Thursday, November 29, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Week 12 Picks Part II: Sunday Ball Games
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends, enjoying great food and two losses for the Cowboys and Jets. Those two games topped of a great Thanksgiving for the fans who bleed blue. The second half test for the Giants begins Sunday night against a streaking Packers team. Since Dallas lost, the Giants will remain in 1st place regardless of their outcome, but hopefully the G-Men will come out swinging and putting up points.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
New York Giants Mid-Term Report Card
The Giants began their defending Super Bowl season at home against the Dallas, dropping the game 24-17 to a questionable Cowboys squad. This game was for the fans, but everyone knew not to be concerned with Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Cleveland coming up in the next four games. The Giants showed up the next week, scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter alone to defeat the Bucs to give Big Blue their first win of the 2012 campaign. The Giants traveled to Carolina on a Thursday night and showed up the Panthers in a blow out 36-7. The Giants continued their hot streak into Philadelphia to play the red hot Eagles. The ball game came down to a Lawrence Tynes fifty yard field goal, which he unfortunately missed to drop the Giants to 2-2.
The next four games were the best played by the Giants so far this season, defeating the Browns by two touchdowns, showing up the San Fran Niners at Candlestick Park 26-3, a last minute touchdown pass from Eli to Cruz to slide past the Redskins, and a late come from behind victory in Dallas 29-24. The Giants were walking high, 6-2 in the NFC East, seeming like the team to beat in the NFC and possibly in the Super Bowl talks along with Houston and Chicago. On October 29, Hurricane Sandy rocked the United States East Coast, demolishing thousands and thousands of homes, leaving millions in the dark with no power, and also taking the lives of innocent civilians. Mayor Bloomberg canceled the NYC Marathon that weekend, hoping that it would become a distraction for the brokenhearted, just how baseball saved people's lives after 9/11. The only sport remaining on schedule was football in MetLife Stadium that Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This game was dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Sandy, and it would mean so much to the citizens of the tri-state area for the New York Giants to come out victorious. The fans knew it, the city knew it, the team knew it, and even the Steelers knew it. Unfortunately, the Giants played one of their most embarrassing games yet, losing 24-20 to Steelers team with not as much talent.
Although depressed, Giant fans took a huge deep breath, and concentrated themselves for a shaky Cincinnati Bengals. The irony was that the Giants have never won at Paul Brown Stadium in their history, even though the Bengals have one of the worst home-field records. Hoping to be at a commanding 7-3 for the Bye Week, the Giants must have left their luggage and talent at the airport home; the Bengals tortured Eli & Crew 31-13, embarrassing every single Giants fan around. The Giants are 6-4. Now during this Bye Week, it's difficult to determine whether this team is a pretender or contender. Who is responsible for this debacle? The offense? Defense? Let's find out.
OFFENSE (B): The Giants do not seem to regularly have trouble putting a points against opponents, but it is definitely time to wonder if the play calling is incorrect. Should Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride be running the ball more than throwing? There is absolutely not reason to throw the ball deep on 1st down, and the Giants seem to struggle with correct play calling. Audibles are always made if something does not look right. but are the smarter plays being called? Also, what has happened to Eli Manning's consistency? Week in and week out, can we honestly say we know what Eli will bring to the table? Whether against a weak Browns team, or a stellar Niners team, the man has been inconsistent. So inconsistent, that it keeps many fans concerned on the future outcome of the team. Eli, it is also a wiser choice to throw the ball completely away if being rushed than throwing the ball to a linemen, who is also an ineligible receiver, resulting in an interception. Of course the team makes mistakes, but why so many? Limit the ridiculous mistakes, and sooner than later, this team will bounce back scoring in the high twenties again. What has happened to the rushing game? Ahmad Bradshaw does plenty of talking, but cannot seem to deliver huge with the ball in his hands. It's difficult to fire up a team on offense when only rushing one or two yards every carry. This forces the Giants to throw the ball on first, second, or even third down when they should not be at all. Andre Brown and David Wilson have impressed at the halfback position, but Ahmad Bradshaw, it's time to take a step forward and represent the Giants rushing game effectively.
DEFENSE (C): The Giants defense has been absolutely non-existent over the last few games. The Giants have given up over two hundred points this season to opponents, averaging twenty one points a game. Giving up the equivalent of three touchdowns a game is not a very effective way to win. If the offense cannot score or any given day, it leaves the defense greatly responsible for giving up huge yardage and receptions. What has happened to the rushing defense? When was the last time you heard the name Osi Umenyiora? It seems he checked out weeks ago and has not made an appearance out on the field. Steelers RB Isaac Redman ran for nearly 150 yards, averaging about four yards a carry. This defensive show up has been embarrassing and abysmal. The secondary has been worse. How many more long bombs can the G-Men let receivers catch every game? The number is way too many, and the defense looks soft, weak, and unprepared for battle. Regardless of the circumstances, if the opponent is putting up twenty points, something is evidently wrong with how the team practices each week and preps for games. Hey offense and defense, IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.
SPECIAL TEAMS/ COACHING (C+): Special teams is important in every single game, whether on kick returns, field goals, or extra points. So far, I am very pleased with how Lawrence Tynes and Steve Weatherford have been performing. Absolutely no complaints. Now on the other hand, what is going on with kick and punt returns? Why can't the Giants seem to get the blocking necessary to run for a huge touchdown return? It's time for the Giants to decide on how they want to look upon ST. Should David Wilson still be returning kicks, or is it time to put Andre Brown in his position and change things around for a game or two. Coach Coughlin and his team always turns out roughly 6-2 during the first half of the season, and then drastically falling during the second half. In order for the G-Men to succeed against the Ravens, Packers, Falcons, and Saints to name a few, Changes will need to be made from play calling to starting lineups at each position. The Giants have the secret formula on how to win in clutch situations, hopefully the bye week gives the Giants a new outlook on how to make it to the Super Bowl and defend the Lombardi trophy. If each Giants player is ALL IN, the will need to "build the bridge", and take each game step by step, one play at a time.
NYG OVERALL RECORD: 6-4
NYG OVERALL GRADE: B-
The next four games were the best played by the Giants so far this season, defeating the Browns by two touchdowns, showing up the San Fran Niners at Candlestick Park 26-3, a last minute touchdown pass from Eli to Cruz to slide past the Redskins, and a late come from behind victory in Dallas 29-24. The Giants were walking high, 6-2 in the NFC East, seeming like the team to beat in the NFC and possibly in the Super Bowl talks along with Houston and Chicago. On October 29, Hurricane Sandy rocked the United States East Coast, demolishing thousands and thousands of homes, leaving millions in the dark with no power, and also taking the lives of innocent civilians. Mayor Bloomberg canceled the NYC Marathon that weekend, hoping that it would become a distraction for the brokenhearted, just how baseball saved people's lives after 9/11. The only sport remaining on schedule was football in MetLife Stadium that Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This game was dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Sandy, and it would mean so much to the citizens of the tri-state area for the New York Giants to come out victorious. The fans knew it, the city knew it, the team knew it, and even the Steelers knew it. Unfortunately, the Giants played one of their most embarrassing games yet, losing 24-20 to Steelers team with not as much talent.Although depressed, Giant fans took a huge deep breath, and concentrated themselves for a shaky Cincinnati Bengals. The irony was that the Giants have never won at Paul Brown Stadium in their history, even though the Bengals have one of the worst home-field records. Hoping to be at a commanding 7-3 for the Bye Week, the Giants must have left their luggage and talent at the airport home; the Bengals tortured Eli & Crew 31-13, embarrassing every single Giants fan around. The Giants are 6-4. Now during this Bye Week, it's difficult to determine whether this team is a pretender or contender. Who is responsible for this debacle? The offense? Defense? Let's find out.
OFFENSE (B): The Giants do not seem to regularly have trouble putting a points against opponents, but it is definitely time to wonder if the play calling is incorrect. Should Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride be running the ball more than throwing? There is absolutely not reason to throw the ball deep on 1st down, and the Giants seem to struggle with correct play calling. Audibles are always made if something does not look right. but are the smarter plays being called? Also, what has happened to Eli Manning's consistency? Week in and week out, can we honestly say we know what Eli will bring to the table? Whether against a weak Browns team, or a stellar Niners team, the man has been inconsistent. So inconsistent, that it keeps many fans concerned on the future outcome of the team. Eli, it is also a wiser choice to throw the ball completely away if being rushed than throwing the ball to a linemen, who is also an ineligible receiver, resulting in an interception. Of course the team makes mistakes, but why so many? Limit the ridiculous mistakes, and sooner than later, this team will bounce back scoring in the high twenties again. What has happened to the rushing game? Ahmad Bradshaw does plenty of talking, but cannot seem to deliver huge with the ball in his hands. It's difficult to fire up a team on offense when only rushing one or two yards every carry. This forces the Giants to throw the ball on first, second, or even third down when they should not be at all. Andre Brown and David Wilson have impressed at the halfback position, but Ahmad Bradshaw, it's time to take a step forward and represent the Giants rushing game effectively.
DEFENSE (C): The Giants defense has been absolutely non-existent over the last few games. The Giants have given up over two hundred points this season to opponents, averaging twenty one points a game. Giving up the equivalent of three touchdowns a game is not a very effective way to win. If the offense cannot score or any given day, it leaves the defense greatly responsible for giving up huge yardage and receptions. What has happened to the rushing defense? When was the last time you heard the name Osi Umenyiora? It seems he checked out weeks ago and has not made an appearance out on the field. Steelers RB Isaac Redman ran for nearly 150 yards, averaging about four yards a carry. This defensive show up has been embarrassing and abysmal. The secondary has been worse. How many more long bombs can the G-Men let receivers catch every game? The number is way too many, and the defense looks soft, weak, and unprepared for battle. Regardless of the circumstances, if the opponent is putting up twenty points, something is evidently wrong with how the team practices each week and preps for games. Hey offense and defense, IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.
NYG OVERALL RECORD: 6-4
NYG OVERALL GRADE: B-
Friday, November 16, 2012
Friday Night Picks: Week 11
Some big division match ups this weekend. Chargers/Broncos, Steelers/Ravens, and not to forget the game of the week with Bears/Niners. The New York Giants Bye Week Report Card comes out Sunday.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Friday Night Picks: Week 10
After a huge debacle against the Steelers after Hurricane Sandy drama, the Giants remain at the top of the NFC East, but a huge question mark on the consistency of the offense and defense. At 6-3, the Giants have a strong chance of standing at 7-3 going into their Bye-Week. We can only hope for a great football game for the Giants, along with pride and passion between the personnel and players to stay victorious.
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