Giants, Eagles: Beasts of the East
by Ed Valentine on May 6, 2009 11:00 AM EDT
in New York Giants News
Email
PrintEven in Dallas the realization is beginning to set in. Our New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles are clearly the class of the NFC East -- and probably the entire NFC.
Bleeding Green Nation's 'JasonB' and I agreed on this the other day in our Q&A. Now, courtesy of Yahoo! Sports, we know that the Dallas Morning News sees the same thing. In fact, it lists the Patriots and Giants as the NFL's two best teams.
Here is DMN's Rick Gosselin.
The Arizona Cardinals are the defending NFC champions. But don't be fooled. The two best teams in the NFC as the 80-player rosters gather for minicamps and the off-season programs in May are the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. Only three NFL teams finished in the NFL's top 10 in both offense and defense last season – the New England Patriots, Giants and Eagles. All have improved themselves this off-season. So pencil in the Patriots with a healthy Tom Brady as the favorite in the AFC and the Giants and Eagles as the teams to beat in the NFC. Off-season speculation like this will, of course, be meaningless in a few months when the action starts on the field. It sure does feel nice, though.
40 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
This is a lie
The DMN always thinks the Cowgirls are the best. They are saying this cuz they crowned them SB champs in May for the past few seasons so maybe they see the writing on the wall.
They will crown them if they somehow manage to be 3-0. I know that’d include a win agaisnt the Gints, so of course they crown them after that.
I honestly wouldn’t want the best team in May tho. It doesn’t mean a thing. Its good reverse psychology if that is what the DMN is intending
Missing the point
I don’t care about analyzing why they wrote it. And I know all this off-season rating stuff is largely nonsense. I’m just using a Dallas writer’s words to have a little fun at the Cowboys’ expense. Nothing more, nothing less.
by Ed Valentine on May 6, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Giants Fun Facts
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Mark Twain.
Giants Final 2008 Rankings and miscellaneous stats
Defense – #5
Offense – #7
Time of Possession – #2
Turnovers – #4 (+9)
Sacks – 6 (42)
Eli Manning – ATT COMP COMP% YDS AVG TDs INTs QB RTG
479 289 60.3 3238 6.76 21 10 86.4
In the Red Zone
Giants’ offense was #1 with trips in the RZ (69) unfortunately they had to settle for FGs too many times. They were #20 in TD% (.508) in the RZ.
In contrast the Colts offense was #1 in TD% (.680) in the RZ with only 50 trips in the RZ.
Giants’ defense was #1 in denying opposing teams trips in the RZ (35) but we were #10 in TD% (.486) in the RZ.
In contrast the Steelers defense was #1 in TD% (.333) in the RZ.
Giants led the NFL in rushing yards per game (157.4) and avg. yards per attempt (5.02).
Average points scored games 1-12, 29.3 (leading up to the Plax incident).
Average points scored games 13-16, 18.8 (after the Plax incident).
Average points allowed games 1-8, 16.1.
Average points allowed games 9-16, 20.6.
Tom Coughlin’s record with the Giants is 47-33. His playoff record with the Giants is 4-3.
The Giants have made the playoffs 4 years straight. Unfortunately with the exception of the Superbowl year the Giants have been eliminated in the first round in three of those years including twice at home.
Id expect all those offensive categories to drop w/o Burress
So be prepared
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
I guess I see the glass as half full
With proper game planning (Gilbride?) and a defense that looks to be very strong, I think these categories could improve. With this defense, we’re going to get the ball more (3 and outs, turnovers) in better field position. We’ve got offensive weapons. I don’t think the franchise will fold because we don’t have Plax. We’ve won with Plax, lost with Plax, now we’ll move on without Plax. We’ve got the best lines in the game, an improving Superbowl MVP at QB, a beast in the backfield and a future stud in Nicks. If Barden just masters one play (corner fade) for the green zone, we’ll be talking repeat for next year.
That's the main thing
As much as Plax was missed, improper gameplanning was as big a one once he was gone for those final games.
Instead of preparing for 2 guys covering Plax, The Giants need to gameplan differently. Should be that simple right (Gilbride…..)
True,
and as far as the 2 guys covering Plax, I’m kinda sick with the “who’s going to draw the double coverage” question. My question is “who’s going to catch the ball, break a tackle, and make a play?” I’m beginning to think that DCWR (double coverage wide receiver) is a new position that we can’t live without. Sound the alarms, Eli has just become a bust because we don’t have a DCWR.
Our team is talented. I can’t wait for the season to start so that it can be proven.
well said
double coverage is important, but the only reason it was there for Plax was b/c he earned it. If they’re not gonna double cover us, that means one of the receivers just has to step up and burn them for it. Once that happens enough, they’ll start getting the DC, and Jacobs and company will run free again.
"This is the beauty of baseball. In basketball, at the end of the game, you want to put the ball in your best scorer's hands. But in baseball, it's up to a rookie like McGlinchy and a journeyman like Franco with the entire season on the line. Baseball history is dotted with names like Al Weis and Brian Doyle, men who have taken their name out of the agate type and placed it into the headlines, because it was simply their time."
Well, if youre gonna put your faith in an overweight rookie and Kevin Gilbride
I say good luck to you, Im not as optimistic for this seasons offense…..the difference in the offense w/ and w/o Plax was palpable last year, and now we’re going to have to contend with that all year.
I dont know how you can assume Nicks will be a stud either
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Because I live in Carolina
and of course we get tons of Tarheel highlights. Just like ESPN showed the world Crabtree’s (and we seem to think that he’s going to be a stud) greatness, WTVD did the same for the Tarheel state in regards to Nicks and the Heels. If ESPN and the rest of the media had force fed us Nicks or if he had that 1 catch that stunned the college world (Crabtree vs Texas) , we’d think we had the steal of the draft (that actually may go to the Pats and Brandon Tate). Like I posted, I can’t wait for the season to start so certain things can be proven.
Yeah, we we're 11-1 and one point if you remember
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
And he played in 10 of those games
and was in and out of 2-3 more because of injury/suspension. He had 15 catches and 220+yards after the first 2 games……..He had 20 catches and 230+ yards the rest of the year.
You don’t have to be optimistic, but realize that Plaxico was NOT the O last year. Whether or not the safety was covering him with Jacobs running the ball, missing him is not the end of the world.
In fact, considering how good Eli played in the Cardinals and Seahawks games, its reason to be optimistic, cuz those were his 2 best games of the year…And they were sans Plaxico.
DCWR was all he played….The guy was nothing but a decoy the whole year.
Well now we have no decoy
Forgive me for not believing that Domenik Hixon is a full time player….we essentially have three second receivers, and I cant help but think that thats going to impact the offense, and Eli in particular.
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Don't forget the second Washington game
Not only did the Giants offense play well and win games against St. Louis and Seattle without Plax, but we also won the second Washington game the weekend of the shooting. Eli had one of his best games of the year throwing for over 300 yards and completing over 60% of his passes against a team with a good secondary and a team that was fighting for a spot in the playoffs. Meanwhile the Redskins held the running attack to just over 100 yards and a measly 3.1 yds per carry.
The bigger problem than Plax down the stretch was that Eli didn’t perform very well in cold and windy weather. The offense is obviously capable of performing just fine without Plax, even if teams load up against the run. I’m much more worried that Eli’s problems with the wind won’t be fixed than I am about the loss of Burress. If teams don’t double cover any of our wide receivers, that increases the likelihood that they’ll be open. Eli will have more targets, if he can get the ball to them.
by Tucker Fredrickson on May 6, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Good points
Though StL and Seattle could hardly be considered NFL teams last season….Listen, I hope Im wrong, I really do….but this team needed a Plax for years, and look at how the offense transformed once he got here, so my concern is that he has not been adequately replaced. Which was exacerbated by the fact that we seemingly had a real shot at Edwards, a proven, albeit inconsistent, WR.
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
This upsets me
is it just me, or is it that everytime the Giants are projected to be great in the preseason (i.e. 2001, 2003, 2006) they suck, and everytime they’re overlooked (2005, 2007, 2008) they do pretty well?
i remember watching ESPNews last year and Allen/Wiley had the Giants in last place in the NFC East. a bitter Bill Simmons had the Giants at 5-11. i saw a couple of other predictions that had Dallas at 14-2 and the Eagles in 2nd place.
i don’t know why, but i don’t like being regarded as “the team to beat”. i’m not saying the Giants are going to be an EPIC FAIL this year, but i’d much rather be flying under the radar.
by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on May 6, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions
You are 100% right
That does always seem to be the case, but I think there will be enough doubters to fuel the Giants fire this year. There are going to be many “experts” that will question whether the Giants can get it done without Plax/Edwards/Bouldin (like Michael Irvin for instance). That’ll be enough for AP to grab it & throw it around the lockeroom and get the troops fired up.
I also think
the fact that everyone is jumping on the Eagles’ bandwagon will be motivation for the Giants, as well.
I agree
The more self satisfied and full of themselves the Eagles get, the better it will be for us. So I welcome the media’s Eagles love fest. (And the fact is they have done a remarkable job of retooling an old team in one off season. They have their weknesses, but they are set up to be competitive for the next several years).
Face it, we’re never going back to disrespected and under the radar again. Not in the near future anyway. Reese and the team he’s put on the field have earned too much respect. for that to happen. We need to become like the Patriots and develop that quiet cockiness that says we’re elite and we know it..
by Tucker Fredrickson on May 6, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
+1
your last paragraph is spot on. This team should join the Pats, Colts, Steelers, and yes, Eagles as one of the teams that sits atop the league year in year out. Sure, there’ll be a down year every now and then, but that should be the exception, not the rule. We have great ownership, a great front office, very good coaching, and a really talented roster. No excuses from here on out.
"This is the beauty of baseball. In basketball, at the end of the game, you want to put the ball in your best scorer's hands. But in baseball, it's up to a rookie like McGlinchy and a journeyman like Franco with the entire season on the line. Baseball history is dotted with names like Al Weis and Brian Doyle, men who have taken their name out of the agate type and placed it into the headlines, because it was simply their time."
You'd like to think ...
That we could break that cycle, and see a clearly loaded roster live up to (be coached to ?) expectations.
But like any year, we need to stay healthy at key positions (and most spots have some good depth), be in the hunt at playoff time, and then “get on a roll” heading into the playoffs – which seems to be the most important factor in who wins the Supe each year.
Eagles who?
Eagles had an ok run towards the end of last year. They beat a Giants team that was worn down from a grueling schedule. I’m tired of everyone talking about the Eagles like they are SB bound…they drafted Maclin..big deal. Doesn’t mean he’s a lock for ROY. Some ppl are great college athletes and crappy pros—This is why I wanted Boldin cause of the NFL experience. McNabb was able to scramble and extend plays which hurt us in the playoffs and I don’t understand with the Giants defense in place, how anyone thinks McNabb will have a repeat performance. WE will win the East and make the SB with team in place. I think Eli will step up big and we won’t miss a beat in our running game. I don’t see Phili beating us at all this season.
Homer much?
I’m not saying the Eagles are the team to beat at all, but to say one team is better than the other is blatant homerism…
You guys had home field and a week off and still lost… Give some credit where credit is due..
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
Hey we all know it's gonna be a battle
Hey everybody thinks their team is the best. We wouldn’t be true fans if we didn’t. But deep down we all know that the Eagles and Giants are two really talented teams and that this upcoming season is going to be a real test for both teams. The Eagles won when it counted last year. I can’t wait to see what happens this year.
by Tucker Fredrickson on May 7, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions
giants
the giants enhanced there team at the draft and the day after…..watch out eagles, we are not slim pickens
by coachgreg1@aol.com on May 6, 2009 7:03 PM EDT reply actions
defense
we lost because injuries on defense made us tired at the end. I believe we.ve resolved that problem. Yeah; Gilbride’s an idiot! But when defense stops people, we got plenty of offense to win despite idiot.
by jerseybillfromva on May 6, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions
I dont k now man
I only saw a 4-5 Giants games last year but I couldn’t help but notice the offense was TOTALLY different without Plaxico.. Even Jim Johnson said it was much easier to defend (Plax torched us like Westbrook torches the Giants).
I think the offense is a legitimate concern. Although, I still think Edwards is a viable option at this point.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
Our line of thinking
Is that the defense is so stacked this year that the offense only has to be good enough to get the job done. With our o-line, RBs, a QB that is clutch, and enough guys who can simply catch balls I think there is plenty of evidence that is the case.
Also our O-coord has ever been good at adjusting and he did not adjust at all post-Plax. Look at the game tape of the playoff game and try to figure out what he’s doing. You’ll be scratching your head. But after an entire offseason to plan without Plax the offense should be fine without THE guy. Gilbride does have a good offensive mind. Plenty of teams have won a SB without a WR being double covered. The Giants are very good at every other position. There is no reason to believe they can’t get it done.
Have to disagree with that
Although I think the Giants are at this point probably the favourites in the NFC East, I certainly wouldnt put the Eagles up there with them. Also I dont think that the Cowboys are really that far behind. Going into the season all three teams have question marks, as would be expected, but I dont think you can really describe any one as “clearly the class of th NFC East.”
Red and Black!! Red and Black!! Red and Black!! Congrats boys first time in team history over .500
Have to disagree with that one
With Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder at the wheel for those teams, they will always be second tier. Jones falls in love with anyone and Snyder just loves to show that he can spend the most money on "any"one, I think he just offered Brett Favre a 2 year $217 mil contract.
While there are even some Cowboy fans who dont like JJ as a gm,
puting him in the same category as Dan Snyder is wrong. The only person Snyder should be likened to is Al Davis. Also dont forget that the Cowboys won 3 SBs with JJ “at the wheel”.
Red and Black!! Red and Black!! Red and Black!! Congrats boys first time in team history over .500
by aussie_cowboy on May 7, 2009 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions
OK, I'll give him the 3 bowls
but seeing what he has done over the last decade, I think he is in the same car with Snyder and not Pioli or Reese. Al Davis is not second tier. He is in a world all to himself. He has no explanation.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Get Your Giants' Gear
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
