A conversation with 'Bleeding Green Nation,' Day 2

by Ed Valentine on Jan 7, 2009 10:00 AM EST in News Comment 16 comments

Jason from 'Bleeding Green Nation' and I have been continuing our conversations regarding this weekend's New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles playoff game.

Remember to stop by 'Bleeding Green' and see how the Eagles' fans are reacting to our little chats.

Anyway, follow the jump for the result of our second conversation. This one was started by yours truly.

Big Blue View: Everywhere I look this week I see stories about how the Eagles are hot, that they are following the Giants' script from last season. I have some thoughts on that, but I'd love to hear yours first.

Bleeding Green Nation: I think in some ways the Eagles current run mimics the Giants last year and others it doesn't. For one, the Giants' situation at the end of last year was never as desperate as ours was. The Eagles were .500 around midseason this year and rarely looked like they'd be in the postseason. As I remember things never got that desperate for you guys last year. By week 17 last year you'd clinched a playoff spot. We were praying for miracles to happen in week 17 this year ...

I think when people refer to the Giants "getting hot" they're talking about the postseason. For now, when people talk about the Eagles getting hot I think they're referring to the past month. Now if we go on the road and beat the NFC East champs in the divisional round of the playoffs ... then I think the Giants comparisons will start to get stronger.

Now, the one area where I think legit comparisons can be made between the run that Giants team went on and this Eagles team is that they're both doing it with defense. Not to take anything away from Manning and co, but the Giants got to the superbow because they had a hot defense that got after the QB and created turnovers. That's the Eagles defense is doing right now and that's what has fueled their run to the postseason.

Big Blue View: Interesting. I would have said that the thing that changed for the Eagles -- probably starting with the second Giants game -- is that they started remembering that they had a guy named Brian Westbrook and actually started consistently handing him the ball. Would you agree with that?

Bleeding Green Nation: I would agree with that, but I think it had as much to do with his health as much as anything. He spent a good part of the first of this season beat up. Missing games, playing hurt... It seems like down the stretch he's gotten much healthier and the focus of the offense has been on him. That said, I would agree that there's been a greater emphasis on running the ball for the most part.

I thought it was very interesting that despite having very little success running the ball against the Vikings, the Eagles uncharacteristically stuck with it. I would imagine they'll do the same this week, especially given how well they ran the ball against you guys last time. Speaking of that... what do you put the Eagles rushing success in game 2 on?

Big Blue View: Short answer to that is Antonio Pierce. Simply, he has not played well since the whole Plaxico Burress thing. The Giants have been burned for long runs in each of their last four games, and Pierce has been out of position on several of those. Also, both Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins have been dinged up. The Giants have gotten pushed around a bit right up the gut of the defense toward the end of the season, and to be honest it's a huge concern.

Bleeding Green Nation: I noticed you wrote this week that you think the key to beating the Eagles is simple. Stop Westbrook. Is that possible with Pierce playing poorly and your interior lineman beat up?

Big Blue View: Is it ever really possible to stop Westbrook? I think, honestly, that only injuries and Andy Reid can keep Westbrook bottled up forever.

I have mentioned a couple of times how important I thought the bye was for the Giants. I think their defensive line will be as healthy and as rested as they have been in a long time, and I expect that group to play well.

As for Pierce, I don't know what to expect. Against Minnesota he played well, expect for one play where he was hopelessly out of position and Adrian Peterson went for about a 70-yard touchdown run.

He's not dominating physically, so he needs to be in the right place. Also he has seemed slow in pass coverage. I'm hoping the Giants get him out of the game in obvious passing situations, or assign a safety to Westbook.

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hearing pierce on the FAN

I got the impression that he thought the long runs were because of players not staying their gaps. Now I can’t tell, but it seems possible that AP looking out of position might just be because he’s staying in his gap. Something to think about.

by queler on Jan 7, 2009 11:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well for God sakes

Everybody….

Photobucket "/>

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 7, 2009 11:35 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

great post haha

by cjmulrain on Jan 7, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No one...

had better Gap Control than Strahan.

To me, it’s less about AP “minding the gap” and more about him looking old and slow. He doesn’t seem to put himself in position to make plays like he used to.

Then again, maybe that was the problem before…he was already a step late and that’s why he got flagged for the Personal Foul so much. Now he’s a step slower and just can’t get to the ball carrier until after the ref has set the ball and is signaling to restart the clock.

Think about it…when was the last time he was offsides? Would he have to start his jump now to be offsides on Sunday?

by Intellectual Derriere on Jan 7, 2009 12:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

does he blitz often?

by queler on Jan 7, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A Frustrated Jets Fan

Figures Out Who To Root For In the NFL Playoffs

http://dagblog.com/humor-satire/nfl-playoffs-figuring-out-who-root-383

Congrats Giants fans, we know you’re better – you don’t need to rub it in every time

by mortimus on Jan 7, 2009 1:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

deep down i feel bad, really i do

i have two close friends that are the die-hardiest (not a word) of die-hard Jets fans. their lives are miserable every fall.

as a side note, my dad and i were helping my sister move into her new apartment and he said, “i don’t think Mark Gastineau could lift this box by himself.” we both looked at each other weirdly and he said, “wait, I meant Mark Bavaro. What the hell is wrong with me?”

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 7, 2009 1:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you

Your words are comforting. Though I will respond by saying that “ALL” Jet fans are die-hards. Because no sane person would suffer through this much torture as a lukewarm fan. Deep down I kind of feel that all Jet fans are masochists, and we enjoy the pain because there is ZERO glory with this awful franchise. I envy you guys, really I do.

by mortimus on Jan 7, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Giants IMO

would do better to let Phillips shadow Westbrook. If they go 4 wide bring an extra man to keep him in the backfield. The thing worrying me most is that the Giants have not fared well against the screen. Hopefully that’s been addressed as well.

We're only gonna score 17 points?

by big blue wrecking crew on Jan 7, 2009 1:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah watch out for the Iggles "double-secret magic screen pass"

that they’re not going to call until the game is on line late. They’re really scary like that.

Save the neck for me, Clark.

by Mr. Met on Jan 7, 2009 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If the G-men are as healthy

as they look to be, all of this talk is moot. There is no way the Eagles will compete with a healthy Giants squad. They will be ground to powder. This is not last year and they are no where near last year’s Giants squad in terms of talent or heart. On top of all of that, this year’s version of the NYG is WAAAY better than last year’s team. I don’t even think that can be said about the Eagles. They have NO shot against the Giants. It will be good to see them sent home, finally.

by MJ20 on Jan 7, 2009 1:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Come on, man

they are not the little sisters of the poor. As much as I hate them, and have confidence that the G-men should prevail, I don’t believe this is a “ground them into dust” type of situation. Every game against them seems to come down to a few plays in the 4th quarter. A dropped pass here, a bad penalty there – that could easily be the difference. Of course, I’ll be glad to be proven wrong!

Save the neck for me, Clark.

by Mr. Met on Jan 7, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ground Them Into Dust?

This is a very good Eagles team that is hitting on all cylinders at the moment. Their defense is every bit as good as the Giants if not better, and their offense can be potent. Do not underestimate this team.

If the Eagles are able to contain Jacobs like they were able to do against Adrian Peterson last week, the Giants will be in for a test. I think these teams are about as evenly matched as possible and this should be quite a game.

Chris Iafolla http://heardinthecheapseats.com/

by Chris Iafolla on Jan 7, 2009 3:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs