Bleacher Report - Articles by David Geller

A New York Giants Super Bowl Run Would Be More Miraculous Than 2007

David Geller — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:00:48 -0500

The New York Giants know all about feeling lousy following Thanksgiving weekend. In 2007, the sense of despair rang throughout the Meadowlands before everyone even digested their Thanksgiving meals.

The Giants had just lost their second game in three weeks to fall to 7-4. But this was no ordinary loss.

A shockingly horrible Eli Manning stole the show while distributing the ball to the men in purple, tossing four passes into the gut of Minnesota Vikings. Even more alarming were that three interceptions culminated into 21 points without the offense having to take the field.

In a roller-coaster career, this was one of Manning’s low points. The defense looked pedestrian throughout the game too, allowing Sidney Rice to set the tone on a long touchdown catch on the second play from scrimmage.

With little previous success to fall back on, the Giants appeared to be in shambles.

However, instead of folding, they rallied around their beleaguered quarterback and oft-criticized head coach to complete the greatest Super Bowl run in recent memory.

So with more talent across the board on offense, similar names on defense, and being merely one game off the 2007 pace, shouldn’t the Giants take solace in the fact history works in their favor?

The truth is, no. Even though in 2007 many people echoed the same sentiments, this team does not appear capable to muster a Super Bowl run.

First the competition has to be identified. I mentioned earlier in the year that even if the Giants string together enough wins to have a chance to finish off their season with a chance to play in Miami, their road would be a disadvantageous one.

Instead of an old Buccaneers team in the first round, they would travel to Dallas, Philly, or Arizona. Then their next two games would likely be against Minnesota and New Orleans, who could combine for 30 total wins this season.

The Giants defense is bad enough, but bringing this unit to pass-happy teams that play in passing paradises would create an even larger uphill battle.

Sure, many in 2007 didn’t believe that the defense could muster up the four game run that unit did. But it is reasonable to say that there is unequivocally no chance they will be able to hold teams below 21 points every game in January as in 2007.

The 2007 defense had talent, but it laid dormant for most of the regular season. The Giants biggest key to their post-season success was that the defensive line took its game to the next level. Can the 2009 line do that? It’s unlikely. Sure, the names are there. But Justin Tuck is banged, up and Osi Umenyiora’s pass rush tendencies aren’t getting him to the quarterback or allowing him to stop the run.

The most disturbing aspect regarding this unit is their inefficiency up the middle all the way through the secondary. Rocky Bernard has been a bust the size of his belly, and Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield are clearly not the same players following off-season surgery. The pre-season loss of Jay Alford has proven to be a killer, because these three simply are not capable of helping out their defense.

No, I’m not forgetting Chris Canty. Although it would be excusable if I did. He’s primarily started plays at defensive end when his number is called, but he has been virtually invisible since his return.

What do you call a middle linebacker that is labeled around the league as a solid backup? An average starter. That’s what Chase Blackburn is. It’s hard to get better in terms of second-string middle linebackers, but now that he will be finishing the season, his presence likely won’t strike fear into defenses.

Here’s another question: What do you call a safety that is labeled around the league as a bad backup? C.C. Brown. He got benched, but the fact he started for so long ahead of Aaron Rouse probably means that Rouse isn’t exactly Ronnie Lott out there.

Michael Johnson has been pathetic too, as he is incredibly prone to being fooled by the quarterback’s eyes. How many times has he gotten to a receiver a good second after the ball has gotten there? Too many.

Okay, so if the defense isn’t getting the job done, what about the offense? It’s true, on paper this unit has more overall talent than the 2007 bunch that consisted of an erratic quarterback, a number one receiver with a bum ankle, and a fifth-round rookie replacing an annual Pro Bowl tight end.

However, the current offensive line neutralizes any of the 2009 Giants’ offensive talent advantages. A major reason Brandon Jacobs has been unable to get into a rhythm is that his line is not clearing holes as they’ve done since the Tiki Barber era.

Frankly, this running game’s hopes lie on Danny Ware. When Jacobs is in, defenses prepare for him to go inside. And when he's gone outside, the blocking around the edge has been pitiful all year, and Jacobs has been stopping his feet too much. With the current personnel, Jacobs offers very little to this squad right now. It’s not necessarily his fault, but that’s the situation.

Ware is at least capable of popping one every now and then, but he can run between the tackles. Bradshaw’s game is predicated off his ability to cut, and right now he has two bum ankles.

New heroes are going to have to emerge for the Giants. And the guys that are actually effective will have to raise their level of play further. A two-game winning streak alleviates much of the pain accumulated the last month and could straighten out this currently sinking Giants ship.

How the Giants' Biggest Strength Has Become Their Kryptonite

David Geller — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:03:43 -0500

For the past few seasons, the New York Giants' bread and butter has been their offensive line and pass rush.

Now, it appears that their bread has gone stale and the butter has been sitting in a busted refrigerator for over a year.

Tom Coughlin came to the Giants with an agenda. He started coaching in a different generation but knew that the key to winning laid with the big men.

A stellar pass rush coupled with a tone-setting offensive line could keep a team in any game, regardless of overall talent disparity.

Sure enough, Coughlin had achieved his goal merely one year into his tenure. After paving the way for a dominant Tiki Barber, the offensive line proved its legitimacy by allowing Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, or Derrick Ward to achieve success of their own.

Additionally, the starting five on the offensive line went to battle together every game from opening day of 2007 until a Sunday night meeting with the Arizona Cardinals roughly a month ago.

Simultaneously, defensive line coach Mike Waufle was quietly developing his own arsenal in the trenches.

After being drafted in 2003, Osi Umenyiora progressively improved until an explosion in 2005. Opposite of future Hall-of-Fame end Michael Strahan, he sacked the quarterback 14.5 times en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance.

During that season, another project began. A slim third-round pick out of Notre Dame by the name of Justin Tuck began his quest for NFL recognition behind two elite defensive ends.

After riding the pine and renting out a piece of the rehab center in his first two seasons, Tuck made his mark in 2007 with 10 sacks and a fat contract extension.

But his mark on the team was never more apparent than when he tortured Tom Brady throughout the Super Bowl that season with two sacks and multiple pressures.

But as is life in the professional football, times have changed. Five seasons is an eternity in the NFL, and many of the linemen who have become household names for Big Blue appear to be going downhill.

Rich Seubert has admittedly struggled with a shoulder injury he suffered in training camp. Kareem McKenzie has had countless nagging injuries since 2008. Shaun O’Hara has been butting heads with the opponent’s biggest players for nearly 10 seasons.

The winds have shifted for Big Blue’s offensive line, and now the results are reflecting it.

Jacobs has received a heap of criticism for his startling drop off in yards per carry, but it is more of a reflection of the offensive line than anything else.

All of a sudden, this unit can’t produce any penetration. It’s impossible to expect Jacobs to run at his 2007 rate when there are no holes to run through.

Meanwhile, on the defensive side, the pass rush has been relatively non-existent. More importantly, mainstays up the middle such as Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield have yet to be heard from this season, and we are quickly coming up on December.

Rocky Bernard has proven to be a worthless signing and Chris Canty has yet to patrol the defensive tackle spot due to his leg injuries.

This is likely because the Giants needed some semblance of an impact from their prized 2009 offseason acquisition, and it is too late for him to learn a new position in a new defense.

As opposed to the Giants offensive line, the defensive front is conducive for running attacks. Too bad, it’s the opponent’s running game that is the beneficiary. Cutback lanes have been prevalent, and running backs have been able to run outside with ease.

With five games to go, the Giants find themselves in a similar position as they did following Thanksgiving weekend 2006.

Mathias Kiwanuka let go of Vince Young to cap off their third straight loss heading into a showdown with Dallas. Despite both teams going in opposite directions, the Giants were still within a last-second field goal of beating their division rivals.

At this point, it may not even matter. If neither line gets going, the Giants have no chance of making the playoffs. What was once the Giants' biggest strength may ultimately prove to be their downfall for 2009.

New York Giants Miscellaneous Notes and Observations

David Geller — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:41:30 -0500

After 42 days of unmistakable misery in the Giants locker room, the Giants finally won a game. Except the coaching staff barely had an hour to savor it—as they had already begun delving into Broncos game film before the Giants Stadium parking lot had even cleared out.

At this point of the year, all speculation is thrown out. Get hot and you’ll have a chance for an all-expense paid weekend in Miami during the first week of February. If mediocrity gets the best of you, your best shot at camera time will be as an NFL Network correspondent.

Frankly, the Giants first win in over a month hardly felt like one. Though they were up by 14 with ten minutes to go, it wasn’t as well played a game as the Giants strive for. Here are some issues I have with the team now, along with some random notes.

The Running Back Quandary

Ahmad Bradshaw is not a 16 game running back. His remarkable ability to cut on a dime can make even the league’s elite look silly; hence all the calls for him in 2008 despite Derrick Ward compiling the most ho-hum 1,000 yard season in Giants history. But his skills do not allow him to carve through defenses in December and January as he did in 2007. After receiving a handful of carries the first ten games, Bradshaw’s condition has deteriorated and he likely won’t be a major factor down the stretch.

As opposed to Bradshaw, Jacobs is renowned for his inability to play 16 games. Though he has yet to be inactive for a game, he has suffered his share of injuries. Right now, both backs are banged up and performing poorly. The offensive line has failed to generate creases large enough to fit the 265 pound Jacobs, and Bradshaw’s cut backs are being snuffed out by linemen who have clearly watched film on him.

Injuries coupled with a short rest likely will further inhibit the backs from having productive games. Enter Danny Ware. My pre-season darling was M.I.A. for over a month with an elbow injury he suffered on the first play of the season. But with fresh legs, he may be the Giants main hope at running back.

I am not giving up on Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. But their all-around games leave something to be desired right now. It may have come against NFL scrubs and UFL studs, but Ware displayed skills of a legitimate downhill runner the past two pre-seasons. He’s powerful enough to break tackles at the point of attack, and is slippery enough to break through tiny holes and turn them into substantial gains.

Here’s the situation. The Giants are not going to make the playoffs if Eli is forced to put the team on his back throughout December. I think he’s due for a strong stretch run, but he will be playing three games at Giants Stadium, two of which against division rivals going against him for the second time this season. Manning’s passes did not learn to carve through the Meadowlands wind within a year. The running game has to step up in those games, or this season will end in a colossal disappointment.

Lawrence Tynes is a major issue

I’m fully convinced that had he not gotten the opportunity to kick that field goal to win the game, Tynes would have been cut. His putrid field goal misses would be somewhat excusable if he was able to kick the ball off.

I know it’s by design, but there’s no reason an NFL kicker should have to angle every kickoff on a line drive squib kick. Mike Garafalo of the Newark Star-Ledger references this in his game recap and echoed the sentiments in a much more polite way that I was portraying them on Sunday. With a struggling defense, the last thing the Giants need is guaranteeing their opponents field position at the 35-yard line, at a minimum.

If Tynes is unable to boot the ball with solid hangtime past the five yard line, but the Giants want to keep him as a kicker, than the Giants need to sign a kickoff specialist. In doing so, they may have to sacrifice Sinorice Moss. But even if the Giants suffer injuries in the wide receiver corps, what will be more important? Moss’s potential production, or pinning the Eagles back with a four point lead and four minutes to go in the game?

By the way, the NFL can just go ahead and reserve the Giants sixth round pick for a kicker. Teams are transitioning to a two-kicker system, and I expect the Giants to do the same. Or draft one kicker and cut Tynes.

No Bill Sheridan Love

I don’t like when coordinators receive as much blame as they do. Familiarity breeds continuity, and Kevin Gilbride has worked with Eli since he was drafted, and has been around this offense since 2004. So why all the hate? Sure, he has his faults, but his mistakes are so minimal compared to the overall success the Giants offense usually has.

However, this Bill Sheridan situation is becoming dangerous. I was willing to be patient with him, and I have. Aside from a hiccup in Dallas, the first five games seemed to indicate the Giants defense was heading in the right direction. But that is not the case.

Although the defense has played relatively well in three of the last four games, the schemes that Sheridan has been implementing have really bothered me. First of all, it seems as if every time a linebacker or defensive back shows blitz, he blitzes. I have no confirmation for that, but I highly doubt there is any evidence to prove me wrong.

The pass rush appeared to take it up a notch against Atlanta but Sheridan will have to be more creative. The fact that a unit that has similar pieces that Steve Spagnuolo had success with further discredits the job Sheridan has done.

These receivers are for real

Okay, after getting through all my pet peeves and criticisms of the Giants here is one aspect of the team I am really excited about: Manning’s go-to-guys. They went through about a three-week funk but have seemed to get back on track.

I wrote a piece before the year started that this unit has the potential to develop into a cornerstone for the New York Giants after suffering through some growing pains. Following a near flawless start, the receivers were mediocre throughout most of the four game losing streak.

I’ll start off with Hakeem Nicks. This guy is going to be the Giants number one receiver. He catches everything. He finishes plays. He's elusive yet powerful. The only aspect of his game that hasn’t been dissected is his downfield blocking ability, but he rarely has had a chance to display that because the running backs have had trouble breaking into the secondary.

This will allow Smith to serve in a role in which he will be best suited. As we saw on Sunday, he has the speed to get by a corner back and catch a pass down field. But his bread and butter is shaking off the nickel back in the middle of the field and getting open. Having Nicks man the outside will allow Smith to do just that.

Kevin Boss has to be regarded as a receiving threat. Like Nicks, he catches everything thrown to him. I think he’s already better than Shockey in terms of catching the ball in traffic. And it’s not outlandish to say he’s their most professional tight end since Bavaro. If the Giants continue to throw to him, defenses will have no choice but to lend attention to the big tight end as he runs down the middle of the field.

Lastly, let’s not forget about Mario Manningham. With all the coverage devoted to the aforementioned players, Manningham will put his skills on display in one-on-one coverage the majority of the time. We saw him thrive in that situation against Atlanta on Sunday, including the game-breaking 29-yard catch. Of course, him and Manning have yet to fully get on the same page. On one down and out pattern, Manning’s pass got to Manningham too late and the defensive back nearly jumped the route. But over time, they should develop a nice connection.

Sunday Was No Fluke: Rex Ryan Defenses Don't Finish Football Games

David Geller — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:54:13 -0500

During Monday’s press conference, Rex Ryan explained that his defenses normally finish games and that he is not used to the type of performance the defense has been guilty of in the fourth quarter this season.

Like many of his promises heading into 2009, this statement is empty and erroneous.

For the past decade, the Ravens defense has been the most consistent in the NFL. Following a mediocre season in 2007, they stormed back into relevancy in 2008, carrying a rookie quarterback and rookie coach to an 11-5 record and within a game of a Super Bowl birth.

Although dominant through three quarters, the defense rarely got a chance to display finishing ability late in games. Of the eleven victories, only one was by seven points or less, which was an opening day victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

However, of the five losses, only two were via blowout. The other three were by a combined ten points.

Their first loss of the season came on the road in a Monday night clash against Pittsburgh. All 106 players that participated had to leave everything on the line to help his respective team attain victory. Through regulation, the game remain tied and overtime became necessary to determine a winner.

On the Steelers' first drive in extra time, the Ravens defense was unable to hand the ball back to Joe Flacco and the rest of their offense. Thanks in large part to a 24-yard catch and run by Mewelde Moore; Jeff Reed was in position to boot a 46-yard kick to ensure a Steelers victory.

This ending proved to not be a fluke for the Ravens, but the initial stage of a disturbing trend for the highly esteemed Ravens defense.

One week later, the Ravens entered the fourth quarter with a 10-3 lead at home over the undefeated Tennessee Titans. Kerry Collins had proven to be a reliable game manager at that point in the season, but made it evident through four games and three quarters he would not be able to carry his team to victory.

That is, until the fourth quarter began.

Following an early fourth quarter field goal, the Titans gained possession of the ball down by four with 6:07 left in the game. With 80 yards to go against a defense that conjured memories of the Super Bowl meeting Collins had with the Ravens in 2000, this was the time for the Ravens to put a stamp on a bounce-back victory over a very tough opponent.

Eleven plays later, those thoughts quickly dissipated, as did the Ravens' lead. An 11-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler with less than three minutes left in the game thwarted any hopes of a statement game in the first week of October. Highlighted by three third-down conversions, the mighty Ravens defense looked startlingly average as Collins meticulously drove the ball down the field.

Following those losses, the Ravens defense went on a tear. Of course, an argument could be made that the only two good offenses they played in that stretch were the two that blasted the Ravens for 61 combined points (Colts and Giants).

Nonetheless, the Ravens were 9-4 heading into a December 14rh showdown against the 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers in their house. The game undoubtedly lived up to its billing for football fans nationwide. But the ending likely crushed the enthusiasm for anyone associated with the Ravens.

Carrying a 9-3 lead into the fourth quarter, the Ravens appeared to be in full control of the game. The pass rush was in Ben Roethlisberger’s face all game and the Steelers had minimal success running the ball.

With 3:36 left, the Ravens were clinging on to a 9-6 lead. After a Mewelde Moore fair catch at the eight, the Steelers appeared to be hard-pressed to tie the game, much less win it. But win it is exactly what they did.

It seemed improbable throughout the game, but the Steelers managed to do it. Including a spike late in the drive, Roethlisberger was 7/11 for 88 yards and capped off the drive with a third-down touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 43 seconds left. On the road. With the division on the line.

Great defenses come up big in those spots. Rex Ryan has not been shy to admit that. I’m just not sure if he’s unaware of his previous failures, or if he thinks he could simply carry the reputation of the decade’s most dominant defense to New York to mask his recent issues.

Of course, he would be let off easy if I stopped with that disastrous fall to Pittsburgh. One week later, the Ravens thrashed the Cowboys for three quarters and appeared to have the game well in hand. But on two separate occasions, the Ravens held a nine-point lead when Tony Romo walked onto the field. And both times, he walked off the field following a drive that lasted less than three game time minutes and culminated in a touchdown.

We never got to see what Romo would have done down by two because both times he drove the length of the field, the Ravens running backs bailed out the defense with two inconceivable 80-yard touchdown runs. Based off of history, it probably would not have ended well for Baltimore.

Like a politician, Rex Ryan came to New York with a bunch of declarations. He said he saw some of Terrell Suggs in Vernon Gholston. He said that Kerry Rhodes shared similar characteristics as all-universe safety Ed Reed.

Lastly, he said that he would bring the same mindset to New York that he instilled in Baltimore.

Based off of the Jets' four last-minute losses, Rex at least came through on one promise.

Seriously: If the Giants Lose Their Next Game, Their Season Is Over

David Geller — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:58:19 -0500

In the middle of October, the New York Giants were a football team that had won 21 of its previous 26 games.

In the middle of November, they may be one home loss (Atlanta) away from their season coming to an unofficial end.

Mathematically, a 5-5 record in the floundering NFC would not eliminate the Giants by any means. But a third straight home loss to a team that has yet to beat a 10-win team on the road in the Mike Smith era would confirm what many currently believe: that the Giants are simply not good enough to earn one of six NFC playoff slots.

The Falcons are not a bad team by any means. With the reliable Tony Gonzalez drawing coverage away from the explosive Roddy White, the Falcons passing attack is something to be reckoned with. And after a slow start, Michael Turner has compiled 300 rushing yards in his last two games and is on pace for twenty touchdowns.

But there are holes around the team that detract from the skill players, er, skills. Through eight games, Matt Ryan has thrown just one less interception than he did in all of 2008. And after a stellar first two months of the season, the offensive line has allowed Ryan to be sacked ten times in his last three games.

Defensively, the Falcons leave something to be desired. They have relinquished nearly 370 yards per game, which is good for 24^th in the NFL. Additionally, they are ranked 31^st in defending third downs.

Most importantly, the Falcons are 0-3 against teams with a record better than .500 in 2009, losing by a combined score of 98-58. Their record on the road is a mere 1-3.

While the Giants aren’t exactly world-beaters at this juncture of the season, there is certainly no reason the Giants should lose this game if they plan on making a run late in the season. And if they squander this opportunity, their season may be effectively over.

Yes, the Eagles were 5-5-1 before they began a memorable Super Bowl run that was stymied in Arizona. But they relied on a miracle Week 17 that likely won’t be seen for a long time.

Couple that uphill battle with the fact that a loss to the Falcons would be the Giants fourth loss in the NFC and their prospects would be even bleaker. With a win over the Panthers on Sunday, the Falcons would march into Giants Stadium with a 6-3 record.

If the Giants falter once again and the Falcons leave Giants Stadium with a 7-3 record, the Giants would effectively be three games trailing one Wild Card slot with six games to go.

The other Wild Card is likely to be the Philadelphia Eagles or Dallas Cowboys, whom the Giants play in back-to-back weeks in December. Each squad is playing well right now, and it is certainly realistic that whichever team doesn’t win the division will enter the playoffs via the Wild Card.

For the Giants to be able to pull off a miracle run following a potential loss to the Falcons, it would have to start with a flight out West on three days rest to face the Denver Broncos. Defeating the Broncos at Invesco Field is an incredibly challenging task, especially in a do-or-die situation. The Broncos biggest strength is protecting the quarterback and spreading out the field, which appears to be the kryptonite for the Giants defense. That could be a task too tough to handle.

Antonio Pierce, your calendar needs some tweaking. Your Super Bowl is against the Falcons, not the Chargers.

Giants Offense May Be Their Only Hope if They Plan on Playing Into January

David Geller — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:21:23 -0500

Some could say that with the way the Giants defense has been playing, Eli Manning’s performance doesn’t even matter.

Looking forward, Manning’s game may be the only thing that matters.

It’s hard to look ahead to the postseason right now and allocating one of the six spots to the currently floundering New York Giants. But this is a team that has not missed the playoffs as long as Manning has started from week one and boasts a resume that includes a remarkable 21 wins in 26 games since the 2007 regular season finale.

So let’s give them a spot, then gaze into the road ahead that likely will not contain a merciful first-round bye.

As a Wild Card team, the Giants potential three-game stretch that would culminate in an appearance in Miami, could be the most treacherous imaginable. The initial round could place the Giants at the site of their last playoff win; in Arizona.

While the Cardinals offense does not pose the same threats as the Patriots team in 2007, the Giants defense lacks the same dominating potential that was on display throughout that post season.

Even if they do maximize their performance, the Cardinals will be able to get into the 20s. It would be up to Eli Manning and the rest of the Giants offense to stay stride for stride with the Cardinals.

Manning’s play of late has conjured memories of some of his dastardly stretches that were dispersed throughout his early seasons. With the integration of several new young targets, consistency was anything but a given before the season started. But an explosive 5-0 start that lent Manning some early MVP talk, placed a heap of expectations on the Giants offense for the rest of the season; and they haven’t come close to living up to it.

There have been sensational plays scattered over the past month, but porous throws, miscommunications, and drops have rightfully overshadowed them. Each week the offense has progressively looked more out-of-sync and points have been hard to come by.

As an outsider, no one from the media nor from the couch can accurately distribute the blame. Manning has been inefficient, the play calling has been questionable, and receivers are not getting open.

Can these issues be solved? This will be the Giants deciding question for the season. If they are able to avenge their previous loss to the Cardinals and win on the road, their next game would be located in another dome against the New Orleans Saints or Minnesota Vikings.

And if the Giants are able to pull off another upset, then there will be another uphill battle against whichever team they didn’t play in the divisional round; in a dome.

This would virtually guarantee the Giants defense allowing at least 20 points a game;offense, the onus is on you.

Ideally, the running game would resurrect memories of the 2007 playoff run in which they pounded away at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and the New England Patriots successfully to keep the defense fresh and open game for Manning. But their performance the last month has been shaky too, so the offense’s fate may be squarely on Manning’s shoulder.

Right now, the prospects are dim. A tantalizing three-game stretch against potentially three of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks is a scary test to ponder given the 112 points the Giants defense has relinquished the last three games.

However, the league does change fast and what may seem certain in November could be far from the truth as the days become shorter and the raindrops turn into snowflakes.

Sunday Night's Game Will Prove to Be Giants Biggest Test Yet

David Geller — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:53:12 -0400

An October matchup consisting of two undefeated teams generally leads to an exciting affair. Prior to last Sunday, the New York Giants had won 18 of their last 21 road bouts and boasted a 5-0 record and elite rankings all across the board.

Meanwhile, the Saints were 4-0 and had been similarly dominating throughout the 2009 campaign. Number one offense vs. number one defense, and a variety of stars on each side of the ball to boot. A sure-fire can’t miss game for even a casual football fan.

Only problem was it didn’t work out that way. All that did happen was a 48-27 thrashing that conjured memories of the 45-7 beat down the Giants took from the Saints in the midst of a dreadful 0-8 stretch to close out the 2003 season.

Some say it was over at halftime. I say it was over before it even started.

I’m not going to sit here and make excuses for the Giants, who got manhandled on both sides of the ball. But I will say that the challenges that lay ahead for the Giants this Sunday will prove to bear more about the team than this past weekend.

Through five games, all of which impressive wins, the Giants hadn’t established an identity. It sounds like an oxymoron but it cannot be disputed. On both sides of the ball, no weaknesses had been exposed. And with the injury bug running rampant around this squad, it was no secret that the Giants were from perfect heading into the showdown in the Superdome.

This, coupled with a fresh and motivated Saints team coming off a bye week, proved to be too much for the Giants to overcome. The Saints were a great team who were clearly fired up to reclaim a spot amongst the NFL elite for the first time since 2006.

Conversely, the Giants had proven to be a good team while compiling victories against lower level teams. The only problem was their intensity was on cruise control. And their standards for their opponents were as low as the ratings for The T.O. Show this past summer.

“It was like going from J.V. to varsity the way they were playing offensively," said defensive tackle Barry Cofield of playing the Saints.

While many believed the game in New Orleans would be the revealing test for the Giants, Sunday night’s clash with the Arizona Cardinals will prove to be the team’s first true challenge for Big Blue.

Now that their weaknesses have been exposed, how will they adjust? When the Cowboys running game carved up the Giants in week two, they responded by shutting down the Buccaneer ground game and entire scheme offensively in a 24-0 blowout.

Except that was a step (or two) down in competition. The Cardinals pose similar problems as the Saints, with arguably better players at the skill positions.

And unlike last year, Kurt Warner is getting the ball off rapidly to his playmakers and letting them do the rest. Once again, the Giants defensive line won’t be able to bail out the Giants secondary. It will be up to that depleted unit to shut down one of the league’s most potent passing games.

There are no more excuses if the Giants defense fails to step up. The blueprint to beat Bill Sheridan’s defense has been revealed and the Giants will have the same amount of time to sure up their weaknesses as the Cardinals do to expose them.

By 11:30 Sunday night, we will find out how good this defense really is.

Why The Criticism? Brandon Jacobs Is Still The Giants Go To Guy

David Geller — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:07:20 -0400

I guess a dominating 5-0 record to open the season isn’t enough anymore.

Despite the Giants leading for a staggering 83.6% of the season, the incessant need for criticism has locked in on Brandon Jacobs and his meager 3.6 yards per carry through the first five games.

It started in week 3 when Tony Siragusa took time to digress from the Giants demolition of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to repeatedly mention Brandon Jacobs was not himself. He then explained that Jacobs has to learn how to harness his rare power and speed, a comment to which the likes of Rodney Harrison and LaRon Landry rolled their eyes in response.

Jacobs ran well the next week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but failed to compile 100 yards in 21 carries. Meanwhile, Bradshaw ran for 64 yards on twelve carries, running around and through Chiefs defenders.

Bradshaw’s shredding of the Oakland Raiders coupled with a mediocre showing by Jacobs has some believing the criticisms. If Bradshaw is averaging 10 yards a pop, how come Jacobs took three carries inside the five and failed to get into the end zone?

Simply put, the Raiders defense is designed for an Ahmad Bradshaw to thrive, not a Brandon Jacobs.

Now here’s a more elaborate explanation.

The Raiders have defined failure since Rich Gannon threw more touchdown passes in the Super Bowl to the Buccaneers then Raiders. And through each passing year, discipline and performance has declined.

Ahmad Bradshaw’s sensational runs after tucking the ball away are indeed a credit to the young back’s skills, but can also be attributed to the Raiders horrific discipline on defense. On his second touchdown run, Bradshaw made a tremendous cut to the inside and raced into the end zone untouched.

His ability to take advantage of the Raiders poor gap discipline and lack of speed allowed him to dominate this game for 165 total yards. Meanwhile, Brandon Jacobs is built to run through defenses as evidenced by his paltry 67 yards on 21 carries.

Does this make Bradshaw a better back than Jacobs at this moment? No. Jacobs has back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons and several 20+-carry games to go back on. Bradshaw has never touched the ball more than 20 times a game and has not proved he can sustain success for a full season.

Jacobs has.

These two are excellent compliments to each other, perhaps even more effective than the Jacobs-Ward combination that combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards in 2008. Jacobs still poses fear in the minds of defenders, regardless of what the numbers show.

After all, his two-yard carries that Giants fans are growing impatient of ultimately contribute to Bradshaw’s 24-yard burst in the middle of the third quarter. These two are helping each other out in the hopes of bringing home a second Lombardi in three years.

So how about you guys start enjoying 5-0?

NFL Week Four Predictions: The Seahawks Over the Colts?

David Geller — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:30:32 -0400

Hey guys, running short on time so I'll skip the Week Three recap and go straight to the picks:

Week Four selections

Bucs at Redskins

Ravens at Patriots

Lions at Bears

Titans at Jaguars

Raiders at Texans

Bengals at Browns

Seahawks at Colts

Giants at Chiefs

Bills at Dolphins

Jets at Saints

Cowboys at Broncos

Rams at 49ers

Chargers at Steelers

Packers at Vikings

Season record: 30-18

Upset Pick

This may be a stretch, but I like Seattle over the Colts. The Colts are coming off too hard, and may be due for a letdown. Couple that with the fact they are playing a lowly regarded, out-of-conference opponent, and there's a strong chance they take this game lightly.

Seattle gave Chicago a run for their money last week, and I expect them to do the same to the Colts on Sunday.

The New York Giants Continue to Emphatically Answer Questions

David Geller — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:26:23 -0400

If the questions that the Giants have faced the past three seasons were categorized into one school-issued test, they would have an A to hang up on their refrigerator.

In other words, every time there are questions regarding an aspect of this team’s game, they immediately alleviate the issue with very little doubt.

After two games in 2007, the Giants defense was placed under immense scrutiny. They had faltered down the stretch in 2006 and began 2007 even worse. However, amidst all the chaos, the unit settled down and ultimately coalesced into one of the most memorable defenses in Giants history.

That same season, Eli Manning continued to face criticism that he would never be the quarterback the Giants mortgaged their future on. Two games in four weeks that broke all the wrong kinds of records appeared to confirm this notion that Manning would never be the man.

Just one month later, he etched his name into Giants lore forever. And he’s only improved since.

Following the remarkable 2007 Super Bowl run, the questions in 2008 were as prevalent as ever, albeit of less magnitude. First, it was seven months of wondering if the Giants were due for a Super Bowl hangover.

A 4-0 start out of the gate firmly answered that question. Then, many wondered if the Giants could thrive when transitioning from a schedule that consisted of playing a cupcake every week into arguably the hardest stretch run in the league.

All they did was go 5-0 until a certain receiver effectively ended his career and his team’s season.

Which brings us to this year. Replacing Plaxico Burress was a question the Giants could not answer last year, and it contributed to their demise in December and January. Although there was a flash of hope in form of a 34-28 overtime victory over Carolina that clinched the first seed, the Giants were unable to string together any form on consistency on offense.

Due to the sudden ineptitude of the Giants offense the last month, many believed that their inability to acquire a bona-fide star at receiver would hamper the team’s ability to return to prominence. After all, if they went 1-4 without Burress, how can a team expect to win the best division in the league?

This argument was only fueled when the Giants allegedly pushed for Browns receiver Braylon Edwards—and failed. Their only two additions at receiver were both rookies: Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, who didn’t even play in Division I.

It’s only been three games, but the passing offense looks more crisp than it ever has. Manning has been extremely decisive when throwing the football, and is making due on the promise he made to General Manager Jerry Reese that he would make everyone around him better.

That was a big question the Giants appeared to answer. Through three weeks, they also have faced questions of less enormity. Especially after their 33-31 victory to open up Jerry Dome.

After being gashed for four quarters, the Giants run defense were to face an intriguing Buccaneers threesome of backs that could have its way with a defense that is not used to playing in sweltering conditions.

All the Giants did was hold the Bucs to 28 rushing yards after listening to a heaping of criticism all week long.

More disparagement was directed towards the Giants due to their porous play in the red zone. Many were willing to let their poor red zone performance in Week One against Washington slide, but there were rumblings after the Giants could not get a touchdown in the red zone in week two.

A productive 24 points (would have been 27 if not for a missed 21-yard field goal) silenced the critics rather effectively.

When a student gets an A on a test, the teacher of the course deserves credit for properly articulating the lesson and assisting the student understand the intricacies of the unit.

Like the teacher, Tom Coughlin and the rest of the Giants coaching staff deserve recognition for having their team resolve the biggest problems that plague them a week before, or even one that dates back further.

It’s amazing how much one Super Bowl has allowed this team to buy into their coach’s set of values, and execute his philosophies so well.

And now some quick notes from the Giants 24-0 drubbing of Tampa Bay.

Allow Me to Vent…

How come Bucs coach Raheem Morris is allowed to throw the challenge flag, then decide not to challenge the play and not be charged with a time out?

On the Giants first drive of the game Steve Smith made an awkward catch that Raheem Morris seemed to question. So he threw the challenge flag, but decided not to challenge the play.

He shouldn’t be granted the opportunity to retract his challenge, and if he is allowed to do so, didn’t he stop the game? Therefore, at a minimum the Bucs should have been charged a time out. I don’t get that one.

Steve Smith is making a mockery of the hard catch

He is making his toe taps and off-balance catches look way too easy. It’s downright scary how good his body control is and how natural the ball sticks in his hands regardless in what direction he’s going. He could really be a good one.

Sorry Tony, you’re wrong

I was getting rather annoyed when Tony Siragusa was rambling on about how Jacobs needs to learn how to use his 265-pound frame when running the ball.

This argument may have been valid in 2007 when he was learning the ropes of the game, but now? What makes this statement even odder is that it comes a week after Rodney Harrison admitted to being troubled when facing Jacobs in the open field. If a guy like Harrison is admitting that, Jacobs must be doing something right.

Siragusa then proceeded to say the next day he is hearing that Jacobs is not the same guy as he was a year or two ago. I have a feeling this question will be answered too.

NFL Week Two Review and Week Three Picks

David Geller — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:06:39 -0400

Week two consisted of a mix of atypical and ho-hum finishes. The Patriots faltering at the expense of a very loquacious Jets team is currently classified as a shock. But down the road, when we see that this Jets team is legitimate and the Patriots don't have the horses to protect Brady this win will not be looked upon with the same regard.

Meanwhile, under the "what else is new?" category, the Cowboys continued their trend of being unable to stand strong on the defense in historical games for their stadium, old and new. After sending out their home by giving up roughly 160 total rushing yards on two consecutive series, the Cowboys managed to send their fans home distraught in a more pedestrian fashion.

Trailing by one, Eli Manning dug himself out of a first and 20 hole and ultimately put the Giants in range for Lawrence Tynes to hit two game winning field goals. And for the second consecutive home game, Jerry Jones and his booger-laden finger were sent home with a loss that would be placed under "worst-case scenario," had Jerry mapped out all possibilities.

Unfortunately for the Steelers, kicker Jeff Reed was unable to hit either of his game-sealing and potentially game-winning kick. And now they'll heading to the Jungle to face a Bengals team riding high after a 31-24 victory over the Packers.

As for the Broncos, they are within striking distance of a 3-0 start as they take on the Oakland Raiders. Although the Bengals and Raiders are no gimmes, they are the teams you can get your season jumpstarted by playing. After this game, they get their first legitimate test of the year in week four as they host the Cowboys to start a brutal stretch that will span the rest of the season.

And now, after a meager 9-7 showing after a 13-3 start, here are my week three picks:

Week Three

Chiefs @ Eagles

Packers @ Rams

49ers @ Vikings

Titans @ Jets

Falcons @ Patriots

Jaguars @ Texans

Giants @ Buccanneers

Redskins @ Lions

Browns @ Ravens

Bears @ Seahawks

Saints @ Bills

Dolphins @ Chargers

Broncos @ Raiders

Steelers @ Bengals

Colts @ Cardinals

Panthers @ Cowboys

Record: 22-10

What to watch for:

Before the year I was intrigued by the 49ers. But not enough to pick them for the playoffs. Mike Singletary has imposed an attitude change there, but would that compensate for the lack of skill at skill positions? What about at quarterback?

So far, it's been so good. A 2-0 division record against what is thought to be their main competition in the West. And now, they bring Weapon 59 against the Vikings own freak Adrian Peterson. It's as close to a mono e mono situation that Peterson will encounter, as Willis quickly emerged from budding star to full blown mega star.

I think the 9ers take it. And if they do take the 2-0 Vikings home opener, it's a type of win that could really let a season take off. Keep an eye out for this one.

Eli Manning Continues to Thrive When Lights Are Brightest

David Geller — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:58:52 -0400

For the second time since Super Bowl XLII, the Giants offense was placed in a do or die situation. Go down the field and victory shall be yours. Relinquish the ball on downs, and watch that “W” slip out of the palms of your hands, and be replaced with a less appetizing “L.”

As long as Eli Manning has been at the helm, the latter has been as commonplace as a quiet day out of Jets camp. Even when Manning was struggling to establish himself, the youngest Manning had been shockingly calm when the stakes were highest.

Although the final tally culminated in 33 points for the road team at the Jones Mahal, the offense had been erratic for most of the game. Manning will be the first to admit that there were poor decisions and equally deplorable throws that flared up throughout the game.

Gift-wrapping a present for Spencer that was just out of his grasp. An overthrow of a wide-open Steve Smith after evading pressure, and an under throw of him on a critical third down at midfield.

Manning’s same eyebrow raising throws and goofy twitch were just as prominent on Sunday night as they had been during his roller-coaster ride that spanned his first three seasons.

But amidst all the fanfare and sideshows that transpired in a semi-circus like fashion, Manning proved once again to a record-breaking audience (on both television and literal setting), what the Giants have known for a while now: The guy will lead you to victory.

The drive immediately paralleled to Big Ben’s ominous beginning of his Super Bowl drive with a questionable holding call on Rich Seubert.

On second and 18, Manning displayed the poise that is starting to define him. With pressure coming from his blind side, Manning calmly slid to his right and set up a manageable third down with a completion to Derek Hagan. He converted, as he did in his next opportunity. Manning threw the ball over the middle of the field with precision en route to setting up Lawrence Tynes’ game winning 37-yard field goal.

Michael Strahan summed it up best in a 140-word characterization of Manning on twitter: “Eli is [playing like a champion] too. Looks like a schoolboy but playing like a man.”

As recently as a month ago, Peter King and an array of scouts league wide analyzed aspects of the game that were considered essential for a great quarterback to have. Manning did not make his way on the top five for any of these lists.

Nothing Manning will ever do will catch your eye.

He’s not dropping in passes over triple coverage for touchdowns like his 2004 classmate Phillip Rivers did on Sunday. He may not be the secondary torching in-your-face leader that many were expecting when the Giants mortgaged their future on his shoulder. He may not rack up Pro Bowls and annually lead the league in major passing categories. He won’t be the first name to pop in your head when you plot a list of the league’s best quarterback.

Oh well, I guess 28-9 and a Lombardi in the last two seasons will just have to suffice.

NFL Week 1 Analysis and Week 2 Selections

David Geller — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:42:45 -0400

Week one was probably the most unusual pedestrian weeks the NFL has ever seen. The final scores seemed to be reasonable, but the means of which that were attained were extremely unique. Tipped passes, fumbled kickoffs, failed wildcats, all of which contributed to victories simultaneously with heartbreaking defeats. Here are a couple quick notes on last week's events:

Delhomme's House of Horrors

Nine interceptions in his last 51 attempts? Yikes. No wonder Steve Smith doesn't like him as a quarterback. Inexcusable turnovers are tolerated from a veteran quarterback when they come with dynamic plays. But with arguably the most explosive running back combo running behind him and the frighteningly fast Steve Smith as a number one receiver, Delhomme has failed to attain any semblance of consistency.

The Eagles have a good defense but this wasn't the 2008 Steelers they were going up against. Delhomme wasn't even close to hitting his targets and his reads were equally as bad. If he continues to struggle like this, he gets benched by week 3. For good.

A more sympathetic perspective on Leodis

The criticism Leodis McKelvin has experienced since his costly mistake against New England has likely been more prevalent in Buffalo then the ribbing coming from the White House intended for a certain rapper.

Namely, McKelvin was scolded by ESPN's trio of Monday Night Football analysts for merely taking the ball out of the end zone in the first place. In reality, McKelvin made a heads up move taking the ball out from two yards deep. It doesn't matter that his blockers composed of the entire depth chart of wide receivers and defensive backs.

He caught the ball with 2:06 left, and if he kneeled for a touchback, the Patriots would have gotten the ball back at their own 35 with 1:45 left and one time out barring a Bills first down.

If he didn't, the Patriots would have gotten the ball back in a similar position with 1:40 left and no timeouts. Huge difference, especially when a touchdown is imperative in that situation.

So let's ease off McKelvin regarding that aspect. The fumble on the other hand... have at it.

Now here are my picks for week 2:

Week 2

Panthers @ Falcons

Vikings @ Lions

Bengals @ Packers

Cardinals @ Jaguars

Raiders @ Chiefs

Patriots @ Jets

Saints @ Eagles

Texans @ Titans

Rams @ Redskins

Bucs @ Bills

Seahawks @ 49ers

Steelers @ Bears

Browns @ Broncos

Ravens @ Chargers

Giants @ Cowboys

Colts @ Dolphins

Regular season record: 12-3

Placing Big Blue's Giant Final Drive Under The Microscope

David Geller — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:51:11 -0400

With 9:23 remaining in a 20-10 game, the 75,000-plus Giants fans were packed into Giants Stadium buzzing with excitement. The Giants had dominated the battle that is typically imperative to win during these NFC East bouts: ball control.

With a clearly worn-down Washington defense, many in the stadium—and around the nation, expected the Giants to smash the ball down the Redskins' throats and milk the clock to seal the victory.

But the offensive coordinator, who is the first to receive blame when things go wrong and the last to receive credit when the offense is in peak form, had other plans.

Instead of placing the ball in the hands of arguably the most reliable running back combination in the league to ensure victory, Kevin Gilbride elected to win it with his wide receiver troops that have been chastised for nearly nine months.

The drive started at the 19-yard line, following a false start by Madison Hedgecock on first down. Instead of setting up a more reasonable third down by methodically running the ball, the Giants were aggressive. They threw the ball three straight times, risking a quick three and out and relinquishing their momentum.

Thanks to impeccable execution from both Manning and his receivers, failure never ensued. On 3rd-and-5, Manning dropped a beautiful pass in a tight window to Steve Smith, who adjusted nicely to complete a critical 26-yard pass.

At midfield, the Giants continued to impose their passing game on a seemingly perplexed Redskins' defense. After a run by Brandon Jacobs that went for negative yards, Manning got cornerback Charles Rogers to bite on a pump fake and nearly completed a 25-yard pass to Domenik Hixon. Although they could not connect, the excellent fake drew an illegal contact penalty.

After another short Bradshaw run, Manning displayed the kind of adeptness that the Giants paid him the big bucks for this offseason with a 27-yard pass to Kevin Boss that put the Giants in position to make it a two touchdown game.

Ultimately, the Giants would finish the drive at the Redskins 11, and Lawrence Tynes proceeded to drill a 28-yard kick to cap off a six-minute drive that contained eight passes in 10 plays.

This drive has taken a backseat to Osi Umenyiora’s memorable return and Justin Tuck’s dominant performance. But its importance should not be minimized. The Giants insisted all week that if the Redskins loaded the box to stop the run, the Giants would make them pay through the air.

And the Giants did just that on their last offensive series. The Redskins are not a soft defense by any means, and credit should be issued to the entire offense—including Kevin Gilbride—for outstanding execution to cap off a very efficient opening day victory.

Quick Hits

In the Zone?

When Bill Sheridan was initially hired he explained that he would try to abandon the use of the zone blitz, stating, “When you get into zone (blitzes), you have down guys dropping. And you're never going to get away from that, but as much as we can, we're going to try to orchestrate so that our pass rushers are rushing because that's our strength. We recognize that and everybody knows that."

I didn’t focus too much on that during the game, but on the Redskins' final touchdown drive, Sheridan employed the zone blitz. And it was a 16-yard pass to Antwaan Randle El that came with little pressure and even less coverage. Maybe Sheridan is trying to put some extra film up for Dallas next week.

The Red Sea will part soon

Although the running game did not quite run through the Redskins' defense as they did other teams last year, there’s nothing to worry about. There were broad running lanes when plays were initially developed, but the holes were swallowed up quickly. By December, that will not be the case. Defenses will be worn down and those runs that went for three yards on Sunday could go up to 15 or 20 come playoff time.

Tuck it in

Is it me, or does Justin Tuck look like he’s hurt after every play? The dude’s an animal, but I can’t help be worried watching him from my seat walk around groggily for three hours.

Take It to the Bank: NFL Week One and Season Predictions

David Geller — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:20:07 -0400

Life changes so suddenly in the NFL that the only method of accurately predicting an NFL season is putting the final touches on it opening night.

With that said, some of my picks may seem a bit quirky, but I have yet to see a season culminate in which there were no surprises.

Projections

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys: 11-5

New York Giants (Wild Card): 11-5

Philadelphia Eagles: 8-8

Washington Redskins: 7-9

NFC North

Green Bay Packers: 11-5

Chicago Bears (Wild Card): 10-6

Minnesota Vikings: 7-9

Detroit Lions: 4-12

NFC South

New Orleans Saints: 11-5

Atlanta Falcons: 9-7

Carolina Panthers: 8-8

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-11

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks: 10-6

San Franisco 49ers: 8-8

Arizona Cardinals: 7-9

St. Louis Rams: 6-10

AFC East

New England Patriots: 12-4

Miami Dolphins (Wild Card): 9-7

New York Jets: 7-9

Buffalo Bills: 6-10

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers: 13-3

Baltimore Ravens: 8-8

Cincinnati Bengals: 7-9

Cleveland Browns: 4-12

AFC South

Houston Texans: 11-5

Indianapolis Colts (Wild Card): 10-6

Tennessee Titans: 7-9

Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-11

AFC West

San Diego Chargers: 12-4

Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8

Denver Broncos: 6-10

Oakland Raiders: 5-11

NFC Champs: Giants

AFC Champs: Steelers

Super Bowl Champs: Giants

Defending Myself

I should have placed a homer alert disclaimer on the top of the article. Yes, I am a huge Giants fan. That still doesn't detract from the fact I feel very good about this team and think the NFC is open enough for them to return to glory for the second time in third years.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh starts the season the same way they finished last year: The best team in the league. Their defense is returning all but two starters, and have more than viable replacements for the departed. Their offense, which was dreadful throughout the first few months of the season is returning with continuity and brimming with confidence.

I think their offensive line finally found some stability through the adversity they conquered in January and February. This will allow Ben Roethlisberger to reach his peak as a quarterback, which is much higher than many of you realize. And it also allows them to sustain a running game, which they never got to do last year. Couple that with an elite returning defense and they are one scary team.

I know Houston has become a trendy pick (Adam Schein and Peter King both said they would win the division in 2009), but I'm here to say that I've been on this bandwagon since May. Unfortunately I have no concrete evidence to prove this but you'll just have to put your trust in me.

The offense is loaded with playmakers, and I think by the end of 2009 Steve Slaton will be the most complete running back in the league.

Their defense has plenty of marquee names at skill positions, but has yet to mesh into a cohesive, upper-tier unit. I think as the season progresses we will see this defense get better and better, en route to a division championship.

Even though it didn't prove anything yet, I am impressed with the humility the Cowboys went about their business this preseason. Of course, a 44-6 drubbing to a division rival with the playoffs on the line will do that to a team, but I still detect a different vibe.

Players know that this may be the year to put up or start over, and I think Romo finally realized after three turnover-riddled seasons that maybe he's better off just falling to the ground with the football then the other alternatives he has utilized.

I think Arizona is due for a letdown. The fact they are coming off a heart-wrenching loss in the Super Bowl is not mentioned as much as it should be. They had a short offseason to rest, and have looked flat in preseason.

Yes, I know, it's preseason. But the sense of urgency light doesn't just get switched on as soon as the calendar flips to September. I think they start slow, and finish behind San Francisco and Seattle, who is due for a renaissance season.

Lastly, I'll lend a quick line on Minnesota. Brett Favre is hurt, Favre admitted last year he stinks when he's hurt, and Favre will be even more hurt in December. Do the math. I know Eric Mangini has already done it, and soon Brad Childress will be at the unemployed table in January.

Oh yeah, before I forget, here's my Week One picks, with the predicted winners in bold. And to try and keep the readers that may have actually spent a few minutes scanning over this, I'll have other features in addition to my picks each week until pitchers and catchers report.

Week One Picks

Titans @ Steelers

Jaguars @ Colts

Lions @ Saints

Eagles @ Panthers

Jets @ Texans

Chiefs @ Ravens

Cowboys @ Bucs

Vikings @ Browns

Dolphins @ Falcons

Redskins @ Giants

49ers @ Cardinals

Rams @ Seahawks

Bears @ Packers

Bills @ Patriots

Chargers @ Raiders

Upset Alert of the Week

I didn't pick it, but watch out for the Browns hosting the Vikings. This could be more of a nail-biter than people project. Mangini's tactics may not be the most shrewd, but his teams in New York were always competitive. I expect the Browns to play the same way.

Eli Manning and The Giants: How One Year Makes All The Difference

David Geller — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:57:26 -0400

One year ago, the Giants spent the final Wednesday before their opener against Washington privately coordinating Michael Strahan’s arrival at Giants Stadium for the first time since his retirement.

A calendar year later, the preparation and focus has shifted elsewhere. While similar faces remain, the swagger from the 2007 Super Bowl victory has dissipated and a new vibe has infiltrated Giants camp: skepticism.

While last year’s Giants team bared its share of weaknesses coming out of the preseason, the city was still numb from the Super Bowl run that had transpired eight months early. These Giants were playing with house money, and even the most demanding of Giants fans were willing to concede that in September.

Need proof? Halfway through the third quarter Eli Manning lofted one of his nausea inducing passes 10 yards over the head of Kevin Boss and into the waiting arms of Fred Smoot. It was the exact type of pass that defined his performance against Minnesota or Washington the prior season and drew the ire of talking heads everywhere.

The reaction? The boisterous opening-night crowd had been silenced, but instead of jeers or boos in Manning’s direction it sounded more like Jack Cust hit a single at Yankees Stadium rather than a potentially game changing interception. Unwavering silence protruded throughout the stadium.

This honeymoon period prevailed throughout the regular season, and for good reason. Manning was playing well, as was the whole team as they compiled a 7-1 record at home in 2008.

However, in the playoffs, Manning conjured the memories of his off days with a pitiful performance that culminated in no touchdowns and two interceptions—and a crushing loss to a divisional rival in the team’s first playoff game.

Fans were distraught over the loss, but the reaction at the stadium to Manning’s performance wasn’t nearly as ruthless as his other poor games.

While Manning ticketed himself into the hearts of Giants fans forever with his magical 2007 post-season, the silence that followed Fred Smoot’s opening night interception will not be present this Sunday.

There is no complacency within this fan base and media. With a wide receiver corps that desperately needs to prove itself Manning must once again reassert why he was the Giants number one overall pick in 2004. And why he’s the league’s highest paid quarterback.

But if he struggles on Sunday and passes are caught by the players boasting white and red, the boos and restlessness will be prominent in Giants Stadium once again.

Breaking Down The Giants and Eagles

David Geller — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:11:25 -0400

What made the Giants 11-1 start in 2008 most impressive was their unstained record against divisional opponents: 4-0. But after defeating the Redskins 23-7 at FedEx Field, the Giants promptly went on to lose back-to-back rematches with the Eagles and Cowboys, respectively.

Including the playoffs, the Giants lost their last three games against division rivals. Needless to say, that streak must end if the Giants hope to reestablish NFC East dominance.

That task will not be easy. Although the 2008 records of the teams following the Giants won’t blow you away (9-6-1, 9-7,8-8), it would take a very convincing argument to displace the “Beast” from the label of having the best division in the NFL.

This is what the Giants must overcome in order to attain their goals. Here are specific problems they may encounter with the divisional foe that finished behind them in the standings in 2008, but ultimately finished ahead.

Philadelphia Eagles

In one season, they went from possible Super Bowl contenders, to almost losing their coach and franchise quarterback. Then, they pulled off the most inexplicable Week 17 the NFL has ever seen to reaffirm themselves as contenders.

After two playoff wins, they were touted “this year’s Giants,” a reference to how the 2007 Giants pulled off historic wins en-route to an unbelievable Super Bowl run. Like the Giants, the Eagles story ended at Arizona. Only in this instance, the Eagles were not able to pull off a last minute touchdown drive, and had their season end one game short of reaching the Super Bowl.

Coming off such a turbulent season, high expectations remain for the Eagles. They are an extremely deep team, with a plethora of talent laden amongst the offense, but a share of question marks on the defense that allowed one garbage touchdown against the Giants in the last eight quarters they have played.

Of course, the team the Eagles will showcase in 2009 will be very different from the one in 2008. It will feature the Wildcat, manned by Michael Vick, whose playing time will be a mystery until we see him dress during a regular season game.

Doubts continue to linger regarding the running game, with Westbrook coming off multiple surgeries and the Eagles having a history of ditching the run for more pass attempts.

How the Eagles and Giants match up

Throughout the December battle, the Eagles thoroughly dominated the Giants. But through the first two quarters of the playoff affair, the game was played much more closely. The Giants defense looked refreshed coming off a bye and Jacobs was running the ball well.

The second half was opened with an interception by defensive tackle Fred Robbins, and a few plays later the Giants were facing a second and five at the Eagles 17-yard line. The Giants ran two errant pass plays, and Carney made a field goal that gave the Giants the lead. It would be their last of the season.

The defense wore down and gave up an abundance of third downs to the Eagles, including a third and 20. The Giants offense couldn’t pass the ball, and were stuffed on two forth and ones in the second half.

Will there be a repeat this year? Or will the lack of a solidifying force in the wide receiver corps prove to be irrelevant when the two teams match up again? The Eagles are replacing the late Jim Johnson at Defensive Coordinator, and have lost Stewart Bradley, their stud middle linebacker, for the season.

This certainly weakens their entire defense and should allow Jacobs more success then he already had against Philly last season. If the Giants improve on the passing attack, then they have enough firepower to rack up enough points to beat Philadelphia.

As for the other side of the ball, the mystery of the Eagles offense continues. How will Vick be employed? Will teams be prepared to stop it? Personally, I think the Giants will. Their defense is loaded with talented and speedy players that are outstanding at closing in on the man holding the football.

Final Word

The two regular season battles between these two squads will feature firepower and venom. Obviously the Michael Vick twist adds even more to the drama, and could be a determinant in who comes out on top. Ultimately, the team that conquers the other should have the edge when the final standings are in place.

Osi Umenyiora Situation Reflects Well on NY Giants

David Geller — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:02:03 -0400

Osi Umenyiora’s departure from the Giants practice facility on Monday was met with confusion. Luckily for the Giants, the situation was resolved before confusion turned into panic and misguided speculation.

As has become the trend for the Giants, internal adversity has once again been conquered by the strong principles and continuity within the Giants organization. Success and stability all starts from the top, and the Giants proved that true the past two days.

Can you imagine if DeMarcus Ware burst out of the Cowboys facilities unexcused as Umenyiora did? Flocks of media would stampede into the Fort Worth area to catch the scoop. Why? Because turmoil within the Cowboys organization typically is followed by even more juicy info.

This does not hold true for the Giants. And the media understands that, as Umenyiora’s disappearance surprisingly garnered a ho-hum response from outlets around the nation. Sure enough, Umenyiora apologized mere hours after the incident in a statement, and on Tuesday officially put the final dagger in the coffin regarding the issue. Time to move on.

The culmination of this situation is certainly a testament to the Giants. Tom Coughlin clearly wasn’t pleased as he has many other aspects of the team to worry about, but he responded with patience and confidence that Umenyiora would reconcile everything. And Umenyiora proved his coach right.

The disciplinarian continued to defend his star defensive end today, implying that everything is resolved and they are prepared to look forward, as should everyone else.

“We had an opportunity to say what needed to be said,” the coach said. “He was very good about it. He was humble. He indicated he knew he was wrong. He apologized. We had some thoughts exchanged about going forward...I just think he got emotional. And he did something he wished he didn’t do. But he did.”

Umenyiora also clarified that he has no issue with first-year defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan. They have worked together for six years, and Umenyiora categorized this incident as a simple “disagreement.”

It was so stupid and trivial for me to do that," Umenyiora said during a session with reporters after practice on Tuesday. "Sometimes when you get emotional, things happen like that. Everything's okay...The issue was so trivial. It was nothing that should have escalated to that point. I was the one who made it go that route. I was happy the way everything got resolved."

Now, thanks to the steadiness that the Giants organization is renowned for, it is once again time to focus on the receiver issues, injury problems, and the final pre-season game against the Patriots.

Brandon Marshall's Theatrics are Good For Broadway, Not the N.Y. Giants

David Geller — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:33:18 -0400

Coinciding with the Brandon Marshall suspension are the inevitable calls from all around that the Giants should consider acquiring the arrogant 25-year-old.

I say, don’t even think about it.

I don’t see any circumstance in which the Broncos would be inclined to keep Marshall if they are offered a substantial package. New coach Josh McDaniels is trying to instill a "team over me" philosophy that he hopes will catapult the Broncos back into contention.

Marshall’s childish antics do not fit into that mold at all. Now he will spend the next two weeks in timeout unless the Broncos ship him elsewhere, thus lifting the suspension.

One team will likely take a shot on him. There are roughly 10 teams facing potential blackouts, and Marshall could sell tickets while hauling in touchdown passes. The Bills are taking a similar chance with Terrell Owens, and maybe it will pay off.

Despite prospering with ticket sales (at least for 2009), the Giants will be linked to Marshall. Over the next few weeks, there will be rumors abuzz stating the Giants are inquiring about Marshall’s status.

I’m here to clarify that those reports will be pure speculation.

I’m not willing to pull a Sean Salisbury and say I’ll walk naked from Bristol through Washington if the Giants land Marshall. But if they do, maybe I’ll attend a Giants game that way. (And that’s just another incentive for the Giants not to even think about Marshall in their future plans.)

His criminal record is stained with multiple infractions of the law. His work ethic has been placed into question multiple times, including an instance in 2007 in which he sat out all but the last few days of training camp due to a pulled quad—and he only practiced because Mike Shanahan forced him to.

Now he’s openly admitted his knowledge of the Broncos' new offense is very scarce.

He has proven to be a baby when something does not go his way, highlighted by taking out his frustrations by playing volleyball instead of catch and trying to hit the Cowboys' scoreboard instead of giving the ball to the ballboy.

So Marshall is essentially Chris Henry, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens wrapped into a freakishly athletic and immature 6'4" receiver. One that’s coming off hip surgery, too.

Plaxico Burress wasn’t 10 percent of what Marshall is in terms of attitude, yet he was a permanent fixture in the negative commentaries in the tabloids, even before the shooting incident. Marshall would explode if he played in New York, and I don’t mean statistically.

He would bring the Giants down the same way Burress did last December. That’s not an opinion; it’s fact. The child’s track record speaks for itself.

Preseason Midway Point: What The New York Giants May Change Up

David Geller — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:53:51 -0400

This past Saturday, I helplessly watched the Giants get pushed around by the Chicago Bears. I didn’t watch with anger or malice, but rather intrigue and curiosity.

How bad can such a good team play?

The Giants did not implement any semblance of a pass rush on Jay Cutler. A pedestrian Bears offensive line was constantly destroying the Giants at the point of attack on running plays.

Most disturbingly, there were penalties galore. Not heat of the moment infractions, but ones that defined the Jim Fassel era. Illegal formations became a prominent theme for those brutal sixty minutes.

It was so atypical of this Giants squad that it was impossible to be worried. Factor in that the Giants had less rest then Tim Lincecum between starts, a lengthy flight, and a talented Bears team coming off an embarrassing debut against the Bills, and the math worked out to a 17-3 drubbing.

Tom Coughlin, who understandably looked baffled for four quarters, has voiced his frustrations since the game. Following the debacle, he declared that his team was embarrassed.

He then directed his criticisms not to journalists specifically, but the endless heap of compliments that has been laid on the Giants defense the entire offseason. He questions the accuracy of reports claiming the Giants have the deepest defensive line in the league, stating that none of it has materialized.

If the players don’t practice or play, it is not depth.

Now he is reiterating the message that is forever linked to the 2007 Giants Super Bowl squad: Talk is cheap, play the game.

Wow, this Jets game on Saturday just got a whole lot more interesting.

This cliché has never been in the same galaxy as a preseason matchup, but it applies for the Giants third game: All hands on deck.

Bumps and bruises are no longer valid excuses to avoid dressing up for game action. If someone can play, they will be out there. The Giants projected starting offensive line on opening day will be the starting front on Saturday.

If a key starter misses this game, then his injury may be worse then what we initially feared.

That’s just one of my predictions for the rest of preseason. Here are some more, and a few things to watch for:

Hakeem Nicks Will Be Catching Live Passes From Eli Manning

Before Monday I was confident that this would happen. But with Nicks’ splendid practice in the books, it’s a foregone conclusion.

The wide receivers have played well, but no one has jumped off the screen. The passing game has been pedestrian throughout the first two games, and an explosive play is imperative on Saturday.

Nicks gives the Giants that possibility.

Dave Tollefson Will Play More on the Inside

Jay Alford’s status looks bleak. He has torn ligaments in his MCL and ACL, and in two weeks, he’ll likely be placed on IR. Chris Canty has missed the majority of training camp while he’s adjusting from being a 3-4 end to a 4-3 tackle, and may not play any time soon due to a torn hamstring.

This leaves Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, and Rocky Bernard as the only other tackles that are guaranteed a roster spot, and each of them is currently battling through serious injuries.

With a surplus of linemen playing defensive end, Tollefson may prove to be most valuable on the inside. It isn’t foreign territory for the third-year linemen from Northwest Missouri State, who has proven to be versatile for the Giants the last couple of seasons.

And it just may prove to be his meal ticket as the season progresses.

The Offensive Line Will Be Tested on Saturday

Rex Ryan takes his preseason ball seriously. He sent exotic rushes in the direction of the Rams in the preseason opener, and has gone as far as calling his reunion with the Baltimore Ravens “special.”

A game in which a down didn’t pass in the first quarter that he didn’t rush Flacco? Seriously, Rex? What are you trying to prove?

In the most crucial game of the preseason, Ryan will employ a similar game plan to what he’ll be throwing the Texans way on Sept. 13. It will be a good test for the Giants offensive line, which finished the 2008 season with some inconsistent performances.

There's a Quarterback Competition Going On, Y'Know!

Granted, it’s been as exciting as the battle for the fifth rotation spot for the Washington Nationals. But it’s something to be on the watch for. Bomar has only thrown the ball three times this preseason, while Woodson has hardly been lighting up in his extended time.

The offensive line play has been horrendous but Woodson has been erratic, too. Since Manning is playing into the second half on Saturday, we likely won’t see much of Woodson or Bomar. But against New England, Manning will be pulled along with the starters early on.

And both kids will have their chance to shine.

The Irony of All Ironies

September 3will be David Tyree’s last game dressed as a Giant.

But, it will be the first of many playing on the same field along with those Patriots. With no receiver emerging, the Giants can’t afford to cut Sinorice Moss and Derek Hagan due to their big play capabilities.

That would force Reese to reluctantly cut ties with Super Bowl hero David Tyree.

There’s little doubt that Tyree will find a home elsewhere in the NFL, and New England is the perfect spot. His special teams prowess makes him an instant Belichick favorite, and as the Patriots know, he is more than capable of sliding into a wide receiver slot if needed.

It would be ironic and humorous to those in New York, and it may not attain a positive fan response.

But, it would be a smart move for the big guys making the decisions in New England.

Part Two: Has Yankee Stadium Lacked the Yankee Way?

David Geller — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:23:20 -0400

In this three-part series, I wonder out loud why high-market teams are experiencing trouble with their top notch new stadiums. In Part One, I detailed the Dallas Cowboys. Now the new Yankee Stadium highlights part two.

From the first game of the season, it was clear something eerie was occurring.

Fly balls that routinely found its way into the outfielder's glove suddenly were taking a different route. One that culminated into the waiting arms of an eager fan sitting in section 106.

The new Yankee Stadium first played host to the struggling Cleveland Indians on April 16, 2009. The Indians scored 40 runs in four games, including a 22-4 softball style drubbing in game three of the series.

Alarms were being sent off, and not just by the Yankee Stadium DJ after every Yankees home run. It didn't take very long for critics to bash into the architecture and the intricacies of the new stadium.

Hall-of-Fame writer Peter Gammons declared the $1.5 billion stadium to be, "One of the biggest jokes in baseball." He then criticized the architects of the venue, questioning how thoroughly it was planned out.

Yankee Stadium has gone from a sports cathedral to a site in which Anderson Hernandez can pop a three-run home run off of C.C. Sabathia. Its favoritism towards power hitters has rendered the statistics of the best Yankees irrelevant.

How can Mark Teixeira win the MVP over Joe Mauer when he is the beneficiary of playing 81 games at a park in which broken bat fly balls make their way to the third row? And as if Alex Rodriguez's legacy isn't tainted enough already, his reputation will take another hit if Yankee Stadium continues to play the way it has already.

Statistics are suddenly meaningless around the Yankees. And in a game fueled by tracking home runs and OPS and RBI, this is bad news for the Yankees.

Conversely, one can argue that Yankee Stadium has played right into the mold that the Yankees are built for. Their top three starters each contain an arsenal of power pitches, neutralizing the way fly balls launch themselves into the bleachers.

Their primary setup man is a power pitcher, and their closer wouldn’t give up home runs in Williamsport. Additionally, they are loaded with left-handed sluggers that can hit a pop up into the second deck. The Yankees' top opponents boast similarly talented players, but lack the ability to consistently throw the ball past batters as the Yankees can.

This could serve as a major advantage by October. And isn’t that the goal for a team, to maximize its advantage in the 81-plus games they play at home?

It’s a unique issue that has received endless press and speculation. The only news that appears to be concrete is the Yankees will have discussions this offseason for potential renovations. But if the Yankees continue to build on their 41-18 home record and take home their 27th title, change may not be something on the horizon.

Of course, as much coverage as the legitimacy of Yankees home runs has received, similar criticism has been directed at the financial dynamics of the stadium.

After opening day, a Yankees home game was not sold out until Aug. 7, which was game one of a four-game set against the Boston Red Sox. In between that period, discussions regarding the stadium were dominating by the disturbing blotches of empty seats behind home plate.

Even the son of the arrogant George Steinbrenner conceded that the tickets may have been overpriced. At the end of April, the Yankees sliced the prices in half from $2,500 to $1,250, generating a sarcastic response from the rest of the world, specifically a punch line from David Letterman during the season.

"Paul McCartney is here tonight...Paul's going to be in town this week doing two shows this weekend out at Citi Field, home of the Mets. The reason he's doing the two shows at Citi Field, home of the Mets, is that he hopes from those concerts to raise enough money to buy a couple of tickets to go see the Yankees."

On a heavier note, the efforts to appease the fan have appeared not to warrant the extreme financial demands that come with going to a ballgame. During a May 4 rain delay against the Boston Red Sox, Yankees employees allegedly told fans to hit the road because there would be no baseball played that night. Except the game started at 9:00 P.M., and those that were told to leave were denied re-entry.

"We're a part of hundreds of people, if not thousands," Martin Watson, a Yankee fan who spent $800 for four tickets and was denied re-entry told the New York Daily News. "This is not fan-friendly. This is B.S. You pay money for a top-of-the-line franchise, and you get bottom-of-the-line customer service."

Although the stadium has received rave reviews for its tremendous overall presentation, all the positives have been washed away by the way the park has played, and the manner in which the customer has been served.

In the last section of my three part series chronicling troubles with new flashy stadiums, I will cover the issues that the Mets have experienced in Citi Field's inaugural season.

A Three-Part Series: Expensive Stadiums Bound for Doom?

David Geller — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:39:39 -0400

For an 18-hour period, Jerry Jones boasted a grin that seemingly spawned from a time capsule set to the mid 90s.

Jones recently admitted to countless sleepless nights during the grueling three-year process of the stadium’s construction. But on August 21st, a night that will be remembered not just exclusively for Dallas, but for an entire sports nation, Jones would reap the benefits of the stress that came with taking a gigantic step in the advancement of building a stadium.

Not so fast.

I personally saw the stadium last December when I was in Dallas for the Sunday night battle between the Giants and Cowboys, and it resembled a spaceship that landed in Texas by accident, not an actual place that 53 football players could deem “home.”

This was merely from the outside. On the inside, jaw-dropping pictures of revolutionary installments made the stadium even more of an enigma. Such a place could not be conceived, nor built by man, correct?

From an architectural standpoint, it is an incredible feat. However, from a football fan’s standpoint, there are unmistakable flaws in the stadium’s design. The scoreboard that makes the Madison Square Garden jumbo-tron look like the tv in your basement in 1968 hangs from the top of the ceiling and extends from one twenty-yard line to the other.

60 yards for those that don’t care to do the math. Without numbers, it can simply be labeled as the biggest television set in the world.

There’s no doubt that this gigantic television screen is an amazing intricacy of Cowboys Stadium. There are just a couple of defects that come with it.

For the fan, it detracts from the game experience. The screen is so massive that it may be impossible for one to ignore its presence and simply watch the game. It’s human nature for a set of eyeballs to be captivated by a 2,100 inch HD television set.

However, this makes a crowd much less inclined to simply watch the game that is transpiring right under their noses. It’s a privilege to witness 22 players on a field at a time in person. Now, thousands of people will be paying big bucks to essentially watch a football game on a giant television.

Additionally, from an actual football standpoint, the jumbo-tron creates a major headache for teams league wide.

It took all but half a pre-season game for controversy to flare for the typically attention-starved Jerry Jones. At one point, Titans backup punter A.J. Trapasso ricocheted a punt off the scoreboard prompting coach Jeff Fisher to chuck his red flag in response.

Earlier this year, Daniel Murphy smacked a ball to deep right field and it landed right in front of Citi Field’s “Mo’s-Zone.”

It was initially ruled a double but the replay confirmed it had to be a home run because the ball suddenly redirected after coming within distance of the bright yellow Subway sign. Therefore, common sense dictated that it had to be a home run and it was ruled just that.

A similar circumstance may occur in Texas Stadium this year. What if a punt strikes the board and the punt returner muffs it, but it is inconclusive if the ball hit the screen? If the game were decided on this play, a storm of debate would emerge regarding the outcome of this game. Think back to Ed Hochuli in Week Two.

Jerry Jones appears to be in denial of this issue, responding harshly to the reporters that question this architectural renovation. He deflected any criticisms in the direction of the Titans punter, in which he claimed that Trapasso’s punt was deliberately kicked into the scoreboard.

"How high is high if somebody just wants to sit there and kick straight up? If you look at how you punt the football, unless you're trying to hit the scoreboard, you punt the ball to get downfield. You certainly want to get some hangtime, but you punt the ball to get downfield, and you sure don't punt the ball down the middle. You punt it off to the side."

There is clear hypocrisy in Jones’s statement. Veteran punters Craig Hentrich (Titans) and Matt McBriar (Cowboys) both agree that five seconds of hangtime likely would lead to the ball coming in contact with the scoreboard.

Coupled with distance, five seconds of hangtime is what punters strive for. In 2004, the average hangtime for a punt was 4.6 seconds. If that’s the average, can you imagine what a Pro Bowl punter could attain?

From what it appears, a punt that goes at least a quarter of the way up the gargantuan scoreboard.

Let’s say the Competition Committee repudiates any adjustments to Texas Stadium. What’s the worst that could happen? Well, it would not grant the Cowboys the homefield advantage that Jones boasts that it will.

Sure, the Cowboys can build their team around the scoreboard (never thought I would say that in a sentence) and preach a line-drive style of punting to Matt McBriar. But what happens on the road playing in a more conventional stadium?

The line drive punts would not bode nearly as well, especially at the Meadowlands or Lincoln Financial Field or any other venue played in harsh weather.

And if the punts hit the scoreboard on a regular basis, then punt return success would fluctuate rapidly. Coverage units would be worn out running down the field, thus allowing the return teams to attain a greater chance of a big return.

So there you have it Jerry. After pouring $1.2 billion into an other worldly stadium for America’s team, this is what everybody is talking about after its debut.

In the coming days, I’ll be commenting on two other stadiums that are near completions of their controversy-laden inaugural seasons in Major League Baseball: Yankee Stadium and Citi Field.

Will the New York Giants' Young Wide Receivers Get a Chance To Shine?

David Geller — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:13:33 -0400

In a game loaded with positives, the Giants 24-17 victory over Carolina came with one unanimous negative.

Where were the rookie receivers that the Giants held on to as opposed to trading for Braylon Edwards?

They were on the field. In fact, they played for virtually the entire second half. But aside from the instances in which Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski were salivating over Ramses Barden, their names were scarcely called in game action.

Third-round pick Ramses Barden had a 20-yard reception on a poorly covered third and 17. He also was overthrown on the Giants last offensive play on the game, one that could have put the Giants in position to win it with a field goal.

Some speculate that Barden could have attempted to lay out for the reception, but he was at a poor angle and appeared to have trouble locating the ball.

First round selection Hakeem Nicks was very quiet, too. Throughout the first half, Nicks was frequently located by ESPN cameras behind Giants coaches, standing helplessly with his helmet on.

He got his chance in the second half, albeit a minimal one. He jumped too early on a long pass down the sideline, but redeemed himself with a nice snag on a quick slant. Other then that, he was essentially transparent.

Unfortunately, if this is how the rotation goes throughout the preseason, the mediocre performances for Barden and Nicks will become a trend.

Let's face it: A wide receiver can only do so much in spite of poor quarterback play and a horrendous offensive line. For two rookies, it is even harder to adapt.

This is starting to parallel to the legend of Kenny Phillips that permeated throughout New York tabloids in August of 2008. He was anointed the defense's x-factor by many, but promptly went on to serve his meager role as a rotational safety without much freedom.

Similarly, Barden provoked many headlines detailing the 6'6" receiver's raw talent and advanced knowledge of the game. But like Phillips, the sentiment is starting to emerge that No. 13 will be exclusively used in the red zone. Barring injury or extremely poor performances by his peers, his impact between the 20s will be minimal.

Hakeem Nicks has had a less explosive camp than Barden. He's caught everything thrown his way, but has lacked spectacular moments and has missed extensive practice time with a lingering hamstring injury. Like Barden, Nicks's possibility to contribute was squashed by the sub-par talent around him.

The next three preseason games will be very revealing. If Coughlin continues to rotate his young receivers in with other on-the-bubble talent, Nicks and Barden will be hard-pressed to turn some heads. This will likely deter them from convincing the coaches to rank them high on the depth chart come September.

However, if the Giants alter their strategy and allow Nicks and Barden to be on the field at the same time as Eli Manning, they will get their chance to shine. And if they take advantage of it, their chances of contributing when it matters will be bolstered.

Ten Random Notes From Last Night's Giants Game

David Geller — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:08:03 -0400

I was thinking of writing a game recap and an overall analysis of what transpired on Monday night. But I realized that would be rather pointless, and decided to shorten it to a 10-part slideshow of little (and random) things I noticed. In what started out as an exciting affair, the game took a turn for the worse with sloppy plays and a plethora of penalties. Although there is much good to be taken out of the first pre-season game, there are definitely going to be aspects in which Coughlin is pulling his hair out. Hopefully this slideshow won't make you do the same.

Begin Slideshow

Three Things to Watch for in Tonight's Giants Game

David Geller — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:11:48 -0400

Forget that it will be in the upper 70s when the Giants come out in their home blue and white's.

It's football season, and speculation is finally about to materialize into concrete hard-hitting live action football.

This what-to-watch edition is going to attempt to avoid the obvious. For instance, I don't have to tell anyone to keep an eye out for 6'6'' rookie receiver Ramses Barden. I have a feeling your eyes will naturally be locked in on this monster whenever he takes the field.

But there are certain aspects of tonight's game that are as equally important as a Ramses Barden jump-ball catch. They just aren't under the same microscope. Here are three subtle phases of the game to keep an eye on.

1. Andre Woodson's release

Yeah, he's merely in a heated competition for the third quarterback job. And yeah, considering Eli Manning hasn't missed a game since he took control of this offense in 2005, the odds of seeing Woodson taking meaningful snaps in 2009 are as slim as the Lions postseason chances.

Nonetheless, the Giants project Woodson to be Manning's primary backup in short time. Current backup David Carr is one good preseason away from bolting his way to a team that wants fresh blood for a potential quarterback controversy. That would leave Andre Woodson, or fifth round rookie Rhett Bomar as the potential replacements.

Coughlin has been pleased by Woodson's progress in training camp, but needs to see it translate into an on-the-field performance. Woodson was shaky last preseason, and needs to redeem himself.

One of his most heralded weaknesses, even when he came out of college, was the period of time it took for Woodson to simply throw the ball. Despite a stellar college career, this worried scouts enough that Woodson dropped all the way to the sixth round where the Giants grabbed him.

But Woodson has adjusted, and it has come to fruition on the practice field. It's tough to get a concrete confirmation merely through practice, thereby making tonight the first oppurtunity for the Giants to analyze if he has legitimately developed a quicker release.

Therefore, don't look as much into if the ball gets from Point A to Point B, but rather how quick the ball shoots out of Woodson's arm from the instant he begins to wind up.

2. Justin Tuck—How's the foot feel?

You could say I am to Justin Tuck's foot as Eminem is to Mariah Carey. Obsessed. Or at least, that's how the song goes.* Since October, I have not been reluctant to point out how Tuck was clearly struggling with an injury that was much worse than the Giants were letting on.

Justin Tuck is crucial to the Giants chances this year. Which means his previously injured foot is just as important. Last year, when Tuck initially suffered the injury, he got up slowly and walked off the field at normal speed. This allowed him to avoid speculation from major media outlets (not this one).

Tonight, in Tuck's first live-game action since the playoffs, one would be keen to see how he responds to getting pancaked or being turned awkwardly. While this would hold true for every game this season, it will be a much easier process to erase fears of the foot injury returning after the first game.

3. Kareem McKenzie—Will speed kill?

Placed into perspective, it is truly incredible that the Giants offensive line has attained such tremendous continuity. Along the lines of the higher you go, harder you fall mantra, the same holds true for this Giants line. Eventually, this group will deteriorate. It is part of the game.

It is in the Giants best interest for this to happen at a slow pace, so they could groom future replacements when the inevitable happens. And all signs point to the grim reaper getting his hands on Kareem McKenzie first.

A 30-year-old right tackle, McKenzie signed a seven-year deal in 2005 that would install discipline and consistency in a Giants offensve line that was in the process of being revamped. He's been remarkably solid in his tenure with the Giants, but injuries and speed rushers have made him look extremely vulnerable.

McKenzie has missed time this summer due to a back problem. One that has plagued him at some point in each of the last three seasons. For a heavy offensive linemen, a back problem instills fear into teammates and coaches.

Tonight, McKenzie has a tough task in going up against Julius Peppers. Although not a true left end, he has been practicing from that side in training camp. Regardless of what side he comes from, Peppers is a menace to block. McKenzie generally has trouble with elite pass rushers, and tonight will be a tremendous test for him.

Ultimately, the most important part of the game tonight will be avoiding serious injuries. But if you want to look beyond the simplicity of the obvious, those are some aspects you may want to keep an eye on.

*Writer's Note: Doesn't mean I think she's right Eminem, no need to dig through my article archives and ruin my credibility in your next album. Thanks.

Sinorice Moss's Fate May Depend on Mario Manningham

David Geller — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:32:16 -0400

Last year the battle for the final wide receiver slot was resolved shortly after the last pre-season game against the Patriots.

In what many speculated to be a race that was neck-and-neck throughout August, Sinorice Moss ultimately edged out Brandon London to earn the last slot on the depth chart. London was promptly cut then picked up by the Miami Dolphins.

Some may have thought this transaction occured because Sinorice Moss was simply the better player then Brandon London. However, this may not necessarily be true. In all likelihood, the Giants decided to hold on to Moss in order to fill a need.

London, a confident receiver from the University of Massachusetts, impressed many in the training camp of 2008. But what the 6'4 receiver offered the Giants already had in the 6'5 Plaxico Burress. Why would the Giants fill a valuable roster spot with a player that fits the same mold of their best receiver?

Additionally, the Giants had no player that could boast the skillset that Sinorice Moss possesses. Mario Manningham was drafted to stretch the field, but a training camp hampered by injuries essentially terminated any chance for Manningham to make an immediate impact. Thus, Moss was the only receiver on the team that could turn a short pass into a long touchdown, and his roster spot was safe.

Now let's fast-forward to the present. Moss, cleverly dubbed "Mr. August" due to his penchant to dominate the practice fields in Albany but disappear when the calendar turns to September, is again in a battle for his roster spot.

Derek Hagan, who is also heading into his fourth season, has been impressive in training camp and has given the coaches no choice but to seriously consider him making the final 53. His achilles heel has always been his case of the dropsies, but that issue has not plagued him this training camp. He's been incredibly smooth and a reliable target since camp opened.

Hagan also poses as a downfield threat, running a 4.45 in 2006, which was only .04 seconds behind Sinorice Moss. Their running styles are distinguished, as Moss is a lightning-quick fast due to his tiny 5'8 frame. Hagan on the other hand is 6'2 and isn't capable of stopping on a dime as Moss is, but can easily blow right by opposing corners.

Now Mario Manningham steps in.

Manningham stands at 5'11, directly in the middle of Hagan and Moss. His style of play resembles more of the quickness of Moss than the speed of Hagan. His rookie year was a wash due to his inability to stay healthy in training camp and catch up as the season progressed.

This year, there are new expectations stamped on Manningham. Suddenly, with the loss of Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the burden is placed on the younger receivers that are capable of stretching the field. All reports appear to indicate that Manningham has taken well to the challenge, as he had a successful spring and an equally strong training camp.

If Manningham plays well in pre-season, then this could place Moss on the cusp of being cut. Moss has had three years to prove himself and has failed each season. If the Giants are confident that Manningham could fill the void of an underneath receiver that could burn the defense, what good would Moss serve?

Hagan has five inches on Moss and enough speed to stretch the field. His biggest weakness has seemingly been alleviated based on training camp. If he further proves himself in actual game-action, he offers too much to be cut in favor of Sinorice Moss.

All of this may be contingent on Manningham though. If he is unable to seize the oppurtunity and take a firm hold on being the "quickster" of the team, then the Giants may need to hold on to Moss for insurance purposes.

However, if he instills enough confidence in the brain trust of the Giants, then Hagan will be wearing blue on opening day.

A New Dawn Has Set in For The New York Giants Passing Game

David Geller — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:11:24 -0400

Plaxico Burress. Amani Toomer. Jeremy Shockey. Tiki Barber.

All were at a reasonable age to maintain top performance when Eli Manning was in the process of completing his first season as a starter in 2005. Each presented distinct match-up nightmares for the opposing defenses. And all of them were integral in the New York Giants grand plan or surrounding Eli Manning with weapons as long as he boasts a New York Giants uniform.

None of them remain.

The only wide receiver that has been along for every second of Manning's wild ride with the Giants is David Tyree.

And the only bond between the two is that Tyree caught Manning's first career touchdown pass to a wide receiver, and a certain 32-yard catch that will be linked with Super Bowl greatness until the end of time.

Presumably, Tyree will be given the pink slip by the end of August and the overhaul will be complete. No more can Eli lean on targets that had established themselves when Eli arrived in 2004.

Now everything is flipped upside down. Come Sept. 13, Eli's primary targets will likely be Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, Ramses Barden, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, and Sinorice Moss.

The average age of the projected opening day receiving corps?

Roughly 24 years young.

Additionally, the combined career receptions amongst the six is only 11 more than the combined age.

On a veteran team that is built for immediate success, these exact statistics have been the culprit for all the skepticism lent to the Giants passing game.

However, there's always a semblance of hope in an otherwise bleak situation. The lack of a distinguished veteran receiver may mean that Eli can't rely on solely one or two targets as he did with Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.

But it does mean that this group will grow together. They will learn from their mistakes together. They will enter the prime of their careers together.

And on the heels of granting Eli Manning the largest sum of money for any quarterback in the NFL, Giants brass should be consoled that there appears to be a plethora of young talent dispersed through the wide receiver depth chart.

Of course, it's natural for pessimism to creep in given the lack of experience. Many have stated that given Jerry Reese's willingness to expend multiple draft picks for receivers that have had success on the NFL level, he isn't confident with the players currently on the roster.

Conversely, this argument can be repudiated by stating that Reese didn't pull the trigger on a trade that likely would have cost a first and a third round pick, which were converted into Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden.

Speed bumps should be expected.

Drops and mis-communications are going to become a natural occurrence in the grueling six months to come. However, so will the explosive yards-after-catch plays that were non-existent when Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress were Manning's primary targets.

Patience will be mandatory if the Giants want to achieve their ultimate goal of playing a game in February. If the offense is able to persevere through the inevitable growing pains, then the offense will be more dangerous then ever late in the season, and will have stability for many years to come.

A Personal Eulogy; Throwing in The Mets Towel

David Geller — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:14:12 -0400

It was almost surreal.

Watching Mets games was removed as a priority a while ago. The circumstances around me would dictate whether or not I would be destined to swallow my medicine and watch my favorite team labor.

However, by no means was I to avoid socializing with my friends simply to watch replacements try to scrap wins and allow the stars to come back with a chance late in the year.

As seldom as I watched, I was informed of the happenings for each game through my cell phone courtesy of a monthly $3.99 service that alerts me of late-inning lead changes, Mets home runs, and ultimately, final scores, which have typically felt like death sentences. An evening out with my friends would typically be infiltrated by the somber news of a Mets loss.

Now, I could have cancelled these updates and save me the pain of having my infinite optimism chipped away at every night. But as bleak as things appear, the dim hope still flickered. I wouldn't devote nights to them, but I would keep a close watch on the events of that night's game.

Naturally, I have chosen to get an extra hour or two of sleep the last two nights rather then watching one Triple-AAA squad square-off against another until 1:30 A.M. Needless to say, this decision has proven to be wise.

Last night was a strange occurence. I typically sleep smoothly through a night, but at roughly ten of one I abruptly woke up with severe stomach pain. Clutching my stomach, I peered at my phone and saw I had one text message: "Padres tie the Mets 2-2, in the Bottom of the 9th." I received the text merely three minutes before I woke up in stomach pain.

I wasn't responsive, although a bit agitated. K-Rod, who has pitched with as much fire as Randy Moss did catching balls for the Oakland Raiders, must have blown another save. No matter, there's no sense in getting angry. And my stomach pain eased up rapidly.

Ten minutes later the stomach pain re-emerged and had to be taken care of. I won't be explicit, but I will tell you that I rushed to the bathroom at 1:03 and came out at 1:07 feeling very relieved.

I promptly checked my phone with a sense of dread, and sure enough I received a text message that said, "Everth Cabrera hits a game winning grand slam HR (two) in the bottom of the 9th. Padres beat the Mets 6-2."

Disappointment quickly gave way to wonder. As if our season wasn't over already, this has to place the final dagger in the coffin. And as K-Rod blows the game I'm simultaneously experiencing worse physical pain then I've ever felt. This instance can only be paralleled to Harry Potter's scar searing whenever Voldemort is in sight, and that's supposed to be fictional.

Such is the bond I have with this team. Sitting in my family room where I venture to watch my favorite baseball team is a brick that is somewhere along the Citi Field fanwalk. "Mets Fan From Start to Finish, David Geller."

Last night appeared to be the finish. And the supernatural forces that were conjured from placing that brick along Citi Field held me accountable for my promise.

Once and for All: Why Eli Manning Is Worthy of Big-Time Cash

David Geller — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:11:35 -0400

Naturally, as soon as the details of Eli Manning's inevitable extension were exposed to the media, the Giants have taken criticism from not only fans around the nation but also professional analysts.

These criticisms are valid. The freshest memory of Eli on the field is not him guiding the Giants to an improbable Super Bowl championship, but his shoulders slouched in the fourth quarter of a lame playoff game against the Eagles to cap off an even lamer stretch run.

There's no doubt this ended the Super Bowl honeymoon period that Eli earned through the Giants epic playoff performance that is now two years in the past. Now, Giants fans are hungrier then ever when they look at a team that is extremely well-rounded, and could easily be ranked top five on each side of the ball by year's end.

Onus, thy name is Manning.

Before the pressure cooker even heated up, the Giants decided to grant Manning a loaded extension that will allow Manning to receive up to $97.5 million from 2010-2015. This has provoked the question: why is Manning becoming the richest quarterback in the league when his career has been defined by inconsistency?

Because he knows how to win.

Courtesy of fantasy football and advances in resources, analyzing an NFL player has become a statistics-driven art. And when one identifies Eli Manning and his meager 76.1 career passer rating, there is no inclination to label him a top five (or even top 10) quarterback. 55.1 percent career completion percentage? Let's face it, not many would sign up for that.

Except, of course, the Giants.

Despite his inconsistencies, they know there are plenty of other quarterbacks that would deter them from hoisting the Lombardi at the end of the year, which is the only true goal for an NFL franchise.

Think about it. There's class A: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees (He hasn't won anything, but any team in the league would take him as their quarterback).

Eli finds himself in class B, along with guys like Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo, Phillip Rivers, Carson Palmer, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, and Ben Roethlisberger.

An argument could be justified that one would be most inclined to take Eli over all of the other quarterbacks. McNabb has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league the last ten seasons and is a borderline Hall-of-Famer. But he also appears to be troubled by pressure situations, and has been plagued by injuries. Due to his ability to stay healthy and poised in all situations, some teams may be prepared to take Manning over McNabb.

Romo is a fantasy football dream, but until he produces in December and January, he's simply a tease.

Phillip Rivers has been terrific the last couple of seasons, but in 2006 he blew his chance with an absolutely loaded Chargers team that went 14-2 in the regular season and lost in the divisional round against New England.

Additionally, since we're comparing him to a guy who plays in New York, his passes that have the hang time of a punt would not cut through the wind of the Meadowlands as they do in the crisp San Diego air. And to put it vaguely, it would be interesting to see how he and the New York media would get along.

Carson Palmer burst onto the scene in 2005, but what have he and the Bengals done since?

Jay Cutler has an arm that makes scouts salivate, but his career record is below .500. What good are his perfectly placed bombs if his team doesn't win?

Matt Ryan is on a remarkably rapid pace to blast his way into class A. But right now, with only 16 regular season games on his resume, it would be tough to take him over a Super Bowl winning quarterback. The same goes for Aaron Rodgers, who had an impressive first season.

Lastly, there's Ben Roethlisberger. Although his performance in his first Super Bowl was dreadful, Roethlisberger vindicated himself by leading an amazing drive to bring home the Steelers sixth Super Bowl championship. The man knows how to win, and that's why a vast majority of the league would love to have him leading their team.

The only real issue with Ben is injuries. He rarely misses time on the field, which further proves his indisputable toughness, but these injuries may hurt him down the road. It's feasible that Manning's career will last four of five more years than Ben, which could yield the Giants at least one extra championship.

What does this prove? That there are reasonable complaints with every quarterback not named Brady, Brees, or Peyton. Eli has a considerable amount of flaws, but his track record proves he knows how to get it done.

He and his brother are the only two quarterbacks in the league to have their team in the playoffs in each of the last four seasons.

If you ask any coach in the league what they would rather have, a trophy-armed quarterback that dwindles when it matters most, or a mild-mannered quarterback whose performance in most games are merely "decent," but manages to step up his game in dire situations, the coach would immediately point to the latter quarterback.

And Eli is the latter.

Quick Note To Giants Fans: Stay Calm

David Geller — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:08:35 -0400

Three practices in and skepticism is already flooding the blogs and tweets of those who cover the Giants.

Steve Smith is guilty of dropping passes that were placed right in his bread basket, and the offense as a whole has been unable to maintain any semblance of consistency.

Specifically, there have been several instances in which lapses in judgment halted a drill and stemmed any offensive momentum. There have been muffed snaps, dropped passes, and false start penalties galore, drawing the ire of the notoriously strict Tom Coughlin.

“It’s early, but I’m not very patient. I’d like to see some progress. On offense it’s got to be more than good play, bad play."

Coughlin is right. If this inconsistency was prevalent in a regular season game, the Giants would be lucky to beat the Lions.

But it's not regular season, it's Aug. 4. Offenses are expected to labor through the early stretches of training camp.

Factor in that the team in infusing new players into the offense and the opposing defense is considered one of the league's elite and an already steep uphill climb for the offense only grows.

Improvement is imperative for the Giants' offense.

But for those that believe these first three practice sessions are foreboding of a dark season ahead for the Giants, stay calm. This team has possessed a remarkable amount of consistency over the last four seasons by amassing four playoff appearances, and should earn the trust of all the arm-chair quarterbacks in the New York area.