Land of the Giants: Season Preview Edition

by cjmulrain on Sep 9, 2009 11:00 AM EDT in News Comment 45 comments

Well folks, we're finally in the home stretch. No more preseason games between us and the Giants 2009 season. Everyone and their mother is predicting how the season will go this year, and the Giants are on everyone's short list of contending teams. Here's some of what has been written:

ESPN.com has a comprehensive preview of the Giants. 7 of their 14 NFL writers picked the Giants to win the East, with 5 picking the Eagles and 2 picking the Cowboys, so technically the Giants are the "staff consensus" to win the division. Also from ESPN are the end of preseason power rankings, with the Giants sitting at #3.
This is a few weeks old, but I don't remember reading it and don't think it's been linked to yet, so I'll share it with you: Football Outsiders (by way of ESPN.com) previews rising and falling stars on the Giants. Football Outsiders are amongst the best in the business, and this article just goes to show you why - rather than pick out the same tired refrain (wide receivers, blah blah blah), they highlight the offensive line as an area of concern, mostly because they don't think it's likely all five guys will stay healthy this year. They also highlight Corey Webster as a player on the rise, and Danny Ware as someone to watch out for.
The New York Post chimes in with their Giants season preview. They have the G-Men going 11-5 but losing the NFC Championship game to the Falcons. The Post also has an article bringing some perspective to the wide receiver debate. It's pretty much what we've been saying here for months. Luckily we're only a few days away from finding out if we're right and putting this seemingly endless debate to bed.
The Sporting News also has an NFC East preview, and they also pick the Giants to win the East.
Jeff Heisner, a sports anchor for Phoenix's ABC affiliate, chimes in with his 10 most overrated and underrated players in the NFL. I share this because he has Brandon Jacobs as the most underrated player in the league, and because he has Tony Romo as the most overrated. Good stuff.
Finally, two good pieces from the Daily News: one by Ralph Vacchiano on Hakeem Nicks, the other by MMike Lupica on Tom Coughlin. I particularly enjoyed Vacchiano's report that David Carr compared Nicks to his former teammate Andre Johnson of the Texans. If Nicks is even half the receiver Johnson is, the Giants are in great shape for the next few years.

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Some NFC East thoughts and a hat/tip to John Madden

Going back some, for years, announcers on NFL games would all say, "Lawrence Taylor changed football." Now while LT remains my favorite defensive player of all time (and the reason I refuse to acknowledge Ladainian Tomllinson as LT. I mean, I like Ladainian but LT is TAKEN!) it took John Madden one Monday night to explain just how he changed the game. In a nutshell, LT was the atomic bomb who went where he wanted and blew things up. His combination of size and speed and savvy was unseen and the teams in his division, the NFC East, all had to start tailoring their offensive lines and their tight end schemes and their basic offenses to deal with him. After Taylor came the Hogs of D.C. and other giant offensive lines and the success of the NFC East in Super Bowls after Taylor entered the league is well known. All those teams learned from watching and playing against LT. And they built teams that won Super Bowls. Thank you, Lawrence.
Which brings me to this year – we learned from the Giants in 2007, that the pass rush using a group of rotating players is the single biggest key to success. We have a chance this year to have a memorable defensive front, using 7 or even 8 players on a rotating basis when called for. But that’s not enough in my estimation. We need the wild card, the extra added attraction. For me that is Clint Simtin. Line this kid up wherever and let him go. They can’t possibly block Tuck and Osi and Canty and Bernard and Kiwi and whoever else is in that front… and Simtin. Just the threat of him coming will cause offenses to change. We won’t have to worry about our d-line getting tired or wearing out (even with our numbers) if we have a stud backer with great pass-rushing skills. Let the kid loose. That’s my first thought.
Ease up on Eli. He’ll be fine. We’re in the playoffs every year, we’ve won the greatest Super Bowl in history. Marino with his 8 million yards passing – one SB appearance, one loss. Dan Fouts none. Carson Palmer, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers – none, none and none. And they all throw the ball beautifully. Who cares? It’s about winning, in the playoffs and in the SB, and Eli has proven that he can do both. Yes, he’s the QB of the New York Football Giants and he should expect some flack, but ease up. He’ll be fine. Defense wins championships. Just ask Marino and Fouts and Brees and Palmer and so many others.
So, needless to say I’ve got the Giants winning the division. They’ve gotten better – Canty, Boley, Nicks, etc. We’ll be fine.
Now for the rest – The Cowboys. Really? Why do we never speak about their substandard set of wide-outs? Roy Williams to step up this year? Why this year? They lost T.O., they lost Canty, Flozell Adams is another year older, slower and fatter. His holding skills will be on full display on the giant video scoreboard above the field. Watch the second halves of their games when he’s winded and the holding calls start cause the refs just can’t ignore them any more. And their defense? How did their defense get better? We have Canty now. Who replaced him? And Romo? He can date all the blondes he wants, he can pass for 4,000 yards like so many of those named above, but what he can’t do is win a playoff game. He’s got more persoanlity than Eli. Big deal. Eli has the ring and the chance for more.
The Redskins. Once again, they’re building a team to beat the Giants. It worked when they built the Hogs to stop LT. But now they’re building a D line to stop Jacobs, and Barber, and Westbrook. Good idea but it will fail because on offense Jason Campbell is still their QB and he’s shown very little in terms of progress.
Which brings us to the Eagles. The press loves the Eagles. They signed the only man rehabilitated ever in the US penal system, Mike Vick. But they lost Dawkins, they lost their MLB, they won’t have a full-speed Westbrook for the first few games. And they still have the weird marriage of Reid and McNabb. They love, they hate, he sits, he starts – they’re Philly’s version of a tabloid Hollywood romance. And they have yet to win the big one. We have. The Giants have. Eli has. And now they’ve got the WildCat. Big deal. Show me the WildCat teams that have won Super Bowls. There are none.
So, Giants fans, relax. It will be a great year in the best division in football. We’ll win some and lose some. And in February we will be the last team standing.

by nybaseballgiants on Sep 9, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good stuff

I think it’s pretty safe to say that there isn’t a respectable Giants fan alive that refers to anyone other than Taylor as “LT”.

This has the potential to be a historically great defensive unit, at least up front. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this season.

by YankeeDudeL on Sep 9, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very nice comments..You should be writing for Sports IIustrated or something..

But all the “Hogs” in “Hog Heaven” never stopped the real one and only “LT”..ask Joe Theismann..This Simtin kid may very well be the real deal..I agree, let that guy line up, blow smoke thru his nostrils and attack opposing backfields..

by Bobbiblue on Sep 9, 2009 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roy Williams is more proven as a #1 receiver than anyone of the Giants, that is why is it not spoken of as much, but believe there is plenty of talk about it over at BTB. Funny how when TO was in Dallas he was a bum and now that he is gone we are going to miss oh so much. The thing is that his production will be replaced by a number of sources, the best TE tandem in the league, 3 solid running backs and again our receiver replacing a lost #1 is a lot more proven than yours.

You guys will be disappointed with Canty (if he can get on the field) just like we were. We replaced him with Igor Olshansky, whose lifetime stats look almost identical to Canty, so there should be no drop off there-wash.

I think you actually meant to say Flozell Adams is older, lighter, and more healthy. He played all year injured and is looking healthy and significantly slimmer than last year.

Our defense got better by replace Thong Williams with a safety that can cover and has some recovery speed. We go better by getting Newman healthy and our 2 rookie corners having another year of experience. Brooking is a huge upgrade over Thomas, who was too undersized to play the MLB in our 3-4 defense. Again, we have an identical replacement for Canty, for less money, a wash. No one in Dallas thinks that we will miss Canty, I like the guy and hopefully for you he is better suited for a 4-3 DT than he was 3-4 DE.

If you look at the two playoff games Romo has played I really don’t think you can say either one is the QBs fault (talk about the dropped hold if you want, but that has no bearing on him as a QB and the league subsequently changed a rule because of that play). Him as a player has nothing to do with dating blondes or having personality, it has to do with his ability to put the Cowboys in position to win games and he has done that quite well. If you want to say Eli is better because he has a ring, than by all means go ahead there is no way I or anyone else is going to change your mind. However, don’t discount Romo and pretend that he does not have the tools to be a great QB because his stats will tell you otherwise, the guy is a player it would be foolish to overlook him.

All of those QBs you named are great players, sometimes a great player never wins a Championship, sometimes ones that aren’t a good of a player do win ones, that is the way the league goes. If Romo never wins a Superbowl, looking at everything right now, I would still say he is a better QB than Eli.

Good luck against the Redskins, it will be a good game. I have no idea who to root against since I live in Redskins country it would be pretty bad to listen to them talk shit for the whole next week.

by sduncan24 on Sep 9, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

my rant was not intended to come off harsh or critical, just providing counter points. Please ignore any attitude that you may infer while reading it. The tone was more harsh when I re-read it than I had intended. It was a well written post, just trying to refute points.

by sduncan24 on Sep 9, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your comments did not

Come off as harsh to me..I’ve said out here all along that the Cowboys are a good team this year..and the most dangerous for us Giant fans, they looked much more solid this pre-season. I would however argue that Romo is no better than Eli..Romo tends to lose it when it counts..He is a good QB but not better…Eli Manning is one of the best two minute drill QBs in the business..He certainly has proven that time and time again..and in the Super Bowl..You can’t rattle this guy..Nothing bothers him..Romo tends to collapse when the games are on the line. As far as his dating habits are..That is tabloid junk..It is nobody’s business who he dates and has nothing to do with his performance on the field..This is the NFL, not a dating service..and why people make a big stink over who this guy dates just proves their idiots..If they need that kind of ‘fix’ they should stick to watching the daytime soap operas and stop watching football..If Romo can get over his last minute jitters, He’ll be a very dangerous weapon..and he needs to stop saying silly things when he doesn’t get it done..The media pounces on that kind of crap. Dallas is his team now that the “Big mouth” is gone to Buffalo. They hardly used Roy Williams last year, now they will. Our receiving group will come together there is a huge amount of talent there. Our defense needs to to get together quickly..The game always has and always will rely on solid defense.

by Bobbiblue on Sep 10, 2009 4:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Romo does not collapse when games are on the line, in fact you can take a look at this post http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2009/6/28/928145/romo-vs-the-clutch which shows what I am talking about. And I cannot find for the life of me a post recently where someone had done the research on 2 minute offense and scoring, and Romo & the Boys lead the league in that category.

You absolutely can rattle Eli, it has been done time and time again, I will give him credit that he plays well in the 4th quarter, similar numbers to Romo in fact, but there have been many a time where he has looked lost out there in the face of pressure. This is something any Giants fan would have told you around week 15 of the 2007 season. He played very well in the playoffs that year, but prior to that Giants fans wanted run him and Coughlin out of town.

There has been much made over our last season collapses, which I personally contribute more to the o-line than I put it on Romo’s shoulders. His sacks have gone way up at the end of the year, telling me the line is worn out, he is getting more pressure leading to hurried throws and no running game.

by sduncan24 on Sep 10, 2009 5:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dallas's offensive line..

Did not fumble that field goal snap..Romo did. Period…That cost them dearly..(a shot at the title) and then when asked about it he had basically a “Shit happens” attitude when interviewed about it..I can’t for some reason access the link you provided, but it doesn’t really matter..As I said, Romo is a good QB..but the score is: Eli, Super bowl Champ and MVP..Romo: Nothing.

by Bobbiblue on Sep 10, 2009 5:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And just so you know..

I follow and root for the Cowboys, so long as they are not playing my Giants..I was born a Giants fan..Didn’t understand the game until I was 6 years old..1962..My wife is a Cowboys fan, so I follow them..We have our little wagers when they play each other..and I love Bill Parcells..If Jones would keep his nose out of the operation they probably would have a ring..but nope, now he has a sixty yard HDTV to enable him to watch himself coach the team from his executive box..Look at what Parcells has done for Miami..Wade Phillips is a puppet. Parcells is a coach…That is why he left.

by Bobbiblue on Sep 10, 2009 6:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Parcells didn’t do squat while he was here, I think he is a better coach than Philips, but if you recall correctly Parcells was the coach that couldn’t take advantage of Seattle having a cut and paste secondary in that game, decided “they know I want to throw on their secondary, so I will take the opposite approach and not test them at all. Then we’ll see who is smarter”

by sduncan24 on Sep 10, 2009 6:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Parcells couldn't do squat..He wanted to rid them of

Big Mouth T.O. but Jones (who stinks as an owner) wouldn’t allow it..So he goes to Miami and turns them into winners..and he cherry-picked his Dallas coaching staff to get it done. Jerry Jones + Wade Phillips = Misery

by Bobbiblue on Sep 10, 2009 6:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

..and he did it in 1 year

by Bobbiblue on Sep 10, 2009 6:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2 years to be exact

his team went 1-15 the first year.

by sduncan24 on Sep 10, 2009 6:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was 1 year..He took over a 1-15 team and turned it into a winner in one year

by Bobbiblue on Sep 10, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I stand corrected

by sduncan24 on Sep 10, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I specifically mentioned the o-line in reference to late season let downs, not playoff loses. The bottom line is Romo as a QB led them down the field and had a first down (very poor decision to over turn that call) and Romo the QB had a very good game. His attitude about it is exactly who he is, don’t let any of that fool you into thinking he doesn’t care.

The whole Eli has a ring and Romo doesn’t argument is weak, that is all I can say. Romo is a better player at that position, Eli had a very good running game and an incredible defense that year, and drove the bus well. Eli is not bad, I think he is good, but Romo is just better. Congrats on the ring, but it doesn’t make Eli a better QB and it never will, only his play will determine how good he is, not what he wears on his finger.

by sduncan24 on Sep 10, 2009 6:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We're going to agree to disagree on qb's

“only his play will determine how good he is, not what he wears on his finger.”

What he wears on his finger(s) is a result of his play. Eli will never get his just due from any rival fan. The O-line is always brought up as well as the running game. Fact is, there is no single qb in the history of the Superbowl (or the game itself) that has done it by himself. It’s a “team” game. Eli’s a great leader for this team but it seems no one wants to admit that. Perhaps if he had the demeanor of Rivers or the scowl of Marino, things would be different.

by njgiant on Sep 10, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My point is

that he was not the biggest factor in winning that ring, and was probably not even in the top 3 reasons. He played well and didn’t make many mistakes, but he didn’t do anything great.

by sduncan24 on Sep 10, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it could be worse

instead of leading a Superbowl-winning 2-minute drill and walking off with a Lombardi and the MVP, he could have fumbled a gimme field-goal snap to obliterate our playoff chances one year, threw a season-ending interception instead of a game-winning TD the next year, and failed to make the playoffs the next year. Face it, the last 2 times the Cowgirls made the playoffs, Romo imploded with the game on the line!

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Sep 11, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's always the rival fans outlook

and it couldn’t be more wrong.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 11, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and yours is a homer’s outlook, to each his own

by sduncan24 on Sep 11, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When have the Redskins built a team to specifically beat the Giants?

1982 when the Hogs were formed? The Giants were 4 – 5 that season.
1983 The Giants were 3 – 12.

OH and by the way, the Redskins went to the superbowl both of those seasons. I’d say the Giants built a team to beat the Redskins.

by skinsymets on Sep 12, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd say you're absolutely right

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Sep 14, 2009 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Overrated/Underrated

Both lists were great (I’m all for the Jacobs love and the Romo/Vick hate), but my favorite quote has to come courtesy of the Ochocinco entry:

Ochocinco has had a measly 53 receptions for 540 yards and just 4 touchdowns…He was once compared favorably with Carolina’s Steve Smith. Last year’s performance wasn’t as good as Steve Smith, the Giants number-three receiver (57 rec, 574 yds, 10.1 avg.)

Child, please!

by RolloT on Sep 9, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nybblGiants

you’re right on! Saved me a lot of typing. Want to add to cj that if a game goes by in the first few weeks where the Giants come in around 200 yards passing, the “no receivers” story is going to be going bonkers crazy — even if we win those games. So might as well get used to ignoring it.

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Sep 9, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hakeem Nicks now compared to Andre Johnson...

Before I heard whispers of Michael Irvin.

I think this kids gonna be great.

Gotta get my 88 Jersey on pre-order.

"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 Sep 9, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I mentioned it before and I'll bring it up again...

i’m so glad the giants weren’t able to get Maclin (thanks Philly!). It was a blessing in surprise. The giants have had a horrible track record drafting WR. I think that this year they finally got it right…it may have been on accident…but i’ll take it anyway.

I haven’t been following the eagles that closely, but the limited action I did see from Maclin he looked like Manningham did last year. Just lost out there….where as Hakeem has lead our team in receiving during the pre season.

IMO Smith needs to be moved into the slot. the giants are hurting themselves when he lines up wide…yes he can get open and yes you can call his number on certain plays but he’s not a full time outside receiver.

the future is Nicks, Manningham, and Barden.

by andiamo708 on Sep 9, 2009 12:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The future is now.

"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 Sep 9, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed...

that’s why I say put manningham outside and keep smith in the slot. Gotta work Nicks into the offense now but gradually. Give him reps every game. Let’s him battle Hixon for #2.

Use Barden in goalline situations….

by andiamo708 on Sep 9, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

As the guy from The Warriors said: “CAAAAANNNNN YOOOOUUUUU DIG IIIIITTTTT?!”

Wow, what a joke. Have fun with that one, I'm going to Quiznos!

by MRoztheGreat777 on Sep 9, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely.

Smith was born for the slot. I always see him as a Wes Welker type for the Giants.

I feel big things coming from 88 this year, I think there will be no question of who’s number one by playoff time.

"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 Sep 9, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ramses Barden Post-Game Line:

Three catches for nine yards…

…and three touchdowns. You heard it here first. The last few seasons, the Giants have been one of the best teams in football between the 20’s. But when they get down to the red zone, things get more difficult, particularly without Plax. How can they stop us now? Double Ramses? Here comes Mr. Jacobs. Stack eight in the box? Here comes The Pharoah. Play a weird zone? Meet Mr. Bradshaw-And-I-Don’t-Mean-Terry.
But seriously, Ramses Barden is going to drive people nuts – including fantasy owners.

I left my swagger in my other pants.

by HughG16 on Sep 9, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Offensive Worry

I’m one of the few who think that the Giant’s O-Line will not be as dominant. There will be injuries, as there always are, but they will take their toll this year, and the running game will suffer — at least that’s what my gut is telling me. The Wr’s will come around by post-bye, but the O-Line, as well as the D-Line will not be what we thought they would. Yes, it’s just a hunch, and time will tell. Because at the start of everything season, there’s only
one thing that’s absolutely true: no one really knows anything.

by ZILLAG on Sep 9, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We do know one thing...

Eli Manning + Tom Coughlin = Playoffs.

"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 Sep 9, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know we're supposed to be all smart and analytical

But I’d rather be a homer! WOOHOO! 16-0!

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Sep 9, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am worried about the OL also..

Three years without injury?..We can only hope they break that record..The back-ups are not all that great.

by Bobbiblue on Sep 10, 2009 4:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Falcons

I’m amazed at the amount of love that the Falcons are receiving. It’s like they’re the Cowboys. What amazes me is that no one is expecting them to come down like the Dolphins. If the Falcons return to the playoffs for a second consecutive season, something not many teams have been able to do recently, I’ll be shocked.

by John W on Sep 9, 2009 5:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs