With so much negativity espoused in the media on the Giants and much with justifiable cause, I decided to look at what I see as major team negatives going into the season and some cause for a positive outlook.
1. Daniel Jones - a ranking of 2024 starting quarterbacks based on key statistics over 2019-2023 places Jones at 25th of 29 quarterbacks. The key statistics used were QB Rate, OnTgt%, Y/A, Int%, CAY/Cmp and rush 1d/game. The only reason he ranked that high was his running capability. Will that still be a viable option in 2024 coming back from the injuries?
Positive:
In 2022, Jones had five game winning drives, four fourth-quarter comebacks and a winning record. There have been only 42 other quarterbacks to attain that feat in NFL history. Of those 42 quarterbacks, 90% have had success in the NFL. Success defined as one or more of HOF, Super Bowl contender, All Pro, 3+ times in the NFL Top 100, 2+ times in the Pro Bowl, or a Conference Championship contender. There are only four other quarterbacks in that 42 that have not achieved any of those marks and one of those was a fifth round draft pick. The other three were first round picks. You have to go back to 2011 to have the next quarterback that achieved this feat and have none of the noted accomplishments.
This guy,
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-daniel-jones-nfl-record-five-game-winning-drives-through-seven-games-arent-what-they-seem/, discounted Jones’ accomplishment but I feel that it is still an accomplishment to build on. The 90% success rate on this feat does not dissect each play nor should it. I looked at each of these five drives at pro football reference and Jones is completing passes and managing the drive to a game winning score.
I believe this accomplishment shows something positive about Jones. The ability to win, to come back from a deficit, even in the last quarter. As seen by the few number of quarterbacks that significantly exhibited in a season this is a rare ability. These were short passes with heavy use of the run game. Still it is managing the game. Here is a list of the 42 quarterbacks that have achieved this feat.
2. Offensive Line – the Giants PFF offensive line ranking for the last three seasons has held at 30th each year. Even with the free agency upgrade, Pff has only 2 of the 5 linemen with good grades – Thomas and Eluemunor.
Positive:
The new OL Coach Carmen Bricillo. Here is his track record on offensive line coaching.
2020 - co offensive line coach, Patriots (PFF OL rank - 4th)
2021 - offensive line coach, Patriots (PFF OL rank - 9th)
2022 - offensive line coach, Raiders (PFF OL rank - 10th)
2023- offensive line coach, Raiders (PFF OL rank - 10th)
Never once coached a line outside of the top 10.
Raiders were ranked 28th the year before he came on board, 10th the year he took over
3. Run Defense - over the last three seasons together the Giants have the highest opponent rushing yards per attempt and opponent total rushing yards.
Positive:
DT Jordan Riley. A 7th round draft pick last year. Riley measures 6’5” and 315 lbs. Riley made PFF’s NFL Rookies: Top 15 highest-graded players in Week 1 - “In his 12 snaps vs. the run, the seventh-round pick managed a perfect 0.0% negatively-graded play percentage and came away with a tackle for loss.” Some older videos.
https://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1690398711363325952
https://twitter.com/nickfalato/status/1739665738800022010
Riley appears on most depth charts as the third guy. But there appears to be a lot of positive on this guy and I look forward to seeing him in the pre-season to see if he has further improved.
4. Red zone receiving touchdowns – Isaiah Hodgins led the Giants in red zone receiving touchdowns in 2023 with three. This was tie for 45th in the league. The next person still on the teamis Slayton with one. The prior year (2022) the lead receiver still on the team was Daniel Bellinger with 2 red zone receiving touchdowns. Going back to 2021 the only remaining player that led in red zone receiving touchdowns was OL Andrew Thomas with 1.
Positive:
TE Theo Johnson
what they are saying - “Standing at 6'6" and weighing 259 lbs, Johnson boasts a massive frame that allows him to box out defenders and win jump balls in the red zone.” He had 5 red zone touchdowns in 2023 and 3 in 2022.
In fact it's the only possible plan.
A positive for every negative does not make a playoff run... But it does make for a more enjoyable off-season experience.
Go Giants
At his Pro Day, he was officially weighed at 338 pounds, and that's the size reported by all sites when the Giants drafted him.
Well today, the Giants official roster lists him at 315 pounds. You don't often see changes like that on team rosters. Seems players are typically shown at the same weight year after year.
Just an observation, and I am interested in comparing his 2023 playing size to how he appears when he is seen at upcoming OTAs.
In an interview last season, Coach Paterson had positive comments about Ryder Anderson. Mentioned that he needed to gain weight, and stated he was pleased to see that Anderson was working on it and now was just over 300 pounds.
Wouldn't be surprised if we learn that Riley used the offseason to develop a body closer to what Coach Paterson wants.
At his Pro Day, he was officially weighed at 338 pounds, and that's the size reported by all sites when the Giants drafted him.
Well today, the Giants official roster lists him at 315 pounds. You don't often see changes like that on team rosters. Seems players are typically shown at the same weight year after year.
Just an observation, and I am interested in comparing his 2023 playing size to how he appears when he is seen at upcoming OTAs.
In an interview last season, Coach Paterson had positive comments about Ryder Anderson. Mentioned that he needed to gain weight, and stated he was pleased to see that Anderson was working on it and now was just over 300 pounds.
Wouldn't be surprised if we learn that Riley used the offseason to develop a body closer to what Coach Paterson wants.
Alright I can't take it anymore. It is really ticking me off. How is it possible that you always come up with interesting, useful, thoughtful pieces of information that no one else is talking about? Do you have a crystal ball? Are you just that much smarter than the rest of us? Tarot cards? What is the secret? If you won't tell then please accept my thanks. You are one of the posters that makes BBI a fun place to come to and learn interesting things.
When you are typing threads that mostly strangers will be reading-stick to content and stay away from opinions.
At his Pro Day, he was officially weighed at 338 pounds, and that's the size reported by all sites when the Giants drafted him.
Well today, the Giants official roster lists him at 315 pounds. You don't often see changes like that on team rosters. Seems players are typically shown at the same weight year after year.
Just an observation, and I am interested in comparing his 2023 playing size to how he appears when he is seen at upcoming OTAs.
In an interview last season, Coach Paterson had positive comments about Ryder Anderson. Mentioned that he needed to gain weight, and stated he was pleased to see that Anderson was working on it and now was just over 300 pounds.
Wouldn't be surprised if we learn that Riley used the offseason to develop a body closer to what Coach Paterson wants.
Ryder Anderson is a sneaky dark horse candidate. One of the most surprising things to me this offseason is that the 5 tech / 3-4 DE role really wasn't addressed at all. Rakeem Nunez-Roches is really the only guarantee to make the 53 that fits that profile. I saw some theories about maybe moving Boogie Basham there, but still... a very shallow group, and one that has been a big part of Bowen's defense in the past (Jeffery Simmons for example in a 3 man front is a 5 tech, also Denico Autry). Instead the only name we saw was Jordan Phillips who profiles closer to Riley and Davidson. Ryder Anderson could sneak on with that role.
The best possible scenario for this team this year is maybe get a wild card spot, where there is marked improvement in the units across the board, BUT where it’s obvious the QB position is holding this team back.
That will make next year’s off season pretty straightforward.
Qb's always get more credit and more blame. The stats on Jones don't give an accurate picture, neither the positive stats nor negative. Jones' story is purely qualitative. He's been very good, very bad, booed off the field, cheered off the field. He could be an excellent QB or a poor one. At this point the uncertainty, inconsistency, that's the issue. No matter the stats or trends the team needs a QB where they have confidence there will be consistantly good play. I'd like if that was Jones but at this point you can't count on it.
I think there is only optimism for the offensive line at this point. They really did all they could do without being ridiculous or irresponsible about it. The moves they made were smart moves given their opportunities. Now we see how
my first point, coaching, produces an effective unit.
The best possible scenario for this team this year is maybe get a wild card spot, where there is marked improvement in the units across the board, BUT where it’s obvious the QB position is holding this team back.
That will make next year’s off season pretty straightforward.
Love the optimism but I have to disagree on what is the best possible scenario. In your scenario, it would require a massive cost to move up to a position where we could draft one of the top QB prospects next year. In addition, I think it would make Mara's Jones obsession even stronger resulting in an even tougher road for Schoen to move on from Jones.
I hate to say it but the best possible scenario is as you stated, "marked improvement in the units across the board, BUT where it’s obvious the QB position is holding this team back" HOWEVER the WL record is shitty. That would hopefully allow us to get a franchise QB without sacrificing any premium draft picks.
When you are typing threads that mostly strangers will be reading-stick to content and stay away from opinions.
Not quite sure what you mean by this but pointing out the allocation of resources to certain units isn’t an opinion. Was your comment meant for someone else.