I want to preface this by saying I am probably the most optimistic person ever lol
I think the Giants are in store for a great year TBH, just wanted to list some reasons why:
Carmen Bricillo ! Hearing Runyan talk about how attentive to details he is and how he is working on fixing bad habits has me pumped up. JMS should be much better after taking his rookie lumps last year. Andrew Thomas is a stud obviously. Have legitimate options at Right tackle if Evan Neal fails.
Malik Nabers!!! Giants have a legitimate number 1 WR and playmaker. Will make things easier for Slayton and Jalin Hyatt bulked up…should be able to get off press easier and use his elite speed. . WanDale Robinson was coming on STRONG at the end of last year. WR core looking very strong.
Brian Daboll calling plays! (I know, not confirmed yet). The dude is a fantasy’s playcaller and will know how to scheme stuff for Nabers, who is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball.
Brian Burns! A stud edge rusher will help tremendously. Kayvon, Burns and Dexter is a top tier defensive line. Banks had a great rookie year and should only get better. Nubin is a ballhawk and should fit perfectly with Bowens style. Okereke can cover! Going to be very tough to get explosive plays against us. Azeez Olujari shouldn’t have to play as many snaps and can hopefully stay healthy…I predict a contract year breakout for him.
Chip on his shoulder Daniel jones / Drew Lock…..let’s let the best man win. Maybe this lights a fire under Daniel Jones. Maybe Daboll can unlock Drew Locks tools. He seems to have matured.
Should do better against the division this year. Eagles losing Kelce is tough! I personally think that will be the end of the “tush push”. Totally new offense for the eagles and defense was shaky last year. Cowboys did very little this offseason while we added Nabers and Burns!!! Commanders should be better but they are still the commanders and Daniel Jones seems to own them.
Giants have good Vibes around them!!! The 100 year anniversary…the new uniforms….the Hard knocks…the good gesture gift box to the season ticket holders. This is a new Era! Saquonless Giants.
New Special teams coach! It can’t get worse right?? lol Gano should be healthy. Gunner/mckenzie will be a huge step up from Eric grey. Possibly Tyron Tracy in the mix. Have a feeling special teams will be an advantage this year.
Aaron Robinson, Cordale Flott, Dru Philllips, Darnay Holmes, Nick Mcloud , tre Hawkins. Chances are ONE of them steps up!!!
Just put a $100 on Nabers leading NFL in receiving yards, pays out 5 grand.
Right now, my big worry is still Evan Neal and how this coaching staff handles him.
Also keep this in mind (and I will elaborate on this in a future article), this is a VERY young team.
Why do I suspect you own this?
This year Nabers could turn into our next star, the story line of whether or not Bricillo can turn around the OL is intriguing and I think we should have one of our better pass rushes in years.
Also have questions about secondary
Of course the most important position QB…can Jones stay on the field?
I think Brian Daboll is a very good coach though, so I think this will be a scrappy and fun team to watch
Not this year. Win some fucking games, and get back to me in October.
To me, it's the best team they've had on paper since at least 2016, possibly longer.
They signed 17 veterans in free agency.
Not this year. Win some fucking games, and get back to me in October.
This. Show me on the field.
Fanfests, Town Halls, Mara annual mobilization of the 'hope' salesforce? No interest.
I think we all do to some extent.
Since that point, the roster has gotten better at most spots and more experienced as well. This was a really young team last year, which people forget.
They won 6 games last year and I think it’s reasonable to expect better play at
QB: obvious as DJ played poor and was injured
WR1: Nabers
WR2: Either Slayton in a role that suits him better or Hyatt (if he develops)
WR3: WDR flashed down the stretch and now fully healthy from the ACL
LT: Thomas healthy and returning2022 form
LG: Eluemunor -> Bredeson
C: JMS development
RG: Runyan -> Glowinski
RT: Neal can’t be worse, and JE is a good contingency plan
Edge1: Burns
Edge2; KT + his development is better than Ward
CB1: Banks progression
SS: Pinnock with a year starting under his belt)
K: Gano had a down year
The positions they downgraded (RB, S, IDL) I don’t think we’ll feel the impact as they have capable replacements (Nubin, Singletary, Phillips) and reallocated assets to premium positions instead
But apart from 2016 and 2022, it's been the same "things are different! We're on the upswing" for almost a generation at this point.
I think 9-10 wins is definitely within their reach. Just get in the playoffs and hope we get hot.
God bless you!
Apples and oranges. So we can go 1999 Jim Fassel year 3. 10-5-1 in 97. 8-8 and hot down the stretch in year 2. 7-9 in year 3. Then 2000 happened.
Andy Reid's Eagles didn't get any better from 2000-2001 in year 3. They didn't peak under Reid until year 6 (2004)
We need to see roster growth and see the team develop more of an identity. I think some people throw the word identity around without meaning. By identity I mean The Giants need to be very very good at something. They were very good at running the ball in 22 thx to Andrew Thomas, Barkley and DJ's legs. Then they crashed last year mainly due to AT's injury and Barkley's injury early on. They never recovered and DJ struggled as a result.
We need to see roster progress but things aren't always perfectly linear. IF injuries hold to a reasonable level I think we will have some fun this season. There are players on this team now. A lot more than in 2019-2023.
Get better. Develop more "outs" in the starting lineup. Cheat code players. Hopefully Burns is one he was in Carolina. Nabers. We have Dex. We have Okereke who cleans up as well as any MLB. Thibs? Go kill QBs and make yourself a wealthy man. It's right there for him.
That said, I feel good about most of our position groups (QB, OL ??). And they couldn't address every position in one off-season. Just hope Dex stays healthy and that group holds up.
I'm still concerned about both O & D lines.
Get better. Develop more "outs" in the starting lineup. Cheat code players. Hopefully Burns is one he was in Carolina. Nabers. We have Dex. We have Okereke who cleans up as well as any MLB. Thibs? Go kill QBs and make yourself a wealthy man. It's right there for him.
All eyes on Thibs to become a force. Can’t ever say I was a fan of the pick but would really like to be wrong here and see him just putting up a monster season in 2024. Not sure why it shouldn’t be available but for injuries.
If he does, I would still be cautious what to do with a second contract. But at least that is a good problem to have versus the alternative which is he moves on no matter what.
Him, Burns and Dex should be knocking a few QBs out this season. Right?
Lots to be happy about.
It's a yearly exercise for me.
I'll stay psyched as long as the Giants stay healthy.
Positives:
I know we lost Saquon and Xavier but I think both have been replaced and the money we saved enabled us to pick up Burns and several upgrades on the O-Line.
I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for our WRs- we finally seem loaded thanks to NABORS setting the table as top dog which should make it easier for the lesser dogs.
I am completely satisfied with the 4 RBs we have to replace Saquon. They all seem to possess unique skill sets. Tracy really excites me but Turbo and Gray should not be forgotten as well.
And I’m very very thrilled to see these new coaches…..hopefully they can coach up these young guys. I suspect we will get better each week as we play together more, but hopefully we can come out of the gate much like 2022 rather than 2023.
Concerns:
Eric said it….
1. EVAN NEAL. If Eluemunor was announced as the starter, I would feel much better because he has shown me he can play RT well enough. Neal hasn’t shown me squat except he can’t stay on the field and when he is on the field, he ends up on the ground too often. I still think he is better suited as a guard. Reducing space seems logical to me for this big guy with not so good balance.
2. 2nd and 3rd CB behind Banks. We have plenty of options, so hopefully a few will rise up and take charge. I’m putting my money on McCloud and Phillips. Still not sure about Flott’s physicality.
No Comment:
Our QB position….enough has been said. Words are meaningless now….I’m just watching how it all plays out and will hope for the best, like a 2022 Jones or a much improved Lock.
Right now, my big worry is still Evan Neal and how this coaching staff handles him.
Also keep this in mind (and I will elaborate on this in a future article), this is a VERY young team.
With or without Evan Neal, I expect the offense will be improved. Better line play, better TE play, better WR play and RB play that should be at least as good.
The biggest worry continues to be QB but even that can’t be worse than last year. If DeVito could win 3 games in 2023, Daboll should be able to find a way to win 8-9 games with whoever.
At TE? NO. That would be Waller.
Where else would a veteran help? O-line? Did that.
RB? No value out there.
WR? No need. Let them play.
D-line? Already got them.
LB? Where would a vet fit in?
DB? Maybe a vet CB, but the current safeties need to play.
This team needs to grow up. It doesn’t need more age.
To me, it's the best team they've had on paper since at least 2016, possibly longer.
I'm optimistic about this roster outside of QB. I think Nabers is going to be incredible and he's going to be ready to play a huge role early.
Jones will hold them back from being a playoff contender, though.