NFL Draft

[switchskier]

Well that was a rubbish way to start the season. After I said that we'd be good on third down the niners proceed to go 2 for 11. Throw in a blocked punt that turned into 7 points and it's always going to be hard to win. Murray to Hopkins is off to a good start though with 150 yard game.

Surprised the colts got turned over by the jags, but there is something fun about Minshew.

[Mellsblue]

Giants
Who knows. It’s pretty much all new. If the secondary can hold up (we’re pretty much reliant on 2019 6th rd pick holding up as CB2 and praying for no injuries) we can find a pass rush, we can keep all the skill position players on the field (at no point last season did the Giants field RB1, TE1, and WR1&2 in the same game) and the o-line (with new tackles, one of which is a rookie, and a 2018 UDFA tackle converted to centre) can gel......not much to ask.....

All a big step up from last year.
Secondary was pretty good considering all the new pieces, new system, youth etc etc
Pass rush wasn’t great but there was some promise. Plenty of pressures and Leonard Williams went very well.
O-line was a bit of a mess but Andrew Thomas was very, very good.
Jones was superb other than one ridiculous interception when he was forcing a play. It was truly gif worthy.
Saquon put in a historically bad performance, stats wise, despite one run of 40ish yards that involved leaping over one defender and needing another three to tackle him. Unfortunately, the o-line made precisely zero holes for him to run through.
Was also very impressed Martinez. Not sure whether that’s because he was actually good or whether I’ve just been used to dross at ILB.

[switchskier]

Giants
Who knows. It’s pretty much all new. If the secondary can hold up (we’re pretty much reliant on 2019 6th rd pick holding up as CB2 and praying for no injuries) we can find a pass rush, we can keep all the skill position players on the field (at no point last season did the Giants field RB1, TE1, and WR1&2 in the same game) and the o-line (with new tackles, one of which is a rookie, and a 2018 UDFA tackle converted to centre) can gel......not much to ask.....

All a big step up from last year.
Secondary was pretty good considering all the new pieces, new system, youth etc etc
Pass rush wasn’t great but there was some promise. Plenty of pressures and Leonard Williams went very well.
O-line was a bit of a mess but Andrew Thomas was very, very good.
Jones was superb other than one ridiculous interception when he was forcing a play. It was truly gif worthy.
Saquon put in a historically bad performance, stats wise, despite one run of 40ish yards that involved leaping over one defender and needing another three to tackle him. Unfortunately, the o-line made precisely zero holes for him to run through.
Was also very impressed Martinez. Not sure whether that’s because he was actually good or whether I’ve just been used to dross at ILB.

Amazing that Barkley actually went for 6 yards on 15 carries. That Steelers defense might be special. Suspect that their offense will mean they come up just short again though.

[Mellsblue]

Considering the defensive lines were up against this year, and over the next few weeks......

[Mellsblue]

aaaand Saquon has torn his acl......

[Mellsblue]

Looks like Shepard, WR1, will also be out if only for a few weeks.
Given the 49ers injury list, next Sunday will take place without some big time players.

[switchskier]

aaaand Saquon has torn his acl......

Ha, I'll raise you an ACL for Bosa, an injured quarterback, number one wide receiver, running back and superstar tight end, plus a host of others.

Giants favourites for me now. It sounds really premature but given the contracts in the squad I'm thinking that we should concentrate on developing a few youngsters this season and get the pieces in place for a serious run next year.

[Mellsblue]

aaaand Saquon has torn his acl......

Ha, I'll raise you an ACL for Bosa, an injured quarterback, number one wide receiver, running back and superstar tight end, plus a host of others.

Giants favourites for me now. It sounds really premature but given the contracts in the squad I'm thinking that we should concentrate on developing a few youngsters this season and get the pieces in place for a serious run next year.

I did acknowledge that in my subsequent post

If you saw our first half against the Bears there’s no way you’d put us as favourites! That said, once we’d stopped trying to run Barkley behind a porous o-line and moved to more of a passing game we did look a lot better.

[Mellsblue]

Serious injuries all around the league. I wonder if no pre-season matches and/or limited training camps are to blame.

Ffs:


As for the 49ers, I think they may be cursed:

[switchskier]

Just watched the giants highlights from Sunday. Lots of targeting tight ends on offense, which should play to our current strength with middle linebackers that can cover but not necessarily tackle. It'll be interesting to see if Freedman changes that approach at all. Our reduced pass rush isn't going to generate the same pressure though, so those receivers will have more time and opportunity to get clear.

On defence we evidently need to stay clear of Bradberry, especially as Mullens doesn't have the arm strength to make all the throws on the boundaries. On the other hand I can see a heavy dose of Jordan Reed being planned against Martinez.

[Mellsblue]

Avoid Bradberry and go for our other cb. Whoever it is is shunt.
Giants’ WR1 is out for a few weeks and WR2 is nursing a dodgy hamstring. We’re going to be heavily reliant on WR 3, who has the talent to be WR1 one day but not now, Engram and TE2 Smith. I think you may have released him last season after drafting him in the fifth round? He’s been quality since we picked him up.
Can’t see Freedman being up to speed by Sunday.
The only up side for the Giants is that SF are in a worse state. That injury list is brutal in both quality and quantity. It’s going to be a bit of a cripple fest.

[switchskier]

Avoid Bradberry and go for our other cb. Whoever it is is shunt.
Giants’ WR1 is out for a few weeks and WR2 is nursing a dodgy hamstring. We’re going to be heavily reliant on WR 3, who has the talent to be WR1 one day but not now, Engram and TE2 Smith. I think you may have released him last season after drafting him in the fifth round? He’s been quality since we picked him up.
Can’t see Freedman being up to speed by Sunday.
The only up side for the Giants is that SF are in a worse state. That injury list is brutal in both quality and quantity. It’s going to be a bit of a cripple fest.

We drafted Smith in the sixth round but he failed to beat out UDFA Dwelley, which I think was a mistake.

Slayton is good for a WR3, certainly a big play threat. I'm worried about him. Engrams looking healthy and good too. This might be a fun game.

You're not wrong about our injury list though:

David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) Tweeted:
Updated 49ers injury chart, now including Dee Ford. Link to the full breakdown of how Shanahan is handling this, made it as detailed as possible for you: https://t.co/pQ4mErUARW https://t.co/34DIFOjDri

[Mellsblue]

I didn’t know Samuel is out. Happy and disappointed, I like watching him play but I think he’s the type of player we really struggle against.

[Mellsblue]

It’s been a depressing few years but that’s the worst of the lot. Can’t describe how bad the Giants were without swearing

[switchskier]

Tough to be a Giants fan tonight I imagine. Twitter seems very unhappy and turning on judge and gettleman already. Pleased to come out with a big victory of course and keep alive the hope that we can stay alive until we get at least a few players back.

However was able to watch the Bills against Rams tonight which was a really good game. Bills looking like the 2015 Panthers in the first half, with a big mobile quarterback who occasionally misses high and a swarming defense that hits hard in the middle of the field. Diggs reminds me a lot of Steve Smith Sr too. But then it changed as the defense got tired and gaps started to appear on wider runs.

Two terrible calls though that changed the game though. The first was a contested catch that was never a turnover, whilst the PI call against the Rams at the end was so frustrating.

[switchskier]

1st quarter of Cowboys-Seattle however is a comedy of errors. Already seen a massive blown deep coverage, a muffed punt and a failure to run out of the end zone for a safety from the Cowboys, whilst Metcalf just forgot to finish the play and had the ball punched out whilst strolling to the end zone.

Two very talented teams but I don't think that either wins it all this year - too many obvious deficiencies plus the avoidable errors.

[Mellsblue]

If things carry on like this then Gettleman is done. He’s admitted as much himself prior to the season starting.
Judge needs time as he’s inherited a s**tshow but there’s little to show he’ll turn it round.

[Big D]

However was able to watch the Bills against Rams tonight which was a really good game. Bills looking like the 2015 Panthers in the first half, with a big mobile quarterback who occasionally misses high and a swarming defense that hits hard in the middle of the field. Diggs reminds me a lot of Steve Smith Sr too. But then it changed as the defense got tired and gaps started to appear on wider runs.

Two terrible calls though that changed the game though. The first was a contested catch that was never a turnover, whilst the PI call against the Rams at the end was so frustrating.

The defence got worn out. As did the O line. The unintended consequence of having 7 and 8 play scoring drives is the defence is on the field a lot more. It showed badly.

The interception was a terrible throw by Allen and an even worse call by the refs. Allen got frazzled ala the Texans game but managed to pull it back in. To convert two 3rd and miles on the game winning drive was great.

Diggs and Brown held to 40odd yards and Allen still found a way to win. Another step forward.

Wasn't sure on the DPI call but Mike Pereira said it was right so what do I know!

Russ Wilson is looking very very good.

If things carry on like this then Gettleman is done. He’s admitted as much himself prior to the season starting.
Judge needs time as he’s inherited a s**tshow but there’s little to show he’ll turn it round.

The front office and ownership must know that Judge will struggle this year. Teddy is ok but nothing more.

[switchskier]

If things carry on like this then Gettleman is done. He’s admitted as much himself prior to the season starting.
Judge needs time as he’s inherited a s**tshow but there’s little to show he’ll turn it round.

Would you move on? If so who to? Hiring a GM and coach together has worked out pretty well for us.

Positive COVID tests for the Titans today. On the plus side, their offense is pretty simple so wouldn't expect the downtime to affect them as much as some others.

Chiefs showed the ravens last night who's boss. Been reading how the posted their corners deep and brought the safeties near the line of scrimmage, just as Tennessee did in their playoff game, daring Jackson to bear them with his arm. Going to be interesting to see how they adjust.

[Mellsblue]

It will all depend on how the rest of the season goes and he needs a few specific things to improve. He needs Jones to improve sufficiently. He also needs his second and third round picks from the 2018 draft to come good. Hernandez, second round guard, had a very good rookie season but has gone backwards ever since. Carter, third round olb, has shown promise but never quiet cracked it. He’s vastly improved this season, though. He also needs the o-line to make massive strides. He said on arrival that he wanted to sort both lines. D-line is sorted but the o-line is garbage. In his favour, his big ticket free agency signings, Martinez and Bradberry, are probably the best players on team. Low bar to get over mind.
If he does go they need to go outside of the building or anyone, like Gettleman, who’s ever been in the building. Big issue with getting rid of him is the new GM needs to gel with Judge and think Jones is franchise QB material and that seriously narrows down the field. It would be very, very harsh to dump Judge after one Covid affected year.
If Getty does go then I’d roll the dice and go for someone like Daniel Jeremiah or Jim Nagy.

[Mellsblue]

Our MVP nominations are all going well. Sadly, mine is having his chances blown up by his defence.
The NFClEast is an absolute

[switchskier]

Our MVP nominations are all going well. Sadly, mine is having his chances blown up by his defence.
The NFClEast is an absolute

Or is Dak having to throw for a ridiculous number of yards because the defense is so bad? They'd be so much better if they were able to get a lead and then rely on Elliot to control the clock bit.

NFC East may be garbage but one of them is going to the playoffs. Dallas should still be favourites but Eagles defensive front won then the game against us last week, so they've got a shot too. Washington should be better once they ditch Kyle Allen and move onto Smith.

Giants -Cowboys could get someone fired tomorrow. You'd think the latter should have enough, dodgy defense and all.

A quarter into the season and I'm hoping that 9-7 is enough for the 49ers to sneak into the post season, because the NFC has been so poor compared to the AFC overall so far.

[Mellsblue]

Is it too early for me to thinking it might be best for the Giants to lose tonight? #tankfortrevor

[switchskier]

Is it too early for me to thinking it might be best for the Giants to lose tonight? #tankfortrevor

Well the 49ers are still the best team in NY this year, so I'd say yes. But if Gettleman is still the GM then he'll probably draft an OL.

What do you think you'd be able to get for Jones in that scenario?

[Mellsblue]

I think we’d get a 3 maybe a back end of round two. Most you read or listen think he’s definitely an above average, possibly top 10 NFL QB, and I think I agree, but it’s Trevor Lawrence. Supposedly, Belichick is very high on him......