Do you know what time it is? It's Ernie P. time

by Ed Valentine on Nov 13, 2009 7:00 AM EST in New York Giants News

Just because it's a bye week for the New York Giants, doesn't mean the real workers around here -- bloggers like Ernie Palladino and myself get to goof off. We still have to provide manna for readers hungry for Giants' stories. So, here is this week's swap of questions with Ernie P.

As always, his answers are below. Mine can be found over at Ernie's house, which he affectionately calls 'Giants Beat.'

1. Given the post-bye schedule, can the Giants fight their way into the postseason?

Ernie's Answer: Well, it's going to be a tough climb, but it's certainly possible. You can look at the need to go 5-2 to reach 10 wins, which would basically lock up a postseason berth and say, "No way. Not how this team is playing." And you'd be right. You could also look at the combined 34-22 mark of their seven remaining opponents, six of which are conference games, and be understandably pessimistic. But I always hearken back to the words Jim Fassel repeatedly used when talking about such matters: "It's not who you play, it's when you play them." Nobody can say how these teams are going to play two, three, six weeks from now. Look at Denver. They jumped off to a 6-0 start but just lost their second straight Monday night, and looked horrible doing it. Do you think Dallas is going to steamroll into the Super Bowl? Maybe. But the Giants did beat them at home and the Cowboys have been known to go into late-season swoons. You really think Washington is going to be all geeked up in Game 14 to save Zorn? I don't. Now, I'm not saying the Giants don't have a big hill to climb even to get to 8-8 (which, by the way, could get them into a wildcard if the wide-open NFC falls right). All I'm saying is the postseason is not beyond the realm of possibililty. Do I think they're capable of turning it around? Now that Aaron Ross is headed back and the team is getting healthier, yes I do. That said, watch them drop six of the last seven.

2. Is the short, controlled passing game Eli Manning exhibited in last week's loss to San Diego the way to go?

Ernie's Answer: Oh, yeah. Notice how much better the tempo was and how well they moved the ball for the most part. No more stupid home-run shots on third-and-2. Instead, a nice, steady movement down the gridiron. When you've got guys like Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks who can make hay out of the flanker screens and sideline out routes, it's better to use those elements than try to get it all at once. There's a reason Eli went 25-of-33 for 215 yards and two touchdowns, and it wasn't because he was constantly looking 40 yards downfield. If the Giants are smart, they'll limit his downfield shots to two or three per game, and only if they're in the lead. Otherwise, stick with the shorter passes and give me more cowbell, er, I mean, Brandon Jacobs.

3. Many of the players say this four-game losing streak hasn't shaken their confidence. Do you believe them?

Ernie's Answer: Absolutely. Without a doubt. And tomorrow, I'm going to buy that piece of beachfront property Justin Tuck is trying to unload in Arizona. Gave me a good price on it. Are you kidding? I don't care what kind of bravado the players put up. It's all a facade. This is a team that has all but fiddled away a 5-0 start with four straight losses, looking horrible in three of them and then falling victim to their coaches during crunch time of the last one. Put yourself in their situation. Feel your head spinning? Getting a little queasy in the stomach? Guaranteed, that's how they feel. They're searching and self-checking, wondering where the hell it all went wrong. I've never been big on the bye, but I really believe this one comes at an ideal time. If ever a team needed a break, it's this one. Perhaps they'll come back for Atlanta mentally refreshed, having spent some time away from the Xs and Os that right now seem as elementary as hitting a Mariano Rivera cutter.

4. Has the offensive line finally gotten too old to get the job done?

Ernie's Answer: I really like those guys, all of them. But I'm starting to think that some spots may need changing in the near future. Maybe even this year, starting with right tackle Kareem McKenzie. Maybe it's time to put either Kevin Boothe or Will Beatty in there and see what they can do. Kareem just doesn't seem to have the ability to keep up anymore. Granted, he's still struggling some with the groin injury. But he's let up some pressure on his side, and the run-blocking hasn't quite been up to par. David Diehl has also had his problems on the other side. And Shaun O'Hara may be having his most inconsistent season since he arrived here in '04. Of course, I could be wrong. It could be the overall scheme, which now relies heavily on the pass, that is causing all this. Run blocking needs rhythm, and when you're constantly going away from the run, rhythm is hard to generate. These guys aren't consistently blocking downhill anymore, so naturally they don't look as effective. I do believe that if not this year, then certainly next year, the unit that has played together for 39 out of the last 40 games will need some new blood.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

YES!

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 13, 2009 7:28 AM EST reply actions

We've got a "fever" ...

and the only “cure” is more Cow Bell !!! (If by Cow Bell, you mean better blocking, tackling, play calling, play making, cutting down on penalties, blitzes that get there … etc., etc.)

If the Giants do go 5-2 down the stretch, they’ll be fine. Not so much because they finished 10-6, but because they went 5-2 against a generally good quality of opponents. You need both momentum going into the playoffs, and you have to actually have beaten “somebody” (not named Chiefs, Raiders, Bucs, etc.).

by Shofner85 on Nov 13, 2009 8:39 AM EST reply actions

bottom line:

the tough row to hoe looks like this:

It’s essential to sweep the remaining three division games. theoretically one loss would be ok for wild card hopes, but 1 division loss, to me, = bye bye any dream of taking the div.
They have to win 2 of three against top-notch competition vs. Atlanta (IMHO, if they lose after the bye and go to 5-5, thee season is over) and @ Denver and Minnesota. Hope all you want, I do NOT believe Minnesota would rest in that week, even if they’re locked in position.
And lastly, can’t muff the game against the Panthers.

Very, very tough, But doable. Atlanta is a must-win, the division games are must-win, and we’ve gotta tack on Carolina and Denver or Minny. Bottom line: You play to win the game!

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Nov 13, 2009 9:23 AM EST reply actions

As soon as the offense

goes to mostly short passes, the DBs will creep up to the line in coverage, safeties will play shallow, there will be no space to run the ball, and Eli will be left holding the ball and getting sacked because nobody will be open. I would like to see more short slant routes if that’s the way we’re going. The hitch and curl routes get predictable.

by rzor on Nov 13, 2009 9:30 AM EST reply actions