(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

As the weekend approaches and the Giants' Sunday night victory over the Cowboys is firmly in the rear view mirror…my thoughts are finally clear and concise. 

There is a lot of work to do for Big Blue.

Game Two "Quick Hits" and some thoughts to back up my observations.

Quick Hit: Linebackers

First and foremost...where are the NY Giant linebackers?  I hate to say this but they stink.  The once pride and joy of great NY Giants defenses has come and gone.

Whether you think they're too young, too old, too small, or just injured...please stop making excuses for them.  They are not super bowl quality linebackers.  They are not game changers. 

Yes, Pierce is a great film student and makes some nice calls during the game, but his skills are limited.  The entire unit beside the unknown Clint Sintim is soft and out of position.  Without Kiwika Mitchell—now in Buffalo—Pierce is exposed.

Put Sintim on the field.

Cowboys Linebackers

Who are these players?  These "no name" guys were flying around the field making plays everywhere.  Why can't we find some guys like that?

Quick Hit: Touchdowns

With under a minute left in the second quarter of the Dallas game, the Giants offense had not scored a touchdown in three quarters.  Is it the lack of fire power or the offensive play calling?

Whatever it is…they better figure it out because, as you witnessed, good NFL teams will stack eight players in the box to stuff Brandon Jacobs.  Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride needs to involve his tight end Kevin Boss and rookie receiver Ramzee Barden in the red zone packages.

Elio has grown up and this is now his team. His postgame on the field interview made it all clear, "We need to score more touch downs!"

Field goals are dramatic… but touchdowns win games!

Quick Hit: Michael Boley

My evaluation of Michael Boley is simple.  The guy is a good football player.  He flies around the field with ease and from what I saw on Sunday night he seems to be a good tackler.   The only knock on him to this point would be his positioning. 

He seemed out of place on half the plays he was on the field.  Chalk it up to rust?

Quick Hit: Vertical versus Horizontal

The passing game Sunday night was fast and furious with Eli slinging the ball down field and the Giants seemed very much a vertical team. However, somewhere after the first two series of offensive plays the passing game, changed from vertical to horizontal. 

Gilbride went deeper into the play book only to eliminate the vertical game in exchange for screens, short outs, and dump passes to the full back. 

Outside of the Hixon getting held during a deep passing threat…I’m at a loss why the Giants didn’t stick it to them by going deep and often. The “down field” game plan was working and the corners were kept honest. 

Quick Hit: Eli

Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys, Eli Manning had his best regular season game as the Giants quarterback.  Eli stepped up his game without Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Jermey Shockey, or Tiki Barber. 

Eli threw for 330 yards, going 25 of 38 and had a spectacular 22 yard touchdown catch by Mario Manningham right before half time.  Eli’s performance was good enough to finally break a 13 game stretch without a single 100-yard receiver.

Quick Hit: Boss Man

Kevin Boss had a very nice game opening week…in fact it was eye opening, because I had almost forgotten about Kevon Boss as our tight end. 

So does anyone know—where did he go?  Shockey used to own the Cowboys and so can Boss.  If we are having trouble scoring touchdowns, throw No. 89 the ball and let him ball his way into the end zone.

This kid is an athlete and most likely good for seven catches, 85 yards, and one touchdown. 

You want more offensive points…throw Boss the rock.

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