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Post OTA state of the Giants as I see it....

SGMen : 6/13/2022 6:19 am
For whatever it is worth, I tend to be a "glass is half full" type and fan of this team despite their overall terrible play since mid 2012 (post SB collapse). Drafting has been terrible and UFA signings costly and overpaid one year stop gaps.

I believe in Daniel Jones and I believe he will have his best season as a NYG; however, I also am sure he is not an"Elite 8" type of QB like Mahomes, Rodgers, Stafford and the like.
His rookie year he was #2 all through camp and got thrown into the fray as a starter and flourished EXCEPT for his record breaking fumbles. Remove those fumbles and he was solid. He has since improved greatly in this area.

His second season was with a new HC and Covid camp. How do you learn under those conditions and how do you play without an OL? He was two drops away from making the playoffs and that isn't his fault.

His third year, well, again the camp wasn't run like it should have been based on what I read and pre-season games needed to be taken more seriously. You got the sense that they knew they lacked talent and played scared and old school on offense even after Garret was fired.

This year, Jones has a clean slate and a new offense that Daboll will tailor to his strengths. I think Jones will have the best OL of his career in front of him and if Barkley can regain his rookie form well this offense will move the ball.

The Giants need their playmakers to stay healthy and the OL to work together in camp so there is some cohesion out the gates. I think we go Thomas-Glowinski-Feliciano-Lemiuex-Neal or something like that. Veterans and a rookie.

The defense has some potential pass rushers this year and an attack scheme. Only time will tell but if the young corners step up and the nickel backs stand up this defense could be good. Remember, the leader Martinez should be back and assuming he has regained his form our defense should be good enough.

I think we need to come out strong this year and not be a total shitshow out of the gates like the last two years. If we show well early with a cheap win or two and progress with the new systems we could be in meaningful games in December.

Jones, Barkley, Thomas, Galloday, Toney, Shepard if these guys can finally stay healthy this offense can click.

My prayer is 9 - 8 but realistically 7 wins is very possible.

I expect improvement  
johnnyb : 6/13/2022 7:26 am : link
but not to the tune of nine wins. I do think Jones will show improvement, and a healthy Barkley should help, but the OL, while adding talent, is a work 8n progress and I would not expect a vast improvement. The bar is set low, so any improvement will be appreciated. WR is still a question mark.

On defense, Wink’s style should make for some exciting stretches, but our backfield is suspect and depth all around is thin.

I expect six wins and I will be OK with that. I want to see the needle pointing in the right direction.
RE: I expect improvement  
SGMen : 6/13/2022 7:29 am : link
In comment 15731164 johnnyb said:
Quote:
but not to the tune of nine wins. I do think Jones will show improvement, and a healthy Barkley should help, but the OL, while adding talent, is a work 8n progress and I would not expect a vast improvement. The bar is set low, so any improvement will be appreciated. WR is still a question mark.

On defense, Wink’s style should make for some exciting stretches, but our backfield is suspect and depth all around is thin.

I expect six wins and I will be OK with that. I want to see the needle pointing in the right direction.
I hated losing Bradberry cause we had two solid veteran corners with him. Our back 7 until proven otherwise has question marks but its young so ya gotta hope.

The only way we get 9 wins with a new HC, system is if we win early and stay healthy. If we start 0-4 due to the "learning curve" well 6 wins is a good bet.
I don’t think  
Keaton028 : 6/13/2022 7:55 am : link
7 wins is good enough for Jones to keep his job. If he is merely solid, and the Giants still comfortably miss the playoffs, I think we try and move on. Can’t pay a guy to be a middle of the pack QB who can’t generate wins for his team.
If Thomas comes back at end of July and can go  
chick310 : 6/13/2022 7:59 am : link
for next month or so without any limitations, and the first team OL gets set early and develops some continuity and consistency, then I have more optimism.

If the WRs get back on the field and do they job they were hired for instead of bringing headlines for wrong reasons, then I have more optimism.

If Daniel Jones starts figuring out how to get the ball in the end zone when they are inside the 20, then I have more optimism.

If the items above don't start happening early and often, the team will not be scoring enough points and then I have no optimism.

The Giants are going to have some weaknesses that we are  
Keaton028 : 6/13/2022 8:06 am : link
just going to have to endure this season, the biggest being the secondary. Teams are going to pass on us and our coverage is going to cost us games. We probably just need to swallow that pill. We also have major players who constantly deal with injuries- Barkley, Jones, Golladay, Toney, Thomas, Adoree Jackson, Martinez, Shep… chances are many of these guys will be dealing with injuries again this season. The rest of the roster is just not good enough to overcome this.

Where I will find joy is in seeing progress and development in some of these young guys. Wan’Dale and Aaron Robinson, McKinney, Thomas, Toney, Flott, Bellinger, possibly SB… if we can get these guys in a groove by the end of the season I’ll be excited about winning in 2023.
It's a huge win  
Lines of Scrimmage : 6/13/2022 8:11 am : link
if the Giants are well on the path to having a very good OL and front 7. This is where football starts and I think they have the potential to achieve this.

After that I hope to see some long term potential at the perimeter positions on both sides which I think they have a chance. More pieces still to be added.

In terms of the QB I never get into rankings. What good is a guy who ranks at number 10 but comes up short in big spots. You can win a solid QB who plays big when it counts. QB has always been a variable position based on the overall team. I don't think that Jones is the answer but I also believe that this teams biggest problem has not been the QB.

What we should want is the makings of a really good team (and coaching) that the next QB (with lots of potential) starting his rookie contract has 4-5 years to compete for a SB imv.
...  
broadbandz : 6/13/2022 8:12 am : link
Given we got the easiest schedule this yr, I think the first 3 weeks of camp will tell everything. If the o-line is the same five starters for camp with no major injuries. That well tell a lot. And second if Toney and GOlladay actually make it the entire camp taking snaps. If both those things happen and Jones doesnt get injured again the giants will make the playoffs.. If the Oline has another injury to a key like Thomas or Toney and Shepard play about 3 snaps and run to the side line hurt, you know its another shit show yr.
I feel better about the team than in quite a while but…  
BillT : 6/13/2022 8:46 am : link
The amount of bad things that have happened to them in the past ten years have been hard to imagine. Injuries mostly but bad coaching and GM hires is right up there as well. So, is the arrow finally pointing up. I could see a team than plays decent football. I could see any number of things that completely derail it. That’s all I’ve got for predictions.
Wins matter but Jones creating those wins  
Bold Ruler : Mod : 6/13/2022 9:04 am : link
Matters more. I want to see him engineering game winning drives. Yes, I get the OLine is in theory just coming together and our WRs are largely suspect. But to me, it’s what can Jones do to elevate those around him. Can he take the team in his back and create a win?
I said this a few weeks ago and I am staying  
jvm52106 : 6/13/2022 9:22 am : link
with it, this team goes 8-9 and possibly 9-8 this year. We will sneak some wins in that most won't see coming and we will win at least half of our division games.

I think if Jones stays healthy and our Oline plays to potential we will see a competitive team.
Health will be a big factor.........  
Simms11 : 6/13/2022 9:36 am : link
We need the starters to stay on the field as depth is very thin in many spots. Arrow appears to be pointed in right direction, however there will be a learning curve and fully expect another slow start. Hopefully we don’t start 0-4 again! Lines appear solid and I think people are underestimating the secondary with guys like A Jackson and McKinney back there.
Fully healthy  
UberAlias : 6/13/2022 9:38 am : link
I think the Giants have enough pieces to be competitive. Not a contender mind you, but at least competitive. The issue is depth as we have none. There are injuries every year and the Giants just don't have the roster depth to hold up when they set in.

The area of concern is how long its going to take for the team to get comfortable in the new systems on offense and defense, the new oline to gel, the rookies to adjust to NFL speed, the new HC and OC to start catching up on learning curve, etc.

For these reasons it would be a shot in the dark to put a number on wins and losses and won't be how I'll be evaluating this team either.
A lot of people  
Gman11 : 6/13/2022 10:56 am : link
seem to think the offensive line is going to be much better, but I have to wait and see. Glowinski and Feliciano are other team castoffs just like Bredeson and Price were last year. Lemieux is coming off an injury and wasn't really great at pass blocking to begin with. Neither of the UNC guards were highly rated in the draft. Beside that they're rookies and even highly rated rookies struggle in their first year. Neal should be an improvement over the pylons that they've had at RT recently though.
Lemieux has been practicing at Left Guard  
gidiefor : Mod : 6/13/2022 11:18 am : link
.
Jones has a lot of qualities I like in a QB  
JerseyCityJoe : 6/13/2022 11:18 am : link
That being said he better start throwing some TD's.
RE: If Thomas comes back at end of July and can go  
Payasdaddy : 6/13/2022 11:43 am : link
In comment 15731174 chick310 said:
Quote:
for next month or so without any limitations, and the first team OL gets set early and develops some continuity and consistency, then I have more optimism.

If the WRs get back on the field and do they job they were hired for instead of bringing headlines for wrong reasons, then I have more optimism.

If Daniel Jones starts figuring out how to get the ball in the end zone when they are inside the 20, then I have more optimism.

If the items above don't start happening early and often, the team will not be scoring enough points and then I have no optimism.


Think they will ease AT back in slowly in training camp and try to ramp him up for opening day. If he was still limping in early June I would give in a few xtra weeks to heal up after July 26. If it is chronic, he will practice less and managed. I hope it doesn’t impeded a 2nd contract. Anyone know what the real issue is? Ankle, foot etc.?
Here’s a depressing thought. I looked at 2021 and gave the Giants 1 TD  
Ivan15 : 6/13/2022 11:46 am : link
In the close losses. They would have ended with 7 wins. I think all those wins were in games that Jones started. Some of those 3 additional wins could have occurred if the defense played better. 7-3 after 10 games would have been encouraging.

So to get on the plus side of wins and losses, the offense and defense both need to play a lot better. Give the offense more chances to score and get the defense off the field faster.
RE: Jones has a lot of qualities I like in a QB  
Payasdaddy : 6/13/2022 11:47 am : link
In comment 15731410 JerseyCityJoe said:
Quote:
That being said he better start throwing some TD's.


Not a chance jones sniffs elite 8. Be happy if he touch’s top 14.
I think his ceiling in slightly better than average. He does some things well, some ok, some crappy. Fast but not shifty or sudden. Throws well but doesn’t compute as fast as his duke brain would make u think.
Book smarts don’t equate to field anticipation.
If he is slightly better than average do we sign him to a 3 yr deal?
Cause it could be. A lot worse. Obviously, it could be better too.
RE: A lot of people  
Ten Ton Hammer : 6/13/2022 11:56 am : link
In comment 15731378 Gman11 said:
Quote:
seem to think the offensive line is going to be much better, but I have to wait and see. Glowinski and Feliciano are other team castoffs just like Bredeson and Price were last year. Lemieux is coming off an injury and wasn't really great at pass blocking to begin with. Neither of the UNC guards were highly rated in the draft. Beside that they're rookies and even highly rated rookies struggle in their first year. Neal should be an improvement over the pylons that they've had at RT recently though.


Nothing really out of line with having this opinion, other than Glowinski is a bit better than a cast off. He was firmly entrenched as a starter on a playoff team's OL for three years.

Bredesen is a washout the Giants took a flier on to try to patch holes.
Agree with OP  
Reale01 : 6/13/2022 12:06 pm : link
I think coaching makes a huge difference.

I also think Jones will be good if he stays healthy. I think he needs to break through and have a game winning drive. That will open up his confidence and could lead to some good things. I like what I am hearing about playing looser and attacking. The Giants have been in a shell on both sides of the ball under the past three coaches.

I want them to play meaningful football into December and will be disappointed with less than that. I don't see any dominant teams in the NFC. I think the Giants can contend for playoffs, but are not really a threat to get to the SB.
Love the rose colored glasses  
bluetothegrave : 6/13/2022 2:34 pm : link
I think we are possibly trending upwards but what does that say? We were 4-13 last year and anyone who watches knows we were well worse than that. We were by far...by far the worst team in the NFL last season. We still have the same incredibly incompetent owners. Everyone always loves the new coach and GM when they are hired. We all..everyone of us loved Judge and he was a disaster. The fucking mara's kept gettlemen for 4 years..Worst GM in NFL history and they kept him for 4 seasons.

Golliday refuses to dive for balls, hes a complete Bust. Toney could give 2 fucks about being great, Saquon will be injured week 2 or 3. The O line is better but still just eh. the secondary is highly suspect, linebackers improved but not great. We do have the makings of a really good d line.

9 wins? 8 wins? cmon man..just please cmon. 6 wins and not having 7 of 8 games with digit losses to end the season will be positive. Why would anyone see 8 or 9 wins and for sakes alive why would anyone talk about daniel jones being 14th best QB. He is awful, he has never made a good pass on 3rd down. When it's a big spot , you can be sure that idiot will throw behind or too wide or too high.

He is a bottom 5 qb all day and 17x on sunday. He stinks and to even breathe that you think he can be top 14 ? Ill guaranty your a young kid. Top 14 my fucking ass, hes a piece of shit. Remember this post the next time we have 3rd down and we need that dave brown clone to make a decent throw. Daniel Jones 14th best lol. Then someone says do we sign him if hes only 14th best..dude. IF Daniel Jones is 14th best our horrendous owners will crap themselves and sign him to 5 years 170 million. 14th best is a good NFL qb, This has nothing to do with the bad o line and revolving door at wr and our awful TE room but when he has had time, on big downs he can not make a fucking throw.

I am the diehard of all diehards, I live and breath with this team. I would love nothing more to be proven wrong. The problems though is the Mara's and that's not going away. I have extremely low expectations.
There are no conclusions that can be drawn following the OTA's.  
Klaatu : 6/13/2022 3:00 pm : link
None. There's been no blocking, no hitting, no tackling, and too many presumptive starters were wearing red jerseys. The only thing that can be said is that there's been a more relaxed atmosphere than we've seen in the recent past (according to some of the beats), but whether that translates into more wins, fewer losses remains to be seen.
.  
Go Terps : 6/13/2022 3:09 pm : link
Even if the planets align and the Giants go 9-8 this is still going to be an overhauled roster in 2023. It's going to take several miracles for Schoen to keep Gettleman's key pieces (Jones, Barkley, Golladay, Williams, Jackson, etc.) beyond 2022, because financially it just isn't going to make sense to do so.

Schoen tore down what he could and still maintain the illusion of competitiveness in 2022 for Mara and the blue glasses superfans, but that process isn't close to over.
Terps  
Samiam : 6/13/2022 4:19 pm : link
Not sure I disagree but 2 points. For one, it looks like it was a good draft. I know it’s early but in certain positions, even if the rookies are not special, they are definitely better, maybe a lot better than last year. Two, the Giants are already in a good CAP situation for next year. I agree about highly unlikely resigning Jones and Barkley but they won’t have to cut other big dollar guys unless they decide they want to. And, there are a few good QB prospects in the draft that even with an average record, close to or at 500, they might pick up a QB in the draft. Our hopes are that Schoen is the real thing.
Jones will have much better stats  
Thegratefulhead : 6/13/2022 4:45 pm : link
This is the easiest prediction of the offseason. If you know anything about football and the type of offense being installed. Very efficient high percentage passes. Bubble screens, jet sweeps and short crosses all designed to bring the safeties up. Once you force them too, the deeper crosses to the guys with short area quickness are deadly.

The run game should much better suited to Barkley running style. More like how he was used at Penn State. The offense is going to look better. The bar Daniel has set is so low. Daniel needs to kill it. Better than last is nowhere close to good enough. Daniel needs to play so well that Terps would be willing to franchise him. That is how high a bar Daniel needs to hit. It isn't worth the risk other wise.

Even those of you that love him, can't deny the injuries. That alone is a Giant risk. None of his college or profession play deserves another contract. This year needs to be SO good for Daniel, it makes us forget the last 2.
RE: Terps  
Go Terps : 6/13/2022 5:27 pm : link
In comment 15731757 Samiam said:
Quote:
Not sure I disagree but 2 points. For one, it looks like it was a good draft. I know it’s early but in certain positions, even if the rookies are not special, they are definitely better, maybe a lot better than last year. Two, the Giants are already in a good CAP situation for next year. I agree about highly unlikely resigning Jones and Barkley but they won’t have to cut other big dollar guys unless they decide they want to. And, there are a few good QB prospects in the draft that even with an average record, close to or at 500, they might pick up a QB in the draft. Our hopes are that Schoen is the real thing.


If Schoen is a smart guy he's going to understand the following going into 2023:

- Drafting a QB is smarter than paying Jones. The 2023 franchise tag is expected to be around $31.5M...unthinkable. Even paying Jones half that makes less sense than drafting a guy.
- Paying running backs is foolish. They're isn't a team in the NFL that is happily paying to money for a back.
- These three 2023 cap hits make no sense:

Williams: $26.3
Golladay: $21.4
Jackson: $19.5

It's not a question of whether they can carry those cap numbers. It's a question of whether they should.
*paying top money for a back  
Go Terps : 6/13/2022 5:27 pm : link
.
The question is  
UberAlias : 6/15/2022 11:28 am : link
By the end of the season, will it still be appropriate to think of Barkley as a RB?
RE: ...  
SGMen : 6/17/2022 5:52 am : link
In comment 15731187 broadbandz said:
Quote:
Given we got the easiest schedule this yr, I think the first 3 weeks of camp will tell everything. If the o-line is the same five starters for camp with no major injuries. That well tell a lot. And second if Toney and GOlladay actually make it the entire camp taking snaps. If both those things happen and Jones doesnt get injured again the giants will make the playoffs.. If the Oline has another injury to a key like Thomas or Toney and Shepard play about 3 snaps and run to the side line hurt, you know its another shit show yr.
Essentially, you are saying we need health & continuity to be good and I could not agree more. I mean, when is the last time the Giants finished in the top quarter of the league "health wise" (games lost, IR, etc.)??

My "must practice & play" guys are Jones, Barkley (receiver, burst of speed scares D's), Thomas (big dropoff), Glowinski, Neal, Galloday (deep threat, redzone), Toney (jiggle, take it to house), Shepard (middle of the field 3rd downs) on offense and on defense I'll wait but Williams, Lawrence, Thibs, Martinez (leadership), Jackson (only proven CB), McKinney and Ojulari seem like our top guys.

The schedule bodes well if we come out of the gates with early wins, those "cheap" wins were you were maybe even outplayed but a 20-19 last second FG wins it. That means the team is healthy, playing hard and putting it together in just ennough spots.
RE: RE: Terps  
SGMen : 6/17/2022 5:54 am : link
In comment 15731839 Go Terps said:
Quote:
In comment 15731757 Samiam said:


Quote:


Not sure I disagree but 2 points. For one, it looks like it was a good draft. I know it’s early but in certain positions, even if the rookies are not special, they are definitely better, maybe a lot better than last year. Two, the Giants are already in a good CAP situation for next year. I agree about highly unlikely resigning Jones and Barkley but they won’t have to cut other big dollar guys unless they decide they want to. And, there are a few good QB prospects in the draft that even with an average record, close to or at 500, they might pick up a QB in the draft. Our hopes are that Schoen is the real thing.



If Schoen is a smart guy he's going to understand the following going into 2023:

- Drafting a QB is smarter than paying Jones. The 2023 franchise tag is expected to be around $31.5M...unthinkable. Even paying Jones half that makes less sense than drafting a guy.
- Paying running backs is foolish. They're isn't a team in the NFL that is happily paying to money for a back.
- These three 2023 cap hits make no sense:

Williams: $26.3
Golladay: $21.4
Jackson: $19.5

It's not a question of whether they can carry those cap numbers. It's a question of whether they should.
I will say this: by next year Daboll and Schoen will know who their guys are and will have an even better handle on the draft and who they need. Nothing would shock me but guys like Williams and Jackson could be gone OR reworked to end their careers here. Depends on their level of play and health this year. And I think the players know it too!
From Spotrac, I get Jackson's cap hit as $9,288,032. Am I reading it  
Ira : 6/17/2022 6:45 am : link
wrong?
Link - ( New Window )
RE: From Spotrac, I get Jackson's cap hit as $9,288,032. Am I reading it  
SGMen : 6/17/2022 7:18 am : link
In comment 15734459 Ira said:
Quote:
wrong? Link - ( New Window )
For this year, correct but next year jumps to $19,488,333 and that is a lot of money. The thing is guys like L. Williams, A. Jackson and Shepard could all be released to open huge cap space if they don't fit the future or play up to snuff.

Lets say Daboll and Schoen decide to let Jones & Barkley "walk" via UFA and both land big deals netting us 3rd round supplemental picks. Lets say we cut big money guys to save money and only sign mid-level UFA's to fill gaps. We draft a QB round #1 and pray he is the next Rodgers, taken later in a draft but developing into a hall of famer...

I mean, the key is whether Jones is good enough to take you to the show. Jones is not elite 8 type but may be good enough and by mid season we should pretty much know his fate.

In summary: 1. Stay & Get Healthy, 2. Develop young players & assess veterans, 3. Keep the right guys and sign the right new guys 2023, 4. Draft like a champion. This year is all about learning what you got and if we somehow get lucky and eekk out 8 or more wins I'd be a happy camper.
I'm with you SGMen.  
mittenedman : 6/17/2022 8:34 am : link
You can't change bad circumstances no matter how bad you want to win. The bottom line is this team has had the worst combination of front office, coaching, skill & OL talent and injury luck in the NFL.

If they can solidify those areas, they can INSTANTLY be much better than they've been. It doesn't have to be the long growing process people are making it out to be - they just need to be reasonable in those areas and we're in for a much improved season.
RE:  
Klaatu : 6/17/2022 10:28 am : link
In comment 15734470 SGMen said:
Quote:

In summary: 1. Stay & Get Healthy, 2. Develop young players & assess veterans, 3. Keep the right guys and sign the right new guys 2023, 4. Draft like a champion. This year is all about learning what you got and if we somehow get lucky and eekk out 8 or more wins I'd be a happy camper.


Is that all?

You should have your own podcast. Call it The Big Blue Banality.
RE: I'm with you SGMen.  
SGMen : 6/17/2022 2:10 pm : link
In comment 15734527 mittenedman said:
Quote:
You can't change bad circumstances no matter how bad you want to win. The bottom line is this team has had the worst combination of front office, coaching, skill & OL talent and injury luck in the NFL.

If they can solidify those areas, they can INSTANTLY be much better than they've been. It doesn't have to be the long growing process people are making it out to be - they just need to be reasonable in those areas and we're in for a much improved season.
Exactly,we can rebound quickly if in fact these areas are solidified, even better than average perhaps? Many of our key guys are young and as long as Jones is very effective we should have a much better team. The rebuild is easier if in fact Jones is the answer and plays 17 games.
RE: RE: I'm with you SGMen.  
Reale01 : 6/19/2022 11:59 am : link
In comment 15734830 SGMen said:
Quote:
In comment 15734527 mittenedman said:


Quote:


You can't change bad circumstances no matter how bad you want to win. The bottom line is this team has had the worst combination of front office, coaching, skill & OL talent and injury luck in the NFL.

If they can solidify those areas, they can INSTANTLY be much better than they've been. It doesn't have to be the long growing process people are making it out to be - they just need to be reasonable in those areas and we're in for a much improved season.

Exactly,we can rebound quickly if in fact these areas are solidified, even better than average perhaps? Many of our key guys are young and as long as Jones is very effective we should have a much better team. The rebuild is easier if in fact Jones is the answer and plays 17 games.


Agree, I don't know why so many think the Giants cannot be competitive. IMO - If Jones can ne good the team will be good. The only way they will be bad is if Jones is bad and I don't think he will be bad.
RE: RE: RE: I'm with you SGMen.  
SGMen : 6/20/2022 6:53 am : link
In comment 15735651 Reale01 said:
Quote:
In comment 15734830 SGMen said:


Quote:


In comment 15734527 mittenedman said:


Quote:


You can't change bad circumstances no matter how bad you want to win. The bottom line is this team has had the worst combination of front office, coaching, skill & OL talent and injury luck in the NFL.

If they can solidify those areas, they can INSTANTLY be much better than they've been. It doesn't have to be the long growing process people are making it out to be - they just need to be reasonable in those areas and we're in for a much improved season.

Exactly,we can rebound quickly if in fact these areas are solidified, even better than average perhaps? Many of our key guys are young and as long as Jones is very effective we should have a much better team. The rebuild is easier if in fact Jones is the answer and plays 17 games.



Agree, I don't know why so many think the Giants cannot be competitive. IMO - If Jones can ne good the team will be good. The only way they will be bad is if Jones is bad and I don't think he will be bad.
Jones is the key player cause well QB's just are! He must stay healthy along with the rest of the offense thru camp to develop synergy and timing. We can't start 0 - 4 and hope to make a run in December towards a respectable 9 - 8 which is my prayer. The schedule favors us (at least on paper) so why not?

If this OL can run block and Barkley has returned to pre-ACL form perhaps Jones can manage the games just enough to pull out that 24-23 win instead of seeing a 23-21 loss! Or worse!

And if Thibs, Neal, Robinson and the 2nd year guys like Toney develop well this team could be a force late in the year. Lots of ifs.
The 2017 Bills are an instructive “Glass Half Full” precedent.  
Big Blue Blogger : 6/20/2022 7:07 am : link
Brandon Beane came in as GM, dumped the contracts that he could, and started what looked like a two-year rebuild. In fact, it was a two-year rebuild - more like three. Tyrod Taylor was the lame duck holdover QB, ironically in the Daniel Jones role, and memorably got benched briefly mid-season for Nathan Peterman. Yet Buffalo made the playoffs at 9-7, nearly costing themselves Josh Allen.

That Buffalo team was not good at all, but they protected the ball on offense (other than Peterman’s infamous game against the Chargers), got some key interceptions, and outperformed expectations. The rebuild resumed in earnest the next year: Beane had to trade up to draft Allen because of the team’s unexpected success - IIRC moving up from an acquired spot, not Buffalo’s original one. The record dropped to 6-10, but Beane was continuing to do what was needed to build a real contender. That’s what they finally became in 2020, when Allen reached the top tier.

If Schoen has a blueprint, it probably resembles Beane’s. And, like Beane, Schoen will make contingency plans and adapt to circumstances. For example, the Bradberry situation did not go according to plan: cutting him outright was not what NYG envisioned, but keeping him would have involved straying even farther from the roadmap. Based on how Jones, Barkley, and many others perform, there will be more decisions to make, of varying difficulty. Schoen has already shown that he will make hard choices, as Beane did.

Where does the team stand after OTAs and mini-camp? Same place they stood before, basically. We know a bit more about the depth chart, and the players have started learning the playbooks. That’s it. The plethora of red jerseys might be a red flag, but most will be forgotten by September. There’s ample room for both optimism and pessimism, because so little is settled. Nobody is right or wrong at this early stage. The eventual results will seem to vindicate either the optimists or pessimists, but only in hindsight.
very good analysis Blogs  
gidiefor : Mod : 6/20/2022 8:20 am : link
!
Jones needs to show a lot  
US1 Giants : 6/20/2022 8:46 am : link
to be worth a 2nd contract.
Thanks gidiefor. One more point about Buffalo’s ascent.  
Big Blue Blogger : 6/20/2022 10:01 am : link
Ryan’s 2015-2016 Bills were not a bad team. They were just a team on a .500 treadmill, going nowhere with aging stars on defense and a failed first-round gamble at QB who had lost his job to Taylor.

Unlike E.J. Manuel, Jones has a year left on his contract and isn’t a complete bust, so he gets a final chance to establish himself with the new regime. The ice is thin, though. Schoen inherits a worse team than Beane did. He won’t hesitate to jettison holdovers.
RE: The 2017 Bills are an instructive “Glass Half Full” precedent.  
SGMen : 6/21/2022 7:40 am : link
In comment 15735968 Big Blue Blogger said:
Quote:
Brandon Beane came in as GM, dumped the contracts that he could, and started what looked like a two-year rebuild. In fact, it was a two-year rebuild - more like three. Tyrod Taylor was the lame duck holdover QB, ironically in the Daniel Jones role, and memorably got benched briefly mid-season for Nathan Peterman. Yet Buffalo made the playoffs at 9-7, nearly costing themselves Josh Allen.

That Buffalo team was not good at all, but they protected the ball on offense (other than Peterman’s infamous game against the Chargers), got some key interceptions, and outperformed expectations. The rebuild resumed in earnest the next year: Beane had to trade up to draft Allen because of the team’s unexpected success - IIRC moving up from an acquired spot, not Buffalo’s original one. The record dropped to 6-10, but Beane was continuing to do what was needed to build a real contender. That’s what they finally became in 2020, when Allen reached the top tier.

If Schoen has a blueprint, it probably resembles Beane’s. And, like Beane, Schoen will make contingency plans and adapt to circumstances. For example, the Bradberry situation did not go according to plan: cutting him outright was not what NYG envisioned, but keeping him would have involved straying even farther from the roadmap. Based on how Jones, Barkley, and many others perform, there will be more decisions to make, of varying difficulty. Schoen has already shown that he will make hard choices, as Beane did.

Where does the team stand after OTAs and mini-camp? Same place they stood before, basically. We know a bit more about the depth chart, and the players have started learning the playbooks. That’s it. The plethora of red jerseys might be a red flag, but most will be forgotten by September. There’s ample room for both optimism and pessimism, because so little is settled. Nobody is right or wrong at this early stage. The eventual results will seem to vindicate either the optimists or pessimists, but only in hindsight.
Optimism and Pessimism Indeed  
SGMen : 6/21/2022 7:44 am : link
Excellent details above on the possible "blueprint" for the team and Schoen's vision which must be 2023 and beyond. You need a year to assess and then make the painful cuts and let players walk.

For example, lets say both Jones and Barkley play 12 of 17 games very, very well and are the reason we win. Some team will way overpay them in UFA. We may let both walk IF we think we can draft and possibly sign players to fill those spots way cheaper.

We just don't know...yet.

I'm an optimist but the lack of "top end" talent concerns me. However, I also have hopes that Jones, Barkley, Thomas, Thibs and yes even Toney are "special" this year and guys like McKinney, Williams, Jackson, Ojulari, Lawrence are very, very good and keep us in games at least.
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