For the first time in history, the NFL will simulcast a game on three networks. I can't believe the NFL made that decision without a behind the scenes guarantee from the Giants that they will play to win. But, in the end, whatever the motivation, it is a really dumb move.
Tampa rested their players last week and will do so again tomorrow. Their players will be healthy with three weeks rest when the Giants come to town next weekend in a game that actually means something. Even if there isn't a Shockey like injury tonight, it's simply foolish not to give Strahan and Toomer's older bodies some much needed time to rejuvenate - and nicked up players like Pierce, Bradshaw, and Jacobs some time to heal. And there just isn't much to gain, especially when compared to how much they stand to lose.
The only potential "plus" would be the feeling of invincibility if the Giants some how find a way to win this game. But it is much - much! - more likely that the Giants are blown out and find themselves down by 20+ points heading into the 4th quarter - which won't exactly do wonders for their confidence. And don't forget the emotional drain and emotional fatique factor. This game has been hyped like a mini Super Bowl. And with the players having been told to prepare to try to win the game, it's impossible not to get their emotions going.
With so little to gain and so very much to lose, Coughlin's decision to play to win is just plain stupid. It's no different than being down by 6 points with 5 seconds left on the clock and deciding to kick a 10 yard field goal to end the game. And if he plays this one to win and then he damn better pray the Giants beat Tampa next week. If not, Coughlin may find himself out of a job - something I didn't think possible just a week ago. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Giants Blowing in the Wind
What is there to say? This Giants team just doesn't excite me. It isn't dominant in any way. That is borne out by the pro bowl voting last week - 1 Giant (Osi) and 11 Cowboys. You can argue until you are blue in the face that the Giants were slighted - that as the third best team in the NFC the Giants deserved more recognition. But I'm not convinced they are the third best team in the NFC and, even if they are, that doesn't make them any good. The NFC stinks and there is a huge drop off after the Cowboys and Packers.
The truth is that the Giants just aren't very good. More troubling is that I don't see that changing any time soon. Look at the roster. At first blush, most positions seem fairly solid. There doesn't seem to be glaring needs. Even the secondary is much improved this year. The running game has been fantastic. The offensive line is one of the best. The receivers are better than most in Giants history.
Yet the Giants are simply mediocre. There aren't any real super stars. I found myself thinking this week that the way I feel about the Giants is how I imagine I would feel if I had just blown my life savings on a brand new Mazzaratti only to find that it runs like a 1957 Studebaker. This Giants team makes me feel as though I've just bought a lemon of a car that I'm stuck with. The "all world" Giants offense in reality just plain stinks.
The second thing that has bothered me all week - maybe the first thing - is the play calling. Heading into the game every weather forecast I heard talked about the heady 30 mph winds with gusts even higher. It made me smile and rub my hands together in anticipation. This was football weather - Giants football weather. Perfect weather for our stadium. This would be a low scoring brawl. The Giants were going to run Brandon Jacobs down the Redskins' collective throats and would stuff Clinton Portis so far into the backfield he'd find himself so far down the Turnpike that he wouldn't need the bus ride home.
So, first play of the game the Giants line up with an empty backfield. Incomplete of course. I said to myself the Giants were just trying to throw a feint at the Redskins to help back them off the line of scrimmage. 52 pass attempts later and I'm still shaking my head in pure wonderment. This wasn't rocket science - except for the idiot responsible for calling the Giants plays last Sunday night. It was stupid. It was beyond stupid - it was moronic. And may have cost the Giants a third straight playoff appearance.
I've been a Coughlin defender. I was a voice in the wilderness at the end of last season - one of the few who felt the fire Coughlin talk was out of line. No more. Forget his silly rules. Forget all the other issues and problems. Coughlin has to go because he is an offensive coach and this offense stinks - and has stunk ever since he has been here. It is a Mazzaratti that Coughlin has fine tuned into a Studebaker. And I, for one, have had enough.
The truth is that the Giants just aren't very good. More troubling is that I don't see that changing any time soon. Look at the roster. At first blush, most positions seem fairly solid. There doesn't seem to be glaring needs. Even the secondary is much improved this year. The running game has been fantastic. The offensive line is one of the best. The receivers are better than most in Giants history.
Yet the Giants are simply mediocre. There aren't any real super stars. I found myself thinking this week that the way I feel about the Giants is how I imagine I would feel if I had just blown my life savings on a brand new Mazzaratti only to find that it runs like a 1957 Studebaker. This Giants team makes me feel as though I've just bought a lemon of a car that I'm stuck with. The "all world" Giants offense in reality just plain stinks.
The second thing that has bothered me all week - maybe the first thing - is the play calling. Heading into the game every weather forecast I heard talked about the heady 30 mph winds with gusts even higher. It made me smile and rub my hands together in anticipation. This was football weather - Giants football weather. Perfect weather for our stadium. This would be a low scoring brawl. The Giants were going to run Brandon Jacobs down the Redskins' collective throats and would stuff Clinton Portis so far into the backfield he'd find himself so far down the Turnpike that he wouldn't need the bus ride home.
So, first play of the game the Giants line up with an empty backfield. Incomplete of course. I said to myself the Giants were just trying to throw a feint at the Redskins to help back them off the line of scrimmage. 52 pass attempts later and I'm still shaking my head in pure wonderment. This wasn't rocket science - except for the idiot responsible for calling the Giants plays last Sunday night. It was stupid. It was beyond stupid - it was moronic. And may have cost the Giants a third straight playoff appearance.
I've been a Coughlin defender. I was a voice in the wilderness at the end of last season - one of the few who felt the fire Coughlin talk was out of line. No more. Forget his silly rules. Forget all the other issues and problems. Coughlin has to go because he is an offensive coach and this offense stinks - and has stunk ever since he has been here. It is a Mazzaratti that Coughlin has fine tuned into a Studebaker. And I, for one, have had enough.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Big Win in Philly
Another nail biter. When Aikers lined up for the final 57 yard field goal, I figured the odds were 99-1 against him making it. I know, he'd already hit one that far earlier in his career, but I didn't see any way he'd do that in the cold on Sunday. When the camera man failed to follow the ball and all we saw was the ball bouncing in the end zone, I thought he'd fallen far short, which is what I half anticipated anyway. I was shocked to see on the replay that the ball actually hit half way up the right upright - two inches to the left and it would have been good from over 60 yards.
Again, another ugly game. Brian Westbrook fumbled for the first time after over 500 touches. Brandon Jacobs fumbled twice, his 4th and 5th fumbles in 151 touches this season. Not only does he have to find a way to stay healthy, he has to find a way to hold onto the ball. I read some quotes from him following the game that left me concerned that he doesn't yet fully appreciate how serious the issue is. He vows to have his best game this week in Washington. I'd prefer he'd instead vowed to make it his personal goal to go 500+ touches without another fumble.
My post last week couldn't have been more wrong. I believed the Giants weren't going to beat the Eagles in Philly and therefore was in favor of resting Burress and Pierce. Both played huge roles in the win and it's pretty darn clear the Giants wouldn't have won had neither played. Burress' performance was startling - 7 catches for 136 yards and one touchdown. And they were all big catches in important drives.
Tonight's game against the Redskins at home is important for a lot of reasons. Win and the Giants lock a wild card spot. Lose and the Redskins stay alive - so much so that if Washington finds a way to win out the last three games, the Giants could find themselves on the outside looking in. Not a very likely scenario, but one the Giants can completely avoid by winning a game they should win. Here is their chance to lock up a third straight playoff appearance and do it in front of their home town crowd.
How good is this Giant's team? Is this the year they can actually make some noise in the post season? I don't think so. They aren't playing good football. The offense has disappeared. The defense has been responsible for the wins during the second half and has been doing it without being dominant. In the playoffs, I can see the Giants winning the first game, but after that the competition gets too tough. They aren't in the class of either Green Bay or the Cowboys. But I do see one scenario that can change things. Brandon Jacobs. If he stays healthy. If he doesn't fumble. And if he plays with reckless abandon - runs hard and runs mean - he can elevate this team. His style is such that when he starts running people over, it has an emotional impact on the entire team - on both sides of the ball. And that hope makes this an exciting time of the year.
Again, another ugly game. Brian Westbrook fumbled for the first time after over 500 touches. Brandon Jacobs fumbled twice, his 4th and 5th fumbles in 151 touches this season. Not only does he have to find a way to stay healthy, he has to find a way to hold onto the ball. I read some quotes from him following the game that left me concerned that he doesn't yet fully appreciate how serious the issue is. He vows to have his best game this week in Washington. I'd prefer he'd instead vowed to make it his personal goal to go 500+ touches without another fumble.
My post last week couldn't have been more wrong. I believed the Giants weren't going to beat the Eagles in Philly and therefore was in favor of resting Burress and Pierce. Both played huge roles in the win and it's pretty darn clear the Giants wouldn't have won had neither played. Burress' performance was startling - 7 catches for 136 yards and one touchdown. And they were all big catches in important drives.
Tonight's game against the Redskins at home is important for a lot of reasons. Win and the Giants lock a wild card spot. Lose and the Redskins stay alive - so much so that if Washington finds a way to win out the last three games, the Giants could find themselves on the outside looking in. Not a very likely scenario, but one the Giants can completely avoid by winning a game they should win. Here is their chance to lock up a third straight playoff appearance and do it in front of their home town crowd.
How good is this Giant's team? Is this the year they can actually make some noise in the post season? I don't think so. They aren't playing good football. The offense has disappeared. The defense has been responsible for the wins during the second half and has been doing it without being dominant. In the playoffs, I can see the Giants winning the first game, but after that the competition gets too tough. They aren't in the class of either Green Bay or the Cowboys. But I do see one scenario that can change things. Brandon Jacobs. If he stays healthy. If he doesn't fumble. And if he plays with reckless abandon - runs hard and runs mean - he can elevate this team. His style is such that when he starts running people over, it has an emotional impact on the entire team - on both sides of the ball. And that hope makes this an exciting time of the year.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Giants Hang On In Chicago
It wasn't pretty. In fact it was darn right ugly. But that is a good thing. Giants history is replete with examples of losing ugly and it is a relatively rare phenomenon to the Giants win a game they should have lost. Eli Manning had another tough outing, but hung in there to the end and, in the end, did what he had to do to win.
And the Giants can thank the officials for what I believe was a horrible call. Late in the game, in desperate need of a touchdown, the officials ruled Toomer's catch in the end zone "incomplete". The replay showed Toomer's hands under the ball, but it was impossible to tell whether the front end of the ball hit the ground or his forearms as it rode under his chest. Certainly it wasn't conclusive, but that's what the officials ruled, reversing the call and giving the Giants a huge gift - without which the Giants probably don't win the game.
Regardless of one's view of that call, it is difficult to dispute the fact that the Giants offense is struggling mightily. Last year it was the loss of Toomer that doomed the passing game. This year it is Burress. He hasn't practiced during the week all year and over the past 4-5 games has totally disappeared. And so has the passing game. And like last year, Eli has been unable to overcome that loss and has looked totally lost.
This week the Giants head into Philly for a game that means the end of the season if the Eagles lose. Moreover you can bet Philly is out to revenge their last meeting when the Giants embarrassed them with 12 sacks. But this week Osi will be facing William Thomas not Winston Justice. And the Eagles have Westbrook. And, unlike the Giants, they have their mojo back and are playing their best football of the year, not sliding backwards like the Giants.
The Giants have a lot of injuries. Perhaps most important of all is the season ending injury to Ward last week. A shame too because Ward was having a wonderful year, had come back last week to start after missing several games with a hammy, put up his best numbers for the year with a very, very impressive 154 yard performance. But it isn't just Ward's absence that worries me. What worries me more is the temptation to push Jacobs back onto the field before he's really ready. This is a game the Giants will struggle to win with or without Jacobs.
If I were Coughlin, I'd "take a game off" and rest Jacobs, Burress, Wilson, Pierce, and Ross. I'd give Bradshaw. Smith and Moss their chance to show what they bring to the table. Yes, it makes a win far more difficult. And yes, I do not take lightly what a loss here means to a struggling Giants team who would probably then be hanging on to a bare one game lead for a wild card berth. But it would allow the Giants to regroup, put a more healthy squad on the field next week against Washington, and even provide a mental excuse for a loss to the Eagles.
I know many will feel that what I am suggesting is heresy. But I am certainly not suggesting throwing the game. What I am suggesting is that the Giants play their schedule. They've been fortunate enough to build a solid two game lead for the first wild card spot. They should reap the benefit of that lead right now to help get themselves healthy for the last three games and the post season. Look at the alternative. Play Jacobs and the others and one thing is certain - they won't be healthier at 10:00 Sun night than they were at 12 noon - and the odds are the Giants lose anyway. So I sit Jacobs and I give Bradshaw his chance. And while I dress Burress, I keep him on the bench for much, if not most, of the game and give more reps to Smith and Moss.
Who knows, maybe the Giants win. But to me, this game, while important, is less important than getting healthy heading into the post season. I'm frankly not very interested in a post season entry if the Giants are too banged up to be competitive.
And the Giants can thank the officials for what I believe was a horrible call. Late in the game, in desperate need of a touchdown, the officials ruled Toomer's catch in the end zone "incomplete". The replay showed Toomer's hands under the ball, but it was impossible to tell whether the front end of the ball hit the ground or his forearms as it rode under his chest. Certainly it wasn't conclusive, but that's what the officials ruled, reversing the call and giving the Giants a huge gift - without which the Giants probably don't win the game.
Regardless of one's view of that call, it is difficult to dispute the fact that the Giants offense is struggling mightily. Last year it was the loss of Toomer that doomed the passing game. This year it is Burress. He hasn't practiced during the week all year and over the past 4-5 games has totally disappeared. And so has the passing game. And like last year, Eli has been unable to overcome that loss and has looked totally lost.
This week the Giants head into Philly for a game that means the end of the season if the Eagles lose. Moreover you can bet Philly is out to revenge their last meeting when the Giants embarrassed them with 12 sacks. But this week Osi will be facing William Thomas not Winston Justice. And the Eagles have Westbrook. And, unlike the Giants, they have their mojo back and are playing their best football of the year, not sliding backwards like the Giants.
The Giants have a lot of injuries. Perhaps most important of all is the season ending injury to Ward last week. A shame too because Ward was having a wonderful year, had come back last week to start after missing several games with a hammy, put up his best numbers for the year with a very, very impressive 154 yard performance. But it isn't just Ward's absence that worries me. What worries me more is the temptation to push Jacobs back onto the field before he's really ready. This is a game the Giants will struggle to win with or without Jacobs.
If I were Coughlin, I'd "take a game off" and rest Jacobs, Burress, Wilson, Pierce, and Ross. I'd give Bradshaw. Smith and Moss their chance to show what they bring to the table. Yes, it makes a win far more difficult. And yes, I do not take lightly what a loss here means to a struggling Giants team who would probably then be hanging on to a bare one game lead for a wild card berth. But it would allow the Giants to regroup, put a more healthy squad on the field next week against Washington, and even provide a mental excuse for a loss to the Eagles.
I know many will feel that what I am suggesting is heresy. But I am certainly not suggesting throwing the game. What I am suggesting is that the Giants play their schedule. They've been fortunate enough to build a solid two game lead for the first wild card spot. They should reap the benefit of that lead right now to help get themselves healthy for the last three games and the post season. Look at the alternative. Play Jacobs and the others and one thing is certain - they won't be healthier at 10:00 Sun night than they were at 12 noon - and the odds are the Giants lose anyway. So I sit Jacobs and I give Bradshaw his chance. And while I dress Burress, I keep him on the bench for much, if not most, of the game and give more reps to Smith and Moss.
Who knows, maybe the Giants win. But to me, this game, while important, is less important than getting healthy heading into the post season. I'm frankly not very interested in a post season entry if the Giants are too banged up to be competitive.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Giants Psyche On The Line
Everyone knows the Giants have had second half failures the past few years and today's game against the Bears is this year's make or break game when it comes to the Giants fragile psyche. While it may not be a critical game from the view point of the standings, it is critical from the stand point of the identity of this team itself. And they head into today's match up with problems.
The Giants' have struggled to put points on the board, scoring a paltry 13 against the winless Dolphins, 20 against the Cowboys, 16 against Detroit, and 17 last week. Plaxico's ankle is getting any better and this week he's even further hobbled with a knee problem. And although Ward finally returns, Jacobs remains unavailable. Some how the Giants have to find a way to get the offense in gear. The problem is they are missing their primary components in both the passing and running game. Indeed, it is my belief that Jacobs is crucial - he not only pounds the defense while running, but his presence freezes the linebackers and frees up the passing game as well.
Worse, the Giants are banged up on defense too. The loss of Kiwinuka makes it more difficult to generate a pass rush, without which the secondary has been exposed. To make matters worse, this week Aaron Ross and Gibril Wilson are both sidelined.
This is a very beatable Chicago team. But the Giants are very fragile emotionally, beat up physically, and Chicago (and Rex Grossman) are coming off a comeback win last week. If the Giants some how manage to limp out of Chicago with a win, it will go a long way towards shooing the demons away. Lose and this team could fall very quickly into a deep black hole and drag Coughlin with them.
The Giants' have struggled to put points on the board, scoring a paltry 13 against the winless Dolphins, 20 against the Cowboys, 16 against Detroit, and 17 last week. Plaxico's ankle is getting any better and this week he's even further hobbled with a knee problem. And although Ward finally returns, Jacobs remains unavailable. Some how the Giants have to find a way to get the offense in gear. The problem is they are missing their primary components in both the passing and running game. Indeed, it is my belief that Jacobs is crucial - he not only pounds the defense while running, but his presence freezes the linebackers and frees up the passing game as well.
Worse, the Giants are banged up on defense too. The loss of Kiwinuka makes it more difficult to generate a pass rush, without which the secondary has been exposed. To make matters worse, this week Aaron Ross and Gibril Wilson are both sidelined.
This is a very beatable Chicago team. But the Giants are very fragile emotionally, beat up physically, and Chicago (and Rex Grossman) are coming off a comeback win last week. If the Giants some how manage to limp out of Chicago with a win, it will go a long way towards shooing the demons away. Lose and this team could fall very quickly into a deep black hole and drag Coughlin with them.
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