What Now?

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

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

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

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.