Archived Thread

The use of pre-season games

Since1965 : 9/10/2019 11:58 am

I understand that preseason games are used to evaluate back-up personnel and that teams are overly cautious about starters getting injured. However, the Giants defense was clearly not ready to compete Sunday. Their defense looked like a preseason game with all of the mistakes, blowing coverages, players in the wrong places, lack of communication, getting burnt. Shouldn't the preseason games be used to iron that stuff out? Especially with so many new and young players trying to get integrated into the defense. Why screw yourself for the first few games waiting for the defense to get it (if they ever do)?

Several years ago they opened the same way vs. Detroit

GiantBlue : 9/10/2019 12:02 pm : link

where Calvin Williams and Golden Tate were running free in the defensive backfield.....I believe the first year we had JackRabbit.

We sured things up the next week, but it just isn't inexperience....it is instinctual knowledge of where everyone else is, where to go and who to cover.

The Giants D doesn't have any of that right now.

8 or 9

GiantsRage2007 : 9/10/2019 12:49 pm : link

new starters on D will do that

and except for Jackrabbit, an entirely new secondary

it's going to take time (I hope)

Cornerback

Johnny5 : 9/10/2019 1:13 pm : link

Is a tough position to play well in the NFL, and the learning curve for rookies is gigantic. Add two new safeties and unfortunately it's going to take a few games to really determine what we have back there. Plus nobody is showing their full offensive hand in preseason.

It sucks but we can't really write them off yet until the whole unit has some seasoning.

For a bad team with a lot of turnover, it's a valid question.

Big Blue Blogger : 9/10/2019 1:40 pm : link

We should probably note that Baker and Ogletree both missed a chunk of camp, Ballentine was playing catch-up, Love was learning a new position, and Golden and Bethea were on a pitch count through camp and pre-season. So it's not as though Bettcher could have rolled out his "Plan A" lineup in August. That said, the first unit might very well have benefited from more live snaps together in preseason, even against scrubs. Maybe it would have been worth the injury risk to improve their chances of stealing an extra win or two in September.

I think the starting units

Bill in UT : 9/10/2019 2:16 pm : link

should spend more time playing together in preseason. Otherwise, game 1 can look like a preseason game. Especially a team with several new starters.

RE: I think the starting units

Big Blue Blogger : 9/10/2019 2:21 pm : link

Bill in UT said:

Quote:

should spend more time playing together in preseason. Otherwise, game 1 can look like a preseason game. Especially a team with several new starters.

The Cowboys looked pretty sharp, although their defense needed a series or two to shake off the rust. As you say, it depends on the team, and the amount of continuity they bring into the season. Dallas didn't have many new pieces, though they were welcoming Witten and Frederick back to the lineup.

I'll be honest

weaverpsu : 9/10/2019 2:57 pm : link

When Saquon fumbled on the first play of the game, my initial thought was, "that's what happens when you don't play preseason and don't get used to being hit."

As far as the defense, they are young, and half are not very talented.

I agree

JFIB : 9/10/2019 3:54 pm : link

Way too many players not participating in the pre-season and way too much concern about getting tendencies on film for the other teams. With so many new players they should have been more concerned about these guys understanding their responsibilities and schemes.

Moving forward I would like to see Hamilton and Bethea on the bench and Baker, Jack Rabbit and Ballentine at CB and Love at FS. I would rather see better athletes gaining experience and improving than trotting out Hamilton and Bethea and hoping they get it done next week,

from tuning into various games

Del Shofner : 9/10/2019 3:55 pm : link

it looked to me like half the teams in the NFL had a similar problem. A lot of blowouts and sloppy play everywhere.

The Giants D looked exactly like it did in preseason, miscommunication

Zeke's Alibi : 9/10/2019 3:57 pm : link

everywhere.

The first couple weeks have always looked sloppy as long as I can

Zeke's Alibi : 9/10/2019 3:58 pm : link

remember. It is what it is. You just aren't going to be able to replicate what the regular season can give you against other coaches actively trying to scheme against you. The only teams that usually look good are teams that are returning a bunch of players in the same scheme. That isn't us.