New York Giants: Injuries Causing Problems At Right Tackle

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Offensive Line Depth Is Suddenly A Big Problem.

Hello again folks.  My post-Hurricane Sandy schedule is finally starting to loosen up.  So allow me a post or two in order to re-establish a flow.  The last time I posted anything about the Giants was just prior to the Bengals game.  Obviously many things have transpired between now and then.  And aside from the Packers game, I'm kind of glad I was unable to watch the other contests, although the radio did a fine job of raising my blood pressure all the same.  I'm not going to waste time rehashing stuff.  Let's just move this along..., shall we?

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The Giants now have a huge problem at Right Tackle.  Sean Locklear will be out for the rest of the season with an injured knee suffered Monday night against the Redskins.  He didn't exactly have his best game Monday.  In fact, it was probably his worst game.  But he was having a fine season substituting for David Diehl.  And therein lies the rub.  Most recently, Diehl has been sidelined by a stinger to his neck and shoulder.

 

 

Sean Locklear has done his part to improve the Giants running game somewhat over last season.   And his pass protection has been stellar.  The nine year pro definitely provided a noticeable difference on the right side this year.  David Diehl should be able to finish out the season.  But moving forward, the Giants' offensive line depth will be severely tested.  Second year Jim Cordle is more of an interior lineman.  That leaves second year Tackle James Brewer next on the pecking order.  Remember Mitch Petrus?  Well, Coach Coughlin would rather not.  He never found favor with Mitch.  But the Giants could use him right about now.

 

 

It is becoming more evident by the week, this may very well be David Diehl's last season.  His performance has not been up to normal David Diehl standards these last two seasons.  I have a strong sense Jerry Reese will make replacing Diehl an off season priority.  David Diehl will then join Shaun O'Hara, Rich Seubert, and Kareem McKenzie as former Giants.  That would leave Chris Snee as the lone remaining member of the Giants former record setting offensive line.

 

 

 

MONDAY FINAL:

GIANTS 16

Redskins 17

 

 

I'm not going to get bent all out of shape over Monday night's loss.  There is no doubt the offense has red-zone issues.  But you still have to like the way the Giants can move the ball.  Even though it has been a season long issue, going from three point to six point drives I feel is only an adjustment or two away.

 

 

The Giants only surrendered seventeen points, and six of those came on RGIII's freak TD fumble.  Big Blue also drew penalties at an uncharacteristically high rate, and at the worst possible times. Then quite obviously, if Lawrence Tynes nails that field goal, the Giants win.  So I take the loss in stride.

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: On Kevin Gilbride, and an Offensive Line Preview

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:

It Is Time To Give Coach Kevin Gilbride His Due Praise.

Previous Post ~ Eli Manning Is Now Beyond The Coach

Offensive Line Preview

I give.  I know when I've been defeated.  Therefore, I here-by cease and desist my yearly vitriol and caustic attacks against the Giants offensive ring master.  While that's not entirely true, he does deserve the benefit of the doubt from now on.  Kevin Gilbride is entering his seventh season as Offensive Coordinator.  And while under his directive, Big Blue's Offense launched dual Super Bowl efforts over the New England Patriots; make that Bill Belichick's Patriots.



Damn!  Kevin Gilbride never left me short for subject matter.  But what can I say now?



Regardless of my Bill Parcell's era philosophy and belief in Smash Mouth Football, Kevin Gilbride's implementation of the running game is no longer up for discussion.  But not because of the former QB's insistence with passing the ball, and because of his history orchestrating the Run-and Shoot.  But because the way the Giants traditionally run the ball is now in flux.



Not only is the Giants' All-Time rushing touchdowns leader; Brandon Jacobs; gone to San Francisco, welcome to year two of reconstructing of the Offensive Line.  Last season, GM Jerry Reese decided to part ways with Shaun O'Hara and Rich Suebert.  This season, Kareem McKenzie was hacked from the Giants once record-setting Offensive Line.  I personally thought the seven year Giants Right Tackle was coming off one his best seasons.  The anemic Giants running game experienced its most success last season rushing to the right side between McKenzie, and Chris Snee.  But the Giants enjoyed even more success running outside Right Tackle; that being Kareem McKenzie.  For the moment, he remains an unsigned free agent.  But then again, with regards to the running game, the Giants rushed the ball dead last in Football last season.  So anything is fair game at this point.



That leaves two members of the famed Offensive Line left; David Diehl, and the already mentioned, Chris Snee.  David Diehl continues to get ping-ponged back and forth between the left and right sides of the line, as well as from Tackle to Guard.  Which will it be this season?  We'll see.  The plan was to have him take Kareem McKenzie's spot on the right side.  But for the moment, that remains to be seen.  Entering his tenth season, he will turn thirty-two years old once the season starts.  While still a very good lineman, it seems logical he will be the next player to get replaced.



Chris Snee continues to play at an All-Pro level.  He turned thirty in January, so there is still a lot of football remaining in this kid.  Entering his ninth season, the Giants Right Guard was perhaps the team's best run blocker last season.  When the Giants needed daylight, they looked between Snee and McKenzie.  Snee will now have a new partner on his right side this season.



To Chris Snee's left, will be returning Center, David Baas.  I rode him hard last season.  To be fair, there was an adjustment period for him, he played through a neck injury, and dealt with some minor issues.  But he finished strong, and played very well in the NFC Championship Game against his former team, the San Francisco 49ers.  I still feel he is undersized.  But if he plays the way he did down the stretch last season, he may yet turn into a bright spot on the Line.



The biggest questions for the Giants Offensive rest on the left side.  At Left Tackle, Will Beatty is supposed to finally take over.  His eye injury last season necessitated David Diehl's shift to Left Tackle.  So it stands to reason, Will's health this season will go a long way towards determining the Offensive Line's continuity and stability.   Now that he's back, Beatty is charged with protecting Eli Manning's blind side.  I'm not exactly overwhelmed with confidence he can.  Will Beatty is more of a technique and finesse player.  I'm concerned how well he can handle brute force and ignorance on the end.  But that was the plan last year, and remains so this year.  Will Beatty is no stranger to Giants fans.  And he's proved to be a very capable player before, despite my reservations.



Left Guard is perhaps the largest question mark of the Offensive Line.  What is certain, the position will have a new starting player.  Whether Mitch Petrus wins the job, or Kevin Boothe proves best, will be determined over the pre-season.  In either case, I am comfortable with the Giants' options.  I especially like Mitch Petrus, who provided an instant spark in the running game last season, when David Baas went down with an injury, and the Line shifted, creating a spot for Petrus at Left Guard.  That's when Kevin Boothe filled in at Center very admirably.  Kevin Boothe however, is the favorite this season to win the Guard job.  And that's fine with me.



Who will be backing up the forward ranks remains to be seen.  Jim Cordle I'm certain will make the team.  Sean Locklear is becoming an increasingly important back-up player on the left side.  James Brewer returns from last season but still has much to prove.  And rookie Brandon Mosely just might play his way onto the team.



As a unit, the Offensive Line returns with familiar names.  There is a continuity factor that should work in the Giants favor.  Good health can only make this unit better.  Despite last season's rushing numbers, this unit can be very good.  But after Mitch Petrus, the Giants start to suffer from a  considerable lack of depth.


A greater conversation incorporating the backfield follows next.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Big Blue Business

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  A not so exact look into the off-season and Big Blue's needs.


In my opinion, the biggest move of the Giants' off-season, by far, remains placing the Franchise tag on punter; Steve Weatherford.  Go figure - a punter.?  I said on numerous occasions during the season, aside from Eli Manning, Weatherford was the Giants' MVP.  I said it in jest then.  But it's as close to absolute truth as you're going to get.  That man's right foot played an invaluable role for the Giants last season.  And it's our good fortune the Jets didn't think too much of him and let him walk away when they did.



The second biggest move of the off-season?  Eli Manning restructured his contract to give the Giants more cap maneuverability.  Some of last season's back lash to losing Kevin Boss and Steve Smith  was directed at Eli for not volunteering to restructure his deal just as Brandon Jacobs had in accepting a pay cut to facilitate Ahmad Bradshaw's resigning.  Eli answered those critics this past season with another Super Bowl MVP award, and has now reworked his deal.  So I ask you, - What more can he do?





OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING:


Super Bowl XLVI left the Giants with a huge hole at Tight End.  Thursday, they apparently signed their man.  It won't be Kevin Boss returning after being cut by Oakland.  It won't be Jeremy Shockey who seems to be begging for a Giant handout.  And not incidentally, he is making a fool of himself in the process, as he tried kicking-up some dirt on Amani Toomer Thursday on Twitter.  It should be noted however, that Shockey's comments came in reaction to initial statements made by Toomer.



Drama aside, the Giants instead found their man hidden behind Jason Witten in Dallas.  After four years as the Cowboy's back-up tight end, Martellus Bennett, will get his shot at starting with Big Blue next season.  He and GM Jerry Reese agreed on a one year deal.  The only thing I know about him is he's big; he's agile; and can catch.  That sounds good to me.  If he can run block, even better.  And if Jerry Reese likes him, I like him too.  Welcome to the Family!



Mario Manningham is no closer to signing with another team today than he was yesterday.  I think the League recognizes him for what he is; a very dependable third, or maybe even second-tier receiver.  The premium isn't too steep for those.  Perhaps his price range can fall into the Giants' lap unlike the Kevin Boss situation last season.  It would certainly be nice to have him back in the fold.  But I can understand if Jerry Reese doesn't meet his price.  The truth is, he's actually expendable as the Giants have created depth at the position since Plaxico Burress' departure.



The Giants also now need someone in the backfield to replace Brandon Jacobs and more importantly, give Ahmad Bradshaw's feet an occasional rest.  Brandon Jacobs was cut by the team.  They could not agree on a new reduced rate deal.



As goes the Giants' Offensive Line, so goes the running game.  Last season, Jerry Reese started it's reconstruction.  Center Shaun O'Hara and Guard, Rich Seubert, were both released prior to the season. That leaves David Diehl, Kareem McKenzie, and Chris Snee, remaining from the Giants' former record setting front five.  I think Kareem McKenzie had one on his best seasons as a pro.  And together with Chris Snee, the right side of the Line provided the Giants' running game with the most daylight.  David Diehl was to moved to Left Tackle again.  He was dependable enough for albeit short yet consistent yardage on the right side.  And as always, his pass protection was dependable.   But the three Linemen are getting up in age, and will soon be meeting the same fates of their former team mates.



The question is, how much attention will Jerry Reese pay to the Line this off-season?  In addition to eventually having to move on from Diehl, Snee, and McKenzie, and without knowing for sure if he will return, I believe the Giants should take a pass on Will Beatty moving forward.  He missed most all of last season with an eye injury.  Kevin Boothe suits me fine at Left Guard.  It's at Center where I'm concerned.  David Baas turned in a season that wound up a little less than advertised.  And I also think he's undersized for the position.  But he was last season's big free agent pick up.  And with him signed, I guess Jerry Reese will concentrate elsewhere. However, I would like Jerry Reese to re-explore acquiring more depth at Tackle-Guard for either side, or Guard-Center.  Mitch Petrus supplied some surprisingly inspired Line work last season and helped open up the running game somewhat when he received playing time in David Baas' absence.  But at the moment, he is all the depth we have.  And then there were none....





ON BRANDON JACOBS BEING RELEASED:


I have spent much time fending off Jacobs' detractors; not because I was any great fan of his, but because I thought he was being misused.  Because he absolutely abhorred the Media, I also knew he never quite knew how to deal with them.  They often flustered him, or just pissed him off.  Thus he was made to look bad and was vilified at times as a result.



But he was always a very good, supportive team mate, and always respected Tom Coughlin.  He always had respect for this organization.  And after winning his second Super Bowl with the only organization he's ever known, the man was humbled.



He gets it.  And we should too.  When it came to matters of Football, he was always a professional, so to speak.  He took over Tiki's job without any pomp or braggadocio on his part.  He just worked quietly and let Tiki Barber implode.  Then for a few years, he went on to become a Destroyer of Wills.  What criticisms he drew for holding out in a contract dispute, or say Helmet Gate, or some ill-spoken words directed at the fans, should have long been forgiven for giving back what he originally held out for, and helping the Giants financially in the age of non-guaranteed contracts.  Forgive him for accepting his secondary role behind Bradshaw.  And for doing so with not only class, but his dignity in tact, as he had nothing but encouragement for his team mate and friend, and never gave the Coach a problem about it.



Did you see him after the Super Bowl during the locker-room celebrations?  Did you see him in complete appreciation of the moment standing along side John Mara and his Mom?  Brandon Jacobs knows what it means to be a Giant.  He's relatively undeserving of the impression of him the Media has led many to adopt.



Instead, in saying goodbye, say thank you for chipping helmets, and for helping us win two Super Bowls.  Think and say, thank you, and we appreciate you for being the N.Y. Football Giants' All Time Rushing Touchdowns Leader.  Give him that, and let him run off to daylight with it.  Don't let him leave off on bad terms like Tiki did.  Remember him as the 2-time champ, and the BULLY!, that he was.  I defy a fellow Giant Fan to tell me he or she didn't appreciate how Brandon Jacobs responded to the Dallas Cowboys.  And tell me you weren't filled with a sense of vindication and satisfaction when he told Rex Ryan where he could go, or what he could do with his Big Green self.



In any event, his time is over now.  And for GM Jerry Reese, it was the right thing to do.





DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING:


Cornerback Terrell Thomas, sorely missing from action last season, was also re-signed by GM Jerry Reese.  I just hope he can finally stay on the field this time.  Aaron Ross still remains unsigned at Corner.  And as Aaron Ross and Corey Webster have indeed been playing together for some time now, Jerry Reese may need even more of an overhaul of the Secondary than initially meets the eye.  Injuries have hampered this unit extensively; not to mention stunting the overhaul Reese initiated, or thought he initiated, most recently with Amakumara.  Depending on the Aaron Ross outcome, this unit should still be able to put together one more solid season as is.  They deserve their fair share of credit for some of the complete break-downs in coverage last season.  But Coach Fewell deserved a chunk as well.  Once they ditched zone, things ironed out.  They always tackled well and coverage vastly improved as the weeks went by.



The Giants Safeties are a different matter.  Free agents have served to plug these holes in recent years.  And I guess I should be giving Antrel Rolle more credit than I have.  But the Giants clearly need reinforcements here, and are officially in need of at least one replacement.  My hope is Kenny Phillips comes back to have a stronger 2012-2013 season than this last campaign.  Overall, they played well enough against the run, and were sure tacklers.  But they lost too many receivers lined up in the slot.



Other areas the Giants need addressed, either during the free agency period, or in the coming Draft, are Linebacker; Linebacker; and Linebacker.  Linebacker has been an issue for two; near three; solid seasons now.  Michael Boley ended the season superbly.  But the differences in the Defense with and without him in the game and healthy, were like night and day.  Jacquian Williams had himself a fine rookie season.  And Mathias Kiwanuka remains The Hybrid.  But injuries depleted the Giants of any depth heading into the season and were forced to be overly reliant on their rookies.  The Giants were behind the 8-ball from go, as Jonathan Goff and Clint Sintim were both lost to season ending injuries before ever getting started.



I trust Jerry Reese will handle all these matters, and those regarding the salary cap, while still resigning some more of our own key players, smartly.



Let's Go Giants!




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Only Gilbride Can "RIGHT" the Running Game

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE  ~  Super Bowl XLVI Edition

ATLANTA FALCONS

GREEN BAY PACKERS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:   The Time is Now For Kevin Gilbride to Help The Running Game Get This "RIGHT" Once and for All.

Submitted for Your Analysis:

Offensive Coordinator; Kevin Gilbride's Implementation of the Running Game.

I long ago established the Giants have done their best rushing behind the right side of the Offensive Line.  Chris Snee, and more so, Kareem McKenzie have done the Giants best run blocking this season. David Diehl, playing out of position again this season is run blocking admirably at Left Tackle.  Diehl and Booth have created consistent but shorter yardage together.  Yet with even greater consistency however, the middle; running off Center, has proved fruitless for virtually the entire season.

There is no forward surge being created by the front five; and in particular by the interior Line.  Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are both continually getting met at the line of scrimmage because there is no forward push.  And in my opinion, the problem resides with Center David Baas.

I shared my latest concerns regarding Center David Baas, and his upcoming mis-match against New England's Vince Wilfork in my last posting:  Super Sizing the Offensive Line.  David Baas is still feeling the effects of a stinger suffered in last week's game.  And it remains my hope Kevin Boothe gets the start at Center and Mitch Petrus plays Left Guard.  Both men together increase the Giants' size up the middle and have been successful opening up some space when they played together for a few games this season in Baas' absence.

As for the running game itself, I can not fault Kevin Gilbride electing to heave the ball up fifty-eight times.  It's what won us the game.  And further more, this post can not continue without giving the 49ers their deserved credit.  But even with all Eli's heroics, Gilbride still called for twenty running plays.  Once again I commend him for staying dedicated to the run even when it seemed to go nowhere.  But I don't know if I should call last week's run selections an epiphany or just random acts of Gilbride coincidence.  The Giants only ran for fifty-nine yards during regulation time on twenty rushing attempts.  And there-in lies the Giants' silver lining.  In overtime, the Giants ran five more running plays for an additional twenty eight crucial yards.  And once again you'll see, that the RIGHT side of the Line is the correct side to follow towards Daylight.

Against Green Bay-I, Dallas, the Jets, Dallas-II, and against the Falcons, Big Blue pounded the right side of the Line on their way to 100+ yard games.  Keep in mind the Atlanta Falcons game's stats:

Versus Atlanta....

* The Giants rushed LEFT nine times for thirty-one yards. 3.4 average gain.

* The Giants rushed UP THE MIDDLE eight times for thirty-one yards. 3.4 average gain.

* The Giants rushed RIGHT thirteen times for one hundred-one yards. 7.8 average gain.

 Of the Giants' running plays that went for fives yards or more, here is your break down:

* LEFT - Three Plays ~ eight yards; eight yards; fourteen yards.

* MIDDLE - Two Plays ~ ten yards; fifteen yards.

* RIGHT - Four Plays ~ thirty four yards; thirty yards; seven yards; nine yards.

In the Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers, Kevin Gilbride went against everything the Giants do well with regards to running the ball.  He dialed-up a complete 180 degree reversal of field and went left side intensive with the running game.  Just a few days prior to the game, an article in the tabloids reported Kevin Gilbride - in summary as saying, - Click HERE for full Daily News article.

......Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride believes the “conventional wisdom” that the Giants must run the ball effectively to keep Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ high-powered offense off the field as much as possible in Sunday’s divisional playoff game “honestly doesn't hold much water.”

 Then against Green Bay he devised this;

*LEFT - Thirteen Plays ~ for net fifty-four yards.  Three plays combined for -9 yards.  In the first half, Ahmad Bradshaw started left, then changed course and went *right for +23 yards; setting up Eli's Hail Mary pass.  Ahmad Bradshaw broke another +24 yard gain running off Left Tackle.  And on the last N.Y. touchdown of the game, Brandon Jacobs once again started a play running left, then turned back *right for a fourteen yard touchdown run.

*MIDDLE - Six Plays ~ for fifteen yards, and one No-Gain.  Two plays went for five yards each.

*RIGHT - THREE PLAYS!  One play negated by a Holding penalty.  Two plays for negative yardage. Only one gain for +4 yards.

 I was torn between wanting to punch him in the face or crediting him for having some deceptive plan up his sleeve, as if he had clairvoyance into knowing the Giants would still be playing; and in knowing such, trying to throw everyone off the Giants' trail?       Really?  Is that plausible?



There was the matter of the 49ers game and an overtime session that reconfirmed every assertion the Giants' run the ball best behind Snee and McKenzie.  However during regulation time, the Niners put the breaks on Big Blue's rush with haste.

This is the regulation time break down of running plays called by Kevin Gilbride that amassed all of fifty-nine yards:

LEFT:  Seven Plays ~ Twenty-Four Yards.  One No-Gain.  One Six Yard Gain Negated by a Penalty to David Baas.

MIDDLE:  Seven Plays ~ Nineteen Yards.  One No-Gain.

RIGHT:  Six Plays ~ Sixteen Yards.  One No-Gain on 4th and 1; (B. Jacobs).
  

Then, it hit him.  Kevin Gilbride turned to the tried and true method this team has for gaining yardage on the ground.  In overtime, the right side of the Offensive Line found daylight for the Giants yet again.  And with no disrespect to Eli, they kinda saved the big finish.

LEFT:  No Plays.

MIDDLE:  One Play ~ Four Yards.

RIGHT:  FOUR PLAYS ~ FORTY YARDS!

Against the San Francisco 49ers, in total they ran Left 7x for twenty-four yards;  Middle 8x for twenty-three yards; and RIGHT 10x for FORTY Yards.



The question remains why Kevin Gilbride designed such a radical departure from the Giants' strength in the Green Bay game?  Yet, the Giants ability to spring two plays back to the right side sealed the game against the Packers.  And the Giants' ability to pound out SIX; EIGHT; SIX; and FOUR, yards all behind the right side sealed the game in San Francisco as well.



Heading into this showdown with the Patriots, that's two issues now I believe the Giants need to investigate, with, a) - being the starting status of center David Baas, and b) - will the Giants stick with their strength and run behind their right side and outside their Left Tackle; David Diehl?



My over-riding concern is the potential inability of David Baas to keep Vince Wilfork from disrupting the line of scrimmage.  Most specifically, I fear he can dominate David Baas and cause overwhelming chaos in the Giants' backfield; not to mention the pressure he can bring on Eli up the middle.



This is the Big One Coach.  Get this one RIGHT and you can shut me up forever.  So don't blow it with some goofy game plan.   Friggin' egomaniac!






Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Super Sizing The Offensive Line

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE  ~  Super Bowl XLVI Edition

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:     Should Big Blue Consider an Offensive Line Shake-Up for the Super Bowl?  It Wouldn't Be a Risky Move and Might Make a BIG Difference.


Lets call out the Offensive Line last week for what it was; Bad - if not downright woeful.  From the four quarter-plus disappearance of the Running Game, to the woeful pass protection last week, the O-Line's performance was a total fail in almost every sense other than the final score.  I'm willing to give the San Francisco Niners a large portion of credit for their own performance last Sunday.  They backed up their well earned reputations as a stout, smart, stingy, and hard hitting Defense.  They relentlessly beat and battered Eli Manning all game long and at times overwhelmingly manhandled the Giants up front.  But aside from the 49ers due credit, the fact remains, The O-line was near disastrously out-played.  Only Eli's durability and resiliency and ability to throw in the rain while under duress saved their hides in San Francisco.




The entire starting five were all equally ineffective Sunday.  Collectively, the Offensive Line couldn't push a refrigerator, much less part the Niners Front Line for the running game.  Pass Rushers were getting lost on stunts and hitting Eli unabated at times.  The middle, consisting of Center David Baas; Kevin Boothe to the Left; and Richard Snee to the Right; got pushed open like swinging kitchen doors at a popular lunch time diner.  And the edges with David Diehl on the Left and Kareem McKenzie on the Right, allowed pocket protection to bend in on itself like a pretzel.




After each and every QB hit and through six sacks allowed, they could have done more as a group to shove red jerseys away from Eli after whistles had long blown.  This game is all about attitude and about being tougher up front.  Sometimes you take a yellow flag to send a needed message.  Even a guy like Coughlin can appreciate that.  As O-Linemen, you can't let opposing players hover over your QB like teams have this season.  David Diehl did some pushing back Sunday.  But I hardly saw it from the others.




Left Tackle David Diehl was having an increasingly tougher time as the last three games wore on.  Against the Falcons, Coach Gilbride gave the lion's share of responsibility for the running game to the right side of the Line leaving Diehl to merely worry about Eli's blind side.  Against the Packers, Gilbride changed up and went left side intensive with the run game.  Diehl delivered consistent however short positive yardage.  And his pass blocking slipped a bit.  Then this last Sunday, Eli thankfully didn't suffer any blind-side hits.  But Diehl will still have to take his share of blame for pass protection that fell apart in San Francisco.




Ditto goes for Right Tackle Kareem McKenzie.  He's had a tremendous season but played as bad a game as he's had all year.  Kareem's man too often came free on Eli's front side but the QB hung in there anyway knowing the hit was coming.  Moving forward against New England, I'm sure last Sunday was just an aberration coupled with the heat San Francisco was generating.  I trust David Diehl, Chris Snee, and Kareem McKenzie in particular, will all have a much better game in two weeks against an old foe.  The Giants best running has come off the Tackles this season.  And in two weeks, they'll be needing to go with what works best.




With that said, we must once again revisit the Giants situation at Center.  This is the Super Bowl we're talking about here.  Which means I could care less how much David Baas costs Jerry Reese.  Shaun O'Hara is not here anymore and so the fact remains, his replacement is the smallest and weakest link in the Offensive Line.  The loss of Will Beatty earlier in the season is not the biggest factor affecting the Offensive Line.  Instead that gave Mitch Petrus an opportunity to show he can be effective.  The biggest factor affecting the Line actually turns out to be a lack of size at Center.  The former 49er did not come to New York and perform as advertised.




I'm sorry.  I've been picking on him for a while.  But it is what it is.  Not surprisingly to me, Center Davis Baas had the worst game of the bunch Sunday.  Go back to your DVR's and see for yourself.  Additionally, I do not believe his printed bio-stats.  They don't match the player.  Just look at him.  When you watch him break the huddle, he's the smallest player of any Giant Offensive Lineman, not to mention of any opposing defensive lineman.




Regardless, heading into this last game against New England, I have but this one question:  How well can David Baas play against New England's Defensive Tackle Vince Wilfork?  My answer is he doesn't match up well at all.  As a matter of fact, the match up down right scares me considering the disruption Wilfork can create up the middle.  More importantly, solutions should no longer go ignored.  The Giants must run the ball behind the Right again and at least open up the middle as best they can; especially since they have the personnel in hand to do it.  And therefore, this is my last big push for Kevin Boothe to start at Center, and for Petrus to start at Left Guard.  It's warranted because of the results they've produced before, and because it wouldn't at all be a risky move.  They've played well together in Baas' absence this season.




If this sounds harsh, it still rings true; David Baas has been an utterly useless run blocker and has exhibited only descent (...to good) pass blocking skills.  What he has excelled at however, is bringing the running game to a grinding halt!  He does a better job keeping a guy in place on pass blocking than he does pushing his man forward on the run.  And that's why any Daylight that once existed up the middle has now been blocked-up by a human wall.  Chris Snee and Kevin Boothe have been left to pick up his slack and as a result the running gaps between the Guards have disappeared; not just recently, but all season.  This has for long been the condition with Baas starting at Center.




There was a moment in Sunday's game when Baas was taken out of action due to a temporary injury.  Mitch Petrus was slotted into Left Guard, while Kevin Boothe slid over to Center.  For starters, Boothe gave Eli better snaps.  David Baas' snaps were consistently low all game long.  How many times did we watch Eli in the shot-gun crouching down to receive snaps?  Then with big Mitch Petrus in at Guard, for a few plays at least, the running game found yardage up the middle; just as it did in mid-season when David Baas missed several games.




I'm not wishing harm on the guy by no means.  But I am guilty of believing David Baas leaving the game was a good thing for the Giants' run game as Petrus and Boothe have been played far more effectively together on the left side than when Baas plays to Kevin Boothe's right.  Both Boothe and Petrus are additionally quite larger than the smaller Baas.  And I find it ponderous much of this has gone largely unspoken about.




Just so as to leave off on a more positive note, Gilbride finally remembered most of the Giants' success running the ball this season has been to the right side behind Snee and McKenzie.  In overtime, they created some room for Ahmad Bradshaw just in the nick of time.  And on that note, my next posting will concern the Running Game and Kevin Gilbride's odd; bizarre; and gross mishandling of the running game....AGAIN!  The Giants' running backs themselves are at the bottom of the list of things wrong with the rushing game.  If you follow my blog, you know what I'm talking about.  I've already provided all the numbers supporting Gilbride's confounding mis-management.




Lucky for them, Eli made everyone look great last Sunday.







Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ LEFT With Questions About Run Game

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Kevin Gilbride and the Giants' Running Game:

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:   It's Back to the Old Drawing Board With Big Blue's Running Game.  The Super Genius Was at it Again.  Coach Gilbride Led Them Away from Daylight and LEFT Them in the Dark.




The next time a hot looking mechanical female rabbit blows up in your backyard, a guy named Mud will soon appear introducing himself as the cause.  A wise ol' Wabbit once reminded us, "...remember kids, Mud spelled backwards, is DUM!"




The New York Football Giants' offensive coordinator is the Wile E. Coyote of the NFL.  They are both egomaniacs and both are super smart; too smart for their own good.  One is engaged in a fruitless and constant chase for some road-runner or rabbit.  While the other is in constant search of the perfect pass play at the expense of common sense.  At the same time, they're the genesis of some of the most insidious yet befuddling schemes ever hatched from the minds of an idiot.  One uses ACME products to help facilitate his cunning yet disastrously humorous failures, as the other nefariously calls running plays for the New York Giants that sometimes work as well as those wacky overly complicated ACME products do.




He shows up and says he's not trying to sell us anything nor is he working his way through college.  He's simply someone of superior intellect with a pressure cooker who wants to rip our hearts out, stew it along with the Giants' running game, add diced celery, onions, carrots, and eat it.  So the next time someone unfolds a portable door on your front porch, rings the bell, and starts off by saying,  "Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Wile E. Coyote Kevin Gilbride; Super Genius..." - Do me a favor and punch him in the face!  And don't worry.  He's used to it!




Yes; This is about Kevin Gilbride and the Running Game - Again.  If you're tired of hearing about it, I'm equally tired complaining about it.  But I need serious help grasping what Kevin Gilbride was trying to achieve Sunday night in Green Bay.  Because what he designed was either a work of genius with a hitch, or a serious failure of epic proportion on his part.  I've done a lot of kidding but you'll see I'm really trying to understand.




First - Eli, Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and the Defense were great Sunday.  As the passing game goes, Kevin Gilbride deserves his share of credit for their success.  And..., we won!  But once I'm done you'll see I'm not being nit-picky; nor am am I thrill-seeking negativity.  The following are just facts supported throughout DO IT FOR THE DUKE.  So with that out of the way, let's get on with this.




The Packers made little effort to run the ball.  Aaron Rodgers was their leading rusher with sixty-six yards on seven carries.  Yet, due to Aaron Rodgers' ground efforts, the Packers out-rushed the Giants.  The Packers also held a slight lead in time-of-possession.  Additionally, Green Bay ran-off more plays from scrimmage that the Giants; seventy-three versus sixty-one.




Now - the Giants rushed the ball twenty-seven times versus twenty-three for Green Bay.  Yet due to Aaron Rodgers mentioned above, the Packers out-rushed the Giants 147 yards versus 95 yards for Big Blue.  Twenty-seven rushing attempts by the Giants was only six less pass attempts by Eli.  As far as the number of rushing attempts and balance of plays, I'm content.  No issues there.  As a matter of fact, I commend Kevin Gilbride for sticking with the run all game long.  He rushed the ball twelve times in the first half, and eleven more times in the second half.  Even thought the Packers defended the run very well, and held the Giants to a 3.5 yards-per-rush average, Gilbride stayed with it.  There was a time he would have abandoned the run all-together.  So far I'm cool on all counts.




Here now is everything wrong with Kevin Gilbride's plan Sunday.  It has long been established, with new Center David Baas, there has been absolutely no running game up the middle to speak of.  The left side of the Offensive Line with Kevin Boothe and David Diehl only has slightly better results.  Although, they have run outside David Diehl at Right Tackle with more success that between the Guard.  Rushing didn't improve until Baas was forced to miss games and Boothe played Center, and Mitch Petrus played Guard.  With them in the game, the middle opened to the run.  Then the Giants reinserted Baas at Center again once he was cleared to play.  On the other side of the Offensive Line, the Giants have run with great effectiveness behind and between Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie all season long.  There has been even more Daylight outside Right Tackle Kareem McKenzie.




The Atlanta Falcons game was the epitome of this season long trend.  The following stats were reasons for me to begrudgingly give Coach Gilbride a pat on the back after a season long beef regarding everything being discussed here-in.  The main issues I've had have been with Gilbride's play selection.  All season he's insisted on running up the middle and left where there were rarely holes to be found while knowing full well the Daylight was shining on the other side.  Then against the Jets and Cowboys, Gilbride opened up the gates and let the boys run right.

In playoff game one versus Atlanta....

* The Giants rushed LEFT nine times for thirty-one yards. 3.4 average gain.

* The Giants rushed UP THE MIDDLE eight times for thirty-one yards. 3.4 average gain.

* The Giants rushed RIGHT thirteen times for one hundred-one yards. 7.8 average gain.

Of the Giants' running plays that went for fives yards or more versus ATL, here is your break down:

* LEFT - Three Plays ~ eight yards; eight yards; fourteen yards.

* MIDDLE - Two Plays ~ ten yards; fifteen yards.

* RIGHT - Four Plays ~ thirty four yards; thirty yards; seven yards; nine yards. And they didn't need any help from Center.

To reiterate, the Giants have done their best running off Right Guard and Right Tackle all season long.  Kareem McKenzie in particular is having a tremendous season.  So this is what Kevin Gilbride chose to do this last Sunday:

*LEFT - Thirteen Plays ~ for net fifty-four yards.  Three plays combined for -9 yards.  In the first half, Ahmad Bradshaw started left, then changed course and went *right for +23 yards; setting up Eli's Hail Mary pass.  Ahmad Bradshaw broke another +24 yard gain running off Left Tackle.  And on the last N.Y. touchdown of the game, Brandon Jacobs once again started a play running left, then turned back *right for a fourteen yard touchdown run.

*MIDDLE - Six Plays ~ for fifteen yards, and one No Gain.  Two plays went for five yards; tops.

*RIGHT - THREE PLAYS!  One play negated by a Holding penalty.  Two plays for negative yardage.  Only one gain for +4 yards.

For fifty seven minutes of this game, I wanted to reach into the TV and strangle Gilbride.  Ahmad Bradshaw's +24 yard run just before the second half was successful by his own doing.  The play was designed left and Bradshaw busted it back.  That was not counter-motion.  Bradshaw reversed field.




Then in the third period it started to dawn on me.  I saw this before.  Mike Ditka used to do this all the time with the Bears.  He'd pound the ball incessantly.  Then when he lulled you in, he went over the top to Willie Gault.  I started thinking, maybe Gilbride was waiting till the end of the game to spring someone off the right side to seal the deal.  And for as long as the Giants were leading, I was a) - willing to let his plan play out and see, and b) - willing to give Kevin Gilbride the benefit of the doubt that he wouldn't have continued that course of action if the Giants were trailing.  If that were the case, I feel he would have changed sides.




Brandon Jacobs did just that; he popped one off the right side to put the nail in Green Bay's coffin.  And I'm willing to give Kevin Gilbride the benefit of the doubt again, and say that last touchdown play was designed to be a counter-motion play.  I know Gilbride knew our strength was running right and maybe he was trying to set Green Bay up by getting them to over pursue.  I'm willing to go with that.  But Gilbride really makes you scratch your head.




If I do not give him the benefit of the doubt in thinking that was his plan all along, the only conclusion I can come up with as a result of his game plan is that he's a complete idiot when it comes to the running game; of which I have no problem saying.  But if he was indeed trying to bait the Packers all game for something in the fourth quarter; and for as long as he was doing this with a lead; and I'll even say maybe he was looking towards next Sunday and trying to get the Left Side up to snuff, then I'll be glad to call his plan for what it was - ballsy.  After all, you have to have a lot of footballs to try some of the stunts Wile E. Coyote attempts in trying to capture a little bite to eat.




"Oh well, some people just have to learn the hard way."  -  quote, Wile E. Coyote.




But having said all that, you decide now. I said my piece.







Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ A Big Line of Contention

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:   Big Blue Thinks Running Game is "All Right" by Them.


POST:  Victory Over Atlanta; a N. Y. Reintroduction to Giants Football




Hark!  What romp through yonder gridiron breaks?  It is the rush, as Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie continue to be the sun.  For there is an abundant supply of Daylight on the right side of the Giants' Offensive Line.




Duh!




For whatever consecutive weeks now (excuse me..., all season long), the Giants have done their best running behind the right side of the Line.  Between Right Guard Chris Snee and on either side of Right Tackle Kareem McKenzie,  Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw continue to find big holes and proceed to rush through them with power.  It's the other side of the O-Line that has slowed the running game down, and the quagmire started at Center, not with Left Tackle Will Beatty.





If you've been following DO IT FOR THE DUKE - You know the following things:

*  Ever Since David Baas lost time due to concussion symptoms, and the Offensive Line was reconfigured with Mitch Petrus at Left Guard, and Kevin Boothe sliding over to center, I have begged, if not screamed to keep that combination together.

*  You know I've been harping about the Giants' inability to run the ball off-Center when David Baas plays.  Problem is, he's the free-agent big money import.  He's going to play.

*  And you also know I've long been saying the Giants have had their most success running the ball this season behind Chris Snee, and Kareem McKenzie, who incidentally is having a phenomenal season run blocking.





While David Baas continues to get a free pass by the real people who cover the team, or others who just write about Football professionally, they've finally stumbled upon the fact the Giants run the ball very well behind Snee and Big Mac.  As if.




For starters, these are the same experts who long ago pronounced Brandon Jacobs a has-been.  They mocked his supposedly depleted ability to run a football, and continually pointed to the fact the Giants owned the worst running game in the League without knowing why, other than to wildly blame Jacobs; harp on the dicier aspects of his personality; and to simply say the O-Line has been horrible.  I swear, if some people on the radio didn't read the papers as show prep, they'd have less than a clue as to what they were talking about.  But I guess it's playoff time now and so they actually have to take their ride off cruise control as Giants football is the only talk in town right now (...along with the Rangers that is!).  And low and behold, they saw how well the Giants ran behind the right side of the Line.




I think to myself sometimes  -  I do this for fun?  And I have to remind myself  -  Yes, I do.  Never-the-less, it's time to kick this conversation up a notch being as the locusts will be looking for more to much on.  You like apples guys?  Try these apples.




Here's the proof in the pudding that validates everything I've railed about this season regarding the running game and about who should be, or not be playing on the Offensive Line:

Versus Atlanta....

*  The Giants rushed LEFT nine times for thirty-one yards.   3.4 average gain.

*  The Giants rushed UP THE MIDDLE eight times for thirty-one yards.   3.4 average gain.

*  The Giants rushed RIGHT thirteen times for one hundred-one yards.   7.8 average gain.




On the Left, David Diehl was up against John Abraham.  Remember he slid over from Guard to play Left Tackle again, due to the original injury to Will Beatty that necessitated adjustments to the line.  Diehl had his hands full Sunday.  He was called for two uncharacteristic holding penalties that are occurring a little more frequently lately.  Diehl allowed Abraham to record the only Atlanta sack of the game but only let him touch Eli one other time. 




Run Blocking however, the Left side of Diehl and Kevin Boothe at Guard was the only portion of the Line to give up plays for negative yardage; - Minus two yards a pop, twice.  Then tack on two more plays that went for No Gain.




Up the Middle, David Baas' pass protection was solid.  But four more rushing plays went for No Gain!  And one holding penalty highlighted David Baas' day.  However the math speaks for itself.  To the Left of Center there were six plays that went for No Gain and two more plays went for negative yardage.  While to the Right, there was only one play that resulted in No Gain.  When Mitch Petrus played Guard and Boothe was at Center, that tar pit in the middle solidified and became firm running ground again.  Very simply, Boothe and Petrus are both bigger than Baas.  And Diehl, Petrus, and Boothe played much more cohesively together in Baas' absence than with him.




The Right side needed no such help from Center.  First a quick mention that Chris Snee was also called for a penalty.  That made four of the seven Giants' penalties against the O-Line.  But back to run blocking, the only play that went for No Gain occurred during the Giants' very first possession of the game.  And of course, this side of the Line was where all the Daylight was.





Of the Giants' running plays that went for fives yards or more, here is your break down:

*  LEFT - Three Plays ~ eight yards; eight yards; fourteen yards.

* MIDDLE - Two Plays ~ ten yards; fifteen yards.

* RIGHT - Four Plays ~ thirty four yards; thirty yards; seven yards; nine yards.  And they didn't need any help from Center.





The Giants pulled the Guard and Tackle on many plays which was another nice wrinkle by Kevin Gilbride.  Coach pulled them from Left to Right knowing where his bread was getting buttered.  And I'll also credit him for the creativity.  But none of that would have been necessary if the free agent Center was watching on the sidelines.  I'm not calling him a scrub.  He's not.  Maybe he needed a season to acclimate, and deal with injury.  I'm just saying there was an O-Line combination that over three games showed themselves to be more effective at running the ball.




Don't let last game fool you.  Don't you think the Packers figured this out about the Giants by now?  And that they'll be planning for it?  Granted, I think we'll be able to run the ball effectively against them regardless, just as we've been able to for a few weeks now.  But I'd like the Giants to take the step towards strengthening that Left side.  A large part of Smash Mouth is not necessarily about play selection and schemes, so much it's about being stronger than the guy in front of you.




Looking back with an eye on next Sunday, maybe..., if we're running the ball well, Eli throws one less pass against Green Bay the last time we played and doesn't get an interception returned for a touchdown.  Maybe if we were running the ball better and letting a pounding running game have an accumulative effect and getting first downs in the fourth quarter, we don't kick the ball back to Green Bay with too much time on the clock.  Then they don't return said kick to midfield and set themselves up for an easy field goal and the win.




Eli's Big Blue Ariel Crew has already demonstrated they can score against Green Bay.  The Giants can not only score against Green Bay's defense, they can perhaps score often against them.  But without a sound and powerful running game, we will never be able to gain a measure of control.  An effective running game will reduce the number of times we put the football in Aaron Rodgers' hands.  Then the plan is to let the Defense do the rest.  But if you noticed against the Falcons, the Giants' running game ultimately had them quit on the field.




Solidify the Left, and let's continue to run for daylight with power in Green Bay.







Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Rushing to the Center of the Problem

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

2011

WILD CARD WEEKEND

PLAYOFFS

Atlanta Falcons

vs.

NEW YORK GIANTS

FROM

GIANTS STADIUM

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:   Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performances.



POST: DEFENSIVE SYNCHRONICITY
POST: G-MEN and the DEPARTMENT of DEFENSE
POST: ELI LEADS GIANTS GROUND GAME VERSUS DALLAS





This is it.  This game (and the playoffs in general) are exactly the reason why I spend all the time I do talking about Kevin Gilbride and his implementation of the Running Game.  This is the time of year it matters most.  In order to expect the running game to perform well in January, you have to start pounding on Labor Day.  The Offensive Linemen need to be in step with their backs; and the backs in step with their Linemen.  By late December, they should all be moving as one.  It's choreography of a savage nature; but choreography none the less.  And I have a saying that is perfect for this situation > Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performances.





The Giants are about to take-on one of those high powered dome teams in the winter wind of Giants Stadium.  Both quarterbacks are capable of exploiting one-another's Secondaries.  So more and more, it's looking like the team with the better running game will win.  Another way of saying that is which ever QB gets his hands on the ball least, loses. 





Then again, the Giants haven't had this problem the last two seasons, for they haven't made the playoffs since the 2008 season.  For Giants Fans and the club as well, this season has been something of an anomaly.  The Giants' once formidable running game officially ended when Jerry Reese released Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert prior to the season.  This year, the Giants have rushed to form the least potent ground game in all of football.  At least that's what the stats say.  And to the less trained eye, the stats do not lie.  But to the more learned Giants Fan, we know what's really at work.  Don't we? 





The problem with some of us older Giants Fans is that all this passing makes us break out in hives.  We were raised on Smash-Mouth Football.  But I will say this, maybe by necessity or maybe by design, Coach Gilbride has actually done better this season when compared to last.  He's actually shown more (...slightly more) commitment to the Running Game this season.  And I appreciate it Dude. 





Using last week's game against Dallas as reference, the Giants held on to the ball nine more minutes than Dallas did.  Yet both teams got off almost the same number of plays and were almost equal in total yardage for the game.  While Dallas elected to run the ball sixteen times all game, the Giants can thank twenty five rushing attempts and several more scrambles by Eli Manning that a) - kept the clock moving, and b) - kept the ball in our hands.  So, credit the Giants' nine more minutes of possession to the running game.  Another way of saying it is called keeping the ball away from Matt Ryan.  But I prefer Smash Mouth, thank you.





Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have had exactly one game each in which they've rushed for 100 yards.  While Ahmad Bradshaw has missed substantial time to foot injuries, Brandon Jacobs rumbled for 100 yards when allowed to rush the ball "twenty" times.  What's important is we know, because they have demonstrated to us at times, both backs are still very capable of devouring yardage with power.  Fortunately for them, Eli's elite season has covered up the running game's short-comings.  But the point is we know our backs can still run. 





So lets get right to the heart of the Giants problem with the running game as it stands right now.  Ask yourself, which Offensive position touches the ball the most?





As established, this is the first season without certain future Hall of Fame Center Shaun O'Hara and Left Guard Rich Seubert.  When Will Beaty was lost early for the rest of the season, the job of Left Tackle was given to Kevin Boothe.  To replace O'Hara, the Giants brought in former 49er Center; David Baas.  And with him at Center, to a large extent, the Giants running game has come to a screeching halt.  There has been no yardage to be had by running off-center.  There has been no surge off the line of scrimmage.  As a result, both Bradshaw and Jacobs have found it nearly impossible to find daylight up the middle.





When David Baas was sidelined with concussion symptoms, Kevin Boothe slid over to Center and Mitch Petrus was given the responsibility at Guard.  And for three consecutive games, the middle opened up and to a certain extent, so did the running game.





Now here's the thing -  with or without David Baas at center, the Giants have been able to run consistently well between Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie, and between David Diehl and Kevin Boothe/Mitch Petrus.  Even more yardage and success has come when the Giants run outside either Tackle.  That's been there all season long.  But the middle turned into an East Rutherford Tar Pit until the Giants inserted Boothe at Center.





Upon reinserting David Baas into his starting role, the middle of the line caved in on both Jacobs and Bradshaw again.  Against the Cowboys, we suffered short yardage shrinkage after Coach Gilbride called for plays up the middle again.  I can't stress enough this is not a Brandon Jacobs issue.  Defenses are pushing our Line backwards and meeting the rush at the line of scrimmage or worse, two and three yards into our backfield.  And I will say again, that wasn't the case when Booth and Petrus played together.  I'm also not going to pin fourth and failure-to-go on Coach Gilbride either.  There's a fine line between placing blame with coach or player.  But it's clear to me, David Baas has not been up to snuff.  It's not that he's bad, or isn't worth playing.  I'm not here to knock him.  It's just that Kevin Boothe has played better while Mitch Petrus responded quickly with quality play at Guard, and as a result, the running game found much more daylight up the middle.





Eli Manning has had a career season, and thank goodness.  Because with the running game in a state of suspended animation, Eli, Nicks, and Victor Cruz are all we've had.  But as I pointed out with the Dallas game, just because the running game isn't amassing huge swaths of acreage, that doesn't mean the running game is without it's purpose and overall game effectiveness.





Will Eli Manning win this game for us (if in fact that's what's in the cards for us)?  Most likely.  But a good running game can help us control the game, keep the ball in our hands, and minimize exposing the Giants' Secondary to Matt Ryan.  We've had a bad habit of letting teams hang around causing Eli to play hero.  That's partly a defensive issue.  But it's also partly due to the running game being slowed down to an NFL low.  





The Falcons may very well turn around and try the same tact with Michael Turner, who's far from being a slouch.  You just don't hear about him much because nobody cares about Atlanta sports; not even their own city.  <   That's called Smack!  But it stands to reason, in spite of Eli and Ryan, which ever team is able to run the ball more successfully will win.





I can not ask Coach Gilbride to not attempt running up the middle.  Yes, there are beams of daylight behind other parts of the Line.  But the middle still must be mastered in order to run successfully and more importantly, for first downs sake.  What I CAN ask the Giant powers that be is that they start Kevin Boothe at Center; Mitch Petrus at Left Guard; and David Diehl at Left tackle.  I ask that because that combination has been the most effective enhancement to the running game by far.  In Eli we trust.  But tradition has always been in December/January; in Giants Stadium; it's smash-mouth we celebrate and crave.  Me?  I'm a pragmatists.  I'd settle for something in between right now.





I'm just going to say, C'mon Coach  - be creative and try keeping the Offense on the field.  That's not to say the players are off the hook.  The Giant receivers need to catch and hold on to the damn ball!  They lead the League in dropped passes.  That will no do Sunday.  Additionally, the Giants were lucky to recover Brandon Jacobs' fumble against Dallas.  Turnovers also will not due.





At Tight-End, I'll be honest, if Jake Ballard is going to be hobbling around, I don't need a hero.  I'll take my chances Eli can utilize a very gamely Bear Pascoe and Travis Beckum.  They teamed up on four catches last week.  If we can depend on them for four or five catches Sunday, and make their blocks, they will have served their purpose very well.





That's it.  The playoffs are a triumph of the Will, if I may.  We know the Giants have a killer instinct in them.  But sometimes the dog in them shows up instead.  There's never a good time to have a bad game.  But a good old fashioned game where they just line up across a man and out-muscle them would be great.  Smash-Mouth is an attitude.  And that's the part that gets lost on Kevin Gilbride.  His mind his forever fixed on the perfect pass play.  But even a blind dog can feel the warmth of daylight.  So run Coach; Run To Daylight.





We know what Eli, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz will be attempting to do.  Via Con Dios on that one Boys.  Eli was even the key component to last's week's rushing effort.  Were it not for Eli's legs, the Giants do not rush for 100 yards against Dallas. 





All I ask for Sunday is that Kevin Boothe be given the start at Center, and that Coach Gilbride runs the ball thirty times.





...And "Run with Power!"





Let's Go Giants!






Mike.,BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ How BLUE Will the Big Easy Be?

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Game Eleven

NEW YORK GIANTS

vs.

New Orleans Saints

FROM

The Big Easy

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  We'll Know Who The Giants Are After Tonight.



Just as we suspected, the Giants lost to a one game wonder when they dropped that dreadful game against Philly last week.  The Eagles' loss this Sunday versus New England proved that out.  And looking back at those GIANT losses to the Skins and Seattle earlier in the season, the G-Men not only gagged away their scheduled soft spots, they are now fresh out of cushion.   From here on out, it's the hard way or bust.


Beginning tonight, what the Giants need to do over these next two games is win at least one.  The Giants' journey to the playoffs is still in their control.  However, within these next two games lies the rest of their season as well as their reputations.  For right now, all that separates them from another late season melt-down and the ensuing Media blitzkrieg that would surely follow is their ability to make their two games against Dallas matter.  And as much as I may hate this, it starts on Monday Night Football.  I don't like the Giants playing on anything but Sunday afternoons at one o'clock.  Anything else bothers me terribly.  And so tonight, I, as well as the Giants have a big problem on our hands.



Defensively, heading into tonight's game we already understand our Linebacking situation is in shambles.  What more can we say about a depleted, and very young, inexperienced group?  Good luck tonight guys.  I mean that.  But what really scares the WhoDats out of me isn't just thinking about how Drew Brees can pick them apart like smiling ducks at an arcade shooting gallery.  No; - actually the hairs on the back of my head stand up because of the state of confusion which exists between our Corners and Safeties.  Their lack of communication has not only been confounding, it's also high time Coach Giunta and Coach Merritt had these issues resolved.  And if they haven't by now, then Perry Fewell should have.  This isn't the first time I brought this up.  And tonight, they're getting put under the microscope.  We'll have answers to some of my concerns regarding these matters a little later in the evening.  For tonight will go a long way towards establishing this team's identity.  Lastly on Defense, I'd like to know how exactly the Giants will combat Drew Brees with a pass rush that is suddenly MIA?  I don't know the answer to that one either..  All I can say is the Giants' sack specialists need to show up.



Defensively, the teams are actually pretty even in most categories.  But the Saints have scored roughly one-hundred more points than the Giants this season.  And if the running game remains stuck in tar, I don't believe the Giants can keep Drew Brees off the field long enough so as to give Eli a realistic chance at going toe-to-toe in a shoot-out.  The running game has to chip in, which includes Jacobs catching more passes out of the back field.  ...The running game MUST chip in in order to win.



With David Diehl moving to left Tackle so Kevin Boothe can play Guard, and Kareem McKenzie apparently ready to go, can the Offensive Line lead the running game to daylight?  In order to keep the Saints 300+ point offense at bay, they better.  If the Giants' intention this season is to not be their own worst enemy..., they better.



We know what kind of game the Giants need to play. It has to be low scoring and dominated by the Defense.  Then we need some key plays on Offense.  We've done this sort of thing before. The big question is can we do it tonight?




I've never lamented injuries with this team.  I do not plan to start now.  But by midnight or so, expect the New York Giants to have a new identity.  ...one way or the other.





Let's Go Giants!







Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ The Search For Daylight

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE




NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  Rushing Towards The Truth About The Giants' Running Game.


Last Post:  Haunting Loss Versus Eagles; No Exorcism For You.




Just in time for the Holidays, the New York Football Giants served up a Big Blue Giant turkey of a game last Sunday.  They got the stuffing knocked out of their running game as the Offensive Line played as soft as sweet potato pie.  Philly carved up our Linebackers and reduced the Giants pass rush to giblets.  Philly left town flying high like a Macy's Parade float while leaving Met-Life Stadium behind looking like a game-farm crime scene with trails of gravy on the field and smatterings of cranberry sauce all over the scoreboard.  By the end of Sunday night, all that nauseated Giant Fans had left to hold on to were both sides of the nearest porcelain toilet and the losing end of a wishbone.

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Everything starts up front.  And up front, everything starts with the Center.  The Offensive Line is clearly not of the caliber it was just a few years ago.  At some point, we knew the former record-setting line needed a renovation.  The Giants' struggles down the stretch over the last two seasons were partly attributable to injuries plaguing Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert.  Thus, Jerry Reese started the O-Line transformation this season.  The GM released both O'Hara and Seubert prior to the season and turned to free agent David Baas to replace O'Hara at center.  The book on Baas as a Giant is incomplete because he, like so many Giants, missed several games due to injury.  The position of Center has suffered as a result with the Giants having to plug in 2nd year-Jim Cordle and the capable Chris Snee when Baas was out.



At twenty-nine years old, Chris Snee is in his eighth season.  Of the starting unit, I'd say he's struggling the most.  Chris Snee was hampered by concussion symptoms earlier this season.  And by their own standards, the Giants two Guards, Chris Snee and David Diehl have been racking-up a bevy of very uncharacteristic penalties.  The versatile David Diehl was moved back to his old position of left Guard this season.  He is now in his ninth season at thirty years old, and remains a strong lineman on Eli's blind side.



The plan to move David Deihl back to left Guard was designed to give Will Beatty his chance at left Tackle next to Diehl.  But Beatty will now miss extensive time due to an eye injury that will require surgery.  Enter Kevin Boothe who is no stranger.  He is twenty-eight years old with six years in the league.  By now he should be experienced enough and is charged with picking up the slack on Eli's blind side.  But it's a situation I'd consider precarious at best heading into Monday night.  The right side Tackle; Kareem McKenzie; has always been a good, solid Tackle.  But he is now thirty-two years old and in his twelfth season.



That's the starting front line as of this posting.  And beware, the tide is going out on the Giants' Offensive Line depth.  Gone from the squad is Adam Koets.  Remember him?  He was released after having ACL surgery this season. He was being counted on this season.  But with Koets, goes veteran stability and more lost experience from the Giants last Super Bowl.  Now thrust into a starting role, Kevin Boothe depletes depth as well. That leaves the Giants with rookie-James Brewer; second year Jim Cordle; third year Mitch Petrus; and now in his ninth year, pick-up Stacey Andrews.



On the one hand, even though Eli is taking far more hits this season than he's accustomed to, the Giants passing game is still very fruitful.  They are actually having one of their best seasons passing the ball during this era.  And even though teams are now expecting Eli to throw the ball forty-five or more times a game, he just so happens to be having a career year doing it.  That doesn't happen without a certain degree of effective pass blocking and protection as teams are really starting to amp-up their pass rush against Eli knowing the Giants are struggling mightily running the ball.



As we know, run blocking is an entirely different story.  Collectively, the Offensive Line has not been able to get the running game surging forward.  Quite frankly, there is no forward surge from the O-Line at all.  Together, they couldn't push a sofa across a room right now.  And the loss to the Eagles needs to be called for what it was...an embarrassment.  Because before we get to Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, all this must have been said first. 



For the first time in many, many seasons, the Giants are not averaging 100-yards per game.  And running anywhere between the Tackles has seemed damn near impossible.  Whether off-Center or off-Tackle, there have been no running lanes to speak of, or holes to run through.  It's uncomfortable to say, but Baas, Diehl, and Snee are having better luck opening refrigerator doors lately than they've had opening up cracks of daylight for Bradshaw, Jacobs, and Ware.  I don't really have an answer as to why, but part of any answer must credit O'Hara and Seubert for being that good when healthy.  And the fact that our Fullback situation is currently a borderline fail directly contributes to the Giants' poor rushing as well. 



The Giants running game, if anything, has had a measure of success running outside the Tackles, where Kareem McKenzie is still capable of sealing the end.  Will Beatty was somewhat less successful helping bounce plays outside to the left however.  But that role now falls on Kevin Boothe as mentioned above.



Welcome to what we all knew was the riskier side of resigning our own free-agent, Ahmad Bradshaw.  We've been in this situation with, and without him before.  There's no need getting into what we all know he can do when healthy.  Right now he's not.  Therein lies the second biggest reason for the Giants' floundering running game.  Mind you, while on the field he managed just one 100+ yard game this season.  And for the Giants, it stands as the only 100-yard performance of the season.



Now finally....Brandon Jacobs.  Do his words still bother you?  I said once before; ignore him.  He's horrible with the Media; more like adversarial with them.  And he's just not a good effective public speaker.  Some guys are like that.  But his team mates like him and he's never been insubordinate with Coach Coughlin.  And the fact he reworked his deal should not go under spoken either.



Of course you know I've said everything possible in support and defense of Brandon Jacobs.  But you need to know I'm not joined at the hip with him.  He's just not going anywhere this season, so we have to make this work some how.  If he's gone after the season; bye.  We need to move away from him anyway for more reasons than just the obvious.  I'll get to that in a sec...



We've established there is no where to run between the Tackles.  More importantly, the Offensive Line isn't generating any kind of forward surge off the snap, which historically allowed Brandon Jacobs to gain steam.  By the time Jacobs used to crash the line, the boys up front were three yards deeper beyond the line of scrimmage.  And that's when Jacobs used to hurt and intimidate Safeties.  These days, the front line is being stood up and pushed back.  Therefore making Jacobs look pretty damn bad.  He's not a speed back by any stretch.  But he's been effective this season getting outside Kareem McKenzie, and catching passes out of the backfield.  Yet, Coach Gilbride hasn't employed Jacobs that way.  Coach keeps sending him into the wall.  Let's not lose sight of this fact. - This time last season, Brandon Jacobs was thumping and bumping his way towards his highest yards per rush average in his career.  Obviously the Giants employ the two back attack.  But if you prorated Jacobs' limited playing time last season, he was still a 1000-yard back.



But Brandon Jacobs has not been without his injuries also.  For Bradshaw, his feet are killing him.  For Jacobs, his knees are the problem.  But they weren't an excuse for an under thirty yards rushing performance against the Eagles last week.  However everything else I said so far...is.



The once formidable Giants' game was predicated on a forward moving Offensive Line and two healthy backs each representing different styles that complimented each other very well.  Today, they seriously lack two of those elements, and are kind of fed-up and resigned to part with the other.  But as I maintain, even then, at least for the rest of the season, Brandon Jacobs has to be Coached/utilized a little more smartly.



In my lifetime at least, the Giants have historically been very successful utilizing smaller, stocky, low center of mass backs.  Joe Morris, Dave Meggett; Tiki Barber; and these days, Ahmad Bradshaw speaks to that.  Brandon Jacobs came on the scene like a freak.  And yeah, maybe the show is over for him.  His shelf life is definitely about to expire.  However I still maintain the Giants can use him with great effectiveness over the rest of this season.  Draws, screens, and swing passes, pitches, or whatever, will allow Jacobs to gain a few more yards on the ground.  Coach has to be creative and shake things up for Brandon.  But really..., something has got to give between the Tackle positions if we're to have any success without Bradshaw, and especially with the schedule we have ahead.



David Diehl, David Baas, and Chris Snee need to start pushing this team forward.

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The Giants' Soft White Under-Belly:  LINEBACKER


Losing Jonathan Goff changed the plan.  Having Michael Boley go down with an injury changes everything.  To put it mildly, the Giants are, and have been, woefully deficient at Linebacker.



The reason the Giants won Super Bowls XXI and XXV, among other reasons, were they had two Hall of Fame Linebackers in Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson.  And they had two more stand-out Linebackers; borderline HOF'er Carl Banks, and pit bull Pepper Johnson.



If you take a look at the 2007 Super Bowl team, they also had two superlative Linebackers.  Antonio Pierce had one of the best seasons of his career in 2007.  And Kawika Mitchell had one of the most under-rated, quietly great efforts who then Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo knew exactly how to get every ounce of effectiveness out of.  During the Super Bowl game itself, Mitchell had a brilliant game against Tom Brady.



Without Goff and Boley, the present day Giants are down to the Junior Varsity.  Mathias Kiwanuka must play Big Brother to rookie- Greg Jones; rookie-Jacquian Williams; rookie-Mark Herzlich; and rookie-Spencer Paysinger.  ...So you tell me.



Want to know what ails the Giants defense?  Look no further.  Our propensity to give up the big play whether be it on the ground or in the air, I believe stems from this dilemma.






Mike.BTB