N.Y. Giants: Hog Mollies Giving Wayne Gallman His Space

From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

HOG MOLLIES CONTINUE SURGE

WEEK TWELVE

GIANTS     19

BENGALS  17

FINAL

SMASH MOUTH: Punishing Running Game, Maintaining Ball Possession, and Controlling The Clock.

The Giants are officially trending.  Recent developments are no longer a matter of coincidence.  They're winners of three in a row and four of their last six games.  However, I care not that they temporarily find themselves atop the NFC East standings.  A 4-7 record quells that conversation. Instead, it's the steady improvement that I desire, and from week to week, we see just that.

Daniel Jones has yet to break 300 yards passing this season.  But for as long as the Giants keep winning, the matter of yardage remains something more of a cosmetic issue.  What's more important is where he was versus where he is now.  The closest Jones has come to cracking 300 yards was in Week One against the Steelers, of all teams, when he threw for 279 yards.  In four of his next five contests spanning Week Three through Week Seven, he failed to throw for 200 yards.  But over his last four games, the Giants are 3-1, in which they just barely lost to the Buccaneers.  Jones threw for over 200 yards each time, averaging 231 yards per game, which speaks to an emerging consistency that earlier in the season was absent from his game.  This is also his third straight game without a fumble or turnover, making the Giants' win streak far from a coincidence.  Sunday's game was obviously not without its casualties.  The full extent of Jones' strained hamstring sustained against the Bengals remains to be seen.  By the way, a very questionable move by Judge reinserting Jones back into the game.  Otherwise, I would hate to see Daniel Jones' development sidetracked while amid a good run. 

Meanwhile, the offensive line yielded no sacks and limited Cincy's QB hits to just three.  The running game again rushed for high yardage with a net 142 yards on the day regarding daylight.  Gallman was the big man on campus with 24 rushes for 94 yards.  In his last three games, Gallman has rushed for 215 yards with four touchdowns.  Gallman, Dion Lewis, and Alfred Morris joined together on thirty rushes for 112 yards.  I find the number of rushing attempts very pleasing.  As such, the Giants owned time of possession 37:26 minutes versus just 22:34 for Cincinnati, and have now won the time of possession in three straight games - again, no coincidence.  This, to me, is a clear indication that the offensive line is growing into a more cohesive and integrated unit.

We all know by now about the confrontation between Joe Judge and former offensive line coach Marc Colombo.  If nothing else, Sunday's performance further confirms Coach Judge's decision to fire Colombo as being correct.  In fact, I applaud him for it.  After failing to breach 100 yards in their first three games and four of the first five, Joe Judge got more involved in coaching up the offensive line.  Since then, the Giants have rushed for 100+ yards in six consecutive games and seven of their last eight.  In fact, they've exceeded 140+ yards in three straight games and four times in their previous five.  Looking back, it indeed seems as if the rushing turnaround is partly the result of Joe Judge's intervention.

On average, Patrick Graham's defense is yielding the tenth least points per game.  In six of eleven games to date, the defense has held opponents to twenty points or less.  A big reason for that has to do with being tied for fourth in the NFL with 18 takeaways.  They are also one of only five teams limiting their opponents under 100 yards rushing per game.  Lastly, they are tied for tenth with 2.5 sacks per game.  Blake Martinez is tied for fourth with 101 tackles.  

And what of Dave Gettleman's controversial acquisition of Leonard Williams?  After averaging just 2.5 sacks over the last three seasons, he presently has six sacks, one shy of his career-high of seven set in 2016 during his sophomore season with the Jets.  Five games remain in the season.

And yeah, the Giants are in first place ...

N.Y. Giants: Hail to the Blue Team, Hail Victory

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Hail Victory..!

WEEK NINE

Giants        23

NoNames   20

FINAL

Too bad they can't play W every week; Big Blue would be undefeated.  

The Giants sweep the season series from the No Names with a dramatic 23-20 victory at Washington.  After starting the season 0-5, they are now trending 2-2 in their last four games.  

Dare I say this was perhaps their most impressive game this season?  I say that after watching them play a little bit of bend don't break, and a little bit of smash mouth.  

Daniel Jones technically did not turn the ball over, but he fumbled twice, and the ball was recovered each time.  He threw no interceptions for just the second time this season.  Jones and Alex Smith nearly have the same number of attempts and completions.  But whereas the veteran Smith throws for 325 yards, Jones tops out at a mere 212 yards.  Each throws for a touchdown.  However, Alex Smith throws three interceptions, and Jones wins the day.

Low and behold, ball security and control prove pivotal for the Giants.  This is what happens when you rush the ball effectively - you hold the ball for 36:27 minutes!  The Giants rush for 166 gross yards.  Wayne Gallman, Dion Lewis, and Alfred Morris rush 26 times for 140 yards.  Most of this takes place behind and to the left of center Nick Gates and against a formidable Washington front seven.  Andrew Thomas enjoys a rebound game.  Shane Lemieux starting in place of (COVID) Will Hernandez, puts forth a stellar effort at left-guard.  The offensive line as a whole continues to incrementally improve.  The Giants have now rushed for 100+ yards in five of their last six games. 

Big Blue's defense is eighth-best against the run!  That ranks them right alongside the Ravens and Steelers.  They limit Washington to just 37 total yards on nine rushes.  Every week Blake Martinez' star shines brighter and brighter.  He dutifully leads the team with ten tackles. 

Leonard Williams records his fifth sack, putting him just two away from matching his career-high with seven games left in the season.  How are you feeling about the trade now?

N.Y. Giants: Hog Mollies Keeping Offense in the Dark

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Back to the Lab

WEEK TWO

Giants     13

Bears      17

FINAL

With the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select _

It seems as if we're headed that way, doesn't it ..

Confirmed: Saquon Barkley (right knee) will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.  Although signed to a four year contract, NFL rules prevent him from renegotiating an extension until next season.  Saquon's injury suddenly compromises his bargaining leverage and generally complicates the matter all around.

The Giants are a rebuilding team.  That's understood.  But I was very anxious to see Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram and the transformed offensive line together in action.  Their first assignment was against a formidable Steelers defense.

WEEK ONE vs. Pittsburgh

• Jones goes 26/41 (63%) for 279 yards with two touchdowns and two INT's.  

The offensive line yields three sacks (-17 yards).  Subtract Daniel Jones' four scrambles for 22 yards, and the backfield rushes 16 times for just seven yards.  Saquon accounts for all but one rush for a mere six yards.  All told the Giants generate 291 gross yards but only 29 yards on the ground.

Rushing Breakdown: Saquon Barkley

• LEFT: five rushes; +1 yard
• MIDDLE: four rushes; 0 yards
• RIGHT: seven rushes; +15 yards

WEEK TWO vs. Chicago

• Daniel Jones goes 25/40 (62%) for 241 yards, one INT, no TD's.

Daniel Jones throws his third INT and coughs up his first fumble.  Last season he throws twelve INT's and loses twelve fumbles in 13 games.  Chicago tallies four sacks (-21 yards).  The offensive line has now yielded seven sacks through two games.

Saquon rushes four times for a vastly improved 28 yards until injuring his knee.  Through six quarters he ends his season having rushed 19 times for 34 yards.

Rushing Breakdown: Barkley/Dion Lewis

• LEFT: four rushes; +6 yards
• MIDDLE: no attempts
• RIGHT: nine rushes; +41 yards 

Seven year veteran Dion Lewis steps in for Barkley with ten rushes for 20 yards (Sterling Shepard one rush for six yards).  But with Saquon out for the season, the mission remains the same: create space.

Coach Garrett is clearly protecting novice center Nick Gates.  The Giants have only attempted four rushes up the middles through which they have yet to gain positive yardage.  Next on the watch list is rookie LT Andrew Thomas.  Garrett has called nine rushes to his side which has thus yielded just seven positive yards.  Left guard Will Hernandez is handling quite the load with such inexperience playing to his left and right.  Otherwise, the Giants are clearly leaning right side behind the experienced and polished Kevin Zeitler and Cam Fleming.  Jason Garrett has called for 16 rushes to their side for 66 yards.

Through two games the Giants backfield has rushed thirty times for just 55 yards.  Seven sacks have cost the Giants -38 yards.  Without a running game, so far they've failed to achieve twenty points in a game.

For now I'm placing the onus on the Hog Mollies to start creating more daylight and provide better protection.