Bye Week Analysis: Giants' Offense

by Ed Valentine on Oct 21, 2011 10:57 AM EDT in New York Giants News

When the 2011 NFL season began the New York Giants' offense figured to be a work in progress. As expected, that has been the case through the first six games.

I don't want to do this 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style, and I don't want to go position-by-position. Let's try breaking it into a few different categories and see where that goes.

The Best Player

Obviously, that has been quarterback Eli Manning. With a revamped offensive line, with new receivers taking the place of Kevin Boss and Steve Smith, with a running game that has largely been stuck in neutral and with a myriad of questions hanging over his head after a 25-interception season Manning has been nothing short of brilliant.

His 101.1 passer rating is third in the league behind Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay and Tom Brady of New England, and dwarfs his career best of 93.1. He has 11 touchdown passes and five interceptions in 196 throws. That means 2.6 percent of his passes have been intercepted this season, down from 4.6 percent a season ago and the second-best mark of his career.

With the gauntlet the Giants have to run the rest of the season Manning will have to continue to play at this level for them to reach the playoffs.

		Passing									Rushing					Sacks
	G	Rating	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/G	Y/A	TD	INT	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD	Sack	YdsL
2011 - Eli Manning	6	101.1	125	196	63.8	1778	296.3	9.1	11	5	16	-12	-2	-0.8	1	14	109

Yes, He Is A Star

I am talking about wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. Am I the only one who thinks the national media has not yet caught on to how good the third-year wide receiver is? He is on pace for 85 receptions and 1.355 yards. He has huge hands, he is incredibly physical and he has good enough speed. Darrelle Revis might be the only corner in the league who can handle him. We will find out in a few weeks.

	Receiving						Kickoff Returns					Punt Returns
G	Rec	Yds	Y/G	AVG	Lng	TD	KR	YDS	AVG	Lng	TD	PR	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
6	32	508	84.7	15.9	68	3	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

The Adventures Of Mr. Cruz

When the ball leaves Manning's hand headed in the direction of the exciting 24-year-old Cruz you can never be sure if the play will end with the chants of 'Cruuuuuuuuuuuuz' or with boos from the MetLife Stadium faithful. Big plays, circus catches, dropped passes that turn into interceptions, fumbles. They are all part of Cruz's repertoire. In Big Blue View parlance, he is a 'Kwillie' waiting to happen on every play.

Thing is, he has 21 catches and is headed toward being a very good NFL player. The guy he replaced, Steve Smith, has five catches and is looking buried deep on the Philadelphia bench.

Paging Sherlock Holmes -- Mr Holmes, Please Locate The Giants' Running Game

Clues emerged to the whereabouts of the Giants missing running game last Sunday against Buffalo when Ahmad Bradshaw snuck over 100 yards (104) for the first time this season. Still, though, 90.2 yards per game (26th in the NFL) is not what we are used to from the Giants, or from any team ever coached by Tom Coughlin.

The problem really isn't the running backs, though once in a while you would like to reach through your TV screen and throw Bradshaw back into the hole where the play was designed to go. Inconsistencies in the line play, the tight end and fullback blocking and in the commitment from Coughlin and Kevin Gilbride have all contributed at times.

With the Northeast weather turning colder and windier, and the Giants' schedule getting tougher, the Giants will need to find some success on the ground.

Biggest Surprise

The pass-catching of tight end Jake Ballard, who already has 15 receptions this season. At that pace he will not only replace Kevin Boss's receiving production from a season ago, but will exceed Boss's 35 catches. No one expected this from the 275-pound undrafted free agent from Ohio State. Especially not the 18.2 yards per catch average.

	Receiving						Kickoff Returns					Punt Returns
G	Rec	Yds	Y/G	AVG	Lng	TD	KR	YDS	AVG	Lng	TD	PR	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
6	15	273	45.5	18.2	41	2	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Biggest Disappointment

The lack of pass-catching by Travis Beckum. Most of those passes that are going to Ballard were supposed to go to Beckum this season. Instead, the under-whelming third-year tight end/H Back/whatever he is has just one catch for two yards (on fourth down when he need three, in case you forgot), has been targeted just three times and has played all of 59 snaps.

Grading Gilbride

I figure we have to talk about the guy so many of you love to rip no matter what he does, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride. If I was going to give Gilbride's work so far this season a letter grade I would probably put it at B to B+.

You can, rightly, criticize Gilbride for abandoning the run a little too early on a couple of occasions this season. There is, however, a lot to like. If you love Cruz, let's not forget that it is Gilbride who has been the young receiver's biggest supporter. He put Cruz ahead of Domenik Hixon for the No. 3 job during the preseason, bristled a bit when the team signed veteran Brandon Stokley nominally to replace Cruz and has continued to put him on the field and run plays designed for him.

Gilbride is also finding more ways to use Ballard, and for those who did not notice last week rookie Da'Rel Scott caught a pass and fellow rookie Jerrel Jernigan was targeted on a red zone play. Bit by bit, the Giants are trying to incorporate some of the untapped weapons at their disposal.

By The Numbers

Yards Per Game: 368.3 (12th)
Passing: 278.2 yards per game (7th)
Rushing: 90.2 yards per game (26th)
Points Per Game: 25.7 (9th)

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Comments

I give Gilbride an A+

He has been calling some excellent games…….. its just that he is a victim of player execution alot, but when you grade a play just based on its potential effectiveness, he has done a great job this year.

Nicks is an animal, i dont know why he doesnt get the media attention yet but that seems to happen to alot of Giants players to be honest. Strangest thing ever because we are in the largest market but i guess until you miss practice or shoot yourself, there is nothing to write about.

When this offense becomes cohesive and the players start to feed off eachother, watch out….i honestly expect us to look similar to GB when we go 4 wide. Cant wait for Brandon Jacobs to get back now that the blocking is getting better.
This team will be scary, those still skeptical will be in for a surprise.

Peyton May Have The Wins!!
But Eli Will Have The Rings!!!

Skydiving?Forgot your parachute? TUCK AND ROLLE! On fire? TUCK AND ROLLE Got shot? TUCK AND ROLLE Lost your car keys? TUCK AND ROLLE Failed that history test? TUCK AND ROLLE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SuCwrZrNQM&feature=related

by Blue Gates on Oct 21, 2011 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

Hmmm A+

I think most OCs design their plays for maximum effectiveness, and player execution is often at fault for blown plays. BUT….

The best OCs use their playbook to set up an opposing defense. Schlereth once said that the running game needs carries, but not necessarily early. You keep coming back to it, even if it doesn’t work early. My downgrade of KG, he’ll stick with the runs early and often, and then when we get in a hole, will pass pass pass. Recently he’s broken out of that pattern and Buffalo was a great example. We came back to the run, and it made our offense more efficient.

If he continues to be flexible, and encourage an offense that will go anywhere he will earn his A

It’s already a wrap… might as well not show up tomorrow.

Football - It's Beyond an Addiction, It's a Way of Life.
by Eagladelphia on Sep 24, 2011 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

SEPT 25 - Giants 29 - Eagles 16

by trueblue63 on Oct 21, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I'll give him a B+

its not his fault Jacobs is back to his MCL tiptoeing. Also not his fault for guys not being on the same page. But he does try to get too cute in the RZ and there’s more then a few slip ups that put them in a hole, and its not execution.

Nicks doesn’t get the media attention cuz he’s boring. He’s not a diva and he doesn’t cause problems off the field. Something has to give tho. Eli and Hakeem are one of the better WR duos in the NFL yet they never get mentioned as such.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Oct 21, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

You cant really say thats why he doesnt get the media attention because

honestly the diva WR doesnt exist anymore, its mostly boring guys with no off field issues that get the attention now.
the top 5-10 WR in this league are NOT divas. Those days seem to be gone.

I have no idea why he doesnt get the coverage, i personally just think people only know Eli or Brandon Jacobs when they are not Giants fans. I say this cause i live out of state and travel alot and those are the only two that people can say off the top of their head. Maybe Eli’s star is just that big, IDK. your righ, something has to give tho.

Peyton May Have The Wins!!
But Eli Will Have The Rings!!!

Skydiving?Forgot your parachute? TUCK AND ROLLE! On fire? TUCK AND ROLLE Got shot? TUCK AND ROLLE Lost your car keys? TUCK AND ROLLE Failed that history test? TUCK AND ROLLE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SuCwrZrNQM&feature=related

by Blue Gates on Oct 21, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

yes..yes you can.

I just did and Hakeem doesn’t nearly have all the marketing, even in NY, that many of these other guys do. He’s never on for any interviews.

Megatron, Jennings, even Andre Johnson and Fitz all get a ton of interviews probably more so then their QB aside from Jennings.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Oct 21, 2011 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

Never thought I would see anyone give Gilbride an A+. I am a Gilbride apologist in general, but really?

I can’t do it because I still maintain the Giants are running AB into the ground in the weak part of our schedule, and that I cannot see him being effective when we need him most later in the season against tougher opponents.

I also think that Gilbride gets brainlock in critical spots like running the ball wide when they are an inch off the goal line or throwing on the goal line at the end of the Buffalo game.

Still, he gets too much grief from too many on this board. Overall, he calls a decent game.

by dubsrub on Oct 21, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Really A+?

I cant give this guy such a high grade he still lacks the right play calls for the right time. Still the same shotgun calls inside the 10 with empty backfields I just dont like the way he calls the game. Lastly I cant take the the read & react WR routes. Every game Eli is pointing to WR to go the other way. Why cant it be a set play for the D that is shown?

Lets see after Miami in NE, SF, NO of how we do. Hopefully then he deserves an A.

I’m happy so far that we have a winning record at the bye but, like all of you here I have seen this movie before and until they beat and elite QB and good D they will always scare me with a collapse.

by NYG86-90-07 on Oct 21, 2011 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

"right play calls for the right time"

Thats rough because you dont know what Eli checks too, not to mention a bad decision or poor execution often comes off as a bad play call and that is far from the truth.

“Still the same shotgun calls inside the 10 with empty backfields " again, very common from the top offenses in the league namely NE, i understand what your saying but there is alot more to it, execution can make things seem very different.

I agree with some of the option routes but its no different from GB. “Why cant it be a set play for the D that is shown?”, the answer to this is that the D that is shown in todays league is a disguise 95% of the time, very rarely what is shown actually is what they are running. Defenses have gotten smarter so the offense has to as well.

Im with you, he could take some of the option routes out especially for the young players.

Peyton May Have The Wins!!
But Eli Will Have The Rings!!!

Skydiving?Forgot your parachute? TUCK AND ROLLE! On fire? TUCK AND ROLLE Got shot? TUCK AND ROLLE Lost your car keys? TUCK AND ROLLE Failed that history test? TUCK AND ROLLE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SuCwrZrNQM&feature=related

by Blue Gates on Oct 21, 2011 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Well said

I know they change the D alot but why is Eli always looking at the sideline with his hands out waiting for a play? And I know its common but NE executes it much better alot of time Brady’s guys are wide open! I guess I’m just pissed that I feel if we had NE O or GB O coordintor Eli would be a more consistent and just all around better QB.

I always say why is he so good in the 2 min drill? He calls his own plays.

by NYG86-90-07 on Oct 21, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Someone said that many teams are adjusting to the faster pace of the refs starting the play clock

Let’s hope that waiting around goes away

It’s already a wrap… might as well not show up tomorrow.

Football - It's Beyond an Addiction, It's a Way of Life.
by Eagladelphia on Sep 24, 2011 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

SEPT 25 - Giants 29 - Eagles 16

by trueblue63 on Oct 21, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I fear our running game will need to resort to this

I got a GIF for that!

by Fester McDougal on Oct 21, 2011 11:21 AM EDT reply actions

I don't know if our OL can block this well

Very funny, I love it.

Can you imagine the opposing side coach after the play? His head must have exploded.

All the Giants should play like Mark Bavaro.
Tom Quinn Must Go!
It is equally worthless when people are always optimistic or always pessimistic. Either way I take their opinion with a pound of salt because I know they only have one setting. I post my own thoughts, not what either side wants to read.

by UnknownJintsFan on Oct 21, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I would love to see a clip

Of a play like that where there’s one LB who isn’t fooled and the QB gets absolutely annihilated.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Oct 21, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

This about Cruz

he is a ‘Kwillie’ waiting to happen on every play

Is too true but also very funny.

by UnknownJintsFan on Oct 21, 2011 11:36 AM EDT reply actions

IMO KG coached his tail off....

in the Buffalo game and the Philly game….

TeamJPP

by andiamo708 on Oct 21, 2011 12:03 PM EDT reply actions

I hear ya

But 2 games dont make a season, and I’m curious to see against SF, NO, GB how our O does. But really in those games its the damn pass D. I pray Brees and Arodg dont put up 500 yrds against us.

by NYG86-90-07 on Oct 21, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

never said it did...

in fact, i’m one of Kevin’s biggest detractors here….

but I also think i’m pretty fair as well, and IMO the Philly game and most recently vs. Buffalo….well, KG did a job well done.

TeamJPP

by andiamo708 on Oct 21, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Gillbride > Fewell

by Lolmoarpl0x on Oct 21, 2011 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

Does anyone else think Fewell is hurting his chances at an HC job?

I think his stock has gone way down thus far.

by UnknownJintsFan on Oct 21, 2011 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I just don't get his resistance to dialing up the Blitz more often

Don’t protect you weakness at the expanse of your strength or all you do is water down both.

I got a GIF for that!

by Fester McDougal on Oct 21, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I gues he's of the thinking that with all the horse power up front

we shouldnt need to blitz but clearly that thinking has to be put to the side sometimes.

Peyton May Have The Wins!!
But Eli Will Have The Rings!!!

Skydiving?Forgot your parachute? TUCK AND ROLLE! On fire? TUCK AND ROLLE Got shot? TUCK AND ROLLE Lost your car keys? TUCK AND ROLLE Failed that history test? TUCK AND ROLLE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SuCwrZrNQM&feature=related

by Blue Gates on Oct 21, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

lack of faith in the secondary which i don't get because the excel in man coverage.

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Giant LB'zz SUCK!! Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones,Jacquian Williams,Paysinger...Maybe not..

by Troy O on Oct 21, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Quinn > Fewell

Fewell has so much talent at his disposal.

by GMen56-11 on Oct 21, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Fewell has more injuries to his unit than any team in the league.

Win ugly.

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 21, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Overall a very decent job by the players and coaching staff...

We are were we should be sitting at the top of the division. I’m hoping that the team can get healthy during the bye week. Gilbride has been calling an OK game plan, IMO he can do a little bit more in going outside of our comfort zone, when he does the results have been good! Fewell has had a tougher go because of the injuries, but a decent job nonetheless. Second half will be brutal, if those teams continue on their current route and barring any major injuries to their players. It will really test what the Giants have been preaching all off season and that is to FINISH!!

We will see what happens, but it does look bright!

by oldschoolblue64 on Oct 21, 2011 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

With just a few more run plays executed well each game,

Third down conversions go up, Total yards go up, Points go up. It’s the biggest thing holding the Offense back right now.

by Tom Werner on Oct 21, 2011 1:00 PM EDT reply actions

well....it's gut check time....

it’s nice to be 4-2….. although blowing that game to Seattle could really come back and hurt this team down the road….

really should be 5-1 if you ask me.

not to mention the level of competition thus far has been below average….

TeamJPP

by andiamo708 on Oct 21, 2011 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

KG is B at best

if we beat Seahawks then maybe an A but had some drive killing calls and red zone has been weak unless Giants are on the 1 yard line. also need to use no huddle more with Eli so he can call his own plays and keep KG out of it

by GiantFaninColorado on Oct 21, 2011 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

Beckum

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a whole lot of nothing

by GMen56-11 on Oct 21, 2011 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

ouch!

Quinn must go !!

by njgiant on Oct 21, 2011 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Brilliant

and true

by UnknownJintsFan on Oct 21, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Suprises?

Back in the preseason, when I saw Jake Ballard dive to make his first catch I knew this kid’s got something. As for Cruz, We all knew what he did last year against the Jets.
These two will be our Giants stars soon.

by Olddiehard on Oct 21, 2011 6:53 PM EDT reply actions

Don't remember when I enjoyed reading posts this much

KG is still learning and improving, which with a guy of his long tenure and experience, is amazing to see. Life long learning.
And great to see that the fans notice and appreciate his performance.
Seeing seniors like TC and KG still evolving and growing in their jobs, in spite of a lot of success with their old methods, with no apparent fear of change, is something that we can all learn from.

I am a fan of Kevin Gilbride and I don't care what you say

by Spider Lockhart on Oct 22, 2011 2:02 PM EDT reply actions