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: Blue Monday

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Game One

Jaguars   20

Giants     15

FINAL

New York Football Giants: Offense Fails to Seize a Winnable Day.

With the Giants playing minus the services of Olivier Vernon - decidedly their best defensive player - they hold Jacksonville to 13 offensive points.

Leonard Fournette was having his way early, rushing nine times for 41-yards.  But a cranky hamstring takes him out of action.  T.J. Yeldon then steps in with 51 yards on 14 carries.  Meanwhile, Blake Bortles only passes for (18/33) 176 yards, an INT, and a touchdown, but scrambles twice for 42 yards.  All told the Jaguars gained 137 yards on the ground.

But then, the Jaguars aren't exactly known for offense.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants create good scoring opportunities against a stout Jacksonville defense.  But three times they settle for field goals.  In the first-half, Eli Manning overthrows a wide open Odell Beckham in the end zone.  In the second-half Manning has a pass batted at the line of scrimmage which is intercepted and returned for six points.  Evan Engram even drops what could have been a big play.

Special teams seals the loss, fumbling a punt that negates the Giants final possession of the game.

Odell Beckham registers 11 catches for 111 yards while rookie Saquon Barkley rushes 18 times for 106 yards and a touchdown.  Yet, the Giants lose by five.

Truth be told, Eli Manning's accuracy decreased as the afternoon wore on.  For the game, Eli was 23 of 37 (62%) for 224 yards, with no touchdowns and a pick-six.  In the first-half Eli is 13 of 17 (76%) (regardless of negating penalties committed by Ereck Flowers or other plays that went for minimal gain).  In the second-half, Eli only completes roughly 50% of his passes.

The offensive line allows two sacks, both within the final two minutes of the first half.  Jacksonville hits Eli six other times.  Now playing right guard, Ereck Flowers couldn't have gotten off to a worse start, wasting little time committing two inane penalties on the Giants very first two plays from scrimmage.

But the running game paints a somewhat different picture of Flowers' performance.  The Giants run 23 times for 114 net yards.  Saquon Barkely accounts for 18 rushes and 106 yards (5.9 avg).  Take away Barkley's touchdown romp, he rushes 17 times for 38 yards (2.2 avg).

Here's the rub ...

Together, Jonathan Stewart and Saquon Barkley rush 20 times.  Five plays go left side for +16 yards; five plays up the middle go for +6 yards; but nine plays go right side towards Ereck Flowers for +24 yards.  Now add Saquon Barkley's 68-yard touchdown that started middle, but then bounced right around Flowers.

Too bad this will be lost in the narrative of the Giants first regular season loss.

N.Y. Giants: Last Chance at the Eli Manning Corral

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Can Giants Get Back to Running Between the Tackles?

New York Football Giants: Dave Gettleman is putting an awful lot of trust in Eli Manning's ability to stay injury free not just this season, but next season as well.

With great conviction the Giants new general manager moves forward with a 37-year old quarterback, no viable back-up, and without a contingency plan for securing a replacement in the foreseeable future.

With the second overall pick of the draft, I did not agree with Dave Gettleman's decision to select Saquon Barkley.  There were several highly rated quarterbacks available, and a touted pass rusher to be had as well.  But Gettleman passed on them all, then turns and cuts back-up quarterback Davis Webb one week before the regular season opener.

That's called win now mentality, and life after Eli Manning be damned.

Coming off a 3-13 season, I'm not sure this is the correct course of action.  Be that as it may, instead of tearing it down and rebuilding, the plan is to squeeze every last bit of goodness out of Eli.

I'm no Eli apologist - no need to be.  He is flawed; not the most accurate passer; and did indeed lead the NFL three times in interceptions.  But I don't care.  I have no issue with Eli.  The bottom line is that I trust him.  The great debate as to whether or not he is/was elite always strikes me as nonsensical because damn near every critic takes his career completely out of context.  No one brings up that former offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride's play selection routinely led the NFL in most yards attempted per pass, and that Tom Coughlin happily signed off.  Coughlin and Gilbride were buddies from way back, and were in lockstep with Eli running a purposeful high risk, high reward offense.

Let's also not forget it was Ernie Accorsi's offensive line which nursed Eli Manning to maturity.  Once up to snuff, Eli, behind that offensive line pressed on to win two Super Bowls together.  In turn, Jerry Reese is to blame for running that same offensive line (and running game) into the ground.

Enough ...

With Gettleman's selection of Saquon Barkley, and the re-signing of Odell Beckham, together with Eli Manning, the Giants have an offensive triad that could potentially rank among the best.  Add tight end Evan Engram, and we're talking a quartet arguably comparable with any in the league.  If Dave Gettleman's revamped offensive line provides Eli Manning just one or two seconds more of pocket time, it won't matter if the opposition triple-covers Odell.

Yeah, about that offensive line ...

For all Gettleman's efforts, he still can't hide Ereck Flowers.  Shifting him to the right side is a good start.  In the meantime, I'm more concerned with both the collective abilities of Nate Solder, center Jon Halapio, and Patrick Omameh to create daylight, and with Saquon Barkley's ability to rush between the tackles.

Barkley's pre-season was compromised by a strained hamstring sustained in the Giants first exhibition game.  We'll see how far the Giants push him against the Jaguars, but I do not think they have 25 rushes in mind.  I suspect Coach Shurmur and new offensive coordinator Mike Shula will have him equally rush and receive.

The Giants offense failed to score thirty points in any game last season.  This season, the Giants were handed one of the toughest schedules in football.

Go Gettleman Go!

N.Y. Giants: No Hiding Flowers In Newly Constructed Offensive Line

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Dave Gettleman spends big bucks and a 

second round pick to refortify offensive line.

New York Football Giants: Dave Gettleman did more to overhaul the offensive line in his first off-season than did former general manager Jerry Reese over the last six years.

The day after winning Super Bowl XLVI, should have been the day Jerry Reese started deconstructing and rebuilding his offensive line.  He did no such thing.  Which is part and parcel why Reese is no longer employed by the Giants.

This year's helmet crashers will feature three brand new members.  But with Ereck Flowers shifting over to the right side, and Jon Halapio moving to center, all five positions will have a new starter in place.

Gettleman paid the necessary premium in order to secure free agent left tackle Nate Solder.  His four year, $62 million dollar contract makes Nate the NFL's highest paid lineman.  But that's the price the Giants needed to pay in order to rectify an untenable situation (where it concerns Eli Manning's ability to play upright).  Solder was Tom Brady's blind side protector for the last seven years, and won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.  He instantly becomes the anchor of this unit.  His four line mates would be wise to follow his lead.

With their second pick in the 2018 draft, the Giants select left guard Will Hernandez.  He's 6'4", 327 lbs., and when on the field is said to be mean as a rattlesnake.  At one point during training camp, he and B.J. Goodson engaged in a minor altercation and needed to be separated.  That's good!  And I couldn't be happier with this selection.

Jon Halapio takes over at center.  Exactly why, I'm not quite sure, because it's not his natural position. But it would seem he simply demonstrated better ability and agility at the position.  Listed at 6'3", 315 lbs., I certainly don't mind the switch.  Brett Jones last year played fairly well in place of the since departed Weston Richburg.  But this is clearly Coach Shurmur's decision, whom like Gettleman is seemingly doing everything possible to separate themselves from last season's mess.

In March, Gettleman signed former Jacksonville Jaguar right guard Patrick Omameh to a three year deal.  How he fairs playing next to Ereck Flowers remains to be seen.  There's an obvious and necessary role for both him and center Jon Halapio to play in helping Ereck Flowers successfully negotiate four quarters of football.

Banned from the more critical left side, Ereck Flowers has been reassigned to right tackle.  His next move should be out the door.  The switch simply means Eli Manning will get to look his would be attackers in the face (as opposed to being hit from behind).  Flowers is still a liability opposing defenses will look to exploit - only difference being he'll now be appearing on their left.  No sooner than Week One will Jacksonville let the Giants know exactly where they stand with regard to Ereck Flowers.

Many of the Giants most recent failures have been largely blamed on an inept offensive line.  While Dave Gettleman did well to enact sweeping changes in just one off-season, some questions never change, such as can this new offensive line both satisfactorily protect an older Eli Manning and create sufficient daylight for rookie Saquon Barkley? 

The Giants first game of the season against a stout Jacksonville defense will go a long way towards answering these questions, and more.

N.Y. Giants: All Eyes On Offensive Line

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Nothing Changes

Everything Starts Up Front

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

NEW YORK GIANTS

vs.

DALLAS COWBOYS

FROM

The House That Jerry Built

TEXAS

New York Football Giants: Big Blue Will Go As Far As Their Offensive Line Takes Them.

We left off last season with Coach McAdoo downplaying the offensive line's pedestrian performance, and instead taking odd shots at Eli Manning, and placing the onus on his QB's individual play.

Coach McAdoo may have simply been employing tough talk tactics, especially coming off guiding the Giants to their first winning season since 2012, and first playoff appearance 2011.  There's also a part of me that totally understands the art and intricacies of Coach Ploy.  Indeed, many things coaches do and say serve specific reasons, particularly where it involves sending messages and/or singling out players.  And at this point, Coach and Eli are also no longer strangers to one another.  But if Coach McAdoo honestly believes his offensive line was not necessarily a problem (or the problem) last season, then we have a big problem on our hands.

I obviously believe the offensive line remains this team's greatest liability.  Last year's performance was mediocre at best ... and I think that's being kind.  One hand washes the other.  So, with regards to Eli, Coach McAdoo has obviously altered the plan since Kevin Gilbride once called the shots.  Eli played under duress.  Why?  His 6.7 yards per attempt last season were his lowest since 2008.  His 10.7 yards per completion were his lowest since 2006.  And while Eli's average yards per game, and QB rating improved dramatically during Coach McAdoo's time as offensive coordinator, Eli's yards per game and QB rating experienced a noticeable downturn last year, not coincidentally, during McAdoo's first year as head coach.

Point is, Coach might be talking out of both sides of his mouth.  It was his own offensive predictability that stood out most me.  That, and the team's complete lack of a running game.

Fact is, the Giants attained an 11-6 record last season despite their offensive line deficiencies.  And as far as I'm concerned, all that does is build false hope.  You saw what happened in the playoffs last season against the Packers.

Having a great defense is just that ... great!  But if your offensive line is incapable of pass protection, and creating daylight for the running game, and thereby managing the clock, then the quick strike system (aka Odell Beckham Jr.) allows the opposition every chance in the world to stay in the game, and position themselves for victory.  Why?  Because they'll likely have sufficient time on the clock. Said another way, the Giants can not win in December and January if their defense has been forced to play 32:00 to 38:00 minutes a game.

The alternative has been Eli needing to orchestrate a game saving 1:39 minute, 87 yard drive for the victory.

The Giants head into this season with the same offensive line as last season.  There's something to be said for continuity.  I believe in that.  But does this unit, as presently constituted, posses the talent worthy of such a time investment?

At left tackle, the answer is unequivocally, no..!  Ereck Flowers must blossom this season, and preferably sooner in the year that later.  There's no doubt all eyes will be on him.  But will Eli need eyes in the beck of his head?

Hoepfully (I can't stress that enough), LG Just Pugh is a year wiser, and a year better.  And at Center, I'm expecting perhaps too much from Weston Richburg.  I have a belief that winning, success, or at the very least a effective running game is born of an all-pro caliber center.  Look how the Jets ran with Jeff Mangold, then how their running game fell off the planet without him.  The same thing happened last year of the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl against the Patriots.  Atlanta couldn't keep the Patriots offense off the field once their center got hurt because they could longer run the ball effectively.  The Giants won Super Bowls with Bart Oates at center, with Joe Morris, and O.J. Anderson, and Sean O'Hara at center with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.  Get the picture?

The right side of the line is a complete mystery to me.  I have no idea what we'll be getting, from what is sure to be a revolving door system, involving John Jerry, Bobby Hart, and D.J. Fluker.

At least Jerry Reese thought enough to fortify tight end, if only to help the running game, and give Eli an occasional outlet.  But by no means are any of them a primary pass option, and that's too bad.

To make this long story short, and as good as this defense is expected to be, the Giants will only go as far as their offensive line takes them.

N.Y. Giants: Running To Daylight With Sunglasses On

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

GAME FIVE

San Francisco 49ers

vs.

New York Giants

FROM

The Snoopy Bowl

NEW YORK GIANTS: There are no such things as dire circumstances in the NFC East, only chance and opportunity.

Part I of IV

COWBOYS 27; Giants 26

Falcons 24; GIANTS 20

GIANTS 32; D.C. Hogs 21

Giants 24; BILLS 10

The road to an NFC East title has remarkably been detoured through East Rutherford, proving time and again that one team's misfortune and/or dysfunction are another team's opportunity.

Ever mounting injuries continue taking a heavy toll on the Dallas Cowboys, and will do so for several weeks to come.  Elsewhere, the D.C. Hogs remain locked in an eternal struggle against themselves, while the Eagles are safely chained in the division basement until further notice.

In a tumultuous first quarter season, the Giants recovered from their 0-2 start to even their record with consecutive victories over Washington and a particularly convincing one over Buffalo.

Last week's game was certainly an attitude adjuster, causing fans to seriously rethink a great many things.  For instance, the Giants have effectively controlled roughly 235 of a possible 240 minutes played over four games and 16 quarters of football.  It's just that those two gaffes late in games One and Two were so self-destructive, and completely unnecessary.

The second quarter of the season begins with the NFC East locked in a three way tie.  Big Blue is seemingly in the best shape to seize control of a leaderless pack.

Part II of IV

49ERS

@ Eagles

COWBOYS

@ Saints

GAME FIVE: Niners @ Giants

ICYMI: Running of the Bills; Applied SPAGnology

Some of the Niners cast members might still be the same, but San Francisco's performance is far from what we grew accustomed to under Jim Harbaugh.  

The familiar Colin Kaepernick, Anquan Bolden, Vernon Davis, and the 49ers offense are last in total yards per game, and total points scored.  San Francisco's ground game is another matter.  Despite no longer having Frank Gore in the loop, the Niners have nevertheless accumulated the most rushing yards to date, and rank 5th in average yards rushed per game.  All told, however, the Niners are only averaging a mere 12 ppg after four weeks of play.

Defensively, the Niners have allowed the league's 6th most total points, and 10th most total yardage per game.

GIANTS DEFENSE

20.5 points allowed per game

386 yards allowed per game

The Giants, meanwhile, have allowed the NFL's 7th most overall yards.  They have allowed the second most yards through the air, and have averaged the most passing yards allowed per game.  But, they're number one against the run.  They've allowed opponents the 10th most time of possession, allowed the 13th fewest points, and average the 8th least points allowed per game.

GIANTS OFFENSE

25.5 points scored per game

335 yards gained per game

The Giants have rushed for the 8th fewest yards in the NFL, and average the 9th least rushing yards per game.  Through the air, the Giants have only thrown for the 18th most yards in the NFL, and are yet to surpass 1,000 passing yards through 4 games played. They're 19th in average passing yards per game.

Crossed Connections:

Eli Manning's first INT of the season came part and parcel with this whole perverted pass doctrine under Coughlin.  Just saying...

Moose Johnston was covering the game on FOX and pointed out that Rueben Randle should have fought harder to make that particular reception, and I couldn't have agreed more.  He was targeted 6 times but only made 3 receptions for 31 yards (and a touchdown).

The man is slow off the line, telegraphs his cuts, and as Moose pointed out, doesn't place himself between the defender and the ball well enough.  His ineffectiveness has done little to relieve OBJ of double teams.

Eli, meanwhile, has limited his INTs this season, but his in-game management has seemingly gone to pot.  The same spirits that possessed Eli in the latter stages of games One and Two, returned with about 4:00 left in Game Four.  Fortunately they were exorcised in time to stave off yet another 4th quarter disaster.  He must suffer occasional spells of voodoo from growing up in New Orleans  I guess....

If Eli does not audible, Rashad Jennings does not score a 51-yards touchdown on a play that should have been limited to a few yards at most.  I get that.  But running the clock down to zero and wasting time outs still seems routine.

In No Particular Rush:

The Giants stick with the run for sake of maintaining balance.  They certainly do not stick with it long enough to let it wear opponents down or dictate a game.  In previous seasons, the reasons were glaringly evident as to why.  This season, however, there's little excuse not to run more.

Ereck Flowers - Justin Pugh - Weston Richburg - Geoff Schwartz - Marshall Newhouse

The offensive line is coalescing into an effective unit.  They have protected Eli very well, allowing the NFL's 3rd fewest sacks (4) this season.  They have also executed strong run blocking.  Scheme-wise, however, the Giants continue running towards daylight with their sunglasses on.

Minus any yardage gained by Eli Manning, the combination of Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams and Shane Vereen, have rushed 100 times for 343 yards, for an average of 25 rushes for 85.7 yards per game.

While not great, they've been reliable.  The manner in which they've run, however, has been impressive at times.  Rashad and Andre have moved the chains with power, but only as the play calling allows.