Playing the 5-1 Steelers in Pittsburgh was a very big test for the Giants. The story of the game was the Giants' defense being the more physical of the two teams and the Giants offensive line not allowing a single sack. Game over.
Game balls to Steve Smith, Kenny Phillips, and Kiwinuka.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Rumble in the Steel City
Last week's game isn't worth talking about other than the fact the Giants got a W. The paddy cake portion of the schedule is over and tomorrow the Giants head into the teeth of the schedule. Of all the teams in the NFL, I think the two that would cause the most problems for the Giants are the Steelers and the Eagles. The common denominator? Both are about as physical as you are going to see.
I saw a good portion of the Eagles-Steelers game a few weeks ago - the only Steelers loss so far this season. It was a war. A blood bath. A game so physical it still makes me shake my head in wonderment weeks later. Perhaps the most physical game of football I have seen in my lifetime.
I am not as worried about a loss as I am about how the Giants play. A loss is a one game thing and the Giants are not going to go 15-1 this year, so a loss here, especially to an AFC team, just wouldn't be all that big of a concern. What I fear more is the Giants being physically dominated... pushed around. If it happens, it could have lingering effects far beyond one game - both to the Giants' psyche as well as a confidence builder to the teams left on the schedule.
Worse, this game is being played in Pittsburgh where the Steelers rarely lose, especially to NFC teams. It is going to be a war and the key is going to be the Giants defense. The Giants offense is not going to score many points. I'll be amazed if the Giants score 20 points - 10 is a much more realistic number. The key is going to be the Giants defense, both for winning the game but more importantly for responding in kind to the physical dominance I expect to see from the Steeler's D. The Giants have to respond in kind and out hit the Steelers defense to come out of this game with any semblance of respect.
Prediction: Steelers 24 Giants 10
I saw a good portion of the Eagles-Steelers game a few weeks ago - the only Steelers loss so far this season. It was a war. A blood bath. A game so physical it still makes me shake my head in wonderment weeks later. Perhaps the most physical game of football I have seen in my lifetime.
I am not as worried about a loss as I am about how the Giants play. A loss is a one game thing and the Giants are not going to go 15-1 this year, so a loss here, especially to an AFC team, just wouldn't be all that big of a concern. What I fear more is the Giants being physically dominated... pushed around. If it happens, it could have lingering effects far beyond one game - both to the Giants' psyche as well as a confidence builder to the teams left on the schedule.
Worse, this game is being played in Pittsburgh where the Steelers rarely lose, especially to NFC teams. It is going to be a war and the key is going to be the Giants defense. The Giants offense is not going to score many points. I'll be amazed if the Giants score 20 points - 10 is a much more realistic number. The key is going to be the Giants defense, both for winning the game but more importantly for responding in kind to the physical dominance I expect to see from the Steeler's D. The Giants have to respond in kind and out hit the Steelers defense to come out of this game with any semblance of respect.
Prediction: Steelers 24 Giants 10
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Giants Show Jekyll and Hyde Character
Two weeks ago the Giants played one of the most complete games in their storied franchise history when they totally dominated Seattle in every phase of the game. Inexplicably the encore one week later was one of the most embarrassing performances in franchise history. The Giants' defense was unable to stop Cleveland's #32 ranked offense even one time. Not one single punt. Not one single turnover. Cleveland's offense was only stopped when it stopped itself (missed field goal). Otherwise they scored on every single possession. The last time that happened to a Giants' defense was 1936.
Amazingly, mid-way through the 4th quarter, the Giants were still in a position to win the game. They had moved the ball the length of the field and appeared poised to score, bringing themselves to within 6 points, when Cleveland intercepted for a touchdown. Eli didn't have his best game, nor did the offensive line. But make no mistake about it, this loss was 100 percent on the defensive side of the ball.
Prior to the season, my prediction had the Giants going 6-0 to start the season, followed by 4-6 thereafter, ending with a 10-6 record and a wild-card berth. Such predictions are, of course, silly (anyone who truly had the ability to make accurate predictions would, by definition, by the wealthiest man on earth - but of course he doesn't exist). As a fan, a loss to Cleveland would have been disappointing but not overwhelmingly upsetting. But the way the Giants lost - the complete ineptitude of the defense - is impossible to comprehend. It is one thing to lose. It is quite another to match a record for ineptitude that is more than 70 years old. And against the NFL's last place ranked offense no less. How does one explain such a phenomenon? About as easily as explaining infinity.
Since there is no rational explanation possible, the best that can be done - indeed the only thing - is to ignore it and focus attention on how the Giants respond. Today's game therefore takes on added meaning. There is now a sub-text to winning/losing. How do the Giants - especially the defense - react to last week's performance? And it will not be necessarily easy against 49ers. They are a west coast style offense and we can anticipate that they will try to get the ball out very quickly.
The question that must be answered is whether this Giants defense be competitive without pressure on the QB? There are ways to design an offense that virtually eliminates the defense's ability to pressure the QB. Three step drops, screens, and reverses. Is that the secret to undress the Giants in public? I think we are about to find out - today and for the foreseeable future.
Amazingly, mid-way through the 4th quarter, the Giants were still in a position to win the game. They had moved the ball the length of the field and appeared poised to score, bringing themselves to within 6 points, when Cleveland intercepted for a touchdown. Eli didn't have his best game, nor did the offensive line. But make no mistake about it, this loss was 100 percent on the defensive side of the ball.
Prior to the season, my prediction had the Giants going 6-0 to start the season, followed by 4-6 thereafter, ending with a 10-6 record and a wild-card berth. Such predictions are, of course, silly (anyone who truly had the ability to make accurate predictions would, by definition, by the wealthiest man on earth - but of course he doesn't exist). As a fan, a loss to Cleveland would have been disappointing but not overwhelmingly upsetting. But the way the Giants lost - the complete ineptitude of the defense - is impossible to comprehend. It is one thing to lose. It is quite another to match a record for ineptitude that is more than 70 years old. And against the NFL's last place ranked offense no less. How does one explain such a phenomenon? About as easily as explaining infinity.
Since there is no rational explanation possible, the best that can be done - indeed the only thing - is to ignore it and focus attention on how the Giants respond. Today's game therefore takes on added meaning. There is now a sub-text to winning/losing. How do the Giants - especially the defense - react to last week's performance? And it will not be necessarily easy against 49ers. They are a west coast style offense and we can anticipate that they will try to get the ball out very quickly.
The question that must be answered is whether this Giants defense be competitive without pressure on the QB? There are ways to design an offense that virtually eliminates the defense's ability to pressure the QB. Three step drops, screens, and reverses. Is that the secret to undress the Giants in public? I think we are about to find out - today and for the foreseeable future.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Giants Down Bengals, Take on Seattle Following Bye
Not much to say this week. Nothing much has changed about my view of the state of the 2008 Giants. The Giants have a very favorable schedule with their easier games early. Of course, having all the easier games bunched together up front puts pressure to win them all - which they should. As I posted from before the season, the Giants should start the season on a 6-0 streak. Of course saying that is the easy part, executing it is quite a different matter.
Last week the Giants faced a desperate Bengals team who took them into OT. They battered and literally bloodied QB Carson Palmer with 6 sacks, but none in the 4th quarter and almost lost the game. The good news, however, is that the Giants played an excellent game. The closeness of the game doesn't appear to have been due to any letdown of their guard - it was more a function of a desperate Bengals team getting its act together and playing tough.
Today's game against the SeaHawks is going to be their toughest challenge yet this young season. Oddly, losing Burress to a suspension may be the one factor that gives them an edge. From all the interviews I've read, the locker room, to a man, decidedly supports the suspension. Indeed, I get the sense Plaxico's teammates feel it was overdue and clearly justified. Almost as though this was the locker room suspending Burress, not just Coughlin and Giants management. And I think that carries over into today's game. A wake up call and yet another challenge - and one thing this Giants team has proven, there is nothing better than a challenge to grab their full attention and intensity.
They are half way to the 6-0 start this year's schedule dictates they will need and face yet another test of their resolve - their character as a team. They need to maintain their laser-like focus and continue to play angry. It will not be easy. Hasselback gets the ball out faster than almost any QB in the league and he will be doing so with greater purpose today facing the Giants pressure defense. As a result, it is going to be difficult to pressure Hasselback and the Giants may find themselves forced to play less of a pressure game than they would like. And Seattle is 2nd in the league in rushing and I feel they will use their short quick passing game to set up some big runs.
On the other side of the ball, Seattle will do everything possible to take Jacobs out of the game and force Manning to beat them. This would have been true with Burress playing and is absolutely true in his absence. It is critical for the Giants to get an early lead against this Seattle team and they'll have to do it by throwing the ball early and often.
Last week the Giants faced a desperate Bengals team who took them into OT. They battered and literally bloodied QB Carson Palmer with 6 sacks, but none in the 4th quarter and almost lost the game. The good news, however, is that the Giants played an excellent game. The closeness of the game doesn't appear to have been due to any letdown of their guard - it was more a function of a desperate Bengals team getting its act together and playing tough.
Today's game against the SeaHawks is going to be their toughest challenge yet this young season. Oddly, losing Burress to a suspension may be the one factor that gives them an edge. From all the interviews I've read, the locker room, to a man, decidedly supports the suspension. Indeed, I get the sense Plaxico's teammates feel it was overdue and clearly justified. Almost as though this was the locker room suspending Burress, not just Coughlin and Giants management. And I think that carries over into today's game. A wake up call and yet another challenge - and one thing this Giants team has proven, there is nothing better than a challenge to grab their full attention and intensity.
They are half way to the 6-0 start this year's schedule dictates they will need and face yet another test of their resolve - their character as a team. They need to maintain their laser-like focus and continue to play angry. It will not be easy. Hasselback gets the ball out faster than almost any QB in the league and he will be doing so with greater purpose today facing the Giants pressure defense. As a result, it is going to be difficult to pressure Hasselback and the Giants may find themselves forced to play less of a pressure game than they would like. And Seattle is 2nd in the league in rushing and I feel they will use their short quick passing game to set up some big runs.
On the other side of the ball, Seattle will do everything possible to take Jacobs out of the game and force Manning to beat them. This would have been true with Burress playing and is absolutely true in his absence. It is critical for the Giants to get an early lead against this Seattle team and they'll have to do it by throwing the ball early and often.
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