2009 Slipping Away?

The Giants lost to AZ last night and while it would be easy to "blame" Eli Manning for the interceptions and some bad throws and his "kids" for some drops or failing to get open, that wouldn't be very fair.

First of all, the defense gave up 24 points and this is the NFL folks where teams that score 24 points win more often than not. The defense this season has been very soft against the run as demonstrated once again last night. The pass rush, while better last night than the week before, has been anemic and certainly wasn't terrorizing Warner yesterday. The run offense has been horrendous. Very soft. Not physical. Not dominating the line of scrimmage. Epitomized when Jacobs, on his long run last night, decided to dance with the defensive back, juking left then going right and leading, once again, to an easy ankle tackle. The Jacobs of 2007-2008 would have gone head hunting - zeroing in on the defender's chest - and making the defender close his eyes and scream to his mama in fear. But not in 2009 and, as I have said repeatedly, that change appears to have rippled down to the entire team. They are simply not physically dominating anyone.

Here's the rest of the season and, based upon how they have played to date (i.e. assuming the run defense, pass rush, and running game all stay the same), the likely outcome:

@ Phil: L
San Diego: W (I'll be generous - I AM a fan after all)
Atlanta: L
@ Denver: L
Dallas: L
Phil: L
@Wash: W
Carolina: W
@ Minn: L

That's 8-8 with no playoffs. The big point is that losing to NO and AZ shouldn't be shocking anyone who is a hard core fan that actually watches/studies every Giants' game . The strength of the Giants over the first five games - and unit responsible for those first five wins - was Eli and his kid receivers. While that was certainly exciting to see, anyone who wasn't concerned about what that said about the run defense, lack of pass rush, and anemic run offense was simply playing ostrich.

Can they turn things around? Heck yea. They have talent. But - based upon the way they have played thus far - and again I am not talking now about the last two games - I am talking about the first five games - the Giants would be very lucky to end the season at 8-8. The most puzzling aspect of this is that it isn't clear why they should be having such difficulty defending the run, or with their pass rush, or why they aren't as physically dominating in their run offense. For the most part the players are all the same. Very puzzling. And disturbing.

Who Are The 2009 Giants?

My concerns about the 2009 Giants started before the pre-season when learning that Robbins and Cofield both had significant off-season knee surgeries. My worry then was that the Bernard and Canty signings weren't all about putting together the most dominant defensive line in history but were instead a sign of concern about health. Of course, my concern then was that Robbins and Cofield would have health issues, not that Bernard and Canty would have their own health issues. But the bottom line is that the awesome most dominant defensive line in history concept remains just that - a concept and a pipe dream.

Add in season ending injuries to Alford and Phillips - and Ross' inability to yet play a game in 2009 with the half way point rapidly approaching - and I suppose it shouldn't be too surprising to see the defense struggle against teams like Dallas and New Orleans. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be disturbing, considering that most people view the Giants as a young and very talented club. Before the New Orleans game there were even whispers of "the next NFL dynasty". I would think any such thoughts have now been thoroughly put to bed.

The Giants are, indeed, a young and talented team but the 2009 version is a team that is struggling to find its identity. Are they a running team capable of physically dominating other teams with multiple 8-10 minute drives in any one game? Are they a "defense first" team that forces other teams to spend most of their preparation time figuring out how they are going to put points on the board? Unfortunately the answer to both of the above questions - after 6 games thus far - appears to be "no". Despite their lofty defensive ranking, it is this one man's opinion that the ranking is more about the schedule than about actual defensive dominance.

Things may change. The Giants may find their pass rush. And they may tighten up against the run. And Brandon Jacobs may return to doling out more than the considerable punishment he receives. And cows may fly. For now, the Giants may have to take solace that their passing game - questioned so heavily before the season - is their primary strength. Indeed, if Brandon Jacobs doesn't return to form and start cracking heads, the success of the 2009 Giants' season may very well depend upon Manning's arm and his wide receivers. Who woulda thunk it.

No Mardis Gras Party

There isn't much to say. And there isn't much to know. It's been a long time since the Giants were on the losing end of a game when both teams replaced their starting quarterbacks with substantial time left on the clock. New Orleans replaced Drew Brees with 5:57 to go in the 4th and the Giants responded by sending David Carr onto the field when the Giants got the ball back. And the sad truth is both teams were late making the move.

The Real Season Begins Tomorrow In New Orleans

To nobody's surprise, the Giants dispatched the Raiders so handily it isn't worth talking about. If any significance can be taken from the game it is that the Giants not only won a game they were supposed to win, they did so in the manner in which they were expected to. A sign of a very good team.

But that is about all you can take from the game. Indeed just about all you can take from the first five games. There isn't any doubt this is a very good football team. Indeed, it is an excellent organization, from Jerry Reese to Coughlin right down to the 53rd player (ok, sorry, I have to confess I find it difficult to include Moss in the equation - it appears he is about to lose his return duties leaving him with very little to contribute).

Getting back on point, this is an excellent organization that has put together a very strong entrant for the 2009 SB stakes. But just how good can't be measured by what they've done these first five games. Not their fault of course. They don't control the schedule and they have dealt with their weaker opponents in a very workmanlike, matter-of-fact, manner. But, starting tomorrow, some of the lingering questions will start to be answered. Will the loss of depth by the season ending injuries (conditions) of Alford and Phillips cost them in Nov/Dec? Can Canty, Boley and Ross get healthy? Will the off-season surgeries impact Robbins, Bernard, and Cofield during the last quarter of the season? And - most significantly of all - will Brandon Jacobs begin lowering his shoulder?

I don't know the answers to any of these questions but I do know the answers, whatever they may be, will be critical to the outcome of the Giants season. We'll get to see the beginnings of some answers starting tomorrow.

I look for the Giants to rely heavily upon their supposedly "inexperienced" receivers to play a critical role in this game. Smith, Manningham and Nicks, as a group, are too quick for the Saints to cover. And, as a trio, they have the best "hands" of any trio in Giants history. Add in Beckum and Boss, and they are incredibly solid in the passing game. Who (besides those of us here at Giants Corner) woulda thunk it?

Injuries Mount

The Giants put KC away last Sunday in a very workmanlike fashion which has typified the Giants under Tom Coughlin. Tomorrow they receive the third "freebie" in a row from the NFL scheduling gods - and they are going to need it. Eli Manning may not be pain free the rest of this season, Boss is hurt, Boley had yet another surgery, Kehl had surgery, and on it goes.

Three of their 4 wins have come against less than formidable opponents - Washington, Tampa, & KC. Yet despite the soft schedule thus far, the Giants rank 19th in defense against the run. And only Houston has given up more than the seven 20+ yard runs the Giants have allowed over the first quarter of the season. It is no secret that you can't win in this league if you can't stop the run and the Giants are going to have to tighten up against the run - a lot - and soon.

But the big issue facing the Giants is health. Alford, Phillips, Boley, Canty, Ross, Kehl, Manning, Boss. And the list goes on. Yet, the injury that concerns me the most is one that hasn't been reported. I am a huge Brandon Jacobs fan. I've watched every snap he's taken in his professional career and it has been clearly evident to me that he has been reluctant to lower his shoulder. Last week he lowered the boom on two occasions and both times went immediately to the sidelines where he remained for several plays thereafter. The only conclusion I can reach is that Brandon has been struggling with a sore shoulder - sore enough that it has forced him to adjust his running style. If true, this could be devastating to the Giants because I truly believe that Jacobs is arguably as critical as Eli Manning to the Giants success over the long term. So I will be watching carefully to see how often Brandon uses his shoulder as a battering ram as the season progresses.

One last prediction. Braylon Edwards is going to play big for the Jets this season - while, at the same time, as the season progresses into Oct/Nov, the Giants wide receivers are going to have some tough sledding. It is a bit much to expect that they will go all season long without showing any growing pains. Giants fans need to keep the faith and remember that the goal is to have the youngsters gain valuable playing experience and wind up playing strong, as a group, in Dec/Jan. So, enjoy tomorrow's game because, thereafter, the real season begins.

Giants Display Dominance

The interesting part of the Giants - Tampa game last Sunday is what didn't happen. The Giants didn't register a single sack. And Brandon Jacobs ran, well, very un-Brandon like. I can't stand Tony Siragusa and Moose Johnson is even worse, so I hate to admit I was having the same thoughts they were verbalizing last Sunday. Well, not the exact same thoughts. Siragusa displayed his ignorance when talking about how Jacobs "has to learn to hit people". I don't know what rock he's been living under, but he obviously doesn't know jack about Brandon.

But Siragusa's ignorance aside, Brandon was running very tentative and tip-toeing as he approached the line. I don't recall seeing him lower his shoulder into a single defender on Sunday. I'm not sure if he had a touch of the flue, a sore leg, or a hangover - but it is critical for Jacobs to get back to his old self in a hurry before New Orleans arrives. The Giants need the smash mouth, bruising Brandon Jacobs - and they need him in a big way. When he plays his game, he leads the entire team - on both sides of the ball - by example and lifts the energy level of every player on the team. If the Giants are going to win the tough games down the stretch, they are going to need the real Brandon Jacobs to play his game.

Now - back to the story of last Sunday. Despite the Giants not playing their top game - indeed, not even close to their top game - and despite injuries up and down the line up - the Giants talent level - and depth - was on full display by the fact they completely dominated the Bucs. Tampa didn't register a single first down on offense until mid-way through the third quarter. And the Giants moved the ball seemingly at will - eventually putting David Carr into the game with over a quarter left to play. It was such complete domination that it was difficult to remember that these were paid professional football players on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

And - for yet one more game - the receivers - especially Steve Smith - were impossible to cover. And, with Nicks coming back tomorrow against KC, it is becoming increasingly clear that the wide receiver corp is not only not going to be a weakness, it is going to be (and already is) a strength of the team. And I continue to predict, as I have since his rookie year in 2007, that Steve Smith is going to end his career holding every single Giants receiving record.