N.Y. Giants: David Diehl Leads Smash Mouth Effort Over Oakland Raiders

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

WEEK TEN FINAL:

Raiders    20

GIANTS  24

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Coach Kevin Gilbride Unleashes Smash Mouth Football Against Oakland Raiders.  Andre Brown Grinds Out 115 Yards In First Game Back from Fractured Leg.  But Make Sure You Give The Game Ball To David Diehl!

The Giants came out of their bye week running - literally.  For the first time all season, Coach Gilbride designed a game plan that incorporated more rushing, than passing the football.  In return, the Giants received a stellar effort from Andre Brown, an overall running effort that overcame yet another Eli Manning pick-six, and converted on third down to gain a crucial first down with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter to cement a 24-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

In Andre Brown's first game of the season back from a leg fracture, Coach Gilbride surprisingly dialed up an old-school smash mouth ground attack.  Coach called Brown's number thirty times, and in return Andre rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown.  Peyton Hillis rushed another five times for 21 yards.  That's 136 yards by the backfield on 35 carries, for an average of 3.9 yards per rush.  Hillis did fumble once however, but in the bigger picture, the running game helped the Giants convert 50% on third down, and rushed for eight first downs.  Big Blue also won time of possession by a 32-28 minute margin.

Eli Manning, on the other hand, was only 12/22, for 140 yards.  He threw one touchdown pass to Reuben Randal, and one (INT) TD pass to Oakland's Tracy Porter.  In a very real way this week, the running game bailed-out Eli Manning for a change.  More time will be spent this week talking about a resurgent running game, than dissecting Eli's performance and discussing how much he sucks this season.  I've definitely defended him over the weeks, but today was strictly his own folly.

The real conversation and rightful acclaim however should focus on right guard David Diehl.  He first deserves credit for being adaptable enough over the years to fill in at most offensive line positions.  He variously switched between left guard and tackle through the years, and with this year's season ending injury to Chris Snee, Diehl was asked to shift over and stabilize right guard.  It is far from coincidence that the Giants running game has demonstrated substantial improvement ever since David Diehl rejoined the offensive line after breaking his thumb.

This afternoon against Oakland, Coach Gilbride unleashed a ground attack that repeatedly rushed behind David Diehl's blocking.  Coach relied heavily on Diehl in the first and fourth quarters.  The Giants right guard responded by creating lanes and daylight worth 64 yards on 11 carries, for a 5.8 yards per rush average.  Coach Gilbride elected to run right 7 times out of 8 1st quarter rushes.  Then after going heavy left side in the 2nd quarter, Oakland held the ball for 13:16 in the 3rd quarter, and limited the Giants to just 3 rushing attempts.  But in the fourth, Coach Gilbride went heavy right again, calling for 9 of 13 rushes behind Diehl and Pugh.

Analysis shows the right side of Big Blue's O-Line played huge Sunday.  Coach Gilbride called for 9 plays to be run off right tackle Justin Pugh, and gained 31 yards.  Between both Pugh and David Diehl, the Giants rushed 20 times for 95 yards, good for a 4.7 average yards per carry.

On the other side, the Giants ran off left tackle Will Beatty 7 times, and gained 28 yards, for a 4-yard average per rush.  But when they dialed up Kevin Boothe at left guard, the Giants gained just 13 yards on 5 carries.  In total, the Giants ran left 12 times and gained only 41 yards, for a 3.4 average per carry.  Trying to force their way up the middle was an even less fruitful endeavor.  The Giants gained net zero yards on three rushes behind Jim Cordle at center, but Cordle's efforts playing to Diehl's left certainly also contributed to the Giants overall success running right.

The Giants running game had six plays go for -16 yards, only one play went for no-gain, while 28 plays resulted in positive yardage.

This came against the Oakland Raiders - not exactly a bad team, but not necessarily a very good one.  Nonetheless, the search for daylight continues.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: Running In The Shadows Of Daylight

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS - With Andre Brown Returning To Rush Behind A Reconfigured Offensive Line, Is There Yet Hope For The Running Game?  Or, Will This Wind Up Being A Late Sunday Afternoon Shadow In Autumn's Fading Quest For Daylight?

The Giants are ranked 30th in the NFL rushing the football.  They average 69.9 total yards per game, but the effort rates even worse when you peel back the layers.

In eight games, the backfield has rushed the ball 166 times, for an average of 20.7 attempts per game, but even that is misleading.  In the first five games, they averaged sixteen rushes per game.  Over the last three games, they've averaged twenty-eight rushes per game.  Here's the breakdown:

Week One - 41 pass attempts; 12 rushes for 41 yards.
Week Two - 49 pass attempts; 19 rushes for 23 yards.
Week Three - 25 pass attempts; 15 rushes for 46 yards.
Week Four - 37 pass attempts; 19 rushes for 86 yards - (Wilson, Scott; 18/81, 4.5 avg.)
Week Five - 52 pass attempts; 17 rushes for 53 yards.
*
Week Six - 26 pass attempts; 26 rushes for 123 yards!
Week Seven - 39 pass attempts; 29 rushes for 59 yards.
Week Eight - 39 pass attempts; 29 rushes for 89 yards.

The Giants have gained a total of 520 real yards, which excludes Eli Manning's attempts to scramble. In nine attempts this season, Eli has gained thirty-eight yards, for a 4.2 average.  In jest, Eli Manning could technically qualify as the Giants best rusher, as the backfield has only averaged 3.1 yards per carry this season.  Without Manning, the Giants rush average drops to only 65 yards per game.

Wait - it gets worse.  Take away Brandon Jacob's supreme Week Six effort against the Chicago Bears, and the Giants recalibrated totals read - 144 rushing attempts, 414 total yards, for an average of 2.8 yards per carry, and a likewise reduced 60 yards per game average.  Not unexpectedly, Brandon Jacobs suffered a strained hamstring during the Bears game, and has not factored since.

So what do we know?  Through eight weeks, the Giants featured a barren backfield, running behind a depleted offensive line incapable of run blocking.  The O-Line additionally allowed sacks, and drew penalties at an (un-Giant like) prolific rate.  And of course, over reliance on passing the ball has resulted in an absurd amount of interceptions.

Okay.

Lost in all this, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has quietly been out of sight and out of mind - if not lost upon our collective self-pity over starting 2-6 this season.  So, as necessity is the mother of all invention, Coughlin unleashed Simon Bar Sinister to be as crazy, wiley and as irresponsible as he wanted to be without fear of recriminations from me, you and most fans, nor the media, the NSA, the Russians, global warming and endangered polar bears.  He may not escape Jerry Reese at season's end, but that remains to be seen.

Let's not forget, in the Eli/ Coach Coughlin era, the Giants have been a highly aggressive, pass-first team.  This is not all on Gilbride.  He is Coughlin's enabler.  And so, through the first five weeks, in trying to play catch-up football, Air Gilbride reduced the running game into a mere smudge on his  play calling chart.  Yes, the running game indeed was a futile venture, but there was a minimalist attempt on his part to keep opposing defenses honest.  Many screamed for more controlled roll-outs and 3-step drops by Eli, employing double tight ends and utilizing pulling linemen, trying more screen passes and draw plays, and more overall swing catches by the backfield to offset the run.

Instead, we're presently at the midway point of the season, and Eli Manning has as many INT's (15) as he had all of last year, and yes, he leads the NFL this season in that category.  Kevin Gilbride's idea of situational play calling and lack of better creativity, in addition to receivers running incorrect routes, no tight end to speak of, the crumbling offensive line, and yes, Eli Manning's inconsistency and occasionally reverting back to old habits (like throwing off his back foot) all share equal blame for fifteen interceptions.  But in truth, without an effective running game, all semblance of play-action was, and still remains null and void.

Under those conditions, it is hard to decipher any measure of success or even promise, culpability, negligence, or singular blame.  The Giants do not have much to hang their helmets on outside of A) - a decently competitive game to open the season against Dallas, B) - a good first half against the Broncos, C) - a decent day against the Chiefs running the ball despite yet another loss, D) -  a throw-back game by Brandon Jacobs against the Bears, and E & F) -  two yawn inspiring victories over the Vikings and Eagles.

Make no mistake - the defense and special teams have more problems than a math book as well.  But you know what they say - an effective running game gets first downs, keeps possession of the football, keeps the punter off the field, takes time off the clock, keeps the opposing offense off the field, and minimizes the defense's exposure and limits their fatigue.

The demise of Brandon Jacobs, then Ahmad Bradshaw ushered in the era of Andre Brown and David Wilson?  That's the way Jerry Reese designed it, and the Giants paid a steep price. 

October 9, 2013 - The Long Successful Run To Daylight Is Over

Andre Brown went down before opening day, and David Wilson is still battling a neck condition.  Brandon Jacob's contribution this season has been chronicled and appreciated, while Da'rel Scott and Peyton Hillis did all they could.  None of this falls on them.

What now?

The season ending injuries to offensive linemen Chris Snee, but more specifically to David Baas, are perhaps addition by subtraction.  Jim Cordle has filled in at center, and will continue seeing steady playing time.  The center position is now bigger and healthier because of it.  David Diehl's return is not only timely, his ability to play multiple positions has allowed him to slide into Snee's spot.  Corresponding to the changes, the O-Line has demonstrated marked improvement over their first five weeks of the season.  The backfield in turn has benefited as well.  Will Beatty, Kevin Boothe, Jim Cordle, David Diehl and Justin Pugh, who has played quite well as a rookie, are now the starting front five, and should finish out the season together barring any further injury.

Coach Coughlin also put the brakes on Air Gilbride.  After failing to run the ball at least twenty times during the first five games, and averaging two passes for every one rush, Coach advised his long-time friend and coordinator to restrike a balance between passing and running the ball.  In Week Six, Kevin Gilbride struck total balance for his friend, and elected to pass and rush an equal twenty-six times each.  In both Weeks Seven and Eight, the Giants ran a season high twenty-nine times, and had finally rushed the ball in excess of twenty-five times in three straight games.

David Wilson recently went for a second MRI for a herniated disk in his neck, and will not be reevaluated for another few weeks.  But, finally some good news - Andre Brown appears back after sustaining a fractured leg in pre-season, and may finally play for the first time this Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.  How effective he'll be in his first few games back is obviously a highly questionable proposition.  Not to mention, regardless of the opposition, he'll be playing against defenses that are very literally in mid-season form.

With Andre Brown rushing again behind a reconfigured offensive line, perhaps there's hope for this running game yet.  I'm afraid however, the affect will be too little, too late, and wind up a mere late afternoon shadow in Autumn's fading quest for daylight.

Despite the pass-happiness of the Eli/Coughlin/Gilbride era, for nearly a full decade, the Giants featured one of the most fearsome running games in football, rushing behind a record setting offensive line.  Back then, Coach Gilbride took it upon himself to strike offensive balance, and had the resources to get it done.  Those days are officially long gone.  After Chris Snee went down, David Diehl became the lone surviving lineman from the previous era, and even his days are short.

There are no football miracles on the horizon for Big Blue.  Not this year.  Time and Football stand still for no one.  The Giants will not win out and finish with a 10-6 record.  They need to go 5-3 just to finish with a 7-9 mark.  Let's just get through the Raiders first.

I've never hesitated to criticize Kevin Gilbride.  I'm old school, remember - raised on Bill Parcells, smash mouth, and stuff like that.  So Gilbride has been a real assault on my sensibilities.  But I never wanted him fired.  Defensive coordinators?  Yes.  Him?  No.  This year, Gilbride is only guilty of doing what he's been told, and it feels weird defending him, but there you go.  I'm resigned to the fact that in this modern era of...whatever... Coughlin, Gilbride, and Eli Manning will go down as the most prolific offensive trio in Giants history, yet go down as perhaps the most criticized.  Ponderous, but true.

N.Y. Giants: On Tom Coughlin - Note To Fans, Remember Where You Came From

 

Too may of Jerry Reese's problems stem from the salary cap.  Above all else, he needs to get that in order.  The Giants entered the season with the most free agents on their roster and least amount of drafted players in the Jerry Reese era.  That is the inherent and inevitable peril when tasked with putting a previous era to bed, and trying to establish a new one on the fly in the parity stricken NFL.  So, money is a definite factor in future decision making.  Free agent acquisition David Baas woefully under-performed for the cash he was earning.  That mistake can not be repeated.  Will Beatty is making too much as well, but at least deserves further consideration.

Of the current members of the offensive line and backfield, I am only otherwise predisposed to move forward with Justin Pugh, David Wilson, Jim Cordle and Kevin Boothe.  The Giants need to reevaluate quickly this off-season and choose which direction they want to go.  Then move forward by making very hard, unpopular decisions and affect the necessary changes.

Next, Jerry Reese needs to reprioritize next year's draft.  Reese did not compromise himself by sending the Panthers a late pick for Jon Beason. 

We've know for a few years now, the offensive line needed a complete overhaul.  When Jerry Reese finally rebuilds the offensive line, only then will things fall into place again.  A grassroots effort is in order.  Assemble another young core of linemen, and let them grow together.  Selecting RT Justin Pugh last year was a needed step in the right direction.  Jerry Reese will need to expend another pick on an O-lineman, and hope he gets as good a player, if not better than Justin Pugh.  A trade and a smart free agent signing later, and perhaps one more rush for glorious daylight may resume in earnest again before Eli retires.




Mike.BTB

N.Y.Giants: Did The Chiefs Tomahawk Big Blue's Season?

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

Picking Up Reese's Pieces

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: With A Quarter Of The Season Wasted, Big Blue's Underlying Condition Must Be Realized And Dealt With. 

The Giants are off to their worst start in twenty-seven years.  The first four weeks of the season have been a recurring nightmare, and any playoff aspirations the team may have held entering the 2013 season are now all but ruined.  Tom Coughlin might be happy to see his worse ever month as Head Coach of the GMen finally end.  But make no mistake, there will be no joy in the land of Giants.  They've dug such a hole for themselves, that at this point, there is likely no way out.  At the moment, the only thing they have working for them is time, as twelve games remain in the regular season.  Outside of that, the Giants have invited rampant and wide ranging speculation upon themselves.

This may be a hard subject to broach, or seem like a knee-jerk reaction after only Week Four, but the truth of the matter is the Chiefs may very well have served GM Jerry Reese with rebuilding papers this afternoon.  Just look where the Kansas City Chiefs have been the last two seasons, and look at them now.  Ditto goes for Seattle.  The same thing happening to the Giants is also happening to Pittsburgh.

No GM can ever flip a roster in one week much less one season, but with Giants respectability hanging by a thread, desperate times call for desperate measures.  Jerry Reese has upwards of forty-five question marks on both offense and defense which demand considerable attention.  Therefore, the coming second quarter of the season, and the rest of the year for that matter, begs for a different kind of team evaluation.

It is sad to be speaking about 2014 so soon, but the Giants condition must be realized and dealt with.  Offensively, I do not believe the return of a healthy David Diehl will make a difference.  He hardly made a difference last season.  Instead, the entire offensive line needs rebuilding - all five positions.  Eli Manning began as a rookie playing behind an established elite veteran offensive line, and was supplemented by an equally powerful backfield, and additionally always had a capable tight end at his disposal.  David Diehl, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, Shaun O'Hara, Rich Seubert, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw collectively had their last hurrah together in SBXLII.  Injuries, age and declining ability have since took their toll on the offense.  Naturally with the passage of time, the collective skills of the offensive line and backfield were diminishing just as Eli was entering his prime, but the overlap of careers was still good enough to win two titles.  However, inadequate replacements have hastened the Giants demise.  In spite of his performance against Carolina, Will Beatty is a good pass blocker, but the Giants won't be doing much running behind him.  Beatty also does not come cheaply, and that's a hindrance to forward progress, just as David Baas' price tag and lack of performance have likewise been a hindrance towards success.

Defensively, despite Corey Webster's and Aaron Ross' past ability to rise up to occasion, ruinous injuries have hampered Jerry Reese's ability to upgrade the secondary for years.  Since Antonio Pierce, and despite a failed sizable investment in Michael Boley, the position of linebacker has been largely ignored.  While it's true, the Giants were able to rise up and win two Super Bowls on the strength on their pass rush, they currently rank last in the league in sacks.  Justin Tuck recorded just two tackles last week versus Carolina.  This week against the Chiefs, he made just one tackle.  He has exactly one-half sack after four games.  While the defensive line is where Jerry Reese has focused most of his attention in recent years, the results are lacking.  Tackle Cullen Jenkins was brought in for big money, and now reports have it Jerry Reese is looking to extend Linval Joseph.

That said, the Giants have faced massive salary cap issues for several years now as well.  Will Beatty and David Baas were already mentioned.  Victor Cruz' money barely fit under the cap, while Hakeem Nicks will be looking to cash in next season.  None of this bodes well for the Giants, this year or next.  This era may have finally reached its Law of Diminished returns.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: Offensive Woes Mounting

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Things Always Get Worse Before They Get Better.

The Giants offensive line continues to pose more problems than a math book.  David Diehl is still not ready for game action, and now, Chris Snee and David Baas will miss this weekend's game, and possibly more than that.  That makes three (potential) starting linemen out for Sunday's game.

At least Big Blue will get a fresh new look at their remaining options without having to second guess themselves.  Injuries have forced their hand.  James Brewer and Jim Cordle now enter the equation.  The Giants third option is second year Brandon Mosley.  Regardless of who plays where this week, any combination the Giants throw out Sunday can't do any worse than the line performed last week.  In fact, in three successive weeks starting in Dallas and culminating last week against Carolina, the offensive line's play got worse, gained less yardage, and allowed more sacks as they went along.  So, last week was indeed like hitting rock bottom, as it cost them two more players and the reputation of a third - that being Will Beatty, who had perhaps the worst day of all.

This week's beleaguered and inexperienced bunch has the unenviable task of protecting Eli from the Kansas City Chiefs, who just happen to lead the NFL in sacks.  Linebacker Justin Houston has 7 1/2 of them.  Justin Pugh in particular will have his hands full this week.  It certainly won't help the Giants that they're also facing a familiar old foe in Coach Andy Reid.

There is also something more to than just protecting Eli.  As we've learned, when Eli can't get the ball to Hakeem Nicks, the offense looks especially bad.  Once again, that circles back to the running game, and making matters even worse now, the back field suffered an additional major blow with the loss of fullback Henry Hynoski for the season.  If the Giants continue to struggle running the ball, they at least have to do a better job of keeping Eli upright, so he, Nicks and Cruz can at least make this a competitive game.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: Offensive Line Adds Some Weight

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

David Wilson's Quest For Daylight

Giants Need A Full Season From Hakeem Nicks

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Week One's Offensive Line Is Big and Blue, Weighs Over 1500 Pounds, And I Like It.

Did David Diehl's Injury Actually Improve The Offensive Line?

 

Tiki Barber, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw all ran behind superior offensive lines.  I didn't say that, the record books did.  In the same breath, Eli Manning has been one of the least sacked quarterbacks since entering the league.  But time stands still for no one.  The front five I'm referring to were already on the precipice of decline by the time the Giants won Super Bowl XLII.  Over the last five years since then and another Super Bowl later, some members have slowly been transitioned out.

Last season saw the departure of Kareem McKenzie.  Prior to him, Rich Seubert and Shaun O'Hara were given their walking papers.  Remaining from what was once the most formidable offensive line in football are David Diehl and Chris Snee.  Diehl, as we know will miss the first quarter of the regular season with a thumb injury.  Although he's been very adaptable and helpful in playing multiple positions over the last several seasons, his game has been in steady decline for the last two in particular.  For the moment, that leaves Snee as the lone survivor at right guard.

This year's offensive line has already suffered multiple casualties.  In addition to David Diehl, regular starting center David Baas will miss Sunday night's opener in Dallas with an injured left knee.  I'm still not at peace with the signing of Baas.  He struggled somewhat and suffered a neck injury his first season here.   To be fair however, he played well last season.  I just feel he is undersized for the position.

This year, the Giants will enter Sunday's clash against the Cowboys with over 1500 pounds of offensive linemen.  At 6'3" and 320 pounds, Jim Cordle, 26, will take over at center this week.  That's the kind of size I'm talking about.  Jim will be taking on his biggest assignment to date.  Entering his fourth season, he should at least have the smarts and his technique down.  Kevin Boothe was the original back-up plan for David Baas, but after David Diehl went down, Boothe was forced to slide back to left guard.

Will Beatty is back to man left tackle.  He is a technique reliant guy, which tends to get me down on him from time to time.  But when you crunch the rushing numbers, the Giants ran the ball slightly better running left with Beatty at tackle than with Diehl.  As previously mentioned, Kevin Boothe will play left guard.  I like Boothe - always have, and especially like him at left guard because we can trust him.  He is entering his sixth season, and his prime years as a player.  At twenty-eight years old, he maintains a 6'6", 319 pound wall of protection for Eli Manning's blind side.

Chris Snee is just a good, gutsy lineman.  He's been a great front line grunt for the G-Men.  He is now entering his eleventh season.  When you add his 305 pounds to that of Jim Cordle and Kevin Boothe, that's over 900 pounds of Big Blue man meat between the tackles, which I find somewhat comforting.

Pressed into service at right tackle, will be Jerry Reese's first round (#19) draft pick, Justin Pugh.  Luckily for him, he will be playing along side an excellent mentor in Chris Snee.  He'll need to mature in a hurry, as Pugh could potentially receive a personal welcome to the NFL from the Cowboys DeMarcus Ware.  Pugh brings another 301 pounds to the line.

These five will be charged to open holes for David Wilson and protect Eli Manning.  Through injury, I kind of like this unit better.  Of course, being down to one feature back is a precarious way to start the season.  If David Wilson goes down, we're pretty much consigned to throwing 70% of the time; or just plain screwed if you prefer.  But I'm not so sure going into the season with just David Wilson is such a bad thing though.  Running off right tackle with a rookie there might pose a problem, but  that wouldn't be a new problem. The running game saw a drop off in yardage last season when rushing to the right side, or off-tackle.  In Kareem McKenzie's last season, the Giants averaged nearly five yards per rush running right, and barely three yards per carry to the left.  Last season with McKenzie gone, the Giants had difficulty getting to the outside of both tackles, faring much better inside.  If anything, the Giants will have good size and experience up the middle this season.

I guess the idea is to keep defenses honest.  Coach Gilbride likes balance.  Hopefully, the running game will provide that, and prevent team's from keying in on Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.  Offense is all about making the defensive safeties commit.  If the offensive line and David Wilson can help keep safeties honest by providing a productive running game, then Coach Gilbride, Eli, Cruz and Nicks can dice up any team.

Welcome to the new, modern day NFL.  Oh smash-mouth football, why have you forsaken me?



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: The Off Season Search For Daylight

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE


NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL - Don't Let Big Blue Fool You.  The Running Game Didn't Improve Much.


It's always something.  If it's not one thing, it's another.  When Eli Manning was a wee QB still wet behind the ears, he was protected by the best offensive line in football, and supplemented by the league's number one running game.  Two Super Bowls later, now that Eli is the Mann he plays behind an offensive line that is painstakingly undergoing an overhaul, as well as getting little to no help from a largely non existent running game.


Don't let them fool you.  The Giants protected Eli well enough.  They also improved upon their dreadful 2011 season when they ranked dead last in rushing.  They upped their ranking to 14th in the NFL running the ball this season.  But that could unfortunately make it easy to overlook their real dilemma.  Not only have they have lost their ability to dominate the clock utilizing the run, worse, after Andre Brown went down Big Blue became exceptionally futile in short yardage situations.  Far too often, the Giants settled for field goals because they puttered in the red zone.  If they failed to gain short yardage, then naturally they failed to gain first downs.


Once again Ahmad Bradshaw showed he is a compromised player.  Yet he still posted another 1,000 yard season.  But how much longer can he last before his lower appendages break apart?  Does Jerry Reese plan on bringing Andre Brown back?  Does he even bring Bradshaw back?  Will Coach Coughlin and the Giants feature David Wilson more often in the backfield next season?  Has David Wilson sufficiently learned how to pick up a blitz yet?  The Giants have three uncertain scenarios in their backfield.  For two backs at least, the future seems unclear.  However, I think it is unlikely Jerry Reese uses a top two pick on a running back in the next draft.  So perhaps David Wilson's starting time will be born of necessity.


Up front, the biggest question facing the Offensive Line is what to do about David Diehl.  Let's face it, he's fading fast.  He is clearly not coming off a good, or healthy, two year stretch.  The time has come to replace him, or, move him back to Guard again, which is where he came from.  Tackle is just not his forte.  Although he was far from being a liability, David Diehl just wasn't effective enough.  Sean Locklear was clearly the better Tackle when given playing time.  But as luck would have it, Locklear was felled by a season ending knee injury.


At Right Guard, Chris Snee had himself another good season, but continues to pay a high physical toll.  His time is growing shorter.  And at Center, I still maintain David Baas is undersized.  The left side of the line was manned by Will Beatty and Kevin Boothe.  Individually, I do not have much to gripe about.  But collectively, this line has become very average.  Will Beatty is a pending free agent.


If I had my way, Jerry Reese would be spending a high draft pick on a Center or Tackle.  The Giants need a stud on the line.  And in the mean time, hand the starting Right Tackle position to Sean Locklear assuming he is okay to return.  Then relegate David Diehl to back up Guard.  Re-signing Will Beatty almost seems necessary right now.  The Giants lack depth.  So keep enough money within the cap and see which free agent linemen might possibly fit in.  If Locklear doesn't heal up, the Giants will need to find someone fast.




Mike.BTB

New York Giants: Injuries Causing Problems At Right Tackle

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Offensive Line Depth Is Suddenly A Big Problem.

Hello again folks.  My post-Hurricane Sandy schedule is finally starting to loosen up.  So allow me a post or two in order to re-establish a flow.  The last time I posted anything about the Giants was just prior to the Bengals game.  Obviously many things have transpired between now and then.  And aside from the Packers game, I'm kind of glad I was unable to watch the other contests, although the radio did a fine job of raising my blood pressure all the same.  I'm not going to waste time rehashing stuff.  Let's just move this along..., shall we?

*     *     *     *

 

 

The Giants now have a huge problem at Right Tackle.  Sean Locklear will be out for the rest of the season with an injured knee suffered Monday night against the Redskins.  He didn't exactly have his best game Monday.  In fact, it was probably his worst game.  But he was having a fine season substituting for David Diehl.  And therein lies the rub.  Most recently, Diehl has been sidelined by a stinger to his neck and shoulder.

 

 

Sean Locklear has done his part to improve the Giants running game somewhat over last season.   And his pass protection has been stellar.  The nine year pro definitely provided a noticeable difference on the right side this year.  David Diehl should be able to finish out the season.  But moving forward, the Giants' offensive line depth will be severely tested.  Second year Jim Cordle is more of an interior lineman.  That leaves second year Tackle James Brewer next on the pecking order.  Remember Mitch Petrus?  Well, Coach Coughlin would rather not.  He never found favor with Mitch.  But the Giants could use him right about now.

 

 

It is becoming more evident by the week, this may very well be David Diehl's last season.  His performance has not been up to normal David Diehl standards these last two seasons.  I have a strong sense Jerry Reese will make replacing Diehl an off season priority.  David Diehl will then join Shaun O'Hara, Rich Seubert, and Kareem McKenzie as former Giants.  That would leave Chris Snee as the lone remaining member of the Giants former record setting offensive line.

 

 

 

MONDAY FINAL:

GIANTS 16

Redskins 17

 

 

I'm not going to get bent all out of shape over Monday night's loss.  There is no doubt the offense has red-zone issues.  But you still have to like the way the Giants can move the ball.  Even though it has been a season long issue, going from three point to six point drives I feel is only an adjustment or two away.

 

 

The Giants only surrendered seventeen points, and six of those came on RGIII's freak TD fumble.  Big Blue also drew penalties at an uncharacteristically high rate, and at the worst possible times. Then quite obviously, if Lawrence Tynes nails that field goal, the Giants win.  So I take the loss in stride.

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB

New York Giants: Rushing To Conclusions?

From the desk of: Do It For The Duke - My Phone Version



NEW YORK GIANTS: I Ask Again, Is The Offensive Line Better Without David Diehl?

I touched upon this earlier in the season, and now I feel compelled to revisit the issue. There is a building case that perhaps suggests the Offensive Line is better without David Diehl.

With David Diehl out and Sean Locklear in, the Giants were rushing for 100 yards per game. Prior to Diehl getting hurt after week two, the G-Men failed to gain 100 yards against the Cowboys and Tampa Bay. When Diehl went down and Sean Locklear stepped in, the Giants rushed for over 100 yards in three consecutive games, highlighted by Ahmad Bradshaw's 200 yard game against Cleveland. With Diehl back in the line-up the running game has regressed again with three consecutive poor efforts against the Skins, Cowboys II, and last week against the Steelers.

I do not question the results based on this season alone. Last year with David Diehl playing Left Tackle, over the course of the season the Giants did their best running to the right side behind Kareem McKenzie and Chris Snee. When they ran left behind Diehl and Kevin Boothe, the effort lacked even similar results.

Up the middle, Chris Snee is still playing like Chris Snee. David Baas and Kevin Boothe have become a nice combo. There are no real issues with Will Beatty to speak of. So that leaves Right Tackle. With Sean Locklear in, the Giants have run to one result. With Diehl in, the Giants have rushed for another.

This week, my issue is somewhat moot if Chris Snee does not play. In that case, Diehl will shift to Guard, and Locklear will play Tackle. I will however be paying close attention to how the Giants manage running outside Right Tackle, and how they fare between Tackle and Guard.




P.S. This, like many posts in my immediate future are being written on the fly. So please be patient during the next few weeks. Work, and the continuing efforts to recover from Sandy currently dominate my time. And that means no spell check either. So deal with it.



Thanks,
Mike.BTB

New York Giants: Eli And Kevin Gilbride Rewriting Giants History

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  Over The Last Three Seasons, The Offensive Line Has Deteriorated, The Running Game Has Declined, While Wide Receiver Needed Healing After A Shot To The Leg.  The More Giant Conditions Worsened Around Eli, The Greater Big Blue's Quarterback Became.


During Eli Manning's rookie season of 2004, he appeared in nine games and started seven.  He completed 95 of 197 pass attempts for 1,043 yards.  Eli finished his first season with six touchdowns and nine interceptions.  Nine years later, just three games into the 2012 season, Eli Manning has completed 79 of 118 pass attempts for 1,011 yards.  He has thrown five touchdowns and has been intercepted three times.


Since the day Eli threw his first pass in the NFL, through last Thursday's game against the Carolina Panthers, Eli has thrown for 28,590 yards, which now ranks #43 all-time.  If all goes well against the Eagles next Sunday, Eli will pass Len Dawson and Rich Gannon, and move up to #41 all-time behind Brad Johnson.  If two of the three QB's I just mentioned sound pedestrian to you, it is because they were.  But while Gannon's and Johnson's careers are closed books, Eli doesn't turn thirty two years old until January.  With continued health, the names on the all-time list Eli closes on will surely become more elite.


Within the Land of Giants, Phil Simms tops the G-Men with 33,462 yards passing.  Eli is now just 4,872 yards away.  It might take the final two minutes in Week Sixteen to get it done, but Eli Manning can pass Phil Simms this season.  If Eli keeps throwing at this current pace, there is a slight chance he can accumulate another 4,000+ yards passing this season.  Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying...., Eli is on his way towards a 5,000 yard season.  It would be the organization's first.


Phil Simms topped 4,000 yards passing one time in his career.  That came in 1984 when he attempted a career high 533 passes.  That also marked the only time Simms ever attempted 500+ passes in a season.  Phil Simms had five other seasons in which he eclipsed 3,000 yards passing.  And four times in his career, he threw twenty or more touchdowns.


Phil Simms battled many injuries throughout his career.  Were it not for injury, his career numbers would surely appear to the average fan far superior than they do.  And if you're a Giants fan of that era like I am, you know Phil played for Bill Parcells within an entirely different system of football than we are currently playing today.  Everything the Giants did back then was predicated off the running game.  Phil Simms was charged with game management, and on occasion, greatness.  Smash mouth football limited Phil Simms to a career average twenty eight pass attempts per game.


Giants fans will never hesitate calling Phil Simms a great quarterback.  In Super Bowl XXI, he lived the dream and authored the most efficient day a quarterback could ever have in the biggest game of his career.  While not organization's first NFL championship, Phil Simms did deliver Giants fans their first ever Lombardi Trophy.  He was also largely responsible for putting the Giants in position for a second trophy.


Life is different for a certain age of Giants fan now.  Not drastically though, for defense still rules the day.  Instead of dominating with linebackers as the Giants did back then, today they do it with defensive linemen.  Offensively however, guys like me are still a little astonished with the new pass first regime.


Holding the leash of this modern Blue monster is Simon Bar Sinister; Kevin Gilbride.  Since 2006, he is the Offensive Coordinator who routinely leads the league in most yards attempted per pass.  He and Eli Manning have now collaborated on two Super Bowl winning drives.  Kevin Gilbride was Eli's quarterback coach for his first two seasons in the league.  That set the foundation for what the two would accomplish together after Kevin Gilbride's promotion to Offensive Coordinator seven years ago.


Interestingly, before the 2011 season, Eli attempted his most passes in 2005 under former Coordinator John Hufnagel.  It wasn't until Eli's sixth season under Gilbride that he re-established his new career high with 589 pass attempts last season.  Not coincidentally, Eli set a new career single season high with 4,933 yards.  Some of that was born out of having the worst rushing game in the league.  But it is still easy to see 5,000 yards being the next logical step for them both.


Save for his rookie season, Eli has never thrown less than twenty touchdowns.  Under Kevin Gilbride, Eli has averaged thirty two pass attempts per game.  He has topped 500+ attempts in six of the last seven seasons.  In every season except his rookie year, Eli has surpassed 3,000 yards passing.  For the past three consecutive seasons, he surpassed 4,000 yards passing.  Last season he threw for roughly nine hundred more yards than he did in 2009 and 2010, and fell just sixty seven yards short of his first 5,000 yard campaign.  But then again, he won his second Super Bowl MVP, didn't he?  Together, Eli and Coach Gilbride are re-writing the Giants record books and cementing themselves a place in all-time Giants history with a body of work unrivaled within the organization.  And they do not seem nearly through.


Over the last three seasons Kevin Gilbride's and Eli's attempts have risen commensurate with the decline of the once formidable Giants running game, and specifically the decline of Brandon Jacobs.  As is the case today regarding Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants back is often compromised by injury rather than being in decline.  Also consider, three seasons ago the Giants record setting Offensive Line was ravaged by injuries.  In 2011, Jerry Reese began reconstruction of the Offensive Line in earnest with the releasing of Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert, and the free agent acquisition of David Baas.


Over the last three seasons, that wasn't all that was seemingly collapsing around Eli Manning.  In 2008, Plaxico Burress put a bullet into the Giants chance at yet another Super Bowl.  But more lasting, he blasted a wound into the position of wide receiver that took the Giants almost two seasons to heel from.


Since 2009, Jerry Reese selected a number of receivers that Eli Manning is now currently in the process of turning into stars.  And entering this season, Jerry Reese continued revamping the line with the release of Kareem McKenzie.  If David Diehl isn't already compromised by a recent injury, he is surely next to get replaced.  In the backfield, as noted, Ahmad Bradshaw missed the last two games after an early Week Two injury.  And rookie David Wilson is doing everything possible to stay in Coach Coughlin's dog house.  Something unexpected happened on the way to Week Three however.  The Offensive Line has been back-up effectively by Sean Locklear and the return of Will Beatty.  And the rushing game has also been refortified by third year Aaron Brown, who as Bill Parcells used to say, is running with power.


We shall see how Kevin Gilbride proceeds forward with a resurgent offensive line, and a reborn running game which now relies on a third year back getting his first crack at starting.  However, in spite of a few revelations during Week Two, the worse conditions and situations get around Eli, the better he becomes.  Since the 2009 season, in the face of a deteriorating running game, the decline of a once formidable offensive line, and left with a gaping wound at wide receiver, Eli Manning's heroics have multiplied exponentially, and his greatness revealed.


Bring on the Eagles!





Mike.BTB

New York Giants: Their Best Defense Was A Good Second Half Offense

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

1985 Season - Phil Simms

Holds N.Y. Giants Record For

Most Passing Yards In A Single Game; 513 Yards

 

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS:  Sometimes The Best Defense is a Good Offense.  For The Times When There Is No Defense, Giants Turn To Eli.

 

My Top Three Concerns On Offense:

The Game That Was - Week Two

As far as the manner in which Tampa's Head Coach Greg Schiano decides to run his team, that's fine.  Just be consistent.  In my book, the Bucs need to pull that college stunt all season long now to justify themselves.  As far as the Giants were concerned on the play, I have but one massage for them - Assume nothing and prepare for everything.  If Tampa's defense was in their stance, the Offensive Line should have been prepared.  Twenty and twenty five years ago, this happened more frequently.  It's really no big deal.  Now as a Giants fan, what is there not to love about Coach Coughlin's response?  That's is one righteous dude.  And that's all I have on Schiano-Gate, for we have bigger and better things to tackle.


That was a close one.  But it was a game I saw coming.  Tampa almost beat the Giants the same exact way they defeated Cam Newton and the Panthers in Week One.  The only difference between this game for Tampa and last week's game against Carolina was.....Eli Manning.  After a miserable first quarter, and overall poor first half, Eli posted the second highest total passing yards in Giants history.  He fell just s few yards short of Phil Simms' club mark.  For Eli however, five hundred ten passing yards are a career best.


My top concerns on Offense revolve around continued dropped passes, David Wilson's recurring nightmare, and injuries.


Martellus Bennett, while making plays and scoring, is dropping big passes.  What started in Week One, continued in Week Two.  He will no doubt need to improve his receiving.  However, indications Bennett and Eli will make a strong connection remain strong.  Then there was the curious end-zone play designed for Will Beatty who was declared eligible on the play.  Eli's pass wasn't perfect.  However, his offering was too catchable for Beatty not to pull in.  Were not for mishandling the ball, the play would have went for an easy touchdown.


I saved the most glaring dropped pass for last.  On the Giants opening drive Dave Wilson dropped a loaf of bread placed perfectly into his basket by Eli Manning.  Of the three dropped passes mentioned here, I feel this was by far the most egregious.  Why?  Because Martellus Bennett still gets the benefit of the doubt; because the pass to Beatty was a gimmick play; and because David Wilson is an unproven rookie whom the Giants are overly dependent on since the departures of D.J. Ware and Brandon Jacobs.  And now that Ahmad Bradshaw suffered his first dent of the regular season, the Giants backfield situation and their reliance on Wilson is exacerbated.


One player's failure however, is another player's opportunity.  And in the case of Andre Brown, he hit the daily double.  After Ahmad Bradshaw went down in the first half with a neck injury, and with Wilson off pondering his existence somewhere on the sidelines, Andre stepped in and carried thirteen times and gained seventy one yards.  He also rushed for a touchdown.


While the arrival of Andre Brown is a nice story, David Wilson devolving before our eyes is a bigger story.  He is off to a most inauspicious NFL start.  In his first two games as a professional, he has both fumbled and dropped an easy pass, twice occurring within the opponent's twenty yard line.  He is yet to complete one full quarter of football without incident.  No..., rather he is yet to complete a half-quarter without incident.  That has to wear on one's confidence.  And I'm sure a taskmaster like Coach Coughlin is not making his rookie existence so pleasant right about now.  Where can this young man's mind set be at this moment?  The Giants situation still remains.  Big Blue needs David Wilson with a clear mind no later than Thursday night as Ahmad Bradshaw will be out versus the Panthers.


The MCL injury to David Diehl is also very concerning.  With Will Beatty already in the game, Sean Locklear was playing more Sunday afternoon, than he did all of last year.  Should Diehl miss significant time, an already thin Offensive Line will be pushed to its limits and talent.  Why beat around the bush?  In spite of my anxiety, they protected Eli superbly Sunday afternoon, allowing him to get off fifty one sack free attempts, and in effect helped propel Eli to pass for over five hundred yards.  They also regrouped, and created just enough daylight for Andre Brown to have a fine game.


Where would the Giants be without Hakeem Nicks?  And where exactly is his injured foot taking the Giants?  From Monday through Saturday, fans are made to believe Hakeem's injury is the worst thing that could befall a bi-pedal creature.  Then on Sundays, he hobbles to greatness.  But you can't like the way he limped around after one particular tackle around his ankles.  Making matters worse, Domenick Hixon will be out of Thursday's game with concussion symptoms.  I just finished saying last week how happy I was to see him back too.


Chalk Week Two up to Eli and a resurgent Offensive Line effort.  The Giants are 1-1 after two games.  The pressure of dropping to 0-2 have been narrowly averted.  All is well again.  There is nothing more to see here.  Go back to your farms now.  Thank you for your concern.  Move along.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: On Kevin Gilbride, and an Offensive Line Preview

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:

It Is Time To Give Coach Kevin Gilbride His Due Praise.

Previous Post ~ Eli Manning Is Now Beyond The Coach

Offensive Line Preview

I give.  I know when I've been defeated.  Therefore, I here-by cease and desist my yearly vitriol and caustic attacks against the Giants offensive ring master.  While that's not entirely true, he does deserve the benefit of the doubt from now on.  Kevin Gilbride is entering his seventh season as Offensive Coordinator.  And while under his directive, Big Blue's Offense launched dual Super Bowl efforts over the New England Patriots; make that Bill Belichick's Patriots.



Damn!  Kevin Gilbride never left me short for subject matter.  But what can I say now?



Regardless of my Bill Parcell's era philosophy and belief in Smash Mouth Football, Kevin Gilbride's implementation of the running game is no longer up for discussion.  But not because of the former QB's insistence with passing the ball, and because of his history orchestrating the Run-and Shoot.  But because the way the Giants traditionally run the ball is now in flux.



Not only is the Giants' All-Time rushing touchdowns leader; Brandon Jacobs; gone to San Francisco, welcome to year two of reconstructing of the Offensive Line.  Last season, GM Jerry Reese decided to part ways with Shaun O'Hara and Rich Suebert.  This season, Kareem McKenzie was hacked from the Giants once record-setting Offensive Line.  I personally thought the seven year Giants Right Tackle was coming off one his best seasons.  The anemic Giants running game experienced its most success last season rushing to the right side between McKenzie, and Chris Snee.  But the Giants enjoyed even more success running outside Right Tackle; that being Kareem McKenzie.  For the moment, he remains an unsigned free agent.  But then again, with regards to the running game, the Giants rushed the ball dead last in Football last season.  So anything is fair game at this point.



That leaves two members of the famed Offensive Line left; David Diehl, and the already mentioned, Chris Snee.  David Diehl continues to get ping-ponged back and forth between the left and right sides of the line, as well as from Tackle to Guard.  Which will it be this season?  We'll see.  The plan was to have him take Kareem McKenzie's spot on the right side.  But for the moment, that remains to be seen.  Entering his tenth season, he will turn thirty-two years old once the season starts.  While still a very good lineman, it seems logical he will be the next player to get replaced.



Chris Snee continues to play at an All-Pro level.  He turned thirty in January, so there is still a lot of football remaining in this kid.  Entering his ninth season, the Giants Right Guard was perhaps the team's best run blocker last season.  When the Giants needed daylight, they looked between Snee and McKenzie.  Snee will now have a new partner on his right side this season.



To Chris Snee's left, will be returning Center, David Baas.  I rode him hard last season.  To be fair, there was an adjustment period for him, he played through a neck injury, and dealt with some minor issues.  But he finished strong, and played very well in the NFC Championship Game against his former team, the San Francisco 49ers.  I still feel he is undersized.  But if he plays the way he did down the stretch last season, he may yet turn into a bright spot on the Line.



The biggest questions for the Giants Offensive rest on the left side.  At Left Tackle, Will Beatty is supposed to finally take over.  His eye injury last season necessitated David Diehl's shift to Left Tackle.  So it stands to reason, Will's health this season will go a long way towards determining the Offensive Line's continuity and stability.   Now that he's back, Beatty is charged with protecting Eli Manning's blind side.  I'm not exactly overwhelmed with confidence he can.  Will Beatty is more of a technique and finesse player.  I'm concerned how well he can handle brute force and ignorance on the end.  But that was the plan last year, and remains so this year.  Will Beatty is no stranger to Giants fans.  And he's proved to be a very capable player before, despite my reservations.



Left Guard is perhaps the largest question mark of the Offensive Line.  What is certain, the position will have a new starting player.  Whether Mitch Petrus wins the job, or Kevin Boothe proves best, will be determined over the pre-season.  In either case, I am comfortable with the Giants' options.  I especially like Mitch Petrus, who provided an instant spark in the running game last season, when David Baas went down with an injury, and the Line shifted, creating a spot for Petrus at Left Guard.  That's when Kevin Boothe filled in at Center very admirably.  Kevin Boothe however, is the favorite this season to win the Guard job.  And that's fine with me.



Who will be backing up the forward ranks remains to be seen.  Jim Cordle I'm certain will make the team.  Sean Locklear is becoming an increasingly important back-up player on the left side.  James Brewer returns from last season but still has much to prove.  And rookie Brandon Mosely just might play his way onto the team.



As a unit, the Offensive Line returns with familiar names.  There is a continuity factor that should work in the Giants favor.  Good health can only make this unit better.  Despite last season's rushing numbers, this unit can be very good.  But after Mitch Petrus, the Giants start to suffer from a  considerable lack of depth.


A greater conversation incorporating the backfield follows next.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Big Blue Business

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  A not so exact look into the off-season and Big Blue's needs.


In my opinion, the biggest move of the Giants' off-season, by far, remains placing the Franchise tag on punter; Steve Weatherford.  Go figure - a punter.?  I said on numerous occasions during the season, aside from Eli Manning, Weatherford was the Giants' MVP.  I said it in jest then.  But it's as close to absolute truth as you're going to get.  That man's right foot played an invaluable role for the Giants last season.  And it's our good fortune the Jets didn't think too much of him and let him walk away when they did.



The second biggest move of the off-season?  Eli Manning restructured his contract to give the Giants more cap maneuverability.  Some of last season's back lash to losing Kevin Boss and Steve Smith  was directed at Eli for not volunteering to restructure his deal just as Brandon Jacobs had in accepting a pay cut to facilitate Ahmad Bradshaw's resigning.  Eli answered those critics this past season with another Super Bowl MVP award, and has now reworked his deal.  So I ask you, - What more can he do?





OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING:


Super Bowl XLVI left the Giants with a huge hole at Tight End.  Thursday, they apparently signed their man.  It won't be Kevin Boss returning after being cut by Oakland.  It won't be Jeremy Shockey who seems to be begging for a Giant handout.  And not incidentally, he is making a fool of himself in the process, as he tried kicking-up some dirt on Amani Toomer Thursday on Twitter.  It should be noted however, that Shockey's comments came in reaction to initial statements made by Toomer.



Drama aside, the Giants instead found their man hidden behind Jason Witten in Dallas.  After four years as the Cowboy's back-up tight end, Martellus Bennett, will get his shot at starting with Big Blue next season.  He and GM Jerry Reese agreed on a one year deal.  The only thing I know about him is he's big; he's agile; and can catch.  That sounds good to me.  If he can run block, even better.  And if Jerry Reese likes him, I like him too.  Welcome to the Family!



Mario Manningham is no closer to signing with another team today than he was yesterday.  I think the League recognizes him for what he is; a very dependable third, or maybe even second-tier receiver.  The premium isn't too steep for those.  Perhaps his price range can fall into the Giants' lap unlike the Kevin Boss situation last season.  It would certainly be nice to have him back in the fold.  But I can understand if Jerry Reese doesn't meet his price.  The truth is, he's actually expendable as the Giants have created depth at the position since Plaxico Burress' departure.



The Giants also now need someone in the backfield to replace Brandon Jacobs and more importantly, give Ahmad Bradshaw's feet an occasional rest.  Brandon Jacobs was cut by the team.  They could not agree on a new reduced rate deal.



As goes the Giants' Offensive Line, so goes the running game.  Last season, Jerry Reese started it's reconstruction.  Center Shaun O'Hara and Guard, Rich Seubert, were both released prior to the season. That leaves David Diehl, Kareem McKenzie, and Chris Snee, remaining from the Giants' former record setting front five.  I think Kareem McKenzie had one on his best seasons as a pro.  And together with Chris Snee, the right side of the Line provided the Giants' running game with the most daylight.  David Diehl was to moved to Left Tackle again.  He was dependable enough for albeit short yet consistent yardage on the right side.  And as always, his pass protection was dependable.   But the three Linemen are getting up in age, and will soon be meeting the same fates of their former team mates.



The question is, how much attention will Jerry Reese pay to the Line this off-season?  In addition to eventually having to move on from Diehl, Snee, and McKenzie, and without knowing for sure if he will return, I believe the Giants should take a pass on Will Beatty moving forward.  He missed most all of last season with an eye injury.  Kevin Boothe suits me fine at Left Guard.  It's at Center where I'm concerned.  David Baas turned in a season that wound up a little less than advertised.  And I also think he's undersized for the position.  But he was last season's big free agent pick up.  And with him signed, I guess Jerry Reese will concentrate elsewhere. However, I would like Jerry Reese to re-explore acquiring more depth at Tackle-Guard for either side, or Guard-Center.  Mitch Petrus supplied some surprisingly inspired Line work last season and helped open up the running game somewhat when he received playing time in David Baas' absence.  But at the moment, he is all the depth we have.  And then there were none....





ON BRANDON JACOBS BEING RELEASED:


I have spent much time fending off Jacobs' detractors; not because I was any great fan of his, but because I thought he was being misused.  Because he absolutely abhorred the Media, I also knew he never quite knew how to deal with them.  They often flustered him, or just pissed him off.  Thus he was made to look bad and was vilified at times as a result.



But he was always a very good, supportive team mate, and always respected Tom Coughlin.  He always had respect for this organization.  And after winning his second Super Bowl with the only organization he's ever known, the man was humbled.



He gets it.  And we should too.  When it came to matters of Football, he was always a professional, so to speak.  He took over Tiki's job without any pomp or braggadocio on his part.  He just worked quietly and let Tiki Barber implode.  Then for a few years, he went on to become a Destroyer of Wills.  What criticisms he drew for holding out in a contract dispute, or say Helmet Gate, or some ill-spoken words directed at the fans, should have long been forgiven for giving back what he originally held out for, and helping the Giants financially in the age of non-guaranteed contracts.  Forgive him for accepting his secondary role behind Bradshaw.  And for doing so with not only class, but his dignity in tact, as he had nothing but encouragement for his team mate and friend, and never gave the Coach a problem about it.



Did you see him after the Super Bowl during the locker-room celebrations?  Did you see him in complete appreciation of the moment standing along side John Mara and his Mom?  Brandon Jacobs knows what it means to be a Giant.  He's relatively undeserving of the impression of him the Media has led many to adopt.



Instead, in saying goodbye, say thank you for chipping helmets, and for helping us win two Super Bowls.  Think and say, thank you, and we appreciate you for being the N.Y. Football Giants' All Time Rushing Touchdowns Leader.  Give him that, and let him run off to daylight with it.  Don't let him leave off on bad terms like Tiki did.  Remember him as the 2-time champ, and the BULLY!, that he was.  I defy a fellow Giant Fan to tell me he or she didn't appreciate how Brandon Jacobs responded to the Dallas Cowboys.  And tell me you weren't filled with a sense of vindication and satisfaction when he told Rex Ryan where he could go, or what he could do with his Big Green self.



In any event, his time is over now.  And for GM Jerry Reese, it was the right thing to do.





DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING:


Cornerback Terrell Thomas, sorely missing from action last season, was also re-signed by GM Jerry Reese.  I just hope he can finally stay on the field this time.  Aaron Ross still remains unsigned at Corner.  And as Aaron Ross and Corey Webster have indeed been playing together for some time now, Jerry Reese may need even more of an overhaul of the Secondary than initially meets the eye.  Injuries have hampered this unit extensively; not to mention stunting the overhaul Reese initiated, or thought he initiated, most recently with Amakumara.  Depending on the Aaron Ross outcome, this unit should still be able to put together one more solid season as is.  They deserve their fair share of credit for some of the complete break-downs in coverage last season.  But Coach Fewell deserved a chunk as well.  Once they ditched zone, things ironed out.  They always tackled well and coverage vastly improved as the weeks went by.



The Giants Safeties are a different matter.  Free agents have served to plug these holes in recent years.  And I guess I should be giving Antrel Rolle more credit than I have.  But the Giants clearly need reinforcements here, and are officially in need of at least one replacement.  My hope is Kenny Phillips comes back to have a stronger 2012-2013 season than this last campaign.  Overall, they played well enough against the run, and were sure tacklers.  But they lost too many receivers lined up in the slot.



Other areas the Giants need addressed, either during the free agency period, or in the coming Draft, are Linebacker; Linebacker; and Linebacker.  Linebacker has been an issue for two; near three; solid seasons now.  Michael Boley ended the season superbly.  But the differences in the Defense with and without him in the game and healthy, were like night and day.  Jacquian Williams had himself a fine rookie season.  And Mathias Kiwanuka remains The Hybrid.  But injuries depleted the Giants of any depth heading into the season and were forced to be overly reliant on their rookies.  The Giants were behind the 8-ball from go, as Jonathan Goff and Clint Sintim were both lost to season ending injuries before ever getting started.



I trust Jerry Reese will handle all these matters, and those regarding the salary cap, while still resigning some more of our own key players, smartly.



Let's Go Giants!




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Only Gilbride Can "RIGHT" the Running Game

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE  ~  Super Bowl XLVI Edition

ATLANTA FALCONS

GREEN BAY PACKERS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:   The Time is Now For Kevin Gilbride to Help The Running Game Get This "RIGHT" Once and for All.

Submitted for Your Analysis:

Offensive Coordinator; Kevin Gilbride's Implementation of the Running Game.

I long ago established the Giants have done their best rushing behind the right side of the Offensive Line.  Chris Snee, and more so, Kareem McKenzie have done the Giants best run blocking this season. David Diehl, playing out of position again this season is run blocking admirably at Left Tackle.  Diehl and Booth have created consistent but shorter yardage together.  Yet with even greater consistency however, the middle; running off Center, has proved fruitless for virtually the entire season.

There is no forward surge being created by the front five; and in particular by the interior Line.  Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are both continually getting met at the line of scrimmage because there is no forward push.  And in my opinion, the problem resides with Center David Baas.

I shared my latest concerns regarding Center David Baas, and his upcoming mis-match against New England's Vince Wilfork in my last posting:  Super Sizing the Offensive Line.  David Baas is still feeling the effects of a stinger suffered in last week's game.  And it remains my hope Kevin Boothe gets the start at Center and Mitch Petrus plays Left Guard.  Both men together increase the Giants' size up the middle and have been successful opening up some space when they played together for a few games this season in Baas' absence.

As for the running game itself, I can not fault Kevin Gilbride electing to heave the ball up fifty-eight times.  It's what won us the game.  And further more, this post can not continue without giving the 49ers their deserved credit.  But even with all Eli's heroics, Gilbride still called for twenty running plays.  Once again I commend him for staying dedicated to the run even when it seemed to go nowhere.  But I don't know if I should call last week's run selections an epiphany or just random acts of Gilbride coincidence.  The Giants only ran for fifty-nine yards during regulation time on twenty rushing attempts.  And there-in lies the Giants' silver lining.  In overtime, the Giants ran five more running plays for an additional twenty eight crucial yards.  And once again you'll see, that the RIGHT side of the Line is the correct side to follow towards Daylight.

Against Green Bay-I, Dallas, the Jets, Dallas-II, and against the Falcons, Big Blue pounded the right side of the Line on their way to 100+ yard games.  Keep in mind the Atlanta Falcons game's stats:

Versus Atlanta....

* The Giants rushed LEFT nine times for thirty-one yards. 3.4 average gain.

* The Giants rushed UP THE MIDDLE eight times for thirty-one yards. 3.4 average gain.

* The Giants rushed RIGHT thirteen times for one hundred-one yards. 7.8 average gain.

 Of the Giants' running plays that went for fives yards or more, here is your break down:

* LEFT - Three Plays ~ eight yards; eight yards; fourteen yards.

* MIDDLE - Two Plays ~ ten yards; fifteen yards.

* RIGHT - Four Plays ~ thirty four yards; thirty yards; seven yards; nine yards.

In the Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers, Kevin Gilbride went against everything the Giants do well with regards to running the ball.  He dialed-up a complete 180 degree reversal of field and went left side intensive with the running game.  Just a few days prior to the game, an article in the tabloids reported Kevin Gilbride - in summary as saying, - Click HERE for full Daily News article.

......Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride believes the “conventional wisdom” that the Giants must run the ball effectively to keep Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ high-powered offense off the field as much as possible in Sunday’s divisional playoff game “honestly doesn't hold much water.”

 Then against Green Bay he devised this;

*LEFT - Thirteen Plays ~ for net fifty-four yards.  Three plays combined for -9 yards.  In the first half, Ahmad Bradshaw started left, then changed course and went *right for +23 yards; setting up Eli's Hail Mary pass.  Ahmad Bradshaw broke another +24 yard gain running off Left Tackle.  And on the last N.Y. touchdown of the game, Brandon Jacobs once again started a play running left, then turned back *right for a fourteen yard touchdown run.

*MIDDLE - Six Plays ~ for fifteen yards, and one No-Gain.  Two plays went for five yards each.

*RIGHT - THREE PLAYS!  One play negated by a Holding penalty.  Two plays for negative yardage. Only one gain for +4 yards.

 I was torn between wanting to punch him in the face or crediting him for having some deceptive plan up his sleeve, as if he had clairvoyance into knowing the Giants would still be playing; and in knowing such, trying to throw everyone off the Giants' trail?       Really?  Is that plausible?



There was the matter of the 49ers game and an overtime session that reconfirmed every assertion the Giants' run the ball best behind Snee and McKenzie.  However during regulation time, the Niners put the breaks on Big Blue's rush with haste.

This is the regulation time break down of running plays called by Kevin Gilbride that amassed all of fifty-nine yards:

LEFT:  Seven Plays ~ Twenty-Four Yards.  One No-Gain.  One Six Yard Gain Negated by a Penalty to David Baas.

MIDDLE:  Seven Plays ~ Nineteen Yards.  One No-Gain.

RIGHT:  Six Plays ~ Sixteen Yards.  One No-Gain on 4th and 1; (B. Jacobs).
  

Then, it hit him.  Kevin Gilbride turned to the tried and true method this team has for gaining yardage on the ground.  In overtime, the right side of the Offensive Line found daylight for the Giants yet again.  And with no disrespect to Eli, they kinda saved the big finish.

LEFT:  No Plays.

MIDDLE:  One Play ~ Four Yards.

RIGHT:  FOUR PLAYS ~ FORTY YARDS!

Against the San Francisco 49ers, in total they ran Left 7x for twenty-four yards;  Middle 8x for twenty-three yards; and RIGHT 10x for FORTY Yards.



The question remains why Kevin Gilbride designed such a radical departure from the Giants' strength in the Green Bay game?  Yet, the Giants ability to spring two plays back to the right side sealed the game against the Packers.  And the Giants' ability to pound out SIX; EIGHT; SIX; and FOUR, yards all behind the right side sealed the game in San Francisco as well.



Heading into this showdown with the Patriots, that's two issues now I believe the Giants need to investigate, with, a) - being the starting status of center David Baas, and b) - will the Giants stick with their strength and run behind their right side and outside their Left Tackle; David Diehl?



My over-riding concern is the potential inability of David Baas to keep Vince Wilfork from disrupting the line of scrimmage.  Most specifically, I fear he can dominate David Baas and cause overwhelming chaos in the Giants' backfield; not to mention the pressure he can bring on Eli up the middle.



This is the Big One Coach.  Get this one RIGHT and you can shut me up forever.  So don't blow it with some goofy game plan.   Friggin' egomaniac!






Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Super Sizing The Offensive Line

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE  ~  Super Bowl XLVI Edition

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:     Should Big Blue Consider an Offensive Line Shake-Up for the Super Bowl?  It Wouldn't Be a Risky Move and Might Make a BIG Difference.


Lets call out the Offensive Line last week for what it was; Bad - if not downright woeful.  From the four quarter-plus disappearance of the Running Game, to the woeful pass protection last week, the O-Line's performance was a total fail in almost every sense other than the final score.  I'm willing to give the San Francisco Niners a large portion of credit for their own performance last Sunday.  They backed up their well earned reputations as a stout, smart, stingy, and hard hitting Defense.  They relentlessly beat and battered Eli Manning all game long and at times overwhelmingly manhandled the Giants up front.  But aside from the 49ers due credit, the fact remains, The O-line was near disastrously out-played.  Only Eli's durability and resiliency and ability to throw in the rain while under duress saved their hides in San Francisco.




The entire starting five were all equally ineffective Sunday.  Collectively, the Offensive Line couldn't push a refrigerator, much less part the Niners Front Line for the running game.  Pass Rushers were getting lost on stunts and hitting Eli unabated at times.  The middle, consisting of Center David Baas; Kevin Boothe to the Left; and Richard Snee to the Right; got pushed open like swinging kitchen doors at a popular lunch time diner.  And the edges with David Diehl on the Left and Kareem McKenzie on the Right, allowed pocket protection to bend in on itself like a pretzel.




After each and every QB hit and through six sacks allowed, they could have done more as a group to shove red jerseys away from Eli after whistles had long blown.  This game is all about attitude and about being tougher up front.  Sometimes you take a yellow flag to send a needed message.  Even a guy like Coughlin can appreciate that.  As O-Linemen, you can't let opposing players hover over your QB like teams have this season.  David Diehl did some pushing back Sunday.  But I hardly saw it from the others.




Left Tackle David Diehl was having an increasingly tougher time as the last three games wore on.  Against the Falcons, Coach Gilbride gave the lion's share of responsibility for the running game to the right side of the Line leaving Diehl to merely worry about Eli's blind side.  Against the Packers, Gilbride changed up and went left side intensive with the run game.  Diehl delivered consistent however short positive yardage.  And his pass blocking slipped a bit.  Then this last Sunday, Eli thankfully didn't suffer any blind-side hits.  But Diehl will still have to take his share of blame for pass protection that fell apart in San Francisco.




Ditto goes for Right Tackle Kareem McKenzie.  He's had a tremendous season but played as bad a game as he's had all year.  Kareem's man too often came free on Eli's front side but the QB hung in there anyway knowing the hit was coming.  Moving forward against New England, I'm sure last Sunday was just an aberration coupled with the heat San Francisco was generating.  I trust David Diehl, Chris Snee, and Kareem McKenzie in particular, will all have a much better game in two weeks against an old foe.  The Giants best running has come off the Tackles this season.  And in two weeks, they'll be needing to go with what works best.




With that said, we must once again revisit the Giants situation at Center.  This is the Super Bowl we're talking about here.  Which means I could care less how much David Baas costs Jerry Reese.  Shaun O'Hara is not here anymore and so the fact remains, his replacement is the smallest and weakest link in the Offensive Line.  The loss of Will Beatty earlier in the season is not the biggest factor affecting the Offensive Line.  Instead that gave Mitch Petrus an opportunity to show he can be effective.  The biggest factor affecting the Line actually turns out to be a lack of size at Center.  The former 49er did not come to New York and perform as advertised.




I'm sorry.  I've been picking on him for a while.  But it is what it is.  Not surprisingly to me, Center Davis Baas had the worst game of the bunch Sunday.  Go back to your DVR's and see for yourself.  Additionally, I do not believe his printed bio-stats.  They don't match the player.  Just look at him.  When you watch him break the huddle, he's the smallest player of any Giant Offensive Lineman, not to mention of any opposing defensive lineman.




Regardless, heading into this last game against New England, I have but this one question:  How well can David Baas play against New England's Defensive Tackle Vince Wilfork?  My answer is he doesn't match up well at all.  As a matter of fact, the match up down right scares me considering the disruption Wilfork can create up the middle.  More importantly, solutions should no longer go ignored.  The Giants must run the ball behind the Right again and at least open up the middle as best they can; especially since they have the personnel in hand to do it.  And therefore, this is my last big push for Kevin Boothe to start at Center, and for Petrus to start at Left Guard.  It's warranted because of the results they've produced before, and because it wouldn't at all be a risky move.  They've played well together in Baas' absence this season.




If this sounds harsh, it still rings true; David Baas has been an utterly useless run blocker and has exhibited only descent (...to good) pass blocking skills.  What he has excelled at however, is bringing the running game to a grinding halt!  He does a better job keeping a guy in place on pass blocking than he does pushing his man forward on the run.  And that's why any Daylight that once existed up the middle has now been blocked-up by a human wall.  Chris Snee and Kevin Boothe have been left to pick up his slack and as a result the running gaps between the Guards have disappeared; not just recently, but all season.  This has for long been the condition with Baas starting at Center.




There was a moment in Sunday's game when Baas was taken out of action due to a temporary injury.  Mitch Petrus was slotted into Left Guard, while Kevin Boothe slid over to Center.  For starters, Boothe gave Eli better snaps.  David Baas' snaps were consistently low all game long.  How many times did we watch Eli in the shot-gun crouching down to receive snaps?  Then with big Mitch Petrus in at Guard, for a few plays at least, the running game found yardage up the middle; just as it did in mid-season when David Baas missed several games.




I'm not wishing harm on the guy by no means.  But I am guilty of believing David Baas leaving the game was a good thing for the Giants' run game as Petrus and Boothe have been played far more effectively together on the left side than when Baas plays to Kevin Boothe's right.  Both Boothe and Petrus are additionally quite larger than the smaller Baas.  And I find it ponderous much of this has gone largely unspoken about.




Just so as to leave off on a more positive note, Gilbride finally remembered most of the Giants' success running the ball this season has been to the right side behind Snee and McKenzie.  In overtime, they created some room for Ahmad Bradshaw just in the nick of time.  And on that note, my next posting will concern the Running Game and Kevin Gilbride's odd; bizarre; and gross mishandling of the running game....AGAIN!  The Giants' running backs themselves are at the bottom of the list of things wrong with the rushing game.  If you follow my blog, you know what I'm talking about.  I've already provided all the numbers supporting Gilbride's confounding mis-management.




Lucky for them, Eli made everyone look great last Sunday.







Mike.BTB