Words on things I watched, read & heard

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Can you expand on why you think so highly of the Giants ?

I'd love to understand the disconnect between the oddsmakers who set their overs at 6 and you who thinks they might be a darkhorse for a NFCCG. Because that would be then another overs to hammer.

It's more just looking at that division and the competition there. I just don't see Dallas as 3-4 games better than Phila/NYG.

Talent-wise I don't see a huge disparity. Especially on offense. Sure Dallas might have the most but all that has to be utilized and actually played out on the field with a new coaching staff. Suspect defense. I could see Dallas making a run but also falling somewhat flat at 8-8/9-7.

They lost TF probably the best C of top 3-5 most of his time in the league. Cam Erving at RT. They could be healthy all year or Smith could get knicked up somewhere or someone else, that's certainly a possibility looking at recent past history.

Plus if they (NYG) exceeded expectations no one would take them seriously until the very end. We see a team come out of nowhere, people will say they're done every game and before you know it, its the playoffs.

Plus everywhere I look I see chalk for the most part. This year will be unlike any so maybe that's what we get but I'm thinking we see a team or two in both conferences make a move no one really saw coming.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I suspect that this will mean that teams that have a lot of continuity will have an advantage. Like if the whole Pats' D returned from the year before, they would just know where everyone is supposed to be and communication would be much easier. Now with so many young players on D, they'll need more open communication, which will make it easier for the offense to identify what's going on. I mean sometimes the DBs communicates at the line like, "Hey if they run a rub, we'll just switch." Normally with crowd noise it's loud enough for them to hear but not the QB. But in empty stadiums, the QB will be able to hear that stuff too.

Gonna be really really interesting.

Yes exactly. I went over a few things above and that's the feeling I'm getting. Coaching & continuity will play an enormous factor. Maybe just early on? Idk but I could see things being a lot different for some teams/players. Hirby and others have talked about what its like on the field and it sounds a lot different than what everyone is used to. I definitely think most teams/players will adjust but when, how much?

Again mentioned it above in the bacon bits but how's that effecting home field and the energy certain teams thrive off (NO, SEA, KC...)? What about teams traveling leaving their nest behind. Everything has been within a arms reach, easy. Now you're leaving all those comforts and loved ones and have to be as physical as possible for the first time. Again I think players/teams adjust but how far in, how much? What happens if they get a "Tukka" type call 3-4 weeks in and are having a rough start?

Lots of speculation but I think it's fair at least rn.

 

[captain stone]

Yes exactly. I went over a few things above and that's the feeling I'm getting. Coaching & continuity will play an enormous factor. Maybe just early on? Idk but I could see things being a lot different for some teams/players. Hirby and others have talked about what its like on the field and it sounds a lot different than what everyone is used to. I definitely think most teams/players will adjust but when, how much?

Again mentioned it above in the bacon bits but how's that effecting home field and the energy certain teams thrive off (NO, SEA, KC...)? What about teams traveling leaving their nest behind. Everything has been within a arms reach, easy. Now you're leaving all those comforts and loved ones and have to be as physical as possible for the first time. Again I think players/teams adjust but how far in, how much? What happens if they get a "Tukka" type call 3-4 weeks in and are having a rough start?

Lots of speculation but I think it's fair at least rn

I would think those factors would work against the Vagiants...but Any Given Sunday is true for a reason...They still look like they would need a lot of those Givens, however...So much is riding on the Jones kid to keep the Barkley/Engram/Tate/Slayton weaponry operating...I like 3/5ths of their OL; the other 2/5ths is dicey...The TE & WR depth is lacking...The 3-4 defense they'll use could be pretty good though, even with all the rookies at LB...

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I would think those factors would work against the Vagiants...but Any Given Sunday is true for a reason...They still look like they would need a lot of those Givens, however...So much is riding on the Jones kid to keep the Barkley/Engram/Tate/Slayton weaponry operating...I like 3/5ths of their OL; the other 2/5ths is dicey...The TE & WR depth is lacking...The 3-4 defense they'll use could be pretty good though, even with all the rookies at LB...

It's more of a feeling, dark horse type pick. Every year we hear these things and narratives about what should happen. Jackson was +9000 last year for MVP odds haha.

I'm not a big fantasy guy at all. I actually get bored during the season just like drafting ans putting together a team. But I traded Wilson for Dak + a 2nd and grabbed Lamb this draft at 9 so I certainly hope they are explosive.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

 

[Hammer of Thor]

View attachment 28534

Just read that! Reading through the book now, very fascinating. Brady’s comment to Jonathan Kraft in 2004 about marriage and family being the real QB killer was very interesting to me!

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Just read that! Reading through the book now, very fascinating. Brady’s comment to Jonathan Kraft in 2004 about marriage and family being the real QB killer was very interesting to me!

I got to get it this week. I want to start reading more in general. It's good though? Juicy?

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I got to get it this week. I want to start reading more in general. It's good though? Juicy?

I think it is. Some of the material is recycled, meaning things already talked about in Holley’s books, for example. But much isn’t. I’m halfway through, just finished reading the SB 39 section. A ton of the source material for the book is from the Kraft family; the first 1/4 of the book goes over his meeting Myra, his career, his attempts to land the Patriots, and the Parcells years.

One thing I learned was how the NFL really screwed James Orthwein. He had never intended to move the Patriots to St. Louis. He stepped in because the NFL was desperate for help, and Orthwein wanted an expansion team in St. Louis and thought by stabilizing the Pats it would prove that his ownership consortium would be good for the league. He’d sell the Pats to local ownership and then help with the St. Louis expansion team. He upped the Pats‘ value much quicker than anyone thought through his shrewd pick up of Parcells. The NFL’s response to this and the free stadium he helped get St. Louis to build was by granting the 2nd expansion franchise to Jacksonville instead of St. Louis. Orthwein was pissed, and I don’t blame him. That’s when he decided to sell and intended to sell to a St. Louis group (Stan Kroenke actually, the current owner of the Rams).

 

[captain stone]

View attachment 28534

Perhaps my favorite Belichick story.

**** the four-letter network...Now and Forever.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Perhaps my favorite Belichick story.

**** the four-letter network...Now and Forever.

Yea I might be Bill > Brady after hearing that one. 10 minutes into the greatest dynasty ever and he's already doomsday. Jackson will NEVER live that down haha.

 

[Uptown]

This was very interesting..

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

This was very interesting..

That's been one of the thoughts since he was drafted. I really just want to see him out there.

The kid seems like a mental case btw/fwiw, TK39. You disagree w him it's the end of the world. Wants stuff given to him. Can't handle debate. Too each their own just throwing it out there.

 

[Uptown]

 

[captain stone]

Wow...the difference between Inside the tackle box and Outside it is shocking...and not in a good way...

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Boots really aesthetically pleasing to me. I'm hoping to see a fired up Sony & Harry tomorrow, tomorrow!?!?! Yea tomorrow. Cam definitely isn't afraid to take shots, throw into tight windows, let his guys make a play. I'm hoping we see a bomb to someone.



Mentioned it yesterday. Just something Bentley might be doing a lot more depending on the front.


Miami's OL shouldn't be a problem for us despite the fact that we're young & lost a few guys. They're starting 2 rookies and have no one that should scare you into doing anything you wouldn't normally do. Fitz is great but he's Fitz. Fire it up early on and get them spinning. Butler & Guy should have their way. I'm expecting to hear Rivers, Wino, Simon, Wise names called.

Speaking of Bentley filling in for HT. I mentioned how Bill would put him head on C/G. He was so big, strong you could use him as a penetrator to eat them up while Butler loop around. Butler is one of big guys loose enough where if you can create some space he rush B/C gaps. Tex-stunt with HT worked well where Butler starts head on over the A and loops around.

We ran Tex, Ears & Thumb stunts against Mia last multiple times. With their OL being suspect on paper I'm hoping we set the tone early on. Young, no continuity and you have to believe Bill is feeling a certain way after last year.

Everyone on this team should. I have no doubt the staff has been poking at them over Brady, losing vets, the general consensus we're "rebuilding" ... More than a few players with something to prove. This should be a pissed off team with extra motivation. We're not division favs. We're not talking SB. We're not talking about how much we're going to be by. This group should have that us against world attitude all year.

I think a healthy Cam is still a top 10-12 QB in the league. A lot of people are underestimating him and honestly haven't really watched him in Carolina. Bill is still Bill. If he's coaching he's coaching to win. I'm expecting a borderline great OL. Defense is the key. It doesn't just translate the way offense can from year to year. That's the key imo.

 

[captain stone]

Ehhh...

Cam ain't running like that now or in the future...And nobody's going to give him love tap tackles whenever he tries...and try he will have to because he has Jack Squat for WRs...

JaWrong Bentley sucks...He's just a larger, similarly clueless but less athletic version of Roberts.

Pats defense can stunt all it wants while Miami runs the football down their throats...

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Bacon Bits ...

Offense -

• Not surprised by much tbh. There was some talk about what kind of offense we'd see. There were a few articles that popped up the other day about if we'd see a Tebow/Cam connection with Josh here, bringing in Fisch. If you've read my post since we got Cam, recently. I was expecting a physical, power running game with some of "Cam" mixed in. That's exactly what we got. I honestly didn't understand the Tebow bit & we really don't have the speed for a serious outside zone running game.

• Instead we saw a lot of lead/power with motion mixed in. Motion is key. Teams win all types of ways in each phase. Some teams like the 49ers are great at creating angles, midsection while a Balt takes advantage of numbers by really studying and isolating certain players. Today we used motion to help create a numbers advantage. We saw it with Rex & Harry motion & Izzo-detached. We were more physical and created some nice advantages.

• We used motion a lot last year so you see the continuation here. Again it can help identify, create a numbers advantage and we saw 11 take a nice gain off it.

• Then you mix in "Cam" with ZR/Power read about 8-10 times, a few from pistol. Looked like a sweep on the first TD and bootleg on the second. Speed option w Taylor. Again not surprised by this, pretty much what I expected.

• We mixed it up more in the second half. Looked pretty clear to attack MOF at first with a few slants to 11/15. For the most part I liked Cam's placement here. 2-3 really crisps ones to 11. Bang-bang. I though Cam could've let go of the in/mof to 11 a little sooner.

• Nice quick read on White on that leak delayed route out the backfield

• This was definitely a concentrated game plan. Run the ball, be more physical. Mix it up with Cam. No silly mistakes then open it up after looking at it from half-time.

• Couple of bad sacks by Cam. 2 on him.

• Couple of late, missed adjustments at the line. Have to check out of the first time. Him and OL weren't on the same page there.

• Would like to see him speed things up overall as we go forward. First game, limited weapons, against a team that knows us well despite the new QB.

• Loved hearing him alert Harry "doughboy" on one play. He pulled it for a scramble but they're trying to make it work for sure. Definitely want to see more from Harry going forward. Fumble was a killer. He was ok I thought. No big shift either way for me yet

• Also heard I think either Cam or Mason say "Don't give up" on that 4th/1 near GL. Love the fight and attitude. Cam is bull and stuck his nose in there big time. Team mates and coaches take notice of that trust me. Gives everyone a lot more confidence knowing everyone is all in.

• One thing I'll be watching forward are Cam's mechanics on those quick, bang-bang plays. It took him some time today to get set & fire on a few plays and looked a little messy on a quick slant. One play but his bottom half was open, wider base. Nitpicking but considering the changes he's made to his stuff lately it deserves some attention going forward. Overall I was impressed with how he ran things. His presence was definitely felt.

Defense -

• Defense was pretty good I have to say. A lot will show up on the A22 on both sides but I didn't see a lot of egregious mistakes by the D. Some penalties but nothing really stuck out. Lost contain on 2-3 plays. I was pleased overall.

• We played a ton 1/2 IDL with our LB's standing up. "Long" stunts twice I believe once with Phillips. Think we ran "Flush" a few times. Sorta looks like a Bear front. Well try to get a matchup/opening on one side going 3 on 3. Like the offense nothing surprising here. Pretty much what we've been doing and the biggest takeaway is nothing dumb sticking out.

• Curious to see how much we played dime

• Few nice plays by Wino. Excellent stop where he got under than spun out for a stop. Great play on ST.

• Cowart held up nicely inside.

• Looks like we had Phillips in the box quite a bit?

• Would have liked to see Rivers more but timing is everything, big play.

Can't wait to focus more on the OL with the A22 watch. They we're very good today.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

1)Good pass pro all-around. Thuney got pushed back but used that hop backwards to anchor down. Wynn directing his man up field and not losing balance when he tried to redirect inside

2)Fins blitz an overload the left side. I wonder if White made the right call there or what was happening. Andrews picked up Thuneys man but Wynn was left with 2 rushers. Wonder if White should have stayed home there on the edge. Cam opens up quick

3)Zone

4)Naked Boot. Overhead view gives you a nice look at Rex taking away a defender to play the numbers game. If that cut block is little more effective we have favorable numbers out there. Still a good look. We're going to use TE the same way.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Can't hear in this first clip but Cam alerted Harry to something but called him "doughboy"

Second clip you hear "Don't give up" around the 10 second mark.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Love seeing this hustle. Looks like he clears or swipes hands and tries to swim over his man. Doesn't let the double bother him. Remember one way to beat a double is beating/focusing on 1 man first. Good effort.