Giant's Corner

Giants, 1-1, Face Eagles

2011-09-25T10:34:00.000-04:00

Frankly, there isn't much to add to the concerns I expressed in my last post on September 4th just before the 2011 season commenced. The loss of Terrel Thomas totally changed the equation for the defense, and the inability to replace Steve Smith totally changed the equation for the offense (not just the passing game, because if you can't pass, then you can't run).

I will enjoy watching the rookies and younger players get their playing time, but this is not a team that has any real hope of making the playoffs, no less winning a SB in 2011. That wouldn't have been true but for the loss of Thomas and Smith (or more to the point, a fully healthy Smith). So, I will sit back and relax, enjoy the games, and watch with an eye towards 2012.

Giants 2011 Cut Down Day

2011-09-04T11:14:00.002-04:00

The Giants reached the mandatory 53 man limit yesterday with no real surprises. If there was any "surprise" it is the large number of rookie draft choices and rookie free agents that made the team. Whenever that happens it means one of two things: Either the Giants struck "gold" in the later rounds of the draft and undrafted players - or it means the existing team just wasn't all that strong to begin with. History suggests the latter as the rule of thumb but only the future will truly tell us how many years these players last in the league and the extent of their contributions.

Since my last post, just prior to the first pre-season game, much has changed - specifically some major injuries, especially to the secondary. Heading into the pre-season, I believed the 2011 Giants defense was headed toward a top 5 ranking this year. However, the loss of Terrell Thomas is just devastating. Sure, the Giants will find a way to replace him. They have no choice. But Webster, TT and Ross at corner is a far cry from Webster, Ross and ? The Giants have toyed with the idea of moving Rolle to fill the nickel corner when that scheme takes the field, but that presents its own problems. It is going to be an area to closely watch and I am not nearly as confident today about the prospects of the Giants defense as I was when I posted just before the first pre-season game.

On offense, I continue to have huge doubts regarding the passing game. I love Nicks and MM but they benefited tremendously having Steve Smith as part of their trio. Without Smith, they are going to get doubled consistently and their production is likely to suffer. Add the loss of Boss and no serviceable replacement, and the passing game could really struggle. Moreover, the loss of Boss is going to impact the running game as well. The Giants simply do not have a TE that can fill both the blocking and passing roles. And if they try to go with a rotation, it will clearly cause problems since it will be such an obvious signal of pass versus run that it simply won't work.

Lastly, on special teams, I thought the Giants looked greatly improved in their coverage units, although frankly that is really difficult to judge during pre-season. The only player I had hoped would be a standout, rookie Jernigan, struggled to hold onto the ball. Beyond his struggles catching punts, he is so small he goes down with just the slightest touch by a defender, but did show some flashes in the last pre-season game when he was finally able to get some open field. But, I don't see Jernigan contributing to the team as anything other than a returner despite his nice TD receiption the other night. And the question at this point is whether Coughlin even risks putting him on the field when the games count.

Here's the "final" roster as of today.


Quarterbacks:
10 Eli Manning
8 David Carr
Halfbacks:
44 Ahmad Bradshaw
27 Brandon Jacobs
28 D.J. Ware
34 Da’Rel Scott
Fullbacks:
45 Henry Hynoski
Wide Receivers:
88 Hakeem Nicks
82 Mario Manningham
87 Domenik Hixon
80 Victor Cruz
15 Devin Thomas
12 Jerrel Jernigan
Tight Ends/H-Backs:
86 Bear Pascoe
47 Travis Beckum
85 Jake Ballard
Offensive Linemen:
67 Kareem McKenzie
65 William Beatty
78 Stacy Andrews
73 James Brewer
76 Chris Snee
66 David Diehl
77 Kevin Boothe
62 Mitch Petrus
64 David Baas
Defensive Linemen:
99 Chris Canty
97 Linval Joseph
95 Rocky Bernard
73 Jimmy Kennedy
91 Justin Tuck
72 Osi Umenyiora
90 Jason Pierre-Paul
71 Dave Tollefson
Linebackers:
94 Mathias Kiwanuka
59 Michael Boley
54 Jonathan Goff
53 Greg Jones
57 Jacquian Williams
58 Mark Herzlich
49 Spencer Paysinger
Defensive Backs:
23 Corey Webster
31 Aaron Ross
20 Prince Amukamara
43 Brian Williams
37 Michael Coe
21 Kenny Phillips
26 Antrel Rolle
34 Deon Grant
36 Derrick Martin
39 Tyler Sash

2011 Finally Begins

2011-08-13T18:47:00.003-04:00

The Giants cut OG Richie Seubert and C Shawn O'Hara and lost DT Barry Cofield, TE Kevin Boss, and WR Steve Smith (the first Giants pro bowl WR in 43 years) to free agency. On the other side of the ledger they signed TE Ben Patrick to replace Boss, but then he promptly retired. They did sign C David Baas, a 2005 2nd round pick of the 49ers where he played guard until filling in admirably at center last year. Jerry Reese claims Baas was the one player the Giants coveted most in this year's free agent market.

My biggest worry heading into this season is WR. I don't have any doubts about Nicks or Manningham. But, I also have illusions regarding the tremendous impact Steve Smith had upon the success of both. Nicks/Manningham were very dangerous when part of a trio that included Steve Smith. The question is how will they do as a duo. Yes, the Giants will go with three and four WR sets. But whoever those 3rd and 4th receivers are, they aren't Steve Smith, nor any reasonable facsimile. And the loss of Kevin Boss doesn't help the situation either. The passing game is going to be something to watch carefully. There isn't any question it is going to experience a downgrade over the great success of 2009 - the only question is how much of a downgrade.

On the other hand, I am tremendously excited to see some players on the defensive side of the ball. First and foremost, Jason Pierre-Paul. I am equally excited about Linval Joseph and rookie Marvin Austin. Staying with the DL, I look for Mathias Kiwanuka to have a big impact (even if he will be playing LB).

Using Kiwi as a nice transition from DL to LB, I still have high hopes for Clint Sintim and I'm especially anxious to see Adrian Tracy and Kenny Ingram. Alas, sadly, we fans will not get to see the Giant's 2011 first round selection, CB Prince Amukamara, due to injury which will sideline him until at least the 3rd regular season game (having missed the entire pre-season, it's unlikely he'll see much, if any, playing time this year).

On special teams, my primary focus will be on Jerrel Jernigan, this year's third round selection. He should be an immediate contributor on returns and, if the Giants struck lightening in a bottle, may actually see some time at WR. But I'm not holding my breath because of his height and Eli's difficulties keeping the ball down.

So, I'm excited for the 2011 season to get underway this evening. As always, I couldn't care less about the score nor who wins or loses. I will be watching for individual performances, especially those I've mentioned above. But, more than anything else, I'll be praying for health. If the Giants stay healthy they can make a big splash in 2011 primarily because on paper the Giants are a top 5 defense. I'm not going to predict a season ending #1 defensive ranking, but this group is that talented - maybe the most talented since the 1986 defense.

2011 Draft

2011-07-31T09:30:00.002-04:00


Round	Pick #	Player	Pos.
1	19	Prince Amukamara	CB
2	20	Marvin Austin	DT
3	19	Jerrel Jernigan	WR
4	20	James Brewer	T
6	20	Greg Jones	LB
6	33	Tyler Sash	S
6	37	Jacquian Williams	LB
7	19	Da'Rel Scott	RB

Defense in a Passing Era

2011-01-17T19:11:00.001-05:00

One of the most amazing stats I've ever heard was a few years ago when I learned that every single SB winner dating back to 1979 or so had a top ten defense. I know that the Indy Colts recently broke that trend, so I was curious to see where the current final four teams ranked during the regular season on defense. I sorted NFL.com by points against (Giants, btw, were ranked 17th):

1 Pittsburgh Steelers (To Play Jets)
2 Green Bay Packers (To Play Chicago)
3 Baltimore Ravens
4 Chicago Bears (To Play Green Bay)
5 Atlanta Falcons
6 New York Jets (To Play Pittsuburgh)

Year in, year out, the majority of the teams that make the playoffs (no less go all the way) rank within the top ten on defense.

Historic Collapse Has Giants on the Ropes

2010-12-26T13:31:00.002-05:00

Later today the Giants face the Packers in what amounts to a "one and done" playoff game. If the Packers lose, their season is over. Giants win and they are in. And, while a Giants loss won't eliminate them, they would no longer be controlling their own destiny and would need a win and some help in the last game of the regular season next week.

Add to that the fact that Tom Coughlin's fate is also likely keyed to this game. With the sole exception of the heroic 2007 season, the Giants under Coughlin have had the tendency to peak early each season with December swoons. Then last week the Giants, essentially playing for the Divisional championship, watched as the Eagles scored 28 unanswered points in the final 7 and 1/2 minutes, overcoming a 21 point lead and stabbing the Giants in the heart. A monumental collapse which, if followed by a loss today, could spell the end of the Coughlin era.

It will be interesting to see how the team performs today after such a crushing defeat last week. Will they collapse and play timid scared football? Or will they play mean, aggressive, angry, pissed off football and take it out on the Packers? They certainly have the talent - the only question is if they have the mental toughness and emotional willpower.

Giants/Eagles - Winner Take All

2010-12-19T09:57:00.004-05:00

Having dispatched Washington in dominating style, followed by a crazy detour to Detroit where they disposed of the Vikings, the Eagles come to town in a "winner take all" game for the Division Title. Meanwhile, after a four week absence, Steve Smith returned from his pectoral injury last week only to suffer a season ending knee injury. His loss is going to really hurt in the post season if the Giants make it that far.

To win this afternoon, the Giants will have to be clicking on all cylinders in all three phases of the game. And they cannot win this game if they don't win the turnover battle. Bradley, the Eagles middle linebacker is out which may help the Giants run game a bit, but I still think the Giants are out-matched for this contest. Having said that, although there have been some real "busts" during his tenure, Tom Coughlin teams are usually very well prepared with game plans that generally provide a realistic chance to win regardless of circumstances and opponent.

The Eagles are perhaps the best quick strike team I've ever seen and the Giants need to completely take away the big play. They need to keep the score close and win it in the fourth quarter. To do that they are going to need the defense to be all over Vick as they did the last time around - the offense to dominate on the ground - and win the field position battle in the kicking game. If they do all three things - and avoid turnovers - they will win this game. Fail in any one area and they almost certainly lose.

Giants' Best Win of the Season

2010-12-05T09:39:00.008-05:00

Last Sunday afternoon the Giants, bloodied and battered on offense, hosted a hot Jacksonville team in a game they had to win. The problem was finding a way to win a game in which they would almost certainly not generate any offense. After all, their offensive line was in tatters, missing their starting pro bowl center and his backup, as well as their starting pro bowl left tackle and his backup. Worse, the Giants went into the season without a blocking tight end, choosing to rely upon Shawn Andrews to fill that role, but injuries forced Andrews into a starting position on the line and then into a hospital bed. So the Giants must try to run behind an offensive line missing three key components. To add to the offensive woes the Giants were forced to add two street free agent wide receivers to the roster because both starting wide outs, Smith and Nicks, were likely to miss several games to injury.

So, the question was, if the Giants had no wide receivers to throw to, and no offensive line to block, how in the world were they going to generate enough offense to stay competitive? Indeed, I worried that they were unlikely to score more than 10 points and, therefore, the key to any victory would fall squarely on the shoulders of a healthy and dominant Giants defense.

So it was not a big surprise to find the Giants down 17-6 at halftime. What was surprising was that the Giants' offense had played surprisingly well, the offensive line, in particular. Manning was kept upright and the line had opened huge holes for Jacobs and Bradshaw. And although the failure to finish drives with touchdowns was disappointing, the reality behind the paltry six points was the lack of opportunities - the offense only touched the ball four times the entire half. It was the Giants defense that was the primary culprit. They couldn't stop the run and Jacksonville shoved it straight down their collective throats. The defensive performance was horrific and faced a cascade of well deserved boos as they trudged off the field at half time.

In the second half the defense finally played some football and Jacksonville would only score three more points the rest of the game. Players would later credit Tuck for a passionate half time motivational speech. Rolle would later criticize the fans for their uncalled for booing at half time, obviously believing he deserves a standing ovation at all times. One can only hope that the true reason behind the turnaround was the collective shame and embarrassment of every defensive player regarding the pathetic performance of the defense in a game that, heading in, was dependent upon their very best.

The defense rose up and the Giants would win 24-20. The defense finally stuffed the run and got after the QB. The game would end with three consecutive sacks after Jacksonville had a first and 10 at the Giants 29 yard line, the third sack resulting in the Giants recovery of a Garrard fumble. But it was the play of the offensive line that was the key to the victory. They played as good, if not better, than could have been expected had the starters played. And that fact has to provide comfort that the Giants have more than a fighting chance to keep their heads above water while waiting for the injured to return.

Today they face the Redskins in Giants stadium still without Smith of Nicks and still with the same patchwork offensive line. However, after the performance last week, they can, should, and must win this game.

Giants Wounded and Teetering

2010-11-22T11:33:00.003-05:00

The good news is that the Giants defense put up a heroic effort in a 24-17 loss in Philadelphia last night. The bad news is that the Giants fell to second place against their primary Divisional opponent and have now lost two inter-Divisional games in a row. Moreover, as well as the defense played, had the Eagles not misfired on some very big plays, the score (and the game) would have been much more one sided than it appeared.

For the third straight consecutive game the Giants defensive line was unable to generate any pass rush on its own. This time, however, Fewell created consistent pressure on Vick with well schemed overload blitzes that kept Vick both on the run and contained at the same time. But the offense, with no running game and five turnovers, was unable to turn in an equivalent performance.

The injuries to O'Hara, Diehl, and Smith are clearly having an impact. The question is whether the wounded can get back on the field in playing shape in time to turn things around with a very tough schedule remaining. If so, this remains a very talented team that can contend for the trophy. But the sand in the hourglass is rapidly slipping away and it could easily be too late if Smith and either Diehl or O'Hara don't return within the next two games.

Vick Licks Chops After Kitna Embarrasses Giants

2010-11-21T12:06:00.006-05:00

Dallas owner Jerry Jones finally put Wade Phillips out of his misery and promoted offensive coordinator Jason Garrett as the Cowboys prepared to take on the Giants at home in the Meadowlands. Meanwhile the Giants were coming off one of the most dominating performances in the history of the franchise. And Las Vegas installed the Giants as 14 point favorites. Of course that made for the perfect storm and the Giants didn't disappoint, losing to the Kitna led Cowboys by the score of 33-20.

Kitna had to have been chuckling to himself as he replayed the game in his mind as he drifted off to sleep later that night. Because, here was one of the most stationary, statue like quarterbacks you are ever going to see - one who hadn't played football since - well, since the early 1970's it seemed - and yet the Giants never laid a finger on him all night. Not a glove. Not a push. His uniform almost certainly didn't need to go to the laundry this week. And Kitna took full advantage and lit the Giants up like a Christmas tree.

Worse, the Giants also couldn't stop the running game. Jones averaged an incredible 6.83 yards per carry in the first half and Barber averaged just under 6 yards a carry for the game. The Giants defense was thoroughly dominated from beginning to end in every phase of the game.

Meanwhile, later that night the Eagles torched the Redskins 59-28 and, amazingly, that score makes it seem closer than it really was. Vick was virtually unstoppable and had one of the best games any quarterback has ever had in NFL history. And, amazingly, he has yet to throw an interception this year.

Making matters worse, Steve Smith remains out. Ramses Barden broke an ankle against Dallas and was put on IR. O'Hara and Snee remain out and Shawn Andrews didn't practice all week due to back problems.

In summary, the Giants defense has gone into a funk while the offense is in tatters. Meanwhile they are going into Philly to play the Eagles coming off one of the most impressive offensive performances in history. I expect it to be very ugly. The bigger question, however, is whether the Giants can get healthy and regroup in time for the return match in the Meadowlands in four weeks. That is the key game that will play a critical role in determining this team's success in January.

Giants Explode While Cowboys Implode

2010-11-14T09:38:00.002-05:00

The Giants face the Cowboys this afternoon for the second time in three games. In the interim, Dallas fired their head coach while the Giants came home from Seattle with a victory for the first time since 1981. While Dallas is imploding, the Giants seem to be exploding. They didn't just beat Seattle, they destroyed them 41-7 - and the score understates the extent of the Giants' domination.

But, I always try to maintain a level of objectivity when assessing the Giants - something that isn't easy to do as a life long fan. And I see some potential rough seas on the horizon, perhaps starting as early as this afternoon. Today the Giants will play without three of last year's four Pro Bowl players - Diehl, O'Hara, and Smith. Worse, it isn't clear when any of the three will return to the starting lineup.

The Giants should clearly win this afternoon's game. Even with the injuries, they are the better team right now. But, the loss of Diehl, O'Hara and Smith clearly puts a chink in their armor and if I'm Dallas, I'm pushing all of my chips into an all out strategy singularly focused on that one crack. Dallas has the horses to bring the heat with Ware, Ratcliff and Spenser, and I would not be surprised if the Dallas strategy is to hit Manning early and often. When the heat is on, Manning, like all quarterbacks, goes to his "automatic" - the guy who runs precise routes and who you can trust to always be where he is supposed to be - Steve Smith. But today, if the Cowboys can pressure Manning, he won't have that guy - and will be less able to throw to a spot under pressure but, instead, will need the extra time to scan the field and locate someone.

Dallas is out of the playoffs and have nothing to play for but pride and job security next year. If the Giants can get up by 14 points early, the Cowboys are likely to fold like a cheap shirt. And if I'm Dallas, I know the only way I win this game is to get my defense into the game early - and I do that by bringing everything but the kitchen sink at Manning from the very opening snap. If that is what they do, the good news for the Giants is their signing of Shawn Andrews, for he will be the key to protecting Manning and giving him the time to strike quick and put a dagger into the collective heart of the Dallas defense.

One of the All Time Greatest Games

2010-10-31T15:02:00.003-04:00

I've been watching Giants football since the 1950's and I believe the Giants' defeat of the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago was one of the greatest games in Giants' history. A nationally televised Monday night game, in Dallas, with the Cowboys season on the line. The Giants receive the opening kickoff and Manning throws two interceptions on the first two drives resulting in a stunningly quick 10-0 Dallas lead 6 minutes into the game.

Little did the millions of viewers know the game was over at that point. By half time the score was 24-20 Giants and Tony Romo had been knocked out of the game. The Giants totally dominated and literally ripped the throats out of the Cowboys, their owner, and their fans. All this despite 5 Giant turnovers together with a 93 yard Dallas punt return for a touchdown. The 41-35 final score, the result of two "garbage time" touchdowns during the last 5 minutes of the game, made it appear closer than it really was. It was not a close game. Dallas was physically, statistically, and emotionally dominated in every conceivable manner starting the moment the Giants took the field down 10-0.

It was a thrilling game and put a dagger into the heart of the most arrogant franchise in sports history. Few things in life could be much sweeter.

One would be the continued great play by the Giants themselves. They find themselves ranked 2nd in the league in overall defense and 3rd in overall offense. The defense is having a monster year shutting down the run and getting after the QB. And on the other side of the ball, Bradshaw was leading the league in rushing when the gun sounded Monday night while Jacobs has averaged over 5 yards a carry during the four game winning streak. Meanwhile, the passing game is almost unstoppable - except for that one Achilles heel - the 11 interceptions, 7 of which were tipped balls.

Suddenly the schedule no longer appears so daunting. Barring a major injury, the Giants should be favored in every game the rest of the year. They are unlikely to win them all, but which 2 or 3 they lose will, more likely than not, simply be a function of statistics than talent. At this point in their season, they need to stay healthy, correct the turnover issue, and focus on refining their play and carrying momentum into the post season. That may sound a bit brash, but what their play speaks for itself against some very good talent. There are only two things that will derail this train, neither of which is another NFC opponent: injuries or their own mistakes.

This afternoon they travel to Seattle where they last won almost 30 years ago in 1981. Seattle is a perfect 3-0 at home this year. But that is clearly a misleading statistic. They are suffering major injuries on both sides of the ball. Their QB is about to start the first game of his eight year NFL career. The Giants should dominate but they will need to start winning the turnover battles and tightening up their kickoff and punt coverage teams - and there is no better time to begin than this afternoon.

GIants Win 3rd Straight, Face Cowboys in Dallas

2010-10-24T10:11:00.003-04:00

The Giants dispatched a vastly improved Detroit Lions last Sunday in very workmanlike fashion. It wasn't pretty, but they won the turnover battle and kept penalties to a minimum while Detroit shot themselves in the foot with huge penalties are key times in the game. For the third straight game in a row the Giants eliminated their opponent's run game and thereby freeing the defensive line to pin their ears back and fly to the QB. It is a pattern the Giants must duplicate in tomorrow's Monday Night match up against the Cowboys.

The media and pundits all insist Dallas is the best 1-4 team in recent memory. That Dallas has the best talent in the NFC. Amazingly many still believe the Boyz have a flicker of hope to complete the home field Super Bowl dream Jerry Jones set up by building a new stadium and following that up with the highest team salary in all the NFL. Dallas may win Monday Night but they won't be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl. Sorry Jerry, but that dream you purchased is already buried in the ashes of Wade Phillips' 1-4 start.

For the Giants, meanwhile, Monday night is the first of six inter-divisional games they play over the last ten games of the season. In their current position, maintaining their momentum with a solid performance is more important than the win itself. Of course, a solid performance should produce a win because the Giants are simply the better team on defense and offense - but special teams could be the difference maker should the Giants stumble. Based upon their performance thus far in 2010, the Giants run defense can be expected to shut down Felix Jones and Marion Barber. When they do, the Giants pass defense features a rejuvenated pass rush that will have Romo scrambling to make plays against a vastly improved secondary over 2009's edition. The Achilles heel remains linebacker and the Cowboys will almost certainly test the Giants with their tight ends.

When the Giants have the ball, the key is going to be the offensive line. Diehl and McKenzie are going to have their hands full and they've both struggled with speed rushers. Watch for the Giants to slow that speed with dumps to Bradshaw, Beckham, and Pascoe. The down field passing game is likely to be hindered with the injury to Hakeem Nicks regardless if he plays. With Nicks not a factor, Manningham is going to have to step up and make some big plays.

At the end of the day, the key to the game is going to be the same as last week - winning the turnover battle. Equally important in this game will be penalties. Dallas has been horrific when it comes to penalties and the Giants have to take advantage by playing a penalty free game. And, last by not least, the Giants cannot allow Bryant to have a big day on returns. If they play penalty free football with no turnovers and corral Bryant, the rest of the Giants game should be sufficient to produce a win in enemy territory.

Giants Come Up Big For 2nd Straight Win

2010-10-17T10:56:00.002-04:00

For the second straight game the Giants' defense completely shut down the running game and applied pressure on the opposing QB. And this time the Giants' offense contributed a strong game leading to a 34-10 drubbing of the Houston Texans.

This was no small victory. Not only was Houston a good team, it was probably the most balanced offensive attack the Giants have seen. But, perhaps equally as important as the win, the continued strong play of the defense provides a real confidence boost. The Giants defense is starting to get its mojo back. The importance of team confidence cannot be overstated when it comes to success in football.

Later today they face an up and coming Detroit team. The Lions are no longer doormats and a game against Detroit no longer equates to an automatic "W". They are a much stronger team this year, stronger than their actual record shows. And the one thing that they have not yet demonstrated is the capability to win on the road. They are a team on a mission with something to prove and you know that every player in that locker room wants to get the monkey off their backs by finally winning an away game.

The Giants are the better team and they should clearly win the game. But this isn't Detroit of two years ago. This team is going to show up and play physical on both sides of the ball. More than anything else, the Giants can't give the game away with turnovers and stupid penalties. Because, if they make mistakes, this Detroit team will capitalize and put a quick end to the success and momentum the Giants have built over the past two weeks. And a loss would result in a different Giants team - a different confidence level - heading into Dallas next week.

So, the Giants should win but accomplishing that will require a change from what they've done so far this year ... cleaning up their act. They have to win the turnover battle and, preferably, accomplish that with zero turnovers of their own. And they have to avoid stupid penalties. If there was ever a game for Coughlin to impose his will and demand mistake free football, this is it. If they do that, they should win handily.

Prediction: Giants 27 Detroit 14.

Giants Defense Destroys Chicago

2010-10-09T17:43:00.003-04:00

The Giants needed a confidence boost almost as much as they needed a win. Last Sunday night they got both. The Giants defense didn't just shut down Chicago's offense. They totally dominated them. Decimated them. Destroyed them. Nine sacks in the first half. The Giants sent Cutler to the showers and then proceeded to knock backup Todd Collins out of the game. Chicago couldn't run. Couldn't pass. And couldn't protect their QBs.

However, all was not perfect in Giants land. Far from it. The flip side is that the Giants offense was almost equally dominated by Chicago's defense. They finally kicked some life into the tires after half time, but concerns with the offense line and running game (i.e. Brandon Jacobs) remain. And special teams remain horrid.

But, at the end of the day, the Giants faced a well balanced team and dominated them. And did so without any offense of their own. Sunday afternoon they face the 3-1 Houston Texans, another well balanced team that will present another test for the Giants defense. Don't expect Matt Schaub to allow himself to become the punching bag Cutler did. He will take shorter drops and get the ball out quickly. WR Andre Johnson is legitimately one of the very best in the league. And the Giants will have to honor the run or else they will get run over by Adrian Foster, quietly putting up great numbers this year. Furthermore, former Giant Derrick Ward, who recently joined the Texans, will be anxious to show a thing or two to his former teammates. And on offense, the Giants' offensive line must control Mario Williams and Brian Cushing - against the pass and run.

This is a very evenly matched game. The Giants need to string some wins together if they are going to have any success this year. To do that, the defense needs to build off of last week's dominance and, first and foremost, totally shut down the Texan's ability to run the ball. That must be the primary goal. However, against the Texans, it won't be enough. They will also have to pressure Schaub and do it with their base package and only an occasional blitz. At the end of the day, I believe the Giants defense is better than Houston's allowing the Giants to walk away with back to back wins for the first time this season.

Prediction: NY 24, Houston 17

Giants Lose At Home, Fall to 1-2

2010-10-03T10:57:00.004-04:00

The Giants lost to the Tennessee Titans 29-10 last Sunday. Looking at the final score one would think the game was a complete blow out. But they would be wrong. The Giants completely contained the best running back in football until the game was already out of reach in the 4th quarter. And they outplayed Tennessee in every aspect of the game - except errors. The Giants were penalized eleven times, five of which were personal fouls and one in the end zone replacing a 40+ yard play with a safety and resulting TD after short field position for the Titans. Most critical of all the Giants turned the ball over three times, twice in the red zone. Throw in two missed field goals, one at a critical juncture, and you get a recipe for disaster.

That's the bad news. The good news is that the Giants demonstrated they were the more talented team and should have won the game. Thus last week's game went a long way towards answering the question which 12 months ago would have been unthinkable - is this an upper tier team in terms of talent?

One game - especially a loss - cannot, and will not, provide an answer. Only their play on the field as the season unfolds will provide the absolute answer. But, one clue can be found by scanning the remaining schedule:

4 Chicago
5 Houston
6 Detroit
7 Dallas
8 Bye
9 Seattle
10 Dallas
11 Philadelphia
12 Jacksonville
13 Washington
14 Minnesota
15 Philadelphia
16 Green Bay
17 Washington

None of the games can be considered "easy". Some jump out such as Detroit, Jacksonville and Washington. But Detroit has been playing some fierce football and Washington with McNabb seems a potential threat. The bottom line is that finding "easy" games on a schedule is really more a function of your strength rather than the weakness of the opponent. Thus, if this were 1986 or 2008 and we were viewing the remaining games on the Giants schedule, every game would look like a probable "win". The Giants were just that good. The fact this schedule seems difficult is a pretty good indicator of the relative strength of this team.

This team appears to have talent. They have a franchise QB, the best group of WR in team history, a offensive line that entering the 2009 season 12 months ago was widely accepted as one of the best in football, and a defensive line that has been stacked with big names and infused with high draft picks. But, until they actually start playing football as they did in the beginning of 2008, just how good this team really is will remain an open question. The one thing that remains clear to me is that this team is in a very fragile place. That happens when a team just doesn't seem capable of playing up to their talent level - which clearly this team has not done, dating all the way back to the last four games of 2008. If they lose tonight and then again next week, the wheels will come off this bus very quickly.

This team is at a cross roads. It is a team that either stands up and proves to itself just how good it really is and goes 10-6 or better this year. Or it is a team that totally collapses and goes 6-10 (or worse). I just don't see any middle ground. And tonight's game will go a long way towards providing an answer. While a win is important, the larger danger is that a loss puts them into a position of having to win in Houston because, if they lose four in a row, this team will collapse in onto itself and the season will be essentially over. They need a win tonight to keep themselves away from that precipice.

Giants Humbled by Indy

2010-09-26T09:57:00.011-04:00

The fact the Giants lost to the Colts isn't a big deal. After all, a loss wasn't exactly unexpected, not even by a lopsided score (I predicted a 35-24 Colt victory - ** actually I predicted 35-17 on BBI on Fri but changed it to 35-24 in my Sun morning weblog post - I must have been getting enthused). But the Giants didn't just lose. They were completely taken apart by Indy. They were physically out muscled by a finesse team. It was a total deconstruction on both sides of the ball. The Giants were embarrassed and humbled - or at least they should have been. Days after the game Antron Rolle publicly expressed his shock that his fellow teammates seemed unconcerned and accepting of the loss. I'm not sure what's worse: the lack of togetherness demonstrated by Rolle expressing his thoughts publicly - or the substance of his attack.

The defense gave up huge yards on the ground as Fewell decided to dress only two defensive tackles and spent most of the first half in a 4-1-6 defensive scheme that the Colts readily attacked with the highest number of rushing attempts in the Peyton Manning era. Therefore, although the defense didn't stand tall last Sunday, it is difficult to use that as an indicator of future performance because (a) it was the Colts after all; and (b) Fewell stubbornly refused to adjust out of his single linebacker scheme until the game was already out of reach.

The greater concern is the Giants' inability to run the ball on offense. The offensive line is being manhandled physically and it appears they are no longer capable of being a running team. Worse, Brandon Jacobs just doesn't seem to be capable of getting it through his head that the sole reason for his NFL roster spot is the intimidation his unique size, power, and speed allows. For two years now Jacobs has talked about his speed and ability to juke and side step to make defenders miss. Those statements have always troubled me because they demonstrated a lack of understanding of what makes him unique. There are not many running backs in the history of the league that have had the ability to physically intimidate a defense. To be the physical aggressor and make defenders truly fear for their physical safety. Brandon Jacobs has that very rare ability. But, sadly, that unique gift appears to be going to waste because Jacobs doesn't "get it". Last week he attempted to string a run out wide and while running parallel to the line of scrimmage was tackled easily for a loss. Coughlin was furious (undoubtedly at Jacobs but almost certainly more so with the inability of the offensive line to block any more) and pulled Jacobs from the game. Jacobs, clearly frustrated, threw his helmet into the stands which fortunately didn't injure anyone but did later cost him a $10,000 fine from the league.

The bottom line is that it appears the Giants are not going to have a running game this year. And, although Eli Manning had a career year last year, the Giants are not the Colts. If the Giants fail to end the year as a top ten rushing offense, they are not making the playoffs in 2010. End of story.

Worse, last Sunday the offensive line was unable to provide any protection for Eli. Zero. Nada. Zip. Manning was sacked, hit, and under pressure on 100% of his throws. But, as worrisome as the pass protection failures were, any hopes for this season start and end with the ability to run the ball. Today the Giants get a real test in that regard. They face a very physical Tennessee Titan team that excels in football 101. Run the ball on offense and stop the run on defense. And Tennessee does both extremely well. I fully expect and anticipate the Giants' defense will have success in stopping Chris Johnson - at least controlling him sufficiently to win the game.

What is not clear, however, is whether the Giants offense can win its battles against this Tennessee defense. Based upon the first two games of 2010, I have my doubts. In fact, based upon what we've seen, dating back to last year, I believe it is pretty clear that the Giants cannot run against this Titans team - and that the only way the Giants running game can succeed is for the Giants to open up throwing to set up the run. Of course, that could be problematic if the offensive line can't protect Eli - but then again the Titans don't have Freeney and Mathis.

Obviously every game is important. At the end of the day, however, a win is a win, regardless of how they play. And a loss won't be catastrophic if the Giants answer the doubters with a great game on both sides of the ball and simply lose because of a turnover or quirky play or two. But if they lose because of continued problems on the offensive side of the ball (or if the defense surprises me and lets Chris Johnson run wild) - then the wheels on the bus can come off pretty quickly and this team can lose all confidence. I continue to believe the confidence of the team is pretty fragile and at a cross roads - they need a statement game on both sides of the ball to serve as a springboard to believe in themselves.

Giants Open Stadium & Season With 31-18 Win

2010-09-12T19:04:00.009-04:00

As the game wound down it wasn't clear whether we were watching ping pong or football as the teams turned the ball over in a bizarre sequence of six straight possessions ending with turnovers. But, as I posted before the game, this was a critical game for the Giants for several reasons and, at the end of the day, they won, 31-18.

Despite the sloppy play, there were some big positives. First and foremost, the run defense was solid. Carolina is a running team, presumably one of the best. The Giants held them to 89 yards on 24 carries that included one run of 29 yards. The next longest run was 8 yards. This was a considerable improvement over 2009 and a very, very good sign. If they can be consistent and maintain it for the full season, the Giants will be competitive in most games without any of the blowouts witnessed in 2009.

Once Carolina fell behind and were forced to play catch up, the Giants demonstrated they have the horses to pound the QB, generating four sacks and knocking QB Matt Moore out of the game with a concussion with just over two minutes remaining. They also had three interceptions, all in the end zone, one of which was a fantastic play by safety Deon Grant, coming off his receiver and moving perhaps 20 yards laterally to leap in front of the receiver to make an acrobatic catch. The Grant interception came with the Giants playing three safeties, a scheme designed to shore up the run defense but which paid dividends big time with at least two (if not all three) interceptions coming with that scheme on the field.

On offense, Eli Manning had a great game and spread the ball around to a group of receivers that are quickly becoming one of the most difficult trios in the league to defend. Second year first round pick Nicks had a coming out party with three touchdown receptions. But it was the emergence of Mario Manningham that is probably the more significant development of this game. Most of the league already knew about Steve Smith and the potential of Hakeem Nicks. But Mario Manningham's four receptions for 86 yards (21.25 ypc) put the league on notice that the Giants have three legitimate receivers that warrant big time attention. The only negative in the passing game were the three interceptions, each coming off a tipped ball. Whether the throws were too high or they were balls that should have been caught, probably matters less than the fact the errors were (and will be ) correctable.

There were, however, some negatives and real concerns. In the short term, the loss of Boss could be huge, especially if he is forced to the sideline for an extended number of games. The concern is not the passing game but the loss of blocking in the running game. When Boss went down, the Giants suddenly looked like a junior high school team trying to run the ball. Of course, the running game wasn't exactly clicking on all cylinders before Boss got hurt so it is difficult to judge the extent to which his absence played a part. The Giants actually had negative rushing yardage for the game as of when they walked off the field at half time. And while the running game was better after some half time adjustments, it was still a far cry from the dominance of 2007/2008 and far from acceptable.

However, perhaps the larger, more long term concern, is with special teams. Both the punt and kick off coverage units were horrid yielding short fields to the Panthers throughout the game. And Matt Dodge certainly didn't help averaging a miserable 16 yards on his two punt attempts. But, if I'm Tom Coughlin, I'm not ready to jettison the struggling punter when the larger issue is the coverage units. Hopefully Dodge is a temporary problem which will work itself out. However the weak coverage units, an issue dating back several years now, is like an out-of-control fire about to burst into a complete conflagration. It is going to cost the Giants games if something isn't done quickly.

Questions with the offensive line also remain. The Giants starting five have more combined starts, by a wide margin, than any other offensive line in the league. However, is that a positive reflecting great experience or a negative reflecting an inability to infuse youth into the line? Certainly the loss of Will Beatty to a broken foot means any youth movement will be delayed until the second half of the season, at best. The coaching staff was apparently concerned enough about this issue that they chose to release linebacker Bryan Kehl, who received immediate interest from several other teams, rather than placing Beatty on injured reserve despite the fact Beatty likely won't be ready to play for another 6-8 weeks at the earliest.

Lastly, I have some unhappiness with the schemes called by Fewell. Yes, I love the three safeties. And I'm thrilled with the stout defense against the run. But I'm not a fan of his decision to rush four and keep seven in coverage on too many obvious passing downs, especially in the first half. This wasn't Peyton Manning the Giants were facing at QB. It was Matt Moore. And Moore demonstrated that he was clearly susceptible to being hurried into poor throws and decisions. I honestly can't fathom the repeated decision in the first half to rush only four, giving Moore the time to look over the field and pick his targets. And it hurt the Giants as Carolina marched down the field to score just before the first half ended. The Giants showed what their pass rush can do once Carolina was forced to play catchup and when the Giants got more aggressive and were able to pin their ears back and fly after the QB.

Tonight, however, the Giants face the real deal in Peyton Manning who is not going to wilt under pressure like Matt Moore. Unlike last week when they could (and should) have blitzed all game long, tonight the Giants face a QB who earns his living making blitz happy teams pay. Tonight the Giants are going to have to generate a rush relying on their front four and with well timed and disguised blitzes.

It would be nice to believe the Giants could win a low scoring game. But shutting down this Colts offense is a very difficult thing especially without generating multiple monster 8-12 minute time consuming drives on offense, which would be truly heroic, but doubtful, for this Giants team at this point in time. Therefore, as much as it would be nice to use the running game to keep Peyton Manning off the field, the role of the running game is likely to be more important in keeping the Colts pass rush honest to buy Eli more time. For, in the end, I believe the Giants only win tonight's game if Eli outscores Peyton. And, although I don't predict it, the funny thing is I think he can. Colts 35, Giants 24 in a fun game.

Out With the Old, In With the New

2010-09-12T09:49:00.003-04:00

The Giants open their 2010 season in less than five hours. The first game of any season brings excitement and enthusiasm. Every team stands on equal footing at the starting line with equal chances, at least theoretically, at the ultimate prize.

However, for the 2010 Giants, this is not simply another opening day game. It has far greater meaning and significance. It is the inaugural game in their brand new stadium against the very same team that embarrassed them last December in the final Giants' game ever played in the old Giants Stadium. Despite some changes, this is largely the same defense that in 2009 gave up the 2nd most points in Giants' franchise history. Despite some heralded changes - Fewell replacing Sheridan and the free agent signing of Antrel Rolle - an undercurrent of uncertainty remains.

That undercurrent can quickly translate into a loss of confidence if the going gets tough and they stumble. Moreover, unlike last year, the Giants don't start the season against the dregs of the league. Next week they face the Colts in Indy, a game they are unlikely to win. Lose today and they are probably staring an 0-2 start in the face. And teams that lose the first two games of a season are, overwhelmingly, long shots to make the playoffs. Since the league went to 16 games in 1978, only 11% of teams were able to overcome an 0-2 start and make it to the post season.

More importantly, this is a game the Giants should win. It will also provide a good test of the team's primary failure a year ago - their inability to stop the run on defense. With the ever increasing reliance upon passing in the NFL, the link between stopping the run and rushing the passer is often overlooked by fans. A successful running game is important to a passing offense because it forces the defense to honor both run and pass at all times. The flip side - eliminate an opponent's running game - enables the defense to focus on an all out pass rush. In 2009 the inability to stop the run forced the Giants to honor both run and pass at all times, and was, in my view, the primary cause of the diminished pass rush we all witnessed.

Not surprisingly, Tom Coughlin has openly stated that stopping the run is the first and foremost first step that needs to be taken to correct the ills of 2009. The Giants will get a stiff first test today. Last year Carolina became the first team in NFL history to have two running backs exceed 1,100 yards in the same NFL season. Thus, the Giants' run defense is, perhaps, facing the most difficult test it will face all year in the opening game of the season. Their measure of success against the run today will go a long way towards answering the lingering questions from 2009.

The other hangover from 2009 is the running game on offense. There has been plenty of talk all week about Bradshaw's ascension to starter at running back. However, I suspect the switch may have more to do with the weakening condition of the offensive line, and the need for a quick cut back runner, than it does about Jacobs versus Bradshaw. At the end of the day, I continue to believe that if the Giants are going to successful in 2010, they will need the angry, mean Brandon Jacobs of 2007 and 2008, lowering his shoulder and intimidating defenders.

So, the Giants begin 2010 facing a very important first game. Lose, and they almost certainly go 0-2, leaving them statistical long shots to make the playoffs before the season has barely begun. Beyond winning, however, their run defense, which literally shamed the franchise last year, faces a very stiff test against one of the best running teams in the league. One thing is certain - the fortunes of the 2010 Giants will be in much clearer focus as of 4:00 this afternoon.

2010 Final Roster - For Now

2010-09-04T18:59:00.001-04:00

If they make no changes, the opening day 2010 roster will look like this:

Offense (24)
Quarterbacks (2): Eli Manning, Sage Rosenfels,
Running Backs (4): Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, D.J. Ware, Darius Reynaud
Fullbacks (1): Madison Hedgecock
Wide Receivers (6): Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden, Victor Cruz, Duke Calhoun
Tight Ends (2): Kevin Boss, Travis Beckum
Offensive Linemen (9): David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O'Hara, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, Will Beatty, Adam Koets, Shawn Andrews, Mitch Petrus

Defense (26)
Defensive Linemen: (9): Justin Tuck, Barry Cofield, Chris Canty, Mathias Kiwanuka, Osi Umenyiora, Rocky Bernard, Dave Tollefson, Jason Pierre-Paul, Linval Joseph
Linebackers (8): Jonathan Goff, Michael Boley, Keith Bulluck, Bryan Kehl, Clint Sintim, Chase Blackburn, Phillip Dillard, Gerris Wilkinson
Cornerbacks (5): Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Aaron Ross, Bruce Johnson, D.J. Johnson
Safeties (4): Antrel Rolle, Deon Grant, Kenny Phillips, Michael Johnson

Specialists (3)
Kicker (1): Lawrence Tynes
Punter (1): Matt Dodge
Long Snapper (1): Zak DeOssie

Two Games Before Season Begins

2010-08-22T09:46:00.002-04:00

I'm not a happy fan. I've been dealing with the ups and downs of pre-seasons most of my 58 years on this planet. I know all the platitudes... it's only pre-season ... it's only the first (or second) game ... they are not putting in their full packages and schemes ... they are holding out many starters who would normally be playing if the games were for real ... these are games played by players who won't be on any NFL roster come September ... blah blah blah.

All of that is true. But all of that is also completely beside the point. I'm disappointed. I've not seen anything that has me excited. I'm unhappy. It certainly has nothing to do with the scoring. And I'm certainly not worried about the play of the 2nd or 3rd stringers. And I realize it's difficult to make evaluations with so many injured players kept completely out of the games.

But - and this is a very big but - what I expect to see from these games is some inkling that the major issues of 2009 have been addressed. That 2010 will be completely different than 2009. I expect to see things that give me hope. And thus far I've seen nothing of the sort. Not even a glimmer. So, yes, it is only pre-season and maybe everything is fine. But on the other hand maybe not. That's the point. Thus far, the Giants' starters have not provided even the slightest reason to believe that they have turned the corner and that 2009 is in the past and that they have righted their ship.

It was, and remains, my opinion that the biggest problem of 2009 was the Giants inexplicable inability to stop the run. Stopping the run on defense is basic stuff. Football 101. Something that should be evident from even game one of any pre-season. And, based upon my eyes, they have been horrific against the run thus far, despite the platitudes thrown around by Carl Banks last evening. In game one the Jets gashed them up the middle and last night Pittsburgh continued the assault.

Coughlin correctly pronounced stopping the run as criteria number one for turning things around in 2010. And thus far, by my eyes, the Giants have failed miserably in that endeavor. So, yes, it's only pre-season. But I know this much. What I hoped to see was the Giants stuffing every single run attempt between the tackles. Instead what I've seen is a total failure in that regard. Does it matter? Maybe not. But one thing is for sure - they haven't given me any reason to believe they are going to be dominant against the run in 2010.

I'm less concerned about the other two critical failures of 2009 - the pass rush and the running game. The pass rush is too dependent upon schemes that are simply not going to be shown or put on display during a pre-season game. And the offensive line woes thus far make evaluating the running game impossible. Suffice it to say that neither area has me jumping out of my seat in joy - but I at least feel comfortable knowing there is a reason for that.

But, special teams, on the other hand, has to be a major concern. I don't know the statistics, but I have to believe the Giants ended 2009 towards the bottom of the NFL with respect to opponents starting field position after a kickoff. And I see very little evidence of improvement in 2010. Worse yet, it appears the Giants punting game will be worse - perhaps much much worse - in 2010. Football is all about field position and it appears likely the Giants will fight the field position battle with one hand tied behind their backs throughout 2010.

So, yes, it's "only the pre-season". But I know this much for certain. Their play thus far has left me disappointed and failed to generate any excitement. In fact, truth be told I can't recall any other pre-season in my 58 years that has left me more disappointed. I keep telling myself these are meaningless pre-season games, but all I know is that feeling fantastic about their play sure would have been a nice alternative.

As 2010 Camp Opens Questions Linger

2010-08-01T09:25:00.009-04:00

For the first time since I've been documenting my thoughts on the Giants, I've failed to post any analysis regarding the failures of 2009 and the needs for 2010. And the reason is straight forward. I don't have a clue why the 2009 team struggled so mightily last year. The run defense was perhaps the worst I've ever seen in the 50 years I've been a Giants fan. The vaunted pass rush was invisible. The offense lost its physicality and the running game was a shadow of its former self. The only thing that worked was the passing game, the one part of the team considered to be the weak link heading into the 2009 season. All of the purported strengths turned out to be horrendous failures.

But why? Without knowing the underlying cause, it isn't possible to design a solution. That was my struggle and my ensuing silence spoke volumes about my inability to latch onto reasons that made sense to me. Sheridan's firing made it easy to simply shift all the problems onto his shoulders. It sure would be soothing to believe that all the problems in 2010 were simply the fault of the defensive coordinator. For me, however, blaming Sheridan isn't an "analysis". How can any outsider truly analyze the actual impact of a defensive coordinator? Moreover blaming Sheridan simply ignores the self evident truth that Sheridan didn't miss a single tackle and it wasn't Sheridan who was consistently blocked without generating any pressure on the QB (and blaming him for the offensive woes is obviously ludicrous). I find it difficult, intellectually, to accept that some of the best football talent in the world suddenly lost their ability to tackle and pass rush because of a coach standing on the sidelines. Did he play a role? I have no doubt about it. But I am equally convinced he was not the primary cause of the 2010 failures. His presence may explain schemes (or lack thereof) but simply has nothing to do with the sudden inability of players to tackle or otherwise make football plays on the field.

What about injuries? There sure were a lot of them. On both sides of the ball. And a lot of players were recovering from major surgeries heading into the season. Obviously the 2009 team would have played better if every player had been 100% healthy throughout the season. However, I have great difficulty using injuries to explain the struggles the Giants were having during their initial 5-0 winning streak. The only part of the team consistently clicking during that streak was the passing game. They were not generating anything resembling a ferocious pass rush. The Giants run defense was horrendous - near the middle of the league overall and virtually at the bottom of the league in giving up runs of 20 yards or more. And they were not running the ball with authority (Jacobs was even "called out" on national TV by Goose for dancing and not lowering his shoulder - and as much as I can't stand the guy, he was right). The problems that would haunt the Giants throughout 2010 were clearly evident from day one and simply "hidden" by their 5-0 start assembled against the dregs of the league.

So, for me, I could not (and still do not) subscribe to the "blame everything on Sheridan" scenario nor do I find solace in the "blame it all on the injuries" explanation. And, since I didn't (and still don't) have any idea why the 2009 team struggled so mightily in the very areas that were the purported strengths of the team, I wasn't able to record my thoughts since I didn't have any. Worse, I haven't heard one solitary attempt by Giants management to explain what they believe went wrong which, I suspect, is because they are as perplexed as we all are.

S0, I am in the only mode that makes sense for me ... wait and see. I honestly don't have any sense of how good or bad the 2010 team will be. Except I can make some easy predictions:

1. The overall team will play better than they did in 2009. I say this simply based upon statistical probability, not because I think they discovered and corrected the problems of 2009. The Giants defense in 2009 was, statistically speaking, the 2nd worst performance by a Giants defense in the history of the franchise (almost 100 years). It is simply beyond comprehension to consider they could possibly play even worse in 2010.

2. The passing game will not enjoy the same success in 2010 as it did in 2009. If so, it will not be because of failures by Smith, Nicks, Manningham, Boss, or Eli. They continue to represent the best passing combination in Giants history and for that reason should be a force in 2010. Rather, the expectations of the fan base and media are very different heading into 2010 than they were heading into 2009 - and, as a result, the criticism will flow much more easily and much more quickly. More importantly, they are not going to surprise any teams this year. In 2010 defensive coordinators will spend much more time scheming against the Giants passing game than they did in 2009 (a show of respect) and they will have a much greater body of film evidence to work with that simply didn't exist last year.

Beyond that? I simply don't know. Most people I speak to tend to focus their hopes on a return to the Giants pass rush. They point to the plethora of talent across the defensive line, and correctly so. However, in my mind, the primary key to the success (or failure) of the 2010 Giants will hinge on the running game - on both sides of the ball. If the Giants have any hope of returning to the playoffs and any dream of winning another Lombardi in 2010, they absolutely must start by achieving top 10 status statistically in running the ball and defending against the run. Do that, and everything else maybe (likely) falls into place. The flipside is, failure to achieve either, is likely to result in a second straight season sitting at home when the playoffs begin.

Lastly, to document the Giants 2010 draft for future reference:
1. (#15) DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
2. (#46) DT Linval Joseph, East Carolina
3. (#76) S Chad Jones, LSU
4. (#115) LB Phillip Dillard, Nebraska
5. (#147) G Mitch Petrus, Arkansas
6. (#184) DE Adrian Tracy, William & Mary
7. (#221) P Matt Dodge, East Carolina

What Now?

2009-12-28T13:38:00.005-05:00

The 2009 Giants were a complete shell of the team that won one of the greatest Super Bowl games in NFL history in 2007 and then went 11-1 to start 2008. And the most disturbing thing is not that it happened, but that nobody seems to know why it happened. And if you don't know why, you can't fix it.

Clearly Harry Carson was well within his rights to vent about the lack of effort he saw in the horrible loss to Carolina in the last game ever to be played in Giants stadium. And Michael Strahan echoed those comments a week later on the Fox telecast, saying that the players had licked the stamps on the envelope weeks earlier. The observations of those two former proud Giants were later drowned out by owner John Mara expressing his disgust at the listless, emotionless and lifeless display put on by the players whose salaries he pays.

But while the lack of emotion and effort, with the playoffs on the line, was inexplicable, the more important question remains: what happened to these Giants between 2008 and 2009? Nobody knows. I have not read one article in any paper, not heard one comment by any commentator, and most importantly have not heard one word from any Giant coach or player, that explains how the young team that won the 2007 SB and went 11-1 to start 2008 suddenly sank to become one of the dredges of the NFL.

At the end of the 2006 season, Tom Coughlin was fighting for his coaching life. The media and the fans were calling for his head and the odds makers had him a long shot to survive as Giants head coach. Giants ownership didn't fire him but only gave him a one year extension and ordered changes to his staff and his personality. That's how bad things were at the end of 2006.

That was followed by two golden years. The Giants won the SB in 2007 and validated their legitimacy by going 11-1 to start 2008. They won 15 of 16 games dating back to the start of the 2007 playoffs. Then the disaster of 2009 which was eerily similar to the horrors of 2006.

How does one explain those two golden years? Well there is one common denominator and his name is Steve Spagnuolo. The players took to Spags almost immediately. His enthusiasm was infectious on both sides of the ball. His scheme called for an aggressive style of football with the defenders running downhill towards the ball. But more importantly he infected the team with confidence and enthusiasm, something sorely missing in 2009. Is it mere coincidence that the team turned things around in 2007 with his arrival following the misery of 2006? And is it mere coincidence that the team seemed listless and lifeless in 2009 following his departure?

Those are unanswerable questions. And his record with the Rams, whatever it turns out to be, won't be a measuring stick of the importance he held to the 2007-08 Giants - just because he was a great defensive coordinator doesn't mean he will be a successful head coach. And, yes, there were many things wrong with the team above and beyond the defense in 2009. But what Spags brought to the table was infectious and impacted the entire team - defense, offense, special teams and the entire coaching staff. The question is: can Coughlin find another Spags to energize the team in 2010 and beyond?

Giants No Longer Control Destiny

2009-12-27T10:15:00.002-05:00

After an emotional win against Dallas, the Giants went on to lose to Philly in a wild shootout and then destroyed Washington. In the process, however, they have lost control over their destiny and are on the outside looking in. Quite a fall from grace from Super Bowl winners in 2007 followed by a dominant performance in 2008.

There have been two constants this season. 1. Eli and the wide receivers showed up. 2. Everyone else took the year off. And that remained true these past two weeks. The Giants offense beat the Eagles but the Giants lost the game because of special teams and the defense (or lack thereof). And while the defense was better against Washington it was really the dominating play of the offense that created the scenario for the defense. In perhaps the most dominating 1st quarter of football in my lifetime, Washington had the ball for one series going three and out for minus two yards. Meanwhile the Giants put up seven points and were in the midst of their second long drive when the quarter ended. They would go on to score on that second possession and the game was over. The offense gets a huge assist - if not the dominant role - for the defensive statistics last week.

Now the Giants face the Panthers in the last game to ever be played in Giants stadium, then travel to play the Vikings in a game that suddenly matters for Minnesota. Even if the Giants win both games, they need help in the form of a Dallas or Green Bay loss. And even if they get that help and find themselves as wild card entrants into the post season, they aren't likely to go very far without any defense. So, while it is nice to have games that count this late in the season, that's all it really is... nice. But pretty meaningless. That's what has become of this team. And it is all very, very puzzling. This team has not played well from the very beginning of the season and the thing that is most bothersome is that I am not sure why - I am not sure what happened to the defense - and therefore not sure what is needed to turn things around in 2010. And I cannot recall that ever happening before - when they stunk I generally knew why they stunk. And at least that was comforting because you knew what needed to be done to turn things around. That isn't true this time around which creates a huge amount of uncertainty moving forward.

Giants Play Best Game in Biggest Game of Year

2009-12-06T20:42:00.002-05:00

I'm almost at a loss for words. The Giants have not played well all year. Even when they were 5-0 they were 19th in the league against the run, 31st in giving up 20+ yard running plays, had no pash rush, and were not running the ball with authority. Then they went on to lose 5 of their next 6, the last of which was a listless performance in Denver on Thanksgiving night. Not only were they not playing well, it appeared they had given up on the season.

That is until this afternoon. Dallas, riding high with 6 wins in their last 7 games, was in town. The same team that torched the Giants over 250 yards on the ground in game two. And today the Giants stuffed the run big time. And while the rush wasn't the awesome force so many predicted heading into the season, was enough to force Romo into some bad throws in some big situations. And the Giants ran the ball and stuck with it. Jacobs ran the ball with authority even when the yards weren't there.

The Giants played Giants football for the first time this year and came up with a huge win in a huge game with their backs against the wall. And I will be the first to admit that I would have bet the house against it ever happening. I'm still not a believer, but the Giants are clearly alive for at least one more week - and if they can find a way to win next Sunday night against Philadelphia, this will be a brand new season with the Giants in the thick of things. Surely not a bad way to start December.

Giants On The Ropes in Midst of Ten Count

2009-12-05T10:26:00.004-05:00

The Giants may have received their knock out punch Thanksgiving night in Denver last Thu.

In the aftermath the Giants demoted Osi. Any such decision almost certainly required input (if not outright approval) from Reese - and almost certainly would have been round-tabled with every coach on both sides of the ball before being made. It has ramifications throughout the team considering who the player in question is and his past value to the team. I have to believe that demoting a player like Osi is only done after substantial management debate and consideration and with great reluctance.

I've been away all week without access to the internet or NY media so I've not read anything about this other than briefly here on BBI last night. So maybe all of the above has been discussed to death and, if so, I apologize for being out of the loop. But I think it is an absolutely stunning turn of events and speaks volumes about what upper management thinks about Osi, Sheridan, the defense, and the season as a whole.

Giants End Losing Streak, But Does It Matter?

2009-11-26T19:45:00.002-05:00

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.

Giants Season On The Line

2009-11-22T11:56:00.002-05:00

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.

Embarrassed in Philly, Giants On the Ropes

2009-11-07T15:54:00.003-05:00

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.

2009 Slipping Away?

2009-10-26T07:54:00.004-04:00

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?

2009-10-25T12:06:00.002-04:00

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

2009-10-18T19:53:00.002-04:00

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

2009-10-17T14:34:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-10T13:26:00.006-04:00

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

2009-10-03T11:48:00.003-04:00

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.

Giants Receivers Ruin Cowboys Gala Party

2009-09-26T16:34:00.002-04:00

The Giants went into Dallas last Sunday night and spoiled the Cowboys home opener in their spanking new stadium because:

A. On defense, the Giants pass rush was so ferocious it had Romo running back to Mexico
B. On defense, the Giants heralded defense stopped the Cowboys running game cold
C. On offense, the Giants running game was unstoppable

Do I even have to list option D?

Since prior to the draft I've been saying the Giants' wide receivers would not only be fun to watch but would, by the last quarter of the season, be a strength of this team. I had that wrong. At least the timing part. On Sunday night, the Giants don't win the game without Steve Smith and Mario Manningham both of whom had 10 catches for more than 100 yards - the first time in Giants history that two wide receivers caught 10 passes apiece in a single game.

Sure, it's only one game. And its early in the season. And yes, they are still a very inexperienced group who are still going to make some mistakes that result in turnovers this year. But, so long as Nicks gets back on the field fairly soon, this group is going to turn some heads this post-season.

Of course, they are going to have to get better performances in the running game and on defense because this young group of kids is unlikely to have the consistency to carry the team game after game, all year long. And they are going to have to solve the red zone and short yardage issues. And it might be nice to see the players on the defensive side of the ball healthy and out of the training room. But the schedule gods gave the Giants an early break with three opponents they should beat handliy in a row while Tuck, Ross, and Dockery hopefully get some time to fully heal.

Again, it's only two games. And things could turn ugly quickly if the Giants, as they have been prone to do in the past, lose focus and let one or more of these next three games get away from them. But that has not been the history of Tom Coughlin led teams. Coughlin seems to have that rare ability to get his players to understand the necessity to stay focused on what lies directly in their path - all sights on Tampa. Go Giants.

Giants Show Their Stuff

2009-09-14T14:48:00.002-04:00

Yes, it was only one game. And only the first game of the season which is probably one of the least reliable games as indicators go. But, with that proviso having been said, the Giants still answered a lot of questions in their 23-17 win over the Redskins in yesterday's home opener.

The passing game looked solid. More than solid, it was diversified and dynamic. If I were an opposing coach, I would be concerned about defending against the passing game. It isn't as simple as doubling one receiver and taking him out of the mix as the solution. That won't work against this passing attack. You have to defend all of the pass catchers and defend the entire length and width of the field.

The offensive line, especially in passing situations, was all-world. They get the game ball from me.

The defensive line rotation was incredible. Not as much pressure as one would hope (which is a scary thought since most teams would have been thrilled by the pressure in this game), but it was evident that they are going to be very strong in the 4th quarters of games this year.

Corey Webster was a monster. Best game of his career in my opinion. True shut down capability.

Bruce Johnson, an undrafted rookie starting in the nickel in the season opener of his rookie year. You had to believe Washington's game plan called for targeting him whenever possible. And he was solid, solid, solid.

So, yes, this was only one game. And it was only the season opener. But this team showed that they have all the pieces in place and will do nothing but get stronger as the season progresses. That doesn't mean they'll win every game. After all, they are unlikely to go 16-0 and may very well lose their first game in Dallas next week. That isn't the point. This team showed yesterday they are the real deal. And, with rookie wide receivers who will do nothing but get better as the season progresses, and with Canty and Boley not yet having played enough snaps to get familiar with the system, and with Ross and Dockery temporarily out - this team is going to do nothing but get stronger.

2009 Roster (for now)

2009-09-06T09:50:00.005-04:00

Yesterday the Giants made their mandatory cuts to reduce the preseason roster to 53. In doing so they said good-bye to David Tyree and traded Michael Matthews to NE for an undisclosed conditional 2011 draft pick.

However, this is clearly not the final roster because suspended LB Michael Boley does not count against the game one roster. Thus one player on the opening day roster will have to be cut (or traded) when Boley returns for the second week game against Dallas. In addition, the positional numbers seem out of balance and further tinkering before Sunday's game against Washington would not be surprising.

The roster on offense numbers 26 including 7 wide receivers and 10 linemen, leaving only 3 running backs (plus one blocking fullback) and only 3 TE including H-Back rookie Travis Beckum. On defense the positional numbers seem even more skewed. The total count of 25 includes 9 linemen and 8 linebackers, leaving only 5 corners and 3 safeties.

Current Roster:
QB (2): Eli Manning, David Carr
RB (3): Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware
FB (1): Madison Hedgecock
WR (7): Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss, Derek Hagan, Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden
TE (3): Kevin Boss, Darcy Johnson, Travis Beckum
OL (10): David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O’Hara, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, Kevin Boothe, Adam Koets, Guy Whimper, William Beatty, Tutan Reyes

DL (9): Justin Tuck, Osi Umeyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Barry Cofield, Fred Robbins, Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard, Leger Douzable, Dave Tollefson
LB (8): Antonio Pierce, Danny Clark, Clint Sintim, Chase Blackburn, Jonathan Goff, Bryan Kehl, Gerris Wilkinson, Zak DeOssie
CB (5): Aaron Ross, Corey Webster, Kevin Dockery, Terrell Thomas, Bruce Johnson
S (3): Kenny Phillips, Michael Johnson, C.C. Brown

K (1): Lawrence Tynes
P (1): Jeff Feagles

Suspended list (1): LB Michael Boley

Random Thoughts As Camp Opens

2009-08-02T11:43:00.006-04:00

With the players reporting to camp today, I thought it was probably a good time to put "pen to paper" to record some thoughts that have been rattling around in my head regarding the 2009 Giants.

By Thanksgiving of 2008, the Giants had established themselves as the best team in all of football and eliminated all the earlier off season talk about the fluke that was their 2007 Super Bowl trophy. Although the 2008 campaign went down in flames over the last 5 weeks of the season, any lingering doubts about the legitimacy of this team was permanently erased. They are the real deal and indisputably part of any serious discussion of likely candidates for the 2009 edition of the Lombardi trophy.

Presented below are three random thoughts/observations as 2009 camp opens: (1) Biggest Hurdle For Success? (2) Must Fun Position to Watch? (3) Dark Horse Surprise Player?

Biggest Issue For Success?
Can The Giants Maintain Their Running Game?

There are very few running backs in all of NFL history I would chose over Brandon Jacobs. He is an unstoppable force that moves the chains on a consistent basis. But more than that, he sets a tone while doing it. He literally intimidates opponents which, since these are NFL professionals we are talking about, is quite a statement. He plays with such intensity and violence that the adrenalin high carries over to his teammates on both sides of the ball. I prefer his style - and believe it more effective overall for team success - than the home run hitters (even more than my favorite of all time, Gayle Sayers).

But the very nature of his style of play is such that he is only effective as the first 1/2 of an overall running attack. He is - and always will be - part of a committee. The primary piece to be sure, but only one component of the overall engine none the less. Last year Derek Ward was the perfect compliment to Jacobs and, when all was said and done, that duo led the Giants to end the season as the #1 rushing team in all of football.

The Giants wisely signed Jacobs to a long term deal during the off season but were forced to let Ward walk. In 2009 Jacobs will be complimented by Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware, and fourth round draft choice Andre Brown. Ware and Brown are, to the public, virtual unknowns. Bradshaw, on the other hand, showed great promise and was a significant contributor to the Giants 2007 Super Bowl run. So much so that any rational observer has to question his lack of touches in 2008.

The running game is central to the Giants success. This is a team that is going to win championships, first and foremost, because of its defensive dominance. An integral factor in achieving their defensive success is limiting the opponents' total possessions. And that is accomplished, first and foremost, with their running game.

Many observers this off season have pointed to the loss of Plaxico Burress as the primary obstacle facing the Giants in 2009. But this team is not going to win - or fail to win - a Super Bowl because of the passing game. The passing game is critical. Don't get me wrong. It's role, however, is as a compliment to the primary goal of the offense - possession of the football with methodical time crunching drives. The primary goal of the Giants' passing game is to keep defenses honest and off balance (and take advantage of defenses that don't), thus allowing the running game room to breathe and flourish.

Thus, the most critical question for me heading into 2009, is whether the Giants' offense can control the ball and limit opponents' possessions as they did so well through the first 12 games of 2008? And the answer to that question - and in my mind the entire season - is in the hands of Bradshaw, Ware and Brown.

Most Fun to Watch?
Wide Receivers.

A very rare thing is happening in 2009. I cannot recall the last time (if indeed it ever occurred before in history), a NFL team lost both its #1 and #2 wide receivers from the end of one season heading into the next. And then, add to that, not bringing in any veteran replacements.

When 2009 is in the history books, one of the following players will end up being the leading wide receiver for the New York Giants: Dominik Hixon, Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, or Ramses Barden. Whomever wins that distinction, that player's name will surely be a surprise. Never has such a young and inexperienced group of wide receivers constituted the entire receiving corp of an NFL team. By definition they are going to grow with every game. Indeed with every play. There will be mistakes but there are going to be some fantastic plays too. One thing is for certain - it is going to be exciting - and fun - to watch.

Dark Horse Player to Watch?
Terrell Thomas

In the minds of most observers, the two starting defensive corners for the NY Giants 2009 season appear to be set in Corey Webster and Aaron Ross. Webster, magically, came into his own during the 2007 playoff run and carried that forward in 2008. Ross seemed to experience some sophomore jitters in 2008 but he has the physical tools and is expected to take major strides in his third full season in 2009.

But the player that caught my eye last year, especially later in the year, was Terrell Thomas. He showed flashes that told me the day could be coming very soon when he is the top dog of this group. I don't know if 2009 will be that year but my eyes are going to be firmly focused upon Terrell Thomas and I wouldn't be surprised if the Giants coaching staff are forced to find ways to get him on the field. Watch this kid.

2009 Draft

2009-05-25T12:29:00.010-04:00

The Giants entered the 2009 draft with ten overall selections including five premium (top 100) picks. They had three extra picks: New Orleans' second and fifth round selections (45th and 151st overall) for Jeremy Shockey, as well as an extra third round (#100 overall) compensatory pick.

Despite all the pre-draft trade hoopla, the Giants ended the weekend holding onto their picks and drafting nine players, including five in the top 100. They gave Philadelphia their fifth round pick (#164 overall) in order to move up six spots (from #91 to #85) in the third round to nab WR Ramses Barden. The Jeremy Shockey trade yielded LB Clint Sintim (#45 in the 2nd round) and QB Rhett Bomar (#151 in the 5th round).

Selections by Round:
1 (29): WR Hakeem Nicks
2 (45): LB Clint Sintim *from New Orleans
2 (60): OT William Beatty
3 (85): WR Ramses Barden *traded #164 to move up from #91
3 (100): TE Travis Beckum *compensatory
4 (129): RB Andre Brown
5 (151): QB Rhett Bomar *from New Orleans
6 (200): CB DeAndre Wright
7 (238): CB Stoney Woodson

The Giants' obvious pre-draft need was the passing game and it therefore came as no surprise that they used three of their five top 100 premium selections to draft two receivers and a pass catching TE (as well as a RB with solid hands at #129). With the defense already bolstered by the additions of Canty, Bernard and Boley during free agency, it was also no surprise that four of their five premium picks were spent on offense. Indeed, the fact they went defense with any of their premium picks - their second selection no less - indicates they were very high on LB Clint Sintim.

The choice that threw me was using their 5th round pick from New Orleans on a QB. The Bomar selection suggests that, after a one year experiment, the Giants will likely once again carry three quarterbacks on their 53 man roster. I've been advocating dumping the third quarterback for years and was therefore underwhelmed by the decision. If Manning and Carr both go down at any point, having Bomar on the roster isn't going to get them to the promised land. Using the 151st pick in the draft on a QB appears to be a "bet" that they can develop him into Carr's future replacement or as trade bait in 2-3 years. Although not one of their top 100 premium picks - and clearly any player taken at #151 isn't guaranteed a roster spot on the Giants' SB level talented roster - I would have preferred a safety or a kicker - or seen them trade the pick.

The Giants will open 2009 without either their #1 or their #2 starting receivers from 2008. Moreover, there are no established veterans competing for those positions. One name - Hixon, Smith, Manningham, Moss, Nicks or Barden - will end up going down in the record books as the leading receiver for the 2009 NY Giants. Who "starts" will likely be in a state of flux throughout the year and there is a good chance - if not liklihood - that the top three wideouts in December bear different uniform numbers than those in September.

Raw physical talent - such as that possessed by Hakeem Nicks or Mario Manningham - will likely be afforded increased opportunities and playing time than would normally be the case in a more usual setting. And the coaching staff is likely to try to create situational opportunities for Barden, Beckum, and Brown. The passing game will be an interesting sideline story to the entire 2009 season and will be fun to watch. And two (or more) of these young men are likely to become the face of the NY Giants receiving corps for the next 5-10 years.

Holding five of the top 100 premium picks, this was an important draft for the NY Giants franchise. That they used three of those premium picks (and four of their first six picks overall) to address the obvious void in their passing game must raise a cautionary red flag in the mind of any objective observer. Did the Giants allow a dire need to dictate their draft? Having two extra premium selections is not an opportunity that comes along very often. Only time will tell whether Nicks, Sintim, Beatty, Barden and Beckum are names Giants fans are cheering five years from now. For better or worse, this draft will be viewed as a critical factor in the Giants' failure or success over the seasons to come.

Pre-Draft Needs

2009-04-25T10:00:00.004-04:00

Subsequent to my last post, the Giants officially released Plaxico Burress and have now lost both the #1 and #2 wide receivers from the 2008 season. As a result, speculation has been swirling for weeks that the Giants will trade for veteran receivers Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin - or will trade to move up in the first round to grab a premier WR such as Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Unlike many, I think there is a clear third option - don't panic and stand pat. The Giants are positioned to dominate next year without trading for Edwards, Boldin, or the likes of Heyward-Bey. They should have the best defense in all of football next year and likely the best Giants defense since 1986. They are solid on the offensive side of the ball with a great offensive line and a smash mouth, "in your face", running game. Concerns have been expressed about the need for a #1 WR threat to compel double teams and prevent other teams from stuffing the box to stop the run. But I, for one, believe that concern is overblown and borders on demeaning to the coaching staff and existing talent on the offensive side of the ball. I have no doubt that the coaches, given a full year to prepare, will find ways to create mismatches in the passing game with the existing talent on the team - that will burn any team that chooses to challenge the Giants running game. Furthermore, teams are going to bring 8 players into the box against the Giants regardless of who they have at WR. It is the only way to stop the Giants from playing their trademark ball control "eat the clock" offense.

Having said that, I would love to see the Giants add Edwards and/or Boldin but only at the right price. The Giants are still a relatively young team and, holding 5 of the first 100 selections, have the opportunity to solidify the base talent of the team for years to come. I would not be willing to give up more than one of those five picks for Edwards or Boldin (i.e. I don't care how many round 4+ picks they add to the package, but only one of their first five). And I absolutely do not want to see them use any of their first five picks to move up in any round. The draft is too much of a crap shoot - history is filled with first round picks that ultimately turned out to have been disappointments - and it just doesn't make sense to use valuable top 100 picks to move up on what can only be described as a gamble. Quantity in the top 100 is a hell of a lot more valuable than moving up 10 spots in the first round. If anything, I would love to see them put together a package of 4th round and lower picks to acquire a third 2nd round pick, giving them six of the top 100 years - every single one of which is guaranteed to make the team.

Now, on to positional needs. More than at any time in recent memory, there really are few glaring "needs". But, as I have said many times in the past, the draft is really all about replenishing your team over the next 3-5 years - it is critical to avoid tunnel vision and instead focus clearly on what you see for the team in two to three years. With that in mind, I would love to see the following positional needs addressed round by round:

1. WR
2. LB
2. WR
3. LB
3. OT/OL
4. S
5. TE
5. RB
6. OT/OL
7. CB

Free Agency

2009-03-29T13:06:00.003-04:00

The Giants made big moves in free agency that, in my opinion, make the Giants the team to beat in the NFC and a favorite to win another Super Bowl. And my conclusion is before we know if Burress will play for the Giants this year and before the draft.

First, before addressing free agency, the Giants signed Brandon Jacobs. As big as their free agency moves were, the signing of Jacobs was even bigger. With Jacobs on board, the Giants will be a "in your face" pound-it out running team for the forseeable future.

They then turned their attention to free agency and made three huge signings. They solidified weakside linebacker with the signing of Michael Boley, then improved the defensive line with the additions of defensive tackles Ricky Bernard and Chris Canty. The defensive line in 2009 will feature the likes of Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Chris Canty, Barry Cofield, Fred Robbins, Rocky Bernard, and Jay Alford. That is incredible depth. Most would start for any team in the league.

Figure the Giants to add a linebacker and at least one corner/safety in the draft. This defense is fast across the board and strong up front. It is geared to decimate other teams' quarterbacks. Ignoring special teams for the moment, the Giants are set to dominate in three of four phases -run defense, pass defense, and run offense. The only question mark is the passing game with the loss of both Burress and Toomer. There is has been much speculation that the Giants - with a bevy of draft picks - they hold 5 of the first top selections - may trade for a veteran wide receiver to replace Burress. I'd prefer to sit pat and use those top 5 selections to strengthen the team for years to come.

This team is poised to dominate for years to come. The only monkey wrench is that just when the Giants come into their own, the league is facing an uncertain future with increasing talk of a lost season in 2011 due to failing labor negotiations. The same thing happened to the Giants following the 1986 Super Bowl and they never really recovered. Hopefully that won't happen this time and ruin what appears to be the dawning of the greatest era in Giants history.

Giants Fail to Repeat

2009-02-01T08:32:00.003-05:00

I haven't posted since the morning of the Giants - Eagles game. It's been very painful - primarily because of the very rare opportunity lost - it is not often in an entire life time that any team is so close to back to back championships. Here were the Giants - the #1 seed in the NFC - the Vegas odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl and bring home the very first back to back championships in team history.

There were many factors that contributed to this loss. I am completely dumbfounded by the failure to run Jacobs for example. Especially the sequence following Fred Robbins' interception during the first series after half time. You could see the energy with which Jacobs ran onto the field. First play - Jacobs 11 yards. Second play Jacobs 5 yards. Jacobs was running with the most emotion I think I may have ever seen. Yet - the next two plays - two incomplete passes forcing a field goal on 4th down. At the time I was completely shocked and dismayed by the play calling on that sequence and remain baffled to this day.

However, in my mind there was a much larger factor at play here as I anticipated in my weblog post immediately before the game - the wind. McNabb's arm is so strong and his spiral so tight - that the wind has virtually no impact upon his ability to throw the ball - and it showed during this game. The Eagles constantly moved the ball through the air - with and against the wind. Manning, however, was throwing wounded ducks that seemed to dance with the air currents. I strongly believe that the Giants would have won this game had it been played inside a dome.

And, if true, that has to be a cause for concern for a club that has a history of using the winds of Giants stadium to its advantage in December and January - commonly known as "Giants football". Perhaps the new stadium - even without a dome - will not have the historic circling winds that has made the current stadium so famous. But one thing is for sure - despite his protestations that the wind was not a factor (and being the QB that must play in Giants stadium are his protestations any great surprise?), anyone who has followed Giants football and Eli Manning knew coming into the game that gusty winds would not favor the Giants in this game - and they did not.

So, later today Giants fans get to watch Curt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa. A game that will undoubtedly be watched by all Giants fans with a touch of sadness in their hearts for what could (and should) have been.

Giants Look to Shoot Down Soaring Eagles

2009-01-03T14:11:00.008-05:00

Most players never win one Super Bowl. A rare few are lucky enough to win two or more. But very, very few ever win back to back titles. From the moment the Giants won the Super Bowl last year, I immediately realized how rare it was to win a Super Bowl and thus, how rarer still was the opportunity to win back to back NFL titles. And the Giants have come so incredibly far from then to now - getting down to business enough to become the #1 seed in the entire NFC - and the Vegas favorite to win it all again. The Giants are playing for history.

One thing, however, is certain. It is not going to be easy. Especially today against an Eagles team that is flying high with emotion, energy, and confidence. I see four factors that will determine the outcome of this game and the Giants quest to repeat:

1. The Wind
The weather today calls for blustery winds. Normally I would think that would favor the team that relies more on the run than the pass and thus the Giants over the Eagles. However, I don't think that norm applies to these two teams. I have watched almost every Eagles game over the past five years and Donovan McNabb has one of the strongest arms I've ever seen. He can be leaning backwards on his heels and still throw the football 60 yards with a flick of his wrist. The wind is unlikely to bother McNabb very much forcing the Giants to honor the pass at all times. On the other side of the ball, the wind plays havoc with Eli Manning's game. In fact, if I were playing the Giants the one thing I would pray for would be high winds. To beat the Giants you need to stop Brandon Jacobs. And the only way you stop Brandon Jacobs is to totally abandon defending against the pass - normally a very dangerous proposition when facing Eli Manning. However Eli is horrible when there are blustery winds.

2. Brandon Jacobs
Brandon is the key to the Giants winning today. He has to have success moving the chains and eating the clock. If he does that, the Giants win on both sides of the ball. Brandon Jacobs is thus the key to the success of both the Giants offense and defense. However, see point one above and the impact the wind will have upon the Giants keeping the Eagles honest and giving Brandon some room to move.

3. Recent Trend
Over the first 12 games, the Giants did not allow a single 100 yard rusher. Over the first 12 games the Giants only allowed four touchdown plays of 30 yards or more. All of that totally changed over the last quarter of the season. They allowed a 100 yard rusher in each of the last four games. And during that same four game stretch, the Giants allowed seven touchdowns of 30 or more yards. The Giants have to revert back to their form of the first 3 quarters of the season if they are going to repeat. And they have to start today or they will not get past the Eagles.

4. Pressuring McNabb
In 2007 the Giants sacked McNabb 12 times in one game. This year they have zero sacks in two games. Sacks, of course, are important only to the extent they symbolize pressure. And it is pressure that will stop McNabb. All quarterbacks wither under sever pressure but McNabb even more than most. McNabb is an up and down quarterback and it is critical to be in his face and never allow him to get into any type of rhythm.

Although I don't like this match up, when things are tough and the money is on the line, this Giants team has dug deep and found a way to win. Until proven otherwise, I believe they will continue to play gritty when the chips are down. And that is the factor that should prove to be the difference today. Giants 20, Eagles 13.

Giants Clinch #1 Seed in OT Thriller

2008-12-24T06:25:00.009-05:00

They scatched and clawed their way back from a 21-10 deficit in a high stakes nationally televised night game and then - with just over 3 minutes left to play - Manning and Jacobs both executed the fake handoff to perfection, and the Giants tied the game with a successful two point conversion. That play symbolizes this team in every way. Not only are they resilient but they are money when the chips are down. They believe. And are on a mission to put a final stamp of validation upon last year's Super Bowl trophy.

In overtime, with the ball on their own 13 yard line, the Giants delivered a knock out punch that demonstrated total phyisical dominance over Carolina. Ward for 51 yards. Ward for 14 yards. Ward for 17 yards. Jacobs for the TD (the other two plays were an incomplete pass and a 3 yard Jacobs run while Ward was catching his breath after his 51 yard scamper). Game over. With an exclamation mark.

They won last year's SB trophy with two all-pro defensive ends named Strahan and Umenyiora. Neither of whom played a single down this season. No problem. On offense, they entered the 2008 season without pro bowl TE Shockey. And they are without the best WR to have worn Blue in Giants history. No problem. There are not many teams that can survive the losses of such dominant players on both sides of the ball. Yet, on Sunday night this team clinched the #1 seed in the NFC and are the favorites to return to the SB one year after everyone declared them the most shocking upset team in SB history. Now, one year later, the rest of the world is starting to realize something the players knew all along - maybe it wasn't so shocking after all.

Giants/Panthers Battle For #1 Seed

2008-12-21T11:22:00.004-05:00

I hate Giants games played any time other than Sundays @ 1:00. So I am less than pleased that today's game against Carolina was flexed, leaving the Giants with back to back Sunday night games. And I know I am going to pay for it in the morning.

But what can be better than playing at home for the #1 seed in the next to last game of the regular season? Two weeks ago it was the Giants defense that couldn't stop the run in the Eagles game. The good news last week was that the Giants defense showed up in Dallas. They pounded Romo, played stout against the run, and gave the offense more than enough opportunities to win the game. But the offense didn't show up and failed to score a touchdown for the second week in a row (not counting the TD with 15 seconds to go against Eagles).

According to Brandon Jacobs, he will play tonight. If he plays "Jacobs football", the Giants should win this game. The offensive line has to be feeling a bit chagrined after last week's dismal performance, both in pass protection and run blocking, and I have a feeling they will be playing with a chip on their shoulder. Add to that the weather prediction - 20 degrees, high winds, with a chance of some precipitation thrown in - and the Giants should dominate the running game on both sides of the ball. I know the Panthers are on a roll and that they have been running the ball better than the Giants over the past 3-5 games. But the Giants still lead the league in rushing and if Jacobs plays physical, I think the Giants defense will be more effective stopping the Panthers running game than vice versa.

The sole advantage I see for the Panthers is their Steve Smith. That is where the weather can be the great equalizer. The Panthers are going to ignore the Giants passing game, regardless of the weather. The Giants can't do that, unless the weather helps out and makes passing a futile exercise.

Prediction? Giants 17 Panthers 10

Giants Stumble Amongst Whirling Winds

2008-12-14T11:49:00.004-05:00

The Giants couldn't deal with the variety of winds whirling around Giants stadium last Sunday - from the windstorm left in the wake of Plaxico Burress shooting himself - to the actual winds blowing in the stadium itself. By the end of the day the Giants were no longer the highest scoring offense in the NFL. Blame the offense if you want – after all, the NFL’s top scoring offense was essentially shut out, scoring its only points in garbage time (a TD with 15 seconds left) in the 20-14 loss to the Birds. But it was the Giants vaunted defense that was responsible for this loss. The Eagles converted on 9 of 13 third downs. There was no pass rush. And they couldn't stop Brian Westbrook all day - on the ground or in the air. Bottom line – the Eagles dominated the time of possession and the tone of the game. As a result the Giants offense had a very low number of possessions.

Yes, there were some missed opportunities such as Hixon's drop on a wide open monster down field pass. But the Giants success this season has been ball control - starting with the defense getting the ball to the offense, whether by three and outs or turnovers. There are two common themes to the only two times the Giants have lost a game thus far in 2008: the inability of the Giants defense to get off the field. Against Cleveland they had a stunning zero percent success rate - they failed to stop Cleveland even once - not one single turnover or punt. While the game against the Eagles wasn't as bad, the result was the same. The difference, this time, was that with limited possessions there wasn't any room for misfires such as Hixon's drop. Add in the wind which allowed the Eagles to load up against the run, and the result was almost ordained.

So, in my mind, the loss had nothing to do with Plaxico Burress. Indeed I wish it did - that would be more understandable and less disconcerting. What was perhaps most distressing is the total failure of the Giants to stop the run. You can't win games in this league if you can't stop the run. The Giants offense has been proving that in virtually every game all year long. The Giants defense provided further evidence last week. Stopping the run doesn't mean you will win - but failure to stop the run almost surely means you will lose.

Tonight the Giants travel to Dallas to play the most arrogant franchise in sports history. I don't tend to get emotional about other teams, but I must admit to a weakness when it comes to the Cowboys - a hatred for a franchise I developed in the 1970's and which has never lessened. Humility, a very positive character trait, has never been a word associated with this franchise - from its owners to every one of its players. I detest everything about them. I don't see much hope of the Giants prevailing tonight - and frankly next week's game carries far more importance - but I can't think of anything more satisfying than helping push this teetering franchise over the cliff into complete disarray with a victory tonight.

Giants Face Eagles Without Burress

2008-12-07T12:02:00.004-05:00

My last post was early on Friday before the Redskins game and, more importantly, before Burress shot himself in the foot - both literally and figuratively (ok, he shot himself in the thigh but I'm permitting myself some literary license). The Giants, without Burress, proceeded to demolish Washington, and returned home with a heady 11-1 record. Washington's strategy was to put 8 and even 9 men in the box to force Manning to beat them with his arm. The strategy failed miserably as Eli Manning posted his first 300+ yard passing game of the season. Meanwhile the defense held Portis to 22 yards on 11 carries as the G-Men totally dominated the Redskins 23-7.

Later today the Eagles become the 7th straight team with a winning record to attempt to derail the Giants stampede. Their only hope is that the week long Burress circus created enough of a distraction to prevent the Giants' coaching staff from developing a game plan, and the players from absorbing that plan, to the same high level this Giants team has demonstrated each week. There is no doubt that the focus and intensity will exist on the field - the real issue relates to their focus on preparations during the week.

Frankly, what amazed me the most about the Burress fiasco, was the reaction of the media and the fan base as witnessed on BBI. The most asked question - most often stated concern - was whether the incident would be a distraction. There was virtually no talk about the impact of the loss of Burress on the field – almost as though it is a given that the team can move on without him as a player. That fact says quite a lot about (a) the lack of impact Burress has had this season; (b) the resiliency shown by this team and its ability to repeatedly demonstrate the axiom that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”; and (c) the depth at wide receiver and, in particular, the play of Dominick Hixon.

Having said that, I believe those concerns are backwards. The loss of Burress, especially in the long term, is likely to have a positive impact on the team's emotional, off the field, health. It will, however, be difficult to replace him on the field, especially in the red zone. I read a quote from Eli Manning that puts Burress' role in a bit of perspective. Eli pointed out that when the Giants are in the red zone, all he had to do was to be certain he had sufficient height on the ball and he knew it would be either a touchdown or an incompletion, but there would never be an interception. Burress' combination of height and athletic ability was such that it provided a very important safety net. That safety net is likely to be missed, especially in the playoffs.

This is not to say that the Giants can't win without Burress. Clearly they have demonstrated that they can. But the passing game, especially in the red zone, becomes riskier and Eli is going to have to be much more careful when and how the ball leaves his hands.

Today's game should have a playoff atmosphere because, with a win, the Giants can clinch the Division and a first round bye. They can clinch even if they lose if the Cowboys also lose to the Steelers (a good possibility). However, that would put a tarnish on what they have accomplished this season and would leave a foul taste. Giants fans deserve to see the Giants clinch at home where they can provide the Giants with a royal celebration worthy of what this team has done since the last regular season game of 2007. It is magical to watch this team grow from upstart underdogs to a widely recognized powerhouse.

Guts and Glory

2008-11-28T11:40:00.014-05:00

Heading into last Sunday's game against Arizona the expectation was that Jacobs, pronounced "probable", would play and Burress would not. So Arizona, surprised when Plaxico took the field while Brandon didn't even dress, filed a complaint with the league. Then Burress quickly went to the showers and was done for the day after only the third play of the game, leaving the Giants without two of their primary offensive weapons.

But, have no fear, Hixon was here. Hixon, demonstrating yet again the resiliency of this Giants team, had a monster game especially on special teams. With Jacobs out, Bradshaw was removed from kickoff duties to keep his legs fresh and available for his running back responsibilities. Hixon responded by terrorizing the Cardinals with two monster kickoff returns, both of which could have (should have?) resulted in touchdowns. Hixon had 201 total return yards and 269 all purpose yards. It will be interesting to see who lines up for kickoff duties this Sunday in Washington.

My pre-game post emphasized the importance of Jacobs to the defensive game plan. And, indeed, the running game struggled without him. Ward had 69 yards while the Giants as a team had less than 100 yards rushing for the game against a not very good AZ defense. This was not, however, due only to the absence of Jacobs. AZ played 8 in the box all day long and Eli responded with a 26 for 33, 240 yard, 3 TD, 0 interception performance. Once again the Giants demonstrated their incredible depth and ability to play this game at a very high level in a multitude of ways. And the defense, held to just one recorded sack, put enough pressure on Warner to force him into two turnovers and limited the yards after catch by Arizona's prolific wide receivers. At the end of the day there wasn't any doubt about which of the two was the better team - quite a statement since the Giants were playing without either Jacobs or Burress. And that, folks, is the most impressive thing that can be said both about the game and this Giants team.

But now it is truly time to get down to business. Crunch time has arrived. The schedule gods presented the Giants with 5 divisional games in a 7 week span. Two are in the books. Now they face three straight games in a row - Redskins, Eagles, and then Dallas. Three games that have the potential to make or break this wonderful season. Lose all three - which is certainly possible - and this season takes on a very different look compared to how things appear today. Win at least two of three and the Giants almost certainly find themselves the number one seed and odds on favorites to become the first back to back Super Bowl winners in franchise history.

I don't want to minimize what they have done so far this year. 10-1 is an incredible accomplishment by any one's definition. But what has come before is all wrapping and show. Sunday begins the trek for guts and glory.

Late Friday afternoon there were reports that Burress has already been declared out for Sunday. We'll see. But with our without Burress, I have this hunch - based on absolutely nothing and certainly not on anything rooted in the past - that Sinorice Moss may have a break out game Sunday.

Giants reach 9-1 With 6 Games Remaining

2008-11-23T10:36:00.003-05:00

Before the start of the season, a look at the schedule revealed a clear line of demarcation - the first six games were "soft" and the last ten games were horrendous. Based upon the schedule itself, I predicted the Giants would go 6-0 followed by 4-6 over the final ten games.

Well, four games into the tough part of their schedule and the Giants are 4-0. Most impressive of all are the three wins over Pittsburgh, Philly and Baltimore - probably 3 of the most physical teams in all of football - and the Giants were the more physical team in each of those games. Last week's game against the Ravens was proof just how physical this Giants team truly is. The Giants defense totally shut down the third best running game in all of football. On the other side of the ball, however, the Giants ran for more than 200 yards against the #1 ranked run defense. And they did that without Brandon Jacobs after the first quarter (ok, he played a few more downs, but he was injured on the first touchdown coming off the very first drive). Jacobs had 70 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone. And he did it in bruising fashion, refusing to go down and carrying players on his back (and under his feet). He had the kind of game that lifts the rest of the team on his shoulders - an emotionally charged style that carries others with him.
I have watched the Giants since I was a young boy in the 1950s. I have not missed one single solitary snap since 1970. And Brandon Jacobs is the best running back I have ever seen wear Giants blue. Of course, he doesn't yet have the longevity to warrant that attribution, but I cannot see the Giants allowing him to go elsewhere in free agency. So, note to Giants management - sign Brandon to an extension now and don't wait until after the season. While I'm at it, and although I don't know where the dollars will come from, the Giants need to sign Ward too. He compliments Jacobs perfectly. Keep the three headed monster intact. If the only way to accomplish that would be to trade Burress and free up the dollars from his contract, then I'd literally give Burress away if it meant keeping Jacobs, Ward and Bradhaw long term.

Jacobs apparently will play today and Burress may not, so we may get to see what such a team would look like. The fact is that Jacobs and the Giants power running game is the best weapon the Giants defense has against a team with a high powered passing attack like Arizona. If the Baltimore Ravens couldn't stop the running game, what hope do the Cardinals have? As the first step to stopping Arizona, the Giants need monster drives that limit the number of times Arizona touches the ball. Then the Giants pass rush must return this week - pressure on Warner is going to be key. Finally, we learn whether Ross and Webster really are the future studs at corner. This is not a good match up for the Giants - passing teams scare me. But the Giants handled NE in the Super Bowl and will need another similar style game to win this one today.

Win or lose today, as I said last week, one thing has become clear about this team. They show up every week - every last man. They play with emotion and intensity -with a chip on their shoulder - and so long as they continue to do so, they are going to end up in Tampa in February winning the first back to back Super Bowl championship in team history.

Giants Run Over Eagles

2008-11-10T10:21:00.006-05:00

Three things stand out from the Giants game over Philly:

1. The Eagles were unable to stop the Giants running game. From the first snap to the last, the Giants ran the ball at will. The Giants running back trio were quoted earlier in the week about trying to reach 300 yards rushing in a game. The only reason they didn't have 300 against the Eagles is because they threw passes once in a while. One had the sense that if the Giants decided to run the ball every down, they wouldn't have punted or kicked any field goals. That's how dominant they were running the ball.

2. The Eagles were unable to run the ball against the Giants.

3. The Giants were unable to generate any pass rush.

In addition to the absence of a pass rush, the Giants have to be concerned with the turnovers. Although only one fumble was lost, neither Earth, Wind or Fire seemed capable of securing the ball. This is now the second week in a row that the Giants have been careless with the football. If the trend continues it will eventually bite them in the tush and turn a W into a L.

This was a huge game. The Eagles now join Dallas a full three games behind the Giants, which probably relegates both teams as wild card hopefuls at best. With only seven games remaining, it appears that Washington is the only team left with any realistic chance of challenging for the Divisional crown.

If possible, things get even more difficult today against the Ravens in another physical test. The Giants surprised me with their physicality against the Steelers and last week they simply dominated Philly. It has become clear at this point that the Giants are going to show up for each and every game and that they are going to play very physical football. While they probably won't win out the rest of the season and will therefore lose one or two games, I don't think we are going to witness another Cleveland where they simply didn't compete. The Giants are going to war today and, win or lose, it is going to be fun to watch some great matchups. Jacobs vs Lewis. Number one run offense vs number one run defense. Yet the game itself is likely to come down to the Giants defense which needs to smother Baltimore's offense to a greater degree than Baltimore's defense restricts the Giants O.

As with all of their remaining games against quality opponents, this game could go either way, but I'm looking for 19-6 Giants.

Giants Stomp Out Cowboys - Face Eagles

2008-11-09T08:56:00.005-05:00

Once again not much to say, which is a good thing. Very methodically the Giants just keep doing what needs to be done. The Steelers game was a "statement game", a season defining game - a game in which this Giants team showed that they were the more physically dominant of the two teams. They then followed that up one week later by stomping on the Cowboys collective throats. A cowboy team, weakened by injury, especially at QB, was simply no match. I'm sure Dallas players and fans are trying to convince themselves it would have been different had Tony Romo played and certainly that is true. The Cowboys would have been a stronger team. But Dallas would only be deluding themselves if they truly believe they would have been the better team with Romo. That is clearly not true. All that can be said is that Dallas would have been more competitive with Romo than without.

This Giants team is a very good team. Much has been said about their monster schedule over the final 10 games. And it is true - based upon won/loss records of opponents, the Giants have the most difficult final 10 games (now 8) in the entire league. And they are going to lose some of those games - it is highly unlikely they will go 15-1.

But what makes it clear just how good this Giant's team really is, nobody can look at that schedule and honestly say which games will result in losses. Which will end up being the 2 or 3 remaining games the Giants lose? This team can (should) win all of them. So, yes, because the old phrase "on any given Sunday" remains true (this is, after all, a game played with a weirdly shaped bouncing ball), the Giants almost certainly will lose a few of their remaining games. But they are so good I can't look at any game on the schedule and say "it's a loss".

Today's game against the Eagles is going to be very tough. First of all it's the Eagles. Add to that it is in their building, they are on a roll, McNabb is playing the best football of his career, they are basically healthy, they have this kid Jackson who is a game changer, yet, I can't say this is a loss. It is simply another tough football game that will be determined by the ebb/flow of the game. The Giants may lose but if they do, it won't be because they aren't good enough. Far from it. This is the most solid Giants team since 1985/1986 and in the best position to win back-to-back championships of any team in Giants history.

Giants Show Why They Are Super Bowl Champs

2008-10-26T21:27:00.003-04:00

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.

Rumble in the Steel City

2008-10-25T11:59:00.005-04:00

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

Giants Show Jekyll and Hyde Character

2008-10-19T10:34:00.004-04:00

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.

Giants Down Bengals, Take on Seattle Following Bye

2008-10-05T08:02:00.005-04:00

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.

Giants Roll Rams, Face Bengals

2008-09-20T11:35:00.011-04:00

In my mind, the Giants faced what was potentially their biggest test of the season last week. A test of their character; their mental makeup. And while the final 41-13 score did not tell the entire story (the scoreboard showed St Louis down by only one score early in the 4th), it did accurately reflect the dominance the Giants displayed on the field.

But why was this any kind of test? The Rams certainly appear they are going to go down as one of the dregs of the NFL in 2008. Well, because, with rare exceptions, for most of my 56 year lifetime the Giants have habitually displayed a tendency to play down to their opponents - to outright lose or barely squeak out wins against bad teams. Those rare exceptions have been championship years - years when the Giants had teams comprised of players that were, to a man, maintained an intense focus on what it took to win the "easy" games.

During lunch yesterday, a co-worker asked me if I thought the Giants had any realistic chance to repeat this year. My response was "absolutely" primarily for two reasons:

First and foremost, this team seems very focused and mentally prepared, as demonstrated by last week's win over St Louis. That intensity and focus is critically important - perhaps the single most important factor that will dictate their chances of repeating - and why I considered last week's game such an important test. The result (their play, not the score) demonstrates that this teams seems to fully understand the degree of focus and intensity necessary to win in the NFL, especially games against weaker opponents you are "supposed" to win.
The schedule. It is a perfect schdule for a team that lost 5 of its 11 defensive starters from the just finished Super Bowl, including both of its starting defense ends. It is a schedule that allows them to win early while giving the defense time to acclimate itself, to garner valuable experience for the younger players, build overall confidence and get on a roll heading into the important second half. If they maintain their intensity and focus, there is no reason they should not be 6-0.
Then they play 5 of their 6 divisional games over a 7 week span in the second half and while they may not win them all - indeed they may lose more than then win over that second half, but hopefully by that time the wins/losses will not mean as much as how they are playing. I don't mean to discount the importance of winning the division and getting a bye. It is important, and indeed very important. But last year this same Giants team showed it isn't fatal to a Super Bowl appearance.

The opportunity to repeat is a very, very rare thing. First, it requires winning a Super Bowl, something the majority of NFL players never accomplish even once over an entire career. Then it requires that you win it again that very next year - a one shot deal - a one year window of opportunity. Next year or the year after that doesn't count. This year and only this year, if you are going to "repeat". Last week this team demonstrated that it grasps the meaning of that challenge. And, tomorrow's game against the Bengals, poses the same theme for the exact same reasons. A win should be a given. I am much more interested in seeing continued validation that this team possesses the kind of focus and intensity it demonstrated last week.

Giants Down Redskins, Face Rams on the Road

2008-09-05T09:33:00.015-04:00

You couldn't ask for a much better beginning to the 2008 season. Sure, the Giants left some points on the board. They didn't score in the second half. They only recorded one sack, that coming on Washington's very first offensive play from scrimmage. But make no mistake about it - the Giants dominated this game from beginning to end. Granted, the domination wasn't complete in the sense that they didn't finish off their opponent when they should have. But they still dominated in every sense of the word - on both sides of the ball.

For the first game of the season, it is difficult to be critical of such a dominating performance. The offensive line was strong. Brandon Jacobs, who truly is "the beast", continues to make "statement plays" that set the tone for the entire team. Manning was very sharp in the early going and he has a great group of receivers who are going to present match up problems for every team in the league.

But it was the defense that truly dominated the game, just as it did in the playoff run last year. In particular it was the run defense - where championship defense starts and ends - that was so encouraging. Robbins and Cofield were fantastic. Tuck's run defense has always been strong. And Kiwi was a monster coming down the line chasing plays away from him. And, perhaps in what may be a real harbinger of things to come, Kehl and Phillips saw lots of playing time and both made plays when getting their turn on the field.

And old man Carney may deserve a longer look - as in an all season long type of look. He nailed his kickoffs inside the 5 and hit three field goals with a sense of confidence that only comes from such long tenure in the league.

When this team plays angry - plays with an attitude - they can beat anyone. If they can maintain that attitude - a combination of confidence, arrogance, and plain old angry need to punch someone in the mouth - they will go a long, long way in 2008 with a legitimate chance to repeat. They remind me of a riled up hornet's nest, a swarming attack that can totally overwhelm an offense.

All four teams in NFC East were a top 10 defense last year. This year, after the first week, Dallas, Philly and the Giants were all in the top 5 of most power rankings. You can safely bet, however, that at least one of the three will drop from that position by mid season, but which one?

The Giants have a favorable schedule - the "easier" part portion being the first half with a much tougher second half - including a 7 week stretch in which they play 5 of their 6 divisional games. That allows the Giants to gather strength and, in particular, time for their rookies and younger players to gain some valuable experience heading into the second half. And it would appear that Tom Coughlin is already focused on exactly that. Brian Kehl was on the field a large portion of game one, as was Kenny Phillips (much less a surprise there). I think you will see Coughlin and the Giants take advantage of the weaker first half to give as much playing time to the younger players as possible.

Today is a big test for this Giant's team. They play a team that should stand no chance against them. In fact, they didn't face such an "easy" game all of last year. They are presented with a challenge to test their intensity for the first time since 2006. If they can stay focused and play angry today, they will dominate and that domination will show up on the scoreboard. That factor, more than any other, will be a huge indicator of whether this team has the makeup mentally to repeat.

Giants Ready to Defend Title?

2008-08-31T08:32:00.043-04:00

The Giants made their final cuts yesterday, getting down to the league mandated final 53. The injury to Tynes forced them to carry two kickers which they accomplished by temporarily going without a third QB, releasing Wright and sixth round draft pick Andre Woodson.

The goal of every team is to build - to get stronger year over year - to begin each new season with stronger personnel than the 53 players who ended the season before. So, have the Giants improved themselves? How do these 53 compare to the team that just won the Super Bowl?

Let's start by looking at the draft. Five of this year's seven picks made the team:

#1 Kenny Phillips, S Miami (#31 overall)
#2 Terrell Thomas, CB USC (#63 overall)
#3 Mario Manningham, WR Michigan (#95 overall)
#4 Bryan Kehl, LB BYU (#123 overall *** Giants traded picks 130 & 194 to move up for Kehl)
#5 Jonathan Goff, LB Vanderbilt (#165 overall)

The Giants had two 6th round picks, Woodson and DE Robert Henderson, neither of whom made the final 53. This year's group of rookies are not likely to make contributions anywhere near last year's class - then again, who could? Phillips will be a starter - sooner rather than later. Thomas demonstrated some real athleticism this summer and I expect him to play a increasingly larger role in nickel and dime packages as the Giants progress deeper into their season.

Despite showing some real potential in the final pre-season warm up, "Super Mario" is not likely to see much action due to missing virtually the entire camp to injury. Kehl will see more game time action than otherwise would be the case due to Kiwi's move back to DE. Goff is injured and I was surprised to see him on the final 53 - either the injury wasn't sufficient to meet the league's IR rules or the Giants feel his talent is such that they are willing to carry him on the active roster while he heals.

On offense, the Giants are the same team as last year's version minus Shockey, Tyree and Whimper. The Shockey impact is likely to be felt more in the running game as the committee of three remaining tight ends struggled all pre-season with their blocking assignments. However, let's not forget that the Giants went into the post season last year - and won the SB - without Shockey's blocking. So, if they could do it against the elite of the league last year, what basis is there for thinking they can't manage it now? Well, for one, they didn't exactly run the ball with abandon during the post season - and make no mistake about it - the Giants - as with most championship teams - are first and foremost a running football team.

In that regard, in what is perhaps the biggest surprise involving the final 53, the Giants kept five running backs: Jacobs, Ward, Bradshaw, Ware, and Droughns. They obviously did so because the coaching staff clearly believes all five are so clearly NFL ready that they are willing to carry all five on the active roster all season long if they aren't offered sufficient compensation in a trade. Could Ward or Ware be headed back to the Jets?

It is on the defensive side of the ball that the Giants are a completely different team than the one that won the SB. And, without diminishing the importance of the final drive and the heroics of MVP Manning, make no mistake about it, it was the Giants defense that won the SB. More specifically, it was the pass rush of Strahan, Osi, and Tuck - without whom there would be no Lombardi trophy. Now the Giants attempt to do what would have been impossible last February - win the SB without Strahan and without Umenyiora.

As I noted in my last post, the loss of Strahan was cause for concern not because there isn't a replacement for Strahan, but because there isn't a replacement for Tuck. His role last year cannot be overestimated. Now, with the additional loss of Osi, what was a concern takes on the portent of potential disaster. The Giants, in a twist of irony, find themselves in the same position as every other team in the league - searching for a way to emulate the ferocious Super Bowl pass rushing feats of, well, themselves.

The Giants hope to compensate for the loss of Umenyiora by moving Kiwanuka back to his natural position at DE. Even ignoring the fact Kiwi is still basically a rookie and has much yet to learn at DE, it is a bit much to expect a Tuck-Kiwi duo in 2008 to match the pressure generated by Strahan-Osi-Tuck-Kiwi during much of the season in 2007. Most teams were forced to double Strahan and Osi - something Tuck and Kiwi now face for the first time in their professional careers. Moreover, when Strahan and Osi took on double teams in 2007 they were part of a sack machine that included Tuck and Kiwi coming up the middle - a benefit that won't be enjoyed by Tuck and Kiwi in 2008 unless they find some way to clone themselves. The bottom line is that the Giants are very unlikely to lead the league in sacks this year - meaning they probably won't generate the type of QB pressure that played such a large role in overall team success last year.

So, are the Giants ready to defend their title? Are these 53 better than the team that just won the Super Bowl? It is difficult to conceive of any plausible argument that answers that question in the affirmative. To suggest that the Giants are a stronger team without Strahan and Osi is not only ludicrous, but an outrageous insult to two great Giants.

The Giants enter the 2008 season weakened on both offense and defense. They are likely to find running the ball more difficult than in 2007. On defense it will be interesting to see how Spagnuolo addresses the loss of much of his pass rush. Spags was heralded as a defensive genius in 2007 for his aggressive attack style schemes designed to pressure the QB. But now in 2008 he has far fewer chips to play with. It is interesting, however, that the secondary - an area of weakness heading into the 2007 season - is perhaps the defense's biggest strength heading into 2008. Can Spagnuolo create a scheme that uses the strength at secondary to compensate for the weaker front 7? It will certainly be an issue that will be very interesting - and fun - to watch as the season unfolds.

Fortunately, except for an early bye week, the Giants should benefit from a schedule that is difficult to complain about. They face the "easier" portion of their schedule early, ending the second half of the season with five of their six intra-divisional games over a seven week span (games 8 through 14). By that time Kiwi, Wilkinson, Philips, Thomas and all three tight ends should be much more adjusted.

Now for the silly - but fun - predictions. Giants go 10-6, make the playoffs yet again, and with an excellent chance to once again head into the post season playing their best football of the year. Once there, the Giants bring enough talent to the table - without Strahan and Osi - to beat any other team with tickets to the post season dance. My game by game forecast:

W- Washington
W- @St Louis
W- Cincinnati
Bye
W- Seattle
W- @Cleveland
W- San Fran
L- @Pittsburgh
L- Dallas
L- @Philadelphia
L- Baltimore
W- @Arizona
W- @Washington
W- Philadelphia
L- @Dallas
L- Carolina
W- @Minnesota

Pre-Season Begins

2008-08-03T09:58:00.011-04:00

With the first pre-season game only four days away, how do the Giants appear to shape up as the 2008 season opener looms just over the horizon?

Let's look at the personnel changes from 2007. The Jeremy Shockey circus packed up its tents and moved to New Orleans. That makes me sad but not overly worried. Sad because of the legend he should have become. He had all the ability and potential to replace Mark Bavaro in that role. But Shockey didn't reach those heights and while some of the fault lies at the feet of the offensive scheme, at the end of the day his failures as a player rest squarely with Shockey himself. His best year was his rookie year after which he left me wanting more which never came. So I am content (ok, I have no choice) with his moving on. Oddly, the hole he leaves will impact the running game much more than the passing game and that will be one one area to watch this pre-season.

Strahan's retirement worries me more. The issue isn't replacing Strahan. I am confident Tuck will be more than adequate in that regard. The issue is - who replaces Tuck? He was critical - invaluable - as a regular member of the DE rotation on running downs and moving over to DT in passing situations. I believe his role last year was much more valuable than both Osi and Strahan. There is no one to replace Tuck and I am a bit surprised the Giants didn't move Kiwi over to Strahan's side and let Tuck continue to fill the critical role he played last year. I have no idea how the Giants plan to replace Tuck and I'm anxious to learn what new scheme Spags has conceived. Replacing Tuck, whose role resulted in Tuck becoming what I believe was 2007's most valuable defensive player, isn't going to be easy and is the biggest challenge facing the Giants in 2008.

The Giants let Kawika Mitchell walk and, while I thought he played very well last year, it is time to see what the Giants have in Wilkinson. The problem with that scenario is that Wilkinson's injury from last year hasn't healed sufficiently and found himself on the PUP list when camp opened and he hasn't been able to take the field yet. That cannot be a good sign, especially for a player trying to win an open competition at a vacated position. It looks like the Giants may have yet one more year (is this 6 in a row?) in which they fill one or more of the linebacker positions with one year contract free agents - this year's version being Danny Clark. No knock on Clark, but it would be nice to see the Giants finally fill the position with their own draft picks. If Wilkinson doesn't get healthy soon - and if the leg hasn't healed after all these months one has to wonder why there should be any hope it will suddenly be ok - then the job will almost certainly fall to Clark by default. The only good news is that rookie draft pick Bryan Kehl should get more reps in the absence of Wilkinson but it is unrealistic to expect him to challenge for a starting spot.

Gabril Wilson also moved on. I liked Gabril and his success from obscurity was fun to follow. But I am much more excited by first round pick Kenny Phillips than I would ever be by Gabril Wilson. I've wanted the Giants to go after a top notch safety for a long time. Phillips, the first safety taken in the entire draft, is going to be fun to watch and ten years from now most Giant fans won't even remember Gabril Wilson's name.

The other interesting issue facing the Giants this pre-season is WR. You can safely assume the Giants will carry a maximum of six. You can also safely assume four of those names will be Plax, Toomer, Smith and rookie Mario Manningham. That leaves Domenik Hixon, Brandon London, D.J. Hall, David Tyree, Michael Jennings, Craphonso Thorpe, and Sinorice Moss to battle for the last two positions. This is unquestionably the best WR group the Giants have had in my lifetime. And wouldn't it be nice if the Giants could simply keep the best six wide receivers. Unfortunately they are almost certainly not in a position to do that. The victors of the battle for those two remaining slots will likely be the two players who demonstrate the greatest special teams prowess.

So those are the areas I'll be watching this pre-season. Of course the most fun of every pre-season is getting to see the "new blood". Oddly, some of that fun is diminished by what the rookie class did last year. There will never be another rookie class in my life time that comes close to the contributions made by the 2007 draft class as a group. Beyond Phillips, it is unrealstic to expect any of the other rookies from this class to make any substantial contributions this year. But, as always, it will be fun to watch and that is what pre-season is all about - some rookie making a splash out of nowhere.

2008 Pre-Draft Analysis

2008-04-20T12:07:00.014-04:00

First, I have been very much aware that my last post was before (the morning of) the Super Bowl. I've not posted simply because I've been unable to think of anything to say that would do justice to what the Giants accomplished. I've been an avid Giants fan for 40 some years and what the Giants did - starting with the last game of the season against NE - defies description. Until I think of something more appropriate, reality can speak for itself.

Now, turning to team needs for 2008 and the draft. What a difference a year (and a Super Bowl) makes. Last year at this time the Giants had multiple needs and it was no coincidence that 17 new faces graced the roster on opening day to start the 2007 season. Despite winning the Super Bowl, the Giants still have needs, but not nearly as many and not nearly as dire as a year ago.

There are two unknowns that will dramatically impact this year's draft. Like last year, whether Michael Strahan retires or plays another year is unknown. That decision has clear implications for Kiwanuka and team needs at linebacker or DE. In addition, this year there is trade talk surrounding Shockey. If he is traded it would create a crying need at TE, regardless of what you think of rookie Kevin Boss. This post presumes both Strahan and Shockey are wearing Giant Blue on opening night against the Redskins.

Offense
On offense, the Giants do not have any truly critical needs. As has been true for several seasons, the offensive line is a team strength and foundation of the entire offense. While depth was a concern heading into the season last year, I thought Whimper played very strong during his periodic appearances last season and must now be considered a solid backup (it wouldn't be at all surprising if Whimper is the starting tackle on opening day with Diehl back at guard). Likewise the Giants are set at running back, quarterback and TE (again, assuming Shockey remains).

The primary position of need on offense continues to be wide receiver. To truly upgrade their offense, the Giants need the ability to field a solid four WR set and they are missing the 4th piece of that puzzle. Furthermore, I have to believe this will be Toomer's final season and so they will need to groom his replacement. They have a great trio in Plax, Toomer and Smith, but they could use a receiver with world class speed (and hands) to stretch the field vertically. However, receivers fitting that definition are going to be a top 10 pick and the Giants aren't drafting high enough to get that kind of receiver this year. I'd still like to see a WR given priority in this draft (i.e. no lower than 3rd round).

Defense
The Giants finished the 2007 regular season ranked 7th in the NFL in team defense. Since 1983 every single Super Bowl winner (except one - Peyton Manning and the Colts) was ranked 8th or better in overall in team defense. That is an amazing statistic and in that regard note that in 2007 the four NFC East teams finished the season ranked 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th in defense in the entire NFL (not surprisingly, the only division in which every team was ranked in the top 10).

Whether this year or next, the Giants are going to have to face life after Strahan. That decision is complicated by Kiwanuka, one of the most natural and god gifted talents at defensive end I've ever seen. Right now the Giants have Strahan, Tuck, Umenyiora, and Tollefson at DE. If Kiwanuka is a permanent fixture at LB, the Giants have a need at DE when Strahan retires. If the plan is for Kiwanuka to move back to DE, then the Giants have a need a LB. I believe Kiwanuka's future is at DE - whether this year or next - and, if so, it makes sense for the Giants to make an investment at linebacker with one of their top (first 3) picks.

Defensive tackle has Robbins, Cofield, Alford, and Rodney Leisle. Of course, with their unique use of defensive ends, Tuck and/or Kiwi become part of the defensive tackle rotation. Having said that, the Giants could still use a run stuffing tackle on defense.

In the secondary, cornerback is not nearly as critical as it appeared heading into last year's draft. Of course much of the reason for that is the fact they used last year's first pick to select Aaron Ross. But Corey Webster is a big reason too. His play in the playoffs, compared to his struggles during the regular season, was a transition that can only be described as phenomenal. Football is all about confidence and that is nowhere more true than at the cornerback position. Nobody knows whether Webster's new found confidence will continue into the future, but clearly corner does not present the crying need that the Giants faced heading into last year's draft. The Giants still need to draft corners, but it would not be surprising if they didn't select one until the later rounds (after round 3).

Safety is a totally different story. Wilson is gone in free agency leaving the Giants with James Butler, last year's rookie Michael Johnson, this year's free agent pickup Sammy Knight, and Andrew Shanle (and I have no idea who he is). Despite all the pop culture about the importance of corners in today's pass happy NFL, I've always been a believer - and continue to believe - that you win championships with great defenses that stop the run first and foremost, and stop the passing game by rushing the passer. In other words, aggressive intimidating football. In such a system, I would much rather have two hard hitting - bone jarring - head hunting safeties than two top corners (if I had to choose). Safety is probably the weakest position on the team (although I am still very unhappy about the unsettled state at linebacker) - and will presumably be a priority during this year's draft.

Strictly from a positional standpoint, I'd like to see the Giants make the following selections:
1. S or LB
2. S or LB
3. WR
4. DT
5. OL
6a. WR
6b. DB
6c. DB

Super Bowl Sunday

2008-01-21T12:31:00.000-05:00

With the Super Bowl just hours away, some reflections on the last game these Giants played. Eli Manning hitting big throws all day long. Antonio Pierce taking on two offensive linemen to foil a screen pass that looked like it could go the distance. Corey Webster stepping up yet again with tight coverage, making a huge tackle for a loss on a pass in the flat, and of course coming up big with the big interception in OT. Tynes with ice in his veins, not waiting for Coughlin to call his name, instead running out onto the field to kick a 47 yard field goal in minus 4 degree weather - the longest field goal ever kicked at Lambeau in playoff history - all this just minutes after having missed the game winner just minutes earlier. Toomer making a huge catch on the sidelines, his body stretched out horizontally full length with both toes barely dragging inches inside the playing field. Jacobs intimidating GB early by not only running through, but totally blasting and burying GB cornerback Woodson. Bradshaw getting huge run after huge run. Ruegamer taking over when Seubert goes down and the offensive line doesn't miss a beat. And Plaxico Burress taking Harris to school, catching pass after pass, holding off while getting drilled, getting up and going back for more.

It will take a similar effort by every Giant on the field today to overcome the first team in NFL history to ever go 18-0. If these two teams had to play a best of 10 series, the Giants would win 2-4 of those games. There is no reason why today cannot be one of those 2-4 times. Statistically speaking there is probably a 30% chance that these Giants make history today.

If 19-0 is the greatest single achievement in NFL history, by definition the Giants have a legitimate opportunity to accomplish the greatest upset in NFL history. Either way, for Giants fans, this is a moment in time to be cherished - of the approximately 25,000 days in a lifetime, a fan can consider himself lucky to experience a day like today 5 times. Enjoy!

Do You Believe In Destiny?

2008-01-21T08:13:00.000-05:00

There is a lot of symmetry to this super bowl run. The Giants started the 2007 season in historic fashion, giving up 80 points in back to back losses to the Cowboys and Packers. Then, in total contrast to that horrendous start, they ended their regular season by playing their best game of the year in a game that had to shock the Patriots and established the Giants as a legitimate threat to end the Patriot's quest for perfection.

As it turned out, those first two losses were against the eventual #1 and #2 NFC seeds by season end. As they entered the post-season, the Giants had to face - and erase - the demons of those first two games. Against all odds (and all "experts") the Giants went on to make TO cry in Dallas and then traveled to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field and made believers out of the Packers.

Now, with the type of symmetry that creates history, the Giants' last game of their regular season takes on much greater meaning. New England cannot be happy about this turn of events. The sense of destiny that pervades the Giants' improbable run to the Super Bowl is palpable. This Giants team and their historic march makes them a very dangerous team that NE would be wise to take very seriously.

Oh, and one last note. Before the season started I fantasized about how sweet the payback would be for the Giants to go on a historic Super Bowl run while Tiki Barber sat and watched. Sweet destiny.

How Sweet It Is

2008-01-14T08:48:00.001-05:00

Going into the game, the Giants knew they couldn't win a shoot out with Dallas. They needed long time consuming drives to eat the clock and limit the number of Dallas possessions. And that's just what happened. Two monster 14 and 20 plays drives that consumed 18:35 minutes of the game. That it wasn't the Giants consuming the clock just misses the point. The Giants defense took away the big play and forced Dallas into the type of game they didn't want to play. Those two drives almost guaranteed this wasn't going to be another shoot out like the first two games.

Meanwhile the Giants three scoring drives took 6 plays in 3:10, 7 plays in 0:46, and 6 plays in 2:24. The 46 second drive to end the first half knotted at 14 was all Manning at his very best. I've never believed individual statistics are particularly enlightening in the world of football, especially the QB rating. But in this instance Eli's 100+ QB rating for three straight games is huge. Eli Manning is standing tall when it counts.

And it isn't only Manning who is "stepping up". Webster has turned his game around. Smith has been a huge contributor in the two playoff games. As has Boss. We all know about Bradshaw. And it isn't just the young guys. McQuarters played a huge game. Strahan, Osi, Tuck and Pierce got pressure on Romo. And Toomer may very well deserve MVP thus far in the playoffs. And have you noticed when Whimper has been inserted into the line up over the past month? Maybe not because it has been a silent smooth transition when he's been forced onto the field. Whimper is ready folks. Watch for him next year.

Playing as they are as underdogs the past three games, I truly believe this Giants team has tremendous togetherness and momentum that has changed the dynamics of this playoff season. You can bet NE is silently praying Green Bay wins on Sunday.

Oh, and by the way, I am smiling broadly when I think of Tiki Barber. How sweet it is. Just icing on the cake to this fan.

Giants Face Dallas In Playoffs

2008-01-13T12:42:00.001-05:00

The Giants have played two games since my last post. And those two games dramatically change my thinking about this team. The Giants played two of the best back to back games I can recall in a very long time. Although they lost to NE in the season finale, the Giants went toe-to-toe for a full 60 minutes and gave NE everything they could handle. If the Giants somehow faced NE in the Super Bowl this year, which means the Giants beat Dallas today and Green Bay next week, the Giants would beat NE.

Following the NE game, the Giants went and won their first playoff game in the Coughlin/Manning era. After the first quarter, the Giants controlled the game. Eli Manning has played two straight games in which he is playing with a tremendous amount of self confidence. The Giants, as a team, seemed relaxed heading into the game, and it showed on the field.

Today's game is going to be very difficult and the Giants may not win. But I am not one of those who are claiming the Giants will not - and cannot - win today, because they can. This is a different Giants team that Dallas has yet to face. Not only is Manning playing with new found confidence, but so are so many others. Cory Webster had the game of his career last week. Ahmad Bradshaw is playing fantastic football. Kevin Boss has made an almost seamless transition to the starting TE position. Steve Smith is starting to make some impact plays. And Gerris Wilkinson has made a huge difference at LB. His speed adds a new dimension the Giants didn't have in week one covering Witten.

This will not be an easy game. The Giants may not win. But this is definitely a winnable game for the Giants. Manning, Webster, and Wilkinson will all have to play big today. The Giants have to avoid turnovers on offense and on defense the front four have to be in Romo's face without blitz help. Having already met all expectations for the season, the Giants should be loose heading into today's game. And if they some how find a way to win against Dallas today, the momentum from a loose team with no pressure, playing great football, will make them favorites in my mind to go all the way. But of course, winning today is no guarantee. But it sure is fun.

Giant Quandry

2007-12-29T12:17:00.000-05:00

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.

Giants Blowing in the Wind

2007-12-22T12:59:00.000-05:00

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.

Big Win in Philly

2007-12-16T08:48:00.000-05:00

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.

Giants Hang On In Chicago

2007-12-08T11:07:00.000-05:00

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.

Giants Psyche On The Line

2007-12-02T11:11:00.001-05:00

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.

Giants Loss To Dallas Limits Them To Wildcard

2007-11-18T08:37:00.000-05:00

With seven games remaining, Dallas has a two game lead as well as the tie breaker, which translates into a full three game lead for the division title over the Giants. The loss to Dallas effectively ends any chance that the Giants can win the Division, which means no chance at a bye in the first week of the playoffs and no home field advantage. It was a huge game to lose - and the Giants have steadily built a tradition of coming up short in big games.

Why did they lose? Well, first and foremost, because they are not the better team. OK, well duh. So, why are they not the better team? Much has been made all week that the difference between the two teams is that Dallas has the better QB. Maybe that is true, but I don't believe that explains the difference between the two teams. More specifically, had Romo played for the Giants and Eli played for Dallas, the result last Sunday would still have been the same.

Is the problem the offense? Well, to an extent the answer has to be yes. At halftime the score was 17-17. The final score was 31-20. In other words, the powerful Giants offense scored 3 points the entire second half. So, yes, the offense was a problem. More specifically, the passing attack has become anemic. Toomer isn't getting the ball in clutch situations as he did before he went down for the count in 2006. Plaxico has done nothing for four games now (and remember - four games is basically 50 percent of the games played so far). There is no third receiver. And while Shockey had a lot of catches in the Dallas game, he was more a possession type receiver - with little yardage added after the catch. The passing game has become anemic. But, and I repeat, I do not believe for one second that the game would have ended differently had Romo been playing for the Giants and Manning for the Cowboys. Was there a difference in play between the quarterbacks? You betcha. But not to the extent that Romo would have "saved" the game had he been the Giants quarterback.

The difference is that the Dallas defense made stops when it counted while the Giants defense fell short when a stop was needed. Fell short as they have in every big game in recent memory (and while I haven't gone back and studied each game, I'd define "recent memory" as probably dating back to 1991). In any event, the point is that I have confidence that had Manning been the Dallas QB, the Giants defense would have been unable to stop Manning and the Cowboys when the chips were down. And likewise on the other side of the ball - the Dallas defense would have stopped the Giants drives in the second half regardless of who was playing quarterback. It wasn't the play of the quarterback that made the difference.

It was the play of the men in the trenches - on both sides of the ball - that made the difference. The Giants defensive unit was unable to put the pressure on Romo because the Dallas offensive line was far too superior. The Giants simply could not crack that unit when the chips were down in the second half. Romo went virtually untouched and he didn't even have to rely upon his feet. He was able to sit back in the pocket without worrying about anything but his receivers because the Dallas offensive line was that much better than the Giants defense that they were able to handle anything and everything the Giants threw at them. And on the other side of the ball, Manning was under constant pressure, especially during the second half. The Giants lost the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

I'm not saying Romo wasn't the better QB last Sunday because I certainly think he was. But that simply doesn't bother me. I don't need Eli Manning to be the best QB that has ever lived for me to be happy with his play as my team's QB. And if that is true - that means by definition there will be better QB - in the past and in the future - than Eli Manning. The sole issue for me is whether he is a QB that is good enough to carry his weight at his position. Prior to this season I thought the answer to that question was "no" because I didn't like the way he threw the football - I didn't feel he could throw an accurate pass. But he's changed my opinion this year and I haven't seen anything so far that changes that view. He is still stepping into his throws and he is not making those occasional wild throws that couldn't hit water if he was throwing from inside a boat. That seems to be a thing of the past. He made some mental mistakes on Sunday, but you know what? Mental mistakes are much more easily correctable.

No, my concern about the Giants is not at QB. My concern is defense and, in particular, the front seven. I know, everyone is going to kill me and say I'm crazy - that it is the back seven - the lack of quality safety and cover corners that are the problem. Well, last week the Giants strategy was to commit to pressuring Romo and leaving the secondary alone on an island to hold down the fort by themselves. Did Dallas hit some big plays in which the secondary looked lost? Yup - that's certainly how it looked. But it only looked that way because the Giants generated zero pressure on Romo despite committing the farm to get there. It's one thing to ask your secondary to hold down the fort while Romo is running for his life. It's quite another thing entirely to ask them to stand alone while Romo has all the time in the world. This game was lost because the Giants did not possess the ability to get to Romo even when committing 7 men to the attack. I don't care how good the Dallas offensive line is - despite committing their entire front 7 to the pass rush, the Giants couldn't generate enough pressure to even force Romo out of the pocket.

So, you can talk Eli Manning. You can talk safety and cornerback. But I think the problem is that the Giants defensive front 7 is simply not strong enough to be a dominant defense. The Giants are not going to win a Super Bowl until they have a defense that can force a 3 and out with the game on the line - and the Giants haven't had that kind of defense - a truly dominant defense - since the 1990 Super Bowl.

Showdown Against Dallas

2007-11-09T10:38:00.001-05:00

What can be better? A huge November home game against a hated divisional rival. Having dispatched the Dolphins in the mud-bowl in London, the Giants - fairly healthy coming out of their bye week - commence the more difficult second half of their schedule. And it starts off with a real bang.

While they will face other tough games down the stretch, none will be bigger than Sunday's game against Dallas. Dallas leads the Division and has already beaten the Giants once. Lose to Dallas for the second time on Sunday and the Giants will in essence be three games behind and, for all practical purposes, out of the running for a divisional title. On the other hand, a win ties them for the division lead and sets up a season long battle for the divisional crown. At stake is a chance of a first round bye and home field advantage in the playoffs. The difference between a win and a loss is simply huge. For both teams.

This is the type of game that defines championship teams. Seattle went on to the Super Bowl after holding on for their lives against the Giants two years ago. Last year Chicago went to the Super Bowl after downing the Giants in a nail biter at the mid-point last year. Championship caliber teams win the important games - the games with significance above and beyond a mere W or L in the standings. This year is likely to be no different. The winner on Sunday greatly improves their chances of ending up in Phoenix on Feb 3rd.

This is not the same Giants team that faced Dallas in the season opener. Strahan has worked himself back into game shape. Osi is healthy. If not quite comfortable, Kiwi is certainly more familiar playing linebacker. The defense, as a whole, is simply playing better. And the team is emotionally healthy, having been spoon fed six straight wins from the schedule gods (not their fault and certainly better than the alternative). But I believe there are two factors that will make a huge difference on Sunday - two things Dallas didn't have to address back in September - cornerback on defense and Brandon Jacobs on offense.

On Sunday the Giants enter the game with legitimate strength at corner. Although Ross is going to make rookie mistakes, his entry into the starting lineup has made a huge difference for the Giants. Yet it is the play of Madison that really seals the deal for me. Simply put, the transformation between his play in 2006 and 2007 has been nothing short of miraculous. And strength at corner - something that didn't exist back in September - is going to be huge on Sunday.

I am convinced that the secret to stopping Dallas on Sunday will be getting constant pressure on Romo. No small order. Dallas has an excellent offensive line - they have only given up 12 sacks all season - and the Giants sack attack will have their hands full. They will likely need to bring more than just four to get pressure - they need to bring the house. But the Giants have something they didn't have in September - two corners capable of holding up their end of the bargain. Dallas will likely get some big plays - but in the end, Madison and Ross should allow the Giants to be in Romo's face all day long on Sunday - to allow the Giants to attack rather than sit back.

On the other side of the ball, Brandon Jacobs could have an even greater impact. If I had a crystal ball that told me he'd stay healthy (a big "if"), there isn't any running back in the game today that I'd trade head up for Jacobs. A 125 yard game from a break away runner is very different than a 125 yard game from Brandon Jacobs. While 25-50 yard runs are exciting - and a threat - I'll take a steady diet of 4-8 yard runs by Brandon Jacobs, thank you very much. Not only does he move the chains and eat up the clock, he beats defenders into submission - physically and emotionally. And he opens up the passing game in ways a Tiki Barber style runner never dreamed of. Brandon Jacobs has the rare ability to totally dominate a game without having a single run over 10 yards.

The Cowboys didn't get the opportunity to have a "Brandon Jacobs experience" back in September. But on Monday morning I think they'll know exactly how it feels to be run over by a Mack truck.

Giants Down 49ers for 5th Straight Win

2007-10-21T19:56:00.000-04:00

The Giants are not just winning games they are supposed to win - they are dominating their opponents. Last week in Atlanta and today against the 49ers, the Giants controlled every aspect of the game much more than will be revealed in the stat sheet. Another 6 sack performance for the defense. Throw in 2 interceptions, including another beautiful interception by Madison, and two fumble recoveries by Osi - and it is difficult to describe the defensive play as anything other than awesome.

One mild disappointment was Plax losing his touchdown streak. But the offense was almost as dominant as the defense. Again, the stats may not show it, but the offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and was totally dominant in run blocking. Brandon Jacobs had his second 100 yard game in a row and appeared to be running at will. Each time he left the game you could almost hear San Fransisco's collective sigh of relief.

The Giants should be 6-2 after next week's game against winless Miami in London. Then they have their bye week and face a more difficult second half of the season. However, there isn't any doubt that they have gained invaluable confidence and momentum as a result of the gift from the scheduling gods during the first half. The question is whether they can use it to sustain themselves when the sledding gets a bit more difficult.

The second half of 2007

Nov 11 Sun Dallas (6-1)
Nov 18 Sun at Detroit (4-2)
Nov 25 Sun Minnesota (2-4)
Dec 2 Sun at Chicago (3-4)
Dec 9 Sun at Philadelphia (2-4)
Dec 16 Sun Washington (4-2)
Dec 23 Sun at Buffalo (2-4)
Dec 29 Sat New England (7-0)

Giants Win 4th Straight Over Falcons

2007-10-16T08:35:00.001-04:00

There was plenty to like about last night's victory over the Falcons. The offense looked very strong. Eli Manning, who at one point completed12 straight completions, spread the ball around to more receivers than in any other game than I can recall. The running game was equally balanced with Droughns this time leading the three headed monster with 90 yards and 1 TD.

But Jacobs, if he can stay healthy, remains "the man". It is visibly evident how well this Giants offense plays with Jacobs in the game. Defenses are so hell bent on getting to Jacobs early, that play action passing is like taking candy from a baby. The only issue so far is whether Jacobs can stay healthy. At this point I am liking the addition of Droughns as insurance more and more.

The defense was in control the entire way other than one letdown for a 67 yard TD run. They contributed 4 more sacks in an almost routine, invisible way. They controlled the line of scrimmage as the game wore on, stopped the running game cold, put pressure on the QB, and the secondary is playing better and better now that Ross is in the lineup.

While not dominating on either offense or defense, anyone watching the game could tell that the Giants were in complete control throughout. And that may perhaps be the most impressive part of last night's game - the Giants controlled every aspect of the game while leaving the impression they could "turn it up" several notches on both sides of the ball had it been necessary.

As I've said before, the most important factor for this team this season is the gift from the schedule gods. If they stay healthy, they have an excellent chance to build momentum and, more importantly, confidence. They could (should) end up with at least 10 wins with the schedule they are facing and, if so, they should not only make the playoffs but do so as a unified, confident team. That latter issue is the most important and if it comes to pass, this team could be very dangerous in the playoffs. But first they must take advantage of that gift from the schedule gods and mind their business week to week.

Accorsi Book Reveals The True Coughlin

2007-10-14T10:50:00.000-04:00

In a chapter about the Chicago Bears game last year, Accorsi rips Coughlin for his play calling, for his refusal to acknowledge his mistakes, and most of all for shifting the blame all onto Eli Manning.

Accorsi sets the scene. It was a rainy Monday night. The Giants hold a 13-3 lead with scoring "drives" of one yard, three yards, and nine yards. Petitgout is already out of the game and Eli is not just struggling, he is foundering. But the Giants hold a 13-3 lead and it is raining hard. Chicago has the ball on their own 28 facing a 3rd and 22 with 1:30 left to go in the half. And the Giants call a time out. As we all know the Bears took full advantage of that time to go on to score and make it 13-10 at the half. Accorsi was stunned. Not that the time out necessarily led to Chicago's score, but it showed absolutely no common sense.

"It's thirteen to three - the Bears don't think they're going to win the game because they have to beat us by intercepting the ball or causing some other turnover or, somehow, unleashing Hester. What do we do? We give them the opportunity. Why do we want the ball back for thirty-five seconds to begin with? It's raining. We could fumble the kick, we could commit a holding penalty. We could give them life. Our quarterback is having a terrible night. What was to be gained? Had there been a single sign that we could take the ball and march it down the field in thirty-five seconds? After that, it's third and twenty-three. Chicago's giving up the ghost, right? Get in the locker room, Tom, with our thirteen-to-three lead! And when the Bears ran into the locker room, they were a different team."

Then in the second half, the Bears leading by 24-20 with 11:49 to go in the game. The Giants have moved the ball to the Bears 29 yard line with a fresh set of downs. Accorsi has the following to say about what happens next:

"Now we've come back to twenty-four to twenty and we're first and ten on their twenty-nine. We've got control of the situation. We're running the ball and they can't stop us. We ran for a hundred and fifty yards - no one has stopped us from running the ball all year in those conditions - and why we're not using Jacobs, I have no idea. He was unopposed on both touchdowns. We're wearing them down. The weather is bad. Maybe we won't be able to hold them later, maybe we'll screw up on defense later - six starters are out, after all - but we're going to go ahead in the game for the moment at least, if we just play smart. But instead, for some unknown reason, against that pass rush, with Eli having a bad night, we try to throw. Now it's second and twenty-four. We've changed the game. We get to third and fifteen, and Hufnagel says, 'Oh, I think I'll try this pass play to Plax. That's part of my philosophy.'

"Finally, rather than hand the ball to Feagles and trust the best plus-punter in the league to spin the ball inside the twenty and give Grossman a chance to give away the game in bad weather, we try a fifty-two-yard field goal in the same direction a thirty-three-yarder had already been missed. Our big, slow field-goal protection guys then get to watch Devin Hester dance a hundred and eight yards untouched. He would have scored in a two-hand touch football game.

"We could have won a thirteen-to-ten game. That's our kind of game."

But most damning of all was Coughlin's refusal to acknowledge any responsibility for the way the game went and instead, amazingly, blaming Manning for forcing him to make the questionable decisions Accorsi was pointing out:

"Tom said, 'I Told Eli today [the day after the game] that you don't score points by running the ball, you score points by passing it.' That kills any chance of me sleeping tonight. Tom had this long talk with Eli in which he basically told him, 'You're the reason we lost and you're going to have to play much better or we won't win.' Do you think Bill Cowher ever said that to Ben Roethlisberger? Pittsburgh never asks Roethlisberger to win a game by himself. They ask him not to lose by himself. 'I told Eli,' Tom said, 'You know why I made that stupid decision on the field goal, Eli?' Now listen to this. 'Because you weren't playing well and I didn't know how we'd get down there again.' Now I have to go to Manning sometime today and try to reassure him that it's not all his fault."

Taking Accorsi at his word regarding the accuracy of the above, it is truly an amazing condemnation of Coughlin that he would choose to deflect blame against himself by placing it all onto the shoulders of his young struggling quarterback. I've been upset by Tiki Barber speaking out against Coughlin and, while I still don't like it, I am more disgusted by an ego-maniac coach who so willing to throw his young quarterback under the bus because the coach lacks the inner self-confidence to accept blame of criticism directed his way.

Jets Downed, Giants Fly to Atlanta

2007-10-13T09:18:00.000-04:00

Can the Giants take advantage of a paddy cake schedule to build some momentum and confidence? They took the first step last week with a win over the Jets. It was not a heady performance like the 12 sacks the week before over the Eagles, but the defense came up with some big plays to seal the win. Ross had two interceptions, and although the first one was an easy gift, on the second he made a very strong play, jumping the route and taking it in for a score. However it was the old pro Madison who had the truly stunning interception. Obviously seeing something Pennington was giving away, Madison abandoned his receiver along the sideline and instead broke 15 or so yards across the middle to grab the ball in front of a totally different receiver. Madison traveled so far I have to believe he broke away from his own receiver before the ball ever left Pennington's hand. A great, great play.

One comment about the defense. While the Giants had some pressure, they were not getting any steady hits on Pennington and the Jets were moving the ball pretty steadily and completed a number of 3rd and very longs. The defense stopped the Jets with some great individual plays that resulted in turnovers. But for those turnovers, the Giants defense was certainly not dominating the Jets.

In fact the Jets were leading this game deep into the 4th quarter. In my opinion the Giants won this game because of Brandon Jacobs who had the first 100 yard game of his career. But it was simply the yardage that mattered. It was the attitude. The Giants first touchdown was a 67 yard 9 play drive that spanned the first and second quarters and included only two passes. The Giants then opened the second half with a 6 play 80 yard drive that included only one pass. In those two drives Jacobs carried the ball 6 times for 9, 6, 6, 7, 8 and 19 yards - an amazing 9.2 yards per carry. And with attitude. The manner in which he ran the ball set the tone for the rest of the players, including the defense.

This week the Giants head to Atlanta for a Monday night match up with the Falcons. They have no QB and they lost both of their offensive tackles last week. And on the other side of the ball the Falcons are horrible defending against the run. The Giants need to avoid anything fancy and play to their strengths. On offense, run the ball and force Atlanta to stop them. That means forget balance and run Brandon Jacobs at least 80 percent of the time on first down. At least until Atlanta is forced to put 8 or more men in the box, when throwing the ball should be easy pickins. And on defense the solution is too obvious to have to say out loud - pressure, pressure, pressure.

The Giants have 11 games remaining of which 7 are against teams currently sporting losing records:

Oct 15 Mon at Atlanta (1-4)
Oct 21 Sun San Francisco (2-3)
Oct 28 Sun at Miami (0-5)
Nov 4 Sun BYE
Nov 11 Sun Dallas (5-0)
Nov 18 Sun at Detroit (3-2)
Nov 25 Sun Minnesota (1-3)
Dec 2 Sun at Chicago (2-3)
Dec 9 Sun at Philadelphia (1-3)
Dec 16 Sun Washington (3-1)
Dec 23 Sun at Buffalo (1-4)
Dec 29 Sat New England (5-0)

Giants Sack Eagles, Now Turn on the Jets

2007-10-06T12:04:00.000-04:00

Was the NFL record setting 12 sack performance against the Eagles last week the momentum builder that turns this into a special Giants season? The Giants became the fifth team in NFL history to record 12 sacks in one game. Regardless of the quality of the opponent, one would think a team would have to be pretty darn good to record that many sacks in one game. Looking back at the four prior teams to accomplish this feat, however, reveals that none made it to the Super Bowl and one (the Cardinals in 1980) ended up 4th in their division and out of the playoffs entirely (the other three - Chicago in 1984 and the Cowboys in 1966 and 1985 - all ended up with 10 wins and made it to the playoffs). The losing team giving up the 12 sacks in each of those prior four games all had losing records by the end of the respective seasons.

While history may not, therefore, tell us much about the significance of the sack performance, it does indicate one thing: the Giants have the players to be a dominant pass rushing team. It is also interesting to observe that not all of the sacks were generated by pure speed and instead were, at least partially, the result of good coverage. That is perhaps the most encouraging sign of all from last week's game. While the addition of Ross was not the sole reason, he did play a strong game, especially in view of the fact he is still a rookie combined with the fact it was his first start.

If the Giants can maintain consistent pressure on the QB the rest of the way through the schedule, they should end up with a very decent record. Of the 12 games remaining, only 4 times do they face teams that currently have a winning record (Dallas, Detroit, Wash, and NE). Seven of those games - including the Jets tomorrow - are against teams currently sitting at 1-3 or 0-4. The schedule gods have given the Giants a rare opportunity to build confidence and momentum as they move through the balance of their schedule. If they take advantage, they could easily find themselves with a heady 11-12 wins and brimming with confidence by season end.

I have not changed my view of this team - I still believe there are loads of question marks throughout the roster. But, despite those questions, the schedule is such that I would consider it an unforgivable disaster if they don't end up with at least 9 wins - and purely "ok" play should get them at least 10. And 10 wins means going 8-4 the rest of the way, which translates into momentum and confidence - perhaps the two most important ingredients for success in the NFL. That is the significance to me of what the Giants did last week. Of course, all of this presupposes that I don't find myself sitting here in future weeks writing about a puzzling loss to a losing team.

Sunday Night Test Against Eagles

2007-09-30T06:34:00.000-04:00

Last week the Giants put together an emotional win over the Redskins. The defense stood tall all day, especially when it mattered, stopping Washington four straight times on a first and goal at the 1 with only 58 seconds remaining in the game. Washington, 2-0 heading into the game, was leading 17-3 at the half. Those were the only points they would score all day. The Giants limited the Redskins to 80 total yards and zero points in the second half.

Eli Manning (21-36, 232) and the offense got their act together at the same time, converting seven straight third down conversions and three touchdowns to seal a 24-17 win on the road. Ward, 26 for 94 yards against Washington, has rushed for 273 yards on 54 carries in three games and sports a gaudy 5.1 average. It's no wonder Brandon Jacobs had some sort of miracle recovery and returned to full practice by the end of this week.

I've felt badly for Brandon. After enduring all the off season talk - and questions - about his potential, to go down in the 2nd series of the very first game had to be very difficult to swallow. And while Ward's success has been a great thing for the team, it can't be easy watching someone else standing in what was supposed to be your limelight. But Jacobs is a far too valuable asset to risk just because he's itching to get back on the field. If Brandon is the real deal - and I think he is - he'll get plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent once that knee is fully healed.

Tonight the 1-2 Eagles come to town, fresh off a 56-21 thrashing of Detroit. McNabb (21-26, 381) had a near perfect game. Amazingly, despite the powerhouse offense that put up those 56 points, it was probably the Eagles defense that had the more impressive performance, shutting out the Lions in the second half while recording 9 sacks. The strength of the Eagles defense is the defensive line and DT Brodrick Bunkley is a monster who will likely give the interior of the Giants line fits. That means Diehl will probably get very little help handling Cole. This will be a major test for the Giants offensive line and the Giants will need have success in the running game to keep the Eagles pass rushers a bit off balance if the Giants hope to have any chance keeping Eli upright.

Even if the offense holds up its end of the bargain, the game is likely to be won or lost by the kind of pressure the Giants can bring to bear on McNabb. To protect a weak secondary (although I would note that Madison fared pretty darn well back there last week), the Giants must find a way to get into McNabb's face all day long. That's no easy task when your linebackers are struggling protecting against the quick hits over the middle, especially to the TE (although the Eagles Smith is supposedly out for tonight's game). The pass rush can't work if the linebackers consistently give the QB "quick freebies" before the rush can get there. Whether the Giants can mount consistent pressure on McNabb will, in my opinion, be the final determining factor in the outcome.

Winning those match ups, however, is likely to be decided, not on talent, but on pure will power. This is an Eagles-Giants game and talent on either side of the ball means far less than the will to win. I've always believed that football, more than most sports, is less about the physical skills and talents of individual players and more about heart, inner competitive spirit, and an overriding will to win. Organizations with the uncanny ability to see who a person is on the inside and find ways to stock their roster with those types of competitors, routinely knock the socks off teams filled with more individual talent. It is that extra something that can't be seen - is difficult to define - but is critically important in the creation of a true team.

It's too early to yet know what kind of team the Giants have this year - but one of the two teams meeting tonight will be 1-3 by tomorrow morning and may never get the chance to ever know.

The Future Is Now

2007-09-22T07:53:00.000-04:00

I didn't think things could get worse after the horrible performance in the season opener, but they did. With the early struggles (putting it mildly) of the defense, a Giants victory last Sunday against Green Bay was clearly on the shoulders of the offense. However, in the home opener, Giants fans were graced with a 13 point performance by this offensive juggernaut. One touchdown and two field goals all day long. Special teams joined the fun with a fumbled return and a botched field goal snap.

After two games the Giants are dead last in the league in points allowed. This Giants defense has allowed 80 points in the first two games, the worst start in over 40 years - second worst in team history. Opponents are converting third downs at an unheard of rate of 54.5 percent. And things don't get easier this week. The Redskins offense is ranked 4th in the league converting on third down (and their defense is ranked 1st by the way).

The Giants defense needs a spark - a jump start. It desperately needs some enthusiasm that gets the entire unit pumped up. I believe they need to get their future on the field now. Madison, McQuarters and Mitchell are known quantities with very little upside at this point in their careers. The Giants need to develop an accelerated plan to get Ross, Webster, Johnson, Wilkinson, DeOssie, and Blackburn on the field more and more. For now I would immediately replace McQuarters with Ross. I would move Kiwi back to DE where he belongs, bench Mitchell, and play Wilkinson, DeOssie and/or Blackburn as the outside backers.

Here is my bottom line. No veteran player should be starting unless the quality of his play demands it. McQuarters cannot start over Aaron Ross unless his play is far superior. The same goes for Mitchell contrasted with Wilkinson/Blackburn. Madison versus Webster. And I'd move Kiwi back to DE, sit Strahan until his play forces himself back onto the field, and get another younger LB onto the field.

It may not make things better in the short term. But it will make the Giants team stronger in the long run. It will also prove invaluable in evaluating their future needs. And it just may provide the emotional spark this team so desperately needs right now. Lastly, as a fan, if the team is going to lose, at least let me have the opportunity of getting excited by watching the Giants younger players - the Giants future - on the field and making some plays.

Death of a Franchise

2007-09-15T07:39:00.000-04:00

The Giants traveled to Dallas Sunday night, scored 35 points, and lost. This team has been built around offense. And a good offense it is - an offense dominant enough to put up 35 points on the road against a divisional rival. But it is also a team with a defense that has been ignored - has been the step child of the offense - for far too long. A defense pathetic enough to give up 45 points in a big game against a divisional rival.

Such state of affairs is heart wrenching, especially to an old timer like myself whose first live Giants game dates back to Yankee Stadium. I never thought I'd live to see the day that the Giants organization would turn its back on its own heritage. Through thick and thin, good times and bad, Giants football has always been about defense. Defense came first, front and center, before anything else. Defense has always been the core, the focus, and ultimately the heritage and tradition of this proud franchise. That focus - that defense before anything else mentality - has been lost for quite some time now and the defense has slowly withered and become frail, faltering and hesitant over the past few years. And finally, like a terminal illness, Sunday night brought the sad realization that the proud heritage of this franchise has passed on.

I've been a Giants fan all my life. That won't change because I don't consider it a choice. It just is. But I'm not happy. High powered offensive football - teams that put the emphasis upon offense over defense resided in the AFL/AFC. The NFL/NFC was all about toughness. About mud and guts and lost teeth. The "offense first" teams were for the girls and women - it was entertaining and exciting and put new fans in the seats. But real football - what the men watch - where the gladiators play - has always been the province of the NFC. Today everything has been turned upside down. Tough defensive football is the province of the AFC and my four daughters are suddenly interested watching Eli Manning and the Giants.

I'm not saying what we witnessed Sunday night is what we see all year long. It won't be. The defense will get better - but that's not saying much. I don't see how it can play much worse. But I will not be happy so long as Giants football is more about offense than defense. As far as I am concerned, if you like offensive football, go join the girls in the other room and root for the Colts or the Jets but leave us men - and the Giants - alone.

The current Giants ownership and management should be ashamed. As the guardians of this franchise, they have sullied and damaged its one true tradition. They've broken faith with their own heritage and legacy. I've always enjoyed watching the "fancy boys" and their high powered offenses but for me they were always side shows - warm ups - to the real blood and guts football played by men - by gladiators - by the Giants. I suppose I should be happy that my daughters now show a passing interest in my football team but frankly it just rubs salt in the wound.

Giants Head To Dallas For 2007 Season Opener

2007-09-08T08:58:00.001-04:00

I absolutely hate to pick against the Giants for the season opener - and I especially hate picking them to lose to the Cowboys. At least it's an away game. Here is how I see the match ups.

When Dallas Has the Ball
Dallas has one of the better offensive lines in the NFL. They should, they've invested a ton of money. I only saw them once this pre-season but it was enough to see that Leonard Davis is going to be a force at right guard and totally dominating in the run game. Look for the Giants to have trouble stopping Marion Barber up the middle. I also expect Dallas to use plenty of screens and cutbacks with Julius Jones to keep the Giants new aggressive scheme off balance. Lastly, Giants fans can't be happy thinking about defending three time pro-bowler Witten and Terrell Owens with a still learning Kiwanuka and a weak secondary. The loss of Terry Glenn is big, although Giants will have their hands full dealing with TO and Witten, so look for Crayton to have a big game. This will be a major test for the Giants and they are going to have to get to Romo early and often to have any hope of stopping a very solid Dallas offense. Again, my primary concern is Leonard Davis and the rest of the OL mauling the Giants up the middle.

When the Giants Have the Ball
Dallas has invested heavily on defense in recent drafts but still have some question marks. On the defensive line Chris Canty and DeMarcus Spears represent lots of unfulfilled potential, especially Canty. But the key to Dallas, as in any 3-4, is their linebackers. I'm a bit surprised that Bobby Carpenter hasn't broken the starting lineup. In the end, however, the linebackers are all about DeMarcus Ware. Phillips intends to really turn Ware loose this year, letting him roam free ala Lawrence Taylor. O'Hara is going to have his hands full setting the offensive line's assignments. However the big key for Dallas is the health of Greg Ellis and his absence will enable the Giants to put greater focus on finding - and double teaming - Ware.

Although Giants fans are understandably excited about their new pressure defense, expect the Cowboys to "out-Spags" Spagnuolo when it comes to bringing the pressure on Sunday. And, between the two teams, the Cowboys have the better secondary to accomplish that. One of keys to the Cowboys game plan is likely to be to jump the gaps and make Jacobs dance a bit in the backfield before he can get a head of steam. Against the pass they will stunt, blitz, and move Ware around - all designed to keep Canty and Ware in Manning's face all night long. From the Giants perspective the game is likely to hinge on the protection holding up sufficiently to allow Manning to be the hero of the game with Shockey having a big day.

Prediction
In the end, I think the acquisition of Leonard Davis makes the difference for the Boys in this game. I'm afraid the Giants lose the battle of the trenches on defense against the running game. Not necessarily badly and not necessarily all night long, but enough for the Cowboys to keep the chains moving and the Giants off balance. I don't see Jacobs having a big game and he is likely to struggle getting up any head of steam as the Cowboys force the ball into Manning's hand. The danger for the Cowboys is that could end up being a huge miscalculation. Manning looks like a completely different QB this year. He is making crisp, strong, confident throws without any of the erratic off the charts passes of the past. I've not been happy with his play since the day he got here, but I love what I've been seeing this year and if he keeps his mechanics solid all year long, he could easily find himself in Hawaii next February. And I think he will have a good game Sunday night, but with the running game bottled up, the Giants fall short.

Dallas 31, Giants 20

State of the 2007 NY Giants As Season Begins

2007-09-03T11:54:00.001-04:00

Is this a rebuilding year? Many people react emotionally to that phrase and since I can't find a good definition, I won't use it. However, whatever you want to call it, one thing is clear - there has been lots of change. Last year's defensive and offensive coordinators are both gone. So is the special teams coach. There is a new QB coach. The most productive running back in team history has retired. And seventeen new faces grace this year's roster.

On Offense
QB - Nobody agrees with me, but I will forever believe that despite Montana's better statistics, Phil Simms was the better quarterback. That's a judgment I made with my eyes, not reading press clippings or the stats sheet.

My eyes haven't made me very happy with what I've seen of Eli Mannning through 2006. His statistics haven't mattered to me nor will they be of much interest to me in the future. And that future seems incredibly bright. I've seen a critical transformation in how Eli Manning is throwing the ball this year. His footwork is noticeably improved. He is stepping into his throws. His release is sharp and his passes crisp. He is throwing the ball with confidence, even the misses. Most importantly there has been a complete absence of wild erratic throws. Not even one wild throw so far this year. I'm not talking incompletions nor am I talking about passes slightly off target. I am talking the equivalent of a wild pitch in baseball - something I believe may very well be a permanent remnant of Manning's past.

While it is obviously very early - and conservative observers will caution against jumping to conclusions, noting the first half/second half disparities in his play over the past two seasons - I believe we are witnessing a totally different quarterback. Yes, his mechanics got worse when the team struggled over the past two seasons - but the emphasis is "got worse" because his mechanics weren't solid to begin with. I have great optimism that there has been a transformation in his throwing mechanics and that Eli Manning will end 2007 as the most valuable player on offense and will compete for a pro bowl this year and many years to come.

WR - On paper this should be a strength. Giants used high (2nd round) first day picks the past two years to add WR depth. Amani Toomer appears to be healthy. If Toomer and Burress stay healthy all year this unit can be special primarily because of the addition of Steve Smith. I think Smith is a natural football player. He may not be the fastest - or the quickest - or the tallest - but he has great football instincts. He gets open and holds onto the ball.

Yet, I'm worried. Granted, I tend to worry a lot and "project" all sorts of calamities around this time of year. But I cringe when I hear Burress and "back problems" in the same sentence. Back problems tend to be chronic and are not a good thing for anyone, but especially so for someone as tall and lanky as Burress. And while this is one of the best receiving corps in Giants history, there isn't a solid replacement for Burress. The loss of any starter hurts, but the dropoff of losing Burress would be steep. I'm confident Smith would hold his own if Toomer went down this year. Moss looks like a specialty player but not a permanent starter. And while Anthony Mix "flashed brilliant" during the 2007 pre-season and he is a great 6th WR, he isn't ready to replace Plax. So I'm just a tad worried about that back issue.

TE - I have said repeatedly in the past that Shockey has unique skills that have been completely misused in the past. The entire passing attack should have been completely designed around Shockey these past few years. Instead all too often he was used to block and as a secondary outlet for short gains. That was a huge mistake. Unfortunately Shiancoe is gone and now the Giants may have no choice but to use Shockey as the blocking TE. Matthews has looked good but he is a rookie and it is going to take time for him to even approach Shiancoe's blocking ability. And Matthews looks better than Boss both blocking and receiving. I look for the Giants to use Whimper in the blocking TE role but any way you slice or dice it, Shockey's role is going to be impacted by the loss of Shiancoe. While I look for Shockey's yard per catch to go up this year, at the end of the day I'm afraid I'll be left still yearning for the player I saw in his rookie year.

RB - Like all Giants fans, I fell in love with Brandon Jacobs the day I read the rave reviews coming out of that first rookie camp shortly after the draft. But as I've said before, I think the expectations being placed on this young man by the Giants faithful are totally unrealistic. The past two seasons we got to see Brandon Jacobs run free and run wild. Fans need to understand that is unlikely to happen with nearly as much frequency in 2007. This year the world's most brillant defensive minds are going to spend considerable time and effort devising game plans designed to stop Brandon Jacobs. You are likely to see lots of three and four yard runs through very heavy traffic instead of the "beast" wrecking havoc in the secondary.

Two caveats. First and foremost is Eli Manning. If he has the break out year I think he will, that is likely to force teams to back off efforts to load the box, which hopefully gives Brandon some additional breathing room. Secondly, those "3-4 yards and a cloud of dust" runs, coming from a big bruising man like Brandon Jacobs, are likely to wear defenses down late in the late 3rd and 4th quarters. At least that's the theory. But will Jacobs be worn down too? Only time will tell.

Many believe the Giants have depth at running back. I'm not one of them. For 2007 the success of the running game, in the end, will be on the shoulders of Brandon Jacobs. Yes, cut downs were difficult. Yes, I like what I see in Ward and Bradshaw is going to contribute. But they add versatility, not depth. If Jacobs goes down, the likely replacement would be Ward (assuming he can block), not Droughns. While Droughns is an upgrade over Carter, his role will be to give Jacobs a breather. While not as bad as the total absence of depth at QB, I believe a successful season depends as much upon Jacobs' health as Eli's.

FB - Not much to say. Douglas is hurt and may not survive the last cut due later today. Giants have practiced with Droughns but he reportedly isn't in love with the move. Matthews may see some time there but in the end the Giants are likely to scrap some of their playbook.

OL - I was against the release of Petitgout and still am. It is not because David Diehl won't do a credible job. He always has and he will now. Rather it is depth that concerned me then and concerns me now. The health of the offensive line is absolutely critical because there aren't any backups. David Diehl at guard and Richie Seubert on the bench, provided great solace to Giant fans everywhere. That no longer exists and the first time an offensive lineman is slow to get up the entire NY metropolitan area is going to hold its collective breath. This should be a very strong unit provided there is not a single injury across the entire line the entire year.

On Defense
DL - The starting defensive line is one of the strongest units of the team. It will be several games before Strahan is in top form and his holdout hurt the team in that regard. And it isn't clear how he is affected by the Lis Franc injury or his advancing age. But Justin Tuck seems ready to take up where he left off at the end of 2005. And Osi, Robbins, and Cofield make a strong unit with my only hesitation being how stout they play the run up the gut. There is considerable drop off after those 5 as evidenced by the continued presence of William Josephs.

LB - Pierce is going to struggle if he doesn't get more help up front from the defensive tackles. He should benefit by the upgrade in speed of Mitchell and Kiwanuka over Arrington and Emmons but that is probably counter balanced by the steep learning curve Kiwanuka is likely to experience.

I was not happy about the Kiwanuka move because I subscribe to the theory that you move a player who otherwise isn't likely to make it at the pro level at his given position. You don't move a probable future pro bowler. You find some other way to make adjustments. Having said that Kiwanuka has an incredible combination of athleticism, size and speed and should excel given time. Lots of time. As in years. That's not to say he won't be a good linebacker at any point this year. But he isn't likely to demonstrate the same level at LB that he showed at DE for at least another full year, maybe two.

Secondary - The Giants believe their future is Webster and Ross. However they didn't keep Madison and McQuarters for backup roles. I think that's a mistake. Ross is very raw with much to learn and Madison, even at this point in his career, is clearly the more accomplished player. However, Ross has a much higher upside than Madison or McQuarters and if this year's goal is to win the Super Bowl, then you bite the bullet early on and throw the kid into the water and let him learn how to swim. Of course the risk you take is that the learning curve may be so great you lose too many games and don't make the playoffs at all. But making the playoffs cannot - and should not - be the end goal. The Giants should be focused on winning the Super Bowl and an experienced Ross and Webster can get them there. Madison and McQuarters can't.

I think the Giants are even worse off at safety. Wilson and Butler have both shown glimpses of potential in the past but no day in and day out consistency. That is why I was so surprised at the release of Demps. The failure to upgrade the safety position is going to hurt in the defensive standings, especially against the run.

Special Teams
New kicker. And new long snapper. Let's hope the Giants don't play any close games.

Conclusion
New offensive and defensive coordinators. New special teams and quarterbacks coaches. No fullback or blocking tight end. Depth on offensive line gone completely. Most productive running back and receiver in team history gone. Linebacker receiving on the job training. No upgrades at all to perhaps the weakest starting secondary in the entire NFL. New kicker and snapper.

I think Eli Manning is on the brink of a great season but even so he can't do it alone. Hope springs eternal, but there are simply too many question marks to objectively conclude this team is stronger heading into 2007 than it was in heading into 2006. I think they will be stronger in 2008 than they were in 2006, but not in 2007. But remember, this isn't a rebuilding year.

Prediction
Philadelphia wins Division (yet again). Dallas second and gets wild card. Giants third with a 9-7 record and in the hunt for the second wild card.

Ready, Set ...

2007-08-31T08:08:00.001-04:00

Are the Giants ready to "go"? It will be interesting to see what tinkering the Giants do with their roster between Saturday's mandatory roster reductions and opening day. Of course, when it comes to the roster, one primary unknown remains Strahan. I'm in the camp that believes that although Strahan's play on the field would help win some games, his presence is an overall negative and the team, as well as the Giants organization, is better off without him. NFL players get paid handsomely to be professionals. To be considered a truly great professional requires more than simply excelling at one particular skillset in a chosen profession, even if that single skillset happens to be the most visible. Medical doctors understand it doesn't matter how great their surgical skills may be if their patients don't take their advice because of a lousy bedside manner. Trial lawyers understand all the legal knowledge in the world doesn't mean anything if their demeanor totally alienates juries. Examples abound.

Michael Strahan has excellent physical football skills which make him a very good (great) individual football player. But that doesn't make him a great professional. All the football skills in the world don't matter as much if you don't understand you a being paid millions of dollars to improve the overall team. Mr. jackass isn't a professional because he has never understood why he was being paid all that money. It isn't about the individual accomplishments Mike. You were paid that money to be a member of a team - to help the team - not to be an individual. He was a great individual player, but not a great professional. The Giants, as a team, would be much better off if they could only find a way to pursuade him to retire. Alas, I'm afraid that is not going to happen.

Enough talk about the jackass. The Giants have some pretty large issues heading into the 2007 campaign.

No OL depth at all. If one guy goes down the season may be over. That is quite a gamble.
No blocking TE
No fullback
Huge question mark at kicker
Long snapper on IR
No real depth on DL including DE (unless jackass comes back but even then Giants will probably ask for a roster exemption for a couple of weeks until he gets into playing shape while the Giants play 3 NFC East games in the first four weeks. Nice job Mikey).
The secondary. I'll feel better when Ross and Webster are the starting corners (on merit) and there are solid backups behind them. But absent injury it appears Madison and McQuarters get the starting nod which means the secondary has not been upgraded. And both safety spots remain a problem. I was going to list "depth" a problem with the secondary, but that is a wrong term when it is the starters who are the problem and your backups aren't good enough to displace them.
Brandon Jacobs. He's done a workmanlike job in pre-season. He's a load, no doubt about it. But... he has been unable to break free of traffic and run free this entire pre-season and thngs only get tougher during the regular season as teams spend all week long game planning how to frustrate him. Caveat: We haven't yet seen Jacobs into the 3rd and 4th quarters when the defenses get worn down. We'll have to wait and see.

The NFL season is not a race to the finish. It is a grueling 16 round heavyweight fight. It is easy to "blame" injuries for lack of success (ala 2006), but excuses are just that - excuses for failure. Successful teams - like NE - have sufficient depth to deal with injuries. NE didn't dress any of their starters last night and their backups gave the Giants first teamers a run for their money on both sides of the ball (yes, the Giants offense moved the ball but it wasn't necessarily easy, especially at the goal line). How many of you think you would have been "happy" with the outcome had that been reversed with the Giants not dressing any starters and playing their backups against NE's first team offense and defense? Point made. It would have been a total, unmitigated disaster.

I think the Giants are moving in the right direction. Many people objected to the use of "rebuilding" during the offseason. But what else can you call a transition between the end of the Barber-Strahan era and the beginning of the Manning-(defensive unknown) era? Speaking of Manning, I have what I perceive to be a sea change in his play. Yes, many say he has played well before in pre-season and early regular season, only to drop off after the mid-way point. But that is not what I am talking about. I have seen a noticeable difference in how he throws the football. His footwork is much improved and he is stepping into his throws and is throwing with confidence. While he has missed some throws (not many by the way), none have been of the type that worried me in the past - the type Phil Simms compared to a "wild pitch". His misses were still good throws mechanically. If this is indeed a sea change, his statistics will not matter to me at all (good or bad), nor will the record or any perceived "let down" towards the end of the season - so long as his mechanics remain solid. If that happens, all the rest will come with time.

Simms On Manning - Control vs Accuracy

2007-08-18T10:13:00.000-04:00

I watched an interesting segment on ESPN the other night. Phil Simms was a guest and, of course, the subject was his view on quarterbacks. He was asked to give his list of the top ten quarterbacks in the league (he gave five and the only thing you need to know is that Donovan McNabb was #3).

They also asked Simms to identify the "up and coming" quarterbacks in the league - quarterbacks for whom he expected big things in the future. Eli Manning was not on either list.

Naturally, the discussion then turned to his views on Eli Manning and I thought his insights were very interesting. According to Simms, Manning's problem is not accuracy but control. Manning periodically loses control of the football resulting in a wild throw - similar to a pitcher who might be having a very good game and then suddenly throws a wild pitch 10 feet over the catcher's head.

Simms noted that, while every quarterback occasionally throws a "wild pitch", Manning does it too often to succeed in the NFL (I believe he said a rate of about four per game). He emphasized that "control" is a basic and essential skill for any NFL quarterback and that Eli Manning would never be a top ten or an "up and coming" QB unless and until his control problems were resolved.

The good news is that Simms believes control issues can be overcome. The bad news is that he hasn't seen any indication of that happening to date.

Giants v Panthers - First Pre-Season Game

2007-08-13T13:39:00.001-04:00

This is going to be short and sweet for one simple reason... there isn't anything to write about. It was the first pre-season game so nothing much can be read into it. Pre-season games are for evaluating individual performances, especially the new players who are unknowns in game situations. Negatives, for the most part, can be ignored because they will likely be corrected. Rather, what I always hope to see are some exciting performances from a rookie or two that gets me so pumped up I can't wait to see him (them) again in the next game. To me that was the biggest disappointment about this game - there simply weren't any spectacular performances.

The one thing I did notice is that the kickoffs were consistently inside the ten yard line and, while I would like to see some cross the goal line, the kicking game was better than I had feared, and that is certainly a positive.

Top Ten Preseason Watch List

2007-07-28T11:28:00.000-04:00

Things that are on my mind as Giants open training camp today:

1. Brandon Jacobs
Every Giants fan – hell, every NFL fan – has seen Brandon Jacobs instill the fear of God in defenders. Yet, Brandon Jacobs heads my list as the single most important issue for the Giants season this year. It seems Giants fans everywhere do not expect any drop off in the running game with Tiki Barber’s retirement. That is quite an expectation. Not only is Tiki Barber the Giant’s all time leading rusher, he tops the list as all time leading receiver – and contended for the NFL rushing title the last three years of his career. But fans have seen what Jacobs can do and seemingly believe that what they have seen from Jacobs the past two seasons will automatically carry over into his full time, feature back role.

I’m excited about that prospect – but I’m a realist and understand it is likely that Jacobs will find that life as a feature back in the NFL is quite different than life as a back up role player. It is one thing to stand on the sidelines and be called in, fresh, to periodically run the ball some 5-10 carries a game. It is quite another to pound the ball 20-25 times a game… to have the stamina to handle the ball 6 times on a drive, break off a 30 yard run on the 7th carry, run back to the huddle, and hear your number called yet again for an 8th carry – and still have fresh legs. And then have the long time stamina to still be doing that in December, when his body is beat up and hurt more than he has ever experienced before. And the biggest difference of all? This year NFL defensive coordinators will be spending all week long developing game plans for their entire defense to stop Brandon Jacobs – something he has never faced before.

And, let us not forget that the Giants lost more than Tiki Barber, they lost Jim Finn. It is unknown who will be the fullback this year, or even if they will have a traditional fullback at all. Either way, that will make it more difficult for the feature back because a great blocking fullback is a running back’s best friend. And right now Jacobs is without one.

So, while everyone is very excited (and I include myself in that statement), let’s not get carried away with the expectations that there will not be any drop off from the last three years of Tiki Barber’s career. It is asking a bit much to expect Brandon Jacobs to compete for the NFL rushing title this year.

2. Mathias Kiwanuka
This young man is going to be fun to watch, regardless of the position he plays. As I posted back in May, I hated the move to LB, primarily because the reason behind the move was not because LB was his more natural position, but rather to compensate for the weakness at linebacker and a way to get Kiwanuka on the field rather than sitting behind Strahan. My objection was (and is), that while that thinking might provide short term benefits in 2007, it ignored the long term cost – Kiwanuka was drafted to be a DE – he proved in his rookie season that he had god gifted DE talent and had future pro-bowl written all over him. Moving him away from DE, if temporary, would only serve to retard his long term development as a DE. If permanent, would be “making a bet” that he could turn out to be as good at LB as DE. In my book you “gamble” with a player who isn’t going to make it at the NFL level in his drafted position – but you don’t gamble with a future star to meet some short term need.

Now, of course, we have Mr. Strahan injecting himself into this entire scenario. Strahan, the oldest veteran presumed leader of the team, decides at 11:30 on the night before the team is to report to camp, that he wants to retire. It isn’t clear as I write this whether he is trying to leverage himself for more money or whether he simply can’t face another season of football. And it doesn’t matter. If he announced his retirement in February, it is very unlikely the Giants would have moved Kiwanuka and it is likely they would have drafted a second linebacker, probably during day one. To wait until the last minute – until 11:30 on the night before camp opens, speaks volumes about Strahan as a person, as a teammate, and as a member of the Giants organization.

I strongly believe the Giants organization must grab the opportunity Mr. Strahan has handed them. They need to send a message that will be heard by players for years to come. They should totally ignore Strahan and refuse to return any of his phone calls or those from his agent. They should immediately move Kiwanuka back to DE. And if and when Strahan shows up at camp, they should keep him on the roster, pay him his salary, and make certain he never steps on a football field during a regular or preseason game ever again. Message sent and received: You want to treat the New York Giants as your personal dumping ground – this is how you will end your Hall of Fame career.

Add to this drama two other players who are impacted. With Kiwanuka moving to LB, the status of Tuck’s physical health was critically important. With Strahan’s “retirement” announcement, it moves off the charts in importance. And if Strahan doesn’t play this year, William Josephs stock has suddenly gone up because of his value at DE. Go figure.

3. Amani Toomer
With so many needs heading into the draft, it was telling that the Giants used their second round pick on a WR for the second year in a row. And from what I’ve been hearing it seems they made a solid choice. I am really excited to watch Steve Smith this year. Of course, if I’m not willing to anoint Brandon Jacobs as the second coming, how can I possibly even suggest Smith can make any contribution when we haven’t even seen him in pads? And, of course, I can’t. But I’m more excited about Smith than I am about Sinorice Moss. Smith seems more likely to be a starting receiver some day. Moss, I’m afraid, is more destined to be a part time specialist. Don’t get me wrong – a specialist who breaks some home run screen plays or crossing patterns can have a huge impact on game outcomes. My objection is that second round picks are valuable commodities (and let’s not forget the Giants traded up in the second round to select Moss), and in my book you better get a full time starter with your second round selection.

Anyway, enough with the digression. It was (and remains) my interpretation that the Steve Smith second round selection was an indication of the Giants concerns about Toomer in 2007. And, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I have a soft spot for Toomer, especially in comparison with the ulcerating angst generated by the Barber Strahan show these past 12 months. Amani, in my heart, has been a true and loyal soldier, moving over gracefully to make way for Burress and then proceeding to become the primary clutch “go to” guy anyway. So, a good portion of my “eye time” this preseason will be on Toomer, Smith and Moss.

4. Eli Manning
What is there to say that hasn’t been said? Nothing. That doesn’t mean the Eli watch doesn’t continue, because it does. There just isn’t anything much to add to what has already been said (by just about everyone in the entire world, or so it seems). He isn’t going to get many more seasons to establish himself – and if he doesn’t take a big step forward this year, the number of defenders will drop off considerably. And don’t think for a minute that he doesn’t know that – so there will be considerable internal anxiety added to the mix this year. We can only hope and pray.

A related theme (and one that probably deserves its own “things to watch” point) is the offensive line. As goes the offensive line so goes Eli. Reese jettisoned Petitgout as the trash he obviously thought he was –leaving a gaping hole on the offensive line. A GM purportedly doesn’t make decisions regarding who should play where. But I see some gamesmanship here between Reese and Coughlin. Reese clearly wanted Petitgout gone and, from what I’ve been reading, wants Whimper to get a real shot at breaking into the lineup. If I had to put real money on the line, I’d be forced to put my money against Reese on this one. Absent injury, Whimper doesn’t start this year and the offensive line loses a huge amount of the invaluable flexibility we saw last year. Reese obviously didn’t like Petitgout - as we all learned from his unprofessional attack upon Petitgout this week. And I can live with letting Petitgout go. But I am not thrilled with his lack of plan for a replacement and continue to believe the Giants would be stronger today with Luke in camp competing with Diehl and Whimper for the starting job. On the entire subject of Petitgout I have to give Reese a big fat F which I will chalk up to rookie GM learning experience. But it may have huge consequences for Eli Manning who would have benefited from moves that clearly made the offensive line unquestionably stronger than 2006 – not moves that leave the offensive line on a preseason watch list (ok, I know, I didn’t put it on the watch list – so kill me for taking literary liberties).

5. Kicker
It’s on the list of unknowns and I don’t know more than that about the kickers – nor does anyone else – that’s the problem.

6. Return game
It’s on the list of unknowns and I don’t know more than that about the returners– nor does anyone else – and that’s another problem.

7. Backup Tight End
They added Boss in this year’s draft, allegedly a pass catching TE with soft hands. I’m really excited to watch him. But the Giants have no fullback. The offensive line is in flux, including the loss of Seubert as a blocking tight end. And Shiancoe is gone. So tight end makes my watch list primarily because I want to know who will be the road grading blocking TE when Brandon is running the ball, especially in goal line and short yardage situations?

8. Steve Spagnuolo
He makes my watch list because I am excited – really excited – about the change in defensive philosophy. Every defensive player in history loves a defensive scheme that allows him to simply follow his instincts to run to the ball – to attack, attack, attack. Yes, we may see some break downs and get burned for some (a lot? ) of big plays. But I don’t care. If my defense is going to get burned, then at least we’ll go down while we are going after the QB. As a fan, that’s what I want to see – pressure the QB in every way possible. I’m excited about Spags, can you tell?

9. The Rookies
Well, this is a real “duh” for a preseason watch list. I mean, what is preseason for if it isn’t to watch the rookies and hope for some surprises to see who may actually contribute this year. But hey, this is a things to watch list for the preseason and how can you not watch the rookies? So, it made my list and this year is no different than any of the other 40 preseasons I’ve lived through (ok, 37), watching the rookies is what the preseason is all about – and like always, I’m full of hope and excitement about this year’s rookie crop.

10. Team Coughlin
Coach Coughlin is an interesting subject. I’ve heard many express their views. My post at the end of last season – before ownership made their decision – basically called it lunacy to consider firing a head coach who had turned the team into a winner in very short order and taken the team to back to back playoff seasons. So I suppose I was a Coughlin defender. But I suspect that many such “defenders” are as uncomfortable with that label as I am – for I am not a Coughlin fan. I think he likes to think himself as a disciplinarian when in fact all he has are silly rules, displays no self discipline on the sidelines, and frankly has been a relative push over when it has come down to dealing with players whom a true disciplinarian like Lombardi would have benched in a heartbeat without losing a moment’s sleep over it. No, I don’t particularly care for Coughlin. But he should be judged by his record and, for me, based upon the record – especially where the Giants stood at the eve of the Bears game last year – it is hard to find fault with where he had brought this team.

But Coughlin is obviously a mixed bag. He rubs the players the wrong way and today’s “handle with kid gloves” babied players chaff under his silly rules. In many ways a Coughlin is good for these kids – some of them may actually gain some valuable life experience dealing with difficult people. Most, however, are too self centered to understand that life sometimes forces you to adapt and it is actually a valuable skill to know how to thrive under even the worst of circumstances. Sadly, the majority of young players today take the field believing they are god’s chosen few, that they are somehow “entitled” to fame and fortune – and that the rest of the world just better learn to adapt to them, not vice versa. Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan both represent exhibit one of this type of behavior. From the standpoint of talent, the team is worse off with the loss of Barber and Strahan. But from the standpoint of “team”, the organization is light years ahead with both gone. If Strahan keeps his word and retires (highly doubtful but I can always hope), maybe the Giants organization can finally put the last 15 years of "leadershipless" behind them and breathe some fresh air into the locker room - a place which, in the end, is where true championship teams are built.

Reese's Pieces - 2007 Draft

2007-05-05T11:27:00.000-04:00

With the 2007 draft in the books, how did the Giants fare, at least viewed from my own biased my pre-draft assessment? First, a question. Does a team's draft selections tell us anything at all about management's assessment of team needs? Comments from Jerry Reese, both before the after the draft, provide some insight. Teams do not make draft selections by slavishly picking from a simple sequential value list of players. They create groupings (Reese calls them "rows") of players with similar values and teams freely consider need when choosing from the players remaining in the highest "row". Armed with this insight, what did we learn from the Giant's 2007 draft selections?

Guy Whimper
As I posted before the draft, "if the Giants have seen enough to be convinced Guy Whimper is their left offensive tackle of the future, offensive line is unlikely to be a day one priority." If the Giants were disappointed in Whimper's development thus far, they would have used a day one pick on an offensive tackle - not for 2007, but for 2008. The fact they waited until the 6th round (Adam Koets) probably indicates they remain confident that Whimper fills that future need (i.e. 2008 and beyond) as much as any day one pick would have.

Amani Toomer
Heading into the draft, I felt the Giants had long-term needs for both a speed and possession receiver, so it was not at all surprising to see them draft a WR. However, this draft was deep at WR and I think it was therefore very revealing that the Giants used another day one pick on a wide receiver after trading up to grab Moss in the second round last year. As I said before the draft: "How long they wait may very well depend upon what Toomer's doctors have been telling them privately." I believe the Giants would not have used their second pick on a WR unless they were uncertain whether Toomer can resume his 2006 production. This was an insurance pick.

Strahan and Tuck
My pre-draft entry left little doubt about my strongly held belief that filling their needs at linebacker would have more impact on the overall team than any other single position - and I wanted 2 day one selections at linebacker (1st and 3rd rounds). Jerry Reese obviously held a similar view. The Giants in essence went linebacker in rounds 1 and 4, selecting Zak DeOssie in the 4th and then, hours after the draft, announcing that 2006 1st round pick Mathias Kiwanuka was being moved to strong side linebacker.

I have very mixed feelings about the Kiwanuka move. On the one hand I am very, very excited about the prospect of watching this young man play LB in 2007. Last year we all saw the pure athletic talent he brings to the table. Clearly he will have a much greater impact during 2007 starting at LB than he would in a backup rotation at DE. At the same time, I can't help thinking we are "stealing from Peter to pay Paul". Kiwi has excelled at DE and there is no doubt the Giants drafted him for DE. My pre-draft analysis for 2006 had DE as a position of need, despite the play of Osi and Tuck, simply because of the importance of the position and Strahan's age. There are not many players who have the god gifted pass rushing talent to play DE in the NFL - and those that do still take years to develop into a complete DE such as Strahan. Playing rotational backup at DE (and I am not sure he wouldn't have had the talent to start in 2007), would have benefited Kiwanuka greatly. It is not as though that development time would have been a waste. What is a waste is to take "pure gold" at DE and turn it into silver at LB. I'm not saying Kiwi can't turn into gold at LB - I'm just saying I already know he is gold at DE and I don't believe in gambling with gold.

I have been an avid fan of the Giants for close to 40 years now, and I have learned that patience in building a champion is a necessity. So, while you can count me as amongst the truly excited for what this means for 2007, my joy is tempered with a tinge of sadness regarding the potential long range cost. As though I've just bought a new sports car by dipping into my life's savings. It's fun for now, but at what cost?

So what does all of this have to do with the heading of Strahan and Tuck? One other conclusion I draw from the announcement of the Kiwanuka move is that both Strahan and Tuck figure prominently in the Giants plans. It is inconceivable to me that Giant's management would make such a move without being extremely confident that Michael Strahan is good to go in 2007 and that they remain very high about the role Tuck plays in their future plans at DE. Both conclusions represent very excellent news indeed.

William Joseph
The selection of Jay Alford on day one is a very telling pick. Indeed, perhaps more so because all the so called "experts" had him as likely being available much later during day two. For the Giants to use their third and final day one pick on a defensive tackle tells me that Willie Joe's days as a Giant are likely over. Absent a small miracle, Alford and free agent pickup Marcus Bell will almost certainly replace Jonas Seawright and Joseph on the 2007 squad. This pick would not have been made if Joseph had demonstrated even the slightest hint that he was finally ready to become even a serviceable DT. The only way Willie Joe is on the 53 man roster in September is if the Giants carry 5 DT (a distinct possibility if the Giants believe they are thin at DE with the Kiwanuka move). Regardless, this day one selection speaks volumes about the disappointment with William Joseph.

How Many Make The Final Roster?
From a purely positional standpoint, the Giants draft looks solid. While obviously impossible to know at this early stage, I believe the first five selections are virtual locks to make the team. And because they fill positions of need, there is an excellent chance Koets and/or Johnson make the squad as well. If there are 6 rookies on the final 53 man roster in September, this would have to be considered a fantastic draft, at least in the short term. The selections:

• Rd. 1: Aaron Ross, CB
• Rd. 2: Steve Smith, WR
• Rd. 3: Jay Alford, DT
• Rd. 4: Zak DeOssie, LB
• Rd. 5: Kevin Boss, TE
• Rd. 6: Adam Koets, OT
• Rd. 7: Michael Johnson, S
• Rd. 7: Ahmad Bradshaw, RB

2007 Pre-Draft Analysis

2007-04-22T14:35:00.000-04:00

The 2007 draft finally arrives on Saturday. Much has happened since my last post back on Jan 15th when I put my thoughts regarding needs down on paper while the 2006 season was still very fresh in my mind (before the 2006 Conference Championship games were played). Although I predicted Arrington, Emmons and Whitfield would not be returning, never in my wildest imagination did I think Luke Petitgout would be released. And while I was concerned the Giants might lose Shiancoe, the loss of Feely simply never crossed my mind. Of course this was all in addition to the retirement of Tiki Barber.

Offsetting those losses, the Giants signed LB Kawika Mitchell, DT Marcus Bell, QB Anthony Wright, and defensive back Michael Stone (almost certainly for special teams). And perhaps the most important addition was RB Reuben Droughns, obtained from Cleveland in a straight up exchange for Tim Carter.

These roster changes leave the Giants with some definite needs heading into next week's draft:

Offensive Line
The loss of both Petitgout and Whitfield leaves a huge question mark at offensive tackle. In theory it would appear the Giants have three possible options:

1. Guy Whimper
Guy Whimper, a 4th round "project" selection in last year's draft has the size and athleticism to be a first rate NFL tackle but he almost certainly needs another year before being ready to compete for a starting job. He must be considered a long shot to be starting in September.

2. 2007 Rookie
It would be foolish to plan on finding a left offensive tackle in the draft, no less to expect the good fortune to draft one sufficiently talented to protect your franchise QB starting in September. Besides, if the Giants have seen enough to be convinced Guy Whimper is their left offensive tackle of the future, offensive line is unlikely to be a day one priority.

3. David Diehl
This is really the only true viable solution and almost certainly the lineup we will see in September absent some surprise trade or out-of-the blue performance by Whimper or a rookie during camp.

Wide Receiver
The loss of Toomer in 2006 opened some eyes. When Toomer went down Eli immediately struggled and the Giants offense totally tanked. I believe Amani Toomer was having his best season ever last year before he was hurt. Not just in production as Eli's "go to" guy, but he was also a gutsy performer, leaving everything on the field as we all witnessed in the first Philly game. Having said that, Amani is one year older and coming off a serious injury.

The Giants could use a speed receiver as well as a possession wide out. I would not be surprised to see the Giants use two picks at WR, one of which could easily be a day one pick. On the other hand the draft is very deep at WR and the Giants could do very well at WR in rounds 4 and/or 5. How long they wait may very well depend upon what Toomer's doctors have been telling them privately.

Second Tight End
The loss of Shiancoe in free agency creates a dire need at TE, one I had hoped the Giants would have been able to avoid. As it turns out, re-signing Shiancoe was not an option because of the absolutely crazy amount of money thrown his way. The only viable option on the roster at present is Darcy Johnson. Tight end is one of the most injury prone positions in all of football as Jeremy Shockey seemingly reminds us annually. But more than needing a backup, the Giants need a strong blocking TE to run their 2 and 3 TE formations. The loss of Shiancoe creates perhaps the most "absolute" need on the entire team. It would appear it is not a question of "if" but only of "when" - i.e. what round they make a TE selection. While not requiring a first day pick, I would not be totally surprised by a TE selection as high as round 3.

Defensive Secondary
I honestly don't know what to think about the Giants secondary. They looked so bad at times last year that it was clear there was something far more wrong than simply lack of talent. For most of last year Webster played very soft and made few, if any, aggressive plays on the ball. He appeared afraid of getting beat and seemed to me to have lost his confidence - something that is often the fault of coaching - players playing timid out of fear of making a mistake. You can't play football that way, and certainly not corner. I believe Spags will have a totally different approach - one that focuses upon making aggressive plays on the ball and dismisses getting burned occasionally as something that simply comes with the territory as the price to be paid for aggressive football. I think we will see a totally new Webster next year for this precise reason.

Madison played better towards the end of the year especially in man to man coverage assignments. And I liked McQuarters from the very beginning of preseason. At safety, the word is that Demps was not fully recovered from his injury the year before. However I don't think that can fully explain his woeful displays in tackling in the open field. And Wilson had a better year in 2005 than he did in 2006.

The Giants have clear needs at corner and safety. But, as I've indicated in other posts, I am a big believer in building a dominant front 7 before worrying about the defensive secondary.

Linebacker
I continue to believe this is the one position that would pay the most dividends in overall team improvement and moving the Giants into the upper echelons of NFL teams. Defense wins championships and great defenses are built starting with a dominant front 7. The Giants are solid at DE. They need to upgrade their DT rotation over 2006 and the signing of Marcus Bell should be an upgrade over Jonas Seawright and help make them more stout against the run. I'd like to see them replace William Joseph, but that may have to wait which probably means Willie Joe has, yet again, bought another one year reprieve.

At this point achieving a truly dominant front 7 lies primarily at finding solid long term starters at the two outside linebacker positions. The signing of Kawika Mitchell doesn't meet that criteria. Although he was seeking a multi-year deal, the Giants signed him to a one year one million dollar contract. Clearly they view Mitchell as this year's Brandon Short.

That leaves Wilkinson, Blackburn, and Torbor. Blackburn has made impact plays every time he has taken the field. Having said that, he has remained a backup and must be considered a long shot to make it from street free agent to a 5-10 year starter. Torber is a total enigma. He showed a lot of promise his rookie year and thereafter seemingly disappeared. With all the problems at linebacker last year, he had plenty of opportunity to compete for playing time. His failure to do so cannot give anyone very much confidence about his future.

That leaves Wilkinson. Although he had his ups and downs his rookie season - and didn't even dress for the final game - I suspect the Giants are still very excited about his potential and probably the only linebacker currently on the team that has a realistic chance to be part of the long term solution at OLB for the Giants. That leaves the Giants with a long way to go towards building a truly dominant defensive front 7. In a perfect world they would spend a #1 at WIL, another #1 at SAM, and a couple of second day picks at LB for depth - meaning they are likely 2 maybe 3 drafts away.

Conclusion
Looking purely at need, the Giants biggest concern this year must be LB, WR, backup TE, and OT. Which need is most critical? I believe that depends strictly upon the Giants' internal assessment of Guy Whimper. If they are convinced he is their future, then OT can fall to a day two pick. On the other hand if he hasn't shown enough last year for them to be sure, the need becomes much more critical and may force their hand into day one, and probably even round 1. However, as I noted previously, starting a rookie OT involves far greater risks than starting a rookie LB or WR. Therefore selecting a 1st round OT probably means helping the team in 2008 more than addressing 2007 needs.

Strictly from a positional standpoint, I'd like to see the Giants make the following selections:
1. LB
2. S
3. LB
4. WR
5. TE
6. CB
7a. OL
7b. WR

* Note that I presumed Giants remain high on Whimper thus removing OT as a huge need
** It is interesting to note that my 2006 pre-draft analysis(before the Giants acquired Arrington) called for LB in rounds 1 and 3 also.

Positional Needs For 2007

2007-01-15T09:33:00.000-05:00

While a bit early (the 2006 Conference Championships haven't even been played), I find myself with time on my hands and decided to memorialize my thoughts on positional needs the Giants face.

OFFENSE
Although the defensive side of the ball would appear to be a priority, surprisingly there are quite a lot of needs on offense that must be addressed this off season.

Wide Receiver
The Giants need depth at wide receiver. It would be nice to be able to field a legitimate 4 WR set in 2007. The Giants ended 2006 with 6 wide receivers on the 53 man roster: Burress, Carter, Jennings, Moss, Tyree, and Watts. Assuming Toomer is healthy and Tyree continues to occupy a spot because of Special Teams play (a big "if" in my mind), that leaves Carter and Jennings as the spots to be upgraded.

That presents a problem. Carter and Jennings represent 2/3rds of the Giants speed at wide receiver. And speed kills. Having true world class speed at wide receiver is a critical component of any passing attack because of the openings created simply by stretching the defense vertically. While the Giants could decide that Sinorice Moss can fill that role without any backup, it clearly wouldn't be preferable. Finding a legitimate wide receiver with blazing speed who can catch the ball will require either using a very high draft pick or serious money in free agency (assuming such players are even available). Unless they decide to go with Moss as the sole speed option, I am not sure the Giants can afford to replace Tim Carter this year. Indeed, that is precisely why Tim Carter has remained on the team so long already.

Finding a solid possession receiver - a receiver who runs solid routes, finds openings, comes back to the ball, and has great hands, isn't easy either. Everybody wants one. The bottom line is that while it is easy to identify wide receiver as a position of need, it isn't a position that is easily upgraded - at least not without spending "capital" that is probably better spent elsewhere in getting ready for 2007.

Running Back
Everyone seems to believe that Brandon Jacobs is the real deal and heir apparent to Tiki Barber. That begs the issue. In the NFL you need at least two solid running backs to seriously contend for the Super Bowl. The Giants in 2006 were just fine with Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs. Without any changes, in 2007 the running backs will be Jacobs and Derrick Ward, assuming he is fully healed. The only other backs on the roster are Robert Douglas, James Sims, and Chad Morton. Jacobs and Ward are both relatively unknown quantities when it comes to handling the full load over an entire NFL season. It would appear foolhardy to go into the 2007 season without picking up a proven running back to compliment Jacobs. If the key is "proven", that would appear to dictate free agency rather than the draft which, of course, would further restrict the Giants maneuverability.

Tight End
Visanthe Shiancoe is an unrestricted free agent. With so many other needs to fill, the Giants can ill afford to add tight end to the list. That fact is probably well known to Shiancoe's agent which gives the tight end quite a bit of negotiating leverage, making signing him even more problematic. The Giants can't afford to be held up for a king's ransom but they can't afford to be in the market for a tight end either. How this issue gets resolved will be critical for the Giants during the off-season.

Offensive Line
Shaun O'Hara, another unrestricted free agent, is reportedly already seeking a king's ransom from the Giants. While many love to criticize O'Hara, the center position is a critical blocking component on the offensive line and, as with Shiancoe, the Giants simply cannot afford to lose O'Hara simply because that would likely mean spending free agency money or draft picks that they otherwise have targeted at other more critical areas of need. One savings grace for the Giants is the versatility of their linemen and Rich Seubert can play center if they can't keep O'Hara. They would still, however, have to replace the loss of depth and that would not be easily accomplished.

Beyond O'Hara, the Giants already have a glaring need to find a legitimate backup tackle. Wily old Bob Whitfield seems to have worn out his welcome but for all the bashing he took during 2006, Giants fans may regret letting him go when they come to realize that offensive tackles are an incredibly rare - and expensive - talent to locate in the NFL. The Giants are already on thin ice carrying Guy Whimper as a project making it all the more important that the one true backup they do carry be a legitimate tackle. Once again, this will not be an easy position to fill.

Backup Quarterback
Moving Jared Lorenzen into the #2 spot behind Manning seemed to signal that the Giants were sold on keeping Lorenzen around as a long term project. The Giants cannot go into the 2007 with Jared Lorenzen as the #2 QB behind Eli Manning. If Manning goes down, the Giants need to have a QB that is ready to take the helm and continue winning. If Lorenzen really is the #2 option ahead of Tim Hasselbeck then the Giants must find a backup QB who moves Jared back to #3.

DEFENSE
While there are a surprising number of issues facing the Giants on offense, it should come as no surprise that their defense needs a serious infusion of talent. An interesting issue will be whether the new defensive coordinator will want to continue playing a 4-3. However because Coughlin knows he must "win now", it is highly unlikely he will allow such a switch next year because of the impact upon the defensive line.

Defensive Line
With Strahan, Umenyiora, Kiwanuka, and Tuck, the Giants are set a defensive end. Defensive tackle, however, is another story. The Giants need defensive tackle to be a strength and that means four players in a very competitive rotation. Robbins had a solid year. Cofield had a good rookie year. In a perfect world the Giants replace William Joseph and Jonas Seawright with two players that give both Robbins and Cofield a run for their money for playing time.

Linebacker
Antonio Pierce is the best linebacker on the roster. Yet 2005 was a better year for him than 2006. I suspect that was more to do with the overall problems of the defense than it was about Pierce himself. The real problem is at both outside positions. Everyone seems to believe Arrington is the answer at one outside position. I am not in that camp. As I've noted here many times, I love the positive energy and attitude Lamar brings to the locker room. However it seems clear that injuries to his knees have seriously limited his abilities. The Giants came out of pre-season announcing that Arrington would have limited practice sessions during the week for the entire season in an effort to keep his knees as fresh as possible. You simply cannot play NFL football if you are so injured that the team has to announce that they are going to restrict your practice sessions all year long.

On the other side the Giants have Carlos Emmons. I stated here at the end of the 2005 season that Emmons had played his last game in a Giants uniform. Clearly I was wrong. I do not believe I will be wrong again. That leaves the Giants with Brandon Short, Reggie Torbor, and Gerris Wilkinson. Short had some good games. Torber was invisible. And it was very disappointing to me that, with all their troubles at linebacker, Gerris Wilkinson didn't force his way into the starting lineup - and worse, ended the year not even being dressed.

Defense wins super bowls (every super bowl winner since 1983 has had a defense ranked no worse than 8th in the entire league - that is almost 25 teams in a row without one exception). And I've always been a believer that a dominant front 7 is the core ingredient to a top ten defense. And, if I could choose between having an awesome defensive line or an awesome set of linebackers, I would take the linebackers every single time. Of course finding big, fast, mean linebackers with the quickness to rush the passer, the strength and meanness to stuff the run, and the speed to cover today's tight ends is the dream of every NFL team. That is why they are so critical to have. And the best the Giants have is Antonio Pierce in the middle. The Giants need to seriously upgrade their linebacking core and for now they need two stud, potential all-pro, outside linebackers.

Secondary
This is where the Giants perhaps need the most help. It is also the position that I believe, player for player, brings the least bang for the buck. Having said that, Madison was a great corner in his day but appears to have lost a step but would appear to be adequate if he was surrounded by otherwise great talent. Webster clearly struggled. He continually gave up too much of a cushion and often seemed lost in space. His much heralded ball hawking abilities certainly haven't seemed to come to fruition. McQuarters played well, as I noted here during the pre-season. He would make a solid nickle back.

As bad as coverage seemed all year long - continuing the trend from 2005, I believe strong physical safeties are more important to a dominant defense than corners. Unfortunately both Demps and Gibril Wilson struggled. I've read that Demps was still recovering from injury and that many have high expectations for 2007. Even if that is true, it would seem to explain his coverage failures more than it would explain his inability to tackle. Before addressing cornerback - despite the obvious needs at that position - I think the Giants need to field two tough, bone crunching, safeties.

Summary
The Giants have more needs than they can be expected to fill this off-season. WR(2), RB, OT, QB, DT(2), LB(2), CB(2), and Safety(2). That list represents 13 players. First and foremost they must make certain Center and backup TE are not added to that list.

I believe the biggest need - the position that would positively impact the Giants the most - is outside linebacker. In fact, I believe the need at linebacker is so great and the position to be so critical that, despite the large number of other positional needs, I would like to see the Giants select linebackers with 3 of their first 4 picks in this year's draft - trading down as necessary to avoid forcing any pick. I've read this draft does not have many, if any, first round line linebacking talent nor is it particularly deep for linebackers overall. Obviously the Giants can't pick three linebackers in the first four picks just for the sake of picking them.

If they can't hit a home run in free agency (and their record in free agency when it comes to linebackers hasn't been great), they need to add an infusion of new linebacking blood via the draft. Indeed, even if they somehow find the money and add a great linebacker via free agency (which I seriously doubt they have the cap room to do), they still need an infusion of new blood via the draft to compete at linebacker. Trade down - maybe give up their first round pick in exchange for a #2 and a #3 and use both second round picks on linebackers. The Giants will not be a legitimate super bowl contending team until they have three dominant linebackers. And I want them to find a way to do that for 2007.

Time To Look Toward 2007

2007-01-08T13:26:00.000-05:00

Aker's field goal yesterday with no time left on the clock sent the Giants off to begin preparing for the 2007 season. And one thing is for sure - 2007 will almost certainly be eventful. The high expectations for the 2006 campaign, however ill considered, almost certainly guarantees momentous changes before next September rolls around. I thought I would record my thoughts now, while the end of 2006 is still very fresh, so I can see how my thinking changes after draft day, free agency, and training camp.

Eli Manning
Many of the issues facing the Giants are inter-related but none more so than the subject of Eli Manning. The Giants traded up to the very first pick of the entire draft for one reason and one reason only. To select the quarterback upon whose shoulders the franchise would rest for the next 10-15 years. To be the central figure on the team - the number one star - their future Hall of Fame quarterback. Many will say that isn't fair. I'm sorry, but that is what is expected of any QB taken with the very first pick in the entire draft. Of course that isn't Eli's fault - nor is it Eli's problem. And, in the end, it doesn't matter. It's past history.

What does matter is whether Eli can become the quarterback the Giants rely upon for the next decade even if he never makes it to the Hall of Fame. It isn't clear, after three seasons, whether he is that quarterback. Many seem to criticize his completion percentage. Or his quarterback rating. His interceptions. Or his failure to read defenses. His inability to find open receivers. Or his failure to step into throws. But I am not one of them. Those are simply characteristics of any young quarterback and are things that can - and will be - automatically "corrected" with experience.

My concern with Eli Manning is whether he can throw an accurate football with any consistency (this is not new, I've expressed this same concern for a long time). I am not talking about the long ball - I happen to think he throws a better long ball than most quarterbacks. No, my concern is his seeming inability to hit receivers in stride with a 12 yard pass with any consistency. I don't know if this is coaching. I don't know if it is correctable. But it is critical that the Giants find out. Too much has been invested in Eli Manning to simply give up and turn in another direction. At least not until it has been determined that the problem is not a function of coaching.

Tom Coughlin
Has Tom Coughlin coached his last game for the NY Giants? Apparently we will know later this week according to a quote from John Mara last night. The fact that the ownership has refused to publicly support Coughlin speaks volumes. I have mixed feelings on the subject. I think the team needs a tough disciplinarian but Coughlin seems more petty than tough. He has apparently lost a vocal group of players, but I'm not certain if that's not more a reason to keep him than to let him go.

In the end I believe the need to determine whether Eli Manning's struggles can be resolved by coaching makes all the pros and cons over retaining Tom Coughlin moot. As long as Coughlin remains, it will never be known if Manning's problems are coaching related. But there is a consquence - once Coughlin goes, Eli's window of opportunity to start performing gets a lot smaller.

General Manager
We know Ernie Accorsi is retiring and that the Giants will have a new GM. For some reason many of the beat writers seem to think that fact may bode well for Tom Coughlin because, they argue, management may not want to hire a new GM and a new coach in the same year. I think that entire concept is ludicrous. Either the Giants need a new coach or they don't. If ownership is convinced that Coughlin must go, they are not going to wait another year just for the heck of it. Furthermore it just makes sense that a good GM will have strong views regarding his head coach and should be allowed to make that selection.

The decision on GM will be a critical one - probably the most critical decision the organization makes this off season. It has been my perception that the Giants have struggled identifying talent ever since the loss of George Young. They need to finally find a GM that surpasses George Young in ability. Not an easy task to be sure - but the most important task they face.

Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber is going to be impossible to replace. Not only in the running game. Barber has more receptions than any Giant's player in history. Over the past few years he has represented an amazing percentage of the Giants overall offense. The Giants will have a completely different offensive style without Tiki Barber in the lineup next year. There will be a much greater burden placed upon Eli Manning to produce. There will be obvious pressure upon Brandon Jacobs to step up and become the feature back for the first time in his professional career. And, remember, this is an offensive line that is used to Tiki Barber finding holes - used to Tiki Barber cutting back. Barber's style of running made the offensive line look good just by making a block, even if not the block called for in the playbook. That is not likely to be as true with a more power oriented running back like Brandon Jacobs.

Overall Talent Level
I read again my pre-season prediction and analysis of the 2006 team. I was obviously enthralled by the team's talent. Perhaps the dizzying fall to earth has me going overboard the other way, but my assessment of the talent level of this team is much different today than it was before the 2006 season started. Looking at this team today, I have to ask where is all the talent?

Let's start with the defense, because it should be easier. Strahan is Hall of Fame caliber. The only question is how much longer that will be true. Pierce and Osi make my list because of what they did in 2005, not 2006. One can only have faith that 2005 wasn't an aberration. Kiwi shows tremendous potential, so he makes my list. That's it for defense. Four players. And of the 4 only Strahan has truly established his credentials.

Don't get me wrong. I love Cofield. I think he did a very credible job as a rookie. But I'm not ready to anoint him to being anything special just yet - not like I am with Kiwi (Kiwi himself is a stretch to make my list since he is 100 percent pure prospect). Wilkinson surprised me by what he didn't do. He didn't force himself into the starting lineup despite injuries and a weak linebacking crew and was actually not dressed yesterday. Tuck also disappeared before his injury. As did Torbor. Arrington is done. Forget about Emmons. And I don't want to even bother talking about anyone in the secondary. There doesn't appear to be anyone there worth saving. I didn't forget about Robbins. I think he is my Giant's defensive player of the year. But that may say more about the horrible state of the Giants defense than it does about Robbins. And despite my vote as team defensive player of the year, he still doesn't make my list of "core" players on defense - players around whom you are going to build your team.

On defense the Giants need two impact outside linebackers, yet again (see my post from almost the same time last year); a run stopping, heart thumping, bone jarring, hard hitting safety; and backup for both defensive tackles. Then, of course, they need to overhaul the entire secondary. From a needs standpoint, not much has changed from the end of 2005 to 2006 (which is inexcusable).

On offense, things are not quite as dire. The offensive line looks pretty solid. Snee looks like a future all-pro for sure. Petitgout continues to be solid. I love Diehl and Seubert. And McKenzie appears to have had a good year. O'Hara however seems likely to be headed elsewhere in free agency and will be an important component to replace. For those that remember the pre Jim Clack days, life without a quality center can be very difficult.

Wide receiver is obviously a concern. No complaints when Toomer was healthy but his importance to the overall team was dramatically displayed once he went down for the year. The loss of Toomer established beyond question that a third WR is critical not just because of what it means to have three threats on the field, but for what it means when one of the three goes down. The Giants cannot afford to start the 2007 season with only two proven wide receivers.

I love Jeremy Shockey. I love his exuberance. Enough that I can even overlook his off the field statements. What I love most is the Jeremy Shockey of his rookie season. I want that Jeremy Shockey back. For all of the complaints about coaching that I have heard, this is the one that seems most valid to me. Jeremy Shockey just isn't the same player ever since Tom Coughlin arrived. I know it isn't talent. I suppose it could be injuries. But my guts tell me it is how he is being used (or not used). He is a unique talent that should not be pigeon holed into some preconceived idea of what a tight end is supposed to do. Yes, he is a great blocker. And that talent should be used on running plays. But he should never - never ever - be held in to block on passing plays. Never. He should be the featured player in the entire passing game - not a two or three catch per game afterthought. Toomer, Burress, Moss - all the wide receivers - should be window dressing on the Shockey salad.

The biggest questions for 2007 on offense will be Eli Manning and Brandon Jacobs. Both are unknowns at this point and success in 2007 is destined to rise or fall on their shoulders. I've already discussed Eli. Brandon Jacobs is an interesting prospect. I realize some will object to the term "prospect", but I don't know what other word to use for someone who is being asked to fill the shoes, at least partially, of the greatest running back in Giants history, but who has never been a featured back in the NFL. And not just for an entire season. Brandon hasn't been given that opportunity for even one single game. He is an unknown. Does he get stronger with his 20th carry versus his first? Can he handle 35+ carries in a game? Will he tire after a grueling 16 game season? We simply don't know.

It seems there are many more questions heading into the 2007 season than there were heading into 2006. One thing is for certain. It will be an interesting 8-9 months for Giants fans.

Giants - Eagles And A Tale of Two Men

2007-01-06T11:26:00.000-05:00

Is this just a team of average talent whose mediocrity was exposed by injuries to a few players? Or is this a talented bunch of underachievers? Either way, it would appear the Giants stand no chance tomorrow against the Eagles. After all the Eagles are currently the hottest team in the NFC while the Giants appear totally lifeless and dead in the water. It would appear that the outcome has already been determined with only the details to be filled in.

Well, I'm not so sure. First, this is not just another game. It is the Giants versus the Eagles. When these two teams meet it is more about war than it is about football. It is more about raw emotion than talent. Either team could be starting scrubs grabbed off the streets on the morning of game day and the outcome would still be in doubt. That's just the way it is between these two clubs. The way it has always been and always will be.

There could also be another factor at play tomorrow. A tale of two men if you will - each presented with a unique opportunity to define his future destiny.

Tiki Barber has already established his credentials - has already set the Giants record books aflame. But is he a truly great running back? Does he belong in the Hall of Fame? One thing is for sure - he doesn't have many opportunities left to finish making his case.

Tomorrow Tiki Barber has a very unique opportunity - an opportunity unlike any other ever presented to him over the course of his career. Tomorrow, with a non-existent defense and a struggling young quarterback, the game stands squarely on his shoulders - and his alone - against a team that clearly knows whom they must stop. Tomorrow, Tiki Barber has the opportunity in one fell swoop to achieve truly legendary status.

It seems most people would agree that the Giants' offensive line is greatly improved in comparison to the Fassel years. Most people also appear to agree that Jeremy Shockey, Visanthe Shiancoe, and Jim Finn are all excellent blockers. Brandon Jacobs is a bear of a man truly capable of literally punishing defenders. And Tiki Barber - the greatest running back in Giants history. Shouldn't this group be able to dare any team to put 8, even 9, men in the box and still pound them into submission?

The Eagles know they have to stop Tiki Barber. They will key on him and will, indeed, put 8 and 9 men in the box. It shouldn't make any difference. Not with the greatest running back in the Giants 81 year history, still in his prime, running behind a very competent group of blockers. The Giants need to suck it up, accept the Eagles challenge with a shrug of their collective shoulders - like an elephant bothered by a flea - and ram the ball down the Eagles throats.

Of course, the question is not will they - the Giants really have little choice - but can they? Is Tiki Barber good enough to run the ball against a team that has designed its game plan around stopping him? Teams tried to find all kinds of ways to stop Lawrence Taylor. It never worked - LT was simply unstoppable. As were the truly great running backs. You don't think teams were dedicated to stopping Gayle Sayers? Jimmy Brown? Walter Payton? They were great because they were unstoppable. Tomorrow Tiki Barber has a very special opportunity - an opportunity to run the Eagles out of their own stadium - and to run himself into the Hall of Fame.

The second man in this tale of fate is at the opposite end of his career but is facing an opportunity no less momentous to his future - to how he will be judged and remembered - than Tiki Barber. Everyone knows all about the struggles of Eli Manning. He has been questioned by the fans, the media, the analysts - heck, even by my dog groomer's grandmother. Are his struggles mental? A deficiency in talent? Coaching? In the end, it's all irrelevant. Greatness is acquired, not given. Greatness happens because certain people have something deep inside their character that propels them to step up and grab the brass ring when opportunity knocks.

Sure, Eli is struggling. He misses Toomer. The loss of his starting left tackle perhaps has him feeling a bit exposed. But it all doesn't matter. What matters is that this is a special moment in time for Eli Manning - a rare opportunity that only comes along every so often. He is in a unique position exactly because he has been playing so poorly - precisely because there are such low expectations. He has the chance to surprise everyone.

He doesn't need to throw for 350 yards or 5 touchdowns. He just needs to have a workmanlike day. Complete 60 percent of his passes, focus on receivers other than Burress, convert on 3rd and 8 more often than not, and avoid turnovers. And most of all, he needs to play with some confidence and take control of his game. Greatness is all about stepping up during certain moments in time. Often, greatness is seemingly forged out of ashes - by stepping up right at the moment when it is least expected. Does Eli Manning have that something special deep inside that propels him to step up at this moment in time? Will he grab the brass ring tomorrow?

I am not predicting Tiki Barber will run himself into the Hall of Fame tomorrow. Nor has my crystal ball secretly showed me Eli Manning tossing all the doubters from his shoulders with a timely big game. What I do believe, however, is that this is a special moment in time for both Tiki Barber and Eli Manning - both presented with unique opportunities to define their futures. Such moments in time often create forces all their own.

Stunning Fall From Grace

2006-12-29T00:12:00.000-05:00

In the 4th quarter last week, from shotgun formation, Shaun O'Hara snapped the ball early. Not only was Manning not looking, the snap was horrible and the ball barely reached Manning's feet. The play appeared to unfold in slow motion and the ball seemingly sat at Manning's feet for an eternity before New Orleans finally jumped on it. That moment - frozen in time - was for me the exclamation mark to the most monumental collapse of any season in Giants history.

Less than three years ago Tom Coughlin inherited a team in total shambles. He turned things around so quickly that he brought a Division Championship back to NY in only his second season. This is a coach who, with one game left to play in his third season, has the team positioned to make back to back playoff appearances for the first time in more than 15 years. The same man who, after a mere two years at the helm, had everyone convinced the Giants were legitimate Super Bowl contenders. A coach who, half way into his third season, had his team sitting at 6-2 and about to face off against the Chicago Bears in a battle to define which team was the very best in the entire NFC.

A mere 7 games have been played since that time. For Tom Coughlin, the fall from grace from then to now is both stunning and breathtaking. Incredible as it may seem, the man who 7 games ago had his team positioned at the very pinnacle of the NFL after only 2.5 years as head coach is apparently now about to be fired.

The talk in the media and amongst the fans has reached a state of frenzied hysteria. In a matter of days the talk has gone from whispers that Coughlin's job might be in jeopardy to absolute certainty he is history. It seems everyone has accepted his removal as a fait accompli and now the sole question of the day has become the identity of his successor.

I, for one, must respectfully demur. I have not been a big Tom Coughlin fan. I think his concept of discipline is petty. I do not like his demeanor on the field nor his refusal to accept blame when the team has struggled. While I do not know him personally, I don't particularly like who he appears to be as a man. I like tough coaches. But there is a difference between a petty disciplinarian and being tough. It has been my perception that Coughlin has avoided being tough with his players and with his assistant coaches. I also happen to like defense first, offense second and would prefer a defensive minded coach. There are plenty of reasons why Tom Coughlin is not my kind of guy. And I wouldn't shed any tears if he is gone after this season.

I also believe, however, that Tom Coughlin does not deserve what he is apparently about to receive. There are many reasons why things have reached this sorry state of affairs at this moment in time. The most obvious being the loss of 6 of the last 7 games. A tremendous collapse - probably the worst in Giants history. But what is the cause? I am sure there are many. First, the Giants as a team were simply not as strong as many believed. The Super Bowl speculation before the season even started only set Coughlin up for the eventual big fall. Injuries certainly played a factor. The mere fact that the loss of the team's #2 WR and OT was sufficient to cripple the offense is testimony to the fragility and lack of depth on the team. The same is true on defense - the two all-pro bookend defensive ends were the only real strength of the defense. Eliminate those two players and there really is no defense.

Add in a struggling quarterback and a running back who had 12 plays of 30+ yards in 2005 but only one in 2006 and you quickly have a mediocre team. The same mediocre team that Tom Coughlin had at the very pinnacle of the NFL elite a mere 7 games ago. I don't like Tom Coughlin. I don't like his methods. I don't like his coaching style. But I have to be fair. The Tom Coughlin that had this team at the top of the NFL 7 games ago is the same man today. He hasn't changed. What has changed are a few injuries that exposed the team as one with insufficient talent and depth to overcome injuries to 2 key players each on offense and defense. That should be no surprise. It is, after all, only year three of rebuilding a team that had reached the very bottom of despair under Fassel. There simply has not been enough time to acquire sufficient talent and depth to overcome such losses.

The current collapse and resulting media and fan hysteria presents a great opportunity for next year's head coach to make sweeping changes. Changes that are clearly needed. Changes that will be made regardless of the identity of the head coach. Eli Manning is clearly struggling and needs new coaches before he can ever be considered a bust. While there is no way to know for certain, I believe a small number of veteran players have been intentionally undermining Tom Coughlin's authority in the locker room - fueling the flames of an underlying current of discontent - since the first day he arrived. A small group of players who are as petty as Tom Coughlin's rules - players who refuse to make a total commitment to this team because of their own personal power struggle with the head coach. Such players certainly have the legal right to file union grievances over extra practice sessions or whatever other petty rule they want to pick on. But fans have the equal right to demand that the Giants find a way to move such players off into the sunset and fill the team with players dedicated to winning regardless of their personal feelings for or against the head coach. This team finally needs player-leaders who, rather than being the ones filing union grievances, instead quietly let such players know in no uncertain terms that their kind isn't welcome on this team.

I'd love to see Bill Belichick or Bill Parcells return to NY as heroes. But the Giants made a commitment to a different man less than three years ago. A man that turned the franchise around - arguably so quickly that the high expectations from his rapid success could be his own undoing. Tom Coughlin deserves the chance to finish painting the canvas that he has started. Tom Coughlin deserves to be the one to make the sweeping changes that will come after this season is over. To hire new offensive coaches to help Eli. To cleanse the locker room of the cancer that exists. I am not a Tom Coughlin fan and am not thrilled about Tom Coughlin as the coach of the team I love, but I would lose a measure of respect for the Giants as an organization if they failed to keep the commitment they made less than three years ago. Tom Couglin deserves to be treated fairly and it would be unfair not to allow Tom Coughlin to finish what he was brought here to do.

New Orleans Coming to Town

2006-12-23T10:26:00.000-05:00

Remember 2005? The Giants team that surprised most analysts by going 11-5 and winning the Division? Even with the disappointing playoff loss to Carolina, at the end of 2005 everything was looking up for the Giants for 2006. They had an offense that was virtually unstoppable - a running back that was at the top of his game and close to being the very best in the league. A diverse passing game that featured more options than any one team could cover between Burress, Shockey, Barber, Toomer and Carter. Their defense featured two all-pro bookend ends that led the league in combined sacks. They had arguably the best Special Teams in all of football. And amazingly, this was a team that was only going to get better in 2006.

New Orleans comes to town tomorrow to give the Giants a reminder of just how things have oh so changed since 2005. There aren't many people who, if given the choice between the Giants or the Saints at the end of 2005, would have selected the Saints. In 2005 the Giants were the team that had arrived and was on its way to great things, while the Saints were going nowhere fast. So, here come the Saints tomorrow to remind us all that the two teams are, indeed, headed in different directions.

It is truly difficult to explain what has happened to this Giants team. The pre-season expectations were, after all, based upon the reality of the Giants' strong 2005 performance. It would be easy to explain it all away because of injuries. But that would be a dangerous mindset to adopt. That would lead right into a trap where necessary changes are avoided. And this team needs some change. The loss of your #2 WR cannot be used as the excuse for why your powerhouse offense was crippled. Yes, the Giants had more injuries on defense including the loss of both of their all-pro defensive ends. But, even though the sacks and pressure being generated looked like it was finally starting to warm up, the truth is that the Giants didn't seem to be an improvement over the 2005 version. And how does the best Special Teams squad in 2005 suddenly become one of the league's worst in 2006?

I continue to believe that what 2006 has demonstrated is that the Giants do not have nearly enough impact players - players capable of making game changing plays. Indeed this 2006 squad is shockingly devoid of impact players. While he has had good yardage totals, Tiki Barber has not had many game changing plays during 2006 as he did during 2005. Shockey? Despite the "numbers", the truth is he was more of an impact player his rookie year than any season since. Buress? He catches some long balls but none really stand out as game changing type plays. Manning certainly doesn't qualify, at least not this year. And don't even think about defense or special teams - neither has a single player that can be considered an impact player based upon what we have seen in 2006.

The bottom line is that this team needs 2-3 players that are unquestionably the very best at their position in all of football - the kind of player other teams drool over in their sleep. The Giants need 2 or 3 and their current count? Zero. There is not one single player on their squad that comes close to that qualification. Not one.

That is what is wrong with this team and that is what must change if this team is to go anyplace in the years to come. So, whether the Giants win or lose their next two games - whether the Giants qualify for a wild card or don't - really doesn't matter. Heck, even if they find a way to beat the other lousy teams in the NFC and wind up going to the Super Bowl - none of that will change the fact that this is not a great team. Greatness is not a word that comes to mind to describe any player on their squad, any coach, or anything about the team or its play this season. New Orleans is likely to remind the Giants and all of their fans of that fact tomorrow.

Giants Face Eagles in Huge December Game

2006-12-16T12:44:00.000-05:00

A huge December game against a Divisional foe. What more could a fan ask for?

It is rather amazing to consider that the Eagles control their own destiny - win the last three games and the Eagles win the Division. The Giants, likewise, can guarantee themselves a playoff berth if they win the last three games. Moreover, should the Atlanta Falcons defeat Dallas later this evening, the Giants would suddenly find themselves in a position to control ownership of the Divisional crown by winning out. Of course talking about two 7-6 teams battling for the Divisional crown says more about parity and mediocrity than anything else. That does not, however, change the fact that, from a fans perspective, there simply are not many things better than December games against Divisional opponents with playoff implications to both teams. Giants Stadium should be rocking tomorrow.

One very good thing about last week's win over Carolina was the Special Teams play. Jeff Feagles had probably his best game as a Giant and one of the better games of his long career, placing 6 punts inside the 20 and 3 inside the 10. Carolina's Smith had a total of 11 return yards and commented after the game that he was amazed by Feagles' performance. But it was the play of the coverage units that I found significant. They played a fantastic game, especially the kickoff coverage unit that pinned Carolina inside the 20 three times. This was very good news for a unit that has been visibly absent all season long.

The Giants have disappointed me too much this season for me to get my hopes back up about their post-season prospects. Win tomorrow and they will go a long way towards restoring some hope. Win tomorrow and then beat New Orleans and they will have made me a believer once again. But for now, this fan is simply going to enjoy this week for what it is - a late season game against the Philadelphia Eagles with playoff implications for both teams. There simply isn't anything better in sports.