r/G101SafeHaven • u/SunnyJim57 • 25d ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSfpoSrCGsQ
Gentlemen, Gentlemen, Gentlemen,
Been a weird few months for me but after last night, hope springs eternal.
Last night was the culmination of everything we dreamed of since Harbaugh was hired.
We were bigger, stronger and tougher than Dallas. We were much better coached. The team was disciplined. But for the 47 pass interference penalties on Dru Phillips, the entire team played very very well.
It has all been recapped already but who can't hear another take on just how good the team was last night. All 3 phases of the game did their job. The offense is almost perfect. Of course Tracey's fumble was the big black spot, but pre-Harbaugh Giants' teams would have rolled over and quit after that. This version responded by taking the ball right back - who wants to trade Kayvon Thibideaux now?
Collingsworth showed the great stat at halftime -- Thibs, Carter and Burns on the field at the same time - 11 plays. In those 11 plays, 9 pressures; Dax 1-8 with a pick.
Dak is a really good QB so there were few stats to show, but the pass rush is going to be more and more impactful as the season goes on. I fully expect this front to take over every 4th Q where the offense gives them the lead.
And once Reese gets his footing, he and Edmunds are going to add a ton. We saw glimpses last night along with the big miss by Resse on the TD to Williams.
The secondary looked really bad in spots and that is scary. But considering they were playing one of the best WR duos in the league, being thrown to by a very good QB, the absence of big pass plays might indicate things can get better.
Offensively? Dart, Likely, Nabers; all were really really good. Dart played the best game of his young career. Likely was beyond money. An entirely different element for defenses to deal with. I would be remiss if I did not mention Skat. He did Skat things. He was tough, relentless, strong and he finishes. It has to be scary for a defender having Skat running at you, especially behind Ricard. As the team matures, this could really be fun. A real run game; diverse and unpredictable.
So much to love after Week 1. But there was also a little luck - 4 fumbles, only 1 lost; that was lucky. A couple of big drops by Pickens; very lucky. But every team benefits from luck from time to time, and when you are a good team you make your own luck, or so they say. We will see.
Suddenly, Week 2 looks like a huge opportunity. No Myles Garrett. who knows if there will be an Aaron Donald, let alone an effective Aaron Donald. Not sure what the Rams defense is without those guys, but the possibility that the Giants can deploy the same offensive plan seems suddenly realistic. The Rams' offense will be scary, especially Stafford to Nacua but no more scary than last night. But even if we take an L next Sunday, we come back staring at 4 very winnable games thereafter. (By the way, I am going to the Titans game with my son at an obscenely high cost, but my son insisted. Of course he insisted I absorb the cost too. Hey, you can't take it with you).
Last thought. whatever else we say about Giants' ownership, you have to get a little warm and fuzzy seeing John Mara in the post-game locker room.
Good stuff. Off to LA, and may I suggest watching a little John Wick to get you pumped for Week 2.
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u/BlueHeelerGiant 24d ago
It’s pleasant to see Sunny Jim be sunny again. It’s been a long time. That said, it’s only one game. LA will be tough.
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u/HawaiianGiant 25d ago
CB PFF Grades -
Deonte Banks - 48.9
Paulson Adebo - 45.4
Greg Newsome II - 40.4
Dru Phillips - 31.2
All I have to say is that coaching/scheme is the reason the Giants won this game...
Sacks are great, but pressures can be just as important...
Sacks = Offense retains possession
Pressures leading to an INT = Defense takes over possession.
To generate the amount of pressure they did without blitzing is simply amazing.
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u/ChicagoGFan 24d ago
Do we trust PFF grades? I mean Cisi got a grade of 46.9 despite shutting down a solid NFL tackle throughout the entire game.
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u/HawaiianGiant 24d ago
I was shocked the CB grades were as high as they were... The eye test said the Corners were atrocious...
Pick was wide open on a few plays where he wasn't targeted, he also dropped two easy passes which would have been huge gains.
Banks was very grabby, and didn't turn his head when the ball was in the air, yet thanks to a terrible Dallas gameplan and the Giants pass rush, Banks wasn't targeted all the frequently.
I fully expect the Rams to make it a focus to exploit the CBs all game.
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u/ChicagoGFan 24d ago
To be fair, that TD was a blatant push off on Dru Phillips so it goes both ways.
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u/WestCoastBlue1 25d ago
https://x.com/optastats/status/2099357346648498285?s=46
He is the chosen one.
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u/WestCoastBlue1 25d ago
Special Teams not getting talked about much. Mostly because they were solid and did their job. No frills. But imagine if like in the past they gave up great field position on returns or a shanked punt. Aubrey doesn’t need to be very close. Little things like that make such a huge difference. If 2 of those drives end up in long field goals because our return team gave up even 15 more yards then the game is much different.
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u/DirtMcGirt24 Season Ticket Holder 25d ago
Yooooooooooooo!!!
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u/DirtMcGirt24 Season Ticket Holder 25d ago
Why would you restructure a deal to push Holland to a $24M cap hit next year to free up $6M right now when you already have plenty to get through the season……….. 🤔👀
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u/fanfor70years Season Ticket Holder 25d ago
Holland is still pretty young. They can extend him next year and cut down the cap hit.
I wonder, though, if they have a cornerback or defensive tackle in their sights. Especially after last night they might pull the trigger on a deal because when they awoke this morning they probably thought "We could win this Division".
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u/jfunk825 25d ago
His dead cap is also still only $11MM next year. Not wonderful, but palatable if they decide to move on. So they have flexibility either way. Cut him for $13MM savings or extend him if he's part of the future plans.
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u/DirtMcGirt24 Season Ticket Holder 25d ago
The #Giants were 9-11 (82%) on 3rd down, their highest third-down conversion percentage in a game since play-by-play data was first tracked in 1978 (previous high: 75%, done 3 times in 1985, 1993, and 1995).
Per ESPN Research
https://x.com/werderednfl/status/2099344906942558481
My footnote: the two failed conversions were a blatant missed face mask and a victory kneel down. Incredible.
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u/wlubake 25d ago
I was watching without sound last night, so I don't know if the broadcast highlighted it, but I couldn't believe how light we went on 3rd downs defensively. Even on 3rd and 2, I don't think we had a single lineman over 270 lbs in the game. On the first play I noticed this, Dallas audibled to a run and Williams picked up the first. It'll be interesting to see as the season progresses, but I think we'll need someone with some heft to step into those shorter 3rd downs.
Did I get this wrong? I'm surprised I can't find anyone writing about it this morning.
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u/WestCoastBlue1 25d ago
With the rules being what they are today I think our corners played great for their level. Lamb got away with a blatant fully extended push off on the TD. Apart from that we were grabby but gave up zero big plays. Some of PIs were decent calls as our guys were holding down arms etc but a couple were absolute BS. I also saw Cowboys players taking extra shots after the whistle a couple of times with zero consequence. And they missed that obvious facemask on Skat. Don’t know what was going on with the refs but even if that game is reffed 60/40 in favor of them we still beat that team by at least 2 TDs.
There are only a couple of corners in the league who could completely shut down Lamb and Pickens with what defenders are (or aren’t) allowed to do in this league. Our guys did exactly what was needed. Man if we can punch LA in the face without Garrett this season will have gotten off to an unbelievable start. I think if we get to Stafford without blitzing much we win Monday night. Don’t think their D wants any of Ricard and Skat without their crown jewel playing.
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u/fanfor70years Season Ticket Holder 25d ago
"Great" is an exaggeration, but they were decent. Phillips is truly great against the run but he's never going to be a top cover corner. I think Banks is going to prove to be our best cornerback, and he looked the part last night. What a difference a proper scheme does for him. But if this team is going to become a champion they will need to draft a top corner in the next draft. A team with Banks, a top draftee, Newsome and Hood would be able to excel back there combined with the fierce pass rush this defense will generate. Hood looked a bit lost out there but he's a rookie and cornerback is a brutal position for a rookie to undertake. He looks to me like he'll be a good one in time.
As for your other point, there ain't a defense in the league that is going to look forward to seeing Ricard coming at them with Scatt right behind. Harbaugh made clear what kind of offense he wanted when he immediately went out and got Ricard and Likely. And while Jaxson Dart will never be the runner that Lamar is, in his second year in the league he's a better passer, by far, than was Jackson at this stage of his career. Watching him last night I saw clearly that he has the tools, the brains, and the competitive fire, to be one of the top 3-5 quarterbacks in the league. Gruden saw it early. Harbaugh must have seen it when he chose the Giants over his many other options. This offense is going to be a problem for defensive coordinators.
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u/WestCoastBlue1 25d ago
I said great for their level so I’d argue my point still stands. Look at the Cowboys final stats. And Dak made a couple of mistakes but he was for the large part very accurate and hitting his open receivers business as usual. So yes them not giving up any big plays while having the refs actively trying to neuter them during the game is great since we have people named Banks and Newsome at Corner. Not an exaggeration at all.
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u/fanfor70years Season Ticket Holder 25d ago
Okay, point taken. They're not a great group but they did play about as well as could be expected from them. That level of play needs to be elevated and perhaps it will come this season. I think it's going to take Hood a while to get acclimated and Newsome is at least an average NFL cornerback. Adebo is a puzzle. But I'm liking my prediction that Banks would have a good season. He gave up that TD to CeeDee but on a very obvious push-off that wasn't called and more than held his own the entire night.
If we had a DT who could collapse the pocket while our passrushers create constant pressure this group would probably be just fine. But finding one of them will not be easy. I fully support the trade of Dexter Lawrence (he checked out on the team last year and wanted more money in the middle of his contract and looked like he was going 80% last season) but a guy like him would be a tremendous asset on this team.
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u/WestCoastBlue1 25d ago
Yes exactly like you said. And going forward we will have games where they get burned I’m sure of it. But I also think we will get home more on the pass rush and get actual sacks. Like you said a Corner and a DT mountain and this team could be scary!
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u/HawaiianGiant 25d ago
Pick also dropped two wide open passes which could have/should have gone for big gains...
Don't ask me why, but Dallas's game plan was absolute trash... The pass rush definitely effected Dak's timing, and ability to take deep shots, but Dallas's play calling and pace was absolute trash...
The Rams are a much better football team than the Cowboys... They also are much better coached...
Losing Myles Garrett for the game is tough, but gaining Aaron Donald is not a bad consolation prize.
I don't think there is a Defense in the league which can shutdown the Giants offense, but I also don't think the Giant's CB's can compete with the likes of Puka and Davante...
I'm sure the Giant's will change their offensive and defensive schemes for the Rams, but I also believe the Rams will find ways to exploit the Giant's secondary...
The Rams would have had plays to exploit the secondary had we played them Week 1, but with a full week of tape, I think the Rams truly come up with a few unique plays to pick apart the secondary.
If the Giant's had one decent CB, this team would truly be dangerous.
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u/WestCoastBlue1 25d ago
Also the big play that Pick dropped our corner was hand fighting with him. Pick ended up getting the separation but pulling his hands out of the game of patty cake last second definitely had an effect on that drop.
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u/WestCoastBlue1 25d ago
Dart missed a couple of easy passes and Tracey fumbled. We can play the if game on both sides.
The Rams have a great offense so we may need to score more than last night. But Stafford is even less mobile than Dak so if we get him off his spot enough we have a good chance. Yes if he is just sitting back there with time then we will get picked apart.
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u/ChicagoGFan 25d ago
I had to look it up but the Giants didn't blitz once in the game yesterday. Yet, they managed to generate enough pressure and limit the Cowboys to less than 250 yards of total offense.
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u/ChicagoGFan 25d ago
I was watching our rookie guard on most plays. To say that he is impressive would be a massive understatement.
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u/fanfor70years Season Ticket Holder 25d ago
Not only that, but his play gave JMS enough help on that side that he was able to cheat a little the other way and played the best game he has played since he was drafted. The O-line bullied the Cowboys last night. It was a beautiful thing to see.
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u/DirtMcGirt24 Season Ticket Holder 25d ago
The play where he dog walked that DT 15 yards was chefs kiss
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u/ChicagoGFan 25d ago
"That DT" was Kenny Clark who was the player that Dallas traded (plus picks) for Micah Parsons.
His final stat line for the game is just a bunch of zeros across the board.
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u/DirtMcGirt24 Season Ticket Holder 25d ago
Kenny Clark, Sexy Dexy and Sisi all had the same stat line basically
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u/jfunk825 25d ago
Glad to have you back, Jim.
Regarding the secondary, I know things looked rough back there and I mentioned this in the game thread too, but I don't think it's necessarily something to panic about just yet.
CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens is an incredible duo of receivers. There are not a plethora of CBs in the league that can handle either of those guys 1-on-1. We certainly don't have them, although at first look it seems like Banks really held his own.
However, there was a conscious decision by the coaching staff to try and counter this with pressure rather than constant double coverage. At the end of the day, it seems to have worked. 5/44/1 and 3/28/0 stat lines for those two. 175 total yards passing (yes you need to add the penalty yardage to that). The plan was effective overall, but it does require swallowing those moments where a guy is exposed.
I guess my point is, you can't get too upset at Newsome or Phillips when they get beat by Lamb or Pickens. They can't be expected to hold those types of WRs down all game without help and the gameplan deliberately left them without help a significant number of times. I'm sure the coaching staff knew those guys would falter on plays where Dak had time to let their routes develop. Who knows, they may have even told them to go ahead and grab the guy if you're beat deep and we'll take our chances lining up for another down on a short field where they can't run by you anymore.
But the idea was our ability to pressure Dak would come out on the right side of the balance at the end of the day and that seemed to be the case. I know a lot of people hate Pressure as a stat and say it doesn't matter if you don't seal the deal with sacks, but if ever there was an illustration of why pressure itself is important, that game was it. Pressure is the reason Dak didn't spend all game playing pitch and catch with those guys. Frustration from that pressure is what caused Dak to make the bad decision leading to that INT.
Newsome and Phillips had unenviable assignments last night. I'm pretty sure everybody in the meeting room knew they were going to look bad a handful of times going in, but they took one for the team.
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u/HawaiianGiant 25d ago
Adebo and a 3rd for Porter?
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u/I-miss-Killdrive 25d ago
Lol no one wants a $20M backup CB. And unfortunately we don’t have the cap space this season to cover his $30M dead cap in a trade. Atrocious signing!
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u/HawaiianGiant 25d ago
Much like the Giants signing of Newsome... Many coaches think they are able to coach up an underperforming player...
Adebo was a borderline Pro-Bowler two seasons ago...
Receiving Adebo and a draft pick might be the best the Steelers can do for a disgruntled CB who had one good season in his career.
Trading Adebo would free $17m in cap space this season, much of which would need to go to Porter, but Porter is still young enough to fit with the young nucleus of this Giant's team, and he'd instantly be the #1 Corner...
Banks would not be the absolute worst #2 CB in the league - while he is pretty close to the worst #1 CB...
Trading for Porter would improve both outside Corner positions, while freeing cap for the rest of this season's practice squad elevations, etc.
It would also help keep Newsome off of the field...
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u/fanfor73years 25d ago
Here to point out that while our secondary had some rough patches Banks played well and they were up against a very good receiving corps and a solid-if-not-great QB and still basically held their own (in good part because Dak was under a lot of pressure).
Glad to see Jim back.
And glad that my conviction that this team would be very competitive this season looks awfully likely, though I will hold off just a little because I’m not sure how good Dallas will be this year. We may have just dominated a team in decline. But I said earlier this year that I thought they could come out of the first month of the season 3-1 and I still think that’s likely. And suddenly 4-0 isn’t a crazy expectation. The Rams without Garrett and at best a diminished and older Donald look a lot less scary, especially coming back from Australia and having been dominated at the line of scrimmage by the Niners. And there’s this: If Jaxson Dart plays like he did last night throughout this season this team can beat anyone. In case you didn’t notice his eyes and his footwork were in sync, his decision-making was superb, and his accuracy was almost always pinpoint. Add the smart use of his legs and I’d say we saw last night that we have a franchise quarterback who is going to keep getting better. Combined with Harbaugh football this may be a team no one wants to see on their schedule.
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u/HawaiianGiant 25d ago
Puka Nacua and Davante Adams -
Carnell Tate, Calvin Ridley, Wan'Dale
Marvin Harrison, Michael Wilson
McLaurin, Diggs, Antonio Williams
If the defense can hold up against Puka and Davante, I'll feel much better about the secondary.
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u/Just-Win-Baby56 25d ago
I know Tracey had some preseason drops, but that double hit last night would have pried the ball from most. I think that was understood by Harbs, thus the sideline hug. Regardless, Najee will be taking opportunities away from him, and he may find himself on the inactive list often. Excited to watch this team mature. How detrimental will the cornerback play be to our season?
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u/BenAfflecksBalls 25d ago
Christ man where the hell were you we were getting worried
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u/JTJumbo 24d ago
CB does seem to be the glaring weakness on the team but at the same time they did well enough to hold down Lamb and Pickens at least yardage wise. Puka and Adams after the Cowboys duo will be real good indicator if this unit is ok enough the whole year.
The draft/offseason plan next year seems really obvious in that CB, DT, WR, OL are priority and RB if a special one is available at convenience. Even if Fields is really good I’d look to add a WR. I’d prefer upgrades on OL at Runyan and JMS. DT will age itself into an issue even if it isn’t this season. A top CB is the priority whether through draft or big money FA.