What the Hell is Going on Out There?
by Paul
It's only been three games, right?
They still have a winning record, right?
As of now, they are making the playoffs as a wild card team, right?
Then why do I feel like Jack watching the Titanic sink?
Clearly, the New York Giants' season hasn't been all bad. The Giants are currently a playoff team. They have a winning record. Tiki Barber is playing great football in his final NFL season. Brandon Jacobs runs like Spike in The Little Giants, dragging a whole team on his shoulders. After a 1-2 start, the Giants responded with a five game win streak featuring Super Bowl quality play.
But those Giants seem as ancient history as The Land Before Time I.
The Giants' five game winning streak came to a sudden end after squandering a 10 point first half lead to the Monsters of the Midway, the Chicago Bears. Adding insult to injury, literally, the Giants allowed an 108-yard missed field goal return to Devin Hester. There was no improvement in the following week as once again, after a strong start, the Giants fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night.
The Jaguars and the Bears are both good teams. In the NFL, losses to good teams are excusable. But there is no excuse for the Giants' latest loss. After leading 21-0 at halftime, New York gave up 24 straight points in the second half to finally succumb to the Titans. I find a small bit of irony in that the Titans have finally sunk Jack's Titanic.
Before the showdown with the Bears, the Giants were being touted as possible NFC and Super Bowl champions. Now the G-Men are barely clinging to their playoff lives stumbling into a rematch with the conference rivals and leaders Dallas Cowboys.
What has happened to the Giants?
ESPN.com posed the questoin: "What's wrong the the New York Giants?" The possible answers were A) Tom Coughlin B) Eli Manning or C) injuries. I'll go with D) All of the Above. First, the Giants have been completely decimated by injuries. On the defense, defensive end Osi Umenyiora is questionable with a hip, linebacker Brandon Short is questionable with a quad, defensive end Michael Strahan has a foot, corner back Sam Madison has a hamstring, nose tackle Barry Cofield has a groin, and corner back Corey Webster has a toe. On offense, tackle Luke Petitgout has a foot and receiver Sinorice Moss has a quad. Also linebacker LaVar Arrington and receiver Amani Toomer are done for the season after being placed on injured reserve. The makeshift defense has played well at times, but it is difficult to ask a backup to play above his skill level for four quarters. Also, the remaining starters feel like they need to pick up the slack, but run out of steam towards the end of the game. The offense should have nothing to complain about with losing just two starters in Toomer and Petitgout. However, Petitgout, a left tackle, is the most important lineman, besides the center, for a right-handed quarterback. He protects the passer from being blindsided, and with his starting left tackle out, Eli Manning has looked as uncomfortable in the pocket as John Ashcroft looked on The Daily Show. In addition, with the loss of Toomer, Eli is missing his most sure-handed receiver who is an expert at picking up first downs on third down plays.
Though the Giants are now as thin as Craig Counsell, injuries can be worked around with good coaching. I believe Tom Coughlin is a good coach. In Jacksonville. Tom Coughlin's disciplinarian reputation serves no purpose in New York City. In the nation's biggest media market, Coughlin cannot control his players like he did in Jacksonville. While trying, he looks like the squirrel from Ice Age trying to stop the ice cliff from melting. Coughlin can't control personalities like Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress, Tiki Barber, or Michael Strahan like he controlled Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith, and Tony Boselli. So instead of admonishing your players every time they speak out, why not use the personalities to develop some sort of character for the team. Under Coughlin, the Giants cannot play with any sort of swagger, but rather always seem to reflect the perplexed/irascible Tom Coughlin face. It seems like they never know when to scowl at the opponent, or question a play call. Not only that, but Eli now has a face like that of Johnny getting ready to hold the ball for a kick from Marcus in the Little Giants. He looks like he's afraid of getting kicked where it counts.
And that leads me to Eli. I am a firm believer that Eli can't be benched, traded, released, exiled, or excommunicated. Eli Manning is the New York Giants' quarterback, not Philip Rivers. Eli doesn't lack arm strenght, leadership, foot work, or accuracy. What Eli lacks is confidence. With all of New York City instantly placing him on a plane with Isaiah Thomas, experts comparing him to the suddenly hot Rivers, and still others calling for him to be benched, Eli is being crushed by the behemoth that is the Big Apple. With his calm and quiet demeanor, Eli's audibles are being drowned out by the sound of cameras flashing and reporters constantly questioning his ability. Eli needs to gain confidence in a hurry. Perhaps next game, early short passes to Barber and to Shockey will improve his accuracy for the rest of the game. Until he can reestablish himself as the offensive leader, allow Tiki to carry the team. He can run on every team in the league if the coaches stick with him. Also, defensive players will have to go back to looking to the run first, taking some pressure off of Eli.
Though the last nail is not quite in the coffin of the New York Giants, changes need to be made, and quick. The Giants are still in the playoffs. With a win over the Cowboys on Sunday, the Giants will once again be atop the NFC East. More importantly, the Giants can gain some much needed momentum. After Dallas, with Carolina, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Washington on the schedule, momentum and confidence will be needed for the Giants to remain in the playoff picture. Though a tall order, I have a feeling that these Giants will "never let go."
It's only been three games, right?
They still have a winning record, right?
As of now, they are making the playoffs as a wild card team, right?
Then why do I feel like Jack watching the Titanic sink?
Clearly, the New York Giants' season hasn't been all bad. The Giants are currently a playoff team. They have a winning record. Tiki Barber is playing great football in his final NFL season. Brandon Jacobs runs like Spike in The Little Giants, dragging a whole team on his shoulders. After a 1-2 start, the Giants responded with a five game win streak featuring Super Bowl quality play.
But those Giants seem as ancient history as The Land Before Time I.
The Giants' five game winning streak came to a sudden end after squandering a 10 point first half lead to the Monsters of the Midway, the Chicago Bears. Adding insult to injury, literally, the Giants allowed an 108-yard missed field goal return to Devin Hester. There was no improvement in the following week as once again, after a strong start, the Giants fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night.
The Jaguars and the Bears are both good teams. In the NFL, losses to good teams are excusable. But there is no excuse for the Giants' latest loss. After leading 21-0 at halftime, New York gave up 24 straight points in the second half to finally succumb to the Titans. I find a small bit of irony in that the Titans have finally sunk Jack's Titanic.
Before the showdown with the Bears, the Giants were being touted as possible NFC and Super Bowl champions. Now the G-Men are barely clinging to their playoff lives stumbling into a rematch with the conference rivals and leaders Dallas Cowboys.
What has happened to the Giants?
ESPN.com posed the questoin: "What's wrong the the New York Giants?" The possible answers were A) Tom Coughlin B) Eli Manning or C) injuries. I'll go with D) All of the Above. First, the Giants have been completely decimated by injuries. On the defense, defensive end Osi Umenyiora is questionable with a hip, linebacker Brandon Short is questionable with a quad, defensive end Michael Strahan has a foot, corner back Sam Madison has a hamstring, nose tackle Barry Cofield has a groin, and corner back Corey Webster has a toe. On offense, tackle Luke Petitgout has a foot and receiver Sinorice Moss has a quad. Also linebacker LaVar Arrington and receiver Amani Toomer are done for the season after being placed on injured reserve. The makeshift defense has played well at times, but it is difficult to ask a backup to play above his skill level for four quarters. Also, the remaining starters feel like they need to pick up the slack, but run out of steam towards the end of the game. The offense should have nothing to complain about with losing just two starters in Toomer and Petitgout. However, Petitgout, a left tackle, is the most important lineman, besides the center, for a right-handed quarterback. He protects the passer from being blindsided, and with his starting left tackle out, Eli Manning has looked as uncomfortable in the pocket as John Ashcroft looked on The Daily Show. In addition, with the loss of Toomer, Eli is missing his most sure-handed receiver who is an expert at picking up first downs on third down plays.
Though the Giants are now as thin as Craig Counsell, injuries can be worked around with good coaching. I believe Tom Coughlin is a good coach. In Jacksonville. Tom Coughlin's disciplinarian reputation serves no purpose in New York City. In the nation's biggest media market, Coughlin cannot control his players like he did in Jacksonville. While trying, he looks like the squirrel from Ice Age trying to stop the ice cliff from melting. Coughlin can't control personalities like Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress, Tiki Barber, or Michael Strahan like he controlled Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith, and Tony Boselli. So instead of admonishing your players every time they speak out, why not use the personalities to develop some sort of character for the team. Under Coughlin, the Giants cannot play with any sort of swagger, but rather always seem to reflect the perplexed/irascible Tom Coughlin face. It seems like they never know when to scowl at the opponent, or question a play call. Not only that, but Eli now has a face like that of Johnny getting ready to hold the ball for a kick from Marcus in the Little Giants. He looks like he's afraid of getting kicked where it counts.
And that leads me to Eli. I am a firm believer that Eli can't be benched, traded, released, exiled, or excommunicated. Eli Manning is the New York Giants' quarterback, not Philip Rivers. Eli doesn't lack arm strenght, leadership, foot work, or accuracy. What Eli lacks is confidence. With all of New York City instantly placing him on a plane with Isaiah Thomas, experts comparing him to the suddenly hot Rivers, and still others calling for him to be benched, Eli is being crushed by the behemoth that is the Big Apple. With his calm and quiet demeanor, Eli's audibles are being drowned out by the sound of cameras flashing and reporters constantly questioning his ability. Eli needs to gain confidence in a hurry. Perhaps next game, early short passes to Barber and to Shockey will improve his accuracy for the rest of the game. Until he can reestablish himself as the offensive leader, allow Tiki to carry the team. He can run on every team in the league if the coaches stick with him. Also, defensive players will have to go back to looking to the run first, taking some pressure off of Eli.
Though the last nail is not quite in the coffin of the New York Giants, changes need to be made, and quick. The Giants are still in the playoffs. With a win over the Cowboys on Sunday, the Giants will once again be atop the NFC East. More importantly, the Giants can gain some much needed momentum. After Dallas, with Carolina, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Washington on the schedule, momentum and confidence will be needed for the Giants to remain in the playoff picture. Though a tall order, I have a feeling that these Giants will "never let go."
posted by sportzdudes at 7:17 PM
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