Monthly Archives: November 2009
After watching these two plays on Thurdsay night I completely lost my mind and all faith in Bill “the terminator” Sheridan. He is officially the terminator because he is programmed not to show any emotion. EVER!
PLAY 1
On third and long in the first half Sheridan had DT Chris Canty in coverage on Tony Scheffler. Scheffler wound up with a 22 yard gain and an easy first down.
Sheridan promised the fans and media that his defense would be different then Spags’s in one way; he would drop less lineman into coverage. What he actually meant was this “My defense will differ from Spags’s in this way; we will not only drop ends into coverage but tackles who moonlight as ends as well, oh and of course we do not plan on using our safeties, or getting to the QB, or stopping the run or doing anything that made Spags’s D successful, are you Sarah Conna?”
As the media questioned whether or not his swiss cheese secondary is confused he replied he “sees no confusion.” Really? On Brandon Stokley’s second half Touchdown not one Giant was within 10 yards of him. Where did the Broncos hide him you ask? In the slot. THE SLOT, can’t really blame Sheridan for that one, I mean the slot is almost an invisible spot on the field. The fact is this is almost the same defense, personnel wise, that it was last year, but the results are two totally different defenses.
Play 2 - Here is where I actually lost my mind.
In the 4th quarter, as the defense tried to get off the field, the Broncos faced a third and long. Corey Webster was matched up on Jabar Gaffney, he crept to the line as if he was coming on a blitz. As the ball was snapped, Webster did not blitz, but he did not get back in coverage either, he played what appeared to be a “no man’s land” defense, while the Safety over the top stayed 15/20 yards off the ball. Orton simply turned and through a pitch and catch 8 yard gain to Gaffney for the first down. Here is how I imagine Sheridan installing this defense:
Sheridan: Ok Corey we don’t want to give away the coverage so you show blitz.
Webster – Ok I’ll show it, then back up into position before the snap.
Sheridan – Nah, that won’t sell it. Just show blitz, don’t blitz, but stay near the line of scrimmage, sort of a no man’s land thing.
Webster – Ok, so we will roll the safety down into a one on one?
Sheridan – Nah, if he comes down the line they’ll know your coming.
Webster – But I’m not coming.
Sheridan – Right (raises his eyebrows, nods his head as if he just explained the theory of relativity) pretty great huh?
And then Thursday, no mans land defense was unveiled, shockingly it failed to work and I lost all faith in Bill Sheridan, and I punched my 80 year old grandmother in the face for “eyeballin” me. Last part didn’t happen, but I did stand up at the bar and yelled out “Serenity Now”…and just like Lloyd Braun I only found insanity later.
I still believe in Coach Coughlin and there is almost no chance he is let go after the year, but I can’t say the same for both his coordinators. To me Sheridan is far more of a problem then Gilbride, but it’s also clear that 2 out of 3 of the FA’s brought into help this Defense have been a failure. Boley, when healthy, has been great, but Bernard and Canty have had little impact on the defensive front. The linebackers are due for an overhaul and the Giants desperately need a safety. At 6-5 all is not over, but right now there are very few signs that the Giants will turn things around, but like Andy Dufrain and Red….I HOPE.
McDaniels’ Vulgar Pep Talk Is Accidentally Aired
Not sure if the NFL Network was aware that Denver head coach Josh McDaniels was capable of such vulgarity. Either way, they couldn’t be blamed for accidentally airing a profane stream delivered by McDaniels to his team on the sidelines last night.
“All we’re trying to do is win a ****** ******* game!” McDaniels was heard barking at his team. It was loud and clear and probably a moment which McDaniels wants back. Bob Papa, the NFL Network apologized almost immediately to the viewing audience.
I didn’t really care, and I’m sure that most households that did not have small children didn’t take offense either. This game was worthy of much harsher terms than that……
What Giant fans should have been upset over is the fact that the Giants’ coaches weren’t goading their cadaverous team with this kind of ferocity…this is football for ************ sake!!!!!
It might help, you never know. They’ll regret it when most of them are let go after this season……
Giants Play Like Turkeys: Get Gobbled Up in Denver, 26-6
“Little Blue” Outplayed, Outcoached and Flat-out Embarrassed……….
Where would you like me to start….?
On offense, where Eli Manning looked like a rookie running a new offense with garbage protection and no help from his receivers or the running game…?
Or on defense, where the line got pushed around by lesser athletes and the linebackers and d-backs looked like an over-40 touch football team….?
How ’bout special teams, where the Giants continue to do the ordinary (if their lucky)……
Or, the coaching staff, who has lost the ability to ignite any type of fire under this listless group …..?
The only redeeming quality about last night’s mail-order performance by the Giants is that it was broadcast on the NFL Network, so millions across the country were spared the anguish…..
Unfortunately, New Yorkers did not miss this game. And if the Giants do not qualify for the playoffs (which now seems likely), fans and pundits will be calling for a major overhaul.
Tom Coughlin will have to sit in front of Jerry Reese and re-apply for his job. Based on their history, Coughlin’s chances won’t be good. His coordinators won’t even get that opportunity. They’ll be fired long before that.
Bill Cowher is in New York a lot these days working for CBS Sports. I hear he likes it here……..
The Giants inactives for tonight’s game are as follows:
WR Ramses Barden, CB Kevin Dockery, T Guy Whimper, WR Sinorice Moss, CB DJ Johnson, RB Ahmad Bradsaw, G Adam Koets and LB Antonio Pierce.
No real surprises here, with Ross back, and Bruce Johnson playing the nickel, Dockery may be inactive the rest of the year. GO BLUE!
If you haven’t seen the promo for this weeks Giants Broncos game you are missing out. Unfortunately it is no where to be found on the Internet. I recorded it on my phone and sent it to everyone I know (if you want it, send me your number, this has to be breaking all sorts of Internet writer/reader rules huh? ok maybe don’t send it to me, up to you). The promo shows the Broncos coming out onto the field in slo mo, while interspersed with Giants highlights, then you hear a deep voice say this
FE……. FI………. FO……. FUM………….. BIG BLUE IS COMING TO SPOIL THE FUN.
Lets hope they are right. As usual Go Blue and happy Thanksgiving to all.
In an article by Michael Salfino on SNY.tv, read why the defensive play the rest of the season is more crucial than you may think.
Similarly, Sam Borden of SNY.tv also has an article on the Giants and how their road to the playoffs may be a tough one.
As we all know, the Giants are playing in Denver tonight causing them to cross two time zones in a three day span. Something president Paul Mara was (and is) not happy about. The Gmen then have consecutive home games against their two tougher division rivals in the Eagles and Cowboys. Therefore, the next three weeks won’t be easy ones.
Lets get past Denver first…I know.
Read Mike Garafolo’s players to watch for tonight’s matchup.
Gary Myers of nydailynews.com writes about the events of last year’s Thanksgiving weekend.
In case you forgot, it was the Plaxico Burress shooting and the start of the collapse for our New York Giants.
And Lastly, Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
Lets Go Big Blue.
First of all, on behalf of my colleagues here at GFB, I would like to extend a hearty and healthy Thanksgiving to all…..
The Giants (6-4) travel to Denver to take on the 6-4 Broncos tonight. The Giants are playing on Thanksgiving for only the third time since 1938.
In 1982, the Giants defeated the Detroit Lions in the Silverdome, 13-7, on a Lawrence Taylor 97-yard interception return for a TD. In 1992, they were doused in Dallas, 30-3, by Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and the powerful Cowboys.
TV: NFL Network (Channel 11 in New York) 8pm Announcers: Bob Papa and Matt Millen Radio: WFAN 660AM
Weather: Clear, 40′s
The Line: Giants by 6 1/2….O/U 42
The Skinny.….even though the Giants are playing poorly, the Broncos may be the only team around right now that they can surely beat, even without RB Ahmad Bradshaw and MLB Antonio Pierce…….Denver is playing pourous defense and their starting QB, Kyle Orton, is playing on a sprained ankle, making him a sitting duck…….the Giants are second in the NFL in total defense and fourth in total offense, but yet they are 6-4….they should be 8-2 and are still capable of pounding any team to death at will…..if they can sure up their red zone inefficienies on both ends, they will be the Giants again….that happens (at least for one game) tonight……..the Giants are back where they play best – the road……….
1. Cover Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall is an absolute beast. The Giants secondary did a nice job of covering a banged up Roddy White, but Marshall is a different animal. At 6-4, 230 pounds, Marshall is one of the toughest men to cover. After the catch, he is even better. Although he has had his ups and downs this season, when he’s on his game, he’s as good as Terrell Owens in his prime.
Eddie Royal is a good deep threat, but Marshall is the guy the Giants need to worry about.
2. Dial Up Pressure
The San Diego Chargers recorded three sacks, four tackles for a loss and four QB hits. The result was the removal of backup-turned-starter Chris Simms after a 2-4 day. Normal starter Kyle Orton did not fair any better, who threw 15/29 with no touchdowns and one interception.
During their four game losing streak, Orton has been sacked five times. However, in the one game he was not sacked, Orton completed 11 of 18 passes for 193 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a QB rating of 134.7. In the three games he was sacked, Orton completed 59 of 104 for 544 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions and a QB rating of 55.1.
3. Run The Ball
Three weeks ago, Rashard Mendenhall ran for 155 yards on 22 carries against them. Two weeks ago, Ladell Betts ran for 114 yards on 26 carries against them. Last week, the Chargers rolled up 203 yards on 43 carries against them.
In their last victory in week six, the Broncos held that very same San Diego Chargers to just 73 yards on 21 yards on the ground. But one of the keys to their downfall during their four game losing streak has been their inability to stop the run.
During that four game losing streak, they have allowed 168.75 rushing yards per game, and an average rush of 4.7 yards.
With Ahmad Bradshaw out, the Giants should rely heavily on Brandon Jacobs and Danny Ware against a susceptible Denver rushing defense.
4. Key On Moreno
The Broncos have two runningbacks: Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno. Buckhalter is a solid backup, but he is not anything special (now that I said this, I’m sure he’ll run for 150 yards this week).
But Knowshon Moreno was the 12th overall pick this year from Georgia, and he is expected to be the runningback of the future for the Broncos. He has 600 yards for the year, and has started to gain some momentum lately. In his last two games, Moreno has gained 177 yards on 28 carries, good for 6.3 yards per carry. Buckhalter has received only nine carries in his last two games.
However, Moreno has fumbled four times this season, and he has lost all four fumbles. So whike the Giants should expect to see a good amount of the talented youngster, they should remember that he has had some trouble holding on to the football.
5. Skip Thanksgiving Dinner
Aside from breakfast and fourthmeal, dinner is the most important meal of the day. But maybe it would be wise to skip the traditional hearty Thanksgiving dinner, or at least postpone it until after the game. I don’t have the right to tell football players what they can do, but I imagine it’s harder to run a post route or cover a wide receiver right after eating a turkey dinner, not to mention stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and maybe part of a vegetable.
Professional football players have plenty to be thankful for. They can wait a few extra hours for Thanksgiving dinner.
Giants Catching Another Team On the Decline…?
Last week, the Falcons hobbled into the Meadowlands and almost left New Jersey as improbable winners.
This week, the Giants are back where they play best – on the road. They will be a mile-high come Thanksgiving night, facing off against the fading Broncos at Invesco Field in Denver.
The Broncos have lost four straight after winning their first six games. Since coming off their bye week a month ago, the Broncos margin of defeat has been by an average of 20 points. They now appear to be headed out of playoff contention. The Giants can throw the knockout punch with a victory on Thursday.
The Giants, even though they hardly had any time to prepare for this game, need to take advantage of this opportunity. They recently signed DB D.J. Johnson off the Denver practice squad and are grilling him for intel on his former club.
“I’m just about all picked out. It was like being in a classroom, except I’ve gone from being a student to becoming the teacher. But I’m going to give them what I know, because they’re the ones signing my paycheques now.” said Johnson.
He also gave some advice about playing in the high-altitude…”I told them about staying hydrated and staying away from alcohol, all the good stuff…..”
The last time the Giants played in Denver was September 10, 2001…….
According to the Giants, OLB Michael Boley was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week based on his performance vs his old team – the Falcons – last Sunday.
Boley had 13 tackles – two behind the line for losses and two hits on QB Matt Ryan.
I have not seen an official announcement from the NFL on this as of yet……
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