This past week Tim Lewis said there was no reason to panic - if the Giants are still playing poorly by week 10, then he'll get worried. Well, here's a news flash for you Tim. These Giants better get their act together in a hurry because they can't afford to wait until week 10 to start worrying.
Take a peek at the NFC East schedule over the next four weeks. The Eagles play GB, NO, and Tampa and by the end of week 7 are a lock to be 5-2 (and probably 6-1 since they figure to permanently chase TO out of Philly). Dallas gets to tune up against the likes of TN and Houston. The Giants? They host Washington then travel to visit Michael Vick before heading into Dallas.
Even if the Giants come out blazing after the bye week and crush the Redskins, taking on Michael Vick in Atlanta won't be easy, nor will defeating Parcells in Dallas. But what if the Giants come out of the bye week still looking like stumble bums and lose to Washington? Can you say 1-5?
We've all heard it before - it's way too early to talk about must win games. And I admit I've already worn out the phrase by talking about it before the Eagles game (and I'll say it again - that was a must win game). Yet here we are only approaching game 4 with the Giants in another must win situation. Even if they win, they could still lose in Atlanta and Dallas and end up 2-4. But if they play poorly and stumble at home against Washington, they almost certainly go 1-5 and find their season in shambles.
Washington certainly won't be a gimme game. They are already 1-2, facing Jacksonville tomorrow, NY in week 5 and visit Peyton Manning in week 7. Their season is probably already over, but lose to the Giants next Sunday and it is virtually assured. So this is a huge game for Washington. And remember, Brunell is hot, having thown for a NFL record 22 straight completions last week. It won't be easy and the Giants will have to be firing on all cylinders. Tim Lewis, are you listening? Week 10? How does game 4 sound?
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Giants Shockied In Seattle
I am trying to take a "half full" view rather than a"half empty" approach to the state of the Giants. More than the loss, how they lost yesterday in Seattle was probably a good thing. This team is in trouble and yesterday's total disaster should be a catalyst for some necessary change. We will find out in two weeks whether Coughlin is a real coach or just a power hungry totalitarian who demands the respect he otherwise can't earn. I am not encouraged by two aspects of Coughlin I saw yesterday:
1. Coughlin's benching of Burress. While I believe Burress has the most talent of any Giants' receiver in recent memory, I have not been exactly thrilled by all of his immature antics and displays. It's therefore a bit odd to find myself concerned about Coughlin's benching of Burress yesterday. After all, my pre-game post actually called for the coaching staff to make lineup changes - to adopt a rule that you make plays or you sit and give someone else the opportunity. But, I am not a proponent of punishing players for making mistakes when they are trying to make plays. I have no problem if Coughlin made a decision that his back injury made Burress a liability. But that does not appear to have been the reason. Instead, I fear Coughlin chose to make an example out of Burress and it makes me a bit uneasy wondering why he selected Burress as his target. Furthermore, punishing players for making mistakes when they are trying to make plays is generally counter-productive. It simply sends the message that it is better to make no plays at all than to make a mistake trying to make a play.
2. Coughlin's comments after the game. While he said he took responsibility for the loss, in the same breath he said the schemes were fine and that the problem was simply a matter of poor execution by the players. Translation? The coaching staff and I are doing a great job - the problem is that our players simply suck.
I realize I am playing psycho analyst here, and I am certainly not saying the players are playing great. But, I do believe the disaster in Seattle presents opportunities - to make adjustments in both personnel and in the coaching schemes - an opportunity to bring this team together. It equally has the ability to tear the team apart. It also presents the opportunity for the public to learn whether Tom Coughlin is truly a great coach or just a pretender.
I think back to yesterday's game and see two primary problems:
1. Tom Coughlin knew the Giants were heading into a stadium full of noise against a very strong well balanced team. Seattle's defense led the league in sacks last year and has been playing even stronger so far this year. Under that scenario, I believe there was only one game plan, offensively, to adopt. Use the entire 1st and most of the 2nd quarters trying to physically dominate the line of scrimmage. Pound the ball with Tiki and a strong dose of Brandon Jacobs. Refuse to deviate if not immediately successful. Be willing to punt. A conservative and safe approach but one that provides a greater chance of success in the atmosphere the Giants were facing yesterday. And there is nothing that demoralizes an opponent more than getting beaten physically on the line of scrimmage.
2. The Giants had to create a pass rush. I am certainly not saying the secondary is playing great. However, it is truly impossible to get a good reading on just how poorly the secondary is playing when the opposing quarterback is under absolutely no pressure whatsoever.
These were two of the three keys I posted before yesterday's game and I believe yesterday would have been a totally different game had the Giants adopted both of these keys as their game plan out of the box.
I am certainly no professional coach - and I feel uncomfortable pretending that I know how to game plan better than Coughlin. But there it is. Like Shockey, I've said it. Unlike Shockey, I'm not a member of the team and my comments can't disrupt team unity. He needs to become a man and say what he needs to say straight to Coughlin's face and learn to control his emotions in public.
Amazingly, I am still not down about this team. Perhaps I am deluded. Maybe they really do stink and have no talent on either side of the ball. But I continue to think they are loaded with talent. It will be interesting to see in two weeks time whether Coughlin has made the necessary adjustments to have them playing that way.
1. Coughlin's benching of Burress. While I believe Burress has the most talent of any Giants' receiver in recent memory, I have not been exactly thrilled by all of his immature antics and displays. It's therefore a bit odd to find myself concerned about Coughlin's benching of Burress yesterday. After all, my pre-game post actually called for the coaching staff to make lineup changes - to adopt a rule that you make plays or you sit and give someone else the opportunity. But, I am not a proponent of punishing players for making mistakes when they are trying to make plays. I have no problem if Coughlin made a decision that his back injury made Burress a liability. But that does not appear to have been the reason. Instead, I fear Coughlin chose to make an example out of Burress and it makes me a bit uneasy wondering why he selected Burress as his target. Furthermore, punishing players for making mistakes when they are trying to make plays is generally counter-productive. It simply sends the message that it is better to make no plays at all than to make a mistake trying to make a play.
2. Coughlin's comments after the game. While he said he took responsibility for the loss, in the same breath he said the schemes were fine and that the problem was simply a matter of poor execution by the players. Translation? The coaching staff and I are doing a great job - the problem is that our players simply suck.
I realize I am playing psycho analyst here, and I am certainly not saying the players are playing great. But, I do believe the disaster in Seattle presents opportunities - to make adjustments in both personnel and in the coaching schemes - an opportunity to bring this team together. It equally has the ability to tear the team apart. It also presents the opportunity for the public to learn whether Tom Coughlin is truly a great coach or just a pretender.
I think back to yesterday's game and see two primary problems:
1. Tom Coughlin knew the Giants were heading into a stadium full of noise against a very strong well balanced team. Seattle's defense led the league in sacks last year and has been playing even stronger so far this year. Under that scenario, I believe there was only one game plan, offensively, to adopt. Use the entire 1st and most of the 2nd quarters trying to physically dominate the line of scrimmage. Pound the ball with Tiki and a strong dose of Brandon Jacobs. Refuse to deviate if not immediately successful. Be willing to punt. A conservative and safe approach but one that provides a greater chance of success in the atmosphere the Giants were facing yesterday. And there is nothing that demoralizes an opponent more than getting beaten physically on the line of scrimmage.
2. The Giants had to create a pass rush. I am certainly not saying the secondary is playing great. However, it is truly impossible to get a good reading on just how poorly the secondary is playing when the opposing quarterback is under absolutely no pressure whatsoever.
These were two of the three keys I posted before yesterday's game and I believe yesterday would have been a totally different game had the Giants adopted both of these keys as their game plan out of the box.
I am certainly no professional coach - and I feel uncomfortable pretending that I know how to game plan better than Coughlin. But there it is. Like Shockey, I've said it. Unlike Shockey, I'm not a member of the team and my comments can't disrupt team unity. He needs to become a man and say what he needs to say straight to Coughlin's face and learn to control his emotions in public.
Amazingly, I am still not down about this team. Perhaps I am deluded. Maybe they really do stink and have no talent on either side of the ball. But I continue to think they are loaded with talent. It will be interesting to see in two weeks time whether Coughlin has made the necessary adjustments to have them playing that way.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Rematch In Seattle - Preview
Just where does this team stand heading into Seattle to play the NFC champions? Let’s start with defense. Everyone knows the Giants have the best pass rush in the NFL and this year management tightened up the secondary and demonstrated a real commitment to re-establish the Giants linebacker tradition. You can bet the Redskins, at 0-2, are deeply regretting their decision to let Arrington get away. I also heard that the Giants turned down Miami’s offer this week to give up 1st and 2nd rounders to get Madison back. And the Giants have shown great strategical genius by keeping their vaunted pass rush a deeply buried secret so as not to give away anything to other teams. After all what need was there for a pass rush against quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb?
I’m not worried about the Special Teams because I think these are imposters and the real guys are actually still in Hawaii hanging out with Tyree. All except Feely who will do better in Seattle this year because this time he'll probably be kicking with his eyes shut since night terrors undoubtedly prevented any sleep at all this week. But hey, I bet Jackson, Engram, and Branch didn’t get any sleep this week either, with all their daydreaming about playing against a secondary less threatening than a peaceful Sunday stroll in the park with your best girl.
At least the Giants offense is primed. Well, maybe Pettigut & Associates didn’t get all that much sleep this week either, but the receiving corps is certainly ready to go. Ok, not Moss, but Shockey only has a bad ankle and since when does catching a football require feet? Besides, Burress only has minor back spasms and has assured everyone he will be ok because he plans to stand and stretch during the plane flight. Carter is only slightly nicked and Toomer will be fine once they carry his drained body onto the field the same way they carried him off last Sunday.
At least the running game is sound. Knowing the Giants had the Eagles where they wanted them, Tiki made the bold decision last week not to give Seattle any film to study. I don’t have any witty sarcasm to direct at Eli who, when he wasn’t on his back, single handedly brought this team out of the depths last week. Nor do I have any witticisms regarding Brandon Jacobs although last week I swear I saw the Giants’ coaching wizards use Jacobs as a demonstration of their ability to adjust as the game dictates – going over to Brandon and pointing out Tiki’s on field struggles, making sure he appreciated their decision not to let him use Eagle players as practice pins for his bowling game.
Ok, enough with the sarcasm. So maybe there are some problems. It would be easy to see why so many pick the Seahawks at home, dismissing the Giants as not quite ready for prime time and emotionally and physically spent after last week’s barn burner. But you know what? That’s horse fluey. The Giants are the better team and should – and can – win this game. As an amateur arm-chair quarterback, here’s my two cents on what they need to do to win this game. Nothing new here. It is straight forward football theory and quite simple:
1. On offense they have to run the ball;
2. On defense they have to stop the run;
3. They have to rush the passer
So how do they accomplish those three things? My theme for the week: make plays or sit and let someone else give it a try.
If Tiki isn’t making much headway, you bring in Brandon for a couple of carries and if he runs roughshod over the defense, you keep him in there until they stop him.
If Arrington keeps showing he is a shell of his former self, then you bring in Short – or Wilkinson.
If Strahan or Osi can’t seem to get untracked, then you bring in Tuck or Kiwi.
Lastly, something must be done to pressure the passer. I don’t care if it means exposing the secondary and bringing 6-7 players, the Giants have to find a way to get after the quarterback. I have the sense that once the pass rush gets rolling, it won’t stop. It just needs a jump start. And while bringing 6-7 may further expose the secondary, I’m not so sure that really makes much difference based upon their coverage to date.
I believe two of the three are doable. The Giants have to commit to running the ball big time tomorrow and show a willingness to give the ball more often to Jacobs if Tiki appears to struggle. One way or the other they have to put up big numbers with the ground game.
On defense they have to get the pass rush going, even if it means bringing everybody. The coaching staff has to commit first to bringing the pressure and worry about coverage second.
Third, stopping the run, may be the most difficult. However one has to have a hint of optimism because the run defense – including the NT – has been pretty solid so far this year. Moreover, Seattle’s running game has been a bit anemic.
This game is important. Heading into the bye week, it comes at a natural breaking point in their season. Winning tomorrow makes a difference in how this team comes together and what it thinks of itself when they restart their season in two weeks. Win tomorrow and they head into the bye week standing tall at 2-1 and feeling they are legitimately ready for any team in the league. Coming out of the bye week at 1-2 presents a very different picture.
Prediction: I'm going to stick with my pre-season prediction even though I'm feeling much less confident because the defense simply isn't playing the way I anticipated. Giants 28 - Seahawks 24.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Character Game In Philly
Yesterday, the Giants put together the greatest comeback in team history - and did it in a game that mattered. After being totally embarrassed on both sides of the ball for 3 full quarters and with a promising season on the verge of being crippled, the Giants put together an emotional comeback that showed real team character.
Obviously there are concerns. The comeback was preceded by 3 full quarters of problems. The defensive secondary continues to struggle. Tiki had low numbers for Tiki, but we know what he can do. The offensive line gave up 8 sacks, but we know what they can do. The heralded pass rush was still invisible after two games, but we know what they can do. Those are all correctible.
Ultimately, the importance of yesterday's game may well be more about how they won than the win itself. It reminded me of that Monday night in 1986 against San Francisco when, trailing 17-0 at the half, Mark Bavaro caught a pass down the seam and then dragged 9 players on his back for 20+ more yards. The Giants went on to win that game 21-17 and never looked back until they held the Lombardi trophy high over their heads.
Yesterday was an emotional, character building game - very possibly a defining moment for this team and this season. Now they need to go out and jack hammer Seattle.
Obviously there are concerns. The comeback was preceded by 3 full quarters of problems. The defensive secondary continues to struggle. Tiki had low numbers for Tiki, but we know what he can do. The offensive line gave up 8 sacks, but we know what they can do. The heralded pass rush was still invisible after two games, but we know what they can do. Those are all correctible.
Ultimately, the importance of yesterday's game may well be more about how they won than the win itself. It reminded me of that Monday night in 1986 against San Francisco when, trailing 17-0 at the half, Mark Bavaro caught a pass down the seam and then dragged 9 players on his back for 20+ more yards. The Giants went on to win that game 21-17 and never looked back until they held the Lombardi trophy high over their heads.
Yesterday was an emotional, character building game - very possibly a defining moment for this team and this season. Now they need to go out and jack hammer Seattle.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Giants at Eagles Preview
Giants - Eagles. What more is there to say? The Giants always have a tough time against the Eagles. But this time the Giants risk going two games behind Philly only two weeks into the season. While their season wouldn't be over, they would have dug a hole so deep they would likely spend the rest of the season trying to climb out. This truly is a must game.
After free-agency and the draft, I convinced myself this Giants team was a legitimate SB contender. Something deep in my gut told me this was a special team at the right moment in time - only the second time I've felt that way during the last 36 years watching the Giants. As I've written here, I believe the Giants are the best team in the league - with great balance in all three phases of the game. On paper.
But you know what? That's crap. If they aren't good enough to win then they are no different than any other lousy team, regardless of the advance billing. If the offense remains inconsistent; continues to sputter; if the defense continues to give up big third down plays; if this team isn't good enough to win then they simply aren't that good. That's just the bottom line.
But, I'm still a believer. I picked Indy to win game one and the Giants to then win the next two at Philly and in Seattle. I still believe that's the way it will play out. So, facing a critical game in only week two - a must win game - if these Giants truly are one of, or the best, team in football, it's time to prove it. I believe the Giants are going to do exactly that.
I've read repeatedly this week that Donovan McNabb has won the last 7 games in a row against the Giants. However, dig a little deeper and we see that in 5 of those 7 games the Giants scored 10 points or less. Those games were less about McNabb than they were about the Eagles defense - or the Giants offense - or both. This is a different Giant's offense - one the Eagles are not going to limit to just 10 points.
As always the Eagles will play a pressure defense - playing all 7 tight to the line and blitzing both the run and pass. The problem with that style defense is that you are going to get burned - it's just a matter of time and persistence. A running back like Tiki Barber is going to break a few between the tackles and be into their secondary before they can bat an eye. I think we'll see a bit less of Brandon Jacobs during the first half than we did last week, but he should be a weapon later in the second half when the Giants need to pound him into a (hopefully) tired Eagle front seven.
The Giants passing game has to stretch the field on the Eagles - not just vertically but sideline to sideline. Tiki will play a large role with screens, dump offs, and draws to slow the rush. However, perhaps as important as Tiki in stretching the field sideline to sideline will be Moss. His quickness and speed is exactly what's needed against this Eagle's defense. I suspect we will see him take the field on game day unless he's simply not healthy enough or doesn't know the playbook well enough to avoid being a liabilty. Shockey will likely have more blocking responsibilities against this defense than he did last week aginst the Colts. However that is not all bad as it opens up opportunities for him to block and release and find some open space.
On defense the Giants have to stop the run. While Westbrook (mini-Tiki) will have a good season and give fits to some teams, I don't see him running wild against the Giants. Stallworth is likley to be the bigger problem as he demonstrated last week. The Giants have to bring the pressure this week to help the secondary out a bit. Everyone talks about how dangerous McNabb is when running, but I think he's more dangerous in the pocket. Sure, he'll make some first downs with his feet but when he's running he's had a history of making some bad throws - and this time when he puts them up the secondary has to catch them.
As I posted after the pre-season and before the Indy game, special teams are a big concern, especially the kickoff and return units. The Giants simply cannot continue letting other teams start at the 30+ while the Giants start behind the 20. Unlike the Indy game, the Eagles presssure defense will stop some drives and this game will be all about field position. The special team units claim they spent extra time watching film this week. How nice. But special teams are all about blood and guts and I would have been more impressed had they said they spent the week crushing stone walls with their heads.
Giants win this game for two reasons.
1. They are the better team.
2. They cannot afford to lose. They should be approaching this game like it is their Super Bowl.
Giants 28 Eagles 22.
Side note: Eagles games are always nasty, physical, affairs and even if they come out of it with no serious injuries the Giants are going to be nicked up going into Seattle next week.
After free-agency and the draft, I convinced myself this Giants team was a legitimate SB contender. Something deep in my gut told me this was a special team at the right moment in time - only the second time I've felt that way during the last 36 years watching the Giants. As I've written here, I believe the Giants are the best team in the league - with great balance in all three phases of the game. On paper.
But you know what? That's crap. If they aren't good enough to win then they are no different than any other lousy team, regardless of the advance billing. If the offense remains inconsistent; continues to sputter; if the defense continues to give up big third down plays; if this team isn't good enough to win then they simply aren't that good. That's just the bottom line.
But, I'm still a believer. I picked Indy to win game one and the Giants to then win the next two at Philly and in Seattle. I still believe that's the way it will play out. So, facing a critical game in only week two - a must win game - if these Giants truly are one of, or the best, team in football, it's time to prove it. I believe the Giants are going to do exactly that.
I've read repeatedly this week that Donovan McNabb has won the last 7 games in a row against the Giants. However, dig a little deeper and we see that in 5 of those 7 games the Giants scored 10 points or less. Those games were less about McNabb than they were about the Eagles defense - or the Giants offense - or both. This is a different Giant's offense - one the Eagles are not going to limit to just 10 points.
As always the Eagles will play a pressure defense - playing all 7 tight to the line and blitzing both the run and pass. The problem with that style defense is that you are going to get burned - it's just a matter of time and persistence. A running back like Tiki Barber is going to break a few between the tackles and be into their secondary before they can bat an eye. I think we'll see a bit less of Brandon Jacobs during the first half than we did last week, but he should be a weapon later in the second half when the Giants need to pound him into a (hopefully) tired Eagle front seven.
The Giants passing game has to stretch the field on the Eagles - not just vertically but sideline to sideline. Tiki will play a large role with screens, dump offs, and draws to slow the rush. However, perhaps as important as Tiki in stretching the field sideline to sideline will be Moss. His quickness and speed is exactly what's needed against this Eagle's defense. I suspect we will see him take the field on game day unless he's simply not healthy enough or doesn't know the playbook well enough to avoid being a liabilty. Shockey will likely have more blocking responsibilities against this defense than he did last week aginst the Colts. However that is not all bad as it opens up opportunities for him to block and release and find some open space.
On defense the Giants have to stop the run. While Westbrook (mini-Tiki) will have a good season and give fits to some teams, I don't see him running wild against the Giants. Stallworth is likley to be the bigger problem as he demonstrated last week. The Giants have to bring the pressure this week to help the secondary out a bit. Everyone talks about how dangerous McNabb is when running, but I think he's more dangerous in the pocket. Sure, he'll make some first downs with his feet but when he's running he's had a history of making some bad throws - and this time when he puts them up the secondary has to catch them.
As I posted after the pre-season and before the Indy game, special teams are a big concern, especially the kickoff and return units. The Giants simply cannot continue letting other teams start at the 30+ while the Giants start behind the 20. Unlike the Indy game, the Eagles presssure defense will stop some drives and this game will be all about field position. The special team units claim they spent extra time watching film this week. How nice. But special teams are all about blood and guts and I would have been more impressed had they said they spent the week crushing stone walls with their heads.
Giants win this game for two reasons.
1. They are the better team.
2. They cannot afford to lose. They should be approaching this game like it is their Super Bowl.
Giants 28 Eagles 22.
Side note: Eagles games are always nasty, physical, affairs and even if they come out of it with no serious injuries the Giants are going to be nicked up going into Seattle next week.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Game 1: Giants Beat Colts But Still Lose
This game was unlike any other I can ever recall. I couldn't sleep afterwards. All that kept rolling around in my head was the inexplicable play calling. The Colts were unable to stop the Giants ground game. Not even close. When all was said and done, the Giants averaged over 6 yards per carry - and that wasn't padded with any 50+ yard runs. When it became obvious very early on that the Colts couldn't stop the run, it is inexcusable that they failed to enforce the most basic concept in football: force the other team to stop you. If ever there was a time to adopt the old "three yards and a cloud of dust" - the boring run on 1st, run on 2nd and only pass on 3rd & 3+, this was the game. Had the Giants done that simple thing, there is no doubt whatsoever - they win the game.
The defense held up their end of the bargain. Sure, the Colts scored 6 times. But the Giants held them to 2 touchdowns and that should have been - and was - enough to win.
The offense held up their end of the bargain too. Yes, there were mistakes and some poor play. Special teams were horrible - especially the kickoff and kick coverage units. The worst was giving the Colts the ball close to the Giants 40 and an easy 3 points just seconds after the Giants had made it 13-7 with less than a minute left in the half. Then there was the missed field goal. And ten penalties - none bigger than the false start on 3rd and inches. The mishandled handoff to Tiki and continued inaccurate passing by Eli.
But, despite all that, in the end, the Giants outplayed the Colts and were the better team. They lost this game for one reason and one reason only. The Colts were laid bare, their inability to stop the run totally exposed. And for reasons that totally escape me, the Giants refused to grab the dagger and plunge it deep into the Colts heart. All they had to do was hand the ball to Tiki and Jacobs until the Colts finally put 9 or more men in the box. They would have won and won handily.
I've not yet looked at the boxscore or the analysis of each series, or read what anyone else has written - and maybe I'll see things differently when I do. But I doubt it. The Giants were the better team last night. They outplayed the Colts. This one is squarely on the coaching staff.
The defense held up their end of the bargain. Sure, the Colts scored 6 times. But the Giants held them to 2 touchdowns and that should have been - and was - enough to win.
The offense held up their end of the bargain too. Yes, there were mistakes and some poor play. Special teams were horrible - especially the kickoff and kick coverage units. The worst was giving the Colts the ball close to the Giants 40 and an easy 3 points just seconds after the Giants had made it 13-7 with less than a minute left in the half. Then there was the missed field goal. And ten penalties - none bigger than the false start on 3rd and inches. The mishandled handoff to Tiki and continued inaccurate passing by Eli.
But, despite all that, in the end, the Giants outplayed the Colts and were the better team. They lost this game for one reason and one reason only. The Colts were laid bare, their inability to stop the run totally exposed. And for reasons that totally escape me, the Giants refused to grab the dagger and plunge it deep into the Colts heart. All they had to do was hand the ball to Tiki and Jacobs until the Colts finally put 9 or more men in the box. They would have won and won handily.
I've not yet looked at the boxscore or the analysis of each series, or read what anyone else has written - and maybe I'll see things differently when I do. But I doubt it. The Giants were the better team last night. They outplayed the Colts. This one is squarely on the coaching staff.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Manning Bowl Countdown
After the mandatory 30 minutes of NBC hype, this much anticipated Giants season will finally get underway tomorrow night. On paper, this is the most talented and balanced Giants team I have ever watched (since 1970). That doesn't mean they are the best (the '86 Giants would bloody this team), but they are legitimate SB contenders for the first time since the 1986-1990 Simms/Taylor era.
However, this first game presents unique challenges for the Giants. If I could pick one team against whom the Giants do not match up well, it would be the Colts. At first blush I thought the way to beat the Colts is to make them one dimensional - totally remove their running game and then let the dogs loose against the pass. However, the Colts know that too and easily game plan against that by establishing the pass first - then run when the Giants are back on their heels. The Colts no-huddle will make it difficult for the Giants to use their special packages to any great advantage and Peyton's tremendous accuracy can make the short - medium passing game almost impossible to defend.
You defeat that type of attack with violence. The safeties have to be punishing. Not once. Not twice. But on every catch. It isn't enough to make a tackle - it has to be a hit that threatens to put the receiver in the hospital every time he makes a catch. And Manning has to be under attack. The short quick release will protect him, but he needs to be made aware the dogs are there - and when he does pump and take a longer look, he has to be hurried and hit hard.
I don't know many (if any) teams capable of doing that to this Colts offense. There is, after all, a reason the Colts went 13-0 last year. This Giants defense is very good and will play many great games this season, but it doesn't have the violent all-pro safeties I believe are needed to make the Colts receivers feel they have entered hell on earth every time the ball is snapped.
So, the Giants have to be the better offense. They don't have to out-shoot the Colts - they just have to out-score them. The Giants, however, are a more ball control type offense than the Colts. That means longer drives that, by definition, are more difficult to sustain to a successful conclusion. This won't be a field position battle. The Giants have to game plan for a scoring battle. The Giants can't run Tiki for the purpose of ball control. They have to run Tiki and Jacobs (I think Brandon may get a fair number of touches) for the purpose of having a balanced attack to out-score the Colts.
The Giants have the talent to do just that. But it won't be enough to just move the ball 60-70 yards only to kick a field goal. Are the Giants ready to improve their efficiency in finishing their drives? That may very well be the key question Sunday night. I think they need 5 touchdowns - not probable, but clearly within their reach.
As the opening game, this game is important because it sets the tone for the season. In that regard, how the team plays is probably more important than the W or L column. This is about momentum going into the season and building confidence. The Giants need to come out of this game with the confidence that they are a great team ready to steam roll any and all comers - whoever is next on their list. The Philly and Seattle games are much more important because they present much better match ups for the Giants and are games they should, and need to, win.
My prediction: Colts 33 Giants 27
However, this first game presents unique challenges for the Giants. If I could pick one team against whom the Giants do not match up well, it would be the Colts. At first blush I thought the way to beat the Colts is to make them one dimensional - totally remove their running game and then let the dogs loose against the pass. However, the Colts know that too and easily game plan against that by establishing the pass first - then run when the Giants are back on their heels. The Colts no-huddle will make it difficult for the Giants to use their special packages to any great advantage and Peyton's tremendous accuracy can make the short - medium passing game almost impossible to defend.
You defeat that type of attack with violence. The safeties have to be punishing. Not once. Not twice. But on every catch. It isn't enough to make a tackle - it has to be a hit that threatens to put the receiver in the hospital every time he makes a catch. And Manning has to be under attack. The short quick release will protect him, but he needs to be made aware the dogs are there - and when he does pump and take a longer look, he has to be hurried and hit hard.
I don't know many (if any) teams capable of doing that to this Colts offense. There is, after all, a reason the Colts went 13-0 last year. This Giants defense is very good and will play many great games this season, but it doesn't have the violent all-pro safeties I believe are needed to make the Colts receivers feel they have entered hell on earth every time the ball is snapped.
So, the Giants have to be the better offense. They don't have to out-shoot the Colts - they just have to out-score them. The Giants, however, are a more ball control type offense than the Colts. That means longer drives that, by definition, are more difficult to sustain to a successful conclusion. This won't be a field position battle. The Giants have to game plan for a scoring battle. The Giants can't run Tiki for the purpose of ball control. They have to run Tiki and Jacobs (I think Brandon may get a fair number of touches) for the purpose of having a balanced attack to out-score the Colts.
The Giants have the talent to do just that. But it won't be enough to just move the ball 60-70 yards only to kick a field goal. Are the Giants ready to improve their efficiency in finishing their drives? That may very well be the key question Sunday night. I think they need 5 touchdowns - not probable, but clearly within their reach.
As the opening game, this game is important because it sets the tone for the season. In that regard, how the team plays is probably more important than the W or L column. This is about momentum going into the season and building confidence. The Giants need to come out of this game with the confidence that they are a great team ready to steam roll any and all comers - whoever is next on their list. The Philly and Seattle games are much more important because they present much better match ups for the Giants and are games they should, and need to, win.
My prediction: Colts 33 Giants 27
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