This week's chat with Ernie Palladino

by Ed Valentine on Oct 2, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in New York Giants News

Last week long-time Giants writer Ernie Palladino and I started swapping questions. Each week we will answer the same set of questions, with Ernie's answers here and mine at his Giants Beat blog.

Interestingly, this week Ernie and I part ways on a couple of our answers.

1. How long do you stick with Lawrence Tynes after watching him miss two chip-shot field goals the last two weeks?

Ernie's Answer: The problem here is whether to ditch a guy before he costs you a game, or stick with him as he goes through his problems. That's the line a coach walks with all these kickers. And the fact that Tynes hasn't cost the Giants a game yet with his misses indicates that Tom Coughlin is probably not ready to go to his short list of outside help yet. In a recent post on my blog, I referred to Tynes as the Don Stanhouse of football. Remember him? He was Earl Weaver's closer in Baltimore for a while. Called him "Fullpack" because he forced Weaver to go through a whole pack of cigarettes before he got the job done. Dink hits, walk the bases loaded, it was never pretty with that guy. Tynes isn't pretty, either, but when needed, he has come through. He hit not once, but twice in Dallas as Wade Phillips tried to freeze him. And don't forget, this is the guy who kicked the Giants into the Super Bowl after having a perfectly horrible game. In football, it's the end result that counts. And so far he's been a winning kicker.

2. Were you surprised to see the Giants blow out a bad team in Tampa last week?

Ernie's Answer: Actually, I was blown away by it. The Giants historically have played down to their level of competition. After an emotional game in Dallas the week before, nobody would have blamed them for a slight letdown. But they came out fast and actually finished off the Bucs in the second half. If they can do that against Kansas City, in another loud, noisy venue where many a winning streak has gone to die, the Giants might be showing a new facet to their game -- a true killer instinct that has been missing for years.

3. There was some talk over the weekend that Brandon Jacobs wasn't running hard enough. Do you see a difference in Jacobs this season, or is he just off to a slow start and will end up with his usual numbers?

Ernie's Answer: I'm actually a little worried about Jacobs. He does seem to be picking his way into holes, and I'm not sure whether he's nursing a slight injury or if he's just pacing himself. He does have a problem with fragility, and with Bradshaw possibly out or limited on Sunday with a foot and ankle injury, Jacobs will have to last that much longer. Of course, he wasn't thinking about that last week. The positive is that he did take 26 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown. But he just hasn't looked right. Until I actually see a wrap around an ankle or something, I have to assume he's just off to a slow start. Even at this rate, he's a 1,000-yard runner if he stays healthy, so by the end we won't see much of a change.

4. Does the Giants' 3-0 record indicate true power, or just the exploitation of bad or overrated opponents?

Ernie's Answer: As with anything else, it's a little of both. Tampa is truly awful, and Dallas could well be overrated. But remember this. Even a bad team is capable of beating an injury-riddled team, which is what the Giants were when they went down to Raymond James Stadium. And the Giants manhandled the Bucs. That says something about the character of this team. If they come out of Kansas City with a win, even an ugly one, they'll have won three straight on the road. I don't care if they're playing high school teams, that's still hard to do. So I think the record leans toward power. There's a lot of good talent there, and more young talent developing behind it. Even the great Joe Louis fought the Bum of the Month. The key is, he won.

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another nice interview Ed.

ANd yea, that’s the funny thing about the 16 game schedule. If Jacobs “new style” lets him play 16 games, he’s gonna get 1000 yards. Then, probably not BBVers or die-Hard Giants fans in general, would say he’s had a good season when we all know that Jacobs is capable of a lot more.

As for the Giants wins being against those sort of teams, the fact the Giants are so banged up is the reason why I’m high on them for winning these games. They could have lose these games and had a pretty good excuse, they are missing a ton of players. But they didn’t, they actually didn’t miss a beat.

They look exactly like they did last year at this point.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 2, 2009 7:34 AM EDT reply actions

Jacobs/schedule

I think Brandon will be just fine and is off to a slow start. The schedule favors the G-men right now to go to 5-0(if they avoid the above mentioned play down to their level) and hopefully by the time the schedule gets tougher they will have their injured players back.

by 7mike on Oct 2, 2009 7:58 AM EDT reply actions

Sorry Ed/Guys, this is off topic

This is the first time i’ve been able to navigate into BBV?! The last time i was here was three days ago, and prior to this posting, everytime i would come here and try to navigate, my computer would freeze up. Anything i would try to view, this happened?

I don’t know why this was happening, because i was able to navigate around other SB Nation sites? For an unknown reason, i really was thinking i was banned?! But seriously, i wouldn’t have a clue why?

Hopefully whatever was happening, is now gone? It’s really hard not being able to come here, especially when it’s a daily routine.

by Hootman on Oct 2, 2009 8:26 AM EDT reply actions

we’ve had a few issues the last few days with the sites being funky like that. At this point if its working ok I wouldn’t worry about it

I think the concern for Jacobs is legitimate. The average life span for an NFL RB is not great to begin with, and when a guy that takes (and gives) as much punishment on every run as Jacobs does starts to show signs that “something’s not right”, you need to be concerned. He’s 27 already, in his fifth season.

The average NFL running back has a 7 year career with 4-5 “productive” years. By no means am I saying he’s on the decline, or anything like that. But I am saying that at his age, with his running style, it’s something to keep a close eye on.

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 2, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions

True

But he does not have a lot of carries so hopefully he is good for a few more years!

by G Fan in England on Oct 2, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Jacobs

There will be a decline, and I think it’s coming fairly soon. I am not convinced that it has begun, but as Jim says it is worth watching.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 2, 2009 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

A combination of factors?

Jacobs tinkering with his approach and perhaps the OL hasn’t had carbon copy blocking from last year? Success does fluctuate from year to year and one will rely on anothers fortune to succeed. Is Jacobs not seeing what he may have saw in the past?

I just hope this isn’t an example of what happened to Shaun Alexander?! 27 TD’s in ’05 to moreless out of the league the next two years!

by Hootman on Oct 2, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think Jacobs is declining...

I think the Offensive line is declining and I think KG is trying to run outside the tackles way too much….

how does a guy run downhill when they’re always trying to force him outside?

When Boothe filled in last week and they pulled with him he was flat out missing blocks….Jacobs is waiting for his blockers and they’re missing assignments. Hedgecock also needs to look at some film and realize that he’s not the same guy from years past.

Jacobs ran like a beast throughout preseason…I don’t believe that he’s changed so drastically in 3 games.

"If you don't know what you're doing... just rush the quarterback" - LT

by andiamo708 on Oct 2, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

I just find it odd...

that prior to last weeks game no one was talking about Jacobs’s running style, or him tiptoeing, or shuffling his feet….

But now he’s declining???

that’s odd to me…

"If you don't know what you're doing... just rush the quarterback" - LT

by andiamo708 on Oct 2, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree

Osi does not have a sack in two games – he must be in decline.

Let’s give it a few more games before making judgement here.

by G Fan in England on Oct 2, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually, if you go back and read what I wrote, I specifically said “By no means am I saying he is in decline”, and then Ed said “there will be a decline”, which is true.

No one in this thread said Jacobs is in decline. But I think we can all agree that something just isn’t right.

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 2, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

you are right...

I know that you never said that…

"If you don't know what you're doing... just rush the quarterback" - LT

by andiamo708 on Oct 2, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

it should be noted though

that Jacobs got only 38 carries as a rookie, and only 96 in his second season. Put them together and he still got less carries than most backs get in a single year. He’s not Larry Johnson or Shawn Alexander, getting 400+ carries a year (his career high is 219). Plus, he went to a smaller college, so he wasn’t getting pounded by SEC, ACC, or Big 10 defenses for 4 years the way guys like Cadillac Williams or Clinton Portis were.

"[The Giants] beat us down. We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us. ... It wasn't even close." - Raheem Morris, 9/27/09

by cjmulrain on Oct 2, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Those...

Are some very promising statistics.

thank you CJ, I feel happier :)

"We'll show up tomorrow and do the same thing we try to do every day, kick Pedroia's ass in cribbage and try and win a baseball game."

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 2, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

goes to show you....

As much as I think Tiki became a DBag towards the end of his career (me not team mentality, etc.), it just goes to show you how good he really was – at 32 still making it happen on every down.

..too bad he forgot that it was TC that cured his fumblitus.

RBs just don’t last that long..I hope that is not that case for BJ…but i’m still confident that as good as BJ can be, it’s the OLine that makes these RBs really good – a la Denver Broncos/Mike Shanahan offense.

by HugeGiantsfan on Oct 2, 2009 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

Great answer on #2

In the midst of this great run by the Giants, I had forgotten how the Giants always played down to the level of their competition. This shows how they have turned the corner from a simply good team to an elite one.

by potroast on Oct 2, 2009 9:02 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Very true

This is why I love Ernie, and I’m so glad he is willing and able to share opinions with me. The Giants are elite, and their maturity shows thru time and time again.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 2, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I’ve felt that Coughlin, for the most part, has always had the Giants in the right frame of mind against lesser opponents. There are always going to be slip-ups, that’s just the nature of the game, and the human element. But the problem is nowhere near what it was during the Fassel regime, where the Giants were almost guaranteed to give away 2 wins a year to lesser opponents.

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 2, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

AGREE AGREE AGREE

Jim Schmiedeberg, you are spot on. I don’t know where Ernie’s been lately, but the Giants have shown for over a year now that they are not playing down, not getting “trapped” by the bad opponent. Yes, it is hard to play at a high level 16 games in a row. But this was the problem with Fassel never handling prosperity well. The Giants players have learned how to win, the only thing that holds them back are these injuries and Gilbride, not weak opponent trap games.

by andy f. on Oct 3, 2009 6:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Against KC, there is no reason to believe, they will play down to their level

The Giants are wrapping up this three game road trip, and what better way to go home, at 4-0. It does have a trap-game feeling, but so didn’t last weeks Bucs game. Well, the Giants went down there and demoralized the whole city! So going to KC shouldn’t be any different. KC will have the advantage with the sea-of-red, but the Giants are road warriors for a reason. TC must have a knack for road preperation, whether it’s mental or game day!

by Hootman on Oct 3, 2009 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually..with Jacobs

I believe Gilbride hit the nail on the head, he was quoted as saying Brandon is trying to make perfect reads versus letting his natural instincts take control as most great runners do..and he didn’t seem worried about him..It was more of a “it will come” comment..but again 92 yards and a touchdown is not too shabby. Brandon’s refusal to address Siragusa’s comments gives me the feeling that he now has a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and KC better be ready to get mowed down, because he wasn’t pleased with the critique he received this week.

by Bobbiblue on Oct 2, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions

so Gilbride IS smart.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 2, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm actually more impressed

with this year’s team so far than I was with the 2008 version that had such a great record at the start. I’ve seen enough flashes of Jacobs this year that I’m not worried about some perceived decline. I’m kinda all talked out about Tynes, but I’m okay with him being the kicker the rest of this season. I didn’t find the Tampa game boring at all because it’s so much fun to watch these young players blossom. I’m really excited to see them again in KC. A touchdown by Nicks would be perfection.

by rzor on Oct 2, 2009 9:31 AM EDT reply actions

i agree

eli looks better than ever, the running game isnt missing ward at all, the defense even with a ton of injuries looks solid. and what about our receivers? theyre terrible, right? wrong. in fact, this might be one of the best receiving corps we’ve had in a long time.

by GiantsReignSupreme on Oct 2, 2009 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Stanhouse. Really painful analogy. Stanhouse cost the Orioles a world series in which they led 3 games to 1, and had the lead in each of the next 3 games. Each time Stanhouse came in, he gave up the lead. When Weaver put him in during game 7, people were throwing things at the TV. At least that’s how I remember it.

by Wide_right on Oct 2, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions

Jacobs

Sounds like Brandon is changing his running style a little bit. So, there can be a bit of set back when you try something new. But if he achieves his goal—to see the plays develop like Tiki did—he’ll be the second coming of Jim Brown. It’s a smart move because he is not gonna last too long in the league just knocking people over.

by hopeforthefuture3 on Oct 2, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

I for one ...

TEAM B-JAKE
He’s fine. It’s a couple of average games. When he hits stride and starts trucking LBs, settign the tone for this team, everyone will be slobbering over him again … this year AND next

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Oct 2, 2009 12:54 PM EDT reply actions

"I referred to Tynes as the Don Stanhouse of football..."

Or maybe we could also refer to Tynes as the Brian “don’t worry team, I’ll make it interesting in the 9th” Wilson…. The current SF Giants closer.

For any of you who haven’t seen a Giants game come down to him in the 9th you might as well grab another drink, it won’t be a quick one.

by one-bar on Oct 2, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions

But really....

Why expected Tynes to hit the winner against Dallas?

Honestly, I think he was so focused on getting his kickoffs longer this year that he’s screwed up his motion. That and the Giants kicking game seems to always be an adventure. Maybe if people start calling Tynes LT he’ll get better?

by Wide_right on Oct 2, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

I don't quite agree with that..

A kickoff and a field goal are two dfiferent things..I do agree that his mechanics are way off on filed goals he keeps pulling them left..The snaps are good, the holds are good..and then a shank..I don’t know why he isn’t hitting the ball right of center and let it draw back between the posts.

by Bobbiblue on Oct 2, 2009 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I just hope teams give him a practice

shot between kicks by calling time-out like Phillips did..He was perfect on the second try..and my back felt much better.

by Bobbiblue on Oct 2, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's not forget...

Jacobs rushed for almost 100 yards in 3 quarters against the Bucs and scored a TD while sharing touches with Bradshaw. The story the first two weeks was not Jacobs or any issues with him, but was opposing defenses putting 8 in the box and Eli picking the secondaries apart. Now that opposing defenses have to respect Eli’s arm, Smith’s hands and Mario’s feet, they won’t be putting 8 in the box on every down and our backfield’s job becomes easier. Jacobs will get huge yardage this season… don’t worry, my blue brethren.

Don’t get me wrong, Jacobs does have issues with his running that could be corrected, but they’ve been with him since he joined the Giants. For one, he runs a little upright through the gaps and needs to lower his center of gravity more. But that’s nitpicking really…

by HalfstepUptown on Oct 2, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions