Truth Be Told: The New York Sleeping Giants Playoff Picture is Bleak

Nick Laham/Getty Images

For most New York Giant fans, watching the red hot Cowboys beat the Eagles was only a short-term remedy as fans drowned their sorrow after another devastating NY Giant defeat.  Some fans just went to bed in disgust. 

Everyone just wanted to forget how a New York Giant win was snatched away as Philip Rivers drove the San Diego Chargers 80 yards in the final two minutes of the game to beat the Giants 21 to 20, sending Big Blue on a four game loosing streak.  

But not for me...I can't forget.

I had a two-hour drive home down the New Jersey turnpike and into Eagle country.  Listening to the postgame show just fueled my fire.  If you ever wanted to know what causes road rage...ask the 75,000 people leaving The Meadowlands last night.

The Giants have truly taken a huge step backwards from their 2008 season.  Sunday's lose came at the hands of bad defensive execution, bad playing calling, and bad special teams.

Breakdown

1. A new defensive coordinator who does not have a feel for his personnel.

2. Ineffective & predictable offensive play calling.

3. A kicker who is inaccurate, unreliable and doesn't have the leg to kick deep.

4. A linebacker group who is too slow, too old and often injured.

5. A flawless GM who blows it by putting everything into one player.

Lets start with...

WHY IS JUSTIN TUCK IN PASS COVERAGE?

Stop it.  Just stop it.  There is no reason to take your best defensive player out of position and ask him to cover a pro bowl tight end.

It has become very obvious that Bill Sheridan does not know how to use his personnel.  Key players are out of position and it was very apparent that Sheridan is asking his players to do things that will not help them win games.  And I bet the players realize it, too.

Tuck and Umenyiora should NEVER drop into pass coverage!

I think back to August when Osi Umenyiora walked out of training camp.  That was a sign of things to come!  I see a new Defensive Coordinator desperately wanting to put "his stamp" on the defense and in turn, started forcing his star players to do things they did not believe would help them win games.  

Can you hear Sherdian telling his Pro Bowl Defensive End he now needs drop like an outside linebacker and cover a running back or tight end. What?

This defensive lacks intensity and it is very reminiscent of the 2006 defense lead by Tim Lewis that almost got Coughlin fired.  This was before Steve Spagnuolo came to town, hungry to show what he had learned from working eight years under the late great Jim Johnson.

Play Calling 101:

How can we look so innovative on one series to so predictable when it counts?  Direct snap to Brandon Jacobs!  End around with Hicks...I love it!   Then when it counts, Gilbride implodes. And why did Jacobs only get 11 carries when he averaging 6.4 yards a carry?

Back to Back draw plays?

Excuse me, but this stinks!  If you need to run a draw...execute the play with Bradshaw, as his feet are quicker than Jacobs, and he reaches maximum speed much faster in a shorter period of time. 

Take a shot at the end zone with Hicks or Boss. Gilbride started off the third quarter with back to back "old school" sweeps around the tackle with Bradshaw, why not go back to this play.  They needed that first down.  They needed that touchdown. 

Instead, Coughlin got conservative in fear of a turn over so he opted to kick the field goal.  This is weak!  Why did the Giants pay Eli all that money?

They are so predictable.  Where is the play action?  How about rolling Eli out?  How about spreading Bradshaw out wide and running him underneath in a passing route.  He is great in space...so why not create it for him.

Feagles & Tynes?

I can image the at 40+ your leg may wear out but that's no excuse to "mufff" the field goal hold.  Feagles needs to have better kicks...everything can't be an angle kick.

Tynes just does not have it.  He can not kick the ball past the 20 yard line and opponents start on the 40 to 45 yard line is killing the defense. 

Kenny Philips

You love him.  I love him.  Everyone was excited to see what Kenny Philips was about to become on the football field; however, what was the Giants back up plan?  The Giants just lost four games and the backup safety got smoked for seven touchdowns.  Could Jerry Reece not have paid Butler to come back and compete. 

I am very disappointed in Jerry Reece who has been a master at supplying depth to this team.  With Ross coming up lame...the defensive backfield is a disaster.

The Giants are last in NFL offensive red-zone efficiency.

The Giants are last in NFL defensive red-zone efficiency.

Some one please wake up this sleeping Giant before it's too late.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?