw out the baby with the bath water - frequently there's a kernel in there somewhere.
Wait and see.
I've already said the two OLBs are the question marks. But ACL's can take some time to come back from and Bettcher said he's moving around great now.
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for doing absolutely nothing.
It's not very complicated.
They added two very good edge rushers, a good MLB, and more pieces to the puzzle for Shanahan's offense. They hope to have Garoppolo back there for a full season instead of more prime time killers in Mullens and Beathard.
If the team can live up to that potential and learn to close out games they should have won with those backups last year (Packers AT Green Bay, Chargers in LA, Cards twice), then they can be a force this year.
I'm rather superstitious and don't like to make big projections. But if the team went 12-4 this year, it wouldn't be a huge surprise whatsoever. The Niners going 13-3 in 2011 was something that nobody in the NFL predicted, not even the bigger Niner homer.
Niner fans cautiously anticipate anywhere between 7-10 wins, but believe me, every single game they will feel they deserve to be in it until the end. That's the sentiment.
Meanwhile the Seahawks only bring back Wilson and Wagner from the SB teams, and people will slurp them up as a 10 win team no problem.
Ummmm, the Seahawks DID win 10 games last year and made the playoffs while the 49ers were picking second in the entire draft.
Yeah, how bizarre that people are “slurping” on a team that just won 10 games and went to the playoffs and predicting that they could ....actually win 10 games! Weird, right?
Wait and see.
I've already said the two OLBs are the question marks. But ACL's can take some time to come back from and Bettcher said he's moving around great now.
Peppers had one interception and one sack, with Collins having zero. Collins had almost 20 more tackles. Saying Peppers is 'much better' than Collins is unsupportable. The best argument you can make is they're a wash. Whoop de doo.
You said you are more optimistic than most about the defense, but acknowledge that the OLBs have issues. I fail to see the reasons why anyone would be optimistic. They were terrible last year, and I don't see how they improved.
You don't have to believe me. The Cleveland coaches loved him and texted Bettcher after the trade and told him he would love him. Bucky Brooks thinks he is going to be a breakout player in 2019.
As I said, wait and see.
Collins had the 46th most tackles in the NFL - just ahead of Tre Boston and Bradley McDougald.
Wait and see.
I've already said the two OLBs are the question marks. But ACL's can take some time to come back from and Bettcher said he's moving around great now.
Has peppers ever been a stud? I think he has the potential but how can you claim someone is better when up to now peak Collins is better? Even if a few years back? It’s these assumptions and leaps that get people to 8-10 wins- which I’m hoping for but it’s hard to use as a base case
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Jabrill Peppers is a much better player than Landon Collins. Collins is living off his 2016 season. He was a stud that year. He's been ordinary at best the other three seasons.
Wait and see.
I've already said the two OLBs are the question marks. But ACL's can take some time to come back from and Bettcher said he's moving around great now.
Has peppers ever been a stud? I think he has the potential but how can you claim someone is better when up to now peak Collins is better? Even if a few years back? It’s these assumptions and leaps that get people to 8-10 wins- which I’m hoping for but it’s hard to use as a base case
Oh please. Peak Collins is a thing of the past until proven otherwise. If ever.
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In comment 14441292 Sean said:
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for doing absolutely nothing.
It's not very complicated.
They added two very good edge rushers, a good MLB, and more pieces to the puzzle for Shanahan's offense. They hope to have Garoppolo back there for a full season instead of more prime time killers in Mullens and Beathard.
If the team can live up to that potential and learn to close out games they should have won with those backups last year (Packers AT Green Bay, Chargers in LA, Cards twice), then they can be a force this year.
I'm rather superstitious and don't like to make big projections. But if the team went 12-4 this year, it wouldn't be a huge surprise whatsoever. The Niners going 13-3 in 2011 was something that nobody in the NFL predicted, not even the bigger Niner homer.
Niner fans cautiously anticipate anywhere between 7-10 wins, but believe me, every single game they will feel they deserve to be in it until the end. That's the sentiment.
Meanwhile the Seahawks only bring back Wilson and Wagner from the SB teams, and people will slurp them up as a 10 win team no problem.
Ummmm, the Seahawks DID win 10 games last year and made the playoffs while the 49ers were picking second in the entire draft.
Yeah, how bizarre that people are “slurping” on a team that just won 10 games and went to the playoffs and predicting that they could ....actually win 10 games! Weird, right?
It's very weird.
Seattle always gets the benefit of the doubt.