Play hard … play smart … play defense
Back in an earlier life I coached a men’s soccer team for many years in a local recreational league. Truth be told it was never a very good team. Many of the players had little or no previous experience in the sport and we played in a league in which most of the other teams were immigrants from countries where soccer was an integral part of the culture. As such it wasn’t uncommon for us to be down two or three goals at half time. When we went back on the field for the second 45 in such games, though, it was our custom to be all telling each “we got ‘em right where we want ‘em, boys!”
And that’s pretty much the attitude the Giants have to take as they return from their bye week in the midst of a 4-game losing streak. Certainly, the bye came at the perfect time for the Giants who hopefully will get a chance to heal up some wounds and recharge their batteries for the stretch drive. And that stretch drive got a whole lot more interesting this past weekend as just about all the Giants main rivals were losers leaving the Giants just a game behind Dallas in the NFC, with the Cowboys still to play in the Meadowlands, as well as being in a virtual tie for the wildcard with Philadelphia, Atlanta and Green Bay, again with home games still on the schedule against both the Eagles and Falcons. Indeed, the season starts this Sunday at 1 PM ET when Atlanta will be at the Meadowlands in an absolutely must game for the Giants.
The bottom line is the Giants will probably have to win of their final seven games to guarantee a playoff spot this January, although in the convoluted NFC 9-7 just might be good enough to get in if the tie-breakers break providentially. It certainly won‘t be easy for the Giants whose remaining opponents have a combined winning percentage of .587 this season. Stats can be deceiving sometimes, though, and it appears the Giants should at least have an opportunity to get to ten wins this fall. Atlanta, for example, comes to town having lost two of its last three and without star RB Michael Turner who is expected to miss much of the rest of the season with a high ankle sprain.
And while the Giants have complained about having to travel to Denver to play the 6-3 Broncos on just three days rest on Thanksgiving evening, the fact is the schedule may actually be a little kinder to New York. The Giants coaching staff, for example, had the bye week to put together something of a double game plan for both the Falcons and Broncos, while the Denver coaches will have been totally focused on their huge game with San Diego on Sunday which could ultimately be for all the marbles in the AFC West. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that after a great start, Denver has come back to earth and lost its last three and could be without QB Kyle Orton who also has a sprained ankle. And if Orton can’t go the Broncos will have to turn to Chris Simms who just isn’t a very good pro QB.
Weakness in the schedule aside, the bottom line is that the Giants simply have to play much better than they did the past months. Certainly, they played better against San Diego in their last game before the bye and in a perfect world should have gotten a W against the Chargers, but in the end they left too many points on the field that opened the door for that late Chargers scoring drive. The good news for the Giants coming out of the San Diego game was the QB Eli Manning seemed to be fine physically. Indeed, Eli had one of the most efficient games of his career and didn’t seem to show any signs of being hampered by that foot injury. Interestingly, though, Eli kept everything underneath against the Chargers as he completed 25 of 33 passes including a couple for scores, whereas most of his errant throws over the three previous games when his combined completion rate was under 50% while throwing 6 picks were downfield.
The Giants defense also played much better against the Chargers holding one of the NFL’s best offenses to just 226 yards, although the unit ultimately couldn’t hold a 6-point lead in the final two minutes. As it has been all season, thoug, how far the Giants go the rest of the way fall will still largely be dependent on how well the defense plays down the stretch. Certainly, the personnel is there to be one of, if not the NFC’s best defense, if enough people are healthy. And it appears that the unit is finally getting healthy. LB Michael Boley and DT Chris Canty, for example, both got their feet wet after long absences against the Chargers and should have gotten all that much healthier with a couple of weeks off, while CB Aaron Ross is finally back at practice and will give the embattled secondary a huge boost if he can shake off the rust in a hurry. Meanwhile, getting DEs Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck a breather can’t hurt in trying to get them back closer to 100%.
The midway point of the season actually passed after the Eagles’ debacle, however, we held off on our mid-term grades until the bye week. And given the Giants somewhat schizophrenic season to date threw an extra monkey wrench to the process, however, without reservation here goes.
Quarterback: Eli Manning seems to be the epitome of that old children’s nursery rhyme. When he’s good he’s very good, when he’s bad he’s very bad. Indeed, Eli’s year to date has been a tale of two seasons. The good was through the first 5 games when he ranked second behind only brother Peyton in the NFL’s mysterious QB-rating system. Eli, though, slumped badly completing less that 50% of his passes and throwing 6 picks through a disastrous 6 picks through a three game stretch. Hard to believe that Eli wasn’t bothered by that foot injury through that stretch; still it was hard to figure why he also suddenly appeared to be making rookie reads and audibles in that stretch, although as noted he appeared to come out of it against the Chargers. Still, the overall numbers aren’t pretty for Eli whose completion rate through the first half of the season is a rather pedestrian 60%, while throwing 8 picks. Mid-season grade: C+
What has to happen the rest of the way: Take care of the football. The Giants can live with the odd duck. What they can’t live with is an interception every game. Keep the picks to 3-4 or less the rest of the way and the Giants should be in good shape everything else being equal.
Running back: Both Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are on pace to rush for over close to 1,000 yards this fall, but the Giants running game just hasn‘t been the same this year as it was in 2008 when they lead the league in rushing. Jacobs kind of tip-toed through the first half of the season, but has picked up the pace in recent weeks. Indeed, Jacobs rather ironically has averaged just over 5.0 yards per carry during the 4-game losing streak, after averaging just 3.6 yards per carry earlier in the season. In fact, Jacobs was outplayed in that early stretch by Bradshaw, but he’s looked like he’s running in quicksand the past few weeks and can’t be helped by the fact that he is playing on a fractured foot that could give out on any play. And its hard to know who’s at fault, but the Giants inability to convert a bunch of short yardage type situations has really hurt the continuity on offense. At the same time, both Jacobs and Bradshaw have blocked very well, but neither has been much of a factor in the passing game. Mid-season grade: B-
What needs to happen the rest of the way … The Giants coaching brain trust has got to go with the guy who is hot at any one time rather than sticking to a preset rotation (see below). They could also afford to simplify the blocking - less pulling and trapping and more hat-on-hat - on short yardage situations while going with some quick hitters. That’s Danny Ware’s forte and he could be a real key as a situational back down the stretch.
Wide receiver: WR was supposed to be a huge question with former go-to guy Plaxico Burress cooling his heels in prison, but Steve Smith has emerged as one the best receiver in the league through the first half of the season and is still on pace to finish the year with a remarkable 108 receptions and almost 1,300 yards. The Giants, though, need someone to step up and take some of the pressure off Smith. Mario Manningham looked like the guy early, but he‘s been banged up recently. Indeed, the key to the Giants’ passing attack the rest of the way this season could be 2009 first rounder Hakeem Nicks, who didn’t play much early in the year because of an ankle injury, but has really come on of late scoring a TD in 4 straight games while averaging a big-play 17.7 yards per reception. Mid-season grade: B+
What needs to happen the rest of the way … See above; Nicks and/or Manningham, who are going to see a lot of single coverage the rest of the season, have got to get open on a consistent basis and take some of the pressure off Smith. A few more big plays also wouldn‘t hurt.
Tight end: Starter Kevin Boss has 19 catches, including some huge plays - he’s also taken some hellacious hits but held on - and appears to have the skills to do more, but is held into block far too often. Meanwhile, the Giants appear to have been looking for ways to get rookie Travis Beckum involved in the offense as a situational receiver, but he still has only 5 receptions, while Darcy Johnson has done a decent job run-blocking while making the odd big catch. Mid-season grade: B-
What needs to happen the rest of the way… Free Kevin Boss! It says here that Boss has similar athletic skills as guys like Jason Witten of the Cowboys and the Colts Dallas Clark, however, while those are driving opposing defenses crazy over the middle, Boss spends most of his time blocking DEs and LBs.
Offensive line: Is the Giants offensive line starting to slip. They haven’t been all that bad, leading the rushing attack to an average of 139 yards per game (7th in the NFL) while allowing just 15 sacks. However, the gaping holes that were a constant last fall just haven’t been there on a consistent basis, while the blitz pick-up hasn’t been as sure. LG Rich Seubert, in particular, appears to be struggling at times holding up against big DTs, while LT David Diehl continues to have trouble with the occasional outside speed rush. And the drop-off in push drive-blocking is especially noticeable on the left side. Meanwhile, RG Chris Snee has been the best of the bunch, but has to work on avoiding those critical drive-stopping phantom holding infractions, while RT Kareem McKenzie and C Shaun O’Hara have been solid enough, although the latter has been guilty of the odd missed blitz pickup. Mid-season grade: B-
What needs to happen the rest of the way … These guys just have to strap their hats on tight and come out each Sunday the rest of the way and carry out their assignments. As noted above, we’d also like to see the Giants’ simplify some of the blocking schemes. Indeed, what all the pulling and trapping is doing at times with opponents’ sending 7-8 men to the line of scrimmage is allowing defenders to get into the seams and disrupt plays up field. Meanwhile, Giants’ fans wanting a major reshuffling of the offensive line with the insertion of OT Will Beatty, the team’s second round pick at the 2009 draft, at LT with Diehl sliding inside to LG will have to wait at least until next year. No question Beatty has made huge strides so far this season, but this is a very conservative coaching regime and they are going to dance with the guys they brung.
Defensive line: Sometimes the best laid plans work out; sometimes they don’t! The Giants’ plan to get back to the Super Bowl was built around what was supposed to be a dominating pass rush, however, it just hasn’t worked out that way to date, in large part presumably, because of various injury issues that members of the front four have been dealing with. DE Justin Tuck, for example, has played much of the year with one arm, while fellow DE Osi Umenyiora appears to be still feeling his way after missing the entire 2008 campaign with a knee injury and DT Chris Canty has barely played because of a hamstring problem. Indeed, the Giants entered the season with visions of 50-60 sacks on the season, but on their current pace, the Giants will finish the year with less than 40 with no one player hitting double figures. Worse the Giants have gone long stretches in which they got almost no pressure at all. Meanwhile, the Giants don’t ask for many big plays from their DTs, but do expect a lot of clogging the middle and collapsing the pocket. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much clogging or collapsing from this year’s D rotation of Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield and Rocky Bernard as the trio has struggled to get off blocks. Mid-season grade: C
What needs to happen the rest of the way … No question the Giants have 7-8 guys up front with the pedigree to still get the job done - remember the pass rush that keyed the run to the 2007 Super Bowl didn’t really emerge until the playoffs started - but the issue remains whether they are collectively healthy enough. If not and it could be a struggle down the stretch. And oh yes ditch the ridiculous zone blitzes once and for all!
Linebackers: In a word its been ugly. Of course, the fact that free agent signee Michael Boley has only played in three games because of assorted injuries hasn’t helped, but oldtimers like LT, Carl Banks and Harry Carson must cringe a bit when they watch the Giants’ LB corps these days. MLB Antonio Pierce, for example, has been nigh onto terrible, and we’re not talking just coverage schemes. Pierce does lead the team in tackles and still does a decent job getting the defense lined up, but only makes plays when he is uncovered. Pierce no longer appears to be able to get off blocks when engaged, can’t stuff lead blockers at the point of attack, and has little range beyond the tackles. Meanwhile, SSLB Danny Clark doesn’t get caught out of position much, but also doesn’t make many - well any - impact plays, while Chase Blackburn has brought some nice energy to the unit while filling in for an injured Michael Boley, but is limited athletically. In fact, the trio has combined for 2.5 sacks, no interceptions and 5 pass breakups so far this season. In contrast, Houston rookie LB Brian Cushing has 1.5 sacks, 2 picks and 8 PBs all by himself to date. It has also been a disappointment that with a starting job waiting to be had second year st pro Bryan Kehl hasn’t been able to earn even a modicum of snaps. Mid-season grade: D-
What needs to happen the rest of the way… In a perfect world, the Giants would get Antonio Pierce off the field, at least on passing downs as he can‘t cover and isn‘t very effective when blitzing. Indeed, there is nothing more frustrating than going to the tapes and seeing play after play on which Pierce blitzes that the ball is out before he ever crosses the line of scrimmage. At least what the Giants could do when bringing Pierce is line up on the LOS and hope that he can hit a seam; otherwise one gets the feeling that especially on passing downs, the Giants are almost playing 11 on 10. Obviously, getting Boley back will help but even that comes with a warning. When Boley was out the Giants routinely went with Pierce and 6 DBs, however, Boley is actually replacing a DB in most coverage packages which actually makes the Giants even slwer in passing situations.
Secondary: The Giants defensive backfield was doing okay early in the season but was devastated by the loss FS Kenny Phillips to season ending surgery. The Giants have had injury issues at other positions, but also had the depth to handle it. FS was another issue, though, where run-stuffing SS C.C. Brown was asked to play out of position with disastrous results. Of course, it also hasn’t helped that starting CB Aaron Ross has yet to play a down, while nickel corner Kevin Dockery hasn’t been the same since hurting a hamstring early in the campaign. Young CBs Terrell Thomas and undrafted rookie free agent Bruce Johnson, though, have filled in nicely at those spots with Thomas, in particular, leading the team with three picks, although his tackling has left a big something to be desired. Meanwhile, Corey Webster was playing at a pro bowl level until running into a buzz saw named Vincent Jackson in the Chargers’ loss. Mid-season grade: D+
What needs to happen the rest of the way … The Giants need to get the best cover guys they can on the field and then let them do what they do best, especially if the pass rush remains spotty. Meanwhile, getting Ross could be huge; indeed, how the Giants work him into the lineup could be a major key the rest of the way. In particular, if Ross can take over at FS the Giants will hopefully have covered off the team’s biggest hole; if not they‘ll have to be more creative than they have so far this fall in calling coverage schemes. Hard not to make the case that the rookie Johnson has earned some extra minutes down the stretch.
Special teams: There have been days recently when it seemed the Giants were challenging former head coach Jim Fassel, whose regime was marked by some really dreadful special teams play. PK Lawrence Tynes has made even chip-shot FG attempts into white-knuckle events much of the year, while his KOs aren‘t much better. Meanwhile, Domenik Hixon gave the Giants‘ return game a boost when he first returned from injury, but overall hasn‘t been much better than Sinorice Moss was in his absence. Even old reliable P Jeff Feagles has suddenly got the yips and has left the team with poor field position far too often over the past few weeks as someone took the air out of his directional kicks. It also didn’t help that he muffed the snap on a FG attempt in the Chargers game that could have made all the last minute turmoil irrelevant. The punt coverage, though, has generally been very good, whereas KO coverage has been spotty, although the fact that Tynes’ KOs often aren’t that deep and lack real hang time hasn’t helped. Mid-season grade: C-
What needs to happen the rest of the way … Everyone needs to pray a lot!
Coaching: The contradictory nature of the current season have also product some of the contradictions in head coach Tom Coughlin. By his very nature, Coughlin is a tough, demanding, uncompromising perfectionist who is very good at keeping the team focused and disciplined when things are on a roll. By his very nature, though, Coughlin also tends to be rigid and dogmatic and not very creative. Unfortunately, during their recent losing streak, the Giants probably needed a little creativity, if for no other reason than to shake things up a little. Coughlin is a system guy and system guys tend to blame the execution rather the system, especially if its their system. Indeed, its been almost shocking at times lately watching games evolve into the 3rd quarter and seeing the Giants still doing things that didn’t work in either the first or second quarters, ostensibly because that was part of the game plan and ‘we stick with our game plan!’ and whether it’s the game plan they have been asked to incorporate or their own skills, neither of co-ordinators Kevin Gilbride nor Bill Sheridan have been making the kind of adjustments that one normally expects in the NFL.
Sheridan, in particular, suffers in comparison with his predecessor as the defense has too often been badly out of position, while it is hard to remember the Giants able to free up a blitzer literally all season. Mid-season grade: C-
What needs to be done the rest of the way … These guys need to figure out what’s working and ride it ‘til it ain’t working.
*****
This and that … Just a few random thoughts on the San Diego game before moving on…
Speaking of strange coaching decisions, the decision to run the ball and settle for a FG after the Terrell Thomas interception late in the game had a chance to go down as the worst decision of the year before Bill Belichek’s truly bizarre failed gamble to go for it on a 4th and 2 from his own 29 yard line while holding a 6-point lead with barely over two minutes in Sunday’s game with Indianapolis. Our first thought when Thomas was tackled at the Chargers’ 4-yard line with just over three minutes to go was that he’d run it back too far. If Thomas had been tackled at the 15 or 25-yard lines the Giants would have had a chance to get a first down or two and possibly run out the clock.
However, because the Giants had a first and goal our thinking at the moment was they just had to score a TD and make it a two-score game because the Chargers still had all three time-outs and were going to get the ball back with almost a full three minutes on the clock. Indeed, our concern with that amount of time was that San Diego literally would almost have had time to score twice, although they did the Giants a small favor by not calling the third TO and let the clock run down to just over two minutes. To run the ball in that situation would have made sense if there were less than two minutes to play and the Chargers were out of time outs such that they would have been left with barely a minute on the clock and likely not enough time to drive the field. Two minutes plus with a TO though is more than enough time for an explosive offense like the Chargers to drive the field and, of course that‘s exactly what happened.
In fact, about the only thing stranger than the decision itself were some of the nonsensical reasons the coaches gave in post-game interviews for the decision not to throw the ball in the end zone, particularly given they had scored on a slant to Steve Smith from pretty much the same position earlier in the game. According to Coughlin though the Chargers had ‘stuck back and defended the goal line and we didn't want to turn the ball over.’ Here‘s a thought; if that was the case maybe the Giants should have ‘stuck back and defended the goal line‘ when the Chargers got deep into their territory a few moments later. Just a thought.
Same story when the coaches tried to explain why starting RB Brandon Jacobs, who was averaging 6 yards per carry, get all of 11 carries against the Chargers, while back-up Ahmad Bradshaw, who was averaging less than 3 a pop, got 14! Something about the need for balance and having a good rotation!
Also can’t pass up on one last opportunity to rant about the penalty call on Chris Snee that just may have cost the Giants game as they went from a second goal from inside the one to first and goal from the 16. Bottom line is that if a referee is going to came the first hold of the game on an offensive lineman either way in the 57th minute of a three point game with one team poised to put the game away then it has to be a blatant infraction. Looked at the tape from every angle and there is just no way that whatever Snee did was worse than what happened on just about every other running play in the entire game. What’s especially frustrating is that this was the third such phantom call against the Giants this year. There is a zebra out that owes us one!
For those that didn't hear, the Giants signed DB D.J. Johnson off Arizona's practice squad after placing LB Gerris Wilkinson on IR with a broken wrist. Johnson, in fact, was rated as a solid late round prospect at the 2009 draft, but dropped because most teams considered him to be a CB, but he lacks sprinter and could have a role at safety sometime down the road. For the record, Johnson is 6-1 or so and weighs close to 200 pounds with a 40 time in the 4.55 range. However, while he's close to 200 pounds, Johnson isn't all that strong and isn't all that physical a run defender.
We got 'em where we want 'em... Bottom line though is that is all history and with the Falcons up the season starts on Sunday! And like the Giants, the Falcons have been looking in their collective mirrors and asking some questions about themselves after losing two of their last three including a 28-19 loss to Carolina this past Sunday. Indeed, while the Falcons are 5-3 there are some chinks in their armor. Sophomore QB Matt Ryan, last year’s NFL rookie of the year, has struggled at times. In particular, Ryan has thrown twelve picks already this year as he has tended to force passes into coverage. Ryan, though, has some dangerous targets in WR Roddy White and TE Tony Gonzales who have caught 47 and 44 passes respectively so far. As noted, though, Ryan won’t have star RB Michael Turner who is out with a high ankle sprain. In his place the Falcons are expected to rely on Jerious Norwood, a slasher with a burst, although he’s also been out lately with a hip problem, while FB Jason Snelling likely will also get some touches. Meanwhile, the Falcons have been vulnerable to the big play as they have been unable to find anyone to fill the CB spot opposite spot Chris Houston. Brent Grimes will likely start but he can exploited as can rookie CB Chris Owens who likely will see a lot of snaps in nickel situations.
Fearless prediction: Going against history here as the home team hasn’t won in this series in something like 30 years but we think the Giants get it going again Sunday with a 31-10 win (and just in case we don‘t have time to publish early next week) make it two in a row with a 23-16 win in Denver Thursday night.
Have a great weekend!!
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