Some Monday Reading

Giants

Eisen Giants.com: Joe Judge names Jason Garrett, Patrick Graham, Thomas McGaughey as coordinators
https://www.giants.com/news/jason-garrett-joe-judge-patrick-graham-thomas-mcgaughey-coordinators

Leonard NYDN: If Daniel Jones’ development went so well his rookie year, why have Giants fired all his coaches?
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/ny-daniel-jones-development-joe-judge-coaching-staff-20200118-hk5wgdtkgbhrjhsg7uimobw4aq-story.html

Slater NJ.com: Ranking Giants’ 10 most important in-house free agents, including Leonard Williams | How will Jason Garrett’s arrival impact offseason plans?
https://www.nj.com/giants/2020/01/ranking-giants-10-most-important-in-house-free-agents-including-leonard-williams-how-will-jason-garretts-arrival-impact-offseason-plans.html

Schneier/Falato: Big Blue Banter Giants Podcast: Dan Schneier and Nick Falato break down the Giants decision to hire Jason Garrett as offensive coordinator, what Patrick Graham's defense could look like, and other assistant coaching hires, as well as listener questions (Audio)
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-blue-banter-a-new-york-giants-football-podcast/id1387339234?i=1000463075246

NYP: Listen to Episode 24 of ‘Blue Rush’: Garrett’s Offense, Super Bowl 2020 Set feat. Ernie Accorsi (Audio)
https://nypost.com/2020/01/20/listen-to-episode-24-of-blue-rush-garretts-offense-super-bowl-2020-set-feat-ernie-accorsi/amp/

GM

Salomone Giants.com: How the 2019 Senior Bowl changed the Giants' future
https://www.giants.com/news/senior-bowl-daniel-jones-dave-gettleman-draft

OC

Triana Giantsmaven SI.com: What the Giants Offense Might Look Like Under Jason Garrett
https://www.si.com/.amp-nygiants/nfl/giants/news/what-the-giants-offense-might-look-like-under-jason-garrett

Rosenblatt NJ.com: Stories from Jason Garrett’s time as a Giants quarterback in early 2000s, and why he’s a perfect fit for Daniel Jones
https://www.nj.com/giants/2020/01/stories-from-jason-garretts-time-as-a-giants-quarterback-in-early-2000s-and-why-hes-a-perfect-fit-for-daniel-jones.html

Slater NJ.com: How did Cowboys perform when Jason Garrett called plays? These stats might surprise you | What they mean for Giants’ Daniel Jones
https://www.nj.com/giants/2020/01/how-did-cowboys-perform-when-jason-garrett-called-plays-these-stats-might-surprise-you-what-they-mean-for-giants-daniel-jones.html

RV SNY: Why Jason Garrett is an inspired choice to join Joe Judge's staff with Giants
https://www.sny.tv/giants/news/why-joe-judge-should-bring-on-jason-garrett-as-giants-next-oc/312439350

QB

Dunleavy NYP: Daniel Jones’ new Giants mentor even left Dan Marino impressed
https://nypost.com/2020/01/18/daniel-jones-new-giants-mentor-even-left-dan-marino-impressed/

TE

Dunleavy NYP: Cowboys’ Jason Witten interested in following Jason Garrett to Giants
https://nypost.com/2020/01/19/cowboys-jason-witten-interested-in-following-jason-garrett-to-giants/

OL

Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN)
1/20/20, 11:35 AM
Source says Giants will interview Dave DeGuglielmo for their OL coach job. Was on Patriots staff with Joe Judge 2014-15.

Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21)
1/20/20, 11:57 AM
DeGuglielmo was a Giants assistant OL coach from 2004-08. He may have stock in U-Haul. Resume over past eight years:
2012: Jets OL coach
2013: Radio analyst
2014-15: Pats OL coach
2016: Chargers asst OL coach
2017: Dolphins OL coach
2018: Colts OL coach
2019: Dolphins OL coach

Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton)
1/20/20, 12:31 PM
Giants will interview Dave DeGuglielmo for OL coach, source confirms. & #8294;& #8234;@DanGrazianoESPN& #8236;& #8297; had it 1st.

Expectation is Joe Judge will meet with Guge tomorrow. They worked together in NE in 2014-2015.

What does that mean for Bill Callahan and NYG interest? I’m told TBD, wait and see

Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton)
1/20/20, 12:31 PM
To my knowledge, no interview with Giants scheduled for Callahan at the moment. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but sounds like Callahan has other irons in the fire. We’ll see

Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins: Three assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea, won’t be back
(12-30-2019)

“Although multiple reports said O’Shea was fired, DeGuglielmo was first offered a contract to remain with the Dolphins but the sides could not come to an agreement on the length of the deal and the dollar figure, a source said.
A potential factor in at least the O’Shea and DeGuglielmo moves is the likelihood that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who has ties to both men, is in high demand for a head-coaching job and has at least floated DeGuglielmo’s name for the staff he envisions.”

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/20191230/miami-dolphins-three-assistant-coaches-including-offensive-coordinator-chad-oshea-wont-be-back

Defense

Staten Island Live: New York Giants name former Wagner College assistant Patrick Graham defensive coordinator
https://www.silive.com/giants/2020/01/new-york-giants-name-former-wagner-college-assistant-patrick-graham-defensive-coordinator.html

NFL

King FMIA: Patrick Mahomes Is ‘The Whole Package,’ Running Chiefs Into Super Bowl LIV To Meet The 49ers In Miami
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/01/20/patrick-mahomes-chiefs-49ers-super-bowl-liv-fmia-peter-king/

Breer MMQB: Super Bowl LIV Is Set, Thanks to an Intense—but Effective—Pep Talk From Kyle Shanahan and a Classic Patrick Mahomes Performance
The 49ers punched their ticket to Miami by getting down and dirty against the Packers, while a healthy (and elusive) QB had the Chiefs looking like it was 2018. Plus, the Panthers double down on their bold coaching choices by tapping 30-year-old Joe Brady to run the offense, and OBJ keeps doing OBJ things

“
The Giants’ hire of Jason Garrett was never going to win the press conference (or conference call or however the team makes him available this week). But it gives Judge a guy with head-coaching experience to lean on. It’ll be interesting to see what Garrett has learned in the seven years since he was last the Cowboys’ primary play-caller (Linehan and Moore handled that since). Remember, that’s the area of the game where Garrett first made his name, after arriving in Dallas in 2007 from Nick Saban’s Miami staff.”

https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/01/20/nfl-playoffs-super-bowl-liv-49ers-chiefs-patrick-mahomes-kyle-shanahan-mmqb

Football Outsiders: Quick Reads looks at what happened to past teams that won playoff games with as little passing as the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. Plus, DYAR stats for the conference championships
https://www.footballoutsiders.com/quick-reads/2020/conference-championship-quick-reads

Gosselin Footballmaven: Rick Gosselin's 2019 NFL special teams rankings: a heavenly finish for Saints

7. NY Giants 314

PUNT RETURNS

3. NY Giants 10.5 yards

KICKOFF COVERAGE

2. NY Giants 18.8 yards

https://mavensports.io/nfl/talkoffame/nfl/rick-gosselin-s-2019-nfl-special-teams-rankings-a-heavenly-finish-for-saints-i1WLdqzQ4k2xEBENUVmCKA

BALTIMORE
Oyefusi Baltimore Sun: Three things the Ravens can learn from the Chiefs and 49ers after championship Sunday
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-championship-sunday-20200120-h4exdmwprnhihaicsh7yd3u3zi-story.html

CAROLINA
Henson Panthers.com: Phil Snow has been waiting for a chance to coordinate an NFL defense, and he knows exactly what he wants from it
https://www.panthers.com/news/phil-snow-explains-defense-philosophy-coordinator-panthers-matt-rhule

CLEVELAND
Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: Vikings’ George Paton could be hired as Browns GM early this week, source says; Chris Spielman says ‘it’s makes the most sense for Kevin Stefanski’
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/01/vikings-george-paton-could-be-hired-as-browns-gm-early-this-week-source-says-chris-spielman-says-its-makes-the-most-sense-for-kevin-stefanski.html

Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: Browns hire Chad O’Shea, former Dolphins OC, as WR coach and possibly passing game coordinator
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/01/browns-hire-chad-oshea-former-dolphins-oc-as-wr-coach-and-possibly-passing-game-coordinator.html

Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: A look back at Odell Beckham Jr.’s 2019 season, from his trade to Browns through the season finale (video)
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/01/a-look-back-at-odell-beckham-jrs-2019-season-from-his-trade-to-browns-through-the-season-finale-video.html

Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky)
1/19/20, 4:55 PM
The Browns aren’t retaining offensive line coach/assistant head coach James Campen, the longtime former Packers assistant. Hard to fathom a team wouldn’t want someone who coached numerous Pro Bowlers and had more wins among line coaches than all but Patriots’ Dante Scarnecchia

Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: Kevin Stefanski tells Steve Wilks he won’t be back as Browns DC, source says; Closing in on 49ers’ Joe Woods, according to report
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/01/kevin-stefanski-tells-steve-wilks-he-wont-be-back-as-browns-dc-source-says-closing-in-on-49ers-joe-woods-per-report.html

DALLAS
Engel Fort Worth Star Telegram: Tennessee Titans expose unnerving fatal flaw to the design of the Dallas Cowboys

“The depressing element to Sunday’s development for the Cowboys fan is that the Cowboys and Titans function the same way.
Garrett built a team similar to the one he came to as an NFL player in 1993 — that dynasty Cowboys’ team that was anchored around Emmitt Smith. At that time, the NFL still functioned as a run-first league.

When Garrett entered coaching, and was the quarterbacks coach for Nick Saban, the latter tried to do the same thing with the Miami Dolphins.
Saban only stayed with the Dolphins for two years before he bolted for ‘Bama’s money, and brand.
At Alabama, Saban has built a team around dominant lines, and a run game that is so good the quarterback was never the focal point until Tua Tagovailoa arrived three years ago. One of Saban’s running backs was Derrick Henry.
In college football, Saban has proved you can win titles without the best quarterbacks.

In professional football, you have to have a top quarterback.
When Garrett became the Cowboys full-time head coach in 2011, he wanted to build an offense that controlled the line of scrimmage behind dominant lines, and an offense that won on the ground.
Even when it worked, it only worked to a point.
It never all aligned at the same time for Garrett and the Cowboys. When the offense was good enough under Tony Romo or Dak Prescott, the defense was not.

There was a flaw in the design.
The game has changed. Teams need good running games to advance to a Super Bowl, just not the best one.
In 2019, many of the top running backs didn’t make the playoffs. Zeke, Nick Chubb, Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette, Josh Jacobs and Joe Mixon were in the top ten in rushing and none reached the postseason.
Garrett was no dummy, but he could be appallingly stubborn.

It’s been said and written before, but what happened on Sunday was just another piece of evidence that Zeke isn’t enough.
Dak has to be better, and he is Mike McCarthy’s mission.”

https://amp.star-telegram.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mac-engel/article239446738.html

Archer ESPN Dallas: As Jason Garrett heads to the Giants, let's close out his Cowboys era

“In Garrett's nine full-time seasons, the Cowboys never got out of the divisional round of the playoffs. Three times, Dallas had chances to win the NFC East in head-to-head matchups in Week 17 and lost all three. Two other times, the Cowboys made it to Week 16 with a shot at the playoffs and missed out, including the 2019 season that effectively ended with a loss to the undermanned Philadelphia Eagles.
In the end, Garrett’s tenure was not good enough, and that's why Mike McCarthy is now the head coach.
That does not mean there was not some good from Garrett.
The Cowboys were a 1-7 mess when Garrett took over as the interim coach in 2010 with quarterback Tony Romo out because of a broken collarbone. Garrett earned the full-time job by directing the Cowboys to a 5-3 finish down the stretch with Jon Kitna at quarterback, bringing a level of discipline that fell off late in Wade Phillips' tenure.
Garrett, 53, helped set the Cowboys' agenda in his first NFL draft as coach when Tyron Smith was selected in the first round in 2011. Before taking Smith with the No. 9 overall pick, the Cowboys had not selected an offensive lineman in the first round since 1981. In 2013, the Cowboys took Travis Frederick in the first round. A year later, they drafted Zack Martin.
Smith has been named to the Pro Bowl seven straight years. Frederick was named to his fifth last month. Martin has been named every season, in addition to being a first- or second-team All-Pro.
Perhaps Garrett's most memorable moment as Cowboys coach came in 2012 before his second straight 8-8 finish. Hours before the team boarded a plane to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a December game against the Bengals, Cowboys practice squad linebacker Jerry Brown was killed in a car accident in which teammate Josh Brent was driving.
The Cowboys won on a last-second field goal to keep their playoff chances alive. After the game, Garrett spoke for nearly six minutes straight about Brown, about Brent, about his players. He was emotionally spent, as were the players.
"Football is very different than life," Garrett said then. "We try to make that very, very clear to our team. This is a life situation. We lost a 25-year-old young man who had his whole life in front of him, a teammate, a friend. It's a real tragedy. All we asked our team last night was to understand as best they could what happened, somehow, someway to try to channel all the emotions they have into honoring Jerry today in their performance, and that's a hard thing to do."
In 2016, Garrett led a team with a fourth-round pick, Dak Prescott, at quarterback (who was starting in place of an injured Romo) to an NFC-best 13-3 record, but like the 2014 season that ended controversially after Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant's catch was overturned, the Cowboys' season ended in the divisional round after the defense allowed a third-and-21 conversion.
What the Cowboys did on the field under Garrett was there for everybody to see. He truly believed in what he told his players all the time: It is a privilege to play and coach for the Cowboys.
He never took it for granted.
Even as the Cowboys' 2019 season turned into a weekly referendum on his job because Jones did not extend the coach's contract following the 2018 season, Garrett remained true to who he was as a person and a coach.
As he addressed a small gathering of media in the hallway outside the news conference room at The Star, he would sometimes stop to meet with complete strangers. One day, it was a number of grade-school kids on a field trip. Another day, it was a group that included an elderly woman who offered a hug to the coach. He hugged her back.
Garrett's tenure as the Cowboys' coach will be remembered for the 85-67 record, clapping too much on the sidelines, clock-management issues, the three playoff losses and the four 8-8 finishes, but there was some good.
You just have to want to look for it.”

https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4770766/as-jason-garrett-heads-to-the-giants-lets-close-out-his-cowboys-era?

DENVER
O’Halloran Denver Post: Broncos tight end Noah Fant ready to tackle offseason to-do list to build off rookie year
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/01/17/noah-fant-broncos-tight-end-offseason-plan/

DETROIT
Monarrez Detroit Free Press: Here are the Detroit Lions' best- and worst-case 2020 NFL draft scenarios

“With other potentially quarterback-needy teams right behind them — the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 6 and the Carolina Panthers at No. 7 — the Dolphins could face a bidding war for the Lions’ No. 3 pick. But L.A. and Carolina can’t match Miami’s draft war chest and that could lead to the Dolphins winning the bidding war by sending the Lions a treasure trove of picks.
According to the NFL’s draft trade value chart, a fair swap would be for the Dolphins to send the Lions their No. 5 and No. 39 picks. But the best-case scenario would be for the Lions to eschew the No. 39 pick and get Miami’s lowest first-rounder, No. 26 overall, and their late second-round pick at No. 56.

Cam Newton’s time in Carolina could be coming to an end as he approaches his 31st birthday in May and is coming off foot surgery and a lost season that resulted in Rivera’s firing. He’s a shadow of his 2015 MVP self. Could that lead Tepper and Rhule to bet big on Tagovailoa and send the Lions the No. 7 pick, the No. 38 pick and maybe a 2020 mid-round sweetener?

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/01/20/detroit-lions-2020-nfl-draft-scenarios/4513038002/

GREEN BAY
Wood Mil JS: Packers get run off the field on both sides of the ball by 49ers' speed
https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2020/01/20/green-bay-packers-get-run-off-field-both-sides-ball-49-ers-speed/4506093002/

Silverstein Mil JS: 49ers knew how to attack Packers' defensive scheme and ran with it
https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2020/01/19/silverstein-49-ers-knew-how-attack-packers-defensive-scheme-and-ran/4505983002/

Owaczarski Mil JS: 'We gave it to ’em': The Packers knew what they had to do against the 49ers – and didn't
https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2020/01/19/packers-loss-49-ers-nfc-championship-similar-november-defeat/4505908002/

HOUSTON
McClain Houston Chronicle: Bill O'Brien's Texans makeover continues
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/John-McClain-changes-Bill-O-Brien-coach-FO-14989236.php

Wilson Houston Chronicle: Texans fire senior vice president Chris Olsen
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/Texans-fire-senior-vice-president-Chris-Olsen-14988638.php

Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL)
1/20/20, 9:16 AM
Texans have promoted Anthony Weaver to defensive coordinator, replacing veteran defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, according to league sources. Weaver, 39, has been the Texans defensive line coach since 2016, previously was with Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets

Wilson Houston Chronicle: Texans dismiss outside linebackers coach John Pagano
https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Texans-dismiss-outside-linebackers-John-Pagano-14986534.php

INDIANAPOLIS
Erickson Indianapolis Star: Insider: What the Colts want in a quarterback
https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2020/01/17/what-colts-looking-quarterback-senior-bowl-draft-chris-ballard/4455734002/

JACKSONVILLE
Reid Florida Times Union: Report: Jaguars to interview Jay Gruden for vacant OC job
https://www.jacksonville.com/sports/20200119/report-jaguars-to-interview-jay-gruden-for-vacant-oc-job/1?

KANSAS CITY
Paylor Yahoo Sports: 50 years of doubt, frustration vanished for the Chiefs as Patrick Mahomes seized his AFC crown
https://sports.yahoo.com/50-years-of-doubt-and-frustration-vanished-for-the-chiefs-as-patrick-mahomes-seized-his-afc-crown-042941666.html

Gregorian KC Star: At long last, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt holds on to trophy named in honor of his father
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article239452138.html

Sielski Phil Inquirer: Andy Reid is a great coach, whether he gets his Super Bowl win or not, and every Eagles fan should give him his due
https://www.inquirer.com/sports/columnists/andy-reid-philadelphia-eagles-kansas-city-chiefs-super-bowl-liv-20200120.html

Vrentas MMQB: Patrick Mahomes Will Not Be Stopped
https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/01/20/patrick-mahomes-chiefs-titans-nfl-playoffs-afc-championship

Jones USA Today: Patrick Mahomes blazed Chiefs' Super Bowl path by turning heartbreak to hope
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/mike-jones/2020/01/19/patrick-mahomes-super-bowl-blazed-chiefs-history-heartbreak/4521640002/

MIAMI
Salguero Miami Herald: Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs beat Ryan Tannehill and Titans. Why that’s good for the Dolphins
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/armando-salguero/article239449398.html

NEW ENGLAND
Reiss ESPN Boston: Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the Patriots and NFL (why David Andrews has a personal stake with Titans in AFC title game; Jason McCourty's option year in 2020; Luke Kuechly's tackling dominance; Patriots one of at least 14 workouts for Tre Roberson etc.)
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4819127/david-andrews-has-vested-interest-in-success-of-ben-jones-titans

Price Boston Globe: Tom Brady: I still want to play in 2020
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2020/01/19/tom-brady-still-want-play/GU5obh0mBOZnhC9bxH9YNJ/story.html

Guregian Boston Herald: Patriots QB Tom Brady is ‘open-minded’ about his future as a free agent
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/01/20/patriots-qb-tom-brady-is-open-minded-about-his-future-as-a-free-agent/amp/

NEW ORLEANS
Nola.com: Teddy Bridgewater acknowledges end of Saints season: 'This 2019 team will always hold a special place in my heart'
https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_39b27e06-3b90-11ea-8e55-33348c3c3f92.html

NEW YORK JETS
Cimini ESPN NY: Jets insider: You can get on Gase for some things, but Tannehill is not one of them ... Joe Namath said he was overcome with emotion when Winston Hill made the ProFootballHOF: “I cried.” More from Joe ... Robby Watch ... Defense not what we expected
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/82229/why-its-unfair-to-cast-jets-adam-gase-as-bad-guy-in-ryan-tannehill-story

PHILADELPHIA
Kempski Phillyvoice: Mailbag: How many new starters will the Eagles have in 2020?
https://www.phillyvoice.com/mailbag-how-many-new-starters-will-eagles-have-2020/

PITTSBURGH
Adamski Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Cameron Heyward only sure extension candidate among Steelers entering final contract year
https://triblive.com/sports/cameron-heyward-only-sure-extension-candidate-among-steelers-entering-final-contract-year/

SAN FRANCISCO
Branch SF Chronicle: 49ers, Raheem Mostert rush back to Super Bowl with win over Packers
https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/49ers-Mostert-rush-back-to-Super-Bowl-with-37-20-14988611.php

Silver NFL.com: 49ers win NFC title with superb gameplan
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001098038/article/49ers-superb-gameplan-runs-past-packers-to-win-nfc-title

Bishop MMQB: This 49ers Team Is Super Bowl-Bound on the Backs of Its Defense and ... Raheem Mostert
https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/01/20/san-francisco-49ers-defense-raheem-mostert-nfl-playoffs-nfc-championship

Ostler SF Chronicle. 49ers ride a wave of exuberant moves all the way to the Super Bowl
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/ostler/article/49ers-steamroll-Packer-paving-road-back-to-the-14988610.php

Martin Yahoo Sports: Raheem Mostert was cut by 6 NFL teams. Each just watched him lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl
https://sports.yahoo.com/raheem-mostert-was-cut-by-six-nfl-teams-each-just-watched-him-lead-the-49-ers-to-the-super-bowl-081125038.html

Branch SF Chronicle: 49ers running back Tevin Coleman suffers apparent shoulder injury
https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/49ers-running-back-Tevin-Coleman-suffers-apparent-14988832.php

Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL)
1/20/20, 10:50 AM
Nearly every run from #49ers offense has something coming off backside for the defense to consider

Jet/end around motion from WR...
Boot action from QB...
Split/slice action from FB/TE...

Eye violations and peaking 'backside' killed Packers all night defending the run

Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL)
1/20/20, 11:11 AM
And the safety run fits/pursuit angles were awful once the 49ers RBs got through 2nd level

Bad safety play turns 6-7 yard runs into 10+ yard runs.

49ers had 9 runs of 10 yards or more.

SEATTLE
Jude Seattle Times: Analysis: 10 questions the Seahawks must answer heading into the 2020 season
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/analysis-10-questions-the-seahawks-must-answer-heading-into-the-2020-season/

Condotta Seattle Times: Why did the Seahawks offense play so much better in the second half of games this season?
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/why-did-the-seahawks-offense-play-so-much-better-in-the-second-half-of-games-this-season/

Stone Seattle Times: Use it or lose it: Pete Carroll, Seahawks must maximize the prime of Russell Wilson’s career
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/use-it-or-lose-it-pete-carroll-seahawks-must-maximize-the-prime-of-russell-wilsons-career/

TAMPA BAY
Sherman TB Times: Philip Rivers to the Bucs? His family is moving to Florida
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2020/01/20/philip-rivers-to-the-bucs-his-family-is-moving-to-florida/

Vitali Buccaneers.com: Take a look at all 19.5 of Shaq's record-setting sacks
https://www.buccaneers.com/news/shaq-barrett-s-2019-year-in-review-bucs

WASHINGTON
Rapoport NFL.com: Foster regains feeling in foot months after injury
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001097530/article/reuben-foster-regains-feeling-in-foot-months-after-knee-injury

Colleges/Draft

Stroud TB Times: FIU quarterback James Morgan shines among all-stars in East-West Shrine Game
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2020/01/19/fiu-quarterback-james-morgan-shines-among-all-stars-in-east-west-shrine-game/

Goodall AP Baltimore Sun: Navy’s Malcolm Perry, eyeing pro career as receiver, scores 52-yard TD in East-West Shrine Bowl
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bs-sp-east-west-shrine-bowl-perry-20200119-ab2eu4vk2jdmrnyiwinafqo3se-story.html

Mellor PFF: 101 best players in college football from 2019
The PFF College 101 is coming this week.
Starting with Nos. 76-101 today -- this one is always a difficult ask to pick just 101 players but a fun one to write up.
https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-best-101-players-from-2019

Duffy Eagles.com: The seniorbowl is upon us! Get ready for my favorite NFLDraft event of the year with me, BenFennell_NFL on the Journey To The Draft Podcast! (Audio)url]
https://nflphiladelphiaeagles.cachefly.net/content/eagles/production/20200116193122-200116_JTTD_196_ShrineBowlRecapSeniorBowlTease_v1.mp3

Schwartz NYP: The unheralded players who should be on Giants’ radar at Senior Bowl
https://nypost.com/2020/01/20/the-unheralded-players-who-should-be-on-giants-radar-at-senior-bowl/amp/

Lombardo NJ.com: NFL Draft 2020: 8 Senior Bowl prospects Giants should scout | USC’s Michael Pittman, Penn State’s Cam Brown, Washington’s Trey Adams, more
https://www.nj.com/giants/2020/01/nfl-draft-2020-9-senior-bowl-prospects-giants-should-scout-usc-wr-michael-pittman-penn-state-lb-cam-brown-washington-ot-trey-adams-more.html

OL
Pflum BBV: 2020 NFL Draft prospect profile: Jack Driscoll, OT, Auburn
https://www.bigblueview.com/2020/1/18/21071679/2020-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-jack-driscoll-ot-auburn-scouting-report-ny-giants

Pflum BBV: 2020 NFL Draft prospect profile: Jon Runyan Jr, OT/G, Michigan
https://www.bigblueview.com/2020/1/19/21072714/2020-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-jon-runyan-jr-ot-g-michigan-scouting-report-ny-giants

Pflum BBV: 2020 NFL Draft prospect profile: Calvin Throckmorton (OL, Oregon)
https://www.bigblueview.com/2020/1/20/21073741/2020-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-calvin-throckmoroton-ol-oregon-scouting-report-ny-giants

Former Giants News

The Zach Gelb Show: Tom Coughlin Addresses Football Future, NFLPA Warning
https://cbssportsradio.radio.com/articles/tom-coughlin-addresses-football-future-nflpa-warning

History

Traina Giantsmaven SI.com: How a Penalty Helped the Giants Win the 2011 NFC Title Game
https://www.si.com/.amp-nygiants/nfl/giants/news/how-a-penalty-helped-the-giants-win-the-2011-nfc-title-game

Giants Birthdays 1-20

Darnell Dinkins TE UDFA-Pittsburgh 2002 NYG 2002-2003 1-20-1977

Cullen Jenkins LDT/RDT/DE W-PHI 2013 NYG 2013-2015 1-20-1981

Anthony Mix WR UDFA-Auburn 2007 NYG 2007 1-20-1983

Milt Plum QB TR-LA 1969 NYG 1969 1-20-1935

In Memoriam

Bob Bellinger RG UDFA-Gonzaga 1935 NYG 1935-1936 Born 1-20-1913 Died 8-27-1955

Gonzaga HOF: “By the time he had completed three varsity football seasons for Gonzaga in 1933, Bob Bellinger was considered by many observers the best collegiate lineman in the West. Bellinger, who came to Gonzaga from Seattle, was team captain in his senior year and an inspirational leader, as a local sports report emphasized after the 1933 game with Idaho: “Time after time, the hard-charging Bulldog leader broke through… to smash backs down for five and six-yard losses. His offensive play opened great holes… and his courage and fight seemed to spread to all his teammates. Bellinger is a great ball player…” Bellinger was given honorable mention on the Associated Press All-America squad. A year later, he was starting for the New York Giants in the first of his two National Football League seasons. Playing with fellow Gonzaga alums Ray Flaherty and Max Krause, Bellinger helped the Giants to successive divisional championships and New York won the NFL championship of 1934, beating Chicago in the famed “sneaker game.”

Duce Keahey T UDFA-George Washington 1940 NYG 1942 Born 1-20-1917 Died 4-01-1999

NYT (6-04-1940) “Duce Keahey, 215-pound tackle, has sent in his signed contract to the New York Football Giants, it was announced yesterday. Last Fall Keahey was voted the most valuable player on the George Washington University eleven.”

Gene Roberts LH/FB D8-UT Chattanooga 1946 NYG 1947-1950 Born 1-20-1923 Died 7-06-2009

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Browns Held Scoreless First Time in 62 Games as Giants Win 6-0 Battle (10-01-1950)

“Before 37,647 of Cleveland's faithful and 40,000 vacant seats - seats that might have been filled had the fans known in advance what was about to happen - the Browns were dropped from the unbeaten, invincible class yesterday and failed to score a point for the first time in 62 games.

In an old-fashioned game of football, in which the ground game dominated the play and New York's Giants discovered a way to stop the Browns' vaunted aerial attack, the men of Steve Owen squeezed through to a one-touchdown, 6-to-0 victory over Cleveland at the stadium.
That one touchdown, after only seven minutes of play in the first period, was produced by Eddie Price on a 3-yard run to complete a 52-yard New York advance. All but three yards of the drive were made on the ground.
From then until the end it was a defensive battle, with the Giants not permitting Otto Graham to complete a forward pass in the entire first half, keeping the Browns on their own side of the field until the middle of the third period and fighting a grim battle to avert defeat when the Clevelanders drove dangerously close to a touchdown twice in the last seven minutes of play.
Browns Reach Foe's 10
Once, the Browns got as far as the 10 in that last period but lost the ball on a third-down effort when Marion Motley collided with Graham as he was about to take a handoff on the oldest play in the Cleveland book, the trap play. The ball was knocked from Graham's hands and center Dick Woodard recovered for the Giants on the 9-yard line.

With four minutes remaining, the Browns moved 46 yards on four plays, but then, with a first down on the 12-yard line and three minutes to go, they netted only one yard on three running efforts, and Graham's fourth-down pitch to Horace Gillom skimmed off the Massillon end's finger tips in the end zone. With that miss went Cleveland's hopes for victory.
There wasn't time enough to run a play the next time the Browns got the ball.
Revolutionary Defense
With two weeks to concentrate on a defense to stop the passes to Mac Speedie, Dante Lavelli and Dub Jones, the Giants perfected a rather revolutionary system that functioned flawlessly. The Giants played what would properly be described as a 6-1-2-2 defense.
As the play started, end Ray Poole and Kelly Mote retreated and waited for the play to develop. If a pass came up, Poole and Mote helped cover the receivers, giving the Giants a total of seven men chasing Speedie, Lavelli and Jones. On rushes, and the Browns were forced to run often, the ends returned to the line of scrimmage and never permitted the Cleveland backs to break away.


The Giants intercepted four passes and allowed only 11 completions in 30 attempts for 127 yards. Cleveland's long-passing game clicked only once, in the third period when Graham hit Lavelli for 33 yards to start that advance to the Giants' 12. Emlen Tunnell, Harmon Rowe and Otto Schnellbacher stayed behind Lavelli and Speedie, and in addition to the interceptions batted down tosses frequently.
With the pass attack breaking down, the Browns called on the runners, and though 123 yards were gained on the ground, the rushing attack wasn't effective enough to cause any real trouble.
Adding to the Browns' problems was an injury to Rex Bumgardner, regular left halfback, whose running ability would have been useful on the scoring opportunities. Rex suffered a shoulder injury early in the contest and never returned. Also injured was Alex Agase, who went out after the fourth play of the game with an ankle wound.
Defensively, the Browns were as perfect as the Giants, except on that one touchdown advance. They allowed only 136 yards rushing and permitted only four pass completions in 13 attempts for 61 yards. Only two other times did the Giants get into Cleveland territory, and both times it was on pass interceptions. After one of the thefts, the Giants got to the 10 but suffered a 15-yard clipping penalty to ruin the scoring chance.


The Browns were set back early in the game when a punt by Charley Conerly rolled dead on their 10. When Gillom punted back, Jim Ostendarp returned four yards to the New York 48, and the Giants moved to the lone touchdown.
Roberts Races 21
Gene Roberts, a swift halfback, made the key play of the march, turning the Browns' left end for 26 yards to the 11. Randall Clay made eight more and then Price plunged over.
Poole, making a hurried conversion attempt when Conerly momentarily fumbled the pass from center, got away the kick but it was low.
Cleveland invaded New York territory the first time in the third period when Graham completed an 11-yard pass to Lavelli, but lost the ball on downs on the 42.
It was after the next exchange of punts, early in the fourth period, that Dom Moselle brought the fans to their feet with a brilliant return. Moselle, who went from his own 32 to the Giants' 10, saw the play called back because he stepped out of bounds on the 45.
But the Browns then slowly fought their way to the Giants' 10, going 35 yards in eight plays. It was here that Motley and Graham clashed. After losing five yards for taking too much time in the huddle, the Giants got out of the hole as Roberts ripped off tackle for 20 yards.


The Browns held here, and Conerly got off a long punt that was downed on the Cleveland 21. The 33-yard pass to Lavelli got the Browns to the Giants' 42. Graham ran straight down the middle for 20 more yards and passed to Speedie for another first down on the 12.”

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/1950/10/browns_held_scoreless_first_ti.html

11-12-1950 AP: Giants smash Cards
“The Giants scored in every period against the Cardinals. Gene (Choo Choo) Roberts and Chuck Conerly led the way. Roberts scored twice and set a Giant record by gaining 218 yards in 26 tries. Conerly completed 10 out of 20 passes good for 234 yards and tossed two touchdown passes. The Giants scrapped their T formation for their old single wing style.”

CFLapedia: “Gene Roberts was born in Kansas City and started his college career at Kasnas before going to the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga which most likely explains his "Choo Choo" nickname. Roberts played played four years in the NFL (1947-1950) with the New York Giants, ammassing a total of 1904 yards rushing. Roberts came to Canada in 1951, playing one year with the Montreal Alouettes before moving on to play three seasons in Ottawa (1952-54). Roberts was released and retired in July of 1955 before the season started, but returned to the Rough Riders in October as an assistant coach when there was a shake-up on the coachng staff and one assistant coach was fired and another one resigned. Roberts won a pair of East All-Star selections at running back in 1952 and 1953 (there were no CFL All-Stars until 1962). Prior to 1954 in the East (IRFU), only scoring stats were kept, so Roberts' stats are incomplete. Roberts was sixth in scoring in the East in both 1951 and 1952 and led the East in scoring in 1953 with 88 points. Gene Roberts passed away on July 6, 2009.”