N.Y. Giants: Onus is on Jason Garret to Elevate Saquon Barkley's Game

From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

HOG MOLLIES STILL RUNNING IN MUD

Saquon Barkley: Playing Truth or Dare

Daniel Jones needs help, and truth be told, it's incumbent upon Saquon Barkley to supply much of it.  After all, that was Dave Gettleman's original vision, was it not?  Upon drafting Barkley, he said teams will stack the box and thus open up downfield opportunities.

'Memba?  I 'memba ...

Saquon Barkley has rushed 52 times for 186 yards through four games, averaging 13 carries for 46.5 yards per game.  Meanwhile, Daniel Jones is averaging 36 attempts per game.

His sixteen attempts against Atlanta are to date a season-high.  However, his two best efforts arguably came against Washington and New Orleans, in which he averaged over four yards per rush.

Barkley has caught 14 of 19 targets out of the backfield for 130 yards, giving him 66 total touches for 316 yards or 16.5 touches for 79 yards per game.

That's simply not enough.

First, we are forced to ask, is Saquon still playing through the lingering effects of last year's injury and recovery efforts?  We also have to decipher whether we're witnessing a lack of confidence and hesitancy on Saquon's part versus an ability to instinctually pound the ball between the tackles?  We just don't know.

If Saquon is indeed feeling 100%, then it's the offensive line that is still nowhere near creating enough daylight.  While Andrew Thomas is developing into an outstanding tackle, Nate Solder remains a liability at the other end, Will Hernandez is still not back up to snuff.  Ben Bredeson and Billy Price continue covering for the injured Nick Gates.

However, the biggest reason for the Giants inconsequential running game remains Jason Garrett's continued unbalanced attack, much less his play selection itself. 

If they're building up Saquon Barkley's workload on an incremental basis, we should soon be seeing Saquon rush twenty and 25 times per game.

This doesn't even bring into question why Devontae Booker only has seven rushing attempts for 22 yards.

N.Y. Giants: What's The Play!?

From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

GETTING DARK EARLY AT EAST RUTHERFORD

WEEK THREE

Falcons    17

GIANTS  14

FINAL

More Mistakes, More Flags, More Mismanagement, More Losing

Once is an event, twice is a coincidence, and three times is a trend.  With Sunday's loss against the worst team on their schedule, the Giants now own an 0-3 record after three weeks.  It speaks for itself.

Week three featured yet more second-half folly.  Moreover, the offensive line penalties are becoming maddening; otherwise, eight-team penalties for 53 yards.  

At about the 9:00 mark of the third, Will Hernandez, who should absolutely know better, was flagged for an ineligible man downfield.  It cost Saquon Barkley a 23-yard gain.

If you were watching on TV, at 6:29 of the third quarter Daniel Jones was changing the play at the line of scrimmage.  Or was he?  Because not just once, but at least twice, we heard very clearly someone yelling out, "What is the play?"  When they finally do snap the ball, Brad Bredeson is flagged for holding.  

Nate Solder was called for another costly fourth-quarter penalty, and Billy Price another.  It's downright exasperating, and it costs the Giants games.

The Hog Mollies yielded two sacks and five other hits, which is manageable.  But they're still not creating requisite daylight.  They rushed 19 times for just 61 yards.  Saquon Barkley rushed 16 times for 51 yards.  Daniel Jones ran for 39 yards giving the Giants 100 yards for the game, but as I've been saying, this is far from optimal, nor is it tenable.

Where in the world was Deventae Booker?  Why isn't he increasing Giants' rushes to upwards of 22 to 25 per game?  Why the hell did they shovel money at him if they're not going to play him?  Elijhaa Penny and Gary Brightwell rush three times for ten yards.  

Really?

Cycling back to Jason Garrett, despite a season-high 19 rushing attempts, his play calling is still far from balanced and sometimes even nonsensical.  Why would you devise a running play for the fullback to rush around the edge?

I'll wait ...

It doesn't end there.  In the first half, Daniel Jones and the Giants' offense did many things right.  But the Giants entered the red zone three times and stalled, including a dropped pass in the end zone, thus coming away with only six points, only to lose by a field goal.

The Giants trailed 7-6 at the half, ordinarily nothing to fret over.  That is until a mistake-riddled third quarter.  

Some of that is on Joe Judge.  He needs to clean up this pandemic of penalties and better manage his timeouts!

But unlike Jason Garrett, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham called a decent game.  The Giants posted an improved three sacks and six other hits.  They held the Falcons to 17 points and under 300 total yards.  Atlanta rushed for just 69 yards, and Matt Ryan was held to 243 yards passing.  However, another costly penalty near the goal line afforded the Falcons a second chance resulting in an easy touchdown connection with the tight end.

Yes, in consecutive fourth-quarter drives, they yielded the tying score and winning score.  They even dropped a potential interception in the end zone.  But I can't put this loss on the defense, fourth-quarter letdown, and all.  Lest we forget, they lost Blake Martinez in the first half and for the season.

Despite mixing and matching Hog Mollies, investing foolishly big bucks on receiver Kenny Golladay, picking up a tight end, and selecting Kadarius Toney in the draft, the Giants' biggest problems remain on the offensive side of the ball, and not necessarily Daniel Jones.  Nor can penalties and rushing inefficiency be blamed on injuries to Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard.

With the game tied at fourteen, the Giants were given the ball with 4:13 left and mustered nothing except for Solder's holding penalty.

Sunday's loss makes two games they've been held under fifteen points.

The numbers tell no lies.

N.Y. Giants: Line of Scrimmage Still in the Dark

From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

WEEK THREE

Falcons

vs.

GIANTS

If The Hog Mollies Can't Push Around The Atlanta Falcons, Then Who Can They Push?

Some intelligent guy from Greece once said: man is the measure of all things.  If we apply this to football, the Atlanta Falcons will measure the Giants' offensive line.  Because, as I say: once is an event, twice is a coincidence, and three times is a trend.  

Thus, into Game Three, we go.

Another intelligent person on Twitter said that if the Giants get more first downs, the defense spends less time on the field.

Indeed!

1. Week One, the Broncos achieved 24 first downs, 17 passing, four running, and three on penalties. 
2. Week Two, Washington completed 25 first downs, 13 passing, eight running, and four on penalties.

• Through two weeks, opponents have achieved 49 first downs, 30 passing, twelve running, and seven on penalties.

1. Against the Broncos, the Giants earned 19 first downs, 13 passing, three running, and three on penalties.
2. Against Washington, they completed 21 first downs, ten passing, seven running, and four on penalties.

• All told, the Giants have achieved 40 first downs, 23 passing, ten running, and seven on penalties.

Said another way, the Giants are getting outplayed.  But do with these numbers as you will.  Just know they're being polluted by Daniel Jones.  The Giant quarterback leads the team through two games with 122 yards running on 15 romps, with two touchdowns, one fumble, and no trip-ups ... yet.

The backfield of Saquon Barkley and Devontae Booker together has rushed 29 times for 99 yards.  If you take away Barkley's 41-yard run against Washington, Saquon finishes that game with twelve rushes for 16 yards.  With his 41-yard romp, Barkley has now rushed 23 times for 83 total yards, averaging 3.6 yards per run.  He carried ten times against the Broncos and 13 times against Washington.  Is he being eased back into action coming off last year's injury?  Indeed he is.

However, the numbers still speak for themselves.  In light of Saquon's soft return, there are two, actually three, big reasons why Devontae Booker is not helping bring the rushes per game up from 14 and 15 to upwards of twenty-plus per game.  

Sometimes stuff like this needs to be revisited ...

ONE  -  The days of the highly skilled blocking fullback (Maurice Carthon) have gone the way of the Dodo Bird - flightless, grounded, extinct.  Phil Simms and the Giants do not win Super Bowl XXI without Joe Morris; Jeff Hostetler and company do not win XXV without Otis Anderson.  Heck, Kerry Collins, and Jim Fassel do not get to XXXV without Tiki Barber.  What these three teams had in common was a formidable offensive line.  After the 2000 season, Ernie Accorsi further supplemented it, and that offensive line set a record for consecutive games played together.  They all waited for Eli Manning to grow up, and when he did, the Giants won two more Super Bowls.  But, of course, that doesn't happen without Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.  What did the 1986/1990 Giants have in common with 2007/2011 Giants, you ask?  Both teams featured Pro Bowl-caliber centers in Bart Oates and Shaun O'Hara.

TWO. -  Bill Parcell's Giants were straight out smash mouth.  Simms was tasked with being a field manager.  That's why he glistened in Super Bowl XXI because entering that game, the Giants had already stamped the NFL with their running game.  Nor did 2007 and 2011 happen without offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, who, despite pass-happy Tom Coughlin, called a balanced game; after all, the Giants featured a formidable running game.  The point being, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is the one calling plays.  His style often works contrary to the available talent pool; his sense of pass/run balance is nonexistent.  Everything in between is rightly within questioning.

THREE  -  Forget the history lesson; the Hog Mollies are simply not performing at a contending level, never have.  After 2011, Jerry Reese then Dave Gettleman have never satisfactorily rebuilt the offensive line.  Instead, they effectively ruined the latter part of Eli Manning's career.  But I digress.  The offensive line is not creating enough daylight.  Open a lane, and I can push a mailbox through for positive yardage.  Otherwise, the line of scrimmage remains dark.  Whether by design or taking what is given, yardage gained by Daniel Jones is strictly opportunistic football.  It's the complete antithesis of what we Giant fans know works because it's been proven: clock-control smash-mouth football.

The season-ending injury to Shane Lemieux, and presently to Nick Gates (IR) further compound matters.  The Giants will be moving forward with Andrew Thomas, Ben Bredeson, Billy Price at the center, Will Hernandez, and Nate Solder, with Matt Peart and recently signed (C) Jonothan Harrison on call.  

Newly inserted center Billy Price did not at all have a good game against Washington.  Andrew Thomas was better from week one to the next.  Nate Solder and Will Hernandez remain pedestrian, and Ben Bredeson performed under par. 

What more can I say, other than there's a reason teams like the Steelers and others make such huge investments into their (center) offensive lines.  

First downs or bust ...

I will go to my grave believing Atlanta lost the Super Bowl to New England because (their then) All-Pro quality center Alex Mack broke his leg just before halftime.  Afterwhich, the Falcons running game completely collapsed like a cheap poker table.  Atlanta's inability to achieve first downs compromised their entire second half.  They instantly became one-dimensional; Bill Belichick and Tom Brady and took care of the rest.

The Denver Broncos have a good defense, and Washington features better security.  But the same cannot be said of the Atlanta Falcons.  We shall see if these Hog Mollies are trending or not.

ICYMI

• All Eyes On Daniel Jones, and the Man Who Drafted Him
• Stumblin' and Fumblin' in Week One Loss to Broncos
• Still In Search of the Elusive Hog Mollies
• Week Two Marred By More Mistakes and Another Fourth Quarter Meltdown
• The Pressure is On For Some, Off For Others

N.Y. Giants: Dave Gettleman Facing Fourth And Long

From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

SEASON FINALE

Cowboys 19

Giants     23

FINAL

The Eagles play dead, Washington wins their final game of the regular season, and the Giants are out of the playoffs.  

This is what happens when you place your football fate in the hands of another team.

The Giants didn't deserve to make the playoffs.  Everything else is just noise to me.  You're either a legitimate playoff team, or you're not.  As Bill Parcells always used to say, "You are what your record says you are."  

That makes the Giants a sub-par team.

So long 2020 ...

Hello?

John Mara meddled way too much during Eli Manning's last seasons with the Giants, and they're still paying the price.  Let us not forget what Dave Gettleman inherited from Jerry Reese.  But it's becoming time that Gettleman starts owning this continuing futility.

John Mara wanted to rally around Eli Manning one last time.  So Gettleman signed Nate Solder to a ridiculous contract, then drafted Saquon Barkley and Will Hernandez with his first two selections as the Giants' general manager.  

Afterwhich, Gettleman spent three of his next five picks selecting defensive linemen (Lorenzo Carter, B.J. Hill, R.J. McIntosh).  We mustn't overlook the useless selection of quarterback Kyle Lauletta in the fourth round.  But Gettleman also began breaking down the defense by trading Snacks Harrison, Eli Apple, Olivier Vernon, et al., and eventually letting Landon Collins walk. This is what I call conflicting agendas.  

Selecting Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick was questionable in 2018 and remains so today.  To be clear, Barkley's talent is not in question.  The issue at the time was philosophical and more about the team's direction.  I contend Mara's meddling in 2018 compromised Gettleman's cap flexibility and put his drafting a full year behind schedule.  Not coincidentally, after Gettleman traded Odell Beckham Jr. and installed Daniel Jones at quarterback, the Giants' owner(s) have been silent ever since.

With regards to those selected in the 2018 draft, we anticipate a healthy return by Barkley.  Left guard Will Hernandez was originally sidelined by COVID but was clearly struggling beforehand and never did win back his starting job.  Third round supplemental pick defensive back Sam Beals is even lower on the depth charts.  Meanwhile, Lorenzo Carter spent the 2020 season on injured reserve.  Neither B.J. Hill nor R.J. McIntosh has achieved starter status in the Giants 3-4 scheme.  They play behind 2017 second-round pick Dalvin Tomlinson, trade acquisition Leonard Williams, and left end, Dexter Lawrence, selected in the first round of the 2019 draft.

Dexter Lawrence (think Odell Beckham Jr. trade) was the second of a trio of first-round selections for the Giants.  Of course, 2019's first pick was used to select Daniel Jones.  Cornerback Deandre Baker was Gettleman's third first-round selection but is no longer with the team (which deserves its own narrative). Without a number two pick, Oshane Ximines was drafted in the third round as a defensive end.  When that didn't work out, Ximines was moved to linebacker but wound up another casualty on the injured reserve list.  Julian Love and Darius Slayton are keepers, whereas Ryan Connerly and Corey Ballentine are both gone.  Lastly, seventh-round selections George Asafo-Adjel and (and yet another failed defensive lineman) Chris Slayton are nowhere to be found.

The 2020 draft was another mixed bag of goods.  Selecting three offensive linemen within the team's first five picks was impressive.  Andrew Thomas was the fourth overall selection of the draft.  His season was filled with both good times and bad, but I expect he'll improve.  Matt Peart and Shane Lemieux came on strong as the season progressed.  In fact, Lemieux's effective play kept Will Hernandez on the sidelines.  Gettleman, with his second and fourth picks, selected Xavier McKinney and Darnay Holmes.  Gettleman then drafted four linebackers with minimal impact.

I'm going to credit Dave Gettleman with ten draft hits in just under thirty attempts.  Keep in mind a player's best ability is his availability.  If a player is hurt, that player is probably not on my list.  Otherwise, the respective levels of success are debatable:

1. Saquon Barkley
2. Will Hernandez
3. Daniel Jones
4. Dexter Lawrence
5. Julian Love
6. Darius Slayton
7. Andrew Thomas
8. Xavier McKinney
9. Matt Peart
10. Shane Lemieux

One thing Gettleman cannot be criticized for is ignoring the offensive line.  You wanted hog mollies; you got hog mollies.  However, his draft selections at linebacker and defensive line have mostly been terrible.  His choices for the secondary have been hit or miss.  Insofar as the 2020 season, the 2018 draft proved largely inconsequential.  The 2019 draft at least yielded four starters.  If I'm not mistaken, Darius Slayton is Gettleman's lone wide receiver selection through three drafts.

The main takeaway from the Odell Beckham trade remains Dexter Lawrence.  While Jabrill Peppers has been more than serviceable, the aforementioned Oshane Ximines has not.

The upside to acquiring Leonard Williams from the Jets now rests in Gettleman's hands.  To pay him, or not, is the question.  Williams, at 26-years old, enjoyed a career season with the Giants.  In twelve starts and sixteen games, he set career highs with 11.5 sacks and 30 QBhits.  His 29 solo and 28 assisted tackles were his most since (2016) his second year in the league.  Leonard Williams and Dalvin Tomlinson are both headed towards free agency.  It's hard to imagine the Giants signing both.  And so, we cycle back to the draft and Gettleman's generally poor history of drafting defensive linemen.

After the 2021 season, the office of general manager will likely need revisiting anyway.  First and foremost, Gettleman's age and well being must be taken into consideration.  But for as long as he feels up for the task, then the Giants are 15-33 (.312) during his tenure.  

Isn't it odd how his win percentage and his rate of draft hits are alarmingly similar?

His next draft will be his fourth as general manager of the Giants.

N.Y. Giants: Daniel Jones Remains the Outstanding Problem

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

WEEK EIGHT

Bucs      25

Giants   23

FINAL

Eight Weeks Left For Daniel Jones To Rewrite His History

Once again, the Giants put themselves in a position to win.  Some would argue they are thwarted by a controversial non-pass interference call with 0:28 left in the game.  If they successfully execute a two-point conversion, the game is tied.  There's certainly something to that. 

Instead, the Giants fall to their seventh loss of the season.  That's the true reality of the situation.  But I'm not down.  After all, this is a rebuilding team, right?  

Despite their unsightly record, I see improvement.  Under Coach Graham, while bereft of linebackers not named Blake Martinez, the defense starts the season well and has only gotten better.  Special teams are fundamentally sound, and in the absence of Saquon Barkley, the running game, albeit padded by Daniel Jones, has rushed for 100+ yards in four of the last five games.  

However, pass protection still leaves much to be desired.  Tampa Bay sacks Jones three times and inflict another eleven QB hits for good luck.  The Hog Mollies this season have allowed the eighth-most sacks, yielding 2.9 per game.  

Left tackle Andrew Thomas is having a rough go in his rookie season, while left guard Will Hernandez was already playing below his own standard before being sidelined by COVID.  

But make no mistake.  Daniel Jones remains an outstanding problem on offense.  The longer it takes for him to set his internal alarm clock, the more he'll continue getting his bell rung by opposing pass rushers.  Jones has now been sacked 51 times in his last 16 games.  

With two more interceptions against the Buccaneers, Daniel Jones now has 35 turnovers through his first 20 career starts.  He is up to 13 turnovers this season through eight games.  Jones gallantly went toe to toe with Tom Brady, but ultimately shot himself in the foot, again.  The first interception is completely avoidable and an otherwise inferior decision by an NFL quarterback.  The second interception takes the Giants out of field goal range - failure to seize the moment. 

Time is indeed ticking.  Eight games remain in the regular season.  Said another way, eight games left before the next NFL Draft.  That's eight games left for Daniel Jones to prove himself worthy of the starting job.  This isn't the first time Jones put the Giants in a position to win only to flip the switch and self-destruct.  Time to prove himself is growing short.  Looking back is no help ... not with 20 fumbles in his last 16 games.  That certainly doesn't speak very well.  Nor does the fact that he is yet to throw for 300 yards this season.  

Today's NFL is a pass/fail condition.  That's just the lay of the land.  Alas, he has the next eight games to finally impress people and change some minds.  For the moment, Daniel Jones is a defective item more than a valued good.  Twenty starts worth of product testing have thus far revealed a lack of pocket presence, latent situational instincts, and poor decision making .. to say the least.

Thirty-two quarters of regulation football remain.  The more games Danny Dimes wins, the farther down the Giants fall in the draft order.  He is effectively his own anti-tank weapon against Dave Gettleman.  With no shot at (Clemson) Trevor Lawrence, it's more likely Daniel Jones remains safely at quarterback.

But can he win over the naysayers ...

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.

N.Y. Giants: Stop The Madness

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

On The Giants Way

New York Football Giants: With History and Experience as His Teacher, No Person Should Understand the Need for a Complete Rebuild Better Than John Mara.

My rooting interest in the Giants goes back more than 40-years.  Therefore I'm in no mood for being sold on false hope.  That's why I say back-to-back victories be damned.  Watching the Giants defeat the Niners and Buccaneers did nothing to sway my opinion.  An arguably gamely effort against the Eagles on Sunday only confirms my position.

I maintain the belief this team must finally commit to a full blown rebuild.  When a football team manages just six victories over their last 27 games, not only are major changes in order, reconciliation between emotions and opinion versus cold critical analysis and corrective action are prerequisite.

What I find slightly bewildering is that John Mara understands this.  He is a third-generation football man, born in a football world, raised by a football family.  He is a witness, and therefore knows exactly what both building and rebuilding sustained success entails.  He's been through this before and understands the process perfectly.  Yet, John Mara presently makes no clear distinction between rebuilding and retooling.  To be fair, John Mara's father was never burdened by costs involved with building a new stadium.  Thus when you consider Giants Football is indeed the family's primary business enterprise, calling for a full blown rebuild understandably poses a resistible proposition.  Nevertheless, I believe there's only one manner at this juncture in which Mr. Mara can correct this huge mistake, and that's by moving forward with unwavering conviction.

Mistake?

The mess Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur are presently charged with cleaning up was created by John Mara's unyielding loyalty to former general manager Jerry Reese.  And for good reason: Jerry Reese begins his Giants career in 1994 as a college scout at a time when Wellington Mara is still hanging out at practice, George Young is still general manager, and Dan Reeves is head coach.  John Mara is also around, serving in his sixth year as a team executive.  Meanwhile, Ernie Accorsi is beginning his first season as assistant general manager.  When George Young in 1997 hands the reigns over to Accorsi, Jerry Reese spends the next decade serving as pro scout and director of player personnel.  When The Duke passes away in 2005, John Mara assumes the role of team president.  In 2007, Jerry Reese succeeds Accorsi as general manager.

We fans call this, the Giants Way.  And we appreciate the organization's respective families greatly for it.

Giants history further speaks for itself ...

When Ray Perkins accepts the head coach position at Alabama, George Young elects to promote from within by elevating defensive coordinator Bill Parcells.  Two Super Bowls later, Parcells retires.  Pitifully, the Giants have no plan in place geared towards retaining Bill Belichick.  Two miserable seasons under Ray Handley lay ahead.  Former Broncos head coach Dan Reeves watches from afar, and calls George Young offering his services.  Young accepts, and in 1993 Reeves squeezes the last bit of goodness out of that old school Giants team in the form of a playoff victory over the Vikings.

How do the Giants follow up?  They cut Phil Simms, as George Young and Dan Reeves commit to a full blown rebuild.  Three years later, Ernie Accorsi and new head coach Jim Fassel pick up where Young and Reeves leave off.  By the late 1990s the Giants are contending again, and by 2000 they're back in the Super Bowl.  After which, the team culture goes somewhat awry.  But Accorsi medicates the situation with an apple picked off the old Bill Parcells tree.

Enter head coach Tom Coughlin, and the dawn of the Eli Manning era.  The stage is set for a second run on Super Bowls (eerily reminiscent of the first).  Only this time, the Giants woefully mismanage the aftermath.  John Mara above and beyond the dictates of today's colder impersonal NFL remains paralyzed by loyalty and commitment to Jerry Reese.  As such, Mara allows Reese to oversee the deconstruction of a championship operation.  Draft results, salary cap management, and the team's overall level of success since 2011 all speak for themselves.  The list of scapegoats is also numerous: Kevin Gilbride to Tom Coughlin, Perry Fewell and even Ben McAdoo.  When truth be told, the fall from Super Bowl contender to NFL bottom feeder starts with Reese.

Ben McAdoo is this era's Ray Handley.  And the Giants reappearance in the 2016 playoffs turns out being less than that of their 1993 playoff victory under Dan Reeves.  However, whereas George Young recognizes the time to rebuild has come; whereas Ernie Accorsi recognizes a need for culture change has come; Jerry Reese fails to recognize either.  And unless John Mara further clarifies his intentions for the team's future, he likewise remains guilty as charged.

Trading JPP during the off-season, trading Snacks Harrison and Eli Apple in-season, are trivial salary cap maneuvers.  Whereas the Giants present deficiencies and future needs are great.  After Odell Beckham, Saquon Barkley, Landon Collins, and even Will Hernandez, who else is worthy of debate and/or retention?  Janoris Jenkins?

I agree with naysayers insofar Eli Manning deserves his full share of criticism.  However, I feel at times as if he receives too much blame for the team's greater malfunction and misfortunes.  I'm on record saying that if the Giants had no intention of selecting Eli Manning's replacement during the most recent draft, I would have preferred they trade out of the number two pick.  Because far beyond Eli's own personal decline, the depletion of complimentary talent and deterioration of supportive play have been far more debilitating.

Eli is who he has always been, which is a non-elusive pocket passer.  Once upon a time, he was allowed to develop behind a record-setting offensive line constructed by Ernie Accorsi.  Jerry Reese however would inexplicably stick through thick and thin with a woefully inept cast of replacements, or lack thereof.  Dave Gettleman after just one year on the job has now employed at least ten different offensive linemen to date with little variance in results.  The signing of Nate Solder is again demonstrating how throwing money at a problem often proves ineffectual.  Hence, no other quarterback in the NFL this season has been sacked more than Eli Manning (3.6 times per game according to TeamRankings.com).

Eli surpasses 3,000 yards passing this Sunday against the Eagles.  With a slightly better performance of late from the offensive line, he demonstrates that he indeed is still a very capable NFL quarterback.  I've said it before: in light of a new generation of quarterbacks, I still trust him.  I'm merely calling it like I see it.

• WIN vs. Niners: 19/31 for 188 yards; 3 touchdowns; no INT; 1 sack; 4 QB hits.
• WIN vs. Bucs: 17/18 for 231 yards; 2 touchdowns; no INT; 4 sacks; 6 QB hits.
• LOSS vs. Eagles: 26/37 for 297 yards; 1 touchdown; 1 INT; 2 sacks; 5 QB hits.

Make of it what you will.  But, is it coincidence the Giants, Packers, and Ravens, have absurd portions of respective salary cap devoted to quarterbacks, while everything else is collapsing around them (if it hasn't already)?  The Falcons are arguably making the same mistake.

Tom Brady has throughout his career worked out financial deals with the Patriots for sake of greater quality turnover.  And lest we forget Bill Belichick routinely trades top talent a too early (rather than too late) for sake of draft picks and maintaining quality control.  How has that worked out for them?

Drafting is still the way to lay and build upon a solid foundation.  Meanwhile, young quarterbacks are proving extremely cost effective in today's NFL.  In turn, that money theoretically gets spent elsewhere.  In the most recent draft, however, the Giants arguably had one or two available quarterbacks for the taking.  They select a running back instead.  In lieu of a quarterback I would have swapped the number two overall pick (in return for two picks) and devoted them towards reestablishing a dominant line of scrimmage (which in part involves drafting a potential Pro-Bowl caliber center).

I love Saquon Barkley, by the way.  And it's a shame that both he and Odell Beckham are such superior talents.  I can not say the same about 80% of starting players on either side of the ball.

The Giants lacking a legitimate pass rusher is just one example.  That said, how well are the huge sums of cash Jerry Reese poured into the defense serving the team now?  How did that work out Sunday against the Eagles?

Again, spending bad money while simultaneously accumulating dead money is not the answer.  Initiating a rebuild breaks this vicious cycle.  The resulting byproduct of drafting and development is replenishment of salary cap reserves.  Talent and spending are reset, together.

Contending in a weak NFC East is also false justification.  It's nothing short of complete folly.  This team is ill-equipped to go up against any of the NFL's other division leaders; not last season; not this season; not next season.  Exactly when, is up to Mr. Mara (and Mr. Tisch), for I believe vision and directive come from the top.  In turn, the executive's responsibility lies in planning and execution.

For all these reasons I believe Dave Gettleman needs orders post haste to begin rebuilding anew ... like Ernie Accorsi did, and George Young did before him.

Do It For The Duke.

N.Y. Giants: Addition by Subtraction

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 WEEK THREE

GIANTS   27

TEXANS  22

FINAL

New York Football Giants: Big Blue Back-Ups Rush to Reinforce Offensive Line.

Despite Cries to the Contrary, Dave Gettleman Has So Far Kept Off-Season 

Promise to Revamp Offensive Line and Recommit to Running Game.

First, allow me to preface everything by saying that for three straight weeks now, the Houston Texans have been utterly, albeit unexpectedly, terrible.  I heard over the weekend someone say that Houston is playing against two teams: their opponents and themselves.  Whatever their malfunction, its their problem.

The Giants gain their first victory of the season with a very well rounded effort against the Texans.  However, Big Blue is not without their own problems.  Starting center Jon Halapio breaks his leg in Week Two against the Dallas Cowboys forcing Brett Jones into action, and beleaguered right tackle Ereck Flowers is (finally) benched in favor of Chad Wheeler.

Rewind back to Week One against Jacksonville - With both Jon Halapio and Ereck Flowers starting, the Giants rush 23 times for 114 net yards.  Together Jonathan Stewart and Saquon Barkley account for 20 attempts.  Five plays go left (behind either guard Will Hernandez and tackle Nate Solder) for 16-yards; five plays go up the middle (Jon Halapio) for 6-yards.  But ten plays go right-side (guard Patrick Omameh and tackle Ereck Flowers) for 92-yards, which includes Saquon Barkley's fourth quarter 68-yard touchdown run.  That play started middle but then bounced right through Ereck Flowers' lead block.  But if you subtract Barkley's romp, the Giants run right nine times for 24-yards.

Jon Halapio and Ereck Flowers start again at Dallas.  This turns out being a bad day for not just the offensive line, but for all involved - Coach Shurmur and offensive coordinator Mike Shula included.  The Giants all but abandon the run game, rushing only 14 times all game for 31-yards.  Eli scrambles three other times giving the Giants a total of 37-yards on the ground.  Halapio sustains a broken leg with six minutes left in the third quarter.  Prior to his injury, the Giants attempt a mere ten rushes for 27-yards.  Post injury, the Giants attempt another four rushes for four more yards.  All told, the Giants rush left six times for 19-yards.  They rush middle seven times with but one yard to show, and four other rushes go right for 17-yards.

With Jon Halapio out for the season, and Houston's J.J. Watt looming, Coach Shurmur benches Ereck Flowers.  And low and behold, Sunday ushers in a remarkable change in chemistry, and perhaps even fortune.  Or does command decision and better execution rule the day?

PASS PROTECTION IS A BIG BLUE ISSUE

In fairness to Chad Wheeler, J.J. Watt is an extraordinary specimen and arguably the best NFL creature at his position.  The Texans predictably sack Eli Manning four times and rough him up six other times (J.J. Watt alone accounts for three sacks, and five QB hits).  Wheeler struggles against Watt's speed rushes, and at times is simply outsmarted.  Back in Week One, the Jaguars sack Eli twice and get in six other touches.  After which Dallas sacks Eli six times and tag him with eight other QB hits in Week Two.  Suffice it to say pass protection remains a Giant issue.  After three weeks, they've allowed twelve sacks and 20 other QB hits.  That's no way to keep your 37-year old quarterback healthy and on the field.  His greatest ability will ultimately be his continued availability.

And that's why the running game is of paramount concern.  Eli is at his best working off play action.

With Brett Jones and Chad Wheeler starting for the first time together, the offensive line provides just enough space and time for Eli Manning, and creates just enough daylight for another 100-yard ground effort.  Eli connects on 25/29 (86%) for 297 yards and two touchdowns.  Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Stewart, and Wayne Gallman join together on 25 rushes for 115-yards.  The Giants run left six times for 22-yards.  Although three plays up the middle go for negative yardage, they run off-center ten times for 18 net yards.  The right side has another big day, with nine rushes going their way resulting in 75-yards gained and a touchdown.

OUT OF THE DARK; INTO THE DAYLIGHT

The Giants are clearly rushing middle/right - towards their weakness - with a noticeable measure of success.  Through three games, they've rushed left-side 17 times for 57-yards.  They've gone up the gut 23 times for 40-yards, and have rushed right-side 22 times for 169-yards.  The latter is more than the 2017 Giants entire rushing totals through their first three games as they elect to run a mere 46 times for a grand total of 147-yards.  Through three games this season, Saquon Barkely alone has rushed exactly 46 times for 216-yards.  Otherwise, the Giants have rushed for 263-yards to date.  Meanwhile, Eli Manning is down to 81 pass attempts versus 117 pass attempts at this time last season.

This is Dave Gettleman at work.  With the benching of Ereck Flowers, the offensive line left behind by former general manager Jerry Reese is officially purged.  Of course, there is still much work to be done and more improvements to be made.  For the moment, however, it appears as if Gettleman has accomplished in one off-season what Reese failed to adequately address over the last six or seven seasons.  Despite a disappointing 1-2 start, the first three games of this season prove that out.

At the same time, this is not a ringing endorsement.

N.Y. Giants: No Hiding Flowers In Newly Constructed Offensive Line

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Dave Gettleman spends big bucks and a 

second round pick to refortify offensive line.

New York Football Giants: Dave Gettleman did more to overhaul the offensive line in his first off-season than did former general manager Jerry Reese over the last six years.

The day after winning Super Bowl XLVI, should have been the day Jerry Reese started deconstructing and rebuilding his offensive line.  He did no such thing.  Which is part and parcel why Reese is no longer employed by the Giants.

This year's helmet crashers will feature three brand new members.  But with Ereck Flowers shifting over to the right side, and Jon Halapio moving to center, all five positions will have a new starter in place.

Gettleman paid the necessary premium in order to secure free agent left tackle Nate Solder.  His four year, $62 million dollar contract makes Nate the NFL's highest paid lineman.  But that's the price the Giants needed to pay in order to rectify an untenable situation (where it concerns Eli Manning's ability to play upright).  Solder was Tom Brady's blind side protector for the last seven years, and won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.  He instantly becomes the anchor of this unit.  His four line mates would be wise to follow his lead.

With their second pick in the 2018 draft, the Giants select left guard Will Hernandez.  He's 6'4", 327 lbs., and when on the field is said to be mean as a rattlesnake.  At one point during training camp, he and B.J. Goodson engaged in a minor altercation and needed to be separated.  That's good!  And I couldn't be happier with this selection.

Jon Halapio takes over at center.  Exactly why, I'm not quite sure, because it's not his natural position. But it would seem he simply demonstrated better ability and agility at the position.  Listed at 6'3", 315 lbs., I certainly don't mind the switch.  Brett Jones last year played fairly well in place of the since departed Weston Richburg.  But this is clearly Coach Shurmur's decision, whom like Gettleman is seemingly doing everything possible to separate themselves from last season's mess.

In March, Gettleman signed former Jacksonville Jaguar right guard Patrick Omameh to a three year deal.  How he fairs playing next to Ereck Flowers remains to be seen.  There's an obvious and necessary role for both him and center Jon Halapio to play in helping Ereck Flowers successfully negotiate four quarters of football.

Banned from the more critical left side, Ereck Flowers has been reassigned to right tackle.  His next move should be out the door.  The switch simply means Eli Manning will get to look his would be attackers in the face (as opposed to being hit from behind).  Flowers is still a liability opposing defenses will look to exploit - only difference being he'll now be appearing on their left.  No sooner than Week One will Jacksonville let the Giants know exactly where they stand with regard to Ereck Flowers.

Many of the Giants most recent failures have been largely blamed on an inept offensive line.  While Dave Gettleman did well to enact sweeping changes in just one off-season, some questions never change, such as can this new offensive line both satisfactorily protect an older Eli Manning and create sufficient daylight for rookie Saquon Barkley? 

The Giants first game of the season against a stout Jacksonville defense will go a long way towards answering these questions, and more.