Giants vs. Cowboys: A 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style preview

by Ed Valentine on Sep 20, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in News Comment 22 comments

When it comes to game previews, everyone writes 'keys to victory' or 'things to watch for' or some variation of that. Well, here at Big Blue View we like to think we have our own unique style. After all, who else does 'Kudos & Wet Willies' to review the games?

With that in mind, let's try a little 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style preview of tonight's matchup between our New York Giants and hated Dallas Cowboys.

There will be lots of 'kudos' Monday if ...

The Giants can quiet the crowd. Jerry Jones is gunning for a record-setting crowd to open Cowboys Stadium, and the atmosphere could easily be a problem for the Giants. A fast start and an early lead are a must to keep the crowd out of the game, for at least a while. Get behind early, and it could be a long night.
The Giants control the Dallas pass rush. The Cowboys had eight sacks the last time the teams played, and 12 in the two games in 2008. If the Giants can keep Eli Manning upright most of the game they will have opportunities to make plays.
The Giants can get to Tony Romo. I am not talking about 'pressuring' the Dallas quarterback. He is slippery as an eel in the pocket and makes many of his best plays once he starts moving around. I am talking about sacking him. Three to five times, at least. Once he starts moving around it is inevitable that he will create some big plays.
The Giants make the Cowboys' offense one-dimensional. Stuff the Dallas running attack (easier said than done) or get a lead and make Dallas throw, and the Giants' linemen can just go all-out after Romo.

There will be lots of 'Wet Willies' Monday if ...

DeMarcus Ware has a big day. The extraordinary Dallas linebacker is a terrible matchup for Giants' left tackle David Diehl. If the Giants don't give Diehl help, and Ware has a big day, that's bad news for the Giants.
The Giants can't run the ball. It should be a given with the Giants' punishing ground game and the Cowboys' seemingly soft run defense that Brandon Jacobs and Co. should have their way running the ball. If, for some reason, that doesn't happen Eli could be in for a lot of punishment.
The Giants defense can't control the middle of the field. Historically, the soft spot in the Giants' pass coverage is the short crossing routes and handling the tight end in the middle of the field. Bill Sheridan has to find a way to contain Dallas tight end Jason Witten.
The Giants can't get touchdowns in the Green Zone. Or first downs on third and short anywhere on the field, for that matter. This ongoing issue has to get solved, or it will bite the Giants eventually.
The Giants run out of healthy bodies in the secondary. Aaron Ross is out. Kevin Dockery is limited. Starting safeties Michael Johnson (burner) and Kenny Phillips (knee) should play, but no one knows how long or how effectively. Corey Webster can't cover everybody.

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Corey Webster Can Cover Everybody

Unfortunately, he can’t cover them all at the same time…I’m a bit worried about this game. Mostly because of all the secondary injuries. Hopefully the line can pummel Romo into an early submission.

by Aceholioo on Sep 20, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh boy....

8:20 is kickoff? Lotta IF’s on here ED to stew over too until gametime. Hopefully in the meantime the Pats and Jets tie, the Eagles, Redskins and Red Sox all lose too. You know, just so there some nice appetizers for the main course later on.

How about an early kudo to the fact we don’t have to sit through Joe Buck and Aikman….but a Wet Willie to the fact we gotta listen to Collinsworth spew his stupidity.

…………..and anyone for special teams? Giants haven’t had squat going on with ST for what seems like centuries..or at least when they focused on Hixon as a WR.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 20, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Special Teams

I think this could be important as well. Though i would prefer the punt returns to be more prominent, it’s the field position game. Let’s not back ourselves to the wall and give them an excuse to be more aggressive.

BTW, not that it will happen, anyone know the ruling if a punt or kickoff hits Jerry’s new TV?

by Hootman on Sep 20, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they just have a 'do-over'

that was the ruling in preseason and I think they said they will roll with it.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 20, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mn the day is moving slow. I for one am always worried about every game. I hate waiting. I think if we have success running the ball and control the clock we win this game. If we can’t and our D is out there for long periods of time we will be in lots of trouble. Cause I don’t think we can play from behind this early in the year especially with all the injuries on D. LETS GO BIG BLUE.

by g-men_fan on Sep 20, 2009 10:05 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Lets hope

Boley is as good as advertised. No other Giants Lb can cover whitten or rbs out for a pass. Giants Lb corp has been weak for a very long time. AP has been the only good one. This is an embarassment to longtime fans. If that doesn’t change we’re in trouble. Really miss guys like Brooks, Armstead,Banks, Reasons, P. Johnson, 56, 53, Van pelt, Mendenhall, Huff……list goes on. Who’s gonna be next?

by jerseybillfromva on Sep 20, 2009 10:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sintim could be next

but I think he may be best in the middle replacing AP.

Lots of time invested in Kehl and Wilkinson. When do they produce or get cut?

by MSP Giant on Sep 20, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wilkenson before Kehl,

and I highly doubt Sintim is a MLB. The team really likes Goff too, but like all these guys he needs to stop with the injuries.

And Jerseybill, you gotta remember this D the past few seasons has been build with the Eagles blueprint, pass rushers pass rushers pass rushers up from and the LB’s just gotta do their job.

THis isn’t the cover 2 nor is it a 3-4 where you see stars at LB. It also isn’t John Fox’s 4-3 D where you saw Armstead and now see guys like Beason become BEASTSon.

Its not about the LB’s right now. Id think you’d see that with Tuck, Umenyiora and Kiwinauka being what they are.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 20, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sintim as a MLB

is not an idea I came up with. People who know a lot more than me see his pass rushing skills more as in inside force than on the edge. But he did look great in pre-season coming from the edge. And if the MLB is the quarter back of the D he has to have the smarts as well. Dunno there. But his size, physical play and straight ahead speed (some wonder about his footwork side – to —side) up the middle could be exceptional as an MLB.

And I agree with Jerseybill, no matter how good the DL the linebackers are key. Boley and Sintim are (hopefully) two good ones. Who will be the third?

by MSP Giant on Sep 20, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's not forget about Goff...

he played well in pre season…made a lot of plays. It’s very difficult to find a MIKE straight outta the college, often times it takes many years (look at AP)…..and to move an OLB in college to MIKE in NFL would be a huge transition. Especially considering Sintim played a 3-4 in college and rushed the QB a lot.

I’m not saying Goff is the future or anything…but he’s making progress and is learning under AP.

At the same time…lets not forget about the HUGE weakness we currently have with D. Clark playing SAM. We need Sintim to take that job ASAP. I’m saying it right now, Sintim will have big impact with this team once he gets healthy…he’s a natural pass rusher so he’s good at sheding tackles…not absorbing them. Yeah, he’ll get beat in coverage…but he’ll get better, and will help out our pass rush and vs. the run.

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

by andiamo708 on Sep 20, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's not put to much on Boley this week...

i think his first full practice was just last Wednesday? It’s going to take some time to feel 100%…plus learn the defensive schemes…and get comfortable. He’ll definitely show improvement over the next few weeks (similar to C.C. Brown in the pre season).

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

by andiamo708 on Sep 20, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Giants have to control the ball

It is that simple. Keep Romo on the sideline. Run the ball and throw conservative passes – with one or two field long ones to Moss.

I am not a Moss fan but he could come up big tonight.

Nice post Ed. Well said.

by MSP Giant on Sep 20, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good analysis

Hey Ed, that’s a good breakdown of some key issues. I believe that the Time of Possession could play a role here as well. If Eli & company can control the clock for 2/3 of the game then the numbers obviously go up as far as percentage of win chance. I also agree that we need to shut those cow loving Dallas fans up. 100K is a lot of people man. I hope Coughlin turned up the volume at practice. All in all, the Giants should win this game by a close margin. Our defense will be the difference and I expect another solid game from Manningham. I say the Giants win 31-24.

GO NY GIANTS!!

by RDomaine on Sep 20, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

noise question

Is the roof going to be open or closed? I’m thinking if they close the roof it will be much louder. I don’t think they should be allowed to close it for games unless there is extreme weather, rain, etc..

Think Jerry will try to pipe in some extra crowd noise? I’m not sure they will need it with 100,000 people.

Go Gmen!

by M. on Sep 20, 2009 12:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Water covers 97% of the Earth

the other 3% is covered by Corey Webster. True fact.

Anyway, today is the day we start to find out what the Giants are made of. They’re banged up, playing a very good team in their first game at a brand new stadium. A loss here certainly doesn’t kill the season, but a win would be (as Mike Francessa would say it) yuuuge.

Gonna be gone most of the day/night, but Go GMEN

by cjmulrain on Sep 20, 2009 1:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ugh

worst thing about living in Washington: I’d love to be watching either the Jets-Pats game or the Eagles-Saints game. Instead, I’m stuck with the Redskins-Rams game, and nothing else.

by cjmulrain on Sep 20, 2009 1:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well....

bam.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 20, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's awesome

The Eagles are self-imploding. I like it. Ok, I'm really out now

by cjmulrain on Sep 20, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm stuck too

(in Chicago) but with Cin/GB and Min/DET games… GB game is ok. They have the opposite defense of the Giants. It’s either really soft, or they come up with a big turnover, pick six…
(Woodson w/ 2 picks today and 1 TD.)
Thanks for the geology lesson. LOL
Go G-men!

by M. on Sep 20, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

this game really scares me

too many injuries. plus demarcus ware is filthy. but i gotta get my game face ready. watching the game at a cowboys fan’s house tonight (everyone’s allowed to have one fatal flaw?) and i can’t show any fear.

by hocke26 on Sep 20, 2009 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Should be a great game

Even as a Cowboys’ fan I can see that the Giants are an excellent team and I expect a dog fight. But you know, not in the Michael Vick way…

Good luck.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 20, 2009 5:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Intensity intensity

You are right ED. We must start early, in offense as well as defense.
Score early and sack Romo early. Screen play and or run to where Ware is should help.
Solution’s for the green and red zones also, a must.

by Olddiehard on Sep 20, 2009 7:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs