Jay Alford and Chris Canty Headed to Injured Reserve; How Will Giants Adapt?

It appears that the 83 million dollars spent this offseason by the New York Giants in free agency to add depth to an already stout defense has gone to waste.

Today, news broke that the injury Jay Alford sustained in last night’s preseason game against the Chicago Bears was a lot more severe than initially thought. It was first reported that Alford had an MCL sprain in his knee, which came as a relief to the team being that it wouldn’t be a season-ending injury.

What came as a surprise and immediate disappointment for fans, coaches, and media was the announcement made earlier today. The injury actually consisted of two torn ligaments, effectively ending Alford’s campaign for the 2009 season.

Then, the news got even worse. Reports came out that Alford could have some added company on the injured reserve to go along with rookie running back Andre Brown. Defensive lineman and free agent pickup Chris Canty would be the next casualty with a hamstring injury. 

Head coach Tom Coughlin stated in a conference call interview today that Canty had a torn hamstring and hadn’t progressed as far along as the team expected. This too could become a season-ending injury.

What’s amazing is that something once considered to be the strength and identity of the New York Giants—the defense—has now been decimated with injuries.

The Giants training staff will work with Alford for the next two weeks, at which point the Giants will decide upon a course of action based on Alford’s rehabilitation progress. The injury will almost certainly spell the end of Alford’s season with the team, however.

Canty will also, in all likelihood, be headed to injured reserve, even though the team has made no mention of it in hopes he can recover before the regular season gets underway. Unfortunately for Canty, it’s not a strained hamstring; it’s a torn hamstring, an injury that takes significantly longer to heal.

Being that little progress has been made in regards to Canty’s injury, the team remains optimistic but clearly is aware of the more probable outcome.  Tom Coughlin is optimistic that at the worst, Canty would reside on the PUP list, then return to the team at week six if healthy.

Add to that the fact that the Giants’ other two free agent acquisitions are injured, and suddenly the immense depth on defense that everyone was talking about all summer has vanished. If anything, the depth on defense is paper-thin now.

“I just think that for so long we have been hearing that we have so much depth,” Coughlin stated in the conference call interview. “I don’t know what you are watching, but the guys who are supposed to be the depth have hardly even practiced. Some haven’t practiced, some haven’t played. I think you are talking about something that looks good, but hasn’t really materialized.

“Until we get this thing straightened around with everybody on the field, this rotation and this depth we are talking about is a non-factor right now. We need people practicing, and we need to be able to accomplish that.”

This is definitely a tough pill to swallow for Giants fans and some very sobering news. Linebacker Michael Boley remains injured due to hip surgery performed to correct a torn labrum and will be suspended for the opening game of the regular season. Rocky Bernard’s progress has been better with his hamstring injury, and he is expected to practice this week and potentially play Saturday versus the Jets.

Both players were added to the Giants in free agency and have missed most of training camp.

The wide receiving corps should be the least of the Giants’ worries now. The defense is once again plagued with injuries headed into the season, but not all hope is lost yet. If the Giants come out flat and uninspired simply from a team standpoint this Saturday against the Jets, it will definitely be time to worry.

Until then, Giants fans will just have to wait and see how the team adapts to its setbacks. 

To read more about this developing story, check out Ralph Vacchiano’s blog.

Second Preseason Game Turns into a Giant Disaster for Big Blue

The New York Giants had little time to prepare for tonight’s preseason week two matchup against the Chicago Bears, but their dismal 17-3 loss has filled Giants nation with concern.

It seemed as though the G-Men couldn’t do anything right in all three phases of the game: offense, defense, and special teams.  Most alarming however, was the amount of yardage Big Blue’s defense surrendered to Jay Cutler and the Bears.  Missed tackles, multiple blown coverages, and overall lethargy was commonplace for the Giants defense tonight.

It was only the second week of preseason, and the team actually had just one day of preparation for the game being that they played last Monday night and still have not yet broken training camp.  I know that the Giants are a much better team than what they showed out on the field tonight though.

What frustrated me throughout the game’s entirety, was the lack of passing plays.  There are so many young, unproven wide receivers that the coaching staff needs to judge in the preseason. 

For whatever reason, the plan was to get the running back corps plenty of action.  Brandon Jacobs looked excellent and was one of the few bright spots for the Giants offense.

The Giants had difficulty throwing the ball with the first team offense, but that wasn’t even the worst of it.  Starting offensive tackles David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie were frequently being beat on the edge.  Of course, that’s a major problem being that the Giants offense is mostly predicated on the of the success of the O-line.

The entire running back corps consisting of Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Danny Ware played very well overall.  I just wish that they weren’t the primary focus in the passing game, essentially robbing opportunities from the young guys who are in desperate need of proving themselves to the coaching staff.

I’m going to give second-year quarterback Andre Woodson a pass in this game even despite his lackluster performance.  His poor passes could largely be attributed to the fact that he simply had no time in the pocket to throw the ball.

He was running for his life the whole game and the offensive line certainly didn’t do him any favors.  When he had time however, he looked decent enough, even though his numbers won’t show it.

Kicker Lawrence Tynes, the sole owner of the Giants three points tonight, fared a little better than last week.  He barely made a 43 yard field goal, had solid kickoffs, and made a nice tackle to save a touchdown on a kickoff return.  Can you tell I’ve lowered my expectations for Tynes?

Overall, the Giants looked uninspired.  Quarterback Eli Manning couldn’t get anything done for the offense and he appeared to be out of sync with his receivers once again.  Defensive tackle Jay Alford had to leave the game after sustaining a sprain in his knee and starting strong-side linebacker Danny Clark, left with a head injury.  Linebackers Chase Blackburn and Jonathon Goff both had big games defensively.

The bottom line is that the Giants need to work out the kinks and right the ship before they face off against the New York Jets next Saturday.  I have faith that they will do so but if they don’t, widespread worry will overtake Giants fans, and with good reason. 

The Giants organization has been a model franchise for decades. Now the team needs to prove it can be the same on the field, this season.

Giants vs Bears: Five Things To Watch for in Preseason Week Two

Tonight the New York Giants will square off against the Chicago Bears in their second preseason game. This a brief, no nonsense, and to the point dissection of Big Blue.

It’s important that the team irons out some kinks as they approach the regular season and this article will attempt to highlight just a small selection of the most interesting facets. What story lines are most intriguing? Read on to find out.

 

1. Dominance of Defense

That’s right, I’m giving the G-Men’s defense a lot of—albeit warranted—love on this list.  I could be in the minority, but I’m not drinking the “Jay Cutler is God” Kool-Aid.  I’m skeptical about how good a quarterback he really is, and Cutler’s preseason debut with the Bears only cemented my beliefs.

I recognize he has no receivers and had to learn a new system, but I can’t make excuses for a supposed elite quarterback.

Before I digress anymore, let’s get back to the Giants defense. I think they could run rampant on this Bears offensive line and really cause some chaos up front. If the Bills defense managed to give Cutler fits, I have little doubt the Giants could do even better.  Keep a close eye on the pressure the defensive line puts on the quarterbacks and look for Clint Sintim to have a monstrous encore performance.

 

2. Wide Receivers 

Discussing the Giants young, unproven wide receiver corps ad nauseam has grown remarkably tiresome. Problem is, the receivers did nothing to alleviate the worries of Giants fans in their preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers last week. In fact, if anything, the concern has only worsened. Frankly, I’m sick of hearing about it.

It’s time for Eli to rise to the occasion and prove to his pessimistic Giants fans that he can lead this team to the promised land even without Plax or Toom  If offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride lets Manning zip the ball around a bit more in this game, I expect big things from the receivers. I’m curious to see what Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden can do.

 

3. Backup Quarterbacks

It was quite evident last week in the Giants first preseason game that they clearly do not have a long-term answer at backup quarterback. David Carr is arguably one of the better second-string QBs in the league if he has time to make his reads, but the depth behind him in Andre Woodson and Rhett Bomar has the coaching staff disappointed.

Additionally, Carr will most likely be gone at the end of this season to pursue a starting gig.

To be blunt and put things simply, Andre Woodson has to have a great game tonight or he’s a goner. Woodson is definitely aware of this, but I seriously question his abilities. I haven’t seen much from him so far and I don’t expect anything different tonight.

I still have faith in Rhett Bomar, however, if the offensive line can give him time in the pocket so he’s not running for his life.

 

4. The Lawrence Tynes Saga

I’m sure most fans would agree with me: Lawrence Tynes needs to go. As a kicker, if you’re inconsistent, you won’t last long. Tynes is the absolute epitome of inconsistency, and I get heart palpitations just watching him prepare to kick a field goal from beyond 20 yards. 

For some reason, the Giants haven’t had a reliable kicker in a very long time (Don’t even get me started on Jay Feely!). To be honest, I hope that the Giants will realize this inherent weakness and pursue a veteran free-agent kicker like Matt Stover who is currently available and happens to be a former Giant. 

Fellow Giants writer Doug Rush, wrote a great article about this. Stover is old (41) and doesn’t have the leg he used to, but I’ll take a dependable kicker who lacks range any day over an inconsistent one like Tynes. Watch to see if Tynes can redeem himself. He needs more distance on kickoffs and better accuracy with field goals.

 

5. Tight Ends and Linebackers

We didn’t get to see much out of the tight ends last Monday and they were overshadowed by the expectations fans had for the new wide receiver weapons. I’d like to see more of Travis Beckum. He gives the Giants offense a lot of options to be creative in the passing game and the coaches need to determine if the kid is for real. 

Also, with the tremendous depth at the linebacker position for the Giants, some talented players will inevitably be cut. Look to see if Gerris Wilkinson can prove he’s worthy of a roster spot. He’s on the chopping block in the minds of the coaching staff. 

Antonio Pierce will not be playing in the game, so Jonathon Goff and Chase Blackburn will probably get some time at MLB.  Goff hasn’t displayed much yet and needs to shine.

 

So there you go, five aspects of tonight’s Giants game to pay attention to.  Anything you disagree with?  Share your thoughts below!

Kenny Phillips is Bound for a Giant Leap Forward in 2009

A lot has been made of the depth the New York Giants have on defense this season, and potential dominance that awaits. Some even believe that this could be one of the best defenses ever, mentioning the unit in the same breath as the legendary 2000 Ravens and 1985 Bears, respectively. These comparisons are a bit premature, but are probably warranted amidst all the hype as of late.

One player who is poised to ensure his team lays claim to such high prestige, is second-year free safety, Kenny Phillips. 

In 2004, Phillips was the top safety prospect coming out of high school and garnered the first of many accolades to come, earning USA Today’s Defensive Player of the Year.

As a freshman at the University of Miami, home to elite NFL safeties such as Ed Reed and the late Sean Taylor, Phillips lived up to the university’s pedigree. He started 11 games and ranked third on the team with 93 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, four passes broken up, and one interception.

Phillips would go on to produce even more gaudy statistical numbers throughout his four-year tenure with the Hurricanes. When he was drafted 29th overall in the 2008 NFL draft, Phillips continued a remarkable 14 year streak of having a Hurricane be selected in the first-round. 

Last season, as a rookie for the New York Giants, Phillips failed to obtain a starting roster spot at either safety position in training camp, which came as a shock to the coaching staff and fans.

It was expected that he would fill the void left by the departing Gibril Wilson almost immediately, but it wouldn’t take long for him to prove his worth as a first-round draft choice.

As the season progressed, Phillips earned more playing time and was able to capitalize on an injury sustained by fellow teammate and starting safety at the time, James Butler.  Phillips didn’t relinquish his starting position he received late in the season, even after the return of a healthy Butler.

This year, most media outlets have been predicting that Kenny is due for a coming out party, and that it will come this season. Ralph Vacchiano, a Giants beat writer for the New York Daily News believes Phillips could be soon be a Pro Bowler, and I would have to agree.

Phillips was just scratching the surface of his immense potential last season and is comfortable with the playbook coming into his second year in the league.  He had a reputation in college for being able to really bring the wood.  We haven’t seen much of that aside from a massive hit he put on Mewelde Moore of the Steelers.  It was a game in which Phillips would record his first and only interception of the season. 

The sky is truly the limit for Kenny Phillips. He has carried himself in training camp like a professional, remaining humble in interviews but at the same time displaying an infectious swagger about himself that the whole defense now seems to possess.

Look for big things out of “KP” this year and expect him to be a mainstay for Big Blue’s defense for a long, long time. The media thinks that the defense could be one of the best in the NFL, and I think the same could be said for Kenny Phillips by season’s end.

Clint Sintim Ushers in New Era of Defensive Prowess for New York Giants

In recent years, the New York Giants have amassed several players to their roster, via the draft and free agency, who can play multiple positions.  This seems to be a trend under the Jerry Reese administration.

The hype train has left the station for rookie linebacker Clint Sintim out of Virginia, and Giants fans everywhere are now aware of the dominance possessed by their team’s latest defensive addition.  

Sintim burst onto the scene his senior year in college as a rush linebacker in Virginia’s 3-4 scheme and led the NCAA in sacks for a linebacker.  He accumulated 70 total tackles, third best on the team, and had 11 sacks in 2008.  That is why the Giants were ecstatic to land him in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft, the 45th pick overall.

Sintim’s long arms and imposing physique bear resemblance to defensive end Justin Tuck, and so did his performance against the Carolina Panthers in the preseason opener for the G-Men.

He managed to rack up a sack, forced fumble, and four tackles in fairly limited playing time towards the end of the game.  Some may scoff at this, proclaiming that Sintim looked dominant purely because of the second and third string backup offensive line he was going up against, which is certainly true, but I would argue this.

When NFL scouts watch game tape on recruits, particularly those from small schools, they observe that player’s overall dominance over the competition.  If they don’t stand out, they won’t at the professional level either.

This isn’t to say that Sintim is from a small school—in fact, Virginia is quite the opposite—but the only way his performance can be gauged accurately and fairly is based on how he played against the opposition.  Sintim immediately made his presence on the field known and caused disruption in the passing game.

Many fans even thought that he was Mathias Kiwanuka, a defensive end for the Giants, who used to wear the number 97 jersey that Sintim now owns.  

The emergence of Clint Sintim for the Giants defense means that there will be more versatility for the front-seven than ever before.

Chris Canty and Justin Tuck can play at both the defensive end and defensive tackle positions.  Mathias Kiwanuka and Clint Sintim can play as edge rushers as well or at linebacker (though Kiwi’s days as a linebacker are probably over at this point).  With so many players being able to play so many positions, expect opposing offensive lines to miss assignments and generally be confused by the multiple fronts they’ll see.

While it may take a while for Sintim to crack the starting lineup, primarily due to suspect coverage skills, I would expect to see him receive ample, situational playing time by midseason or sooner. 

The 2009 New York Giants defense has the potential to be one of the best of all time, if they can stay healthy.  It is, without a shadow of a doubt, an immensely exciting time to be a Giants fan.  

I know that this article will do little in the way of silencing the abundance of pessimism about the team’s wide receivers, but hopefully it will bring attention and respect to a player who will demand it in 2009.

 

BREAKING NEWS: Hakeem Nicks Signs Deal with New York Giants

Not to worry Giants fans, any concerns about whether Hakeem Nicks would hold out and miss training camp over a contract dispute have been put to rest.

According to an unspecified NFL source, Giants101.com, NBCsports.com and NJ.com are reporting that New York Giants rookie wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has signed a deal with the team.

According to the source, Nicks signed a five-year, $12.5 million offer.

Although the source is currently unverified, more news will become available throughout the day.  Additionally, it hasn’t yet been disclosed which player was waived to make room for Nicks on the roster.

 

Mike Garafolo of The Star Ledger has been following this story all morning.

Are The New York Giants Bringing Back Plaxico Burress?

With recent rumors circulating that the New York Giants may still be open to bringing their former (troubled) wide receiver Plaxico Burress back into the fold, I felt the need to express my strong opinion on the matter.

When news began to spread again that this could even be a possibility, my jaw admittedly dropped.

I couldn’t believe that after Burress single-handedly sabotaged the Giants’ chances of returning to the promised land, and Jerry Reese quickly cut him from the team, that his return would be contemplated by the organization.

Psychologically, the team has moved on.

By drafting two young receivers in Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, it seemed to the fans that Plaxico was now out of the team’s long-term plans.

I commend the Giants for giving many players second chances to redeem themselves in the past, but in this circumstance, the possible destruction of team morale Burress could cause far outweighs the production he would provide on the field.

Just ask GM Jerry Jones of the Cowboys how T.O. panned out!

While I honestly believe that Plaxico Burress is not a bad person, just a person who has made foolish decisions, I am not going to attack Burress’ image or character. 

Besides, I think Plaxico has done a good job of that himself.

And let me make this clear; I am not denying the tremendous athletic ability, play-making skills and impact he had on the Giants, particularly in aiding the running game by absorbing double-teams.

This is a new season with a new team and it’s time to turn the page. Manning is now unquestionably the leader and has plenty of trust in his young, yet unproven receiving corps.

General Manager Jerry Reese needs to dismiss these rumors by coming out and making it public that the organization is not interested in Burress. Doing so would lessen the impact of any distractions lingering as a side-effect in training camp.

Additionally, Burress would do more harm than good at this point. Manning has an opportunity to prove that he can live without Tiki, Shockey and Burress. He has a chance to call the team his own, and I look for him to rise to the occasion this season.

Also, if the Giants really become so desperate for a receiver in the early quarter of the season, trade talks could be resumed with the Browns for Braylon Edwards or even, dare I say it, Brandon Marshall of the Broncos.

To put things in perspective, it’s still July! This is not the time to be panicking, considering the team hasn’t even played one regular-season game yet.

There will be plenty of options available other than Burress at receiver if it becomes a real need as the season progresses. Until then, let’s not worry too much.

No matter what, we are still the New York Football Giants. As the greatest organization in professional football, one player will not determine our future.

Why Jerry Reese Is The Best GM In The NFL

The recent success of the New York Giants can largely be attributed to the foundation of young talent General Manger Jerry Reese has put together.

Once considered to be undisciplined and lacking focus, the Giants have bought in to the team concept that Head Coach Tom Coughlin has been preaching since their Super Bowl winning season of 2007.

Jerry Reese began working for the Giants in 1994 as a scout. Learning under the GM at the time, Ernie Accorsi, would leave a profound effect on Reese. Reese developed a logic, a system of evaluating players, and rules by which he would follow closely throughout his career.  

From 2002 to the time he was named General Manager of the Giants in January 2007, Reese was the Director of Pro Personnel for the Giants. He learned that the key to success was building a team through the draft.  

That is why, just this past offseason, when Jerry was forced to make a decision on whether he would pursue a veteran receiver to replace Plaxico Burress, he shied away from dealing too many valuable draft picks to rival teams.

A true testament to what Reese has done to change the mold of the franchise has been evidenced over the past two seasons. 

The team has lost such stars as Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey and Michael Strahan, just to name a few. But each time a player has been lost to injury (Osi Umenyiora comes to mind) or been traded/released/retired, Reese has had an answer and replacement.

The depth and young talent on the Giants this season is the product of Reese’s genius. 

When Tiki retired, Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw not only stepped up, but became an even more effective triple-threat, benefiting from each other’s unique styles. 

When Shockey demanded a trade, a young Kevin Boss filled his role nicely with solid production and a quiet confidence on the field, unlike his former teammate. And when Strahan retired, Justin Tuck proved why he is one of the best defensive ends in the league, earning a trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl last season.

The point is, the best franchises in sports have depth and can overcome adversity. A great example last year, was how the Patriots were able to overcome losing the reigning NFL MVP at the time, Tom Brady, to a season-ending knee injury in Week One and finish with an 11-5 record with quarterback Matt Cassel. 

Jerry Reese has changed the identity of the Giants and is the mastermind you never hear about. He is a 21st century mad scientist, expertly crafting a gem of a team each offseason. 

His body of work speaks for itself. The 2007 rookie draft class consisting of Steve Smith, Kevin Boss, Jay Alford, Aaron Ross, Michael Johnson and Ahmad Bradshaw helped carry the Giants to the Super Bowl that season.

This year’s draft class looks to do the same, with the notable additions of receivers Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, H-back Travis Beckum, stud linebacker Clint Sintim and right tackle of the future William Beatty. 

Obviously, these guys are going to have to produce on the field first before they receive the same distinction as the ’07 draft class.

Make no mistake, Jerry Reese isn’t done yet, and still has something to prove. This is only the beginning of what may soon become a dynasty. The key will be consistency. For now, we will just have to wait and see.

Eli Manning: Worth Every Penny

It is only a matter of time before quarterback of the New York Giants, Eli Manning, most likely becomes the highest paid player in NFL history with his new contract extension looming.

The question many Giants fans are asking is: Does he deserve it?

And to put it simply, yes, he absolutely does.

Eli Manning has always received harsh criticism from the media in the Big Apple and fans throughout the country for his sometimes less-than-stellar performances. That’s the price you pay when you ask to be traded to the media capital of the world!

That said, Manning’s calm demeanor and “aw shucks” expressions represent the kind of personality needed to lead the New York Giants. Statistically, Eli doesn’t compare favorably to the other star quarterbacks from his draft class, Ben Roethlisberger and Phillip Rivers. 

There are a few reasons why this is the case. For one, Manning plays in the toughest division in the NFL, the NFC East. The other three teams that comprise the division, the Cowboys, Eagles and Redskins, always seem to be in the conversation of being playoff contenders each year.

This year especially, every team in the division looks like it will have an elite defense, or at least on paper.

Secondly, Eli Manning doesn’t need to put up gaudy numbers for his team to win games because of their dominance on defense and run-oriented offense.

When you have a three-headed monster in running backs Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware tearing up yardage on the ground, there is much less pressure on the quarterback to have to put up huge numbers to win a game.

Last season, Manning had the best statistical season of his career. 

He threw for 21 TD’s, had a completion percentage of 60.3 percent, threw only 10 interceptions and had an average quarterback rating of 86.4.

Not too shabby at all.

But even despite all of his accomplishments such as taking his team to the playoffs each year that he has been a full-time starter, putting together the greatest two-minute drill ever seen in the waning moments of Super Bowl XLII to conquer the Patriots, earning a Super Bowl MVP, and being a Pro-Bowler, Eli still garners more criticism than praise. 

That might also be because of who his older brother is, Peyton Manning, longtime quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts. 

To compare them is unfair: They play for different teams, in different divisions and run different offenses. 

Don’t get me wrong, Peyton Manning will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he finally decides to hang up the cleats, but he and his brother are unique in the ways they quarterback their teams. 

Giants fans know what Eli is capable of and have witnessed it themselves firsthand. 

Is he the best quarterback in the league? 

No way, but it doesn’t matter. He is the face of the franchise now and will be for several years to come. And I have a hunch, he’d love more than anything to add a championship ring to his other hand. 

Manning lost some weapons this offseason in receivers Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress, but that should only motivate him to prove to the naysayers that he can win even without a star at wideout. 

Don’t look at statistics, look at what he has done for us on the field Giants fans. 

When all is said and done, we’ll be having the last laugh.

Big Blue Preseason: Intriguing Position Battles Abound

As any hardcore fan of the NFL can tell you, watching your favorite team’s four preseason games each year not only whets the appetite for the excitement of the regular season, but also plays host to many position battles. These fights for roster spots between the wily vets and young guns can be fun to watch as a fan. The New York Football Giants have been establishing a youth movement over the past couple off-seasons primarily due to the excellent draft classes general manager Jerry Reese has assembled. In this slide show, I will be detailing some of the more exciting position battles to keep an eye on this preseason.

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