The Giants are definitely a better team than they were a year ago. Whether they can win more games in the NFC East remains to be seen. PFF cites the defense as the main weakness. In retrospect one thing that I would have done differently in the off season is to use the money spent on Slayton to keep Love or add a linebacker- middle or edge. Adding Waller, Cambpell, and Hyatt with the return of Colin Johnson and maybe Robinson and Shep improves the receivers quite a bit.
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It all really comes down to the offensive line. I don't think Jones has had a year here where he was able to get quality pass protection. Until there are way less 1 on 1 losses on the OL, then talent won't matter.
I'm excited to see what Wink can do with more depth on DL and 1st round rookie CB who has the skill set he's looking for. But the defense is still from thin after the starters especially at LB.
Maybe this year is the year the law averages tilts in the Giants favor injury wise. I think the starting 11 defense if the current depth chart is all active on 9/10 has improved the talent quite a bit.
They are right about the linebackers, who have been awful, but they are wrong in their overall conclusions about why the defense was bad.
Look what the Giants did in the offseason. In FA, they signed two DL and middle LB. They are trying to address the big weakness, the run defense.
I'm excited to see what Wink can do with more depth on DL and 1st round rookie CB who has the skill set he's looking for. But the defense is still from thin after the starters especially at LB.
Maybe this year is the year the law averages tilts in the Giants favor injury wise. I think the starting 11 defense if the current depth chart is all active on 9/10 has improved the talent quite a bit.
I don't understand this take to criticize Love. Love came out as a CB. He was average athletically for a CB, not a S.
It all really comes down to the offensive line. I don't think Jones has had a year here where he was able to get quality pass protection. Until there are way less 1 on 1 losses on the OL, then talent won't matter.
I think the run defense will hit the ground stopping the run. We had to be the worst run defense last year, but now we have depth on the line a long with a legit MLB. I am not too worried about the pass defense because we'll force more 3rd and longs with our improve front 7.
You want to improve? Then winning opening day s huge, can't lose 4 games between Philly and Dallas every year. It's gotta change and I think we can do it this year.
He was a good player, not a great player. Leaving the team was his choice, not the Giants. There was an offer in front of him and he thought he could do better, even though it doesn't seem to have resulted in more money than he'd have gotten here. Whatever the reason, so be it. Love is exactly the sort of player that you let your pipeline backfill for. You can't keep every guy at any price.
He was a good player, not a great player. Leaving the team was his choice, not the Giants. There was an offer in front of him and he thought he could do better, even though it doesn't seem to have resulted in more money than he'd have gotten here. Whatever the reason, so be it. Love is exactly the sort of player that you let your pipeline backfill for. You can't keep every guy at any price.
Agreed. Most have him pegged correctly here. Solid safety with no outstanding attributes. Heady and good team guy. But not a difference maker. Slight drop off without him? Possibly. But guys like pinnock and belton have a chance to step up now at a much lower salary. That’s the way u build teams. Cost controlled developmental guys stepping up. McCain not a bad vet fill in either
Only issue I see on D is lack of depth at lb and time to jell at dbs ( to an extent)
Front 7 looks a lot more solid ,especially at stopping run. U do that, puts back 7in more advantageous situations
I see one of the guys cut his sports analyst teeth covering WWE and moved on to a lucrative career as a liquor store stock boy before getting back to sports covering the Rays and Bills.
The other guy looks like a kid who's dad is an agent.
So there's that.
I see one of the guys cut his sports analyst teeth covering WWE and moved on to a lucrative career as a liquor store stock boy before getting back to sports covering the Rays and Bills.
The other guy looks like a kid who's dad is an agent.
So there's that.
😂
He was a good player, not a great player. Leaving the team was his choice, not the Giants. There was an offer in front of him and he thought he could do better, even though it doesn't seem to have resulted in more money than he'd have gotten here. Whatever the reason, so be it. Love is exactly the sort of player that you let your pipeline backfill for. You can't keep every guy at any price.
when was john jerry ever the leader of a unit and core special teamer? no giant defender played as many snaps as love last year, most with the green dot, and he also played a ton of specials. nobody on the entire team played more snaps than him. also a captain.
he gave the giants the chance to match a contract lower than the one they'd previously offered him, so id say it was the giants choice. they made it and now we all hope it works out. there are tangible reasons to question it beyond nostalgia. between him and slayton who got the same $ and also over 4 years which player was smarter, tougher, more reliable?
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for Julian Love.
He was a good player, not a great player. Leaving the team was his choice, not the Giants. There was an offer in front of him and he thought he could do better, even though it doesn't seem to have resulted in more money than he'd have gotten here. Whatever the reason, so be it. Love is exactly the sort of player that you let your pipeline backfill for. You can't keep every guy at any price.
when was john jerry ever the leader of a unit and core special teamer? no giant defender played as many snaps as love last year, most with the green dot, and he also played a ton of specials. nobody on the entire team played more snaps than him. also a captain.
he gave the giants the chance to match a contract lower than the one they'd previously offered him, so id say it was the giants choice. they made it and now we all hope it works out. there are tangible reasons to question it beyond nostalgia. between him and slayton who got the same $ and also over 4 years which player was smarter, tougher, more reliable?
It feels like the Giants like Pinnock and signed McCain as insurance and mentor while also drafting an intriguing prospect. As you point out, if they wanted Love he'd still be a Giant.
It feels like the Giants like Pinnock and signed McCain as insurance and mentor while also drafting an intriguing prospect. As you point out, if they wanted Love he'd still be a Giant.
I think they like the value pinnock, mccain, belton represented basically all at the league minimum (mccain being an option that presented itself after UFA began that was an unknown prior). I also think they have Mccloud as an option to do some of the stuff Love did.
we know they also liked love a good deal since he was 1 of just 2 they tried to extend pre-UFA but the cap necessitates decisions, and in this case they chose to spend the $ elsewhere.
the decision either way was justifiable but nostalgia isn't anywhere near why. id have gone love over slayton personally because he's been the more reliable player.
Nose Tackle: Lawrence being backed up by Nacho
Defensive Tackle: Williams backed up by A’Shawn
ILB:Okereke and Beavers backed up by Davis, McFadden
OLB:Ojulari anad Thibodeaux backed up by Ward, Fox, Ximines/Smith
CB:Jackson, Banks and Flott, backed up by Oruwariye, McCloud, Holmes and Williams
S:McKinney and McClain backed up by Pinnock and Belton
This seems like not only a very good defense - but a very good defense with very good depth
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It feels like the Giants like Pinnock and signed McCain as insurance and mentor while also drafting an intriguing prospect. As you point out, if they wanted Love he'd still be a Giant.
I think they like the value pinnock, mccain, belton represented basically all at the league minimum (mccain being an option that presented itself after UFA began that was an unknown prior). I also think they have Mccloud as an option to do some of the stuff Love did.
we know they also liked love a good deal since he was 1 of just 2 they tried to extend pre-UFA but the cap necessitates decisions, and in this case they chose to spend the $ elsewhere.
the decision either way was justifiable but nostalgia isn't anywhere near why. id have gone love over slayton personally because he's been the more reliable player.
Clearly bbi and the Giants have nostalgia for Slayton.
Nose Tackle: Lawrence being backed up by Nacho
Defensive Tackle: Williams backed up by A’Shawn
ILB:Okereke and Beavers backed up by Davis, McFadden
OLB:Ojulari anad Thibodeaux backed up by Ward, Fox, Ximines/Smith
CB:Jackson, Banks and Flott, backed up by Oruwariye, McCloud, Holmes and Williams
S:McKinney and McClain backed up by Pinnock and Belton
This seems like not only a very good defense - but a very good defense with very good depth
not to be negative but depth wise the defense still has more holes. they have 2 projected minimum salary veterans penciled into the starting lineup right now (davis, mccain). by way of comparison there are 0 penciled in as starters on the offense. there are actually only 2 in the entire offensive 2 deep (shep, breida).
defensive dc has those 2 starting plus ximines/ward as the likely first edges off the bench. signing a 3rd edge upgrade would have a very big impact if they can find the $ to pull it off.
I'll be very surprised if this is not a top 10 D but they will need to stay very healthy.
Letting Love go is a TBD. All depends on how the players they slotted to fill in perform.
John Jerry was the definition of JAG. Love is a good player.
I also think Love got more money than Slayton but don't care enough to check.
You and Angel Eyes need to get a room.
Contract Value: $12,000,000 ($6,000,000 APY)
Fully Guaranteed Money: $4,900,000
Contract Ranking: 42/391 at WR
Free Agency: 2025 (UFA)
Julian Love signed a two year, $12 million contract with the Seahawks. $5.98 million is guaranteed. There are annual per game bonuses as part of the ...
Contract Value: $12,000,000 ($6,000,000 APY)
Fully Guaranteed Money: $5,980,000
Contract Ranking: 29/226 at S
Free Agency: 2025 (UFA)
So Love did get more. Not earth shattering money but million here or there does add up and I don't think it's unfair to think we needed Slayton more than Love.
(Relative to their peers at their positions, obvs.)
even if healthy they may end up cutting crowder or shepard or both and those are 2 pretty accomplished players. jeff smith, colin johnson, and bryce ford wheaton probably only have the slightest outside chances of making the roster if they excel on specials.
obviously they didnt know they were going to get hyatt at the time they decided love/slayton/campbell, but by positional value and numbers wide receivers are an every year pick either day 1 or day 2 so it was a good bet they'd add somebody. without slayton they'd be fine with pretty much any 3 of hodgins, campbell, shepard, crowder, wandale, hyatt healthy and competing for snaps.
i wont dispute that slayton has upside plus time in this offense and a lot of time with jones, but id have picked love in march and id pick him again right now if i could. he is the more reliable player.
Don't start talking about some 3rd round rookie. He doesn't count. Dallas did the same thing last year and that 3rd round pick couldn't get on to the field, all but forcing them to make an in season trade for a vet WR.
We needed Slayton. Maybe we needed Love too, but they did sign a vet replacement for him.
No one is saying Slayton is some great player. But we did need him.
if the Giants truly wanted to bring Love back and deemed him a legit starter going forward that they'd rather not live without, I highly doubt the Slayton contract got in the way. But that's just me...
Don't start talking about some 3rd round rookie. He doesn't count. Dallas did the same thing last year and that 3rd round pick couldn't get on to the field, all but forcing them to make an in season trade for a vet WR.
We needed Slayton. Maybe we needed Love too, but they did sign a vet replacement for him.
No one is saying Slayton is some great player. But we did need him.
hodgins
campbell
crowder
smith
johnson
all 5 have caught a pass in the nfl and are currently healthy participating in otas.
so your 2 is off by more than half even not counting shepard or wandale or rookies or waller who will function like a wr more often than inline.
if the Giants truly wanted to bring Love back and deemed him a legit starter going forward that they'd rather not live without, I highly doubt the Slayton contract got in the way. But that's just me...
it has been widely reported that he was 1 of 2 players they had extension discussions with during the bye week, continued negotiating with him until UFA opened, and at some point in that period offered him more than he ended up receiving.
they wanted him back but once FA began they chose to spend the $ elsewhere. that's literally what they reportedly told him when he gave them the chance to match.
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the Giants have two WRs that have caught passes at the pro level and aren't injured. Two.
Don't start talking about some 3rd round rookie. He doesn't count. Dallas did the same thing last year and that 3rd round pick couldn't get on to the field, all but forcing them to make an in season trade for a vet WR.
We needed Slayton. Maybe we needed Love too, but they did sign a vet replacement for him.
No one is saying Slayton is some great player. But we did need him.
hodgins
campbell
crowder
smith
johnson
all 5 have caught a pass in the nfl and are currently healthy participating in otas.
so your 2 is off by more than half even not counting shepard or wandale or rookies or waller who will function like a wr more often than inline.
I mentioned Crowder. Pure slot guy. I am not counting Smith and Johnston...cmon.
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don't know for sure if NYG tried to bring Love back and for how much nor do we know for sure that Slayton's contract precluded NYG from signing Love in the first place.
if the Giants truly wanted to bring Love back and deemed him a legit starter going forward that they'd rather not live without, I highly doubt the Slayton contract got in the way. But that's just me...
it has been widely reported that he was 1 of 2 players they had extension discussions with during the bye week, continued negotiating with him until UFA opened, and at some point in that period offered him more than he ended up receiving.
they wanted him back but once FA began they chose to spend the $ elsewhere. that's literally what they reportedly told him when he gave them the chance to match.
OK fine.... The Giants blew it and would have kept Love if not for Slayton. IS that the route you want to take? I don't think it's quite that simple. But ok...whatever works.
That said, we still needed a WR that can play on the outside and take the top off a defense.
Contract Value: $12,000,000 ($6,000,000 APY)
Fully Guaranteed Money: $4,900,000
Contract Ranking: 42/391 at WR
Free Agency: 2025 (UFA)
Julian Love signed a two year, $12 million contract with the Seahawks. $5.98 million is guaranteed. There are annual per game bonuses as part of the ...
Contract Value: $12,000,000 ($6,000,000 APY)
Fully Guaranteed Money: $5,980,000
Contract Ranking: 29/226 at S
Free Agency: 2025 (UFA)
So Love did get more. Not earth shattering money but million here or there does add up and I don't think it's unfair to think we needed Slayton more than Love.
Love wa sa very good value pick and over played his craft slot. They being said he was easily replaceable, and if they even want a shot at resigning McKinney you're letting him walk. They offered him more than he eventually got IIRC and moved on after he turned them down.
Great kid but you can't keep everyone. The defense will be more than fine
Now it’s also true that the 2022 team out-performed its talent level - but the 2023 is clearly better.
As for Love -
Yes, he is an average football player
Yes, he is a better football player than Slayton
Yes, as the timing went, WR was prioritized over safety
No, I do not expect the loss of Love to be noticeable.
They’re looking for Love in all the wrong places.
-Cards
-Rams
-Packers
-Vegas (Mcdaniels)
-Saints
Furthermore, are we counting on Tua being there for the Dolphins? I don't fear the Pats much either as I think people way overestimate late-era Belichik's ability to make chicken salad with what has on hand.
The Eagles, Cowboys, and @Bills will be the toughest games. SF QB situation makes them a question mark. I think marking this team below 8 wins is underselling the talent and coaching a little bit and weighting the schedule too hard.
Someone else on our D line needs to become a pass rushing threat. Sexy Dexy cannot do it all, he is drawing more schemes to stop him.
There is always more to the situation on offense and defense when it comes to the NFL. That’s why it’s so much more interesting than any of the other sports in my opinion. Hell, it’s May and I’m on a football blog discussing a team that won’t set foot on a field for a live game for more than 100 days.