Giants Stifled by Steelers, Blow Late Lead

Sunday, November 4^th 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: Pittsburgh Steelers: 24 New York Giants: 20

Giants Stifled By Steelers, Blow Late Lead

The Giants were unable to send their fans home happy Sunday afternoon after another lackluster performance led to a 24-20 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  This was the third match-up between 2004 first round draft picks Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger; with Roethlisberger taking a 2-1 lead in the series.  The loss ended the Giants four-game winning streak.

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What is starting to become a troubling trend, Manning struggled for the third game in a row.   Manning completed only 10 of 24 passes for 125 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.  The interception was a killer, as the Manning threw into double coverage on Victor Cruz.  It was disappointing, as Manning had just completed a 26-yard pass to Cruz on the previous play.

Manning missed receivers all afternoon and just never got into a rhythm.  The Giants offensive line had some problems protecting Manning against the Steelers, as Manning got sacked twice and hit another five times.  This was also the first time in 27 games that the Giants were unable to score in the fourth quarter, ending what was the longest active streak in the NFL.

 

The Giants were unable to get anything resembling a run game going against the Steelers, whose defense was on point.  Ahmad Bradshaw managed only 48 yards on 15 carries and Andre Brown ran for only 20 yards on seven carries with a touchdown. 

For as poorly as the Giants run game was, the Steelers’ run game was great.  Isaac Redman ran all over the Giants defense to the tune of 147 yards on 26 carries and scored a touchdown.  Whenever the Steelers needed a play, they would hand the ball off to Redman and he would make it happen.  Redman continuously ran over Giant defenders and was hard to bring down all afternoon.

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The Giants defense was able to contain Roethlisberger though, which was a point of emphasis coming into the game.  Roethlisberger is one of the toughest quarterbacks to get to the ground, routinely making plays because of avoided sacks and improvising.  The Giants got to Roethlisberger for four sacks and brought him down when they got to him.  Justin Tuck had two sacks, Osi Umenyiora had one of his patented strip sacks and Jason Pierre-Paul added one of his own.  Roethlisberger finished the game 21 of 30 for 216 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. 

One of Roethlisberger’s touchdowns was a backbreaker for the Giants, as it never should have occurred. Wide receiver Mike Wallace took a short pass 51 yards for a touchdown as he just out-ran the Giants defense, cutting across the field and up the sideline.  The score put the Steelers back in the game and the Giants were never able to recover, as they went three-and-out on every series the remainder of the game.

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Next up for the Giants is a visit to Cincinnati to play against the Bengals as the Giants continue their trek through the AFC North.  The Giants could be getting some key players back for the game, as safety Kenny Phillips was close to playing this game against the Steelers and linebackers Chase Blackburn, Keith Rivers and Jacquian Williams will all have another week of recovery.

Giants Team Grades: Week 7 vs. Washinton Redskins

Sunday, October 21^st 2012

Final Score: Washington Redskins 23 New York Giants: 27

Giants Team Grades

It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but the Giants were able to pull out the win against the Redskins Sunday afternoon 27-23 for their first division victory of the season.  The Giants witnessed what makes Redskins new quarterback Robert Griffin III so special, but in the end saw what makes their own quarterback in Eli Manning one of the best in the NFL.

Passing Offense Grade: B-

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Eli Manning had a rough go at it for most of the game against the Redskins, struggling for the better part of the game.  The Redskins have given Manning problems throughout his career, has they are the only team that Manning has more interceptions thrown than touchdowns with at least 5 games played against; that trend continued  Sunday when Manning threw two interceptions compared to one touchdown.

Manning missed Victor Cruz in the first half for what would have been a touchdown and later over threw him on a bomb again.  But they connected when it mattered with less than two minutes left in the game, when they connected for a 77-yard game winning touchdown.  Martellus Bennett and Hakeem Nicks did some damage as well, both reeling in five receptions.

Rushing Offense Grade: C+

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It was tough sledding for the Giants running game against the Redskins, as they were able to only total 64 yards on 19 attempts.  The workload for Ahmad Bradshaw was limited, as he gained 43 yards on 12 carries and scoring one touchdown.  Bradshaw was visibly upset at points in the game, getting into heated conversations with head coach Tom Coughlin and running backs coach Jerald Ingram. 

Andre Brown returned to the lineup after a one week absence because of a concussion and scored a touchdown of his own to go along with his 17 yards on five rushes.

Passing Defense Grade: C+

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Robert Griffin III did not looked one bit intimidated during his first NFC East game of his career.  He picked the Giants secondary apart, showing off his athleticism on a 4^th and 10 on the drive that put the Redskins ahead with just under two minutes to play.  Griffin connected with Santana Moss for two touchdowns and looked to have patience in the pocket.

The Giants were able to salvage the game by intercepting Griffin once and forcing him to fumble twice, recovering one for a turnover.  They front four was able to cause some chaos in the backfield for the second straight week in sacking Griffin three times.  Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck all registered sacks, with Tuck’s being his first of the season.

Rush Defense Grade: C-

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The Redskins were the top rushing offense in the NFL entering the game and cemented that with a 248 yard effort against the Giants.  Redskins’ running back Alfred Morris rumbled for 120 yards on 22 carries and Griffin added 89 yards of his own on 9 carries.

The read-option attack that the Redskins employ gave the Giants fits all afternoon, but in the second half the defense stepped up as they forced two fumbles on rushing plays and slowed down the Redskins’ rushing attack enough to take control of the game.

Special Teams Grade: B+

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Lawrence Tynes continues his outstanding season for the Giants, connecting on both of his field goal attempts and knocking through three more extra points.  David Wilson did not score a touchdown on his returns, but averaged a solid 26.5 yards per return.

The coverage teams were outstanding once again for the Giants, as for the second consecutive week they held in check a very dangerous return man, as Brandon Banks managed only 12 yards on one punt return.

Coaching Staff Grade: B+

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The stats might not look like it, but the coaching staff led by Coughlin and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell game-planned well against Griffin.  The Giants defense forced four turnovers and sacked Griffin three times. 

The game plan on the offensive side of the ball had more questions raised, as the limited running attack was surprising with how well the Giants had been rushing the ball recently.

Nonetheless, the bottom line is that the Giants won a critical divisional game at MetLife Stadium that was essentially a must win and head into Dallas on a three-game winning streak.

Eli Overcomes Struggles with Late Game Heroics

Sunday, October 20^th 2012

Post-Game Re-Cap

Final Score: Washington Redskins: 23 New York Giants: 27

Eli Overcomes Struggles with Late Game Heroics

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It was a lackluster afternoon for the Giants in all aspects of the game, but even while struggling they were able to pull out the victory over the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium Sunday afternoon 27-23.  The Giants were able to avoid what would have been a disastrous 0-3 start to their division games this season, moving to 5-2 with sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

The Giants defense struggled at times Sunday afternoon in containing the dynamic Robert Griffin III and the NFL’s leading rushing offense.  Griffin had a strong game through the air and on the ground, completing 20 of 28 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and one interception; also adding 89 yards on the ground on nine carries.  Griffin led the Redskins on an improbable drive aided by one of the most impressive plays you will ever see from a quarterback on 4^th and 10.  Thankfully for the Giants, Griffin was unable to duplicate that performance after Eli Manning led the offense on a game-winning drive of his own.

Rookie running back Alfred Morris ran all over the Giants as well, gaining 120 yards on 22 carries.  Morris and the Redskins gashed the Giants for big runs continuously, finishing with 248 yards rushing on 38 total carries.

The Giants were able to step up in the second half to take control on the game, forcing a Morris fumble and Griffin interception on back-to-back possessions.  The pass rush was able to get to Griffin, sacking him three times and causing two fumbles, recovering one, in addition to the interception.  Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck all registered sacks on Griffin, with Tuck’s being his first of the season.

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Linval Joseph had another strong game as well, quickly becoming one of the better defensive tackles in the NFL.  Against the Redskins, Joseph caused and recovered a fumble; continue his strong junior season with the Giants.  With Chris Canty returning from injury, the Giants rush defense should improve immensely with Canty being paired with Joseph.

Stevie Brown needs to be recognized as well, as he got his third interception of the season and has filled the hole at safety left by Kenny Phillip's injury admirably.  Brown is making the most of his opportunity and is showing Giant fans why the front office didn't rush to bring back Deon Grant; just another example of the front office and coach staff doing thier homework on players and knowing what it is exactly that they have.

Manning once again was the savior with his late game heroics, but those heroics would not have been needed if he had played the way Giant fans have become accustomed to him playing recently. 

Manning missed a wide open Victor Cruz in the first half for what would have been a touchdown and later over threw him again on a bomb pass.  Manning also threw two crushing interceptions, the first of which was intended for Martellus Bennett inside the Giants 20 yard line.  The second was a poor decision by Manning, who threw his second interception of the game the play immediately following Griffin’s fumble, giving the Redskins the ball right back.

But no one will remember the off day for Manning, as he salvaged it all by hitting Cruz in stride for a game winning 77-yard touchdown reception. 

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A problem for Manning’s struggles against the Redskins may have been from the lack of a running game.  The last two victories for the Giants, against the Browns and 49ers, the run game was clicking and even dominant at times, but against the Redskins it was non-existent. 

Ahmad Bradshaw, who was visibly hyped up and excited throughout the game, showing an enormous amount of emotion, gained only 43 yards on 12 carries, scoring one touchdown.  Bradshaw was seen getting into a heated exchange with head coach Tom Coughlin and later in the game with running backs coach Jerald Ingram.  There is no concrete evidence as to what had Bradshaw so worked up as he was not quoted after the game, so anything said is purely speculation.

The Giants will start preparing Tuesday for another divisional match-up, as they will head down to Dallas to play the Cowboys next week and look to exact some revenge against the team that beat them the opening week of the season.

Giants Team Grades: Week 6 vs. San Francisco 49ers

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Final Score: New York Giants: 26 San Francisco 49ers: 3

Giants Team Grades

The Giants headed into San Francisco with no one giving them a chance and left with many people believing that they might be the best team in the NFL.  The Giants went into Candlestick Park and destroyed the 49ers in every facet of the game, leading to a dominating 26-3 victory.  The Giants came into the game prepared and ready to go, evident by how every unit of the squad was clicking on all cylinders.

Passing Offense Grade: A

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Eli Manning did not put up otherworldly stats, but it wasn’t necessary on this afternoon.  Manning completed 15 of 28 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown.  What was important was that Manning did not turn the ball over at all.  The offensive line was also able to keep Manning clean and upright, as the 49ers were unable to register a sack against the Giants quarterback.
Hakeem Nicks returned for the first time since week 2 and was visibly limited.  He did not have the burst or speed he normally has, but gutted it out.  Nicks even made an impressive catch along the sidelines in the second quarter, making the catch despite a pass interference call.

Domenik Hixon and Victor Cruz again were the biggest beneficiaries in the receiving game.  Hixon made receptions of 39 and 16 yards on the Giants first touchdown drive, putting the Giants in position for Manning to hit Cruz with an eight yard pass for the touchdown. Hixon ended the game with 78 yards receiving on four receptions and Cruz finished with 58 yards on six receptions.

Rushing Offense Grade: A+

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Ahmad Bradshaw continued his role as the bell cow for the Giants running game and he responded in a big way against one of the top defenses in the NFL.  Bradshaw ran for 116 yards and a touchdown against a 49ers defense that just does not allow 100 yard rushers.  Only Marshawn Lynch has ran for 100 yards or more against the 49ers in their last 44 games, making this week’s feat more impressive in the minds of many people than his career high 200 yard rushing game against the Browns the week prior.

The offensive line dominated at the point of attack, opening up big holes for Bradshaw to gash the 49ers defense.  David Diehl made his return this week and made the most of his return as an extra blocker as head coach Tom Coughlin opted to keep Sean Locklear and Will Beatty at the tackles.

David Wilson also saw an expanded role in the offense and made the most of the opportunity.  Wilson had seven rush attempts for 35 yards, ripping off a 20 yard back-breaking run in the fourth quarter to help put away the 49ers.

Pass Defense Grade: A+

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The Giants were able to get into the head of 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, throwing him off his game and causing numerous mistakes made as the Giants intercepted Smith three times.  Antrel Rolle had two of those interceptions and Prince Amukamara had the other. 

The pass rush, which had been non-existent all season, finally showed up as the Giants totaled six sacks for the game.  Jason Pierre-Paul led the onslaught with two sacks.  Mathias Kiwanuka, who also tallied a sack, was played up front more and less at linebacker, a trend that may continue with the success the Giants had against the 49ers.

Rush Defense Grade: A

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The mission of the Giants defense was to shut down the running game of the 49ers and make them a passing team. The 49ers are the top rushing team in the NFL, averaging 178.6 yards per game, so the task is easier said than done.

The Giants made it looked much easier than it actually was, as the defense shut down 49ers running back Frank Gore, holding him to only 30 rushing yards and allowing 80 total rushing yards.

This was an area that was important for the Giants to dominate because with no run game, the 49ers became one-dimensional and easy to pick apart.  It also allowed the Giants to dominate the time of possession, enabling to have Manning and the offense on the field while the defense rested up.

Special Teams Grade: A-

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Lawrence Tynes had one of his field goal attempts blocked, but knocked his other four attempts through the uprights, giving Tynes a very solid 17 field goals made out of 19, with his only misses being the block in this game and the 54 yarder missed against the Eagles.

Wilson continued his strong performance as the kick returner, ripping off a 66-yard return right after halftime to put the Giants in position to add to their lead right out of the break and crush the spirits of the 49ers. 

The Giants coverage teams were great also, as they held the electric and dangerous Ted Ginn to only 22 punt return yards.

Coaching Grade: A+

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Tom Coughlin did it once again; getting his team up for a big game against an elite opponent.  Coughlin set the tone from after the Browns game, saying that no one gave the Giants a real chance of going into San Francisco and beating the 49ers.

The coordinators, Perry Fewell on defense and Kevin Gilbride on offense, also deserve a lot of credit.  Fewell made the necessary adjustments to spark a pass rush that had been dormant the whole season before Sunday and Gilbride stuck to the game plan even faced with going against a defense as imposing as the 49ers.

This was the epitome of a team win, as every unit was clicking on all cylinders and the Giants parlayed that into a steamrolling of one of the top teams in the NFL.

Giants Dominate NFC Championship Game Re-Match

Sunday, October 13^th 2012

Post-Game Recap

Final Score: New York Giants: 26 San Francisco 49ers: 3

Giants Dominate NFC Championship Game Re-Match

Tom Coughlin came into the week proclaiming that no one believed the Giants could beat the 49ers, not giving his team any chance of winning in San Francisco against the team many considered the best in the NFL.  Someone forgot to tell Coughlin, his staff and players because the Giants decimated the 49ers in their own house to the tune of a 26-3 whooping. 

The Giants had not played the strongest of schedules thus far, but limped out to a 3-2 record and wanted to try their hand against a contender; the 49ers wish that the Giants had not.  The Giants reminded everyone who the reigning Super Bowl Champions are and just how great of a team they are when it matters most.

The Giants made a statement in this game, even though it was the 49ers who were supposed to be out to exact revenge and take it to the Giants, especially since the game was at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. 

Eli Manning had an efficient game behind an offensive line that kept him upright for most of the game, as the 49ers were unable to sack Manning.  Manning completed 15 of 28 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown.  Manning totaled 176 of those yards in the first half, as the Giants used a pounding run game to finish off the 49ers in the second half.

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Ahmad Bradshaw once again led a very solid run game for the Giants, giving them a dimension on offense they have lacked for over a season.  Bradshaw ran for 116 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown, amazing statistics because the 49ers have one of the top rush defense and overall defenses in the NFL, giving up under 100 rushing yards a game and only 187 through the air.

David Wilson is becoming more of a frequent site on the field during offensive possessions and he is making the most of his opportunity.  Wilson relieved Bradshaw and received seven carries for 35 yards, delivering a back-breaking 20 yard run on a seven-plus minute drive by the Giants to finish off the game in the fourth quarter.

Hakeem Nicks returned to the lineup for the Giants, catching three balls for 44 yards, but it was his replacement Domenik Hixon who once again played a big role for the Giants.  Hixon caught four balls for 78 yards, taking advantage of the third cornerback the 49ers were using and putting the Giants into position for their first touchdown of the afternoon.

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Victor Cruz was solid as always for the Giants, catching six passes for 58 yards and one touchdown, delivering his patented Salsa dance for the 49er crowd.  As the game went on, the chants of “Cruz” became louder and louder as the Giant fans started to take over.

The defense has been called out and questioned over the past few weeks and they showed up Sunday afternoon, showing some of that Super Bowl swagger they had been missing.  “How will they slow down Vernon Davis,” naysayers asked, yet that’s exactly what they did.  Davis, who destroyed the Giants en route to scoring three touchdowns in two games last season, was held to three catches for 37 yards and was invisible when the 49ers needed him most.

Alex Smith is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, no chance the Giants slow him down people said.  The Giants destroyed Smith Sunday, rattling him early and getting into his head with hit after hit. 

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The Giants pass rush had been non-existent throughout the season thus far, but they showed up just in time for this big matchup.  The Giants accumulated six sacks, led by two from Jason Pierre-Paul.  This constant pressure on Smith got him off his game, as he threw three interceptions.

Antrel Rolle was responsible for two of those interceptions, with Prince Amukamara getting the other.  Those interceptions are significant because Smith has become a very good protector of the ball, rarely turning it over, even setting the 49ers franchise record for passes in a row without an interception.

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The Giants defense was also able to hold the vaunted 49ers rushing offense in check, not allowing them to break the century mark and limiting them to 87 yards, holding them 89 yards under their normal output of 176 yards per game.

These are the kind of wins that are staples of long winning streaks and the Giants looked poised to start one of their own.  Sitting on two wins in a row, the Giants head into two straight divisional match-ups with a ton of momentum.  The first of those match-ups is Sunday afternoon back at MetLife Stadium as the Giants will face off against Robert Griffin III for the first time.  The Giants will look to beat the Redskins for their first division win of the season.

What to Watch For: New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Sunday, September 30, 2012

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles

What to Watch For

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The Giants and Eagles will look to renew their rivalry tonight for the first time this season in primetime on Sunday Night Football.  This is a huge game for both teams, as the next time they meet will be the last week of the regular season.  Which ever team gets the win tonight will at worst keep pace with the Cowboys for first place in the division.

-Will the Giants Run Game Continue?

Ahmad Bradshaw will be making his return to the starting lineup tonight after missing last weeks game with what has been described as a “bulge” and “inflamed disk” in his neck.  While being out, Andre Brown has more than filled the void, rushing for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games.  He has also given help in the passing game, adding five receptions and 36 yards.

Head coach Tom Coughlin and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride both said the Giants would ride the hot hand in the game, so it will be interesting to see how the carries are divvied up. Brown has earned an expanded role in the offense and the more successful the Giants are running the ball, the less time Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and the Eagles offense is on the field.

-LeSean McCoy vs. Osi Umenyiora

McCoy and Umenyiora will be continuing their rivalry tonight the first time the Eagles take the field.  They have developed a beef with each other that has been very public with a lot of the action taking place on twitter and through interviews.

The back and forth resembles something you would see on Monday Night Raw and seems playful, but McCoy and Umenyiora genuinely dislike each other.  Hopefully they meet each other tonight on the field and Umenyiora and the Giants can keep McCoy in check.

-Return to Where it All Began

Victor Cruz will be making his second appearance in Philadelphia, this time though as a starter.  Week three in Philadelphia is when Cruz burst onto the scene and the salsa touchdown dance was born thanks to a two touchdown performance against All-Pro Nnamdi Asomugha.

Hakeem Nicks is again out with injury, so Cruz will be asked to step up once again and build off his success against the Eagles after catching nine balls for 238 yards against them last year.  Look for Ramses Barden to also build off of his career and breakout performance against the Panthers in week 3, earning his second start in a row. 

-Keep Up the Pressure

Michael Vick has been getting beaten up this season and the Giants need to continue that trend.  The Giants had success last season because they hit Vick every chance presented to them, hitting him hard so that he remembers them and becomes more skittish.

Vick has more turnovers alone this season than every team in the NFL outside of the two.  He has thrown six interceptions and fumbled five times while losing three.  The Giants were able to lay a licking on Cam Newton last week and will have to try and do the same this week with the more fragile Vick. 

If the front led by Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Umenyiora can put pressure on Vick it will make the job of the rest of the defense that much easier.

The Giants-Eagles rivalry has been one-sided for the most part recently, with the Eagles taking seven of the last eight meetings including the 2008 playoff game.  It will not be easy for the Giants to turn around their fortunes, but if they want to win the NFC East they will have to beat the Eagles at least once if not twice.  

What to Watch For: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

What to Watch For

The NFL regular season will be underway Wednesday night when the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants welcomes the Dallas Cowboys to MetLife Stadium.  The division rivals ended the regular season last year with a 31-14 Giants win and will continue the rivalry tonight.  Here are some things to watch out for during tonight’s game.

-Replacement Referees

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The NFL and the referees are in a labor dispute, meaning replacement refs will be used tonight.  With it being a primetime game, the best crew of replacement refs will be assigned to the game, but even the best replacement refs are not as good as the worst regular refs.  It will be something to watch for as these replacements will have to show a backbone when faced with adversity like a coach such as Tom Coughlin yelling at them at the sidelines.

Another thing that has a high chance of happening is a lot of calls being made that maybe should not have been.  With being under a microscope and every move them make to be picked apart, the replacement refs are more likely to air on the side of caution then not; this could make for a very choppy game stopped by a lot of penalties as the refs try to keep control over the game.  Also, the replacement refs have had trouble with the pace of the game, placing the ball on the wrong hashes and not being able to figure out first downs.  With the regular season now upon us, this will have to be fixed as teams will be running two-minute drills at the end of halves and games and some teams run a no-huddle offense.

Referee crews and coaching staffs usually build a rapport with each other, something these replacements will not have the luxury of.  When Ed Hochuli’s crew is working a game, you know what to expect from them; the calls they are going to make and the way they go about working the game.  This in turn means you can prepare your players better.  Tonight, each team will go in blind and have to just make adjustments as the game goes on. 

-Giants Left Tackle (Sean Locklear) vs. DeMarcus Ware

Sean Locklear will get the start tonight at left tackle for the Giants after having a solid preseason filling in for the injured Will Beatty who is suffering from a back injury.  Beatty is listed as questionable for the game tonight and could see the field as an extra blocker. 

Locklear will be under the microscope tonight, as left tackle will be a position to watch all season if Beatty can not get healthy.  This could develop into the biggest area of concern for the Giants, especially against someone with the talent of DeMarcus Ware.

Ware averages almost a sack a game in his career against the Giants, so holding him to none tonight would be quite the achievement for Locklear.  The Giants cannot expect that to happen though, so expect the Giants to give Locklear some extra help with the pass rush.  Two tight end sets are an option, as well as Ahmad Bradshaw seeing some third-down duty as he is a good pass protector.

-Giants Pass Rush vs. Cowboys Offensive Line

The Giants have made Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo’s life miserable when they play on the field.  In two games alone last year, the Giants got to Romo for nine sacks and hitting him on countless other possessions.

Jason Pierre-Paul was a monster against the Cowboys last season, accounting for two sacks, a safety, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal on a potential overtime forcing kick to secure a 37-34 Giants win. 

Pierre-Paul is only one of the players the Cowboys will have to worry about, as the Giants have a three-headed monster at the defensive end position when you add in Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

Stopping these three will be nearly impossible for the Cowboys, but one way for them to counter it is with a strong running game.  If the Cowboys can get a running game going with Demarco Murray, it will slow down the vaunted Giants pass rush.

-Giants Wide Receivers vs. Cowboys Re-Vamped Defensive Backs

Last season, the defensive backfield for the Cowboys was a mess, so this season they made a point of emphasis to change that.  Welcome in free agent signing Brandon Carr and first round draft pick Morris Claiborne.  They will be tested right out of the gate, as the Giants employ one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL.

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Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz are weapons that Eli Manning will look to get the ball to early and often.  Nicks and Cruz will look to continue their dominance against the Cowboys, as they combined for 25 catches, 491 yards and two touchdowns in two match-ups last season. 

Carr started the trash talking earlier in the year, saying that his arrival in Dallas means there will be no more salsa dancing for Cruz.  That is more bulletin board material for Cruz and the Giants, as if they needed any more of a reason to be fired up for an opening night game against a division rival. 

-Giants Defensive Backs vs. Cowboy Receivers

The Giants defensive secondary suffered major blows during training camp, losing starting corner back after starting corner back.  First, Terrell Thomas was lost for the season after re-aggravating his torn left ACL in the first week of practice.  In the second game of the preseason, rookie Jayron Hosley suffered a turf toe injury and was put in a walking boot.  Game three of the preseason the Giants saw Prince Amukamara, expected to step up this season by Giants personnel, hurt his ankle and be put on the shelf for a few weeks.

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This means that veteran but sparingly used Michael Coe will be starting opposite of Corey Webster.  Coe will be asked to take on the monumental task of slowing down either Dez Bryant or Miles Austin.  Coe will have his hands full, but at the same time as a great opportunity to show the Giants that he is a player worth keeping around. 

All of the injuries also mean that covering the slot could be a potential problem for the Giants.  Safety Antrel Rolle may have to come up in coverage, unless the Giants feel comfortable enough using rookie safety Will Hill or Hosley.  The job of these cornerbacks will become that much easier if the Giants front seven is able to get the pass rush they are capable of getting.

Giants Hammer Jets, Win MetLife Bowl

Saturday, August 18^th 2012

Final Score: New York Giants: 26 New York Jets: 3

Giants Hammer Jets, Win MetLife Bowl

The Jets are again making all the noise in New York during the off-season, but were reminded by the Giants who the defending champs were Saturday night as the Giants dominated the Jets on all fronts en route to a 26-3 win. 

It was only a preseason game, which is good for the Jets as they struggled throughout every facet of the game, being the only team in the NFL to not score an offensive touchdown yet.  As for the Giants, they are looking to almost be in midseason form.

The defensive front for the Giants was on all night, as Jason Pierre-Paul looked great, getting two sacks.  The Giants made mince meat of Jets tackle Wayne Hunter, with Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck each getting in on the fun with half a sack to add to JPP’s total. 

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The game wasn’t perfect for the Giants, who had to settle for four Lawrence Tynes field goals.  Head coach Tom Coughlin would like to see the offense execute better once the regular season comes around, but this is a time to just fine tune things and keep players healthy.

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Health became a concern last night for the Giants, who had multiple players suffer injuries in the game.  Ahmad Bradshaw was forced from the game after the first series with an injury to his hand.  It was believed to be serious at first, but the x-rays came back negative and he just iced his hand on the sideline for the remainder of the game. 

Backup linebacker Mark Herzlich also suffered an injury, getting only a few plays in before encountering a hip pointer and leaving in the third quarter.  Backup defensive end Adrian Tracy also suffered an injury in the third quarter, being forced from the game with a hamstring injury.  Both players have had good preseason for the Giants, so getting them back on the field would be beneficial for all parties.   

Jayron Hosley had a strong game for the Giants, intercepting Mark Sanchez and returning it for a 77-yard touchdown in the second quarter; but was seen in a walking boot after the game.  It was Hosley’s biggest game and it ended in such a disappointing fashion.  He will undergo tests Sunday to see just how bad the injury truly is.

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With Bradshaw out, D.J. Ware got an increased workload for the game, but was unable to make anything of it.  Ware was only able to muster 15 yards on 11 carries behind below averaging blocking as there were often no holes to run through. 

David Wilson had a less than stellar night, but was the most successful at running the ball for the Giants, gaining 26 yards on eight carries.  Da’Rel Scott made his first appearance of the preseason, gaining seven yards on three carries while Andre Brown rounded out the running game Saturday night with 10 yards on four carries.

The Virginia Tech products Hosley and Wilson had strong performances again as mentioned, showing the abilities that the Giants had hoped they would bring to the table.  Not to be outdone was second round pick Rueben Randle.  Randle made the most of his limited opportunities by reeling in a 49-yard deep pass from David Carr, making an impressive jumping reception over the Jets defensive back.

Victor Cruz may not have had a 99-yard touchdown reception this time around, but the Jets were still unable to contain him.  Cruz opened the game just missing a deep reception down the sideline over Darrelle Revis, one of a few times Eli Manning and Cruz were unable to connect.  Cruz also took a big shot from Jets safety LaRon Landry, but was able to hold on and give the first down signal when he popped up.  Cruz was targeted often and reeled in five receptions for 51 yards in a half of work.

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Cruz tore the Jets up Saturday night, as him and Manning have just continued to build amazing chemistry with each other since Hakeem Nicks has been sidelined.  Nicks should resume practicing this week, giving Manning yet another weapon to use.    

The Giants will continue their preseason next Friday against the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium.

New York Giants Camp Preview: Defensive Line

A new NFL season is right around the corner as training camp is quickly approaching.  Leading up to the start of training camp, we will have a run down position-by-position for the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. 

The first position we will take a look at is the defensive line.

The projected starters along the defensive line are Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Chris Canty and Linval Joseph.  Projected reserves expected to make an impact are ends Osi Umenyiora, Justin Trattou and Adrian Tracy and at tackle Rocky Bernard, Marvin Austin, and Shaun Rogers. 

The new additions to the line are Rogers and Markus Kuhn, as the Giants saw defensive end Dave Tollefson and defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy leave.

The player to watch out of this group is Pierre-Paul.  Pierre-Paul had a breakout season in 2011-2012, racking up 16.5 sacks.  He joined Michael Strahan and Lawrence Taylor as the only Giants to ever get 16 or more sacks in a season.  Pierre-Paul will have all eyes on him as teammates and opponents will be looking out to see if he can have another successful season piggybacking off his first Pro Bowl appearance.

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Duplicating his previous season will be no small task for Pierre-Paul, who made big plays on more than just defense.  Giant fans have fond memories of Pierre-Paul blocking the Dallas Cowboys field goal attempt to seal a win.  

It is scary to think that Pierre-Paul is still coming into his own and growing as an NFL player.  He is just still scratching the surface of his potential and it will be interesting to see how he grows and develops this season against teams that will surely be game-planning against him this season.

The Giants have arguably the best pass rush in the NFL and there is no reason to believe this strength will change this coming season.  Umenyiora for the first time in what seems forever will actually be in camp not complaining about his contract after agreeing to a restructuring earlier in the off-season.  Tuck has fixed his shoulder which gave him problems last season and is highly motivated to reach the level of play he is accustomed to playing at before injuries ravaged him.  JPP is an emerging star and factor in Mathias Kiwanuka being a situational pass rusher, the pass rush of the Giants remains their biggest strength nest to Eli Manning.

With every great thing, there is almost always a negative to follow and the same goes for the Giants defensive line.  Stopping the run is potentially a problem for this unit; opponents topped the 100 yard mark in 11 of 16 regular season games.  Canty and Joseph are solid tackles and with Bernard back and Austin returning after missing his whole rookie season should help shore up the run defense.  Rogers is a veteran and can handle himself.  The use of more linebackers on the field should also help in stopping the run game, as the Giants should look like a more traditional defense this season using three linebackers instead of three safeties.

The wild card of this group is Marvin Austin.  Austin has not played in a football game in two seasons, having to sit out his last year at North Carolina University and suffering an injury his rookie season in camp.  The Giants are eager to see what they have in Austin, as they used a second round pick on him last year with the thinking that he was a first round talent had it not been for the NCAA violations.  Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is excited to add Austin into the mix, saying he adds a dimension to the team with quickness that could proof troublesome for offensive lineman from the defensive tackle position.  

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New York Giants Select TE Adrien Robinson in 4th Round

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With the 127^th pick, 32^nd pick of the 4^th round in the 2012 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Tight End, Adrian Robinson out of Cincinnati University.  This pick helps fill a need that the Giants have while adding another weapon to an already impressive passing attack.  With starting tight end Jake Ballard and backup Travis Beckum both getting hurt in the Super Bowl adding a tight end was a good move even with the addition of Martellus Bennett in free agency.

Robinson is 6’4” tall and weighs 267 pounds.  Robinson, unlike the last three picks made by the Giants, does not have much of a track record in his four years at Cincinnati.  He had 12 receptions for 183 yards and three touchdowns last season, and totaled only 29 catches in hi four seasons.  What really has intrigued the Giants is athleticism and “untapped” potential.  Robinson is being likened as the “JPP of tight ends.”  There is no better team that Robinson could have ended up on, as the Giants and Tight End coach Mike Pope are some of the best in the business at developing tight ends.  The track record of Pope has been good, developing undrafted free agents Jake Ballard and Bear Pascoe into starters recently. 

Marc Ross, director of college scouting for the Giants, said that Robinson is a former high school basketball player.  That is the new thing for teams to look for in tight ends, as Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez and Jimmy Graham to name a few all had basketball backgrounds before picking football. 

One scouts take on Robinson is, “Above-average athlete but needs polish with routes.  Possesses the top-end speed to run away from defenders with flag, seam and crossing routes.  Has the experience and is effective lining up flexed out.  Possesses long arms and a big frame that provides him with a wide catching radius.”

Another scout says, “Soft hands and catch the ball naturally away from his body.  Underrated athlete that has above-average body control to adjust to throws outside of strike zone.  Possesses the initial burst and top-end speed to stretch the middle of the field and factor in down the deep seams.  Flashes a competitive edge and not afraid to mix it up.  Could do a better job of sustaining blocks but effort is not the issue.”

This was a great addition for the Giants.  It gives them another healthy body at tight end, which they needed, and a potential problem for other teams.  Robinson will have an opportunity to show what he is made of with Beckum possibly not being ready to start the season and Ballard not returning until maybe half-way through the season if he returns at all. 

Pope is the best in the business in developing tight ends and should have a blast working with someone dripping with potential such as Robinson.  Ballard is obviously less gifted athletically than Robinson and Pope along with Eli Manning and the coaching staff made it work.  At the very least, Robinson adds depth for this season with potential to have an impact the more work he has. 

“We really think this guy has a huge upside,” GM Jerry Reese said.  “He is a big, big man [with] long arms.  He didn’t catch a lot of balls for them.  But he is kind of a late bloomer who has really come on.  And we think this guy is kind of a ‘JPP’ of tight ends.  We like these kind of people.”

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 “He is just a big, gigantic man with long arms,” Reese explained in comparing Robinson to JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul).  “He has got those freakish athletic numbers.  When we got Jason [Pierre-Paul] we said, ‘This guy hasn’t scratched the surface.’  And Jason still has a lot of learning to do [and] continuing to grow.  This kid [Robinson] hasn’t scratched the surface yet.  He has a chance to be really something, we think.”

New York Giants Select RB David Wilson

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With the 32^nd pick in the First Round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Running Back, David Wilson of Virginia Tech.  The Giants were in need of a running back after Brandon Jacobs left this off-season and signed with the San Francisco 49ers, so drafting Wilson not only added talent but filled a need.  This is the earliest the Giants have taken a running back since drafting Ron Dayne out of Wisconsin in the first round in 2000.

Wilson is 5’9” tall and weighs 206 pounds.  Wilson has big-play ability, which is something the Giants rushing game sorely lacked this past season.  He had runs of 51, 68 and 57yards long in the last three seasons at Virginia Tech.  Another thing the Giants liked is the overall production Wilson had.  Last season he ran for 1,709 yards and nine touchdowns, breaking the 100 yard mark in 10 separate games, tying the Virginia Tech single-season record.  He also added 22 receptions of out the backfield for 129 yards and a touchdown.  All in all, Wilson ended the season with 2,253 all purpose yards and was a first team All-American. 

That may be what the Giants actually covet most and could be the big reason why the Giants selected Wilson.  He is a more than capable return man, going for 1,324 kickoff return yards and two touchdowns in his three years at Virginia Tech.  Wilson offers the Giants another option to the backfield and can bring some excitement to the return game as well, two areas in which the team struggled in last season. 

Wilson should be able to come in and compete for the backup job behind starter Ahmad Bradshaw right away.  He provides the team with depth and more insurance incase Bradshaw is unable to make it through the season and his feet begin to act up again.  The potential is there for Wilson to be very successful with the Giants as the main backup option and primary kick returner. 

There are some things that Wilson will have to work on, as like any rookie coming into the NFL out of college.  As Tom Coughlin said, “Needs some work in some of the other areas – pass protection and that kind of thing, as do a lot of these young guys.  And also the question comes up about ball security and we’ll remind him of that right away.” Wilson’s had problems with sometimes holding onto the ball, fumbling seven times last year, losing the ball four of the times.  Luckily for him, Coughlin has been pretty good at fixing that problem with running backs in the past.

“He’s the kind of guy that we felt would add very much to our present situation in terms of big play potential,” Coughlin said.  “He’s one of the guys that has the speed and maneuverability to make the big play and that’s what was very important to us at this time.”

“We’re looking at the fact that Brandon [Jacobs] is no longer here and we do have to try to balance that out,” Coughlin would later add.  “We believe that you do have to have multiple runners or at least two that can effectively take the field at any time, and this young man we thought was one of those that can be a big play threat.”

Jerry Reese would admit that there were many options available for the Giants when they were on the clock that they were not expecting to be there.  But he was quick to say that Wilson was their guy.  They had him as the second rated running back behind Trent Richardson and when their pick came around Wilson’s name was atop the board.  Reese seemed to be very happy with the pick while being interviewed afterwards.  “

“Terrific football player,” Reese said.  “This guy loves to play football.  He is fast, he is productive, he can do anything you want him to do.  He can catch the ball and return kicks.  He is a good piece to put in our running back stable.” 

There are not many people who can rival the athleticism of Wilson, who is able to do more than a dozen back flips.  The Giants actually have one of the few people who can in Jason Pierre-Paul who is a renowned acrobat in his own right.  The Giants have fared pretty well so far with Pierre-Paul and can only hope Wilson can bring the same type of impact. 

Here are the videos of Wilson and Pierre-Paul showing off their athleticism.