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.
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