I had wanted to share my thoughts on the Giants anyway, but after reading the preceeding post I was compelled to do so in short order.
With two weeks in the books certain trends are definitely developing. Most alarmingly is the lack of touchdown conversions in the red zone. Also of somewhat glaring concern are the gashing off tackle runs given up to Portis, Jones and Barber.
There is certainly no reason to panic as this 2-0 start is not a mirage but two hard fought divisional victories. The Giants will be a better team by the end of October so any division wins are the proverbial money in the bank.
Quarterback: Eli is certainly unique, he lulls you to sleep with his inaccuracies and seemingly emotionless play but fosters fervor with his ferocity in the clutch moments. Failing to cash in "green zone" opportunities is cause for concern. A stronger running game and more creative play calls would help but he needs to find Boss and look to attack the end zone. It is really difficult to tell if his check downs are warranted without the game film but there are an inordinate number of passes to backs and crossing receivers well short of the goal line. Another thing to watch for is that Manningham and Smith are quicker in and out of their breaks than Plax or Toomer were which requires an adjustment period for Eli. You gotta believe that Eli will be able to adjust to his receivers getting open quicker, the one thing to watch for is he has less room to be wild high than he did with Plax and Toomer.
Bottom Line: While maddening at times, there are few Quarterbacks in the league who deliver as regularly in the clutch and even fewer who could do it under the hot lights of New York. For the Giants to win the division and have a shot to play into February he needs to be more productive in the green zone and adjust to his smaller, quicker receivers.
Running Backs: Not much to say other than Jacobs is as fearsome a weapon as there is in football and he continues to improve. Both he and Bradshaw should be able to put up better numbers as teams adjust to respect the growing pass game and can't put 8 in the box on the early downs. Madison Hedgecock needs to continue to pave the way and provide the lead as he's done in the past. Wouldn't hurt for him to hold on to a pass in the flat once in a while.
Receivers: Great start in general. Steve Smith is a premier 3rd down receiver with sneaky speed. Probably as close to a young Amani Toomer as you could hope for but with a better knack for getting downfield between the numbers. Manningham is electric combining great hands, precision and a burst. He was the number 1 at Michigan and is starting to prove that faith will be rewarded. The little I saw of Nicks is impressive, as the season progresses I believe he will pass Hixon for playing time. Hixon's effectiveness as a deep threat is less important with the emergence of Manningham. Hixon has demonstrated game breaking speed but his hands have not always been up to par. What was once considered a big question mark is presenting itself as an asset.
O Line/TE: Simply the best offensive line in the game. Speed of the Cowboys front 7 provided some problems in the run game last night but they kept Eli upright and play with a versatility and precision that drives the offense. Certainly you would like more run production near the goal line in the first two games but improvement will come and they played against two excellent defensive lines. For the team to fully realize its potential Kevin Boss needs to become a more viable option in the pass game.
Defensive Line: Has to be the strength of the team. Somewhat disappointing in the Dallas game with the lack of pressure on Romo leading to sacks and hurries. The losses of Canty and Tuck clearly hurt in the run defense. I dont think teams will succeed running the football against the Giants the way the Cowboys did last night. I also attribute much of the difficulty to the linebackers. While Osi needs to hold the point of attack better on each of the big runs to his side, Michael Boley got sucked inside and walled off. Robbins and Cofield have done a good job getting inside push.
Linebackers: Quite certainly the biggest cause for concern on the team. The Giants went out and got Boley to fill the role that was vacated by Kawika Mitchell. A backer who could equally play the run game and cover. Based on last night I hope he covers better than he plays the run. Iam willing to give him the benefit of the doubt since he missed most of training camp and it was apparently very hot and humid on the field last night. Danny Clark is a little past his prime and I would look for Ryan Kehl, Chase Blackburn and Gerris Wilkerson to start to transition into that spot as the year goes on. Anthony Pierce clearly has limitations but he is the defensive leader and does an excellent job in recognition and audible calls. You can win with Pierce at MLB. This group will go a long way in determining how far the Giants go.
Secondary: Without perhaps its best corner in Aaron Ross and its nickel back Dockery the Secondary has performed above expectation. Other than some tackling issues in one on one situations there is little to complain about. The group lead by prototypical Miami safety Phillips has become opportunistic, holding onto the sure intercepts. Probably the second most pleasant surprise of the season thus far behind the receivers. The lack of depth and growing list of injuries is a substantial cause for concern.
The kicking game is excellent, Feagles is the best directional punter in the history of the NFL and Tynes makes you feel confident every time he lines up a big kick.
You also have to feel good about the Coaching. Coughlin has built a team in his own image, tough, relentless, disciplined and precise. These characteristics, as mujch as any, were the difference between the Giants and Cowboys.
Showing posts with label New York Giants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Giants. Show all posts
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday, October 6, 2008
the G men
I have to say, I know its early in the season but how can you not be impressed with the Giants. Forget about who they have played, though Washington and Cincy have looked good in the last few weeks, watch how they play. They are a team that it is a pleasure to root for. They play hard and smart and entertaining football. This isn't a team that got drunk on the elixir of a Super Bowl and forgot how to work. They have had reasons to take a step back but refuse to make them. All you need to know was shown by Management in their suspension of Plax. It was an internal team issue, it could have been handled with a fine, but they chose to make it public and send a message that nobody is above the team. For that I respect the organization and its leaders.
I admit I was wrong about Eli, he has matured into the QB I never thought he could become. I do believe that the Super Bowl was more about the Defense, but it has seemed to imbue him with a new swagger and elevated him to "man" status amongst the team. There is no more Tiki or Strahan, he is the man. A lot of credit needs to go to the scouting department and the development abilities of Coughlin and his staff. They have turned a lot of lower draft picks into meaningful players and sculpted one of the best offensive lines in the game out of some rough material.
Obviously who knows what the future may bring, but it will no doubt be an enjoyable ride.
I admit I was wrong about Eli, he has matured into the QB I never thought he could become. I do believe that the Super Bowl was more about the Defense, but it has seemed to imbue him with a new swagger and elevated him to "man" status amongst the team. There is no more Tiki or Strahan, he is the man. A lot of credit needs to go to the scouting department and the development abilities of Coughlin and his staff. They have turned a lot of lower draft picks into meaningful players and sculpted one of the best offensive lines in the game out of some rough material.
Obviously who knows what the future may bring, but it will no doubt be an enjoyable ride.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Quick Hitters
All it takes is September to remind me why I love baseball. It is certainly true that my team did mount a historic comeback and the team I most enjoy watching lose found a way to mount a historic collapse. But the essence of baseball and what makes it really different than the other sports is the pennant race and the ultimate tie breaker, the one game playoff. In the end baseball is king because the regular season means something and over a 162 game season you can run but you can't hide. The cream does rise to the top and mediocrity is left to play golf not allowed to serve as first round fodder to generate and extra round of playoff revenue. October is for the elite.
I can hear you muttering, the NFL is not the NBA or NHL, it only has 6 teams per conference make it to the second season. Certainly, you will have 10-6 NFL teams fail to make the playoffs, but for every one of them there are plenty of 8-8 teams that enter as wild cards. The NFL flaunts its parity with pride, the great Alan Selig has tried to emulate this with his prescriptions for "competitive balance", which on balance seem to have worked as you have not had a repeat world series champion this decade. But the greatness of baseball lies in the fact that only 4 teams per league are playing as of October 2.
Baseball's brilliance also lies in the fact that while the regular season is the best at selecting the worthy teams, it is a lousy predictor of who will ultimately reign as champion. Short series are predicated on dominant starting pitching, hot relievers and timely hitting. Baseball is the only sport where pure physicality is not dispositive. Often the "less talented" team will prevail based on key hits and an average pitcher with uncharacteristically good stuff. The only postseason that comes close is the NCAA tournament where a hot team can knock off the better team (see George Mason v. UConn). And while buzzer beaters are nice, nothing beats the walk off home run.
Objectively it is impossible to say that the best team truly wins every year and that is why postseason baseball is the best and most consistent of the playoffs in the major sports.
I cannot say that I have enjoyed a collapse more than the Mets the last few weeks. How stupid can you be to take a team that just wants to go back to South Beach and wake them up. The problem with the Mets all year has been a total lack of focus and leadership. Naturally you blame the manager. You would be wrong to do so. Willie has never gotten a fair shake from the Wilpons, being stuck with coaches he didn't choose and spies from the front office he cannot be held accountable. You have to look first at Omar Minaya.
One of the smart things the Yankees have done the past few years is bring in older players to help mentor the younger up and coming latin stars like Luis Sojo, Jose Vizcaino, Miguel Cairo, Chili Davis, Tim Raines, Ruben Sierra, all good clubhouse guys by the end of their tenure. The clubhouse is also ruled by Jorge Posada's hot temper and iron will. You think a Yankee would be allowed to get away with the antics the Mets displayed? You think Jeter or Posada would allow Cano to stand at home plate while the ball trickles down the base line in a must game? Would never happen.
Earlier in the season many Met fans proclaimed Reyes as the best shortstop in NY, he isn't even the best in his division. Jimmy Rollins, who should be the NL MVP, imposed his will on the stretch run the way Reyes did in the early season before the Mets became disinterested with the season. Rollins, knowing the Mets were down big, stole both second and third in the first inning, Reyes has failed to steal a base since September 15, in fact he had only 1 attempt since then.
A few other thoughts
Sherm Ave Fantasy Football - not to brag but I have rallied the troops after an abysmal 0-2 start to do what the Jets couldn't and square my record at 2-2. I suffered one of the all time worst defeats in the history of Fantasy Football where if you totaled my starters and bench points I still would have lost to my opponents starters. Look out
Boxing - it was great to be able to see a real live fight and not have to drop fifty bucks. Pavlik vs. Taylor was a refreshing trip to the fights of our youth where the two guys actually try to punch each other more than once a round.
Giants - great to see the new D coordinator Steve Spagnoulo exploiting the strengths of his unit by mixing blitz packages and making sure he had more guys rushing than could be blocked. ITs the only way to disguise the awful secondary play. Even Corey Webster can cover for 2-3 seconds. I'm still not sold on Eli, he makes too many dumb mistakes per game. I know his completion pct is up but he has thrown some of the most god awful intercepts I have ever seen and he still would rather try to float a pass off balance rather than step into a throw and take a hit or toss the ball out of bounds and live to fight another day. The offensive line is one fo the most underappreciated units in the game. The border war with the Jets Sunday will allow one team's season to continue and one will come to an end. Two enter, one leaves.
Rutgers - Its hard to believe that Rutgers was ranked as high as it has been based on its name. Yes, I will repeat that, Rutgers has garnered a high ranking based on its name and a Heisman candidate. Until Schiano finds a way to get his defense to use its speed to beat the bigger opponents it could be a long year. They are truly feeling the loss to graduation of an All Big East Nose Tackle and two linebackers who had been in the system for 4 years and understood the defense in and out. Never underestimate experience at the college level.
Don't forget to pick up your copy of Magic, hitting stores October 2. The new Springsteen Cd is an interesting compilation of pop hits, strong guitar driven rock and some 60s infused sound. There is an underlying political tone to the work but you have to real delve into the lyrics to find it, but it lurks within if you so desire. So far I am partial to Long Walk Home and Devil's Arcade. This album took me a few spins until I really appreciated the nuances and now i find myself singing the hooks.
The play in game just ended and I have a few thoughts:
With so much on the line, amazed at how boring the 8th thru 12th innings were
You had to know that the deadlock was ending when the Rockies brought in Jorge Julio, you know you are bad when you can't even pitch in the Mets bullpen.
How about Kaz Matsui in the playoffs, Jose Reyes at the salon frosting his hair.
Matt Holliday doesn't deserve the MVP just for sliding head first into home.
Seriously, who dresses Craig Sager, did he lose a bet as a child, I am happy I don't have TBS HD just so i dont have to see his ridiculous wardrobe in hi def.
Lastly, I don't care what SI says, Trevor Hoffman is not the greatest closer of all time and does not belong in the same sentence as Mariano Rivera.
I can hear you muttering, the NFL is not the NBA or NHL, it only has 6 teams per conference make it to the second season. Certainly, you will have 10-6 NFL teams fail to make the playoffs, but for every one of them there are plenty of 8-8 teams that enter as wild cards. The NFL flaunts its parity with pride, the great Alan Selig has tried to emulate this with his prescriptions for "competitive balance", which on balance seem to have worked as you have not had a repeat world series champion this decade. But the greatness of baseball lies in the fact that only 4 teams per league are playing as of October 2.
Baseball's brilliance also lies in the fact that while the regular season is the best at selecting the worthy teams, it is a lousy predictor of who will ultimately reign as champion. Short series are predicated on dominant starting pitching, hot relievers and timely hitting. Baseball is the only sport where pure physicality is not dispositive. Often the "less talented" team will prevail based on key hits and an average pitcher with uncharacteristically good stuff. The only postseason that comes close is the NCAA tournament where a hot team can knock off the better team (see George Mason v. UConn). And while buzzer beaters are nice, nothing beats the walk off home run.
Objectively it is impossible to say that the best team truly wins every year and that is why postseason baseball is the best and most consistent of the playoffs in the major sports.
I cannot say that I have enjoyed a collapse more than the Mets the last few weeks. How stupid can you be to take a team that just wants to go back to South Beach and wake them up. The problem with the Mets all year has been a total lack of focus and leadership. Naturally you blame the manager. You would be wrong to do so. Willie has never gotten a fair shake from the Wilpons, being stuck with coaches he didn't choose and spies from the front office he cannot be held accountable. You have to look first at Omar Minaya.
One of the smart things the Yankees have done the past few years is bring in older players to help mentor the younger up and coming latin stars like Luis Sojo, Jose Vizcaino, Miguel Cairo, Chili Davis, Tim Raines, Ruben Sierra, all good clubhouse guys by the end of their tenure. The clubhouse is also ruled by Jorge Posada's hot temper and iron will. You think a Yankee would be allowed to get away with the antics the Mets displayed? You think Jeter or Posada would allow Cano to stand at home plate while the ball trickles down the base line in a must game? Would never happen.
Earlier in the season many Met fans proclaimed Reyes as the best shortstop in NY, he isn't even the best in his division. Jimmy Rollins, who should be the NL MVP, imposed his will on the stretch run the way Reyes did in the early season before the Mets became disinterested with the season. Rollins, knowing the Mets were down big, stole both second and third in the first inning, Reyes has failed to steal a base since September 15, in fact he had only 1 attempt since then.
A few other thoughts
Sherm Ave Fantasy Football - not to brag but I have rallied the troops after an abysmal 0-2 start to do what the Jets couldn't and square my record at 2-2. I suffered one of the all time worst defeats in the history of Fantasy Football where if you totaled my starters and bench points I still would have lost to my opponents starters. Look out
Boxing - it was great to be able to see a real live fight and not have to drop fifty bucks. Pavlik vs. Taylor was a refreshing trip to the fights of our youth where the two guys actually try to punch each other more than once a round.
Giants - great to see the new D coordinator Steve Spagnoulo exploiting the strengths of his unit by mixing blitz packages and making sure he had more guys rushing than could be blocked. ITs the only way to disguise the awful secondary play. Even Corey Webster can cover for 2-3 seconds. I'm still not sold on Eli, he makes too many dumb mistakes per game. I know his completion pct is up but he has thrown some of the most god awful intercepts I have ever seen and he still would rather try to float a pass off balance rather than step into a throw and take a hit or toss the ball out of bounds and live to fight another day. The offensive line is one fo the most underappreciated units in the game. The border war with the Jets Sunday will allow one team's season to continue and one will come to an end. Two enter, one leaves.
Rutgers - Its hard to believe that Rutgers was ranked as high as it has been based on its name. Yes, I will repeat that, Rutgers has garnered a high ranking based on its name and a Heisman candidate. Until Schiano finds a way to get his defense to use its speed to beat the bigger opponents it could be a long year. They are truly feeling the loss to graduation of an All Big East Nose Tackle and two linebackers who had been in the system for 4 years and understood the defense in and out. Never underestimate experience at the college level.
Don't forget to pick up your copy of Magic, hitting stores October 2. The new Springsteen Cd is an interesting compilation of pop hits, strong guitar driven rock and some 60s infused sound. There is an underlying political tone to the work but you have to real delve into the lyrics to find it, but it lurks within if you so desire. So far I am partial to Long Walk Home and Devil's Arcade. This album took me a few spins until I really appreciated the nuances and now i find myself singing the hooks.
The play in game just ended and I have a few thoughts:
With so much on the line, amazed at how boring the 8th thru 12th innings were
You had to know that the deadlock was ending when the Rockies brought in Jorge Julio, you know you are bad when you can't even pitch in the Mets bullpen.
How about Kaz Matsui in the playoffs, Jose Reyes at the salon frosting his hair.
Matt Holliday doesn't deserve the MVP just for sliding head first into home.
Seriously, who dresses Craig Sager, did he lose a bet as a child, I am happy I don't have TBS HD just so i dont have to see his ridiculous wardrobe in hi def.
Lastly, I don't care what SI says, Trevor Hoffman is not the greatest closer of all time and does not belong in the same sentence as Mariano Rivera.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Punch drunk
It's not like I didn't see it coming...
This team was flawed from the beginning of the year, just look back on all the pre-season picks. It was just about anybody but the Mets in this division.
About six to eight weeks ago, Steve Phillips, that failed GM of the Mets past and yes, I'm still holding a grudge for him not signing John Olerud and getting Todd Ziele instead. Phillips made the claim that the Mets wouldn't make the playoffs and the Rockies would be the wild card.
I smirked at the idiot and I still do because he figured it would be the Braves since they mortgaged their future (Salty and the young SS) for a top tier first baseman in Mark Texeria.
Everyone said it gave Atlanta the best lineup in the league, but I didn't agree, especially after Omar went out and got Luis Castillo for a couple of A-leaguers.
That move gave the Mets the most complete lineup, top to bottom with speed, power and more speed.
But while that was a great move for the present and the future (We better resign him!!!), it didn't address the needs of the team and that's why we're at home...
That and the Mets decided they couldn't beat bottom feeders at home in the final week of the season.
It will be a long off season according to oh Captain, my Captain Willie Randolph and believe I stand behind him all the way. He'll get calls for his job, he'll be criticized for decisions and if there is a smart man in that front office, he'll be answering choke questions in Port St. Lucie next March...
Especially since this wasn't his fault.
The disapperance of Jose Reyes was huge. As he goes, so goes the team but he's not in the top three reasons why I'll be at home in late October, avoiding Sportscenter highlights of the World Series. Here are those reasons...
3. Paul LoDucaLast year, Dukie batting primarily in the No. 2 hole and hit .318 behind Jose Reyes. He had 39 doubles and a .355 on-base percentage. This year, he was moved down in the lineup, but I'm not accepting that as an excuse for batting .273 with 18 doubles and a .312 on-base percentage.
But worse than the numbers was his attitude. I'm not in New York, but apparantly he's on WFAN once a week. He's sniped at Willie all year and has complained that he hasn't come out and argued when Dukie doesn't agree with a call.
Yes, he's got fire and passion, but sometimes that can be to a fault. He's in a contract year and hasn't done anything to have fans like me not call for Ramon Castro behind the plate next year.
2. Carlos Delgado
He had surgury in the off season and was just about right at spring training, then his wife gave birth and he missed a week. When he came back, he wasn't the same and every time he gets close, he gets another injury.
The fact he was a career .280 batter that only hit .265 last year wasn't that bad because he had a .548 slugging percentage and knocked in 114 with 38 home runs.
Delgado hit .258, 24 home runs, 87 RBIs and slugged .448. Willie, to his credit, tried to stick with him as long as possible before moving him down in the lineup, but that wasn't going to do much.
He was the left handed bat to slot between Wright and Alou, he was the continuation of the mid-lineup power and when Alou went down (As should have been expected), Shawn Green decided to play average and Lastings Milledge was out for as long as he was, the fact that Delgado stunk up the joint to high heaven showed its painful head.
1. Omar Minaya
I read Buster Olney after John Maine almost made Mets history and he makes a great point. All the moves made by Omar this year have been horrible.
Simple as that.
Any complaints about the bullpen and its use should be directed to Omar. He's the one who let Chad Bradford go and gave Scott Show-in-wise the same loot. Don't think about the trades he didn't make at the deadline, it's the small stuff like Brian Bannister to the Royals that didn't turn out, then averted attention away from where it was needed.
I need Tom Glavine to not be in a Mets uniform next year. I need Paul LoDuca gone and I need Duaner Sanchez to be healthy and help form the bridge to Billy Wagner. I need Jose Reyes to remember what the first half of the year was like and duplicate it and I need the front office to have faith in Lastings and the other young outfielders.
But most importantly, I need the Giants defense to keep playing like they did against the Eagles on Sunday night so I don't have to think about the Mets until the Winter Meetings.
This team was flawed from the beginning of the year, just look back on all the pre-season picks. It was just about anybody but the Mets in this division.
About six to eight weeks ago, Steve Phillips, that failed GM of the Mets past and yes, I'm still holding a grudge for him not signing John Olerud and getting Todd Ziele instead. Phillips made the claim that the Mets wouldn't make the playoffs and the Rockies would be the wild card.
I smirked at the idiot and I still do because he figured it would be the Braves since they mortgaged their future (Salty and the young SS) for a top tier first baseman in Mark Texeria.
Everyone said it gave Atlanta the best lineup in the league, but I didn't agree, especially after Omar went out and got Luis Castillo for a couple of A-leaguers.
That move gave the Mets the most complete lineup, top to bottom with speed, power and more speed.
But while that was a great move for the present and the future (We better resign him!!!), it didn't address the needs of the team and that's why we're at home...
That and the Mets decided they couldn't beat bottom feeders at home in the final week of the season.
It will be a long off season according to oh Captain, my Captain Willie Randolph and believe I stand behind him all the way. He'll get calls for his job, he'll be criticized for decisions and if there is a smart man in that front office, he'll be answering choke questions in Port St. Lucie next March...
Especially since this wasn't his fault.
The disapperance of Jose Reyes was huge. As he goes, so goes the team but he's not in the top three reasons why I'll be at home in late October, avoiding Sportscenter highlights of the World Series. Here are those reasons...
3. Paul LoDucaLast year, Dukie batting primarily in the No. 2 hole and hit .318 behind Jose Reyes. He had 39 doubles and a .355 on-base percentage. This year, he was moved down in the lineup, but I'm not accepting that as an excuse for batting .273 with 18 doubles and a .312 on-base percentage.
But worse than the numbers was his attitude. I'm not in New York, but apparantly he's on WFAN once a week. He's sniped at Willie all year and has complained that he hasn't come out and argued when Dukie doesn't agree with a call.
Yes, he's got fire and passion, but sometimes that can be to a fault. He's in a contract year and hasn't done anything to have fans like me not call for Ramon Castro behind the plate next year.
2. Carlos Delgado
He had surgury in the off season and was just about right at spring training, then his wife gave birth and he missed a week. When he came back, he wasn't the same and every time he gets close, he gets another injury.
The fact he was a career .280 batter that only hit .265 last year wasn't that bad because he had a .548 slugging percentage and knocked in 114 with 38 home runs.
Delgado hit .258, 24 home runs, 87 RBIs and slugged .448. Willie, to his credit, tried to stick with him as long as possible before moving him down in the lineup, but that wasn't going to do much.
He was the left handed bat to slot between Wright and Alou, he was the continuation of the mid-lineup power and when Alou went down (As should have been expected), Shawn Green decided to play average and Lastings Milledge was out for as long as he was, the fact that Delgado stunk up the joint to high heaven showed its painful head.
1. Omar Minaya
I read Buster Olney after John Maine almost made Mets history and he makes a great point. All the moves made by Omar this year have been horrible.
Simple as that.
Any complaints about the bullpen and its use should be directed to Omar. He's the one who let Chad Bradford go and gave Scott Show-in-wise the same loot. Don't think about the trades he didn't make at the deadline, it's the small stuff like Brian Bannister to the Royals that didn't turn out, then averted attention away from where it was needed.
I need Tom Glavine to not be in a Mets uniform next year. I need Paul LoDuca gone and I need Duaner Sanchez to be healthy and help form the bridge to Billy Wagner. I need Jose Reyes to remember what the first half of the year was like and duplicate it and I need the front office to have faith in Lastings and the other young outfielders.
But most importantly, I need the Giants defense to keep playing like they did against the Eagles on Sunday night so I don't have to think about the Mets until the Winter Meetings.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Touch gloves and come out fighting
I wish I was referring to the fight in either of the teams I root for, but alas it's just another boxing reference - a dead sport to title a rant about teams playing dead.
Since I'm on the theme of death, I'll start with my beloved first place Mets. For the past three weeks, ever since they went to Atlanta after losing four straight and swept the dreaded Braves, I've been thinking about just how I would write the eulogy of Atlanta.
Yes Virginia, the Braves are dead and buried and I'm happy to say that the Metropolotians were the ones to do it.
Yeah, you could blame it on the departure of Maddux, Glavine and Leo Mazzone. You could look back to the lack of premier prospects coming up and making a difference. The days of Rafael Furcal, Marcus Giles, Adam LaRoche, Johnny Estrada, Jason Schmidt, Kevin Milwood and John Rocker (Crazy as he was, the guy was a nasty closer) coming up from the minors and fitting in right away are gone.
I'm in Mississippi, 20 minutes from the home of the Braves Double-A franchise and have watched as Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur (who I just hate to look at with that stupid look on his stupid face), and Salty were here for weeks before heading north. I'm not saying the cupboard is bare, but there's no Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones or Steve Avery brewing down here...
You could just blame it on age. Eventually John Smoltz is going to get old - not this year, but soon enough. The Jones boys are the same way and looking back, I'm amazed to realize how many years it was Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux in this rotation.
It was a great run, a record-setting run. One that desereves its own space and time, but not here and not now is the battle cry. The final wound was a three-game sweep at the Ted, half-empyt as usual for a late-season series against the No. 1 division rival, so much so that as I watched from home, I wondered just how close to the field I could have gotten if I was in the ATL on that day.
But alas, while the curse of the Braves may appear to be broken, it has just switched places to another venue that doesn't fit well with my Mets. What was Andruw Jones patroling center field at Turner Field is now Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins snagging grounders up the middle at that band box of a field Citizens Bank Park.
While the Mets may appear to have sluggers, we're a lineup built for Shea and the 390 gaps to left and right center that turn doubles into triples, that score runners from 1st base, that bodes well for all-around players like David Wright (30 HR, 98 RBIs, 31 steals), Carlos Beltran (29 HR, 99 RBIs, 23 of 25 steals) and Jose Reyes (need I say more?).
Short porches bode well for overpaid losers like Pat Burrell, for fat slow sluggers with emmence talent like Ryan Howard and for the Phillies two best players, Rollins and Utley (either of whom could sneak the MVP award away from Wright, the league's front runner).
Everyone talks about what their eight-game win streak against the Mets will mean if the two teams were to met in the NLCS. To which they usually preface or add later at some point, IF THE PHILLIES MAKE THE PLAYOFFS AND REACH THE NLCS.
I should and do say the same thing about the Mets. I mean, we're a pretty good shot to make the playoffs at this point, but with a stockpile of 6-inning pitchers and little to no confidence in anyone between a great starting rotation (Pedro, Glavine, Maine) and Wagner, we might not make it past whoever unless the Phillies do win the wild card, meaning we would get the NL Central winner, teams we've played well against recently.
You would think it would be a joyous day, the day the Braves died. Instead my worries have only shifted north.
As for the Giants, let me just say this - In my preview, I was torn with the belief that the hands of Thor and Loki would help prevent the defense from looking this bad. I would love to add early, but let's be real. They're going to be this bad all year.
The cornerbacks can't defend anyone and we're not gaining any pressure with a four or five-man rush, so it doesn't matter if we can stop the run if you can throw short, medium and long.
The real question becomes, with a Top 5 pick in next year's draft, does Reece look for a running back like the kid from Rutgers or a linebacker, then hope to sign someone like Ashanti Samuels, who's been dying to play for (Insert your favorite unemployed coach here) all his life.
Since I'm on the theme of death, I'll start with my beloved first place Mets. For the past three weeks, ever since they went to Atlanta after losing four straight and swept the dreaded Braves, I've been thinking about just how I would write the eulogy of Atlanta.
Yes Virginia, the Braves are dead and buried and I'm happy to say that the Metropolotians were the ones to do it.
Yeah, you could blame it on the departure of Maddux, Glavine and Leo Mazzone. You could look back to the lack of premier prospects coming up and making a difference. The days of Rafael Furcal, Marcus Giles, Adam LaRoche, Johnny Estrada, Jason Schmidt, Kevin Milwood and John Rocker (Crazy as he was, the guy was a nasty closer) coming up from the minors and fitting in right away are gone.
I'm in Mississippi, 20 minutes from the home of the Braves Double-A franchise and have watched as Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur (who I just hate to look at with that stupid look on his stupid face), and Salty were here for weeks before heading north. I'm not saying the cupboard is bare, but there's no Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones or Steve Avery brewing down here...
You could just blame it on age. Eventually John Smoltz is going to get old - not this year, but soon enough. The Jones boys are the same way and looking back, I'm amazed to realize how many years it was Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux in this rotation.
It was a great run, a record-setting run. One that desereves its own space and time, but not here and not now is the battle cry. The final wound was a three-game sweep at the Ted, half-empyt as usual for a late-season series against the No. 1 division rival, so much so that as I watched from home, I wondered just how close to the field I could have gotten if I was in the ATL on that day.
But alas, while the curse of the Braves may appear to be broken, it has just switched places to another venue that doesn't fit well with my Mets. What was Andruw Jones patroling center field at Turner Field is now Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins snagging grounders up the middle at that band box of a field Citizens Bank Park.
While the Mets may appear to have sluggers, we're a lineup built for Shea and the 390 gaps to left and right center that turn doubles into triples, that score runners from 1st base, that bodes well for all-around players like David Wright (30 HR, 98 RBIs, 31 steals), Carlos Beltran (29 HR, 99 RBIs, 23 of 25 steals) and Jose Reyes (need I say more?).
Short porches bode well for overpaid losers like Pat Burrell, for fat slow sluggers with emmence talent like Ryan Howard and for the Phillies two best players, Rollins and Utley (either of whom could sneak the MVP award away from Wright, the league's front runner).
Everyone talks about what their eight-game win streak against the Mets will mean if the two teams were to met in the NLCS. To which they usually preface or add later at some point, IF THE PHILLIES MAKE THE PLAYOFFS AND REACH THE NLCS.
I should and do say the same thing about the Mets. I mean, we're a pretty good shot to make the playoffs at this point, but with a stockpile of 6-inning pitchers and little to no confidence in anyone between a great starting rotation (Pedro, Glavine, Maine) and Wagner, we might not make it past whoever unless the Phillies do win the wild card, meaning we would get the NL Central winner, teams we've played well against recently.
You would think it would be a joyous day, the day the Braves died. Instead my worries have only shifted north.
As for the Giants, let me just say this - In my preview, I was torn with the belief that the hands of Thor and Loki would help prevent the defense from looking this bad. I would love to add early, but let's be real. They're going to be this bad all year.
The cornerbacks can't defend anyone and we're not gaining any pressure with a four or five-man rush, so it doesn't matter if we can stop the run if you can throw short, medium and long.
The real question becomes, with a Top 5 pick in next year's draft, does Reece look for a running back like the kid from Rutgers or a linebacker, then hope to sign someone like Ashanti Samuels, who's been dying to play for (Insert your favorite unemployed coach here) all his life.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
NFC East Preview
Dallas Cowboys
Last year: 9-7,– 21-20 loss to Seattle in wild card round
Passing: Tony Romo – 220-of-337 (65%) for 2,903 yards, 19 TD, 13 INT
Rushing: Julius Jones — 267 carries for 1,084 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving: Terrell Owens — 85 catches, 1,180 yards, 13 TDs
Defense: Demarcus Ware (59 tackles, 12 sacks), Roy Williams (53 tackles, 5 INTs, 14 passes defended).
First-round pick: Anthony Spencer - DE - Purdue
Where to learn more: Dallas Morning News
Preview: This team will live and die with the play of Tony Romo; it’s as simple as that. People will talk about the changes with the ‘nicer’ Wade Phillips, 48-39 overall and a stellar 0-3 record in the postseason.
He’s a great defensive coach, taking all the talent that A.J. Smith drafted and signed in San Diego, along with benefiting from a great offense that would force teams into situations and built a winner enough to convince Jerry Jones into cutting The Tuna loose.
Of course with Parcells out of the picture, everyone now says how horrible it was and how great Phillips is and the defense will continue to produce.
BUT...
DB Terrance Newman has missed time in the preseason due to "a small tear in his plantar fascia that will keep him out of the last preseason game. He said he will play against the Giants on Sept. 9 but it's something he will have to deal with the whole season. It's not the worst news, but it's not good news either," according to Todd Archer of the DMN. That leaves untested players against the Eagles, New England, St. Louis and the Giants in the first eight games of the year, teams that would seem to rely somewhat on the pass.
ALL THAT BEING SAID,
It still goes back to the beginning. This is Romo's world and we're all just living in it. I mean when have you seen Eli or Donovan F. McNabb with a legitimate American Idol?
He played well after taking over Statue Drew Bledsoe and made the Pro Bowl. He won't hold the kicks anymore, the reason they didn't come back against Seattle in the fourth and move on to the Super Bowl last year and he smells like apple pie, sugar and spice and everything nice.
MY PREDICTION:
Everyone has the Cowgirls finishing first because of that pretty face. But these are the same people who said REALLY LOUD LAST YEAR that the Redskins were going to light up the world with Mark Burnell and Clinton Portis. I'm running thought their schedule and the best I can do for them is a 8 to 10 win team, a trend I smell might plague this division...
Philadelphia Eagles
Last year: 10-6,– won 23-20 over New York Giants in Wild Card, lost 24-27 at New Orleans Saints in Divisional Round
Passing: Donovan McNabb – 180-of-316 (57%) for 2,647 yards, 18 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Brian Westbrook — 240 carries for 1,217 yards, 7 TDs
Receiving: Brian Westbrook — 77 catches, 699 yards, 4 TDs
Defense: Jeremiah Trotter (88 tackles), Trent Cole (43 tackles, 8 sacks), Brian Dawkins (76 tackles, 4 INT, 14 passes defended.
First-round pick: Kevin Kolb - QB - Houston
Where to learn more: Philadelphia Daily News
Preview: I guess when you take your team to four straight NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl loss, you've got nine years in the league and you're winning games (although the Eagles were 5-4 when he went down?), it doesn't matter that you only completed 57 percent of your passes in the West-Coast Andy Ried offense?
Interesting that McNabb was having a career year before the injury, yet Elisha (Manning) needed to do a lot better than 57% to be an elite NFL quarterback? The pedigree does give the Campbell's Soup boy a lot of leeway, but last year was clear that this team is built around the defense.
Which makes the release of Trotter that much more confusing. The Eagles have been cheap for years, but Trotter had come crawling back after a couple of decent years in Washington because he loved the city, the team, his coke dealer didn't like to travel or something. Whatever the reason was, you can't really knock the hustle of Reid in charge.
The Walking Walrus is 80-46 with only two losing seasons out of eight. The other six he's won at least 10 games, so it's easy to say that this guy knows what he's doing and if he says Trotter is done and the defense will move on despite the loss of linebackers coach Steve Spagnuolo to the G-Men because they still have Jim Johnson.
BUT...
Even with a healthy McNabb, an injured McNabb and a revitalized Jeff Garcia, running back Brian Westbrook still led this team in rushing AND receptions. Reggie Brown, Greg Lewis and Jeremy Bloom (the Olympic skier to the right with silver medalist Sasha Cohen, who despite getting cut makes the page because of the eye candy on his arm) scare no one. Nevertheless with McNabb pulling the strings and linebackers coming forward to slow down Westbrook, they seem to produce and that is why they continue to win. This has to end sometime, but it's just not right now.
MY PREDICTION:
The only time I ever liked the Eagles was on Madden 93 when they had Randall and Reggie White on defense. Other than that, I've always hated them and it's only grown with time. So it hurts me to say that they will defend as division champs. The defense will continue to play well as Lito Sheppard (6 INT, 19 passes defended) continues to get better. They'll win 9 to 11 games, but the real question will be after the season when they don't win the Super Bowl if his is the year they finally blow up this team?
Washington Redskins
Last year: 5-11
Passing: Mark Brunell – 162-of-260 (62%) for 1,789 yards, 8 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Ladell Betts — 245 carries for 1,154 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving: Santana Moss — 55 catches, 790 yards, 6 TDs
Defense: Sean Taylor (89 tackles, 7 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles), Andre Carter (47 tackles, 6 sacks)
First-round pick: LaRon Landry - LB - LSU
Where to learn more: Washington Post
Preview: This will be short because this team sucks. They sucked last year and they'll suck again this year. I mean, honestly, I can remember hearing Mike Golic and Mark Dumbass and the rest of them about how great this team was, about how Joe Gibbs was finally back and Brunell would lead them to the promised land.
How'd that work out? Not so well, huh?
They drafted Landry, who will Taylor, Fred Smoot and Shawn Springs in a backfield that should dominate and they do, just on paper and in video games. Probably because Phillip Daniels, Renaldo Wynn, London Fletcher and Randall Godfrey are all on the roster and are all past their primes. Rocky McIntosh, the 2006 first round pick from Miami had surgery to start his career and all my Giants fans remember the on again off again Cornelius Griffin.
So you can bring Joe Gibbs (145-87 overall, but 21-27 since return), Al Saunders, Gregg Williams, Joe Bugel and Bernard King down, it's not gonna make a bit of difference.
BUT...
Portis (with Lisa Rodgers? and Lyric?) is healthy and he did run for 2,831 and 16 TDs in two years since the trade from Denver (How's that working out? OK for both sides? Oh, OK). If Gibbs remembered one thing, it's how to run the ball, so whether it's Portis, Betts or T.J. Duckett (Wasn't he best used in Atlanta as part of D(uckett) V(ick) D(unn)?), the Skins will run the ball and give their young QB time to grow into his position. Jason Campbell (110-of--207, 1,297 yards, 10 TD, 6 INT) is a Mississippi-born boy with enough talent to start at Auburn, so that's got to be good for something. Plus he's got Santana Moss (who would look real good in Kelly Green right now), Antwaan Randle-El, James Thrash, Brandon Lloyd, Corey Bradford and Madison Central, MS graduate Michael Espy (if he makes the team). They could be a great offense...
MY PREDICTION:
They won't be a great offense. They won't be a great defense. If they win 8 games, it's a banner year because I just don't think they've got what it takes. Simple as that.
New York Football Giants
Last year: 8-8,– 23-20 loss to Philadelphia in wild card round
Passing: Elisha Manning – 301-of-522 (57%) for 2,903 yards, 24 TD, 18 INT
Rushing: Tiki Barber — 327 carries for 1,662 yards, 5 TDs
Receiving: Plaxico Burress — 63 catches, 988 yards, 10 TDs
Defense: Antonio Pierce (102 tackles, 9 passes defended), Osi Umeniyora (24 tackles, 6 sacks, Sam Madison (33 tackles, 2 INTs, 10 passes defended).
First-round pick: Aaron Ross - CB - Texas
Where to learn more (As if I need to tell most of you, but): The Bergen Record, New York Daily News, New York Newsday
I've saved the best for last, or at least the subject I feel I know the most about...
I'll start with last year, which I didn't think was as bad as everyone else. I was ready for defensive coordinator Tim Lewis to leave two years ago, but it did take Lavar Arrington a moment to understand his role.
In fact, if you take away all the injuries just on defense from last year (Arrington, Straham, Osi and Madison's hamstring), they wouldn't have been one of the worst in the league. That's because Lewis' system was based on the front seven (six) getting pressure to avoid exposing the lack of talent in the backfield. When Straham went down, that went away and like every Giants fan, you dreaded seeing a QB drop back because someone would always be WIDE OPEN...
So I'm happy to see our new GM Jerry Reese make a priority of ridding the team of injury cases. I thought Luke Petitgout was great, but a bad back as a left tackle isn't a good combination. Will Demps seems like a great idea, but he's busted up and why not go with young in the secondary. The high-priced vets hasn't exactly rushed any busts to Canton.
Speaking of which, it doesn't matter what reasons he held out - Straham is NECESSARY if this team is going to do anything. Period.
Speaking of menstrual cycles, let's focus on the offense and to borrow another phrase from the Great One...FINALLY, Tiki Barber has LEFT the Giants.
He was great. He did a lot and we wouldn't have done as much the past two season without him, but he was dreadful last year off the field and regardless what is said, that effected everyone else besides him on the field.
The New York media are like vultures merged with jackals. They'll hound and haunt a story till it's picked clean and Barber only helped his own cause, as was described extremely well by our fellow blogger...
So it's Brandon Jacobs and a case of characters to fill the place of the greatest Giants running back since...Frank Gifford, Ken Strong and Y.A. Tittle.
OK, so Tittle was a quarterback, but the other two are in the Hall, someplace I don't think Tiki will make, which brings us to the Hall of Fame quarterback pedigree...
The one cool thing that Tiki left was the fact that he called our quarterback Elisha and I've kept that moniker. Seems our boy is getting married to this chick. She's an old girlfriend or something, but I hope she understands what she's getting into.
Not that I have any clue about that or really care, but as long as we don't get more pictures like the one to the left...
I don't know or care if that's the same chick. One, he's drinking MGD and that's a college boy's beer. Two, he's gotta start feeling cameras just like he would feel defensive ends from his blind side. And third and finally, he needs to not look like such a tool.
As Giants fans, we all want to be his biggest fan. We all want to believe that when Ernie Accorsi made his final big move as Giants GM, that he was binding the franchise with someone worth all the trouble and the signs have been there.
He's performed great late in the games and he was having a pretty good year until Amani Toomer went down. Toomer was his security blanket, a reliable receiver underneath who could catch the ball when Jeremy Shockey and Plax-a-can't aren't open or double-teamed.
His return is necessary for Manning to have a stellar season, but I'm more and more convinced that won't really be the case. I know it's the preseason, but he's actually got a QB coach, he's got total knowledge and control of the offense and all his weapons are healthy and behind him.
After all that, I'm still torn what to think about this year. I know it's going to take a non-playoff season to get Tom Coughlin off my sidelines, but I can't root for a Giant-free January, mostly because that would mean the NY Jackals would start calling for Elisha's head and I don't think it will matter if he has a great year or not.
Looking at the schedule, I see why everyone has them at 8-8. It wouldn't take much for that to move two games in either direction, but I think it will depend on the offense to finally carry the defense, not the other way like it's been for, like, ever...
Here's hoping I'm wrong, Elisha goes to another playoffs and Coughliln gets fired anyway.
Last year: 9-7,– 21-20 loss to Seattle in wild card round
Passing: Tony Romo – 220-of-337 (65%) for 2,903 yards, 19 TD, 13 INT
Rushing: Julius Jones — 267 carries for 1,084 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving: Terrell Owens — 85 catches, 1,180 yards, 13 TDs
Defense: Demarcus Ware (59 tackles, 12 sacks), Roy Williams (53 tackles, 5 INTs, 14 passes defended).
First-round pick: Anthony Spencer - DE - Purdue
Where to learn more: Dallas Morning News
Preview: This team will live and die with the play of Tony Romo; it’s as simple as that. People will talk about the changes with the ‘nicer’ Wade Phillips, 48-39 overall and a stellar 0-3 record in the postseason.
He’s a great defensive coach, taking all the talent that A.J. Smith drafted and signed in San Diego, along with benefiting from a great offense that would force teams into situations and built a winner enough to convince Jerry Jones into cutting The Tuna loose.
Of course with Parcells out of the picture, everyone now says how horrible it was and how great Phillips is and the defense will continue to produce.
BUT...
DB Terrance Newman has missed time in the preseason due to "a small tear in his plantar fascia that will keep him out of the last preseason game. He said he will play against the Giants on Sept. 9 but it's something he will have to deal with the whole season. It's not the worst news, but it's not good news either," according to Todd Archer of the DMN. That leaves untested players against the Eagles, New England, St. Louis and the Giants in the first eight games of the year, teams that would seem to rely somewhat on the pass.
ALL THAT BEING SAID,It still goes back to the beginning. This is Romo's world and we're all just living in it. I mean when have you seen Eli or Donovan F. McNabb with a legitimate American Idol?
He played well after taking over Statue Drew Bledsoe and made the Pro Bowl. He won't hold the kicks anymore, the reason they didn't come back against Seattle in the fourth and move on to the Super Bowl last year and he smells like apple pie, sugar and spice and everything nice.
MY PREDICTION:
Everyone has the Cowgirls finishing first because of that pretty face. But these are the same people who said REALLY LOUD LAST YEAR that the Redskins were going to light up the world with Mark Burnell and Clinton Portis. I'm running thought their schedule and the best I can do for them is a 8 to 10 win team, a trend I smell might plague this division...
Philadelphia Eagles
Last year: 10-6,– won 23-20 over New York Giants in Wild Card, lost 24-27 at New Orleans Saints in Divisional Round
Passing: Donovan McNabb – 180-of-316 (57%) for 2,647 yards, 18 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Brian Westbrook — 240 carries for 1,217 yards, 7 TDs
Receiving: Brian Westbrook — 77 catches, 699 yards, 4 TDs
Defense: Jeremiah Trotter (88 tackles), Trent Cole (43 tackles, 8 sacks), Brian Dawkins (76 tackles, 4 INT, 14 passes defended.
First-round pick: Kevin Kolb - QB - Houston
Where to learn more: Philadelphia Daily News
Preview: I guess when you take your team to four straight NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl loss, you've got nine years in the league and you're winning games (although the Eagles were 5-4 when he went down?), it doesn't matter that you only completed 57 percent of your passes in the West-Coast Andy Ried offense?
Interesting that McNabb was having a career year before the injury, yet Elisha (Manning) needed to do a lot better than 57% to be an elite NFL quarterback? The pedigree does give the Campbell's Soup boy a lot of leeway, but last year was clear that this team is built around the defense.
Which makes the release of Trotter that much more confusing. The Eagles have been cheap for years, but Trotter had come crawling back after a couple of decent years in Washington because he loved the city, the team, his coke dealer didn't like to travel or something. Whatever the reason was, you can't really knock the hustle of Reid in charge.
The Walking Walrus is 80-46 with only two losing seasons out of eight. The other six he's won at least 10 games, so it's easy to say that this guy knows what he's doing and if he says Trotter is done and the defense will move on despite the loss of linebackers coach Steve Spagnuolo to the G-Men because they still have Jim Johnson.
BUT...
Even with a healthy McNabb, an injured McNabb and a revitalized Jeff Garcia, running back Brian Westbrook still led this team in rushing AND receptions. Reggie Brown, Greg Lewis and Jeremy Bloom (the Olympic skier to the right with silver medalist Sasha Cohen, who despite getting cut makes the page because of the eye candy on his arm) scare no one. Nevertheless with McNabb pulling the strings and linebackers coming forward to slow down Westbrook, they seem to produce and that is why they continue to win. This has to end sometime, but it's just not right now.
MY PREDICTION:
The only time I ever liked the Eagles was on Madden 93 when they had Randall and Reggie White on defense. Other than that, I've always hated them and it's only grown with time. So it hurts me to say that they will defend as division champs. The defense will continue to play well as Lito Sheppard (6 INT, 19 passes defended) continues to get better. They'll win 9 to 11 games, but the real question will be after the season when they don't win the Super Bowl if his is the year they finally blow up this team?
Washington Redskins
Last year: 5-11
Passing: Mark Brunell – 162-of-260 (62%) for 1,789 yards, 8 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Ladell Betts — 245 carries for 1,154 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving: Santana Moss — 55 catches, 790 yards, 6 TDs
Defense: Sean Taylor (89 tackles, 7 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles), Andre Carter (47 tackles, 6 sacks)
First-round pick: LaRon Landry - LB - LSU
Where to learn more: Washington Post
Preview: This will be short because this team sucks. They sucked last year and they'll suck again this year. I mean, honestly, I can remember hearing Mike Golic and Mark Dumbass and the rest of them about how great this team was, about how Joe Gibbs was finally back and Brunell would lead them to the promised land.
How'd that work out? Not so well, huh?
They drafted Landry, who will Taylor, Fred Smoot and Shawn Springs in a backfield that should dominate and they do, just on paper and in video games. Probably because Phillip Daniels, Renaldo Wynn, London Fletcher and Randall Godfrey are all on the roster and are all past their primes. Rocky McIntosh, the 2006 first round pick from Miami had surgery to start his career and all my Giants fans remember the on again off again Cornelius Griffin.
So you can bring Joe Gibbs (145-87 overall, but 21-27 since return), Al Saunders, Gregg Williams, Joe Bugel and Bernard King down, it's not gonna make a bit of difference.
BUT...
Portis (with Lisa Rodgers? and Lyric?) is healthy and he did run for 2,831 and 16 TDs in two years since the trade from Denver (How's that working out? OK for both sides? Oh, OK). If Gibbs remembered one thing, it's how to run the ball, so whether it's Portis, Betts or T.J. Duckett (Wasn't he best used in Atlanta as part of D(uckett) V(ick) D(unn)?), the Skins will run the ball and give their young QB time to grow into his position. Jason Campbell (110-of--207, 1,297 yards, 10 TD, 6 INT) is a Mississippi-born boy with enough talent to start at Auburn, so that's got to be good for something. Plus he's got Santana Moss (who would look real good in Kelly Green right now), Antwaan Randle-El, James Thrash, Brandon Lloyd, Corey Bradford and Madison Central, MS graduate Michael Espy (if he makes the team). They could be a great offense...MY PREDICTION:
They won't be a great offense. They won't be a great defense. If they win 8 games, it's a banner year because I just don't think they've got what it takes. Simple as that.
New York Football Giants
Last year: 8-8,– 23-20 loss to Philadelphia in wild card round
Passing: Elisha Manning – 301-of-522 (57%) for 2,903 yards, 24 TD, 18 INT
Rushing: Tiki Barber — 327 carries for 1,662 yards, 5 TDs
Receiving: Plaxico Burress — 63 catches, 988 yards, 10 TDs
Defense: Antonio Pierce (102 tackles, 9 passes defended), Osi Umeniyora (24 tackles, 6 sacks, Sam Madison (33 tackles, 2 INTs, 10 passes defended).
First-round pick: Aaron Ross - CB - Texas
Where to learn more (As if I need to tell most of you, but): The Bergen Record, New York Daily News, New York Newsday
I've saved the best for last, or at least the subject I feel I know the most about...
I'll start with last year, which I didn't think was as bad as everyone else. I was ready for defensive coordinator Tim Lewis to leave two years ago, but it did take Lavar Arrington a moment to understand his role.
In fact, if you take away all the injuries just on defense from last year (Arrington, Straham, Osi and Madison's hamstring), they wouldn't have been one of the worst in the league. That's because Lewis' system was based on the front seven (six) getting pressure to avoid exposing the lack of talent in the backfield. When Straham went down, that went away and like every Giants fan, you dreaded seeing a QB drop back because someone would always be WIDE OPEN...
So I'm happy to see our new GM Jerry Reese make a priority of ridding the team of injury cases. I thought Luke Petitgout was great, but a bad back as a left tackle isn't a good combination. Will Demps seems like a great idea, but he's busted up and why not go with young in the secondary. The high-priced vets hasn't exactly rushed any busts to Canton.
Speaking of which, it doesn't matter what reasons he held out - Straham is NECESSARY if this team is going to do anything. Period.
Speaking of menstrual cycles, let's focus on the offense and to borrow another phrase from the Great One...FINALLY, Tiki Barber has LEFT the Giants.
He was great. He did a lot and we wouldn't have done as much the past two season without him, but he was dreadful last year off the field and regardless what is said, that effected everyone else besides him on the field.
The New York media are like vultures merged with jackals. They'll hound and haunt a story till it's picked clean and Barber only helped his own cause, as was described extremely well by our fellow blogger...
So it's Brandon Jacobs and a case of characters to fill the place of the greatest Giants running back since...Frank Gifford, Ken Strong and Y.A. Tittle.
OK, so Tittle was a quarterback, but the other two are in the Hall, someplace I don't think Tiki will make, which brings us to the Hall of Fame quarterback pedigree...
The one cool thing that Tiki left was the fact that he called our quarterback Elisha and I've kept that moniker. Seems our boy is getting married to this chick. She's an old girlfriend or something, but I hope she understands what she's getting into.
Not that I have any clue about that or really care, but as long as we don't get more pictures like the one to the left...I don't know or care if that's the same chick. One, he's drinking MGD and that's a college boy's beer. Two, he's gotta start feeling cameras just like he would feel defensive ends from his blind side. And third and finally, he needs to not look like such a tool.
As Giants fans, we all want to be his biggest fan. We all want to believe that when Ernie Accorsi made his final big move as Giants GM, that he was binding the franchise with someone worth all the trouble and the signs have been there.
He's performed great late in the games and he was having a pretty good year until Amani Toomer went down. Toomer was his security blanket, a reliable receiver underneath who could catch the ball when Jeremy Shockey and Plax-a-can't aren't open or double-teamed.
His return is necessary for Manning to have a stellar season, but I'm more and more convinced that won't really be the case. I know it's the preseason, but he's actually got a QB coach, he's got total knowledge and control of the offense and all his weapons are healthy and behind him.
After all that, I'm still torn what to think about this year. I know it's going to take a non-playoff season to get Tom Coughlin off my sidelines, but I can't root for a Giant-free January, mostly because that would mean the NY Jackals would start calling for Elisha's head and I don't think it will matter if he has a great year or not.
Looking at the schedule, I see why everyone has them at 8-8. It wouldn't take much for that to move two games in either direction, but I think it will depend on the offense to finally carry the defense, not the other way like it's been for, like, ever...
Here's hoping I'm wrong, Elisha goes to another playoffs and Coughliln gets fired anyway.
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