N.Y. Giants: Someone Must Answer For Sunday's Big Blue Bust

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

THREE YARDS RUSHING

WEEK TEN

Giants   27

Jets       34

FINAL

No sense in picking on the defense.  Like Sunday's loss, it's a shameful situation.  We knew this heading into the season.  But where Dave Gettleman did pay particular attention this past off-season was in the offensive line.  With three of his starting hog mollies missing from action, the Giants run game gets shrouded in green darkness Sunday afternoon against the Jets.  Center Jon Halapio, and tackles Nate Solder and Mike Remmers, are all out with injuries.  That manifests in six quarterback sacks, ten other QB hits, and just three rushing yards all game.

• I say it all the time ... show me a Super Bowl contender and I'll show you an all-pro caliber center.  After missing most all of last season Jon Halapio (a converted center) is hurt again, making this the third straight season he's been forced off the field due to injury.

Behind a compromised offensive line Saquon Barkley rushes 13 times for one yard.  Wayne Gallman rushes one time for two yards.  The offensive line's physical condition and Sunday's performance by the backups are indeed contributing factors in Sunday's dismal rushing display, but the extent of Barkley's lingering injury (real or otherwise) is another matter.  For if Saquon is running on a hurt ankle that makes Wayne Gallman's lone rushing attempt far more indicative of Coach Shurmur's ongoing malfunction.  For if an offensive line is doing their job correctly, I could push a mailbox up field for positive yardage.  Which is why I say when it comes to implementing and executing a detailed running attack, Shurmur and his staff continually reaffirm the notion there is no plan.  I hearken back to Shurmur's reasoning for transitioning away from Eli Manning and have since watched him utilize Daniel Jones as a primary running threat.  It's no coincidence that for a second straight game Daniel Jones leads the Giants in rushing with 20 yards on three scrambles.  Jones also coughs up his ninth fumble of the season.  Hand the ball off and we don't have that problem.  Otherwise this level of ground game ineptitude is unrivaled in the annals of Giants history.  Where are the proactive measures?  Where are the variations in game planning that better suit your personnel?  Where is this coaching staff's adaptability?  It's certainly not coming from Shurmur, and it's definitely not coming from offensive coordinator Mike Shula, offensive line coach Hal Hunter, or even running backs coach Craig Johnson.  The results all speak for themselves.  Here we are entering week eleven and Saquon has yet to gain 500 yards for the season (same goes for Le'Veon Bell, Adam Gase, and the Jets).  That screams of a ponderous lack of technique.  Gettleman is at fault for not bringing in another body; any warm body; needed to reinforce the back field (or sign a viable fullback, for that matter).  We know Shurmur is unlikely to be fired soon.  Therefore Gettleman must absolutely place Shurmur's offensive staff under full review.

• Know why Rhett Ellison looked so good Sunday?  Because no team expects him to break off in a pass route.  When teams see Ellison, they expect the Giants to run.  When teams see (injured) Evan Engram line up at tight end, they are usually correct in assuming pass.  I find this such an impotent application of tight end.

I watched Joe Pisarcik, so believe me when I say I have no issues with Daniel Jones.  Sure, his 17 turnovers are problematic.  But of the 47 or so roster spots which demand Dave Gettleman's immediate attention, kicker quarterback is not one of them.  With Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard both out, Jones turns to fellow rookie Darius Slayton whom plays his best game to date.  Jones targets him 14 times, connecting ten times for 121 yards and two touchdowns.  Slayton did not play in week one against Dallas.  Since then, Jones has targeted him 45 times, connecting 27 times for 394 yards and five touchdowns.  In their first game together Jones and Slayton connected three times for 82 yards in week two against Tampa.  I'm excited to watch this relationship grow.

In the meantime, Dave Gettleman has created quite a mess for himself.  Although I would argue he needs at least another draft under his belt, losing to the Jets is quite an indictment of his work to date as general manager of the New York Giants.  To that affect, Pat Shurmur offers no help in getting out-coached by Adam Gase.

N.Y. Giants: Offensive Output Failing To Keep Pace With Growing Demands

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

New Triumvirate Not Playing Up To Expectations

New York Football Giants: Despite Myriad of Changes, Offensive Woes Continue Against Saints; Marks 36th Straight Game Offense Fails to Score Thirty Points.

Big Blue's three-year and presently ongoing condition is thus: Eli Manning and Odell Beckham have been the two constants amidst waves of offensive transformations (...or should I say a succession of front office scapegoating).  Otherwise, the Giants have been through two general managers, three head coaches, three offensive coordinators, revamped the offensive line, and installed a brand new backfield, yet nothing seems to have changed.

If there was a time the Giants needed Eli, Odell, and Barkley to literally carry them to victory, this game was it.  New Orleans defense is far from being their strongest asset.  Therefore Sunday's game against Drew Brees and the Saints called for thirty points, and the Giants could not get it done.  The matter of scoring thirty is not an isolated case of not getting it done, more than being something they seem incapable of getting done - period, end of statement.

Forget the defensive effort for now.  Despite continuing injuries sidelining Olivier Vernon, Eli Apple, and my growing anxieties regarding Snacks Harrison, the defense as a whole has played quite well.  I give them a pass for tiring during the second half versus New Orleans.  Sunday's loss, however, just like that against Dallas is strictly a matter of offense strategy and capabilities, or lack thereof. 

The Giants last scored thirty points in a 30-35 loss against the Eagles at home back during Week 17 of the 2015 season.  Jerry Reese was still general manager, Tom Coughlin was head coach, Ben McAdoo was in his second season as offensive coordinator, while Rashad Jennings, Orleans Darkwa, and Shane Vereen, populated an ineffectual backfield.  Since then Ben McAdoo took his turn as head coach with Mike Sullivan as offensive coordinator.  But after last season's debacle, Jerry Reese was out of scapegoats, and so Mr. Mara opted for sweeping changes.  Enter general manager Dave Gettleman, head coach Pat Shurmer, offensive coordinator Mike Shula, new additions on the offensive line, and of course, Saquon Barkley.

Yet, four games into the 2018 season, Sunday's loss makes 36 straight games now in which they've failed to achieve thirty points.  But let's also keep this in context.  Had the Giants stripped this down and gone into a full blown rebuild, none of this is an issue.  However, since Dave Gettleman decides Eli Manning has one more playoff run within him, he elects for on-the-fly modifications.  In Gettleman's defense, I suspect Mr. Mara may have influenced this present course of action.  In any event, this is what happens when you half-ass a rebuilding effort.

I digress ...

Everyone from Eli Manning, to the running game, to inconsequential offensive coordinator Mike Shula, to play calling head coach Pat Shurmur, is complicit in not only Sunday's most recent loss, but for a mirror image performance against the Dallas Cowboys.

In Week Two, Eli goes 33 (75%) of 44 for 279 yards and a touchdown.  That's despite Dallas registering six sacks and spooking Eli with another eight QB hits.  The Giants all but abandon the running game, with Saquon Barkley, Wayne Gallman, and Jonathan Stewart combined to rush just 14 times for 31 total yards.  Eli and a minimalist running game net just 310 offensive yards for the game.

This past Sunday New Orleans gets to Eli less often than did Dallas, sacking Eli three times with five other hits.  However, Eli is 31 (75%) of 41 for just 255 yards and a touchdown.  Once again, the Giants all but abandon the run, with Barkley and Gallman joining for a mere 50 yards on just 12 attempts.  All told, Eli and the woefully underutilized running game together generate 305 yards for the entire game.  So how is it that New Orleans applies less pressure than the Giants previous three opponents, yet Eli's performance and the overall offensive output regresses back, and below Week Two levels? 

Lest we forget Houston registered four sacks and hit the QB six other times, yet, Eli Manning goes for a stellar 25 (86%) 29 for 297 yards and two touchdowns against a suddenly mystifying, but otherwise respected Texans defense.

Coach Shurmur arguably got out-coached against Dallas.  Let's just say that qualifies as one event.  Sunday's effort could then be considered a coincidence.  But if this keeps up, we'll undoubtedly be discussing an alarming trend.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bucs put up 40 points against the Saints in Week One.  Two weeks later, Matt Ryan helped Atlanta score 37 points against the Saints.  In turn, New Orleans has now limited the Browns and Giants to 18 points respectively.

In the meantime, the Giants two highest paid offensive players, Eli Manning and Odell Beckham - the two common denominators I spoke of - have yet to connect on a touchdown.

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

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Can Giants Get Back to Running Between the Tackles?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enough ...

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

Yeah, about that offensive line ...

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

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

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

Go Gettleman Go!

N.Y. Giants: The New Blue Administration

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

All Scapegoats Have Left The Building

New York Football Giants: The Four Men Responsible For Correcting John Mara's Recent Mistakes.

I've been a witness to some fairly bad Giants seasons.  Of course, there are generations who've endured more than me.  Others not so much.

Only five times previous to last year did the Giants ever lose as many as twelves games in a season: 1966, 1974, 1980, 1983, 2003.

The first time they ever achieve double-digit losses comes in 1964 with a 2-10-2 record.  I was not yet born in 1966, and still too young when in 1974 they post a 2-12 record.  But the team goes 3-11 in 1976, the first year I can recall bleeding blue.  A few years later, Ray Perkins coaches the Giants to the first twelve-loss season of my recollection.  Three years later Bill Parcells in his first season as head coach leads the Giants to a 3-12-1 season.  Then twenty years pass until 2003 when Jim Fassell coaches the Giants to a 4-12 record.

No New York Football Giants fan, dating back to 1925, had ever been made to endure a thirteen loss season.  Then last year happened.  Today, our multiple generations of Giants fans are now united as one in so far that we all saw them together at their very worst.

High-five!

Since everything starts at the top, how does John Mara proceed forward after the worst season in the history of his family business?  The simple answer is hiring a new general manager, selecting a new head coach, assembling a new staff, collectively working to cut the dead weight, targeting key free agents, and ultimately marching forward with a roster purged of at least 45% of last year's personnel.

But nothing is ever that clear cut and dry, is it?

After all, John Mara himself played an uncharacteristically large role as a meddler and enabler, not only last season, but over the last few seasons.  We know John Mara is a loyal person, and that long relationships do not usually end well, and saying good-bye is hardly ever easy.  In the case of Jerry Reese, perhaps he was a bit too loyal.  He and Jerry Reese scapegoated Tom Coughlin.  Mara in turn then took the lead in scapegoating Ben McAdoo.  With no more scapegoats to be found, the time finally come for them both to part ways.

In addition to Reese's departure, John Mara also humbles himself.  Any effective owner or executive understands the value of self-reflection and accountability.  So he admits recently to being solely responsible for orchestrating last year's Eli Manning consecutive starts streak fiasco, and completely miscalculating the resulting backlash.

For better or worse, the changes that should have been exacted several years ago are now in place.  To what lengths and to whom's satisfaction will be an ongoing matter for debate.

Dave Gettleman is the new general manager.  I didn't necessarily agree at the time with all his draft selections, but he nevertheless has a supporter in me.  He preaches about playing the brand of Giants football I feel for too long has been lacking around these parts.  At the same time, I find his previous body of work for the Carolina Panthers commendable.  I like the way he generally handles his business, and the press in particular.  There are concerns regarding his health, although he says everything is fine.  I'll nonetheless be preoccupied with his condition throughout the season because I believe in Gettleman, and want for him to see his transformation of the Giants through to completion.

Next on the totem pole is Pat Shurmur, hired back in January to replace outcast Ben McAdoo as head coach of the New York Giants.  I'm not going to pretend I know much, if anything about him.  I will say to this point he has exhibited more depth of knowledge, an undeniable self-confidence, superior presentation, and a noticeably better command of outside interference and/or unnecessary distractions than did his predecessor.

Shurmur serves last year as Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator with positive results.  He spends his first ten seasons coaching with the Philadelphia Eagles.  After which, he serves two seasons as St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator.  He then moves on to become head coach of the Cleveland Browns under then executive Mike Holmgren.  And later returns to Philadelphia for three more seasons until landing at Minnesota where in 2016 he starts out as tight ends coach, and by 2017 is back to serving as offensive coordinator.

This all makes him an offensive schooled head coach, just like McAdoo, Coughlin, and Fassell, before him.  On the one hand, we'll see how he interacts with his own offensive coordinator, and how in turn he manages and trusts defensive delegation, and lastly his ability to fuse both together into effective overall game management.

Mike Shula is the new offensive coordinator.  I don't care who his father is, the guy has thirty years of coaching experience.  Moreover, he's a Shurmur guy.  If you recall, with Kevin Gilbride (and Tom Coughlin) it was always high risk/high reward, and interceptions be damned.  Under Ben McAdoo, Eli was coached in shorter yard higher percentage passing, albeit with lower rates of interceptions, but was stymied the whole time by poor game-planning, a substandard offensive line, and the Giants woeful inability to rush the ball.  Dave Gettlman has enacted changes to the offensive line, drafted a highly touted college back, and re-signed a healthy Odell Beckham Jr. to a new contract, all of which might help Mike Shula and Eli Manning manage a potentially well balanced attack.

The new defensive coordinator is James Bettcher who comes to the Giants via the Arizona Cardinals.  He took over an outstanding Cardinals defense former coordinator Todd Bowles left behind in order to accept the New York Jets head coaching position.  However, under Bettcher, the Cardinals nevertheless remained a stout, league respected unit.  Year in and year out, they've been among the league leaders in fewest rushing yards allowed.  That much can not be denied.  But the true common denominator with regards to Arizona's defensive prowess is more a matter of personnel than perhaps their two former coordinators.  The Giants defensive unit Bettcher is inheriting, quite frankly, has more problems than a math book, and I wish him luck figuring it out.