Amazin' Date 8/31/1969: Tom Seaver Defeats Giants for 19th Victory of Season

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS
50th ANNIVERSARY

Games #129 and #130
New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants
Candlestick Park

Giants Salvage Series Split at Candlestick Park

• GAME ONE: Sunday, August 31, 1969 - BR

With a five run outburst in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth New York rolls to an 8-0 whitewashing of the Giants.  Ron Swoboda, Jerry Grote, and Al Weis, each drive in a pair of runs apiece.  Bud Harrelson is 2 for 5 with an RBI, and starter Tom Seaver helps his own cause with a hit and an RBI; his fourth of the season.  On the mound Tom Seaver allows just seven hits and three walks with eleven strikeouts for the complete game shutout.  He improves to 19-8 with a 2.54 ERA.  It's the fourth time this season Seaver fans double-digits, and now gives him 175 for the season.

• GAME TWO: Sunday, August 31, 1969 - BR

The Giants salvage game two and gain a four game split as the Mets lose a heart-breaker in extra innings at Candlestick Park.  San Francisco scores straightaway against starter Jim McAndrew on Don Mason's lead-off hit, Ken Henderson's one-out triple to right, and Jim Ray Hart's RBI hit for a 2-0 first inning lead.  The Mets eventually strike back in the seventh when Ron Swoboda connects on his sixth home run of the season with Cleon Jones aboard.  The game remains deadlocked at two after nine, and into extra innings they go.  Pitching into the bottom of the eleventh, Tug McGraw issues a lead-off walk, and a hit by Willie McCovey.  Manager Hodges opts for Ron Taylor whom intentionally walks Bobby Bonds loading the bases.  However with Jim Davenport at the plate Taylor issues a second straight walk forcing in the game winning run in from third.  Jim McAndrew puts forth a fine performance allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts through nine innings full.  But it's Tug McGraw whom incurs his third loss of the season.

The Mets lose a half-game in the standings, as Ken Holtzman and the Cubs again defeat Phil Niekro and the Braves at Atlanta.  However the Mets close out the month of August with a stellar 21-10 record and enter September winners of 13 of their last 16 games.  The Cubs close out August with an 18-10 record.

• Mets Record: 76-54
• N.L. East: 2nd; 4.5 GB

N.Y. Giants: Coach McAdoo Flicks On Orleans Darkwa, Then Turns Him Off

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

4-3

First Place

NFC EAST

NEW YORK GIANTS: Two games against the Cowboys brought out the best in Big Blue's running game.  See you again this time next year!

In the one hand, Sunday was refreshing.  On the other hand, maddening.

Do the Giants need to play Dallas every week?  Is that what it takes for Ben McAdoo to incorporate more running?  In any event, I guess he indeed wound up watching Game One's game film after all.

Let's rewind to the season opener in Dallas for a moment:

Right up until the Giants last, and fatal 4th quarter drive, Ben McAdoo called for a mere 16 rushes all game.  Then, during the Giants final drive (before handing the game to Dallas), McAdoo called on Rashad Jennings 7 times, and specifically targeted the Cowboys' middle 5 times.   In return, Jennings pounded out 38-net yards.

• middle: 3 yds.
• middle: 27 yds.
• middle: 7 yds.
• middle: 2 yds.
• left: minus 4 yds.
• middle: 2 yds.
• left: 1 yd.

In all, the Giants rushed 23 times for 91 yards that game.  Ponderously, this remained their best single-game output through the first six weeks of the season.  Eli went 20/36 for 193 yards that game, marking the only time this season to date Eli has thrown less than the Giants elected to run.

Otherwise, the Giants averaged 23 rushes for 80.1 yards, while Eli has averaged 39 attempts for 267 yards per game through the first six weeks of the season.

WEEK SEVEN

Cowboys   20

GIANTS   27

FINAL

The Dallas Cowboys amassed 460 yards of offense against the Giants, while Big Blue managed just 289 total yards.  

The Cowboys, however, insisted on turning over the ball four times, and it cost them the difference in Sunday's game.  Dominique Rogers-Cromartie had a pick-six, and a subsequent Matt Cassel INT (one of three) led to one of the Giants two field goals on the day.

Even then, Dallas still tied the score 20-20 with 7:14 left in regulation.  It took a 100-yard touchdown return from Dwayne Harris on the ensuing kick-off to seal the victory.

Now back to the business at hand.

Week One still remains the only game in which Ben McAdoo wound up calling more run plays than passes, although Week Seven came close.

This past Sunday, Eli went 13/24 for 170 yards.  Meanwhile, Ben McAdoo dialed up 21 rushes for a season high 128 yards.

Congratulations Orleans Darkwa on getting into his first game of the season.

And to a lesser degree, congrats to the Giants on hitting the century mark for the first time all year, and for topping 90-yards for a third time.  But, they shouldn't go patting themselves on the back just yet.

Here's the rub...

Ben McAdoo called on fourth string running back Orleans Darkwa during the Giants 2nd quarter scoring drive that went seven plays for 79 yards, putting them ahead 7-3.  He called on Darkwa four times (plus one uncompleted pass attempt):

• Left: 7-yard gain.
• Middle: 9-yard gain.
• Left: 10-yard gain.
• Final play of drive: 15-yards, touchdown.

All told, that was four rushes for 41 yards, or, 7.7 yards per carry.  Subtract that from the overall effort, and the Giants rushed 17 times for 87 yards.  That's a good day by their standards, but hardly anything that makes me feel better about the situation.

Furthermore, subtracting this drive means Darkwa only made 4 other touches all game.  If he was running like this to start the 2nd quarter, my next question would be, why stop?

Six touches for Shane Vereen likewise seems hardly enough.  Ben McAdoo's odd utilization continues.  If Shane Vereen rushed 4 times for 56 yards (one catch for six yards), why not give him more touches?  He's been limited, and I do mean limited, to just 3 receptions and 5 rushes per game.

Rashad Jennings is averaging just 11 carries and 2 receptions per game; Andre Williams 8 carries a game.

How is a back supposed to establish any kind of flow, or at the least gain a feel for the game, with that kind of indifferent, or dare I say ambivalent utilization?

Somewhere along the way, coaches forgot these players thrive on contact, and must negotiate their way through games with intelligence, but with physicality as well.  At some point, attempting to out-cute the competition will only garner lessons in concussion protocol.

To that I say, this generation of life coaches is too busy outsmarting themselves.

ICYMI: Running Game Making Me Green With Envy

Stop the madness and just continue running with power.

N.Y. Giants: Feeling Green With Envy

From the desks of:

DO IT FOR THE DUKE  and  WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

THE ODD COUPLE

Can two teams share a stadium, without one of them driving their fan bases crazy?

NEW YORK GIANTS: Differences between Blue and Green are like Night and Day, Good and Bad, and just too much to bear anymore.

I do not like bleeding colors, but now that Washington has become a common opponent, I thought a comparison between Big Blue and Gang Green would be a great way to make a point.  It's a fairly accurate snapshot in so far as Washington played each team within the span of a few short weeks.

Why do this?  Because it's my blog and it applies.  I hope this pisses off someone working in one of the Blue offices at Snoopy Centre.  Otherwise, Jets fans, you're safe. Giants fans... what more can I say?

I - The Giants played Washington in Week Three; the Jets in Week Six.  Both walked away victorious by similar final scores:

• NYG 32; WASH 21
• NYJ 34; WASH 20

II - There's no arguing whom the more established, and more accomplished quarterback is.  After Eli's poor performance against the Eagles Monday, however, Giants fans may not be as forgiving.   For the Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick was clearly the better option over Geno Smith (I think), although some Jets fans might still debate that as well.  Both nevertheless posted similar statistics against Washington:

• Eli: 23/32 for 279 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT QB rating 119.1%
• Fitz: 19/26 for 253 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, QB rating 113.1%

III - That's where the similarities end, and the major differences begin.  The Giants run the ball and play defense extremely poorly. The Jets on the other hand run the ball and play defense extremely well.

In Week Six against Washington, Chris Ivory rushed 20 times for 146 yards, averaging 7.3 yards per carry.  Zac Stacy rushed another 13 times for 46 yards, averaging 3.5 yards per.

• Between them, they rushed 33 times for 192 yards.

In Week Three against Washington, Rashad Jennings rushed 11 times for 32 yards, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry.  Andre Williams rushed 14 times for just 29 yards, averaging 2.1 yards per carry.

• They combined on 25 rushes for 61 yards.

IV - Then there's the curious case of D.C. quarterback Kirk Cousins.  He's easily the worst of the three QBs mentioned here.  Jet fans believe that, while me and my fellow Giants fans are trying our best.

In each game against the Giants and Jets, Kirk Cousins threw one touchdown, two interceptions, and got sacked once.  That's where the similarities end, and the major differences begin, again!

• Cousins vs. NYG - 30/49 for 316 yards (6.4 ypp), with a 69.8% QB rating.
• Cousins vs. Jets - 25/43 for 196 yards (4.6 ypp), with a 57.9% QB rating.

V - Finally, here's your total yardage for the game:

• The Giants gained 363 total yards, but were outdone by Washington's 393 total yards.  In my math, they netted -30 yards for the game.
• The Jets gained 474 total yards against Washington, but only surrendered 225 total yards, for a 249 net yards advantage.

So, where am I headed with all this? Philadelphia of course.  I'll preface this by saying things have gone haywire for the Giants in the City of Brotherly Stuff, and against the Eagles in general, ever since I started following Big Blue back during Jimmy Carter's administration.  It's a little weird to explain, but irrelevant regarding Monday's game.

All three of the Giants loses have been so uniquely bad in their own right.  However, their most recent one followed a very familiar trend:

• Philly's DeMarco Murray rushed 22 times for 109 yards.
• Rashad Jennings rushed 13 times for 63 yards; Andre Williams was five for six yards, and Shave Vereen rushed once for no yards.  All told, they carried the ball 22 times for 69 yards.

Shameful!

After leading the league in pass attempts through the first four weeks, Eli has slipped down to 6th most, and is now ninth in passing yardage and 11th in touchdowns. Despite Sunday's bruising, he's still among the least sacked quarterbacks, and is arguably outperforming his older brother (big deal).

Eli Manning was 24/38 for 189 yards against the Eagles, with a touchdown, 2 INTs, and was sacked three times.  His opponent Sam Bradford threw three INT's, but don't discredit what he did against the Giants defense nonetheless.  He attempted the same number of passes as Eli, and likewise completed as many, yet managed to throw for 91 more yards than Eli.

What's more, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle were both nursing hamstrings, yet were targeted 14 times and made 12 receptions.

All of which means Ben McAdoo called for more passes than running plays for the sixth straight week.  His questionable utilization of Shave Vereen also continues to perplex.  Vereen made one reception out of the backfield, which means he had five touches all game.

All told (and getting four turnovers to boot), the Giants still only managed 247 total yards of offense.   The Eagles, meanwhile, accumulated 425 total yards.

I'll let the comparative numbers speak for themselves.  You can draw your own conclusions.

You already know where I stand.

N.Y. Giants: Running To Daylight With Sunglasses On

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

GAME FIVE

San Francisco 49ers

vs.

New York Giants

FROM

The Snoopy Bowl

NEW YORK GIANTS: There are no such things as dire circumstances in the NFC East, only chance and opportunity.

Part I of IV

COWBOYS 27; Giants 26

Falcons 24; GIANTS 20

GIANTS 32; D.C. Hogs 21

Giants 24; BILLS 10

The road to an NFC East title has remarkably been detoured through East Rutherford, proving time and again that one team's misfortune and/or dysfunction are another team's opportunity.

Ever mounting injuries continue taking a heavy toll on the Dallas Cowboys, and will do so for several weeks to come.  Elsewhere, the D.C. Hogs remain locked in an eternal struggle against themselves, while the Eagles are safely chained in the division basement until further notice.

In a tumultuous first quarter season, the Giants recovered from their 0-2 start to even their record with consecutive victories over Washington and a particularly convincing one over Buffalo.

Last week's game was certainly an attitude adjuster, causing fans to seriously rethink a great many things.  For instance, the Giants have effectively controlled roughly 235 of a possible 240 minutes played over four games and 16 quarters of football.  It's just that those two gaffes late in games One and Two were so self-destructive, and completely unnecessary.

The second quarter of the season begins with the NFC East locked in a three way tie.  Big Blue is seemingly in the best shape to seize control of a leaderless pack.

Part II of IV

49ERS

@ Eagles

COWBOYS

@ Saints

GAME FIVE: Niners @ Giants

ICYMI: Running of the Bills; Applied SPAGnology

Some of the Niners cast members might still be the same, but San Francisco's performance is far from what we grew accustomed to under Jim Harbaugh.  

The familiar Colin Kaepernick, Anquan Bolden, Vernon Davis, and the 49ers offense are last in total yards per game, and total points scored.  San Francisco's ground game is another matter.  Despite no longer having Frank Gore in the loop, the Niners have nevertheless accumulated the most rushing yards to date, and rank 5th in average yards rushed per game.  All told, however, the Niners are only averaging a mere 12 ppg after four weeks of play.

Defensively, the Niners have allowed the league's 6th most total points, and 10th most total yardage per game.

GIANTS DEFENSE

20.5 points allowed per game

386 yards allowed per game

The Giants, meanwhile, have allowed the NFL's 7th most overall yards.  They have allowed the second most yards through the air, and have averaged the most passing yards allowed per game.  But, they're number one against the run.  They've allowed opponents the 10th most time of possession, allowed the 13th fewest points, and average the 8th least points allowed per game.

GIANTS OFFENSE

25.5 points scored per game

335 yards gained per game

The Giants have rushed for the 8th fewest yards in the NFL, and average the 9th least rushing yards per game.  Through the air, the Giants have only thrown for the 18th most yards in the NFL, and are yet to surpass 1,000 passing yards through 4 games played. They're 19th in average passing yards per game.

Crossed Connections:

Eli Manning's first INT of the season came part and parcel with this whole perverted pass doctrine under Coughlin.  Just saying...

Moose Johnston was covering the game on FOX and pointed out that Rueben Randle should have fought harder to make that particular reception, and I couldn't have agreed more.  He was targeted 6 times but only made 3 receptions for 31 yards (and a touchdown).

The man is slow off the line, telegraphs his cuts, and as Moose pointed out, doesn't place himself between the defender and the ball well enough.  His ineffectiveness has done little to relieve OBJ of double teams.

Eli, meanwhile, has limited his INTs this season, but his in-game management has seemingly gone to pot.  The same spirits that possessed Eli in the latter stages of games One and Two, returned with about 4:00 left in Game Four.  Fortunately they were exorcised in time to stave off yet another 4th quarter disaster.  He must suffer occasional spells of voodoo from growing up in New Orleans  I guess....

If Eli does not audible, Rashad Jennings does not score a 51-yards touchdown on a play that should have been limited to a few yards at most.  I get that.  But running the clock down to zero and wasting time outs still seems routine.

In No Particular Rush:

The Giants stick with the run for sake of maintaining balance.  They certainly do not stick with it long enough to let it wear opponents down or dictate a game.  In previous seasons, the reasons were glaringly evident as to why.  This season, however, there's little excuse not to run more.

Ereck Flowers - Justin Pugh - Weston Richburg - Geoff Schwartz - Marshall Newhouse

The offensive line is coalescing into an effective unit.  They have protected Eli very well, allowing the NFL's 3rd fewest sacks (4) this season.  They have also executed strong run blocking.  Scheme-wise, however, the Giants continue running towards daylight with their sunglasses on.

Minus any yardage gained by Eli Manning, the combination of Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams and Shane Vereen, have rushed 100 times for 343 yards, for an average of 25 rushes for 85.7 yards per game.

While not great, they've been reliable.  The manner in which they've run, however, has been impressive at times.  Rashad and Andre have moved the chains with power, but only as the play calling allows.

N.Y. Giants: Running of the Bills

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

MISSION-II

Gain Higher Ground

Week Four

Giants  24

Bills      10

FINAL

NEW YORK GIANTS: Two botched 4th quarter drives in each of the first two games of the season are all that prevented the Giants from a 4-0 start.

The Giants still kinda/almost folded like a cheap poker table in Sunday's 4th quarter again, but composed themselves in time to close the deal and get their record back to par.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, lost Sunday night in New Orleans, and Washington defeated the Eagles creating a 3-way tie for the division lead.  Such as life in the NFC East.

The Giants now have a clean slate with which to restart their season on the right foot.

Their upcoming schedule couldn't have been more accommodating.  They host the disintegrating 49ers next week.  After which, they'll head to Philadelphia in Week Six.  Week Seven will then feature a Week One rematch against the Cowboys at Met Life Stadium.

If the Giants take care of business, the division would effectively become theirs to lose.

Forgive Me Duke, For I Have Strayed

I admit it.  I fretted this game in Buffalo and picked against the Giants.

To my chagrin, Sunday's overall performance and victory over the Bills certainly puts things in a different perspective, doesn't it...

But, after considering...

* Victor Cruz' imminent return,
* Dallas will be without Dez Bryant and Tony Romo for a lengthy portion of the season,
* Washington's QB situation is as unsettled as Greenland,
* the Eagles are now 1-3,

...and, in the aftermath of beating Buffalo despite being a 6 1/2 point underdog, I'm still conflicted between feeling relieved and rejoicing Big Blue's return to zero, or, revisiting why this team should be 4-0 this season.

Test Results:

I ended last week by saying Buffalo would provide a true measure of the Giants offense, and the results are in.

Eli Manning was 20 of 35, for 212 yards, and connected on 3 touchdown passes to Rueben Randle, Dwayne Harris, and to Rashad Jennings out of the backfield on a well called audible that went for 51 yards.

Manning, however, threw his first INT of the season.  After leading the league for a third time in 2013 with 27 picks, he reduced that number to 14 during his first year under O.C. Ben McAdoo, and as stated, has just one so far this season.  That said, the play selection has not been as risk/reward as when Gilbride called plays.

The Giants rushed 25 times for 94 yards. Andre Williams ran with particular physicality, gaining 35 tough yards on 11 carries.

Overall, the Giants gained 303 yards from scrimmage.

The Giants 25.5 points per game ranks 9th in the NFL, and 5th in the NFC.  They are #24 in NFL rushing, #17 in passing yardage, and #22 in yards per game.

Like Night and Day

The Giants won a Super Bowl with Perry Fewell only after he relented from an extraordinarily complex (stupid) system which inspired hesitation and oft times mass confusion in the secondary.

That defense turned on a dime in time for the playoffs only after Fewell simplified, and allowed Corey Webster/Aaron Ross to play man coverage.   That team also had a pass rush, just saying....

Perry Fewell/Giants Defense vs. Run: (2010-2014)

• 2014 - #30
• 2013 - #14
• 2012 - #25
• 2011 - #19
• 2010 - #8

Look Who's #1: Applied Spagnology

Steve Spagnuolo is already getting far more out of far less than Perry Fewell previously could from his various (more talented) cast members.

What Coach Spags has lacked in personnel (and a pass rush), he's made up for through creativity and aggression.

His improvised blend of swarm/bend-don't-break ranks top five in giveaway/takeaway. Meanwhile, the Giants have allowed the 7th most yards in the NFL and the NFC's 2nd most, yet rank 13th in the NFL and 7th in the NFC in total points allowed.

The Giants are #1 against the run, as Buffalo found out.  They are still the only team to yield less than 300 yards (279) rushing this season.  They've only allowed 69.8 rushing yards per game.

The Giants allowed Buffalo 313 total yards, but only 10 points.  Somehow, Rex Ryan authorized a one-back attack.  In any event, the Giants provided no quarter for the NFL's #6 rated run game.  Karlos Williams rushed 18 times and was limited to a mere 40 yards.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor provided Buffalo with their only other ground gains, scrambling 6 times for 15 yards.

Here's to a better next quarter of the season.

N.Y. Giants: Look Out, McAdoo's Blue Crew Coming Through

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

3-2

3rd place NFC East

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Wins and Losses Follow a Common Theme.

What do you know - three in a row!

After 2 opening losses, the Giants followed with 3 consecutive victories.  That means it's time to play our favorite game - WTF!

Here's the gist:

In each loss the Giants allowed 25 points or more, and only averaged 14 points themselves.  They lost the turnover battle, and failed to rush for 100 yards.

• Game One against the Lions was obviously an ugly affair, especially defensively.  However, it bears noting they only managed to rush for 53 yards on 22 carries, and turned the ball over twice.

• In Game Two's loss to the Cardinals, they rushed for 81 yards on 27 carries, and turned the ball over an inexcusable 4 times.

In each of their 3 consecutive victories, the Giants limited their opponent to 20 points or less, won the turnover battle, and rushed the ball well over 100 yards each time.

• Game Three vs. Houston - 193 yards in 42 rushing attempts.  The Texans turned the ball over 3 times.

• Game Four vs. Washington - 154 yards on 38 rushing attempts.  The Hogs turned the ball over 6 times.

• Game Five vs. Atlanta - 124 yards on 34 rushing attempts.  The Falcons turned the ball over once (but the Giants twice).

Throughout the 5 games, Coach McAdoo's shorter passing scheme has been a definite departure from Kevin Gilbride's style, which consistently led the league in most attempted yards per pass play - and to his credit, it's working.

In truth, ever since Eli turned things around midway through Week Two against the Cardinals, he's been stellar,  When Eli is on, he usually makes his receivers better - just ask Odell Beckham Jr., Rueben Randal, Preston Parker, and Larry Donnell (and the litany of tight ends that preceded him).

In the last 3 games, Eli has thrown 8 TD passes, with just 1 interception.

The scoreboard has reflected their recent offensive proficiency.  The Giants have scored at least 30 points in each of their last 3 games.

Of course, everything starts up front.  So far, the offensive line has done admirable work.  They've created enough daylight for Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams, and limited the opposition to a manageable 7 sacks in 5 games.  They've already proven themselves to be a better unit than last year's version.  So, the hope is they continue to improve and gel together.

In fact, over the next 2 weeks, we'll get to see how good this team really is.

The true battle for the NFC East starts Sunday night in Philadelphia, and continues the following week in Dallas.

Prior to the Giants facing the Eagles in Sunday night's game, the Cowboys will have already faced off against the Legion of Boom in Seattle.

If Big Blue takes care of business against the Eagles, and the Cowboys oblige with a crushing defeat in Seattle, we'll have a 3-way tie for the division lead by Monday.

Then with a Week 7 victory in Dallas, the Giants can conceivably tilt the division in their favor in time for their Bye - pending the Eagles outcome in Arizona that is.

Perchance to dream.....



Mike