Friday, October 30, 2009

PHILLY REVISITED

This standard test of the year comes down to injuries, execution, and will.  Westbrook has been sidelined with a bad knee, and then suffered a concussion last week.  He did not practice all week and is listed as questionable, which means a 50-50 chance he will play.  The Eagles have been slowed by injuries much as we have the first half of the season.  They are a very strange team, losing to Oakland and New Orleans, and beating the Chiefs, Bucs, Redskins and Panthers.  Not much to learn from that schedule except that they can lose focus and lose to a team of less caliber than the GIANTS.

Repeat after me:  CANTY, BOLEY, ROSS.....CANTY, BOLEY, ROSS......CANTY, BOLEY,ROSS

Until these three names come off the injured list the GIANTS will be missing the elements they set out to fix in the off season.  The offense still looks for consistency, as does the short handed defense.  Look for Hakeem Nicks to play a bigger role this week as Manningham is slowed by a shoulder injury, and the defense focuses in Smith.  The Eagles however love to play man coverage, which should leave guys open deep, as long as the protection holds.

This is a typical GIANTS-PHILLY match-up.  Nothing fancy.  A few trick plays from Philly as they attempt to show off their speed on offense, but still a tough battle upfront, and the game decided by which line protects better, and which unit can apply the most pressure.

Game moved to 1:00 Eastern to make room for Packers-Minnesota at 4, and Yankees-Phillies at night.

GIANTS favored by 1

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

NO TIME TO PANIC

Unfortunately the GIANTS are in a bit of a slump.  It was even stated that the energy level was missing this week during the game Sunday night.  The kicking and return game created no spark, the offense certainly left the crowd quiet and dissatisfied.  The defense played well, but were left to pick up the pieces of the failings of the other two units.  The team has not played like a team the past few weeks.
I have tried to not make the next point I am about to make until later in the season, and I was hoping that I could go the season without pointing to it, but alas the time has come.  The GIANTS will finish the season with ten wins.  That was my original position.  If that is true, then after starting 5-0, the team will be 5-6 in it's last 11 games.  Not a pretty way to paint the picture, but a pretty picture it will be when it is finished.
Think of the competition that remains starting with this weeks opponent: Philly twice, San Diego, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Washington, Carolina, and Minnesota.  Philly is still unproven and missing some key elements, but you can't count on beating them twice.  A poorly coached San Diego team in New Jersey should yield a win.  Atlanta is a very good team, but seem to still be inconsistent. Denver in Denver on Thanksgiving night will be no easy task. Washington and Carolina are walk overs, and the hope is that you don;t have to beat Minnesota in the dome on the road the last day of the season.
The GIANTS have their work cut out for them, but thank goodness they started as strong as they did, because the road ahead is intriguing.  Hopefully they can get to full strength in the next three weeks, that should give them a much needed lift.

Philly preview on Friday

Friday, October 23, 2009

ANOTHER STERN TEST

This years schedule is odd in that we play a lot of the same teams.  That's what happens in a top heavy league.  We play Minnesota, Carolina, and this week we face the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals in what should have been a rematch of the NFC Championship game from last year.
Old friend Kurt Warner is back in GIANTS stadium, a place he didn't fair too well when with the GIANTS.  Kurt has a few traits that Drew Brees doesn't have, and that's a good thing.  Warner is a stationary target, Warner has a long delivery and is known for his fumbling, and Warner also has no running game.  The GIANTS will be a little less concerned with the running attack this week and will again find creative ways to bring the pressure.  The Offensive line for Arizona is stable but not great.  Kurt Warner needs to be pressured, or it will be another long day for the GIANTS defense.  Warner has been incredibly accurate this year.  The only way to disrupt that is mother nature, or lots and lots of pressure.  The GIANTS defense was embarrassed last week, they will want to show that that was the fluke, and not the first 5 weeks.  I look for them to step up at home and make a difference in this game.  That being said...those three names still on the injury report, Ross, Canty, Boley, still pose challenges for our defense.

The offense also felt a little like they let the team down last week.  Look for the establishment of the run early, the deep balls to Nicks and Manningham, and look for Kevin Boss to get healthy and contribute more this week.

Look like 40 degrees after 2 days of rain....hopefully windy!!

Giants are 7 point favorites mainly because Arizona doesn't travel well to the East Coast.

Enjoy the late game!

Monday, October 19, 2009

"REMORSE FOR OPPORTUNITIES LOST"

It's amazing as you watch a game you realize what a few mistakes can lead too.  Yesterday they all led to disaster.  Corey Webster misses an interception chance on the first drive, ball deflects to the receiver, result of the drive: Touchdown.  Steve Smith stays a little inside the numbers and flattens his route out just a bit, Eli overthrows him, dropped pass, result of the drive: Punt.  Defense makes a stand on fourth down, missed blocking assignment on next play, Eli fumbles, Saints ball after a review.  Instead of going to halftime down 10 having made a great defensive stand and getting the ball on the second half kickoff.....we're down 17 and the defense feels they can't stop anyone.  And on and on it went.
I never comment on officiating in this column but I must say that Ed Hochuli who used to be considered the model referee now has the worst team of officials in the NFL.
Unfortunately I think I was right earlier in the week.  This defense misses it's big 4.  Canty, Boley, Ross, and Phillips.  The GIANTS always assess and try and fix their weaknesses in the offseason.  They did a great job, but now they are playing without all their free agent acquisitions.  When Ross gets back, terrell Thomas can move back inside and cover the tight end and slot receivers.  When Boley gets back he can cover the backs and the underneath routes.  when Canty gets back he adds pressure to the QB and can also cover in the flat.  Phillips is out for the year, and C.C. Brown has a lot of work to do.
A little humility is not a bad thing.
Next Sunday at home against Arizona and Kurt Warner on NBC Sunday Night Football.
Preview as always on Friday.
Going to be a tough week of practice, but at least the JETS will keep us out of the papers!

Friday, October 16, 2009

AS GOOD AS IT GETS!

Rarely do these games live up to the build-up and hype.  This one, however, has a chance!  The GIANTS are 27-9 on the road since 2005 including the playoffs.  An amazing record and a tribute to the coaching staff and Tom Coughlin.
Eli is going home to play in the Superdome, a place he has never played.  If you remember the GIANTS were scheduled to visit New Orleans a few years back, but after hurricane Katrina, the SAINTS wound up coming to New York instead to play a "HOME" game versus the G-Men.  Eli grew up in New Orleans while his father was QB for the Saints and spent many years there before going to Mississippi for his college career.
The Saints are basically completely healthy.  They have one wide-out that will not play, but other than that they have a healthy running game and a healthy defense.

The GIANTS are still missing the "big three" as I call them.  Canty, Boley and Ross.  One from each level of the defense.  Boley is the biggest loss because they do not have the speed to replace him.  This could be a key point this Sunday.

The SAINTS are 4-0 and coming off a bye week.  Now, bye weeks can be tricky, and of course Shockey is running his mouth a little.  The Saints have not seen a team of this caliber, and certainly not a team with an offense like the GIANTS.

This one should be very entertaining.

Enjoy...this year there will not be many as good as this one!

Monday, October 12, 2009

LOOKING FORWARD

The GIANTS have done what they needed to do, and a little more after the first 5 games of the season.  They are the #1 Defense and the #2 Offense in the league.  They have established a passing game that was in question coming out of training camp.  They have won 2 division games, won 3 games on the road, and started the season 5-0 for the second straight season.

Now the fun begins....

The GIANTS have 4 more games before the bye week against very similar teams and 4 elite quarterbacks.

New Orleans and Drew Brees
Philadelphia and Donavan McNabb
San Diego and Phillip Rivers
Arizona and Kurt Warner

All have serviceable running games, and superior passing games.  This will be a stern test for a secondary and front 7 that will still be missing Aaron Ross, Chris Canty and Michael Boley.  The play of rookie free agents and draft picks has been exceptional, and no one ever throws to Corey Websters side of the field anymore.  However, the pressure needs to be ratcheted up a bit, and most importantly the offense may have to win a few games along the way.  As a GIANTS fan for the past 40 years, that is still hard to say....but the Giants offense was actually referred to as a Ferrari yesterday, an elite offense that has scored on it's first drive in all 5 games this year.  a passing game that has exceeded expectations, and a Quarterback that has grown into one of the best in the league, especially in pressure situations.

Eli has a big brother, also 5-0, that will break every record in the book, but I dare say Eli will win more games, more playoff games, and more Championships.  Just remember you heard it here first.

Saints preview on Friday

Happy Columbus Day!

Friday, October 9, 2009

HOME AT LAST...

Boley, Canty, Kehl, Ross will not play Sun vs OAK; Boss is doubtful; Eli and Ware questinble; Bradshw, Hixon, Seubrt, Sintim, Tuck will play.


That's the official word from the GIANTS today.  Nice to see some guys getting healthy and getting back in the mix.  The Boley loss is a major one, not for this week, but in the next three weeks.


The Raiders have a decent defense.  Very good cornerbacks, and a very good defensive line.  The GIANTS however will respond to ELI's toughness, and make sure he stays upright for another week.


The Raider QB is a big big boy.  He is 6'7" and about 280lbs.  However he can't hit the side of a barn.  He has regressed in his three years in the league and is on the verge of being sat down.  He has a very long delivery, and is susceptible to strips, he throws some interceptions, not many because he is so inaccurate, there is no one near the balls he throws.  Both their running backs are out, and they are down to rookies at the wideout spot.


No letdown here at home for the GIANTS.




Enjoy!

Monday, October 5, 2009

END OF THE ROAD...

The GIANTS finished off their 3 game road trip on a successful note.  117 teams have played 3 road games back to back to back...only 8 have won all three, Tom Coughlin has coached 2 of them.

Eli had a MRI today and has an injury to his plantar fascia....day to day.

The GIANTS now have the number 1 defense in the league, and the number 1 pass defense in the league.

The offense is #4 with Steve Smith leading the NFL in receptions, yards, td's, and yards per catch.

One more pre-season type game next week.

Update on injuries and preview on Friday

4-0 start for the second year running....

Friday, October 2, 2009

KANSAS CITY HERE WE COME

Some good news first.  Tuck, Nicks, Sintim, McKenzie, and Dockery will be ready to play Sunday.  That will strengthen the rotation in the secondary, and keep the offensive line intact, and maybe add a deep threat for Eil in Nicks.
The GIANTS bring the number 2 defense to K.C.  The Chiefs have not played poorly, but are 0-3.  They have a very good running back in Larry Johnson, and a deep threat in Duane Bowe.  However Bowe is questionable for Sunday.  If he is out, the game is over.  The G-Men will put 10 in the box again and smother the Chiefs offense.  This defense brings a lot of pride, power, and brains, not to mention pressure.  Matt Cassell who came over from the Patriots this year will feel that pressure all day.

Eli and the offense are starting to hit their stride.  Jacobs and Bradshaw build as the season goes, and the passing game seems to find a new gear each week.  This should be another well balanced attack led by Eli, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, and the two backs.

The Giants have had 3 penalties in the last two weeks, and are probably the best coached team in the league.  No letdown here.