I know it’s a small sample but wow, what a difference he made on D versus what Downs was giving them. Beyond the speed differential (game speed was markedly different than Downs) his instincts and assignment integrity was incredible. Along with Martinez, we may actually have our pair inside for the foreseeable future! This is one thing I’m really excited to see develop over the rest of the year!
The whole "Mr. Irrelevant" thing is really misguided nowadays. It made a certain amount of sense when the draft was 15 rounds, and those end-of-the-draft rookies had almost no shot to make the team. A 7th-round pick, even a late 7th-rounder, is far from irrelevant. It's rare to find a starter there, but it's not rare to find a developmental prospect who at least makes the practice squad and competes for a roster spot in year 2.
from Talkin' Giants showing you Tae Crowder's great tape from Rams game.
Link - ( New Window )
The whole "Mr. Irrelevant" thing is really misguided nowadays. It made a certain amount of sense when the draft was 15 rounds, and those end-of-the-draft rookies had almost no shot to make the team. A 7th-round pick, even a late 7th-rounder, is far from irrelevant. It's rare to find a starter there, but it's not rare to find a developmental prospect who at least makes the practice squad and competes for a roster spot in year 2.
Was it him or Brunson that had a bunch of teams offer him big $$ as in UDFA as they didn’t think he’d be drafted but he was their top priority? I remember reading an article eluding that being drafted actually cost him money.
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If "Mr. Irrelevant" is a valuable player, that's a nice win for the Giants.
The whole "Mr. Irrelevant" thing is really misguided nowadays. It made a certain amount of sense when the draft was 15 rounds, and those end-of-the-draft rookies had almost no shot to make the team. A 7th-round pick, even a late 7th-rounder, is far from irrelevant. It's rare to find a starter there, but it's not rare to find a developmental prospect who at least makes the practice squad and competes for a roster spot in year 2.
Was it him or Brunson that had a bunch of teams offer him big $$ as in UDFA as they didn’t think he’d be drafted but he was their top priority? I remember reading an article eluding that being drafted actually cost him money.
I think it was Crowder.
6'2 234
from Talkin' Giants showing you Tae Crowder's great tape from Rams game. Link - ( New Window )
Nice, thanks for posting it.
There is a certain leap of faith regarding players that coaches make when choosing an unproven player.
As for Connelly, it is rarely mentioned by posters who lament his release that he did suffer a major knee injury and maybe he just isn't the same guy. Ryan connelly still wasn't a proven nfl starter before he was injured, he certainly was showing positive signs, but he is quickly being looked at as having some bright NFL future when he really didn't have that much nfl game experience before he was injured.
This is one of the main issues with no preseason. Every training camp we read about several lesser known players having strong practices only to disappear in preseason games. I am willing to bet that Downs would not have made the team had there been preseason games.
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team. Not the end of the world, but Connelly made plays every start while Downs has been in the wash. I hope Crowder is as impactful as Connelly was, we'll see. COnnelly was no athletic slouch and the kid made plays at Wisco the same way he did for the Giants. Still a head scratcher for Downs.
This is one of the main issues with no preseason. Every training camp we read about several lesser known players having strong practices only to disappear in preseason games. I am willing to bet that Downs would not have made the team had there been preseason games.
Good point Jay.
Fackrell provides size and is a good rusher from the LB position.
Crowder appears to have great speed/range and can hopefully develop into a solid coverage LB.
I believe Downs is much more athletic than Connelly too, it just looks like Downs' instincts suck.
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team. Not the end of the world, but Connelly made plays every start while Downs has been in the wash. I hope Crowder is as impactful as Connelly was, we'll see. COnnelly was no athletic slouch and the kid made plays at Wisco the same way he did for the Giants. Still a head scratcher for Downs.
This is one of the main issues with no preseason. Every training camp we read about several lesser known players having strong practices only to disappear in preseason games. I am willing to bet that Downs would not have made the team had there been preseason games.
Good point Jay. And if he's still hurt, then I don't think he'd be playing now. The kid made plays in college, came to the nfl and just kept on making those same plays. Let's see where he goes from here, I hope all Badgers go on and play well.
Oh, BLAKE is a beast!
Downs was a train-wreck in a long list of NYG train-wrecks at Linebacker. What the hell did the coaches see in him?
Would be fabulous if Martinez and Crowder become a nice tandem in the middle of this defense.
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In comment 14999347 Jim in Forest Hills said:
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team. Not the end of the world, but Connelly made plays every start while Downs has been in the wash. I hope Crowder is as impactful as Connelly was, we'll see. COnnelly was no athletic slouch and the kid made plays at Wisco the same way he did for the Giants. Still a head scratcher for Downs.
This is one of the main issues with no preseason. Every training camp we read about several lesser known players having strong practices only to disappear in preseason games. I am willing to bet that Downs would not have made the team had there been preseason games.
Good point Jay. And if he's still hurt, then I don't think he'd be playing now. The kid made plays in college, came to the nfl and just kept on making those same plays. Let's see where he goes from here, I hope all Badgers go on and play well.
I was a huge fan of Connelly and obviously overrated him a bit but it still stings that the Giants let him go especially with Downs playing so poorly. It would make us all feel better if Tae Crowder is this year's Connelly. If he is a solid player then the Giants are in good shape inside. Landing a starting caliber LB in round 7 would be a huge development and much needed with the current state of the franchise.
While Gettleman deserves plenty of blame for the state of the team at least he has proven to be a far better drafter on day three than his predecessor. I can't remember the last day three pick that Reese/Ross drafted that went on to become a solid contributor for the Giants.
Gettleman on the other hand has given us Darius Slayton, Julian Love, Darnay Holmes, Tae Crowder, Corey Ballentine, and Shane Lemieux. Obviously Crowder, Ballentine, Lemieux, and Holmes need to prove themselves but at least they have shown some promise at times which is far more than we can say about Reese's final 10 draft classes combined.
Oh, BLAKE is a beast!
If the Giants add a premier pass rusher in the draft such as Greg Rousseau the defense could be a top 5 defense. Bradberry, Lawrence, and Martinez are having pro bowl caliber seasons. Then you add in promising young players in Lorenzo Carter, Xavier McKinney, Dalvin Tomlinson, Oshane Ximines, Austin Johnson, and Darnay Holmes and there is some hope for the future. Tae Crowder, Ryan Lewis, and BJ Hill have flashed as well.
Now the Giants have a difficult decision to make on the DL. Dalvin Tomlinson, Leonard Williams, and Austin Johnson are FA's at the end of the season. Personally I would try to trade Williams and Tomlinson at the deadline if the price was right. First offer an extension to both and if they turn it down then make a deal.
Austin Johnson has been a pleasant surprise so far. Honestly it wouldn't surprise me if the Giants give him a modest extension and he enters next season as a starting DE if both Tomlinson and Williams are gone. Obviously the Giants would need to add a player or two there to compete with him.
Really hope Judge keeps getting as many young guys real game experience as possible as the year goes on. Evaluation is really the only thing this year is good for.
And that's not completely a bad thing, especially when covid could screw it all up at any time.