The True Blue Review

Brad Van Pelt (1951-2009)

2009-02-18T15:21:00.005-05:00

The New York Giants family lost a member today when Brad Van Pelt passed away at the age of 57 of an apparent heart attack.

Van Pelt, who was a member of the famed "crunch bunch" made five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances from 1976-1980. He has 24.5 career sacks and 20 interceptions. Upon being drafted from Michigan State, the Giants turned Van Pelt into a linebacker, where #10 found his niche.

In 2005 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Brad Van Pelt is one of my personal favorite Giants. I had the pleasure of meeting him on the sidelines prior to the Giants playing Denver a few years back, when his son Bradlee was a backup for the Broncos. He was a warm and sincere man. It is almost amazing to think that he was this fearsome player on the field, and had such a calm demeanor off the field.

I am also lucky enough to have his autograph on my wall. This autograph is not a normal autograph. In perfect script, he wrote a paragraph. For Van Pelt, a simple "all the best" would not suffice.

Tremendous on the field, and off the field as well, today the Giants lost an esteemed member of their organization. Though he just saw one winning season in his time with the Giants, he gave his all for the team.

Brad, you were one hell of a great Giant.

BVP #10- A Giant amongst men.

Coming Monday

2009-01-17T18:50:00.003-05:00

A big update is on the way on Monday since I will be back and situated at school. Some of the features include:

-Season Review

- Look at the roster for 2009

- Unveiling my new plan for the Giants defense, a switch to the 3-4

- How the Giants can live without Plaxico

Spagnuolo Leaves

2009-01-17T17:26:00.001-05:00

Haven't gotten around to the big post that i've wanted to write, but I will once I get settled in with school on Monday.

Steve Spagnuolo is the new head coach of the St. Louis Rams. The Giants will need to fill the d-coordinator position and hope that the new person can mirror the success of Spagnuolo.

Seems like there are going to be a lot of new faces come 2009 for the Giants.

The Magic Runs Out

2009-01-11T19:45:00.001-05:00

The offense was, for a lack of better terms, offensive. Certainly Eli deserves some of the blame, but this was a culmination of a lot of things in regard to the offense.

A lot more later on the 23-11 loss that sends the Giants packing without a postseason win this season.

And So They Meet Again

2009-01-11T00:47:00.002-05:00

There is one thing that has been already decided. The winner of tomorrow's game will take on the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game. The only other thing we know for certain is that tomorrow will be an extremely physical battle.

The Eagles are hot, but the Giants feel they also have a lot to prove. This game is going to come down to which running back has more success. If Brian Wesbrook runs wild like he did last game, then the Eagles will be victorious. If Brandon Jacobs, who is now fully healthy gets going on the ground, then it will be the Giants who move on.

When the Giants have the ball:
The Giants game plan against Philadelphia will be quite simple. Big Blue is going to try to pound out yardage with Brandon Jacobs, and then throw in Derrick Ward as well as some play action passing. The success of Jacobs is crucial to the outcome of the game, because if he is able to be effective, it will open up much more for the offense. If the Eagles are able to contain Jacobs then it will put a lot of pressure on Eli Manning and the passing game. I would certainly expect the Giants to try to establish the deep threat again to Dominik Hixon, and hopefully he catches one this time. Eli tends to spread the ball around against blitzing teams like the Eagles, so it is crucial for Amani Toomer and Steve Smith to contribute, especially on third downs.

The Eagles love to bring pressure up the middle, and while it is hard to try and step up and throw into that blitz, the middle of the field is there for the Giants taking. Quick slants and in routes could certainly result in some big catch and runs if the Giants catch the Eagles blitzing. Kevin Boss should also be involved because with he will be many times matched up with a linebacker, or released to a safety down the field, which should allow him to find some open space. Really as much as the passing game does need to find success, it all comes down to just how well the Giants run the ball. Brandon Jacobs seems to have a huge chip on his shoulder, and now that he is finally healthy he is poised for a big day. He better be ready to get hit hard and often in this one.

When the Giants are on defense:
The biggest concern for Big Blue on defense is stopping Brian Westbrook. Reports are that he not only has a bad ankle, but is also nursing a swollen knee. If that is the case, the Giants need to hit him hard early and hopefully take him off of his game from the get go. Certainly, they cannot allow #36 to gash them for big gains like he did in the last game. With all things considered, despite how bad the Giants played on offense, minus those two big touchdowns by Westbrook, the defense was alright. My feeling is if they eliminate the big play and keep the Eagles in check it should be enough to get the win, assuming that the offense puts up more than 14 points.

Donovan McNabb certainly cannot be overlooked. He has been playing great football since his week 12 benching, and he will make the Giants secondary pay big if they get caught napping. The biggest problem that the Giants had in stopping McNabb last time was that they just could not get enough pressure. Look for the Giants to try some exotic blitz packages and zone coverages to try to put the heat on Donovan. If the Giants cannot get pressure on McNabb, he will have a big day.

Three X-factors:

1. Brian Westbrook- As I said before, stopping him is crucial. It would be foolish to expect the Giants to totally shut him down, but they cannot let him score on big plays such as his 71 yard receiving touchdown last week in Minnesota. Even more specifically, the Giants need to curtain his running ability. If the Eagles are able to run and keep a balanced offense it makes defending them so much harder.

2. Brandon Jacobs- He needs to get over 100 yards if the Giants hope to have enough offense to put this one away. Jacob's success will open up the play action passing game that Eli excels in, and will also allow for Derrick Ward to get going. The Giants are riding the back of Brandon Jacobs tomorrow and he will need to carry this team to the win.

3. Justin Tuck- He is banged up, but at least feeling a bit better now. He will be going against an even more banged up John Runyan, which should work in Tuck's favor. Tuck will need to harass Donovan McNabb, because if McNabb has all day to throw he will find success.

The Prediction:
So much of the hype surrounding this game is in regards to the Eagles being this year's Giants. I don't buy that at all. If anything, the Giants feel like the team with something to prove. Don't think thats the case? Just listen to some of the sound bytes from Brandon Jacobs this week. At first I was going to pick the Giants to lose based on the fact that the Eagles were the hotter team, but the Giants are too well prepared to just lay down and just get beat by a team who is coming in hot. The fact of the matter is, a lot of stats and such point to the Giants winning this game. The number one seed has never lost to the six seed in the NFC playoffs, and the Giants have never lost to an opponent twice at home in one season. So what? Those are stats of the past, and this game is a totally new situation.

I would pick the Giants if I knew that they had enough in the passing game to explolit the Eagles blitz, but (I hate to admit it) without Plaxico Burress they lack the big target that is needed. The Eagles will be able to make some crucial throws on third down because I just don't see the Giants being able to bring enough heat on McNabb.

There are just too many areas that the Giants need to work on from their last loss to Philly, and I think the Eagles will stay a step ahead of them. Look for a a big touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson to be the difference.

I did pick the Giants to lose every single playoff game last season, so why should I reverse the trend now. Remember, its good to be wrong!

Eagles 23 Giants 13

First Thoughts

2009-01-05T01:27:00.003-05:00

I am already jittery and it's only Sunday night. There are a million things swirling through my head at the moment, so I figure why not just throw them out here.

- The Eagles were cast aside, (sound familiar) and then somehow got in, (sound even more familiar) and then won their opening round game, (sound really familiar) and now they get to play a division rival. Okay, so it is exactly like last year's Giants run to Dallas.

- A few positives of this situation first before I lay out the bad.

-For one, the Giants know how the whole come out of nowhere thing works, and they will be ready for Philadelphia because the understand how this team is right now.

-Also, so many people are already putting the nail in the Giants coffin that once again, the Giants may as well be the underdog in this game, certainly something that they enjoy. Basically with the win against the Vikings, everyone is declaring the Eagles this year's Giants.

- There is so much of this sentiment that it almost seems too likely for the Eagles to win. The media, fans and the team itself are all so fired up as if the Giants won't even be a problem that they may be getting ahead of themselves a bit.

- With all that being said, I do not expect the Giants to win. I think this team will miss having a big time receiver to just lob the ball to in the face of the Eagles blitz.

- Also, I worry about their lack of pass rush from the home game versus the Eagles, and if they can slow down Westbrook. Really, my goal would be to take him out of the game as much as possible and just hope for the best with the Eagles vertical passing game.

- When will the Giants learn to stop leaving Antonio Pierce in pass coverage of the middle on 3rd downs? If they didn't learn it from the past few weeks they never will. AP is a monster against the run but he CANNOT cover. Just watch the Westbrook receiving TD and it becomes quite apparent.

- Will the Giants be able to run? If they are able to find success with the run it will open everything else up. Brandon Jacobs needs to have a monster game.

- A mediocre effort will not get it done for Big Blue. They will need to make plays when they are given opportunities, and certainly cannot afford to lose the turnover battle. This is a very good Eagles team, but they are beatable.

- I think the single biggest difference between last year's Giants-Dallas game, and this game is that the Giants were the ones who were trying to finally solve the Cowboys. This time, following their loss, the Giants will be trying to solve the Eagles, not the Eagles trying to find a way to finally figure out the Giants.

- There are a lot of signs that point to this one going to the Eagles, but I don't buy it if the Giants play their best football. At home, playing well, they will not lose, but that means they have to play well, which I don't know if we can count on. The only problem is I feel that they will have trouble getting things going against the Eagles pass rush and blitz schemes.

- Tons more to come during the week including breakdowns on both sides of the ball as well as a couple of new wrinkles. Come on, its the playoffs, I need to do something different to keep everyone on their toes.

Divisional Opponent Set: Philly Returns

2009-01-04T20:05:00.003-05:00

With their win over the Vikings in Minnesota, the Philadelphia Eagles will come to Giants Stadium for the second time this season to take on Big Blue.

Certainly, it would have been a much more favorable matchup for the Giants to have played Arizona, but to be the best the Giants must beat the best. They will need a much better performance than their last against the Eagles.

Tons coming this week as we look to breakdown the game from every angle.

Breaking Down The Possible Opponents

2008-12-29T02:19:00.002-05:00

While the Giants will find out their divisional round opponent by next Sunday, at this point it is between the Falcons, Cardinals and Eagles. To me there is clearly one opponent that the Giants would much rather avoid. Here is a breakdown of each possible opponent.

#4 Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

The Cardinals have been much maligned since their fast start. They got fat off of a bad division, and have been shaky as of late. What cannot be discredited by any means is the tremendous talent of both Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Those two alone can change the course of a game with their incredible playmaking ability. Not to mention, at the helm is Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, who certainly knows his way around the playoffs. While the passing game for Arizona has been strong all season, their lack or a running game has made it very tough for them to not only keep a lead, but also stay balanced. Their defense has had a few big moments this season, but certainly is not a top caliber defense. The Cardinals have been a dreadful road team all season, and with the certain possibility of in-climate weather in Giants Stadium, the Cardinals would certainly be the best opponent for Big Blue.

#5 Atlanta Falcons- (11-5)

The Falcons are coming off a tremendous rebound season where they revived themselves and went from a bottom of the barrel team to an 11 win team with an even brighter future. The Falcons have a tremendous running game behind Michael Turner, and can certainly grind out points on the ground. Rookie Quarterback Matt Ryan has been very good this season, but he is now a rookie playing in uncharted territory, and that will certainly make him a liability. The Falcons defense is good, but not great. They have a solid pass rush fueled by John Abraham, but other than that they do not really impose any will on defense. The Falcons are a hard team to pin down because they are a team that overachieved, and did so by getting solid contributions all around. They could potentially be a very dangerous team, and I do think they will beat Arizona.

#6 Philadelphia Eagles- (9-6-1)

The Eagles looked in the hunt, then they looked dead. They beat the Giants, and then lost to the Redskins. By the way of Tampa and Chicago losses, coupled by by their 44-6 drubbing of the Cowboys, the Eagles are flying high into the playoffs. They go into Minnesota for a game that will be about two contradicting styles of offense. The Eagles love to spread the field and pass, while the Vikings would be happy running it every down. Certainly the Eagles beating of the Giants a few weeks ago should make anyone weary about this team, but I would expect the Giants offense to at least be able to must a touchdown or two if they get such a chance. Any time Brian Westbrook is out there it spells trouble, and the Eagles defense can stymie even the best offenses. To make a long story short, this is not the team the Giants want to play.

If the Eagles win they are on their way to the Meadowlands, if not it is the winner of the Arizona/Atlanta game. Clearly the last team the Giants would want to see is the Eagles, but I do feel that it will be the birds that come to town in two weeks. Minnesota is good, but hasn't shown any flashes of brilliance all season. I also expect the Eagles defense to give Tavaris Jackson a tough time. My other pick is the Falcons, as the Cardinals have really seemed lost the last few weeks, and Atlanta is playing well. Of course, the Cardinals, who would probably be the easiest opponent for Big Blue will probably not be the team on their way to the Meadowlands.

Whoever it is that lines up on the other side of the field on January 11th, it will in no way be an easy win for the Giants. No longer is there room for error, it is the playoffs and either you play your best football now, or you go home empty.

Vikings 20 Giants 19

2008-12-29T01:19:00.002-05:00

The Giants came up just short on Sunday against the Vikings, as Ryan Longwell drilled a 50 yard last second field goal to give the Vikings the win over Big Blue. Yes, the Giants lost three of their last four games, but following their dramatic win over Carolina and a solid effort against the Vikings, the defending champs are ready to take the field in two weeks.

This year's week 17 had some similarities to that of last year, as it had no implications as to the team's playoff position. This time the Giants were not trying to gain momentum by beating an undefeated team, but rather just trying to play well and get out of the game unscathed.

The Giants actually exceeded expectations with their play. They ran the ball relatively well, and basically stuffed Adrian Peterson, minus one 67 yard touchdown run. Considering the Vikings were playing for their playoff lives, (up until Chicago lost) the Giants gave them a game. Really if it wasn't for John Carney's first miss that wasn't blocked this season the Giants may have won. What more can you say about a game where the Giants "B" team almost beat the Vikings? Well for one, it shows that the Giants are a very deep team, and it also shows just how well Tom Coughlin was able to get the team up to play. Really for Coughlin, three wins here in the playoffs and he may very well be a hall of fame coach.

There is no sense in going too much into stats here, but certainly the one stat worth talking about is Derrick Ward's 77 yards. Ward surpassed the thousand yard mark, which puts him and Brandon Jacobs in an elite group. It also showed more than anything just how great the offensive line was this season blocking for the run.

I had predicted the team to finish 9-7, and I was proved wrong. Considering I picked the Giants to lose all four playoff games last year as well, I just love being wrong. These 17 weeks went very quickly, and now all the work that was accomplished in defense of their title comes down to three games. Win those three and the Giants can safely call themselves a

This was certainly a regular season to remember for the Giants as they won 12 games and go into the playoffs as the team to beat in the NFC.. Yes, there was a lot of turmoil as of late with the Plaxico Burress situation and the two game losing streak, but the win against Carolina gave this team back its swagger, and they are going to need it. At this point my bet is on the Eagles being the team that rolls into Giants Stadium on January 11th. That of course is the one team that scares me in the NFC, but to be the best you must beat the best.

More to come during the bye week.

Thoughts, Numbers etc.

2008-12-22T12:42:00.004-05:00

- This win has saved the Giants season, at least in the regard that it will give them the confidence, (and a lot of it) to play well against whoever they play in the second round.

- While they were beaten soundly in the first half, they dominated in the second half. Something must have clicked at halftime, and the Giants finally ended their 2 1/2 game sleepwalk and got back to playing their game.

- Eli Manning was fantastic late in the game. He didn't need to do a whole lot because of the running game, but he made all the big throws needed to get the Giants back in it, including the 2 point conversion throw.

- As I mentioned in the Stats section, Derrick Ward is 52 yards away from reaching 1,000 on the year. What an accomplishment that would be to see both he and Jacobs above the 1k mark.

- Ward's performance was absolutely incredible. At times he hit the holes so hard that he was 15 yards up field before the defense could even react.

- Kevin Boss had a great game, and made some big catches for first downs. Boss had 5 catches for 46 yards and a TD.

- Domenik Hixon was solid as well, catching a nice 40 yard pass from Eli en route to a 4 catch 71 yard performance.

- The defense did not sack Jake Delhomme, which is a bit disheartening, but clearly the Giants did not blitz like they do to other teams. The threat of the run game kept them balanced.

- I hate to say it, but Antonio Pierce just cannot cover speedy running backs. Because he is out there on 3rd down passing situations, teams have begun to pick on him.

- This win gives the Giants the opportunity to rest any of their hurt players next week against Minnesota, and have the next week off, which means some of the more banged up guys should certainly be in better shape come the divisional round.

- Why is home field advantage for the Giants so big? In Carolina John Kasay's kick would have been good.

- Corey Webster made some nice plays, and it is becoming more and more apparent that he is for real. He may be well worth the huge contract he just signed.

- The reactions of the players and coaches really showed that they wanted this game. The win has done so much for their confidence and will put them in great position to make a run. Is anything guaranteed? Absolutely not. They Giants could face anyone from Atlanta, Philly, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Chicago or Arizona at this point, and none of those would be easy.

- More to come this week, and a look ahead to the meaningless game in Minnesota this week, which leads me to be very thankful for the win.

- Would it have been a good situation to go into Minnesota in a meaningful game had the Vikings won as well? I think Eli Manning is certainly pleased that he will not need to do much next week considering his past results against the Vikes.

- Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Go Blue

A Defining Moment: Giants Dig Deep, Secure Home Field

2008-12-22T04:08:00.006-05:00

Photos © Dave Turner 2008

During every championship season there is always a defining moment where the team rises up and shows its true character. This game may very well be that moment for the New York Giants. At times it wasn’t pretty, in fact it was rather bleak for a while, but when it mattered most, this team stepped up and showed its mettle during a tremendous come from behind win.

Down 21-10 at one point, the Giants battled back to win 34-28 in overtime to secure the number one seed in the NFC, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. There was something about the lull of the 2nd half, where the Giants found themselves down but it was as if you knew that this team would respond.

The outcome was strikingly similar to the turning point of last season. Last year in Buffalo, the Giants we’re reeling and in danger of not making the playoffs, yet they found themselves down 14-0 early against the Bills. They hung tough and finally, Ahmad Bradshaw ripped off a big run and the Giants came away with a win and never looked back.

This time, the Giants found themselves down and battled back to win, fueled by the sensational effort of Derrick Ward. These two games had much similarity because in both games the Giants had their backs against the wall. Certainly last year was more of a dire situation, but this win meant so much more than just the playoff bye. This win restored the confidence and the swagger that this team seemed to have lost the last two weeks.

There were a few moments where the Giants certainly looked lost early, especially on the deep pass to Mushin Muhammad, where Aaron Ross went for the interception but came up empty. DeAngelo Williams gave the Giants fits at times, and a few of his big runs were a result of poor tackling by the defense. The offense struggled at first, as Eli Manning had a few poor throws on 3rd downs, but otherwise it was a solid game all around for Big Blue.

No one was bigger on the night than Derrick Ward. Ward rushed for 215 yards on just 15 carries, and had numerous runs that were instrumental in the Giants game tying drive and in overtime. Ward was hitting the hole like lightning, and on a few plays was into the Panthers secondary before he was even touched.

Brandon Jacobs added 87 tough yards and scored three times. While he was noticeably hampered by his knee injury, Jacobs gutted it out to produce some big runs when needed. Eli Manning was methodical during the second half and overtime scoring drives, making several big throws. Manning finished 17 of 27 for 181 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Although the defense almost gave up enough at the end to allow Carolina to kick a game winning field goal, the D made the big stop in overtime when Carolina gained possession following the Giants punt. Although they did not sack Jake Delhomme, or create a turnover, they played well enough when it mattered to get the win.

This game was a battle between two excellent football teams, and it showed. There were very few penalties in the game, and no major turnovers by either team. In the end, the Giants kept plugging away with that same tenacious running attack that they seemed to have forgotten during their two game slide.

To say this win is huge is an understatement. A loss would have left the Giants reeling into the playoffs without much confidence. The win has restored that confidence and showed themselves, as well as the rest of the league just how good they can be when they play at the top of their game.

Will this game propel the Giants to bigger things like the game in Buffalo last year did? It very well may. This team will be tough to beat at home as the weather will only get colder as January comes. If something great does come out of this season, this game will be the moment when everything fell into place. There was something special in the frigid late December air in Giants Stadium, and perhaps for Giants fans it means that Christmas may not come until February 1st this year.

Crunch Time

2008-12-20T14:37:00.006-05:00

While my last two weeks weren't as tumultuous as the Giants, they were close. I had exams and a huge video edit, and therefore did not have time to write, but I bring you my thoughts on the big showdown for NFC superiority going into the playoffs.

The last two weeks were certainly the worst two weeks that the Giants have suffered since the middle of last season. Ineptitude on offense, accompanied by a defense that couldn't make a big stop when needed resulted in two painful losses to both of the Giants biggest rivals. There is usually nothing more disheartening than losing twice in consecutive weeks to the Eagles and Cowboys, but for the Giants they can put that all behind them in a big way with a win on Sunday night.

One would expect due to the way that both teams are playing that Carolina would certainly have the edge in this one. They are coming off of a huge Monday night win over Tampa Bay and a blowout win over Denver. The silver lining? Both of those games for Carolina were at home, and away from home they are just 3-3. They have all the momentum in the world, but that can work against a team sometimes in a big game if they come out and let their emotions get to them. Is this Panthers team as good as advertised? Yes, in some ways I think they are. I also think that there are ways to stop this team on defense, as well as ways to score on them. The question is, will the Giants be able to exploit those weaknesses?

When the Giants have the ball:
The first touchdown will be huge for the Giants. They need to score early not only to prove to themselves that they can put the ball in the endzone when it matters, but also to keep the fans in it. I would assume that the Giants faithful will be pretty edgy after the last two weeks, and the fans need to be a factor all game. Big Blue should have some success against the Panthers running the ball, but a big factor will be if they can get the passing game going to keep the Panthers from dropping another player into the box. If Domenik Hixon doesn't play it will further hurt the Giants ability to pass.

They will need to rely heavily on Steve Smith to move the chains. The biggest thing the Giants need to accomplish is getting yardage on first and second downs. There will be a desire to pass on first downs in order to keep the Panthers off balance, but really there is nothing more the Giants can do to make their third downs easier than getting at least five yards between first and second downs. Converting third and longs are not only harder to do because of the yardage, but it also gives more time for the defense to get pressure. On a third and say three or four, Eli Manning can take a quick drop and fire the ball, whereas a third and eight or nine he must go through a full drop back and look further down field. Manageable third downs will eliminate Julius Peppers and also make it easier to use all the routes in the playbook.

The running game needs to get going, and get going early. Who knows how well Brandon Jacobs will move, but he will need to grind out the tough yards. I really think that in his absence the Giants realized just how important he is. Jacobs wears down the defense, and can make holes out of nothing. If Jacobs has a big day, it could be the difference. I would also like to see the Giants throw more to the running backs. If Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw can get open on the release, it will not only take away a linebacker from a possible blitz, but opens up the middle of the field more if they have to commit a player to covering the flat.

When the Giants are on defense:
The two headed Panthers running attack of Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart has been fantastic all season, and even better during the last two weeks. This duo really worries me because they are slashers, and can cut back and reverse field, something the Giants do not do well with. While it is imperative to attack them at the line and fill gaps to eliminate the gain, these guys both will cut back and burn any defense that overpersues. Really, if it takes leaving someone on the backside to contain, then it must be done. They will run against the Giants, there is no doubt about that. The biggest thing will be for the defense to cut down any big gains, and make the Panthers work for those yards on the ground.

The Panthers passing game is not as strong as it used to be, but the one constant is still there, Steve Smith. Smith needs to be doubled the entire game, because all it takes is one slip up and Smith can score on a deep pass. Mushin Muhammad is not the same receiver that he used to be, and I would like Corey Webster's chances on him one on one. Really, Aaron Ross as well as safety help up top should be blanketing Smith the entire time. If the Panthers begin to run well on the Giants and Big Blue is force to put another man in the box to stop it, this is when Jake Delhomme can hurt you. The Panthers have been very much like the Giants lately, where they pass when needed and when the bait the defense with the run. This will be a tall task for the defense, but considering they really haven't played to poorly the last few weeks, giving up 20 points in both games, they should be able to keep this one close, as long as the offense can do something.

Three X-factors:
1. Steve Smith x2- Which Smith will have a better game? The one that does will certainly help his team score by moving the chains in a big way. Steve Smith (CAR) is more of the vertical threat, but Steve Smith (NYG) will catch first downs consistently.

2. Julius Peppers- If the Giants let Peppers do to them what they let Demarcus Ware do, it will be a long day for Eli. Peppers is a fantastic player, but he is also not supported by a plethora of pass rushers like the Cowboys have, which makes it a little easier to block Peppers.

3. Brandon Jacobs- His success will be the catalyst for the G-men on offense. If he has a big game you like the Giants chances. If not, the offense could struggle again.

Three reasons why the Giants will win:
1. Home field- The Giants Stadium crowd should be in full force for this one. The snow/rain should stop by game time, but if not it will make things even worse. The temperature? 32 degrees to start and should hit about 24 degrees or so by the end of the game. It should be quite a hostile environment for the Panthers to come into.

2. The running game revives- The Giants won their 11 games this season by pounding the ball at defenses and controlling the clock. If they get back to their success with the run, I can't see why they wouldn't be able to do enough to be in position to win.

3. Big Game Eli- Last year's postseason run has tagged Eli has a big game player. Well, this is a big game and if he holds true to form he should have a good game. If Eli is on and has enough time to go through his reads, he could take advantage of a pedestrian Panthers secondary.

Three reasons why the Panthers will win:
1. They get the run going- When this teams is successful with the run, they tend to run away with games, literally. They hit homeruns with the running game, and it also opens up things in the passing game. If the Panthers are getting chunks of yardage on the ground they will find success.

2. They eliminate the Giants run- If they stack the box early and take the Giants running game out of it, they will be able to put more pressure on Eli and force him to throw. If they are able to stop the running attack, it will certainly make stopping the pass easier as well.

3. They score early- With a downtrodden Giants offense, if the Panthers can take a quick lead and force the Giants to play catch up from the get go it will greatly effect the Giants ability to mix run and pass. Also, if they can take the crowd out of it, things will be much easier for the Panthers.

Prediction:
I want to pick the Giants in this one, but injuries, as well as the abysmal play of the offense the last two weeks tells me that this one should go to the team that is healthier, and hotter at the moment. While I don't think that the Panthers will run away with it, in the end it will be the Giants needing a big score late in the game and the Panthers putting it away with a late touchdown. Like usual, I hope I am wrong, but it is just too hard to actually pick the Giants considering how they have played as of late. Hopefully they do wake up and realize now is the time they have been waiting for all season.

Pick: Panthers 27 Giants 13

Giants Clinch NFC East Despite Loss

2008-12-07T21:04:00.004-05:00

The New York Giants are the 2008 NFC East Champs. This means that they are guaranteed a home playoff game. At this point it is hoped that the Giants will at least show up for their playoff game, considering it seemed as if the home team overslept during their 20-14 loss to the Eagles. While it was only one loss, and the Giants still control their own destiny at 11-2, the way that they went about losing should be of concern. In the same regard it now magnifies next week's Sunday nighter in Dallas.

The final score of this game did not reflect the true outcome of this game. The Eagles dominated the Giants in every facet. It has been a long while since I have seen Big Blue get pushed around on both lines like they did on Sunday. The Eagles offensive line was getting a huge push, and their defensive line was making life hard for Eli Manning all day. It has been a long time since we have seen a performance like this that leaves you feeling nothing short of disgusted. Really though, at 11-1 it would be a little lofty to have expected the Giants to go 15-1, they are in fact only human.

Domenik Hixon had a great chance to put the Giants up 7-3 early on a brilliantly thrown ball by Eli but somehow the ball fell right through his arms. That was about as close as the Giants came to scoring a touchdown offensively until the final minute of the game. There is something about this game that was just so alarming. Was it because the Giants haven't been dominated that bad in such as long time? Was it that the Eagles really exposed the Giants weaknesses? There is just something about the loss, and the way that it happened that makes me feel a little uneasy about the Giants chances the rest of the way. Considering that they play a do-or-die Dallas team in Dallas at night, and then a Carolina Panthers team that ran for 300 yards on the Buccaneers defense after that, the Giants will not only need to play better, but they will need to play their best football, or this one game losing streak could be three before a blink of an eye.

Still no need to panic here, because a loss is only one loss. Certainly the Giants have the leadership and the coaching to bounce back next week, but it will be a tough game, even at their best. I expect the Cowboys to really test the Giants vertically. The biggest concern I have is the lack of pass rush. The Giants have not been getting to the quarterback as much lately, and against the Cowboys they will need to get Tony Romo out of his rhythm. The Giants must also run the ball better than they did last week. My feeling is that the Cowboys are going to stack the box and really make the Giants pass, because with the Cowboys great pass rush they could find some success. Whatever the case may be the Giants need to find some sort of consistency and go with it.

December is the month where the contenders step up and show themselves. So far December hasn't gone the Giants way, but there is time to make amends. A win in Dallas will right the ship and make the Eagles debacle nothing more than a thing of the past. A loss and there will be a lot of questions to answer. Is this Sunday night's game in Dallas big? Oh you bet it is.

Giants vs. Eagles- Much on the line

2008-12-06T15:18:00.004-05:00

This has been a tumultuous week for Big Blue, to say the least. The off field distractions seem to be a lot, but this weekend the Giants can put all of that behind them with a huge win on Sunday. A win and the Giants not only win the NFC East, but assure themselves at least the 2nd seed in the NFC playoffs, which of course comes with a first round bye. A loss accompanied by a Dallas loss in Pittsburgh would also result in an NFC East crown, but I'm sure the Giants would much rather take care of their own business.

The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off of a rocky November which saw them hit rock bottom and even bench Donovan McNabb before he returned to action and had a fantastic game last week against the Cardinals on Thanksgiving night. This brings up the question, which Eagles team will the Giants see this week? If it is the one from last week the Giants better get ready to score some points. Considering the Eagles did put up 31 in Philly against the Giants it would be safe to assume that Big Blue will need to score upwards of 30 points to win this game.

When the Giants have the ball:

When looking back at the Giants 36-31 win over the Eagles early in the season the biggest reason why they were not able to put the game away was because of turnovers. They gave the ball back to the Eagles in a couple of crucial situations, including the Brandon Jacobs fumble late in the 2nd quarter while the Giants were marching towards making it 24-7 at the half. The Eagles love to swarm the ball-carrier, and certainly Blue Blue needs to make sure they don't put the ball on the ground this time. If they play more efficient and limit the turnovers they should be able to find some success. The Giants ran all over the Eagles last time and should have similar success this time around. The Eagles are a good team defense, but they lack the linebackers and defensive tackles needed to really stop the run efficiently against the Giants mauling attack. Eli should have another decent day because he usually is able to find success with his receivers being single covered most of the time. The wind and possible snow could curtail the passing game. I expect the Giants to still be able to put up around 30 or so points depending on how much the weather comes into effect.

When the Giants are on defense:

While Big Blue did well stopping Brian Westbrook during their first meeting, Donovan McNabb was able to find a lot of open receivers, especially over the middle. Certainly stopping a banged up Westbrook will again be the Giants focus, but they also need to find a way to get McNabb off of his rhythm early. Corey Webster has a bad back, but it seems as if he may possibly play, which would be a huge boost. The biggest thing the Giants can do is keep the running game limited and force the Eagles to convert 3rd and longs. That is when they will have the most success in getting after McNabb. The Eagles will score, there is no doubt about that. The question is can the Giants limit the birds and force a turnover or two to turn the tides in this one. I know he didn't seem like a big factor last time, but trust me, you don't want to see too much Brian Westbrook. Hopefully Antonio Pierce will be ready to lead this defense in bottling up the dynamic Philly runner yet again. Somehow I think he will have a better outing tomorrow than last.

The Pick:

There are a lot of things that are telling me to pick the Eagles, things such as distractions plaguing the Giants all week, as well as the Eagles absolutely needing this game to stay alive in the playoff hunt, and are coming off of a huge win at home. Something tells me though that the Giants want this game because not only will it give them the NFC East crown, and the bye, but it will at least silence the critics and prove that they can win despite the distractions. This should be a slugfest, and I don't see it being a blowout, because both teams really want this game. In the end the Giants will have just too much running power, and the weather should slow the Eagles passing attack.

Giants 30 Eagles 21

In Response to Recent Events

2008-12-01T16:27:00.002-05:00

Now I would be pretty certain that if you are reading this blog you know exactly what happened in regards to Plaxico Burress so I don't feel the need to get into all of the specifics. I also feel that it is not my place to sit here and chastise Burress either. All I will say is that I am very disappointed that Burress would fail himself and his team. He is suspended and gone from this team, therefore I do not feel the need to continually mention his name. There is a lot of football to be played for Big Blue, and a lot of football for me to discuss. Also important to discuss is how the Giants will make up for the loss of production.

The Giants have a lot of young talent at wide receiver, and these guys will need to come up big for the team down the stretch. Steve Smith has had a solid season, and he should expect to see even more looks in the passing game. While the absence of such a presence like Burress teams will not need to blanket the coverage to him, but what it does in favor of the Giants is keep teams guessing as to who the primary target will be on many plays. Eli Manning will need to go through his reads much more because teams will try many different coverage schemes. I think the fact that he played very well in the three games so far without Plaxico is somewhat due to the defenses they were facing, but some of it is also because I believe Eli is a better quarterback when he does not tunnel in on a certain receiver. How many times in the past has he tried to force a ball to Plax. It will not be easier without him, but it provides the Giants with a new offensive philosophy that given time could be just as successful.

Teams have been trying to sell out in order to stop the Giants fearsome running game, and in return Eli has had some of his best performances as of late. Big Blue has shown that they are an offensively dynamic team and that trying to stop the run will only result in getting hurt through the air. Certainly though as the temperatures drop and the conditions worsen the Giants fearsome running game will again be what carries this team. As long as the offense can continue to mix the run with a successful play-action based passing game the Giants should be poised for another deep playoff run, but only time will tell.

Giants 23 Redskins 7

2008-11-30T20:21:00.002-05:00

Another game, and another Giants win in convincing fashion. At times it was flashy, at times it was a bit dull but the Giants left FedEx field with an important NFC East victory and now sit at 11-1 with just four games left to play.

Much was made of the recent off the field issues involving Plaxico Burress, but the more Domenik Hixon plays the more he makes you forget. I've been pumping him up for weeks, but I will officially say he has the potential to be a legitimate number one receiver. Eli Manning had one bad pass, but other than that he was fantastic. The Redskins sold out against the run and in return Manning beat them through the air. This was a big game for Eli because it proved to the other teams in the league that if you try to stop the Giants run by loading the box it will not work. Basically there is no real way to shut down the Giants offense.

Defensively Big Blue was equally as good. The lone Redskins touchdown really shouldn't have even happened considering that the interception by Corey Webster was clearly not a penalty. The Giants got after Jason Campbell, especially late in the game when the Redskins were trying to mount a comeback. There Redskins are a solid football team, and at home in a big game for them they were going to play tough, yet the Giants really didn't seem to have much trouble.

As far as the Plaxico Burress situation is concerned I do not want to say too much, but I will say that the Giants have enough weapons that if he were in fact gone for the year the Giants would be fine. Hixon continues to emerge as a threat, and Amani Toomer and Steve Smith just flat know how to get open. Not to mention, Kevin Boss has really stepped up his game over the last few weeks and he now has 26 receptions for 310 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The road to the #1 seed in the conference is pretty simple. Two of the final four should all but clinch home field, with the only exception being a Giants loss to Carolina and the Panthers winning out. As far as the division goes, the Giants can clinch the NFC East with a win over Philadelphia. This would be the case because even if the Giants lose in Dallas, the Cowboys would have two division losses to the Giants one.

Nothing is official yet for Big Blue, but they stand on the cusp of making the road to Tampa go through Giants Stadium. I think that myself, as well as many out there know that it is Tampa of bust for this team. Every time this team has had adversity this season they have responded. They are also going to be facing four teams who will be in must win situations the rest of the way out. If they can survive these next four weeks then I believe they will be ready for any challenge in the playoffs. There is much more football to be played and December is where the contenders shine.

Capital Battle

2008-11-29T20:45:00.004-05:00

The last time the Giants visited hostile FedEx field they came away with a win that saved their season. This time a win would all but guarantee an NFC East crown for Big Blue barring a huge let down. While it won't be easy, being that it is in many ways a must win for the 'Skins, the Giants will be ready for the challenge as both teams come into this pivotal game banged up but ready to make a statement.

I believe that this will be a relatively low scoring game with a lot of the action coming from the ground, especially if it rains a lot. Both teams love to run the ball, and Brandon Jacobs will play for Big Blue which will give them a big lift. Clinton Portis always is a thorn in the Giants side, and I expect him to sniff the century mark on the ground. With both running games poised for success it may come down to whether Eli Manning or Jason Campbell makes less mistakes. The Redskins are banged up on defense which should bode well, but again certainly nothing is guaranteed.

When the Giants have the ball:

The Giants will run on Sunday, and they will run a lot. This is going to be very much a ball possession game, where both teams will try to take huge chunks out of the clock en route to a score. The big key here will be keeping the Redskins off balance with the use of the play action pass. The Giants always have good results with the play action passing so it should continue. Without Plaxico Burress, Eli tends to distribute the ball more evenly, which is because without the double teams on Plaxico teams tend to try different coverage schemes which will in turn leave different people more open on different plays. Simply, when Plax isn't there they don't know who to cover, because Eli could go in many different directions. I wouldn't expect Eli to throw for any more than 200 yards at the high end in this one as the Giants are going to try and pound it out on the ground.

When the Giants are on defense:

The biggest thing that Big Blue will need to do on Sunday is stop Clinton Portis, but they must also be vigilant of Santana Moss. The Redskins love to lull a defense to sleep with their running game and then try a shot deep to the speedy Moss. The Skins really don't turn the ball over very much so the Giants will need to limit the big plays and make tackles when they have the chance to do so. Giving the Redskins any extra yardage will be costly because they will be able to find some success both with their running game and with their play action passes to the likes of Chris Cooley. Getting some sort of pressure on Jason Campbell will be imperative because he will hurt you if he is given too much time. The game plan is pretty simple; limit Portis and don't give up any big plays and the Giants should keep the Redskins at bay.

My Prediction:

I really see this as a chess match kind of game where one team gets up early and just tries to play tough defense and try to tack on some more points. Neither team will be explosive enough with their offensive gameplan to run away with it, but the team that has more success on the ground probably will come up on top. The rain could be a factor but really it will mean only more running than was already expected. Believe it or not I am actually going to pick the Giants this week, which of course means they will lose. I believe that the Redskins are a good team but not a great one. They really haven't shown me at any point that they are a legitimate contender although a win here would certainly put them in the equation. The Redskins need this one to have a shot at the division as well as keep pace in the wild card race. The Giants need this one only to inch closer to a divisional title and the first round bye. You would think that the Redskins would want this one much more, but I feel the Giants will be able to do a bit more in the end.

My Pick: Giants 20 Redskins 17

Giants 37 Cardinals 29

2008-11-24T03:34:00.003-05:00

No Brandon Jacobs, no problem. No Plaxico Burress after the first series, no problem. Faced with using a depleted offense on a day when they knew they would need to score, Big Blue barely missed a step. If there is one thing we learned about this team it is that they have depth, and a lot of it.

In the team's return trip to the site of their dramatic Super Bowl XLII win, Eli Manning was just as good. He finished the day 26 of 33 for 240 yards and 3 touchdowns, with no interceptions. The Cardinals tried with all their might to stop the Giants running game and Eli responded with a great performance. He hadn't thrown for over 200 yards in the last five games, but on Sunday he was masterful. Its amazing how much he spreads the ball around when Plaxico Burress doesn't play. Because there are no more double teams on Plax, he has to go through more of his reads and find the open guy. Five Giants receivers had at least four receptions, a balanced attack.

While the defense was shaky at times, they held the Cardinals running game to almost nothing, which at least made defending the pass a little easier. They were able to get enough pressure on Warner to make him get rid of the baller quicker than he would have liked to on numerous occasions. While it wasn't the best performance the Giants have had this year, it was certainly enough to get a big time road win with big playoff implications. This is a Cardinals team that could be making a trip to Giants Stadium come January. It would be much nicer to have Kurt Warner throw in the winter wind then in Arizona, but then again I think Eli would rather be in Arizona too.

3 Things I Liked:

1. Dominik Hixon- The more times he touches the ball, the more he creates. He had a fantastic day on kickoff returns, and he also finished with 6 catches for 57 yards. Dominik Hixon needs to get some more reps. Over 250 yards of combined offense, what a day.

2.Derrick Ward- While he didn't get over the 100 yard plateau he had some big runs when needed and grinded all day. He also added 4 catches for 30 yards as well.

3. Kenny Phillips- I know he had a penalty, but this guy is quickly becoming the center fielder the Giants have always needed. He flies to the ball and can hit. He knocked away a touchdown and finished with 7 tackles.

Looking ahead to next week where the Giants will travel to Washington. The Redskins are coming off of two weeks where they really didn't play all that well. They got the win in Seattle, but didn't look that impressive. The biggest thing will be stopping Clinton Portis, who has given the Giants fits in the past. This is a huge game because if the Giants win they will have a 4-0 divisional record. A win against the Skins would just about ensure the division, except if the Cowboys win out and the Giants struggle the rest of the way.

Hey I was wrong again with my pick. It has become a tradition for me to pick against them so why should i stop now? As long as they keep winning I have no problem with being wrong.

Injury Update

2008-11-23T15:45:00.002-05:00

Brandon Jacobs will not play, as his knee situation has led to Tom Coughlin's decision to sit him. Considering that they have Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw I think they'll be ok.

Plaxico Burress will play, and his hamstring injury does not seem to be a huge issue. Those injuries love to come back and haunt though, so just because he is good to go now doesn't mean he won't tweak it in the game.

Bringing Back Memories

2008-11-23T11:30:00.003-05:00

The last time the Giants were on the field at the University of Phoenix Stadium they had just pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history. This time, less will be at stake, but a win against the Arizona Cardinals today may play a big role in deciding the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

This will be a huge test for the Giants because it is a team that not only plays well at home, but a team that wants to shed the idea that it is a good team in a bad division. The Cardinals feel that they are good enough to be a contender. As for the Giants, it is just another task on the list of good teams that they have so far been perfect against. I remember looking back and cringing at the sight of the Steelers, Cowboys, Eagles and Ravens in a row but as we stand here today the Giants are a perfect 4-0 in that span. More importantly though is that a win here will all but guarantee the Giants a first round bye, barring any sort of monumental collapse.

Getting into the game itself, the Cardinals pose a threat to the Giants, but they also lack in a few categories that should benefit the Giants. The biggest reason for concern in regard to the Cardinals is their passing attack. Kurt Warner is again playing at an MVP caliber level, and he has two of the best receivers in the game in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

When the Giants have the ball:
How do you keep a high powered passing offense from hurting you? You don't let them on the field. Ball control will be key here as the Giants will need to run. That hasn't been a problem so far this season and with Arizona's smallish defense the Giants should be able to run it between the tackles with some success. The Cardinals are fast and will get to Eli Manning if he doesn't get rid of it quick. It seems that at best if Plaxico Burress does play, he will be limited, which means that Amani Toomer, Steve Smith and Dominik Hixon will all need to step up. Really the passing game won't be the difference here. The key to the Giants offense will be running the ball for first downs and chewing up clock while gaining yardage. Brandon Jacobs is going to play, but he will also probably be somewhat limited considering the two other backs the Giants have. I have a lot of faith in the Giants offense being able to score when it matters in this one, but the biggest thing will be limiting turnovers that will give a good Cardinals offense any more oportunities than they will create themselves. If the Giants get pass happy I will say one thing. Run the ball!!!

When the Giants are on defense:
I wouldn't expect the Cardinals to run much on the Giants, but rookie Tim Hightower has improved week by week and has the ability to make people miss, especially running out of a three or four wide set. Whatever the running game does though it will be overshadowed by the Cardinals passing game. What scares me the most about their pass attack is that they love to run quick slants. This will limit the Giants ability to blitz because a linebacker will be needed to take away the intermediate middle. Safety help up top will be needed as well, because both Boldin and Fitzgerald will eat alive even the best corners one on one. Pressure on Warner will be key, because if he has time to go through all of his reads it will be a long day. The biggest thing the Giants can do is force Warner to get rid of the ball quicker than he would like, because he does throw interceptions a lot when under durress. If there is any offense in the NFL that worries me it is this one. They have been on fire with the pass and really the only way the Giants will stop it is by getting pressure on Warner with the front four, or quick blitzes.

Prediction:
For some reason I just don't like the Giants chances in this game. I feel that they are going to give up too much through the air early, and then be forced to go to the air themselves to make up the deficit. If they can keep it close, or get up early then it will be certainly attainable but they need to attack. Get down to the Cardinals and its hard to come back because they can just keep scoring. If the Giants stick to their gameplan and run it successfully they should have a shot, but I just don't feel good about this one. As usual I expect to be wrong and then sit here late tonight explaining how the Giants passed yet another test. We will see in a few hours.

Cardinals 31 Giants 17

Back from the dead (Me, certainly not the Giants)

2008-11-19T13:33:00.004-05:00

So i have been sick for the past 5-6 days so I was unable to sit there and write anything coherent about the Ravens game. I'm glad I didn't actually pick the game because I was actually going to pick them to lose. Who would have imagined the 207 yards rushing that the Giants had? Well they certainly convinced me after that performance.

There were certainly a few things that weren't pretty, but I think the fact that I have begun holding this team to such high standards makes it so that any mistake is something terrible. I mean really, after winning 30-10 there shouldn't be too much to complain about, but I will anyway. I'll get the few negative things out of the way.

The Giants pass rush hasn't been that great the last few weeks. I think it is more a product of less blitzing and more elaborate coverage schemes, but there does need to be more pressure. Mathias Kiwanuka did sack Joe Flacco late, which was big, but in the course of the game when the outcome was still in balance, no sacks. Against the Cardinals they will need to pressure Warner, but blitzing too many guys will be a death sentence because the Cardinals love to run those quick slants inside, therefore there needs to be someone there fill the lanes, and make him go through his reads. Aaron Ross looked a little shaky against Derrick Mason at points, but he came up really big when he needed to. He is still only a 2nd year player, and has show some bright spots as well as some clear growning pains. As for the talk that Eli Manning is in a slump, this is the way it should be looked at. If Eli is throwing for under 200 yards a game, it probably means that the Giants are running the ball very effectively, so really Eli is doing all he needs to do. He doesnt need to throw for 300 yards when the Giants are rushing for 200. Yes, there may be a time when the run doesn't work as well and then Eli will need to step up and deliver a big game. Until then he is fine doing what he has been doing.

There were a ton of positives in this game as well. Of course the first one is the running game. No one, and I mean NO ONE runs for 200 yards on Baltimore. It was more than a decade since they gave up 200 yards. This was a performance that was as much the running backs as it was the offensive line absolutely mauling people, but then again thats what they do every week. The key to winning in the playoffs is running the ball and stopping the run, and so far the Giants seem to be able to do both very well. They limited the Ravens running backs, only giving up yardage to Joe Flacco on scrambles. The defense had one bad drive the whole day which led to the Ravens touchdown, but when you are scoring 30 points a game it is ok to give up a touchdown here and there.

Now I would like to see the Giants get a little more pass rush, and also pass the ball with a little more success when they actually do pass, but otherwise this team is in good shape right now. They better be though, because the road ahead is VERY tough. Starting with this weekend in Arizona where the Cardinals haven't lost, the Giants will be challenged big time.

I will have more on the Cardinals tomorrow, but I will say that this game scares me. I keep asking myself why I pick the Giants to lose most of the time when they keep winning, but I am going to stick with my pessimistic picks, because thats what I do. I do think the Giants are the number one team in the NFL right now, but with a very tough stretch of games coming up, I think a 3-3 mark to finish out the year would be a good thing. Really when it comes down to it, all the Giants have to do is win two of their three division games, and one other game and they will probably get a bye. People are already marking in the Giants as the number one seed, but I feel it is way to early to do that. Every one of these games can be lost if they don't play their best football. With that being said I DO expect the Giants to at least grab the number two seed, because if they do lose a tough game they will be able to bounce back.

This is something I have not lived through, where they are far and away the class of the NFC. I keep expecting this dream ride to end, but really I think I need to just enjoy the ride and have faith in this team.

I can convince myself all I want, but I am still going to pick the Cardinals this weekend, but again still expecting the Giants to pull it out. When will I learn?

Grinding It Out Giants 36- Eagles 31

2008-11-10T01:22:00.003-05:00

At times they dominated, yet at other times they were sloppy. In the end the Giants did exactly what they needed to to in Philadelphia, win and take control of the division. Between a tremendous running attack, and enough defense when it mattered, the Giants move to 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the division.

This game took me a while to digest because while the outcome was exactly what it needed to be, there seemed to be something negative to accompany anything positive. Really, I think I am being too harsh, because the Giants outplayed the Eagles on Sunday night, and without those costly turnovers it would have been a pretty decisive victory for Big Blue.

First off, I talked over and over again about the importance of stopping Brian Westbrook, and the Giants did so in a huge way. While they did give up a few big passes over the middle, they took Westbrook out of the game. When the game was on the line with the Eagles driving in the 4th quarter the Giants came up with two huge stops of Westbrook. How big was that stop by Chase Blackburn on 4th and 1? Blackburn has been seeing a lot more action recently, and he really has made his case to stay in the starting lineup.

The Giants didn't get much pressure on McNabb, but a lot of that was due to his ability to avoid the rush and also get rid of the ball quickly. Corey Webster made his share of nice plays, as he continues to impress.

Overall the defense played fairly well, considering that 14 of the Eagles 31 points came off of turnovers. They held McNabb in relative check yardage wise, and limited Westbrook. Not a great performance, but in the end the defense did just enough to get the job done.

Offensively it is a different story. The Giants offensive line, as well as Fullback Madison Hedgecock absolutely mauled the Eagles defense all night. The Giants ran for over 200 yards in the game, and Brandon Jacobs was dominant. I haven't wanted to suggest this, but with Jacobs well on his way to a 1,000 yard season, and Derrick Ward at just under 500 yards, is it possible for the Giants to have two 1,000 yard rushers? I would go with no at this point, because it would mean that Ward would need 500 yards in seven games, which would be very hard to do, yet still slightly possible. Eli Manning was decent, but not spectacular. He made some nice throws, but also let some balls sail on him in the face of pressure. The interception was basically the result of him not seeing the defender right there, so the fault is certainly on Eli for making a bad play that led to an Eagles touchdown shortly after.

The Giants got a big time win in primetime on Sunday night, in a game that really had more importance than many realized. Not to play down the importance of next week's game against Baltimore, but if the Giants are going to lose a game, it might as well be to Baltimore considering they are in the AFC. Regardless of the actual importance of the game, the Giants will need to bring their A game against a team with an offense that is really coming into it's own, and a defense that can give even the best offenses a fit. Seven games to go for Big Blue, and not a single one will be easy. They will need to perform like they have in recent weeks against the Steelers, Cowboys and Eagles. Against the Ravens they CANNOT turn the ball over like they did against Philadelphia, because giving the Ravens a short field is a death sentence.

Check back for more stuff during the week!

Two Paths- Giants vs. Eagles- Sunday Night Football

2008-11-08T21:27:00.000-05:00

While Sunday Night's showdown between the Giants(7-1) and Eagles(5-3) is just one regular season game, this game presents the Giants with two separate paths towards the playoffs. A win, and the Giants will be 8-1, and have a clear path to the division title, and perhaps a first round playoff bye. A loss, and the Giants will be one game behind and will need to watch their every step the rest of the way. To say that this one is big is an understatement. It is a night game against a big time rival. This is football.

Brian Westbrook is healthy, well healthy enough to play at least, and is the biggest threat in this one. He has given the Giants fits in the past, and will do so again unless the Giants find a way to keep him bottled up, and of course make their tackles.

Offensively, the Giants know what to do against the Eagles defense, but it is always easier said than done. The Eagles will blitz, at times heavily, so it is up to Eli Manning to find his targets in single coverage, which is something he has done well against the Eagles in the past.

When the Giants have the ball:
If there is any difference between the Eagles defense from this year's and last it is that they don't have the strength up the middle like they used to. The Giants should look to pound the ball right up the gut early. Because the Eagles are a fast, swarming defense Brandon Jacobs may have trouble finding holes, but when BJ is in trouble you can always call on Derrick Ward. Ward has been fantastic this season when he gets his carries, and has the perfect running style to find holes in the run blitzes the Eagles will use. As I discussed before, the Eagles like to use a LOT of man coverage, but can you blame them? Asante Samuel is one of the best in the business and will presumably be on Plaxico Burress all day. Look for Steve Smith to get a ton of looks out of the slot as he, as well as Amani Toomer who both run great routes will be able to find openings in the defense. The most important thing to do against the Eagles is have success on 1st and 2nd downs. 3rd and longs against Philly are hard to convert because of their elaborate blitz schemes, therefore yardage on 1st and 2nd down is crucial to keeping a drive going. The Giants will need to keep the Eagles balanced by getting the run going early, because the playaction pass will also be successful against the Eagles quick pursuing defense.

When the Giants are on defense:
Brian Westbrook, and oh yeah, Brian Westbrook. I think by the time Monday rolls around I will have heard that name way too many times, but hopefully the Giants will be able to minimalize the damage he causes. Now there is DeSean Jackson to worry about as well, but really the main focus will be keeping Westbrook contained. The Giants have been able to get a lot of pressure on Donovan McNabb in the past, and will need to do so to eliminate the deep balls that the Eagles love to try early. Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips will be key in this game not only because they will be called upon to step up and stop Westbrook, but they must also protect against the deep balls and posts over the middle. The Giants will get pressure, but they must also not overload on the blitz because with Westbrook in the backfield, McNabb loves to just dump it to him when the pressure comes. The Giants haven't faced a full power Eagles offense in a big game in quite some time, so it will be interesting to see what Defensive Coordinator Spagnuolo will do to try and outsmart the Eagles. I worry about the matchups on the outside with Kevin Dockery unable to play, because the Eagles have 5 guys who are all able to make big plays out of the wide receiver position.

3 Keys to the Game:
1. Stop Brian Westbrook- I've said enough, but it is the most important thing. If the Giants let him run wild, it will be a long ride back up the Turnpike.

2. Win the turnover battle- The Giants cannot afford to give the Eagles a short field to work with. Eli must make sure to hold on to the ball when being blitzed, and make safe throws. Also, if the Giants are able to create turnovers they MUST punch it in. They need to make sure that their redzone success is more like the Dallas game then the Pittsburgh game.

3. Throw into the blitz- When the Eagles blitz they will not only leave open field behind them, but perhaps open receivers. Eli has always played well against the Eagles, and he will need to step up and deliver big throws with defenders around him. If he is able to stay upright long enough he will find his guys.

My Pick:
I said it in my season prediction a few posts ago, but I just think that the Eagles need this one more than the Giants, and at home at night it will be a very tough game to win. I do think the Giants will play well enough to be in it late, but the Eagles will take it.

Eagles 26 Giants 20

A Few Pictures

2008-11-08T18:59:00.009-05:00

Predicting The Rest

2008-11-06T01:33:00.004-05:00

The remaining eight games on the Giants schedule are undoubtedly much more challenging than their first eight, but they have already passed a big test with a win in Pittsburgh. In the coming weeks they will play some very tough road games, as well as host some big ones as well. The team will need to play their best football, and honestly even a 4-4 mark over the final eight wouldn't even be that terrible considering who the play.

Here are my picks and a short prediction for each of the remaining games:

11/9- @ Eagles- The Giants always play well in Philadelphia, but I feel like the Eagles need this one more than the Giants and will benefit from the home night crowd. The Giants never seem to do all that great on the road in prime time.

Eagles 26 Giants 20 Giants 7-2

11/16- vs. Ravens- This is a better Ravens team than many had expected, and their defense will certainly be a challenge. The Giants will be able to get pressure on Joe Flacco and will win in a tight one.

Giants 23 Ravens 17 Giants 8-2

11/23 @ Cardinals- This is where things get really tough for Big Blue. Arizona is a very good home team, and will test the Giants pass defense big time. The only way to stop them will be to get big time pressure on Kurt Warner.

Cardinals 31 Giants 21 Giants 8-3

11/30- @ Redskins- The Giants will need this one to right the ship and also take another big step towards an NFC East title. The Redskins are always tough at home, but the Giants will be the hungrier team here.

Giants 27 Redskins 16 Giants 9-3

12/7- vs. Eagles- A heavyweight battle in December. Get used to it, they all will be this big. The Giants will want payback, and a win here could possibly be the deciding factor in the division title. The possible cold and wind in Giants Stadium certainly would favor the Giants.

Giants 30 Eagles 21 Giants 10-3

12/14- @ Cowboys- This is a very hard one to pick, because who knows what the state of the Cowboys will be by mid December. My feeling is that this game will be do or die for the Cowboys and their hopes of a playoff birth, and a road night game in Dallas is never easy to win.

Cowboys 33 Giants 23 Giants 10-4

12/21- vs. Panthers- Depending on how the rest of the NFC East is doing, if the Giants are in the 10-4, 11-3 area, this game with Carolina could be for a first round bye. Considering that the central division leader probably wont finish better than 9-7, and the Cardinals may or may not be one of the teams looking for a bye, this game could decide the #1 or #2 seed in the NFC. Giants are at home, in a big time game in December.

Giants 27 Panthers 23 Giants 11-4

12/28- @ Vikings- Eli Manning is probably not looking forward to facing this team to end the season, and hopefully he may not have to. In a perfect world, the Giants will have their playoff spot wrapped up and won't need to play many of the starters, but that is certainly not a guarantee. The Vikings may be fighting for a divisional title, or could be out of it.

Giants 31 Vikings 23 Giants 12-4

So, according to my predictions the Giants will finish at 12-4 and have a 4-2 divisional record. That SHOULD be enough to win the division if that were the case, especially because I have them beating Washington, which would give them the automatic tiebreaker. 12-4 should also be a first round bye, perhaps as the number one seed. Is this possible? Yes, it certainly is, but the Giants will need to play their best football and limit mistakes in order to make this a reality. To be honest if they go 10-6 I still would not be surprised considering their schedule, but for now I will judge them on how they have played so far this year and give them the 12-4 record. Now let's hope that I am actually right for a change! It will be a tough road, and one win or loss could make a huge difference on how the playoffs play out for this team.

Mid-Season Awards

2008-11-06T00:15:00.008-05:00

Certainly there have been some fantastic performances on both sides of the ball so far this season, so lets give out some hardware, well sort of.

Best Defensive Performance:

Mathias Kiwanuka vs. Pittsburgh

Kiwanuka broke out with a 5 tackle, 3 sack performance against the Steelers. He also forced a fumble. He got constant pressure all game, and was unstoppable.

Best Offensive Performance:

Brandon Jacobs vs. Seattle: 2 touchdowns and 136 yards on 15 carries. Jacobs needed only 15 carries to gash Seattle for 2 scores. He recorded his longest run of the season, a 44 yarder in this game.

Offensive MVP:

WR Steve Smith

Not exactly who I would have thought when the season began, but Steve Smith has emerged as a big time target for Eli Manning. Smith leads the team with 34 receptions, is second with 328 yards receiving, but most importantly has 20 first downs. He has been the one who Eli has gone to in many big time situations, and runs exceptional routes. It is that clutch ability that he has displayed thus far that makes him my offensive MVP.

Defensive MVP:

DE Justin Tuck

This one is a little bit more predictable. J-Tuck has taken over the role of the premier defensive end on the team, and he has not disappointed. Tuck leads the team with 8.5 sacks, has 36 tackles, an interception returned for a touchdown and two forced fumbles. If his second half mirrors his first half he could possibly be in the running for the NFL Defensive MVP honor.

Best Rookie:

S Kenny Phillips

A no-brainer here. Phillips is second on the team with 35 tackles, despite not starting a single game. Kenny also got his first career interception against the Steelers. He also had that big hit that was perhaps wrongfully flagged in that game. He is an absolute ball hawk, and every week he gets more and more comfortable out there and is quickly becoming a fantastic player.

Biggest Surprise:

DE Dave Tollefson

While the injury to Osi Umenyiora presented Tollefson with more playing time, there was no guarantee that he would actually put up any sort of numbers when inserted in passing situations. Tollefson has added 3.5 sacks on the year so far and has gotten good pressure on the quarterback when he has gotten in for passing situations. He has used the most of his opportunity and added excellent depth to the Giants pass rush.

Biggest Unsung Hero:

CB Corey Webster

Webster does have three interceptions on the season, but his most important contribution is the coverage skills he has displayed. Really, a good cornerback should not have many balls thrown his way, and that has been the case. Webster has really turned into a great corner, and has even outplayed Aaron Ross so far this season. The Giants have been very solid against the pass, and much of this is because Webster has been all over the receivers that he has had to cover so far this season.

Eight Down, Eight To Go

2008-11-06T00:03:00.003-05:00

The Giants are at the mid point of their season following their 35-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys, and they reach the midpoint with only one blemish to their record. While the Monday night game in Cleveland was the low point of the first half, a 7-1 record thus far is right where the Giants would like to be.

Things are certainly going to get tougher for Big Blue, and they do so in a big way. How's this for tough. At Philadelphia, home vs. the Ravens, followed by road games at Arizona and Washington. Those teams currently compile a 21-12 record, and Arizona has yet to lose at home.

I think it is right to do what the Giants themselves will do, take one game at a time. We will focus on Philadelphia this week, but not before handing out some mid-season awards, and picking the remaining eight games. Before the season began I had picked the Giants to finish 9-7, so three wins out of eight will prove me wrong.

Coming Attractions:

- Mid-season awards

- Picking the rest of the season

- Recapping the last two weeks

- Giants vs. Eagles preview

Plaxico To Sit

2008-10-26T12:43:00.002-04:00

There are RUMORS SPECULATING that Plaxico Burress missed treatments for his injury and may not play a series, or possibly the entire game due to these infractions.

I will say this, I've had enough of Plaxico. He has all the talent in the world, but he continually does things to get himself in the doghouse. After giving him the big contract extension you would think he would be grateful and try to at least not make any headlines.

Perhaps a trade is needed in the offseason, because these are distractions that the team does not need.

I will comment more on the whole Plaxico thing once we actually find out what happens.

Live blog for the game will be a bit late. I have to film a game that begins at 2, so I will probably not be back until 5 pm.

Game Preview: Giants at Steelers

2008-10-26T00:45:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow officially ends the Giants "soft" schedule and brings them into the much harder part of their schedule, and it does so in a big way. A test of brute strength is in store when the Giants roll into Pittsburgh to face the 5-1 Steelers.

This game really excites me because after watching my beloved Penn State Nittany Lions win a 13-6 smash mouth defensive struggle over The Ohio State University. The prospect of seeing yet another physical defensive battle would be great.

Although the obvious edge here has to go to Pittsburgh because it is being played in Heinz field, their injuries on offense certainly may be a difference. Both Willie Parker (knee) and Santonio Holmes (off-field incident) will be out of action, and that certainly takes away a very large part of the team speed that the Steelers possess on offense. The Pittsburgh offense is not what worries me though, its the defense.

The Steelers have a tremendous front seven out of their 3-4 alignment and will be throwing many different types of pressure at Eli in order to take him off his rhythm. Something Eli doesn't seem to do very well is throw into the blitz, as in throw it to the spot on the field that has been left empty by the blitzing player. He will need to get rid of the ball quickly at times and make smart throws, or the Giants could be in trouble.

When the Giants have the ball:

This is an interesting battle between the league's best running team in the Giants, and the league's best run defense in the Steelers. Something will have to give here, and really the running game will be the key here. If the Giants fail to get their running game going they will have to force the issue with the pass more, and it will give the Steelers more opportunities to rush the quarterback. Turnovers in this one will be deadly, so Eli Manning needs to make sure to make smart throws and not try to force anything down field. I feel that this could be a big game for Kevin Boss, because Pittsburgh could very well blitz some of their linebackers, susequently leaving Boss to be picked up on top by a safety. Plaxico Burress will certainly want to make an impression against the team he used to play for, but Smith, Hixon and Toomer all need to get involved. The most important thing is that the Giants do not abandon the run, even if it is not getting them a ton of yardage, because becoming one dimensional makes a team much easier to defend against.

When the Giants are on defense:

The Giants are going to try to hit Big Ben a lot today, but sending the kitchen sink at him all the time really in my mind is not a good idea. For every time you see Roethlisberger take a sack this season, he also is able to hang tough and deliver throws while under duress. The best situation would be for the Giants to create pressure with their front four, therefore there will be more people in coverage. Hines Ward will have his share of catches today, but the more important thing is bottling up backup running back Mewelde Moore. If Moore gets free it will allow Pittsburgh to use a lot of play action passing, and pick up a lot of yardage. The Eagles were able to swarm Ben Roethlisberger to the point where he could not even have time to throw the ball quickly. The Giants may go that route, but really it is quite risky. If the blitzes don't get there quick enough it will give Big Ben a lot of open receivers. Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield will be big in this one as they will need to collapse the middle of the pocket and get some interior pressure to keep Roethlisberger from stepping up into the pocket.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for both teams today will not be stopping each other, but stopping on the field. With rain over the weekend, as well as a high school game on Friday, followed by Pitt's defeat to Rutgers, the field is going to be chewed up to say the least. This will make the game even slower.

The game plan is really the same for both teams. Played controlled on the bad surface, establish the run, and get after the passer. Really whichever team does that better will come away with the win. The turnover battle will also certainly result in a win for either team.

The Pick:

Although one would think this game would be low scoring, it is hard for defensive backs to make adjustments on a slippery surface, which could allow for some big plays in the air. Eli has been too inconsistent for me to feel confident in him against this excellent defense. The Giants will need to play their best mistake free football to win.

Steelers 31 Giants 24

Report Card Time

2008-10-25T15:02:00.005-04:00

I figure this would be a good time to hand out some grades for the respective units on both sides of the ball, so here it is.

Offense-

Quarterback- Yes, Eli has had a few good games so far this year, but he has also had some already that leave you thinking that this is the beginning of last year. Has Eli really turned into an elite quarterback? He still has to convince a lot of people of that, and can only do so by putting up some good numbers. He has been iffy in some spots, but the only really bad game came against the Browns. Grade- B

Running backs- The Giants lead the league in rushing yards per game. That says a lot. Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw all can put up big numbers, and will continue to shoulder this offense. Fullback Madison Hedgecock continues to show great ability blocking out of the backfield. While Jacobs seems destined for a 1,000 yard season, Ward could perhaps give the Giants two 1k rushers if he continues at his current pace. Grade- A

Tight Ends- While the biggest worry coming into the season was if the Tight Ends would be able to block efficiently, the Giants rushing totals suggest that they are doing just fine. As far as receiving goes, Kevin Boss and Michael Matthews have combined for only 7 catches for 97 yards in 6 games, leaving much to be desired. Grade- B-

Wide Receivers- Steve Smith, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer have 26, 25 and 20 receptions respectively, in a balanced receiving game. Dominik Hixon has also added some big catches for a group that is extremely deep. The numbers aren't huge, but someone has been able to step up each week. Can they or Eli be blamed for the recent struggles? Grade- B+

Offensive Line- This one is pretty simple. They have blocked their way to the highest rushing average in the NFL so far this season and Eli Manning has only been sacked 6 times in 6 games. This is a unit that plays so well together, and is really one of the best in the league. Chris Snee and Rich Seubert should both be considered for the pro-bowl. Grade- A

Defense-

Defensive Line- While their sack numbers are basically on pace to finish close to where they were last year, Mathias Kiwanuka is certainly not putting up the kind of numbers opposite Justin Tuck that were hoped for. That's not that big of a deal, because Tackles Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield have a combined 7 sacks between them. Not exactly the names of last year, but still getting it done. Grade- A-

Linebackers- The Giants seem to have a new starting three every week at the linebacker position, but there is a common theme. All who have seen action have been pretty solid. There hasn't been any outstanding play from any of the outside guys, but the Giants rank in the top five in the league against the run, so collectively they are playing well. Grade- B+

Secondary- Aaron Ross and Corey Webster both have been pretty solid (except for Ross the last two weeks) and are looking like long time starters. Kevin Dockery has filled in nicely as the nickel back as well. The young safeties, James Butler, Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips all continue to improve, with Johnson being the most impressive so far. There is still much for the young secondary to learn, and they will certainly be tested. Grade- B

Special Teams- The Giants have tackled well on their coverage teams, and have had a few decent runbacks. Jeff Feagles continues to kick well, and John Carney refuses to miss thus far, making it an interesting situation with Lawrence Tynes back in the mix. Can they really cut him if he hasn't missed yet? Grade- B+

So it is A's and B's all around for Big Blue. They will need to continue to improve at some of the soft spots if they want to win the division and get some home games in the playoffs. With the tough schedule ahead every player must continue to raise their game.

The Fun Stops Here

2008-10-25T13:39:00.006-04:00

The Giants have attained a 5-1 mark through their first six games this season, but really with the exception of the Redskins they have not played any team with much talent. Yes, they still did go out and win five of their first six, which against any talent in the NFL is still good, but now the ante gets raised ten-fold.

No longer will they be taking on the Seahawks, Browns and 49ers in consecutive week, instead they get Pittsburgh, Dallas and Philadelphia; quite the step up. While the defense has had only one real blemish, their 35-14 loss in Cleveland, the offense has not been the same since they put up 44 against Seattle. Now is the time for the Giants to start getting it together because if they don't play their best football, they will not win against these better teams.

Here are 3 things both positive and negative that stick out thus far:

Positive:

1. Steve Smith- He has evolved into a big time weapon for Eli Manning, especially on third downs. He does need to work on finding the sticks a bit better, but he has great hands and has been a big help for the Giants offense. Smith is on pace to catch 71 balls for 678 yards. Those numbers seem a bit high for a third receiver, but Smith has put up some very solid numbers.

2. The Running Attack- Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward have combined to be great, if not spectacular this season so far. Jacobs has 516 yards rushing, six touchdowns and a 5.4 yards per carry average, where as Derrick Ward has 337 yards rushing and an incredible 7.2 yards per carry average. Between these two the Giants have run the ball very well, and even Ahmad Bradshaw has been able to contribute in this crowded backfield. As the season goes on, and the weather worsens it will be the running game that will carry this team.

3. Linebackers- While the Giants have been shuffling linebackers in and out all year due to injury, one thing is for sure, they all have produced. Danny Clark, Gerris Wilkinson, Rookie Brian Kehl, Chase Blackburn and of course Antonio Pierce have all stepped up and rallied around each other, despite having in many cases different faces every week at the linebacker position. The Giants limited Frank Gore, the NFL's 6th leading rusher to just 11 yards on 11 attempts.

Negative:

1. Lack of Pass Rush- Yes, the Giants are tied for 2nd in the NFL with 21 sacks on defense, but at times their pass rush has been non-existent. Against the Browns the Giants did not even record a hit of Derrick Anderson, and certainly that correlated to the 29 (not 35, due to the INT for a TD and 2 pt. conversion) points given up against the Browns. The pass rush was better against the 49ers, and it caused J.T O'sullivan to fumble a few times, but there were points where in the middle of the game where the pass rush was not there, and the 49ers moved the ball.

2. Aaron Ross- Ross was making great strides last year, and looked good during the first four games of the season, but the last two weeks have been quite bad for the young corner. Ross got burned numerous times by Braylon Edwards against Cleveland, and also gave up a touchdown to Josh Morgan against the Niners. While Ross has been slumping, it is important to realize that he is only a 2nd year player and it has only been two weeks. Give him a few more games to come around before its time to wonder what happened, but if the Giants are to succeed, he does need to pick up his game.

3. Offensive Playcalling- The playcalls of Kevin Gilbride really confuse me sometimes, but I also think that he may be confusing himself as well. The Giants seem to many times force the ball to Plaxico if they need to score, and sometimes get away from the run too quickly. Eli Manning has been pretty bad the last two weeks, and while it is okay to go through a brief stretch of poor play he needs to pick up his accuracy and decision making quickly, or the remarks of him being overrated will be right back. The playcalling needs to be come more unpredictable, but also try to work to establish the run early to set up the pass. Hopefully Eli will come around this week, but it will be a tough challenge against a good Steelers defense.

Really these last two weeks should serve the Giants well, as they now realize that even an "easy" opponent is not easy unless you come prepared to play to the highest level. There is not a single "easy" game left for Big Blue now, and even a Pittsburgh team without both Willie Parker and Santonio Holmes will be a tough task. Looking foward to next week, yes the Cowboys are without Tony Romo, but if the Giant offense doesn't put up points and limit their own turnovers the Cowboys could still steal one.

Let these last two games be a lesson for the Giants as they now enter a 10 game gauntlet, that even escaping with a 5-5 mark would probably be enough, although certainly the bar must be set much higher than that. The road warriors bring their team into a tough Heinz Field tomorrow, where the Steelers will try to match the Giants step for step in hard nosed physical football. The fun is over, now its time to get down business.

Mega Update

2008-10-24T16:49:00.002-04:00

With midterms, sickness and work back at home the last few weeks have been quite busy for me. Unfortunately I had to cut blogging out of my schedule, but this weekend will feature 3 new articles, some new pictures and a live game blog on Sunday for the big game at Pittsburgh.

First off we've got a recap of the last 2 weeks, followed by a unit by unit grade up until this point, and then coming tomorrow is the Steelers pregame article.

Check back later tonight.

Browns 35 Giants 14

2008-10-13T23:34:00.001-04:00

As it seems, the Giants never actually made the trip to Cleveland.

Awful effort, but still it is only one game. They can easily get back to winning with a win next week.

Post-game coming tomorrow, when I get some time to digest this first loss in a long while.

Game Preview: Giants @ Browns

2008-10-11T23:16:00.003-04:00

The Giants are flying high off of their 44-6 drubbing of the Seattle Seahawks, but that win must already be a thing of the past for this team. While they head into their Monday Night matchup in Cleveland against the 1-3 Browns, they must not let prior success allow them to overlook this game. While the Browns are a 1-3 team, they certainly would like to get to 2-3 with a huge home win over the undefeated Giants. The gameplan for the Giants is simple, but they still must execute if they want to stretch their record to 5-0.

When the Giants have the ball:
The Big Blue offense looked unstoppable last week, and it should have some similar success against a spotty Browns defense. The Giants need to continue to stretch the field with deep passes to either Plaxico Burress or Dominik Hixon. With the return of Plaxico one would assume he will be itching to have a big game, and prove that he is still the man in New York. The Giants will also run the ball a lot in this one, and that should really be the case every game. The Giants are currently 1st in the league with 181.2 yards rushing as a team. Expect a heavy dose of Brandon Jacobs in this one, and perhaps a good amount of Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw if this one gets out of hand. The diverse playcalling that the Giants used early against Seattle kept the Seahawks off balance all day. This was something that the Giants had trouble with over their first 3 games, but as we all saw, when the Giants keep defenses guessing, they are hard to stop. Look for the Giants to mix in a wide variety of plays in order to put some points up early and make Cleveland play catch up. Brandon Jacobs should get his 3rd 100-yard rushing performance of the year.

When the Giants are on defense:
The all but presumed absence of Kellen Winslow will hurt the Cleveland offense, which has struggled to be anywhere near as successful as it was last year. Derek Anderson has not been sharp and Braylon Edwards has dropped about as many balls as he has caught. Jamal Lewis has also been down this season. What does that all mean? The Browns offense is bound to break through at some point, so perhaps with the home Monday Night crowd they will. I still wouldn't bet on the Browns putting up a ton of points because the Giants will be able to stop the run and will make the Browns very one dimensional. Derek Anderson holds the ball a big too long at times, which will make him an easy target for the Giants pass rush. If the Giants can get pressure on him, it could certainly lead to turnovers, and perhaps a Giants blowout. The biggest thing the Giants can do to stop the Cleveland offense is to make them one dimensional from the get go by limiting the running game. They must also take away any sort of big play potential from Braylon Edwards in the passing game. This is not a very skilled Cleveland offense, so if the Giants eliminate stupid penalties and any big mistakes they should keep the Browns in check.

3 Things the Giants must do to win:

1. Get Brandon Jacobs going- When Brandon Jacobs is running well it opens up the passing game, which in turn gives Jacobs more room to run. The Giants will want to get a quick score or two and then rely heavily on the running game to grind out yards on the Cleveland defense. Jacobs and Derrick Ward alike should see a good amount of carries, and really the more the better. For the most part the more carries a back can get, it usually means that the team is in the lead and able to continue running the ball.

2. Diversify the playbook- The Giants went with a varied attack against Seattle and it worked. They should do the same against the Browns. Starting off with a good mix of run and pass, while also trying to take a shot deep will keep the Browns off balance.

3. Get pressure on Anderson- The more pressure that the Giants get on Derek Anderson, the more likely he is to make a mistake. He has had accuracy trouble this season, and does hold on to the ball, which should make getting pressure on him attainable. If the Giants keep constant pressure on Anderson it should make the job of stopping the Cleveland offense very easy.

The Pick:

While this does have the feel of a trap game for the Giants if the Browns come out more fired up than they expect, the Giants really do overpower Cleveland on both sides of the ball. The Big Blue offense should have no trouble putting up some points, and should be equally as successful on defense. I usually don't pick the Giants in a blowout, but this team is firing on all cylinders and should be able to at the very least cover the 7.5 point spread.

Pick- Giants 37 Browns 13

On a side note, there is speculation that the Giants are in fact pursuing Tony Gonzalez from the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are reportedly asking for a 3rd round pick, while the Giants had offered a 6th round pick. There are not many times when I advocate making a trade in the NFL, but to me this is a golden opportunity for the Giants. While Kevin Boss is continuing to improve, he is not exactly the big time threat that the Giants would like out of the tight end position. Gonzalez, while getting older is perhaps one of the very best to ever play the tight end position, and wants to be traded to a contender. The Giants have an extra 2nd round pick that the acquired from the Saints in the Jeremy Shockey trade, so to me it really does make sense to try to grab a guy as talented as Gonzalez if the price is right. With the Giants certainly a major contender again this season, adding a veteran of his character, work ethic and ability could make them even better.

Live blog tomorrow, as well as any info on the Gonzalez possibility.

Total Domination

2008-10-05T21:13:00.002-04:00

I have been to many Giants games in my life, whether it was in the stands or on the field. I have seen countless others on TV. There is one thing that came to my mind shortly after today's game. This was the single most dominant regular season performance I have seen this team play. Overall i do think that the 2000 NFC Championship Game was the most dominant game I have ever seen, but as far as regular season victories, today's 44-6 embarrassment of the Seattle Seahawks may be the best.

I had predicted that this game would start slow, mostly because I thought that both teams would have a hangover from their bye week. I was right about Seattle, in fact they were probably even still drunk, but the Giants had something to prove today.

Where to start? The defense seems like a logical place to begin. While they did not get the type of pressure on Matt Hasselbeck that one would think they would, they didn't need to. They tackled exceptionally well. Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins were great in the middle. The exceptional play by the two of them has really made a difference in the success of this defense. Aaron Ross and Corey Webster batted away many passes, and overall the Big Blue defense seemed to be a step ahead of Seattle all day. Seeing Kevin Dockery finally break the secondary's cold spell without an interception was a good sign. That also raises the question. If the Giants started creating a bunch of turnovers, then how good would they be? Antonio Pierce had a quote that summed up the attitude of his defense, and the entire team; "For us its all about getting better, I don't think we played our best ball today. The score might say that, but we have some other things out there." (courtesy of Cbssportsline.com) If in fact the always opinionated Mr. Pierce is correct, I can't wait to see what's in store.

Offensively there is much to talk about, and if no other reason it is because the Giants were without their biggest weapon in Plaxico Burress, yet still managed to put up 44 points in a game where the 4th quarter was nothing more than an afterthought. First off, I would like to point out that Dominik Hixon is good. I don't mean good as in, oh yes he's a good addition to the roster, I mean #1-2 receiver good. The guy has excellent speed, knows how to get open, and has a great set of hands. He could be a difference maker this season. He gives the Giants another deep threat and really makes their offense that much better. Eli Manning was again exceptional. His numbers would have been even better if he had needed to play the 4th quarter. Again the three headed running attack was sensational as they ran for well over 200 yards combined, highlighted by Jacobs' 139 yards and 2 touchdowns. The offense was electric right from the get go.

This was as dominant a football game as one team can play over another. The Giants are clicking, and improving with every outing. They need to though, because once Cleveland and San Francisco are out of the way things get very tough. The sky is the limit for this team, but they need to keep that same attitude that Antonio Pierce has and work hard to get better and better as the year goes on. The harder they work, the better they will be. The tests are coming, and it is going to be an all out battle in the coming weeks.

I do say, an excellent day early birthday present for my 21st.

Bye-Bye Bye Week

2008-10-04T20:28:00.009-04:00

The Giants are currently one of only three NFL teams yet to find themselves with less points than their opponents at the final whistle. The Giants are also the only one of those three to have a bye week yet. That may bode well for the Giants as they got time to take in the first month of the season and come out of it healthy, and with a perfect record still intact.

The Seattle Seahawks of 2008 are a very different team that beat the Giants in two gut wrenching games in Seattle. The biggest difference is certainly the absence of Shaun Alexander. In his place is Julius Jones, who the Giants are certainly familiar with. Jones has not had a history of running well against the Giants, so Seattle may turn to Maurice Morris as well. This Seattle team is also a different passing team. They are not nearly as deep at receiver as they used to be, but still have Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback. Defensively Seattle can still get after the quarterback, and they are among the league best against the run. Basically, what I am saying here is that this team is certainly not as good as they were in the past, but also still a threat.

The big theme for Big Blue this week is the absence of Plaxico Burress. I could decide to blast Burress for this, but I am going to hold my tounge, or fingers to be exact and hope that this sort of thing doesn't happen again. Don't get me wrong, Burress is extremely talented, but ever since I saw him on the sideline during a Giants-Steelers game complaining while sitting there in street clothes, I realized character is not exactly his strength. But, again not to get too far into that.

This opens the door for two guys who I really think can be special in Steve Smith and Dominik Hixon. Both guys are young, run good routes and can catch. Smith is great at working the middle of the field, and Hixon has excellent speed. Both of them should certainly get a lot of balls thrown their way during this game.

Defensively it is simple for the Giants. They must take away the run. Seattle has had trouble pass protecting so far this season, and if the Seahawks face a lot of passing situations, that will allow the Giants to tee of on Hasselbeck. Seattle went into the bye week very banged up, but they do now have their receiving in order, somewhat.

I feel that this game will be closer than people think. I also think that with an extra week off, both teams may come out sluggish on offense, which is why this one will probably be a lower scoring affair. Although, it could work the other way and the defenses could be a step behind, but my hunch is that the offense in the first quarter will be a bit sluggish.

Giants 3 Keys to the Game:

1. Stop the Run- it is imperative to not let Seattle establish their ground game or else it will make their passing that much more of a threat. The Giants let the Bengals grab some yardage on the ground and it helped keep them balanced. Scoring early will also help Big Blue stop Seattle's running game if they need to play catch-up.

2. Get On Track Early- The G-men have struggled to get their offense going early in games. The Giants should come out with a balanced attack early, aimed at putting up quick points. Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gillbride seems to start games this season with the junior football playbook before opening things up later in the game. The Giants need to have a varied attack right from the get go.

3. Involve Everyone- With Plaxico Burress down the Giants don't have their main threat. This means that the Giants really could implement any of the receivers, or even Kevin Boss as the go-to guy. Because of this it actually allows the Giants to keep the Seahawks guessing as to where they will be trying to deliver the football, so the Giants should just keep spreading the ball around the field.

The Pick:

I feel that this one will be a little slow at first, considering that both teams are coming off of a bye. Seattle will be playing hard to avoid falling to 1-3, so I expect a fight. It would be nice to see the Giants create a couple of turnovers for a change, something they haven't been able to do. It is much easier to win when you can win the turnover battle.

Giants 23 Seahawks 16

No live blog for tomorrow being that I will be at the game. Pictures and a recap to follow tomorrow night.

Plaxico Suspended

2008-09-24T12:54:00.002-04:00

Usually any news to report during a bye week is not good, and in this case that would be correct.

Plaxico Burress has been suspended by the team for one game after violating an undisclosed team rule. Speculation is that he did not show up for work on Monday and therefore will now miss the October 5th game against Seattle. He is also not allowed to practice with the team until after the Seattle game. Plaxico will miss 2 weeks of practice, what else is new.

This will allow Steve Smith and Dominik Hixon to get even more looks, as they both continue to impress this year.

Photo 8 Pack

2008-09-22T01:42:00.007-04:00

Giants 26 Bengals 23 (OT)

2008-09-21T20:21:00.003-04:00

- Dave Turner

It wasn't pretty, and the Giants will admit that. The Giants survived a valiant effort by the Bengals to move to 3-0 on the year. With the bye week coming up, the Giants should feel good about the beginning to the 2008 season, but certainly much work is still to be done. One thing is for certain, Eli Manning has become cool, calm and collected when leading the offense late in games.

Certainly this one was not all that pretty for the Giants. The offense sputtered in the beginning and seemed to be unable to get anything going. Was it the playcalling? Was it a lack of execution? Was it the Cincinnati defense? Perhaps it was a little bit of each, but regardless, for most of the game the Giants offense was ineffective. Fortunately they were able to wake up in time and put together a nice drive capped off by the touchdown to Kevin Boss. Eli led the Giants down the field and in for the score, doing so with the poise of a seasoned veteran.

The defense was able to get to Carson Palmer 6 times, which shows that this team can still rush the passer but Palmer was also able to dink and dunk, hitting his receivers for quick slants and out patterns, which kept the Bengals offense moving. The defense played well overall, with the exception of the Bengals first touchdown drive where Chris Perry took a handoff and walked into the end zone. An uncharacteristic blunder against the run by the defense, and certainly something that the Giants will need to gameplan for to make sure it does not happen again.

I don't know how much longer John Carney will be the kicker for this team, but so far he has not missed as a Giant. He made some decently long field goals against the Bengals, and of course hit the game winner. I would certainly consider keeping this guy as long as he continues to kick well.

The feeling I got from the team today is that they certainly were capable of turning it on, but were under no pressure to do so. The whole team seemed to adopt the "let's just get out of here and into the bye week healthy" kind of mentality, but they forgot that they still needed to put up some points to win the game. Of course the offense was able to turn it on late when they needed it, but a little more urgency earlier would have perhaps made the game easier for Big Blue.

Yes, it was a game that they could have lost at home to a team that isn't nearly as good, but in the end they found a way to win. The mark of a good team is not only to win the games you should win, but win the games you shouldn't. The Bengals came out hard, but the Giants resilience and perseverence allowed them to pull out the win. With the brutal second half schedule that the Giants have they will be thankful for this win come playoff time.

Things I Liked:

- Kevin Boss- finally got involved, and in a big way- Boss had 3 big catches, and none was bigger than his 4th quarter touchdown. It adds another dimension to the Giants offense.

- Steve Smith- he paced the Giants with 7 receptions for 60 yards. This guy is something special. He has a great ability to find the sticks and make tough catches.

- Derrick Ward- I've said it before and ill say it again. Having D-Ward back is great. He is so good between the tackles and really sparked the Giants in the 2nd half.

- Secondary- Yes, T.J Houshmandzadeh had a big day, but the Giants secondary took away the Bengals big play threat and also held Ocho Cinco to almost nothing.

Things I Didn't Like:

- Run Defense- The Giants let Chris Perry run for 74 yards and a score. Against a weaker running attack the Giants need to do a better job in taking out the running game.

- Early Offensive Playcalling- Was Kevin Gillbride picking plays out of a hat? It seems as if he tries to get things going by calling a diverse array of scattered plays instead of establishing things.

- 4th Quarter Defense- If the Bengals didn't foolishly give away clock time on thier end of regulation drive they would have had a few shots at the end zone before kicking their field goal. I know the Bengals were driving hard, and the Giants were playing to keep everything in front of them and not give up a TD, but the Bengals almost scored. The defense needs to come up bigger than that.

Going into the bye week there are ceratainly things that this team needs to work on. The Giants need to become less predictable on offense at first because it seems as if go out and run the ball on 1st and 2nd, then throw out of a different formation every 3rd down. Simplifying things and finding a gameplan that mixes in both the pass and run early will open up both further. There is too much talent on this offense to be held to the likes of 10 first half points to a bad defense.

Defensively the Giants will need to continue to work on their blitzing schemes, as well as trying to disguise coverages. The Giants have not created many turnovers this season, and in fact the only Giant to record an interception through the first 3 games is Justin Tuck against the Rams. So for those of you scoring at home, the Giants have now a grand total of one takeaway for the year. The Giants themselves have been limiting their turnovers, but one takeaway through 3 games will not get it done.

Next up in 2 weeks is Seattle. It will be a long trip cross country for the Seahawks, and certainly it is a welcoming sight to see them coming here instead of the Giants going to what is a house of horrors for them in Qwest field. The Seahawks are not the offensive juggernaut that they previously were, but will be a big task at home for the Giants following their bye week.

Bungles In The Jungle (Or Meadowlands)

2008-09-20T22:41:00.003-04:00

The Giants are riding high after drubbing the St. Louis Rams to notch yet another road win. The theme for the Giants' next few weeks should be simply, Now. Now is the time during the Giants season where they need to rack up the wins. Cincinnati, Seattle, @ Cleveland and San Francisco is the easiest it is going to get for Big Blue, so they need to keep playing their best football.

The Bengals are coming in after two uninspiring performances in which they scored a combined 17 points. They gave up 17 to Baltimore and 24 to Tennessee, so you do the math, the Giants offense should be in for a big day.

While the Bengals have suddenly taken a nose dive, they do possess a lot of offensive firepower which at some point should surface (one would assume). The Giants have the bye week coming up and are certainly looking to get through this game with a win, and to emerge from it as healthy as possible. This could perhaps fall into the category of a trap game, but I really do believe that this team is focused enough to avoid such a letdown. With that being said it will still take a good effort to win this game.

Some points to raise:

- The Bengals have given up over 400 yards rushing in 2 games so far this season, to the Ravens and Titans. the newly dubbed "earth wind and fire" attack should have a good day running the ball.

- The Bengals will probably try to put up a big score as quick as possible, with the hope of shaking off the offensive cobwebs. The Giants will need to defend the deep ball to Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco?) or T.J. Houshmanzadeh. Giving up a big score to a team that is pretty down would not be a good way to shift momentum.

- The Bengals do not have a very good offensive line, so certainly getting pressure on Carson Palmer will help eliminate the Bengals big play threat.

- Like with most lesser opponents, scoring quickly can take them out of the game. The Giants need to get off to a good start, and then run the ball down their throats.

- The nice mix of run and pass last week worked well, and the Giants should continue that. Keeping the defense off balance by running many varied formation makes it hard to defend.

- I do want to see Kevin Boss get in the mix a lot more this week. Getting the tight end involved is crucial to the Giants offense, because if Boss is a non-threat, it takes away a whole dimension.

3 keys to winning the game-

1. Run the ball, a lot- The Bengals have hemorrhaged rushing yardage so far this season, so running should be the Giants first option.

2. Don't give up the big play- Chad Johnson can certainly catch a deep ball, and quick points is not how to shut down a team that has scored 17 points in 2 games.

3. Ball control. Not turning over the ball will certainly make things easier for the Giants.

The Giants will come out and score, without a doubt. I do think that the Bengals offense will be able to find some passing room against the defense, but not a ton. Really the Giants just need to run the ball and keep Carson Palmer in check and they should have an easy win going into the bye week.

My Pick- Giants 33 Bengals 17

Pictures from the game as well as a recap later after the game. I will not be live blogging, because I will be on the field, therefore unable to do so.

Reversal of Fortune

2008-09-15T01:15:00.003-04:00

After week 2 during last year's campaign the world was crashing down for Big Blue. 12 months later the sky is the limit. The transformation that this team has had is remarkable, but I will say this: Before we go and anoint the Giants a Super Bowl contender I would like to see them match up against the Cowboys and Eagles. Not to burst a bubble of sorts, because I do think this team is really good, its just that 0-2 became so positive last year, that 2-0 could go south. If there is one good sign to point out it is that the Redskins put up a ton of offense against the Saints, so that says something about the defense.

Speaking of defense, this week saw an equally dominant performance, marred only by a freak play. During Justin Tuck's postgame interview on the field he downplayed his individual accomplishments and talked about how well they play as a unit. Is this team focused? You bet they are. In fact, the biggest upgrade to the defense has been the play of the secondary. Aaron Ross and Corey Webster have covered and tackled well, and the safeties have played well. Even on the touchdown caught by Torry Holt, Kenny Phillips was right there, and even made a play on the ball before it somehow magically floated into Holt's hands. Reports had said that Fred Robbins really worked on conditioning himself during the offseason, and he was dominant. He should have been a pro-bowler last year, and is making the case again so far this season.

Offensively the Giants must be pleased with the 3 headed monster they now posess at running back. Brandon Jacobs will continue to get the bulk of the carries (hes at 209 yards through 2 games) as he has a 5.8 yard per carry average so far. Derrick Ward has 97 yards on the year and is averaging a slightly more modest 5.7 yards per carry. That gives the Giants the 6th and 26th ranked runners so far. Not to mention Ahmad Bradshaw ripped of a 31 yard run and also scored on a 18 yard pass on the day. It has been so nice to have Derrick Ward back, because it allows him and Jacobs to just take turns pounding the defense before bringing in the speedster Bradshaw once the oposition is tired.

Eli Manning looked sharp today as he finished 20 of 29 for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns. He hit Plaxico Burress for a 33 yard score early, but once Plaxico started getting a lot of coverage he was able to look around the field and find different receivers (he hit 8 different ones). Even better was the production from the other receivers. Amani Toomer had a nice game, but as the number two it is expected for him to have some good outings. The real plus was the combined 5 catches for 79 yards between Steve Smith and Dominik Hixon. The Giants need to make up for the loss of Jeremy Shockey, and since the tight ends don't seem to be a factor the production from those two wide receivers was a very welcoming sign.

Next week the Giants play a Cincinnati Bengals team that hasn't been able to get out of it's own way on offense. Perfect, as we all know that the Giants love to lose to mediocre teams at home. Hopefully this team has more focus than those of years prior, and I believe they do. The relentless motor of the defense will put pressure on the Bengals passing game. The most important thing will be for the Giants to limit the big plays from Chad Johnson/Ocho Cinco. (Do I really have to say that?!)

The win against the Rams showed th NFL what the reigning best can do to what possibly is the current worst in the NFL. There is no doubt that the Giants not only possess an extremely talented hard hitting defense, but also an offense capable of putting up huge amounts of production both through the air and on the ground. The Giants better get fat off their next 4 games which feature the Bengals and Seahawks at home followed by the Browns on the road, and the 49ers home because after that, tough is an understatment. The Giants next 3 games after that are Pittsburgh on the road, the Cowboys at home and at Philly. I would be extatic with 1-2 out of those 3 games.

There were many positives this week, but they must continue during the upcoming weeks. No matter who the opponent is, the Giants will need to come play their best football each week if they hope to perhaps get through these games with a 6-0 record. Is it possible? Sure, but there is no room for a slip up. This team had the pedal on the metal at the end of last year and there is no reason to let it up now.

Giants Win 41-13

2008-09-14T16:05:00.003-04:00

This one was a little too close for a while, but the Giants kicked it into gear and showed that they can dominate.

The offense woke up and spread the ball around. Jacobs, Ward and Bradshaw all contributed. Eli was pretty sharp and threw the ball to many different receivers.

Again, the defense was very solid. The one touchdown catch was the blemish, but even then it took an incredible catch to find the end zone.

The Giants move to 2-0 and will face the Bengals next week.

Full postgame article coming tonight.

Bradshaw Strikes Again

2008-09-14T15:55:00.003-04:00

This is ugly now.

Ahmad Bradshaw busts one to make it now 41 to 13 Giants.

To think this one was 20-13 at one point and I actually had to start worrying. Now its 41-13 and I'm having a good time. That's the Giants for you.

The rushing attack was balanced, Eli played well and the defense other than one play was dominant. A good road win regardless of the competition. The Giants need to continue to play well against the lesser opponents.

Justin Tuck is Awesome- Giants 34 Rams 13

2008-09-14T15:46:00.002-04:00

2 sacks, and now a great interception return for a touchdown.

Say hello to the NFL Defensive Player of the Week. He is showing the world how great of a player he is, which honestly in my beliefs is a possible defensive player of the year.

This one is all about over.

Giants 27 Rams 13

2008-09-14T15:38:00.003-04:00

A good drive from Eli who threw the ball well. The pass to Hixon was a great touch throw, and an even better catch.

Ahmad Bradshaw finally gets his reps and comes up big with the TD catch.

Now the defense can get revenge from the crazy TD to Holt.

Eli is now a cool 20/29 for 260 yards and 3 TD's.

It is nice to see a lot of different players getting involved in the offense today. The more weapons you have the harder it is for teams to not only gameplan, but actually defend against.

What a Catch Giants 20 Rams 13

2008-09-14T15:26:00.003-04:00

Wow. Not even sure how that happened, but Tory Holt makes a great catch (I think) and now this is only a 7 point game. Kenny Phillips couldn't have done a better job, but somehow it goes for a TD.

The offense needs to not only move the ball and run some clock here, but they need to try and score. The running shell won't work here, they need to attack but also be smart with the ball.

Leave it to the Giants to make this one closer than it needs to be.

End of 3rd Quarter- Giants 20 Rams 6

2008-09-14T15:14:00.002-04:00

The Giants were unable to put this game away on their last drive, but now can stop the Rams and get control of the ball in the 4th.

The defense has continued to be solid in this one as they are tackling well and flying to the ball. the Rams have had trouble getting a vertical passing game going which has made things easier for the Giants defense.

The offense has some pretty good numbers so far with a quarter still to go. Another touchdown would certainly be a nice way to cap this off.

This still is only a 14 point game so the Giants need to make sure to not let the Rams get a big play to cut it to 7, and must take care of the ball on offense.

Offense Awakens- Giants 20 Rams 6

2008-09-14T14:53:00.003-04:00

TOUCHDOWN AMANI TOOMER

Quite the nice drive from the offense as they go 97 yards, mixing in some big runs by Jacobs and Ward and then a few nice passes.

A balanced attack leads to big rewards as the Giants now open up a 14 point lead.

That is how the Giants need to continue to attack, working the single coverage against their receivers and mixing in the run.

Now the defense gets to go to work again, but undoubtedly the Rams will have a sense of urgency to respond and will probably try to start getting the vertical passing game going.

End of 2nd Quarter- Giants 13 Rams 6

2008-09-14T14:20:00.002-04:00

The AARP squad comes through again.

The offense is moving the ball, but still cannot seem to find the end zone.

Getting guys like Hixon involved is great because it causes the opposing defense to have to put more guys in good coverage.

Derrick Ward continues to run extremely hard. I would give him more of the carries in the 2nd half considering that he is running better than Jacobs.

I really like the idea of using Hixon and Smith more and spreading the field out. My favorite formation is a 4 wide set with a single set back because it allows for draws and traps inside (as you saw with Ward) and it also forces the defense to put coverage on 4 receivers.

Defensively there is not much to complain about. Not allowing a touchdown in a half of football is good no matter what team you are facing.

The Giants need to come out hard on defense in the 2nd half and then put the pedal to the metal on offense.

Another Rams FG- Giants 10 Rams 6

2008-09-14T14:13:00.002-04:00

The Rams creep closer with another field goal.

There is still enough time for a good 2 minute drill. Lets see the Giants ACTUALLY do something and put the ball in the end zone here.

Awful

2008-09-14T14:04:00.003-04:00

Jacobs can't find any room.

Eli makes a bad pass, then gets sacked on 3rd down.

The offense really needs to start finding it's identity this season. They are playing a team that is obviously a lesser opponent, yet they are only a single touchdown ahead. The passing game still seems out of sync, and when the running game isn't working well the passing game needs to be better.

At least the defense is playing very well, as they got a nice sack of Bulger. So the defense can play, but when will the offense step up?

As I say that Stephen Jackson knifes through for a first down. Guess what, this game is not even close to being a win yet. Time to wake up.

Defense At It's Best

2008-09-14T13:58:00.002-04:00

They stuff Stephen Jackson twice, then Fred Robbins flies in to get the sack.

Excellent 3 and out from the defense.

Now it is up to the offense to use the 6 minutes left in this half to put together a good drive and open up this game.

They have time to mix in the run, but should continue to attack. I'd like to see Steve Smith get involved here on this drive. A 4 wide receiver set would be a nice change of pace.

Airing It out

2008-09-14T13:49:00.002-04:00

The Giants enact the vertical passing game on this drive to try to stretch the defense.

Amani Toomer is having his way with the Rams secondary.

What a run by Derrick Ward where he got about 7 yards after being hit. Boy is it nice to have him back.

The AARP kicking unit is good from 39 yards.

Giants 10 Rams 3

Nice Play

2008-09-14T13:40:00.003-04:00

An excellent play by Danny Clark to stop Stephen Jackson on 3rd down.

Josh Brown destroyed that field goal from 54 yards away.

Giants 7 Rams 3

The Giants offense needs to get it going again here. Hopefully Brandon Jacobs can get moving, but at the same time I certainly would not mind an all out passing attack here on this drive.

End of 1st Quarter- NYG 7 STL 0

2008-09-14T13:35:00.001-04:00

The Rams are driving, but facing a 3rd and short. Stephen Jackson is finding some room up the middle. As I had said earlier, the Giants need to keep scoring in order to force the Rams to enact a more vertical passing game.

Justin Tuck made a great move on that third and long, but unfortunately he got a hand full of facemask.

Big third down coming up here for the defense.

TOUCHDOWN PLAXICO BURRESS

2008-09-14T13:18:00.003-04:00

Excellent use of play-action on that drive. Eli looked very sharp on the drive, hitting Amani Toomer a couple times before the touchdown play.

Plaxico was WIDE open.

A nice drive through the air, although the running game has yet to get going.

a 33 yard touchdown to Burress and now the Giants grab the early 7-0 lead. Now the defense needs to hold and give the offense a shot to start opening this one up.

Drive Stats-

Eli Manning 3 for 3 for 50 yards and the TD

Amani Toomer- 2 receptions 17 yards

Plaxico Burress- 1 reception 33 yards, TD

Defense Holds

2008-09-14T13:12:00.002-04:00

A couple of very nice plays to force the 3 and out.

Michael Johnson came flying in to hit Stephen Jackson and keep it to a 2 yard gain. Michael Johnson continues to show progress in his second year and is slowly turning into a very nice player.

Kevin Dockery made a great play knocking the ball away on 3rd down. It's amazing as long as the ball isn't thrown high he usually is able to make the play.

First Drive Reactions

2008-09-14T13:04:00.002-04:00

A couple of runs that didn't produce much, and an overthrown ball on 3rd down and the Giants punt.

It would be nice to see the Giants open up a game in a passing set with 3 or 4 wide for a change and just start airing it out. That was not the case, and the Giants faltered on their first drive.

This offense needs to change things up a bit and become more unpredictable.

Lets see what the defense can do now.

Giants (1-0) vs. Rams (0-1) 1:00 PM on FOX

2008-09-14T12:05:00.004-04:00

Due to the fact that the Eagles are playing on Monday night, I get the Giants game today courtesy of Comcast Philly. This means that I will be live blogging today, because unlike last week I wont be cooking and doing the whole entertaining thing at my apartment on campus.

Here are a few things that are running through my mind with less than an hour to go before kickoff:

- The Giants need to get out to an early lead. The Rams got beat bad last week, and because it is their home opener they are going to look to rebound, so giving the Rams hope early would give them a lot of momentum.

- The red zone offense HAS to improve today. If there is ever a cure for any sort of offensive woes, considering their performance last week the Rams defense seems like the right unit to give the Giants offense a boost.

- Another reason for the Giants to get out to an early lead is simple. if they can take Stephen Jackson out of the game early and force the Rams to pass it makes defending much easier.

- If in fact the Giants do get a pretty good lead in this game early, I would like to see them continuing to run their offense instead of going into their run-heavy protect the lead shell. Today should be a day to test out all of the offensive power.

- I would like to see the Giants spread the ball around and perhaps work Dominik Hixon and Mario Manningham in a little bit just to get them some reps. Perhaps a little Ahmad Bradshaw would be a good thing as well.

The Giants are 8.5 point favorites here, and considering the way their offense played last week I reluctantly picked them in my pick em' pool, but really this game should not be a challenge for this team. I will not be shy to say I expect a win and a solid performance all around. There is no room for let downs this season.

Who should have a big game-

Plaxico Burress- he's healthy, and he's playing against a very suspect defense.

Brandon Jacobs- he should be able to get a lot of tough yards against the Rams smallish defense

Kenny Phillips- I expect him to get even more playing time today, and if the Rams pass a lot he should be able to show his stuff in coverage.

Keep it here for the live blog as well as a recap following the game!

A Few Shots From The Game

2008-09-06T14:07:00.003-04:00

Recapping Week 1

2008-09-06T13:23:00.004-04:00

A fantastic defensive performance flanked by a well rounded offensive assault. The Giants defense, although missing some key parts showed that it was still in many ways the same defense that led the Giants to the Super Bowl XLII win.

When first analyzing the defense's performance I thought, that was not a good thing that they did not get any takeaways in the game. But, in truth that actually is in favor of the defense, because they had to keep stopping the Redskins without the luxury of an interception or fumble. Justin Tuck got a nice sack to start things off, but after that Big Blue was held without a sack. While it would have been nice for them to get to Campbell one or two more times, the pressure that they brought constantly hurried him and forced some bad throws. As long as the pressure is there to throw the quarterback off his rythym then the defense will be able to succeed.

Aaron Ross and Corey Webster both looked very good. They did not give up a ton of yardage, and also tackled well after giving up catches, preventing a few first downs. Michael Johnson continues to improve, and it looks like he and Kenny Phillips will be the safety tandem shortly.

Offensively it is hard to complain about 216 yards passing and 155 yards rushing between Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward. Speaking of which, it was great to see Ward back. While Ahmad Bradshaw gives the Giants a speed option, the duo of Jacobs and Ward gives the Giants two hard runners which punish the defense all night. While the yardage was there, the inability to score a touchdown after the first drive was a bit concerning. If at any point after that first drive if the Giants could have put one in the endzone the game would have been far over once it got midway through the 4th quarter. Instead it actually allowed the Redskins to stay in it for longer than it should have been.

Plaxico Burress was fantastic, (10 catches 113 yards) and with a healthy ankle and a new contract that is the kind of thing we can expect from him all year. Brandon Jacobs was a force, and if he stays healthy I honestly believe he can be a 1,500 yard back. Eli Manning made some nice throws on 3rd downs, and while he wasn't exceptional, he did a nice job. The offense will need to find a way to get into the end zone more, but it is only one week, so I won't get too worried yet.

3 Things I Liked:

1. Team Defense- everyone out there on defense played well. It seems like the players are really working well in Steve Spagnuolo's scheme. The secondary all the way to the D-line contributed to the great effort.

2. Steve Smith- When I see him stick a tough inside route on 3rd down to get a 1st down I see glimpses of Amani Toomer in him. He has that exceptional ability to just find a way to get open to make big catches. He is going to be very good.

3. Corey Webster- he had another solid game in coverage and perhaps may really have turned the corner. If he can keep up his solid play, it makes the defense much better.

3 Things I Didn't Like:

1. Tight Ends- No catches, but actually a few decent blocks. Someone needs to emerge as a threat to catch the ball, or else it will just funnel more coverage in the direction of Plaxico Burress.

2. The Offense- yardage wise they were fine, but the playcalling got way too conservative and the inability to get another TD was bad. They need to start putting up more points, because 16 will not do it every week.

3. Penalties- The Giants had a few 15 yarders that kept drives alive. (facemask and roughing the kicker come to mind). Against a better team, those type of penalties can result in points. Stupid 15 yard penalties need to stop.

Now to end things here I feel obligated to bring something up. A lot of people, including myself feel very good after this first win and the performance by the defense. Just remember how bad the defense looked in the first two weeks last year before it turned around. I am not insinuating or expecting anything by saying this, but just because they were good one week doesn't guarantee anything. The Redskins are a team with a totally new offensive system, and it seems Jason Campbell does not totally grasp it just yet. All I am saying is lets see the next 3 games (Rams, Bengals and Seahawks) before really assessing this defense. Yes, in 4 weeks after the Seattle game I certainly could be talking about the success of the defense, because I do believe they have the talent to do well, but it is still early.

Giants 16 Redskins 7

2008-09-05T19:27:00.007-04:00

Full game review and some photos coming tomorrow.

Check back in the afternoon (Saturday Sept 6) for the whole post game spread.

Breaking Down the Game

2008-09-04T00:42:00.002-04:00

Less than 24 hours away from the opening game and I can't be happier. So happy in fact I get to rush home from class and start making wings for a bunch of people who are coming for a kickoff party. There is still some part of me that wishes the Giants would never play another game and let their Super Bowl XLII victory be their last, but in the same regard I can't wait for the game to begin.

Anyways on to the important stuff.

When the Giants have the ball.

The Giants will look to score quickly and put themselves in a position to just protect a lead. It wouldn't surprise me if the Giants come out passing early. A lot of the Redskins hopes ride on the status of Jason Taylor who is a gametime decision. He will a huge force on the defensive line for the 'Skins.

The Giants will need to be able to run the ball and keep control of the ball. The Redskins defense is pretty solid against both the run and pass, so it will be crucial to capitalize on any good field position. Especially with John Carney as the placekicker the Giants need to put the ball in the end zone and not rely on the 44 year old formerly retired kicker to score their points. With the personnel that the Giants possess this year it will be a bit harder to run in 2 tight formations, because simply they don't have the blocking needed out of the tight end position What I would like to see instead is the Giants running Brandon Jacobs out of 3 or 4 wide receiver sets. This will not only keep the Redskins off balance, but also allow Jacobs to possibly run against a smaller defensive personnel of the Redskins and find some room to run. It will be important to get the tight ends involved in order to spread the field even more.

The most important thing for the Giants to do is to work in all of the different elements of their offense and play ball control. If they can limit their mistakes and put the ball in the end zone instead of settling for field goals, they should certainly be able to score more points than the Redskins offense should. I would expect Brandon Jacobs to approach 100 yards on the ground, especially if the Giants take an early lead. If Eli Manning can make smart decisions and use his plethora of wide receiver talent, this should be a good night for the offense.

When the Giants are on Defense

This may not be the toughest of tests for the Giants defense, but it certainly will not be easy. Redskins coach Jim Zorn has stressed the fact that he wants Jason Campbell to be a lot like Eli Manning, in the regard that he can manage games and protect the ball. I would expect the Redskins to do that as well as take a few shots at Santana Moss down field. The Skins have been successful in the past going deep to Moss, so the Giants will need to guard against a quick strike. Clinton Portis has run well against the Giants, so it may force the Giants to key on the run. If that is the case, Aaron Ross and Corey Webster may be forced into some single coverage duty, which will be a big test.

Getting after Jason Campbell will be crucial. Not only will Mathias Kiwanuka and Justin Tuck have to get some pressure from the d-line, but it will be necessary to bring some blitz packages from different positions in order to keep Campbell guessing. A quarterback who doesn't know where the blitz is coming from is one who is more prone to making mistakes with the football.

What it comes down to is that the Giants must limit Portis, stop the deep ball and just manage to at least hurry Campbell regularly. If they can do those things they should not only hold the Skins to a fair amount of points, but may come away with a turnover or two as well. The one thing that scares me is that Portis is going against a Giants defense with two new outside linebackers in Danny Clark and Gerris Wilkinson and two new starting defensive ends in Mathias Kiwanuka and Justin Tuck. We will find out a lot about not only the pass rush, but the run defense as well tonight.

Finally, My Pick

Now, I am totally aware that I did not pick the Giants to win a single playoff game last year. Why did I do that? I guess part of me didn't want to expect them to win only to lose, so I was perhaps afraid to pick them. But last season is last season.

This year I have realized that I can trust this team, and I have faith in them winning the games that they SHOULD win. With that being said, here is my pick:

The Giants will grab an early lead. I expect the Redskins to make it a close one in the 3rd quarter when they make the score 17-14 Giants. From there I think Big Blue can put another TD on the board, as well as a late field goal to seal the victory.

My Pick: Giants 27 Redskins 17

In the Spotlight

2008-09-02T22:42:00.004-04:00

- Dave Turner

The Giants were victorious on last year's biggest stage, but now they get to start their title defense under the spotlight again. The Giants' Thursday night matchup with the Redskins will be an important one for the team for many reasons.

First off, the Giants want to get off to a good start against a divisional opponent. Secondly the Giants were 3-5 at home last season, so a win in week one would work towards improving that record. Perhaps the most important reason for a strong showing for the Giants is one that doesn't even really involve the team itself. Because Big Blue is coming off the Championship the media will be ready to pounce and make the G-men into has-beens as quick as they can. If the Giants can put up a good performance here on the national stage it will help to settle down some of the writers and reporters. Not that the team itself is affected by it, but it at least limits the possible distraction of a media blitz.

The Redskins are a team that will be searching for an identity behind first year head coach Jim Zorn. With that being said, a couple of quick scores and the Giants could put the Skins on their heels. One of the biggest factors in the possible outcome is the status of Jason Taylor. The team has listed him as a gametime decision with his current knee injury. My feeling is if he can play, he will play. Even if he is not 100% he will draw some blocking his way and perhaps make it easier for the rest of the Redskins pass rush. I wont get too much into the X's and O's because I will do a defensive and offensive breakdown of the game tomorrow.

This game in a lot of ways is a big one for the Giants because their easier early schedule is where they can pick up a good chunk of their wins before facing the Eagles, Cowboys, Steelers and Vikings of the world late in the year. With the Rams on the road the following week, and the always dysfunctional Bengals back at home for week 3, this is a chance for the Giants to get off to a 3-0 start before the bye followed by a big showdown at home with Seattle. Now I'm not saying that this Week 1 game is a must win, but it is a game that the Giants will want to have under their belt come week 17.

Thinking about the Giants schedule, this is what I could see them doing.

Week 1- Washington Win
Week 2- @St. Louis Win
Week 3- Cincinnati Win
Week 4- Bye
Week 5- Seattle Loss
Week 6- @ Cleveland Win
Week 7- San Francisco Win
Week 8- @ Pittsburgh Loss
Week 9- Dallas Loss
Week 10- @Philadelphia Loss
Week 11- Baltimore Win
Week 12- @Arizona Win
Week 13- @Washington Loss
Week 14- Philadelphia Win
Week 15- @ Dallas Loss
Week 16- Carolina Win
Week 17- @Minnesota Loss

As it breaks down I have the Giants finishing 9-7. Could they steal one against Dallas? Could they actually beat Seattle at home and start off 4-0? There are a bunch of different factors here but I think 9-7 is a good pick. Can I see them winning one or two more games? Certainly, but I would like to see the first few weeks before I could honestly say that. Right now I stand by my pick.

Certainly feel free to post your picks in the comment section below.

For tomorrow- Defensive and Offensive breakdown as well as my pick.

Also, just throwing this out there but I really think the Giants should wear their Whites against the Redskins and Cowboys. Why you ask? Well one, I like them better, but more importantly it was tradition in the 80's for the Giants to make the Cowboys wear their blue uniforms of death, so why not keep doing it? Perhaps the white unis will make the stadium feel more like the road? Certainly better than the tomato jerseys they love to wear.

Had To Share This

2008-08-29T14:01:00.003-04:00

David Diehl has always been a favorite Giant of mine because of his incredible work ethic and his love for the game. He has been tossed around the line, and last year he was left for dead at left tackle, only to succeed.

Not only is he a tremendous player, but a great person as well.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/08/29/diehl-pays-tribute-to-fallen-high-school-player/

Turns out Diehl honored a fallen high school football player who died tragically. What a kind gesture, and a breath of fresh air in the sometimes thugish NFL.

For those who don't remember, David Diehl's father passed away on the day of the Giants opening day game in his rookie season. He did not even miss a game and until this training camp has never missed a practice at any level for any reason.

Here's to David Diehl, the kind of guy that kids should really look up to.

Giants 19 Patriots 14- some thoughts and observations

2008-08-29T01:51:00.004-04:00

-Dave Turner

Didn't see many starters tonight, but that was probably a good thing.

-We saw a lot of David Carr, and in fact it was a pretty good showing for him. I'm pretty sure at this point Carr is the #2 QB.

- Mathias Kiwanuka and Gerris Wilkinson played more than the rest of the starters in order to get some reps at their new positions. Kiwanuka had a sack, which certainly is a good sign.

- The battle for wide receiver probably was won tonight by Sinorice Moss. Not that Moss is showing tremendous progress, but his touchown, accompanied by a few drops by Brandon London probably means the end for London, despite his great camp.

- Darcy Johnson had a fantastic catch and run on his touchdown catch and seems like he could be in the mix at tight end. At this point it is simple. Who is the better blocker Johnson or Boss? Boss will probably still end up at the starter, but Johnson sure did make a case that he can play.

- With Danny Ware having another nice game at running back I would think that perhaps Reuben Droughns is the odd man out. But hey the Giants can just practice squad Ware and then let him become the next Ryan Grant. Just kidding but hopefully they keep him on their roster instead of letting him slip away to an NFC contender.

- Not that I want him on the field at the expense of Antonio Pierce, but every time I see Chase Blackburn play he impresses me with his unending motor.

- The Super Bowl video montages and 18-1 chants were a nice welcome for the Patriots. Bill Bellichick actually got pretty ticked off when the Patriots end of the first half drive ended after what may very well have been pass interference by R.W. McQuarters on his interception. Bellichick threw his headset down on the ground pretty hard and stormed off the field.

This time next Thursday we will have seen the Giants in action in a meaningful game. I won't be able to make it up for the game as I have a 4-7pm class on Thursdays, but I will live blog as soon as I get back to my dorm.

The next few days will be hectic trying to finish things up before moving into school, but Monday I should begin the process of disecting the Redskins and discussing the upcoming primetime show down.

Enjoy the pictures below.

Some photos from the preseason finale

2008-08-29T01:32:00.009-04:00

The "New-Blue Defense"

2008-08-27T22:59:00.003-04:00

- Dave Turner

Not a whole lot to talk about tonight, but I thought I would discuss the current state of the Giants defense.

Obviously the key to last year's success was the ability to get to the quarterback. Without the talent at D-end that they had last year they will need to come up with different ways to rush the passer.

To look at the Philadelphia Eagles defense, which of course is similar to the Giants current defense mainly in part to Steve Spagnuolo being the d-coordinator, they have not had the type of defensive ends that the Giants have had, yet they find a way to not only get after the passer, but also to be a good overall defense.

The reason for their success is partly the fact that they have always had a good secondary, but much of it is because the defensive scheme which is centered around elaborate blitz schemes keeps offenses off balance because they do not know where the blitz is coming from.

The Giants will need to do just this if they are to be successful this year. They will need to rely more on blitzes from either linebackers, or perhaps the safeties or corners in order to generate enough pressure to hurry quarterbacks and throw them off their rhythm. The drawback? The more players you blitz, the less players there are in coverage, which means that the secondary will need to step up its game. Aaron Ross and Corey Webster are coming off a great end of the 2007 season. Everyone has such high hopes for Ross in his second season out of Texas that I honestly wonder if he can meet them. Because of his strong rookie campaign he is going to be expected to shoulder the load of covering the best wide receivers the Giants face. Webster also has his high expectations after going from bust to hero in the playoffs. The success of the defense will hinge largely on how well these two, as well as the rest of the secondary plays.

This is not the same Giants defense as last year, but that doesn't mean it can't be successful. Will it match the performance of last years D down the stretch? Let's be realistic here that won't happen. But there still is hope for this defense as long as they can use the blitz schemes to do what the D-line did last year and get some improved play from the secondary. Tall task? You bet. We will see soon enough the defense will be.

Now, moving on to the Sports Illustrated bit I was talking about earlier. I don't want to spend too much time predicting and such, because that is coming for early next week. The fact that Sports Illustrated picked the Eagles to go 12-4, the Vikings to go 13-3 and the Cowboys to go 10-6 is just mind boggling.

The Eagles and Vikings have become trendy picks, and while I do believe that both teams will be in the 2008 NFC playoffs I do not believe that they will be meeting for the NFC title. Seriously, 2 non playoff teams from last year winning that many more games and advancing to the title game? Seems a bit ridiculous to say the least. They also seem to forget ( I hate myself for saying this) that the Cowboys are absolutely loaded and have an easy schedule. For them to lose 6 games they will have to be decimated by injuries, and also lose a few games they have no business losing.

As for the Giants finishing 9-7 and making the playoffs, and in fact winning their first round game in Tampa Bay again, that seems likely. The Giants should make the playoffs and I think it will be with around somewhere between 7 and 5 losses depending on how well a lot of things come together against the better teams they have to face. I am not trying to defend the Giants or suggest they should be considered higher in the playoff mix, because one of the wildcards is really all I think they will get.

Why do I care so much? Not sure. It just seemed a bit odd that they would dismiss the Cowboys, and Seattle as well in favor of 2 teams that didn't even make the playoffs last season.

Pictures of tomorrow's game vs. New England will be up after I get back home, along with a recap of the action.

Let's hope no one else gets hurt tomorrow!

For Tonight- SI Has Gone Mad!

2008-08-27T14:47:00.003-04:00

Will be out until later, but by the end of the night I will comment on the current state of the Giants defense and also break down the Sports Illustrated predictions. Here's a quick peek at the madness.

NFC East Predictions: Per Sports Illustrated

1. Eagles (12-4)
2. Cowboys (10-6)*
3. Giants (9-7)*
4. Redskins (7-9)
*- denotes wild card team

Oh, and they have the Eagles going to the Super Bowl.

Really SI? Really? (The Giants prediction isn't what even bothers me)

Think it is ridiculous? leave some feedback and i'll include it in tonight's post.

More on this later.

Strahan Stays Retired

2008-08-26T18:18:00.003-04:00

Per a report on ESPN.com, Michael Strahan will not come out of retirement.

What will the Giants do now? Perhaps they may consider making a trade involving picks or one of the many wide receivers they have. The issue is not only who they have starting now in Kiwanuka and Tuck but the lack of depth behind them.

Keep it here for all the latest on the Giants defensive end issues.

ESPN article

Life Without Osi

2008-08-26T13:01:00.004-04:00

- Dave Turner

The Giants record is still 0-0, but already they have suffered a devastating loss. The Giants defense of their title may be even harder now that Osi Umenyiora is lost for the season. Yes, they lost a pro-bowl player who was instrumental in their run, but they will need to make due without him, and find other ways to compensate for the loss of Osi's sure double digit sack total.

Mathias Kiwanuka will move back to defensive end, and honestly I really like that move. He hasn't had a lot of time at linebacker due to his injury last year, but in what I saw of him he was good, but not great. He does have the ability to get after the passer well, and could perhaps do more from the defensive end position than he was able to do as the strong side linebacker.

This move shuffles the linebacking corps, and will now feature Danny Clark in Kiwanuka's old strong side position, and Gerris Wilkinson at the weak side position. Both of these guys are solid players who should do well under Antonio Pierce's wing.

The biggest problem that the lack of Osi's presence will cause is that if quarterbacks begin to get more time to throw the ball it will put more pressure on the secondary. One thing that I began to talk about in the video segment before getting sidetracked with talking about Kenny Phillips is that the Giants need production out of the other safety position. If James Butler does in fact win the job, or if he and Michael Johnson start out the season as the starters to give Phillips some more time to learn these 2 MUST be better than last year or else the Giants will have a lot of trouble stopping the pass. Butler has good size, but he isn't the fastest out there which therefore hurts him even more when he is out of position on a play, because he doesn't really have the recovery speed to get back. Whatever the case may be, I expect Phillips to start at some point, but someone must step up, including veteran Sammy Knight to take over the other safety position.

As for Michael Strahan coming back I do think it is a possibility, but hey the Giants could also sign me to a deal to come play defensive end. I don't have a contract with any other NFL team, so technicially it is a possibility, just as Strahan is. I would find it really hard to believe that Michael Strahan coming off a Super Bowl win, sitting in Greece (where he is currently) who has a job as a Fox analyst would want to rush himself back into shape just to play one more year. There is one thing that could possibly tear him away from that, money. If the Giants throw somewhere around 8 million plus Strahan's way he could possibly think about it. Would he think of it as just a way to stock up his bank account before going right back to that lavish life he has begun?

I said in the video segment that I do not believe that he will come back. I think that it would be too much of a grueling process for him to get ready, with the regular season on the horizon. I could certainly be wrong about this one, because the Giants may be so desperate to find a replacement for Osi that they give Strahan enough money for it to be worth it for him. Still, I am sticking with no at this time.

If you haven't checked out the first video segment please do. We will try to get one up every week to discuss the prior and upcoming games, as well as the performance of the team.

Return

2008-08-25T20:45:00.003-04:00

So this off season has had a lack of posts by the True Blue Review, a lot of it due to the fact that with my job as a viewer at a sports media company I have been unable to watch the Giants preseason games.

We are back in full force now and will bring back the insight, breakdowns and photos just like last season.

Tonight I will reflect on the recent injury of Osi Umenyiora and what it will mean for the 2008 Season.

-Dave Turner

Goodbye Mr. Shockey

2008-07-22T03:09:00.004-04:00

After a long break The True Blue Review will be back because, well there is news to talk about. Training camp is on the way, but the big news will be the absence of Jeremy Shockey.

Shockey was traded to the New Orleans Saints for the Saints 2009 2nd and 5th round draft picks.

Am I shocked? Not at all. Shockey was clearly not happy being a Giant, and with a season full of high hopes and the defense of a title there was no need for the distraction. The Giants won without him, and they will be able to win without him in the future.

On the field, when he had his head in the game he was a fierce competitor and one of the best tight ends in the league. He played with fire and determination and I will miss that edginess that he played with.

The other side to think about is that his outspoken behavior may have inhibited Eli Manning's ability to lead the team because after he went down Eli actually began to play better.

For those who think second year man Kevin Boss is even close to as good a player as Shockey was, he is not, yet. Boss has the size 6'7'' to be a big time target for Eli in the future once he polishes and refines his skills. It was said that he put on 20 lbs in the off season in order to add more bulk to his frame to help his blocking. Boss will need to not only learn quickly how to be a good blocking tight end, but must also take on the role of being an integral part of the Giants offense.

It is apparent to me that the Giants lack of a trade during the NFL draft in April meant that the team was trying hard to hopefully smooth things over with Shockey and hope that he could once again become a prominent part of the offense. Clearly, with training camp on the horizon it must have become clear to the Giants that there was more bad than good with the prospect of keeping Shockey.

Talent wise this move does not make the Giants a better team because they are losing a pro-bowl caliber player. What this does do for the Giants is rid them of a player who could easily have become a major distraction for the upcoming season.

With the emergence of Steve Smith, and the possibility of production from rookie Mario Manningham the Giants will have good secondary targets to Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer. Boss can certainly chip in to the passing game, so the Giants have the available weapons to possibly be able to make up for the lost production from Shockey.

I cannot say I wont miss the guy on my team because watching him play was certainly a lot of fun. In the end the NFL is a business and the Giants need to win games. The team felt that removing a possibly volitile Shockey would better suit them.

August 7th can't get here any sooner. When the players take the field for camp on Friday they will be counting down the days until the grueling camp practices end.

I bid you adieu Jeremy Shockey.

Grading the Draft

2008-04-29T17:00:00.002-04:00

Will Jerry Reese's second draft be as successful as his first? Will a 3rd round gamble on Mario Manningham pay off? There are a lot of questions to be answered surrounding the Giants choices in the 2008 NFL Draft, but really only time will tell. Come training camp, these rookies will get the chance to compete for playing time and try to prove to the coaching staff that they belong.

Until then all we can do is base each draftee off of his college play, and how he will possibly fit into the Giants system.

Here is a pick by pick grade for each pick based on potential, value at their selection spot and chance to make an impact next year.

Round 1- Kenny Phillips- Safety, Miami- Phillips will probably end up starting at Free Safety next year. He seems to be a bit raw in some areas, and scouts have said that he tends to bite on fakes and can drift out of position a bit. Those are mental things that can be corrected. The fact is, Phillips is 6'2'', can hit hard and has pure speed. I don't think its fair to think that he will be great from the moment that he steps onto the field, but I think Steve Spagnuolo will turn him into a great player. I have said for a while that the Giants need a center fielder type safety, and this may be the guy. Grade- A

Round 2- Terrell Thomas- Cornerback, USC- Another cornerback? You bet. This is a pick that some may feel was not needed in round 2, but I for one am very happy with the selection of Thomas. At 6'1'' he has good size for a corner, and runs well. He posted outstanding numbers in college and played in a conference full of passing offenses. While the tandem of Aaron Ross and Corey Webster will go into 2008 starting, Webster still has to prove he can be consistent. After that, Sam Madison and R.W McQuarters are both old and have slowed. In a league where teams have 3-4 playmaking receivers Thomas will serve a big role, if not immediately in the years to come. Grade- B+

Round 3- Mario Manningham- Wide Receiver, Michigan- All that seems to come up surrounding Manningham is his arrest for marijuana possession. Not trying to make excuses, because if he hasn't changed his days could be numbered, but let the kid get out there on an NFL field, and spend a season in New York before turning this into the biggest gamble pick in NFL history. What I do know is that on the field Manningham has a great ability to get open, and get deep. He should see some good reps next year. If this guy didn't get in trouble, he was a possible first rounder. Tremendous value here at the bottom of round 3. Grade- A-

Round 4- Bryan Kehl- Outside Linebacker, BYU- Kehl may have raised the Giants draft class GPA, but his numbers on the field are impressive as well. Kehl is an extremely smart player who knows how to get in position to make plays. With no player set to grab the one outside linebacker spot, (or two in Mathias Kiwanuka moves back to defensive end) Kehl may push to perhaps start. While guys like Danny Clark or Gerris Wilkinson may have the edge, a good training camp could see Kehl pushing for playing time. The guy just simply knows how to make plays. Grade- A-

Round 5- Jonathan Goff- Inside Linebacker, Vanderbilt- This is the one pick I was not a big fan of. While Goff is a strong and fast playmaker who plays the run very well, I do not think he was needed. Yes, the Giants lost some linebackers during the offseason, but backup middle linebacker Chase Blackburn has shown during the regular season that he can play. Perhaps the Giants could have added some offensive line depth here instead. Grade- D

Round 6a- Andre Woodson- Quarterback, Kentucky-I watched this kid beat LSU this season and there is no doubt in my mind that he knows how to win. I see a lot of Steve McNair in him. Yes, the Giants grabbed David Carr in the offseason, but having a backup quarterback who can win games is so important. If Eli were to go down, there should be no reason why the season should be scrapped. Andre Woodson is a gutsy player with a huge arm, who I could see winning the number 2 spot behind Eli. Grade- B

Round 6b- Robert Henderson- Defensive End, Southern Miss- The Giants are admitting that he needs work, but also that they see potential. With Strahan likely gone either this, or next year there is a need for a bit more depth at defensive end. A decent value pick late in the draft that may or may not pan out. He has the speed, just needs to work on the technique. Grade- C

Linebacker Frenzy

2008-04-27T15:10:00.003-04:00

The Giants continue adding depth to the defense on day 2 with the selection of two straight linebackers. The first, OLB Bryan Kehl from BYU. Kehl is an outstanding student athlete, who with no surprise brings his smarts to the field. 91 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks and 3 interceptions as a senior. Has the speed and instincts it seems, but will need to work on shedding blockers.

The fifth round pick, Jonathan Goff is sort of puzzling. He seems like a tremendous athlete at 6'4'' 245 and a 4.63 40 time, who had 113 tackles as a senior, but why another inside linebacker? I guess it doesn't hurt to have depth, although Chase Blackburn may have to be worried now. Perhaps the Giants want to move him Goff to the outside though. Goff's downside is his inability to cover in the passing game.

I am all but going to assume here that with Danny Clark, Gerris Wilkinson, and now these two, that Mathias Kiwanuka may move back to defensive end, especially if Michael Strahan retires.

Jerry Reese really took the route of adding defensive depth here in this draft. Are Kehl or Goff good enough to possibly start? probably not, but they will be nice special teams players and will give the Giants some comfortable depth at the linebacker position.

Some thoughts on Rounds 2 and 3

2008-04-27T12:39:00.006-04:00

Dave back again. Thanks to Dan for keeping things going while I had a hectic Saturday.

The Giants certainly wanted to use this draft to bolster their secondary. While Kenny Phillips will probably be a starter next year, 2nd round pick Terrell Thomas will come in and automatically compete for playing time behind Aaron Ross and Corey Webster. Thomas has good size at 6'1'' and had an excellent senior season at USC. He will push for playing time, and with teams using three, four or five wideouts he will get some playing time. With the aging Sam Madison and R.W McQuarters, is a smart pick to bring in a guy who played at a great program, against top notch talent, and had a good Senior Bowl according to scouts. I really like this pick, because he is tremendous athlete and will bolster the secondary even further. The Giants wanted to make their weak point stronger and they have.

As for Mario Manningham, the Giants 3rd round pick all i can say is, remember Tim Carter? Imagine him with hands. While I don't exactly love Manninghams former team, (his picture on Giants.com reminds me of him ruining the perfect season of my Nittany Lions a few years ago) he is a burner. Manningham knows how to get open downfield, and will be a nice addition to the Giants receiving corps as the deep threat the Giants lack. With Amani Toomer and Steve Smith ahead of him, he will probably find time in multiple receiver sets, and should find his way to a few catches. Yes, this guy has character issues in the way of admitted marijuana use, but if anyone can get him straightened out its TC. Another weapon for Eli is never a bad thing.

So far I am pleased with the Giants draft. They addressed an obvious need at Safety, and then added depth to the cornerback and wide receiver positions. So far I say Jerry Reese is having another good draft.

On to round 4.

Another Big Name WR?

2008-04-27T11:44:00.004-04:00

Mario Manningham is now a New York Giant. The Giants already have a crowded reciever corps but Manningham is very talented. Perhaps this pick means that Amani Toomer will only play a down or two a drive. Check in tomorrow for our full draft analysis.

Backfield Bolster

2008-04-26T20:56:00.003-04:00

With their second pick in the 2008 draft, New York continued to add to their defensive backfield with Terell Thomas out of USC.

Dave's Thoughts

2008-04-26T20:03:00.001-04:00

I am finally back from my prior engagement. The selection of Kenny Phillips is no shock to me. He fills an obvious need, and may very well start. He is an upgrade with a huge upside. I like this pick.

As for the second round, so far Dan Connor has not been selected and I would love to see the Giants try to get him.

Nothing on Shockey to report so far.

Saftey First

2008-04-26T18:31:00.002-04:00

The Giants select Saftey Kenny Phillips out of the University of Miami with the 31rst overall pick. WELCOME KENNY! With the second round beginning, the Shockey saga could get interesting.

St. Shockey?

2008-04-26T13:22:00.004-04:00

ESPN is now reporting that negotiations regarding Jeremy Shockey between the Saints and Giants are still very much alive . Check in for updates!

Dealmakers?

2008-04-26T11:02:00.002-04:00

The big day is here. The Daily News and ESPN have Shockey sparks flying around. Do the Giants really intend to deal away one of the league’s top tight ends? Honestly, I don’t think so. However, let’s look at two other players the Giants would be willing to part ways with today.

RB Reuben Droughns: Reuben is a good player and is a decent starter in a pinch. However, for a full-time starter he is just adequate. With the emergence of Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants now have three potential starters ahead of Droughns on the depth chart. Reuben would probably welcome a trade. Having earned a Super Bowl ring, Droughns will probably not be contented to finish out his career as a specialist.

WR Sinorice Moss: Moss has managed to keep his roster spot since being drafted in 2006 despite his inability to stay healthy (he can thank Tim Carter’s stone hands for that). Being extremely undersized, Moss needed all the playing time he could muster in order to impress the staff with his raw talent. With the emergence of Steve Smith as a reliable third receiver (as well as Amani Toomer’s successor), Moss is just plain expendable. David Tyree took his spot in the Super Bowl and the rest is history. Dominick Hixon has proven to be a reliable KR. Not only does this mean that Hixon should maintain his receiver spot on the roster, but it also takes away one of Moss’s uses. Last but not least, Michael Jenning's raw talent is a resource that the Giants would very much like to tap. Moss may garner a 6th or 7th round pick.

An interesting tidbit

2008-04-24T01:15:00.004-04:00

As it turns out the Atlanta Falcons, one of the teams rumored to be interested in Jeremy Shockey have three, yes three second round draft picks. I think an excellent deal for the Giants would be trading Shockey and their 2nd round pick (Pick 63) for the Atlanta Falcons picks at 34 and 37. Now, I still don't necessarily want to see Shockey go, but if in fact the Falcons would want to swing something like that, it could allow the Giants to grab a Safety in Linebacker and either a Cornerback of Wide Receiver all by the time the 37th pick is complete. If the Giants somehow left day one with something to the likes of Kenny Smith, Dan Connor and Justin King I would be very pleased.

Realistic? probably not, but it certainly could work. The Giants obviously did not want to part with Shockey for just one second round pick, so perhaps two picks, accompanied by sending their pick could work.

Just some food for thought. Going to be a very crazy time this weekend. Expect a LOT of trades, especially involving the Saints in some capacity, the Eagles and even perhaps a team trying to move up to draft either Darren McFadden or Matt Ryan

My Pick, and the latest on Shockey

2008-04-23T11:42:00.002-04:00

According to sources there are some more heated discussions involving Jeremy Shockey. Teams such as the Saints, Seahawks, Dolphins and Falcons all have shown interest. The Giants have said that they are only currently listening to offers, but isn't that how trades start? One team throws an offer down and the other team does what it wants with it.

Considering the Giants turned down a 2nd round pick for Shockey from the Saints, they may be looking for a player, or even a first round pick. If any of those teams is willing to part with a #1 draft pick the Giants would probably do it. My feeling is if the Saints cannot move down to select a player higher rated on their draft board they may do it. As much as Shockey is a tremendous player and a good motivator the Giants did win a Super Bowl without him. If the price is right, I think he will be moved, but I don't know if the other teams will be able to offer enough for the Giants to make a play.

Now, for my pick. I thought long and hard about it, scoffed at some of the ridiculous mock drafts out there and came to my conclusion. The Giants with the 31st overall pick will select Kenny Phillips, Safety from Miami. There are a few other player that could go here, (see my previous post) but I feel that he has the ability to step right in and be an improvement in the secondary. There is the chance that the Giants do want to go the route of safety, but could choose Tyrell Johnson instead. Still, Phillips is my pick, whether I think its the best move or not.

As for who I would want them to pick, well its Dan Connor. This guy was a projected mid first-round pick for a while, but now he doesn't seem to project in the first round due to a not so great workout. All I can say is, he will be a bargain and a huge addition to whatever team takes him.

With the 31st pick in the 2008 NFL Draft....

2008-04-17T14:48:00.005-04:00

With the draft upcoming, here is a list of the top 5 players i feel that the Giants could draft with pick 31. I based my picks here not only on the caliber of player, but how realistic it is a chance that the Giants would draft the player. As for the notion that the Giants will go after an offensive tackle in the first round, I really do not think they will, because it would make much more sense to draft a player who could perhaps start or see playing time next year, rather than a backup. Look for the Giants to try to get a tackle in rounds 2 or 3.

1. Kenny Phillips- S Miami- Safety will certainly be an area that the Giants look to address, and if this guy is around they may certainly take him. At 6'2'' he has decent size, and has the speed to compete in the NFL. He wasn't exactly an interception magnet, but he certainly has the ability to cover deep. He averaged 7 tackles per game in college and has 7 career interceptions.
Ability to start next year: Very Likely to start at one of the safety positions
Availability at pick 31: Likely
Chance of being drafted at 31: Very good

2. Jerod Mayo- LB Tennessee- Mayo has seen his stock rising greatly in the last few weeks, and may not be there when the Giants pick. If he is, this is definitely where the Giants may go. Mayo is very quick and will move to the outside linebacker position. His only downfall is his lack of size, 6'1" and ability to take on blockers.
Ability to start next year: Likely to compete for OLB position
Availability at pick 31: Somewhat Possible
Chance of being drafted at 31: Excellent, if he is around

3. Mario Manningham- WR Michigan- Manningham will more than likely be around when the Giants pick. Manningham has deep speed and can separate well down field. He is only 5'11' 3/4 but would certainly give the Giants passing game an aspect it lacked last season. His downfalls are his reluctance to go over the middle, and his possible character questions.
Ability to start next year: Could see time as 3rd wide receiver
Availability at pick 31: Available
Chance of being drafted at 31: possible, if some defensive targets go earlier

4. Tyrell Johnson- S Alabama State- Safety is a need, and they could certainly get Johnson at 31 if Phillips is gone. Johnson is a little small at just under 6' but has very good speed. He will have trouble adjusting to the caliber of play in the NFL after playing at a small school, and is said to be shaky in man to man coverage. He had a tremendous senior season with 94 tackles and 6 interceptions in 12 games.
Ability to start next year: Likely to push for starting role
Availability at pick 31: Probably Available
Chance of being drafted at 31: possible, especially if Phillips is gone.

5. Dan Connor- LB Penn State- Like Paul Posluszny last year, Connor has slipped from the first round boards. Connor is a better prospect than his former teammate and has the range to move to the outside. He doesn't have tremendous speed, and is not as athletic as Mayo, which may hurt him in the pros, but he does have a good ability to get to the ball and deliver a big hit.
Ability to start next year: Could push to start at OLB
Availability at pick 31: Available
Chance of being drafted at 31: Somewhat possible, if Giants decide linebacker is a greater need than safety.

Preseason Scheduling Change

2008-04-17T14:36:00.003-04:00

The Giants have announced a scheduling change in their preseason schedule.

The team will open up in Detroit on Thursday August 7th.

Schedule Released

2008-04-15T17:02:00.003-04:00

The Giants 2008 Schedule has been released. Some interesting matchups, including a Monday night matchup in Cleveland, and two Sunday night road games against the Eagles and Cowboys.

Giants 2008 Schedule

Giant's Draft Needs

2008-04-13T14:30:00.002-04:00

A look at the top 5 areas the Giants need to address in the draft:

1. Safety- While many people make a big deal about the departure of Gibril Wilson from the team, Sammy Knight will be an adequate 1-2 year replacement. The problem being that not only is Knight slowing down, but the other safety position with James Butler and Michael Johnson certainly needs to be upgraded. With the Giants blitzing style of defense safeties who can cover a lot of ground are needed. A big play safety is the Giants biggest need.

2. Linebacker- Danny Clark was a solid pick up, but the Giants still lack a playmaking outside linebacker that could be a perennial 100 tackle kind of player. There has been somewhat of an outside linebacker carousel in the previous years, so the Giants would certainly like to pick up someone who could anchor one of the OLB positions. There are some good linebackers in the draft, and this position will certainly be addressed in the later rounds, if not in the first two.

3. Cornerback- Aaron Ross seems to be a success, and Corey Webster's improved play is promising, but with Sam Madison and R.W McQuarters getting older the Giants could certainly make a move to grab a cornerback in the draft, perhaps in the early rounds. With teams like the Cowboys and Eagles preferring to spread the ball out and use multiple receiver packages, depth at corner is key. Having multiple talented corners would give the Giants an edge against teams who like to air it out.

4. Offensive Tackle- This is not an immediate need, but something the Giants may look into. David Diehl was very solid last year but with no proven depth behind him the Giants may go the draft the best player route is tackle is around and try to sure up the line with a talented young tackle. It is so important to have offensive line depth, because one or two injuries to a line could really hinder the ability to both run and pass block, making a backup tackle an important asset.

5. Wide Receiver- Steve Smith has really come along, but he seems like the type of player who would be better as a slot receiver due to his lack of height. Amani Toomer had a good season last year, but he isn't getting any younger. With Sinorice Moss officially a bust at this point another receiving threat could only bolster the Giants passing attack. Look for the Giants to grab a receiver in the middle rounds of the draft.

Sizing up the Giants Offseason Additions and Subtractions

2008-04-10T15:40:00.004-04:00

-Dave Turner

Many people are making a huge deal about the Giant's three major losses from their Super Bowl defense. With Gibril Wilson in Oakland, Kawika Mitchell in Buffalo and Reggie Torbor in Miami the Giants has lost 3 starters. One common thing with all three of them? The Raiders Bills and Dolphins all tremendously overpaid.

The Giants were smart in not throwing the big cash at three players who are replaceable. While Wilson was a staple in the secondary, he lacked the "center-field" ability that the Giants really need in a safety in their blitzing style defense. Mitchell had a good season, and made some plays but certainly is not a tremendous loss. Reggie Torbor was only starting because of the injury to Mathias Kiwanuka.

Why this optimistic view of the Giant's losses? For one, the Giants signed Sammy Knight to a deal worth MUCH less than Gibril Wilson's. While Knight is in his mid 30's he has played at a high level for much of his career, and certainly can serve as a one or two year replacement until the Giants can find a younger replacement.

Kawika Mitchell's understudy for much of the season was Gerris Wilkinson. Wilkinson, who did play some on 2007 has incredible speed and would be a fantastic weakside linebacker. Wilkinson will make Mitchell easily forgetable.

As for Torbor, Mathias Kiwanuka should take his place, but with the idea of retiring still Kiwanuka could go back to defensive end. If Michael Strahan does retire Kiwanuka will probably move back to defensive end to give the Giants more depth and to allow Justin Tuck to rush from the inside. The free agent signing of Danny Clark fills that void should Kiwanuka be moved. Clark is a more than serviceable linebacker who should certainly see a lot of field time this year.

The idea that the Giants lost a lot on defense is not true, because with the signings of Knight and Clark, as well as possible help in the draft the Giants defense should bounce back quite well.

Oh, and the backup quarterback situation looks much better by the signing of former number one pick David Carr. While Carr has proven he cannot start in this league, he will certainly be an upgrade as the number 2 quarterback. Lets just hope that he doesn't see the field during the regular season.

Back to Work

2008-04-10T15:13:00.002-04:00

It's been a long vacation, but we're back in action in time for the draft.

Some news to consider is a possible Jeremy Shockey rumor. It is said that Shockey may go to the New Orleans Saints in return for a 2nd round pick and Safety Roman Harper. Harper, entering his 3rd year in the league finished last season with 90 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions.

The thought of Harper and a 2nd round pick seems like a lot for Shockey, and it probably is. It is much more likely that if this trade were to happen it would either be Harper, or the pick.

The question now is, with Kevin Boss on the roster, do the Giants want to keep Shockey or let him go. My feeling is he will stay, but certainly an offer like that from the Saints could change the Giants' mind's easily.

For Friday: Giant's Draft Needs
For Saturday: Dave's Top 5 prospects the Giants could land at pick 31.

Mitchell Leaves for Bills

2008-02-29T14:43:00.003-05:00

Kawika Mitchell has been signed by the Buffalo Bills, reports Si.com.

Free Men

2008-02-29T10:50:00.003-05:00

Ward, Torbor, Mitchell, and Wilson are all open to sign elsewhere now that free agency has started. It looks as though Wilson and Torbor are the most likely to end up on another team. Their are rumblings that Bill Parcells is looking to bring Torbor to Miami. Wilson's potential suitors include Denver, Philadelphia, and Jacksonvile. All are rumored to be interested in Wilson, but Oakland may be ready to pay Wilson approximately $6 million a year.

Open Market Deadline Dangerously Near

2008-02-28T11:11:00.002-05:00

According to the Star Ledger, Gibril Wilson will likely not be re-signed before midnight this evening. The same can be said of Kawika Mitchell. Reportedly, Wilson is demanding $5 million a year. The Giants best chance at retaining him seems to lie in Wilson not being satisfied by other teams and then settling for what New York will pay him.

Strahan set to Retire?

2008-02-24T20:01:00.004-05:00

Michael Strahan will not return unless he is offered a raise, Vinny DiTrani (Bergen Record) reports. He is schedueled to make $4 million in 2008.

Giants to Deal for Hall?

2008-02-22T20:04:00.004-05:00

The Giants have reached out to the retooling Atlanta Falcons. Big Blue is interested in trading for Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Hall is 24 and is quite possibly the next Falcon to be thrown overboard as Atlanta attempts to erase the Vick Era.