Official Game Thread - Week 1 - Giants @ Commanders

Boone said:
My comment was solely asking whether there is a special difference between preseason and non-preseason passing reps with Jayden? You mentioned a real pass rush and while I get that ‘live’ reps are different from practice ones, Jayden had plenty of live reps in joint practice sessions. I just am not sure a lack of preseason reps for him is going to make a big difference.
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Jayden had one day of joint practices. It doesn't feel like "plenty" to me. Giants had two days of joint practices. They still had their starters play plenty in the preseason.

If Andy Reid, Bill Belichick among many others believe that game reps are important, i'll ride with it. It makes sense to me. As an amateur athlete myself, back when i played soccer in high school, practice and games felt much different to me. So when someone like Tom Brady explains that its indeed a lot different to see those live bullets it makes sense to me.

When Brian Mitchell says its just different to get real live game reps versus practice -- your body needs to feel that physicality among other things to prepare for the real season. it makes sense to me.

I don't think Jayden Daniels alone not throwing the ball is going to be the X factor. It's that and...

B. The outside WRs having no game reps and might not be able to play the full game. People can scoff at that. But heck Joe Burrow said last season not being able to throw to Chase during camp-preseason effected their chemistry in the first two games.

C. O line has new moving parts and takes time to gel

D. The Giants starters getting game reps and Washington starters getting zero to few. If you buy what Mitchell said as an example, it would mean at a minium in the first quarter our team might take some adjusting to game speed that the Giants conversely are ready for.

E. I was at the first game last season. They didn't just play poorly but IMO sitting above the sidelines it look like low energy group. This isn't me recreating my feelings on that. I commented on it in real time back then. So when I hear from Bram for example they seem low energy in camp, I am concerned for game 1.

F. Amos is a rookie. Rookie CBs tend to struggle early in the season. Sainristill for example sucked against Tampa in game 1. It might take him some time.

G. If Terry and Noah can't go the full game. I gather we are going to see a lot of McCaffrey who supposedly had a meh camp
 
Ashburn Dave said:
Playing preseason games IMO, is great until you suffer an injury so there has to be a balance somewhere between preparation for the season vs the risk of injury. Pretty much you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.
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If it were me, I'd play it in the middle. I think Andy Reid takes it to the extreme by playing Mahomes in preseason game 3 and conversely Jay and now Quinn barely playing guys at all.

The Giants played their starters and we need to have more guys questionable for this game than they do.

As you know, you lose players in camp too via practices.
 
I mean, if the question is ‘will players be sharper early if they play preseason games vs not?’ I think one would have to be a moron to say ‘no’ to that proposition.

I’m just questioning how big a deal it really is.

We got to within a game of the Super Bowl last year with the same approach. Did we look shaky early on the season? Yes. Daniels in Week 1 was nowhere near as good as later in the season. But that’s probably true of every rookie QB in history no matter how many preseason reps they get.

I’m not arguing it’s a non-factor. I’m just hesitant it’s going to determine a Week 1 outcome.

If we get thumped by the Giants you will be able to say you told us it would happen. That still won’t prove preseason participation drove the result.
 
Boone said:
I mean, if the question is ‘will players be sharper early if they play preseason games vs not?’ I think one would have to be a moron to say ‘no’ to that proposition.

I’m just questioning how big a deal it really is.

We got to within a game of the Super Bowl last year with the same approach. Did we look shaky early on the season? Yes. Daniels in Week 1 was nowhere near as good as later in the season. But that’s probably true of every rookie QB in history no matter how many preseason reps they get.

I’m not arguing it’s a non-factor. I’m just hesitant it’s going to determine a Week 1 outcome.

If we get thumped by the Giants you will be able to say you told us it would happen. That still won’t prove preseason participation drove the result.
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I think it depends on context.

What is your opponent doing? How does the schedule play out?

The Bengals are tired of slow starts so they decided to give their guys more preseason reps. They feel their slow starts have derailed their seasons.

Giants ditto. And I get the impression listening to their beat guys this week -- they made the decision that both Washington and Dallas are beatable so lets go for it and go full thrust to do it.

As for this team I think you can argue it different ways.

A. By playing a team that is taking the preseason super seriously are you more vulnerable when you take the opposite approach? It IMO would be better to play a team who didn't take the preseason seriously as opposed to a team which did.
B. The schedule is lighter earlier on -- and you can take that point in two different directiions. 1. You don't need to go 100 miles an hour leading to the season considering the schedule is a bit easier (sans the GB game) 2. If they struggle with the easy part of the schedule -- that's going to put a lot of pressure on them to beat good teams later on.
C. Do you burn out by going hard? By taking it easier does that help you surge later?

I don't know. I get the logic either way. I am not pessimistic about the season. I don't know if this approach loses the battle to win the war? I am not looking at any of it from a macro standpoint. I am simply saying I think this approach makes them vulnerable for the first two games.
 
All great points. You can argue both sides. I am definitely not discounting the possible impact. We just don’t know. And I’m not sure there is an answer which is probably why there are so many teams taking different approaches. Even if the approach works this year it could prove to be a disaster on another year.
 
Boone said:
If we get thumped by the Giants you will be able to say you told us it would happen. That still won’t prove preseason participation drove the result.
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If they get thumped by the Giants, I'd put money that next off season Quinn will be asked about this. Unless, they have a big season otherwise.

For Jay Gruden's record in game 1, it didn't really grab anyone early in his tenure. But once the loses piled up it turned into a theme.

I don't find too many compelling arguments about not playing your starters in the preseason. But if it doesn't matter over the long haul of the season -- then it doesn't matter to the bottom line.

The Bengals thought their slow starts have hindered their seasons so they made a change. I think the only shot that duplicates here is if the same type of thing happens -- lets say they go 0-2 and come just short of the playoffs.
 
No matter the philosophy…as things played out neither Terry nor Noah were going to play in the preseason anyway, so that doesn’t need to be a discussion point.
 
Chris said:
No matter the philosophy…as things played out neither Terry nor Noah were going to play in the preseason anyway, so that doesn’t need to be a discussion point.
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It is when you miss camp, too. And we don't know the idea is they wouldn't play a snap in the preseason.
 
HOF44 said:
Man, Sunday can’t come soon enough!!
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Me, too.

Lol, I have had to dig in so much on why am concerned about this game that its made me really appreciate a win if it happens.

The irony is I am not pessimistic at all about the season. Heck even a slow start might be what propels this team. I suspect they are going to need to regain their edge from last year and some early season adversity might do that trick. i predict they go either 10-6 or 11-6. And if they make the playoffs they can go all the way.

I know Nicki who covers the team for the Athletic is pessimistic with her 8-9 prediction. Sheehan seems to think Standig tomorrow is going to give a lackluster prediction.

But am close to Sheehan who predicts they win the division and go far this season. I simply think the adversity might come earlier in the season versus the way it did last year in mid season.

Peaks and valleys but more peaks.
 
I will try this one more time-

No matter the philosophy…as things played out neither Terry nor Noah were going to play in the preseason anyway, so that doesn’t need to be a discussion point.
 
Chris said:
I will try this one more time-

No matter the philosophy…as things played out neither Terry nor Noah were going to play in the preseason anyway, so that doesn’t need to be a discussion point.
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I'll try it on my end too.

I don't know you are correct that they wouldn't have played in the preseason. Terry did play last year in the preseason not much but some. And at least the beat guys expected Terry to play in game 2 if they got the contract done with enough time. But regardless.

It's not so much about the preseason games with Noah and Terry. It's camp and preseason. Both. But more so camp. I articulated that many other times. But forgot in my last post to include camp in my point, so I apologize.

I got people like Orlovosky talking about Terry will take 4-6 weeks to be right among others. I am not to that extreme. But I am with most of the beat writers that its unlikely that Terry and Noah are going the full game reps on Sunday -- to protect them from soft tissue injuries.

Look, maybe its all wrong. Terry plays the full game and is 100% himself. Noah too. And even if Luke has to play, he plays awesome. Conerly and Coleman in their new positions are just beasts from day 1 and no need to build chemistry because the chemistry is instant. Maybe this team is as fresh as a daisy and just steamrolls the Giants. The Giants D line is overhyped and underpeforms. Wilson struggles with the deep ball. Amos has no rookie issues and is great from game 1.

To me everything is on the table, as to what can go right or what can go wrong. But there are too many moving parts-variables for me on this game specfically to not worry about them.

I think it was Riddick who said this game is maybe the most telling one of the season as for matchups. If the Commanders O line can block the Giants D line right from game 1, its quite the message for the rest of the season. And if the Giants can meet the buzz of the preseason and kill it in game 1 -- shows they are for real. He said something like that. I agree. If we win this one and handily as some here think and my fears are that easily dismissed in this game -- I'd be feeling even higher than I do now about the season.

Edit:

I see you are saying as it played out. lol, sorry. So I am guessing your point is it shouldn't be a criticism of Quinn? Because otherwise I am confused about why it wouldn't be a talking point about the game. That's what threw me off about the post.

If so, yeah agree. He couldn't help it. To clarify, most of what am concerned about isn't about Quinn. I disagree with his approach to the preseason. But the reason why i am not optimisitc about this game isn't a laundry list of criticisms of Quinn. Most of it is based on circumstance. And yep the Terry and Noah situation is circumstance.

And specifically as far as Quinn goes. As I pointed out previously, he might be absolutely right to take it easy in the preseason as i mentioned lose a battle perhaps to win the war. Am simply saying I don't think its the best way to set yourself for a win in game 1 or perhaps even in game 2 considering it comes so early after game 1.
 
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So the Giants LT (Andrew Thomas) is still really early in his ramp up process. He did a few individual drills yesterday, no setback. They gave him the day off to rest his foot today. Supposedly he hasn't even worn pads or had any type of contact in practice yet. Really doesn't seem like he'll be ready to play in 3 days.
 
Always Commander Never Captain said:
So the Giants LT (Andrew Thomas) is still really early in his ramp up process. He did a few individual drills yesterday, no setback. They gave him the day off to rest his foot today. Supposedly he hasn't even worn pads or had any type of contact in practice yet. Really doesn't seem like he'll be ready to play in 3 days.
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As I mentioned previously. If Thomas is out, I feel a lot better about this game.

I was listening to a Giants reporter on 106.7, touting this and touting that. A bit over the top on some points but measured on others. He was trying to sell how Hudson who would play for Thomas possibly and they would be fine. Hudson is a culture setter, etc. lol. :) Then he was talking up Mbow as shining in camp.

While I don't think the Giants D line is overhyped. It's a loaded unit. I'll believe in the Giants O line when I see it and that goes double when Thomas is out.
 
My amateur analysis says in these early season games where in a lot of outdoor stadiums it is still going to be feeling like summer time, you want to run the ball as much as possible to try and wear out some of these aggressive defenses. Easier said than done some times, but I keep hearing about how the Giants D-line is going to be a monster, so to me I want them constantly chasing. Let them expend all that Week 1 energy chasing the RB's, Deebo, JD5 until they lose a step in their pursuit and then start hitting them with play fakes and attack that questionable secondary.

Week 1 is always a bit different. A lot of overreactions based on the results. I think the game could be close and tough early on, but I don't see where the Giants will be able to score enough points in this one. Even good defenses tire & wear out if their offense hangs them out to dry too many times.

Commanders 24
Giants 13
 
NoCalSkins said:
My amateur analysis says in these early season games where in a lot of outdoor stadiums it is still going to be feeling like summer time, you want to run the ball as much as possible to try and wear out some of these aggressive defenses. Easier said than done some times, but I keep hearing about how the Giants D-line is going to be a monster, so to me I want them constantly chasing. Let them expend all that Week 1 energy chasing the RB's, Deebo, JD5 until they lose a step in their pursuit and then start hitting them with play fakes and attack that questionable secondary.
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Yeah I've said the same. Agree. Run the ball. Especially against that unit -- which isn't that good against the run and it helps freeze their pass rush.

Listening to the Giants beat guys it feels like they expect the Giants to try the same against Washington -- running the ball. I got my fingers crossed that I was wrong about Skattebo before the draft.
 
DieselPwr44 said:
So everyone likes to say that this is a QB driven league so......

If Number 5 is who everyone says he is (Force Multiplier, Franchise Qb, The Chosen One, Generation Talent etc.) the Skins will win Sunday.
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Absolutely, its why I expect a big season, but it won't of course translate in every game. We will lose some games. It could be this Sunday, or maybe not. But on the aggregate, Jayden is big time a force multiplier.

 
Want to tire out a D? Zone stretch run right. Zone stretch run left. Hurry up PAP deep. Run those fat fuckers sideline to sideline.
 
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