We have spent a lot of time since Sunday night talking about a couple of specific things in regards to the New York Giants performance in that loss -- the pitiful play of the 'Invis-O-Line' and the lack of pass rush from a team that is still in a three-way tie for the league lead in quarterback sacks.
I thought I would use this week's Pro Football Focus Review of the Giants non-performance Sunday to further illustrate exactly where the problems were on both fronts. PFF has posted its weekly numbers, which are subscriber content only, but also has some very interesting observations regarding the blocking and the pass rush in its review of the game.
Here is PFF discussing the lack of pressure on Vince Young, and detailing just how often the Giants sent extra pass rushers:
"It wasn't just the Giants' top line pass rushers that struggled to make an impact in this game. Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul and Chris Canty may have combined for only one sack and four pressures but the supporting cast was invisible as well. In fact the only Giant defender to gain a positive grade for his work as a pass rusher or blitzer was debutant Mark Herzlich (+0.9) who recorded two pressures on his five forays after Vince Young. As a team the Giants registered pressure 10 times on 40 Philadelphia pass plays, sending 177 players at Young for the entire game. On average they sent an extra rusher every other play but only recorded pressure on one in four pass plays, an extremely poor return for a team usually so adept at pressuring the opposition passing game. This may be an aberration from the Giants pass rush, but it couldn't have come at a worse time."
As bad as the offensive line was, PFF had particular scorn for the "borderline abysmal" play of left guard David Diehl:
"The move back inside to guard was supposed to re-invigorate the career of David Diehl (-9.8) but if anything this season has shown that if Diehl ever was any good at guard his time out at tackle has taken it out of him. Diehl's return to the interior of the offensive line has been far from seamless and his display on Sunday night was as bad as any he put in during some shoddy seasons at left tackle for the Giants. Diehl gave up two hits and five pressures in pass protection but it was his work as a run blocker that was most alarming (-6.1). Diehl is often lauded as a good run blocker out at tackle but his play this week was borderline abysmal. The Giants gained only 19 yards on seven carries to either side of him and he had particular trouble with Derek Landri, giving up two tackles to the Eagles' back up of two yards or less."
Here are the grades.
Offense
Eli Manning (+3.1)
Victor Cruz (+1.5)
Mario Manningham (-1.1)
Brandon Jacobs (-1.8)
Jake Ballard (-2.1)
Chris Snee (-4.3)
Will Beatty (-4.4)
Kareem McKenzie (-8.8) ... At -17.8 for the season, McKenzie is ranked 67th out of 74 tackles graded by PFF.
David Diehl (-9.8) ... At -26.1 for the season, Diehl is now the lowest-ranked player out of 78 guards graded by PFF.
With those grades it is hard not to see why the Giants could not run the ball. By the way, PFF says the Giants ran right seven times Sunday for zero yards.
Defense
Prince Amukamara (+2.9) ... PFF says Amukamara was "worth the wait," and off his debut it is hard not to agree.
Osi Umenyiora (-1.1) ... Jason Peters swallowed him up, allowing just one pressure.
Dave Tollefson (-1.7)
Antrel Rolle (-2.8)
Justin Tuck (-2.9) ... Obviously, this is still an imposter in the No. 91 jersey.
Linval Joseph (-3.9)