N.Y. GIANTS ~ End Of Season - PART II

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS

"Finish 2010 Season, Ten and SICK"

Read:  THE AUTOPSY; PART ONE

* Coach Tom Coughlin

* Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride

* QB Coach Mike Sullivan

* Running Backs Coach Jerald Ingram

Click Here.

NOW PLAYING:

THE AUTOPSY;  PART II

III - THE DEFENSIVE COACHING

1 ~ DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ~ PERRY FEWELL

Shortly after the Giants win over the Redskins Sunday, Perry Fewell's name came up as someone meriting an interview as a potential Head Coaching Candidate.  I myself do not see him being a Head Coach...yet.  Apparently the Browns might though.  And that's fine with me.  Fortunately for Fewell, Gilbride and our inability to gain ONE FIRST DOWN against Philly still dominates my nightmares BUT the fact we gave up a million points in 8 minutes then a million more the very next game to Aaron Rodgers, when those two games represented our most important games of the year still really rubs me the wrong way.

There was a time this season when it rubbed Coach Coughlin the wrong way also; against Dallas.., and our Head Coach let his displeasure with his Coordinator be known right on the sideline.

If JOHN FOX will come back to be our Defensive Coordinator whether Perry Fewell gets the Browns job or not, make the switch now while John Fox is an unrestricted free agent coach.

Outside of that!....I am not too cool about more disruption and having to break-in yet another Defensive Cord.  You do something like that for the right guy; like Fox.  Otherwise, Perry Fewell is good enough to proceed into next season with.

Perry Fewell is clearly much more dynamic in his Defensive Schemes than Bill Sheridan, the Coordinator he replaced was.  In that respect the Giants improved tremendously;  Exponentially even.

But let's be clear...; He is not as good as Coach Spagnuolo was even with a healthy Kenny Phillips, JPP, and Terrell Thomas.  Perry Fewell's Defense was lacking at Linebacker where-as Coach Spags had Antonio Pierce.  But know this and know it well....Coach Spags turned a virtual no-body into a Linebacking Crazed Animal with how Coach Spags deployed Kawika Mitchell.  Perry Fewell has done no such thing.  Antrel Rolle blew into the locker room and criticized te team early in the season.  Justin Tuck took matters into his own hands by speaking up and playing well.  But those two men were self motivated to do the things they did.  What player has Perry Fewell remolded to better fit the needs of his schemes?

You would probably pick one of the Safety's;  -   Deon Grant, Rolle or Phillips due to Jerry Reese leaving the Linebacker Corps as our Defensive soft white under-belly.  Phillips already was highly touted by the organization.  Antrel Rolle was already...Antrel Rolle.  So that leaves Deon Grant as the Perry Fewell trophy Kid.  Deon Grant was an NFL nomad just like Kawika Mitchell was.  But if you compare the "projects" - where Fewell barely buffed out a shine from Grant, Coach Spags had Mitchell shining bright and making big plays for him and the Giants.

Spags did with two linebackers what Perry Fewell could not do with three Safety sets;  CLOSE OUT GAMES!  If you want to put that on Jerry Reese and not Perry Fewell, that's fair.

But there are 8 games for sure we can point to where-in the Secondary looked amateurish.  That's half your schedule.  They have consistently given up The Huge Play.  Start back with Week Two and the Colts, followed by their imitation of Swiss Cheese against TENN.  Dallas really drubbed us twice and tore-up our Secondary.  The Jags did it for a while.  PHILLY did it, and Green Bay really really did it.  Washington almost did it to us in the end too.  What is a little mind boggling is that Perry Fewell used to be Tom Coughlin's Secondary Coach back in JAX for 5 years.  The Secondary is supposed to be his forte'...!  That's why he upsets me.  He failed at the very aspect of his expertise.  It's like Vince Lombardi's Packers not being able to execute a Sweep-Left Play.

And for that reason, Perry Fewell's Corner-Backs Coach and his Safety Coach are off the hook.

Jerry Reese will be getting my crap in-lieu of the Line-Backer Coach where they're concerned.  And that's a biggie!

The Front Four pretty much did their job this year, to include the emergence of Jason Pierre Paul.  The Blitz-Packages were not as well disguised as with Spags, but they were effective none the less.

IV - SPECIAL TEAMS

1 - SPECIAL TEAMS COACH ~ TOM QUINN

Tom Quinn has been in charge of the Special Teams Unit since 2007, our Super Bowl year.  It remained a respectable Unit for that one moment ONLY when he first took over.  It's just gotten progressively worse all the way through to last Sunday.  Quinn was hired when Mike Sweatman retired at the conclusion of the 2006 season.  From the second he took over, Special teams have been a complete nightmare for the Giants.  For Tom Quinn, after "Jeff" and "Feagles", there are no two other combinations of  kind-sounding words I can use to describe the job he's done.

To describe what an unmitigated failure he has been in this capacity is beyond my vocabulary.

Forget Matt Dodge..., No really, forget Matt Dodge!  Blame Quinn because he'd ruin Matt Bahr if given the chance.  He'd make Ray Guy break out in hives.  But this isn't about the Punter.

The Kick-Off coverage was horrendous all year long.  The Punt coverage was horrendous all year long.

The New York Giants lost the Battle of Field Position on every front as long as the Kicking game was involved.

THE ON-SIDE KICK:

Against Philadelphia, Tom Coughlin told his Special Teams Coach to be looking and be prepared for an On-Side kick.

STOP!

Once Coach Coughlin noticed he didn't have his "HANDS" personnel on the field, he himself could have interceded.

BACK!

Tom Quinn sent out a normal front-5 formation and they were all running back for blocking, assuming Philly would Kick-Off.  Without Tom Coughlin in the picture, as a Special Teams Coach, you MUST be living for that moment.  Everyone in the Milky Way knew Philly was forced to attempt an On-Side.  This play has already been regurgitated over and over again.  But because Tom Quinn is so bad at what he's been assigned to do, we never get that nasty taste out of our mouths.

Tom Quinn and his Special Teams Plague must be eradicated from Giants Football...post-haste!

A derisive dissertation of Tom Quinn can theoretically go on all night.  That's why I shall end this now.

STILL TO COME:

* The Offensive Line

* GM Jerry Reese and the Players

Mike.BTB

N.Y. GIANTS ~ Playoff Hopes Hanging By A Bear Claw

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS:  The BEARS have no reason to swipe their Claws at the PACKERS.  They've gotten plenty fat for the winter games and may take a nap Sunday.


The GIANTS can do their part winning one for their Coach while trying to save the Season, but without help, the hurt from missing the Playoffs can have BIG consequences and leave us feeling BLUE.

With one Giant step into a hole against the Eagles then another calamitous leap into a chasm against the Packers,  The Giants' hopes, dreams, and a chance to regain status as an elite team again in these upcoming Playoffs, cling helplessly by a Bear Claw tearing away at Lady Luck's forgiving dress. 

They weren't just in the position of controlling their own destiny, the Giants were in a position of dominating it.  But all that is Blue sweat and tears under the George Washington Bridge now.  There is only one matter at hand which calls for the Giants' attention as they board their patched-up Big Blue Life Raft for a trip to Washington and face-off against the REDSKINS Sunday afternoon.  That matter is, Winning!

We're in this position because we treated the Pigskin like it was a wet bar of soap when we ran it on the ground, and Eli treated more players to his passes with his Southern Hospitality than he should have.

Defensively, the secondary has been pressed over a cheese grater these last 6 quarters; and then some.  The linebackers have been respectable but far from spectacular or difference-makers.  The guys up front kept coming within inches of a big play only to let it get away with devastating ramifications exposing a GIANT inability to finish.  And Perry Fewell displayed a failure to adapt on the fly over the last two games (and a few earlier games this season which put him and Coughlin at words).

But before we present a GIANT piece of Meat to the Butcher, let's talk about our chances of playing Football beyond this week.  This is very simple. If the Giants win versus the Redskins in Washington and the Packers lose or tie against the Bears in Green Bay, we (the Giants) are in.  That's it.    Consider yourself updated.


It's all they can do to help themselves to more January Football.  We've seen what a much-maligned 10-6 Giants team forced to win three playoff games on the road can do when faced with insurmountable adversity.  They showed us three years ago how it's done.

Blah..Blah.. "No Mas" with that mush!  I tried that.  Just win.  Because no matter what happens in the Packers/Bears game, the GIANTS have to win this game against the Redskins to save jobs.


At least the cyclone swirling around Tom Coughlin's job status this week has subsided somewhat as Coach received a very favorable show of support from his team, the fans, and the Media.  But no one is blind here.  We can all read the graffiti on the lockers and office doors.  A loss to the woeful Redskins will surely mean that heads will roll.  The question is who's heads?  We've established Tom Coughlin's head is safe.  Will it be Staff?  Will players be asked to leave their pads at the door?

Jerry Reese may be sharpening the guillotine as we speak.  A good General Manager is always a couple of weeks ahead in his thinking and already may have certain people in mind.  While he's sharpening the blade, Jerry will make Tom Coughlin draw the rope, raising the blade high sending another message that he WILL be next.  Right now, everyone, including Jerry Reese, I believe thinks Tom Coughlin is the best coach for the Giants.

But if I'm Tom Quinn, the Special Teams Coach, I'm worried where my income is coming from next season. 

With John Fox officially on the market, I would replace Perry Fewell with Fox in a heartbeat, in a purely opportunistic up-grade.  And without Linebackers, this Defense is disjointed.

Kevin Gilbride is the one who should be on the HOT SEAT!  His whole approach needs to be called in for questioning.  Mike Sullivan the QB Coach should be brought onto the carpet as well.  Running Backs Coach Jerald Ingram needs to be grilled as to why his Backs continually COUGH up the ball...?

As far as players getting axed?  Hah!  C'mon.  We still have a game to play.

If the Giants can do what IS expected of them Sunday, which is defeating the Washington Redskins who've been around as long as we have.....And if the Bears can likewise help out a fellow Original Era buddy and beat the Packers and all their Ghosts and Legends for us.....If we can all just be Old Friends about this whole mess, and get the Giants in the Dance, then the sounds of table-saws cutting through GIANT chunks-o-beef get turned off for another 7 days.

If that be the case this Sunday, then anything can happen.  Without getting all sappy about it, we have seen them do it before.  All that means is that nothing is impossible.  It means all these second level coaches breathe a great sigh of relief and suddenly become a good staff again.  It means players on the list for be-heading have another week to prove their value to the team.  UNLIKELY is a different cut of beef.

We can only do our part.  But go out there and get it done!  ...And don't make Jerry Reese do his job!




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Eight Minutes To Midnight

BIG BLUE Pours It On During GIANT
First-Half Effort


Like New Year's Eve, The Clock Was Ticking Down Towards A Giants End-of-Game Party In BIG BLUE'S Home Finale:

The Giants' Defense picked-off a Michael Vick pass on Philly's first possession but nothing came of it.  It did help get the G-Men off on an early momentum high.  Michael Vick was admittedly more conservative after that pass, he'd say after the game. 

Over the Giants' first two possessions, Eli was off his mark.  He over-threw two passes by considerable margins to begin the game.  Then on his second possession he nearly had a tipped pass intercepted.  Then with 3:36 left in the first quarter, Eli connected with Mario Manningham on a 35 yard touchdown.

Giants led 7-0 with 56:24 left in the game.

The Giants were comfortably leading in all the offensive categories when the 1st quarter ended.  But before the first fifteen minutes expired, Eli had a pass batted and intercepted.  To start the second quarter the Giants did well to limit the Eagles to a field-goal off the turnover.

Giants led 7-3 with 43:10 left in the game.

On the Giants third possession of the game, they marched 73 yards on 8 plays.  Eli Manning hit Mario Manningham for another touchdown on a 33 yard play.  It was their second touchdown connection of the day.

With 8:17 left in the first half, the Giants now led 14-3 (with 36:43 left in the game).

At this point in the game, the Eagles hadn't had a pass play longer than 7 yards.  Michael Vick was being harassed and hit.  Justin Tuck recorded a sack that had Vick walking off the field with a slight limp.  The Giants clearly had the freakish quarterback out of his game.

Before the 2nd quarter wound down, the Giants engineered another drive highlighted by another one of those foolish pass attempts by Eli that could have very easily been his third INT of the day.  That pass went incomplete. On the next play on 3rd down and 6 to go, Coach Gilbride called for a nifty screen pass to Ahmad Bradshaw that went for a first down and brought the Giants to the PHI-29 yard line.  The drive eventually stalled out but not before the Giants kicked through three more points to increase their lead.

The Giants led 17-3 with .48 seconds left in the half (and 30:12 left in the game).

With less than a minute remaining before the break, the Giants kicked-off.   Justin Tuck continued his harassment of Michael Vick with another near sack.  Then there was a fumble by the Eagles.
A review of the fumble gave the Giants the ball on the Eagles 8 yard line with .09 left.  On the first play from scrimmage, Eli connected with Kevin Boss for his third TD pass.  The Giants had just scored 10 points in 43 seconds on this glorious Big Blue afternoon.

The Giants now led 24-3.  The remaining .05 of the 1st half was a mere a formality as everyone headed towards the locker rooms.

Big Blue was showered with roars of praise, applause of appreciation and adulation that rained down on them from their jubilant fans as they filed off the field.  Thirty minutes now separated New Meadowlands Stadium, this team and their fans from revelry celebrating their avenging an earlier loss to the Eagles and practically assuring themselves the NFC East Title and the chance for a first round bye.

Eli was marvelous to this point passing for three touchdowns and carrying the offense.  Mario Manningham was beating his man the whole half as he too was having a spectacular half of Football.  It was only a matter of Eli gaining a little more accuracy before they would connect and they did so twice. 

The run game was finding yardage hard to come by but they were chipping away, and Coach Gilbride made noticeable efforts to get them going.  There was no big play thunder from them yet, but they were pounding out effective short yardage.

This was truely turning into a great day of Giants' Football.  Everything was transpiring just as I thought it would!  I honestly didn't think Philly could stay close to us for this one particular Giant Sunday.  You can take a minute if you like and read my NYG WEEK15 Preview HERE.


Start 2nd Half
GIANTS  24
EAGLES   3

In the second half, The New York Giants picked up where they left off with Michael Vick.  Justin Tuck and Rocky Bernard combined for another sack of Vick.  The third skirmish of the game broke out between the teams five minutes in.  And for a while the teams traded punts and field position.

This is when I started thinking to myself, "Here we go again with our customary Third Quarter Offensive Disappearance Act."  It's a not so new, but ever growing trend where Coach Gilbride gets impatient with the pace of the run game and starts passing unnecessarily.  They've made for seemingly futile third quarters in their appearance.

Que the clock again:

At 5: 50 of the third quarter, the Giants received the ball fresh off a Philly punt.  They began the possession with an Ahmad Bradshaw run.  Eli then connected with his receiver of the day; Mario Manningham.  BUT, inexplicably, HE FUMBLED THE BALL!  He made the catch and was going out of bounds when, incredulously, he stuck out his arm, with the ball, and left the Pigskin on the field to be recovered by Philadelphia!

At 4:06 of the third quarter, the Eagles capitalized on the turnover and scored when Michael Vick found a wide open Maclin for a touchdown.

The score was now 24-10 with N.Y. leading, and 19:06 left in the game.

The third quarter would end rather meekly for both teams.

The Giants continued to keep pressure on Vick starting the fourth quarter as they almost got to him again.  But on a 3rd down and 13, he eluded a rush and almost connected on a huge play to Maclin if not for a great break-up by Terrell Thomas.

After a 36 yard pass play to Kevin Boss, another Giants' possession fizzled out.  Matt Dodge's punt went for a touch-back and the Eagles took over at their twenty.

Soon, a fumble by the Eagles was ruled incorrectly and the ball was awarded to the Giants.  Philly Coach Andy Reid, I assume could not get the confirmation from his guys upstairs telling him to throw his red flag and challenge in time.  He wound up sticking the flag back in his pocket and the fumble went unchallenged and all the while everyone watching at home knew the Eagles would win the call if Coach Reid had done so.

The Giants then went on a 7 play-47 yard drive ending with Eli Manning hitting Kevin Boss for an 8 yard touchdown.  It was Eli's fourth touchdown pass of the game; a new personal best for him and number 28 for the season.

The Giants now led 31-10 and there was only 8:17 left in the game.

The Big Blue Faithful Crowd could hardly contain themselves.  Giants Stadium was roaring with delight.  The final regular season home game for the Giants and their fans through the first 51:43 was fast becoming one of this franchise's most signature victories.  It would be coming against one of their oldest rivals which made this that much more satisfying.

The Giants kicked-off and Philadelphia started their next possession at 8:01 of the fourth quarter.


TIME KEEPER :
Please set the clock to reflect Eight Minutes To Midnight ?    Thank You.


7:50 left ~ Eagles first down.

At 7:28 from the Eagles 35 yard line ~ MICHAEL VICK hits Philly TE-CELEK for a 65 yard TOUCHDOWN!!  Giants fail to make tackles.

GIANTS 31; Eagles 17

At 7:27 ~ The Eagles line up to kick-off.  The Giants offer a five-man front.  EAGLES execute an On-Side Kick against a sleeping Giants' Special Teams Unit.

Philly takes over on their own 43 yard line.  A pass is good for +13.  On first and ten, VICK is almost sacked by DEON GRANT but escapes and RUNS FOR 39 YARDS to the Giants 9 yard line.

At 5:28 ~ Michael Vick  runs for 8 yards and a TOUCHDOWN!!  Philadelphia had just scored two touchdowns within 2 minutes.

GIANTS  31; Eagles 24

At 5:21 ~ Giants begin their possession.  They gain positive yardage running with Ahmad Bradshaw.  Philly exhausts all three of their time-outs during this Giant drive. 

CLOCK STRIKES 5 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!

With a little over three minutes left in the game, the Giant drive comes to a grinding halt forcing them to punt again.  The Giants pin Philly back on their own 12 yard line.

At 3:01 ~ Eagles begin their possession.

CLOCK STRIKES 3 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!

At 2:56 ~ Vick almost sacked by Cofield.  Pass attempt is incomplete.

At 2:50 ~ Michael Vick runs 33 yards to Giant 45 yard line.

At 2:07 ~ From Giant 42 yard line, Vick runs to Giants' 19 yard line.

CLOCK STRIKES TWO MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!

At 1:36 ~ Michael Vick 13 yard pass to Maclin; Terrell Thomas missed tackle; TOUCHDOWN.

At 1:16 The Score Was Now TIED  31-31.

At 1:10 ~ After Philly kicked-off and D.J. Ware returned the ball 21 yards, the Giants begin their possession.

CLOCK STRIKES ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT!

The next three Giants' plays went like this:

*first and 10 ~ incomplete...no time off clock. (no run to kill clock)
*second and 10 ~ nearly picked off; incomplete; no time off clock (no run to kill clock)
*third and 10 ~ Eli sacked!

At 0.14 seconds left in the game the Giants must punt.
In what I can only guess was an attempt to win the game by going with three consecutive pass plays, the Giants gained no first downs and took little time off the clock.

Tom Coughlin instructs his young punter, Matt Dodge, to kick the ball out of bounds so as to take the game into Over-Time.

At 0.14 ~ Matt Dodge receives the snap from center and disobeys a direct order by punting a low line-drive to DeSEAN JACKSON.

DeSean Jackson momentarily fumbles the ball, recovers, and returns Matt Dodge's punt 65 yards for a TOUCDOWN.

There were no flags.  And when everyone looked up, there was no time left on the clock and the scoreboard said:

EAGLES  38

GIANTS   31

Final

THE GIANTS' CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT

BIG BLUE's DOOMSDAY CLOCK GOES BOOM!

The Meadowlands Crowd is left

SHOCKED and AWED.

NEW YORK GIANTS:  Eagles Stick Talons Into G-Men And Rip Their Fan's Hearts Out.

Silence ~ The party that never was.  A silent crowd loitering around like zombies left in disbelief was all that remained in Giants Stadium for what can only be described as a disaster of epic proportion in their last regular home season game of 2010.  The Giants all but assured they will not be the NFC East Champs; they will not receive a first-round bye, nor will they now be entitled to a home playoff game, and that's even if they make the playoffs at this point.

The Giants had an opportunity to reclaim greatness this season with this one game and simply BLEW IT!  A crowd delighted to near perfect football for 52:00 minutes Sunday afternoon were made to go home dejected, deflated, demoralized, and because the finish was such a complete failure, the crowd also went home deranged and disoriented.

What started out as a game that looked to be one this franchise's most glorious victories, in the blink of an eye, turned on them and became one of this organization's all-time ultimate nightmares.


UNBELIEVABLE LOSS OF HISTORIC PROPORTION!

Giving up 28 points in the 4th quarter; Game ends on a punt return for a touchdown.

Coach Coughlin was right about one thing; There's enough blame to go around for everyone!

* The struggles started in the beginning the the third quarter when Coach Gilbride decided to get away from the running game.  Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs combined for 31 carries and 100 yards for the game.  It was an honest workman's performance that still required respect on Philly's part.  Coach Gilbride all but made Jacobs disappear throughout the 2nd half.

This has been following right along with a mysterious trend of Offensive futility in the third quarters in games of late.  Perhaps Coach Gilbride isn't adapting well enough to half-time adjustment made to his schemes?  That's totally based on my frustration.  This Offense can look so masterful and then so futile all in the same game, quarter or drive.

* How the hell does Mario Manningham fumble that ball?  He just laid the ball on the field.  I couldn't believe it!  This is honestly when my panic settled in....well..., because I've seen these kind of things from the Giants before (reference 2003 playoff game vs 49ers)

* Poor/lack of tackling by Kenny Phillips on Celek's 65 yard Touchdown at 7:28 AND Terrell Thomas on Maclin at 1:16.

* Special Teams Coach Tom Quinn getting caught with his pants down on Philly's on-side kick.  He posted a 5-man front.  They were all running back for blocking on the assumed, ensuing kick.  There's not a person on the unit who was thinking On-Side.  Why?  Everyone at home knew Philly had to attempt one to stay within reach.  The Special Teams have been an Achilles Heal to us all year and everyone knew it.  But no one...no one ever expected this.  We'd given the unit only glancing criticisms because we've gotten away with their deficiencies.  This game we were completely blind-sided.  Special Teams finally bit us in the ass at the worst possible time.

* I need to know exactly what Def. Coordinator Perry Fewell had the guys doing out there for 52:00 minutes, then failed miserably at over the last 8 minutes.  Maclin and Celek were continually wide open and Michael Vick was suddenly set free to run wild.  Does having Justin Tuck dropping back in coverage really make sense to you, the fan and reader?

* With 1:10 left, the failure of the Giants' Offense to get a first down as they stumbled through a three and out series which left the Eagles with 0:14 seconds left.  This is the very moment I spent Weeks 3 through 10 screaming about.

* THE PUNT!!  What the hell was that?  A failure to follow directions...that's what!  His job was to kick the ball out of bounds.  This also gets thrown back to the Special Teams Coach.  This, and the punt coverage that was supposed to tackle the guy with the ball all fall on Coach Quinn.

* Coach Coughlin ~ I thought he was going to beat-up Matt Dodge right on the field.  He immediately berated his young kicker and even put his hands on him for a sec...   Coach really blew his stack.  And I Can't Blame Him!  Ya just gotta be careful there Coach.

Coach Coughlin; Coach Fewell; Coach Gilbride; Coach Quinn, the Offense, The Defense and the Special Teams, all contributed in an all-hands-on-deck effort to detonate this season.


I am still short many, many words to truely describe to you how I feel.  But like I said, Giant fans have been here before.


So, yeah - the Giants lost their opportunity to have a great season...AGAIN.  For this week we get to use words like disgusting; disaster; colossal meltdown, abysmal, atrocious, pathetic, ponderous...etc etc.


You get the picture.




The End...for now.



Mike.BTB