It's Friday, so Ernie P. is in the house

by Ed Valentine on Oct 9, 2009 7:09 AM EDT in News Comment 48 comments

Time for my weekly Q&A with long-time New York Giants beat writer and current fellow blogger Ernie Palladino. As always, we are answering the same set of questions. You will find my answers over at Ernie's Giants Beat.

1. If Eli Manning does play against Oakland, how effective will he be on that injured right heel?

Ernie's Answer: "As tough as Eli has shown in the past, having an injured heel is an entirely different situation than, say, a shoulder. Most people think a passer's strength comes from his arm. But in reality, those deep throws are a function of a solid base to throw off of. Without that, the passes either float or lose distance. So unless an anti-inflammatory injection indeed relieves the pain enough for him to move unfettered, expect a shortening up of the game plan to accommodate the injury. Also, the offensive line will have to hold their blocks a lot longer since he won't be able to move around in the pocket very well. Still, having Manning in there at 75 percent efficiency is, to me, still better than the alternative in David Carr. I think if the running game can get going and Steve Smith can get open in the middle zones, Manning can still have an effective passing game. You just won't see as many long shots as you've seen in previous games."

2. With Michael Boley sidelined for approximately four weeks following Tuesday's arthoscopic knee surgery, is Chase Blackburn or Bryan Kehl the best option to replace him at weakside linebacker?

Ernie's Answer: "Thanks to Kehl's broken finger, which he has had repaired surgically, Blackburn will be starting. That's not a bad thing because the kid's got a great motor and he can get into the backfield. Though he's not the great cover linebacker around, you have to love his intensity. But Kehl's status bears watching. He was in the process of driving the trainers crazy, trying to convince them that a mere two screws surgically implanted in a left index finger is no reason to miss a game or two. If his argument is successful, I wouldn't be adverse to seeing him at WLB for a couple of series. He's earned the time with his special teams play, having gotten the special teams game ball two games in a row now. He proved he can be around the ball with his fumble recovery of the opening kickoff, and his recovery of the on-side kick that opened the second half showed he has good hands. On top of that, he, too, has had experience at WSL, having started two games there after original starter Gerris Wilkinson went down injured. And like he said this week, "I've got another hand." I think there's a good possibility that he'll be active, despite predictions that he'll miss two games.

3. With a quarter of the season gone, what is your assessment of the Giants. Are they truly an elite team, or can't we tell because they've been beating up on inferior competiton?

Ernie's Answer: "Oh, I think we can tell. The phrase "beating up" is key here because, in past seasons, the Giants would often play down to the level of their competition. In fact, had this recent road stretch against two of the NFL's have-nots come, say, two years ago, the Giants might have dropped one, if not two of those contests. Remember the life-and-death game against a bad Bears' team in Chicago in 2007, where only a circus catch by Amani Toomer in the end zone won it? Or the last-minute goal line stand in FedEx Field that same year that saved their season against a decidedly mediocre Redskins squad. Those occurrences aren't happening this year. They're blowing bad teams out now, which is the hallmark of an elite team. You expect them to go down to the wire in Dallas. But the easy victories over Tampa and KC show the real strength of this team. Now, a lot depends on the health of Eli Manning, but if they can get through the Oakland game and then head to the Superdome for even a tight, hard-fought loss to the Saints, the Giants must be considered a legitimate power. I already consider them one. A few more injuries, though, and you might see this power sink to also-ran status quickly."

4. Now that the Giants are sticking with Lawrence Tynes, how long can Tom Coughlin put up with him missing makeable field goals?

Ernie's Answer: "Not long, apparently. Although Matt Bryant was not deemed an answer in his tryout Tuesday, it was obvious that Coughlin has just about had enough. Perhaps the tryouts were simply a way of sending a message to Tynes that he'd better get himself straightened out quickly. But the fact is, Tynes still hasn't cost the Giants a game with his misses. As annoying as those misses are, Tynes still leads NFL kickers with 41 points. And let's face it, the only kick he missed when it was still a game was the one in Dallas as the Giants led 20-17. His miss in Tampa came at 14-0, and the one against KC came at 20-3. Annoying, yes. But not a big deal. Had last year's robot, John Carney, hit the market this week, it might have been a different story. But until he comes free from New Orleans, I wouldn't expect any panic moves from Coughlin. Another miss, though, and that might change."

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Things that annoy me get old fast...

and (not Palladino obviously) I’m getting sick of hearing that “its only the Raiders”.

No, this is a game on NFL Sunday. A Manning wants to play, let him frickin play. The guy wants to practice, yesterday. He wants to PRACTICE!

Sit him for the week? Are you kidding me? They have to amputated my foot after I repeatedly kick walls after watching 4 quarters of David Carr.

If its “bothering” him (more than it has in the first 4 weeks…), we have these guys who wear #27 and #44. How about we get a game where we go back to around week 17, 2008, and run for 9 million yards with our 1 and 2 backs?

I know you need your feet to throw and all a that, but apparenly Eli’s in less pain when he seperated his shoulder and ~~was out for the season last year~~ played that following Sunday.

I’m sure Eli, like myself, doesn’t care if he was playing against the Oakland Raiders or Cal State Poly (sorry Ramses…), he’s playing.

If the end of the 3rd or the 4th seems like it did against the Chiefs or Bucs? Have a seat Eli.

While the game still matters, Carr stays where he belongs, on the bench.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 9, 2009 8:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

**Week 16 against Carolina.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 9, 2009 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with that notion, "it's only the Raiders"!!!

Just like question 3 alludes to, the Raiders are an inferior team, and the Giants need to treat them as such. At this point, i ~~don’t~~ care who QB’s this game, he (David) needs to be ready! Now, i’m only using reverse psychology on myself in the event that Carr does play. As much as Eli may want to play, or if he can, i’m sure TC and Co. are going to play this close to the vest. As fans, we’ll have to respect their decision and the reason why!

I want Eli to play, but at what cost? We have to be realistic, but not only for Eli, but the team, the fans and the future. Without Eli, the rest won’t matter!

by Hootman on Oct 9, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I happen to agree about the Raiders

They are an NFL team. Can’t just blow them off. If Eli can play, he should play.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 9, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the Giants are doing this correctly

Plan A, is getting his rest and treatment, and Plan B, is getting important chemistry/gameplan with the first team if Plan A is limited! No game is guaranteed, and every game “is” important. That’s why i feel that Eli plays and when/if called upon, Carr knows whats going on. This may be why he’s taking all of the snaps this week!

Afterall, he’s not taking mop-up snaps here, they’re actual what we want to do snaps. Eli knows what his toys do and are about!

by Hootman on Oct 9, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, but

if you’re a good enough team, you should have faith that your backup can get it done for one game against arguably the worst team in the NFL. The Eagles blew out the Chiefs with Kevin Kolb, who had been awful in his only appearances before this season. David Carr should be better than Kolb.

I’m not saying they should rest Eli – in fact I really want him to play. But if they do rest him, the Giants should still win the game

"[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 9, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can't say that

about any NFL team. There is too much parity, too much motivation in bad teams to beat elite teams and too much potential momentum swing from a couple bad plays to say that any NFL team can be overlooked.

So they should treat Eli’s health as if they were playing the Vikings in week 16 to decide home field.

But, and Eli has mentioned this, if this injury has altered his mechanics in any way in practice, I think he should sit out. Bad habits and/or overthrowing to compensate for weakness in footwork can derail a career quickly and cause surgery-bound injury.

I haven’t read anything to that effect so I expect he plays but that would be my only concern.

by Jaybat on Oct 9, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What?

Game 16 against the Vikes = game 5 against the Raiders? And driving my pick-up down the hill in a blizzard is the same as driving Porsche on I-95?

by hopeforthefuture3 on Oct 9, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So...

is Eli the pick-up and Carr the…car?

You’re right, of course the games are not of equal importance. What I said was his health should be treated equally in both cases. It shouldn’t matter if it’s a pop warner team or the AFC all stars. If Eli can go and the game counts in the win-lose column, he should go.

by Jaybat on Oct 9, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's why I said....

I don’t want to hear this “its only the Raiders” crap.

Its an NFL team and they should be treated as such. I know they can’t get out of their own way most of the time and will probably beat themselves before the Giants can even step on their throats…

but I don’t want to hear that Eli should sit cuz “its only the Raiders”.

Treat Eli like he’s been treated the past few games…sit him when it seems the game’s out of reach.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 9, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tynes

Having your FGK leading the league means you are not doing your job in the red zone.

by 7mike on Oct 9, 2009 8:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

4-0.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 9, 2009 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is right on!!!

by Bobbiblue on Oct 9, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Always good to hear from Ernie.

What happened with his newspaper column? I know he was sick for a while, then came back. Like a lot of other BBVers, I’m sure, I miss it.

It’s great to see Kehl coming on.

As for Eli, I’d like to see him play, but don’t want his heel to get worse. I keep thinking of the championship game with the Bears when YA had the knee of his plant leg torn up by a late, cheap helmet shot. (No penalty. Legal then. As I recall, the guy who did it was the game MVP.) The Giants put in his back up (Clatterbuck?), who couldn’t do the job. At the half, the Giants shot up YA with pain killers and wrapped his leg from thigh to ankle, but he still couldn’t throw. Another championship game we lost that should have been a win (There were two others in that five year stretch we should have won had they been played, like today, in a warm weather site.).
I just have to trust that whatever decision the Giants make will be the right one.

by blue gonz on Oct 9, 2009 8:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ernie

Sadly, Ernie has been victimized by the shrinking newspaper industry. He is out on his own now, and we’re happy to have him contribute here whenever he wants to.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 9, 2009 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I miss my Daily news and NY Post

At least I get the Daily News online..Ernie is a great reporter, and this new internet venue is probably the best for him to get active in. He still has all his contacts and experience, he simply posts it in a blog versus a paper.

by Bobbiblue on Oct 9, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't YA

get injured in 1 of those other championship games to George? I can’t remember the reasons we lost the others?

by potroast on Oct 9, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, we beat the Bears for the championship in '56.

‘63 was the year we loast when YA got hurt. The D shut the Bears down, but YA tossed five interceptions on a bum leg, one went for a TD. We were hammered by the Colts in ’59 and shut out by the Pack in ’61. We lost to the Pack again in gale force winds. With YA, we relied on a superlative aerial attack, which the weather rendered FUBAR. So, two of those games we lost (’61 and ’63 when YA went down) we should have won. I also will believe until my dying breath that “the greatest game ever played” should never have gone into overtime. The best D in the league fell apart and allowed the Colts to tie the game up with 8 seconds left. Okay, give the credit to Johnny U, IMO the greatest QB to have ever played the game.

by blue gonz on Oct 9, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was that

not the broken leg play.

When a Giants RB gained a first down on 3rd down, but broke his leg. The officals were so put off that they spotted the ball short and the Giants had to punt and the rest is history…

by G Fan in England on Oct 9, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, give ran and swears to this day

that he made the first down (confirmed to him by the ref years later). Had he made it, the Colts would never had a chance for the FG. The guy whose leg was broken was Gino Marchetti, a great DE, who was screaming at the bottom of the pile. He refused to be taken from the field and watched the rest of the game from a stretcher on the sideline.

by blue gonz on Oct 9, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

was that the one

where the famous picture of Tittle kneeling in the end zone bleeding was taken?

by cjmulrain on Oct 9, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, that was the next year,

against the Iggles, maybe.

by blue gonz on Oct 9, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They asked the question

to John Gruden on Mike & Mike the other morning of whether Eli (& McNabb) should just sit and rest, since they are facing inferior competition this week. Gruden’s answer was simple (paraphrasing): this is the NFL. There are no gimme games. If you actually look over the Raiders roster you will see plenty of top tier NFL players on that team that can make this a tough game for the Giants. Every game counts & if the Giants take this team lightly, then it could possibly cost them the division down the road.

Now, I know that is coach & player speak. They have to think that way, even if we don’t. But it also shows the Giants way of thinking, so if Eli can go at all he will.

by potroast on Oct 9, 2009 8:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I really think

that for a game like this all the injuries may help prevent a let down. We have a lot of young guys and backups playing and regardless of the opponent, these guys are hungry to make a case to be starters.

It’s not a gimme for them, it’s an audition and a chance to show the coaches (and perhaps other teams) that they can start in this league.

by Jaybat on Oct 9, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am excited

I am at the game.

If Carr plays I am sure they will call plays that are to his strengths to put him in a good position to win the game.

I think the Giants should consider playing a 5-2-4 formation on some downs given the weakness of the Raiders OL and passing game.

The 3DT’s will clog the middle freeing Osi and Tuck to have one on one match ups on the outside. If the Raiders keep the TE and RB in to block this means less receivers running patterns. Also a five man rush should get early presuure to keep JMR offbalance.

Remember we once played a five man DL against Chicago in the playoffs in I believe 1990 and we won 31-3!

Anybody else think this is a good idea?

by G Fan in England on Oct 9, 2009 8:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I want to see a 5 man rush

But I don’t think it will be required to beat the raiders. I think we will see another vanilla defense package.

Down the road I think they will break out the 5 man fronts. I don’t think they will tip their hands and create film that can be studied.

by Woogie526 on Oct 9, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't mean the fabled 5-1-5

of training camp.

I just mean replacing Boley with an extra DL to use as the standard package in this game – after all Tuck or Osi can always drop into coverage.

by G Fan in England on Oct 9, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I still don't think we see

Anything besides a blah 4-3-3 defense.

by Woogie526 on Oct 9, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know it's just the Raiders ...

but I’d still put a full 11 men on the field.

by Shofner85 on Oct 9, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

My bad.

by Woogie526 on Oct 9, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But ...

it might just confuse JaMarcus, so maybe worth a try :)

by Shofner85 on Oct 9, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta be careful then

Regardless of how much pressure this would create, your exposing your LB’s. JMR’s favorite target is TE Zach Miller, though i’ve never seen him play, his avg. is pretty decent. Especially if he gets a clean release.

by Hootman on Oct 9, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Giants D out scores Oaklands O

i think the giants D out scores the raiders O, if you count any 3 and out field goals off of turn overs

by freakynjbifemandhubby on Oct 9, 2009 9:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is the coach who played his starters in a supposedly meaningless game

in Week 17 of 2007. I believe that if Eli is physically able, he’ll play. He may (and should) get a quick hook if the Giants get a big lead, but he’ll play. If they have a sizeable lead by halftime, I wouldn’t be surprised if he sits in the beginning of the 3rd quarter. If it gets close, you can always put him back in.

by da cut on Oct 9, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but

he also sat the starters out for most of the last game of last year (another meaningless game), so TC will change if the situation dictates it. I still agree that Eli will probably play though.

by potroast on Oct 9, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The thing with Tynes

is he’ll miss a 20 yarder but he could nail a 50+ yarder to win a big game like the one coming up against the Saints. The guy does have ice water in his veins no matter how much he drives me nuts.

by Major on Oct 9, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It sounds like he has figured out

The problems he has been having with his mechanics….we’ll see..He says he watched films and found the problem..He says he has been too far off the ball..again we’ll see.

by Bobbiblue on Oct 9, 2009 10:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just out of curiosity

why are all white non-QB’s either described as having a “great motor” or a hard worker, like Chase is when discussing the type of player he is. You never hear the workd good athlete or instinctive player just “great motor”. It seems to me to play pro football everybody needs a “great motor”. What does it mean anyway?

by Landeta on Oct 9, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

When I hear that

I picture Danny Bateman in The Replacements. Bat shit crazy, pacing on the sidelines, sprinting to the huddle. The kind of guy who if you roomed with him he would talk until 3am if you didn’t shut him up.

by Jaybat on Oct 9, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well the iggles

have proven that they have a solid back up at QB, I really want to see Eli play this Sunday, but if that does not happen happen I really want to see what we have (god forbid) in case of emergency in Carr. Last season vs the Vikes Carr played a solid second half, let’s see what he can do with the “cool stuff” as he calls it for the whole game and when matters.

by Bajaserge on Oct 9, 2009 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ya'll need to rest eli

with a trip to the superdome coming up, eli needs to rest that foot. if carr can’t hang with the raiders than ya’ll have a huge problem.

by r c a on Oct 9, 2009 4:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lol, you had me confused until i checked your profile

R C A, like the old RCA dome where big brother Manning played(s)! Until one thing tipped you off, “ya’ll”! I don’t think Indianians use that word, but i could be wrong. Either way though, i’ve lived in the south, so i know! lol

But if you think resting Eli is a good idea, and Carr can’t hang with the Raiders, reconsider that! Who would you prefer, a healthy Eli, or David Carr? With saying that, i don’t care how the Saints have won their last two games, but one thing stands out. Brees hasn’t had a TD in two straight games?! So the running game has picked up, up to what standards though?

I believe your the first Saint over here, but were still focusing on the Raiders!

by Hootman on Oct 9, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we have a bye.....

so am bored. but i think carr can hang with the raiders.
i just want eli to be nice and fresh for the saints game. because the saints are getting the "you haven’t played a good QB ’ rap from the press, with the rookies we faced and the “eagals” without “mcflabb”.
we saints fans want to leave no room for excuses if we win. plus i want to see a great game,win or lose.

by the way with eli and brandon, both local guys,i root for the giants most of the time. especially when ya’ll whup up on them there cowboys.

by r c a on Oct 9, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks man

come back Monday … Wednesday if we lose

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Oct 9, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah, i hear ya

God knows we have a ton of injuries. It would be sweeter to beat someone at full strength, or close to it! Never want to hear the excuses that you beat so and so because key players were out. But, Giants fans have been fortunate to this point with our depth.

Either way, it should be interesting. Especially the sub-plot, Shockey facing his old team for the first time!

by Hootman on Oct 10, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

7 or 8 TurboDogs + 2 lbs of mudbugs should cure yall's boredom

by NYer in a strange land on Oct 10, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow

it never occured to me how much it sucks to be a backup qb.
no matter what you lose.
you only get to play at the starters expense. and if u do bad the fans let you know that your not wanted and they want the other guy back. it has to be right up there as the most shittiest jobs

by karamjitm9090 on Oct 9, 2009 9:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs