Category Archives: 2007 Giants
It May Finally Happen.
It may finally be time to toss Moss. The Giants clearly aren’t comfortable letting a current roster member (especially the aforementioned player) take over the return duties. The arrival of Adam Jennings, a depth chart WR but actually a return specialist should end Sinorice Moss’s lackluster tenure in New York.
Jennings will likely be the main kick returner for the Giants in 2010
Several teams, such as the Carolina Panthers, opt to utilize the talent of starting caliber players on special teams. The Giants choose not to but have enjoyed a rare treat in Hixon over the past 3 seasons. Hixon is skilled enough to start as either a returner or a receiver but was stuck in depth chart limbo at 4th option.
In light of the Jennings’s arrival, I compiled a list of notable Giants specialists from the 2000 season and beyond.
Ron Dixon: Dixon carved out a place for himself in New York sports history when he ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown against the Eagles in the 2000 NFC Divisional game. From there on the Giants rolled through their two game playoff schedule, beating the Vikings a week later 41-0.
The Giants, of course, puttered out when they reached the Super Bowl. Losing 34-7, their only score came from a Dixon kick return. This may have been the spark needed to generate a comeback but the ensuring kickoff was also returned for a score by Baltimore. Giants fans would have to wait 7 more years for a heroic Super Bowl victory.
Brian Mitchell: Mitchell joined the Giants as a veteran. The depth cart running back had spent years starring as a premier return man in Washington and Philadelphia. Mitchell was set to be part of a Giants team poised for Super Bowl contention. However, injuries and several second half game implosions derailed New York’s season. The Giants lost the final 8 games of the year and finished 4-12.
Instead of being a key cog as a specialist on a championship squad, Mitchell’s final year in the NFL was spent as a glorified backup running back.
Mitchell makes this list for two reasons. First of all, he was brought in to be strictly a specialist and during his previous years in the NFL he was one of the best in the league. The second reason may have gone unnoticed to fans of 30 of the 32 NFL squads.
Ronnie Brown and the Dolphins seemingly unveiled the explosive wildcat offense for the NFL. The unorthodox style had been used almost exclusively at the college and perhaps high school levels before Miami made it popular in 2008.
Panther and Giants fans that had stayed tuned to a meaningless season finale in 2003 would have seen Mitchell display the offense 5 years earlier.
With Jim Fassel’s firing already made public, the Giants found themselves ending a hapless season at the hands of the eventual NFC champion Panthers. For one drive, Mitchell was inserted at running back (a sight odd enough in itself) and took direct snaps. It proved ineffective (even if it worked no one was watching) and the wildcat lay dormant until the Miami upset of New England in the fall of 2008.
Ponder in action during the Giants 2005 opener vs. Arizona
Willie Ponder: Like Hixon, Ponder also wore number 87 during his time in New York. Also like Hixon, he had a knack for finding the end zone on kickoffs. Unlike Hixon, he never found success as a receiver.
In 2004, a surprisingly hopeful opening to the season had dissolved for the Giants. After jumping out to a 5-1 record, Kurt Warner and the offense began to falter. After a string of losses, it was time to hand the keys over to a wimpy looking, young QB known as Eli Manning.
On Saturday, December 18th Manning was set to face off with Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben was drafted 11 picks after Manning but was in the midst of leading his Steelers to the AFC Championship game as a rookie. Unlike Manning, he had a large, powerful presence and several victories gave him confidence that the former clearly lacked (at the time).
Back to Ponder. Ponder opened the contest with a kick return for a touchdown that sent the excitement starved fans filling the Meadowlands into a frenzy that lasted nearly the entire game. A Frank Walker interception of Roethlisberger followed the return and Manning was able to take the field with momentum and the lead. The result was the first valiant effort put forth by Manning since replacing Warner. Though the Giants lost, Manning was able to take several necessary steps forward that day.
Despite the arrival of the next player on the list, Ponder made the 2005 roster. The season opener that particular year took place at home on the 4th anniversary of 9/11. Refusing to disappoint the New York area on this particular day especially, the Giants put on a show and romped the Cardinals. Part of that show included a rare feat: a kick return and punt return for touchdowns achieved by the same team in the same game. Ponder provided the kick return.
Ponder was the 2004 NFL leader in average kick return yards, but was cut before the 2006 season. He played for two NFC West teams in ’06 (Seahawks, Rams) but exited the NFL at season’s end.
Chad Morton: Like Mitchell, Morton had also made a name for himself returning kicks in Washington. Listed as a running back, Morton specialized in fielding punts during the 2005 season in New York. After a few weeks, he replaced Ponder as the kick return specialist and handled both duties. Unlike Mitchell, Morton was a member of the Giants during a relatively positive year. After two losing seasons, the Giants returned to prominence and won the NFC East. Morton provided the punt return to complete the dual return game against Arizona. He did not stay with the Giants in 2006.
Domenik Hixon: Hixon began his pro career in 2007 as a Bronco. He got off to a truly unfortunate start, nearly paralyzing a Buffalo defender upon being hit during a return. Later that season, Hixon became a Giant and made his first big impact in the regular season finale. He ran a kick back for a score against the Patriots in what would become a preview of Super Bowl 42.
Hixon continued to contribute through the successful postseason run. The Giants gave the receiver a shot on offense and in the second preseason game of 2008, the former Akron star didn’t disappoint. In the first quarter he racked up 3 touchdowns (two receiving, one return). This fantastic showing gave the organization confidence and when Burress was suspended for a matchup with the Seahawks the following October, Hixon got the start. Hixon notched a touchdown in that game as well.
He continued to contribute as both a receiver and dangerous return man through the 2009 campaign. Unlike the other players on this list, he saw significant playing time as a non specialist. A costly drop of a sure touchdown against the Eagles in 2008 derailed his campaign to become a permanent fixture in the starting lineup. Despite beginning training camp in 2009 as a starting receiver, Hixon soon found himself behind Smith, Nicks, and Manningham.
The versatile player was set to continue the return duties for New York in 2010, but his recent ACL injury has ended his season. Recently waived, it is expected that he will clear waivers and be placed on IR.
One has to wonder, if returning to the Giants will be a positive for the young player. Hixon could very well have been a starting wide receiver on several other NFL teams.
David Tyree: Tyree joined the Giants in 2003 and like most young players; he earned a roster spot by contributing on special teams. The players listed so far were each return specialists. Tyree however, excelled at gunner. Teaming with the best punter in NFL history, Jeff Feagles, he downed countless punts deep in enemy territory; often inside the 5 yard line.
Tyree, who earned a trip to the Pro Bowl as the NFC special teams selection, desired to be more than a gunner. In interviews he insisted that one day he would make a name for himself as a receiver. Despite being a fan favorite, this didn’t seem likely. Tyree saw his first significant action as a receiver during the 2004 season finale when he filled in for an injured Amani Toomer. He managed to score a touchdown but failed to carry the success over to 2005.
It didn’t seem very likely that Tyree would one day record perhaps the most famous NFL reception of all time. Rounding out the receiver corps with Hixon for Super Bowl 42 Tyree wasn’t guaranteed a large amount of playing time on a Giants team that favored extra tight ends and running backs than surplus receiver packages.
During the final team practice before the game he struggled to haul in a single ball despite being thrown to often.
As many of you know, I’m a Syracuse man. Super Bowl 42 occurred during my freshman year and I had the“privilege” of watching Giants history unfold in a dorm lounge filled with Patriot faithful. The gasps for air that filled the room when fellow Orangeman, Tyree, fell to the turf clutching the ball to his head still ring in my ears. Patriots fans resorted to obscenities while the Giants supporters enjoyed a two-tiered level of pride for both their team as well as their school.
Tyree with fellow special teams standout, Chase Blackburn
The miraculous catch coupled with his touchdown reception defied the odds and allowed Tyree to reach heights that no specialist has before. Almost fittingly, Catch 42 was the final catch Tyree would make for the Giants.
A Sports Illustrated cover later, Tyree was finally in position to compete for significant time at receiver in 2008. A hamstring injury cost him the entire season. In 2009, he entered camp buried under at least 4 if not 5 other players on the depth chart. He failed to make the team after a horrendous showing.
Despite his declined receiving skills, the Giants made a serious error cutting the Super Bowl hero. Two or three well downed or blocked punts (the plays Tyree excelled at) would have been much more valuable than the single reception recorded by guess who….Moss.
Tyree played one last season as a gunner for Baltimore and will likely be hanging it up for good in the coming weeks.
Quick NFL Notes:
-I don’t buy “Favre Watch” for a second and neither should you. On what alien planet would a team that is supposedly set for Super Bowl contention wait until nearly August before finding out if it had a starting QB?
Let’s assume that there really is doubt surrounding Favre’s return (which there isn’t). Wouldn’t the Vikings have brought in some insurance at QB? Would Minnesota hand the keys of their solid roster over to Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels?
As a PR guy I can’t knock them for trying to generate buzz, but this song and dance was interesting the first time and intriguing the second. It’s ridiculous now.
-Terrell Owens wants a home. He’ll get one. It should take about a week or two of training camp for someone to lose a valuable receiver. To be fair to the guy, he kept his mouth shut in Buffalo. For those who argue that he usually waits until the second year to stir up trouble: No one is going to sign him to a multi year deal. He’ll likely surface on a mid level club about a month from now.
Tagged David Tyree, Domenik Hixon |
Lawrence Tynes on Late Night With David Letterman
From January 28th, 2008….Tynes had just kicked the Giants to the Super Bowl. Letterman chides him on his several missed kicks, as only Letterman can….
Tagged David Letterman, Lawrence Tynes, New York Giants, New York Giants Video |
I think we can all agree that Jerry Reese is a good GM, who has mostly done his part in providing the Giants with the players that the team needs to win. On the surface it would seem that little of last season’s shortcomings were due to Reese’s personnel decisions, and are more attributable to injuries and bad coaching. But I wonder, if I were to put a number to Reese’s draft and offseason moves, would he average out among the better GMs in league history? Mediocre? Or just plain terrible? Over the next four weeks I intend to apply a letter grade and GPA to Reese’s off season moves and draft picks in order to more realistically tag him as a GM.
2007
1) Aaron Ross, DB, Texas – Ross was a lockdown corner for a little while there and contributed steadily until he got debacled by some injuries. Reese could have gotten all hot and bothered and threw away a whole bunch of picks to get Darelle Revis but he showed great restraint in taking Ross: A
2) Steve Smith, WR, USC – Money in the bank baby: A+
3) Jay Alford, DT, Penn State – Alford committed arguably the most spectacular sack in Super Bowl history against Tom Brady and the Pats during Super Bowl 2007. Then he summarily disappeared of the face of the earth. In Reese’s defense, Alford did not have an injury history in college: C+
4) Zak DeOssie, LB/LS, Brown – I don’t want to underestimate the quality of a good long snapper. But draft your long snapper in the 7th round or draft an offensive lineman that can snap: D
5) Kevin Boss, TE, Western Oregon – Boss continues to be a solid contributor, nothing spectacular, but a good pick: B
6) Adam Koets, OL, Oregon State – The only real non-contributor in 2007. We’re still waiting for some good stuff from Koets. If 2010 isn’t his year he doesn’t have a year: C-
7) Micheal Johnson, DB, Arizona – Another disappearing 2007 contributor. At least he was 7th rounder: C
7) Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Marshall – Bradshaw’s got it all. I don’t know why he actually fell to the 7th round. He had good numbers and Marshall has some descent visibility. At any rate, Bradshaw has to be in the top five change of pace backs in the league and you got him very late in the draft, a Jerry Reese home run: A+
Off-season Moves – Quiet Off-season. It has to be said that Reese ignored the fact that Antonio Pierce’s skills were deteriorating and he was the only starting MLB in the NFL with a beer gut. I think this is the season that the Giants signed Gibril Wilson to a one-year deal instead of a long term contract. In 2008 he got an offer too expensive for the Giants to match: C- (For a lack of foresight)
-Season GPA: 2.6
I’m just saying…
WR Steve Smith wants a raise. And doesn’t he deserve one? Has any Giant ever deserved one more?
Godspeed to AP in his career as a broadcaster for ESPN. Hopefully he shows a little more restraint than Tiki-bear did. And hopefully, he especially shows more restraint than his old club-spelunking days with Plaxico Burress.
Tagged Adam Koets |
We figured during the summer months (aka the NFL dry season) we’d import some video for our readers each Friday to fill some dead air.
Today’s video is anything but. Giants fans of all ages will eat this first selection up with a fork and spoon.
Here is a ten minute clip from NFL Films’ America’s Game series.
It is about the 2007 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. There is some rare footage here and interesting anecdotes from Eli Manning, Michael Strahan and Tom Coughlin.
The piece is narrated by Emmy Award and Golden Globe-winning actor (and lifelong Giants fan) James Gandolfini
Tagged Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, New York Giants, New York Giants Blogs, New York Giants News, New York Giants Video, Super Bowl XLII, Tom Coughlin |
One of the things that surprised me about the Giants 2010 draft was that they neglected to get a RB prospect. It’s not that a team has to walk away from every draft with a back (though they should at least take a viable UDFA every season), but considering both the lack of production in the 2009 season run game and the fact that every giant RB was coming off of a major injury in 2010, it would have been prudent to walk away with something. I’m big into the prospects that make a name for themselves with production in college and I was hoping especially for Joique Bell out of Wayne State.
At any rate, let’s take a look at some of the reasons that the running game fell apart in the 2009 season:
When the Giants drafted a 6’4”, 264 lb running back, I certainly had my doubts about his ability to be successful in the NFL. Primarily, not having much game tape available of Brandon Jacobs, I thought he would be too slow, too lanky, and too heavy to produce consistently. I didn’t even think of the concept that such a huge back with such a punishing style would, in turn, take a lot of extra punishment. I did wonder if he would take too many blows to the legs. He certainly proved me wrong in respect to being too slow, lanky, or heavy. Jacobs has been good for at least 800 yards the past 3 seasons.
The problem with Jacobs, I’ve come to realize in watching the Giants offense last season, is that featuring a back of his size ties you to the power running game and an offense built around said power running game. And that’s fine. That’s my favorite kind of football and it is among the biggest reasons for the Giants success in 2007 and 2008. However the Giants franchise QB is Peyton Manning’s little brother and the offensive planners, which I’m sure include Eli, want to spread it out and they want to air it out. What you and I witnessed last season was an offense that ran out of single back and shotgun formations more than in the past two seasons.
Being able to run out of those formations is important for the element of subterfuge, which is of growing importance in today’s NFL, but how well does it serve the Giant’s overall game? Jacobs doesn’t get the running start that a guy his size needs to push the pile or break tackles. And he’s a liability in the passing game to boot. Madison Hedgecock, who is built like a textbook linebacker spends way too much time on the sidelines. And the offensive line isn’t run blocking as much. We all know run blocking makes offensive linemen happy. We also know that the Giants line is exceptionally good at it.
Then we have to be aware of how that affected a defense that was already a liability, due to injuries. I thought the 2009 defense took way too much flak coming out of the season. Injuries are injuries. You can’t do anything about guys getting hurt. But you can do something about keeping a hobbled defense off the field. And you do that with the power running game.
Ahmad Bradshaw is my personal favorite RB on the team. He has a great running style. One of the habits that great backs have is that they keep their feet moving. Well Bradshaw keeps both his upper and lower body moving at all times and it gives him incredible balance and tackle breaking ability. He’s also a better passing option than Jacobs. That being, I don’t think Bradshaw is a starter. I think he needs a sizeable contribution from another back to be at his best. Think of how effective Marion Barber when he doesn’t have to be a full-time back.
DJ Ware? Phooey. Has this guy ever not been hurt? Would any team give a player this many chances?
Gartrell who???
Andre Brown has the potential to be a feature back. But at this point that’s all he has, potential. He wasn’t very productive at N.C. State – partly due to injury – and he was hurt coming into his rookie season. He has flashed some good rushing and good receiving skills, but how will a year off affect him and will he ever be able to play a full season?
A major key for the Giants in 2010 will be figuring out the identity of their running game, and transversally, their offense overall. Then they will need to bring in personnel that fit that offensive mode. If they can move in that direction, an X receiver really emerges as a dominant weapon, and the Giants line gels again like it did in 2007, then the offense will be, as they say, good money.
What do you think? Do you see the Giant rushing attack having a bounce back season? Do you trust in the health of the players? Should the Giants have drafted a RB in 2010?
Keep an eye on – Dominik Hixon is out for the season. That was the Giants’ most developed split end. It’s all about Super Mario Manningham now.
Tagged Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants, New York Giants News |
As I was perusing the blogs on ESPN.com, I noticed an interesting fact. The New England Patriots have a 15-game winning streak against the NFC dating back to Sept. 18, 2005 when they lost to the Carolina Panthers.
Good thing this is a regular season thing, because I faintly remember a different NFC team beating the Patriots a little more recently. See below:
Bob Glauber at Newsday lists his top ten Giants of all time. Michael Strahan checks in at number two, head over to Newsday to see who winds up on top and how the rest of the list breaks down.
I’m curious what your top ten lists would be, post them in the comments section.
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