2023 roster is better than 2022: Unquestionable

Besides Big Dex and Leonard, the Giants have been living with over-the-hill and re-threads.....these new guys are NFL DLmen......that will be a major upgrade.

In comment 16129029 George from PA said:

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Besides Big Dex and Leonard, the Giants have been living with over-the-hill and re-threads.....these new guys are NFL DLmen......that will be a major upgrade.

Our defense intrigues me more than our offense even as there is some serious potential now, especially with the new veteran blood and youth hopefully stepping up.

They strengthened their interior DL and added a cover corner and good ILB. I’m watching to see if Davis or Beavers can provide stability at LB: if so I think the D might be pretty good. If not, it’ll be a long session.

big things from rookies, but if the top 3 picks are just adequate it's an improvement at each position.

In comment 16129036 Gman11 said:

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big things from rookies, but if the top 3 picks are just adequate it's an improvement at each position.

I think the more reasonable and important factor is how 2nd and 3rd year players improve. Guys like Robinson, Ojulari, Thibs, Ezeudu, and Neal.

the jump up in the TE room, the addition of Eric Gray at RB is going to translate into a much more potent offense.

That should be a huge difference in last year's scoring ability. If the Giants start jumping out of the box with quick scoring ability and have a tougher defense with more beef. They are going to do some damage all along the watchtower.

Neal, Uzudu, Bredeson, McKethan, Bellinger, Hodgins, W. Robinson, Thibodeaux, Ojulari, McFadden, Beavers, Flott, A. Robinson, Belton, Williams. I believe we had the youngest(?) team in the league or close to it. Not all of these guys are going to be good but they represent a significant percentage of the roster and potential starters. We need a lot of them to be solid contributors. And the FA must be ready to go at a high level. There is some good potential. We need to to be more than potential.

Still hurting on depth in some key areas, but they are absolutely bringing more overall depth into camp this year.

Last year, when they had to pivot because of injuries the pro personnel team did a masterful job of finding other teams' scraps to come in and play.

This year, there are far more contingency plans throughout the roster.

With that being said, Eric and even a lot of pundits warn that the record may not reflect that the roster is better this year. The trajectory is clearly pointing up, but the competition this season is going to be infinitely more tough.

The goals for the Giants, at least for me:
1. win more division games.
2. Increase explosive plays on offense
4. See progression in guys like Neal/Thibs
3. Improve run defense

If after all of that, they are alive come December, I'll call 2023 a success.

depend on 2nd year players making big jumps - sometimes it happens but sometimes it doesn't.

In comment 16129057 Ira said:

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depend on 2nd year players making big jumps - sometimes it happens but sometimes it doesn't.

Same for the other teams? Or just the Giants?

In comment 16129089 Wildcardgiants said:

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In comment 16129057 Ira said: Quote: depend on 2nd year players making big jumps - sometimes it happens but sometimes it doesn't. Same for the other teams? Or just the Giants?

I think it varies with the player, not the team.

In comment 16129057 Ira said:

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depend on 2nd year players making big jumps - sometimes it happens but sometimes it doesn't.

Either they make some kind of jump in their 2nd/3rd years or they’re probably gone by their 4th. If they’re not improving then just when will it happen. Years 2 and 3 are key to becoming good players in this league. I believe we’ve got a good group but they need to step up now.

Last year we were the worst 1st quarter team and one of the best 4th quarter team. We were one of the best at limiting turnovers, but one of the worst at creating them. We had a lot of close games and never blew anyone out except Indy. We were one of the worst at explosive plays and our run defense was terrible. It seems as though we will be more explosive and that we will be better at stopping the run. On the other hand, our schedule is harder. If Jones is throwing deeper, he's not going to be the leader in the least interceptions department. I can see this going either way. Regression would seem to be likely, but on the other hand, we aren't the same team. Anything can happen.

that it is dependent on 2nd year players making a big jump up in performance.

The averages make it more probable than not that only a third of those players that you think should/or need to, will actually make strides.

But what I see is a blended mix of vet UFAs, draftees and UDFAs.

So when I look at a jump in offensive production:

In the WR room there are at least four vets who I think will have an impact on speed and production - Hodgins, Campbell, Slayton and Crowder - if any of Hyatt, Robinson or Ford Wheaton pan out it is icing on the cake;

In the TE room - Bellinger only needs to modestly improve and Waller needs to play in 12 games for this to be a high impact TE room;

In the RB room - Barkley production of last year and power running between the tackles from Eric Gray makes this room better.

I am not worried about the Oline improving, I think it will -- but not because of reliance on Neal to make a huge jump -- it's going to improve as a whole because the defense is going to be forced to pay attention to the WR and TE corps

I agree that it is a better roster. We'll see where it goes but I worry about the depth. Perhaps they avoid the injury bug for a change.

Comes down to how much progress the fronts make for me but I am optimistic.

If the OL comes around this could be a pretty dynamic offense beating teams with both the run and pass.

I have felt the D can be a top 10 one.

In comment 16129157 Rod in St Cloud said:

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Regression would seem to be likely, but on the other hand, we aren't the same team. Anything can happen.

I don't subscribe to the idea that regression is likely. In my experience as a Giants fan, when there was regression (e.g, 1995 after a strong finish (winning last 6 straight) in '94, some people were predicting big things in '95, but we ended up sucking and going 5-11), the problem was a combination of a loss of talent, mediocre coaching, predictable play calling, etc.

We lost talent between '94 and '95 and little to no talent was added. And some of the talent that was retained was a yr older, a yr more brittle and less effective. And the play calling was pretty horrendous.

This year is completely different from that. We've added a significant amount of talent to a team that was one of the last 8 teams standing last yr. Plugged most of the glaring holes, have added depth almost everywhere and as of right now, I couldn't be happier about our coaching staff.

Unlike most, I don't think the schedule is going to be such a huge factor. People say in retrospect that our schedule was so easy last yr but I don't recall anyone saying that this time last yr or anyone predicting we'd beat Tenn, Balt, the Packers or a 13-4 team on the road in the playoffs.

I am confident we're going to do better in the division (would be happy with 3-3) and there aren't that many teams on our schedule that scare me (anymore than the eagles) and that's largely due to confidence in our coaches and the increased overall talent.

To paraphrase Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet "Regression! F*ck that shit!" Ha ha.

In comment 16129261 Dr. D said:

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In comment 16129157 Rod in St Cloud said: Quote: Regression would seem to be likely, but on the other hand, we aren't the same team. Anything can happen. I don't subscribe to the idea that regression is likely. In my experience as a Giants fan, when there was regression (e.g, 1995 after a strong finish (winning last 6 straight) in '94, some people were predicting big things in '95, but we ended up sucking and going 5-11), the problem was a combination of a loss of talent, mediocre coaching, predictable play calling, etc. We lost talent between '94 and '95 and little to no talent was added. And some of the talent that was retained was a yr older, a yr more brittle and less effective. And the play calling was pretty horrendous. This year is completely different from that. We've added a significant amount of talent to a team that was one of the last 8 teams standing last yr. Plugged most of the glaring holes, have added depth almost everywhere and as of right now, I couldn't be happier about our coaching staff. Unlike most, I don't think the schedule is going to be such a huge factor. People say in retrospect that our schedule was so easy last yr but I don't recall anyone saying that this time last yr or anyone predicting we'd beat Tenn, Balt, the Packers or a 13-4 team on the road in the playoffs. I am confident we're going to do better in the division (would be happy with 3-3) and there aren't that many teams on our schedule that scare me (anymore than the eagles) and that's largely due to confidence in our coaches and the increased overall talent. To paraphrase Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet "Regression! F*ck that shit!" Ha ha.

+1 - all very good points

PatersonPlank!

but no depth at edge or ILB and tougher schedule. I could less wins in 2023

added this year (draft and FA) but half of last years draft went down with injury. Add even some of those guys )like Beavers) into the mix, and that’s a massive talent infusion. If this staff gets the same type of performance from all the new additions they did from last year’s crew, then this team will be a LOT better. Closer to Philly than you might think.

forget the improvements for one second and just focus on the coaching from year 1 to year 2. Many teams get "better" from one year to the next, on paper. Other teams break even. And some suffer atrophy. NYG certainly are not suffering any atrophy any time soon as the team is young and the team was good in 22 and the cap space allows for building and additions.

That said, I don't care about the additions. I fell into this same trap in 2017. Then again in 2018. And again in 2021. All I care about is how this staff and process works from one year to the next. I believe Daboll knows how to make things easy for the offense and he knows how to get the most ouf of his players. TO me that's all that matters. If Daboll is truly COY good like he was in 22, we will be terrific going forward. If he's average? We will be up n down.

then scored 23.3 PPG over the next 8.

That is the key in 2023. Stay at or around 23 ppg all year, sneak in a perfect explosive game or two--and you have 400 points scored. Win.

considered is the increase in understanding of both Kafka's and Wink's complex offensive and defensive schemes respectively in the second year. Both offensive and defensive playcallng should be easier to execute with increase in talent and experience with understanding the playbook.

Part of last season’s success was a great (surprise) first half of the season. There will be no surprise this year and the early schedule likely will be much tougher.
I will take a crack at reviewing roster improvements, focusing on starter and backups, discounting MOSTLY the presence of rookies, but assuming that the 2nd year and injured players will come in reliably.
QB: Jones and Taylor, improvement will come from improve receivers.
RB: Barkley et al., no change unless Barkley does not play. Not counting on rookie RB.
O-line: Slight improvement. I have to consider Schmitz here but I don’t know if a rookie center is an improvement over a converted guard like Feliciano. Slight improvement from Neal likely, and some stability at LG, we hope.
TE: Big improvement here because Waller also makes the depth better, too.
WR: Without considering Hyatt, and knowing how Golladay turned out, solid improvement here. Having Hodgins all year helps.
D-line: NIck Williams was doing a good job before he was injured. A. Robinson may be a slight improvement but mainly it will be depth giving Dex and Williams fewer snaps.
Edge: Improvement for within with second year from Thibs and no injuries to Ojulari. If Ojulari is out again, this position is downgraded because there were no additons.
LB: Okereke obviously makes this position better but the 2nd LB is still an unknown.
CB and slot: Have to rely on the rookie for major improvement here. Otherwise, improvement from 2nd and 3rd year vets may only be a slight improvement.
Safety: All depends upon Love’s replacement. Can Belton play that role? Can Bobby McCain? I have to say no improvement here until the second safety is identified.
SUMMARY: Biggest improvements come at TE and WR, and the benefits they bring to Jones’ game. Improvements on defense mostly come from getting some new players who may fit Wink’s defense better.