Giants or Panthers? A debate

by Ed Valentine on Dec 19, 2008 11:47 AM EST in New York Giants News

Here is a little video preview from ESPN of Sunday's New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers game.

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I'm going

to side with Golic on this one (and I’m not talking about the Steelers).

by potroast on Dec 19, 2008 12:02 PM EST reply actions

They both make good points

I think a key will be which teams sets the ‘tone’ early in the game. Who makes a big play and which team capitalizes on early opportunities.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Dec 19, 2008 2:25 PM EST reply actions

Which I think he will be, the Giants are in a much better place. He’s the best interior defender on the team. Our defensive backs pretty much all tackle well so I don’t think they’ll break off the big run. The real question is which quarterback will be able to cut through the wind and hit his receivers. What effect will Keydrick Vincent being out have on your Offense?

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

by Hoyadestroya85 on Dec 19, 2008 6:19 PM EST reply actions

Jake + Smith vs. Eli + ???

The Panthers haven’t looked much different when o-line men went down this year. Jeremy Bridges will step in and feel the role. Both QBs are very similar but Jake has the advantage because he is throwing to Steve Smith. Jake will under throw him and throw to him when he is double or triple covered, and somehow Smith compensates and turns nothing into a big play.

on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city

by southtunnel on Dec 19, 2008 10:54 PM EST up reply actions

Which team has the better?

Better QB: Jake Delhomme
Jake and Eli are very similar QBs, but Jake still has his big play weapons to throw to.

Better RBs: Panthers
Jacobs is not 100%, and Panthers have 2 RBs that just put 300 yards on one of the NFLs best defenses.

Better Receivers: Panthers
Do I really need to explain this one?

Better defense: Giants
Even though they haven’t played well recently, I’ll still give them the edge. Plus Carolina’s D hasn’t played great on the road.

My conclusion is if the NY defense doesn’t shut down the run and rattle Jake, then the NY offense can’t match the Panther’s big plays.

on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city

by southtunnel on Dec 19, 2008 11:03 PM EST reply actions

I really only take issue with one

I’d say that Eli has the edge in the QB department.. While i agree with you that he has weapons to throw to, how is Eli is used to playing in the crappy Meadowlands weather, Jake is not. And below your second receiver, isn’t there a steep drop off in talent?

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

by Hoyadestroya85 on Dec 19, 2008 11:34 PM EST up reply actions

Green Bay + Bad Weather = Panther Win

Jake and Eli are both veterans with almost identical QB ratings. They can both be rattled by defenses into making bad decisions. They both (I find this interesting) went neck-to-neck with Tom Brady in the Superbowl, in which Jake scored more TDs but lost by a field goal… while Eli pulled out the W.

Jake just played in Green Bay in crappy weather, and won. Bad weather didn’t seem to make any difference. Again Steve Smith compensates for a lot of his mistakes. But to be fair, let me point out I am a Panther fan… so a little Jake jock sniffing wouldn’t be out of the ordinary.

on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city

by southtunnel on Dec 19, 2008 11:44 PM EST up reply actions

any debaters?

on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city

by southtunnel on Dec 19, 2008 11:04 PM EST reply actions

Yes

Eli has less weapons to throw to in your mind yet his TD:INT is a LOT better (Eli = 20:10, Jake 14:12). Eli has a better rating, which was much higher before he started getting pummeled the last few weeks. Within the last year Eli has grown and keeps the mistakes down. Jake is still making those mistakes.

There is also a big difference between the two in that Eli has a better arm and I don’t think anyone would argue that point.

Maybe Jake played well in the matchup vs Brady, but fact is Eli lead his team to the WIN at the end of the SB. He won it. Jake didn’t. I don’t know how you could make comparisons in that department.

I sort of agree with the rest of your points, but you are vastly under-rating our receivers with your easy dismissal. You have one great WR & one pretty good one. We have several pretty good ones. We clearly miss our great one, but this corps has plenty of talent to make this offense one of the best. Also, from everything Jacobs is saying it doesn’t sound he’s too banged up. He claims its no worse than at any point since week 3 and he’s had some very big games in that stretch.

by potroast on Dec 20, 2008 8:08 AM EST up reply actions

Regardless of Sunday...

With QBs there are intangibles that must be taken into consideration. Jake has been labeled the best signal caller in the league. His energy and attitude motivates teammates, where Eli is pretty nonchalant. Jake has nearly 20 career 4th quarter comebacks because he can rally his team when it counts. You can’t place a stat on that.

As far as receivers, many analyst say Dwayne Jarrett is better than your Steve Smith. But Jarrett is buried on our roster while yours starts. And I would say our #2 is as good or better than your #1. Everybody knows the Giants receivers have struggled without Burress. And the Panthers Steve Smith is the best player on the field almost every given Sunday.

But you are absolutely right about the SuperBowl win. Regardless of Sunday, if the Panthers don’t make it to the Superbowl, and win it… then they will pail in comparison to what you guys have accomplished. Bottom line.

on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city

by southtunnel on Dec 20, 2008 9:04 PM EST up reply actions

Jarret and Smith

I know Jarret was a little more highly touted out of college, but both are very talented, and Smith would be a legitimate #2 or 3 receiver on most teams in the league right now. Toomer, while definitely on the back 9 of his career, is still an extremely dependable receiver. And Hixon has a ton of upside, although he’s been terrible since Plax got hurt, dropping two sure-thing long TD passes (I think he’s putting too much pressure on himself).

The fact is, if we still had Burress, I don’t think you’d be able to call our receiving corps anything but a wash. W/o Burress you guys have a clear advantage, but it’s not like we’re the Dolphins receiving corps either (speaking of which – does anyone else find it strange that the two worst teams in the league, Detroit and Cincy, both have pretty good WR’s. Det has Calvin and Cincy has Houshmananana plus a washed up Ocho Cinco and a decent Chris Henry. Goes to show how unimportant having great receivers is if you don’t have the other pieces).

Also, who is your TE? I’m drawing a blank on this one.

by cjmulrain on Dec 21, 2008 1:11 AM EST up reply actions