N.Y. Giants: The Thrill of Victory Number One

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

JOE JUDGE WINS FIRST GAME AS HEAD COACH

WEEK SIX

No Name    19

Giants        20

FINAL

GIANTS OFFENSE STILL SPUTTERING

Joe Judge in his sixth try finally earns his first win as head coach of the New York Giants.  

It wasn't pretty by any stretch.  In the closing moments the defense steps up to thwart Washington's last ditch two point conversion attempt.  Big Blue comes away with a 20-19 victory at empty MetLife Stadium.  Aesthetics aside, a win is a win is a win.

Congratulations to Coach Judge. 

I like his demeanor and his message and he has my support.  I'm far more agreeable with Judge at the helm than I was with Pat Shurmur and especially Ben McAdoo at the controls.  Otherwise, I will give Judge his grade at the end of the season and not until then.

In the meantime, the team's 1-5 record more than anyone else is most reflective of Dave Gettleman and the talent he has so far assembled.  Therefore my attention remains on the general manager and next year's batch of draft selections.  That being said, the performance of Daniel Jones will go a long way towards swaying Gettleman's decision making.

On Sunday Danny Dimes once again falls a few pennies short of cashing in.  His performance is a tale of two halves.  He is good in the first half, not so good in the second, particularly down the stretch.  That's been a problem throughout the season.  Dreams of the quarterback and offensive line progressing together, in sync, are given a glimmer of hope when in the second quarter Daniel Jones throws his first touchdown pass since the opening week against Pittsburgh.  Looking to build upon a 13-10 lead in the closing minute of the third quarter, the Giants are positioned first and goal at the Washington seven.  Jones fires towards the back of the end zone as if to throw it away and is instead picked off.  The Washington No Names then go on a 14 play drive which stalls but nevertheless results in the game tying field goal.

Jones completes 12 fo 19 attempts for 112 yards, with one touchdown and the one interception.  It is Daniel's sixth INT of the season and the 18th of his career.  He has now turned the ball over by INT or fumble in 17 of 18 pro starts.  Add in 22 career fumbles due to pass pressure and when rushing and you have forty gross turnovers.

This also marks the third time in six games Daniel Jones has failed to achieve at least 200 yards passing.  He has yet this season to throw for 300 yards.  His best two games to date were the first two games when he throws for 279 yards against the Steelers, then throws for 241 yards against the Bears.  Since then he's been averaging just 18 completions and a sub par 175 yards per game.  In twelve starts last season he posted five games of 300+ yards passing.

Up front, the hog mollies limit a disruptive Washington pass rush to a lone sack and just five other QB hits.  That's improvement.  But there's a twist.  Rookies Andrew Thomas and Matt Peart share near equal time at left tackle.  We later learn Thomas was being disciplined for violating team rules.  Neither one allows a sack.

The Giants technically rushed for 132 yards, marking their second highest output through six games.  However, I do not include Daniel Jones who this time runs for 74 yards on seven carries.  Thus, Devonta Freeman is responsible for the entire Giants running attack, gaining 61 yards on 18 carries.  The Giants run left five times for 34 yards behind Thomas, Peart, and Will Hernandez.  They net one yard on two attempts up the middle.  Eleven times they rushed right for 26 net yards behind Kevin Zeitler and Cam Fleming.  Said another way, they averaged 6.8 yards rushing left and only 2.3 yards rushing right.

After amassing exactly 300 total yards for the first time last week against Dallas, the Giants offense only manages 240 total yards against Washington.  They're averaging just 275 yards of offense per game.

With the defense accounting for one touchdown, the offense manages just 13 points.  They've scored just six touchdowns through six games and are averaging just 17.5 points per game.  The good news is they've now gone back to back weeks scoring 20 points or more. 

Meanwhile, the less I speak about the defense the better they play.  Carry on, fellas.

N.Y. Giants: End Zone Continues to Elude Daniel Jones

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

DAYBREAK!

GAME FOUR

Giants     9

Rams    17

FINAL

Nick Gates Announces His Presence With Authority

Game Four features an interesting development and it centers around ... the center, Nick Gates.  

The rushing game (backfield participants only) through the first three weeks clearly leans heavy right.  Out of 39 total rushes eleven go left, seven up the middle and 21 rushes go right behind Kevin Zeitler and Cam Fleming.  As the trend implies, the Giants rush for minimal positive yardage center/left behind novice center Nick Gates, third year Will Hernandez and rookie Andrew Thomas.  

On Sunday against the Rams and defensive end Aaron Darnold, the Giants buck that three game trend.  Jason Garrett runs right at Darnold and the Giants put up their best rushing totals in four weeks with 136 yards on the ground.  Daniel Jones accounts for 45 yards on six carries.  Devonta Freeman (11), Wayne Gallman (6), Dion Lewis (1) and C.J. Board (1) run for a season high 91 yards.  Seven rushes go left behind Andrew Thomas and Will Hernandez for 29 yards, and nine rushes go up the middles behind Nick Gates for 53 yards.  That's 82 yards of daylight created by the middle/left side - indeed a milestone accomplishment for this group.

Only two rushes go right for eight yards.  I would have stopped there were in not for a pair of offsides penalties called against Kevin Zeitler and Cam Fleming plus the fact that for a series in the second quarter rookie Matt Peart was inserted into the line in place of right tackle Cam Fleming.  All of which makes for a curious albeit acute situation.

With five more sacks by the Rams, the offensive line has now yielded 14 quarterback sacks.  Their average sack per game ranks 30th in the league.

At the end of the game Golden Tate and L.A.'s Jalen Ramsey get into a full blown fight.  The obligatory dog pile ensues.  Then along comes Nick Gates with no helmet barreling into the crowd, pulling and shoving bodies aside.  After creating the most daylight for the running game he looked as if he wanted to knocks someone's lights out completely.

Giants need more guys like this ... clone him.

Cycling back to the game, the offensive line yields five more sacks.  They have now allowed 14 quarterback sacks in four games.  Their average sack per game ranks 30th in the league.

That said, we know Daniel Jones is often negligent in his own undoing.  Trailing 17-9 the Giants have the ball on the Rams 18-yard line with 0:52 left in the fourth quarter.  A touchdown and a two point conversion tie the game.  On second and five, Jones throws a pass intended for Damion Ratley.  The ball is under thrown and intercepted by Darious Williams.  Jones has now thrown five interceptions - at least one in every game - but has yet to throw a touchdown pass since Week One against Pittsburgh when he threw his only two of the season.

As an aside, why is this play going to Damion Ratley in the first place?  He caught his first pass of the season last week against the Niners.  This was his third and last target of the game.  He caught all of 25 passes over two seasons with the Browns.  This is who Jason Garrett is targeting inside the red zone with the game on the line ....

In any event, the regressing Daniel Jones turns in his second straight sub 200 yard performance on a day the defense and running game turn in their best performances to date.  

Sunday's game sort of reaffirms the defensive performance during weeks one and two, leaving their poor play against the Niners alone as the aberration. 

N.Y. Giants: No Lipstick Can Doll-Up These Hog Mollies

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Like Running Into a Brick Wall!

WEEK THREE

Niners   36

Giants     9

FINAL

That was hard to watch.  San Francisco was essentially forced into playing the B-Squad as a result of so many injuries.  But even with confidence on their side the Giants still turn in their worst performance through three games.  They manage just 49 offensive plays for 231 total yards.  They possess the ball for only 20:16 minutes and turn it over three times.

When the quarterback is the team's leading rusher you know something is very wrong.  Daniel Jones has so far scrambled 12 times for 92 yards.  Combined rushes by the backfield to date have only netted 80 yards.  Against the Niners the Giants rush just ten times for 17 net yards.  In Week Two they net 16 yards on 16 carries and in Week One they rush 13 times for 47 total yards.

Directional Breakdown: rushes/yards

• I - left 4/6; center 0/0; right 9/41; TOT 13/47
• II - left 5/1; center 4/0; right 7/15; TOT 16/16
• III - left 2/3; center 3/8; right 5/6; TOT 10/17

No need to rub your eyes.  You're reading that correctly.  The Giants have so far rushed CENTER/LEFT 18 times for 18 net yards, whereas they've rushed CENTER/RIGHT 21 times for 62 net yards.  Will Hernandez is dealing with a weekly maelstrom having to be sandwiched between rookie Andrew Thomas and novice center Nick Gates.  Kevin Zeitler and Cam Fleming aren't exactly cutting down rain forests out there, but the difference in experience and execution between the left and right sides of the line is clearly discernible.  However, as a whole there's no shade of lipstick in the world than can disguise the Hog Mollies lack of performance.  I also refuse to put this all on the unavailability of Saquon Barkley.  You can't run to daylight if the guys up front keep the curtains shut.

I'd be remiss if I didn't include the tight and and offensive coordinator in this indictment.  Evan Engram isn't even a legit tight end to begin with.  He's an oversized slot receiver at best and that's being kind.  Where is the blocking tight end?  Where is the fullback lead blocker?  Where are the coordinated blocking schemes and pulling guards?  Where the hell is the offensive coordinator's sense of creativity?

Jason Garrett and offensive line coach Hal Hunter are engineering an absolute bore.  This offensive line can't even execute a simple screen.  They're making pee-wee football look complex by comparison.  Meanwhile, averaging just 12.6 points through three games is just amateurish.

Daniel Jones has so far turned the ball over six times through three games (four INT; four fumbles, two lost), and now has multiple turnovers in ten of 16 career starts.

N.Y. Giants: Hog Mollies Keeping Offense in the Dark

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Back to the Lab

WEEK TWO

Giants     13

Bears      17

FINAL

With the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select _

It seems as if we're headed that way, doesn't it ..

Confirmed: Saquon Barkley (right knee) will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.  Although signed to a four year contract, NFL rules prevent him from renegotiating an extension until next season.  Saquon's injury suddenly compromises his bargaining leverage and generally complicates the matter all around.

The Giants are a rebuilding team.  That's understood.  But I was very anxious to see Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram and the transformed offensive line together in action.  Their first assignment was against a formidable Steelers defense.

WEEK ONE vs. Pittsburgh

• Jones goes 26/41 (63%) for 279 yards with two touchdowns and two INT's.  

The offensive line yields three sacks (-17 yards).  Subtract Daniel Jones' four scrambles for 22 yards, and the backfield rushes 16 times for just seven yards.  Saquon accounts for all but one rush for a mere six yards.  All told the Giants generate 291 gross yards but only 29 yards on the ground.

Rushing Breakdown: Saquon Barkley

• LEFT: five rushes; +1 yard
• MIDDLE: four rushes; 0 yards
• RIGHT: seven rushes; +15 yards

WEEK TWO vs. Chicago

• Daniel Jones goes 25/40 (62%) for 241 yards, one INT, no TD's.

Daniel Jones throws his third INT and coughs up his first fumble.  Last season he throws twelve INT's and loses twelve fumbles in 13 games.  Chicago tallies four sacks (-21 yards).  The offensive line has now yielded seven sacks through two games.

Saquon rushes four times for a vastly improved 28 yards until injuring his knee.  Through six quarters he ends his season having rushed 19 times for 34 yards.

Rushing Breakdown: Barkley/Dion Lewis

• LEFT: four rushes; +6 yards
• MIDDLE: no attempts
• RIGHT: nine rushes; +41 yards 

Seven year veteran Dion Lewis steps in for Barkley with ten rushes for 20 yards (Sterling Shepard one rush for six yards).  But with Saquon out for the season, the mission remains the same: create space.

Coach Garrett is clearly protecting novice center Nick Gates.  The Giants have only attempted four rushes up the middles through which they have yet to gain positive yardage.  Next on the watch list is rookie LT Andrew Thomas.  Garrett has called nine rushes to his side which has thus yielded just seven positive yards.  Left guard Will Hernandez is handling quite the load with such inexperience playing to his left and right.  Otherwise, the Giants are clearly leaning right side behind the experienced and polished Kevin Zeitler and Cam Fleming.  Jason Garrett has called for 16 rushes to their side for 66 yards.

Through two games the Giants backfield has rushed thirty times for just 55 yards.  Seven sacks have cost the Giants -38 yards.  Without a running game, so far they've failed to achieve twenty points in a game.

For now I'm placing the onus on the Hog Mollies to start creating more daylight and provide better protection.

N.Y. Giants: Young Offensive Core Falling Into Place

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

vs.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Dare I say this season the offense appears capable of generating some excitement.  Health and development will go a long way.  Lest we forget this is still a work in progress.  But key pieces continue being put into place.  Dave Gettleman has so far conducted three drafts in which he's assembled a young core featuring Saquon Barkely, Daniel Jones, Darius Slayton, Will Hernandez and hopefully Thomas Andrews joins the list.  

And so the rebuilding continues .. 

THE HOG MOLLIES

Andrew Thomas   Will Hernandez   Nick Gates   Kevin Zeitler   Cam Fleming

Everything starts at center.  Nick Gates will be making his first NFL start at the position after playing all of last season at guard.  He was hurt two seasons ago, making this his second full season with the Giants.  Much of my attention on Monday night will be focused on him.  The center is the play caller for the offensive line and he's going up against a Steelers defensive line that needs little help getting to the quarterback.  That means Daniel Jones will be throwing into a crowded field.  It'll be up to Gates to make sure he and the line keep Jones standing upright.

Luckily Gates will be sandwiched between two very solid guards.  To the left of center will be Will Hernandez.  He's been a fine addition to the line since being selected in the second round of the 2018 draft.  He's started every game since.  Right of center will be Kevin Zeitler, acquired last March from the Browns (as part of the Odell Beckham trade).  In 2017 the Browns made him the NFL's highest paid right guard.  Last season Zeitler demonstrated reasons why.  The line was improved immediately upon his arrival and he now makes for a great on-field coach next to Nick Gates.

The more troublesome issues exist at tackle.  Nat Solder back in July opted out of the upcoming regular season over family and personal health concerns.  This means first round draft selection Andrew Thomas gets thrown into the fire.  Drafted out of Georgia, the 21-year old (6'5" 315 pounds) is being charged with protecting Daniel Jones' blind side, on Monday Night Football, in front of a national audience, against a ferocious Steelers front seven.  At right tackle Mike Remmers is out.  In his place is free agent acquisition Cameron Fleming.  The 28-year old six year veteran sports a nice resume: six years in the league, two Super Bowl titles in four years with the Patriots, and two seasons with Dallas.  He arrives with an ally in offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

Daniel Jones enters his sophomore season and his first full season under center.  In taking the baton from Eli Manning he appears in thirteen games and makes twelve starts as a rookie, throwing 284/459 for 3,027 yards with 24 touchdowns and twelve interceptions.  An otherwise fine debut if it wasn't for 18 fumbles!  If nothing else, Jones needs to rectify that with haste.  Thirty turnovers are way too high, but they're within his control.  Better ball security - that number must absolutely come down.

If the offensive line provides enough time, Daniel Jones starts the season with a full complement of receivers at his disposal.  Evan Engram returns after making just eight appearances and six starts last season.  He rejoins Sterling Shepard and second year favorite Darius Slayton and Golden Tate, if and when available.  Slayton won over many fans last season with 48 receptions and 740 yards in fourteen games and just nine starts.

The star of the offense is obviously Saquon Barkley.  In 29 career games he has thus generated 3,469 total yards from scrimmage.  He is selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie with over 1,300 yards rushing and over 700 yards receiving.  Last season Saquon missed three games but still rushed for 1,003 yards and caught 52 passes for another 438 yards giving him a net of 1,441 yards for the season.

All this is being put in the hands of new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

Very interesting ...

N.Y. Giants: Vikings Sack MetLife Stadium

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

BACK TO THE LAB

WEEK FIVE

Vikings  28

Giants    10

FINAL

WEEK FIVE REACTION: YOUNG GIANTS ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE GROWING PAINS, BUT THERE ARE SURE SIGNS OF BETTER DAYS AHEAD.

I kinda saw this coming, so I'm not gonna get twisted out of shape.  Remember, you can not be disappointed with what you do not expect.  Instead I'm here to speak of the positives from this game.

Despite Sunday's further compromising of the running game, the Hog Mollies continue proving their collective worth.  Allowing four sacks and eight other QB hits might speak otherwise.  But closer inspection reveals their growing cohesion.  Through five games I'm agreeably copacetic with the respective performances up the middle from Will Hernandez, Jon Halapoi, and Kevin Zeitler.  Otherwise glaring issues where it concerns week five should be kept within the context of losing Wayne Gallman very early in the game due to concision protocol.  Although not a gargantuan task, I'm sure having Daniel Jones attempt 38 passes was not Coach Shurmur's plan heading in.  Forced into playing catch-up football minus Wayne Gallman, Coach limits Jonathan Hilliman and Elijhaa Penny to just 12 rushing attempts for 35-yards.

On Coach Shurmur himself, he has my attention.  That should be construed as a compliment.

Daniel Jones is 21/38 (55%) for 182 yards, with an INT, and one touchdown.  Unsightly numbers to be sure but I continue appreciating what I see ... loss be damned.  His accuracy, arm strength, feel for the pocket, toughness, mobility, and overall on-field intelligence, have been nothing short of impressive.  He and fellow rookie Darius Slayton also appear to be forming a wonderful relationship together.  The impact of Golden Tate's return is yet to be determined.

The defense spent nearly 33-minutes on the field.  I kinda expected that as well.  The Giants are thoroughly compromised at linebacker and it showed on Sunday.  The Vikings rush for 211 total yards.  Meanwhile Adam Thielen burned the secondary for 130 yards and two touchdowns.  However there were times when the Giants beleaguered secondary actually provides marvelous coverage.  In turn the defense generates three sacks.  Two sacks come from the young guys up front.  Rookie Dexter Lawrence registers his second sack of the season, and sophomore tackle RJ McIntosh records his first ever NFL sack.  But the Giants only generate three other QB hits.

With an eye on Dave Gettleman's draft picks, I see worth in week five's loss.

Giants have a quick turnaround.  They play the Patriots at Foxboro on Thursday night.

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

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

THE OFFENSIVE LINE

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

ICYMI: The Post Odell Beckham Era Begins

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

Perchance to dream ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MY KINGDOM FOR A CENTER

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

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

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


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