N.Y. Giants: Coach Shurmur Fails to Pay the Bills

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

MANN vs. WORLD

The Continuing Saga of Eli's Swan Song

• @ DAL:  30/44 for 306 yards; one touchdown; no INT; one sack; seven QB hits.
• vs. BUF:  26/45 for 250 yards; one touchdown; two INT; one sack; three QB hits.

WEEK TWO

Bills     27

Giants  14

FINAL

Week Two Reaction: On Coach Shurmur's Confounding Game Plan

For a second straight game, the Giants are doubled up by their opponent.  They've allowed 63 total points over their first two weeks but have only scored 27 points for themselves.  That's an average of 15.5 points for, and 31.5 points against.  They again lose the battle of the clock this time by nearly five full minutes.

The offensive line, however, performs well.  They surrender just one sack and three other QB hits, and gain over 100 yards on the ground.  Can't blame this loss on the hog mollies.  Eli's personal performance is a down tick from week one.  But I would argue Coach Shurmur's poorly planned run scheme and overall game plan, and (for various reasons) a lack of primary receivers, are what cause Eli to appear somewhat inadequate.  With time to scan his sectors, Eli targets Bernie Fowler and Evan Engram 18 times but only connects on 11 passes for 99 yards.  Bernie Fowler flat out has a bad game.  Eli and TJ Jones finally connect on a touchdown in the fourth quarter.  But it's too little too late.  That said, Pat Shurmur expects us/you/them/anybody to be agreeable with Eli throwing 45 times, yet the first deep down field pass play against Buffalo doesn't occur until there's 5:47 left in the fourth quarter.

Message to Coach Shurmur: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

ICYMI:  Might as Well Throw Caution to the Wind ... which clearly they did not.

Then there's his implementation of Saquon Barkley and the running game.  In game one Saquon rushes only eleven times.  Okay..?!  This week he rushes four times for 55 yards and a touchdown on the Giants opening drive, but only rushes 14 more times for another 52 yards, with three receptions the rest of the day!  Am I being sold on the notion Buffalo's defense makes one first quarter adjustment which puts a wrap on the entire Giants running game?  Sorry, I'm not buying that.  Rather, Coach Shurmur's adjustments and overall strategy just come off ass-backwards.  There are some very fundamental philosophies which seem to have escaped him against the Bills.

Rightly or wrongly people, fans, and media, will be piling on Eli this week.  But it is Coach Shurmur whom earns my week two demerit of the game.  This one is on him.

The Giants are now 0-2 and fading fast.