N.Y. Giants: Note To Fans, Remember Where You Came From

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

The Man Who Rehabilitated Animal House

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Before dropping blame for this season at the feet of Tom Coughlin and rushing to hasty judgment regarding his future, the general manager should be taken to task first.

Unless the Giants go 6-2 the rest of the way, they are assured of their worst record under Coach Tom Coughlin.  But this certainly wouldn't be the worst season in recent Giants history.  Or, did everyone forget Coach took over a 4-12 team from Jim Fassel, and had them in the playoffs two seasons later.

I think Jim Fassel continues to be one of the greatest x-files in Giants and NFL history.  Regarding Big Blue, let's face it, Fassel operated a Delta House, and he played Hoover.  My Giants fandom goes back to the late 70's, in the last days just before Ray Perkins took over.  After Bill Parcells left, I wallowed in self-pity, and immediately thought the Giants would never ever be good again.  Then Ray Handley happened and reaffirmed my worst nightmare.  Jim Fassel inherited some talent from the Dan Reeves days, and with GM Ernie Accorsi, turned the Giants into a contender again.  For that, I was very appreciative of Jim Fassel.

At the same time however, I knowingly turned a blind eye at his team's tremendous lack of discipline. His was the team that fought amongst themselves on the field in the playoffs against the Vikings and lost in embarrassing last-second fashion.  His was the team that looked like a deer in the headlights, and couldn't keep their (Sehorn) pants up in SB XXXV.  And his was the team that blew a 500-point lead against the 49ers in the playoffs, and lost on a botched last ditch field goal attempt.  Above all else, the team's propensity to pop-off at the mouth throughout the Fassel years was astonishing.

Coughlin took over and instantly sparked a rebellion.  By year two of Coach's dictatorship, the Big Blue doomsday clock had ticked two minutes closer to midnight.  Michael Strahan flat out hated him Coughlin and his five minute rule, and Tiki Barber infamously accused Coughlin of getting miserably outcoached after suffering a playoff blowout against the Panthers.  At that very moment, it appeared as if Tom Coughlin had just lost his locker room on national TV.  I admit, like Tiki, that game did not sit well with me either.  But at the time, Coughlin didn't care to be liked.  He was content with being feared.  Obviously, that came with consequences.  But for who?

After watching on TV and listening to Tiki Barber lash out at his coach through the media that night, one thing became very clear to me.  Tom Coughlin wasn't the one who needed to go.  Instead, I knew then, the Jim Fassel era finally needed to be purged once and for all.

On their watch, Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin cut penalty flag magnet, Luke Petitgout, from the offensive line.  They then handed Tiki Barber's job to Brandon Jacobs.  Jerry Reese in particular told Michael Strahan to take a hike, and Jeremy Shockey was traded as far away from Eli Manning as possible.  Michael Strahan, to his credit, agreed to return to the team on Coach Coughlin's very certain terms, and became an important leader.

Since then, Coach Coughlin has evolved from the days of eliciting fear, to being respected.  Heading into SB XLVI, he was down right cuddly, telling his players he loved them.  Today, he is a little more soft spoken, but just as demanding.  Starting this year 2-6 certainly put the Giants in a very bad spot, but these Giants are not nearly as dysfunctional as the team Coach recovered nine years ago, and returned to NFL prominence.

Under Tom Couhglin, the Giants have been to the playoffs five times, including four years in a row, and of course, won two Super Bowls.  The Giants could have made it three Lombardy trophies, were it not for Plaxico Burress shooting the Giants attempt at a repeat in the thigh.  The Giants posted a 12-4 record in 2008 - their best regular season mark under Coughlin.  That season came at the exact mid-point of his tenure.

 

After long nights searching in basement archives, collecting and sifting through tons of raw data, viewing old footage, and conducting exhaustive interviews, I was painstakingly able to graph and present Tom Coughlin's career with the Giants using the latest state-of-the-art paper and pen technology known to mankind.

 

 

Over a (now) ten year run, Tom Coughlin's victory curve follows a very natural rise and decent.  The Giants went 6-10 in his first season, then went on to achieve double digit victories in four of the next six years.  By 2011, he managed to capture his second Super Bowl with an aging team on the decline. The Giants record tapered off these last two seasons, which brings us to the present.

 

The Giants are clearly in need of another overhaul.  That's not on Coach Coughlin.  Time stands still for no one, and in his tenth season, the top half of Big Blue's hour glass has just about emptied.  But in this immediate gratification society we now live in, I caution more than ever, be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.  Before dropping blame for this season at the feet of Tom Coughlin and rushing to hasty judgment regarding his future, the general manager should be taken to task first.

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: Eli Manning is Now Beyond the Coach

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL ~ In the Age of Eli,

QB Coaches No Longer Need Apply.

It is easy to say now, but since the day Big Blue drafted Eli Manning, I have always been on his side. And I'm am proud to say I never wavered.  If you knew how badly I wanted the N.Y. Mets baseball team deconstructed five years ago, you'll believe me.  If you go back to the days when Ray Perkins coached the Giants, then I think there's no doubt you'll believe me.  Both were exercises in patience over extended periods of time.  So as a fan, I was practiced in the art of suffering through rebuilding years.


There was good reason to rally around the highly touted draft pick.  Former GM Ernie Accorsi said he was the real deal.  And if you thought Bill Parcells leaving the Giants was the end of the world like I did; and that the Giants would never ever be successful again like I did; then you knew there was reason to take Ernie Accorsi at his word.  He made the Giants good again.  With great relief, Giants fans started to see daylight on Sundays again by the time Jim Fassel, John Fox, and Ernie Accorsi were running things around here.


I had a great appreciation for what Accorsi built in Cleveland with the old Browns.  I speak of the team which came up short two consecutive times, victimized by last minute touchdown drives orchestrated by John Elway and the Broncos in dual AFC Championship games of the late 80's.


I agreed with pulling the plug on Kurt Warner and effectively sabotaging a good start to the 2004 Giants' season, and handing the ball off to Eli no matter how much the cry babies who played under Fassel didn't like it.  I'm not going to name names.  But the truth is, they were an immature and entitled bunch who made conditions hard for a kid QB to grow up in.


Eli's rookie season was rough.  There's no denying that.  But you must be willing to endure that sort of thing.  And besides, wholesale changes were at the Giants' door steps.  So why not let him get in some on-the-job training for nine games?  That 2004 team wasn't going to win a Super Bowl anyway.  That was the same team that quit on Jim Fassel, remember?  Tom Coughlin knew at once, Kurt Warner was useless to him, and that the sooner he got Eli uncorked, the sooner, and better his tenure, and the team would be.


In his first full season, Eli threw seventeen interceptions.  But he also threw twenty-four touchdowns, and passed for over 3,700 yards.  Maybe I'm just getting old.  But where I come from, that used to mean a lot.  Not only that, but Eli showed he was very adept at the two-minute drill, and late game management and comebacks, even then.  So there was much to feel optimistic about.  He just needed to develop.  The criticisms levied by some of his team mates were extremely misguided.  Just look at one of the messengers in particular, who had a habit of throwing anyone in his way under the bus.  Thing is, he spoke well into a microphone, and the media ate it up, and fed it right back to salivating fans.


In the Super Bowl season of 2007, Eli threw his highest interception total to that point in his four year career.  But if you ask me, the biggest difference in Eli Manning's play that season came when the Giants hired Chris Palmer to be their QB Coach.  The relationship between him and Eli took time to percolate as with any.  But after a near full season working together, by December and through the playoffs, I think the Chris Palmer Effect and how he influenced Eli's performance goes incredibly under spoken; if not unrecognized.  Chris Palmer previously worked together with Tom Coughlin in Jacksonville.  So you can call this correlation a coincidence if you like.  But I tend not to.  I do believe one had something to do with the other.


In January of 2010, Chris Palmer retired.  Tom Coughlin selected Mike Sullivan to be his next QB coach.  In 2004, he served as Tom Coughlin's Wide Receivers coach, and now he was the QB coach?  No, sorry.  Not a good move here.  Needless to say, Eli immediately proceeded to set his new career high for interceptions in a season with twenty-five.  The grumblings and uneasiness between Eli and Sullivan did not go unnoticed either.


I believe many factors played into Eli's outrageous twenty-five pics during the 2010 season.   Eli  deserves a share of blame for throwing many passes too high.  Kevin Gilbride deserves a handsome share of blame for countless bouts of extremely unnecessary pass play selection.  And then a chunk of blame goes to the receivers for tipping a slew of passes into the air and putting the ball up for grabs.


But for the second consecutive season and the first time with Mike Sullivan, Eli cracked the 4,000 yard passing mark, after four straight seasons breaking 3,000 yards with Palmer around.  Additionally, for the first time, Eli exceeded thirty touchdown passes in a season.


Aggravated as both Eli and Coach Sullivan were with the 2010 season, Eli was out-growing the need for a mentor anyway.  Wasn't he?  Eli is now the teacher.  His receivers are the grasshoppers.  Over the last two and three seasons, a preponderance of injuries have plagued the Giants Wide Receiver and Tight End positions.  Eli has taken each and every player tasked with stepping in, and made them all productive.  By the 2011 season, Eli's interceptions were back down to a more manageable sixteen.  Oh, and he won his second Super Bowl MVP award.


Moving forward, I honestly believe Eli's best days are ahead of him.  Aw Shucks Eli is the freakin' Mann now!  Quarterback coaches need not apply.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. GIANTS ~ Finish 2010 Season Ten and SICK

THE NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: 

Let the autopsy begin. 

PART ONE: 

The Head Coach and the Offensive Coaches

I.  HEAD COACH ~ TOM COUGHLIN

First we must dispel the misguided notion Tom Coughlin can not continue as coach of the Giants.  Let's put his record up against that of The Tuna; Bill Parcells, because that is the only true way to diffuse Giant fan's fervent want for having Coughlin's head.


The TUNA YEARS:
1982 Season ~ Last season under Ray Perkins.
1983 Season ~ Giants suffer 3-12-1 season in Bill Parcells' 1st year.
1984 Season ~ Giants improve to 9-7 and make Playoffs.  Beat Eagles; Lose to 49ers in 2nd Round.
1985 Season ~ Giants make Playoffs with 10-6 record ~ Lose to Bears 21-0 in the Infamous Sean Landeta "Wind Blown Punt" Game.
1986 Season ~ Win NFC EAST TITLE; Super Bowl Champions.
1987 Season ~ Miserable Strike Season; Finish in last place.  Do Not Make Playoffs.
1988 Season ~ Giants finish 10-6 losing to JETS on last day of season, losing Division Title in process. Do Not Make Playoffs.
1989 Season ~ Win NFC EAST TITLE; After dominant 12-4 season, Giants Lose to Rams in First Round Playoff ~ Infamous "Flipper Anderson" Game 19-13 in O.T.
1990 Season ~ Win NFC EAST TITLE; Super Bowl Champions.
1991 Season ~ Bill Parcells steps down; Ray Handley is named Head Coach.


The COUGHLIN ERA:
2003 Season ~ Last season under Jim Fassell.
2004 Season ~ Tom Coughlin's First Year;  Giants 6-10
2005 Season ~ Win NFC EAST TITLE (11-5);  Lose First Round Playoff game to Panthers 23-0.
2006 Season ~ After 8-8 qualifies for post-season, Giants lose First Round Playoff game to Eagles 24-21.
2007 Season ~ Super Bowl Champions.
2008 Season ~ Giants Win NFC EAST TITLE; have dominant 13-3 season shot in leg by Plaxico Burress.  Lose to Eagles in First Round Playoff game 23-11.
2009 Season ~ Giants start 5-0; Finish season 8-8.  Do Not Make Playoffs
2010 Season ~ Giants finish 10-6; Lose out on Post Season on last day.  Do Not Make Playoffs
2011 Season ~ To Be Determined. - Owner John Mara emphatic Tom Coughlin will return.


The records speak for themselves.  You can almost pair off a season for season and Coach Coughlin still has a year to work with to try and achieve a second Lombardi.  So who exactly are you judging Tom Coughlin against?  Unless you're comparing him to Vince Lombardi, Chuck Knoll, Tom Landry, Bill Walsh, Jimmy Johnson, or Bill Belichick? ... Bear Bryant?  John Madden?  Don Shula?

....Who then?

Tony Dungy, John Gruden, Brian Billick, Jack Fisher, Bill Cower?  The Gipper?

Who is the Coach out there that has taken two different teams in both conferences to Championship Games and won a Super Bowl?  Parcells did it.  Gruden did it.  Who else?  Who cares!  My point is name me the coach who you think is available, and better than Tom Coughlin.

Who's available?  John Gruden; Jack Fisher; John Fox; Brian Billick; Bill Cower ~ They may be the best of the currently unemployed Coaching candidates.  You want Tom Coughlin fired to replace him with one of these names?

The whining and snivelling that came out of Tiki Barber's mouth regarding his Head Coach; Tom Coughlin, seems to have never gone away.  So many have continued the criticisms in Tiki's place about Coughlin ever since his retirement which he incidentally "un-officially and never quite verbally" blamed on Coughlin and the way he ran his team.  Additionally, just like Jeremy Shockey complained so did the GREAT Michael Strahan up until Jerry Reese told him to beat-it during his hold-out.  It was only then Michael Strahan came back to camp and he came back "correct".

Where are the players of 2010 complaining about Tom Coughlin and about how their Head Coach got out-coached now?  Where are the players who find playing for Tom Coughlin unbearable today?

Jim Fassell once stood there on the sideline and could do nothing to stop the in-fighting that caused the Giants to lose a playoff game in ridiculous fashion against the Vikings in '97.  Fassell had no answers for the Ravens during the Super Bowl during a game in which he thoroughly got out-coached.  When all Jim Fassell could do was stand there with that incredulous look on his face during the Trey Junkin Game in the 49ers playoff game, ...at least Coughlin had a reaction for his Kicker in Jan. of 2008 and a reaction for his punter in Dec. 2010.

What more can a Head Coach do when your players don't perform the way they've been coached to play?

Bill Parcells used to throw garbage at his players and threaten their jobs and scream at his coordinators.  Coughlin yells at kickers and his coordinators and benches fumblers.  Coughlin has to do it in a P.C. World.  The Tuna didn't.  The League, the Union and power structure were different then as well as the monies involved.  Coughlin is an Old School Guy still coaching very good Football in the Modern Game.


Bill Parcells had Sean Landeta's Wind Blown Punt and Flipper Anderson.
Jim Fassel had Trey Junkin, Rich Seubert and 1997.
Tom Coughlin has his own moments.  No Coach is without them.  And Bill Parcells didn't get the Giants to the playoffs 4 consecutive years; only three.

And then ask yourself this, ~ Do you really think John Mara is going to allow his General Manager Jerry Reese to fire Coughlin for some hot-shot, up-and-coming Coordinator?  Really?

Well, John Mara already put this all to rest.  After the game he told the press he already informed Tom Coughlin last week he'd be returning as the Head Coach of the New York Football Giants next year.

Keeping Tom Coughlin is the right thing to do.  Reeling in the TUNA was the only HOOK to get some of "US" Giants fans to understand this.



II.  OFFENSIVE COACHING STAFF


1 ~ OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ~ KEVIN GILBRIDE

You knew this was coming from me.  But there's a reason Buddy Ryan punched him in the face! 

He continually and needlessly put his Defense back on the field in bad spots because of a complete failure on third down conversions this season.  Thirds Downs...and Three-and-Outs!  Why? 

Because with Coach Gilbride it's either FEAST OR FAMINE. 

How many times this season have we found ourselves late in third and fourth quarter situations, desperately needing first downs to control the clock and keep the other team's Offense off the field only to fail miserably with another Three and Out and too much time left on the clock?

Answer; Excruciatingly Too Many!!  And it has everything to do with his aversion with being a run first Coach.

I've been on Coach Gilbride all season long.  I'm sure I could have plucked better examples but my post in WEEK 6 shows I've been on him since the beginning of the season.  Even through WEEK 10 ~  HERE'S Proof  in something Titled: Fourth Down and GILBRIDE To Go ~  I have been screaming for Coach Gilbride to get the running game in tune for December Football forever.  I believed then as I believe now, when you absolutely, positively, have to, no doubt about it, need a first down on 3rd and short situations, you have to turn to your Running Game and expect them to get it done; NOT throw a 15 yard out over the head of Kevin Boss.  What Coach Gilbride does not comprehend is that reliance on Power Football comes through living it week in and week out.  A third and short in desperate times is not something you can just pick from out of your notes and call in a play, especially when all you're doing is salivating over your next call for a pass anyway.  That critical first down is derived at by pure power and dedication to the run game as a way of life.  The fourth quarter, Third-and-Short conversion is a cumulative effect that starts with the first offensive possession of the game.  It's a game-style designed to finish games late.  A well prepared and confident Running Game will look a Defensive Front in the eye and tell them they are running the ball off-tackle and still make three yards.  Period!  That's Football since the NFL's inception...whether you wore no helmet, a leather helmet, or a Modern helmet!

Among the many, many things that went wrong against the Eagles in the melt-down, almost all of it could have been avoided with ONE FIRST DOWN.  But when we needed to get one, we could do nothing outside of being sickly in our attempts.  With multiple opportunities to end the game with one first down, they could manage none.  The same circumstances resurfaced most recently against the Redskins.  Coming off three Redskin fumbles, the best we could offer on Offense was a wimpy three-and-out on three consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter.  The Giant ability to will themselves to first downs, this game, against the Eagles, and other times, was lost because it was ignored by Kevin Gilbride in weeks 3,4 and 5 and 6, but grossly mismanaged all season long from start to finish, because Kevin Gilbride unnecessarily tilts 15 to 20 plays Eli's way per game that should have been invested earlier in the season on the running game.

It all goes back to Kevin Gilbride setting up the Run with the Pass, opposed to the more conventional setting up the Pass with the Run Game.

In the games in which Jacobs and Bradshaw ran wild accumulating almost 600 yards in three games..., 
Their Touches Never Increased...But Eli's Pass Attempts Did!!!  The more those two ran off huge chunks of yardage, the more Gilbride wanted to pass to the point our Backs became ignored, (and Jacobs..forgotten).  Gilbride pats them on the back and puts Jacobs on the shelf.

How can you limit Brandon Jacobs to an average of 8 carries a game for the season?  How do you limit this potent running game to 22 to 25 carries a game combined, and justify Eli needlessly throwing upwards of 35 and 40 passes with games well in hand?

This man must be held responsible for his 1/3 of the blame regarding Eli Manning's career high for interceptions in a season, and for one of the worse INT totals in Giants' history.  All Gilbride's pass calling and Eli's in-completions do nothing but open the door for comebacks and plenty of time with which to get it done.  This goes right in hand with the third quarter disappearances by this Offense which have been nothing short of mystifying.

To be fair, Kevin Gilbride may have had something radically more lethal in store for the NFL had our entire Recieving Corp not succumbed to injury; we didn't turn the ball over at such a prodigious rate and our Offensive Line had been healthier.  Yes, Kevin Gilbride can be an excellent (no..very good) Offensive Coach.  The key word is can.  And it bares repeating, with him, it's FEAST OR FAMINE.  The Super Bowl Year we obviously feasted, but that was with PLAX and Steve Smith on the field with a completely healthy O-Line. 

I'd be very careful with who the Giants replace him with.  I'd rather stick with Gilbride and try to get him to change his thinking, than turn over this Offense to a hot-shot who doesn't even shave yet.  He and Tom Coughlin are long time friends and the fact Tom Coughlin is also an Offensive kinda guy goes against everything I'm trying to hammer home.  But at some point they have to have a Pow-Wow and decide once and for all to incorporate the Running Game into something much more integral to this team's success than just something Coach Gilbride feels obligated to mix into the plan while hindering his search for the Ultimate Pass Play.

So..., what I'm saying is that with more commitment to the running game and better clock management through such, Gilbride can stay. But it still doesn't mean he won't make me want to punch him in the face sometimes too.


But if John Gruden would lower himself to a coordinator's level again,  I'd gladly invite him to run our Offense.



1A) - QB Coach Mike Sullivan

Eli Manning's passes were consistently high this season.  These high passes were many times tipped and intercepted.  Eli Manning also at times reverted to throwing off his back foot again.  We've seen him do the "throw and turn your back" thing along with the baffling shovel attempts he's made when in the grasp of pressure.  Then there was the non-slide-rolling-fumble play.

What has Mike Sullivan done to improve Eli's throwing technique in order to get his passes lower especially being this is not a new problem?  Why has Eli seemingly reverted to old rookie habits with regard to his footwork?  Why has he been increasingly inclined to attempt these shovel tosses which have the potential of being disastrous?  And why is Eli not practiced in the art of sliding?

What is the man charged with ensuring these details are addressed for upwards of six days a week, with the obvious exception of game day, (and even then their job doesn't end).  These are the items of concern that are obvious to many, which we have every reason to believe are worked on week in and week out.

So, a fair question to ask is how much of the responsibility and blame for Eli's regressing tendencies fall on his Quarterback Coach?  Why hasn't he impressed his will and corrective measures with obvious and positive results upon his QB?

Look what another Giants QB guru and and Offensive Coordinator,  i.e;. Jim Fassell and Sean Peyton did with Kerry Collins (Pffff).  Then look what Sean Peyton did with Drew Brees.  John Elway didn't need Dan Reeves or Mike Shanahan to be great.  He needed a RUNNING BACK!

But I think the question is fair.  What has Mike Sullivan done to straighten out Eli for us?  Because me personally?  Eli is my guy.  I'll win and lose with him.


1B) - Running Backs Coach Jerald Ingram

Tom Coughlin personally corrected Tiki Barber's fumbling problems.  We know Coach's preferred technique.  Ahmad Bradshaw should be no stranger to Coach's techniques just as he's no stranger to fumbling the ball even before this season.  Coach Coughlin switched off to Brandon Jacobs as the starting back after the first Eagles encounter because Ahmad continually put the ball on the ground.  The Coach was forced to take a course of action and did.

Now, what happened to the reinforcement techniques, drills and mental preparedness that the Running Backs Coach is there to ensure gets met and employ such,  for six days a week; 4 weeks a month; and at least 5 months a season?  These matters fall under Jerald Ingram's attention to detail with proactive and reactive measures.

Yet, the fumbling continued all the way into last week's game against the Packers.





Next: 

PART II ~ The Offensive Line and Special Teams Coaches

PART III ~ I'll be TACKLING the Defensive Coaches

PART IV ~  Jerry Reese and the Players



MIKE.BTB

N.Y.Giants ~ BIG BLUE NOR'EASTER To Hit Detroit

BIG BLUE PREVIEW ~ Part II

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS:
Done playing in the snow?  Tell Brett the Fossil to suit-up and
Let's Play Some Football!

In two hours and twenty minutes, the bizarre weekend for the Giants will finally gain some normalcy and Football will be concern number one again.  Tonight's odd 7:20pm Monday Night start against the Minnesota Vikings in Detroit's Ford Field (Home of the Detroit Lions) now unfortunately follows the Eagles defeat of the Cowboys in Dallas.  So, once again, we must play follow the leader, win, and keep pace with Philly.

Around the League in games that can have an affect on the Giants as the season draws to a close in three weeks, the Bears got their claws clipped by the New England Patriots in a snow-driven blow-out, and the Packers had a woeful losing effort against the Lions.  The Saints continued to gel and now the Bucs have crept back into the NFC Wild Card picture.

And so, due to unsettling losses against the Cowboys and the Eagles earlier this season, tonight is a must win for the G-Men against the Vikings.  The Giants must achieve at least 11 wins to have a realistic chance of making the play-offs in what's becoming an increasingly tightening race.  There are only four more chances including tonight, to max out at 12 wins.  That's assuming we win out.  Going three 3-1 in the final four may be cutting things too close.

The last four games on the Giants' schedule poses a daunting task in trying to win-out.  After tonight we play the Eagles at home in a rematch and most likely a game that will decide the NFC East Title.  Then we must play the Packers who are vying for the same playoff spot we currently are.  The season finale is against the 'Skins in Washington.

The road ahead will be hard to negotiate.  But we can only begin by winning tonight on our first stop.

These two teams have played feast or famine contests in the past.  Some games were memorable for all the right reasons.  Some games were horrendous and completely forgettable.

*Phil Simms has told his story hundreds of times, how the 1986 Giants' Offense was really sputtering along and playing relatively ineffective Football that season until they went to Minnesota.  The Giants were behind 20-19 with 1:12 left in the 4th quarter.  Faced with a 4th down and 17 to go, Phil Simms connected with Bobby Johnson for a first down.  That pass enabled the Giants to kick a field goal and win 22-20.  That play propelled the Giants all the way through to a victory in Super Bowl XXI.

*For the 1993 season, Dan Reeves took control of the Giants after the team floundered after Bill Parcells retired and the Ray Handley years that followed.  Coach Reeves, made life as a Giant fan much more bearable as we ALL thought our lives were ruined after 1990.  But Coach Reeves squeezed every last bit of Football glory out of the remaining veteran Giants and with some newer guys, Coach guided us to a playoff appearance against the Minnesota Vikings.  Phil Simms kept our heads on straight one last time and Rodney Hampton rumbled us home to victory in front of the home crowd; 17-10.


*THE FASSEL YEARS:
**In 1997, Jim Fassell took the "new" Giants back to the top of the NFC East Division.  Behind an inspired defense that achieved an insane turn-over ratio and Coached by a wily Defensive Coordinator; John Fox, this Giants team re-emerged as a Big Blue playoff contender.  That wild, but undisciplined bunch faced off against the Vikings in a first round Playoff Game on December 27, 1997.  In one of the most bizarre four minutes of Football I had ever seen to that point, the Giants were directly responsible for making Dennis Green appear to be a good coach.  The Giants had the game in-hand, then all of a sudden, the Defense started fighting....WITH EACH OTHER! - ON THE FIELD! - DURING THE GAME! No one could believe the melt-down that ensued at the hands of Randal Cunningham, Dennis Green and the Vikings.
The Giants would lose that playoff game 23-22.  Ponderous!

**The National Football Conference Championship Game ~ January 14, 2001 ~ Giants vs. Vikings:
The Giants won 41-0.  Kerry Collins had one of the more spectacular games a Giants' quarterback has ever had.  The Giants Offense was Perfect that day.  The Giants Defense pitched a shut-out in what amounted to be one of the most dominant Championship Game victories in all Football history.

Then we have matters more related to today's Giants and concerns about tonight's game.

You see, Eli Manning has never beaten the Vikings.  He's 0-4 against them with only 2 TD's and a whopping 9 INT's.  There is also the matter of last year's season final when the Giants were resoundingly beaten by the Vikings 44-7.  That precipitated some very harsh words by the Media as the Giants were dubbed one of the biggest disappointments in Football, and also by NYG Owner John Mara regarding their disappointing season.  The team started 5-0 and finished 8-8.

For Giants fans tonight, this game is as important to them as any they've played against the Vikings and any they will play this year.  It's not being spoken of that way...much.  But the Giants' playoff hopes rest in the balance.  The Vikings on the other hand are collapsing like......Doh!  Their season hasn't gone well at all, and quite honestly, Brett Favre is at the root of their matter.

Last year Brett Favre helped orchestrate that 44-7 Giant debacle in Week 17 that put us out of our misery.  This game, he may not be so sure to play.  But if he does, I'd like the Giants to return the courtesy and put him out of his misery.  While Brett is struggling, beset by injuries, he is called to action, faced with his chase for the now elusive 300th consecutive start of his career.  He's listed as questionable and remains a game time decision.

He'd be doing us a favor by stepping out on the field tonight and attempting to QB the Vikings.

C'mon!  Play!  Please?!

As far as the game itself,  the Defense needs to keep Adrian Peterson under wraps.  Stop him and you stop the Vikings Offense.  He needs to be stopped on first contact.  We can't have him bouncing off tacklers and busting out for big plays.  Stop Adrian Peterson and limit Viking first downs.  And most of all, make sure we control third down.  They must be forced to punt by owning 3rd down.  I do not want to get into a shoot-out with this team.

But if it's a shoot out they want, then it's a Shoot-Out they'll get.  Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith are returning to catch Eli's passes and David Diehl will be back on the left side to fortify the Offensive Line.  Center-Shaun O'Hara still looks like a scratch.  While I always choose to grind the ball on the ground with a 20/20 mix of Jacobs and Bradshaw, I have a feeling Coach Gilbride and Eli will have to fling that Pigskin around tonight.

More power to ya Coach.  Give em hell.



It's almost game-time.

Previous Posts:
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ny-giants-big-blue-white-out.html

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ny-giants-purple-daze-week-14-preview.html

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/nygiants-offensive-line-regaining.html



Mike.BTB