Having watched this surprising season by the NY Giants, I’ve been thinking about the conclusions a fan may have and the consequences as well. So here it goes:
QB: I remain skeptical about Daniel Jones. He is a poor man’s Josh Allen. One big question remains: how long can he continue to be a running QB. Allen has the tools and IMHO can compete against the top teams with his arm and his head. The jury is still out on Jones. I suggest the Giants pursue a non-exclusive franchise tag. This will permit them to continue to evaluate Jones while recruiting/drafting talent, especially WR to help him. They can use the 120% of his present year salary as a basis. This would help with the CAP. Should another team makes an offer, they could match it or receive a draft package of two first-round picks (I would prefer the picks). Backup: Recommend Jacoby Brissett. If they lose Jones, go with Brissett and Taylor and build the team targeting 2024 Draft for QB.
RB: Sign Barkley. I do not care if it is 3 or 4 years. For CAP purposes perhaps use bonuses to minimize 2023 impact. He is a strategic weapon. Letting him go makes no sense with a team that has so few genuine weapons. I like Breida and Brightwell as contributors. Note: I believe the Bills need a runner like Barkley or Sanders to elevate their game.
WR: The Giants presently remind me a lot of Buffalo Bills. Similar offensive strategies. Similar QBs. Buffalo recognized they needed a top flite WR and got Stephan Diggs. Giants need to pull the trigger and either acquire through free agency or draft a #1 WR. I prefer the latter in the first round, even if this means trading up to do so. They have 11 picks in the draft. I am not particularly interested in Landry, Shuster, Meyers, Lazard, Chark or Hardman. They are not #1s. Landry is 30 and IMHO, his glory days are over. Also, I would not have a problem with OBJ, but only with the understanding that he is a #2 to complement a #1 (and that goes for $$$ too).
TE: I believe Bollinger will develop further. The only free agent TE that I would consider is Miami’s Gesicki. My concern is the cost is too high and he does not block. I would prefer to concentrate on getting another TE in the draft. If not Mayer (ND) I would look at Sam LaPorta of Iowa or Bell of South Carolina who could be a really big threat.
OL: I contend the Giants have book-ends at tackles. . The concern is the interior. I like Denver’s Dalton Risner as a free agent guard to target. My highest priority is Center. There are a number of free agents to investigate, e.g., Bradbury (Vikings), Morse (Bills), Reiter (Chiefs). Kelce (Eagles) is too old and may retire. Like guard, this could be augmented by the draft. I like Van Pran (Georgia) and Stromberg (Arkansas).
DL: Is it me or does it appear that many times there are only two down lineman for the Giants? The edge rushers mostly stand up. Their tackles of runners appear to be behind the line of scrimmage or chasing down field. I would rather see Ojulari and Thibodeaux be more like Taylor/Banks and not merely rushing but cover as linebackers. For the 3-4 scheme, this team needs another bookend DE who can stop the run and push the pocket. Keep Lawrence at NT. My prospects to target in the draft are Murphy (Clemson), Foskey (Notre Dame) and Adebaworwe (NW). Also need another NT to backup Lawrence.
ILB: This team is screaming for help here. I believe part of the problem is the porous DL. The ILB do not read/react well. Free agent targets are: Long (Titans), David (Bucs), Edmunds (Bills) and Edwards (Eagles). From the draft, I would target Simpson (Clemson), Campbell (Iowa), Herbig (Wisconsin) and Sewell (Oregon).
DB/S: I am content with this group as a whole. I would like to see another free agent and draft prospect augment/reinforce CB. Bradberry comes to mind. I also like Dean (Bucs) and Sutton (Steelers). From the draft I really like Joey Porter Jr. (Penn St), Ringo (Georgia) and Forbes (Miss St).
FWIW, these are my observations and thoughts.
Very strange how few touches Barkley got toward the end of the season, especially in our last debacle game against the Eagles. Were the Giants preserving him for the Super Bowl in a few weeks?
I think his elbow injury affected him. He also dinged his knee in the Bengals game in the drive before the Hamlin play. But also it could be the coordinator.
Also Chase and Higgins are REALLY good, as are Mixon and the other back.
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...if they won't use him in a game that was tailor-made for him?
Very strange how few touches Barkley got toward the end of the season, especially in our last debacle game against the Eagles. Were the Giants preserving him for the Super Bowl in a few weeks?
Who knows. But Philly's rush defense was 24th in yards per attempt, 16th in yards. That was the way to attack them. It might have caused them to ease up on the pass rush, and may have settled Jones down.
And Barkley should have been fresh; he had a light load against the Vikings.
Quote:
In comment 16010035 sb from NYT Forum said:
Quote:
...if they won't use him in a game that was tailor-made for him?
Very strange how few touches Barkley got toward the end of the season, especially in our last debacle game against the Eagles. Were the Giants preserving him for the Super Bowl in a few weeks?
Who knows. But Philly's rush defense was 24th in yards per attempt, 16th in yards. That was the way to attack them. It might have caused them to ease up on the pass rush, and may have settled Jones down.
And Barkley should have been fresh; he had a light load against the Vikings.
agree with you guys. it's on Daboll and Kafka to explain how your most dynamic playmaker isnt seeing the ball in a game of that magnitude.
Every year is a story in its own. Philly will be losing some key players potentially to FA. They have about $5 million in cap space and guys like Bradberry and Kelce not to mentions their RBs are free agents. They will be hard pressed to keep the total team together. They will still be very good but its hard to keep all that talent together from year to year.
Is he an average player that plays well against lousy teams, but poorly against good teams? You don't want to pay a premium for guys like that. Just something to think about.
Danny, though bigger than when he was drafted, is nowhere near as confrontational or has the howitzer Josh has.
Danny is a nice middle of the pack QB. But right now, he isn't in the top 10 and we need a top 10 QB.
Can he get there. Sure. With age comes experience.
Gano......can stay.
Huge need for a pass rusher that would demand double teaming. Thibs needs lots of off season work to make him a player not washed aside by one on one blocking.
Linebackers. this team has none.
Center. team needs one.
Neal needs tons of off season work, and in the spring, if he is still lacking first step pass protecting speed......make him a guard. His poor play risks injury to the QB
Slayton, the fastest WR needs to be gone. team is woefully in need of wide receivers with speed and good hands/ball security.
that, and all the moves J.S. is tasked with.
Most runners only have at max four good years. Too much pounding.
Look I'm extremely happy the Giants played meaningful into mid January in year 1 of a new coaching regime but this team has way too many holes to fill. They don't need to create another one by letting DJ walk out of the door. With shallow QB draft & FA classes this not the year to be replacing that position.
Positions that need to be addressed this off season LB,DL for improved depth, CB, IOL, WR, & TE. There will be many new faces on this team next season.
If Schoen et al are able to fill that pipeline, and the coaches are able to coach guys up year-on-year, then there would be fewer problems with depth.
Early results look promising.