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: Wide Receivers - Life After Plaxico

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

N.Y. GIANTS OFFENSE

Eli Manning Is Now Beyond The Coach

On Kevin Gilbride, And An Offensive Line Preview

Running Game Taking On New Persona

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  Jerry Reese And Eli Manning Resuscitated The Position Of Wide Receiver After Plaxico's Gun Shot It.


The Giants signed Martellus Bennett right from under Jerry Jones' nose, and the tight end couldn't be happier about it.  Quite frankly, neither can I.  At present, it appears as if Dallas' All Pro tight end Jason Witten might be out for the season, or miss significant time anyway.  Too bad the Giants are now in possession of the Cowboys' next best thing.  Sweet!  Lets just hope he can stay healthier than the last few tight ends. Otherwise, I can't wait to see Martellus Bennett in action.  If Eli likes him, that's good enough for me.


Bear Pascoe is back for another season.  And I say good.  He is a gamer who has a good nose for football.  More importantly, in my opinion he is a capable blocker on the line.  I have no idea if Martellus Bennett will be a good two-way tight end.  His blocking ability is still yet to be revealed.


Why start with the tight ends?  As receivers go, tight end has been the most pressing position; not wide receiver.  The day Plaxico Burress busted a cap in his own leg, was the day Jerry Reese set out to never get shot again; not by a receiver anyway.  The after affects of that bullet bled into the 2009 season.  No pun intended.  But if there is one thing Jerry Reese has provided the Giants since then, it is depth at receiver.  I rarely hear him receive his due credit though.


At the time of the shooting, Eli was younger, and Plaxico was a player the Giants were dependent on.  Jerry Reese and Eli Manning changed all that.  Eli is older now, and his own man.  It took roughly a whole season for the Giants to fully really recover from Plaxico's wound.  Jerry Reese has since  supplied Eli with a steady flow of receivers since 2009, on.  With Plaxico gone, the position has also become more interchangeable as well.  Between 2009 and 2011, Giants fans moved on from dreading everything regarding wide receiver, to having confidence in anyone the G-Men threw out there.


Sinorice Moss and Steve Smith came in and out of the picture.  Fans were still lamenting Dominick Hixon's career.  Hakeem Nicks was a known commodity coming out of college.  But who the hell saw Victor Cruz coming?  In the widely touted era of quarterbacks, Jerry Reese does not get enough credit for keeping the position going after Plax.


Add Mario Manningham's name to the list of former Giants.  Eli trusted him.  Mario Manningham left for San Francisco and took a large degree of Giants depth with him.  That's where Domenick Hixon re-enters the picture.  This is also the season Ramses Barden needs to step up as well.  And whether Jerrel Jernigan impresses anybody remains to be seen.


As far as the two returning starters, A) - what the hell was Hakeem Nicks doing on the field recently against the Patriots?  And B) - will Victor Cruz suffer through the sophomore blues?  Remember how he started out as an all or nothing receiver?  He was either a heart attack or a touchdown waiting to happen.  He then learned how to control the ball and left defenders in his wake.  The big question is, can he do it again?


I have no concerns about a healthy Hakeem Nicks.  So I guess everything depends on how he comes back.






Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Coach Coughlin And Osi Have New Pacts

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:

What's New With Blue?

A Big Blue Peek at the Super Bowl Champions.

Shortly after not making the playoffs in 2010, Giants' owner John Mara said very matter of factly, "The Giants aren't in the habit of firing 10-6 coaches."  Tom Coughlin then rewarded the owner's  confidence and support for him, by winning his, and John Mara's second Lombardi Trophy under their watch together.  The two-time Super Bowl winning Head Coach of the New York Giants Football Club was recently offered, and has just signed a two year contract extension, that will keep him on Big Blue's sidelines through the 2014 season.

In other money matters, the formerly fiscally frustrated Osi Umenyiora, one of the Giants' premier  defensive ends, has also signed an upgraded one year contract.  Osi took the step of separating his agent from the negotiations for the sake of getting a deal done with Jerry Reese on amicable terms, which was something that wasn't happening prior to Osi interceding on his own behalf.  And if indeed that was reported correctly, then that was one hell of a move by Osi Umenyiora.


The Force! - Steve Weatherford was also resigned to a five year deal.  I wonder how the Jets feel about that?  Domenick Hixon and Terrell Thomas have been resigned as well.


But since lifting our most recent Lombardi Trophy, the Giants have bid farewell to even more Super Bowl heroes.  This season's most notable departures are Mario Manningham, Aaron Ross, and Brandon Jacobs.  Also gone is O-Lineman Dave Tollefson.




As defending Super Bowl Champions, the Giants picked last in each round during this year's
NFL Draft.  Jerry Reese and the Giants ultimately decided on this:
#1  RB ~ David Wilson
#2  WR ~ Rueben Randle
#3  CB ~ Jayron Hosley
#4  TE ~ Adrien Robinson
(#4 Comp) ~ OT/G - Brandon Mosley
#6  OT ~ Matt McCants
#7  DT ~ Markus Kuhn

All seven players are signed and under contract.


One of GM Jerry Reese's bigger transactions came prior to the draft, as he traded a #5 pick to the Bengals for LB-Kieth Rivers.  Many also believe Jerry Reese heisted TE-Martellus Bennett from the Cowboys.  But on closer inspection, Martellus Bennett looks like he heisted a 7-Eleven.  That man has a lot of pounds to shed.  Sean Locklear was also signed as a free agent to provide depth and, at 31 years old, a little experience on the Offensive Line.  Cornerback, Auntwan Molden, was signed away from New England.



2012 NEW YORK GIANTS SCHEDULE:

Sept. 5     DALLAS
Sept. 16   TAMPA BAY
Sept. 20   @ Carolina
Sept. 30   @ Philadelphia

Oct. 7     CLEVELAND
Oct. 14   @ San Francisco
Oct. 21   WASHINGTON
Oct. 28   @ Dallas

Nov. 4     PITTSBURGH
Nov. 11   @ Cincinnati
Nov. 18   *BYE-WEEK*
Nov. 25   GREEN BAY

Dec. 3     @ Washington
Dec. 9     NEW ORLEANS
Dec. 16   @ Atlanta
Dec. 23   @ Baltimore
Dec. 30   PHILADELPHIA




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Off To Philly on Big Blue Crutches

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE



NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  Latest Big Blue Injury Now Has Team Situation Bordering on Calamitous.


This is proving to be a back week for planning a revenge.

The Giants Have to be Leading the NFL in ACL Injuries; Don't They?   ...The Latest Seems Like the Bzillionth Player We've Lost to Injury for the Season!



When will it end?   No; not the season; - the injuries that have made themselves welcome in our locker room as if Crippling Injury personified, were issued a numbered jersey, pads, and a five year deal to intentionally decimate our team.  Regardless, make way for more incoming and get a bed ready for Domenik Hixon; the latest casualty of the Big Broken Blue Brigade.



Eli Manning has steadily watched wide receivers disappear before his eyes like hand fulls of Skittles in a school yard during recess.  Tight End; Kevin Boss is gone.  Steve Smith is gone.  Plaxico was mad Eli never visited him in the Halls of Shame so he plays for Rex now.  And after Sunday's game, Domenik Hixon is now gone.   If Mario Manningham isn't careful with his concussion symptoms, he'll be gone too.   Where's Ramses Barden?   Anyone hear from that PUP lately?   I don't even think we have anyone who calls himself a wide receiver on the practice squad.  Do we?  Devin Thomas...Thomas?  Is there still a Devin Thomas in the house?  Toomer?



So who's left?   Hakeem Nicks; Victor Cruz ; and.................Don't even give me that Brandon Stokely stuff!  Just don't.  I'm not listening to that.  I'd much rather see the rookie; Jerrel Jerrigan; get a shot.  And at this point, we might as well have Baby Huey at Tight End.  He's big, and at least he might get in some one's way on a Lombardi Style sweep play.



Domenik Hixon's injury was a change-up though.  Up until now, the Giants' Receiver problems and that which was lacking, could be pinned on Jerry Reese.  Injuries weren't quite the issue on the Offensive side of the ball, unlike the ruinous effects injuries have had on our Defense.  Terrell Thomas; Jonathan Goff; Bruce Johnson; Clint Sintim; Marvin Austin; and Brian Witherspoon; have all been lost for the season.  Then there are the Osi and Amukamara injuries we're hopeful they'll be returning shortly from.  And in Week One, Justin Tuck didn't play either.  All Defense.  So I'm almost giddy (an absurdity) that finally, an Offensive player is sharing in the pain...(as if...).     To make matters worse, this is the same injury that caused Domenik Hixon to miss the entire 2010 season.  This is the same predicament Jerry Reese was in over the Steven Smith deal; Risk Factor vs. Dollar Value ~ Red Flags vs. Commitment. 



What's old is new...again.  So, now what?


The Eagles and Cowboys have done their own stumbling to even keep this conversation relevant.  But this injury to Hixon changes things drastically for New York.  Eli already didn't have a reliable tight end and lacked a slot/third down receiver.  That latter role was looking like Hixon's until now.  So when we face the Eagles Sunday, all they have to do is occupy Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz with a max of three in coverage, which will allow them to flood the box against the run. 



As Eli will be forced to throw; see Eli get blitzed; often.  Then watch Eli get picked-off.  The only question that remains, is in who's direction will he be throwing?  That may be the ugliest aspect of it all.  If I'm successful at mind-melding with Coach Gilbride, look for Ahamad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs to get thrown into the uncomfortable position of having to catch a lot more balls coming out the backfield on swing passes; and in Bradshaw's case, scat patterns.


Otherwise, prepare yourself.  This could be ugly.  Eli has been looking jittery in the pocket; perhaps getting sacked/hit more than he's used to behind his new O-Line.  There's still a lot of trust that needs to be solidified between Eli and his new Center.  And we've already seen his full repertoire of under-thrown; over-thrown; misdirected; high; and intercepted passes in two short weeks.  You can bet the Eagles will blitz in waves.  The Giants can pick-up a blitz; their problem right now is they don't have any reliable check-down receivers.  And with our already existing third down conversion aversion syndrome gone full blown, what exactly will change about that, this week against the Eagles?



Maybe the Wish-Bone isn't such a bad idea after all.  But seeking revenge against the Eagles for last season's debacle, isn't looking like such a great idea right now.  That might have to wait.  And by the way, Michael Vick practiced today.


I'll have to think about this one.  So will  Kevin Gilbride. 



I'll have more to say before game time; a lot more.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Week Two Recap; Defeat Rams

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Time to get RAM Tough  Week Two Preview.




NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  We Actually Ran the Ball More Times Than We Passed!  Alleluia.

IF SAM BRADFORD THREW FOR 300 YARDS, PERRY FEWELL BETTER THINK OF SOMETHING QUICK.


Faking injuries?  Really?  Is that how to slow down another team's offense?  Is that what Perry Fewell had his unit practicing all week?  I forgot at what point they tried that bush-league move.  But the fact is, aside from the points the Giants were putting on the scoreboard, St. Louis was outplaying the Giants in the first half.


The score after the first quarter was 7-6 Giants.  After the first half of Football, the score was 21-6 Giants.  So why am I about to get so down on Big Blue?  Because a lot of what I saw over the first two quarters were rather inept; marred with Giant recurrences of what ails us.





FIRST QUARTER:


Take our first offensive possession.  I don't care about balance!  And I told you that's part of Gilbride's simple-minded tricknology.  Here's the sequence:
PASS  1st play ~  15 yds. Eli to Manningham.
RUN  2nd play ~ Bradshaw, 7 yard rush.
RUN  3rd play ~ Bradshaw, 6 yard rush.
PASS  4th play ~ Incomplete; Eli attempt to TE.
RUN  5th play ~ Bradshaw, 15 yard rush.
It's now 1st and 10 at the Rams 37 yard line.  Eli is 1-2 so far, and Bradshaw is 3 for 28 yards rushing.  Instead of continuing to just pound the ball, Coach Gilbride chose this moment to strike.  From the Rams 37; OK....fine enough.  That said, there's no hind-sight at work here.  But you know I preach throwing the ball is very risky and most of the time in Gilbride's case, unnecessary.  Rushing netted 28 yards on three plays.  I say stay with what works until the Rams proved they can stop it.  Establish the run, by running the damn ball. 
PASS  6th play ~ Eli attempt; Interception.
Coach Gilbride chose to go the predictable 50/50 method and dialed up Eli to Manningham.  Eli lost sight of the safety and also under threw the play.  Result? - INT.  This one was purely on Eli though.  The play was still there if Eli had gotten that pass over the top and in stride.


On the Rams first possession, Sam Bradford found an abundance of wide open receivers and got the Rams all the way from their own 14 yard line down to the Giants' 1 yard line.  The Giants held with a goal line stand and St. Louis settled for three.


The Giants second possession was basically a three and out; except that Rams fumbled the punt and Big Blue recovered.  It almost didn't matter because the Giants put themselves into a 4th and 4 situation, and went for it.  If not for a defensive interference penalty on St. Louis, the Giants don't wind up scoring seven on a catch by Hakeem Nicks.


Next time on the field, Sam Bradford did it again.  He shredded our secondary like they were junk mail and got the Rams all the way to the Giants 17 yard line; result - defense holds again and Rams settle for another field goal.


Giants 7; Rams 6




SECOND QUARTER


Brandon Jacobs finally touches the ball.  But Giants go three and out on their first possession of the quarter; another non-conversion on third down.  Eli got blitzed; we punt.  That's fine.


Next; Rams ball - Sam Bradford continues to find receivers between the trees called the Giants Secondary.  Then St. Louis suffers a brain lock and lose a lateral fumble.  Michael Boley was smart enough to recover the football and run it in for a Giant touchdown.


Score ~ Giants Offense 7;  Giants Defense 7;  Rams 6.


Midway through the second quarter, Coach Gilbride started ignoring the running game again.  We were like 0 for 6 on third down conversions, and Special Teams was doing their typically bad job.  But somehow during that, Gilbride; Eli; Manningham; and Hixon, called; threw; and made some very interesting bobbling and tipping riddled receptions.  Dominick Hixon's TD catch made the score 21-6 Giants, as they went in for half-time.


So, at what point would you consider the Giants to have been in control of this game thus far?  Sam Bradford and the Rams were going through the defense like saloon doors in Dodge City.  Their problem is they are still a rebuilding team.  Yet they were making the Giants afternoon difficult.  The defense bent; but didn't break.  So there's some consolation with that.




THIRD QUARTER


Sam Bradford picked up where he left off.  But again, the defense held the Rams to three points.


Giants 21;  Rams 9.


The Giants mounted a ten play drive that made the score 28-9 Giants.  Happy right?  Well..., no.  There were 6 pass plays called with two incompletions.  They ran three times.  Then the scoring play was Brandon Jacob's 9 yard rumble; the fourth rush of a ten play drive.  Ten plays only took 5:30 off the clock.


Why did that matter?  Because Sam Bradford was still throwing for over 300 yards in this game and threw a late touchdown to make it a 28-16 game before the third quarter ended.  He pretty much moved the ball at will against our secondary.  Their problem is they couldn't run the ball against us.  But the Rams are having a hellish time getting the ball in the end zone to begin with.  Their failure to score has been more about their shortcomings than it was our ability to hold them to three field goals.  It's sad but true.  And our vaunted Defensive Line? - Two sacks (Tuck and JPP).




The was no scoring in the FOURTH QUARTER.


The Giants running game wound up rushing the ball 35 times for 131 yards and a touchdown.  Eli Manning took away from that total with some negative yardage on four runs of his own.  For his part, Eli passed the ball 29 times and connected on 18 for 200 yards; 2 TD; 1 INT.


Take away Michael Boley's touchdown return, and say St. Louis converts one of those field goals into a touchdown.  It's a different game isn't it?  Sam Bradford proved to be a problem for the Giants.  The Rams actually amassed more offensive yardage than the Giants did.  And as I said, the Rams couldn't run.  Two turnovers didn't help their cause either.


In the end, a win is a win, no matter how ugly they are.  We've avoided the dreaded 0-2 tar pit from which there was no saving our selves from.  But I'd hardly call this game; and this showing against the Rams, impressive.  The fact that Coach Gilbride ran as much as he did is promising.  Coach Perry Fewell has a lot of work ahead of him before we get to Philadelphia.

#  Brandon Jacobs rushed for his 50th career touchdown; ranking him second all time in Big Blue history.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Defections Continue To Alter Team

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  Steve Smith is just the latest player from the Super Bowl Champs no longer on the roster.

A befuddling pre-season just got more intriguing as defections from Big Blue keep mounting.  Another important piece of the 2007 Super Bowl Champions has left to find greener pastures elsewhere.  Now Steve Smith has signed with the hated Philadelphia Eagles which reunites him with former Giant and fellow wide-out, Plaxico Burress.  Eli Manning's two surest go-to-guys are now gone.


It appeared as if Steve Smith and the Giants were just about to strike a deal; just as it appeared the Giants and Kevin Boss were about to strike a deal to resign.  But in both instances, a second team stepped in with more guaranteed money.


All is not lost though.  Jerry Reese has stock-piled some depth at Wide Receiver.  Injuries plagued the receivers last season.  With better health this season, the Receiving Corps. should be alright.  Domenick Hixon and Mario Manningham return and while they've proven themselves capable, they need to be better now.  Hakeem Nicks is coming into his own and in my opinion should reach "force" status this season...if he can stay healthy that is.  That's what the Giants seem to be banking on too.  Second year receiver; Victor Cruz; is the x-factor of the bunch and is the one who made Steven Smith expendable.  And maybe second year receiver; Duke Calhoon; can find a way to put his 6'2" 200lbs. body to some effective use this season with Smith gone.  Losing Kevin Boss is a bigger loss than Steven Smith.  So this news isn't devastating to me.  It struck me as a surprise though.


However, I'm looking for the Giants to stick with the running game a lot more this season.  Coach Coughlin admitted at the conclusion of last season, that perhaps they didn't run Brandon Jacobs as much as they should have, and said they will look to stick with the run attack more consistently in 2011.  I think Coach Coughlin and Jerry Reese; along with me; want Coach Gilbride reigned in first and foremost and get him to ease up on the passing game.  If that doesn't work, my guess is he gets replaced after the season.


Jerry Reese made resigning Ahmad Bradshaw a priority and asked Brandon Jacobs to restructure his deal so the Giants could get a deal done for Brandon's Little Buddy.  Now signed and reunited, they'll have to run behind a rebuilding Offensive Line already encountering troubles.  But the Line incurred  debilitating injuries last season and still ran effectively and incidentally only permitted Eli to get sacked sixteen times.  I think transitioning the O-Line may go smoother than we fear but there's no way a season like Rich Seubert's can be replaced prior to him getting hurt last year.


The bottom line entering this season; and if last season is indeed sticking in Coach Coughlin's mind; is the Giants do not want Eli throwing 25 interceptions again.




Mike.BTB