Monthly Archives: October 2008
As expected TE Jason Witten did not participate in practice today.
Despite the fact that Witten said he would play Sunday, it will certainly be very difficult. He will need to wear a pad, or flak jacket, and if he takes a hit, when his ribs are exposed, he could easily be knocked out of the game. If Witten does play, he will be risking major injury for the team. You’ve got to love players who give up their body for the sake of the team.
CB Anthony Henry was in full pads and did particpate, as did LB Anthony Spencer.
Without Henry the Cowboys are reduced to playing rookies at both starting cb spots, which will certainly peek the interests of Kevin Gilbride. Coach Coughlin stated the Giants are preparing for Henry and Witten to play.
Guard, Kyle Kosier was limited in practice, while Terence Newman and Tony Romo continue to be out.
Mathias Kiwanuka has been named the NFC’S defensive player of the week>
Kiwi had 3 sacks, 5 tackles and a forced fumble. When Tuck was asked about Kiwi’s performance he rolled his eyes and said he should be dominating with all of the double teams I see. This was said in jest, there was no arrogance to the comment. Last year the line had running bets on who would play better, hopefully they have kept that going.
It was a match up of two titans (not to be confused with the Tennessee Titans…I probably could have used a better word). Two storied franchises going at it, head to head. A possible Super Bowl preview. The first place Pittsburgh Steelers took on the defending Super Bowl champion Giants. The NFL’s #1 defense vs. the NFL’s sexiest quarterback. It was the most hyped game of the weekend, and it did not disappoint. Unless you’re a Steelers fan. But then why are you on this site?
With the win, the Giants improve to 6-1, after starting last year 6-2, after starting the year before that 6-2, after starting the year before that 6-2. By using Science, I can predict that the Giants will lose next week’s game against the Cowboys for another 6-2 start.
Since Tom Coughlin became head coach in 2004, the Giants are 29-10 in the first half of the season and 12-20 in the second half.
But enough about the rest of the season, let us take a look back at this week’s epic clash with the Steelers, a game that was being billed as World War VIII by some educationally deprived fans.
After watching a heart-pumping, old-school, smash mouth game of football, I thought to myself “the better team won.” The Giants made the big plays in the fourth quarter on both sides of the ball and came away with a well earned and hard fought victory. But when I read articles about the game or listened to the radio, all I heard was that the Giants “stole” the game or that the “game bounced New York’s way” or that the Steelers “gave the Giants the game.”
The basis for most of this talk is the safety that brought the Giants even at 14-14. Analysts have been saying that this gaffe by the Steelers, which was brought on by an injury to the Steelers’ normal long snapper, swung momentum in the Giants favor. They say that the resulting safety punt gave the Giants great field position and led to the go ahead score.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but were the Steelers not pinned at their own 18 yard line before the safety occurred? Wouldn’t the Giants theoretically have had better field position if not for the safety? And as far as momentum goes, momentum was already in the Giants’ favor after Mathias Kiwanuka had just sacked “Big Ben” Roethlisberger to force 4th and 22, deep in their own territory. The Giants were getting the ball back with great field position, and had taken a firm grip on the magical force that is momentum.
So let’s say, for arguments sake, that the field position would have been exactly the same if the Steelers were able to get off the punt on 4th down. So now, theoretically, the Giants would be down by 2 instead of tied. In both situations, a field goal gives them the lead, so they would have had the exact same offensive play calling and therefore would have scored a touchdown either way. In this non-safety universe, the Giants would be up by 5 instead of 7, and the Steelers would need a touchdown to win, as a field goal would still do nothing. Ample-sized Ben would run the offense exactly the same with or without the safety. With the Giants playing their same defense, Elephantine Ben would be pummeled and would throw an interception (that should have been knocked down!) to Kenny Phillips and the Giants would win anyway. There, I have again used Science, this time to prove that the Steelers did not “give the game away” with a gift safety, but that the Giants were in fact the better team.
Yet Steelers offensive lineman Willie Colon had this to say: “They weren’t better then us: I’ll say it to their face.” Obviously Colon has not yet welcomed Science into his life.
Many are speculating, Superbowl hero, David Tyree may be placed on IR next week, effectively ending his season, and perhaps his Giants career. If so, his final catch in Blue, will go down as the greatest final catch a receiver has ever made. I don’t need to look this up, because even if it wasn’t his “final” catch, it would still be the greatest catch of all time.
The sad truth is Tyree simply does not have a spot on the roster. Dominek Hixon and Ahmad Bradshaw have become effective gunners on the special teams unit, and Big Blue has a gluttony of wide outs (Sinorice moss has been left inactive three weeks in a row – after performing admirably against the Seahawks). It is only speculation at this time, but it certainly would be sad to see, last years Superbowl hero, David Tyree on IR. Still, all these roster problems, only means the Giants are that deep. These are nice problems to have.
Tom Rock from Newsday reports, at practice on Wednesday, Chase Blackburn was lined up at weakside linebacker with the starting unit. Bryan Kehl, has a toe injury, but did practice, he participated with the second team.
This could signify either of two things. 1) With Goff healthy, Coughlin feels comfortable having him back up Pierce at MLB and wants to slide, the more experienced, Blackburn into the starting rotation at WLB. 2) Kehl, who has a toe injury, wasn’t originally supposed to practice and simply stepped in with the second team when he was deemed healthy enough to go.
During the Steelers game Kehl had another brain fart when he took off for the side line, something he has done twice now. Fortunately the Giants snuffed out a screen and no harm was done. Overall he is raw, and looks good at times, lost at others. That said, his future seems bright, but Coughlin and Spagnuolo may want to have more experience on the field right now.
Please answer the following question, while considering the team’s ownership, current management, talent, etc.: On a scale of 1–10, 10 being ‘100 percent confident,’ 1 being ‘No confidence at all,’ how confident are you in the overall future-direction of the Giants?
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
Ralph Vacchiano is reporting that Osi Umenyiora is a month ahead of schedule. He is already jogging and able to make cuts, something he was only scheduled to do in late November. Osi feels he could have been back by the end of the year (being placed on the IR that can no longer happen). He also believes the injury actually occurred in last years opener:
“That’s what I think. I think it actually tore then,” Umenyiora said. “You guys didn’t know about that (the Giants officially called it an “irritation” to his meniscus). But I was doing some things to keep the swelling down. Ronnie Barnes and the medical staff were doing a great job of taking care of me. But I played on that all last year”
It is sad to think about what this team could be with Osi, Tuck, and Kiwi all on the field together. That said, Osi also feels his knee will be healthier then ever next year, and has been afforded some time to focus on life after football. He has appeared on ESPN as an analyst and did a bang up job. Of course compared to Emmitt Smith everyone does a bang up job…zing!
Matt Mosley at ESPN is reporting that former Kentucky quarterback Andre’ Woodson, is back on the Giants practice squad. Offensive tackle Cliff Louis out of Morgan State was released to make room for Woodson.
Good to have one of our 6th round picks back, but if this transaction influences the Giants year, in any way, they are in HUGE trouble. That said, Woodson has a big arm and may turn into a nice backup in the future.
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