Terrible Defensive Showing For Giants Should Be Call To Return To 3-4

Ultimately, the 2009 regular season will be defined for the multitude of offensive juggernauts going off on weaker defenses.

 

One of those weaker defenses just happens to be a team generally renowned for it: the New York Giants. 

 

Sheridan’s firing at the end of the season was really the only sure thing for the Giants in the month of December. The lack of pride exhibited virtually on a weekly basis sent shivers down any Giants fan’s spine.

 

For years, fans would congregate in Giants Stadium throughout December with their faces protected against the wind and layer upon layer over their bodies to attain any semblance of warmth. And it usually didn’t work.

 

But it was all for naught when they watched attentively as their men in blue would dominate the line of scrimmage, make the quarterback run for his life, and light up any receiver that would dare run a slant.

 

These moments are what Giants fans have gravitated towards for generations. But now, following a season in which a total of 427 points were allowed, and quarterbacks accumulated over 1,000 passing yards at the Meadowlands in December, a defensive overhaul may be imperative.

 

Sure, there’s an outside chance that this season was a mere product of injuries and poor coaching. But it’s unrealistic. And if the Giants do bank on these same core defenders only for another disastrous season to ensue, the fallout will be unimaginable.  

 

It’s time for the Giants to identify their past and build accordingly. It’s time to renew the 3-4.

 

It sounds crazy because the Giants clearly do not have the personnel to attain a smooth transition into a 3-4. But as this past season evidenced, the Giants may not have the personnel for a 4-3 either.

 

The game is meant for quarterbacks to thrive today. It is becoming even harder for 4-3 defenses to combat the growing number of productive quarterbacks in the NFL. Take a look at the defenses in the playoffs this year.

 

Over half the teams in the playoffs run a 3-4: the Jets, Cardinals, Packers, Cowboys, Ravens, the Chargers, and the Patriots. Of them, every single team is ranked in the top 14 in points allowed per game.

 

Conversely, three of the five teams that employ a 4-3 base defenses are ranked in the top 18.

 

The flexibility a 3-4 offers is tantalizing, and the collegiate athletes being drafted into the game are more equipped for it. Athletic linebackers with pass rushing ability are becoming more abundant, while it has proven to be challenging for teams to develop defensive linemen even with talent.

 

Secondaries today are simply unable to keep up with the array of speedy receivers with freakish skill sets. It’s paramount for there to be a pass rush. In order to contain elite receivers, the front four will have to generate a rush on its own so a potential rusher can be in coverage.

 

However, in today’s game, it is tough to acquire four linemen that can get after the passer. Given the likelihood of an injury, it’s highly improbable a defensive line will be able to consistently knock the quarterback down.

 

Under a 3-4, the defense’s best pass rushing threats are the linebackers. And they are coming from any direction. Contrast this with a 4-3 defense in which the best pass rusher is generally the right end, and the linebacker corps usually consists of just one legitimate pass rush threat.

 

The Cowboys are becoming an exhibit on how to contain explosive offenses. The speed around the edge has kept the likes of Drew Brees and Donovan McNabb very uncomfortable, and the inside surge has gotten them to the ground.

 

The most creative a 4-3 defense can be without an over-abundance of talent is a zone blitz. But as evidenced this season in many Giants games, they are not very effective. It may be a different look, but what good is Justin Tuck chasing Antonio Gates while Danny Clark is man handled by the left tackle?

 

I think teams around the league are taking note that the 4-3 defense does not offer enough opportunities to halt elite offenses ran by top-notch quarterbacks. With this, I feel that the 4-3 is slowly dying, and may cease to exist by the end of the decade.

 

For evidence of the affect a switch from a 4-3 to 3-4 can do, look no further than the Green Bay Packers. Their defense was abysmal in 2008, but a switch to Dom Capers led to them to the 7th ranked defense in terms of points, and 2nd in total yards. This came with two key additions, a nose tackle and a talented linebacker.

 

Right now, the Giants have little in the front seven that would project to a smooth transition to a 3-4. Chris Canty is the only lineman that has experience in the 3-4, dating back to his years with the Cowboys.

 

Transferring a 4-3 defensive linemen to a 3-4 linebacker is risky. The Broncos did so with former defensive end Elvis Dumervil, and he racked up 17 sacks in his first year in the system. Conversely, the Packers did so with Aaron Kampman, and he never was able to get into a comfort zone before suffering a season ending injury.

 

Osi Umenyiora would not fit the mold of a 3-4. He is too small to be an end and could be a liability if he were to be slotted as a linebacker. Mathias Kiwanuka would have similar issues.

 

Justin Tuck would not be able to play linebacker, but he may be efficient as an end. He isn’t small by any means, and is able to power his way to the quarterback. A player of his status may not be fond of such a switch, but if he is the team player he has portrayed himself to be, he would accept this change in stride.

 

As for Umenyiora, I bet there are teams out there that believe he would be able to revive his career in their system. Draft picks and possibly helpful players could be part of a trade. Kiwanuka on the other hand may be worth the experiment. His contract expires after the 2010 season and his unquestionable talent could find its way in a 3-4.

 

Romeo Crennel’s name has been linked with the Giants in a few reports solely based on speculation. As a coordinator who has successfully implemented his scheme without the most talented of players, he should be the Giants top priority if they wish to convert to a 3-4.

 

If not Crennel, the Giants have already been linked to coaches that currently work within a 3-4. This list includes the Jets’ Bob Sutton and the Dolphins’ George Edwards, both of which are linebacker coaches under the watch of Rex Ryan and Bill Parcells respectively.

 

It may not ensure immediate success but the Giants have to get with the times. Offenses are only getting better and a four man front may no longer be the way to go for Big Blue.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Sanchez’s Unimpressive Rookie Season Fogs Up a Bright Future For Jets

History will remember Mark Sanchez as the rookie quarterback who led the Jets to the playoffs for the first time in three years.

 

However, had they faced the Colts a couple months earlier, or any of their Wild Card competition done their jobs down the stretch, he would be remembered in a much different light: the only quarterback of a team that didn’t make the playoffs with a number one rush offense and best overall defense.

 

After the Jets flip-flopped draft slots with the head coach that had been run out of town, it appeared Mark Sanchez had landed a dream job. The quarterback who played his ball in Hollywood would go across the country to a team that boasted the AFC’s leading rusher from the previous season and a talented defense that was inherited by a defensive mastermind.

 

Not many quarterbacks selected in the top five find themselves in that type of situation. Couple that with the fact that the quarterback taken four slots ahead of him was starting for a team that hadn’t won in over a year, and Sanchez had plenty to be thankful for.

 

Following an off-season full of promises and declarations from the head man and his ball players, Sanchez and the Jets cruised to a smooth start, winning their first three. Although not the focal point of the hot start, Sanchez was throwing the ball efficiently, compiling four touchdowns to just two interceptions.

 

That’s when things started to become crazy for the rookie. After a hiccup for the Jets defense at Miami, Sanchez self-destructed for the first time in New Orleans.

 

Against a pass defense that has proven to be soft over the past two months, he gave the Saints fourteen points with a pick six thrown in the red zone, and a costly fumble in the end zone on a play in which the ball should have been out of his hands much sooner.

 

Of course, mistakes such as those are to be expected early in a quarterback’s rookie season.

 

The problem is the mistakes remained prominent throughout the next three months. And the only reason the problems appeared to have been addressed is because of a corny color system instituted by a desperate coach following a five game losing streak.

 

But the reality is Sanchez hasn’t had the opportunities to make mistakes. Despite unequivocally having the league’s most dominant rushing attack, Sanchez played so poorly the last three months that his coach did anything to avoid putting the ball in the kid’s hands in games 15 and 16, one of which in a dome against a backup defense.

 

It’s gotten to the point where a wide receiver playing quarterback attracts more respect from a defense than a three-step drop by Sanchez.

 

Last night, Cris Collinsworth astutely pointed out that there was no quarterback in the league touched less than Sanchez. His defense is ranked number one in the league, and his team has rarely trailed by more than a touchdown during the course of the season. Yet he has still thrown 20 picks and played poorly enough to provoke his coach to move forward without Sanchez being an important part of the game plan.

 

Imagine if the Lions had a change of heart on draft day and deemed Sanchez their man going forward? I don’t think thirty interceptions would be out of the question. Seriously.

 

It’s not the mistakes that should have the Jets pessimistic about his 2009 performance, but other aspects of the game. Many correlate great quarterbacks with having the “it” factor, a label is likely associated with the quarterback’s ability to take over a game or lead a miraculous comeback.

 

Has Sanchez done anything to show that he has “it?” In only one game this year has he had to drive the Jets to a touchdown or they would lose, and it came at home against the Dolphins. He actually was playing well that day, and they managed to move the ball inside the red zone. But he was unable to complete the drive, and ultimately turned the ball over on downs.

 

Another instance in which the Jets needed Sanchez to lead a comeback was against the Falcons just a few weeks ago. It would have been an unspectacular comeback had he even pulled it off. A minute and a half left, two time outs, a suspect secondary, and about fifty yards to get into field goal range.

 

Still, he throws a ball right into the gut of the Falcons defensive back before he can accumulate one first down.

 

His immaturity is open for criticism, too. His demeanor following personal failure has already been reprimanded, which is a problem in itself. But everything else about him reeks of childishness.

 

Eating the hot dog on the sidelines has been ridiculed enough so I won’t go into further detail regarding that one. Even though I still don’t get what was going through his mind when he did it. A stomachache? C’mon man.

 

I’ve noticed that after the majority of his completions this season he’s run up to the receiver on the other end to give him a hi-five. Apologists would call that leadership, but I don’t think professionals look highly on that type of behavior.

 

Actually, if you look back to the second Bills game, Sanchez ran all the way down the field to meet with Braylon Edwards after his awful drop to console him. The Jets were unable to get the next snap off before the play clock expired and took a five-yard penalty.

 

This observation is petty, but trivial criticisms of New York quarterbacks are all part of it. After a nine-yard pass (nine yards!) to Dustin Keller on Sunday night, Sanchez ran up to Keller and did a pound it then explode with his tight end. Seriously? I thought that stuff stopped being cool after high school graduation.

 

Listen, I understand that he’s a rookie quarterback. And an unusually younger one at that. But in a quarterback driven league, it may not matter how well the Jets can run the ball. The AFC still goes through the likes of Rivers, Brady, and Manning, and Sanchez will have to step up his game if the Jets want to supplant them down the road.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

An Angry Fan’s View on How Offense Has Taken Over the NFL

As the playoffs rapidly approach, an upsetting fact upstages everything else. Even the “race” for the AFC Wild Card.

 

January will be an exhibition for the offenses. Defenses? Pull up a chair.

 

This may appeal to the Madden generation but this is not what the NFL needs. The problem with offensive shootouts is that every time a touchdown is scored, it has less meaning.

 

This restrains the traditional Monday morning chatter of second-guessing a crucial play in the game, or a blown call by the official.

 

When the scores are the likes of 42-38, plays lose significance. That is a fact. The 80-yard bombs or ridiculous punt returns may look good on the highlights after the fact but can’t be cited as a game changer or a back breaker.

 

Throughout 2009 it has been an offense’s game. While this is a credit to the development of upper tier quarterbacks and the evolution of the offense’s playbook, it is a major reason why parity was not prominent this year in the NFL. Take a look at all of the horrible teams the NFL has allowed quality teams to feed on.

 

Understand that defense is the great equalizer. For example, the Jets on offense have more often then not looked like the Summit High School team that Rex admittedly extracted plays from. Yet they are 7-7, and could be better as they have been in virtually every game they have played this season.

 

Although they do not possess the true swagger of a number one defense, they are allocated in that top slot because they are the only team in the NFL that has played consistent defense week to week. Their sack numbers aren’t very high, nor are their forced turnover rate. But they force teams to punt on a regular basis, which is enough for them to earn the label of an “elite” defense.

 

Unless it’s the last ten minutes of the fourth quarter.

 

One problem I have with the NFL is that they are promoting the league to be an offense’s game. It’s understandable because offense does sell tickets, and jerseys, and memorabilia, and more beer (don’t believe me? Offense leads to longer games, which gives fans a larger window to stumble over to the stand and dump another 10 bucks into a single drink).

 

But if they are trying to preach parity, as they so insist, then this offensive revolution is not in the NFL’s best interest. Ever since the Patriots mugged the Colts receivers in the 2003 AFC Championship games, officials have made it a priority to toss the flag on any semblance of contact passed five yards. Defenses are playing in fear of touching the receiver down the field, which further removes their chances of staying with them.

 

It may be frustrating, but the NFL is committed to removing subjectivity from the referee’s train of thought. If a linebacker touches a receiver eight yards down the field, throw the flag. All of a sudden that critical sack in the third quarter goes for naught and the second and 22 turns into a first and ten.

 

My biggest pet peeve in terms of how the game is called is on pass interference. It is absolutely ridiculous how often these plays are improperly called. It’s gotten to the point that if a receiver is well covered down the field, he can embellish a fall and turn a sure incompletion into a 50-yard gain.

 

The NFL needs to implement a ten-yard pass interference penalty. As this has become an offensive-oriented game, the tendency to throw flags on plays that are simply shut down by the cornerbacks are higher than ever. It’s one thing if a mistake costs a team ten yards, but fifty? A first and goal at the one?

 

I know I just mentioned that referees do not have the leeway they once did to make calls. The NFL does everything in its power to protect the officials from criticism, which they inevitably receive anyway. It’s time to take off their training wheels and allow them to make a decision. If the contact down the field was not severe enough to prevent the receiver from making the catch, it should be a ten-yard penalty.

 

My theories regarding defense certainly represent an old school of thought. And right now, the game is for the new school (3D at a football game? Really?). But I hope I’m surprised in the playoffs and see scores within the teens and twenties. Ultimately, it will make for a more memorable game.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Giants Fans: Time To Put Your Heads Together

While the Giants winning out would be a surprise in itself, it is still no given it would give the Giants their fifth playoff appearance in as many years.

With the Cowboys’ victory last night, some hope was lost, but there are still an abundance of scenarios that could give the Giants a chance at the playoffs.

Some scenarios I am unable to decipher if the Giants can get in.

But here is a list of all of the things that could happen and whether or not the Giants would be able to get in. All of this is pending the Giants win out, too.

 

1. Eagles Lose Next Two, Cowboys Win at Washington

This would put the Cowboys at 10-5 and Eagles at 9-6 heading into the final showdown.

I’m pretty sure this would be the ideal scenario for the Giants.

If the Eagles win, it would be a three-way tie for first.

The Eagles would have a 5-1 division record, so they would win the division, and the Cowboys would have a 3-3 division record, compared to the Giants 4-2.

So that would allow the Giants to take the wild card.

If the Cowboys win, then the Eagles would be 9-7, and the Giants would get in as a wild card.

Of course, it’s not very likely that the Eagles lose the next two at home to San Francisco and Denver, but that possibility remains.

If the Eagles split the next two and Dallas beats Washington, then both would be 10-5, and Giants fans will bleed green for a day. Of course, the possibility remains that…

 

2. Packers Lose Two of Next Three, Either Eagles or Cowboys finish at 10-6

To be honest, I’m not sure what this would mean for the Giants. Here is the official NFL guidelines to breaking a three-way tie for a wild card spot.

 

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to Step One of applicable two-club format.)

1. Apply division tie-breaker to eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to Step Two. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie-breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two wild-card participants.
2. Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in conference games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

As an aspiring sports writer, I know what I’m about to say is a sin.

But I have no clue how to interpret this.

Now, I ask the Giants’ community to fill me in.

What happens if it is a three-way tie between the Giants, Packers, and Eagles? How about Giants, Packers, and Cowboys?

And for those who say it is unlikely for the Packers to finish the season losing two of their last three, they have a point.

However, they play a Steelers team that is finally playing with nothing to lose today.

Next week, they host the Seahawks, as easy a game as December can have for a contending team.

Then they finish the season at Arizona, which is no gimme by any means. Don’t punch the Packers postseason ticket just yet.

 

3. Eagles and Cowboys Finish 11-5, Giants and Packers Finish 10-6

Since the Giants and Packers would likely have the same conference record (unless Green Bay beats the Steelers but loses to Seattle and Arizona, this would allow the Giants to win the wild card), it will come down to record vs. common opponents.

Since this would be assuming the Giants would beat Minnesota, this would give the Giants a huge leg up.

Green Bay also lost to Tampa Bay, and this is assuming they lose to Arizona, too.

Therefore, against common opponents, the Giants would hold a 4-1 record, while the Packers would have a 1-4 record. Advantage, Giants.

Those are basically the only scenarios if the Giants win out.

Of course, this may all be for naught until the defense can cover a receiver for more than three seconds.

But it’s still worth knowing.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Giants vs. Eagles Observations

Doesn’t anyone play defense anymore?

 

Casual fans that just wanted to watch a game before hitting the hay got what they expected and more. But those involved in the 83-point affair between the Giants and Eagles were hitting their heads against the wall with as much force as the Andy Reid-DeSean Jackson connection.

 

Games like the ones on Sunday night are the most disturbing to watch if you are associated with either team. As the score gets higher, the significance of every play gets lower. Sure, many are looking back at certain plays and thinking “Man, if the Giants did so and so than things could have been different.”

 

The truth is, that isn’t true.

 

Manning’s fumble immediately following Jonathon Goff’s interception is looked at as a turning point. But ultimately, the only affect on the outcome of the game it had was that it cost the Giants a time out.

 

Because right after his fumble, the Eagles went three and out. Then, Manning connected with Domenik Hixon to take a lead that would be relinquished before you could even blink. Which is more than enough time for the he-who-must-not-be named to get to the end zone.

 

So let’s not harp on “what ifs.” In shootouts, the team that makes more big plays wins. The Eagles did, and now they are in prime position to take their first division title since 2006.

 

Here are some other notes.

 

DeSean Jackson

 

What else needs to be said? He’s incredible. Before he was even drafted, Jerry Rice understood the type of skills that Jackson possessed.

 

“He has all the talent in the world. There’s no reason he can’t be everything he wants to be at the next level.”

 

Apparently 31 NFL teams never got the memo. Because he slid past every team in the first round, and several teams in the second. The Eagles ultimately took him with the 50^th overall pick.

 

Now, concerns about his build were valid. He didn’t even touch 170 on the scale and he had some character issues.

 

But it still bothers me that he fell to the 50^th slot. It may look easy to second guess after the performances he’s put up on a weekly basis, but I first guessed this one too. That much natural ability has to fit somewhere. And if he finds any semblance of a comfort level in a system, that speed can’t be stopped.

 

The Giants simply have no one in their secondary to match up with him. And the current zone scheme that is employed can’t contain number ten.

 

There may be only one way to stop him. Put five defensive backs on him… then call it the Jackson 5.

 

Who’s more to blame, secondary or defensive line?

 

Many are split about what was more disturbing on Sunday night. How open these receivers were, or how much room McNabb had to step up and launch a pass.

 

Some plays the initial coverage was good, but McNabb was able to survey the entire field multiple times and find a receiver that managed to break away from coverage. The defensive line simply wasn’t making an impact.

 

With the likes of Celek and Jackson running through the secondary, it is only a matter of time before they got open. Any secondary will look bad with the amount of time McNabb had.

 

Osi Umenyiora is a major concern right now. He’s not average. He’s bad. He is a bad defensive lineman. He’s a liability in the running game, as evidenced by the benching. And he’s an ineffective pass rusher. I know he had that one play on McNabb, but when I watch him he either tries to run around the tackle or tries something else that doesn’t even get him across the line of scrimmage.

 

Did you know that sack of McNabb was the first sack by a Giants lineman when he was being blocked in a month? That’s pathetic.

 

Tuck is hurt and he is because of a freak play. So I grant an exception to him. But I can’t recall the last time he was healthy. It was probably the last time the pass rush was truly effective.

 

It’s similar to the chicken or the egg argument. There’s no concrete answer, but I think the defensive line was the bigger no show than the secondary.

 

My take on the Eli Manning fumble

 

Yes, I am biased. At the game I was scrambling for reasons in my head for them to overturn the play. And then I came up with one.

 

The initial contact had nothing to do with Manning going down; I understand that. And yes, it technically wasn’t a legal slide. But I think the call was hypocritical by the league for everything they do to protect the quarterback.

 

Think of it. Let’s say right after Manning fell Jeremiah Trotter jumped on him (while he still had the ball). It would undoubtedly be a penalty right? It would be considered a dead ball penalty and the Giants would get fifteen yards.

 

So with this call, the officials set a precedent that if a quarterback does not slide properly, the play is ongoing because he technically did not slide on his own. Therefore, the defenders have a right to hit him while he’s on the ground. Uh-oh.

 

It may be a stretch, but there were many quirky calls throughout the game.

 

Why does Ahmad Bradshaw get so much playing time?

 

This city has been begging for him to have an increased role for a good two years. Now that he’s got it, he has two bum ankles and two months worth of inconsistent play to show for it.

 

He’s nothing more then a change of pace back. While Jacobs was running well early, aside from the fumble, Bradshaw was stymied. His cutback ability when he’s 100% works well against the likes of Oakland and Tampa Bay, but against a fast defense such as Philly there is no chance.

 

He did break some runs, but his running style is driving me crazy. There was only one play where I saw him actually hit a hole between the tackles, and he went for six yards. He dances way too much and against top-notch defenses that won’t fly.

 

What the Giants need to do is develop another running back that could supplant Bradshaw as the primary backup, and turn him into a very dangerous third running back.

 

Reason for hope

 

There really isn’t much reason to believe right now. But Eli Manning’s play on Sunday night has to inspire hope. Winning this conference will take a high-octane passing game that may have to keep up with Arizona, New Orleans, and Minnesota.

 

It may be a stretch to be talking about a potential Super Bowl run but success over the past five years has done that. There are always high expectations for the New York team that dons blue, regardless of the situation.

 

Of course, a loss to the Redskins changes all of that.

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The Cowboys Did Not Outplay the Giants Sunday

The trio of Kenny Albert, Daryl “Moose” Johnston, and Tony Siragusa has called a number of Giants games the last few seasons.

 

Although the team the Giants have run out has varied over the years, Johnston’s halftime soliloquy has not. In one way or another, he has stressed in many games that the Giants have dominated all facets of the game, but failed to put the other team away.

 

Instead of referencing the opposing team stepping up in the red zone or coming through on a key turnover, he merely criticizes the team that failed to run the other team out of the building by halftime, despite having a lead.

 

This misperception has bothered me for years. Sure, sometimes a team can bury their opponents by halftime, but this is the NFL. Defenses step up in the red zone. Turnovers happen. Had Johnston been analyzing this past Sunday’s Giants-Cowboys grudge match, he would have serenaded the audience with the same tune, except it would be directed towards the Dallas Cowboys.

 

Yes, the Cowboys dominated in time of possession, nearly doubling the Giants ball control time output, but no one is looking beyond that. The Cowboys opened the game with a drive that lasted six minutes, but was cut off on a defensive stop by the Giants at their 40. Did the Giants’ defense not deserve credit for making a key stop on the initial drive of the game?

 

Later in the first, Tony Romo led a seven-minute drive, including a group of key third down conversions. However, on a third and goal from the eight, an unblocked Clint Sintim sacked Romo to force a field goal.

 

Did the Cowboys miss an opportunity to make an early statement? Absolutely, but didn’t the Giants devise a scheme that allowed a talented rusher to get a free shot at Romo on a key play?

 

Time of possession is usually crucial for the Giants, but not in this game. Brandon Jacobs’ 74-yard touchdown was more critical than any eight-minute scoring drive that could easily be terminated early with a dumb penalty or turnover. The Cowboys just put together a very efficient drive to take a 17-14 lead, but it only took the Giants one play to regain the lead.

 

At home, those plays loom large for momentum purposes. Sure enough, the Cowboys were unable to score until a garbage touchdown with 58 seconds left.

 

One of the most disturbing perspectives came from Tom Jackson on Monday Night Countdown. He’s typically very good, but his outlook regarding the Cowboys’ running game was shortsighted. He said that Wade Phillips was partly to blame for the loss because he only gave the ball to the running backs 13 total times.

 

He claimed that after watching the Giants on Thanksgiving, there is no reason they shouldn’t have had more success on the ground.

 

Yet, watching the game on Sunday, the Cowboys appeared committed to the run early, but the Giants did an incredible job of getting penetration and clogging any semblance of a hole. The more they ran, the more yards the Cowboys lost on the ground. Then the Giants took a 14-point lead with five minutes left, eliminating the possibility of a running game.

 

In a game of this magnitude, you know both lines are going to bring it. So the fact that the Giants’ run defense was as stout as the 2000 Ravens’, there should be more of a credit to them than a shot at the Cowboys.

 

The Giants’ secondary has received criticism for allowing Romo to throw for nearly 400 yards and, for the most part, it is warranted. But the Giants came into the game with a plan. If they could eliminate the big play, then the Cowboys would not be able to light up the scoreboard. They may have been able to move the ball, but the possibility of self-destruction by penalty or turnover became more likely each time the Cowboys’ offense broke the huddle.

 

Surprisingly, the Cowboys were very disciplined on the offensive side of the ball and Romo handled the ball extremely well. But in key situations, the Giants’ defense made the big play. This strategy could be likened to the Giants “intentionally” allowing Thurman Thomas to run for 100 yards on them in Super Bowl XXV.

 

So, no, the Giants were not outplayed. Maybe on paper it appears that way, but the Cowboys know all too well that games are not won on paper.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

A New York Giants Super Bowl Run Would Be More Miraculous Than 2007

The New York Giants know all about feeling lousy following Thanksgiving weekend. In 2007, the sense of despair rang throughout the Meadowlands before everyone even digested their Thanksgiving meals.

 

The Giants had just lost their second game in three weeks to fall to 7-4. But this was no ordinary loss.

 

A shockingly horrible Eli Manning stole the show while distributing the ball to the men in purple, tossing four passes into the gut of Minnesota Vikings. Even more alarming were that three interceptions culminated into 21 points without the offense having to take the field.

 

In a roller-coaster career, this was one of Manning’s low points. The defense looked pedestrian throughout the game too, allowing Sidney Rice to set the tone on a long touchdown catch on the second play from scrimmage.

 

With little previous success to fall back on, the Giants appeared to be in shambles.

 

However, instead of folding, they rallied around their beleaguered quarterback and oft-criticized head coach to complete the greatest Super Bowl run in recent memory.

 

So with more talent across the board on offense, similar names on defense, and being merely one game off the 2007 pace, shouldn’t the Giants take solace in the fact history works in their favor?

 

The truth is, no. Even though in 2007 many people echoed the same sentiments, this team does not appear capable to muster a Super Bowl run.

 

First the competition has to be identified. I mentioned earlier in the year that even if the Giants string together enough wins to have a chance to finish off their season with a chance to play in Miami, their road would be a disadvantageous one.

 

Instead of an old Buccaneers team in the first round, they would travel to Dallas, Philly, or Arizona. Then their next two games would likely be against Minnesota and New Orleans, who could combine for 30 total wins this season.

 

The Giants defense is bad enough, but bringing this unit to pass-happy teams that play in passing paradises would create an even larger uphill battle.

 

Sure, many in 2007 didn’t believe that the defense could muster up the four game run that unit did. But it is reasonable to say that there is unequivocally no chance they will be able to hold teams below 21 points every game in January as in 2007.

 

The 2007 defense had talent, but it laid dormant for most of the regular season. The Giants biggest key to their post-season success was that the defensive line took its game to the next level. Can the 2009 line do that? It’s unlikely. Sure, the names are there. But Justin Tuck is banged, up and Osi Umenyiora’s pass rush tendencies aren’t getting him to the quarterback or allowing him to stop the run.

 

The most disturbing aspect regarding this unit is their inefficiency up the middle all the way through the secondary. Rocky Bernard has been a bust the size of his belly, and Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield are clearly not the same players following off-season surgery. The pre-season loss of Jay Alford has proven to be a killer, because these three simply are not capable of helping out their defense.

 

No, I’m not forgetting Chris Canty. Although it would be excusable if I did. He’s primarily started plays at defensive end when his number is called, but he has been virtually invisible since his return.

 

What do you call a middle linebacker that is labeled around the league as a solid backup? An average starter. That’s what Chase Blackburn is. It’s hard to get better in terms of second-string middle linebackers, but now that he will be finishing the season, his presence likely won’t strike fear into defenses.

 

Here’s another question: What do you call a safety that is labeled around the league as a bad backup? C.C. Brown. He got benched, but the fact he started for so long ahead of Aaron Rouse probably means that Rouse isn’t exactly Ronnie Lott out there.

 

Michael Johnson has been pathetic too, as he is incredibly prone to being fooled by the quarterback’s eyes. How many times has he gotten to a receiver a good second after the ball has gotten there? Too many.

 

Okay, so if the defense isn’t getting the job done, what about the offense? It’s true, on paper this unit has more overall talent than the 2007 bunch that consisted of an erratic quarterback, a number one receiver with a bum ankle, and a fifth-round rookie replacing an annual Pro Bowl tight end.

 

However, the current offensive line neutralizes any of the 2009 Giants’ offensive talent advantages. A major reason Brandon Jacobs has been unable to get into a rhythm is that his line is not clearing holes as they’ve done since the Tiki Barber era.

 

Frankly, this running game’s hopes lie on Danny Ware. When Jacobs is in, defenses prepare for him to go inside. And when he’s gone outside, the blocking around the edge has been pitiful all year, and Jacobs has been stopping his feet too much. With the current personnel, Jacobs offers very little to this squad right now. It’s not necessarily his fault, but that’s the situation.

 

Ware is at least capable of popping one every now and then, but he can run between the tackles. Bradshaw’s game is predicated off his ability to cut, and right now he has two bum ankles.

 

New heroes are going to have to emerge for the Giants. And the guys that are actually effective will have to raise their level of play further. A two-game winning streak alleviates much of the pain accumulated the last month and could straighten out this currently sinking Giants ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

How the Giants’ Biggest Strength Has Become Their Kryptonite

For the past few seasons, the New York Giants’ bread and butter has been their offensive line and pass rush.

 

Now, it appears that their bread has gone stale and the butter has been sitting in a busted refrigerator for over a year.

 

Tom Coughlin came to the Giants with an agenda. He started coaching in a different generation but knew that the key to winning laid with the big men.

 

A stellar pass rush coupled with a tone-setting offensive line could keep a team in any game, regardless of overall talent disparity.

 

Sure enough, Coughlin had achieved his goal merely one year into his tenure. After paving the way for a dominant Tiki Barber, the offensive line proved its legitimacy by allowing Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, or Derrick Ward to achieve success of their own.

 

Additionally, the starting five on the offensive line went to battle together every game from opening day of 2007 until a Sunday night meeting with the Arizona Cardinals roughly a month ago.

 

Simultaneously, defensive line coach Mike Waufle was quietly developing his own arsenal in the trenches.

 

After being drafted in 2003, Osi Umenyiora progressively improved until an explosion in 2005. Opposite of future Hall-of-Fame end Michael Strahan, he sacked the quarterback 14.5 times en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance.

 

During that season, another project began. A slim third-round pick out of Notre Dame by the name of Justin Tuck began his quest for NFL recognition behind two elite defensive ends.

 

After riding the pine and renting out a piece of the rehab center in his first two seasons, Tuck made his mark in 2007 with 10 sacks and a fat contract extension.

 

But his mark on the team was never more apparent than when he tortured Tom Brady throughout the Super Bowl that season with two sacks and multiple pressures.

 

But as is life in the professional football, times have changed. Five seasons is an eternity in the NFL, and many of the linemen who have become household names for Big Blue appear to be going downhill.

 

Rich Seubert has admittedly struggled with a shoulder injury he suffered in training camp. Kareem McKenzie has had countless nagging injuries since 2008. Shaun O’Hara has been butting heads with the opponent’s biggest players for nearly 10 seasons.

 

The winds have shifted for Big Blue’s offensive line, and now the results are reflecting it.

 

Jacobs has received a heap of criticism for his startling drop off in yards per carry, but it is more of a reflection of the offensive line than anything else.

 

All of a sudden, this unit can’t produce any penetration. It’s impossible to expect Jacobs to run at his 2007 rate when there are no holes to run through.

 

Meanwhile, on the defensive side, the pass rush has been relatively non-existent. More importantly, mainstays up the middle such as Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield have yet to be heard from this season, and we are quickly coming up on December.

 

Rocky Bernard has proven to be a worthless signing and Chris Canty has yet to patrol the defensive tackle spot due to his leg injuries.

 

This is likely because the Giants needed some semblance of an impact from their prized 2009 offseason acquisition, and it is too late for him to learn a new position in a new defense.

 

As opposed to the Giants offensive line, the defensive front is conducive for running attacks. Too bad, it’s the opponent’s running game that is the beneficiary. Cutback lanes have been prevalent, and running backs have been able to run outside with ease.

 

With five games to go, the Giants find themselves in a similar position as they did following Thanksgiving weekend 2006.

 

Mathias Kiwanuka let go of Vince Young to cap off their third straight loss heading into a showdown with Dallas. Despite both teams going in opposite directions, the Giants were still within a last-second field goal of beating their division rivals.

 

At this point, it may not even matter. If neither line gets going, the Giants have no chance of making the playoffs. What was once the Giants’ biggest strength may ultimately prove to be their downfall for 2009.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

New York Giants Miscellaneous Notes and Observations

After 42 days of unmistakable misery in the Giants locker room, the Giants finally won a game. Except the coaching staff barely had an hour to savor it—as they had already begun delving into Broncos game film before the Giants Stadium parking lot had even cleared out.

 

At this point of the year, all speculation is thrown out. Get hot and you’ll have a chance for an all-expense paid weekend in Miami during the first week of February. If mediocrity gets the best of you, your best shot at camera time will be as an NFL Network correspondent.

 

Frankly, the Giants first win in over a month hardly felt like one. Though they were up by 14 with ten minutes to go, it wasn’t as well played a game as the Giants strive for. Here are some issues I have with the team now, along with some random notes.

 

The Running Back Quandary

 

Ahmad Bradshaw is not a 16 game running back. His remarkable ability to cut on a dime can make even the league’s elite look silly; hence all the calls for him in 2008 despite Derrick Ward compiling the most ho-hum 1,000 yard season in Giants history. But his skills do not allow him to carve through defenses in December and January as he did in 2007. After receiving a handful of carries the first ten games, Bradshaw’s condition has deteriorated and he likely won’t be a major factor down the stretch.

 

As opposed to Bradshaw, Jacobs is renowned for his inability to play 16 games. Though he has yet to be inactive for a game, he has suffered his share of injuries. Right now, both backs are banged up and performing poorly. The offensive line has failed to generate creases large enough to fit the 265 pound Jacobs, and Bradshaw’s cut backs are being snuffed out by linemen who have clearly watched film on him.

 

Injuries coupled with a short rest likely will further inhibit the backs from having productive games. Enter Danny Ware. My pre-season darling was M.I.A. for over a month with an elbow injury he suffered on the first play of the season. But with fresh legs, he may be the Giants main hope at running back.

 

I am not giving up on Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. But their all-around games leave something to be desired right now. It may have come against NFL scrubs and UFL studs, but Ware displayed skills of a legitimate downhill runner the past two pre-seasons. He’s powerful enough to break tackles at the point of attack, and is slippery enough to break through tiny holes and turn them into substantial gains.

 

Here’s the situation. The Giants are not going to make the playoffs if Eli is forced to put the team on his back throughout December. I think he’s due for a strong stretch run, but he will be playing three games at Giants Stadium, two of which against division rivals going against him for the second time this season. Manning’s passes did not learn to carve through the Meadowlands wind within a year. The running game has to step up in those games, or this season will end in a colossal disappointment.

 

Lawrence Tynes is a major issue

 

I’m fully convinced that had he not gotten the opportunity to kick that field goal to win the game, Tynes would have been cut. His putrid field goal misses would be somewhat excusable if he was able to kick the ball off.

 

I know it’s by design, but there’s no reason an NFL kicker should have to angle every kickoff on a line drive squib kick. Mike Garafalo of the Newark Star-Ledger references this in his game recap and echoed the sentiments in a much more polite way that I was portraying them on Sunday. With a struggling defense, the last thing the Giants need is guaranteeing their opponents field position at the 35-yard line, at a minimum.

 

If Tynes is unable to boot the ball with solid hangtime past the five yard line, but the Giants want to keep him as a kicker, than the Giants need to sign a kickoff specialist. In doing so, they may have to sacrifice Sinorice Moss. But even if the Giants suffer injuries in the wide receiver corps, what will be more important? Moss’s potential production, or pinning the Eagles back with a four point lead and four minutes to go in the game?

 

By the way, the NFL can just go ahead and reserve the Giants sixth round pick for a kicker. Teams are transitioning to a two-kicker system, and I expect the Giants to do the same. Or draft one kicker and cut Tynes.

 

No Bill Sheridan Love

 

I don’t like when coordinators receive as much blame as they do. Familiarity breeds continuity, and Kevin Gilbride has worked with Eli since he was drafted, and has been around this offense since 2004.  So why all the hate? Sure, he has his faults, but his mistakes are so minimal compared to the overall success the Giants offense usually has.

 

However, this Bill Sheridan situation is becoming dangerous. I was willing to be patient with him, and I have. Aside from a hiccup in Dallas, the first five games seemed to indicate the Giants defense was heading in the right direction. But that is not the case.

 

Although the defense has played relatively well in three of the last four games, the schemes that Sheridan has been implementing have really bothered me. First of all, it seems as if every time a linebacker or defensive back shows blitz, he blitzes. I have no confirmation for that, but I highly doubt there is any evidence to prove me wrong.

 

The pass rush appeared to take it up a notch against Atlanta but Sheridan will have to be more creative. The fact that a unit that has similar pieces that Steve Spagnuola had success with further discredits the job Sheridan has done.

 

These receivers are for real

 

Okay, after getting through all my pet peeves and criticisms of the Giants here is one aspect of the team I am really excited about: Manning’s go-to-guys. They went through about a three-week funk but have seemed to get back on track.

 

I wrote a piece before the year started that this unit has the potential to develop into a group that Manning would be tossing passes to for a long time. But there would be growing pains along the way. After a flawless start, the receivers were mediocre throughout most of the four game losing streak.

 

I’ll start off with Hakeem Nicks. This guy is going to be the Giants number one receiver. He catches everything. He finishes plays. He’s elusive, yet powerful. The only aspect of his game that hasn’t been dissected is his downfield blocking ability, but he rarely has had a chance to display that because the running backs have had trouble breaking into the secondary.

 

This will allow Smith to serve in a role in which he will be best suited. As we saw on Sunday, he has the speed to get by a corner back and catch a pass down field. But his bread and butter is shaking off the nickel back in the middle of the field and getting open. Having Nicks man the outside will allow Smith to do just that.

 

Kevin Boss has to be regarded as a receiving threat. Like Nicks, he catches everything thrown to him. I think he’s already better than Shockey in terms of catching the ball in traffic. And it’s not outlandish to say he’s their most professional tight end since Bavaro. If the Giants continue to throw to him defenses will have no choice but to lend attention to the big tight end as he runs down the middle of the field.

 

Lastly, let’s not forget about Mario Manningham. With all the coverage devoted to the aforementioned guys, Manningham will put his skills on display in one-on-one coverage the majority of the time. We saw him thrive in that situation against Atlanta on Sunday, including the game-breaking 29-yard catch. Of course, him and Manning have yet to fully get on the same page. On one down and out pattern, Manning’s pass got to Manningham too late and the defensive back nearly jumped the route. But over time, they should develop a nice connection.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Sunday Was No Fluke: Rex Ryan Defenses Don’t Finish Football Games

During Monday’s press conference, Rex Ryan explained that his defenses normally finish games and that he is not used to the type of performance the defense has been guilty of in the fourth quarter this season.

 

Like many of his promises heading into 2009, this statement is empty and erroneous.

 

For the past decade, the Ravens defense has been the most consistent in the NFL. Following a mediocre season in 2007, they stormed back into relevancy in 2008, carrying a rookie quarterback and rookie coach to an 11-5 record and within a game of a Super Bowl birth.

 

Although dominant through three quarters, the defense rarely got a chance to display finishing ability late in games. Of the eleven victories, only one was by seven points or less, which was an opening day victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

 

However, of the five losses, only two were via blowout. The other three were by a combined ten points.

 

Their first loss of the season came on the road in a Monday night clash against Pittsburgh. All 106 players that participated had to leave everything on the line to help his respective team attain victory. Through regulation, the game remain tied and overtime became necessary to determine a winner.

 

On the Steelers’ first drive in extra time, the Ravens defense was unable to hand the ball back to Joe Flacco and the rest of their offense. Thanks in large part to a 24-yard catch and run by Mewelde Moore; Jeff Reed was in position to boot a 46-yard kick to ensure a Steelers victory.

 

This ending proved to not be a fluke for the Ravens, but the initial stage of a disturbing trend for the highly esteemed Ravens defense.

 

One week later, the Ravens entered the fourth quarter with a 10-3 lead at home over the undefeated Tennessee Titans. Kerry Collins had proven to be a reliable game manager at that point in the season, but made it evident through four games and three quarters he would not be able to carry his team to victory.

 

That is, until the fourth quarter began.

 

Following an early fourth quarter field goal, the Titans gained possession of the ball down by four with 6:07 left in the game. With 80 yards to go against a defense that conjured memories of the Super Bowl meeting Collins had with the Ravens in 2000, this was the time for the Ravens to put a stamp on a bounce-back victory over a very tough opponent.

 

Eleven plays later, those thoughts quickly dissipated, as did the Ravens’ lead. An 11-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler with less than three minutes left in the game thwarted any hopes of a statement game in the first week of October. Highlighted by three third-down conversions, the mighty Ravens defense looked startlingly average as Collins meticulously drove the ball down the field.

 

Following those losses, the Ravens defense went on a tear. Of course, an argument could be made that the only two good offenses they played in that stretch were the two that blasted the Ravens for 61 combined points (Colts and Giants).

 

Nonetheless, the Ravens were 9-4 heading into a December 14rh showdown against the 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers in their house. The game undoubtedly lived up to its billing for football fans nationwide. But the ending likely crushed the enthusiasm for anyone associated with the Ravens.

 

Carrying a 9-3 lead into the fourth quarter, the Ravens appeared to be in full control of the game. The pass rush was in Ben Roethlisberger’s face all game and the Steelers had minimal success running the ball.

 

With 3:36 left, the Ravens were clinging on to a 9-6 lead. After a Mewelde Moore fair catch at the eight, the Steelers appeared to be hard-pressed to tie the game, much less win it. But win it is exactly what they did.

 

It seemed improbable throughout the game, but the Steelers managed to do it. Including a spike late in the drive, Roethlisberger was 7/11 for 88 yards and capped off the drive with a third-down touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 43 seconds left. On the road. With the division on the line.

 

Great defenses come up big in those spots. Rex Ryan has not been shy to admit that. I’m just not sure if he’s unaware of his previous failures, or if he thinks he could simply carry the reputation of the decade’s most dominant defense to New York to mask his recent issues.

 

Of course, he would be let off easy if I stopped with that disastrous fall to Pittsburgh. One week later, the Ravens thrashed the Cowboys for three quarters and appeared to have the game well in hand. But on two separate occasions, the Ravens held a nine-point lead when Tony Romo walked onto the field. And both times, he walked off the field following a drive that lasted less than three game time minutes and culminated in a touchdown.

 

We never got to see what Romo would have done down by two because both times he drove the length of the field, the Ravens running backs bailed out the defense with two inconceivable 80-yard touchdown runs. Based off of history, it probably would not have ended well for Baltimore.

 

Like a politician, Rex Ryan came to New York with a bunch of declarations. He said he saw some of Terrell Suggs in Vernon Gholston. He said that Kerry Rhodes shared similar characteristics as all-universe safety Ed Reed.

 

Lastly, he said that he would bring the same mindset to New York that he instilled in Baltimore.

 

Based off of the Jets’ four last-minute losses, Rex at least came through on one promise.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010