Proudiddy

And I like PJ, but this is why Newton can't be trusted with his analysis. That is objectively pretty damn good for a rookie running with 3s.

Usually they are. Not this morning. I had stuff to do and typed that between...

Re: Baker and Matt - My take is, I'm excited about Baker this year. I'm excited about Matt ingeneral, especially for the future as he has time to develop while Baker runs things this season, at least. I dont know what happens after this year. I have a feeling that Matt can be, and may be really, really special. He has some abilities and tools, and characteristics, that just can't be taught. The release, great arm strength/zip, moxie, leadership, and athleticism. Those things, as-is, might be the best in our QB room right now. He has already flashed in limited opportunities more than any other rookie QB we've had outside of Cam, and maybe Kerry Collins, but I'm not 100% sure about Collins because I was a kid with limited access to reports and such due to the internet not really being a thing then. My impression from back then was that Collins was not all that impressive, and honestly, I even felt that way when he played. Regardless, before I derail myself, my point being, he has shown promise that 99.9% of the time had already been extinguished at this point of the offseason with any other rookie QBs we've had, not named Cam. There's an electricity to him, and you can feel it just watching him and watching the clips from practice. There's something special about him... and I say all of that to say, that why I don't know where things go next season. I think Baker is capable of being a Top 15, possibly top 10 QB in the league. For stretches, he has actually put up top 10 numbers, and I think it's possible for him to sustain that, and thus, I think he could lead us to the playoffs in any given year. He's a really good QB. But, that "it" factor, and the natural talent that Corral possesses... I just don't know how long you can hold that off. It really is so very similar to what happened with Smith and Mahomes. I think Baker is a slightly better version of Smith because of the potential for deep passes and big plays... but they're both winners and leaders. And just like Mahomes, Corral possesses certain things that just can't be taught, and if he develops the mental part of the game, you can't stop them from "ascending" to the top, as McAdoo said he is currently doing. And as i said yesterday, if agendas are thrown aside, and had Baker not been acquired, I'm fairly certain Corral would be the starter as a rookie. It is a good problem to have, and it's going to be interesting to watch unfold.

I really think Shi could be special if he's given the opportunities. I can see some Emmanuel Sanders in there.

I've actually been disappointed that we haven't heard anything from Barno. Just from his measurables, I thought he would've flashed at least a little bit in camp, but I haven't heard a single thing about him. Interested to see what happens with Mays and Brown. Also wondering if Smith, who apparently had been running with the 1s some, will practice with these guys at all today?

Oh I was agreeing with the stuff about the mental game... no doubt, Luke was indeed a freak of nature. Still proud I called that pick well before that draft. I saw him play at BC and knew he was good, but then when he ran the 4.5 at the combine, I was like, "We have to draft him." His mental game was next level, but that combined with his freaky athleticism at his position is what separated him from the rest of the league. To know what you're seeing and then be able to get there like he did was incredible.

That's my hope as well.

Same. Definitely seems out of character for Rivera.

Not saying this about CP, but there is an incredible amount of dislike for Robbie that I just don't get and it doesn't seem to be grounded in reality at all. But as I said elsewhere, I feel like the huddle always has to have a team villain to unload all of our angst on, and for whatever reason, that seems to have fallen at Robbie's feet the last two seasons. I get the drops were frustrating, but I even shared Newton's article from last season detailing what had changed (aside from constantly getting thrown hospital balls from Darnold), and a lot of it was schematic... but most ignored it. I still have been squarely in Robbie's corner, and I think now with an actual QB, he is poised to have another 2020-esque season, if not better.

And the fact that Rivera was notoriously loyal to his assistants. Very surprising.

Completely agreed. I always love a good underdog that has to use their minds just as much, if not more than their bodies to excel. Sam Mills was the perfect definition of that guy. Loved watching him as a kid. Saunders will definitely have to prove it one way or another. I think I'm erring on the side of I dont believe it yet due to what I saw of him in the past, combined with the fact that I think Rhule plays favorites. And you know what I think of Rhule. But we will see, one way or another.

I hope so. I've been waiting...

Yeah, I'm really starting to think Shi has to stay. He has huge potential.

I agree, Scot. Ricky wasn't the greatest athlete, and I hate to use the term, but he was deceptively athletic. He wasn't blowing by people off the line, or pulling away in a foot race, but he had enough athleticism to pull away from people when needed, and enough to create plays, even a little after the catch. I'm not trying to dump on Saunders, and yes, some guys mental game, anticipation, understanding of angles and leverage is such that it negates physical limitations and allows them to excel, but I feel like you have to have a baseline level of athleticism to go with that. And from what I saw of Saunders, in the past, I didn't see that... Proehl looked like a far greater athlete if I were to compare the two of them, as well as all the other famed slot receivers that were mentioned in this thread. They may not have been able to outrun 9 out of 10 guys in a 60 yard sprint, but they had suddenness and short-area quickness that allowed them separation and the ability to make plays consistently. I'm not saying Saunders cant be that, but he hasnt been that, and I don't expect guys to develop that once they reach the pro level. You usually already have or don't have that ability by the age of 21. Perhaps he worked on those things specifically and produced a noticeable improvement in them. Just saying, that was the biggest thing I noticed in all of the plays I've seen of him from last year and in college.

All of those guys could/can separate and create after the catch. Saunders' college highlights almost always end with him falling as he catches it.

He also just said in response to several different questions regarding Corral that while acknowledging his reps situation isn't ideal, it's the hand he currently holds and has to work through but said he has improved greatly since the minicamps. He went on to say he is improving several times and then finished the last question about him with "He is ascending." Very complimentary. And very interesting.

Just said it in his presser. I believe the question was about what they saw on his college tape that they felt would translate to the pros and that was McAdoo's immediate reply, and then added his passion to finish blocks and protect his teammates, as well as his intelligence. Love it. And also, fwiw, when he was with the Giants, and perhaps that was more a product of national/NY media, he always seemed to come off as a smug buffoon type there. But, man, the more pressers I see of him here, the more I like him. He seems to have a bit of smart-ass to him, but not in a condescending way. He can be humorous, and he just seems very knowledgeable about his job and what his intentions are... and aside from all of that, just seems very comfortable in his own skin. He's quickly becoming a favorite of mine on the staff (already liked Wilks, and I've liked Snow as well). C/o Michael G sharing the TC thread, here is the full presser:

Not to pee on the parade, but if he got named Mr. Athlete, I would hate to see that hometown based off what I saw of him last season. But seriously, I love underdogs and all that good stuff, but unless he made some drastic improvements this offseason, I just don't see how he could beat out the likes of Zylstra, Shi, TMJ, and Higgins. Last season when he played, it looked like most people from the Huddle walk faster than he runs. I admit, there are some guys who just have a knack and ability to get open, but I didn't even see that last season. Maybe he has refined his route running quite a bit, but I just don't know how he can make it into a bigger role with that lack of athleticism. And another thing to ponder, if he does hold onto this spot, then what happens to our drafted guys? DJ and Robby are locks. I imagine Roberts is as well unless Shi really surprises in the return game this preseason. So that's 3 receiver spots. Then we have Higgins, TMJ, Shi, Zylstra, and Saunders. I think keeping 6 is a definite, but I don't know about 7. So either 1 or 2 of those guys are out. And. I know Zylstra hasn't been heard from a lot this camp, but he has made some clutch plays the last two years, is a solid receiver, and plays ST coverage... and again, he's proven it on the field. So although he seems like the most likely candidate to go off that list, I don't think he's so easy to write off either. I want the best 6 or 7 on the roster, but man I would hate one of our drafted guys not to make it. I really liked what I saw from Shi and TMJ in their limited opportunities last year.

And the thing that is so bothersome about it is, they limit fans access to everything too, so our only real ability to see anything is directly from them... which is why it is so mind boggling that they then turn around and post videos zoomed all the way in on the ball to where you can't even see the action or the play developing on the highlights they posy. Like seriously? You keep fans from filming and you have sole control over what is filmed where, but you can even get proper angles with quality camera work? And it's clearly not anything related to competitive advantage or any of that because so many other franchises allow so much more access to their practices - the Cowboys come to mind. Tepper really has sucked the life out of this organization and fanbase.

Yeah that looks like full pads to me. Vote said he was in shell, though, and he's an official team reporter.

Albright is very reliable. Love to hear it. Doubt he has any value, but hopefully a team will do us a favor and just take him for the year and fug it, we may as well pay half to 75% of it, being that it's the last year of his deal anyway... we just need to rid ourselves of him and move on. Baker is clearly superior and Corral needs his reps for development. That's what I'm talking about Fitt! Hell yeah... take it out of Rhule's hands.

I still prefer we kick BC inside and have Icky at LT. Fitt himself repeatedly said they had a higher grade on BC as a guard although I thought he looked good at LT last season... I just don't understand why he didn't get his shot there last season and now we're giving it to him at the expense of our first overall pick who was touted as likely the best tackle in the draft.

That is some A-1 work right there for BC. Impressive. Also, would like to point out that it seems it's been reported every year that Brian has put on 10-15 lbs of muscle in the offseason, but it definitely looks like that's actually true this year for the first time. He definitely looks more stout.

Good on Brian. What fuging idiot... I feel like he was purposely trying to disrespect Matt, and that's why Brian got so upset about it. Really embarrassing we have "fans" out there saying poo like this in what should be a friendly/laid back setting.

"No recording allowed, we have to have exclusive recording rights so we can post a horribly captured clip where the cool parts of the play are completely missed thanks to our shoddy camerawork by our guy using his Motorola Razr."