N.Y.Giants: Victor Cruz facing NFL's notorious meat grinder

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

The day Broadway turned into 

the Canyon of Cruz

NEW YORK GIANTS: Victor Cruz' season ending injury creates ominous atmosphere entering Bye Week.

The potentially lethal receiving tandem of Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. never materialized, and now seems as if it never will.

We're simply left to ponder, what if?

Done are the weekly guessing games that started back in August, regarding Cruz' game to game availability.  Victor will have season ending surgery performed on his persistently ailing right calf. The date of his procedure has not been set.

Mind you, Victor Cruz' odyssey started just over a year ago when he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee during a game in Philadelphia.  After spending the off-season recovering and rehabbing, Cruz then injured his calf during training camp.  After ten weeks of treatment and repeated setbacks, he ultimately tore the main calf muscle during Monday's practice.

This leaves Eli Manning and OBJ continuing making due with a relatively poor running game, no tight end to speak of, an enigmatic Rueben Randle, and the yawn inspiring return of old favorite Hakeem Nicks.

In truth, we haven't seen Victor Cruz in full salsa stride ever since signing a lucrative 5-year contract ($43 million) in 2013, which still has three years and $24 million dollars remaining.  Over the last three seasons, he has totaled 18 starts (through 48 team games), and is about to undergo his third surgery.  His first was performed on his left knee at the tail end of 2013, then came last year's aforementioned procedure to his right knee.

Victor Cruz turned 29-years old earlier this month, and is now additionally faced with becoming a salary cap casualty.  Suffice to say the hard cold reality of operating in the NFL presents both Cruz and the Giants with an equally costly dilemma.

While the timing is somewhat ironic, what a rude way of heading into the Giants' bye week - I mean, quite literally, this may mean goodbye to Victor Cruz.

Everything regarding his future in football/Giants is purely speculative at this point.  So, in the meantime, the ring's the thing, man!  Thank you, Victor, for helping win number four, and congratulations to you on number one.

Local kid did good - his will always remain a great story no matter what happens moving forward.

N.Y. Giants: Running Away From Trouble Never Solves Anything

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Lack of a running game will finally come to bear versus the Eagles

New York Giants: The Running Game is a Disgrace! Four QBs Have Scrambled For More Yardage Than Rashad Jennings!

After six regular season games, Rashad Jennings leads the New York Giants with 180 rushing yards.

(insert uncomfortable silence here..)

You read that right.  To put that into a quantum physics perspective, he has averaged a mere 10.6 rushes for 36-yards per game.  Put yet another way, there are 33 other NFL running backs with more yardage than Rashad - that's more players than there are NFL teams.  Even worse, there are four - I said FOUR - quarterbacks with more rushing yards than Rashad Jennings.

This running game is a disgrace!  It's literally offensive to Giants fans (pardon the pun), and a direct result of this regime's pass-perverted philosophy.

While it's true Eli had ice flowing through his veins, there's two other major reasons why the Giants beat the Packers, TWICE, en route to the Super Bowl - Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.

Make no mistake, none of this is a reflection on Jennings, or Andre Williams for that matter. But, in the name of Rob Carpenter, I want to know what the hell coach Ben McAdoo, Tom Coughlin, and even Jerry Reese, are collectively thinking?

You've heard this all before.  I most recently went though it with:

    Running to Daylight With Sunglasses On  and
 Coach McAdoo Passing the Time Away

I initially offered my full expanded thought on this subject at the very start of the season.  If you're going to read anything, I suggest you please revisit the following, as it gets to the heart and genesis of everything:

A Rushing Mentality Must Flow Through One's Veins

Now the lack of a running game will finally come to bear against the Eagles.  That's because Eli Manning is nearly fresh out of healthy receivers.  Did you see Dwayne Harris drop an easy first down against the Niners?  I did too.

• Odell Beckham Jr. - hamstring/unquestionably compromised
• Rueben Randle - hamstring/unquestionably compromised.
• Victor Cruz is still listed as OUT - calf.

Reliability will come at a premium them.  Eli will once again be forced to utilize Larry Donnell and Shane Vereen out of the backfield as was the case against San Francisco.

In truth, it would have been nice get throw-happy against the Eagles.  Even though hobbled of late, the Giants are still ranked 12th in the league in passing yardage, while the Eagles have alternately allowed the league's 7th most yards through the air.  It could have, and would have been a good match-up for the Giants, if only...

But, such as life.

If there was ever a time to commit to the run, establish it early, stick with it throughout and let it wear down the opponent, and allow it to control the clock and ultimately the fourth quarter, it would be this Monday night in Philadelphia.  Do that, and the Donnell/Vereen connection should work out well enough to keep Philadelphia honest.

• Vereen led the Giants with eight receptions for 86-yards last week against the Niners, and was on the field late in the game when OBJ and Randle were no longer physically able.  That said, Coach McAdoo has utilized him quite oddly this season.

Exactly one week ago I said Rashad and Andre have moved the chains at times this season with power, but only as the play calling allows.  That said, Ben McAdoo has Eli Manning leading the NFL in pass attempts.  At last count, he's elected to throw 197 times, while electing to run only 118 times.   That translates to 23.6 rushes and 39.4 pass attempts per game.

That simply will not due.

It stands to reason that if he keeps overtaxing OBJ's and "the necessary" Rueben Randle's respective hamstrings, he'll jeopardize any continued effectiveness, or even compromise their playing time.   What good is getting Victor Cruz back on the field, if you're just going to lose OBJ, Randle, or both?

That's why this must be the week Coach McAdoo reverses his season long trend of passing noticeably more often than electing to run, and commit to a more ground oriented style.  I speak for Sunday and nothing more, because at the very least the Giants need to prove they're even capable.

As former Giants safety Antrel Rolle used to say, "at the end of the day" this is usually less a discussion about the ground game than it is playing a broken record.

Defense: There are just too many injuries, inadequacies, and idiots to keep up with the Eagles this week.

The Eagles aren't as terrible as their poor start led many to believe.  They'll score points Monday night.  Be sure.

With the Giants lacking a pass rush, and now missing two starting linebackers and a starting corner, this may easily to devolve into one of those prime time Big Blue disasters.

The Giants already ranked dead last against the pass even before more injuries mounted last week.  So, they stand every chance of making Sam Bradford look like Norm Van Broklin this week.

Remember how good they made Kirk Cousins look?

Exactly!

I bet the Eagles won't even run the ball much, which is presently the Giants only legitimate defensive strength.

Special teams anyone?

Defensive wounded list:

• Jon Beason - concussion
• Devon Kennard - hamstring
• Prince Amukamara - partially torn pectoral muscle
• Robert Ayers - hamstring
• George Selvie - calf
• JPP - missing digits and common sense

N.Y. Giants: Coach McAdoo Passing the Time Away

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Eli Manning leads the NFL in pass attempts

New York Giants

3-2

1st Place NFC East

NEW YORK GIANTS: Coach McAdoo demanding more and more from an increasingly beaten and battered group of wide receivers, while putting Eli's arm strength and durability to the test as well.

LARRY DONNELL'S GRAB SECURES FIRST PLACE

Opening the first quarter season without Victor Cruz, coupled with the general ineffectiveness of Rueben Randle, put an obvious strain on Odell Beckham Jr.  His hamstring has been barking at him, and by Week Five Randle's hamstring started barking too.

That said, had Eli connected with OBJ in stride during the 1st quarter against the Niners, the Giants could have potentially gone up 7-3 instead of settling for a field goal.  Beckham's YAC nonetheless put the Giants at San Francisco's 12-yard line.  To the Giants credit, they settled for a field goal only after attempting to pound the ball on 2nd and four from the six, then again on 3rd and one, to no avail.

Later, with the Giants up 10-3 before the half, Dwayne Harris dropped an easy third down pass, that again resulted in a Giants field goal.

*

Prior to the Buffalo game, I thought it high time the Giants start seeking out Larry Donnell.

Larry was targeted just four times in Week One then six times in Week Two, totaling seven receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta.  Eli targeted him another six times in Week Three against Washington, but only connected on three receptions for 32 yards.

Week Four marked an uptick in the Eli/Donnell connection.  He was targeted seven times against Buffalo, and made 5 receptions for a season high 38 yards.  Then came Sunday's big catch against the 49ers.  Larry was targeted another seven times Sunday and made 6 receptions for 35 yards, but none more important than his 12-yard touchdown reception with 0:21 left on the clock.

I guess if not by the run, punctuating an 8-play/82 yard drive to the tight end was just as classic.

See?  Necessity is indeed the mother of all invention.

Last season, Larry Donnell made 12 starts, and hauled in 63 receptions for 623 yards.  However, in 92 targeted plays, he and Eli were only successful 68% of the time.  They've completed 70% of their attempted connections thus far.

*

Enter Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo:

He has Eli Manning leading the NFL with 197 pass attempts (and to Eli's credit, he's thrown just two INTs).  His 66.5% completion rate after five games is presently hovering at a career high.  He also completed a career best 41 passes in 54 attempts for 441 yards against the Niners, also marking Eli's first 300+ yard game of the season.

Yet, a compromised OBJ and sub par complimentary receivers has meant even more throwing.  In fact, balance has gone out the window.

Coach McAdoo's utilization of the running game is one of the more quizzical things I've ever seen - as if he can just turn it on with the flick of a switch.  Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams and Shane Vereen have only combined for 119 rushes for an average of 23.8 carries a game versus 39.4 pass attempts for Eli.

Even Kevin Gilbride knew he had to start running in the 1st quarter in order to be successful in the 4th.  I have a real big problem when a guy like Rashad Jennings only averages 10.6 carries a game.

Then there's the even more curious case of Shane Vereen.  His game splits speak for themselves:

• GM1 - 3 rushes; 4 receptions.
• GM2 - 6 rushes; 8 receptions.
• GM3 - 6 rushes; 0 receptions.
• GM4 - 5 rushes; 0 receptions.
• GM5 - 5 rushes; 8 receptions.

Regardless of my personal observations, the Giants have registered the 4th most points in the NFC.   To date, their controlled short passing game has outscored opponents by a 132-109 margin.  They are winners of three straight and now sit atop their division.

Maybe Coach McAdoo's whole gig is based on mass confusion.  He's got me fooled.  They certainly outsmarted themselves in games One and Two, and damn near did it again versus the Niners, until they smartened up that is...

There's still much to learn much from reviewing the gains and gaffes of Game One.

McAdoo has me beat, though.  Controlled chaos rules the day.

N.Y. Giants: Running To Daylight With Sunglasses On

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

GAME FIVE

San Francisco 49ers

vs.

New York Giants

FROM

The Snoopy Bowl

NEW YORK GIANTS: There are no such things as dire circumstances in the NFC East, only chance and opportunity.

Part I of IV

COWBOYS 27; Giants 26

Falcons 24; GIANTS 20

GIANTS 32; D.C. Hogs 21

Giants 24; BILLS 10

The road to an NFC East title has remarkably been detoured through East Rutherford, proving time and again that one team's misfortune and/or dysfunction are another team's opportunity.

Ever mounting injuries continue taking a heavy toll on the Dallas Cowboys, and will do so for several weeks to come.  Elsewhere, the D.C. Hogs remain locked in an eternal struggle against themselves, while the Eagles are safely chained in the division basement until further notice.

In a tumultuous first quarter season, the Giants recovered from their 0-2 start to even their record with consecutive victories over Washington and a particularly convincing one over Buffalo.

Last week's game was certainly an attitude adjuster, causing fans to seriously rethink a great many things.  For instance, the Giants have effectively controlled roughly 235 of a possible 240 minutes played over four games and 16 quarters of football.  It's just that those two gaffes late in games One and Two were so self-destructive, and completely unnecessary.

The second quarter of the season begins with the NFC East locked in a three way tie.  Big Blue is seemingly in the best shape to seize control of a leaderless pack.

Part II of IV

49ERS

@ Eagles

COWBOYS

@ Saints

GAME FIVE: Niners @ Giants

ICYMI: Running of the Bills; Applied SPAGnology

Some of the Niners cast members might still be the same, but San Francisco's performance is far from what we grew accustomed to under Jim Harbaugh.  

The familiar Colin Kaepernick, Anquan Bolden, Vernon Davis, and the 49ers offense are last in total yards per game, and total points scored.  San Francisco's ground game is another matter.  Despite no longer having Frank Gore in the loop, the Niners have nevertheless accumulated the most rushing yards to date, and rank 5th in average yards rushed per game.  All told, however, the Niners are only averaging a mere 12 ppg after four weeks of play.

Defensively, the Niners have allowed the league's 6th most total points, and 10th most total yardage per game.

GIANTS DEFENSE

20.5 points allowed per game

386 yards allowed per game

The Giants, meanwhile, have allowed the NFL's 7th most overall yards.  They have allowed the second most yards through the air, and have averaged the most passing yards allowed per game.  But, they're number one against the run.  They've allowed opponents the 10th most time of possession, allowed the 13th fewest points, and average the 8th least points allowed per game.

GIANTS OFFENSE

25.5 points scored per game

335 yards gained per game

The Giants have rushed for the 8th fewest yards in the NFL, and average the 9th least rushing yards per game.  Through the air, the Giants have only thrown for the 18th most yards in the NFL, and are yet to surpass 1,000 passing yards through 4 games played. They're 19th in average passing yards per game.

Crossed Connections:

Eli Manning's first INT of the season came part and parcel with this whole perverted pass doctrine under Coughlin.  Just saying...

Moose Johnston was covering the game on FOX and pointed out that Rueben Randle should have fought harder to make that particular reception, and I couldn't have agreed more.  He was targeted 6 times but only made 3 receptions for 31 yards (and a touchdown).

The man is slow off the line, telegraphs his cuts, and as Moose pointed out, doesn't place himself between the defender and the ball well enough.  His ineffectiveness has done little to relieve OBJ of double teams.

Eli, meanwhile, has limited his INTs this season, but his in-game management has seemingly gone to pot.  The same spirits that possessed Eli in the latter stages of games One and Two, returned with about 4:00 left in Game Four.  Fortunately they were exorcised in time to stave off yet another 4th quarter disaster.  He must suffer occasional spells of voodoo from growing up in New Orleans  I guess....

If Eli does not audible, Rashad Jennings does not score a 51-yards touchdown on a play that should have been limited to a few yards at most.  I get that.  But running the clock down to zero and wasting time outs still seems routine.

In No Particular Rush:

The Giants stick with the run for sake of maintaining balance.  They certainly do not stick with it long enough to let it wear opponents down or dictate a game.  In previous seasons, the reasons were glaringly evident as to why.  This season, however, there's little excuse not to run more.

Ereck Flowers - Justin Pugh - Weston Richburg - Geoff Schwartz - Marshall Newhouse

The offensive line is coalescing into an effective unit.  They have protected Eli very well, allowing the NFL's 3rd fewest sacks (4) this season.  They have also executed strong run blocking.  Scheme-wise, however, the Giants continue running towards daylight with their sunglasses on.

Minus any yardage gained by Eli Manning, the combination of Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams and Shane Vereen, have rushed 100 times for 343 yards, for an average of 25 rushes for 85.7 yards per game.

While not great, they've been reliable.  The manner in which they've run, however, has been impressive at times.  Rashad and Andre have moved the chains with power, but only as the play calling allows.

N.Y. Giants: Running of the Bills

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

MISSION-II

Gain Higher Ground

Week Four

Giants  24

Bills      10

FINAL

NEW YORK GIANTS: Two botched 4th quarter drives in each of the first two games of the season are all that prevented the Giants from a 4-0 start.

The Giants still kinda/almost folded like a cheap poker table in Sunday's 4th quarter again, but composed themselves in time to close the deal and get their record back to par.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, lost Sunday night in New Orleans, and Washington defeated the Eagles creating a 3-way tie for the division lead.  Such as life in the NFC East.

The Giants now have a clean slate with which to restart their season on the right foot.

Their upcoming schedule couldn't have been more accommodating.  They host the disintegrating 49ers next week.  After which, they'll head to Philadelphia in Week Six.  Week Seven will then feature a Week One rematch against the Cowboys at Met Life Stadium.

If the Giants take care of business, the division would effectively become theirs to lose.

Forgive Me Duke, For I Have Strayed

I admit it.  I fretted this game in Buffalo and picked against the Giants.

To my chagrin, Sunday's overall performance and victory over the Bills certainly puts things in a different perspective, doesn't it...

But, after considering...

* Victor Cruz' imminent return,
* Dallas will be without Dez Bryant and Tony Romo for a lengthy portion of the season,
* Washington's QB situation is as unsettled as Greenland,
* the Eagles are now 1-3,

...and, in the aftermath of beating Buffalo despite being a 6 1/2 point underdog, I'm still conflicted between feeling relieved and rejoicing Big Blue's return to zero, or, revisiting why this team should be 4-0 this season.

Test Results:

I ended last week by saying Buffalo would provide a true measure of the Giants offense, and the results are in.

Eli Manning was 20 of 35, for 212 yards, and connected on 3 touchdown passes to Rueben Randle, Dwayne Harris, and to Rashad Jennings out of the backfield on a well called audible that went for 51 yards.

Manning, however, threw his first INT of the season.  After leading the league for a third time in 2013 with 27 picks, he reduced that number to 14 during his first year under O.C. Ben McAdoo, and as stated, has just one so far this season.  That said, the play selection has not been as risk/reward as when Gilbride called plays.

The Giants rushed 25 times for 94 yards. Andre Williams ran with particular physicality, gaining 35 tough yards on 11 carries.

Overall, the Giants gained 303 yards from scrimmage.

The Giants 25.5 points per game ranks 9th in the NFL, and 5th in the NFC.  They are #24 in NFL rushing, #17 in passing yardage, and #22 in yards per game.

Like Night and Day

The Giants won a Super Bowl with Perry Fewell only after he relented from an extraordinarily complex (stupid) system which inspired hesitation and oft times mass confusion in the secondary.

That defense turned on a dime in time for the playoffs only after Fewell simplified, and allowed Corey Webster/Aaron Ross to play man coverage.   That team also had a pass rush, just saying....

Perry Fewell/Giants Defense vs. Run: (2010-2014)

• 2014 - #30
• 2013 - #14
• 2012 - #25
• 2011 - #19
• 2010 - #8

Look Who's #1: Applied Spagnology

Steve Spagnuolo is already getting far more out of far less than Perry Fewell previously could from his various (more talented) cast members.

What Coach Spags has lacked in personnel (and a pass rush), he's made up for through creativity and aggression.

His improvised blend of swarm/bend-don't-break ranks top five in giveaway/takeaway. Meanwhile, the Giants have allowed the 7th most yards in the NFL and the NFC's 2nd most, yet rank 13th in the NFL and 7th in the NFC in total points allowed.

The Giants are #1 against the run, as Buffalo found out.  They are still the only team to yield less than 300 yards (279) rushing this season.  They've only allowed 69.8 rushing yards per game.

The Giants allowed Buffalo 313 total yards, but only 10 points.  Somehow, Rex Ryan authorized a one-back attack.  In any event, the Giants provided no quarter for the NFL's #6 rated run game.  Karlos Williams rushed 18 times and was limited to a mere 40 yards.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor provided Buffalo with their only other ground gains, scrambling 6 times for 15 yards.

Here's to a better next quarter of the season.

N.Y. Giants: Attack Washington's Defense With Power, Please!

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

The running game is presently the only aspect of Giants Football functioning properly.

Why not feature it Thursday Night against Washington?

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

D.C. Hogs

vs.

New York Giants

FROM

Snoopy Stadium

NEW YORK GIANTS: The choreography of well executed passing is a sight to behold; true art in motion.  But, when throwing the pigskin short circuits, one must revert to more traditional methods.  It is time, then, to get this season turned around by utilizing brute force and ignorance.  After all, football is still football!  In fact, yet another 0-2 start demands a return to basics, if not a change in tactics.  Attack Washington's defense head on with power.  Please!

What happens when your corners aren't covering, your safeties make you feel unsafe, your linebackers aren't backing, and your pass rushers aren't pass rushing (mainly because the best one destroyed his hand prior to camp)?

For starters, you spend 68:45 on the field, yield 836 total yards, surrender 51 points over your first two games of the season, and play particularly poorly in 4th quarters.

Or, you could have just asked the Giants.

As fans, we fret over what can potentially come next.  Not RGIII or his replacement QB Kirk Cousins; here come D.C. running backs Alfred Morris and Matt Jones.  Stop those two, and perhaps the Giants can avoid a ponderous 0-3 start.

Washington only managed 34 points over their first two games.  Last week they put up 24 points against the Rams (whom surprisingly upset the Seahawks in Week One).  They otherwise lost 17-10 to the Fish in the season's opener.  The Dolphins have an inferior coach, but they're a tough team to play.  The Rams thing is tougher to explain.

In any event, tonight's game has less to do with the D.C. Hogs than it does the Giants.

Big Blue has no one to blame for their 0-2 start but themselves.  They led each of their first two games in the 4th quarter, and were poised to increase their lead each time.  Instead, they sabotaged potential victories with gross mental lapses in the closing minutes.

So, what does one do when one's wide receivers aren't receiving, and the quarterback is regressing?

ICYMI:  Bad Eli Routine Is No Laughing Matter

For starters, you release sub-standard performers such as Preston Parker.  In the absence of Victor Cruz, the Giants needed someone to help take pressure (i.e. double coverage) off OBJ.  Parker couldn't catch the ball, much less lend a hand.  After last week's pitiful display Jerry Reese cut him, post-haste.

Rueben Randle is next.  I know he's had some sort of lingering ailment, but one can plainly see he is not contributing much either.  Randle has been given every opportunity here, and has yet to take a second step forward.  According to NYC codes, that's called loitering.  In football speak, he's...

I digress.

I recently went through Tom Coughlin's non-committal relationship with the run.  With yet another 0-2 start, he is now bordering on Einstein's definition of insanity.

After two games this season, the rush is the only aspect of the entire New York Giants team performing well.  Overall, however, the offense has possessed the ball a mere 52:45 out of a possible 120 minutes thus far.

An intensive night of running just might help keep the defense off the field for a change, lest we forget Dominique Rogers Cromartie will be a non-participant, while Jon Beason is entering real game action for the first time this season.

Easier said than done - I know.  Washington enters Met Life Stadium featuring a top rated defense coached by Joe Barry, whom is making a big difference.

That said, one must try for the sake of getting the Giants pointed in the right direction again. There's nothing to lose but another game, the division, the season, a head coach, and a general manager....

Now you get the idea - be adaptable.  It may be the only way out of this mess.

There's a Big Blue difference between being a sleeping Giant, and just being sleepy Giants. For now, they just need to wake up and rejoin a pathetically weak NFC East division race. The sleepy part falls on Jerry Reese.

Otherwise, those who want to run the ball, do.

PIGSKIN

Football Sunday

Week Three

Thursday Line ~ NYDN

Redskins +3 1/2 (GIANTS)

In truth, I think the line should be NYG -2 (Hogs).

I looked at that 1/2 point and was immediately intimidated.

I'm leaning towards a Giants win, but D.C. covers.