PIGSKIN 2021: Week Three

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Two

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

SCOREBOARD

Week Two (ATS): 4-9-1

Overall Record: 12-15-1

Schmear of the Week: 2-0

Bagels in the Basket: +2

1st and Ten

• Eli Manning joins the Giants' Ring of Honor.
• NFL announces one of six Wild Card games will be played Monday night.
• Sam Darnold, playing for a real coach, is now 3-0 this season.
• Buccaneers haven't lost since Dec. 13, 2020.

2nd and Long

• Four Ravens on Covid list.
• Jets are still looking for their first win; they've only scored 20 points through two weeks, but they're already far improved from the previous two seasons under Adam Gase. 

No Gain

• In order, the Steelers, Bucs, Raiders, Chiefs, and Packers have rushed for the fewest yards.  I would have never imagined that.
• Packers just need a swift kick in the posterior.

PUNT!

• The Giants have scored the least and allowed the most points in the NFC East.  In fact, only three NFC teams have scored fewer points than the Giants.

WEEK THREE

Friday Line/NYDN

GIANTS -3 Falcons

The Giants defeated themselves in the fourth quarter against both the Broncos and Washington.  Most if not all of their mistakes are correctable.

• N.Y. Giants: Line of Scrimmage Still in the Dark

Loss; 17-14 Falcons

BRONCOS -11 Jets

Zack Wilson's first trip into the mile-high altitude of Denver with not be a fun one.  Denver's defense can do much of the same things the Patriots did to the Jets in week two.  Head Coach Saleh is essentially saying Denzel Mims sucks?

WIN; 26-0 Broncos

TITANS -5 Colts

Carson Wentz has to be the most depressing player in football.  The guy just makes you wanna cry.  I'm starting to get down on the Colts.  Through two games, they seem to be following the same two-year path of deterioration.

WIN; 25-16 Titans

CHIEFS -7 Chargers

Both teams are coming off losses.  But the Chiefs can still score at least 25 points under duress, the Chargers not so much.  Stay away.  The Chargers can easily make this a six-point game.

Loss; 30-24 Chargers

STEELERS -5 Bengals

Is Big Ben gonna play?  Is he okay?  Are the Steelers good?  I like the Steelers' defense against a team that blew it last week against the Bears.

Loss; 24-10 Bengals

Bears +8 Browns

The Bear's defense will hold their own.  Somehow, someway, the Bears manage to pull enough points out of their posterior to keep things within the spread.  Eight points strike me as too much.  The Browns aren't running on all cylinders yet.

Loss; 26-6 Browns

Ravens -9 LIONS

How else can I say, no contest?

Loss; 19-17 Ravens

PATRIOTS -3 Saints

The Jekyll Saints showed up in week one, the Hyde Saints showed up in week two.  Who we get in week three against the Patriots, nobody knows.  The Patriots, on the other hand, have been very consistent in what they do.

Loss; 28-13 Saints

Cardinals -8 JAGUARS
The Cardinals are off to a hotter start than I anticipated.  They flat-out look good. This will be the best defense Trevor Lawrence will have faced to date.  His growing pains are about to get worse.

WIN; 31-19 Cardinals

BILLS -9 Washington

The Giants had numerous opportunities to defeat Washington and blew it.  The Bills won't be as undisciplined and, unlike the Giants, will execute and finish.

WIN; 43-21 Bills

RAIDERS -4 Dolphins

How about those Raiders!?  Tua Tagovailoa is out for Miami.  That's a problem.

Loss; 31-28 Raiders

Bucs +1 RAMS

Someone in Las Vegas needs to be drug tested.  I'm baffled by this line.  Or am I the only one who believes the Rams are paper tigers ...

Loss; 34-24 Rams

NINERS -4 Packers

The Packers, like Aaron Rogers, have their heads stuck in their posterior.  I like the Niner's run game and expect their defensive front to wreak havoc.

Loss; 30-28 Packers

Schmear of the Week (2-0)

Niners -4

LOSS

POST-GAME

Week Three Record: 3-9

Overall Record (ATS): 15-24-1

Schmear of the Week: 2-1

Bagels in the Basket: -7

Good luck, and have a great Football Sunday!

N.Y. Giants: Daniel Jones Under Siege

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

SACKED AGAIN

WEEK SEVEN

Cardinals   27

Giants         21

FINAL

MetLife Stadium Sacked For Second Time in Last Three Weeks

Arizona sacks Daniel Jones eight times and get in another 12 QB hits.  The offensive line has now yielded a grand total of 20 sacks and 57 QB hits through week seven.  That averages out to 3.6 sacks and nine QB hits per game.  At this juncture it's reasonable to question which weighs more heavily: Daniel Jones inexperience or some perceived ineptness on behalf of the offensive line.

With regards to experience or lack thereof, Eli Manning is sacked once and hit seven other times in week one against Dallas.  In week two against Buffalo, he is again sacked just once and hit five other times.  However, Eli is the beneficiary of healthy team mates.  While I've never considered Evan Engram much of a blocker, it's still easier to operate when your tight end and backfield understand their respective assignments.

Daniel Jones, on the other hand, has played largely minus the services of Engram, Barkley and Wayne Gallman.  In turn pass protection suffers collateral damage.  Arizona linebacker Chandler Jones alone registered four sacks.  If that sounds familiar, it's because Tampa linebacker Shaquil Barrett recorded four sacks in week three.  That makes two respective linebackers accounting for eight sacks.  Someone is failing their assignment.  In the meantime, Jones has now been sacked 18 times and hit another 45 times times.  He has been sacked no less than four times in three of his five starts.  And keep in mind the Patriots only sack him once.

I'm trying to lend the hog mollies some support ... work with me.

While I have low expectations for the Giants in general, I anticipated a better effort against the Cardinals.  Instead Mother Nature and Arizona's pass rush keep Jones under duress.

• 22/35 (63%) for 223 yards, one touchdown, one interception; three fumbles (two lost).

Once upon a time the more it rained the more you ran the ball.  Arizona seems to know what I'm talking about.  Coach Shurmur not so much.  The elusive NFL mudder is alive and well.  The Cardinals ride the back of Chase Edmonds whom rushes 27 times for 126 yards and three touchdowns.  Shurmur calls for a mere 18 rushes, Saquon Barkley answers with 72-yards and a touchdown.  In fact, Barkley has yet to attempt 20 rushes through four games played.  Daniel Jones is the only other Giant to run the ball beyond scrimmage on Sunday.

N.Y. Giants: Daniel Jones Unleashed

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

DANIEL JONES

STARTING QUARTERBACK DEBUT

WEEK THREE

Giants   32

Bucs      31

FINAL

ROOKIE QUARTERBACK DEMONSTRATES WHY HE'S THE NEW MANN IN CHARGE.

Once upon a time 49ers head coach George Seifert couldn't wait to jettison surefire hall of famer Joe Montana in favor of Steve Young - just like Patriots head coach Bill Belichick couldn't wait to eject Drew Bledsoe in favor of Tom Brady; just like Green Bay's Mike McCarthy couldn't wait to rid himself of Brett Favre in favor of Aaron Rogers; and just like Tom Coughlin decided to move away from Kurt Warner in favor of his highly touted rookie.  Every one of the aforementioned quarterbacks played in at least one Super Bowl.  Which is to say this is how football generally works.  Its nothing personal.  In like manner Pat Shurmur decides after week two it's time to lower the curtain on Eli Manning's illustrious career as starting quarterback of the New York Giants.

Very unlike the Ben McAdoo/Jerry Reese/John Mara triumvirate's ill conceived plan to bench Eli in favor of Geno Smith, Pat Shurmur moves forward with apparent autonomy, but more importantly a qualified replacement.  With his rookie under center, head coach Put Shurmur's playbook also changes.  Even though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do much to scuttle their own efforts, Dave Gettleman's and Shurmur's first round draft selection brilliantly leads the Giants to their first victory of the season.

And just like that, the Daniel Jones era begins ...

Down 28-10 at the half, the Giants put up 22 second-half points en route to a stunning 32-31 victory at Tampa.  Jones is 23 of 36 (64%) for 336 yards.  He connects for touchdowns with Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram who both exceed 100-yards receiving.  Rookie Darius Slayton is not far behind with 82 yards on just three receptions.  But after eight rushing attempts, Saquon Barkley is forced out of the game with a high ankle sprain.  Naturally, Daniel Jones rushes for two touchdowns.

We all know not every game will be like this.  But it's a helluva damn good start.  Jones did fumble twice, and the Giants really should have lost.  However, Sunday was the most fun I've had watching Big Blue football since the end of the 2011 season.

Now the Giants just need to take care of him.  The offensive line allowed just two total sacks and ten QB hits through weeks one and two.  Tampa records five sacks and 15 other QB hits!  Shaquil Barrett has four sacks alone.  High priced left tackle Nate Solder performs with all the athleticism of a mailbox.

N.Y. Giants: Big Blue Brass Pull Plug on Eli Manning's Swan Song

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

MANN vs. WORLD

The Continuing Saga of Eli's Swan Song

After Two Games Giants Announce Plan to Start Daniel Jones in Week Three

ELI MANNING:

• Two Games: 56 attempts/89 completions (63%) for 556 yards; two touchdowns; one INT; two sacks, 10 QB hits.

Cut the music!

After just two verses, Eli's swan song is over.

Manning is not the sole reason, or even a top three reason, why the 2018 Giants post a 3-13 record.  Nor is he a primary reason why the Giants are 47-67 over the last seven seasons.  They're certainly not off to an 0-2 start this season on account of Eli.  For that you must start with a novice defense which has so far allowed 60-plus points through two games with no hope of improvement in the foreseeable future.  Of course there's much more to this burgeoning nightmare.  But I digress ...

Eli is the last vestige of Ernie Accorsi's legacy as general manager of the New York Giants.  It is Accorsi who builds a Super Bowl contender with Eli being the final piece of the puzzle.  However those Giants first need to wait out Eli's maturation process.  By 2007 Eli Manning transforms before our very eyes into Mr. Freeze at Green Bay and goes on to win MVP of Super Bowl XLII.  By 2011 the Giants are squeezing the last bit of goodness out of Accorsi's creation en route to winning Super Bowl XLVI.  Eli Manning is again named game MVP.

In the seasons following 2011 the shelf life of an elite defense, a record setting offensive line, and once formidable running game all expire.  But because Eli was the last piece of the puzzle, he is also the last to remain.  In the meantime, Jerry Reese presides over the complete and utter deterioration of the New York Giants.  His drafting over his last five seasons as general manager bear no fruit, thus fostering a failed if not ruinous over reliance on free agency.  The impact on the field is self evident: sub par records.

Former offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride together with his friend and Giants head coach Tom Coughlin are as aggressive as they come.  When the Giants still field a competent offensive line and formidable running game, Gilbride maintains effective balance between rushing and passing.  But when it comes to passing, the triumvirate of Gilbride, Coach Coughlin, and Eli Manning, are all about high risk and high reward.  As a result they routinely lead the league in most yards attempted per pass!  That partly explains why Eli appears prone to throwing interceptions.  But Coughlin effectively signs off on each and every INT.  They just didn't care.  However as the talent level deteriorates along the offensive line and the running game comes to a halt, Gilbride becomes Jerry Reese's first scapegoat.  The continuing deterioration of talent over the next two seasons likewise causes Tom Coughlin into coaching more desperately.  He then becomes Jerry Reese scapegoat number two.

In truth, Gilbride, Coughlin, or even Ben McAdoo, were never the problem, per se.  The primary factor causing the Giants spiraling into irrelevance is John Mara's unyielding support for Jerry Reese.

Sure, Eli deserves his fair share of blame.  His performance can be ponderous at times.  Everyone deserves their fair share for this mess.  Some just deserve more than others.

Upon accepting positions with the Giants Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur know they are being tasked with putting Eli out to pasture.  Indeed, an unenviable position to be in.  Yet the process continues to wreak of indecisiveness and lack of conviction.  I'm not sure what they're thinking.  But it needs to stop.  Because the less sense this makes the more I'm inclined to believe John Mara still has his fingerprints all over this.  And why would that be?  Because he completely botches Eli's benching in favor of Geno Smith.  What a slap in the face, made worse by how the front office continues mishandling the aftermath.  Moreover because I believe Archie Manning commands Mara's respect and attention.  And if I'm Archie, I'm on the phone to John Mara blaming him, Jerry Reese, and Dave Gettleman, for essentially ruining the second half of his son's career.

It appears push has finally come to shove.  Eli is facing one of three choices: retire a Giant; waive his no trade clause; or stay and tutor Daniel Jones.  Concerned parties had better reserve a large conference room because I'm sure John Mara, Dave Gettleman, Pat Shurmur, Eli Manning, his agent, and Archie Manning, will all have something to say about this.

N.Y. Giants: Coach Shurmur Fails to Pay the Bills

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

MANN vs. WORLD

The Continuing Saga of Eli's Swan Song

• @ DAL:  30/44 for 306 yards; one touchdown; no INT; one sack; seven QB hits.
• vs. BUF:  26/45 for 250 yards; one touchdown; two INT; one sack; three QB hits.

WEEK TWO

Bills     27

Giants  14

FINAL

Week Two Reaction: On Coach Shurmur's Confounding Game Plan

For a second straight game, the Giants are doubled up by their opponent.  They've allowed 63 total points over their first two weeks but have only scored 27 points for themselves.  That's an average of 15.5 points for, and 31.5 points against.  They again lose the battle of the clock this time by nearly five full minutes.

The offensive line, however, performs well.  They surrender just one sack and three other QB hits, and gain over 100 yards on the ground.  Can't blame this loss on the hog mollies.  Eli's personal performance is a down tick from week one.  But I would argue Coach Shurmur's poorly planned run scheme and overall game plan, and (for various reasons) a lack of primary receivers, are what cause Eli to appear somewhat inadequate.  With time to scan his sectors, Eli targets Bernie Fowler and Evan Engram 18 times but only connects on 11 passes for 99 yards.  Bernie Fowler flat out has a bad game.  Eli and TJ Jones finally connect on a touchdown in the fourth quarter.  But it's too little too late.  That said, Pat Shurmur expects us/you/them/anybody to be agreeable with Eli throwing 45 times, yet the first deep down field pass play against Buffalo doesn't occur until there's 5:47 left in the fourth quarter.

Message to Coach Shurmur: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

ICYMI:  Might as Well Throw Caution to the Wind ... which clearly they did not.

Then there's his implementation of Saquon Barkley and the running game.  In game one Saquon rushes only eleven times.  Okay..?!  This week he rushes four times for 55 yards and a touchdown on the Giants opening drive, but only rushes 14 more times for another 52 yards, with three receptions the rest of the day!  Am I being sold on the notion Buffalo's defense makes one first quarter adjustment which puts a wrap on the entire Giants running game?  Sorry, I'm not buying that.  Rather, Coach Shurmur's adjustments and overall strategy just come off ass-backwards.  There are some very fundamental philosophies which seem to have escaped him against the Bills.

Rightly or wrongly people, fans, and media, will be piling on Eli this week.  But it is Coach Shurmur whom earns my week two demerit of the game.  This one is on him.

The Giants are now 0-2 and fading fast.

N.Y. Giants: Might as Well Throw Caution to the Wind

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

ELI's SWAN SONG

WEEK TWO

Buffalo Bills

vs.

New York Giants

Buffalo scores 17 points against the Jets last week, which is coincidentally exactly how many points the Giants put up against Dallas.  But whereas the Bills hold the Jets to just 16 points, the Giants yield 35 points to the Cowboys.  Needless to say the Giants defense is going to be a problem; a big problem; their biggest problem of the season.  The defense will very likely be the ones most responsible for cutting short Eli Manning's swan song.  But if Eli still has it in him to stand his ground in the pocket and carry a team, then Sunday could be that day.

Golden Tate is serving his suspension; Sterling Shepard remains in concussion protocol; Cody Latimer has a barking calf; and Darius Slayton is hobbling on a cranky hamstring.  That means all eyes this Sunday will be fixed squarely on Saquon Barkley.  Last week against Dallas he rushes eleven times for 120 yards.  If you subtract his 59-yard long, he still averages five yards per on ten rushes for 51 yards.  That said I expect Buffalo to pack the box with an extra defender in an all out effort to thwart Saquon from running wild.

Obviously the game plan can not be simply to rush Barkley left; Barkley middle; Barkley right ... not without a fullback and blocking tight ends, right?  Although I'm curious as hell to see if this offensive line is up for the task.  Similarly dumping off to Saquon and waiting for the YAC's also does not a game plan make.  With Russell Shepard, Bernie Fowler, Cody Core, etc., suddenly thrust into primary receiver roles, the Bills will be begging Eli to beat them over the top.  And he should oblige.

Last week against Dallas the offensive line yielded two sacks and nine other quarterback hits against Eli Manning.  This Buffalo defense commands no less respect, if not more.  They have good corners and a strong front seven that get after the quarterback.  Thus, a great opportunity for this line to really prove their collective worth lay dead ahead.  I certainly expect more rushes this week for Barkley.  After all, this is what this whole hog mollie thing is all about.

That ... keep Eli clean, and let him seize the moment.

N.Y. Giants: Defenseless at Dallas

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

HIDE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN

THIS IS GONNA GET UGLY

WEEK ONE

New York Giants    17

Dallas Cowboys     35

FINAL

Cowboys Breach Giants Defenses

WEEK ONE REACTION

I'm not pleased with Eli throwing 44 times.  Nor am I agreeable with limiting Saquon Barkley to just 15 touches.  However, Eli connects 30 times for 306 yards and a touchdown with no INT's, and Saquon rushes for 120 yards and catches four passes for another 19 yards.  Evan Engram is targeted 14 times and makes 11 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.  Meanwhile Eli is sacked just once and is harassed on six other occasions.  It's an otherwise decent day at the office for this newly constructed offensive line.

How, then, do the Giants come away from Sunday's game with more plays from scrimmage, more first downs; more total yards rushing; and 470 total yards; yet come away with only 17 points and lose time of possession by almost five minutes?  Two lost fumbles, a turnover on downs, and going 2/11 on third down conversions would do the trick. They better straighten that out quickly because the longer they keep their defense off the field, the better chances they'll have of winning a game.

This is what I said about their defense in my Sunday picks:

I knew heading in the Giants defense would be terrible.  On Sunday we got out first glimpse of the disaster that is to come.  The secondary gets torched.  Receivers Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper alone account for 264 yards.  Randall Cobb and Blake Jarwin account for another 108 yards.  Ezekiel Elliot understandably only rushes 13 times.  Dallas generates 492 yards of offense and Dak Prescott throws for over 400 yards with four touchdowns.  The Giants keep the Cowboys under 100 yards on the ground but generate no turnovers, record no sacks, and touch the quarterback only twice.

How does Elliott rush more times than Barkley?

N.Y. Giants: Eli Manning's Swan Song Begins at Dallas

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

No Matter What Happens This Season, 

Eli Will Always Be the Mann

Cue the music ... Eli Manning's swan song begins now.

One way or another this is the end, right?  The only lingering question is how exactly does this go down.

Most relationships with few exceptions almost never end amicably.  This is especially true in football.  Look no further than Phil Simms.  After leading the Giants to the 1993 playoffs, the front office called him into the office and cut him.

It's a ruthless business.  And very few people understands this better than former NFL quarterback of the New Orleans Saints; father of two Hall of Fame caliber quarterbacks; and de facto representative for his sons; Archie Manning.  I can name three NFL owners he squeezed by the pigskins.  Lest we forget what happened to the Chargers when they originally drafted Eli Manning.  If I'm Archie, yeah, I hold Jerry Reese largely responsible for ruining the latter part of my son's New York Giants career.  I'm sure Archie is just as amazed as us fans that in all Eli's years he never missed a game to injury.  In fact the only thing that ever came between Eli and great feats of consistency and durability were the Giants themselves.  Make no mistake, both Archie and Eli took the Geno Smith BenchGate fiasco personally.  It is why I say with great confidence since that day Archie has been orchestrating Eli's exit from the Giants and the NFL on his own terms.  He will not tolerate having his son disrespected, again.  That means exactly what you think it means: Archie > Mara.  Therein lies my conspiracy theory if Eli starts the entire season.

The more sensible scenario is Eli plays as long as the Giants remain viable playoff contenders.  But that, like the U.S. constitution, is a matter open for wide ranging interpretation.  Parity is lay of the NFL landscape, which is to say .500 teams these days make viable wild card contenders.  Are we being led to believe if the Giants are 4-4 at the midway point that Eli remains in play?  How would a 3-5 record sway opinion?  What if the Giants are 3-5 but the Eagles and/or Cowboys also falter with 4-4 records respectively?

I know one thing and one thing only about Daniel Jones: he was the Giants first round selection in the 2019 draft.  Otherwise, he's been performing against the dregs of training camp left trying to win positions, most of whom were likely cut when rosters were paired down to 53-players.  But I also know that at some point the Giants must transition away from Eli Manning.  That's just the way it works.

My hope is he goes out in a blaze of glory.  But history, and the pitiful state of the Giants defense, may dictate otherwise.  Imperfect as Eli is, he is still the greatest quarterback in Giants history, and I'm grateful to have witnessed his career.

He'll always be Mr. Freeze to me ...

N.Y. Giants: In Search of the Elusive Big Blue Hog Mollies

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

THE OFFENSIVE LINE

New York Football Giants: Dave Gettleman's Hog Mollies Coming to a Gridiron Near You.

ICYMI: The Post Odell Beckham Era Begins

Did anyone happen to catch New England's latest Super Bowl performance, and how the Patriots entire post-season run was largely predicated on a strong rushing game?  Tom Brady aside, New England's plan was as gray, wrinkly, and arthritic, as old school football gets.  Only thing missing were leather helmets.  Truth is New England's change in style had already been put into effect weeks before the regular season ended.  Vince Lombardi would have been brought to tears upon witnessing such meticulous front five execution.  Because lost in Simon Bar Sinister's AFC championship chess match against Andy Reid, and the reeducation of the L.A. Chargers new coach on the block, is the dominant and masterful performance choreographed by New England's offensive linemen.  In turn, rookie Sony Michel was able to successfully matriculate the Patriots towards daylight.  The GOAT stepped up when needed, sure.  But it was the offensive line whom truly carried the day.

Perchance to dream ...

It's all about the hog mollies as Dave Gettleman likes to say; the big guys up front pushing people around, shoving bodies out of the way, or driving them into the ground if needed.  If you follow DO IT FOR THE DUKE you know I couldn't agree more.  I still refer to that style of football by its former nomenclature: smash mouth.  And for years I've been screaming for its return.

This offensive line is unrecognizable compared to those of just two and three seasons ago. That alone makes this a promising endeavor.  The former Ereck Flower(s) bed occupying space along the right side has been dug up and replanted.  This year's front five is a consortium of trades, free agency, and the draft.  Their average size is 6' 4" and 318 lbs.  Maybe that's what Gettleman means by hog mollies.  They're also an experienced bunch.  Jon Halapio is still a novice center.  But he and sophomore Will Hernandez will now have on either side of them veterans Kevin Zeitler and Mike Remmers in addition to Nate Solder.

So what's the catch?  Three of the five positions feature players returning from some sort of surgery.

Otherwise this appears to be the best assemblage of linemen in quite some time.  The quicker they establish cohesion the better.  If they can provide Saquon Barkley with just a little maneuvering room, the Giants sophomore rusher will find wide swaths of space.  But the major question undoubtedly lies in this line's ability to keep Eli Manning upright, and affording him enough seconds to smartly scan his sectors.  Same goes for Daniel Jones.  But the quarterback situation for now is another matter.  Today is about branding Gettleman's hog mollies.

Nate Solder  ~  Will Hernandez  ~  Jon Halapio  ~  Kevin Zeitler  ~  Mike Remmers

Left Tackle  There's a reason why 31-year old Nate Solder is among the highest paid linemen in football.  Bill Belichick got his best years then purged him from the Patriots ranks.  Solder in turn winds up signing with a desperate club willing to throw big money at a huge problem.  Let's face it, despite being a two-time Super Bowl champion, to date Solder has turned out to be somewhat of a bust as a New York Giant.  To his credit he demonstrated notable improvement as the season progressed.  However expectations placed upon him have only grown since December 30th.  And the only way to calm fan anxieties, and help ease the pain of his prohibitive contract is through performance, i.e., effective pass protection and helping to create daylight for Saquon Barkley.  Just hold that thought ... because he is presently recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his ankle.  A clean up procedure we're being told.  Just the kinda thing we wanna hear heading into opening day.

Left Guard  Will Hernandez enters his second season after starting all 16 games last year as a rookie.  Listed at 6' 3" and 332 lbs., he proved himself a very worthy second round selection with NFL representative play, and deserves respect.  Like Solder, he was vastly improved over the second half of the season.  The Giants are getting terrific dollar on the muscle.

Center  Jon Halapio is another New England draftee, since purged by the Patriots.  He came to the Giants via the Denver Broncos without ever having played a game for them.  Listed at 6' 3", 317lbs., he began his Giants career two years ago at right guard, but was later transitioned to center.  Last season, he started the first two games of the season but unfortunately broke his leg/ankle causing him to miss the rest of the season.  As a result, we're somewhat more familiar with Spencer Pulley whom I thought filled in very well last season for Halapio.  He was part of Gettleman's second half reconfiguration which proved more effective.  I thought after last year's performance he would be the incumbent heading into camp.  The Giants appeared content with letting competition win the day.

MY KINGDOM FOR A CENTER

Bart Oates; Shaun O'Hara; show me a Super Bowl contender and I'll show you a Pro Bowl caliber center.  Why do you suppose a formerly league wide respected Jets offensive line and running game fell apart like wet toilet paper once Nick Mangold went down?  Everyone raves about Tom Brady and the New England Patriots historic comeback in SB LI against the Atlanta Falcons.  What no one mentions is how the Falcons dominated the first half through their running game.  But when six-time All-Pro center Alex Mack broke his leg and became unavailable for the second half Atlanta became one dimensional because they could no longer run effectively if at all; they were no longer gaining first downs; no longer maintaining possession; nor controlling the clock.  All of it stopped after Mack goes down.  His absence is an open invitation for Tom Brady to stay on the field.  Atlanta's defense was gassed, spent, done, what have you.  Why do you suppose the Steelers recently reinvested in their center?  Who is the Patriots center?  David Andrews?  The 24-year old four year veteran has two rings and is entering the last year of his deal.  How would you like to be in his shoes?  Better yet, how would you like to see him in Giants cleats?  I can go on ...

Right Guard  Dave Gettleman trades the Giants only legitimate pass rusher, Olivier Vernon, and their #4 pick to Cleveland in exchange for highly regarded right guard Kevin Zeitler and the Browns #5 pick (Giants draft wide receiver Darius Slayton; #171 overall).  Zeitler is signed to a cap friendly contract through the 2021 season.  This is easily Gettleman's finest offensive line acquisition to date as Zeitler is well considered to be a legitimate talent and one of the best pass protectors in the league.

Right Tackle  Released by the Vikings, Mike Remmers is entering his eighth year in the NFL.  He is a familiar and known quality to both Dave Gettleman and coach Shurmur from his days at Carolina and Minnesota respectively.  The 30-year old started all 16 games last season but underwent off-season back surgery.


Eli Manning's swan song rests in their hands ... and on their backs, legs, and ankles.

N.Y. Giants: Taking The Big Blue Hand Out of the Cookie Jar

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

New York Football Giants: Hopefully Odell Beckham Trade Finally Triggers a Full Rebuild Effort.

At this juncture, I believe most agree that it was John Mara's loyalty to Jerry Reese which effectively crippled the Giants.  In the seven seasons since winning Super Bowl XLVI the Giants are 47-65 (.419), with double-digit losses in four of their last five seasons.  They managed a playoff appearance in 2016, only to lose in noncompetitive fashion.  Just three victories in 2017 marked their lowest win total in nearly 35-years, which goes right along with being 8-24 (.250) over the last two seasons.  This would normally suggest a team in dire need of not just some flip renovation, but a full blown deconstruction and rebuild on par with those once initiated by former general managers George Young and Ernie Accorsi.

As if ...

I'm on record saying that if the Giants had no intention of drafting a quarterback replacement during last year's draft, I preferred them trading out of the #2 overall slot in exchange for multiple picks.  Don't get me wrong; Saquon Barkley is a supreme generational talent not born of this earth.  What's not to appreciate about an AP Rookie of the Year who gained over 2,000 total yards from scrimmage?  His accomplishment is nothing short of amazing considering the sub par talent he was forced to work with.  It's just that I have a different idea of how rebuilding should proceed.

I place blame for last year's failed effort at Win Now squarely in the hands of John Mara.  After Mara/Reese/McAdoo's complete botching of Eli's ill conceived benching in favor of Geno Smith, be sure John Mara has since committed to letting Eli Manning play out the remainder of his contract - no questions asked.  It then became Dave Gettleman's job as new general manager to package it, market it, and sell it.  That would explain hasty attempts at fortifying the offensive line, signing Odell Beckham to an absurdly prohibitive contract extension, and selecting Saquon Barkley with the second over pick of last year's draft.  And that's why I'm apt to give Gettleman a pass where it concerns Eli Manning.  

Odell Beckham Jr. is a completely different story.  From day one, I felt as if the Giants controversial megastar (a veritable football Frankenstein created and enabled by Reese and Tom Coughlin) would ultimately be traded.  Despite everything Dave Gettleman has said over the last year, I never once thought  Gettleman and Coach Shurmur were down with OBJ.  And full disclosure, nor was I.  That's why signing him to a contract extension threw me for a loop.  As a rebuilding team I believe high value assets should be traded away.  However, upon further review I believe signing Odell to that contract made it easier to trade him.  Placing a franchise tag on him, or any other tactic would have been counter productive.  Instead, Odell becomes cost predictable if under contract.  Therefore a team merely need decide if they can fit him into their numbers, or not.  The emerging Cleveland Browns decided he in fact does.  And if you consider the Steelers received a #3 and a #5 for Antonio Brown, and the Giants received a #1 and a #3, plus a starting safety, I think Gettleman did well enough.  I'm particularly pleased the Giants are free of OBJ's contract, despite the upcoming season's salary cap hit.

Overall, Dave Gettleman's first 14 months on the job are a perfect example of what happens when you half-ass a rebuild.  That said, Mr. Mara appears to have taken his hand out of the proverbial  cookie jar.  Now lets see what this general manager is capable of.

His strange and confounding maneuverings as general manager to date deserve its own narrative.

N.Y. Giants: Stop The Madness

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

On The Giants Way

New York Football Giants: With History and Experience as His Teacher, No Person Should Understand the Need for a Complete Rebuild Better Than John Mara.

My rooting interest in the Giants goes back more than 40-years.  Therefore I'm in no mood for being sold on false hope.  That's why I say back-to-back victories be damned.  Watching the Giants defeat the Niners and Buccaneers did nothing to sway my opinion.  An arguably gamely effort against the Eagles on Sunday only confirms my position.

I maintain the belief this team must finally commit to a full blown rebuild.  When a football team manages just six victories over their last 27 games, not only are major changes in order, reconciliation between emotions and opinion versus cold critical analysis and corrective action are prerequisite.

What I find slightly bewildering is that John Mara understands this.  He is a third-generation football man, born in a football world, raised by a football family.  He is a witness, and therefore knows exactly what both building and rebuilding sustained success entails.  He's been through this before and understands the process perfectly.  Yet, John Mara presently makes no clear distinction between rebuilding and retooling.  To be fair, John Mara's father was never burdened by costs involved with building a new stadium.  Thus when you consider Giants Football is indeed the family's primary business enterprise, calling for a full blown rebuild understandably poses a resistible proposition.  Nevertheless, I believe there's only one manner at this juncture in which Mr. Mara can correct this huge mistake, and that's by moving forward with unwavering conviction.

Mistake?

The mess Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur are presently charged with cleaning up was created by John Mara's unyielding loyalty to former general manager Jerry Reese.  And for good reason: Jerry Reese begins his Giants career in 1994 as a college scout at a time when Wellington Mara is still hanging out at practice, George Young is still general manager, and Dan Reeves is head coach.  John Mara is also around, serving in his sixth year as a team executive.  Meanwhile, Ernie Accorsi is beginning his first season as assistant general manager.  When George Young in 1997 hands the reigns over to Accorsi, Jerry Reese spends the next decade serving as pro scout and director of player personnel.  When The Duke passes away in 2005, John Mara assumes the role of team president.  In 2007, Jerry Reese succeeds Accorsi as general manager.

We fans call this, the Giants Way.  And we appreciate the organization's respective families greatly for it.

Giants history further speaks for itself ...

When Ray Perkins accepts the head coach position at Alabama, George Young elects to promote from within by elevating defensive coordinator Bill Parcells.  Two Super Bowls later, Parcells retires.  Pitifully, the Giants have no plan in place geared towards retaining Bill Belichick.  Two miserable seasons under Ray Handley lay ahead.  Former Broncos head coach Dan Reeves watches from afar, and calls George Young offering his services.  Young accepts, and in 1993 Reeves squeezes the last bit of goodness out of that old school Giants team in the form of a playoff victory over the Vikings.

How do the Giants follow up?  They cut Phil Simms, as George Young and Dan Reeves commit to a full blown rebuild.  Three years later, Ernie Accorsi and new head coach Jim Fassel pick up where Young and Reeves leave off.  By the late 1990s the Giants are contending again, and by 2000 they're back in the Super Bowl.  After which, the team culture goes somewhat awry.  But Accorsi medicates the situation with an apple picked off the old Bill Parcells tree.

Enter head coach Tom Coughlin, and the dawn of the Eli Manning era.  The stage is set for a second run on Super Bowls (eerily reminiscent of the first).  Only this time, the Giants woefully mismanage the aftermath.  John Mara above and beyond the dictates of today's colder impersonal NFL remains paralyzed by loyalty and commitment to Jerry Reese.  As such, Mara allows Reese to oversee the deconstruction of a championship operation.  Draft results, salary cap management, and the team's overall level of success since 2011 all speak for themselves.  The list of scapegoats is also numerous: Kevin Gilbride to Tom Coughlin, Perry Fewell and even Ben McAdoo.  When truth be told, the fall from Super Bowl contender to NFL bottom feeder starts with Reese.

Ben McAdoo is this era's Ray Handley.  And the Giants reappearance in the 2016 playoffs turns out being less than that of their 1993 playoff victory under Dan Reeves.  However, whereas George Young recognizes the time to rebuild has come; whereas Ernie Accorsi recognizes a need for culture change has come; Jerry Reese fails to recognize either.  And unless John Mara further clarifies his intentions for the team's future, he likewise remains guilty as charged.

Trading JPP during the off-season, trading Snacks Harrison and Eli Apple in-season, are trivial salary cap maneuvers.  Whereas the Giants present deficiencies and future needs are great.  After Odell Beckham, Saquon Barkley, Landon Collins, and even Will Hernandez, who else is worthy of debate and/or retention?  Janoris Jenkins?

I agree with naysayers insofar Eli Manning deserves his full share of criticism.  However, I feel at times as if he receives too much blame for the team's greater malfunction and misfortunes.  I'm on record saying that if the Giants had no intention of selecting Eli Manning's replacement during the most recent draft, I would have preferred they trade out of the number two pick.  Because far beyond Eli's own personal decline, the depletion of complimentary talent and deterioration of supportive play have been far more debilitating.

Eli is who he has always been, which is a non-elusive pocket passer.  Once upon a time, he was allowed to develop behind a record-setting offensive line constructed by Ernie Accorsi.  Jerry Reese however would inexplicably stick through thick and thin with a woefully inept cast of replacements, or lack thereof.  Dave Gettleman after just one year on the job has now employed at least ten different offensive linemen to date with little variance in results.  The signing of Nate Solder is again demonstrating how throwing money at a problem often proves ineffectual.  Hence, no other quarterback in the NFL this season has been sacked more than Eli Manning (3.6 times per game according to TeamRankings.com).

Eli surpasses 3,000 yards passing this Sunday against the Eagles.  With a slightly better performance of late from the offensive line, he demonstrates that he indeed is still a very capable NFL quarterback.  I've said it before: in light of a new generation of quarterbacks, I still trust him.  I'm merely calling it like I see it.

• WIN vs. Niners: 19/31 for 188 yards; 3 touchdowns; no INT; 1 sack; 4 QB hits.
• WIN vs. Bucs: 17/18 for 231 yards; 2 touchdowns; no INT; 4 sacks; 6 QB hits.
• LOSS vs. Eagles: 26/37 for 297 yards; 1 touchdown; 1 INT; 2 sacks; 5 QB hits.

Make of it what you will.  But, is it coincidence the Giants, Packers, and Ravens, have absurd portions of respective salary cap devoted to quarterbacks, while everything else is collapsing around them (if it hasn't already)?  The Falcons are arguably making the same mistake.

Tom Brady has throughout his career worked out financial deals with the Patriots for sake of greater quality turnover.  And lest we forget Bill Belichick routinely trades top talent a too early (rather than too late) for sake of draft picks and maintaining quality control.  How has that worked out for them?

Drafting is still the way to lay and build upon a solid foundation.  Meanwhile, young quarterbacks are proving extremely cost effective in today's NFL.  In turn, that money theoretically gets spent elsewhere.  In the most recent draft, however, the Giants arguably had one or two available quarterbacks for the taking.  They select a running back instead.  In lieu of a quarterback I would have swapped the number two overall pick (in return for two picks) and devoted them towards reestablishing a dominant line of scrimmage (which in part involves drafting a potential Pro-Bowl caliber center).

I love Saquon Barkley, by the way.  And it's a shame that both he and Odell Beckham are such superior talents.  I can not say the same about 80% of starting players on either side of the ball.

The Giants lacking a legitimate pass rusher is just one example.  That said, how well are the huge sums of cash Jerry Reese poured into the defense serving the team now?  How did that work out Sunday against the Eagles?

Again, spending bad money while simultaneously accumulating dead money is not the answer.  Initiating a rebuild breaks this vicious cycle.  The resulting byproduct of drafting and development is replenishment of salary cap reserves.  Talent and spending are reset, together.

Contending in a weak NFC East is also false justification.  It's nothing short of complete folly.  This team is ill-equipped to go up against any of the NFL's other division leaders; not last season; not this season; not next season.  Exactly when, is up to Mr. Mara (and Mr. Tisch), for I believe vision and directive come from the top.  In turn, the executive's responsibility lies in planning and execution.

For all these reasons I believe Dave Gettleman needs orders post haste to begin rebuilding anew ... like Ernie Accorsi did, and George Young did before him.

Do It For The Duke.

N.Y. Giants: Big Blue Quarterback Dilemma Nothing New

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

"Torn Between Two Lovers ... 

Feeling Like a Fool"

New York Giants: A Tale of Two Franchise Quarterbacks ...

Once upon a time, a general manager named George Young drafts an unknown quarterback from Morehead St., named Phil Simms.  Then NFL commissioner Pete Rozell even laughs in stunned disbelief as he announces the Giants selection.  Seven years later Simms leads the Giants to their first ever Super Bowl championship.  His own record setting performance earns him MVP honors.  Four years later, Simms and Jeff Hostetler lead them to a second Super Bowl championship.  However, the sudden departure of Bill Parcells hastens the end of the Giants glory days.  Yet, Phil Simms is still able to lead Big Blue to one more playoff victory in 1993 over the Vikings.  After which, the 38-year old Phil Simms is informed his contract would not be renewed by the organization.  His time as quarterback for the New York Giants, and his playing career effectively end right then.  The organization then commits to a full blown rebuild.  Enter Dave Brown, Kent Graham, et al.

Fast forward ...

The Giants trade for Eli Manning in a draft day acquisition.  Guess that makes him somewhat of an adoptive son.  After all, he was Ernie Accorsi's guy all along.  Point is fans embrace him, always have.  He's our blue bleeding Mr. Freeze.  And despite the continuing devolution of the Giants I still trust Eli - deficiencies and all - provided his is afforded safer working conditions.

Four years into his career, he leads the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII and is named game MVP.  Four years later he again leads the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLVI, and for a second time is named game MVP.  After which, the overall talent level around him begins its precipitous decline.  The Giants glory years are clearly behind them, and it takes another five years before Eli and the Giants would again participate in post-season play. 

Sound familiar?

That was two seasons ago.  The Giants have won just four of their last 23 regular games.  Manning turns 38-years old this coming January, and his replacement is nowhere in sight.  That makes it rather unclear whether Dave Gettleman is leaning towards a full blown rebuild despite this week trading Eli Apple and Snacks.

Here we have a Giant tale in the handling of two franchise quarterbacks.  George Young handled Phil Simms with conviction.  The manner in which Jerry Reese, Dave Gettleman, and John Mara himself have handled Eli Manning's end of years, not so much.  And there's the rub, George Young acted on behalf of Wellington Mara.  I've never been inclined to blame John Mara for much.  But it's time for resistant fans to admit this present mess falls squarely in his lap.  Eli-Gate started with him, not to mention his loyalty to Jerry Reese.

Outside of drafting a quarterback, the only other way of acquiring one of any quality is via the rare trade.  Another way is capitalizing on another team's bad situation as the Giants did with their opportunistic acquisition of Kerry Collins.

If I'm the Giants, I'm paying close attention to the developing situation at Oakland between Derek Carr and the Raiders.  John Gruden is in the midst of trading assets for picks.  In other words, he's gutting the roster, and I couldn't applaud him more.  He's already amassed five first round draft picks.  As such, I feel Carr would be a great acquisition to get the Giants through some rebuilding years.  The Giants should at least be interested, but in no way should they overpay.  They'll also need to find Eli another home first, perhaps reuniting him with Tom Coughlin at Jacksonville.

If John Mara orders Dave Gettleman to gut this once and for all, much of the drama surrounding the Giants will go away.  I say that because more and more over the last two seasons, they've become the Jets, and Knicks, and Mets, as main suppliers of back page fodder.

N.Y. Giants: Offensive Output Failing To Keep Pace With Growing Demands

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

New Triumvirate Not Playing Up To Expectations

New York Football Giants: Despite Myriad of Changes, Offensive Woes Continue Against Saints; Marks 36th Straight Game Offense Fails to Score Thirty Points.

Big Blue's three-year and presently ongoing condition is thus: Eli Manning and Odell Beckham have been the two constants amidst waves of offensive transformations (...or should I say a succession of front office scapegoating).  Otherwise, the Giants have been through two general managers, three head coaches, three offensive coordinators, revamped the offensive line, and installed a brand new backfield, yet nothing seems to have changed.

If there was a time the Giants needed Eli, Odell, and Barkley to literally carry them to victory, this game was it.  New Orleans defense is far from being their strongest asset.  Therefore Sunday's game against Drew Brees and the Saints called for thirty points, and the Giants could not get it done.  The matter of scoring thirty is not an isolated case of not getting it done, more than being something they seem incapable of getting done - period, end of statement.

Forget the defensive effort for now.  Despite continuing injuries sidelining Olivier Vernon, Eli Apple, and my growing anxieties regarding Snacks Harrison, the defense as a whole has played quite well.  I give them a pass for tiring during the second half versus New Orleans.  Sunday's loss, however, just like that against Dallas is strictly a matter of offense strategy and capabilities, or lack thereof. 

The Giants last scored thirty points in a 30-35 loss against the Eagles at home back during Week 17 of the 2015 season.  Jerry Reese was still general manager, Tom Coughlin was head coach, Ben McAdoo was in his second season as offensive coordinator, while Rashad Jennings, Orleans Darkwa, and Shane Vereen, populated an ineffectual backfield.  Since then Ben McAdoo took his turn as head coach with Mike Sullivan as offensive coordinator.  But after last season's debacle, Jerry Reese was out of scapegoats, and so Mr. Mara opted for sweeping changes.  Enter general manager Dave Gettleman, head coach Pat Shurmer, offensive coordinator Mike Shula, new additions on the offensive line, and of course, Saquon Barkley.

Yet, four games into the 2018 season, Sunday's loss makes 36 straight games now in which they've failed to achieve thirty points.  But let's also keep this in context.  Had the Giants stripped this down and gone into a full blown rebuild, none of this is an issue.  However, since Dave Gettleman decides Eli Manning has one more playoff run within him, he elects for on-the-fly modifications.  In Gettleman's defense, I suspect Mr. Mara may have influenced this present course of action.  In any event, this is what happens when you half-ass a rebuilding effort.

I digress ...

Everyone from Eli Manning, to the running game, to inconsequential offensive coordinator Mike Shula, to play calling head coach Pat Shurmur, is complicit in not only Sunday's most recent loss, but for a mirror image performance against the Dallas Cowboys.

In Week Two, Eli goes 33 (75%) of 44 for 279 yards and a touchdown.  That's despite Dallas registering six sacks and spooking Eli with another eight QB hits.  The Giants all but abandon the running game, with Saquon Barkley, Wayne Gallman, and Jonathan Stewart combined to rush just 14 times for 31 total yards.  Eli and a minimalist running game net just 310 offensive yards for the game.

This past Sunday New Orleans gets to Eli less often than did Dallas, sacking Eli three times with five other hits.  However, Eli is 31 (75%) of 41 for just 255 yards and a touchdown.  Once again, the Giants all but abandon the run, with Barkley and Gallman joining for a mere 50 yards on just 12 attempts.  All told, Eli and the woefully underutilized running game together generate 305 yards for the entire game.  So how is it that New Orleans applies less pressure than the Giants previous three opponents, yet Eli's performance and the overall offensive output regresses back, and below Week Two levels? 

Lest we forget Houston registered four sacks and hit the QB six other times, yet, Eli Manning goes for a stellar 25 (86%) 29 for 297 yards and two touchdowns against a suddenly mystifying, but otherwise respected Texans defense.

Coach Shurmur arguably got out-coached against Dallas.  Let's just say that qualifies as one event.  Sunday's effort could then be considered a coincidence.  But if this keeps up, we'll undoubtedly be discussing an alarming trend.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bucs put up 40 points against the Saints in Week One.  Two weeks later, Matt Ryan helped Atlanta score 37 points against the Saints.  In turn, New Orleans has now limited the Browns and Giants to 18 points respectively.

In the meantime, the Giants two highest paid offensive players, Eli Manning and Odell Beckham - the two common denominators I spoke of - have yet to connect on a touchdown.

N.Y. Giants: Time For Offensive Triumvirate To Prove Their Worth

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Manning  ~  Barkley  ~  Beckham

New York Football Giants: Onus on Big Three to be Elite.

Olivier Vernon will miss his fourth game due to a high ankle sprain.  It's one of the more diabolical  injuries in all of sports because it lingers and lingers, and can potentially compromise whole seasons.  Meanwhile, Eli Apple - who went from being a locker room cancer last season to returning this season as one of the Giants most important secondary pieces - will miss another week with a groin issue.

Someone once said you are what your record says you are.  But despite injuries, the Giants have thus far played representative defense.  Without their top pass rusher, the Giants are still somehow limiting opponents to an average of 20.6 points per game.  Then again, we're talking about the Jaguars, Cowboys, and Texans.  

However, starting Sunday against the Saints, the Giants have Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan to look forward to.  In other words, this Giants defense is about to face a higher level of opponent.  Problem is they have recorded just four sacks through three games.  That in turn makes Olivier Vernon's unavailability an area of much greater concern.

Even more dire than that, is the increasingly questionable availability of Snacks Harrison.  I said it last week: if the Giants lose him, they're done.

That said, it's time this offense takes some pressure off the defense.  If there is one game in which they need to finally break the thirty-point threshold, this is it.  After three weeks of mixed results, and losing tight end Evan Engram this week to yet another injury, it's now incumbent upon the Giants featured triumvirate of talent to get in sync and place the responsibility of securing victory squarely on their backs.

Eli Manning is coming off his best game of the season, Odell Beckham has 100-yard games against the Jaguars and Texans, and Saquon Barkely has more than proven himself a legitimate duel threat with 216 yards rushing, and 137 yards receiving.

It just so happens the Saints give up points in bunches.  Last week, the Giants new offensive line combination provided Eli just enough time, and Saquon Barkley just enough daylight in order to make play-action a viable weapon again.  Therefore, Eli and Odell need to finally start connecting for touchdowns against a pedestrian Saints secondary.

Last week, Eli completed 25 (86%) of 29 attempts for 297 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

FYI:

The Giants faced the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles last season in Week Three, in which they suffer a 27-24 loss.  Eli Manning completes 35 (74%) of 47 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns.  However, he winds up throwing two INTs.  Do you think rushing 17 times for a mere 49-yards had anything to do with that?

Enter Saquon Barkley ...

N.Y. Giants: Addition by Subtraction

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 WEEK THREE

GIANTS   27

TEXANS  22

FINAL

New York Football Giants: Big Blue Back-Ups Rush to Reinforce Offensive Line.

Despite Cries to the Contrary, Dave Gettleman Has So Far Kept Off-Season 

Promise to Revamp Offensive Line and Recommit to Running Game.

First, allow me to preface everything by saying that for three straight weeks now, the Houston Texans have been utterly, albeit unexpectedly, terrible.  I heard over the weekend someone say that Houston is playing against two teams: their opponents and themselves.  Whatever their malfunction, its their problem.

The Giants gain their first victory of the season with a very well rounded effort against the Texans.  However, Big Blue is not without their own problems.  Starting center Jon Halapio breaks his leg in Week Two against the Dallas Cowboys forcing Brett Jones into action, and beleaguered right tackle Ereck Flowers is (finally) benched in favor of Chad Wheeler.

Rewind back to Week One against Jacksonville - With both Jon Halapio and Ereck Flowers starting, the Giants rush 23 times for 114 net yards.  Together Jonathan Stewart and Saquon Barkley account for 20 attempts.  Five plays go left (behind either guard Will Hernandez and tackle Nate Solder) for 16-yards; five plays go up the middle (Jon Halapio) for 6-yards.  But ten plays go right-side (guard Patrick Omameh and tackle Ereck Flowers) for 92-yards, which includes Saquon Barkley's fourth quarter 68-yard touchdown run.  That play started middle but then bounced right through Ereck Flowers' lead block.  But if you subtract Barkley's romp, the Giants run right nine times for 24-yards.

Jon Halapio and Ereck Flowers start again at Dallas.  This turns out being a bad day for not just the offensive line, but for all involved - Coach Shurmur and offensive coordinator Mike Shula included.  The Giants all but abandon the run game, rushing only 14 times all game for 31-yards.  Eli scrambles three other times giving the Giants a total of 37-yards on the ground.  Halapio sustains a broken leg with six minutes left in the third quarter.  Prior to his injury, the Giants attempt a mere ten rushes for 27-yards.  Post injury, the Giants attempt another four rushes for four more yards.  All told, the Giants rush left six times for 19-yards.  They rush middle seven times with but one yard to show, and four other rushes go right for 17-yards.

With Jon Halapio out for the season, and Houston's J.J. Watt looming, Coach Shurmur benches Ereck Flowers.  And low and behold, Sunday ushers in a remarkable change in chemistry, and perhaps even fortune.  Or does command decision and better execution rule the day?

PASS PROTECTION IS A BIG BLUE ISSUE

In fairness to Chad Wheeler, J.J. Watt is an extraordinary specimen and arguably the best NFL creature at his position.  The Texans predictably sack Eli Manning four times and rough him up six other times (J.J. Watt alone accounts for three sacks, and five QB hits).  Wheeler struggles against Watt's speed rushes, and at times is simply outsmarted.  Back in Week One, the Jaguars sack Eli twice and get in six other touches.  After which Dallas sacks Eli six times and tag him with eight other QB hits in Week Two.  Suffice it to say pass protection remains a Giant issue.  After three weeks, they've allowed twelve sacks and 20 other QB hits.  That's no way to keep your 37-year old quarterback healthy and on the field.  His greatest ability will ultimately be his continued availability.

And that's why the running game is of paramount concern.  Eli is at his best working off play action.

With Brett Jones and Chad Wheeler starting for the first time together, the offensive line provides just enough space and time for Eli Manning, and creates just enough daylight for another 100-yard ground effort.  Eli connects on 25/29 (86%) for 297 yards and two touchdowns.  Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Stewart, and Wayne Gallman join together on 25 rushes for 115-yards.  The Giants run left six times for 22-yards.  Although three plays up the middle go for negative yardage, they run off-center ten times for 18 net yards.  The right side has another big day, with nine rushes going their way resulting in 75-yards gained and a touchdown.

OUT OF THE DARK; INTO THE DAYLIGHT

The Giants are clearly rushing middle/right - towards their weakness - with a noticeable measure of success.  Through three games, they've rushed left-side 17 times for 57-yards.  They've gone up the gut 23 times for 40-yards, and have rushed right-side 22 times for 169-yards.  The latter is more than the 2017 Giants entire rushing totals through their first three games as they elect to run a mere 46 times for a grand total of 147-yards.  Through three games this season, Saquon Barkely alone has rushed exactly 46 times for 216-yards.  Otherwise, the Giants have rushed for 263-yards to date.  Meanwhile, Eli Manning is down to 81 pass attempts versus 117 pass attempts at this time last season.

This is Dave Gettleman at work.  With the benching of Ereck Flowers, the offensive line left behind by former general manager Jerry Reese is officially purged.  Of course, there is still much work to be done and more improvements to be made.  For the moment, however, it appears as if Gettleman has accomplished in one off-season what Reese failed to adequately address over the last six or seven seasons.  Despite a disappointing 1-2 start, the first three games of this season prove that out.

At the same time, this is not a ringing endorsement.

N.Y. Giants: A Five Star Mess

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

BIG BLUE BLIGHT

New York Football Giants: The offense has played eight quarters of football with but one touchdown to show.

There's something to be said for not giving this newly constructed offensive line more reps during pre-season games.  However, there's very little that can be said in the way of defending Sunday night's atrocious play against the Cowboys at Dallas.

If the game were a movie, I'd rate them a five star mess.

The inescapable truth is that this revamped Giants offensive line was clearly out-played, out-muscled, out-smarted, and certainly out-classed.  Coach Shurmur and staff share equal fault for failing to make adequate in-game adjustments, if at all.  Moreover, losing center Jon Halapio is hardly an excuse for what transpired.  By the time he was being carted off the field, the proverbial damn had already burst allowing a torrent of Dallas pass rushers to flood the Giants backfield.

Eli Manning goes 33 of 44 (75%) for 279 yards and a touchdown.  But that hardly paints an accurate picture of the offensive debacle that was.  Eli is sacked six times, and hit another eight times.  With little time to negotiate through his progressions, Eli is forced into dumping off to Saquon Barkley 14 times for 80 yards.  By comparison, Odell Beckham only makes four receptions for 51-yards, while Cody Latimer's 37-yard reception goes down as the Giants longest play from scrimmage.

Forced into playing catch-up football, Saquon Barkley only rushes 11 times for a paltry 28-yards.  Aside from Eli Manning running for his life, the Giants only rush 14 times all game for 31 very inconsequential yards.

The Giants offense has played eight quarters of football thus far, but have only one touchdown to show.

Dave Gettleman built a win now team.

After two weeks, we're still waiting.

N.Y. Giants: Eli Manning Poised To Play In Narrative Defining Game

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Dave Gettleman Banking on Eli Manning's 

Ability to Turn Back the Clock

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

New York Giants

vs.

Dallas Cowboys

FROM

The House That Jerry Built

New York Football Giants: Dallas Cowboys Will Do Far Better Job Exploiting Absence of Olivier Vernon; I'm Concerned With Extra Load Being Placed on Snacks Harrison.

The Giants will play once again minus the services of their top pass rusher, linebacker Olivier Vernon, who will miss a second straight week with a high ankle sprain.  The Giants say he'll be ready by next week.  But history says this injury is notorious for slow healing, and sometimes responsible for hampering entire seasons.

Without him, the defense last week generated little in the way of quarterback pressure, registering one sack, and just three other QB hits.  On the ground, Leonard Fournette was having his way until sidelined by a strained hamstring.  Otherwise the Jaguars go on to rush for 137 total yards.

Sunday night the Giants face Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and a superior Dallas Cowboys offensive line.  If Week One is any indication, the Giants will have difficulty generating much, if any pressure against Dak Prescott.  But there are reasons why the Cowboys only scored eight points last week against Carolina.  Without Dez Bryant, they have no legitimate high threat receivers to speak of.  It just renders their offense more predictable.., that's all.

But it also creates a great case study into new defensive coordinator James Bettcher's creativity.  His unit allowed the Jaguars only thirteen offensive points last week.  Bettcher should be daring Dak Prescott to beat them.  If Eli Apple, Janoris Jenkins, and Curtis Riley capably handle their respective assignments, Landon Collins can then potentially help stack the box against Ezekiel Elliott, and thus allow Bettcher to sneak in an occasional blitz.

On a somewhat different note, it appeared to me last week that playing minus Olivier Vernon at some point began taking its toll on Snacks Harrison.  In that regard, I envision this week unfolding similarly.  Keep an eye on Snacks, Coach, because he's the one player I feel the defense can least afford to lose.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF GAME DAVE GETTLEMAN IS TRUSTING ELI MANNING TO CARRY THE TEAM, AND WIN.

Point directly at Big Blue's offensive shortcomings for Week One's loss against the Jaguars.  Much was, and is still being made of Ereck Flowers poor performance.  When truth be told, the entire line played a flawed and inept brand of football.  Nate Solder was the first to admit that.  All told, the Giants rush 23 times for 114 total yards, but subtract Saquon Barkley's 68-yard romp, and the Giants rush 22 times for just 46 yards.  And if we're pointing fingers, the left side of the line (not the right) proved least effective.  The unit as a whole allowed two sacks and six more QB hits.

It seems Saquon Barkley's role is yet to be defined.  Last week he rushed 18 times with only two receptions, which is contrary to what many anticipated.  I would argue this week calls for 25 rushes of smash mouth type football.  After which I'm sure he'll be making many more receptions out of the backfield in the weeks to come.  In the meantime, Dallas is sure to test his abilities at reacting to an NFL blitz.

However, most problematic of all was last week's disconnect between Eli Manning and his receivers.
Eli's naysayers say elite quarterbacks find ways of carrying entire teams to victory regardless of the talent level surrounding them.  This week, that couldn't ring more true.  Getting open against Jacksonville was not necessarily a problem for Odell Beckham, Sterling Sherpard, or Evan Engram.  But timing and accuracy were.  I might be an Eli apologist without realizing it.  But even I'll admit this is Eli's game to either win or lose all by himself.  If he and his receivers clean up their act, the Giants should get out of Dallas with hard fought, well earned victory, and allow fans to breathe a little sigh of relief.

Or not ...