Thursday, November 26, 2009

Giants End Losing Streak, But Does It Matter?

It's Thanksgiving Day, minutes before kickoff in Denver. The Giants are facing a team that has had a very similar season thus far. Like the Giants, the Broncos started off on a winning streak, going 6-0 before losing their last four straight games. This is a team lacking in confidence and a team that is ready for the taking. The question is, are the Giants good enough to do it?

Based on last week's performance, the answer has to be "no". Heading into last week's game, the Giants looked like they were perhaps, for the first time this season, beginning to show their strengths. Against San Diego their run defense showed up for the first time this year. And on offense they totally dominated the clock with some monster "Giant-like" drives. Despite the loss, it appeared they had maybe turned the corner.

But last week they were abysmal. They couldn't stop the run. They had very little pass rush and their efforts to create pressure with the blitz were completely ineffective. Worse, their offensive line appeared to be the weakest link of the entire team. Thank goodness for Eli Manning and the receiving corp (yes, that same group that was supposed to be their achilles heel - and the same group that sustained them on their 5-0 winning streak). But this team is not going to go far if the sole strength on the team is their young group of wide receivers.

A good team would beat the Denver Broncos this evening hands down. The offensive line would dominate and Brandon Jacobs would touch the ball 25+ times for 150+ yards. But, alas, this does not appear to be a good team. While a win is important, once again the real issue is how they play. At this point in the season, I'm not holding my breath that the 2009 team is suddenly going to find their way out of the woods and start playing ferocious defense and physically dominating offense.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Giants Season On The Line

For the first time this season I'm actually optimistic about the Giants. I was worried about this team even before camp opened - from the moment I learned that the true reason behind the money spent on Canty and Bernard was not to build an awesome pass rush but instead because it was revealed that Cofield and Robbins had undergone major off season knee surgeries. That worry intensified with the season ending injury to Alford and the inability of Canty and Bernard to get on the field to even practice with the team throughout camp. The worries intensified with the inexplicable failure to stop the run, the lack of pass rush, and the disappearance of the "old" Brandon Jacobs.

Although they lost, last week for the first time I was actually happy because the Giants stuffed the run and ate major portions of the clock with massive offensive drives. Not that their problems have been solved. Far from it. But they showed improvement in keys areas and played far better than they had been even when they were 5-0. I was not a happy camper when they were 5-0 because their supposed strengths (run defense, pass rush, and ball control offense) were all sputtering despite their wins. Today, coming off a bye week (not a good thing in Giants history) , they have a chance to build on where they left off against San Diego. And, if they do, they still have a chance to put together a special season. But, while a win is key, how they win is equally important if they are going to have any chance of salvaging this season. First and foremost they must continue last week's success against the run on defense and controlling the clock on 0ffense. And they have to show improvement in the pass rush. Then, maybe, just maybe, there may be light at the end of the tunnel.

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Embarrassed in Philly, Giants On the Ropes

The Giants extended their losing streak to 3 games last week when the Eagles tore them apart and feasted on their remains. The Giants failed in every aspect of football. Turnovers. Field position. Offense. Defense. Special teams. Coaching. Player execution. Talent. As easily as the Giants wins appeared against the likes of Tampa, Oakland, and KC - the tables have turned and the Giants have been the fodder - the easy game on the schedule - for NO, AZ, and Philly.

My exuberance heading into the season was very short lived. I was excited by what I saw in the season opener against Washington, especially by the passing game. Early warnings existed even then, however, when I observed that there wasn't enough pressure on the QB.

After the second game of the season - the win against Dallas - it was obvious that, amazingly, the passing game was carrying the team, while concerns were evident with the defense.

By the third game against Tampa another concern developed - Brandon Jacobs just wasn't running like Brandon Jacobs. It was as though he had lost his mojo - his desire to inflict pain - to barrel over people - to intimidate. And the pass rush woes continued with the Giants not registering a single sack against a very weak opponent.

After the fourth week against another soft opponent, the final weakness was revealed - the Giants ended the game ranked 19th against the run - and 31st in allowing runs over 20 yards. Brandon Jacobs was still not lowering his shoulder.

After game five the Giants stood 5-0 and there were whispers of dynasty and Super Bowl dreams. But the health of their defense, an issue before the pre-season even commenced, was a big question. And, more disturbing, even though they had just finished the patsy portion of their season, they had not shown any semblance of a dominating pass rush, were horrid against the run, and were not demonstrating any physicality in their own running game. They were standing tall at 5-0, but the handwriting was on the wall about the fall that was about to come.

And fall they did. Hard. The question now is not whether they win or lose tomorrow against San Diego. Don't get me wrong. A win would be nice. But the question is more about whether they can right their ship - turn things around in the three areas that were supposed to be the strengths of this team:

1. Pass rush
2. Run defense
3. Physically dominating, time consuming, intimidating run offense.

The evidence based on all 8 games they've played so far, is ... no - they are not likely to turn those things around in one week. But since I am at a loss to understand the reason why these supposed strengths have turned out to be weaknesses, gives me hope that maybe - just maybe - they can suddenly become strengths again. One can only hope. And dream.