From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL - The Big Blue Purge Has Begun. Salary Cap Forces General Manager's Hand.
Call this Blue Wednesday. Giants general manager Jerry Reese acted swiftly and decisively. The rebuilding of the Giants has commenced...again. Jerry Reese spent a second consecutive day pairing down the salary cap by releasing team veterans.
On Tuesday, the Giants parted ways with linebacker Michael Boley. For at least two seasons now, the Giants linebacking corp has needed considerable upgrades. But I believe no one ever speculated the Giants should start by cutting Michael Boley, who has arguably been their best linbeacker. If Jerry Reese believes this is a good move, that's all I need. In truth, Michael Boley provided little impact in his four seasons with the G-Men. The club will saving $4.25 million dollars by releasing Boley.
Then today, Chris Canty and enormously popular Ahmad Bradshaw were given their releases as well. Bradshaw has been increasingly hobbled in recent years by numerous ankle and foot injuries. However, Jerry Reese found his upcoming 2013 $3.7 million dollar salary even more prohibitive. It is still possible Ahmad could be asked back, but only at a reduced rate. If you remember, the Giants asked Brandon Jacobs to re-work his deal in order for them to re-sign Bradshaw to a free agent deal two seasons ago. The free agent contract Chris Canty signed four years ago also became a drain on the Giants. The club will save $6.5 million dollars by releasing him. Although hobbled by injuries of his own, Chris Canty is going to be a hard body to replace. In both stopping the run, and keeping younger team mates accountable, his presence will be missed.
Combined, the three moves shave roughly $13 million dollars off next season's projected salary cap.
Mike.BTB
Showing posts with label Chris Canty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Canty. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Sunday, November 04, 2012
New York Giants: Bending Steel
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: The Giants Can Do What The League Hasn't Been Able To; Drop Big Ben.
Pittsburgh and the busted play - they thrive on it. Big Ben is never more lethal than when he is scrambling about. He is additionally highly accurate on the run. And what his receivers do better than most is come back for the ball when Ben breaks the pocket.
Here's the thing. The Giants can do what few teams have been able to do. Justin Tuck, Osi, JPP, Chris Canty, and Kiwanuka are all big enough to drop him. If the Giants keep containment, like JPP did last week, and manage to get their hands on him, Big Ben will come down. Without containment, I feel the Giants Secondary won't be able to contend with the relationship Ben has with his receivers lest we forget Dallas had three receivers total over three hundred yards each. But if the Ends can prevent Ben from getting outside, I think Chris Canty and Linval Joseph can limit his movement inside.
The Steelers defense will be without Safety Troy Polamalu. But Pittsburgh is still very well stocked. So what does that mean for the Giants? I don't know. But look what they did to the 49ers. Here is something I do know. The Giants have scored the second most points in the league behind only behind New England.
So I guess that means you know which way I'm leaning? That was my pressed for time, post-Hurricane Sandy abbreviated pre-game posting.
Let's Go Giants.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: The Giants Can Do What The League Hasn't Been Able To; Drop Big Ben.
Pittsburgh and the busted play - they thrive on it. Big Ben is never more lethal than when he is scrambling about. He is additionally highly accurate on the run. And what his receivers do better than most is come back for the ball when Ben breaks the pocket.
Here's the thing. The Giants can do what few teams have been able to do. Justin Tuck, Osi, JPP, Chris Canty, and Kiwanuka are all big enough to drop him. If the Giants keep containment, like JPP did last week, and manage to get their hands on him, Big Ben will come down. Without containment, I feel the Giants Secondary won't be able to contend with the relationship Ben has with his receivers lest we forget Dallas had three receivers total over three hundred yards each. But if the Ends can prevent Ben from getting outside, I think Chris Canty and Linval Joseph can limit his movement inside.
The Steelers defense will be without Safety Troy Polamalu. But Pittsburgh is still very well stocked. So what does that mean for the Giants? I don't know. But look what they did to the 49ers. Here is something I do know. The Giants have scored the second most points in the league behind only behind New England.
So I guess that means you know which way I'm leaning? That was my pressed for time, post-Hurricane Sandy abbreviated pre-game posting.
Let's Go Giants.
Mike.BTB
Thursday, November 01, 2012
New York Giants: Win In Dallas While Sandy Batters Homes
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS: G-Men Escape Dallas With Win. But Their Homes Lose Against Hurricane Sandy.
Just because life got interrupted by a hurricane doesn't mean it escaped me how badly the Giants got outplayed in Dallas. Be cause they did. If Tony Romo wasn't such a... bonehead, the G-Men lose.
Here's a couple of things to chew on about Sunday's win. First, for the second time this season (and thank goodness that's over), Tony Romo dissected the Giants Secondary like they were frogs in some high school biology class.
Corey Webster's bad season just got even more ponderous. What possessed him to bite on an out-route and let his man pass him on what should have turned out to be a game ending Hail Mary touchdown, I will never know. Ponderous! The team was spared a week of antagonizing scrutiny by mere finger tips on the play. I for one can not wait around until Week Thirteen for his game to round into form like it did last season after an equally horrific start.
Mark Witten had an insane day, and not because the Giants sacrificed him for containing a different aspect of Dallas' offense. Because they did. The Giants didn't allow the Cowboys to run the ball. However, a big reason Tony Romo threw sixty two passes Sunday, was because his team was behind 23-0 in the first half. But that doesn't shroud the fact Witten made toast out of anyone who covered him. The Giants had no answer for him.
Three Cowboys receivers totalled over 100 yards. Witten led the planet with eighteen catches for 167 yards. Miles Austin caught nine passes for 133 yards. And Dez Bryant, who's fingertips lost the day, caught five passes for 110 yards. That makes me want to exclaim, Holy Crap! The Cowboys only attempted fifteen rushes all game. So it is not like the Giants didn't know the pass was coming. But when you turn the ball over six times like Romo and the 'Boys did, you're bound to lose.
The Giants won. So who am I complaining to? Yeah, two fumbles and four interceptions will certainly expedite that. Four Giants sacks I'm sure only made things worse for the Cowboys.
All hail the Giants Tackles! I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am Chris Canty is back. He is such a rock up the middle. Chris had one sack for Big Blue, and Linval Joseph had two. JPP recorded the fourth. And I think having Canty on the field can only help JPP. I feel like Tuck and Osi let him roll with the pack, and are just looking to gang up on people. But Chris Canty will keep him schooled in the art of football at the same time.
Lastly, if Steve Weatherford doesn't have the game he did, the Giants are not in position to win the game. What a brilliant day of punting. The Giants MVP (most valuable punter) of last season, is doing no less this season. He booted six punts in which Dallas amassed eight net yards returning the ball. Weatherford's long of the day was fifty nine yards. How the Jets let him go is beyond me.
That's my first pass back in the pocket. The Giants had their hands full as well when they returned home. They are in the same boat we are with regards to hurricane damage. On that note, Pittsburgh can't find hotel rooms for Sunday's game. Heard on 98.7ESPN, they will fly in Sunday morning.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS: G-Men Escape Dallas With Win. But Their Homes Lose Against Hurricane Sandy.
Just because life got interrupted by a hurricane doesn't mean it escaped me how badly the Giants got outplayed in Dallas. Be cause they did. If Tony Romo wasn't such a... bonehead, the G-Men lose.
Here's a couple of things to chew on about Sunday's win. First, for the second time this season (and thank goodness that's over), Tony Romo dissected the Giants Secondary like they were frogs in some high school biology class.
Corey Webster's bad season just got even more ponderous. What possessed him to bite on an out-route and let his man pass him on what should have turned out to be a game ending Hail Mary touchdown, I will never know. Ponderous! The team was spared a week of antagonizing scrutiny by mere finger tips on the play. I for one can not wait around until Week Thirteen for his game to round into form like it did last season after an equally horrific start.
Mark Witten had an insane day, and not because the Giants sacrificed him for containing a different aspect of Dallas' offense. Because they did. The Giants didn't allow the Cowboys to run the ball. However, a big reason Tony Romo threw sixty two passes Sunday, was because his team was behind 23-0 in the first half. But that doesn't shroud the fact Witten made toast out of anyone who covered him. The Giants had no answer for him.
Three Cowboys receivers totalled over 100 yards. Witten led the planet with eighteen catches for 167 yards. Miles Austin caught nine passes for 133 yards. And Dez Bryant, who's fingertips lost the day, caught five passes for 110 yards. That makes me want to exclaim, Holy Crap! The Cowboys only attempted fifteen rushes all game. So it is not like the Giants didn't know the pass was coming. But when you turn the ball over six times like Romo and the 'Boys did, you're bound to lose.
The Giants won. So who am I complaining to? Yeah, two fumbles and four interceptions will certainly expedite that. Four Giants sacks I'm sure only made things worse for the Cowboys.
All hail the Giants Tackles! I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am Chris Canty is back. He is such a rock up the middle. Chris had one sack for Big Blue, and Linval Joseph had two. JPP recorded the fourth. And I think having Canty on the field can only help JPP. I feel like Tuck and Osi let him roll with the pack, and are just looking to gang up on people. But Chris Canty will keep him schooled in the art of football at the same time.
Lastly, if Steve Weatherford doesn't have the game he did, the Giants are not in position to win the game. What a brilliant day of punting. The Giants MVP (most valuable punter) of last season, is doing no less this season. He booted six punts in which Dallas amassed eight net yards returning the ball. Weatherford's long of the day was fifty nine yards. How the Jets let him go is beyond me.
That's my first pass back in the pocket. The Giants had their hands full as well when they returned home. They are in the same boat we are with regards to hurricane damage. On that note, Pittsburgh can't find hotel rooms for Sunday's game. Heard on 98.7ESPN, they will fly in Sunday morning.
Mike.BTB
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
New York Giants: Skins Rack Up Yardage Against Defense
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
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NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: When The Giants Finish Viewing The Game Film, They Should All Stick Around And Watch It Again.
Washington's Alfred Morris, Robert Griffin, Darrel Young, and Aldrick Robinson all averaged over five yards per carry against the Giants. Alfred Morris ran twenty two times for 122 yards. That was concerning enough. Even more destructive were RG3's eighty nine yards on nine scrambles. He had a long of twenty eight yards. Additionally, the Skins gained eleven first downs via the run. The Giants ran for just four first downs.
With six more plays from scrimmage than the Giants, the Redskins racked up 480 yards of offense. A little more than half their yardage (258) came through the air, while the balance came on the ground.
All I can say is thank goodness for turnovers. The Giants caused five fumbles. They recovered three of them, and intercepted Robert-III once. Osi, Justin Tuck, and JPP all recorded sacks as well. It was the second consecutive week they collectively buzzed the quarterback. Otherwise, it is hard damn work trying to reconcile giving up 248 yards on the ground to Washington. We are now left with the effort against the 49ers and this last game against the Skins as parameters. Somewhere in between lies the Giants defense.
Better yet, thank goodness for Eli and Victor Cruuuuuz! Despite a generally bad day by Manning, a play like the one he and Cruz connected on to end the game can make more than just a few people forget how porous the team played on defense.
The Giants had three sacks, Chris Canty returned to duty, and the linebackers, Michael Boley, Chase Blackburn, and Keith Rivers led the Giants in tackles. So what gives? Robert-III completed twenty of twenty eight passes. That helps. And as mentioned above, his eighty nine yards on the ground didn't help either. Robert Griffin was his own downfall however. An interception and a fumble were ultimately too much for the kid to overcome.
On that note, no body better fall asleep when they review the game film. The Giants have much to address before facing Dallas again. When they finish the game film, they should stay and watch it again.
Mike.BTB
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NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: When The Giants Finish Viewing The Game Film, They Should All Stick Around And Watch It Again.
The Redskins Beat The Redskins. Eli And Cruz Merely Sealed The Deal.
Washington's Alfred Morris, Robert Griffin, Darrel Young, and Aldrick Robinson all averaged over five yards per carry against the Giants. Alfred Morris ran twenty two times for 122 yards. That was concerning enough. Even more destructive were RG3's eighty nine yards on nine scrambles. He had a long of twenty eight yards. Additionally, the Skins gained eleven first downs via the run. The Giants ran for just four first downs.
With six more plays from scrimmage than the Giants, the Redskins racked up 480 yards of offense. A little more than half their yardage (258) came through the air, while the balance came on the ground.
All I can say is thank goodness for turnovers. The Giants caused five fumbles. They recovered three of them, and intercepted Robert-III once. Osi, Justin Tuck, and JPP all recorded sacks as well. It was the second consecutive week they collectively buzzed the quarterback. Otherwise, it is hard damn work trying to reconcile giving up 248 yards on the ground to Washington. We are now left with the effort against the 49ers and this last game against the Skins as parameters. Somewhere in between lies the Giants defense.
Better yet, thank goodness for Eli and Victor Cruuuuuz! Despite a generally bad day by Manning, a play like the one he and Cruz connected on to end the game can make more than just a few people forget how porous the team played on defense.
The Giants had three sacks, Chris Canty returned to duty, and the linebackers, Michael Boley, Chase Blackburn, and Keith Rivers led the Giants in tackles. So what gives? Robert-III completed twenty of twenty eight passes. That helps. And as mentioned above, his eighty nine yards on the ground didn't help either. Robert Griffin was his own downfall however. An interception and a fumble were ultimately too much for the kid to overcome.
On that note, no body better fall asleep when they review the game film. The Giants have much to address before facing Dallas again. When they finish the game film, they should stay and watch it again.
Mike.BTB
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
N.Y. Giants ~ Coach Fewell's New Dogs of Winter
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE - NFC Championship Game Edition
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: A Still Growing BIG BLUE Wave of Destruction Spotted Off The California Coast.
N.Y.G. 29 - N.Y.J. 14
N.Y.G. 31 - DAL 14
N.Y.G. 24 - ATL 2
N.Y.G. 37 - G.B. 20
Going back to the Jets game, the New York Giants have outscored their opponents by a combined 121-50 score. Obviously, the other way of saying that is the Giants have held their opponents to fifty points in their last four games. That averages to 12.5 points allowed per opponent. Say hello to the new "Crazed Dogs" of Winter.
The Giants have slowly and methodically regained their Defensive dominance and poise via health, cohesiveness, and adjustments made by the adaptable Defensive Coordinator; Perry Fewell. In the previous four games prior to the Jets (WSH; DAL; G.B.; N.O.) the Giants gave up (144 points) an average of thirty-six points. What started when the Saints marched over us with forty-nine points, dropped to thirty-eight points against the Packers. That number dropped to thirty-four points against Dallas. And the number dropped again to twenty-three against Washington. The Jets game followed and here we are today.
On the Defensive Front, since returning to action Osi Umenyiora has no doubt had a tremendous impact on this Defense. He had two of the Giants four sacks against Green Bay. Justin Tuck, is finally healthy again but lately has only provided flashes of his former dominating self. Perhaps that changes next week because he's close; really close. And looking ahead to Sunday, Rex Smith doesn't present the bi-pedal problems Tony Romo and Aaron Rodgers do; ...or did. However what we view as a 90% Justin Tuck is still more than most of the League can handle.
Jason Pierre Paul has been getting banged up these last few games but the kid is holding up very well and remains highly effective against the run when he isn't getting sacks. With all his team mates behind him again, JPP may be a force in trying to stop Frank Gore this coming Sunday. And the emergence of Chris Canty continues. He says he's OK and Sunday will not be an issue. Good! Because his game is coming on like a hurricane. Most importantly heading into Sunday's game, this unit has all it's depth back. Dave Tollefson and Linval Joseph are turning into big blocks of granite in the middle. Even Rocky Bernard is getting a piece of the action.
Now let's eliminate any doubt about what they've been doing together. The Giants' Defensive Line battered Marc Sanchez and basically made him give up. But many naysayers said that was due to Brian Schottenheimer's play calling. The Giants similarly battered Tony Romo into submission. But the naysayers said Tony Romo wasn't able to do more with a swollen throwing hand. So, the Giants then proceeded to batter Matt Ryan and effectively made him quit also. And the Giant detractors said "Matty Ice" wasn't up to the challenge of the playoffs. Then this last Sunday in Green Bay, the Giants held the offensive juggernaut; Aaron Rodgers of the Twenty-Fourth and a Half CENTURY! - to twenty points and under three-hundred yards passing. Along the way they sacked Rodgers four times, induced an interception, forced him to fumble, and flushed him from the pocket all night long. Because of that, the Giants turned him into Green Bay's leading rusher. The naysayers still insist the Packers dropped too many passes. But how do you explain ALL of them, to include Aaron Rodgers, having a bad day together? There is no answer why Rodgers was so off his mark as well other than a recent lack of games played. So what next? Credit the Giants for sound pressure, coverage, and tackling.
Unlike the last game we played against the Packers, while Aaron Rodgers did in fact inflict damage with his legs again, he still wasn't about to take any chances this time around with a healthy Michael Boley patrolling the middle and leading the team in tackles along with another pair of resurgent Dogs..., Antrel Rolle, and Deon Grant. The three led the team and accounted for twenty-three hard hitting tackles. Michael Boley got the other two Giants sacks of Aaron Rodgers and recorded a sack against the Falcons too. Additionally, in consecutive weeks, he made Dustin Keller; Jason Witten; Tony Gonzalez; and Jermichael Finely all disappear. And if you remember his dive over the pile to stop Tony Romo, then you know he's had three dominating performances now. The Giant Linebackers once again led a group of Safeties and the Line in limiting Green Bay's backfield to seventy-six yards rushing before taking Rodgers' yardage into account. Since Michael Boley came back from a hamstring injury in the first Packers game, the Giants have effectively shut-down all attempts to run against them. And the fact that Michael Boley is getting sacks shows Coach Fewell is indeed being more aggressive with the pass rush now that he has most of his Blue henchmen back.
The Giants' Secondary has not given up the deep play that plagued them from Week One all the way through Week Fifteen. Since then, not only have there been few down field completions against them, there have been even fewer pass attempts made against them. Quarterbacks are pumping, double-pumping, and triple-pumping their way into trouble waiting for something to open up down field. And to the credit of Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, Deon Grant, Antrel Rolle; and Kenny Phillips, it just hasn't happened like opposing QB's were hoping. In this latest Giant Lambeau Field conquest, it can be argued the pass rush rode the backs of the Secondary. Marc Sanchez was just an all out mess. But Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, and most recently Aaron Rodgers, all took very good and long looks down field, saw nothing, then ran for their lives.
It was recently revealed and reported in the tabloids that ever since the first Packers game, Antrel Rolle said he and the Secondary reinvested their efforts and routinely met for weekly pre-game prep pow-wows where ever they could on their own. Their efforts are paying off at the best time possible. Theoretically, the biggest threats to the Giants; Rodgers and Brees; are behind them or in Drew Brees' case, already gone. Next up is Alex Smith; the guy who led a tremendous comeback against the mighty Saints, and who beat Drew Brees at his own game. - And who incidentally beat us in a well played game by both teams back in Week Ten.
Not incidentally, Perry Fewell has long turned away from the Turtle Shell zone-coverage he devised when both Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck were injured and out of action at the same time. The new system left the Secondary admittedly in a trance because there were too many options they needed to think through. - Hence, the mass confusion we were witnessing on a near weekly basis; replete with blown assignments and receivers with nary a Giant within twenty yards of the play. Today, man-coverage and good ol' cover-two is back and working to a tee.
Lastly, many didn't care to understand why the blitz disappeared from our game plan. The health of Michael Boley, Osi Umenyiora; and Justin Tuck were at the heart of that matter. All that is behind us now. The Blitz stands poised to ride in like the cavalry just in time for the NFC Championship Game.
But that's because everything else is now working again as well. As in Perry FeWELL.
Mike.BTB
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
NEW YORK GIANTS
vs.
vs.
San Francisco 49ers
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: A Still Growing BIG BLUE Wave of Destruction Spotted Off The California Coast.
Perry Fewell is in Position to Place an Indelible Stamp on
a Whole New BIG BLUE Demolition Crew.
N.Y.G. 29 - N.Y.J. 14
N.Y.G. 31 - DAL 14
N.Y.G. 24 - ATL 2
N.Y.G. 37 - G.B. 20
Going back to the Jets game, the New York Giants have outscored their opponents by a combined 121-50 score. Obviously, the other way of saying that is the Giants have held their opponents to fifty points in their last four games. That averages to 12.5 points allowed per opponent. Say hello to the new "Crazed Dogs" of Winter.
The Giants have slowly and methodically regained their Defensive dominance and poise via health, cohesiveness, and adjustments made by the adaptable Defensive Coordinator; Perry Fewell. In the previous four games prior to the Jets (WSH; DAL; G.B.; N.O.) the Giants gave up (144 points) an average of thirty-six points. What started when the Saints marched over us with forty-nine points, dropped to thirty-eight points against the Packers. That number dropped to thirty-four points against Dallas. And the number dropped again to twenty-three against Washington. The Jets game followed and here we are today.
On the Defensive Front, since returning to action Osi Umenyiora has no doubt had a tremendous impact on this Defense. He had two of the Giants four sacks against Green Bay. Justin Tuck, is finally healthy again but lately has only provided flashes of his former dominating self. Perhaps that changes next week because he's close; really close. And looking ahead to Sunday, Rex Smith doesn't present the bi-pedal problems Tony Romo and Aaron Rodgers do; ...or did. However what we view as a 90% Justin Tuck is still more than most of the League can handle.
Jason Pierre Paul has been getting banged up these last few games but the kid is holding up very well and remains highly effective against the run when he isn't getting sacks. With all his team mates behind him again, JPP may be a force in trying to stop Frank Gore this coming Sunday. And the emergence of Chris Canty continues. He says he's OK and Sunday will not be an issue. Good! Because his game is coming on like a hurricane. Most importantly heading into Sunday's game, this unit has all it's depth back. Dave Tollefson and Linval Joseph are turning into big blocks of granite in the middle. Even Rocky Bernard is getting a piece of the action.
Now let's eliminate any doubt about what they've been doing together. The Giants' Defensive Line battered Marc Sanchez and basically made him give up. But many naysayers said that was due to Brian Schottenheimer's play calling. The Giants similarly battered Tony Romo into submission. But the naysayers said Tony Romo wasn't able to do more with a swollen throwing hand. So, the Giants then proceeded to batter Matt Ryan and effectively made him quit also. And the Giant detractors said "Matty Ice" wasn't up to the challenge of the playoffs. Then this last Sunday in Green Bay, the Giants held the offensive juggernaut; Aaron Rodgers of the Twenty-Fourth and a Half CENTURY! - to twenty points and under three-hundred yards passing. Along the way they sacked Rodgers four times, induced an interception, forced him to fumble, and flushed him from the pocket all night long. Because of that, the Giants turned him into Green Bay's leading rusher. The naysayers still insist the Packers dropped too many passes. But how do you explain ALL of them, to include Aaron Rodgers, having a bad day together? There is no answer why Rodgers was so off his mark as well other than a recent lack of games played. So what next? Credit the Giants for sound pressure, coverage, and tackling.
Unlike the last game we played against the Packers, while Aaron Rodgers did in fact inflict damage with his legs again, he still wasn't about to take any chances this time around with a healthy Michael Boley patrolling the middle and leading the team in tackles along with another pair of resurgent Dogs..., Antrel Rolle, and Deon Grant. The three led the team and accounted for twenty-three hard hitting tackles. Michael Boley got the other two Giants sacks of Aaron Rodgers and recorded a sack against the Falcons too. Additionally, in consecutive weeks, he made Dustin Keller; Jason Witten; Tony Gonzalez; and Jermichael Finely all disappear. And if you remember his dive over the pile to stop Tony Romo, then you know he's had three dominating performances now. The Giant Linebackers once again led a group of Safeties and the Line in limiting Green Bay's backfield to seventy-six yards rushing before taking Rodgers' yardage into account. Since Michael Boley came back from a hamstring injury in the first Packers game, the Giants have effectively shut-down all attempts to run against them. And the fact that Michael Boley is getting sacks shows Coach Fewell is indeed being more aggressive with the pass rush now that he has most of his Blue henchmen back.
The Giants' Secondary has not given up the deep play that plagued them from Week One all the way through Week Fifteen. Since then, not only have there been few down field completions against them, there have been even fewer pass attempts made against them. Quarterbacks are pumping, double-pumping, and triple-pumping their way into trouble waiting for something to open up down field. And to the credit of Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, Deon Grant, Antrel Rolle; and Kenny Phillips, it just hasn't happened like opposing QB's were hoping. In this latest Giant Lambeau Field conquest, it can be argued the pass rush rode the backs of the Secondary. Marc Sanchez was just an all out mess. But Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, and most recently Aaron Rodgers, all took very good and long looks down field, saw nothing, then ran for their lives.
It was recently revealed and reported in the tabloids that ever since the first Packers game, Antrel Rolle said he and the Secondary reinvested their efforts and routinely met for weekly pre-game prep pow-wows where ever they could on their own. Their efforts are paying off at the best time possible. Theoretically, the biggest threats to the Giants; Rodgers and Brees; are behind them or in Drew Brees' case, already gone. Next up is Alex Smith; the guy who led a tremendous comeback against the mighty Saints, and who beat Drew Brees at his own game. - And who incidentally beat us in a well played game by both teams back in Week Ten.
Not incidentally, Perry Fewell has long turned away from the Turtle Shell zone-coverage he devised when both Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck were injured and out of action at the same time. The new system left the Secondary admittedly in a trance because there were too many options they needed to think through. - Hence, the mass confusion we were witnessing on a near weekly basis; replete with blown assignments and receivers with nary a Giant within twenty yards of the play. Today, man-coverage and good ol' cover-two is back and working to a tee.
Lastly, many didn't care to understand why the blitz disappeared from our game plan. The health of Michael Boley, Osi Umenyiora; and Justin Tuck were at the heart of that matter. All that is behind us now. The Blitz stands poised to ride in like the cavalry just in time for the NFC Championship Game.
But that's because everything else is now working again as well. As in Perry FeWELL.
Mike.BTB
Thursday, January 12, 2012
N.Y. Giants ~ Coach Perry Fewell's Time is Now
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: It's Coach Perry Fewell's Responsibility to Keep the Heat On the Packers in Chilly Green Bay.
The Giants are heading back to the Frozen Tundra of Green Bay for another game of the ages. But unlike the last time these teams met back in East Rutherford, the Giants are much better equipped to battle the Packers; not to mention the elements; during Sunday's upcoming arctic expedition to the Dairy State.
We last played the Packers at Giants Stadium without the services of Osi Umenyiora. Justin Tuck still wasn't feeling so well. Michael Boley was still getting his legs under him in his first game back from a hamstring injury. Chase Blackburn hadn't become the smart reinforcement yet that he is at the present time. Chris Canty and Antrel Rolle hadn't yet achieved their present levels of play either. Only recently do things seem to be coming together. And when you consider the Giants' Secondary hasn't suffered any more of those embarrassing meltdowns they endured prior to and during the Packer game, it's reasonable to say Green Bay's offense will be facing a slightly different unit than the one the Packers narrowly defeated in Week Thirteen.
The three things that stick out most about that last game are Eli's pick-six; the Packers returning the last kick-off back to mid-field setting up an easy game winning field goal; and Aaron Rodgers continually scrambling out of the pocket and exploiting acres of empty field in front of him. Every one of his rumbles were back-breakers. With several reasons to chose from as to why the Giants lost that game, I say Aaron Rodgers' legs were a huge difference in the game. That goes hand in hand with an inability to stop Green Bay on third down.
Interceptions and Special Teams can be worked on and corrected however. That last matter about Aaron scrambling isn't so easy. Last game Aaron Rodgers managed to stay a finger tip away from the Giants' (depleted) rush. He created plenty of time living outside the pocket and as a result, coverage eventually broke down. Or, he just tucked the ball and ran for big yardage.
In this season's big rematch, first and foremost, the biggest difference going into this game is the Giants are healthier. In addition to the past casualties mentioned above, Aaron Ross appears to have been cleared to play Football again after being taken out of last week's game with concussion symptoms.
The Giants now have something I've dubbed Defensive Synchronicity. The state of The G-Men and the Department of Defense heading into Sunday looks promising.
Perry Fewell has demonstrated his willingness to turn up the heat as well. With the return of key players he's been much more aggressive lately. That was far from the case last time we played Green Bay. In that game, Coach Fewell decided to rush only three men for a substantial portion of the game. Early on it had it's affect. But like I mentioned, because the three man rush never did get to Fee Range Rodgers, and because Coach Fewelll refused to blitz, the game turned out to be one continuous down field study in busted coverage.
Even though it was the Chiefs who ruined Green Bay's undefeated season, I happen to like how the Lions handled Aaron Rodgers even more, regardless that it came in a losing Thanksgiving effort. The Lions didn't let their Defensive Ends over-pursue Aaron Rodgers and risk blowing by him when he stepped-up in the pocket. Detroit instead brought pressure up the middle. The Ends maintained discipline and kept lane integrity. When Aaron Rodgers stepped up or tried scrambling, the Defensive Ends caved in on him. I caught that on ESPN by the way.
In the Giants last three games, it didn't take long before Marc Sanchez, Tony Romo, and Matt Ryan were all made to look like they quit at some point in the game. The Defensive Pressure oppressed them like 100% humidity in Costa Rica. Aaron Rogers won't be nearly as meek or as accessible to the Giants as the last three QB's were. Rodgers is a much more polished cat than that. So, they'll have their work cut out for them trying to get a hold of an elusive guy.
Amid my confidence right now, I have one major concern. The Giants have not come up with an answer for the no-huddle offense. When teams speed up the game, the Giants Defense gets bogged down. And why not; no substitutions. I would imagine the Packers are fully aware of this flaw in the Giants game. As I trust Coach Fewell is aware of it as well. While Atlanta never had a chance in last week's game, Dallas employed hurry-up tactics in the third quarter in the season finale with great success until the Giants closed that game out.
I haven't hammered Perry Fewell nearly as much as I usually pound Coach Gilbride. Somehow, especially after last game, Gilbride has somehow managed to stay on my good side this season. In his second full season as Defensive Coordinator, Perry Fewell is still trying to win many people over even though the Giants already signed him to an extension.
I will say this much about Perry Fewell, on a week to week basis, he is very adaptable. When it comes to schemes and deception, he's no Spagnuolo. But that's fine. Defensively speaking, Jason Pierre Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka have carried this unit. But Perry Fewell's adaptability has gotten the Giants to within a game of playing for the Conference Championship. Somehow he kept it all together with band-aids and scotch-tape, and finished strong as we head into Sunday. With his side of the ball decimated by injuries this season, through sheer necessity we've witnessed Perry Fewell employ everything from Turtle Shell Mode at times, to watching him unleash fury upon three straight teams. So it's safe to say that adaptability and heavy doses of straight forward aggression are his strengths. Then, there's always a measure of individual effort that a Coach has no control over, nor can account for. For instance, no one coached Osi how to bend Offensive Linemen backwards (see Falcons game) and still bring both him and the quarterback down simultaneously.
Super-human feats of strength are one thing, but what the Giants need now more than ever, is for Perry Fewell to get this one right. Whether it's by brute force and ignorance, or through more scientific methods of planning and preparation, we are about to find out if Coach Fewell was worth the extension he signed, and if he can follow through this Sunday in the spirit and tradition of Giants Football; which in part is predicated upon a dominating Defense.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: It's Coach Perry Fewell's Responsibility to Keep the Heat On the Packers in Chilly Green Bay.
The Giants are heading back to the Frozen Tundra of Green Bay for another game of the ages. But unlike the last time these teams met back in East Rutherford, the Giants are much better equipped to battle the Packers; not to mention the elements; during Sunday's upcoming arctic expedition to the Dairy State.
We last played the Packers at Giants Stadium without the services of Osi Umenyiora. Justin Tuck still wasn't feeling so well. Michael Boley was still getting his legs under him in his first game back from a hamstring injury. Chase Blackburn hadn't become the smart reinforcement yet that he is at the present time. Chris Canty and Antrel Rolle hadn't yet achieved their present levels of play either. Only recently do things seem to be coming together. And when you consider the Giants' Secondary hasn't suffered any more of those embarrassing meltdowns they endured prior to and during the Packer game, it's reasonable to say Green Bay's offense will be facing a slightly different unit than the one the Packers narrowly defeated in Week Thirteen.
The three things that stick out most about that last game are Eli's pick-six; the Packers returning the last kick-off back to mid-field setting up an easy game winning field goal; and Aaron Rodgers continually scrambling out of the pocket and exploiting acres of empty field in front of him. Every one of his rumbles were back-breakers. With several reasons to chose from as to why the Giants lost that game, I say Aaron Rodgers' legs were a huge difference in the game. That goes hand in hand with an inability to stop Green Bay on third down.
Interceptions and Special Teams can be worked on and corrected however. That last matter about Aaron scrambling isn't so easy. Last game Aaron Rodgers managed to stay a finger tip away from the Giants' (depleted) rush. He created plenty of time living outside the pocket and as a result, coverage eventually broke down. Or, he just tucked the ball and ran for big yardage.
In this season's big rematch, first and foremost, the biggest difference going into this game is the Giants are healthier. In addition to the past casualties mentioned above, Aaron Ross appears to have been cleared to play Football again after being taken out of last week's game with concussion symptoms.
The Giants now have something I've dubbed Defensive Synchronicity. The state of The G-Men and the Department of Defense heading into Sunday looks promising.
Perry Fewell has demonstrated his willingness to turn up the heat as well. With the return of key players he's been much more aggressive lately. That was far from the case last time we played Green Bay. In that game, Coach Fewell decided to rush only three men for a substantial portion of the game. Early on it had it's affect. But like I mentioned, because the three man rush never did get to Fee Range Rodgers, and because Coach Fewelll refused to blitz, the game turned out to be one continuous down field study in busted coverage.
Even though it was the Chiefs who ruined Green Bay's undefeated season, I happen to like how the Lions handled Aaron Rodgers even more, regardless that it came in a losing Thanksgiving effort. The Lions didn't let their Defensive Ends over-pursue Aaron Rodgers and risk blowing by him when he stepped-up in the pocket. Detroit instead brought pressure up the middle. The Ends maintained discipline and kept lane integrity. When Aaron Rodgers stepped up or tried scrambling, the Defensive Ends caved in on him. I caught that on ESPN by the way.
In the Giants last three games, it didn't take long before Marc Sanchez, Tony Romo, and Matt Ryan were all made to look like they quit at some point in the game. The Defensive Pressure oppressed them like 100% humidity in Costa Rica. Aaron Rogers won't be nearly as meek or as accessible to the Giants as the last three QB's were. Rodgers is a much more polished cat than that. So, they'll have their work cut out for them trying to get a hold of an elusive guy.
Amid my confidence right now, I have one major concern. The Giants have not come up with an answer for the no-huddle offense. When teams speed up the game, the Giants Defense gets bogged down. And why not; no substitutions. I would imagine the Packers are fully aware of this flaw in the Giants game. As I trust Coach Fewell is aware of it as well. While Atlanta never had a chance in last week's game, Dallas employed hurry-up tactics in the third quarter in the season finale with great success until the Giants closed that game out.
I haven't hammered Perry Fewell nearly as much as I usually pound Coach Gilbride. Somehow, especially after last game, Gilbride has somehow managed to stay on my good side this season. In his second full season as Defensive Coordinator, Perry Fewell is still trying to win many people over even though the Giants already signed him to an extension.
I will say this much about Perry Fewell, on a week to week basis, he is very adaptable. When it comes to schemes and deception, he's no Spagnuolo. But that's fine. Defensively speaking, Jason Pierre Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka have carried this unit. But Perry Fewell's adaptability has gotten the Giants to within a game of playing for the Conference Championship. Somehow he kept it all together with band-aids and scotch-tape, and finished strong as we head into Sunday. With his side of the ball decimated by injuries this season, through sheer necessity we've witnessed Perry Fewell employ everything from Turtle Shell Mode at times, to watching him unleash fury upon three straight teams. So it's safe to say that adaptability and heavy doses of straight forward aggression are his strengths. Then, there's always a measure of individual effort that a Coach has no control over, nor can account for. For instance, no one coached Osi how to bend Offensive Linemen backwards (see Falcons game) and still bring both him and the quarterback down simultaneously.
Super-human feats of strength are one thing, but what the Giants need now more than ever, is for Perry Fewell to get this one right. Whether it's by brute force and ignorance, or through more scientific methods of planning and preparation, we are about to find out if Coach Fewell was worth the extension he signed, and if he can follow through this Sunday in the spirit and tradition of Giants Football; which in part is predicated upon a dominating Defense.
Mike.BTB
Friday, January 06, 2012
N.Y. Giants ~ Defensive Synchronicity
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: For the Giants' Defense, Timing Will be Everything. In Order to Search and Destroy Matt Ryan, the Giants Still Must Keep Down Field Safe and Secure.
POST: N.Y. Giants; G-Men and the Department of Defense
The Giants are 2-2 against Birds this season; (Philadelphia 2x; Arizona; Seattle). If you include the Jets game, the Giants are 3-2 against things that fly. So naturally, the question begs to be asked - how do the Giants ground the Falcons? Very simply, the answer is with Synchronization.
Here's the difference between the Green Bay and New Orleans games per say versus Giant wins against the Jets and Cowboys. Drew Brees and Aaron Rogers managed to stay just a finger tip away from the rush. But they faced a depleted rush, as there was no Tuck and no Osi, in addition to no Michael Boley. The point is, at least against Green Bay, the coverage for the most part was there (and no, I'm not talking about the utterly confusing aspects of the Secondary's failures in zone coverage -not right now). OK, they've sucked all season. But coverage only lasts so long before a dipping and dodging QB dances long enough until a down field break down occurs. That's exactly what happened against Aaron Rogers. What happened against Drew Brees was just mass confusion and something else all together. So let's grade on a curve here. The Giants still came frustratingly close to Brees; quite literally within hands reach. But he just skipped away and killed us. There were many things wrong with the Giants Defense that night. Among other things, we were ill prepared for the task personnel wise.
I still don't have an answer for the Redskins game. But these last two weeks, a fully loaded pass rush got their hands on the QB as they were still going through check-downs. At first glance Marc Sanchez' and Tony Romo's first and second options were covered. However this time, the pass rush got their man. In these last two weeks Coach Fewell largely ditched his confusing zone as well. The horrific gaffes that occurred against the Packers and Saints that left receivers all alone have not happened since then.
I leave the Giants win over the Patriots out of this because Tom Brady is a freakin statue. He leads the NFL in completed passes with pigeons on him. He's as fleet of foot as a table. That's why we continue to play New England well. But I digress. Matt Ryan isn't exactly a mad-scrambler either. He CAN be found in the pocket. The only question is how quickly can the Rush get to him, and how long will the Secondary afford them. If Justin Tuck; Osi; Jason Pierre Paul; Chris Canty; and Dave Tollefson are all in the rotation Sunday, the Giants may have something. But Justin Tuck had a week of limited practice and Osi admitted he's sore as hell. Then, if Ross; Webster; Grant; Rolle; Phillips; and Prince, can manage coverage long enough in order for the rush to get at Matt Ryan, the Giants may have something going for them again. And in that case, mission accomplished. But it's going to take synchronization on the part of the Secondary and the Pass Rush to make good things happen on defense.
Now should the Falcons decide they want to establish the run against us with Michael Turner, I'd welcome that. The Giants are not the same team they were against the run through the first half of the season when they were at their worst. The Problem lied quite obviously with our Linebackers or lack there of. Heading into Sunday, Michael Boley appears to be operating at full capacity again. While Jacquian Williams is a vastly improved player since week one till now. And of course, the hybrid- Mathias Kiwanuka always poses a problem for offenses. Over all, the stats say the Giants are the worst team in the NFL against the run. But not lately. They've defended the run below their season average and are allowing 86+/- yards over their last four/five games. Additionally and not so quietly anymore, Chris Canty is doing an increasingly good job plugging up the middle. And Jason Pierre Paul is exhibiting discipline against the run as well.
If the Giants appoint Michael Boley or Jacquian Williams to Tight-End Tony Gonzalez like we did against Jason Witten of the Cowboys, Big Blue should get the same result. The Giants neutralized Jason Witten very well last week. I have no reason to think they can't repeat the effort again.
These teams are pretty evenly matched. So what's not to like about our chances? As fans, the most frustrating part of this season was knowing we should have done better. We know the Giants have enough personnel to accomplish great things. That's what makes the let-downs so heavy.
This game against the Falcons is pretty well set up for the Giants. This will be our first home playoff game since the 2000 NFC Championship and the first playoff game in the new Giants Stadium. And for everything I detailed in my last posting; G-Men and the Dept. Of Defense; health, experience, and cohesion finally seem to be on Perry Fewell's side. This posting basically puts a bow on what I started then.
Next up - The Offensive Plan
Let's Go Giants!
Mike.BTB
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
2011
WILD CARD WEEKEND
PLAYOFFS
Atlanta Falcons
vs.
NEW YORK GIANTS
FROM
GIANTS STADIUM
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: For the Giants' Defense, Timing Will be Everything. In Order to Search and Destroy Matt Ryan, the Giants Still Must Keep Down Field Safe and Secure.
POST: N.Y. Giants; G-Men and the Department of Defense
The Giants are 2-2 against Birds this season; (Philadelphia 2x; Arizona; Seattle). If you include the Jets game, the Giants are 3-2 against things that fly. So naturally, the question begs to be asked - how do the Giants ground the Falcons? Very simply, the answer is with Synchronization.
Here's the difference between the Green Bay and New Orleans games per say versus Giant wins against the Jets and Cowboys. Drew Brees and Aaron Rogers managed to stay just a finger tip away from the rush. But they faced a depleted rush, as there was no Tuck and no Osi, in addition to no Michael Boley. The point is, at least against Green Bay, the coverage for the most part was there (and no, I'm not talking about the utterly confusing aspects of the Secondary's failures in zone coverage -not right now). OK, they've sucked all season. But coverage only lasts so long before a dipping and dodging QB dances long enough until a down field break down occurs. That's exactly what happened against Aaron Rogers. What happened against Drew Brees was just mass confusion and something else all together. So let's grade on a curve here. The Giants still came frustratingly close to Brees; quite literally within hands reach. But he just skipped away and killed us. There were many things wrong with the Giants Defense that night. Among other things, we were ill prepared for the task personnel wise.
I still don't have an answer for the Redskins game. But these last two weeks, a fully loaded pass rush got their hands on the QB as they were still going through check-downs. At first glance Marc Sanchez' and Tony Romo's first and second options were covered. However this time, the pass rush got their man. In these last two weeks Coach Fewell largely ditched his confusing zone as well. The horrific gaffes that occurred against the Packers and Saints that left receivers all alone have not happened since then.
I leave the Giants win over the Patriots out of this because Tom Brady is a freakin statue. He leads the NFL in completed passes with pigeons on him. He's as fleet of foot as a table. That's why we continue to play New England well. But I digress. Matt Ryan isn't exactly a mad-scrambler either. He CAN be found in the pocket. The only question is how quickly can the Rush get to him, and how long will the Secondary afford them. If Justin Tuck; Osi; Jason Pierre Paul; Chris Canty; and Dave Tollefson are all in the rotation Sunday, the Giants may have something. But Justin Tuck had a week of limited practice and Osi admitted he's sore as hell. Then, if Ross; Webster; Grant; Rolle; Phillips; and Prince, can manage coverage long enough in order for the rush to get at Matt Ryan, the Giants may have something going for them again. And in that case, mission accomplished. But it's going to take synchronization on the part of the Secondary and the Pass Rush to make good things happen on defense.
Now should the Falcons decide they want to establish the run against us with Michael Turner, I'd welcome that. The Giants are not the same team they were against the run through the first half of the season when they were at their worst. The Problem lied quite obviously with our Linebackers or lack there of. Heading into Sunday, Michael Boley appears to be operating at full capacity again. While Jacquian Williams is a vastly improved player since week one till now. And of course, the hybrid- Mathias Kiwanuka always poses a problem for offenses. Over all, the stats say the Giants are the worst team in the NFL against the run. But not lately. They've defended the run below their season average and are allowing 86+/- yards over their last four/five games. Additionally and not so quietly anymore, Chris Canty is doing an increasingly good job plugging up the middle. And Jason Pierre Paul is exhibiting discipline against the run as well.
If the Giants appoint Michael Boley or Jacquian Williams to Tight-End Tony Gonzalez like we did against Jason Witten of the Cowboys, Big Blue should get the same result. The Giants neutralized Jason Witten very well last week. I have no reason to think they can't repeat the effort again.
These teams are pretty evenly matched. So what's not to like about our chances? As fans, the most frustrating part of this season was knowing we should have done better. We know the Giants have enough personnel to accomplish great things. That's what makes the let-downs so heavy.
This game against the Falcons is pretty well set up for the Giants. This will be our first home playoff game since the 2000 NFC Championship and the first playoff game in the new Giants Stadium. And for everything I detailed in my last posting; G-Men and the Dept. Of Defense; health, experience, and cohesion finally seem to be on Perry Fewell's side. This posting basically puts a bow on what I started then.
Next up - The Offensive Plan
Let's Go Giants!
Mike.BTB
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
N.Y. Giants ~ G-Men and the Dept. of Defense
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Big Blue Unleashed Their Version of the Doomsday Defense Against Tony Romo and the Cowboys.
Health, Experience, and Cohesion Finally Seem to be on Perry Fewell's Side. But Suddenly, Steve Spagnuolo is Available Again. So How Will Perry Fewell Deploy His Boys Now?
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING: Eli Leads Giants' Ground Game (?)
Let's face it, when the Defensive Front doesn't generate overwhelming pressure, and does little to disrupt timing, and can't crumble pockets, or cause fumbles, or get sacks, odds are the Giants lose. Outside of Eli's arm, the more pressure they mount, the greater the Giants' chances are of winning. That's the way it's played out all season.
For the simple fact that we are even talking about this today, you can thank Jason Pierre Paul for putting Big Blue on his back. He recorded one of the Giants' six sacks Sunday. But his relentless pursuit of the quarterback and overall indefatigable play through the first fifteen games delivered the Giants to Sunday and into position to play for the NFC East Title. Then.., you can thank Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck for getting us past Dallas and into the playoffs.
With six sacks under their belts against Dallas, the Giants won convincingly by a 31-14 final score. That's no coincidence. With Osi Umenyiora missing nearly half the season, and Justin Tuck not playing up to his standard because of a nasty neck stinger this season; more so than most things wrong with this team; point to an inconsistent pass rush for Big Blue's stumbling through the season en route to a 9-7 record. Then point to Justin Tuck's late season health and Osi's return to the playing field these last two weeks against the Jets and Dallas, and well..., the results speak for themselves.
Perhaps one of the biggest sacks of the night came when Justin Tuck chased down Tony Romo. Tuck was initially blocked on the play, but stayed persistent and finally got his man. The play reminded me so much of the time Leonard Marshall hunted down Joe Montana in a legendary playoff battle of yore. They were eerily similar plays in many ways.
In addition to ringing Romo's bell six times, the number of times they reached out and touched him were more than Romo and Dallas' offensive line could handle before Coach Garrett's switch board blew. Because the pressure brought on by the Giants' pass rush also caused Tony Romo to fumble. Keeping him under constant duress also induced a Tony Romo interception. In the end, the Defense held Tony Romo under 300 yards passing, forced two turnovers, and totally shut down Dallas' running game.
I think Tony Romo dropped back to pass forty-five times in all. Dallas only ran the ball sixteen times which perhaps played right into the Giants' pass rush. However, the few times Dallas did elect to run the ball, the Giants stopped them cold. Take away two Tony Romo scrambles (...for his life and limb), and the Giants limited the Cowboys to forty-six yards on fourteen carries. The Giants' defense against the run has come a long way this season. Where once they routinely gave up Giant gallops through their middle, they have become somewhat of a resolute bunch against the run lately.
For a portion of the season, Linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka was asked to some how keep things together with four rookies in the rotation. Today, much of the reason for the turn-around against the run has been a return to health by Michael Boley and the continuing maturity of Jacquian Williams. The two led the Giants in tackles Sunday. And on top of corralling Dallas' run game, the Giant Linebackers also rendered Jason Witten inconsequential. The emergence of Jacquian Williams was also reflected with a sack of Tony Romo. And then there was the play in which Michael Boley launched himself over the pile-up at the line of scrimmage to prevent Tony Romo from literally sneaking a fast one past the Giants and getting into the end-zone for a score. It was a great play by a Giant Linebacker; the way it used to be around here....once.
For Dallas, play-action went out the window. The Linebackers shut down the run game and as mentioned, were tasked with spying Jason Witten. The pass rush was able to tee-off on Romo because Dallas was playing from behind and had obviously abandoned the run. Most importantly, Perry Fewell finally decided to rush five people against Tony Romo and it worked to the tune of six sacks and seven more QB touches as noted.
For Dallas, all element of surprise was gone. Thus the Secondary was afforded many opportunities to look back at the quarterback and still maintain coverage. So it stands to say that in the last game of the season, the battle-torn Secondary had perhaps their finest day. And just in time too. There was nothing open down field for Tony Romo and his receivers nor anything available over the top. Dallas' main receivers remained covered and out of step with the Giants' pass rush. When Romo checked down to Mr. Reliable Jason Witten, Antrel Rolle knew it was coming.
The Giants forced Romo to accept the underneath pass and limited them to a ten yard average per catch. Perry Fewell simplified coverage and played a lot of base-Cover-Two. And it worked. The only knock against the plan was Kenny Phillips was still a little slow in his recognition. But the bottom line is the Secondary pretty much took away the deep pass. Only Dallas' Laurent Robinson seemed to find empty spaces in the Defense. In the third quarter, the Cowboys started to speed things up with success until Coach Fewell adjusted. Otherwise, the longest play the Secondary allowed through the air was a thirty-four yard gain. And their tackling was sound. As the pass rush kept Romo in a harried state, Antrel Rolle was able to come down with an interception.
The end of the regular season ended on a good Defensive note; - not great; but very good. Lest we forget all the problems they really still have. But the conversation regarding the Defense is now one which involves many players (key word - many) doing big things together again. Health, a year of Experience; and Cohesion seem to be finally bringing things together for this Defense. We hope.
Chris Canty continues to take Giant steps forward. He also recorded a sack of Romo. Osi Umenyiora, fresh out of the M*A*S*H tent steps on the field and records two sacks. For the second week in a row, Justin Tuck looks like - Justin Tuck; and it's great to hear him talkin' trash after being so down on himself just three weeks ago. Because a happy Tuck is a dangerous Tuck! Dave Tollefson's game has also been up-ticking as well.
Rookie Jacquian Williams is officially no longer a rookie. Has an entire regular season under his belt now after seventeen weeks of on-the-job-training, and he's all the better for it. He might very well be a major contributor in the upcoming game against Atlanta. Michael Boley tapped into his inner-Superman and sprung to action in the nick of time (and space), to keep the Giants out of the Twilight Zone. And with Mathias Kiwanuka, the Linebacking Corps just might be up to the challenge of the playoffs. The only test that concerns them now is how to stop Michael Turner and Matt Ryan.
Antrel Rolle, Deon Grant, and Kenny Phillips had a much easier go of things with Corey Webster and Aaron Ross off in man-coverage. And perhaps the Safeties, the Corners, and Perry Fewell have finally found some common ground with which to work on. What ever they did Sunday contributed to the pass rush. And in return, the pass rush made coverage look good all game long. It's a symbiotic relationship. We can only hope the two units keep that timing going against Atlanta's offense.
Which causes which to succeed? It doesn't matter for as long as the pass rush and the Secondary are in sync. Timing is everything. And it appears as if the Giants Defense is getting healthy, gaining cohesion, and feeling aggressive at the right time. As the Defensive play continues to rise, will Perry Fewell now turn up the heat against Atlanta?
Much of his dilemma with the Giants' pass rush came in part because Coach tried cheating to help the coverage. He relied on the front four to provide pressure without any blitzing or any real kind of deception. Osi was still out and Tuck was ailing then. Perry Fewell's Secondary confusing zone coverage; four rookies at linebacker; and injuries to the pass rush all conspired against the Defensive Coordinator.
Let's say this much about Coach Fewell's adaptability. He ditched his experiments in zone coverage and simplified things for the Secondary considerably. Then up front, he added a fifth guy to the pass rush. But that came with healthy bodies. Injuries and "Coordinator pragmatism" have force his hand at times. While Eli Manning was the star of the game, the dominance the Giants exhibited over the Cowboys Sunday was the major reason the Giants won. Can they carry the Giants moving forward?
Perry Fewell may not be as diabolical as Coach Spags was with his schemes, or as creative for that matter. But I do know Perry Fewell knows a thing or two about aggression if he feels he has all his chess pieces in place. Well Coach, the gang is all here now. And after last game, they look like a bunch of "crazed dogs" wagging their tails mightily with ears pointing up just waiting for you to give them the signal to attack.
Perry Fewell has had his moments. But his overall body of work remains average. Steve Spagnuolo is officially a free agent again. The St. Louis Rams fired him as Head Coach at the conclusion of the season. And yes, I'd fire Perry Fewell and rehire Coach Spags in a N.Y. minute. But that's for the future. How fast that future descends upon Perry Fewell and the Giants' Defense is now in Coach's hands.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Big Blue Unleashed Their Version of the Doomsday Defense Against Tony Romo and the Cowboys.
Health, Experience, and Cohesion Finally Seem to be on Perry Fewell's Side. But Suddenly, Steve Spagnuolo is Available Again. So How Will Perry Fewell Deploy His Boys Now?
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING: Eli Leads Giants' Ground Game (?)
Let's face it, when the Defensive Front doesn't generate overwhelming pressure, and does little to disrupt timing, and can't crumble pockets, or cause fumbles, or get sacks, odds are the Giants lose. Outside of Eli's arm, the more pressure they mount, the greater the Giants' chances are of winning. That's the way it's played out all season.
For the simple fact that we are even talking about this today, you can thank Jason Pierre Paul for putting Big Blue on his back. He recorded one of the Giants' six sacks Sunday. But his relentless pursuit of the quarterback and overall indefatigable play through the first fifteen games delivered the Giants to Sunday and into position to play for the NFC East Title. Then.., you can thank Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck for getting us past Dallas and into the playoffs.
With six sacks under their belts against Dallas, the Giants won convincingly by a 31-14 final score. That's no coincidence. With Osi Umenyiora missing nearly half the season, and Justin Tuck not playing up to his standard because of a nasty neck stinger this season; more so than most things wrong with this team; point to an inconsistent pass rush for Big Blue's stumbling through the season en route to a 9-7 record. Then point to Justin Tuck's late season health and Osi's return to the playing field these last two weeks against the Jets and Dallas, and well..., the results speak for themselves.
Perhaps one of the biggest sacks of the night came when Justin Tuck chased down Tony Romo. Tuck was initially blocked on the play, but stayed persistent and finally got his man. The play reminded me so much of the time Leonard Marshall hunted down Joe Montana in a legendary playoff battle of yore. They were eerily similar plays in many ways.
In addition to ringing Romo's bell six times, the number of times they reached out and touched him were more than Romo and Dallas' offensive line could handle before Coach Garrett's switch board blew. Because the pressure brought on by the Giants' pass rush also caused Tony Romo to fumble. Keeping him under constant duress also induced a Tony Romo interception. In the end, the Defense held Tony Romo under 300 yards passing, forced two turnovers, and totally shut down Dallas' running game.
I think Tony Romo dropped back to pass forty-five times in all. Dallas only ran the ball sixteen times which perhaps played right into the Giants' pass rush. However, the few times Dallas did elect to run the ball, the Giants stopped them cold. Take away two Tony Romo scrambles (...for his life and limb), and the Giants limited the Cowboys to forty-six yards on fourteen carries. The Giants' defense against the run has come a long way this season. Where once they routinely gave up Giant gallops through their middle, they have become somewhat of a resolute bunch against the run lately.
For a portion of the season, Linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka was asked to some how keep things together with four rookies in the rotation. Today, much of the reason for the turn-around against the run has been a return to health by Michael Boley and the continuing maturity of Jacquian Williams. The two led the Giants in tackles Sunday. And on top of corralling Dallas' run game, the Giant Linebackers also rendered Jason Witten inconsequential. The emergence of Jacquian Williams was also reflected with a sack of Tony Romo. And then there was the play in which Michael Boley launched himself over the pile-up at the line of scrimmage to prevent Tony Romo from literally sneaking a fast one past the Giants and getting into the end-zone for a score. It was a great play by a Giant Linebacker; the way it used to be around here....once.
For Dallas, play-action went out the window. The Linebackers shut down the run game and as mentioned, were tasked with spying Jason Witten. The pass rush was able to tee-off on Romo because Dallas was playing from behind and had obviously abandoned the run. Most importantly, Perry Fewell finally decided to rush five people against Tony Romo and it worked to the tune of six sacks and seven more QB touches as noted.
For Dallas, all element of surprise was gone. Thus the Secondary was afforded many opportunities to look back at the quarterback and still maintain coverage. So it stands to say that in the last game of the season, the battle-torn Secondary had perhaps their finest day. And just in time too. There was nothing open down field for Tony Romo and his receivers nor anything available over the top. Dallas' main receivers remained covered and out of step with the Giants' pass rush. When Romo checked down to Mr. Reliable Jason Witten, Antrel Rolle knew it was coming.
The Giants forced Romo to accept the underneath pass and limited them to a ten yard average per catch. Perry Fewell simplified coverage and played a lot of base-Cover-Two. And it worked. The only knock against the plan was Kenny Phillips was still a little slow in his recognition. But the bottom line is the Secondary pretty much took away the deep pass. Only Dallas' Laurent Robinson seemed to find empty spaces in the Defense. In the third quarter, the Cowboys started to speed things up with success until Coach Fewell adjusted. Otherwise, the longest play the Secondary allowed through the air was a thirty-four yard gain. And their tackling was sound. As the pass rush kept Romo in a harried state, Antrel Rolle was able to come down with an interception.
* * * *
The end of the regular season ended on a good Defensive note; - not great; but very good. Lest we forget all the problems they really still have. But the conversation regarding the Defense is now one which involves many players (key word - many) doing big things together again. Health, a year of Experience; and Cohesion seem to be finally bringing things together for this Defense. We hope.
Chris Canty continues to take Giant steps forward. He also recorded a sack of Romo. Osi Umenyiora, fresh out of the M*A*S*H tent steps on the field and records two sacks. For the second week in a row, Justin Tuck looks like - Justin Tuck; and it's great to hear him talkin' trash after being so down on himself just three weeks ago. Because a happy Tuck is a dangerous Tuck! Dave Tollefson's game has also been up-ticking as well.
Rookie Jacquian Williams is officially no longer a rookie. Has an entire regular season under his belt now after seventeen weeks of on-the-job-training, and he's all the better for it. He might very well be a major contributor in the upcoming game against Atlanta. Michael Boley tapped into his inner-Superman and sprung to action in the nick of time (and space), to keep the Giants out of the Twilight Zone. And with Mathias Kiwanuka, the Linebacking Corps just might be up to the challenge of the playoffs. The only test that concerns them now is how to stop Michael Turner and Matt Ryan.
Antrel Rolle, Deon Grant, and Kenny Phillips had a much easier go of things with Corey Webster and Aaron Ross off in man-coverage. And perhaps the Safeties, the Corners, and Perry Fewell have finally found some common ground with which to work on. What ever they did Sunday contributed to the pass rush. And in return, the pass rush made coverage look good all game long. It's a symbiotic relationship. We can only hope the two units keep that timing going against Atlanta's offense.
Which causes which to succeed? It doesn't matter for as long as the pass rush and the Secondary are in sync. Timing is everything. And it appears as if the Giants Defense is getting healthy, gaining cohesion, and feeling aggressive at the right time. As the Defensive play continues to rise, will Perry Fewell now turn up the heat against Atlanta?
Much of his dilemma with the Giants' pass rush came in part because Coach tried cheating to help the coverage. He relied on the front four to provide pressure without any blitzing or any real kind of deception. Osi was still out and Tuck was ailing then. Perry Fewell's Secondary confusing zone coverage; four rookies at linebacker; and injuries to the pass rush all conspired against the Defensive Coordinator.
Let's say this much about Coach Fewell's adaptability. He ditched his experiments in zone coverage and simplified things for the Secondary considerably. Then up front, he added a fifth guy to the pass rush. But that came with healthy bodies. Injuries and "Coordinator pragmatism" have force his hand at times. While Eli Manning was the star of the game, the dominance the Giants exhibited over the Cowboys Sunday was the major reason the Giants won. Can they carry the Giants moving forward?
Perry Fewell may not be as diabolical as Coach Spags was with his schemes, or as creative for that matter. But I do know Perry Fewell knows a thing or two about aggression if he feels he has all his chess pieces in place. Well Coach, the gang is all here now. And after last game, they look like a bunch of "crazed dogs" wagging their tails mightily with ears pointing up just waiting for you to give them the signal to attack.
Perry Fewell has had his moments. But his overall body of work remains average. Steve Spagnuolo is officially a free agent again. The St. Louis Rams fired him as Head Coach at the conclusion of the season. And yes, I'd fire Perry Fewell and rehire Coach Spags in a N.Y. minute. But that's for the future. How fast that future descends upon Perry Fewell and the Giants' Defense is now in Coach's hands.
Mike.BTB
Saturday, December 31, 2011
N.Y. Giants ~ Defense; There's Beauty in Simplicity
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Yes; There is Beauty in Simplicity. But There's an NFC East Title to be Won With Defensive Agression.
POST: N.Y. Giants - Romo's Hand? Victory May Rest in Kevin Gilbride's Hands
Let's make something perfectly clear. The Jets did much to make the Giants Defense look good last week. They employed a bizarre game plan that didn't involve exploiting the Giants' Secondary. Rather, the Jets did everything to highlight their own flaws and put them on full display. The few times Marc Sanchez attempted to go down field, he heaved-up up several dying quails that were easily intercepted. The old guy from the Benny Hill Show could have intercepted those passes. And interspersed among thirty other in-completed pass attempts, Sanchez was busy taxing his compromised Offensive Line and giving the Giants pass rush plenty of time to get their hands on him.
So as you'd now expect, I caution my fellow Giant Fan - last week was not a game from which to draw false hope. This Defense still has the problems it's had for two years running. And if they're not careful, Tony Romo and the Cowboys can make the Giants look silly on so many levels.
That's precisely the way the Giants don't want to end their season. As I stated last week before the Jets game, - I am pretty much through with logistics. That stuff is strategy and plotting through the season. Those are weekly issues with full knowledge another game awaits the following week. The Giants have no such reassurances this week. This is the end of the regular season. If they don't win, while on the one hand going home to their families for the Winter sounds wholesome and Americana'ish, the other hand is some players and even coaches will be asked to stay there and not return. Such as life in the NFL. Such as life for a NY team.
In losing seven games this season; at least three of them very inexplicably; the Giants have chummed their own waters off the Hudson. There will be a Media feeding frenzy awaiting the Giants just beyond some curtain in a room within the bowels of Blue Life-or-Death Stadium; for then it will have been three straight seasons Big Blue misses the playoffs. That's a nice chunk of meat to start sinking their teeth into and probably only the beginning. People need to be held accountable for some of the things we saw this season. And the not so funny thing is that organizations, the Media, and Fans all have a different way of going about that.
I said such as life in the NFL? Then a win changes everything it seems. It always does. A win not only saves the season, it will most likely save jobs also. And even then, I'd have to do an awful lot of combing over the deficiencies of this team of which there are many. The short list of who to blame has already been drawn up. At this point, the only question is if names will get added to it.
But low and behold, the Giants have one more game. Sunday night we all get to find out if the New York Football Giants are a playoff team. No one really cares much how you get there, just as long as you're there. The late great Wellington "The Duke" Mara once stood upon a hastily constructed TV podium at the fifty yard line on a field of green painted mud..., and sarcastically chided the Media, and proudly hailed his 2000 team as the worst team ever to win the NFC Championship...! That was the late Mr. Mara's last truly great moment as owner of the team his dad founded back in the 1920's.
The era that ended on the night Scott Norwood missed wide right has since ushered in four head coaches. The Giants tried the in-house thing with Ray Handley. They then tried the established NFL coach approach with Dan Reeves. The Giants moved on with an off-campus - thinking out of the box type hire in Jim Fassel.
Then with the hiring of Tom Coughlin, the Giants made a return to their roots. Wellington Mara liked Coach Coughlin very much. Tom Coughlin was part of the old regime here when they won Super Bowls under Bill Parcells. Today there are three of them; - three Vince Lombardi Trophies won via the Bill Parcells/Tom Coughlin Laws of Football. That is not a coincidence.
In that spirit, It's time to DO IT FOR THE DUKE.
The reputation this organization has long maintained was built on the defensive side of the ball. It was true of the 1986 and 1990 teams. It was the Defense which shut-out the Vikings on that field of green painted mud back in the 2000 NFC Championship. Then the return to defensive dominance culminated in the organization's third trophy in 2007.
In 2007, Kevin Gilbride was the Offensive Coordinator. And since he's been to the mountain top with us, it's with a heavy heart I turn to him this week and plead for clock management and ball control through the run. Of course Eli will throw his share of passes. That's not only a given, it's needed indeed. But I beg for the smash-mouth aspects of the Giants' attack to make a mark on this game in order to minimize Tony Romo's and Dallas' big play ability to overly affect the game.
Perry Fewell's defense is still suspect. And as a long time Giants fan with several decades worth of mental reference to draw from, no Giants' team in my recollection ever accomplished much when the Offense was the more dominant unit of the team. For all my lifetime, Giants' success has been solidly built on Defense. Less offensively talented Giants teams have outscored the likes of the mighty 49ers; Broncos; Bills; Green Bay; and the Patriots; in the biggest games in the organization's history. But they were able to do so, because the Defense put them in positions to do so.
There is no such dynamic at work between the Giants' Offense and the Defense this season. They are an inharmonious, and an uncomplimentary team. One unit is usually forced into bailing out the other - Or worse yet, logistically speaking, conspiring against each other.
Number one, the Offense is too slow to the line. Too many time-outs have been used because the play clock ran out. The play needs to get in and the players need to be ready. That comes from the coach. Second, the three-and-outs are putting the Defense in harms way. Too many needless pass attempts and questionable play calling inevitably result in not spending enough time on the field. The Offense is losing the time-of-possession game. In my last post, I explained how I think Kevin Gilbride needs to win this game for the Giants, because Perry Fewell's unit is as of right now, unreliable.
The Defense has mostly suffered from mass confusion in the Secondary. We know. Untold points have been scored against the Giants as a result of busted coverage; and worse yet, no coverage at all. Over two season under Perry Fewell, what's become evident is that Aaron Ross, Corey Webster; Antrel Rolle, and Deon Grant; those four in particular; and include their coaches Peter Giunta and David Merrit; clearly do no grasp what Coach Fewell is teaching. Those four players and their subordinate coaches have been together for a time exceeding Perry Fewell's tenure as Giants Defensive Coordinator. So, isn't it safe to deduce that which ails the unit is the leader himself?
All I'm going to say about that is: SIMPLICITY. There's beauty in simplicity. There's another saying for that - Keep it simple stupid! At some point you have to give up on what hasn't worked, and go back to what you do best. I'd say the last game of the season, - a do or die game for the NFC East title is a good time.
In the Secondary's case, Tony Romo will no doubt try to exploit them. And he has the arm for it. So let the guys play man and just let them be Football players. And bump them off the line please? Yes, physicality plays a large part in this too...thank you. But just let them play without too much to think about. Just let them run around and keep an eye on their man. We can not have two defenders looking at each other again and have them both claim to be in the correct spot; not when twenty five yards away there's a guy in the end zone with the ball and doing a little dance with his team mates. Not in this game. Play it that way because clearly, no one understands the new zone coverages and all it's built in options and I have no reason to believe they'll learn by Sunday.
Otherwise, everything else is elementary Watson. Make sure we have the right linebacker covering Jason Witten. Then let the other linebackers do what they've done since high school, which is plugging holes against the run, covering backs out of the back field, and help rush the passer.
No! Better yet... Here's an idea, make the backfield engage the Linebackers in their back field when we blitz! C'mon Coach. You have to unleash a blitz at some point. The Cowboys have a quarterback with a compromised wrist. He's going to be very protective of it. And just because Romo's wrist might feel fine Sunday morning, with one shot, he's right back at square one, if not worse off. So they have to get after him.
Perry Fewell has done very little however in the way of disguising anything really. There have been no Safety blitzes; Linebackers; none of that. He's been overly concerned with coverages and relying on his four man front to supply all the pass rushing. It's not a terribly wrong way to compensate for a flawed Secondary, but when you play a team twice in a season, so close together like the Cowboys and Giants are playing, you have to change things up. And what Perry Fewell hasn't been lately, or much at all this season, is aggressive. Maybe that's exactly the kind of change needed for this particular game. If you remember, we barely escaped Dallas with a victory, thanks in part to a ball lost in the lights.
Osi might play, and if he can spell Justin Tuck and JJP at times, and is healthy enough to get inserted together with them from time to time, the Giants will have a distinct advantage. And if Chris Canty and Dave Tollefson continue to raise their games like they've been, even better for the G-Men.
I'd rather lose this game and rest easier knowing I went all out trying to get at Tony Romo than if we adhere to a much more conservative plan. We know Tuck, Osi, and JPP and others like Kiwanuka can bring pressure upon quarterbacks. That's a given. But my question is how well will Coach Fewell enhance their abilities to rush the passer. How well will he compliment their effort? How confident is Coach Fewell if he throws numbers at Romo, that we can get to him before he gets off a pass or breaks the pocket? All I can say is nothing ventured - nothing gained. If we were meant to die because of the Secondary...let's die with the Secondary then. But all I know is that we need to make the pocket, and the Box, a dangerous place for him to be.
In keeping things simple, Perry Fewell is also going to have to take chances. In football, aggression shouldn't be considered taking risks at all. In football, it's a way of life. And Giants' History by the way, is based on it.
I've asked Coach Gilbride to really put on his thinking cap for this one. I think his unit can play a larger role towards securing a win. Perry Fewell's unit however has repeatedly shown they can do little to prevent a loss. See Eli manning on that one. So, if your back is up against the wall, you damn well better go down swinging. No?
And if the Giants Defense rises to the occasion with a superlative effort, well then, they'll look like heroes.
Naturally.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Yes; There is Beauty in Simplicity. But There's an NFC East Title to be Won With Defensive Agression.
POST: N.Y. Giants - Romo's Hand? Victory May Rest in Kevin Gilbride's Hands
Let's make something perfectly clear. The Jets did much to make the Giants Defense look good last week. They employed a bizarre game plan that didn't involve exploiting the Giants' Secondary. Rather, the Jets did everything to highlight their own flaws and put them on full display. The few times Marc Sanchez attempted to go down field, he heaved-up up several dying quails that were easily intercepted. The old guy from the Benny Hill Show could have intercepted those passes. And interspersed among thirty other in-completed pass attempts, Sanchez was busy taxing his compromised Offensive Line and giving the Giants pass rush plenty of time to get their hands on him.
So as you'd now expect, I caution my fellow Giant Fan - last week was not a game from which to draw false hope. This Defense still has the problems it's had for two years running. And if they're not careful, Tony Romo and the Cowboys can make the Giants look silly on so many levels.
That's precisely the way the Giants don't want to end their season. As I stated last week before the Jets game, - I am pretty much through with logistics. That stuff is strategy and plotting through the season. Those are weekly issues with full knowledge another game awaits the following week. The Giants have no such reassurances this week. This is the end of the regular season. If they don't win, while on the one hand going home to their families for the Winter sounds wholesome and Americana'ish, the other hand is some players and even coaches will be asked to stay there and not return. Such as life in the NFL. Such as life for a NY team.
In losing seven games this season; at least three of them very inexplicably; the Giants have chummed their own waters off the Hudson. There will be a Media feeding frenzy awaiting the Giants just beyond some curtain in a room within the bowels of Blue Life-or-Death Stadium; for then it will have been three straight seasons Big Blue misses the playoffs. That's a nice chunk of meat to start sinking their teeth into and probably only the beginning. People need to be held accountable for some of the things we saw this season. And the not so funny thing is that organizations, the Media, and Fans all have a different way of going about that.
I said such as life in the NFL? Then a win changes everything it seems. It always does. A win not only saves the season, it will most likely save jobs also. And even then, I'd have to do an awful lot of combing over the deficiencies of this team of which there are many. The short list of who to blame has already been drawn up. At this point, the only question is if names will get added to it.
But low and behold, the Giants have one more game. Sunday night we all get to find out if the New York Football Giants are a playoff team. No one really cares much how you get there, just as long as you're there. The late great Wellington "The Duke" Mara once stood upon a hastily constructed TV podium at the fifty yard line on a field of green painted mud..., and sarcastically chided the Media, and proudly hailed his 2000 team as the worst team ever to win the NFC Championship...! That was the late Mr. Mara's last truly great moment as owner of the team his dad founded back in the 1920's.
The era that ended on the night Scott Norwood missed wide right has since ushered in four head coaches. The Giants tried the in-house thing with Ray Handley. They then tried the established NFL coach approach with Dan Reeves. The Giants moved on with an off-campus - thinking out of the box type hire in Jim Fassel.
Then with the hiring of Tom Coughlin, the Giants made a return to their roots. Wellington Mara liked Coach Coughlin very much. Tom Coughlin was part of the old regime here when they won Super Bowls under Bill Parcells. Today there are three of them; - three Vince Lombardi Trophies won via the Bill Parcells/Tom Coughlin Laws of Football. That is not a coincidence.
In that spirit, It's time to DO IT FOR THE DUKE.
The reputation this organization has long maintained was built on the defensive side of the ball. It was true of the 1986 and 1990 teams. It was the Defense which shut-out the Vikings on that field of green painted mud back in the 2000 NFC Championship. Then the return to defensive dominance culminated in the organization's third trophy in 2007.
In 2007, Kevin Gilbride was the Offensive Coordinator. And since he's been to the mountain top with us, it's with a heavy heart I turn to him this week and plead for clock management and ball control through the run. Of course Eli will throw his share of passes. That's not only a given, it's needed indeed. But I beg for the smash-mouth aspects of the Giants' attack to make a mark on this game in order to minimize Tony Romo's and Dallas' big play ability to overly affect the game.
Perry Fewell's defense is still suspect. And as a long time Giants fan with several decades worth of mental reference to draw from, no Giants' team in my recollection ever accomplished much when the Offense was the more dominant unit of the team. For all my lifetime, Giants' success has been solidly built on Defense. Less offensively talented Giants teams have outscored the likes of the mighty 49ers; Broncos; Bills; Green Bay; and the Patriots; in the biggest games in the organization's history. But they were able to do so, because the Defense put them in positions to do so.
There is no such dynamic at work between the Giants' Offense and the Defense this season. They are an inharmonious, and an uncomplimentary team. One unit is usually forced into bailing out the other - Or worse yet, logistically speaking, conspiring against each other.
Number one, the Offense is too slow to the line. Too many time-outs have been used because the play clock ran out. The play needs to get in and the players need to be ready. That comes from the coach. Second, the three-and-outs are putting the Defense in harms way. Too many needless pass attempts and questionable play calling inevitably result in not spending enough time on the field. The Offense is losing the time-of-possession game. In my last post, I explained how I think Kevin Gilbride needs to win this game for the Giants, because Perry Fewell's unit is as of right now, unreliable.
The Defense has mostly suffered from mass confusion in the Secondary. We know. Untold points have been scored against the Giants as a result of busted coverage; and worse yet, no coverage at all. Over two season under Perry Fewell, what's become evident is that Aaron Ross, Corey Webster; Antrel Rolle, and Deon Grant; those four in particular; and include their coaches Peter Giunta and David Merrit; clearly do no grasp what Coach Fewell is teaching. Those four players and their subordinate coaches have been together for a time exceeding Perry Fewell's tenure as Giants Defensive Coordinator. So, isn't it safe to deduce that which ails the unit is the leader himself?
All I'm going to say about that is: SIMPLICITY. There's beauty in simplicity. There's another saying for that - Keep it simple stupid! At some point you have to give up on what hasn't worked, and go back to what you do best. I'd say the last game of the season, - a do or die game for the NFC East title is a good time.
In the Secondary's case, Tony Romo will no doubt try to exploit them. And he has the arm for it. So let the guys play man and just let them be Football players. And bump them off the line please? Yes, physicality plays a large part in this too...thank you. But just let them play without too much to think about. Just let them run around and keep an eye on their man. We can not have two defenders looking at each other again and have them both claim to be in the correct spot; not when twenty five yards away there's a guy in the end zone with the ball and doing a little dance with his team mates. Not in this game. Play it that way because clearly, no one understands the new zone coverages and all it's built in options and I have no reason to believe they'll learn by Sunday.
Otherwise, everything else is elementary Watson. Make sure we have the right linebacker covering Jason Witten. Then let the other linebackers do what they've done since high school, which is plugging holes against the run, covering backs out of the back field, and help rush the passer.
No! Better yet... Here's an idea, make the backfield engage the Linebackers in their back field when we blitz! C'mon Coach. You have to unleash a blitz at some point. The Cowboys have a quarterback with a compromised wrist. He's going to be very protective of it. And just because Romo's wrist might feel fine Sunday morning, with one shot, he's right back at square one, if not worse off. So they have to get after him.
Perry Fewell has done very little however in the way of disguising anything really. There have been no Safety blitzes; Linebackers; none of that. He's been overly concerned with coverages and relying on his four man front to supply all the pass rushing. It's not a terribly wrong way to compensate for a flawed Secondary, but when you play a team twice in a season, so close together like the Cowboys and Giants are playing, you have to change things up. And what Perry Fewell hasn't been lately, or much at all this season, is aggressive. Maybe that's exactly the kind of change needed for this particular game. If you remember, we barely escaped Dallas with a victory, thanks in part to a ball lost in the lights.
Osi might play, and if he can spell Justin Tuck and JJP at times, and is healthy enough to get inserted together with them from time to time, the Giants will have a distinct advantage. And if Chris Canty and Dave Tollefson continue to raise their games like they've been, even better for the G-Men.
I'd rather lose this game and rest easier knowing I went all out trying to get at Tony Romo than if we adhere to a much more conservative plan. We know Tuck, Osi, and JPP and others like Kiwanuka can bring pressure upon quarterbacks. That's a given. But my question is how well will Coach Fewell enhance their abilities to rush the passer. How well will he compliment their effort? How confident is Coach Fewell if he throws numbers at Romo, that we can get to him before he gets off a pass or breaks the pocket? All I can say is nothing ventured - nothing gained. If we were meant to die because of the Secondary...let's die with the Secondary then. But all I know is that we need to make the pocket, and the Box, a dangerous place for him to be.
In keeping things simple, Perry Fewell is also going to have to take chances. In football, aggression shouldn't be considered taking risks at all. In football, it's a way of life. And Giants' History by the way, is based on it.
I've asked Coach Gilbride to really put on his thinking cap for this one. I think his unit can play a larger role towards securing a win. Perry Fewell's unit however has repeatedly shown they can do little to prevent a loss. See Eli manning on that one. So, if your back is up against the wall, you damn well better go down swinging. No?
And if the Giants Defense rises to the occasion with a superlative effort, well then, they'll look like heroes.
Naturally.
Mike.BTB
Saturday, December 03, 2011
N.Y. Giants ~ Life After the Monday Night Fiasco?
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
Certain Hall of Famer, Michael Strahan, Paid the Giants' Defensive Line a Visit to Impart Some of His Knowledge. I Have Better Advice For Them From the Mouth of Another - "...Let's Go Out There Like a Bunch of Crazed Dogs and Have Some Fun!" - quote; LT.
Any time your team loses a game, and if spelled out the opponent's point total starts with the letter "F" ....and it's not Fourteen points we're talking about, it invariably means you're team is F'd - as in Frightful; Feeble; and Futile. Ultimately, we're talking about a Frustrating team on the heals of a Freakin' Fiasco and an overall Friggin' mess the Giants have created for themselves. Fugheddaboudit.
There's never a good time to have a bad game. But the Giants should have been so lucky. The Big Black and Blue Bleeding Crew are playing their most horrific football at the worst imaginable time. They've been getting progressively worse with every loss over their last three games. They went from competing against the Niners to getting embarrassed against the Eagles. Then....
....Then in something resembling the opening scene from James Bond's Live and Let Die, the Saints rolled a casket with a blue NY logo on it down Bourbon Street. French Quarter revelers at the Monday NightFootball Fiasco, along with a national audience watched the Saints rip the collective spirits out of whatever on-field Defensive personnel the Giants had left. And with that, the cake was cut ushering in the annual late season Giants Pity Party .....N'orleans style.
Big Blue left New Orleans behind having been voodooed into shock, and leaving the Fans bone-shivering scared for their playoff lives. So how bad was it? - Even though this is the Age of Offense, it was as bad as any generation of Giants Fans had ever seen before. The Giants' Defense allowed the Saints to gain five hundred and seventy-seven yards in total offense en route to an utterly demoralizing forty-nine point undressing of a (depleted, and...) now completely exposed Giants Defense. Over two-hundred of New Orleans' yards came on the ground alone. The sad reality is Drew Brees and New Orleans could have easily broken fifty points.
Most people outside of Vegas believe this Sunday's game against Aaron Rogers and Green Bay is shaping up to be another complete disaster for the G-Men; which if they get embarrassed again, may start to mean the Gag-Men. Well..., that's the perception at least. And increasingly, it's rather well deserved. Because the Giants have given Fans and Media alike, every reason to question whether they were good enough to contend in the first place. Looking back, they have a win against the Patriots. But the Eagles' miserable loss to the Seahawks this past Thursday night reinforces once again the fact we lost to a vastly pathetic Eagles team in a very pathetic manner. And the Giants present situation as a result of that loss, (along with Seattle), brings everything into question regarding the Giants' success this season, or lack there of.
But, ....oh yea; the injuries. Rrriiiiight.
So..., Who Dat gonna help Coach Perry Fewell figure this one out in time for the undefeated Green Bay Packers? Because his side of the ball quite honestly looked completely amateurish against the Saints. I'm going to tell you right now, Peter Giunta and David Merritt are two of his problems. But first.....
Blitz... This is Giant Fan. Come in Blitz...! Over?
Uh..., has anyone seen the Giants' Blitz lately? What happened to that? Perry Fewell dialed-up some pretty nifty blitzes...once. But it seems like that was a long time ago - much earlier in the season to be exact. Several times, during better days before this current three game tail-spin, I expressed concern that the Giants' "over-reliance" on sacks would come back to haunt this team because of underlying issues with the Giants' thin Linebacking ranks. In at least four of the Giants six wins, in addition to Eli's heroics, the Giants let their opponent hang around until finally getting a late game saving sack. And well, - BOO! Over the last four weeks Perry Fewell has been relying on the front guys to take care of the pass rush on their own. As a result, we're getting killed on third downs. Problem is, Justin Tuck is a compromised player this season, and Osi is Useless-Some-More-a. He left last week's game and will miss this Sunday's game against the Packers.
Allow me to digress a moment, as I ask my fellow Giant Fans who expressed displeasure with GM Jerry Reese's hard-line stance against Osi during his off-season holdout - How do you like his handling of Kevin Boss; Steve Smith; and in this particular example; Osi; now? We know Osi is great on the field, but our problem has been keeping him healthy. Welcome to the riskier side of hold-outs and hard line bargaining.
However, Jerry Reese let Barry Coffield go. He is clearly a sorely missed player in the defensive middle. Chris Canty has been putting forth a respectable effort in Coffield's place, as has Linval Joseph. But they, along with the Linebackers are complicit in allowing back after running back to storm through the middle of the field on us.
Now consider the Giants' depth of talent with Mathias Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre Paul, who've been the Giants' constant and most consistent pass rushers this season. Depth and talent we have. However something just does not compute. Any harassment the Giants have issued opposing QB's has been nothing more than mere words for several weeks now, as the Giants haven't really laid their hands on many QB's at all lately. What ever Perry Fewell's reluctance has been lately to dial-up varying blitz packages has not gone unnoticed. And I suspect the health of Michael Boley has had much to do with that.
Long known to be the Soft-White Under Belly of the Giants' defense, the season-long absence of Jonathan Goff and recent scratch of Michael Boley at Linebacker is absolutely killing this team. The Giants' remaining healthy Linebackers are simply too young; too inexperienced; and for the moment completely over-matched. Primarily manned with rookies, they've been confused regarding pass coverage and getting their ankles busted on crossing patterns. Against the run, they haven't plugged the running gaps exceptionally well and they over-pursue plays there-by abandoning their areas of responsibility.
Last week's game film against the Saints can go a long way towards advancing all their careers because within those sixty minutes of so called football Monday, are all the mistakes a Linebacker can make, revisit, and learn from moving forward. It's another way of saying Drew Brees took them to school and gave them a hard taught lesson about life in the NFL. Next lesson; Aaron Rogers. Study hard boys.
Of all the Giants' defensive sub-units, I understand the Secondary has been victimized the most by the number of injuries they've sustained. But Corey Webster and Aaron Ross are veterans; not to mention healthy ones at that. And together, they have been woeful. There is no pass route disruption at the line in the form of jamming receivers. There is no contact what so ever within five yards. And they have a total misunderstanding as to how to go about zone-coverage, as they lay-out more cushion than an IKEA floor display.
I should actually be calling out the regular Safeties, and be a lot harsher about it too. You know who they are. But I'll go this way instead; - Prince finally had his NFL debut; and good for us. However Kenny Phillips is bordering on doing stupid things lately.
But collectively, the Secondary has joined forces to keep opposing drives in business by consistently missing tackles against the run, giving up huge plays via the air, and blowing big third down and long situations. To anyone watching, right up to the moment the ball is snapped, they are clearly and consistently unsure of their assignments as evidenced by swivelling heads and excessive exchanges at the line of scrimmage as to who is covering who. And I put much of that on the heads of Corners Coach Peter Giunta and Coach David Merritt. There is too much on-field miscommunication taking place. There are too many issues concerning technique, body positioning, schemes, smartness, and preparedness to go right for the jugular and indict the Secondary for a lack of talent.
In truth, Ross and Webster were never all-pros. And Terrell Thomas, Kenny Phillips, and Prince Amukamara were supposed to be up to snuff by now. Injuries at some point to the latter three have slowed that process down considerably. But this much of a precipitous fall-off in coverage effectiveness must be partly due to instruction rather than blanketing the Secondary with the easy and all-encapsulating......they suck. Because there is also every reason to point our fingers at Perry Fewell's; Peter Giunta's; and David Merritt's collective inability to stop the no-huddle/hurry up offense teams are now routinely employing against us. The coaching triumvirate has had absolutely no answer for that....have they?
Sure injuries have been a factor. But we do not suffer a lack of talent. And there-in lies the true root of all Giant Fan's frustrations. It's the lack of execution and a seeming willingness to get outplayed which have plagued us. That's on the players. Lawrence Taylor once exhorted - or - excoriated - his team to "...go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs and have some fun!" Instead the Giants appear to have put their tail between their legs and are having a miserable time of it. And not for nothing, Justin Tuck is the current poster child of Giants' melancholy. During the week, Coach Fewell tried the old "chastise my unit like naughty boys" routine. What he needs however is an epiphany. A little creative thought into the art of deception will go a long way Coach. In that respect, Coach Fewell has indeed slipped since earlier this season. And that's on him.
Last week was wholly on the Defense as well it should. The Offense did what is always does; put up twenty-four points. That's their season average and another story. Clearly, a better running game helps keeps Drew Brees off the field, and maybe New Orleans' final score doesn't start with that nasty old letter F. But going into that game against the Saints, defensively, both teams were relatively even statistically. That wasn't the case Monday night as the Giants were twice as bad.
The letter F also stands for Coach Fewell. And he better think of something Fast. Otherwise, the Giants season is on the verge of being Finished.
More on the Offense is coming; along with my Sunday Picks.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:
Certain Hall of Famer, Michael Strahan, Paid the Giants' Defensive Line a Visit to Impart Some of His Knowledge. I Have Better Advice For Them From the Mouth of Another - "...Let's Go Out There Like a Bunch of Crazed Dogs and Have Some Fun!" - quote; LT.
Any time your team loses a game, and if spelled out the opponent's point total starts with the letter "F" ....and it's not Fourteen points we're talking about, it invariably means you're team is F'd - as in Frightful; Feeble; and Futile. Ultimately, we're talking about a Frustrating team on the heals of a Freakin' Fiasco and an overall Friggin' mess the Giants have created for themselves. Fugheddaboudit.
There's never a good time to have a bad game. But the Giants should have been so lucky. The Big Black and Blue Bleeding Crew are playing their most horrific football at the worst imaginable time. They've been getting progressively worse with every loss over their last three games. They went from competing against the Niners to getting embarrassed against the Eagles. Then....
....Then in something resembling the opening scene from James Bond's Live and Let Die, the Saints rolled a casket with a blue NY logo on it down Bourbon Street. French Quarter revelers at the Monday Night
Big Blue left New Orleans behind having been voodooed into shock, and leaving the Fans bone-shivering scared for their playoff lives. So how bad was it? - Even though this is the Age of Offense, it was as bad as any generation of Giants Fans had ever seen before. The Giants' Defense allowed the Saints to gain five hundred and seventy-seven yards in total offense en route to an utterly demoralizing forty-nine point undressing of a (depleted, and...) now completely exposed Giants Defense. Over two-hundred of New Orleans' yards came on the ground alone. The sad reality is Drew Brees and New Orleans could have easily broken fifty points.
Most people outside of Vegas believe this Sunday's game against Aaron Rogers and Green Bay is shaping up to be another complete disaster for the G-Men; which if they get embarrassed again, may start to mean the Gag-Men. Well..., that's the perception at least. And increasingly, it's rather well deserved. Because the Giants have given Fans and Media alike, every reason to question whether they were good enough to contend in the first place. Looking back, they have a win against the Patriots. But the Eagles' miserable loss to the Seahawks this past Thursday night reinforces once again the fact we lost to a vastly pathetic Eagles team in a very pathetic manner. And the Giants present situation as a result of that loss, (along with Seattle), brings everything into question regarding the Giants' success this season, or lack there of.
But, ....oh yea; the injuries. Rrriiiiight.
So..., Who Dat gonna help Coach Perry Fewell figure this one out in time for the undefeated Green Bay Packers? Because his side of the ball quite honestly looked completely amateurish against the Saints. I'm going to tell you right now, Peter Giunta and David Merritt are two of his problems. But first.....
Blitz... This is Giant Fan. Come in Blitz...! Over?
Uh..., has anyone seen the Giants' Blitz lately? What happened to that? Perry Fewell dialed-up some pretty nifty blitzes...once. But it seems like that was a long time ago - much earlier in the season to be exact. Several times, during better days before this current three game tail-spin, I expressed concern that the Giants' "over-reliance" on sacks would come back to haunt this team because of underlying issues with the Giants' thin Linebacking ranks. In at least four of the Giants six wins, in addition to Eli's heroics, the Giants let their opponent hang around until finally getting a late game saving sack. And well, - BOO! Over the last four weeks Perry Fewell has been relying on the front guys to take care of the pass rush on their own. As a result, we're getting killed on third downs. Problem is, Justin Tuck is a compromised player this season, and Osi is Useless-Some-More-a. He left last week's game and will miss this Sunday's game against the Packers.
Allow me to digress a moment, as I ask my fellow Giant Fans who expressed displeasure with GM Jerry Reese's hard-line stance against Osi during his off-season holdout - How do you like his handling of Kevin Boss; Steve Smith; and in this particular example; Osi; now? We know Osi is great on the field, but our problem has been keeping him healthy. Welcome to the riskier side of hold-outs and hard line bargaining.
However, Jerry Reese let Barry Coffield go. He is clearly a sorely missed player in the defensive middle. Chris Canty has been putting forth a respectable effort in Coffield's place, as has Linval Joseph. But they, along with the Linebackers are complicit in allowing back after running back to storm through the middle of the field on us.
Now consider the Giants' depth of talent with Mathias Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre Paul, who've been the Giants' constant and most consistent pass rushers this season. Depth and talent we have. However something just does not compute. Any harassment the Giants have issued opposing QB's has been nothing more than mere words for several weeks now, as the Giants haven't really laid their hands on many QB's at all lately. What ever Perry Fewell's reluctance has been lately to dial-up varying blitz packages has not gone unnoticed. And I suspect the health of Michael Boley has had much to do with that.
Long known to be the Soft-White Under Belly of the Giants' defense, the season-long absence of Jonathan Goff and recent scratch of Michael Boley at Linebacker is absolutely killing this team. The Giants' remaining healthy Linebackers are simply too young; too inexperienced; and for the moment completely over-matched. Primarily manned with rookies, they've been confused regarding pass coverage and getting their ankles busted on crossing patterns. Against the run, they haven't plugged the running gaps exceptionally well and they over-pursue plays there-by abandoning their areas of responsibility.
Last week's game film against the Saints can go a long way towards advancing all their careers because within those sixty minutes of so called football Monday, are all the mistakes a Linebacker can make, revisit, and learn from moving forward. It's another way of saying Drew Brees took them to school and gave them a hard taught lesson about life in the NFL. Next lesson; Aaron Rogers. Study hard boys.
Of all the Giants' defensive sub-units, I understand the Secondary has been victimized the most by the number of injuries they've sustained. But Corey Webster and Aaron Ross are veterans; not to mention healthy ones at that. And together, they have been woeful. There is no pass route disruption at the line in the form of jamming receivers. There is no contact what so ever within five yards. And they have a total misunderstanding as to how to go about zone-coverage, as they lay-out more cushion than an IKEA floor display.
I should actually be calling out the regular Safeties, and be a lot harsher about it too. You know who they are. But I'll go this way instead; - Prince finally had his NFL debut; and good for us. However Kenny Phillips is bordering on doing stupid things lately.
But collectively, the Secondary has joined forces to keep opposing drives in business by consistently missing tackles against the run, giving up huge plays via the air, and blowing big third down and long situations. To anyone watching, right up to the moment the ball is snapped, they are clearly and consistently unsure of their assignments as evidenced by swivelling heads and excessive exchanges at the line of scrimmage as to who is covering who. And I put much of that on the heads of Corners Coach Peter Giunta and Coach David Merritt. There is too much on-field miscommunication taking place. There are too many issues concerning technique, body positioning, schemes, smartness, and preparedness to go right for the jugular and indict the Secondary for a lack of talent.
In truth, Ross and Webster were never all-pros. And Terrell Thomas, Kenny Phillips, and Prince Amukamara were supposed to be up to snuff by now. Injuries at some point to the latter three have slowed that process down considerably. But this much of a precipitous fall-off in coverage effectiveness must be partly due to instruction rather than blanketing the Secondary with the easy and all-encapsulating......they suck. Because there is also every reason to point our fingers at Perry Fewell's; Peter Giunta's; and David Merritt's collective inability to stop the no-huddle/hurry up offense teams are now routinely employing against us. The coaching triumvirate has had absolutely no answer for that....have they?
Sure injuries have been a factor. But we do not suffer a lack of talent. And there-in lies the true root of all Giant Fan's frustrations. It's the lack of execution and a seeming willingness to get outplayed which have plagued us. That's on the players. Lawrence Taylor once exhorted - or - excoriated - his team to "...go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs and have some fun!" Instead the Giants appear to have put their tail between their legs and are having a miserable time of it. And not for nothing, Justin Tuck is the current poster child of Giants' melancholy. During the week, Coach Fewell tried the old "chastise my unit like naughty boys" routine. What he needs however is an epiphany. A little creative thought into the art of deception will go a long way Coach. In that respect, Coach Fewell has indeed slipped since earlier this season. And that's on him.
Last week was wholly on the Defense as well it should. The Offense did what is always does; put up twenty-four points. That's their season average and another story. Clearly, a better running game helps keeps Drew Brees off the field, and maybe New Orleans' final score doesn't start with that nasty old letter F. But going into that game against the Saints, defensively, both teams were relatively even statistically. That wasn't the case Monday night as the Giants were twice as bad.
The letter F also stands for Coach Fewell. And he better think of something Fast. Otherwise, the Giants season is on the verge of being Finished.
More on the Offense is coming; along with my Sunday Picks.
Mike.BTB
Sunday, November 13, 2011
N.Y. Giants ~ Game Nine; California Dreamin'
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Big Blue Seeking a San Francisco Treat.
Man up Boys! No really, I mean it; Man up. Play the 49ers man-to-man on Defense. I think that's the best way to go about today's game. It's week ten of the NFL schedule and at this point of the season, many kinks should have been worked out of our game, and trust factors amongst team mates should have climbed dramatically by now from just a couple of weeks ago. And by that I'm specifically speaking about the lapses of communication between the Giants' Corners and Safeties. I'm trusting they can keep man-coverage and that a Safety can creep in to help against the run. Because that is what this game is all about; - Stopping the run.
I think the Giants should dare Alex Smith to throw the ball deep. Corey Webster and Aaron Ross are not rookies. And so we need to trust them by themselves today. We've done it before and they've come through before. They've played in very meaningful games together for years. They just completed one last week against Tom Brady and the Patriots. And so here comes another. They need to keep San Francisco's patience with their short passing game under duress with great tackling today. No yards after catch! So if I'm Perry Fewell, I'm almost inviting Alex Smith to go over the top on us because they do not do that well. If we manage that, the front four; the pass rush; can continue doing what they've been doing, which is getting to the QB without the Giants having to blitz often.
We need high level individual efforts from the Secondary and the Pass Rush today because I think the Giant fortunes against the Niners rest largely on our Linebackers and their ability to stop Frank Gore and Alex Smith's short passing game. And only a combined effort is going to make the linebackers look good and get them, and us, through the game.
Michael Boley is coming off one of his two strongest games of the season. He and our young group of linebackers he's been charged to mentor have been making incremental progress this season. But this week I'm looking for substantial progress from this unit. Like I said, it's week ten. We should be entering prime form as players what ever their talent level. And as far as schemes, if I'm Coach Fewell, I'd utilize Mathias Kiwanuka in a more traditional linebacker's role this afternoon instead of an all out pass rusher. Even let Kiwanuka play gonzo today. Let him be a source of mass confusion.
Opposing rushers have routinely ran for 100+ yard games against the Giants. But many of those runner's stats were padded by one or two big gains. Aside from the big (...hurtful) play, the Giants have managed to clamp down on the run through in-game adjustments. But there's no doubt, today we need to sell out against San Francisco's running game. Know your assignments, contain and seal the corners, and make sure tackles by wrapping both arms around your man! Frank Gore does not go down from a stiff shoulder alone (...note to Safeties).
Boley, Kiwanuka, and Jones - Canty and Joseph - Phillips and Rolle, all will have to make sure, solo tackles in order to keep the 49er's offense quiet. If they do that, Webster and Ross - Osi, Tuck, and Tollefson, should be able to take care of the rest.
I'm not exactly impressed with the teams San Francisco has beaten en route to their 7-1 record.
The same can be said of the Giants I guess as both teams enjoyed a victory over Philadelphia this season. But if we follow last week's offensive game plan, the Giants should be fine. Brandon Jacobs merely needs to keep the 49ers honest. Coach Gilbride needs to show San Francisco he's committed to the run...even if he's not. Disguise it! Truth is, I think Gilbride and Eli should throw the ball up today about forty times or so. But if he doesn't keep the Niners honest with Jacobs and Ware, the passing game will falter. Coach Gilbride stayed patient last week and it opened up everything we needed to pull out a win. My hope is he stays true to the run now. Ahmad Bradshaw will miss another game. But again, all we need is what Jacobs and Ware gave us last week.
We have to run the ball early and often in order to sell it, even if it sputters at first. Then have Jacobs catch a few out of the back field. Do that and we'll be able to play-action San Francisco to death. Then in the second half, we actually give them a real heavy dose of Brandon Jacobs and kill em with late passes to Ballard again. I don't say that because of what Ballard did last week. I say that because when used correctly, tight-ends are killer in Football! You know that. But with the capable receivers we have, you use the TE sparingly then unleash them late in games. But that's just me.
If I'm suffering false confidence, so be it. Call it California Dreamin'. But I think this game is quite winnable. This is not the January 1991 NFC Championship Game; which by the way is still one of the hardest hitting games I ever watched. No, this is not that game and these are not those teams. But it doesn't mean we can't hit them just as hard as we did that January twenty years ago in Candlestick Park. And it doesn't mean we still can't come out of San Francisco with a close, hotly contested victory.
This is the time of year, when contending teams start to realize who they are and really start to get the crisp cool smell of a playoff contender wafting up their nostrils. This is when winners start to believe in themselves and kick things up a notch. Week ten is either a spring board of confidence or the beginning of a fall into an empty pool. I think the Giants are one of the good teams. Of course we'll be in California where Autumn is something NoCal'ers refer to as harvest time. But we are the Giants, and it's time to put a chill into the sunshine filled California air and ruffle their leaves a bit.
Let's Go Giants!
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Big Blue Seeking a San Francisco Treat.
Man up Boys! No really, I mean it; Man up. Play the 49ers man-to-man on Defense. I think that's the best way to go about today's game. It's week ten of the NFL schedule and at this point of the season, many kinks should have been worked out of our game, and trust factors amongst team mates should have climbed dramatically by now from just a couple of weeks ago. And by that I'm specifically speaking about the lapses of communication between the Giants' Corners and Safeties. I'm trusting they can keep man-coverage and that a Safety can creep in to help against the run. Because that is what this game is all about; - Stopping the run.
I think the Giants should dare Alex Smith to throw the ball deep. Corey Webster and Aaron Ross are not rookies. And so we need to trust them by themselves today. We've done it before and they've come through before. They've played in very meaningful games together for years. They just completed one last week against Tom Brady and the Patriots. And so here comes another. They need to keep San Francisco's patience with their short passing game under duress with great tackling today. No yards after catch! So if I'm Perry Fewell, I'm almost inviting Alex Smith to go over the top on us because they do not do that well. If we manage that, the front four; the pass rush; can continue doing what they've been doing, which is getting to the QB without the Giants having to blitz often.
We need high level individual efforts from the Secondary and the Pass Rush today because I think the Giant fortunes against the Niners rest largely on our Linebackers and their ability to stop Frank Gore and Alex Smith's short passing game. And only a combined effort is going to make the linebackers look good and get them, and us, through the game.
Michael Boley is coming off one of his two strongest games of the season. He and our young group of linebackers he's been charged to mentor have been making incremental progress this season. But this week I'm looking for substantial progress from this unit. Like I said, it's week ten. We should be entering prime form as players what ever their talent level. And as far as schemes, if I'm Coach Fewell, I'd utilize Mathias Kiwanuka in a more traditional linebacker's role this afternoon instead of an all out pass rusher. Even let Kiwanuka play gonzo today. Let him be a source of mass confusion.
Opposing rushers have routinely ran for 100+ yard games against the Giants. But many of those runner's stats were padded by one or two big gains. Aside from the big (...hurtful) play, the Giants have managed to clamp down on the run through in-game adjustments. But there's no doubt, today we need to sell out against San Francisco's running game. Know your assignments, contain and seal the corners, and make sure tackles by wrapping both arms around your man! Frank Gore does not go down from a stiff shoulder alone (...note to Safeties).
Boley, Kiwanuka, and Jones - Canty and Joseph - Phillips and Rolle, all will have to make sure, solo tackles in order to keep the 49er's offense quiet. If they do that, Webster and Ross - Osi, Tuck, and Tollefson, should be able to take care of the rest.
I'm not exactly impressed with the teams San Francisco has beaten en route to their 7-1 record.
The same can be said of the Giants I guess as both teams enjoyed a victory over Philadelphia this season. But if we follow last week's offensive game plan, the Giants should be fine. Brandon Jacobs merely needs to keep the 49ers honest. Coach Gilbride needs to show San Francisco he's committed to the run...even if he's not. Disguise it! Truth is, I think Gilbride and Eli should throw the ball up today about forty times or so. But if he doesn't keep the Niners honest with Jacobs and Ware, the passing game will falter. Coach Gilbride stayed patient last week and it opened up everything we needed to pull out a win. My hope is he stays true to the run now. Ahmad Bradshaw will miss another game. But again, all we need is what Jacobs and Ware gave us last week.
We have to run the ball early and often in order to sell it, even if it sputters at first. Then have Jacobs catch a few out of the back field. Do that and we'll be able to play-action San Francisco to death. Then in the second half, we actually give them a real heavy dose of Brandon Jacobs and kill em with late passes to Ballard again. I don't say that because of what Ballard did last week. I say that because when used correctly, tight-ends are killer in Football! You know that. But with the capable receivers we have, you use the TE sparingly then unleash them late in games. But that's just me.
If I'm suffering false confidence, so be it. Call it California Dreamin'. But I think this game is quite winnable. This is not the January 1991 NFC Championship Game; which by the way is still one of the hardest hitting games I ever watched. No, this is not that game and these are not those teams. But it doesn't mean we can't hit them just as hard as we did that January twenty years ago in Candlestick Park. And it doesn't mean we still can't come out of San Francisco with a close, hotly contested victory.
This is the time of year, when contending teams start to realize who they are and really start to get the crisp cool smell of a playoff contender wafting up their nostrils. This is when winners start to believe in themselves and kick things up a notch. Week ten is either a spring board of confidence or the beginning of a fall into an empty pool. I think the Giants are one of the good teams. Of course we'll be in California where Autumn is something NoCal'ers refer to as harvest time. But we are the Giants, and it's time to put a chill into the sunshine filled California air and ruffle their leaves a bit.
Let's Go Giants!
Mike.BTB
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
N.Y. Giants ~ Big Blue Comes Through
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Big Blue Coaching Helps G-Men Get a Firm Grip on First Place.
We have till Wednesday to feel great about this team Giant Fans. That's what regular seasons are all about. They're filled with surprises and disappointments. They are for savoring and celebrating the good, and grumbling about the bad things that happen week to week. This last Sunday was a good thing in the grand scheme of things. So, having started with Sunday night and lasting through tomorrow, let's let this last game glow as a defining moment in our season thus far, before we have to forget it and move on.
But first, this...
All the Media's babble about Eli being "elite" or not, was and still is completely comical. How they (the Media) feed on each other's regurgitation I suspect even makes maggots want to puke sometimes. So allow me to simplify this for them. Eli is a damn good quarterback. He's our QB. He is a Giant. I trust him with all my Big Blue being to lead this team through any situation and against any team. I supported him as a rookie, through the years, and during all those interceptions last season. I have never wavered once. There is no conversation needed - much less one about whether Eli is elite or not. He is the New York Giants quarterback whom I think is capable of great things just as other quarterbacks around the league are capable of accomplishing great things as well. That's it. The state of Eli being elite, and the author of the question who opened his valve spewing all this oral pollution into the airwaves in the first place mean absolutely nothing. Elite quarterbacks can lose games too. See Tom Brady. See Tom Brady throw cups of water in disgust.
As I now step off my soap-box, I merely mean to say - You can't quantify everything. That's why this is sport; based on competition and not about branding an "E" onto some athlete's buttock. Elite indeed. Pfff! Shut up!
Back to the game...; Eli wasn't exactly pretty Sunday. In fact the game might have been a little bit of a regression of sorts. He shied away from taking hits and as a result threw many times off his back foot again. Old problem. - After week one and two, Eli for the most part has stood tall in the pocket this season. But in this game, there was a figurative step backwards in that respect considering the Patriots did not officially record a sack. Oh, then there was the matter of an interception in the end zone. I questioned the play selection before the snap. I thought we should run the ball in that 3rd and goal situation. But that's between Gilbride and me. It actually took a fine play to intercept the pass though. Manningham could also have perhaps closed the gap and come back for the ball. It's really here nor there though. We won, so unfortunate plays like this usually go over looked.
But Eli was great late, just like he's been since he was a rookie. And Sunday, he was flat out awesome when the Giants needed him most (...again!). In his nearly season-long recurring role as Captain Come Back, Eli orchestrated not one, but two 4th quarter come-backs to lead his team to victory. That sort of thing is becoming old hat for Eli. It seems as if most of the Giants wins this season have been of the 4th quarter come-back variety. And while Eli's demeanor still remains conservative as usual, he's made it known loud and clear with his play, who's steering this ship. Awe-Shucks nothin'. Eli is in charge.
Sunday, with no Hakeem Nicks, Eli threw for 20/39; 250; 2TD; 1INT - to guys like Ramses Barden who made a much needed and very timely return to action; Victor Cruz; and Mario Manningham who for the moment, is thrust into playing big brother for the non-injured receiving youngsters still able to play. More importantly, Eli is getting the Giants though sticky situations with the surprisingly sure hands of tight-end Jake Ballard. The big man has come through big time in big situations making big plays for Big Blue this season. None were bigger than a pair of 4th quarter catches including the game winning touchdown against the Patriots.
The touchdown to Ballard that put the Giants ahead 24-20 was a result of Coach Kevin Gilbride using the running game to keep the Patriots honest. And I commend Coach for it. The rush by Jacobs the play prior to the TD made the Pats bite on play-action on the ensuing play springing Ballard loose. Gilbride stayed patient with the run all game and it paid off. But earlier in the game, when Eli's pass resulted in an end-zone INT, I questioned why Coach Gilbride would risk jeopardizing the game-tying field goal by putting the ball in the air. In his defense and in addition to comments I made above, there is also something to be said for killer instinct. And for a full game, I think Coach Gilbride mapped out a fine plan. And not just this game, which was commendable in itself; - Coach Gilbride is showing an adjusted approach to the running game overall (perhaps prodded by Coach Coughlin). It's been a slight adjustment; but an adjustment none the less. Between Brandon Jacobs and D.J. Ware, the Giants rushed the ball twenty-five times. Brandon Jacobs had eighteen of those rushes. Coach Gilbride remained very patient indeed considering the way the game played out.
The controversy between Jacobs/Gilbride is..., or better yet, never was; Period. I told you Brandon Jacobs was fine in spite of some ill-advised comments he made. After all, it was Brandon Jacobs who raised his Head Coach on his shoulders after the game inside a victorious Giant locker-room. Above all things, he's a good team mate and his words were never an issue; only to the Media, but certainly not to me.
I told you last week, Brandon Jacobs did not have to rush for 100-yards Sunday in order to have an effective day. And Sunday proved that out. While he rushed for 18 times for 72 yards, he also had four catches for 28 more very important yards, which brought his game productivity up to an even 100-yard day. And lest we forget his eleven yard scamper for the Giants' first touchdown of the game. Was Brandon Jacobs an elite back Sunday? Not nearly. Did Brandon Jacobs step-up, put his money where his mouth was and come through for his team? Yeah. Absolutely.
Eli and Jacobs managed what they could behind a solid day by the Offensive Line. They didn't get Eli sacked and still managed to help Jacobs and Ware squeak-out 95-yards on the ground. Above all, they were disciplined over the length of an incredibly tight game. They had no killer penalties called against them; something which plagued them over several games earlier this season. While Kevin Boothe had one problem with a snap in the shot-gun, Eli said Boothe was filling in extremely well at center in place of injured David Baas.
Lately, the two biggest criticisms leveled against the Giants were they couldn't run the ball, and that they couldn't stop the run either. Well, I think Jacobs, Coach Gilbride, and the Giants got what they needed from the running game Sunday. Then there is the matter of criticisms leveled against Coach Perry Fewell for making every Johnnie-come-lately running back look like Barry Sanders this season.
That problem stems from the Giants' line-backers. Tom Brady spilled the beans once and said N.E. prepares to exploit team's weaknesses; and why not....? Who doesn't? So naturally, who didn't think the Patriots would attempt to pound the ball and tight-end us to death all game long? In New England's opening drive, they punched right through our gut for something like a 15-yard gain or so. And I thought, uh-oh. But after that, Michael Boley started to have an exceptional game.
He's been charged with bringing along a trio of rookies. Since Mathias Kiwanuka is being deployed multiple ways, Boley is responsible for the on-the-job training for the trio of rookies - Greg Jones, Spencer Paysinger, and Mark Herzlich. And as a group Sunday, they all effectively shut-down New England's running game. Coach Belichick opted to run the ball just 24-times out of 75-plays, and opted to throw the ball 49 times instead. The Giants conversely, only threw 14-more times than they ran the ball in 68-plays for the game. So again, that's a good job by Kevin Gilbride and a great job by Michael Boley's unit.
But back to Coach Fewell...,and with an understanding about what exactly ails this Defense, I think Perry Fewell is having a fine season and had himself an exceptional game against the Patriots in particular. His unit has been bend but don't break for the most part this season. And damn near every time the Offense put them into a precarious situation this season, the Defense usually stood firm and held opposing teams to field goals. And besides, what more needs to be said other than a 0-0 score at half-time against the Patriots? The Giants' front line kept an elite quarterback like Tom Brady out of his element all game and induced the mega-nova N.E. quarterback into four turnovers along the way.
No doubt, a return to health to key defensive players couldn't have come at a better time for the Giants. And the depth Jerry Reese has provided this team has gotten them through decimating injuries which have kept the Giants from fading away on crutches. But in spite of getting victimized by big plays this season; and faced with ruinous injuries to the Secondary and at Linebacker, Coach Fewell has thus far done an outstanding job. And this last Sunday, Michael Boley, Chris Canty, Mathias Kiwanuka, Michael Coe (!!), Antrel Rolle, and damn near everyone on defense played-up to their competition this time, and stopped the vaunted Patriots and Tom Brady cold...for the most part.
What the Patriots also failed to win, was time of possession battle. And that was very key to the Giants success as well.
If a punter is getting too much face time or print space in the locals, it's usually because he's doing something very wrong. But NYG punter Steve Weatherford continues to have a booming season punting the football. Far too many times for New England's tastes, they started possessions very deep within their own territory. Weatherford's foot-work should not go under spoken. The first half battle for field position was just as instrumental in this Giant victory as Eli's arm was.
While Weatherford's foot has been a tremendous bright spot on Special Teams, Aaron Ross' fumble on kick-return almost proved ruinous. The Defense held N.E. to a field goal off the miscue. And that's something the Giants' Defense has done very well this season; i.e.; - limiting opposing points off turnovers. A second straight drop on kick-return happened again shortly, but NY recovered. That's a position that's been begging for attention all season.
The Giants are now 6-2 and sitting somewhat comfortably on top of their division. For that, much credit is due to Eli, Jacobs/Bradshaw, Cruz, Ballard, Barden, the pass rush, and other factors. But know this; this game was a testament to the job Coach Coughlin does preparing his team. Jim Fassell's Giants collapsed like a cheap poker table when decimated by injuries to his top players. Coach Coughlin has his injury ravaged team firmly in first place of the NFC Eastern Division.
And this game was also a credit to Jerry Reese's talent evaluation and organization abilities, not to mention his shrewd decision making as GM of the Giants. To all their critics after Week One - BoooYah! Don't worry though. I made the same (...Coughlin) mistake in 2006.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Big Blue Coaching Helps G-Men Get a Firm Grip on First Place.
We have till Wednesday to feel great about this team Giant Fans. That's what regular seasons are all about. They're filled with surprises and disappointments. They are for savoring and celebrating the good, and grumbling about the bad things that happen week to week. This last Sunday was a good thing in the grand scheme of things. So, having started with Sunday night and lasting through tomorrow, let's let this last game glow as a defining moment in our season thus far, before we have to forget it and move on.
But first, this...
All the Media's babble about Eli being "elite" or not, was and still is completely comical. How they (the Media) feed on each other's regurgitation I suspect even makes maggots want to puke sometimes. So allow me to simplify this for them. Eli is a damn good quarterback. He's our QB. He is a Giant. I trust him with all my Big Blue being to lead this team through any situation and against any team. I supported him as a rookie, through the years, and during all those interceptions last season. I have never wavered once. There is no conversation needed - much less one about whether Eli is elite or not. He is the New York Giants quarterback whom I think is capable of great things just as other quarterbacks around the league are capable of accomplishing great things as well. That's it. The state of Eli being elite, and the author of the question who opened his valve spewing all this oral pollution into the airwaves in the first place mean absolutely nothing. Elite quarterbacks can lose games too. See Tom Brady. See Tom Brady throw cups of water in disgust.
As I now step off my soap-box, I merely mean to say - You can't quantify everything. That's why this is sport; based on competition and not about branding an "E" onto some athlete's buttock. Elite indeed. Pfff! Shut up!
Back to the game...; Eli wasn't exactly pretty Sunday. In fact the game might have been a little bit of a regression of sorts. He shied away from taking hits and as a result threw many times off his back foot again. Old problem. - After week one and two, Eli for the most part has stood tall in the pocket this season. But in this game, there was a figurative step backwards in that respect considering the Patriots did not officially record a sack. Oh, then there was the matter of an interception in the end zone. I questioned the play selection before the snap. I thought we should run the ball in that 3rd and goal situation. But that's between Gilbride and me. It actually took a fine play to intercept the pass though. Manningham could also have perhaps closed the gap and come back for the ball. It's really here nor there though. We won, so unfortunate plays like this usually go over looked.
But Eli was great late, just like he's been since he was a rookie. And Sunday, he was flat out awesome when the Giants needed him most (...again!). In his nearly season-long recurring role as Captain Come Back, Eli orchestrated not one, but two 4th quarter come-backs to lead his team to victory. That sort of thing is becoming old hat for Eli. It seems as if most of the Giants wins this season have been of the 4th quarter come-back variety. And while Eli's demeanor still remains conservative as usual, he's made it known loud and clear with his play, who's steering this ship. Awe-Shucks nothin'. Eli is in charge.
Sunday, with no Hakeem Nicks, Eli threw for 20/39; 250; 2TD; 1INT - to guys like Ramses Barden who made a much needed and very timely return to action; Victor Cruz; and Mario Manningham who for the moment, is thrust into playing big brother for the non-injured receiving youngsters still able to play. More importantly, Eli is getting the Giants though sticky situations with the surprisingly sure hands of tight-end Jake Ballard. The big man has come through big time in big situations making big plays for Big Blue this season. None were bigger than a pair of 4th quarter catches including the game winning touchdown against the Patriots.
The touchdown to Ballard that put the Giants ahead 24-20 was a result of Coach Kevin Gilbride using the running game to keep the Patriots honest. And I commend Coach for it. The rush by Jacobs the play prior to the TD made the Pats bite on play-action on the ensuing play springing Ballard loose. Gilbride stayed patient with the run all game and it paid off. But earlier in the game, when Eli's pass resulted in an end-zone INT, I questioned why Coach Gilbride would risk jeopardizing the game-tying field goal by putting the ball in the air. In his defense and in addition to comments I made above, there is also something to be said for killer instinct. And for a full game, I think Coach Gilbride mapped out a fine plan. And not just this game, which was commendable in itself; - Coach Gilbride is showing an adjusted approach to the running game overall (perhaps prodded by Coach Coughlin). It's been a slight adjustment; but an adjustment none the less. Between Brandon Jacobs and D.J. Ware, the Giants rushed the ball twenty-five times. Brandon Jacobs had eighteen of those rushes. Coach Gilbride remained very patient indeed considering the way the game played out.
The controversy between Jacobs/Gilbride is..., or better yet, never was; Period. I told you Brandon Jacobs was fine in spite of some ill-advised comments he made. After all, it was Brandon Jacobs who raised his Head Coach on his shoulders after the game inside a victorious Giant locker-room. Above all things, he's a good team mate and his words were never an issue; only to the Media, but certainly not to me.
I told you last week, Brandon Jacobs did not have to rush for 100-yards Sunday in order to have an effective day. And Sunday proved that out. While he rushed for 18 times for 72 yards, he also had four catches for 28 more very important yards, which brought his game productivity up to an even 100-yard day. And lest we forget his eleven yard scamper for the Giants' first touchdown of the game. Was Brandon Jacobs an elite back Sunday? Not nearly. Did Brandon Jacobs step-up, put his money where his mouth was and come through for his team? Yeah. Absolutely.
Eli and Jacobs managed what they could behind a solid day by the Offensive Line. They didn't get Eli sacked and still managed to help Jacobs and Ware squeak-out 95-yards on the ground. Above all, they were disciplined over the length of an incredibly tight game. They had no killer penalties called against them; something which plagued them over several games earlier this season. While Kevin Boothe had one problem with a snap in the shot-gun, Eli said Boothe was filling in extremely well at center in place of injured David Baas.
Lately, the two biggest criticisms leveled against the Giants were they couldn't run the ball, and that they couldn't stop the run either. Well, I think Jacobs, Coach Gilbride, and the Giants got what they needed from the running game Sunday. Then there is the matter of criticisms leveled against Coach Perry Fewell for making every Johnnie-come-lately running back look like Barry Sanders this season.
That problem stems from the Giants' line-backers. Tom Brady spilled the beans once and said N.E. prepares to exploit team's weaknesses; and why not....? Who doesn't? So naturally, who didn't think the Patriots would attempt to pound the ball and tight-end us to death all game long? In New England's opening drive, they punched right through our gut for something like a 15-yard gain or so. And I thought, uh-oh. But after that, Michael Boley started to have an exceptional game.
He's been charged with bringing along a trio of rookies. Since Mathias Kiwanuka is being deployed multiple ways, Boley is responsible for the on-the-job training for the trio of rookies - Greg Jones, Spencer Paysinger, and Mark Herzlich. And as a group Sunday, they all effectively shut-down New England's running game. Coach Belichick opted to run the ball just 24-times out of 75-plays, and opted to throw the ball 49 times instead. The Giants conversely, only threw 14-more times than they ran the ball in 68-plays for the game. So again, that's a good job by Kevin Gilbride and a great job by Michael Boley's unit.
But back to Coach Fewell...,and with an understanding about what exactly ails this Defense, I think Perry Fewell is having a fine season and had himself an exceptional game against the Patriots in particular. His unit has been bend but don't break for the most part this season. And damn near every time the Offense put them into a precarious situation this season, the Defense usually stood firm and held opposing teams to field goals. And besides, what more needs to be said other than a 0-0 score at half-time against the Patriots? The Giants' front line kept an elite quarterback like Tom Brady out of his element all game and induced the mega-nova N.E. quarterback into four turnovers along the way.
No doubt, a return to health to key defensive players couldn't have come at a better time for the Giants. And the depth Jerry Reese has provided this team has gotten them through decimating injuries which have kept the Giants from fading away on crutches. But in spite of getting victimized by big plays this season; and faced with ruinous injuries to the Secondary and at Linebacker, Coach Fewell has thus far done an outstanding job. And this last Sunday, Michael Boley, Chris Canty, Mathias Kiwanuka, Michael Coe (!!), Antrel Rolle, and damn near everyone on defense played-up to their competition this time, and stopped the vaunted Patriots and Tom Brady cold...for the most part.
What the Patriots also failed to win, was time of possession battle. And that was very key to the Giants success as well.
If a punter is getting too much face time or print space in the locals, it's usually because he's doing something very wrong. But NYG punter Steve Weatherford continues to have a booming season punting the football. Far too many times for New England's tastes, they started possessions very deep within their own territory. Weatherford's foot-work should not go under spoken. The first half battle for field position was just as instrumental in this Giant victory as Eli's arm was.
While Weatherford's foot has been a tremendous bright spot on Special Teams, Aaron Ross' fumble on kick-return almost proved ruinous. The Defense held N.E. to a field goal off the miscue. And that's something the Giants' Defense has done very well this season; i.e.; - limiting opposing points off turnovers. A second straight drop on kick-return happened again shortly, but NY recovered. That's a position that's been begging for attention all season.
The Giants are now 6-2 and sitting somewhat comfortably on top of their division. For that, much credit is due to Eli, Jacobs/Bradshaw, Cruz, Ballard, Barden, the pass rush, and other factors. But know this; this game was a testament to the job Coach Coughlin does preparing his team. Jim Fassell's Giants collapsed like a cheap poker table when decimated by injuries to his top players. Coach Coughlin has his injury ravaged team firmly in first place of the NFC Eastern Division.
And this game was also a credit to Jerry Reese's talent evaluation and organization abilities, not to mention his shrewd decision making as GM of the Giants. To all their critics after Week One - BoooYah! Don't worry though. I made the same (...Coughlin) mistake in 2006.
Mike.BTB
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