Ohhhh That's Why They Drafted J.P.P.

Finally Giants fans we’ve seen the potential of Jason Pierre Paul turn into production for at least one game. I’m not ready to put him in the Hall of Fame yet, but today, my friends is the reason why Jerry Reese chose JPP #15th overall despite being labled as ”raw” and “full of potential”. 

JPP not only registered his first career sack, but also his second career sack. Both came a la Osi Strip Sack fumbles. 

On top of that JPP was seen all over the field registering six tackles to go along with his two sacks. 

He had tackles all over the field (One Special Team tackle, one 14 yards down the field one another one, 10 yards down the field on another). 

It was just one game for Jason Pierre Paul, but the production finally matched with what I had been seeing for awhile. He has very good quickness, great pure strength, and a relentless motor. He always hustles. I was NOT a fan of the pick when it first happened, but I’ve seen enough this year to convince me he won’t be a bust. Maybe he’ll never develop into another Tuck, but I don’t think he’s a William Joseph either. 

Game Recap 

Golden Stars for their helmets 

Eli Manning. Eli was without his #1, #2, #4 (Hixon all year though), #5 (Barden), #6 (Victor Cruz), #8 (Sinorice Moss), his number one tackle (Diehl), his center, and his #2 tackle and all he did was throw 24 passes completing 14 of them for 226 yards with 2 touchdowns no interceptions and no fumbles. This was perhaps his best game of his season as he averaged 9.4  yards per pass attempt the highest of the season. I recognize that the Jaguars defense, secondary especially leaves much to be desired and the offense sputtered in the Red-Zone, but they put up 24 points in a game where they were severely undermanned. If Eli plays like this the rest of the year (this is how i always expect him to play) I like the Giants chances. 

Brandon Jacobs-Mr. Jacobs when did you arrive in town. Jacobs set a tone for this game that was thrilling for me to see. He came out running with a sense of urgency and power. I was watching the game on my computer, so maybe the streaming had something to do with it, but I could swear that he looked the quickest I’ve ever seen him run. I was very impressed with his game today. His numbers 14 carries for 87 yards don’t tell the whole story. He was impressive. His numbers were hurt a bit because the offense wasn’t able to see the ball much in the first half because the Jaguars were playing keep away and in the second half the Giants had to pass a lot to get back into the game. The Giants need Jacobs down the stretch. 

Kevin Boss I’m not the biggest Kevin Boss fan. He’s a nice player and a much better all around tight end then he is a receiving threat, but today I thought was one of the best game’s he’s played in a long time. He had a huge play at the end of the game. I’ll never question his heart of desire and if he plays like this the next few weeks he’ll really help the playoff cause. 

William Beatty I’ll have to watch the game again, but it seems to me that the Giants actually attempted a run left this game with Beatty in at LT, which is something they haven’t done in a few weeks. But I’ll have to double check. The Jaguars don’t have dangerous pass rushers, but I can’t blame that on Beatty. He filled in very nicely. Beatty can still very well be the LT of the future for the Giants. 

Lawrence Tynes-Sure they were all easy field goals, but after watching too many kickers miss easy kicks this year I have to take a second to appreciate a kicker who was responsible for 11 of the team’s 24 points (3 field goals, 2 extra points). 

Jason Pierre Paul-Let’s hope he’s finding himself and this is a sign of things to come rather than the highlight of a career. 

Deon Grant? He had 8 tackles. That might be more of an indictment on the Dline’s inability to stop the run the first half. I’ll have to watch again. Give Grant a half star for now. 

Terrell Thomas-Perhaps the only Giants player with ball skills. He’s not the fastest player, or the strongest player, but he makes plays. He’s getting better all the time. This defense lacks a dominant Nnmadi Asmough or Darrell Revis type corner, but they have two very above average cornerbacks. He had a HUGE sack at the end of the game that forced Garrard to fumble and end the game (and I think he would have made Garrard victim #6 if the game was going on longer), as well as an interception that might have turned the game. 

Justin Tuck/Perry Fewell The post game quotes show that the team rallied around Justin Tuck. Perry Fewell made some adjustments in the second half (blitz more). This defensive line has talent, but I’d like to see more of an ability to hit the passer with a simple four man rush. 

Tom Coughlin’s Replay Guy 

I’m not sure if it’s Tom Coughlin watching the replays and making the call or if it’s someone up in the booth relaying the message to Coughlin, but whoever it is, is a freaking Wizard. Every time I watch a play live I’m screaming at a huge screw-up by the Giants, and then Coughlin is throwing red flag (what immediately comes into mind is the play in the first Cowboys game where they downed the ball inside the two only to be challenged for a guy stepping out of bounds and being the first to touch the ball).  To me it really looked like a catch and fumble on the Hagan play, but lo and behold here comes Coughlin throwing that flag easing my worries. 

Coughlin is the oldest coach in the league, but the best with the biggest piece of technology in the league (replay). 

Dunce Caps 

Chris Canty. This is suppose to be his week. Canty is a big bodied run stuffing defensive linemen. He needs to clog up running lanes and let linebackers flow to the ball. But in the first half he was non-existent. He’s drawn a lot of double teams this year and played up to his contract, but today not so much. 

Matt Dodge-I’m not a proponent of canning Dodge, but jeez does he scare me. In the end his numbers look good as they have all season, but I’m not sure how many more shanks I can handle. He wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t good either. He lacked consistency, which is kind of the story of the Giants season and specifically Dodge’s season. 

Jonathan Goff I don’t think he played terrible, but he’s in the same category as Chris Canty. He needs to be a physical dominating presence in the run game, and he was not. This is the kind of game I want to see Goff thrive in, but today wasn’t his best game. 

Osi Umenyiora- Again I’m doing this without watching a second replay of the game, but if my memory serves me correctly on the few times Garrard came running back across the field he rolled to his right (where Tuck plays) and then ran back left where Osi had no containment. He hasn’t  had a sack in a while on a related note. EDIT: Ed gave him a Kudos for being in the backfield all day and inflicting punishment so maybe he played better than I thought. Still, I'd like to see him dominate a game again, which he hasn't done in awhile.

Other Thoughts 

This was a great weekend for the Giants, not much could have gone better. 

The Ravens disposed of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pushing them to 7-4 with the Giants. 

The Packers lost to the Falcons also making them 7-4, and the Bears beat the Eagles pushing them into a tie with the Giants as well. 

The Eagles have to play this Thursday vs the Texans (who might be without Andre Johnson) in a game they should win, but the Bears beat on the Eagles pretty well and the Texans had an easy go vs the Titans so maybe that’ll help out the Giants. Then they have to travel out to Dallas in what could be a tough game for the Eagles if the Cowboys decide to show up for that game. 

Before this weekend the Giants could win out and still not make the playoffs, now if the Giants win out they are Guaranteed a playoff spot (because they will win the division). 

Things look less gloomy then they did a week ago if the Giants can get past the Redskins next week I think they’ll get back Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, Diehl and Andrews which could give them a big boost for the final stretch of the season. 

I think it’s good the Bears beat the Eagles a week after the Giants put in a valiant effort vs the Eagles because any aura of invincibility the Eagles had with Vick is gone now. 

That’s all I have. 

Leave your thoughts and comments. 

Have a nice day, everyone.