N.Y. Giants: Defense Playing The Annual Simplification Game

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Know What I Hear?  The Same Stuff As The Last Few Years.  Ponderous!

This isn't the first time the Giants defensive players needed Coach Perry Fewell to simplify his schemes!  It happened last year, and most glaringly two years ago, just in time to right themselves and win a Super Bowl.  I'm not even going to suggest the Giants will get there this season, but then again, an 8-8 record could conceivably win the NFC East.

After two consecutive victories, I'm more annoyed than anything.  Perry Fewell has consistently failed to realize the correlation between his cause, and his scheme's effects.  When Coach puts too much into his player's thinking, they struggle mightily, and oft look confused on coverage.  When he lightens their check-offs, the defense has thrived.  This condition is not this year's dilemma.  This has been a yearly pattern under Coach Fewell.  The only defense I offer for him, is that this has been a trying season for everyone.  Coach Fewell shouldn't be singled out as the primary problem here.  But this particular problem has certainly has been a recurring one.

Injuries haven't helped.  I get it.  On that note, the comeback of linebacker Jon Beason certainly has.  Ever since Dan Conner went down, middle linebacker was a huge problem, until Beason arrived.  He was in on nine tackles, and three solo tackles against the Vikings, and was in on four tackles against the Birds.  Spencer Paysinger, who was serving the position, all but disappeared Sunday.

It was Terrell Thomas who perhaps had his best game as a Giant last week.  He made ten solo tackles and recorded a sack against the Eagles.  While Antrel Rolle continues to be the most consistent Giant all season.

The schedule helped the Giants along.  Both Minnesota and Philadelphia both have more problems than a math book.  Perry Fewell now has two weeks to figure this out.  The Giants will sit out their bye week, then face the Oakland Raiders in Giants Stadium.

Of course with the Giants, if it's not one thing though, it's another.  While the defense was putting its act together over the last two weeks, Giants special teams have been getting exceedingly atrocious by the game.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: Monday Night Fewell

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Perry Fewell Insists His Players Must Win Individual Battles With Little Help.  If Adrian Peterson Romps Tonight, The Defensive Coordinator Might As Well Start Packing His Bags.

Stop Adrian Peterson and you stop the Vikings, right?  The Giants beleaguered linebacking unit will be front and center tonight.  For those of us watching on TV, it would be nice to hear Spencer Paysinger's and Jon Beason's names mentioned repeatedly throughout the telecast.  In a perfect world, that would mean they are making frequent tackles and containing Peterson who rushed for over 2,000 yards last season.  Linval Joseph should be able to get some of that tonight as well.

Otherwise, what can be said at this point, that hasn't been said already?  From either defensive end, the Giants still haven't been able to turn up the sacks.  Justin Tuck continues to underperform, while JPP continues to lightfoot his way back from back surgery.  But that's a tough criticism to make.  It's not my back that underwent surgery.

In any scenario, every player on defense is on their own.  That's the way Perry Fewell rolls, and  reiterated that again last week.  He is still putting everything on the players to win their individual battles.  In a way, that's not wrong when you have no depth, and a bunch of under-performers.  But desperate times call for desperate measures, however Coach Fewell seems to not feel the heat of the fire.  You would think he'd like to go out in a blaze of glory, shooting all his guns, and coming up with schemes we haven't seen before.  We have gotten none of that, and he will be gone because of it.  I'm sure of that now.

There are so many things to point our fingers at for the predicament the Giants find themselves.  But tonight, because the Giants have allowed over 200 points in six weeks, I put Perry Fewell in tonight's national spotlight.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: Linebacker; Jerry Reese Adds Another Weak Link In The Chain

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Jerry Reese Adds A Questionable Linebacker To This Low Priority Unit.

The defense didn't play that badly last week.  For three quarters, they provided the offense with ample opportunity to score points.  But the offense wouldn't acquiesce.  The game then got away after a third quarter Kansas City punt return for a touchdown.  Two Alex Smith touchdown passes came with 5:00 minutes left in the game to make it a misleading 31-7 victory.

Collectively, the line backing unit had perhaps their best game of the season.  Mark Herzlich and  Spencer Paysinger led the team with seven solo tackles each.  Paysinger also recorded the Giants only sack.  Jacquian Williams made two tackles.  The ever disappointing Keith Rivers however, did not register a tackle Sunday and is only averaging two tackles a game.  Entering last season, the Giants  traded a fifth round selection to acquire Rivers, who has never performed up to expectations.

After offseason free agent acquisition Dan Conner was lost for the season in Week One, Jerry Reese picked up Allen Bradford, formerly of Tampa, off waivers.  Bradford made one tackle against the Chiefs.  Yesterday, Jerry Reese finalized a deal for another reinforcement.  He sent a late round 2014 draft pick to Carolina for linebacker Jon Beason.

Jon Beason, 28, was a rookie in 2007, and between 2008-2011 made three straight Pro Bowl appearances.  During the 2011 season, he tore his Achilles tendon.  Then last October, he underwent micro-fracture surgery on his knee.  Beason was benched this season after a series of poor performances.  Ironically, Chase Blackburn was signed by Carolina as a free agent during the offseason, and wound up outplaying and replacing Jon Beason on the field.

What good will Beason be to the Giants?  At a minimum, he'll keep a functioning unit on the field.  The Giants entered the season undermanned at linebacker, with a minimal number as it was.  They went into the Chiefs game with five.  Jerry Reese just increased their number to six.

Jon Beason is clearly struggling while returning from injuries.  He may need considerable time in order to become an impact Pro Bowl player again, if he ever does.  That's why nothing about this acquisition should make Giants fans any more hopeful heading into Week Five.  Time is just something the Giants can least afford.

On a side note, Jerry Reese's lack of attention, or concern over the years at linebacker is finally coming back to haunt him.  Without a pass rush, there is no Plan-B on defense.  Lets face it, the Giants totally lucked out when Chase Blackburn left his living room to make an impact.  Otherwise, massive salary cap problems prevented Jerry Reese from retaining Blackburn and the underwhelming Michael Boley.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants: The Confounding Situation At Linebacker

From the desk of:   DO IT FORTHE DUKE

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: What's A Middle Aged Giants Fan Like Me To Think?  Long Gone Are The Days When Big Blue Dominated With Hall of Fame Linebackers And A Smash Mouth Running Game.

These Days, Giants Football Is About The Defensive Line And Eli Manning's Arm.  It Confounds Our Basic Programming From Twenty-Five Years Ago......

Big Blue's shortcomings at linebacker start with Jerry Reese's staunch commitment to maintaining depth on the defensive line, and his reluctance to spend a high draft pick on a linebacker.

Compounding the issue, Michael Boley didn't pan out exactly the way the Giants wanted, and were forced to cut his salary last off-season.  He was solid, but underwhelming.  Prior to signing MLB Allan Bradford earlier this week to replace Connor, the Giants were left with Mark Herzlich as their lone remaining middle line backer.  Keith Rivers, Spencer Paysinger and Jacquian Williams are the outside guys, who so far, are an unremarkable bunch.

Allan Bradford was originally Tampa Bay's sixth round pick of the 2011 draft, and was eventually cut.  He was then reclaimed by his old college coach from USC, Seattle's Pete Carroll, and entered the season as the Seahawks back-up MLB.  In a twist Giants fans should know, Pete Carroll switched him in college from linebacker into a running back.  Back playing linebacker, he came to the Giants  by clearing waivers, and will start right away.  That's a precarious situation to say the least, especially heading into a game against Peyton Manning.

Last week against Dallas, the Giants played a lot of nickel packages, which only meant two linebackers were on the field at any given time.  How well did that work?  Tony Romo was 36 of 49, for 263 yards and two touchdowns.  The middle of the field was available to the Cowboys all night, and the Giants, as usual had no answer for tight end Jason Witten - not at linebacker at least.  So what do you think Peyton Manning will do against a suspect line backing crew?




Mike.BTB