N.Y. Giants: Eli Trapped in Unsafe Working Condition

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

The Good Old Days?

New York Giants: Eli Manning Surrounded By Ten Big Blue Question Marks; What A Great Time To Start Geno Smith!

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, they got a lot worse.

Brandon Marshall, and the Giants lone legitimate scoring threat, Odell Beckham Jr., are both out for the season with fractured ankles sustained during last Sunday's game against the Chargers.

One has to wonder if the Fates are just piling on now.

When Eli Manning takes the field this Sunday against the Broncos in Denver, he will be surrounded by ten giant question marks, all of which spell big trouble.

Having to break in a whole new compliment of receivers, I feel, is putting Eli directly in harms way.  In fact, the odds of him sustaining his first major injury, or even a potential season ending injury, I believe, are suddenly sky high.

I'll tell you why.

In weeks One and Two, Eli sustained eight sacks, and another 13 QB hits.  Adjustments were made, and as a result, Eli remained relatively untouched against the Eagles in Week Three, and in Week Four against the Bucs.  The offensive line allowed no sacks and just seven QB hits in those games, but that was because Eli was getting the ball off within three to four seconds or less (much faster than he's accustomed to).  And, he also was still throwing to a full compliment of receivers.

In Week Five against the Chargers, the already maligned offensive line was playing without center Weston Richburg (concussion protocol), while John Jerry was playing with a strained hamstring.  The starting front five allowed five sacks, and another seven QB hits.  Eli was under duress when he threw somewhat high on the play Odell Beckham fractured his ankle (but that's football).

Suffice it to say, the offensive line has proven they're incapable of providing even low level protection.  Ereck Flowers, in particular, continues being a liability on the left side.

It's not like Eli can turn to the running game.  Behind the offensive line's compounded inability to create daylight, the Giants are presently 30th in the NFL in rushing yards per game, 28th in total rushing yards, tied for 28th in rushing attempts, yet actually rank 21st in yards per attempt.

Do we have to bring the tight ends into this?

Do we need to bring Ben McAdoo's ponderous play calling into this?

Yeah!

But with respect to Sunday's game, will Eli Manning and his new receiving corp be up to speed against a very good Denver defense?  Will Eli be able to get passes off within three to four seconds again? 

That's why I say, if these new kids on the chopping block aren't operating with the necessary smarts, and playing at the required speed, Eli is in big trouble.

What's going to happen against the rest of these defenses the Giants still must play?

Seahawks?  Rams?  Chiefs?

The more I think about it, the more I feel this might be a great time to start Geno Smith!

N.Y. Giants: O-Line Puts Worst Foot Forward

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Coach McAdoo 

Serving Up Offensive Line Kool-Aid

Week One

FINAL

Giants        3

Cowboys  19

New York Football Giants: New Season, Same Old Story.

ICYMI: As Offensive Line Goes, So Go The Giants 

This is an offensive line/backfield issue in the collective sense, as much a philosophical issue; be sure of that.  So there's no point in singling out players.  We know who they are, and what they're incapable of.  If anyone needs to be singled out, it's Jerry Reese for de-prioritizing these units over the last six seasons to the point of complete deterioration.

What I'm not sure about, is what Coach McAdoo is trying to sell us.  No coach should ever place himself in agreement with the press by saying, "Yeah, well, my O-Line sucks."  I understand not wanting to throw a struggling unit under the bus.  We all get that.  But reducing the matter to a non-issue.  That's the first indication of a huge problem.  And it's beginning to seem as if his media deflections and denials are cries for mercy.

The Cowboys sacked Eli three times, and registered four more QB hits.  In other words, the pocket was not a hospitable place to be.  Meanwhile the passing lanes remained riddled with obstacles as well.  Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in particular laid siege to the right side of the Giants O-Line with two sacks, and two more QB hits.

Okay ... so Coach knows he has no running game, and that Eli Manning is in jeopardy with every snap he takes from center.  He also knows that without Odell Beckham Jr. turning seven yard receptions into 65 yard gains the Giants are somewhat impotent.  Sunday night was a Prime Time example (embarrassment).  Sure, Brandon Marshall is a fine receiver in his own right, and is here to alleviate the double team on OBJ.  But with no OBJ, and no viable running game to set up play-action, an average Dallas Cowboys defense (IMO) simply loaded the box, limited Marshall to one catch, and essentially defied the Giants to beat them with Sterling Shepard.

Dallas QB Dak Prescott nearly out-rushed Paul Perkins and Orleans Darkwa by himself.  Big Blue's backs joined to rush a mere ten times for thirty yards.  In fact, the Giants only rushed the ball eleven times all night if you include Sterling Shepard's six yard romp.

If you care to argue Shane Vereen's nine receptions for 54 yards out of the backfield count for something ... fine.  But what if I countered by saying he accounted for 23% of the Giants offense during what was effectively a shutout.

Now consider that guy on the opposing sideline.  Behind a well drafted, cohesive, and effective offensive line, Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott rushed 24 times for 104 yards ... against a good Giants defense.

That being said, the Giants defense played very well Sunday night, holding the Cowboys to 19 points. But if the offense remains intent on leaving them out there for 35:00 minutes a game, then we're all in for a long season.

The score was only 0-3 after the first quarter, and 0-16 at halftime.  We are not talking dire circumstances here.  Those are generally times for regrouping, making adjustments, getting back to fundamentals, and attempting to establish the run again.  But that's only if you have any semblance of a rushing attack.  One must have the mindset as well.  Teams must want to run the ball and commit.   And for that, you need an effective offensive line.  It appears as if the Giants have none of the above.

Dallas rushed for 129 yards and held the ball for 34:14 minutes.  They produced 392 yards of offense on 71 plays.  As previously noted, the Giants only rushed for 35 yards and possessed the ball for 25:46 minutes.  They were limited to 233 total yards on just 53 plays.

If you do not think there is a correlation between running successfully, and time of possession, and victory, then you're drinking Coach McAdoo's Kool-Aid.


 ... and I picked the Giants to win too.

Giants vs. Jets: Snoopy Bowl VII

From the desks of:

DO IT FOR THE DUKE  and  WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

FORTY-EIGHTH YEAR OF GIANTS/JETS PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL

THE TURF WARS

1969-2009

Jets lead the all-time pre-season series 25-21-1 over the Giants

SNOOPY BOWL

I -  NYG 31; NYJ 16       II - NYJ 17; NYG 3

III - NYG 26; NYJ 3        IV - NYJ 24; NYG 21

V - NYG 35; NYJ 24       VI - NYJ 28; NYG 18

VII

New York Giants

vs.

New York Jets

FROM

MetLife Stadium

If you derive satisfaction from gaining local bragging rights through this game, by all means have your fun.  I do not begrudge anyone for that.

I, however, view Saturday's game as nothing more than a scrimmage.  But if there ever was a meaningful pre-season game with actual implications, this would indeed be the one.  That said, my anticipation is sufficiently high.  For sake of team spirit then, lets go Giants!

Scrimmage Three is fairly straight forward - nothing fancy, just beat the man in front of you.  That makes this game a convenient way of gauging speed, instincts, and physicality, minus all the in-season brain work.  Therefore I'm not necessarily interested in winning Snoopy Bowl VII, but I will be keeping a very watchful and critical eye on certain aspects of Big Blue's game.

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Lack of Offensive Balance Plagued the 2015 Giants.

The Giants last year demonstrated they can score points.  

This year should be no different, or will it?   

In 2015, their 420 total points ranked sixth in the NFL, for an average of 26.4 points per game.  In fact, Eli Manning and his receiving corp tied Tom Brady and his minions for the league's most touchdown receptions.

Rushing the ball, however, was a completely different matter.  The Giants rushed for a mere five touchdowns last season - easily last among the NFL's top ten scoring teams.  League wide, only San Diego rushed for less.  

That's called a one dimensional offense, and it needs to be corrected.

The offensive line's failure to create sufficient daylight certainly played a part in last year's overall rushing futility.  They're improving and slowly creating stability, but still have a ways to go, especially on the right side.  So I'll be paying particular attention to them come Saturday evening.

The running game's true phantom menace, however, were the coaches themselves, who ponderously employed a three, and sometimes four man backfield rotation.  Limiting their touches, hindering their ability to establish rhythm, and leaving them completely out of sync is not something they should repeat.

The Giants suffered lack of ball possession, plain and simple.  Sure the Giants can score, but they can not manage the game clock, much less dominate it, without an effective running game.  Last year was a perfect example.  The Giants failed to hold numerous 4th quarter leads because their lack of rushing prevented them from possessing the ball and killing the clock.

Dollar and a Prayer: Will Money Save Jerry Reese's Job?

Defensively speaking, Coach Spagnuolo and the players under him will ultimately determine whether Jerry Reese will still be serving in his present capacity this time next year.  The grace period earned for his part in securing the organization more Lombardy trophies is essentially over.  

Reese spent quite a Big Blue fortune this off-season revamping a woeful defense, and if this last ditch effort fails, I expect him to be relieved of his duties.

Here's what I'd like to know...

In each of the Giants four Super Bowl victories, they featured powerful running games.  Joe Morris, Otis Anderson, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw all rushed behind superior offensive linemen.

Be it the old Washington Redskins or Denver Broncos, numerous clashes against the San Francisco 49ers, the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers or New England Patriots, et al, the Giants wore their various opponents down to their preferred speed, managed the clock with defense and the running game, and generally put a stop to high powered spread formations, and west coast style offenses.

So ... if smash mouth football has been proven to work in any era, why then are the New York Football Giants so intent on becoming a west coast style offense - the very kind we used to defeat?

Just saying....

What tight end?

NEW YORK JETS: All Eyes On Ryan Fitzpatrick

Now that Ryan Fitzpatrick is back in the fold, the big question is can he duplicate last season's performance, in which he threw for career highs with 3,905 passing yards and 35 touchdowns.  

For the Jets sake, Fitz better ... because the situation surrounding Geno Smith is now bordering comical.  

Up front, the Jets offensive line will be as good as their center.  That's Nick Mangold's spot.  Nuf ced. With the expectation they'll will keep Ryan upright, Fitzpatrick will have plenty of weapons at his disposal.  Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Matt Forte, Bilal Powell, Kellen Davis, all should provide for a balanced attack.

Tourism Up on Revis Island

On the other side of the ball, Gang Green is still in search of a legitimate pass rush.  It's a situation that's hurt them before, and is bound to haunt them again.  And of course, Derrelle Revis still has as much to do with the Jets pass rush as anybody.  Their scheme will still be contingent on deception, and coverage.  Revis Island, however, is not the isolated paradise it once was.

N.Y. Jets: Bowles Boils Over After Cross Country Plight

From the desk of:  WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

Turbulent Skies

New York Jets: Loafers Need Not Apply!

The Jets departed on a two week sortie, and nearly didn't make it back.  Their coast to coast run from New England, to Oakland, then back to NYC was distressing at best - partly due to mechanical in-flight issues, and partly due to several players perhaps fearful of being on the same flight home as Coach Bowles.  Suffice to say the mission was an utter failure.  They came nowhere close to hitting their targets, and returned with casualties to key personnel.

Insult and Injury Sandwich an Otherwise Competitive Effort in Coach Bowles' much anticipated first game at Foxboro as HC of the NYJ.

Week Seven Final

Jets         23

Patriots  30

NYJ 7th straight loss at Foxboro

Ryan Fitzpatrick got sacked and fumbled on the Jets second play of the game.  The Patriots recovered, and immediately parlayed that into an early field goal.

The Jets then short circuited on their very next possession at the New England 2-yard line, after marching 78 yards on 15 plays, only to settle for a tying field goal.

Fast-forward...

After another Nick Folk field goal put the Jets ahead 20-16 with 12:50 left in regulation, New England proceeded to score 14 unanswered points.  The Patriots promptly marched 80 yards in 10 plays to take a 23-20 lead.  Then, with 5:32 left in the 4th quarter, Tom Brady initiated another 10-play, 68-yard scoring drive giving the Patriots their ultimate 30-20 margin of victory.

Meanwhile, the Jets not having Chris Ivory running on all engines was not anticipated.  The power back compromised his hamstring during the Jets very first play of the game.  Were Ivory playing at full strength, who knows what sort of control the Jets could have exacted over the Patriots - as the overall effort and respective play sandwiched between the opening and closing minutes of the game was otherwise competitive.

Generally speaking, though, a hamstrung Chris Ivory is going to mean a compromised Jets attack. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Eric Decker, and to a lesser degree Brandon Marshall, managed just enough offense to trick one into thinking potential upset, if only fleetingly.

Chris Ivory's curiously hampered effort:

• @ New England - 17 rushes/41 yards - 2 catches/12 yards, touchdown. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick:

• @ New England - 22 of 39, for 295 yards, with two touchdowns.

Tom Brady very literally performed his usual one man gang routine.  He completed 34 of 54 attempts for 355 yards, with two touchdowns, and was also New England's top rusher.  Tom Statue scrambled for 15 yards on 4 carries, with another touchdown.

Gang Green (in the face) suffered their biggest blow in the closing minute of the game, when center Nick Mangold injured his neck during the Jets final possession of the game.

All told, this game cost the Jets considerable altitude in the AFC East standings, while sustaining injuries to three key offensive players whom touch the ball most - Center, QB, and RB, in that order.

Oh no! Not you again: Geno Smith

Week Eight Final

Jets         20

Raiders  30

Geno Smith emerged from the Black Hole of Oakland only to remind everyone just how little he's improved after three years in the business.  His appearance was made possible when Ryan Fitzpatrick (re)injured his non-throwing thumb that will eventually require surgery.

Moving forward, Ryan's availability will be based on his personal threshold for pain. He's been listed as a go for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.  Taking snaps under center will prove most difficult, with handing off a close second.

I think Jets fans would even favor playing Fitz wearing oven mitts rather than risk falling further behind New England in the standings with Geno at the controls.

• Geno completed 27 of 42 pass attempts, for 265 yards, 2 touchdowns, and one INT.

Not the most terrible looking line, but the visual was easily worse.  Smith has moments when he shines, but the lights quickly go out and his mind fades to black when put under NFL duress.  The Jets better hope Fitzpatrick can gut this out, otherwise Geno Smith will smear his own thumbprints all over the Jets chances for the postseason.

So, is Chris Ivory hurt, or not?

Chris Ivory's performance against the Raiders was even more peculiar than that against the Patriots.   He rushed 15 times for 17 yards - that's no typo folks.  He also caught 3 passes for 24 yards.

So what gives?  Is he hurt or not?

The Jets did not just suddenly forget how to run block.  And while Mangold's situation is certainly a hovering black cloud, I do not think his injury impacted the running game so greatly that the Raiders defense was able to limit Chris Ivory and Zac Stacy to a mere 28 combined rushing yards on 18 carries.

Something else is at work here, and I do not believe it was necessarily the Raiders.

If Ivory needs a week off, better give it to him against the Jaguars.  A proactive rest now could potentially benefit the team later.  I say with great confidence - no Chris Ivory entering December means no playoffs for the Jets.

Taxing his barking hammy for a third straight week could spell trouble.  Take that to the hangar Jets fans.

Otherwise, if the Jets thought they were going to abandon the run, and match Tom Brady in a shoot-out, then what a colossal mistake it was.

Adversity at the Gates: Todd Bowles negotiating his first Gang Green crisis.

Todd Bowles is pissed off - and that's good.  A return to health, a little luck, and constructive well directed anger can potentially transform the Jets into a fearsome second half opponent.

Half way though the regular season, though, they're already running low on margin for error.

As a defensive minded coach, Tom Brady's overall performance must have been an assault upon his senses.  Everyone on the east coast knew Brady was either throwing, or running the ball himself - because that's all he did!  What a ponderous game plan, or genius if you consider the source.  I digress.

The Patriots made no secrets; employed no deception.  Brady and Belichick effectively said here's what we're doing, we defy you to stop us.  And, well, the Jets failed in that endeavor, crushingly, late in the game.

We are, after all speaking of a capable defense though.  The recipe to beat Brady is public knowledge. You must hit him, often.  The Jets sacked Brady three times, and hit him another five times through most of the game - just not late when they needed to most.  But, hey, it's not like they lost to Steve Grogan.

What transpired the following week in Oakland, however, inspired Todd Bowles to utter a word I haven't heard used by a head coach in decades.  Bowles dropped a #loafing bomb when summarizing their deplorable defensive effort against the Raiders.  Indefensible lapses in brain function, poorly executed and missed tackles were all topic one.  I'm sure the Defense was incredulous and embarrassed when presented the game film.  If they weren't already, I'm sure Coach Bowles humbled them with haste.

Moving forward, the last two games were on the players.  That damage is now a matter of recorded NFL history.  The next game will reflect on Todd Bowles more than anyone.  That's just the nature of the beast.  The previous two weeks called for corrective measures, attitude adjustments, what have you...  So, the next move was his to make.

That said, adversity is designed to knock one down.  How one recovers is what matters most.

I like Todd Bowles.  I like his demeanor and style.  But that doesn't win games.  Players win games, just ask Rex.  I would add Bowles is far more poised and adept at administering discipline, and generally concerning himself with all aspects of the game than Ryan ever was. Two weeks does not a season make, and this is already a smoother flying Jet than its been in a few years.

After spending a week back in the Hangar getting lubed and retrofitted by Todd Bowles, I can't wait to see how the Jets respond this Sunday at home against the Jaguars.

A loss would incite a home crowd maelstrom - victory, a hero's welcome.

N.Y. Jets: All is well again on the Ivory Coast

From the desk of:  WALT MICHAEL'S REVENGE

Bringing the Pain

New York Jets: Gang Green put forth an effort even Winston Churchill would have been proud of.

Chris Ivory was a beast among Englishmen Sunday against the Dolphins, giving Londoners a classroom lesson in American style Smash Mouth football.

Back from a Week Three setback, Chris Ivory was patient, waited for the line to create daylight, then hit the holes and ran with power beyond the box.  He initiated contact and brought the pain, rushing 29 times for 166 punishing yards.

The Jets work between the tackles was particularly effective.  Just an overall impressive effort to behold.

Bilal Powell didn't even rush once due to a barking groin.  In fact, Bilal factored in one play all day, a reception for 12 yards way back during the Jets second possession of the game.

The Jets dominated the clock with Chris Ivory back in the fold, in turn allowing Ryan Fitzpatrick to slide back into his game manager role.  Fitzpatrick was hardly impressive, but good enough.  He matched Ivory's effort with 29 attempts, completing 16 passes for 218 yards, and even smartly scrambled 9 times for 34 yards.

Meanwhile, the Jets held the ball for 37:23 and generated 425 yards of total offense. Ndamukong Suh was a non-factor with just three tackles all game.

Fitzpatrick connected on a touchdown to Eric Decker, while Brandon Marshall demoralized Miami's secondary with 7 catches for 128 yards with a long of 58 yards on the Jets first play from scrimmage.

He did, however, throw another interception, bringing his total to 6 in only 4 games played.  Ryan also extended his streak of throwing at least a pick a game. He only threw 8 INTs in 12 games last season with the Houston Texans.

On this day, however, Chris Ivory and the defense more than covered their QB's shortcomings.

The Jets sacked Ryan Tannehill 3 times, and caused him to fumble once.  Muhammad Wilkerson got two sacks, and David Harris got the other.  The Jets roughed him up another 9 times and 12 times overall. Derrelle Revis and Marcus Williams each picked off Tannehill.

The defense limited the Dolphins to just 226 yards of total offense, and completely took away the run.  Miami rushed a mere 10 times for 55 yards.

Todd Bowles now has his team at 3-1, and get the next week off to heal some lingering wounds.

On a day the Bills laid dung against the Giants, it's the Jets who've touched down at the Patriots doorstep.

N.Y. Jets: Cockpit Troubles Ground Flight Three in East Rutherford

From the desk of:  WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

LONDON CALLING

Week Four

New York Jets

vs.

Miami Dolphins

FROM

Across the Pond

New York Jets: Ponderous loss against Philadelphia was more revealing than distressing.

If we learned anything over the first three weeks, it's the Jets will look good when they win, and look awful when they lose.

Fans got a refresher as to why Ryan Fitzpatrick no longer plays for the Bengals, Bills, Titans, or Texans.  The more you ask him to throw, the more sure (not likely, but sure) he is to get picked off.

No, Chris Ivory did not play, which otherwise altered the original plan.  But 58 pass attempts is just begging for trouble, and as expected Fitzpatrick delivered three 3 INTs.  One pick was inexcusable, while the other 2 came on tipped passes but were no less distressing.  He's now been intercepted 5 times this season, and has thrown at least one in each of the Jets first three games.

Yet, what transpired in the 1st half really had little to do with Ryan Fitzpatrick, per se..  The defense, special teams, and Brandon Marshall were busy finding ways to lose instead.

• 1st QTR - The defense yielded an 11-play drive (field goal) on the Eagles' first possession of the game.

• 2nd QTR - Special teams allowed a punt return touch down; the defense yielded another 8-play 75 yard drive for a touchdown; then came Brandon Marshall's ill advised attempted lateral and fumble, that eventually resulted in another 6-points the other way.

Total damage: the Jets went into their locker room trailing 24-7 at halftime.

With the Jets clearly in catch-up mode, all three interceptions came in the 2nd half.  Unlike Brandon Marshall's 2nd quarter gaffe, Ryan's turnovers didn't necessarily translate into Philadelphia points, but instead repeatedly killed the Jets chances at mounting a comeback.

Minus Chris Ivory, that seemingly became an untenable situation.  In fact, without Ivory the Jets punted on their first six possessions of the game, while Bilal Powell failed to provide a sufficient supportive effort throughout.  He only rushed 10 times for 31 yards, but again, perhaps much of that had to do with playing catch-up football.

Regardless, the point was well made.  The Jets offense lacked field management without Chris Ivory on the field.

The defense otherwise regrouped and held Philadelphia scoreless in the second half.  They perhaps induced most of Sam Bradford's overall inefficiency.  The Jets sacked him once, and got 6 other hits. Ryan Mathews, however, rushed the ball 25 times for 108-yards.

Comparatively though, the Jets held on to the ball longer and gained more net yardage.  And despite missing Ivory, turnovers arguably doomed Flight Three, with Brandon Marshall's fumble proving most costly.

This is a game the Jets literally gave away.  If generosity indeed got the better of them, better they helped a non-division, and non-conference team.

Flight #4 takes off this week for London, where the Jets will play against their jolly division rivals Miami Dolphins.