By Author of Mario Manningham Facebook Fan Page - InReeseWeTrust.com 9/21/11
On September 19th of the 2011 NFL Season, the New York Giants
improved their record to 1-1 with a win against the St. Louis Rams on Monday
Night Football. The Big Blue Nation was starting to become concerned after we
opened the season with a loss to the Washington Redskins. It’s imperative that
the Giants defeat the Eagles in the upcoming week three. Certain players need
to step up their game against the Eagles in order for us to receive a ‘W,’ in
the win column. These players consist of DE Jason Pierre-Paul, CB Aaron Ross,
and most importantly, QB Eli Manning. All of us can admit that the Eagles give
the Giants a difficult game every year, especially last season. It’s the G-Men
that will capture revenge this time!
To begin with, DE Jason Pierre Paul is a freak of nature (HT. 6-5 278
lbs). In 2010, J.P.P. was the 15th pick in the 1st round
of the draft and he recorded 30 total tackles and 4.5 sacks as a rookie. However, he seems to be quite inconsistent when it comes to producing huge
plays. With DE Osi Umenyiora questionable for week 3 (knee), this former USF
star needs to have a monumental day no matter who starts. During week 2, Eagles
QB Michael Vick suffered a concussion on Sunday night against the Falcons. If Vick does wind up playing, it’s extremely
relevant that the Giants can force a pass rush on him. Pierre-Paul will be
lining up opposite Justin Tuck on the D-line, so he will have some assistance.
Health has never been an issue for Jason, learning the defensive play calls has.
Equally Important, CB Aaron Ross has been somewhat of a disappointment
since the Giants drafted him in 2007. Luckily for him, he was a part of the Giants
team when they defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII. Ross
hasn’t gone a season without an injury since 2007 and it clearly has taken a
toll on his physical performance. This season, he has 6 total tackles and an
enormous amount of blown coverage’s. When the Giants faced the Rams in week 2
on Monday night, Aaron Ross was benched in the 3rd quarter by Coach
Tom Coughlin because of his sluggish performance. Therefore, there is no leeway
for errors this week when the Giants & Eagles go to battle at 1:00pm on
Sunday. The coverage needs to be tightened up and he has to comprehend that his
shoulders can’t accomplish tackles for him. Maybe his presence on the benched
awoke a sleeping “Giant.”
In addition, QB Eli Manning is the final man on the list that is
obligated to have a massive game against the Eagles in week 3. Eli threw for an unforgettable 25
interceptions last year which led the NFL, but he did throw 31 passing
touchdowns. Manning is off to a rough
start this year as well, completing 36/61 for 468 yards 2 TD’s and 2
interceptions. Current offensive line hasn’t protected him at all so far, which
is why his stats are poor. When a quarterback senses pressure, his gut instinct
is to chuck it or take the sack. Eli’s choice is to chuck it the majority of
the time, which is why interceptions occur so often. Even though the O-line
hasn’t gelled together entirely yet, Eli Manning shares the blame and has made
questionable decisions that continue to keep fans wondering what he’s thinking. Inaccuracy and timing are two crucial traits a quarterback needs to possess and
he is having tough luck with both. The Eagles defense is always aware of what’s
around them and they have a feel for where Eli might go. This is where watching
film comes in handy for the 8th year man from Mississippi. It’s only
week 3, but the Eagles are no slouches. In order for Eli to step up, he must be
accurate with his passes, open-eyed with his vision, and his awareness for the
defense has to be stronger than ever.
In summary, the Giants can’t afford to fall to the Eagles this week. If
they go 1-2, confidence will plunge early, attitudes will shift, and players
will be moved around. It may not appear to be a crucial game, but when you
think about how the Redskins are 2-0 and the Eagles have a chance to put us 3rd
or 4th in the division, parts of the team could become unglued. DE
Jason Pierre-Paul, CB Aaron Ross, and QB Eli Manning are due for breakout
performances this week. The Giant’s won’t forget how last season ended, just
keep that in mind. Go Giants!