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.

Eagles Hold Off Comeback, Drop Giants

Sunday, September 30 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Giants: 17 Philadelphia Eagles: 20

Eagles Hold Off Comeback, Drop Giants

It was another classic game in the rivalry between the Giants and Eagles that ended in a way becoming too commonplace for Giants fans.  The Giants were outplayed and lost a heartbreaking game, giving them nine losses in the last 10 games including the playoffs. 

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The Giants had their opportunity to win, as Eli Manning put the Giants ahead half way through the fourth quarter, but the Giants defense could not contain the Eagles offense.  Manning put the Giants in place for a game winning field goal from Lawrence Tynes, but had them in better position before a questionable throw to Ramses Barden that resulted in 10-yard offensive pass interference on Barden.

Manning had a good game, but had an opportunity to make it an excellent game if not for some uncharacteristic mistakes by the usually calm and cool-mannered Manning.  Manning started the fourth quarter with an ugly interception, not seeing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on a pass intended for Martellus Bennett.  The Eagles converted that turnover into a field goal, giving them a 16-10 lead.  That was a big shift in the game, as it was at least a six point swing, potentially 10 as the Giants were banging on the door of the end zone.

Manning was able to redeem himself following the Eagles’ field goal, as he manufactured an 83 yard drive on five plays, giving the Giants a 17-16 lead.  Manning hit both Barden and Domenik Hixon for big plays, ending the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Bear Pascoe.

After the defense was unable to hold the Eagles scoreless, Manning had his shot to win the game.  Manning was able to drive the Giants down to the Eagles 27 yard line thanks to two pass interference calls against the Eagles trying to guard Barden.

Manning went to the well one too many times, attempting another deep pass to Barden on the sidelines, this time resulting in an offensive pass interference and moving the Giants back to the Eagles 37 yard line, setting up Tynes for a 54 yard field goal instead of 44. 

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It was a moment of lapse in judgment for Manning, who if given the opportunity would definitely do it different next time.  The Giants were already in field goal range for Tynes, so the deep pass was unnecessary; a running play to set up Tynes in the middle of the field would have sufficed. Also, Barden was well covered and was put into a bad position by Manning, who took responsibility saying it was not the correct throw. 

The penalty also put the Giants in a tough position, as they had no timeouts remaining and with only 15 seconds left in the game.  Running a play was too risky, as it was third down so the Giants would not have been able to spike the ball to stop the clock and if the player was unable to get out of bounds the game would have been over.

People will criticize head coach Tom Coughlin for the decision, but he made the correct decision in my opinion because he at least gave his team a chance to win the game with the 54 yard kick.  Had he ran another play, Tynes may not have even had an opportunity to kick.

Manning was missing his best weapon in Hakeem Nicks for the second straight game, but saw a big performance from Hixon in his place.  Hixon led the Giants in receiving tonight, gaining 114 yards on six receptions.  Hixon stepped up much in the way Barden did last week against the Panthers.  Even with the strong performance by Hixon, Manning and Giant fans alike are anxious to see Nicks return to the field.

The secondary became even more of a mess tonight; yet another starter went down with injury.  The Giants entered the game without rookie Jayron Hosley, who had a hamstring injury and Kenny Phillips suffered a gruesome looking knee injury in the first half and was replace by Stevie Brown.  Michael Coe and Antrel Rolle were dealing with hamstring and knee injuries entering the game, but were active.  Corey Webster was also active even with a broken left hand. 

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The Giants secondary is decimated and losing Phillips would be the most devastating blow of the bunch.  Terrell Thomas being lost in training camp hurts, but Phillips is who sets up the defense and is an intimidating presence in the defensive backfield.  He is a leader out there and the Giants were visibly affected after he left the game, becoming gun shy against the speedy Eagles’ offense.

The Giants return to MetLife Stadium for their week five game against the Cleveland Browns.  This has trap game written all over it, as the Giants have a huge match-up with the San Francisco 49ers in week six.  After the loss tonight though, full confidence should be stored in Coughlin and the coaching staff to come out strong against a very young and inexperienced Browns team.

Giants De-Claw Panthers in Rout

Thursday, September 20 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Giants: 36 Carolina Panthers: 7

Giants De-Claw Panthers in Rout

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The underdog, down and out team is what the Giants make a living off of and Thursday was no different.  Facing and up and coming Carolina Panthers squad on short rest and decimated by injuries, the Giants rallied together and hammered the Panthers 36-7.  The Giants dominated every facet of the game, putting on an impressive display even faced with the challenge of overcoming so many injuries.

Heading in the game, the Giants were without Hakeem Nicks, Ahmad Bradshaw, David Diehl, Domenik Hixon and Michael Coe, all major contributors so far this season.  That did not matter Thursday night, as the Giants were able to get out to a quick start and had their replacements step up and fill the voids left.

Unlike the first two games of the season, the Giants were able to get off to a fast start that fired up the whole team.  The Giants trailed for most, if not all, of their first two games of the season, being down 14-3 against Dallas in the opener and 24-13 at the half against Tampa Bay; Thursday was a different story as the Giants scored on their first four possessions putting their opponent in the early hole for a change.

Eli Manning was the driving force in scoring on the first four possessions, as he led methodical drives that just sapped all of the energy out of the Panthers defense and the crowd.  With the help of a suddenly lively ground game thanks to Bradshaw’s replacement Andre Brown, Manning was able to pick apart the Panthers secondary with doctor like precision. 

The 25 point fourth quarter against the Buccaneers from Sunday seemed to fuel the Giants Thursday night, as they carried over all the momentum and stunned what was expected to be a game Carolina Panthers squad.

The offense had the added dimension of a running game tonight thanks to Bradshaw replacement Brown.  Making his first career start in front of family and friends, as Brown is from North Carolina, the results were outstanding.  Brown ran for 96 yards in the first half alone, hitting the hole hard and finishing off runs by running through and over Panther defenders. 

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Brown also excelled around the goal line, a place the Giants have been struggling.  Brown scored two touchdowns, finishing with 113 yards on 20 carries on the night.  He also added three receptions for 17 yards.  Brown gives the Giants a very nice change of pace back once Bradshaw returns and a reliable option it would seem if Bradshaw is out for an extended period of time.

Ramses Barden got the call in replacing Nicks and stepped up big time.  The 6’6” former third round pick has never been able to show what he can do on the field, but tonight showed glimpses of the abilities that he has. 

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Barden had struggled to get on the field because of injuries and an inability to break press coverage, but he took full advantage of the opportunity placed before him and had a monster game in place of Nicks.  Barden finished with nine receptions for 138 yards, seven of which came in a break out first half in which the Giants took control.

The effort put forth by Barden was huge, as he gave Manning another option behind Victor Cruz.  The performance will also benefit Barden in the long run, as he showed tonight that he is a capable performer and can handle more playing time in the case another injury happens and while Hixon is still recovering from his concussion.

The offense was able to click and run so smoothly because of the play of the offensive line.  Manning was virtually untouched outside of a late third quarter sack and the running game hasn’t seen holes opened up like that in quite some time.  Will Beatty started at left tackle with Sean Locklear at right tackle with the injury to Diehl and were able to keep Manning up right and get the running game going.

Jayron Hosley stepped up again, as his progression and playing time have had to be accelerated because of injuries in the secondary. 

Hosley put pressure on Cam Newton with corner blitzes and had an impressive interception of Newton after a pass went of wide receiver Brandon LaFell’s hand. 

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Unfortunately, Hosley was forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury, just adding to the injury list for the Giants.  Hosley was not the only defensive back to get injured, as Antrel Rolle had to be taken to the locker room in the fourth quarter after banging his knee on a camera and Corey Webster broke a bone in his left hand but as able to return.  The Giants can not afford any more injuries in the secondary even with Prince Amukamara having made his debut this week.

Not to be lost in the shuffle was the performance of Martellus Bennett, as he had six receptions for 73 yards and another touchdown.  Bennett has scored a touchdown in his first three games as a Giant, the first time a player has accomplished such a feat in Giants franchise history.

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Lawrence Tynes also had a strong game for the Giants, as he continued his perfect season going 5 for 5 on field goals and knocking all three of his extra points in as well.  Tynes performance will be overlooked by many people, but he played a key part in the victory as he was able to keep adding points on the board for the Giants and keep the pressure on the Panthers, never allowing them to build any momentum.

The Giants will get some much needed rest heading into their next game against Mike Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football September 30^th. 

New York Giants Camp Preview: Defensive Backs

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 third position we will take a look at is defensive back.

The projected defensive starting backs are Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas at cornerback and Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle at safety.  Expected reserves to make an impact at cornerback are Jayron Hosley, Prince Amukamara, Michael Coe and Justin Tryon; at safety Tyler Sash and Stevie Brown are expected to see playing time.

New additions to the secondary this season are Hosley, Brown, cornerback Antwaun Molden, safeties Will Hill and JoJo Nicolas and defensive backs Janzen Jackson and Dante Hughes.

There are a few members from last year’s unit that will not be returning this season in Aaron Ross, Will Blackmon, Derrick Martin and Deon Grant.  Grant has the best chance of returning, as he is a great locker room presence and had such a positive impact on the Giants the last few seasons.

The player to watch out of the defensive backs is Terrell Thomas.  Thomas has been cleared for training camp and avoided a scare early on suffering a slight injury to his ACL.  Last season Thomas suffered his second career ACL tear after having an outstanding camp and looking poised to really breakout.  Thomas will upgrade the Giants defensive back unit greatly if he can return to where he was before the ACL injury; Thomas led the Giants defense in tackles the previous two seasons.

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The potential for the defensive backs to be a strength for the Giants is there.  It will be a competitive unit throughout camp and barring injury can be deep.  Coe and Tyron shined during OTA’s and mini-camps according to Thomas, as they took up snaps he left behind while taking it slowly with his injury.  General Manger Jerry Reese also added some talent with Brown, Molden and Horton being signed in addition to drafting Hosley.  Cornerback Brandon Bing also received praise from defensive coordinator Perry Fewell for his play throughout OTA’s.

Another thing to watch for is the development of Amukamara.  Amukamara injured his foot in his second career practice last season and was never able to get back on track, struggling throughout the season.  He will benefit from a full training camp and preseason this time around.  If he is unable to bounce back, look for veterans Coe and Tryon to pick up the slack and possibly Bruce Johnson, who is returning from his own season ending injury. 

Health is the biggest deterrent for this group.  Thomas, Coe, Tryon and Johnson are all returning from season-ending injuries.  Thomas already suffered a scare in camp and if he is unable to return to form the Giants will need someone to step up after Aaron Ross left to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Amukamara needed an injection in his foot to strengthen it after missing over half of last season.  With Grant remaining unsigned, the Giants are also without valuable experience and leadership in the locker room.

The wild card of this group is Amukamara.  He was brought in with high expectations as the Giants were shocked to see him fall to them in the 2011 NFL Draft with the 19^th pick.  Most of his rookie year was lost because of his foot injury and the lockout being in place but a full off-season should benefit him.  He was drafted with the expectation of being a starting cornerback for the Giants in the near future; that future could be as early as this season as he will have to take over for the departed Ross and will be first in line to take over if Thomas is unable to perform.  

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New York Giants Draft Preview: Secondary

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This is the 9^th and final installment of posts breaking down the Giants position by position for the upcoming NFL Draft.  The last position is the secondary.

Currently, the Giants have Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Prince Amukamara, Antwaun Molden, Bruce Johnson, Brian Witherspoon, Michael Coe, Justin Tryon and Brandon Bing at corner back on the depth chart.  At safety, the Giants currently have Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips, Tyler Sash, Stevie Brown, Chris Horton and Chad Jones on the depth chart.  Currently un-signed from last season for the Giants is Deon Grant, Will Blackmon and Derrick Martin.

Most moves made by the Giants so far this off-season has come in the secondary, albeit they were minor ones.  Thomas was re-signed after suffering an ACL injury during the preseason last year.  The Giants are hoping he can return to his old form as Thomas was really starting to come into his own along side Corey Webster.  Amukamara is looking to improve off what was a disappoint rookie season that was derailed by injury from the start.  Amukamara broke a bone in his foot in his second practice last off-season, and is looking to bounce back.  Recently, Amukamara received an injection to help the foot heal, but should be ready by the time training camp roles around.  Having him healthy would be a huge benefit as the Giants could use some help at cornerback after Aaron Ross left this off-season to join the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Molden, Brown and Horton were added mostly for depth.  All three have potential to help the team on special teams since cracking the rotation will be tough.  Johnson, Coe and Tryon were all re-signed from last season.  The secondary, even though from the looks is deep, has its question marks.  Thomas, Johnson, Coe, Witherspoon and Tryon all suffered season ending injuries, so no one knows for sure how effective they will be once training camps open up. 

Rolle and Phillips return for the Giants this season, giving the Giants one of the best safety combinations in the NFL.  Popular veteran Deon Grant though still remains unsigned and it remains to be seen what the Giants do with him.  His veteran leadership is a quality that would not hurt the Giants adding.  There is a possibility the Giants bring him into the fold later in the off-season, but they do like what they have in last years 6^th round pick Tyler Sash.  Adding linebacker Keith Rivers may make Grant expendable also because he should not need to use three safeties on the field together as much. 

Chad Jones suffered injuries in a horrific car accident after being selected by the Giants in 2010.  The accident almost cost Jones his life and left leg, but he is attempting to return this off-season.  If Jones is able to return and give the Giants anything, it would be considered a huge bonus.  Jones is an inspiration to everyone in the organization attempting a comeback from such a life changing experience. 

The last time the Giants went secondary in the draft was last year, when they selected Amukamara in the first round out of Nebraska and Sash in the sixth round out of Iowa.  The Giants have been taking a look at a number defensive backs and it makes sense. 

The front office will have a lot of decisions to make after this season, having only six defensive backs under contract past this year (Webster, Amukamara, Thomas, Rolle, Sash and Jones).  The Giants would like to retain Phillips as his contract is up this season, but you never know.  Reese always has an eye on the future, which is what the draft is for so seeing the Giants take some secondary players would be a surprise to no one.  The fact they have so many players returning from injuries is also a concern and reason for the Giants to look secondary in this year’s draft. 

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There are a number of options for the Giants in the draft this year.  If Notre Dame Safety Harrison Smith is there at 32, the Giants will have to take a long hard look at him.  Another player to keep an eye on is Dre Kirkpatrick out of Alabama.  He has told the Giants they will need to trade up to get him, but there are a few people that think he may be in for a fall down the draft board.  Janoris Jenkins formerly of Florida University, out of Northern Alabama comes with a lot of baggage but is highly talented.  ProFootballTalk.com has said that the Giants have had Arizona State cornerback Omar Bolden for two visits, so keep an eye out for him on draft day. 

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With so many question marks surrounding the secondary this season and into the future, it would seem like drafting a cornerback or safety would be a logical move.  I would place the necessity for a player in the secondary to be drafted at a 5 for the Giants.

So there it is the last installment of the NFL Draft preview for the New York Football Giants.  Leave comments to let us know what you thought of the coverage and how you think we did.  Hope you all enjoy watching the draft this weekend.