Sorry for the lack of pictures, the computers in the computer labs wont let me. Who knows why. Anyway, while most of us were eating or done eating our Thanksgiving meal, the Giants were being ripped to shreds by a reeling, and really not very good Denver Broncos team. I say every week, when Kyle Orton, a self proclaimed Jack Daniels drinking bum (well maybe he didnt say that, but look at these pictures)
http://drunkathlete.com/2008/09/06/kyle-orton-montage/ AND http://drunkathlete.com/2008/09/08/kyle-orton-back-again/
beats you on every throw, there is a problem. When someone asks me, "Lewin, what is the problem with the Giants?" I answer quite simply: It is everything. Because you know what, it really is the whole team that flat out stinks right now. Lets go through it.
The Offensive line, something that was a staple of the this team in 2007 and 2008 has been dreadful this year. They are not opening up lanes for Jacobs, and have been commiting way too many penalties, and stupid penalties at that. 20 yard passes are being called back because of holding and so forth. Wheather they aged quickly or not, they look bad. Everyone on the line. Eli is probably the strength of this team, but too often he mails in games. I get it, he is hurt, but you cant go out there like the games vs New Orleans, Arizona, Philly, Denver and just look flat. Flat out awful from the get go. We have no chance if Eli doesnt play well, not like the last few years. I am not going to continue to harp on the Jacobs 5 year rule, but he is not the same for whatever reason. The play calling for him has been awful, stretch runs are not his strength, but the fact he cant hit the hole is not Gilbride's fault, its the fact Jacobs looks old and slow. Jacobs, if you are not effective, runs will not be called your way. Now, I am not defending the fact the Giants have run the ball 33% of the time the last 6 games, an absymal number, and the fault of Gilbride, but Jacobs has not exactly deserved those carries.
I cant say much on the wide recievers except for a few games, this unit has looked good. On Thursday they were awful, Eli had time and they just could not get open. But Steve Smith has been a life saver and Manningham is a ncie deep threat to have. They have to start working Kevin Boss in the red zone more, but o wait, the Giants did not even get into the red zone last game.
As for the defense, we all know Bill Sheridan is way over his head and will undoubtedly be fired by seasons end, but its still not his fault that the secondary cant cover anyone outside of Corey Webster, the linebackers cant cover the underneath, and that once vaunted pass rush is tied with the Packers for 15th in the NFL in sacks. O, and 11 of those 23 sacks came against the Chiefs and the Raiders. Tuck is hurt, I will give him a pass the guy is a warrior, like Eli, who doesnt complain and just plays football (you hear that Jets). But after the Dallas game, Tuck was stepped on by Flozell Adams in a dirty, bush league move, and he has not been the same. Osi on the other hand has been horrendous, a shadow of his former self. Maybe it takes a year to recover, maybe he wont ever be the same, who knows, and yes I liked his passion, but common Osi, you have been a complete non-factor so far, so the last person people want to hear from is you. Accorsi missed the boat with Kiwi, he should have taken Santonio Holmes and not traded that pick and then take Kiwi, because frankly Kiwi will never be a good NFL player. He has been somewhat over his head since he was a rookie (remember the non sack on Vince Young, the interception and subsequent fumble against Dallas). Again, its in the past, but I dont think Kiwi will ever live up to the hype. And what about this last draft class? The Giants and Jerry Reese thought they were a dynamic team, go anywhere from 11-5 to 13-3 and drafted projects with William Beatty, Ramses "This might be the worst pick in Giants history" Barden, Travis Beckum and Clint Sintim. All projects, all have had less of an impact than Kevin Federline has been to raising his kids. In retrospect, it was a poor decision, but we all thought this team was great, so I am not going to fault Reese there. I will fault Reese for signing Rocky Benard, who no other team would touch with a 20 foot pole, and C.C Brown who was the number 1 backup. Your telling me you could not find a better backup than C.C Brown? Please.
Honestly, what probably should have happend, and the Giants missed the opportunity, much like they did with John Fox (though I obviously would have rather had Coughlin than John Fox) would have been to named Spags the eventual successor to Coughlin and pay him an absurd amount of money to stay D-Coordinator. Think its unrealistic, think again. Spags told people that if the Giants did this, he would have stayed. Now, did Spags turn Chicken Shit into Chicken Salad? I think it was a combo of both, and I guarentee you the Giants would have been better if Spags was still around.
I ll say this, if the Giants dont win sunday vs Dallas, than you can start looking towards the draft. Hey, at least the Yankees are World Champs.
- Lew
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Tuck comes out saying his level of optimism for this team to make the playoffs on a scale from 1-10 is an ELEVEN. What do you think about that lew? This team has been so erratic, yet they seem to rely on the fact that they have been a playoff caliber team and that they have the experience to get there. Well all injuries aside, and as much as I am pulling for them too, I just don't think the composition is right for them to make it to the post-season. They would have to have a lot of things fall in place, not to mention some meltdowns by the Cowboys and Eagles.
ReplyDeleteI was talking to my pops last night about how I wish Sean Peyton would come and run the offense and Spags would run the defense. That'd be a MUCH better team. For now, we can only hope to see signs of improvement. I won't tout that this team was superbowl bound from the beginning as many critics have suggested, but always remain hopeful for better (healthier) days.
Lil' Ben