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: The Long Successful Run To Daylight Is Over

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

JOE MORRIS

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Big Blue's Long Proud Contiguous Chain Of Running Backs Has Snapped.

Just so you know, former G-Man Ahmad Bradshaw will undergo neck surgery, and miss the rest of the season.  So, in all likelihood, he would have been of no use to the Giants had they retained him.  In essence, the Giants would have been in the same situation they find themselves at this very moment.  Think of it this way, by letting Ahmad Bradshaw walk to Indianapolis, the Giants were able to retain Victor Cruz.  The reality is, that equated to a personnel net gain of zero, which circles back to the current state of running game, doesn't it?  Meaning - Net Gain Zero.

In David Wilson's defense, he's been attempting to rush behind the Giants worst offensive line of the last fourteen years.  He's no doubt a partial victim of bad timing in that respect.  The front five couldn't push a refrigerator right now.  There is no taking away the marvelous season Wilson had returning kicks last season.  Over 1,500 yards led the entire NFL.  In fact, his career is starting similarly to Tiki Barber's; returning kicks, fumble issues, and accused of being undersized.

Wilson should only be so lucky.

Potential talent aside, David Wilson is now stored energy.  He will miss Thursday night's game against the Bears with a neck injury that threatens to keep him out longer - maybe even the entire season.  That still remains to be determined.

What if I said David Wilson also represents a glaring break down in the system?

I'm afraid the long successful rush towards daylight is over.  The torch passed from Joe Morris, to O.J. Anderson, to Rodney Hampton, to Tiki Barber, to Brandon Jacobs, to Ahmad Bradshaw, has been dropped and extinguished.  Even guys like Ron Dayne, Gary Brown and even Charles Way did their part to keep things moving down field.

The difference between all those guys and David Wilson is this - Every single one of those running backs overlapped each other.  Since Joe Morris, the Giants have always smoothly transitioned from one back to another.  Morris played with O.J., Otis played with Rodney, Hampton played with Tiki, Barber played with Jacobs, and big buddy Brandon played with his little buddy Bradshaw.  Then..., Jerry Reese handed Brandon Jacobs his walking papers two seasons ago, and opened the door for Ahmad Bradshaw last season.  In this long succession of backs, David Wilson was the first one to go into a regular season solo.  At this point, I beg you please - Andre Brown is inconsequential.  I'm not even inclined to say the injured Andre Brown and David Wilson would, or could have formed a formidable duo.  Unless you blindly see life through Big Blue colored glasses, I respectfully ask, who the hell is Andre Brown that we should rue the day he got injured?  And so I reiterate, the search for daylight just went dark.  There is a failure in the system, and it's not necessarily with David Wilson.  He is a byproduct.

For the moment, let's leave Brandon Jacobs out of this.  The Giants will enter Thursday night's game against Chicago with a backfield of Da'Rel Scott, who they cut last week, and a rookie, Michael Cox.  In the name of Frank freakin' Gifford, have you ever recalled such a circumstance?  I have!  And it was a long time ago.

I hope I'm clear in making my point, which is, the contiguous chain of running backs has been snapped.

The O-Line is indeed as bad as perhaps fourteen years ago, and deserves rightful blame for much of the current offensive dysfunction.  Jerry Reese did not transition this unit with the urgency it demanded.  The offensive line had long ago peeked and was already in steep decline entering the 2011 SB season.  Now that Chris Snee is done for the season, that means four of the original Big Five record setting linemen inherited by Jerry Reese are done.  David Diehl is the last man standing.  Reese replaced Shaun O'Hara with an ineffectual, and expensive David Baas, and Rich Seubert with a growing question mark and equally expensive Will Beatty.  Rookie Justin Pugh replaced Kareem McKenzie, and now the Giants will juggle Jim Cordle and James Brewer to accommodate the loss of Snee.  The Giants offensive line was allowed to grow old together, and these are the consequences.

Should I pile on and speak of the tragedy which is tight end?




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: Offensive Line Must Create Daylight

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Performance Anxiety By The Offensive Line Causing Running Game Impotence.

AIM HIGH - AIR FARCE:

No carpet bombing is worth the effort

unless followed up with an effective ground campaign.

Kevin Gilbride's "offense from above" is tops in the league.  And so here we go, over the top again - first because the Panthers' secondary is flaky, but mostly because the Giants running game ranks 32nd in the NFL.  I agree, this week's recipe calls for another day of carpet bombing.  As such, the Giants passing game is averaging 390 yards after two weeks.  But that much aerial bombardment hasn't generated any victories thus far.

Even though Eli will be facing a banged up secondary this Sunday, he and Gilbride would be smart to avoid being predictable.  Even in Coach Gilbride's greediest days, the Giants offense was still predicated on balance, with a strong running game that gained first downs on the ground, sustained long drives and consumed the clock.  In return, Coach Gilbride and Eli Manning consistently lead the league in most yards per pass attempt.

You can point to Eli's seven interceptions as the lead point of the Giants troubles, and how ten overall turnovers have put the defense on the field much more than necessary if you want.  After all, they have played two winnable games.  But without a decent running game and continued substandard  blocking by the offensive line, this sort of football will continue to be order of the day.

In the running game's present state, a lack of respect by opposing linebackers, safeties, and defenses in general is only natural.  But this week, the offensive line will potentially be working against a Carolina defense that may not be too interested in committing their depleted safeties to stopping any attempt at running the ball.  Therefore, it is time to give the back field upwards of twenty-five carries, featuring a fresh new unbiased look at David Wilson.  Kevin Gilbride will also have to incorporate catches out of the backfield as well, if only to keep the remaining healthy Carolina Panthers secondary honest.  That may sound simplistic, but the backfield has literally generated little to no offense.

The Giants transition away from the Shaun O'Hara, Ahmad Bradshaw and younger Brandon Jacobs era is not going well at all.  With David Diehl still out, they have few choices but to start maximizing their remaining options on the offensive line.  That means David Baas, working on a troubled knee, would cease to be a starter.  I know, I know, Brandon Jacobs scored a touchdown against the Broncos behind Baas' block.  But something must be done to improve the woeful play upfront.  Let Kevin Boothe, Jim Cordle and Chris Snee fill the space between the tackles, or slide Boothe over to play center while James Brewer starts at left guard.  I'm sorry, the Giants continue to be woeful running between the tackles, and as such, David Baas' free agent contract continues to be money ill spent.

Big Blue's obligatory two week grace period is over.  While only a game separates them from first place in what will turn out to be a parity riddled NFC East, time is already of the essence in Week Three.  Hard decisions need to be made regarding the offensive line, and by now, David Wilson must know how to securely handle the football, and how to effectively pick up a blitz.  It is time for him to perform - no questions asked, and Sunday's game is a good situation for him to take a major step in the right direction.  Heavy doses of a much healthier Henry Hynoski leading the way can also go a long way towards turning around Wilson's season.

If the Giants do not turn the ball over, the defense won't be as taxed, and should able to keep Cam Newton, Steve Smith and the Panthers somewhere between seventeen and twenty-three points.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: No Running Game Is Kevin Gilbride's Happy Zone

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Offensively Speaking, Everything Is Relative.  This Sunday However, Will Test Coach Kevin Gilbride's Creativity.

I'm not going to jump all over Eli for seven interceptions in two weeks, not when he, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz have been a virtual three man wrecking crew.  Over the last two weeks, the three have been largely responsible for 804 yards of total offense.  Granted, interceptions are just another way of saying the Giants shot themselves in the foot - twice.  But they clearly have major issues that are affecting their greater game.

The more you ask Eli to throw the ball, the greater risk interceptions become.  Why is he being asked the throw this much?  Start with the backfield, of course.  An injury to Andre Brown left the Giants depleted while David Wilson took a major step backwards instead of rushing forward.  And if Brandon Jacobs was woefully ineffective in 2011, there was no reason to expect anything from him in Week Two. 

I spoke about balance heading into Week One.  Although Coach Coughlin imposed the situation after David Wilson's two fumbles, the offensive scales are all off.  In Game One, Eli threw forty-two passes, while the Giants only ran the ball twelve times.  In game Two, Eli threw the ball forty-nine times, while they ran the ball nineteen times.

The foot bone is connected to the ankle bone.  Right?  The running game can't get going because the offensive line has been pedestrian, if not unremarkable.  Due to their performance, or lack there of, the rushing game has been stopped at the point of attack.  I was surprised when the Giants started James Brewer in Week One over Jim Cordle.  As a unit, they allowed Dallas to sack Eli three times, and hit him another five.  On the ground, the O-Line opened up few holes for the beleaguered backfield, which resulted (minus Eli's eight yards)  in only forty-two yards rushing.  In Game Two, center David Baas returned to action, and the running game did even worse.  The running game barely averaged one yard per carry.  They gained twenty-three yards all game.  While pass protecting, Eli was sacked one time, but was hit an additional seven times throughout the game by Denver.

While I still feel David Baas is too small at center, he has good stretches.  Sunday wasn't one of them.  Otherwise, the Giants did manage add some size to the line this season, and can now potentially throw five guys out there who all weigh over 300 pounds.  Overall experience, health and technique are other matters.  Jim Cordle and James Brewer were never starters before.  Veteran David Diehl missed his second week.  Will Beatty is a better pass protector than run blocker.  I have no individual beefs with Chris Snee's or Kevin Boothe's play, and for now, Justin Pugh seems to be going about his business.  Perhaps there is hope for this very average bunch yet, as they have one of the best offensive line coaches in all the NFL - Pat Flaherty.  Once they improve, David Wilson's game will improve as well.

You know me, I love to blame Kevin Gilbride...for anything.  But he currently deserves none of it.  When he has the personnel to get back in offensive balance, I'll get back to criticizing play selection.  Right now, we happen to need Coach Gilbride's aggressive style.  Remember what Bill Parcells once told Phil Simms before a big game, and I paraphrase - If you don't throw two interceptions today, it's because you weren't being aggressive enough.  No one attempts more yardage per pass play than Simon Bar Sinister himself, Kevin Gilbride.  He must feel like a kid in Disney World right now with full run of the place.  The bottom line is, he still needs a viable running game, and after a decade together with Eli, Coach better insure his playbook stays creative enough to keep the league honest.

Moving forward, two people need to relax - David Wilson and Tom Coughlin.  David Wilson went to an extreme against Denver in trying to hold on to the ball.  He just needs to ease-up a bit, and get back to being an athlete instead of a robot.  Coach needs to work with Wilson, not against him, because very simply, Wilson is the only plan the Giants have.  It's fine for Coach to drill him in ball security, but he also needs to keep his inexperienced running back in a positive frame of mind too.  The hope here is three weeks will be all it takes for them to finally find common ground.



Mike.BTB

N.Y.Giants: Big Buddy Is Back

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: ....And This Time He's Here To Keep An Eye On A New Little Buddy.

Familiarity won the day.  Brando Jacobs aced Tuesday's interview and got the job....again.  The two-time Super Bowl champion, and Giants all-time rushing touchdowns leader signed a one year contract to rejoin the club, help in the back field, and impart some knowledge upon the young and unlearned David Wilson.  Brandon is in effect, Wilson's new full time paid mentor.

Although he was far from being a media darling, and his mouth sometimes got him in trouble, Brandon Jacobs always had respect for Tom Coughlin, and he was a very good and supportive teammate.  He assumed Tiki's position quite graciously, and never once complained about sharing backfield duties once Bradshaw emerged.  Brandon held out for some extra cash one off-season and got a bad rap for it.  But before departing the club, he did the rare, unselfish act of restructuring his expensive deal so the Giants could in fact retain Ahmad Bradshaw under the cap.

As far as Brandon Jacobs the player, he is thirty-one years old and saw little to no action last season with the 49ers.  For the moment, I can not even fathom him being in game-ready shape.  In fact, I'm more worried he'll get hurt - like pull a hamstring or something to that effect.  That aside, he is no where near the player who unseated Tiki Barber as the Giants feature back.  He wasn't even that during his last few years with the team.  He softened in his later years, and for his size became an easy tackle.  Jacobs as we know was eventually unseated by Ahmad Bradshaw as the feature back.  Nonetheless, from 2007 through 2011, they formed Big Buddy and Little Buddy together.  And that's where Brandon Jacobs' newest importance to the team lies.

He is now tasked with tutoring a new Little Buddy.  David Wilson will be led by the hand, and taken through the finer points of ball safety and protecting the quarterback.  Brandon Jacobs did both well.  He held on to the pigskin, and picked up blitzes.  That's all the Giants want Wilson to do.  They already know he cam run.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: David Wilson's Big Flop In Texas

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE


NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Necessity Is The Mother Of All Invention.  David Wilson's Opening Act Forcing Jerry Reese To Rethink His Backfield.

Obviously, the game David Wilson had is all the rage.  On his first rushing attempt of the season, he fumbled deep in Dallas territory.  When the Giants had second and goal in the second quarter, he missed his block while attempting to pick up a Cowboys blitz.  In the third quarter he fumbled again while pinned back deep in Giants territory, but this time Dallas recovered and returned the football for a touchdown.  As far as Wilson's actual production, he managed to rush seven times and averaged 2.7 yards per carry.

Coach Coughlin was clearly livid with his second year back.  If you remember, fumbling and failure to pick up the blitz were the same exact charges levied against Wilson last season.  He became a permanent member of Coughlin's dog house, and was regulated to kick returns the rest of the season.
Through Week One it seems, nothing (on the outside) has changed.  But the Giants do not have the luxury of leashing him up in the dog house again.  With Ahmad Bradshaw gone and Andre Brown out with a lengthy injury, their backfield is barren.  The scope of despair regarding how much trouble the Giants have on their hands was truly exposed in the fourth quarter, when Da'Rel Scott, subbing for Wilson, flubbed a screen pass from Eli, which was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

David Wilson is all the Giants have until Jerry Reese can import a veteran back who knows how to pick up a blitz and hold on to the ball.  That search reportedly begins Tuesday with Brandon Jacobs being one of the names under consideration.

This was the plan, to transition the Giants away from Bradshaw, through David Wilson.  That's the way it's done in the NFL.  We should not junk the plan, or curse it, just because of two fumbles.  I have no problem with Coach getting as tough as he wants to with Wilson.  But even Coach knows many great players spent a few days early in their careers looking very suspect.  If David Wilson can't get over this by next week, then we'll have a big problem.  But for right now, I'll chalk this all up to a series of bad and unfortunate events.

While that sounds all nice and forgiving, I know we have a problem.  With a clash against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos looming this Sunday, the David Wilson dilemma is more of a problem than meets the eye.  While the Giants did manage to score thirty-one points based largely on Victor Cruz' three TD catches, the Giants threw the ball forty-two times, while only ran the ball fourteen times.  Perhaps that had to do more with playing catch-up football.  But moving forward, this unbalance will not due.  It is no secret how Coach Gilbride likes to maintain a balanced attack.  For the moment, the scales are all off whack.

In the mean time, what does Coach do with David Wilson?  My answer is continue teaching him, and continue playing him.  Tiki Barber often used to fumble at theeee worse times imaginable.  As such, David Wilson suffers from a correctable ailment.  He can be taught to pick up would be blitzers as well.  What you can't teach, is break-away ability and speed.  He's young, and we've seen what he can do well.  He just needs to keep his head up, but also get his act together, and fast.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: David Wilson's Quest For Daylight

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

Giants Need Full Season From Hakeem Nicks

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: It's David Wilson's Ball To Carry.  He Just Needs To Run To Daylight Now.


The Giants backfield has been many things over the years.  In recent history, they dabbled in Earth, Wind and Fire.  Remember them?  Even before those guys, came Thunder and Lightning?  What we have heading into the 2013 season doesn't even amount to a thud and a flicker right now.  Even Ron Dayne, in his unknown present state, can help the G-Men this season.

The days of the two and three headed monster are over.  Welcome back to the age of monistic-style rushing.  It worked with Joe Morris during the smash-mouth era, but I don't think this offensive line can manage that brand of play.  Rodney Hampton was a one man gang under Dan Reeves.  So, maybe there is hope for our second year running back who spent last season returning kicks.  Isn't that the way Tiki Barber started?  Oh right, at the time he ran behind the best offensive line in football.

Heading into this season, the Giants have a suspect offensive line and will be handing the ball off to one guy worth mentioning - David Wilson.  After him, there are no real options.  Even fullback Henry Hynoski will begin the season a compromised player.  He is trying to return from ligament and knee issues.  He was recently removed from the PUP list and may play in Sunday night's opener.

In a short time, David Wilson has taught us he can spot holes, exploit them with speed, and run for daylight.  The question remains however, can he be a feature back in the NFL?  At a minimum, is he ready to endure twenty-two carries a game, and take the pounding that comes along with it?  At 5'9''and 205 pounds, we'll see.

Third and short situations already concern me.  The ability to move the chains via the ground concerns me.  And with a questionable tight end situation, Coach Gilbride's ability to maintain balance in his play calling, concerns me as well.  Can Wilson be effective catching passes out of the backfield?  This is all important unless we plan on having Nicks and Cruz make every critical play throughout the Giants season.  That won't work, will it....

With Andre Brown out for the next six weeks or so, the Giants have Da'Rel Scott and Ryan Torain to fall back on - or just fall.  Charles Way and D.J. Ware, they're not.



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: Gilbride - Simon Bar Sinister Strikes Again

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  In The Case Between Ahmad Bradshaw And Coach Coughlin, All You Need Is Love.


You know what to call that exchange between Ahmad Bradshaw and Coach Coughlin?  I call it love.  The two have been through a lot of battles together.  The Giants feature back was no doubt relying on the equity he has built with his head coach over the last five-plus years.  The Tom Coughlin of six and seven years ago wouldn't have let that fly.  Then again, this wasn't exactly Tiki Barber accusing his coach of being horribly out coached.  This was a case of a running back wanting the Giants to run the ball more so than they did against the Redskins to that point.  So no harm no foul.  And that's the way everyone on the team treated the situation too.


Granted, Ahmad did act as if not rushing for 100 yards was going to lose him a side bet or something. But let us remember for a second, Big Buddy is no longer here to keep Little Buddy's emotions under wraps.  Brandon Jacobs did that well.  In fact, they served each other very well in that regard.  So this is in effect Ahmad Bradshaw's first season unplugged.  Demanding more from his team mates is something a two time Super Bowl champion should be doing.  It just happened to manifest itself in slapping Victor Cruz upside the helmet, and losing his bearing with Coach.  Hey.....


Ahmad Bradshaw is far from being problematic.  So why should we, or I, take issue with Sunday's incident.  As long as Coach remains alpha-male in the room, it's all good.  What was problematic, were the Washington Redskins.


Coming off two weeks in which Ahmad rushed for over 300 yards, I get Bradshaw's point.  Fact is, the Washington Redskins forced the Giants into abandoning the run.  Subtract Eli's two scrambles for four yards, and Big Blue only rushed the ball seventeen times all game; eight times in the first half, and nine times in second.  Meanwhile, in an otherwise horrible effort, Eli put up forty passes in trying to keep Big Blue in the game.  In the process, he threw two interceptions.  Coach Gilbride was already calling a short passing game anyway.  So yeah, why not run more?


I do not know if the Giants anticipated that kind of defensive effort against the run.  In fairness to Coach Gilbride however, I get what he was doing too.  This game was actually right out of the old Mike Ditka era Bears play book - keep it short, keep it short, keep it short.  Once Ditka suckered the defense in, he then had Jim McMahon unleash a bomb to Willie Gault late in the game.  Whether by the run or short pass, I guess the result is all that matters.


Coach Gilbride did not resort to throwing hey makers early in the game like I though he might. But nor did he try establishing the run early.  Instead he loaded up on a short passing game in the first half.  He left the hey maker for the very last.  Simon Bar Sinister strikes again.



Other Stuff:  David Wilson did not get to run the ball from scrimmage.  Ahmad Bradshaw rushed the ball twelve times.  Andre Brown carried five times.  I thought this last game would have been a good week to get Wilson a nice package of reps.  Coach thought otherwise.  In four kick returns, he totaled 106 yards with a long of thirty two.




Mike.BTB

New York Giants: Is Offensive Line Better Without David Diehl?

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:

Big Blue Has A Giant Decision To Make On Offensive Line.

 

This Is A Good Week To Let David Wilson Be The Feature Back.

Kevin Gilbride Versus Redskins - Bombs Away?

 

Mission: Take Advantage Of Back-To-Back Division Games!

While Big Blue sports an overall 4-2 record this season, they are 0-2 within the division.  The Giants will have to wait for later in the season to square up with Philly.  Next week, they'll get their chance to even up against the Cowboys in Dallas.  First, there is the matter of RG3 and the Redskins.  If you do not remember, Washington swept the Giants last year and damn nearly pulled the rug out from under their season.  This year, the Redskins along with Philly both sport 3-3 records.  The Giants can either win this week and next, and by virtue of righting some wrongs, take a mid-season strangle hold on the division.  Or, they can lose to the Skins again, and make things very complicated for themselves.  For if you're a Giants fan, you know success makes the team break out in a rash.  For what ever reason, they do not handle prosperity very well.  Making things difficult has become a way of life around here.


The biggest question I have heading into Sunday is not how the Giants plan on stopping RG3.  Instead, I'm curious to see if Kevin Gilbride will open the game with hey makers down field, or try and establish the run early.  Based on the last few games, the running game has been working very well behind good blocking by the offensive line.  Last week for the first time this season, the Giants ran the ball more times than Eli passed.  It would stand to reason Coach Gilbride would continue letting his offensive line build confidence and momentum.


This is precisely why I think Kevin Gilbride is going deep, and going deep often.  Based on the division scenario described above, and because the Giants did indeed lose twice to Washington last season, and because Kevin Gilbride smells win number five like blood in the water, he will be going for the kill early.  Quick points and an early lead means the defensive line can then tee-off on RG3 and all that stuff he does.  Then, the Giants can turn to the run and play ball possession.  Those would be two ways to minimize Washington's offense.  Coach Fewell can take care of the rest.


Of course, I could be wrong.


There is no question Ahmad Bradshaw is tough, and plays hurt.  He's had bad feet for years.  Ahmad did not practice Friday, and is listed as questionable for Sunday, which means he will most likely play.  But perhaps David Wilson should finally get a majority of snaps this week, not necessarily because Bradshaw is a little banged up, but because Wilson has worked hard to earn a shot. And then, yea, Ahmad could use the break.  Besides, Wilson's type of speed may be just what the doctor ordered against Washington.  Forget what he has done on kick returns.  Since his infamous fumble in Week One, David Wilson is averaging over five yards per carry rushing the ball.  In the last two weeks he has gained seventy nine yards on seven carries.


Can it be the offensive line is better without David Diehl?  I'm not trying to slight him or anything.  Consider the Giants allowed three sacks to (Dallas) Demarcus Ware in Week One, David Diehl went down in Week Two, they allowed two more sacks against Carolina in Week Three, then nothing since.  In Week One, the Giants rushed for eighty two yards.  In Week Two, they rushed for ninety six yards.  After David Diehl went down, the Giants broke 100 yards rushing three times, highlighted by Ahmad Bradshaw's 200 yard day against the Browns.  In the last four games, the Giants have racked up 572 yards rushing.  From left to right, Will Beatty, Kevin Boothe, David Baas, Chris Snee, and Sean Locklear have flat out been getting the job done.  David Diehl does not appear to be resuming his starting role this week.  He only saw light action against the Niners.  But when he is healthy enough to start again, Big Blue has a Giant decision to make.





Mike.BTB

New York Giants: The Return Of Smash Mouth Football

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  G-Men Find Their Smash Mouth In San Francisco.  Offensive Line And

Running Game Rumble In The Bay Area.

Post: G-Men Send Tremors Through Frisco

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KEVIN GILBRIDE GOES OLD SCHOOL ON NINERS.

For the tongue lashing Jim Harbaugh directed Kevin Gilbride's way,

the Giants offensive coordinator got the final say.

And here is the lesson he planned for the 49er's coach...

Forget balance.  Coach Kevin Gilbride is bucking trends.  Against the Niners and for the first time all season, Coach decided to run the ball more times than he elected to pass.  All praise him!  Eli attempted twenty eight passes.  Between Ahmad Bradshaw and David Wilson, the Giants rushed thirty four times and gained 151 yards.


It was the third time this season a Giants back rushed for over one hundred yards in a game.  When Bradshaw missed Game Three with an injury, Andre Brown stepped in and rushed for 113 yards. Ahmad returned in Week Four and rushed thirteen times for thirty nine yards.  Then came the explosion.  In the last two weeks and behind fullback Henry Hynoski, Ahmad Bradshaw has gained 316 yards on the ground.  Two hundred yards came against the Browns.


Last season's worst rushing offense now ranks 9th in the NFL.  Minus Eli Manning scrambling around, the Giants have run the ball 153 times this season for a net 750 yards.  That works out to 4.90 yards per attempt.  Eli Manning has attempted 225 passes this season.   So basically, Coach Gilbride is running the ball twice versus every three pass attempts.


David Wilson is also building momentum.  Since suffering through a not so nifty start, and a stint in the dog house, the rookie has rebounded well, if not impressively.  He has rushed the ball fifteen times this season for eighty eight yards, and one touchdown.  Thanks to seventy nine yards on seven carries over the last two weeks, he is sporting a 5.87 yards per carry average so far this season.


His work on special teams has been exceptional.  In six games and nineteen kick returns, David Wilson has amassed 540 yards.  That's nearly a 28.5 yards per return average.  Four times his game long return eclipsed thirty yards or better.  He gained his season best against the 49ers with a sixty six yard return.  Most impressive of all, he continues to blow by people with incredible bursts of speed.


As much speed as Wilson brings, and as elusive Ahmad Bradshaw is, none of this success could be possible without stellar play by the offensive line.  They took a cue from their offensive coordinator and delivered upon the 49ers and old fashioned package of smash mouth football; Giants style.  So far, only the Eagles have brought the running game to a halt back in Week Four.  Whenever the Giants have rushed twenty five times or more in a game, they eclipsed one hundred yards and won.  In the Giants two losses this season against Philly and Dallas, they only ran the ball nineteen times in each game and failed to gain ninety yards.


Despite Demarcus Ware and the Cowboys sacking Eli three times in the season opener, and two sacks surrendered to Carolina during a win, the offensive line has also pitched four shutouts.  They haven't allowed a sack since Week Three.


Center Davis Baas is far removed from issues that affected his early to mid 2011 regular season.  By December and certainly in the playoffs, Jerry Reese's free agent Line acquisition was proving his worth.  This season with Chris Snee to his right, and Kevin Boothe to his left, the three have re-formed into a solid core.  Ninth year Sean Locklear continued his surprisingly formidable play in place of David Diehl.  Will Beatty continues to effectively protect Eli's blind side.  Overall, the offensive line has every reason to feel highly confident about themselves.


This reconfigured line has pass protection seemingly down pat.  If Coach Gilbride keeps dialing up the run, so far the trend says the more they run, the better they get.




Mike.BTB

New York Giants: Ahmad Bradshaw Romps

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  Big Blue Takes Giant Strides Towards Daylight.

WEEK FIVE FINAL

Browns  27

Giants    41

Hush your mouth!  Who's talking about the demise of Ahmad Bradshaw now?  It has been a long time since a Giants back pounded the ball like that.  Coach Kevin Gilbride called Ahmad Bradshaw's number thirty times in Sunday's game.  He only charged Eli to throw the ball five more times than the Giants rushed.  Ahmad Bradshaw responded by rushing for two hundred yards.  He averaged over six yards per carry.  Throw in another twenty nine yards on four catches, and I would just like to thank both Ahmad, and the offensive coordinator for a job very well done.  I'll take it a step further.  Kevin Gilbride should be applauded.  How often have I said that?


In fact, Kevin Gilbride made multiple in-game adjustments during the first half that caught my attention.  And one of them was indeed throwing to Bradshaw out of the backfield early while the Brown still had a lot of spirit against the run.  The few change-ups out of the backfield sort of unlocked the overall running game for the rest of the afternoon.  The Giants actually ran for more first downs (14 versus 12) than they achieved via the pass.  But of course, no one, particularly Coach Coughlin, was all too pleased with Bradshaw's first quarter fumble.


If anything, Bradshaw's fumble could serve to lessen the severity of Tom Coughlin's punishment of David Wilson.  The rookie was allotted two rushes all day.  In the second half, he unleashed one for forty yards, and a touchdown.  He busted through Cleveland's front seven unmolested.  But his speed was once again impressive.  On this particular rush, he ran by defenders like they were standing still.  Does this finally get David Wilson out of Coach Coughlin's dog house?  While a fumble, a dropped pass, and a botched shovel pass landed him in Coach's kennel, David Wilson is racking up yardage in the meantime at a hefty pace.  He is bouncing back from adversity well.  The way coaches think, Coach Coughlin just might want to keep the pressure on him.


Don't forget, somewhere in this, save credit for the offensive line.  After just four games heading into Sunday, the unit is already battered, bruised, and depleted.  Together, they kept Eli Manning untouched yet again.  They corrected costly penalties from last week, drawing no penalties against the Browns.  Most comforting to me, they helped the Giants possess the ball for over thirty five minutes by opening large swaths of field for Bradshaw (and Wilson) to run through.  David Baas and Kevin Boothe blocked particularly well together.


When the Giants fell behind early in the first quarter, Kevin Gilbride went old school to dig the Giants out of their predicament.  He then stuck with his horse for the rest of the game.  That, above all else except the final outcome of the game that is, made me happiest.  Ahmad Bradshaw needed a game like that.  His performance comforted and reassured a lot of Giants fans.  Me included.




Mike.BTB

New York Giants: Kickoff Return Seems To Suit David Wilson

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: David Wilson Is Still In The Dog House, But Deserves A Bone After Sunday's Effort.

Kickoff Return Seems To Suit Him Nicely.

The first question is, was Philadelphia's special teams coverage that bad?  Because Sunday night, Giants rookie David Wilson ran away from Philly's coverage as if they were playing blindfolded.


Things have not necessarily started out as well for him as Sunday night went however.  To kickoff his NFL career, David Wilson committed a red-zone fumble on just his second carry in Week One.  That landed him immediately in Coach Coughlin's dog house.  In all, he rushed twice for four positive yards.  In kick return however, Wilson gained seventy one yards in three chances, with a long of thirty two yards.


Against Tampa in Week Two, Coach limited him to three rushes in which Wilson gained all of six yards.  But in kick return, he gained eighty six yards in three chances, with a long of forty four yards.


In Week Three against the Panthers, if there was any chance of exiting Coach Coughlin's dog house, this was the game to escape.  Ahmad Bradshaw was out with a neck injury.  But seemingly, all he did was earn himself an extended stay.  He rushed one time for negative two yards.  More damning, he dropped an easy scat pass over the middle, again in the opponent's red zone.  Wilson additionally only returned one kick for nineteen yards.  This was by far, his least productive game of his first three.  To make matters worse, Aaron Brown's rushing had everyone rethinking everything.


At that point, what rookie wouldn't want to do something; anything; to gain favor in his coaches eyes?  In Week Four, after the Giants first two possessions or so, it was clear the Giants had zero intentions of giving David Wilson any rushing attempts or passes out of the backfield.  Ahmad Bradshaw was back and carried a very light load.  The game plan even limited Aaron Brown.  So Wilson made the most of it on kick returns instead.


In six kickoff returns against the Eagles, David Wilson amassed 217 yards, with a long of fifty three yards.  For the day, he averaged thirty six yards per return.  And he did so with impressive bursts of speed.


In four games this season, David Wilson has thirteen kickoff returns and is now up to 393 yards.  That's a thirty yard average per kick return.  Minus Game Three, David Wilson unleashed thirty yard returns in three different games.  And as mentioned, his season high stands at fifty three yards.


The Philadelphia Eagles special teams just may be that bad.  Then again, the reason David Wilson had six chances was because Philly scored six times.  If things are going smoothly for the Giants on the offensive side of the ball (and defensively for that matter), that means less opportunities to return kickoffs..., doesn't it?  And that brings us right back to the dog house and getting chances out of the backfield.


David Wilson is standing on firmer ground today than he was perhaps before the Eagles game.  For rookies in the NFL, that isn't saying much.  But here's what this rookie has going for him.  David Wilson's work is now spread out over a quarter season.  There is enough there to warrant at least a bone from the Giants Head Coach.  On the other hand, sometimes trips to the dog house are warranted.  Depending on the coach, responding to adversity is the only way out.  Then there's Tom Coughlin's world.  And right now, he has Jerry Reese's pick selected to supplement a deficient back filed, in the middle of a hard lesson in Pigskin 101 basics.


Without beating a dead horse, the Giants running game has been below standard.  Ahmad Bradshaw is unlikely to carry the load by himself.  There is a reason Aaron Brown isn't starting somewhere else.  And Jerry Reese drafted this kid because necessity is the mother of all invention.  But only Coach Coughlin holds the keys to the dog house.  That's the way it should be.  If Coach is planning to send David Wilson a continuing message, I think we can all agree next week against the Browns is the last feasible week to get that done.  After Cleveland, the Giants difficulty of schedule rises exponentially, and will necessitate an all-hands-on-deck approach.





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

New York Giants: G-Men Must Avoid Falling In Week Two Trap

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:

Beware The Trap Game!

 

Big Blue Can Not Drop A Second Straight Home Game And Expect To Get Away With It.

 

Somehow in Week Two, They Are Already Playing Must Win Games.
 

 

WEEK TWO PICKS

Post - N.Y. Giants; Don't Count On Division Collapsing Again This Season

For us Northeastern'ers, playing the 4:00 p.m. game is understandable.  Although we blame California and the old AFL, we Giants fans tolerate it.  I personally hate when the Giants play on Sunday nights; Monday nights; and Thursday nights.  Now you can add Wednesday nights to the list of my least favorite days of the week for Giants Football.  Other than a Saturday game in December or January..., fuhgeddaboudit.  I like my Giants Football one way - on Sundays at 1:00 p.m.  Unfortunately for us Giants fans, as part of being defending Super Bowl champions, this ten day break between game one and two is only the first of many more scheduling annoyances to come.


Welcome to Opening Day part two; the relaunch of Giants Football.  This was an exceptionally long time to wait before getting back on the field.  The layoff disturbs me.  I expect rust to show for at least a portion of the first quarter against Tampa.  What perturbs me however, is I expect the Giants to have some rust while coming on the heals of a dismal performance against the Cowboys.  One doesn't speak well of the other.



I - Dee Fence

A) - Secondary

Defensively for the Giants, the Cowboys had their way with us.  The Cowboys running game rushed through the G-Men like they were Big Blue toilet paper.  On a wholly different plain, Tony Romo pinned our Corner's arms and legs back, and dissected the Giants Secondary like frogs in a high school science lab.


I do not expect Josh Freeman to have the kind of game Tony Romo did, but the opportunity is there. Unless the replacement refs start calling more holding penalties against linemen, or any one for that matter, quarterbacks just need to make sure they throw the football before Osi, JPP, and Tuck, get their hands on them.  The book is out on the Giants - throw, throw, throw.  After Corey Webster, who himself looked incapable of covering a mail box last week, the remaining Giants corners offer plenty to worry about.  Prince Amukamara and Michael Coe are listed as probable for Sunday.  That in itself is an improvement over last week.  But can they be trusted to play at top effectiveness?  Even then, Michael Coe is a suspect backup, and Prince Amukamara is on the verge of becoming over-rated.


Josh Freeman and the Bucs didn't throw the ball much against Carolina during their Week One victory.  Combined, their top four receivers totalled thirteen catches for 124 yards receiving.  What's more, Vincent Jackson and Dallas Clark were held to just five catches between them.  Instead, Tampa stuck with the run.  They rushed twenty-six times for 109 yards.  Doug Martin rushed for ninety-five of those yards.  So he is the one the Giants need to stop.  But the Bucs can indeed throw the ball.  And my only question is why wouldn't they try to throw down field against the Giants......repeatedly?  Despite Antrell Rolle and Kenny Phillips having solid games last week, as we saw, they did little to help disrupt Tony Romo.


B) - Run Defense

It was only Week One, but fans and coaches alike can not like what they saw out of the Giants run defense.  In a word, they were pathetic.  Dallas racked up 143 yards rushing.  Twelve came from Tony Romo.  The rest came from DeMarco Murray who rushed for 131 yards on just twenty carries.  He had one rush of forty-eight yards which means DeMarco still effectively rushed another nineteen times for inexcusable yardage.


Up front, do we really need to worry about the big three not getting sacks last week?  In their failed efforts against the Cowboys, the Giants still got two sacks from their Tackels.  So no worries there.  The Giants clearly hold the advantage with three individual pass rushers who can disrupt football games all by themselves.  The Giants are perhaps the only team in the NFL who can claim that.


However, stopping the run is an entirely different matter.  And I wonder what Coach Fewell has in mind?  Conventional thinking says open up the game by playing it straight.  Bump their receivers at the line, then let physical ability do the rest.  Coach Fewell can't exactly key on the run and dare Josh Freeman to pass.  Tampa has definite pass capabilities.  At the same time, Coach can't keep going nickel and dime to compensate for his corners, because Tampa actually wants to run the ball first.  So guess what..., if at least two linebackers do not lead the Giants in tackles Sunday, Big Blue probably did something wrong.



II - Offensively Speaking

A) - Running Game

Turning over the ball is what got Giants rookie David Wilson in trouble.  Offensively, the Giants running game has entered strange territory.  As a Giants fan that goes back to the days when Ray Perkins coached here, it is difficult for me to reconcile the Giants old smash-mouth ways with Coach Gilbride's modern machinations.  But try I must.  And so must David Wilson.  The Giants need this rookie in a big way.  No fan is confident Ahmad Bradshaw will complete a full season without re-injuring himself.  Therefore, the Giants need Wilson to help manage Bradshaw's time and effectiveness.  After two touches and a fumble in Week One, this Sunday is in effect David Wilson's relaunch into the NFL.  Doghouse or no doghouse, the Giants can't afford to bench him a second straight game.  The hope here is that after ten days to reflect and gain instruction, David Wilson will put forth a more representative effort against Tampa.


Here is the problem with that.  Tampa did a devastatingly good job shutting down the Panthers run game in Week One.  Carolina rushing netted ten yards all game.  I hope the Giants took notice of that.  And we will see if the O-Line is up to the task.


B) - Recieving Corps

Even after a ten day break, Hakeem Nicks is still not fully functional.  But tight end Martellus Bennett is already proving to be a nice alternative.  Against Dallas, Eli threw to Bennett four times for forty yards and a touchdown.  I look for Bennett to play an even bigger role Sunday.


I could be mistaken, but I believe the Anti-Cruz tried making an appearance last game.  Just when everyone thought it was out of his system, Victor Cruz showed symptoms of the yips against Dallas again.  Giants fans are hoping six catches for fifty-eight yards ends up being one of his poorer efforts of the season.  But cries for Cruz The Savior have already begun.


All hail the arrival of the new Domenick Hixon; who replaces the outgoing Mario Manningham; who replaced the old injured Domenick Hixon; who filled in for the old Mario Manningham!  That's another way of saying it is nice having Domenk Hixon back.  He in effect became Big Blue's top receiver versus Dallas.  And the best part of his return is his familiarity with Eli, and Eli with him.  If he stays healthy, he will make an impact.


With Hixon back in the fold, and once Hakeem Nicks is right, with Cruz and Bennett, the Giants have a fine unit led by Eli.  If there is an issue, it lies with the back-ups.  Ramses Barden and Jerrel Jernigan failed to see action in Week One.



III - Tampa Bay Bluffs

Worth noting though, is much of what Tampa accomplished over the Panthers last week came as a result of multiple turnovers.  They picked off Cam Newton twice, and spotty special teams play doomed Carolina as well.  Cam Newton interceptions aside, he still lit up Tampa's defense for over three hundred yards passing, and the incredible Steve Smith had another game with one hundred yard receiving.  Three other receivers found enough space in Tampa's coverage to record six catches for another 184 yards.  So what's not to like about Eli and Company's chances against Tampa's defense?




Mike.BTB

New York Giants: Don't Count On Division Collapsing Again This Season

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  Beware - Trap Games Ahead.  Giants Must Take Care of Bucs On Home Field.

 

Division Foes May Not Allow Giants To Recover From 0-2 Start.

The Bucs defeated the Panthers last Sunday.  I'm not at all impressed.  And that's a problem.  Because the Giants tend to play down to these type teams.  I think the last time the Giants went 0-2 to start a season was five years ago, when they won Super Bowl XLII.  But do we really want to be in an 0-2 hole again?  You can only tempt fate but so many times.  This coming Sunday's home game against the Bucs is by no stretch a must win.  Beating the Bucs sure would be nice though.


Until we play Dallas twice, as with the rest of our division foes, what can we really say about last week?  This game coming up however, and Week Three's game against the Panthers are very winnable.  I would even venture to say they Giants better win, because they play Philly in Week Four.


Now that Dallas is ahead of the Giants, it has quickly become incumbent upon the Giants to manage their early season wisely.  In the blink of an eye a quarter of the season (after the Philly game) will be gone.  The Giants can not rely on the rest of the division collapsing around them as they did last season.  Big Blue's 9-7 record said it all.  Dallas and Philly struggled right along with the G-Men last season.  And through their opponent's own collapses, came opportunities for the Giants.  You won't catch me engaging in Repeat stuff.  I just want the Giants to compete and make the playoffs again.


To that effect, where does the Giants running game go from here?  David Wilson only touched the ball twice last week.  He was benched last week after fumbling the ball deep in Dallas' end.  Will Coach Coughlin give the rookie a clean slate?  Last week I said if Coach was going to teach him a lesson, early, as in Week Two early, would be the best time to do it.  But can the Giants really afford to bench David Wilson for essentially a second game?  I do not think so because Ahmad Bradshaw gives us all pause.  He seemed spry enough last week.  These last few seasons however, it feels as if the Giants operated on borrowed time; not career wise, but game to game wise.  In David Wilson's case, hard lessons might have to learned in practice.  No Brandon Jacobs and no D.J. Ware have possibly forced the Giants hand on this one.




Mike.BTB

New York Giants: Game One - Tony Romo Hogties Big Blue Secondary

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT FINAL:

Cowboys    24

GIANTS    17

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS:  Cowboys Strike Texas Tea in East Rutherford.


The Giants left us with much to be desired out of Wednesday's effort.  In defense of their title, they decided to make their season interesting right out of the runway.  I'm not going to get too bent out of shape though.  I always felt Game One is a coin flip anyway.  But if you want a list of topical items to ponder, start with the Secondary.


The real question is, who didn't think they were going to get lit up?  We suspected it, and it happened.  The place smelt like burnt toast after Tony Romo got done with the Giants Secondary.  Corey Webster looked especially crispy  In a word, the Secondary was, terrible.  We've been here before.  However I do not believe this badly.  The ramifications of Aaron Ross' departure are being felt right away.  Michael Coe wound up leaving the game with a leg issue which means the Giants are now three down at right conerback.  Additionally, Tom Coughlin didn't look too pleased with rookie Jayron Hosely.  Antrel Rolle was solid however, making nine solo tackles.


No sacks for Justin Tuck, Osi, or JPP last night.  On the heals of me saying the Giants were hurting at defensive tackle, Rocky Bernard and Linval Joseph provided the Giants with their only two sacks of the game.  Otherwise, outside of a near pick-six interception by Michael Boley, Tony Romo shake and baked his way out of the pocket, and buttered us.


Here's another question.  How long before David Wilson sees meaningful time again?  We know he'll eventually have to rejoin the mix.  But how long will Coach teach his rookie back a lesson? Fumbling the ball on the Dallas twenty-seven yard line, on only your second rush in your first game in the NFL, is no way to start a career son.  Coach Coughlin doesn't take too well to fumbles in the first place.  After coughing up the rock, no more rushes for him.  In light of the Giants cutting D.J. Ware, does Coach give Wilson a fresh start next game?  Or, does Coach Couglin continue teaching the rookie an early, hard, and valuable lesson that will no doubt benefit his career moving forward?  In the past, Tiki Barber and Ahmad Bradshaw both suffered Coach Coughlin's wrath over fumbling.  It would behoove the rookie to not become the next.


Benching Wilson Wednesday night was nothing.  That happens to the best of them.  It is just unfortunate when it happens to rookies; otherwise no different.  In Coach's eyes, it is how David Wilson responds faced with adversity so soon into his NFL career.  Fumbling the ball can be corrected.  Coach will now be testing his character, not his ability.  Jerry Reese is on the hook for that part.


Penalty flags, and non-calls played an interesting part of this game.  The replacement Refs were curious at best.  A preponderance of yellow flags were thrown against Dallas.  After giving the Giants practically a whole field worth of penalty yardage, Big Blue couldn't take advantage.  The stripes also negated a touchdown pass to Victor Cruz with a non-call on clear interference.  Such as life.  Dropped passes by Martellus Bennett and Victor Cruz caused more damage than the Refs did.


How about that Jason Witten playing last night with a compromised spleen?!  Stupid - but what isn't there to admire about that?  His presence alone helped Tony Romo destroy the Secondary.






Mike.BTB