From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: What's a Defensive Coordinator to Do?
There was a certain would-be pick-six early in the game against Eli but was dropped by Dallas. And then there was a Tony Romo pass that got lost in the lights that would have went for another certain touchdown. But luckily in the end, Jason Pierre Paul rose up just in the nick of time to block a potential game winning field goal against the Cowboys. Otherwise, the Giants were seconds away from having to deal with a fifth straight defeat and kissing this year's playoff aspirations good-bye, as well as having another log thrown on the fire of successive late season failures.
The Giants have Eli Manning; Jason Pierre Paul; Hakeem Nicks; Victor Cruz; Tom Coughlin; Mathias Kiwanuka; Jake Ballard; and Steve Weatherford - the punter! - in that order, to thank for putting the team in the position they are in today. In the absence of an effective running game and a wholly unresolved situation on the Offensive Line, the fact of the matter is Coach Gilbride, Eli, Nicks, Cruz, and Ballard have supplied the Giants with enough points to have won more games than they have this season. Eli has managed to outplay the deficiencies with the running game. And furthermore, problems on the Offensive Line weren't the root cause for huge gaffes on Defense.
Before I get to that - to my utter dismay, not once did I mention Kevin Gilbride as being a problem. I even stupefied myself on that one after I put his rump squarely on the hot seat to begin the season. But as things progressed since Week One up to the present time, it is his counter-part; Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell; who's posterior is getting toasty on the hot seat instead.
Blame a veteran Secondary for that; then a slew of injuries; no depth at Linebacker; a dormant pass-rush; and a sudden fear of blitzing on the part of the Defensive Coordinator as the reasons why the Giants aren't better. With a mere 7-6 record this season, they're lucky to still be flirting with first place. And sadly, in the face of great Giant Tradition, it's fair to pin the blame for another troublesome season on the Defense. But along with some extenuating circumstances of course.
The Secondary was supposed to be featuring Terrell Thomas, Prince Amukamara, and Kenny Phillips in prominent roles by now. That clearly has not happened largely due to injuries. And Michael Coe was recently added to the list of injured players as well. So what they have been left with are the old guard Secondary veterans - Corey Webster; Aaron Ross; Antrel Rolle; and Deon Grant. The fact that the four players are indeed veterans; unlike rookie Tyler Sash; is the most startling affront regarding their collective failure. You would think that these four players, who are no strangers to each other after having played together for some time, just might be on the same page of music by now.
The woes of the Failing Foursome started in Week One against Washington and have continued consistently throughout the season, and all the way through last week's game against the Cowboys. If I've characterized the Secondary before, add the word INEPT to the lexicon. Why, for two consecutive seasons has the Secondary either lost, or never had the ability to communicate on the field? The lapses in coverage have been getting ghastlier by the week and the craters being left behind by opposing quarter-backs continually throwing bombs against us is skyrocketing towards near catastrophic proportions. I say near catastrophic, because near every team's secondary is getting lit up for insane yardage and points this season.
Corey Webster and Aaron Ross were never this bad under Coach Spags. Then again, back then they were twenty-four and twenty-three years old respectively. Today, Webster is 29 years old and Ross is 28 years old. Is Father Time speeding past them into the end zone already? They are seven and five year veterans now with both having had three common Defensive Coordinators in their time with the Giants. The constants for both players have been Corners Coach Peter Giunta; since 2006; and Safety Coach, David Merritt; also since the 2006 season. So the point is, the four individuals have all been together for some time now. So I'll reference Coach Spags again. Was he the difference between the Secondary being good, then after his departure becoming horrifically bad? Maybe. But that's all theoretical/hypothetical. Because right now, the Secondary looks like a bunch of fifth graders trying to play zone coverage. That's real and now and something Perry Fewell, not Coach Spags, needs to figure out over these next three weeks..
Getting beat on man-coverage is one thing. How miscommunication in zone coverage between the Safety and Corners are leaving receivers literally ALL ALONE is another. And yet, that's not all. Slot receivers have been playing our coverage like a veritable nickelodeon. And frankly, the five cent game films have been appalling. If you gave Antrel Rolle the other team's playbook and a scooter, he still couldn't keep the slot receiver close.
The situation at Linebacker only exasperates the Defensive situation. Let's face it, Chase Blackburn was asked to come back out of desperation. Jonathan Goff and Clint Sintim were lost for the season. Rookies Spencer Paysinger and Mark Herzlich did not play against Dallas. And the defensive QB; Michael Boley; has played infrequently, and apparently will be compromised the rest of the way. That leaves the Giants with their other two rookies; Greg Jones, and Jacquian Williams; to hold down the fort along with Mathias Kiwanuka, who thank goodness, has been a season long force.
There's all the reason we need to know why Perry Fewell has been so hesitant to blitz and why he's been throwing seven and eight men in coverage lately.
Up front, Justin Tuck hasn't been the same Tuck we're accustomed to seeing all season long. He's never been right since suffering a neck stinger. And at present, he now has a toe injury to contend with. Osi Umenyiora was been of little use to us as well. With those two players missing alone, the three and four man rush Coach Fewell has been employing just hasn't been getting it done; save Jason Pierre Paul who has been nothing short of an absolute beast. Jason Pierre Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka have teamed up to very literally carry this Defense all season.
But with two of our three best pass rushers out of this week's game; a paper thin and inexperienced Linebacking Corp., and a Secondary suffering through a fundamental breakdown, what is a Defensive Coordinator to do?
Injuries and the Secondary have conspired to limit our pass rush. The latest scheme allows receivers to shake loose in spite of seven and eight men in coverage. The quarterback is getting way too much time in or out of the pocket allowing a receiver to eventually break free. And as we witnessed with Aaron Rogers, gaping holes will appear in the middle of the field for the QB to run through should he decide to.
The Offense has given us plenty of reason to not be overly concerned about their ability to put up points. And Eli has proven he can dial it up when the team needs it most. But the Defense isn't being so kind to us. They've been down right scary, and have Fans terrified.
Mike.BTB
Showing posts with label Jake Ballard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jake Ballard. Show all posts
Friday, December 16, 2011
Sunday, December 04, 2011
N.Y. Giants ~ Game Twelve PACKED With Tension
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
Was last week's debacle against the Saints a Giant aberration? No! They deserved that shellacking. They've been steadily leading up to that game and received their due consequence. But can they clamp down and play with, and even beat the Packers? Sure. For just as they deserved to lose Monday night, they can, and have, changed things up and rebounded to play very formidable games before. There is still enough talent on the field despite a slate of ruinous injuries. But logistically, things have gone awry.
Losing to the Packers is still not the end of the world for Big Blue. It just means they're playing themselves into a situation where all they'll have left is hope to make the Wild Card. So in essence, they can either PACK-up Green Bay and remain a strong viable division contender and make those two upcoming games against the Dallas Cowboys matter, or they can PACK it in, and start letting other teams dictate Big Blue's future. Yes, a Giant task lays ahead of them Sunday afternoon. But hey; that's football. If you want to be the man, you have to beat the man.
So what's there to say? What applied last week still applies this week. And if anything, the undefeated Green Bay Packers have scored more, and have given up fewer points that the Saints. Maybe a little bit of pride after two blows to their egos and playing on their home field can help spur the Giants Sunday afternoon to victory. Maybe. But you know you're in trouble when you need to delve into the abstract with things like hope and pride because the tangible results on the field haven't been cutting it.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but we need another solid game from Steve Weatherford punting the football. We aren't going to march up and down the field on Green Bay, so the battle for field position is Key One.
Then we need to make third down stops on Defense and limit Green Bay's yards after catch. That's Key Two. What happened defensively against the Saints last week can not be repeated; Period. There is no tip-toeing around the issue. Without key two, the rest is pointless. I dealt with some our defensive issues in my last posting. Additionally, if Perry Fewell hasn't come up with a solution to the hurry-up offense increasingly being used against us, then he'll have a major grilling coming his way by the end of the night. But the Defense indeed needs to perform considerably better than they have over the last two weeks and get drastically better than they were Monday.
Key Three obviously is the running game. Ahmad Bradshaw will be suiting up but is he ready to play? I don't know. How do you recover from broken feet and rush the football after a month? I'll say this much though; Ahmad Bradshaw is tough and has done it before. But in truth, all we need is one big rush early in the game to give the Packers something to think about. Then an occasional outburst from either Bradshaw and/or Jacobs along the way will keep Green Bay honest. Obviously, the ground game needs to open up the play-action for Eli. But it's critical all the same, that we get some first downs on the ground as well. Because Key Four of this game, is doing just enough on offense to keep Aaron Rogers off the field. If we minimize the times he has a ball in his hands, Eli just might get enough of an opportunity to get into shoot-out with Rogers, and actually come out on top.
It's plain and simple; the Giants are where they are because of Eli. But in order to move forward, they need the rest of the team to catch up to his level of play. Because even in their victories, the Offensive Line; the Running Game; Linebacking; and the Secondary; have all consistently under-performed this season. Because of, or in spite of those factors, the Giants have struggled to win.
The Packers are giving up 21 points on average. The Giants are scoring 24 points per game on average and sadly, have given up more points than they've scored this season as a result of Monday night's loss. Otherwise, they were pretty much at par which isn't great either. So you do the math. Eli and the Offense will have to be a little better that their average Sunday. Maybe Ahmad Bradshaw can help that along.
I said it before, and here I go again because this bares repeating; Gilbride must get the ball into the hands of Jacobs' and Bradshaw's more than by just rushing the ball. They need to catch passes off screens and swings. And if we are to sustain time consuming drives, it's crucial they create positive yardage if Eli's check-downs make it their way. If the Offensive Line isn't surging forward or creating the holes to run through, then it's incumbent upon Coach Gilbride to figure out the next best way to get the desired production out of the backfield.
I can't help but remember Brandon Jacobs chipping the paint off a would-be Green Bay tackler's helmet when they met in a head-on collision during the frozen 2007 NFC Championship Game. Those were the days when the O-Line were still surging forward and Jacobs rushed at linebackers and safeties with shoulder pads down and power in his thighs. Maybe there's something similar to that left in the ol' guy before A) - this season is over, and B) - he and the organization part ways.
When you can run with power, you don't have to sweat all the other stuff as much. - *sigh*
The bottom line here is the Giants must have more than just Eli dropping back and looking for Cruz and Nicks. Jake Ballard must also rejoin the productive zone and figure heavily in this game. And he needs to hold on to the ball this time; as do several other receivers. With a few more catches and surer hands, the last two weeks could have been thought about a little differently than we view them today.
A win today would change a lot more than that.
Let's Go Giants!
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:
Was last week's debacle against the Saints a Giant aberration? No! They deserved that shellacking. They've been steadily leading up to that game and received their due consequence. But can they clamp down and play with, and even beat the Packers? Sure. For just as they deserved to lose Monday night, they can, and have, changed things up and rebounded to play very formidable games before. There is still enough talent on the field despite a slate of ruinous injuries. But logistically, things have gone awry.
Losing to the Packers is still not the end of the world for Big Blue. It just means they're playing themselves into a situation where all they'll have left is hope to make the Wild Card. So in essence, they can either PACK-up Green Bay and remain a strong viable division contender and make those two upcoming games against the Dallas Cowboys matter, or they can PACK it in, and start letting other teams dictate Big Blue's future. Yes, a Giant task lays ahead of them Sunday afternoon. But hey; that's football. If you want to be the man, you have to beat the man.
So what's there to say? What applied last week still applies this week. And if anything, the undefeated Green Bay Packers have scored more, and have given up fewer points that the Saints. Maybe a little bit of pride after two blows to their egos and playing on their home field can help spur the Giants Sunday afternoon to victory. Maybe. But you know you're in trouble when you need to delve into the abstract with things like hope and pride because the tangible results on the field haven't been cutting it.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but we need another solid game from Steve Weatherford punting the football. We aren't going to march up and down the field on Green Bay, so the battle for field position is Key One.
Then we need to make third down stops on Defense and limit Green Bay's yards after catch. That's Key Two. What happened defensively against the Saints last week can not be repeated; Period. There is no tip-toeing around the issue. Without key two, the rest is pointless. I dealt with some our defensive issues in my last posting. Additionally, if Perry Fewell hasn't come up with a solution to the hurry-up offense increasingly being used against us, then he'll have a major grilling coming his way by the end of the night. But the Defense indeed needs to perform considerably better than they have over the last two weeks and get drastically better than they were Monday.
Key Three obviously is the running game. Ahmad Bradshaw will be suiting up but is he ready to play? I don't know. How do you recover from broken feet and rush the football after a month? I'll say this much though; Ahmad Bradshaw is tough and has done it before. But in truth, all we need is one big rush early in the game to give the Packers something to think about. Then an occasional outburst from either Bradshaw and/or Jacobs along the way will keep Green Bay honest. Obviously, the ground game needs to open up the play-action for Eli. But it's critical all the same, that we get some first downs on the ground as well. Because Key Four of this game, is doing just enough on offense to keep Aaron Rogers off the field. If we minimize the times he has a ball in his hands, Eli just might get enough of an opportunity to get into shoot-out with Rogers, and actually come out on top.
It's plain and simple; the Giants are where they are because of Eli. But in order to move forward, they need the rest of the team to catch up to his level of play. Because even in their victories, the Offensive Line; the Running Game; Linebacking; and the Secondary; have all consistently under-performed this season. Because of, or in spite of those factors, the Giants have struggled to win.
The Packers are giving up 21 points on average. The Giants are scoring 24 points per game on average and sadly, have given up more points than they've scored this season as a result of Monday night's loss. Otherwise, they were pretty much at par which isn't great either. So you do the math. Eli and the Offense will have to be a little better that their average Sunday. Maybe Ahmad Bradshaw can help that along.
I said it before, and here I go again because this bares repeating; Gilbride must get the ball into the hands of Jacobs' and Bradshaw's more than by just rushing the ball. They need to catch passes off screens and swings. And if we are to sustain time consuming drives, it's crucial they create positive yardage if Eli's check-downs make it their way. If the Offensive Line isn't surging forward or creating the holes to run through, then it's incumbent upon Coach Gilbride to figure out the next best way to get the desired production out of the backfield.
I can't help but remember Brandon Jacobs chipping the paint off a would-be Green Bay tackler's helmet when they met in a head-on collision during the frozen 2007 NFC Championship Game. Those were the days when the O-Line were still surging forward and Jacobs rushed at linebackers and safeties with shoulder pads down and power in his thighs. Maybe there's something similar to that left in the ol' guy before A) - this season is over, and B) - he and the organization part ways.
When you can run with power, you don't have to sweat all the other stuff as much. - *sigh*
The bottom line here is the Giants must have more than just Eli dropping back and looking for Cruz and Nicks. Jake Ballard must also rejoin the productive zone and figure heavily in this game. And he needs to hold on to the ball this time; as do several other receivers. With a few more catches and surer hands, the last two weeks could have been thought about a little differently than we view them today.
A win today would change a lot more than that.
Let's Go Giants!
Mike.BTB
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
N.Y. Giants ~ Big Blue Comes Through
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Big Blue Coaching Helps G-Men Get a Firm Grip on First Place.
We have till Wednesday to feel great about this team Giant Fans. That's what regular seasons are all about. They're filled with surprises and disappointments. They are for savoring and celebrating the good, and grumbling about the bad things that happen week to week. This last Sunday was a good thing in the grand scheme of things. So, having started with Sunday night and lasting through tomorrow, let's let this last game glow as a defining moment in our season thus far, before we have to forget it and move on.
But first, this...
All the Media's babble about Eli being "elite" or not, was and still is completely comical. How they (the Media) feed on each other's regurgitation I suspect even makes maggots want to puke sometimes. So allow me to simplify this for them. Eli is a damn good quarterback. He's our QB. He is a Giant. I trust him with all my Big Blue being to lead this team through any situation and against any team. I supported him as a rookie, through the years, and during all those interceptions last season. I have never wavered once. There is no conversation needed - much less one about whether Eli is elite or not. He is the New York Giants quarterback whom I think is capable of great things just as other quarterbacks around the league are capable of accomplishing great things as well. That's it. The state of Eli being elite, and the author of the question who opened his valve spewing all this oral pollution into the airwaves in the first place mean absolutely nothing. Elite quarterbacks can lose games too. See Tom Brady. See Tom Brady throw cups of water in disgust.
As I now step off my soap-box, I merely mean to say - You can't quantify everything. That's why this is sport; based on competition and not about branding an "E" onto some athlete's buttock. Elite indeed. Pfff! Shut up!
Back to the game...; Eli wasn't exactly pretty Sunday. In fact the game might have been a little bit of a regression of sorts. He shied away from taking hits and as a result threw many times off his back foot again. Old problem. - After week one and two, Eli for the most part has stood tall in the pocket this season. But in this game, there was a figurative step backwards in that respect considering the Patriots did not officially record a sack. Oh, then there was the matter of an interception in the end zone. I questioned the play selection before the snap. I thought we should run the ball in that 3rd and goal situation. But that's between Gilbride and me. It actually took a fine play to intercept the pass though. Manningham could also have perhaps closed the gap and come back for the ball. It's really here nor there though. We won, so unfortunate plays like this usually go over looked.
But Eli was great late, just like he's been since he was a rookie. And Sunday, he was flat out awesome when the Giants needed him most (...again!). In his nearly season-long recurring role as Captain Come Back, Eli orchestrated not one, but two 4th quarter come-backs to lead his team to victory. That sort of thing is becoming old hat for Eli. It seems as if most of the Giants wins this season have been of the 4th quarter come-back variety. And while Eli's demeanor still remains conservative as usual, he's made it known loud and clear with his play, who's steering this ship. Awe-Shucks nothin'. Eli is in charge.
Sunday, with no Hakeem Nicks, Eli threw for 20/39; 250; 2TD; 1INT - to guys like Ramses Barden who made a much needed and very timely return to action; Victor Cruz; and Mario Manningham who for the moment, is thrust into playing big brother for the non-injured receiving youngsters still able to play. More importantly, Eli is getting the Giants though sticky situations with the surprisingly sure hands of tight-end Jake Ballard. The big man has come through big time in big situations making big plays for Big Blue this season. None were bigger than a pair of 4th quarter catches including the game winning touchdown against the Patriots.
The touchdown to Ballard that put the Giants ahead 24-20 was a result of Coach Kevin Gilbride using the running game to keep the Patriots honest. And I commend Coach for it. The rush by Jacobs the play prior to the TD made the Pats bite on play-action on the ensuing play springing Ballard loose. Gilbride stayed patient with the run all game and it paid off. But earlier in the game, when Eli's pass resulted in an end-zone INT, I questioned why Coach Gilbride would risk jeopardizing the game-tying field goal by putting the ball in the air. In his defense and in addition to comments I made above, there is also something to be said for killer instinct. And for a full game, I think Coach Gilbride mapped out a fine plan. And not just this game, which was commendable in itself; - Coach Gilbride is showing an adjusted approach to the running game overall (perhaps prodded by Coach Coughlin). It's been a slight adjustment; but an adjustment none the less. Between Brandon Jacobs and D.J. Ware, the Giants rushed the ball twenty-five times. Brandon Jacobs had eighteen of those rushes. Coach Gilbride remained very patient indeed considering the way the game played out.
The controversy between Jacobs/Gilbride is..., or better yet, never was; Period. I told you Brandon Jacobs was fine in spite of some ill-advised comments he made. After all, it was Brandon Jacobs who raised his Head Coach on his shoulders after the game inside a victorious Giant locker-room. Above all things, he's a good team mate and his words were never an issue; only to the Media, but certainly not to me.
I told you last week, Brandon Jacobs did not have to rush for 100-yards Sunday in order to have an effective day. And Sunday proved that out. While he rushed for 18 times for 72 yards, he also had four catches for 28 more very important yards, which brought his game productivity up to an even 100-yard day. And lest we forget his eleven yard scamper for the Giants' first touchdown of the game. Was Brandon Jacobs an elite back Sunday? Not nearly. Did Brandon Jacobs step-up, put his money where his mouth was and come through for his team? Yeah. Absolutely.
Eli and Jacobs managed what they could behind a solid day by the Offensive Line. They didn't get Eli sacked and still managed to help Jacobs and Ware squeak-out 95-yards on the ground. Above all, they were disciplined over the length of an incredibly tight game. They had no killer penalties called against them; something which plagued them over several games earlier this season. While Kevin Boothe had one problem with a snap in the shot-gun, Eli said Boothe was filling in extremely well at center in place of injured David Baas.
Lately, the two biggest criticisms leveled against the Giants were they couldn't run the ball, and that they couldn't stop the run either. Well, I think Jacobs, Coach Gilbride, and the Giants got what they needed from the running game Sunday. Then there is the matter of criticisms leveled against Coach Perry Fewell for making every Johnnie-come-lately running back look like Barry Sanders this season.
That problem stems from the Giants' line-backers. Tom Brady spilled the beans once and said N.E. prepares to exploit team's weaknesses; and why not....? Who doesn't? So naturally, who didn't think the Patriots would attempt to pound the ball and tight-end us to death all game long? In New England's opening drive, they punched right through our gut for something like a 15-yard gain or so. And I thought, uh-oh. But after that, Michael Boley started to have an exceptional game.
He's been charged with bringing along a trio of rookies. Since Mathias Kiwanuka is being deployed multiple ways, Boley is responsible for the on-the-job training for the trio of rookies - Greg Jones, Spencer Paysinger, and Mark Herzlich. And as a group Sunday, they all effectively shut-down New England's running game. Coach Belichick opted to run the ball just 24-times out of 75-plays, and opted to throw the ball 49 times instead. The Giants conversely, only threw 14-more times than they ran the ball in 68-plays for the game. So again, that's a good job by Kevin Gilbride and a great job by Michael Boley's unit.
But back to Coach Fewell...,and with an understanding about what exactly ails this Defense, I think Perry Fewell is having a fine season and had himself an exceptional game against the Patriots in particular. His unit has been bend but don't break for the most part this season. And damn near every time the Offense put them into a precarious situation this season, the Defense usually stood firm and held opposing teams to field goals. And besides, what more needs to be said other than a 0-0 score at half-time against the Patriots? The Giants' front line kept an elite quarterback like Tom Brady out of his element all game and induced the mega-nova N.E. quarterback into four turnovers along the way.
No doubt, a return to health to key defensive players couldn't have come at a better time for the Giants. And the depth Jerry Reese has provided this team has gotten them through decimating injuries which have kept the Giants from fading away on crutches. But in spite of getting victimized by big plays this season; and faced with ruinous injuries to the Secondary and at Linebacker, Coach Fewell has thus far done an outstanding job. And this last Sunday, Michael Boley, Chris Canty, Mathias Kiwanuka, Michael Coe (!!), Antrel Rolle, and damn near everyone on defense played-up to their competition this time, and stopped the vaunted Patriots and Tom Brady cold...for the most part.
What the Patriots also failed to win, was time of possession battle. And that was very key to the Giants success as well.
If a punter is getting too much face time or print space in the locals, it's usually because he's doing something very wrong. But NYG punter Steve Weatherford continues to have a booming season punting the football. Far too many times for New England's tastes, they started possessions very deep within their own territory. Weatherford's foot-work should not go under spoken. The first half battle for field position was just as instrumental in this Giant victory as Eli's arm was.
While Weatherford's foot has been a tremendous bright spot on Special Teams, Aaron Ross' fumble on kick-return almost proved ruinous. The Defense held N.E. to a field goal off the miscue. And that's something the Giants' Defense has done very well this season; i.e.; - limiting opposing points off turnovers. A second straight drop on kick-return happened again shortly, but NY recovered. That's a position that's been begging for attention all season.
The Giants are now 6-2 and sitting somewhat comfortably on top of their division. For that, much credit is due to Eli, Jacobs/Bradshaw, Cruz, Ballard, Barden, the pass rush, and other factors. But know this; this game was a testament to the job Coach Coughlin does preparing his team. Jim Fassell's Giants collapsed like a cheap poker table when decimated by injuries to his top players. Coach Coughlin has his injury ravaged team firmly in first place of the NFC Eastern Division.
And this game was also a credit to Jerry Reese's talent evaluation and organization abilities, not to mention his shrewd decision making as GM of the Giants. To all their critics after Week One - BoooYah! Don't worry though. I made the same (...Coughlin) mistake in 2006.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Big Blue Coaching Helps G-Men Get a Firm Grip on First Place.
We have till Wednesday to feel great about this team Giant Fans. That's what regular seasons are all about. They're filled with surprises and disappointments. They are for savoring and celebrating the good, and grumbling about the bad things that happen week to week. This last Sunday was a good thing in the grand scheme of things. So, having started with Sunday night and lasting through tomorrow, let's let this last game glow as a defining moment in our season thus far, before we have to forget it and move on.
But first, this...
All the Media's babble about Eli being "elite" or not, was and still is completely comical. How they (the Media) feed on each other's regurgitation I suspect even makes maggots want to puke sometimes. So allow me to simplify this for them. Eli is a damn good quarterback. He's our QB. He is a Giant. I trust him with all my Big Blue being to lead this team through any situation and against any team. I supported him as a rookie, through the years, and during all those interceptions last season. I have never wavered once. There is no conversation needed - much less one about whether Eli is elite or not. He is the New York Giants quarterback whom I think is capable of great things just as other quarterbacks around the league are capable of accomplishing great things as well. That's it. The state of Eli being elite, and the author of the question who opened his valve spewing all this oral pollution into the airwaves in the first place mean absolutely nothing. Elite quarterbacks can lose games too. See Tom Brady. See Tom Brady throw cups of water in disgust.
As I now step off my soap-box, I merely mean to say - You can't quantify everything. That's why this is sport; based on competition and not about branding an "E" onto some athlete's buttock. Elite indeed. Pfff! Shut up!
Back to the game...; Eli wasn't exactly pretty Sunday. In fact the game might have been a little bit of a regression of sorts. He shied away from taking hits and as a result threw many times off his back foot again. Old problem. - After week one and two, Eli for the most part has stood tall in the pocket this season. But in this game, there was a figurative step backwards in that respect considering the Patriots did not officially record a sack. Oh, then there was the matter of an interception in the end zone. I questioned the play selection before the snap. I thought we should run the ball in that 3rd and goal situation. But that's between Gilbride and me. It actually took a fine play to intercept the pass though. Manningham could also have perhaps closed the gap and come back for the ball. It's really here nor there though. We won, so unfortunate plays like this usually go over looked.
But Eli was great late, just like he's been since he was a rookie. And Sunday, he was flat out awesome when the Giants needed him most (...again!). In his nearly season-long recurring role as Captain Come Back, Eli orchestrated not one, but two 4th quarter come-backs to lead his team to victory. That sort of thing is becoming old hat for Eli. It seems as if most of the Giants wins this season have been of the 4th quarter come-back variety. And while Eli's demeanor still remains conservative as usual, he's made it known loud and clear with his play, who's steering this ship. Awe-Shucks nothin'. Eli is in charge.
Sunday, with no Hakeem Nicks, Eli threw for 20/39; 250; 2TD; 1INT - to guys like Ramses Barden who made a much needed and very timely return to action; Victor Cruz; and Mario Manningham who for the moment, is thrust into playing big brother for the non-injured receiving youngsters still able to play. More importantly, Eli is getting the Giants though sticky situations with the surprisingly sure hands of tight-end Jake Ballard. The big man has come through big time in big situations making big plays for Big Blue this season. None were bigger than a pair of 4th quarter catches including the game winning touchdown against the Patriots.
The touchdown to Ballard that put the Giants ahead 24-20 was a result of Coach Kevin Gilbride using the running game to keep the Patriots honest. And I commend Coach for it. The rush by Jacobs the play prior to the TD made the Pats bite on play-action on the ensuing play springing Ballard loose. Gilbride stayed patient with the run all game and it paid off. But earlier in the game, when Eli's pass resulted in an end-zone INT, I questioned why Coach Gilbride would risk jeopardizing the game-tying field goal by putting the ball in the air. In his defense and in addition to comments I made above, there is also something to be said for killer instinct. And for a full game, I think Coach Gilbride mapped out a fine plan. And not just this game, which was commendable in itself; - Coach Gilbride is showing an adjusted approach to the running game overall (perhaps prodded by Coach Coughlin). It's been a slight adjustment; but an adjustment none the less. Between Brandon Jacobs and D.J. Ware, the Giants rushed the ball twenty-five times. Brandon Jacobs had eighteen of those rushes. Coach Gilbride remained very patient indeed considering the way the game played out.
The controversy between Jacobs/Gilbride is..., or better yet, never was; Period. I told you Brandon Jacobs was fine in spite of some ill-advised comments he made. After all, it was Brandon Jacobs who raised his Head Coach on his shoulders after the game inside a victorious Giant locker-room. Above all things, he's a good team mate and his words were never an issue; only to the Media, but certainly not to me.
I told you last week, Brandon Jacobs did not have to rush for 100-yards Sunday in order to have an effective day. And Sunday proved that out. While he rushed for 18 times for 72 yards, he also had four catches for 28 more very important yards, which brought his game productivity up to an even 100-yard day. And lest we forget his eleven yard scamper for the Giants' first touchdown of the game. Was Brandon Jacobs an elite back Sunday? Not nearly. Did Brandon Jacobs step-up, put his money where his mouth was and come through for his team? Yeah. Absolutely.
Eli and Jacobs managed what they could behind a solid day by the Offensive Line. They didn't get Eli sacked and still managed to help Jacobs and Ware squeak-out 95-yards on the ground. Above all, they were disciplined over the length of an incredibly tight game. They had no killer penalties called against them; something which plagued them over several games earlier this season. While Kevin Boothe had one problem with a snap in the shot-gun, Eli said Boothe was filling in extremely well at center in place of injured David Baas.
Lately, the two biggest criticisms leveled against the Giants were they couldn't run the ball, and that they couldn't stop the run either. Well, I think Jacobs, Coach Gilbride, and the Giants got what they needed from the running game Sunday. Then there is the matter of criticisms leveled against Coach Perry Fewell for making every Johnnie-come-lately running back look like Barry Sanders this season.
That problem stems from the Giants' line-backers. Tom Brady spilled the beans once and said N.E. prepares to exploit team's weaknesses; and why not....? Who doesn't? So naturally, who didn't think the Patriots would attempt to pound the ball and tight-end us to death all game long? In New England's opening drive, they punched right through our gut for something like a 15-yard gain or so. And I thought, uh-oh. But after that, Michael Boley started to have an exceptional game.
He's been charged with bringing along a trio of rookies. Since Mathias Kiwanuka is being deployed multiple ways, Boley is responsible for the on-the-job training for the trio of rookies - Greg Jones, Spencer Paysinger, and Mark Herzlich. And as a group Sunday, they all effectively shut-down New England's running game. Coach Belichick opted to run the ball just 24-times out of 75-plays, and opted to throw the ball 49 times instead. The Giants conversely, only threw 14-more times than they ran the ball in 68-plays for the game. So again, that's a good job by Kevin Gilbride and a great job by Michael Boley's unit.
But back to Coach Fewell...,and with an understanding about what exactly ails this Defense, I think Perry Fewell is having a fine season and had himself an exceptional game against the Patriots in particular. His unit has been bend but don't break for the most part this season. And damn near every time the Offense put them into a precarious situation this season, the Defense usually stood firm and held opposing teams to field goals. And besides, what more needs to be said other than a 0-0 score at half-time against the Patriots? The Giants' front line kept an elite quarterback like Tom Brady out of his element all game and induced the mega-nova N.E. quarterback into four turnovers along the way.
No doubt, a return to health to key defensive players couldn't have come at a better time for the Giants. And the depth Jerry Reese has provided this team has gotten them through decimating injuries which have kept the Giants from fading away on crutches. But in spite of getting victimized by big plays this season; and faced with ruinous injuries to the Secondary and at Linebacker, Coach Fewell has thus far done an outstanding job. And this last Sunday, Michael Boley, Chris Canty, Mathias Kiwanuka, Michael Coe (!!), Antrel Rolle, and damn near everyone on defense played-up to their competition this time, and stopped the vaunted Patriots and Tom Brady cold...for the most part.
What the Patriots also failed to win, was time of possession battle. And that was very key to the Giants success as well.
If a punter is getting too much face time or print space in the locals, it's usually because he's doing something very wrong. But NYG punter Steve Weatherford continues to have a booming season punting the football. Far too many times for New England's tastes, they started possessions very deep within their own territory. Weatherford's foot-work should not go under spoken. The first half battle for field position was just as instrumental in this Giant victory as Eli's arm was.
While Weatherford's foot has been a tremendous bright spot on Special Teams, Aaron Ross' fumble on kick-return almost proved ruinous. The Defense held N.E. to a field goal off the miscue. And that's something the Giants' Defense has done very well this season; i.e.; - limiting opposing points off turnovers. A second straight drop on kick-return happened again shortly, but NY recovered. That's a position that's been begging for attention all season.
The Giants are now 6-2 and sitting somewhat comfortably on top of their division. For that, much credit is due to Eli, Jacobs/Bradshaw, Cruz, Ballard, Barden, the pass rush, and other factors. But know this; this game was a testament to the job Coach Coughlin does preparing his team. Jim Fassell's Giants collapsed like a cheap poker table when decimated by injuries to his top players. Coach Coughlin has his injury ravaged team firmly in first place of the NFC Eastern Division.
And this game was also a credit to Jerry Reese's talent evaluation and organization abilities, not to mention his shrewd decision making as GM of the Giants. To all their critics after Week One - BoooYah! Don't worry though. I made the same (...Coughlin) mistake in 2006.
Mike.BTB
Monday, October 31, 2011
N.Y. Giants ~ Big Blue Struggles To Net Fish
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: If Playing Ugly Gets You In First Place, Disgusting Is OK With Me.
I won't be taking time out to tell you how disgusted I am with Sunday's performance in this post. I'll save that for the week. There's other more positive things to ponder after Week Eight in light of the Herculean test the Giants are about to face starting next weekend.
Well..., they won, which is the only reason why I'd even consider this tact after an uninspiring performance against the Fish. So let's start there. The Giants improved to 5-2 and solidified their lead in the NFC Eastern Division. The Redskins lost to Buffalo and the Eagles defeated the Cowboys in the Sunday night game. All that factored into giving the Giants some separation between them, the second place team, and the rest of the pack. Elsewhere, the Steelers rumbled over the Patriots in New England. The Giants will be heading to Foxboro for next week's game against the Patriots. So I'm sure there will be very careful attention paid to this week's film by Coach Coughlin and his staff.
There are two huge reasons why the Giants are in the position there are in today. First, Eli Manning is continuing to have a stellar season throwing to a receiving corps who are proving more reliable by the week. And secondly, the Giants consistently come up with huge sacks late in games. As a matter of fact, the Giants ability to get to the QB in fourth quarters has been the biggest factor in the Giants' success this season by far.
Eli Manning is indeed having a "elite" type season. And there are many reasons why. First is his poise. I don't ever remember seeing him more relaxed inside a crumbling pocket. Long gone are the happy feet of Weeks One and Two this season, and many seasons prior to this. He once was one of the least sacked QB's in the League behind a superior O-Line. But these days he's getting hit far more than he used to behind a transitioning line and yet making better passes. That comes with maturity. He knows hits are coming but now the old mis-step of throwing off his back foot appears to be a thing of the past. Hence, more accurate passes. His throws are coming in lower and as a result we've seen little to no tipped passed this season; save the Seahawks game. Overall, his INT's are no where near last season's rate.
While this game was a complete regression for Kevin Gilbride's implementation of the running game; and I'll be ripping him up later about it; over-all this season, Gilbride has made subtle changes in his play calling. As a result, the running game has been setting up the pass; which is contrary to Gilbride's usual ops. This also contributes to bringing down Eli's interceptions because far too many times, Gilbride called for very unnecessary and risky passing when all that was needed was running the ball and better clock management when trying to protect late game leads.
Lastly, credit Eli for leading a consistently changing mix of receivers over the past recent years and turning them into a steady, reliable bunch. A few years ago, Plaxico Burress was just the first shot in a seemingly on-going string of injuries to the Giants' receivers. Yet, Eli never ignored an opportunity to throw the ball to whomever was filling the position. At some point with individuals, games, and seasons, confidence building becomes as paramount to winning as matriculating the ball up the field. Eli has helped boost the levels of Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz, and Jake Ballard most recently. The hope here is that Eli and his Boys are ready to strike against some of the League's more elite teams now. A quick note - Hakeem Nicks may have injured himself in Sunday's game.
The Giants got to Miami's quarterback five times Sunday. Four sacks came in the fourth quarter. And each and every one of them was game critical. All the usual suspects were involved. Osi, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Jason Pierre Paul all registered sacks against the Dolphins. This was Justin Tuck's first game back from a neck-stinger. But the other three members of Blue Devastation have made it a habit this season of sealing Giant wins in the fourth quarter with a series of sacks. And without getting too deeply into that aspect of this last game yet, Pierre Paul, Osi, and Kiwanuka have done more to secure the Giants first place position this season than any other aspect of the Giants' game. Additionally, all that work up from has directly led to the type of season Corey Webster is enjoying so far.
This last game was a win. It was nothing to be proud of. But it's still a win. Even Super Bowl seasons are speckled with games like this. Did we have problems? Hell yeah.
We had problems on Offense with the running game and the continued under-utilization of Brandon Jacobs. The first signs of wear and tear showed up with Ahmad Bradshaw. The Giants opening drive and giving the ball up on downs was a microcosm of everything that drives me crazy about Kevin Gilbride. And Hakeem Nicks may be injured. We also had problems Defensively as the Giants allowed yet another 100-yard rusher which is becoming quite routine now. Miami rushed for almost 150-yards against the Giants.
Those problems with be dealt with in my next post as I start to examine next week's opponent a little more closely. For now, it's suffice to say, without Eli carrying the Offense and the pass-rush carrying the Defense, the Giants would not be sitting in first place.
Mike.BTB
N.F.C. EAST DIVISION:
New York Giants...........5-2
Dallas Cowboys..............3-4
Philadelphia Eagles........3-4
Washington Redskins....3-4
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: If Playing Ugly Gets You In First Place, Disgusting Is OK With Me.
I won't be taking time out to tell you how disgusted I am with Sunday's performance in this post. I'll save that for the week. There's other more positive things to ponder after Week Eight in light of the Herculean test the Giants are about to face starting next weekend.
Well..., they won, which is the only reason why I'd even consider this tact after an uninspiring performance against the Fish. So let's start there. The Giants improved to 5-2 and solidified their lead in the NFC Eastern Division. The Redskins lost to Buffalo and the Eagles defeated the Cowboys in the Sunday night game. All that factored into giving the Giants some separation between them, the second place team, and the rest of the pack. Elsewhere, the Steelers rumbled over the Patriots in New England. The Giants will be heading to Foxboro for next week's game against the Patriots. So I'm sure there will be very careful attention paid to this week's film by Coach Coughlin and his staff.
There are two huge reasons why the Giants are in the position there are in today. First, Eli Manning is continuing to have a stellar season throwing to a receiving corps who are proving more reliable by the week. And secondly, the Giants consistently come up with huge sacks late in games. As a matter of fact, the Giants ability to get to the QB in fourth quarters has been the biggest factor in the Giants' success this season by far.
Eli Manning is indeed having a "elite" type season. And there are many reasons why. First is his poise. I don't ever remember seeing him more relaxed inside a crumbling pocket. Long gone are the happy feet of Weeks One and Two this season, and many seasons prior to this. He once was one of the least sacked QB's in the League behind a superior O-Line. But these days he's getting hit far more than he used to behind a transitioning line and yet making better passes. That comes with maturity. He knows hits are coming but now the old mis-step of throwing off his back foot appears to be a thing of the past. Hence, more accurate passes. His throws are coming in lower and as a result we've seen little to no tipped passed this season; save the Seahawks game. Overall, his INT's are no where near last season's rate.
While this game was a complete regression for Kevin Gilbride's implementation of the running game; and I'll be ripping him up later about it; over-all this season, Gilbride has made subtle changes in his play calling. As a result, the running game has been setting up the pass; which is contrary to Gilbride's usual ops. This also contributes to bringing down Eli's interceptions because far too many times, Gilbride called for very unnecessary and risky passing when all that was needed was running the ball and better clock management when trying to protect late game leads.
Lastly, credit Eli for leading a consistently changing mix of receivers over the past recent years and turning them into a steady, reliable bunch. A few years ago, Plaxico Burress was just the first shot in a seemingly on-going string of injuries to the Giants' receivers. Yet, Eli never ignored an opportunity to throw the ball to whomever was filling the position. At some point with individuals, games, and seasons, confidence building becomes as paramount to winning as matriculating the ball up the field. Eli has helped boost the levels of Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz, and Jake Ballard most recently. The hope here is that Eli and his Boys are ready to strike against some of the League's more elite teams now. A quick note - Hakeem Nicks may have injured himself in Sunday's game.
The Giants got to Miami's quarterback five times Sunday. Four sacks came in the fourth quarter. And each and every one of them was game critical. All the usual suspects were involved. Osi, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Jason Pierre Paul all registered sacks against the Dolphins. This was Justin Tuck's first game back from a neck-stinger. But the other three members of Blue Devastation have made it a habit this season of sealing Giant wins in the fourth quarter with a series of sacks. And without getting too deeply into that aspect of this last game yet, Pierre Paul, Osi, and Kiwanuka have done more to secure the Giants first place position this season than any other aspect of the Giants' game. Additionally, all that work up from has directly led to the type of season Corey Webster is enjoying so far.
This last game was a win. It was nothing to be proud of. But it's still a win. Even Super Bowl seasons are speckled with games like this. Did we have problems? Hell yeah.
We had problems on Offense with the running game and the continued under-utilization of Brandon Jacobs. The first signs of wear and tear showed up with Ahmad Bradshaw. The Giants opening drive and giving the ball up on downs was a microcosm of everything that drives me crazy about Kevin Gilbride. And Hakeem Nicks may be injured. We also had problems Defensively as the Giants allowed yet another 100-yard rusher which is becoming quite routine now. Miami rushed for almost 150-yards against the Giants.
Those problems with be dealt with in my next post as I start to examine next week's opponent a little more closely. For now, it's suffice to say, without Eli carrying the Offense and the pass-rush carrying the Defense, the Giants would not be sitting in first place.
Mike.BTB
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
N.Y. Giants ~ Big Blue Bye-Week Report
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL ~ At The Break:
Thank you Michael Strahan and Antonio Pierce. Their criticisms levelled against Justin Tuck and Brandon Jacobs have served to unify, not vilify. And by injecting their opinions into their former team-mates' injury matters, they've served to keep the meddling Media's attention away from pecking away at the team's deficiencies, and instead have them covering more trivial, inconsequential matters that have no bearing on the Giants condition or situation.
Whatever grievances Osi Umenyiora has with the organization, he's taking it out on Strahan, Pierce, and opposing quarterbacks. Strahan's and Pierce's comments have put Osi exactly right where we want him as Fans - and that's backing up his team-mates. When it comes to signing him beyond this season; never say never. But he's playing very good soldier with a big chip on his shoulder. That's a good thing. NFL QB's beware.
And that is the extent of controversy in the Land of Giants. That's also good thing.
I. TOM COUGHLIN and JERRY REESE:
When the Giants lost the first game of the season to Washington and were faced with potentially falling to 0-2 before heading to Philly for a showdown with the Eagles, the first two heads everyone called for were that of Jerry Reese and Coach Coughlin. One opening loss was followed by a week of media, as well as fans, allowing their imaginations to run wild with them and had Coughlin and Reese all but stooped over positioned under a Big Blue guillotine. Then a Week Two win over the Rams quieted down the more rabid knee-jerk Third Estate. A Week Three win in Philly made everyone else just shut-up. Even in the aftermath of that disgusting loss to Seattle, fire the Coach and GM talk did not resurface.
Say what you will - Tom the fossil Coughlin still runs a tight ship. His methods still prove effective right up to the present. All systems are different. All can work. It's how effective you are at implementing your system that determines one's success. Tom Coughlin's way has worked for him his entire career.
What if Tiki Barber; Amani Toomer; and Michael Strahan had all been lost to injury in the same season? And to start the same season, the Giants also lost Jeremy Shockey to free-agency? How do you think a Giants team of that era would have fared? Well, aided by players with lack of oral self-restrain and discipline the whole way down into the pits, the answer is poor enough to get Jim Fassell fired as Head Coach. By Fassell's last season, the team's record was abysmal and so was their attitude. Good thing for us is, these are not Jim Fassell's Giants nor are they Rex Ryan's Jets. Both examples face(d) a lot of adversity and chaos is over-whelming their day. Meanwhile here in Big Blue, these are Tom Coughlin's Giants and it's business as usual.
Fassell's units routinely bickered amongst each other and had no problem throwing their coaches under the bus. Those guys....under Fassell and initially under Coughlin, complained after games to the Media and bickered in a locker-room where it wasn't traditionally appropriate. Today we see D-Generation Rex and his flight crew laying down a consistent carpet bombing of idiocy. They've now welcomed in-fighting into their locker room with open arms aside from continually getting caught in Media triple-aaa flack. Jim Fassell's team tanked. And just like Fassell, Rex's team has a major problem on their hands right now. Yet Coach Coughlin's team is 4-2 and in 1st place of the NFC East. And ironically, the only ones doing any Big Blue yapping are former Giants who now work for the Media.
Coach Coughlin once resorted to introspective measures such as self-reflection and instituting a Leadership Counsel to better communicate his desires and soothe his relationship with the players. That Counsel was created because Coughlin's discipline and old school ways were a literal shock to Fassell's frat boys. Strahan don't forget, first came back to the Giants after Jerry Reese told him to beat it during his hold-out. Then after clashing with Coughlin, the Counsel come about. But Barber as well as Shockey routinely threw Coughlin under the bus also.
Tom Coughlin just re-instituted the Leadership Counsel again. But this time, it's not being done to give Animal House some structure. Which is my point.....Animal House does not exists here. Shockey, Strahan, and Barber, were all dealt with rather swiftly by Jerry Reese. Strahan was made to rethink his bravado and ultimately made to comply. It won him a Super Bowl. Tiki Barber? He was the first to run to the media after his starting job was handed to Brandon Jacobs. And Shockey was traded off for Goodness Sake, a draft pick, and a tackle dummy. Outside of Osi Umenyiora and his contract drama, the land of Giants is relatively quiet.
Among the team cancers Coach Coughlin noted upon taking over the Giants were penalties and injuries. Hinting that injuries were avoidable was ponderous. Fine. But in his introductory press conference, what or who Coach Coughlin probably wanted to single out were malingerers. Today, not only is the media throwing that in his face, the Giants penalty rate is indeed escalating like the National Debt again; particularly the Offensive Line; which for a stretch under Coughlin was the most disciplined O-Line in Football.
And today, the Giants are being ravaged by injuries to key players again. Brandon Jacobs (Tiki), Domenik Hixon (Toomer), Justin Tuck (Strahan) are losing time to injury. And to complete the parallel, Kevin Boss (Shockey) left as a free agent. Such a situation in the Fassell years would have been ruinous. And it was. Yet Coach Coughlin has managed his team through those injuries; and still even more to Amukamara; Snee; Osi; Baas; Goff; Sintim; and Terrell Thomas. And well, it's still business as usual.
All this directly speaks of Jerry Reese as well. The Giants last Super Bowl was largely won due to a tremendous Rookie class that stepped up for this team. They were drafted by a one - Jerry Reese. In spite all the injuries listed above - two major blows at linebacker; two major blows to the secondary; two YEARS of major blows at wide receiver; and continuing blows to the D-Line; - somehow Jerry Reese has still maintained to sustain a quality of depth that, were it not for some bad breaks and a bullet to the leg, have kept the Giants very competitive.
Speaking of bullets, wide receiver after wide receiver has continually stepped in to fill a void left behind by the "latest recurring" injured receiver. And right before our eyes, Hakeem Nicks is becoming a League Star. Mario Manningham is steadily improving. And whether your heart can take it or not, where would we be without Victor Cruz right now? By the way, Steven Smith is doing nothing in Philly and Plaxico Buress is doing nothing to speak of for the Jets as well. Weeks Four and Five had Giants Fans asking - Kevin Boss who? - after a handful of catches by Jake Ballard.
And while I'm at it, where would the Giants Defense be without Jason Pierre Paul this season!? Or where would the linebacking be without Mathias Kiwanuka? Jerry Reese tried addressing Linebacker. But Goff and Sintim were injured and lost for the season leaving Michael Boley and Kiwanuka.
This season also ushered in renovations to the Offensive Line. We all knew it was needed and just a matter of time before Jerry Reese was forced to address the matter. Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert were great Giant Linemen. However they remain unemployed/ineffective like the other Giant cast-offs.
So if you were one of those who were calling for the heads of Coach Coughlin and Jerry Reese earlier this season, now's the time for you to bow your head in shame.
II. COACH KEVIN GILBRIDE:
If there is anyone who stands to get fired, Kevin Gilbride should be first before Coach Coughlin or Jerry Reese are even brought into the conversation. Having said that, I don't want him fired...just yet. Predictability, or lack of creativity if you will, his lack of willingness to stick with the running game, and his pass happy ways are all the most popular criticisms held against him. Then we can talk about an inability to convert on third downs and turnovers.
After last season's disappointing end, Coach Coughlin made it known he wanted the ball in Brandon Jacob's hands more often. And quite frankly, the whole implementation of the running game needed to be re-examined.
This season, there is a slight, but noticeable change. Coach Gilbride has taken a step in the right direction, but he still has a long way to go before he masters patience with the running game. Brandon Jacobs' recent knee injury has altered the plan somewhat. But the fact Ahmad Bradshaw rushed twenty-six times last Sunday versus Buffalo was a very welcome practice in patience indeed. Many times he and Jacobs barely rush twenty times combined.
As long as anyone is willing to lay equal blame on Kevin Gilbride for interceptions, I'm amicable to hammering Eli as well. No Gilbride, and I will staunchly have to defend Eli for many an interception. Both Eli and Coach have done well to limit interceptions this season versus last year's abysmal rate.
Coach Gilbride has actually dialed up some nice lengthy, varied drives this season in big moments. He mustered enough trust to call Ballard's name recently and has been giving the running game a chance to establish itself, giving play-action a new life. Piggy-backing the running game for a change, and not the other way around, Eli has managed to put up some impressive numbers ranking him among the League leaders.
Moving forward, if Coach Gilbride maintains patience in the running game, I like our ability to move the ball and score points. Sometimes we score those points too quickly. So Coach needs to work on his clock management as well.
1) - OFFENSIVE LINE - This unit is in flux and not all too healthy. First off, Chris Snee passed his first round of concussion tests. Snee, David Baas and Kevin Boothe will all benefit from having a bye-week to recover from their injuries. If they can get healthy and play together, it can only improve our situation. This is no longer the O-Line that set an NFL record for consecutive starts together. So, there is a lot to be said for familiarity when it comes to Linemen.
Eli is getting sacked a lot more often than he is used to. Several Giant fumbles this season have occurred when the pocket collapsed and Eli was stripped of the ball. Obviously, better pass protection is needed.
A once very disciplined unit, the O-Line has really been killing themselves with penalties. That, and the fact they haven't exactly been opening up many holes to run through this season means this unit has a lot of work to do if the Giants want to be contenders in December. Everything starts up front.
Struggles like this happen with change. It's a period of adjustment. They'll need to adapt and improve together by the time the Giants start facing stiffer competition later in the schedule which means they need to be healthy together.
David Diehl, Kareem McKenzie, and Will Beatty have had solid seasons so far. But problems occurred at the Center position with Baas, Jim Cordle, and Snee which only a return to health will resolve.
1.A) - TIGHT END - Jake Ballard blew his assignment that resulted in a Safety in Week Five versus Seattle. And for someone who was credited with being a good blocker, in my opinion he hasn't blocked very well overall. However on the receiving end of things, Eli may have found himself a new Tight End to bail him out of trouble like Kevin Boss used to. Ballard has shown good hands stamping a decent three week period. And for Giant Fans, he's been a surprising and effective alternative from Travis Beckum. Perhaps a few poor blocks and a couple of bad penalties called against him were just fluke occurrences. Maybe his blocking is as good as advertised. He's shown he can catch. We just may have something here.
2) - RUNNING BACKS - Big Buddy and Little Buddy aren't running on all cylinders. At least Jacobs' isn't. And he said he won't either! Meaning, he will not play through this knee injury...(again). And you know what? Who can blame him? The Giants have done nothing but dump on this guy and worse, they have and still misuse him; - latest injury aside. I still feel he can and will be a positive and necessary factor come December. The Two weeks off will do him well.
Ahmad Bradshaw finally broke through to give the Giants their first 100-yard/game rusher of the season last week against Buffalo. Unlike Jacobs, Ahamad Bradshaw seems to have shaken off any ill-effects from last season's nagging injuries. Last game, Coach Gilbride rode him like a mule (..for Coach that is) to the tune of 26-carries.
Coach Gilbride should be incorporating more Draw Plays; Swings, and Screens into the backfield's repertoire. It's not that Smash-Mouth has been quieted. I just feel Fullback Henry Hynoski hasn't been as effective as fullbacks before him have. That, the O-Line being in flux, and trying to incorporate a new TE, I think are the three biggest reasons why the running game has apparently come to a grinding halt at times.
I just beg for patience on Coach's part. Even though the run was slow to develop last Sunday, it still proved safe, effective, and opened up Eli's game.
3) - WIDE RECEIVERS - As I said before, Hakeem Nicks is becoming a star receiver in the NFL. Mario Manningham found his way as Eli's slot receiver before suffering a setback due to concussion symptoms. He's back now and looking to continue improving and re-establishing a connection with Eli again. And Victor Cruz? The man is either a miracle maker or a complete disaster waiting to happen. Tipped balls have gone his way and tipped balls have gone against him. He's suffered brain cramps on the field and has fumbled. And yet, most Fans are only talking about the good...so far. But the man really does need to find the middle ground between two extremes.
Domenick Hixon was a big loss, which for the moment Cruz has filled in effectively for. Ramses Barden's name has recently been named. His situation remains undetermined. The only way rookie Jerrel Jernigan will improve is with playing time. He just may get more in the upcoming weeks.
Michael Clayton? Stop it. Which leaves the non-signees; - Plaxico Buress and Steven Smith. One is doing Gats' and the other one is doin' Gul' for their respective teams. The best move as it turns out, was not to sign them.
The three Giant receivers on the field have given the Giants a proven deep and quick strike ability. Much of their success will come however through the O-Line's ability to keep Eli upright, and Eli continuing to make the wise pass. And of course, that requires Coach Gilbride to dial up the right call for the situation, and ensuring he's attacking defensive weaknesses.
It's all tied in people.
4) - QUARTERBACK - Eli is unequivocally "My Dude" - and always has been. If a segment of my fellow Giant Fans does not like him and wants him replaced, all I ask is... - With Whom? With someone available? Another team's QB? A yet undrafted QB from college? A grocery store bagger? Who is the unknown QB you speak of? Until then, Eli hasn't necessarily been the root of our seasons past gone sour. There's a game or two we can point to; like anyone else.
Eli was suffering happy feet earlier in the season, and understandably so. He was getting sacked more then ever. Even though he's getting sacked just as often, it seems he's standing in the pocket with a lot of poise the last four games.
Many of Eli's interceptions last season came as a result of high throws and tipped passes. Thus far, the passes are coming in lower and the interception rate has plummeted. Although there was that one interception against the Seahawks that was a can of corn and strictly on Eli. In addition, Coach Gilbride often passed unnecessarily during secure 4th quarter situations last season that merely required ball control through the run. Instead, Coach dialed up many unnecessary passing that resulted in INT's and opportunities the other way. And it is in that area, that Gilbride is yet to prove he's learned his lesson as the Giants have been playing catch-up Football lately.
III. COACH PERRY FEWELL:
Coach Fewell is proving adept at damage control. The Defense is almost Bend-Don't-Break but with a lethal pass rush. As such, Coach Perry Fewell is also proving very adept at saving Coach Gilbride's and the Offense's posteriors. Almost every Giant turnover has been committed in the worst parts of the field. But the Defense has held many times to keep the opposition at a field goal, or better yet, caused a turnover.
But make no mistake, be it through the air or by ground, the Defense has been victimized by the big play on a weekly basis. The Defense is not in sync. When the Secondary does well, the Linebacking struggles. When the Linebackers have a successful day, the Secondary struggles. The only constant has been the Defensive front and the pressure they get on the QB. Their pressure has been constant, and is largely responsible for keeping the Giants close late in games with timely sacks.
Perry Fewell's success is largely based on his timeliness this season. I think he's dialed up some very timely and effective blitzes this year that were game changers. But overall, there have been major communication issues that have resulted in big plays against us. He needs that corrected. But although the stats may not agree, I think Coach Fewell has put in some crafty work in as Def. Coordinator this season with all things considered, to include of course, the injuries that have taken a toll mostly on this side of the ball.
1) - DEFENSIVE LINE - What team wouldn't love to have just one of Jason Pierre Paul; Osi Umenyiora; or Justin Tuck; much less having all three. This is the unqualified spear-head of the Giants defensive attack. Want to know why we're really so thin at Linebacker? His name is Jason Pierre Paul. Depth at D-Line and pass rushing ability has served us well. And for at least the rest of this season, we have a depth at this position unrivaled by any team in the League.
Osi, quite simply has been a beast since returning from his surgery. And JPP has emerged as another dominant force unleashed upon the League by the Giants. But Justin Tuck remains questionable with his neck injury. Dave Tollefson and Rocky Bernard have served their roles very well.
The Line isn't just getting to the QB with regularity. They are coming up with sacks and strips at most critical times. But their ability to mount a pass rush on their own without sending in extra players is an asset the Secondary hasn't allowed Coach Fewell to fully taken advantage of yet.
2) - LINEBACKERS - Youngsters need to be led by the hand - just not in the NFL. Welcome to the front lines rookie; i.e.; Jacquian Williams and Greg Jones. That's what happens when you lose Clint Sintim and Jonathan Goff for the season. Michael Boley has had ups and downs, but gets a favorable grade.
But were not for Mr. Hybrid; Mathias Kiwanuka; how bad would this unit really be? He along with JPP and Osi have carried the Giants Defense and have gotten the Offense off the hook many times so far.
There is no hiding the fact however, the middle of our Defense is spacious. It's becoming a weekly affair where rushers go for one-hundred yards plus on the ground with the Defense often giving up lengthy gallops in the process.
Perry Fewell's blitzes have mainly come from the Safeties off the outside because the truth is, we're not effective coming through the gaps. That's a tremendous knock against the Linebacking unit. But if Coach Fewell dips into his Safety scheme too often because it's already becoming too recognizable, we are sure to get burned.
3) - SECONDARY - The Corners and Safeties are suffering a major lack of communication and I want to know what Corners Coach Peter Giunta and Safety Coach David Merritt are doing about it. Because the huge plays; the huge breakdowns in coverage; the huge lack of communication at times; are becoming routine now.
On the bright side, Aaron Ross and Corey Webster both have multi-INT games each now.
Deon Grant and Antrell Rolle have been disruptive in the backfield and have played the run fairly well. But they keep losing that darned slot-receiver. Slot receiver today; Tight End tomorrow. You get my drift.
Kenny Phillips is nursing sore ribs and like the others will benefit from the bye week. And the Giants are one week closer to the return on Prince Amukamara.
IV. SPECIAL TEAMS:
All I want to say is Steve Weatherford is having a damn good season punting the pigskin.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL ~ At The Break:
Thank you Michael Strahan and Antonio Pierce. Their criticisms levelled against Justin Tuck and Brandon Jacobs have served to unify, not vilify. And by injecting their opinions into their former team-mates' injury matters, they've served to keep the meddling Media's attention away from pecking away at the team's deficiencies, and instead have them covering more trivial, inconsequential matters that have no bearing on the Giants condition or situation.
Whatever grievances Osi Umenyiora has with the organization, he's taking it out on Strahan, Pierce, and opposing quarterbacks. Strahan's and Pierce's comments have put Osi exactly right where we want him as Fans - and that's backing up his team-mates. When it comes to signing him beyond this season; never say never. But he's playing very good soldier with a big chip on his shoulder. That's a good thing. NFL QB's beware.
And that is the extent of controversy in the Land of Giants. That's also good thing.
I. TOM COUGHLIN and JERRY REESE:
When the Giants lost the first game of the season to Washington and were faced with potentially falling to 0-2 before heading to Philly for a showdown with the Eagles, the first two heads everyone called for were that of Jerry Reese and Coach Coughlin. One opening loss was followed by a week of media, as well as fans, allowing their imaginations to run wild with them and had Coughlin and Reese all but stooped over positioned under a Big Blue guillotine. Then a Week Two win over the Rams quieted down the more rabid knee-jerk Third Estate. A Week Three win in Philly made everyone else just shut-up. Even in the aftermath of that disgusting loss to Seattle, fire the Coach and GM talk did not resurface.
Say what you will - Tom the fossil Coughlin still runs a tight ship. His methods still prove effective right up to the present. All systems are different. All can work. It's how effective you are at implementing your system that determines one's success. Tom Coughlin's way has worked for him his entire career.
What if Tiki Barber; Amani Toomer; and Michael Strahan had all been lost to injury in the same season? And to start the same season, the Giants also lost Jeremy Shockey to free-agency? How do you think a Giants team of that era would have fared? Well, aided by players with lack of oral self-restrain and discipline the whole way down into the pits, the answer is poor enough to get Jim Fassell fired as Head Coach. By Fassell's last season, the team's record was abysmal and so was their attitude. Good thing for us is, these are not Jim Fassell's Giants nor are they Rex Ryan's Jets. Both examples face(d) a lot of adversity and chaos is over-whelming their day. Meanwhile here in Big Blue, these are Tom Coughlin's Giants and it's business as usual.
Fassell's units routinely bickered amongst each other and had no problem throwing their coaches under the bus. Those guys....under Fassell and initially under Coughlin, complained after games to the Media and bickered in a locker-room where it wasn't traditionally appropriate. Today we see D-Generation Rex and his flight crew laying down a consistent carpet bombing of idiocy. They've now welcomed in-fighting into their locker room with open arms aside from continually getting caught in Media triple-aaa flack. Jim Fassell's team tanked. And just like Fassell, Rex's team has a major problem on their hands right now. Yet Coach Coughlin's team is 4-2 and in 1st place of the NFC East. And ironically, the only ones doing any Big Blue yapping are former Giants who now work for the Media.
Coach Coughlin once resorted to introspective measures such as self-reflection and instituting a Leadership Counsel to better communicate his desires and soothe his relationship with the players. That Counsel was created because Coughlin's discipline and old school ways were a literal shock to Fassell's frat boys. Strahan don't forget, first came back to the Giants after Jerry Reese told him to beat it during his hold-out. Then after clashing with Coughlin, the Counsel come about. But Barber as well as Shockey routinely threw Coughlin under the bus also.
Tom Coughlin just re-instituted the Leadership Counsel again. But this time, it's not being done to give Animal House some structure. Which is my point.....Animal House does not exists here. Shockey, Strahan, and Barber, were all dealt with rather swiftly by Jerry Reese. Strahan was made to rethink his bravado and ultimately made to comply. It won him a Super Bowl. Tiki Barber? He was the first to run to the media after his starting job was handed to Brandon Jacobs. And Shockey was traded off for Goodness Sake, a draft pick, and a tackle dummy. Outside of Osi Umenyiora and his contract drama, the land of Giants is relatively quiet.
Among the team cancers Coach Coughlin noted upon taking over the Giants were penalties and injuries. Hinting that injuries were avoidable was ponderous. Fine. But in his introductory press conference, what or who Coach Coughlin probably wanted to single out were malingerers. Today, not only is the media throwing that in his face, the Giants penalty rate is indeed escalating like the National Debt again; particularly the Offensive Line; which for a stretch under Coughlin was the most disciplined O-Line in Football.
And today, the Giants are being ravaged by injuries to key players again. Brandon Jacobs (Tiki), Domenik Hixon (Toomer), Justin Tuck (Strahan) are losing time to injury. And to complete the parallel, Kevin Boss (Shockey) left as a free agent. Such a situation in the Fassell years would have been ruinous. And it was. Yet Coach Coughlin has managed his team through those injuries; and still even more to Amukamara; Snee; Osi; Baas; Goff; Sintim; and Terrell Thomas. And well, it's still business as usual.
All this directly speaks of Jerry Reese as well. The Giants last Super Bowl was largely won due to a tremendous Rookie class that stepped up for this team. They were drafted by a one - Jerry Reese. In spite all the injuries listed above - two major blows at linebacker; two major blows to the secondary; two YEARS of major blows at wide receiver; and continuing blows to the D-Line; - somehow Jerry Reese has still maintained to sustain a quality of depth that, were it not for some bad breaks and a bullet to the leg, have kept the Giants very competitive.
Speaking of bullets, wide receiver after wide receiver has continually stepped in to fill a void left behind by the "latest recurring" injured receiver. And right before our eyes, Hakeem Nicks is becoming a League Star. Mario Manningham is steadily improving. And whether your heart can take it or not, where would we be without Victor Cruz right now? By the way, Steven Smith is doing nothing in Philly and Plaxico Buress is doing nothing to speak of for the Jets as well. Weeks Four and Five had Giants Fans asking - Kevin Boss who? - after a handful of catches by Jake Ballard.
And while I'm at it, where would the Giants Defense be without Jason Pierre Paul this season!? Or where would the linebacking be without Mathias Kiwanuka? Jerry Reese tried addressing Linebacker. But Goff and Sintim were injured and lost for the season leaving Michael Boley and Kiwanuka.
This season also ushered in renovations to the Offensive Line. We all knew it was needed and just a matter of time before Jerry Reese was forced to address the matter. Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert were great Giant Linemen. However they remain unemployed/ineffective like the other Giant cast-offs.
So if you were one of those who were calling for the heads of Coach Coughlin and Jerry Reese earlier this season, now's the time for you to bow your head in shame.
II. COACH KEVIN GILBRIDE:
If there is anyone who stands to get fired, Kevin Gilbride should be first before Coach Coughlin or Jerry Reese are even brought into the conversation. Having said that, I don't want him fired...just yet. Predictability, or lack of creativity if you will, his lack of willingness to stick with the running game, and his pass happy ways are all the most popular criticisms held against him. Then we can talk about an inability to convert on third downs and turnovers.
After last season's disappointing end, Coach Coughlin made it known he wanted the ball in Brandon Jacob's hands more often. And quite frankly, the whole implementation of the running game needed to be re-examined.
This season, there is a slight, but noticeable change. Coach Gilbride has taken a step in the right direction, but he still has a long way to go before he masters patience with the running game. Brandon Jacobs' recent knee injury has altered the plan somewhat. But the fact Ahmad Bradshaw rushed twenty-six times last Sunday versus Buffalo was a very welcome practice in patience indeed. Many times he and Jacobs barely rush twenty times combined.
As long as anyone is willing to lay equal blame on Kevin Gilbride for interceptions, I'm amicable to hammering Eli as well. No Gilbride, and I will staunchly have to defend Eli for many an interception. Both Eli and Coach have done well to limit interceptions this season versus last year's abysmal rate.
Coach Gilbride has actually dialed up some nice lengthy, varied drives this season in big moments. He mustered enough trust to call Ballard's name recently and has been giving the running game a chance to establish itself, giving play-action a new life. Piggy-backing the running game for a change, and not the other way around, Eli has managed to put up some impressive numbers ranking him among the League leaders.
Moving forward, if Coach Gilbride maintains patience in the running game, I like our ability to move the ball and score points. Sometimes we score those points too quickly. So Coach needs to work on his clock management as well.
1) - OFFENSIVE LINE - This unit is in flux and not all too healthy. First off, Chris Snee passed his first round of concussion tests. Snee, David Baas and Kevin Boothe will all benefit from having a bye-week to recover from their injuries. If they can get healthy and play together, it can only improve our situation. This is no longer the O-Line that set an NFL record for consecutive starts together. So, there is a lot to be said for familiarity when it comes to Linemen.
Eli is getting sacked a lot more often than he is used to. Several Giant fumbles this season have occurred when the pocket collapsed and Eli was stripped of the ball. Obviously, better pass protection is needed.
A once very disciplined unit, the O-Line has really been killing themselves with penalties. That, and the fact they haven't exactly been opening up many holes to run through this season means this unit has a lot of work to do if the Giants want to be contenders in December. Everything starts up front.
Struggles like this happen with change. It's a period of adjustment. They'll need to adapt and improve together by the time the Giants start facing stiffer competition later in the schedule which means they need to be healthy together.
David Diehl, Kareem McKenzie, and Will Beatty have had solid seasons so far. But problems occurred at the Center position with Baas, Jim Cordle, and Snee which only a return to health will resolve.
1.A) - TIGHT END - Jake Ballard blew his assignment that resulted in a Safety in Week Five versus Seattle. And for someone who was credited with being a good blocker, in my opinion he hasn't blocked very well overall. However on the receiving end of things, Eli may have found himself a new Tight End to bail him out of trouble like Kevin Boss used to. Ballard has shown good hands stamping a decent three week period. And for Giant Fans, he's been a surprising and effective alternative from Travis Beckum. Perhaps a few poor blocks and a couple of bad penalties called against him were just fluke occurrences. Maybe his blocking is as good as advertised. He's shown he can catch. We just may have something here.
2) - RUNNING BACKS - Big Buddy and Little Buddy aren't running on all cylinders. At least Jacobs' isn't. And he said he won't either! Meaning, he will not play through this knee injury...(again). And you know what? Who can blame him? The Giants have done nothing but dump on this guy and worse, they have and still misuse him; - latest injury aside. I still feel he can and will be a positive and necessary factor come December. The Two weeks off will do him well.
Ahmad Bradshaw finally broke through to give the Giants their first 100-yard/game rusher of the season last week against Buffalo. Unlike Jacobs, Ahamad Bradshaw seems to have shaken off any ill-effects from last season's nagging injuries. Last game, Coach Gilbride rode him like a mule (..for Coach that is) to the tune of 26-carries.
Coach Gilbride should be incorporating more Draw Plays; Swings, and Screens into the backfield's repertoire. It's not that Smash-Mouth has been quieted. I just feel Fullback Henry Hynoski hasn't been as effective as fullbacks before him have. That, the O-Line being in flux, and trying to incorporate a new TE, I think are the three biggest reasons why the running game has apparently come to a grinding halt at times.
I just beg for patience on Coach's part. Even though the run was slow to develop last Sunday, it still proved safe, effective, and opened up Eli's game.
3) - WIDE RECEIVERS - As I said before, Hakeem Nicks is becoming a star receiver in the NFL. Mario Manningham found his way as Eli's slot receiver before suffering a setback due to concussion symptoms. He's back now and looking to continue improving and re-establishing a connection with Eli again. And Victor Cruz? The man is either a miracle maker or a complete disaster waiting to happen. Tipped balls have gone his way and tipped balls have gone against him. He's suffered brain cramps on the field and has fumbled. And yet, most Fans are only talking about the good...so far. But the man really does need to find the middle ground between two extremes.
Domenick Hixon was a big loss, which for the moment Cruz has filled in effectively for. Ramses Barden's name has recently been named. His situation remains undetermined. The only way rookie Jerrel Jernigan will improve is with playing time. He just may get more in the upcoming weeks.
Michael Clayton? Stop it. Which leaves the non-signees; - Plaxico Buress and Steven Smith. One is doing Gats' and the other one is doin' Gul' for their respective teams. The best move as it turns out, was not to sign them.
The three Giant receivers on the field have given the Giants a proven deep and quick strike ability. Much of their success will come however through the O-Line's ability to keep Eli upright, and Eli continuing to make the wise pass. And of course, that requires Coach Gilbride to dial up the right call for the situation, and ensuring he's attacking defensive weaknesses.
It's all tied in people.
4) - QUARTERBACK - Eli is unequivocally "My Dude" - and always has been. If a segment of my fellow Giant Fans does not like him and wants him replaced, all I ask is... - With Whom? With someone available? Another team's QB? A yet undrafted QB from college? A grocery store bagger? Who is the unknown QB you speak of? Until then, Eli hasn't necessarily been the root of our seasons past gone sour. There's a game or two we can point to; like anyone else.
Eli was suffering happy feet earlier in the season, and understandably so. He was getting sacked more then ever. Even though he's getting sacked just as often, it seems he's standing in the pocket with a lot of poise the last four games.
Many of Eli's interceptions last season came as a result of high throws and tipped passes. Thus far, the passes are coming in lower and the interception rate has plummeted. Although there was that one interception against the Seahawks that was a can of corn and strictly on Eli. In addition, Coach Gilbride often passed unnecessarily during secure 4th quarter situations last season that merely required ball control through the run. Instead, Coach dialed up many unnecessary passing that resulted in INT's and opportunities the other way. And it is in that area, that Gilbride is yet to prove he's learned his lesson as the Giants have been playing catch-up Football lately.
III. COACH PERRY FEWELL:
Coach Fewell is proving adept at damage control. The Defense is almost Bend-Don't-Break but with a lethal pass rush. As such, Coach Perry Fewell is also proving very adept at saving Coach Gilbride's and the Offense's posteriors. Almost every Giant turnover has been committed in the worst parts of the field. But the Defense has held many times to keep the opposition at a field goal, or better yet, caused a turnover.
But make no mistake, be it through the air or by ground, the Defense has been victimized by the big play on a weekly basis. The Defense is not in sync. When the Secondary does well, the Linebacking struggles. When the Linebackers have a successful day, the Secondary struggles. The only constant has been the Defensive front and the pressure they get on the QB. Their pressure has been constant, and is largely responsible for keeping the Giants close late in games with timely sacks.
Perry Fewell's success is largely based on his timeliness this season. I think he's dialed up some very timely and effective blitzes this year that were game changers. But overall, there have been major communication issues that have resulted in big plays against us. He needs that corrected. But although the stats may not agree, I think Coach Fewell has put in some crafty work in as Def. Coordinator this season with all things considered, to include of course, the injuries that have taken a toll mostly on this side of the ball.
1) - DEFENSIVE LINE - What team wouldn't love to have just one of Jason Pierre Paul; Osi Umenyiora; or Justin Tuck; much less having all three. This is the unqualified spear-head of the Giants defensive attack. Want to know why we're really so thin at Linebacker? His name is Jason Pierre Paul. Depth at D-Line and pass rushing ability has served us well. And for at least the rest of this season, we have a depth at this position unrivaled by any team in the League.
Osi, quite simply has been a beast since returning from his surgery. And JPP has emerged as another dominant force unleashed upon the League by the Giants. But Justin Tuck remains questionable with his neck injury. Dave Tollefson and Rocky Bernard have served their roles very well.
The Line isn't just getting to the QB with regularity. They are coming up with sacks and strips at most critical times. But their ability to mount a pass rush on their own without sending in extra players is an asset the Secondary hasn't allowed Coach Fewell to fully taken advantage of yet.
2) - LINEBACKERS - Youngsters need to be led by the hand - just not in the NFL. Welcome to the front lines rookie; i.e.; Jacquian Williams and Greg Jones. That's what happens when you lose Clint Sintim and Jonathan Goff for the season. Michael Boley has had ups and downs, but gets a favorable grade.
But were not for Mr. Hybrid; Mathias Kiwanuka; how bad would this unit really be? He along with JPP and Osi have carried the Giants Defense and have gotten the Offense off the hook many times so far.
There is no hiding the fact however, the middle of our Defense is spacious. It's becoming a weekly affair where rushers go for one-hundred yards plus on the ground with the Defense often giving up lengthy gallops in the process.
Perry Fewell's blitzes have mainly come from the Safeties off the outside because the truth is, we're not effective coming through the gaps. That's a tremendous knock against the Linebacking unit. But if Coach Fewell dips into his Safety scheme too often because it's already becoming too recognizable, we are sure to get burned.
3) - SECONDARY - The Corners and Safeties are suffering a major lack of communication and I want to know what Corners Coach Peter Giunta and Safety Coach David Merritt are doing about it. Because the huge plays; the huge breakdowns in coverage; the huge lack of communication at times; are becoming routine now.
On the bright side, Aaron Ross and Corey Webster both have multi-INT games each now.
Deon Grant and Antrell Rolle have been disruptive in the backfield and have played the run fairly well. But they keep losing that darned slot-receiver. Slot receiver today; Tight End tomorrow. You get my drift.
Kenny Phillips is nursing sore ribs and like the others will benefit from the bye week. And the Giants are one week closer to the return on Prince Amukamara.
IV. SPECIAL TEAMS:
All I want to say is Steve Weatherford is having a damn good season punting the pigskin.
Mike.BTB
Monday, October 10, 2011
N.Y. Giants ~ Big Blue Bird Droppings
From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Bye-Bye Birdie!
Be Gone To Let Us Ponder This Monumental Failure.
Ninety-four yards doth fly the Seahawk the other way'eth. How badly did the Giants suck'eth Sunday? Let us count the ways.
The only thing that kept the Giants in this game in the first place was the Seahawks turning over the ball at the worst times; Seattle continually killing themselves with penalties; Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, and a trio of timely blitzes. Otherwise, by the time the game ended, the Seahawks made the field at Met-Life Stadium look like the bottom of a bird cage. Outside of a booming day by punter Steve Weatherford, this game was a complete mess with Giant Bird Droppings everywhere!
THE GAME:
The Giants troubles began shortly after kicking off to Seattle to start the game. On their first possession, Seattle went no-huddle and Blue's Defense couldn't slow them down. Two and a half minutes later, in spite of temporarily knocking Marshawn Lynch out of the game, the Seahawks were up 7-0 after an eighty yard drive.
0-7
Big Blue answered with what I thought was a pretty crafty drive called by Coach Gilbride. Seven plays, eighty yards, and three and a half minutes later, Eli connected with TE-Jake Ballard on a twelve yard touchdown.
7-7
I thought - Chalk one up for Coach Gilbride for digging his Defensive Coordinator out of a hole.
Seattle stayed no huddle. But JPP and Osi were figuring out ways to get closer to Tavaris Jackson now. Then right on time, Osi got a hold of him on a speed rush for a sack inducing punt. That sack by the way, places Umenyiora fourth all-time on the Giants career list.
The Giants got the ball back and three plays later, Eli fumbled under Seahawk pressure. Seattle recovered on our eleven yard line.
But here came Osi again. After a tipped incompletion, Osi stripped forced a fumble making it N.Y. ball again at the Giants' thirteen yard line. But in spite of being beneficiaries to a good break, all we could do was punt and give Seattle the ball back at our forty-seven yard line.
Big Blue's afternoon literally went downhill from this moment like a Mount St. Helen landslide. On Seattle's first play from scrimmage, Marshawn Lynch rumbled down the right side for forty-seven yards down to the NYG one. He might as well have scored. One play and a yard later he was in for Seattle's second touchdown of the first quarter.
7-14
Meanwhile, the Giants running game was looking like it was rushing in a tar pit. And when we punted to give Seattle their first possession of the second quarter, they stayed no huddle and proceeded to drive eighty-five yards on eleven plays. Amazingly with first down and goal to go, Seattle fumbled again giving Blue the ball at the two.
To this point in the season, Eli had gone ninety-nine pass attempts without being intercepted. Off Seattle's fumble and on pass-attempt number one-hundred, he lofted a dreadful - Oooops! I didn't see the Safety - pass that got intercepted. That one was all on Eli. But the Defense prevented any ramifications. However, what had been true thus far was the Offense being futile after their opening drive.
Then the Defense gave the Giants their biggest break of the half; an interception and the ball back at the Giants' own forty-seven yard line and 0:51 left on the clock. Eli converted the turnover when he connected with Hakeem Nicks three times and the game tying touchdown.
14-14 Half-Time
The third quarter was just dumb-founding, highlighted by a Seattle Safety when they tackled D. J. Ware in the end zone. That came from a blown assignment on the O-Line. I know who, but I'm not into dissecting yet.
14-16
Meanwhile, Osi was still doing his best to keep the game close with very timely sacks. However the no huddle Seattle employed kept the Giants in trouble all game. If it were not for Seattle consistently killing themselves with penalties and horrible turnovers, the Giants would have been done by now.
To start the fourth quarter and Seattle already at the Giants' twenty-eight yard line, Perry Fewell dialed up a dynamite and timely third down blitz package that held the Seahawks to a field goal.
14-19
They say luck is the residue of design. Let's hope so. Because when the Giants got the ball back after the field goal, they weren't just trying to avoid going three and out. They faced a third down and thirteen from their own thirty-two. Then with nothing opening up, Eli launched the quintessential Hail Mary pass into double-coverage. With help of a Big Blue miracle, Victor Cruz found himself in possession of a tipped ball, then ran down the right sideline like he stole something - i.e., a touchdown. The Giants followed that with a successful two point conversion.
22-19
But Victor Cruz gives. And Victor Cruz takes as well. We are learning there is a pattern developing here. After the Giants held Seattle to a five-and-out, the Giants were facing their own three-and-out. Cruz fumbled a reception which gave Seattle the ball at our twenty-five yard line. After two incompletions, Perry Fewell dialed up another well timed blitz on third and ten to hold the Seahawks to a field goal.
22-22
The Giants then went on a Tight-End based, ten play seventy-seven yard drive but were held to a field goal with a little less than five minutes left in the game.
25-22
What happened next was absolutely incredulous. The Seahawks were still in no huddle as they had been most of the game. On a second and ten play from the Giants twenty-seven, Osi jumped offside and created a free play for Seattle. But the Secondary completely blew coverage and lost the slot receiver leaving him WIDE OPEN!!! ... for a touchdown.
25-29
Wait! It gets worse. The Giants started on their twenty with 2:37 left. Two plays later, something happened to Chris Snee which forced him to leave the game. On a second and ten, Eli rolled and lofted a pass that Victor Cruz made another great fingertip reception on. Yet another pass to Cruz put the Giants at the Seattle five yard line.
A flag on the O-Line made it first and goal at the Seahawks' nine yard line. On the next play, Eli's pass attempt was tipped by Victor Cruz who initially slipped on his route. The ball was intercepted and returned for a ninety-four yard touchdown.
25-36 1:06 ~ 4th QTR
Another Eli Manning interception, and the Giants day was over.
FINAL.
My next post will cover how embarrassing this was and include all they deserve to have said. But everything! ...in my LAST POST! ....applies.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Bye-Bye Birdie!
Be Gone To Let Us Ponder This Monumental Failure.
Ninety-four yards doth fly the Seahawk the other way'eth. How badly did the Giants suck'eth Sunday? Let us count the ways.
The only thing that kept the Giants in this game in the first place was the Seahawks turning over the ball at the worst times; Seattle continually killing themselves with penalties; Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, and a trio of timely blitzes. Otherwise, by the time the game ended, the Seahawks made the field at Met-Life Stadium look like the bottom of a bird cage. Outside of a booming day by punter Steve Weatherford, this game was a complete mess with Giant Bird Droppings everywhere!
THE GAME:
The Giants troubles began shortly after kicking off to Seattle to start the game. On their first possession, Seattle went no-huddle and Blue's Defense couldn't slow them down. Two and a half minutes later, in spite of temporarily knocking Marshawn Lynch out of the game, the Seahawks were up 7-0 after an eighty yard drive.
0-7
Big Blue answered with what I thought was a pretty crafty drive called by Coach Gilbride. Seven plays, eighty yards, and three and a half minutes later, Eli connected with TE-Jake Ballard on a twelve yard touchdown.
7-7
I thought - Chalk one up for Coach Gilbride for digging his Defensive Coordinator out of a hole.
Seattle stayed no huddle. But JPP and Osi were figuring out ways to get closer to Tavaris Jackson now. Then right on time, Osi got a hold of him on a speed rush for a sack inducing punt. That sack by the way, places Umenyiora fourth all-time on the Giants career list.
The Giants got the ball back and three plays later, Eli fumbled under Seahawk pressure. Seattle recovered on our eleven yard line.
But here came Osi again. After a tipped incompletion, Osi stripped forced a fumble making it N.Y. ball again at the Giants' thirteen yard line. But in spite of being beneficiaries to a good break, all we could do was punt and give Seattle the ball back at our forty-seven yard line.
Big Blue's afternoon literally went downhill from this moment like a Mount St. Helen landslide. On Seattle's first play from scrimmage, Marshawn Lynch rumbled down the right side for forty-seven yards down to the NYG one. He might as well have scored. One play and a yard later he was in for Seattle's second touchdown of the first quarter.
7-14
Meanwhile, the Giants running game was looking like it was rushing in a tar pit. And when we punted to give Seattle their first possession of the second quarter, they stayed no huddle and proceeded to drive eighty-five yards on eleven plays. Amazingly with first down and goal to go, Seattle fumbled again giving Blue the ball at the two.
To this point in the season, Eli had gone ninety-nine pass attempts without being intercepted. Off Seattle's fumble and on pass-attempt number one-hundred, he lofted a dreadful - Oooops! I didn't see the Safety - pass that got intercepted. That one was all on Eli. But the Defense prevented any ramifications. However, what had been true thus far was the Offense being futile after their opening drive.
Then the Defense gave the Giants their biggest break of the half; an interception and the ball back at the Giants' own forty-seven yard line and 0:51 left on the clock. Eli converted the turnover when he connected with Hakeem Nicks three times and the game tying touchdown.
14-14 Half-Time
The third quarter was just dumb-founding, highlighted by a Seattle Safety when they tackled D. J. Ware in the end zone. That came from a blown assignment on the O-Line. I know who, but I'm not into dissecting yet.
14-16
Meanwhile, Osi was still doing his best to keep the game close with very timely sacks. However the no huddle Seattle employed kept the Giants in trouble all game. If it were not for Seattle consistently killing themselves with penalties and horrible turnovers, the Giants would have been done by now.
To start the fourth quarter and Seattle already at the Giants' twenty-eight yard line, Perry Fewell dialed up a dynamite and timely third down blitz package that held the Seahawks to a field goal.
14-19
They say luck is the residue of design. Let's hope so. Because when the Giants got the ball back after the field goal, they weren't just trying to avoid going three and out. They faced a third down and thirteen from their own thirty-two. Then with nothing opening up, Eli launched the quintessential Hail Mary pass into double-coverage. With help of a Big Blue miracle, Victor Cruz found himself in possession of a tipped ball, then ran down the right sideline like he stole something - i.e., a touchdown. The Giants followed that with a successful two point conversion.
22-19
But Victor Cruz gives. And Victor Cruz takes as well. We are learning there is a pattern developing here. After the Giants held Seattle to a five-and-out, the Giants were facing their own three-and-out. Cruz fumbled a reception which gave Seattle the ball at our twenty-five yard line. After two incompletions, Perry Fewell dialed up another well timed blitz on third and ten to hold the Seahawks to a field goal.
22-22
The Giants then went on a Tight-End based, ten play seventy-seven yard drive but were held to a field goal with a little less than five minutes left in the game.
25-22
What happened next was absolutely incredulous. The Seahawks were still in no huddle as they had been most of the game. On a second and ten play from the Giants twenty-seven, Osi jumped offside and created a free play for Seattle. But the Secondary completely blew coverage and lost the slot receiver leaving him WIDE OPEN!!! ... for a touchdown.
25-29
Wait! It gets worse. The Giants started on their twenty with 2:37 left. Two plays later, something happened to Chris Snee which forced him to leave the game. On a second and ten, Eli rolled and lofted a pass that Victor Cruz made another great fingertip reception on. Yet another pass to Cruz put the Giants at the Seattle five yard line.
A flag on the O-Line made it first and goal at the Seahawks' nine yard line. On the next play, Eli's pass attempt was tipped by Victor Cruz who initially slipped on his route. The ball was intercepted and returned for a ninety-four yard touchdown.
25-36 1:06 ~ 4th QTR
Another Eli Manning interception, and the Giants day was over.
FINAL.
My next post will cover how embarrassing this was and include all they deserve to have said. But everything! ...in my LAST POST! ....applies.
Mike.BTB
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