Giants Big Blue Blog

Is there any reason for optimism???

We all know the story by now; the Ny Giants started out the 2009 season with a 5-0 record and have yet to win since crushing Crazy Al's Raiders five weeks ago. They now sit 5-4 and in third place in the NFC East which they had held for the past 24 weeks dating back to last season. For a change since winning the Super Bowl, the Giants are no longer front runners. Might this be a good thing?

It just might be. Don't get me wrong, I would much rather the Giants be sitting here at say 8-1 and cruising, but it is what it is. Certainly, being the NFC East Champions and top seed in the conference did not help them last year as they were one and done in the playoffs. Compare that to the prior season when they were the fifth seed and won three straight road games to reach the Super Bowl where they pulled off one of the games biggest upsets.

This team seems to thrive on being disregarded as they are currently (rightfully so based on recent performance). So perhaps this change in perspective can actually be a good thing?

I may be stretching it, I know (but what else can you do as a fan???). I know that just two weeks ago, prior to the Eagles game, I stated that should they lose they may very well  have a difficult time just making the playoffs. Now after losing to the Eagles and Chargers I stand by that.

Yet, I cling to some measure of hope.

Why?

First off, they are still 5-4 which keeps them in the mix, but with very little margin for error. I figure the Giants must go 5-2 down the stretch to have a shot----not going to be easy, but possible. They are a veteran, talented team with a winning record that could still be dangerous with their backs to the wall (as they certainly are at the moment).

Second, the bye week came at the perfect time. If there was ever a football team in need of time off, it is the Giants. Coach Coughlin gave the players most of the bye week off as the coaches will be hard at work "self scouting", and  there is plenty of work to be done there. If they make the necessary corrections, and the players manage to come back mentally and physically well rested, it could be a big difference.

Third, they are getting healthy. Michael Boley and Chris Canty were back for the Chargers game and the defense looked the best it has in some time. Also, Aaron Ross figures to play against the Falcons after the bye week.

Fourth, included in the "getting healthy" category is Eli Manning. His foot injury seems perfectly heeled and he looked as sharp as he has all season on Sunday.

Finally, while they lost, they got back to "Giants football" Sunday. It was a simple game plan, they did most things well and actually looked impressive during much of the game. If they can use the bye week to tighten things up and figure out how to eliminate mistakes, they could get on a roll.

Mind you, all of the above may well be the wishful thoughts of a delusional fan. However, I also remember this team getting it together against all odds not that long ago....

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This one hurts!!!

What a bummer yesterday was! There was a definite big game feel at the stadium. The crowd was into it. The Giants players were into it. The Giants desperately needed this one, as Antonio Pierce called it a "Super Bowl" game. Well, unlike two years ago, the Giants lost the "Super Bowl" this time.

They actually played very well; Eli Manning was sharp, the running game excelled, the pass rush was there, they stopped the run. The Giants dominated in terms of time of possesion and total yardage. Yet they found a way to lose anyhow!

That may turn out to be the story of the 2009 NY Giants should they miss the playoffs----the team that found a way to lose. Two years ago they found ways to win, now the opposite holds true.

There are three specific plays where they blew it.

First, Lawrence Tynes and Jeff Feagles botching a field goal attempt after a brilliant 8 minute opening drive. They never even got the friggin kick off! Tynes (who I am really starting to dislike) blamed Feagles for a bad hold (way to throw your team mate under the bus, Lawrence). Whether it was on Feagles or not truth is it was probably only 50/50 whether the very untrustworthy Tynes would have even made it anyhow. Fact is, those three points would have been the difference.

Second, Chris Snee and his dumb ass holding penalty after the Terrill Thomas interception. With less then three minutes left when you have a  three point lead and your defense gives you the ball on the damn four yardline YOU MUST GET 7!!! Snee's penalty killed them. Punch it in there you go up by 10 and it's light's out (sorry Mr. Merriman).

Third, where was the safety help on the game winning TD? There is no reason in the world why a safety was not back there supporting Corey Webster against the Chargers best receiver with the game on the line.

Take away any one of those plays and the Giants are sitting pretty at 6-3 heading into the bye week. Instead we are left with questions. Like for instance why did Bill Sheridan back off the pressure on the game winning drive!!!!

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Giant choke job!!!!

There will be a more detailed post tomorrow. For now, let me just say I have never seen a team with this much talent, this much Championship experience (keep in mind most of the team has rings on their fingers), that has the ability to find ways to lose like this group does.

They should have won this game! They would have had they been able to accomplish a few simple things; like say, executing a short field goal attempt on their first drive (which they managed to botch), punching it in when Terrill Thomas gives it to you after a pick late in the game on the friggin 4 yard line! 

I could go on and on. Bottom line; the Giants started off 5-0 against a bunch of high school teams. Then they played four decent teams and they are 0-4.  

Playoffs; forget it, these guys  do not deserve it!

Five things the Ny Giants must do!!!

If the Ny Giants are to turn this once promising season around, things need to change. Here are, in my opinion, the top five;

 1) Eli Manning. The Giant's signal caller started off the season on fire. Through the first five weeks (when they were 5-0), Eli was sharp and confident. During that stretch he threw 8 TD's against only 2 picks; an excellent ratio. His completion percentage and QB rating (which no one still understands) were at career highs. The past three weeks were a different story; 3 TD's vs 5 picks and rookie like numbers in terms of completion percentage and QB rating.

Eli Manning is better then he has shown the past three weeks and he needs to step it quickly and play to his considerable abilities.

2) Defensive communication breakdowns. During the losing streak, there were frequent occurences where opposing receivers ran wide open downfield. According to many who have broken down the game film, this has been due mainly to communications breakdowns (all apologies to Led Zepplin) and is correctable.

They must correct it; NOW!

3) Brandon Jacbos. When the big guy is running the way he can the Giants are a different team. He sets a physical, in your face tone when he is running downhill and stomping on smaller defenders. The Giants must reestablish the power running game.

4) Coordinators must step it up. Kevin Gilbride and Bill Sheridan have been outcoached; badly! Gilbride's offense is predictable and unimaginative. It is also a head scratcher; he runs it when he should pass and passes when he should run. 

Sheridan on defense is no better. Not only are the aforementioned communications breakdowns squarely his responsibility, but he seems to lack the ability to make in game adjustments.

These two must do better at putting their players in positions to win.

5) Attitude. One of the reasons this group won a Super Bowl two short years ago was attitude. They were just tougher then their opponents and seemed to want it more. I no longer see that. They seem to lack urgency and also seem to quit of late when things go sour.

This MUST change!

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Game day; Giants vs Chargers!!!

It is Sunday morning and the NY Giants are just hours away from a crucial game against the San Diego Chargers. Lose and they will have a four game skid heading into the bye week----and perhaps it would also be bye to any playoff aspirations that this club has. Win and things are looking good heading into the bye. Fact is; this game is one the Ny Giants simply HAVE to win! Period! What's more, they fully well know this.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin has spent the week trying to rally the troops. Lets hope the players were paying attention. This is one of those "gut check" type of games. The Giants need to reach down, summon all their character and toughness and find a way to pull this one out today. It should be treated, as Coughlin alluded to, as a playoff game. Make no mistake, it is that critical.

I will confess to being nervous (lets face it; this team has not exactly inspired confidence of late). By around 7:00 tonight the Giants and their fans will be feeling either despair or hope; no in between...

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Brown out, Boley and Canty in!!!

When the Ny Giants take the field tomorrow afternoon against the Chargers, their defense will look much different (thank God!). Struggling safety C.C. Brown (by the way, CC stands for "can't cover") will be out in favor of the bigger (6'4") and faster Aaron Rouse. While Rouse is less experienced he could hardly do much worse then Brown who has been toasted by receivers all season long.

Also, two key players return from injury. Both Chris Canty and Michael Boley will be back.

Boley in particular will be a major boost to the Giants defense. Chase Blackburn did a nice enough job filling in but he lacks Boley's speed and athleticism. Boley could be a major factor especially in terms of his ability to stay with Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, something Blackburn could not do. He also will help the pass rush.

Chris Canty will hopefully help the Giants defensive front return to the dominant form we all hoped we would see. His size, strength and athletic ability should be a major plus.

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NFL week 9 picks; Giants vs Chargers!!!

The reeling NY Giants host the San Diego Chargers Sunday afternoon in what is as close to a must win game as you will find in November. The Giants of course started off 5-0 and are currently 5-3 after three straight dismal losses to the Saints, Cardinals and Eagles.

During that stretch they have looked BAD! Offense, defense, special teams and coaching have all been very sub par. This week, Big Blue clearly must step it up because they have dug themselves a hole in the NFC East that they must climb out of.

This is one of those "swing games" meaning lose and head into what will be an excruciatingly long bye week at 5-4 and answer an onslaught of questions regarding what went wrong. Win, you are 6-3, getting healthy (Chris Canty and Michael Boley may play Sunday and Aaron Ross is getting close), and life is good again.

Tom Coughlin stated this week that he views it as a one game season and he is correct. It is a MUST win game, period! The Giants need to forget about what went wrong recently and just focus on playing intense, mistake free football.

I think they will as Eli Manning tops his opposing quarterback Phillip Rivers (these two will of course forever be linked). I expect Eli to get back on track as well as the defense which is certainly better then they have shown of late.

In a nail bitter, Giants 21-20...

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It's on Eli to turn this around!!!

Two short years ago, the Giants won a Super Bowl thanks in large part to Eli Manning playing like a big time quarterback. I remember clearly wathcing Eli and the Giants strut triumphantly down the Canyon of Heroes (much like the Ny Yankees will do tomorrow after defeating the Phillies in the World Series).

Eli Manning needs to find that guy quickly! He has the ability-----we have seen him do it. Eli started the year off on fire and was having his finest season as a Pro; until the past three weeks.

He needs his confidence back. As per coach Coughlin, there is nothing wrong with Eli's mechanics. He was as responsible as anyone for the Giants fast start. Similiarly, he is as responsible as anyone for the current skid.

I truly feel it is only a matter of confidence. I think he went down to New Orleans a bit too anxious to turn in a good performance in front of his home town fans. So he pressed; against a very good defense, and played a bad game. Since then he just looks tentative.

That is a fixable problem and if the Giants are to have any shot at turning around their season, he needs to fix it on Sunday!

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How much faith should you have in Big Blue???

When I look at the Ny Giants I feel they should be an elite team. They are just two years from being Super Bowl Champions. They went 12-4 last year and were the top seed in the NFC. I see players on the roster like Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Antonio Pierce, Eli Manning, Steve Smith and on and on. They started out this season on fire with a 5-0 record (yes, against very suspect opponents).

Yet, when I look at how this team has performed over the past three dismal weeks, I see at team that looks on par with the Oakland Raiders----and that is NOT a good thing!

The Ny Giants look lost right now. They have no swagger, no urgency, no fire, no confidence. They are not tackling well, not covering well, not protecting the Quarterback ( who seems to think it is okay to throw to the other team) well. Special teams have been dismal and the pass rush is absent.

In addition, they are not coaching well. I have watched the past three weeks as Bill Sheridan and Kevin Gilbride have been taken to school by their adversaries. Things are bad!

So, to answer my own question; I have very little faith in the Giants right now. I hate to say it but I have to go by what my eyes are telling me and that is that I am watching a bad football team!

Do they have the talent to turn things around? Of course they do. Will they? I truly just do not know. I remain hopeful but I cannot say I am confident....

Giant disgrace!!!

I held off on writing this post yesterday because I wanted to calm down first. A full Day later I am still pissed! This team is flat out awful! Period! Any thoughts that we had of another Super Bowl run seem laughable at the moment because right now I doubt these clowns are good enough to make the playoffs!

They came out flat, uninspired, unprepared and any other negative words you care to add. Lets look at a brief list of things that bothered me, in no particular order of importance; 

-Eli Manning, whom I have always defended, is a joke. He looked, for the third straight week, scared and indecisive. His throws were awful and decisions were lousy. He has regressed to his Rookie form somehow. His first pass (a lousy decision to throw into double coverage when he stared down the receiver the whole way) was intercepted. His second pass should have been inetercepted had the Eagles defender not done his best imitation of a Giants receiver and let it bounce off his chest.

-Kevin Gilbride is an idiot! Last week, he passed the ball when he should have run it. Yesterday, he ran it when he should have passed it. Down by 26 points in the third quarter, he called the plays like the Giants were winning and trying to run out the clock. Also, the Giants offense showed an alarming lack of urgency getting out of the huddle and getting plays off in a timely fashion. Again, it seemed as if they thought they were winning! Bizarre.

-Bill Sheridan is in over his head. The Eagles (just as the Sainst and cardinals did) outsmarted him all day and he has yet to come up with an answer. The Giants need new coordinators who know how to put themselves in positions to win.

-The Giants defense (and not just the coordinator) are terrible! No pass rush, poor coverage and they cannot tackle!

-The special teams joined in the fun as they consistently gave up great field position to the Eagles all day long and did nothing of note in the return game!

-Tom Coughlin must start taking the heat. When nothing is working you must look to the man in charge. Right now, Coughlin is an awful coach of an awful team with afwul coordinators!

I feel a little better now..