One positive about the Ratliff injury...

[EMMITTnROY]

Our first four games are all very winnable. The Giants, Chiefs, Rams and Chargers are all teams that we should be better than. Then we have the Broncos and Commanders, which are obviously tougher. But to have 4 of your first 6 games be against lesser competition is a positive. If Ratliff can truly come back after six weeks and be effective, then at least he's missing an "easier" portion of the schedule.

 

[OhSnap]

I wouldn't overlook the ginats so quickly. They've tried to shore up the middle of their D line and have a RB that can break off long runs. I'm not predicting a giant win but Coughlin's Giants are 53-19 in the first half of their schedules. But yes getting a healthy Ratliff back before the middle of the season could mean he stays fresh all the way through the season.

 

[Galian Beast]

I agree with the OP. We have a fairly easy schedule to open things out. The Giants should not be a team that we fear. I'd even say that Denver shouldn't be nearly as difficult as they would have a year ago losing out on their two best defensive players in Dumervil and Miller. Peyton Manning losing his center will also have an impact.

Having Ratliff Fresher for the 2nd half of the year certainly won't hurt us. Especially if he comes into form in the last 4 games of the season in particular.

 

[Ren]

I have a feeling the Rams are gonna be pretty good this year, and i wouldn't call the Giants at home a east game either we've never beaten them at the new stadium

 

[Fredd]

I have a feeling the Rams are gonna be pretty good this year, and i wouldn't call the Giants at home a east game either we've never beaten them at the new stadium

This is the year that changes

 

[BourbonBalz]

The Giants are a bigger mess than we are. The injury bug has hit them pretty hard. If we can't beat them at home on opening day, it's probably going to be a long season. We really need to win this game and get off to a good start.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

The problem with having a jacked-up, hodge-podge for OL is that a couple of bad links in that chain can totally derail your game. I wouldn't look past any of those first four teams.

I'm curious to see if that 12 personnel package can alleviate some of the OL weakness, from what I've read the real matchup benefits don't happen until the defense is forced to respect both TEs for their blocking as well as their pass-catching,,, not sure if Hannah or Escobar are their yet. That first game should be a revelation one way or another.

 

[Future]

The problem with having a jacked-up, hodge-podge for OL is that a couple of bad links in that chain can totally derail your game. I wouldn't look past any of those first four teams.

Heck, there isnt a team on the schedule I would look past considering how inconsistent we've been over the last 6-7 years.

 

[Idgit]

I have a feeling the Rams are gonna be pretty good this year, and i wouldn't call the Giants at home a east game either we've never beaten them at the new stadium

I basically agree with the OPs point, that the opening quarter of our schedule is 'easier' on paper, but I agree with you about the Rams. I think that's going to be a pretty good team, even if their record is middling. They're going to have a lot of close games go down to the last possession in the 4th quarter.

The Chiefs might not be a walk in the park, either. A lot of talent on that team. A great HC and a stable but unspectacular QB acquisition. Hopefully, it takes them a few weeks to put things together.

Every game in the NFL poses it's own particular risk. Every game on our schedule looks winnable to me, but then, most of them look pretty losable, too.

 

[Idgit]

The problem with having a jacked-up, hodge-podge for OL is that a couple of bad links in that chain can totally derail your game. I wouldn't look past any of those first four teams.

I'm curious to see if that 12 personnel package can alleviate some of the OL weakness, from what I've read the real matchup benefits don't happen until the defense is forced to respect both TEs for their blocking as well as their pass-catching,,, not sure if Hannah or Escobar are their yet. That first game should be a revelation one way or another.

The OG injuries are maddening. That said, if everyone's more or less healthy (huge if, I get it), one of the actual strengths of our OL is that we've got so many players with position flex. It gives us a lot of juggling options where you're moving guys around and, while you might not get the upgrade you feel we need, you don't get much dropoff relative to what you'd see on a normal NFL roster.

 

[iceman117]

The Giants are a bigger mess than we are. The injury bug has hit them pretty hard. If we can't beat them at home on opening day, it's probably going to be a long season. We really need to win this game and get off to a good start.

Why do you think we are a mess

 

[iceman117]

Giants then at arrowhead followed by a really improved Rams team is not my definition of easy games we very well could be 1-2 if we don't play out best..... We could also be 3-0 when we play the Chargers

 

[perrykemp]

Our first four games are all very winnable. The Giants, Chiefs, Rams and Chargers are all teams that we should be better than. Then we have the Broncos and Commanders, which are obviously tougher. But to have 4 of your first 6 games be against lesser competition is a positive. If Ratliff can truly come back after six weeks and be effective, then at least he's missing an "easier" portion of the schedule.

Typically a player doesn't come back in week 7 after being on the PUP since league rules prohibit you from practicing on the PUP. A more realistic return schedule is weeks 8 or 9.

 

[visionary]

Giants then at arrowhead followed by a really improved Rams team is not my definition of easy games we very well could be 1-2 if we don't play out best..... We could also be 3-0 when we play the Chargers

agree with you
as inconsistent as we have been and with horrible depth at many key positions, there is no way to gauge where we will be until real bullets start flying
many of these teams like rams are going to be very good this year
we better not take these teams lightly

 

[cowboys2233]

Heck, there isnt a team on the schedule I would look past considering how inconsistent we've been over the last 6-7 years.

I'm already trying to figure out our playoff strategy.

 

[Idgit]

Why do you think we are a mess

I think it's the star on the helmet.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

The OG injuries are maddening. That said, if everyone's more or less healthy (huge if, I get it), one of the actual strengths of our OL is that we've got so many players with position flex. It gives us a lot of juggling options where you're moving guys around and, while you might not get the upgrade you feel we need, you don't get much dropoff relative to what you'd see on a normal NFL roster.

Whoa,,, go easy with the lipstick there,,,

 

[Idgit]

Whoa,,, go easy with the lipstick there,,,

I can honestly say, there's not a bit of lipstick on that pig. Whatever you may think of our weaker OL positions, when healthy, they all play at more or less the same level. Free v. Parnell. Livings v. Mack v. Free v. Kowalski. Kowalski v. Arkin. Costa + Frederick v. Frederick + Kowalski. Most of the substitutions we might make get us playing at a similar level to what we were getting with the weak starter getting replaced.

The issue has been we've had more than one of those position players injured. When you're playing 3rd and 4th options, you're going to see a drop off with any team, at any position.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

I can honestly say, there's not a bit of lipstick on that pig. Whatever you may think of our weaker OL positions, when healthy, they all play at more or less the same level. Free v. Parnell. Livings v. Mack v. Free v. Kowalski. Kowalski v. Arkin. Costa + Frederick v. Frederick + Kowalski. Most of the substitutions we might make get us playing at a similar level to what we were getting with the weak starter getting replaced.

The issue has been we've had more than one of those position players injured. When you're playing 3rd and 4th options, you're going to see a drop off with any team, at any position.

I believe your original comment cited other NFL rosters, not just ours. As far as our own depth goes, yeah, they're all pretty much the same including the starting guards..

 

[Idgit]

I believe your original comment cited other NFL rosters, not just ours. As far as our own depth goes, yeah, they're all pretty much the same including the starting guards..

Yeah, no, I was just referring to our own guys. The point being, they might all suck, but they all basically suck the same.