Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Key Players of the Week 15 Matchup: New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins


Eli Manning Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants calls out from under center against the Washington Redskins in the second quarter at FedExField on September 11, 2011 in Landover, Maryland.
 (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America)
By Auther of Mario Manningham Facebook Fan Page - InReeseWeTrust.com 12/13/11

    The New York Football Giants pulled out a spectacular win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday December 11th.  With eight lead changes, Big Blue hung in there and proved that they deserve to be NFC East champions. With this victory, the G-men improve their record to 7-6 and rise up to 1st place in the division (tied with Dallas).  Now, there are many improvements the Giants need to make, the majority of them will occur on defense. Even though we scored 37 points against the Cowboys, giving up 34 isn’t going to get us though the playoffs. In week 15, the G-Men will host the 4-9 Washington Redskins. Certain players will have to bring their A-game in order for the Giants to increase their win streak to two.

    To begin with, DE Justin Tuck has been invisible for the past couple of games and is having a weak season. Tuck only has 24 tackles and 3 sacks in 14 games, when Jason Pierre-Paul has 61 tackles and 12.5 sacks. The former Notre Dame star is clearly being outplayed and is starting to become a disappointment and a question mark to a ton of fans. His performance was so horrendous against Dallas; he didn’t even make it on the defensive stats list. There could be an injury that is causing his performance to plummet, but a superstar like him shouldn’t be struggling either way.  Tuck needs to assist his teammates on the rest of the D-line and force pressure on Redskins QB Rex Grossman. We all know Justin is capable, he just has to pursue.

     Moving onto the secondary, S Antrel Rolle has to learn how to backup his talk by performing on the field. Rolle has 77 tackles and 1 interception on the year which isn’t too shabby, but could be more impressive. It seems like Antrel winds up in the NFL news every week because of something he has said about an opponent, or even his own team. The Giants signed him prior to the 2010 season so he could be a difference maker and possibly be the answer to the complications in the secondary.  The former Hurricane has made some outstanding plays for the G-Men thus far, but he has also struggled with tackling, covering, and finding the football. The Redskins have speedy receivers and tough running backs; therefore it is imperative that Rolle is aggressive and wise. It’s his time to shine and make some game-changing plays.

     The only offensive player chosen this week will be wide receiver Mario Manningham.   Of course it’s simple to say Manningham is having a disappointing season, but it’s only because his teammate Victor Cruz is on the field more. Mario currently has 36 catches for 466 yards and 4 touchdowns while Nicks and Cruz have over 1,000 yards a piece. The former Wolverine has been slowed down by a few injuries this season (concussion, ankle, and knee). The receiver hasn’t had a 100-yard game all season, but is dependable for the most part. He will have the occasional drop, but that’s part of the NFL and making errors.  Manningham’s contract expires after this season so it’s relevant for him to play his heart out. We all need Manningham to step up against Washington in week 15 so we can secure our division lead and work our way to the playoffs. Mario has the talent, he just needs to stay healthy and focus on his game.

    In summary, DE Justin Tuck, S Antrel Rolle, and WR Mario Manningham are the key players for week 15 when the Giants face the Washington Redskins. A solid performance from each of them will give us a larger chance to become victorious. Talent is not the question when it comes to these players; all they have to do is perform and contribute to the team as much as they possibly can. Look for Manningham to have a breakout game being that he’s healthy again and the Redskins may cover Nicks and Cruz tight the entire day. With a Giants victory, their record will improve to 8-6 and they will remain in first place. Go Giants!!!

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