Big Blue, the Bye and the Beast, Pt. II: The Focus

(To read Part I, click here.)

The Giants' early season success this year has followed the same formula as their post-season success last year: playing tough, playing as a team, and taking care of the football. It has also helped that they haven't had to play the Bucs, Cowboys and Packers in the first three weeks, but by and large the Giants are winning games because they have the winning intangibles to go along with their tremendous talent.

Perhaps most significant of these intangibles is what I'll call a champion's attitude: confidence, swagger, and mental toughness. This attitude has jumped out at me this season as it seems to permeate into every facet of their play. I get the impression that not only do the G-men believe they can win any game they play, but that they also know what it takes to prepare and perform at a level necessary to do so. Winning the Super Bowl will do that for you...

One aspect of that attitude is playing one game at a time, and trying to elevate your game each and every week. Champions don't just settle for playing better than the other team, they strive to play better than they did the week before. The Giants' showed a marked improvement across the board from Week 1 to Week 2. Granted, it helped that they were playing the Rams, but still they had issues that needed work in the first game, and they corrected them in the second.

Week 3 was a different story, as the Giants played what was clearly not their best football against a struggling Cincinnati Bengals team. The offense struggled to get into the end zone and could not establish the run; the defense let the Bengals march down the field multiple times and gave up too many third down conversions. Part of this was execution and part of it scheme.

After a narrow escape in Week 3, I think the early bye comes at an opportune time for the defending champs to reflect and correct what is necessary. On the one hand, it's troublesome because it leaves a long, punising 13 week stretch to close out the season (though I think that provides all the more reason to push for that Division Title and 1st round bye), but on the other hand, it allows Big Blue to refocus as their season enters the next phase. The competition is going to get tougher, much tougher, and the Giants need to refocus in order to continue their success.

As Big Blue enters the next phase of their season, improvements in the following four areas will be critical to their continued success:

• Offensive play-calling: One thing is clear about the Giants offense through 3 games - they've got more weapons than they know what to do with...literally. With 3 starter-quality running backs and a six-pack of talented receivers, the Giants have still struggled at times to produce offensively or put touch downs on the board. This is not necessarily for lack of execution, but rather poor play calling. When it's first and goal to go and you don't try running the ball when you've been running wild all day, that's a problem; when Brandon Jacobs is shut down by 9 guys in the box and you don't pass the ball, that's a problem; when you don't utilize the youth and speed at the bottom of the receiving corps when the same old thing isn't working with the 1 & 2 guys, that's a problem.

Giants Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride

• Prognosis: Say what you will about OC Kevin Gilbride, but Eli Manning is very comfortable with him, and he did help win the Giants a championship. Perhaps he is too limited in how he thinks to attack the opposing team: a 1-2 RB punch; there's a depth chart at wide receiver for a reason, etc; but I think that unless the Giants are posting 24 points or more a game and getting the ball in the end zone on consistent basis, Tom Coughlin and the New York media will not let it sit. Gilbride's still feeling out the offense much like the players are still feeling each other out. Things will click eventually...Perhaps a Burress-less offense in Week 5 will give the OC a chance to experiment a little bit more.
  

• Green zone efficiency: The Giants are 5 for 11 in trips to the "Green zone" this season, around 45%. This number needs to improve, and as the play-calling becomes more developed and diversified, it should. The Giants drive the ball very well. If they start coming away with 7's instead of 3's at the ends of their drives, look out.

• Forcing turnovers: The Giants have only forced one turnover through three games. As pretty as Justin Tuck's "pick 6" was, the defense will have to do a lot more as the competition picks up. The Giants have taken care of the football so far, allowing only one turnover themselves, which has helped minimize this shortcoming, but the G-men can't count on that the rest of the season (though it would be awesome). A number of players in the secondary have come close to picking passes off, and during the bye week, it's been a point of emphasis at practice. Steve Spaguolo's says turnovers come in spurts. Hopefully the Giants can start a streak on Sunday against the Seahawks.

• Improving 3rd down efficiency on defense: Finally, the Giant defense will have to improve on third down percentage, where they have allowed opponents a 37% conversion rate so far this season. This number jumped considerably after the Bengals converted 59% of their third downs in Week 3, and it should settle back down in the coming weeks. The defensive game plan against Cincinnati was perhaps more responsible for this figure than any lack of execution. The Giants were playing deep and concentrating on the Bengals pro-bowl wide outs. This left some holes that the Bengals were able to exploit, and I think the Spags and company will make the necessary adjustments.
  

With much to work on, the early bye week could stand to be of great help to the Giants. As I've mentioned, I look at this season in stages, with Stage 1 obviously being the 3 games before the bye. Stage 2 consists of 4 games, starting with Seattle in Week 5 and finishing with Pittsburgh in Week 8. The level of competition in Stage 2 goes up a notch, but it builds gradually each week. This phase presents the opportunity for the Giants to continue to gradually improve each week, and win football games. All four match-ups in Stage 2 are winnable ones, and having a 6-1 or 7-0 record before a brutal 9 game stretch that features 5 divisional games would be a tremendous advantage for the Giants.

That brings me to my final point: The NFC East is far and away the best division in the NFL right now, with all four teams capable of earning a playoff spot. After Week 4, the Giants find themselves in sole possession of first after the resurgent Redskins upset the Cowboys. The Eagles also lost to the Bears in a close game to fall to 2-2. This early lead is not something the Giants can afford to take lightly, and it makes each of the games in Stage 2 all the more critical.

If the Giants can protect this lead, however slim, it will be to their benefit and have major implications for the playoffs in this tight division. The Cowboys are combusting and the Eagles are beat up. Philly will have to play the Redskins in Week 5, who then have a lighter load the following two weeks. If the Giants can get back on track and make the necessary adjustments in the coming weeks, they should be able to stay on top of the heap.

It will all come down to sustaining that champion's attitude, constantly improving, and taking it one game at a time.

Stage 2 starts Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

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Stay tuned!

- Will

Continue reading "Big Blue, the Bye and the Beast, Pt. II: The Focus"

Big Blue, the Bye and the Beast, Pt I: The Numbers

A look at the standings will tell you that the Giants could not have asked for a better start to their 2008 season: going 3-0 overall , 2-0 at home, and 1-0 in the NFC East before heading in to their early bye week in Week 4.

With a schedule that gets visibly more challenging as the season progresses, racking up as many wins as possible in the early part of the year is critical for the G-men moving forward. This becomes all the more imperative when you look at the division they play in. The NFC "Beast" through 3 weeks is 10-2, and 8-0 against opponents outside of the division. All four teams could take one of what will surely be three playoff spots for the Beast, so every win, even at this early stage in the season, carries a lot of weight. At 3-0, so far, so good.

The Giants celebrate after John Carney kicks the game-winning field goal in overtime in Week 3.

The Stat Sheet: Offense

Through 3 games, the offense ranks third in the league overall, averaging just over 400 yards per game. They have scored an average of 27.7 points per game, sixth best in the NFL. They average 6 yrds per play (7th in the NFL) and have a 3rd down conversion percentage of 46% (T-5th in the NFL).

Eli Manning has looked sharp, reflective of the great strides (giant steps, eh? eh?) he made last year during Big Blue's playoff run. He's thrown for 765 yards, with 4 TDs and one pick so far, and a he also ran one in for a score in Week 1. He continues to show poise in the pocket and make smart decisions with the football. Most importantly, he has continued to display his signature ability to score points when it counts: answering the Rams scores in Week 2 and leading the Giants down the field in OT in Week 3.

Eli's supporting cast on offense has shown flashes of its potential brilliance in the first 3 weeks. The Giants' O-line is physical, athletic, and one of the best in the league. Success starts with them. The receiving corps is loaded with talent, and most importantly, healthy. It is perhaps the deepest and most dangerous it's ever been.

Behind veteran play-makers Burress and Toomer, Steve Smith is emerging as a dangerous weapon in the slot and one of Eli's go-to guys on 3rd down. Domenik Hixon provides Eli with another big target and the Giants with a credible fourth receiver for the first time in years. Sinorice Moss remains buried at the bottom of the pile, but he is healthy for the first time in his career and had an excellent pre-season. Rookie Mario Manningham shows a lot of promise, but has yet to be activated for a game. Second-year TE Kevin Boss adds another weapon on offense with size, sure hands, and open-field speed.

Boss has also developed in his role as a blocker in the Giants' potent rushing attack. The three-headed beast known as "Earth, Wind and Fire" - Brandon Jacobs, Derek Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw - gives the Giants one of the deepest backfields in the league. Jacobs through 3 games has looked like a monster, and is ranked 12th in the league in rushing. He has rushed for 244 yards on 50 carries: 81.3 yards per game, with 4.9 per carry and a TD. His numbers could be bigger, if not for Derek Ward. Ward ranks 22nd in rushing with 177 yards on 26 carries: 59 yards per game, and 6.8 yard per carry. Bradshaw has not gotten as many carries as his teammates, but showcased his explosive, play-making ability in Week 2 when he posted 2 scores and over 80 total yards, nearly all of which came in the fourth quarter.

The Real Big D

On the defensive side of the ball, the Giants have looked strong, though they struggled against a talented Bengal offense in Week 3. Big Blue's D is currently ranked 6th in the league in total defense, allowing 252.3 yards per game and 14.3 points per game (4th best in the NFL). They have allowed 167.7 passing yards per game (8th best in the NFL) and 84.7 rushing yards per game (7th best in the NFL). The Giants are also fourth in the NFL in yards allowed per play at 4.3.

Prior to Week 3, the Giants were in the top 5 in total defense, run defense and pass defense. After the Bengals managed to convert on 10 of 17 3rd down attempts however (59%), these figures dropped. So far this season, the defense has allowed 37% 3rd down conversion rate, a number will have to decline in order for the Giants to be successful down the road.

One area that is definitely not in question is the Giants' formidable pass rush. In the absence of Strahan and Umenyiora, New York's talented D-line has kept pace with last year's league-leading sack total, amassing 13 through 3 games, tying them for first in that category with the Eagles. The Giants have had 6 sacks in each of the last two games. DE Justin Tuck has emerged as a tremendous force, but to the surprise of some, it is DT Fred Robbins who currently leads the team with 4 sacks. DT Barry Cofield has also played exceptionally well in the middle, while DE Mathias Kiwanuka came on strong in Week 3 after nursing an ankle injury for the first few weeks.

Ouch...

The linebacker corps had the biggest overhaul this off-season, losing two players to free agency and one (Kiwanuka) to the D-line, and is still adjusting to its new personnel. Antonio Pierce remains in the middle and continues his solid play and leadership on the defensive unit. Newcomer Danny Clark is adjusting to the strong side position, and has shown some big play ability in the first few games, knocking down balls and making plays behind the line of scrimmage. On the other side, rookie Bryan Kehl and 3rd year player Gerris Wilkinson have been sharing duties at weak-side. They have shown signs of their athleticism but neither has yet to claim to the position with their play on the field.

The Giants' secondary has been solid. Both starting corner backs, Aaron Ross and Corey Webster have been playing outstanding football in this early part of the season. Ross has shown speed and strong fundamentals. He has amassed 17 tackles on the season to go with one pass defensed. On the side, Webster has been all over the field. Against the Bengals in Week 3, he had 8 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble, and one pass defensed. He has five passes defensed on the season, to go with 11 tackles.

Kevin Dockery has also played well at corner, racking up 15 tackles himself, however in the past few weeks he has missed a number of opportunities for turnovers and made a few mental errors in coverage. Turnovers are one area where the defense has struggled, producing only 1 through three games. Generating turnovers changes games and the Giants must improve in this category as the level of competition increases as the season goes on. The secondary will play a pivotal role in this area.

Elsewhere in the secondary, veteran Sam Madison returned to action in Week 3 after off-season hernia surgery and showed up to make the big play to the ball down on 3rd down in overtime. Madison played very well when healthy last year and I would look for him to see more action in the coming weeks. His eye for the ball and sense for the game should see him out there on 3rd downs and medium yardage situations.

At the other end of the age spectrum, rookie S Kenny Phillips is coming on strong, showing off his speed and his ability to deliver the big hit. If his development continues as many claim it can, the Giants will have a tremendous weapon at the position. Fellow rookie, Terrell Thomas has yet to see action with a hamstring injury. We will see if he can make an impact once he is healthy. He was practicing on a limited basis in Week 3. Perhaps the bye week will provide enough time for him to get healthy and on the field full time.

Can I Kick It?

Finally, special teams is not without its story lines too. 44 year old K John Carney was brought in as a temporary replacement for injured K Lawrence Tynes, NFC Championship hero and recipient of a multi-year deal from the Giants over the offseason. Carney has been superb, going 9 for 9 with two field goals of over 45 yards. He also kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime in Week 3. With Tynes now healthy and seemingly ready to go for Week 5's game against Seattle, Big Blue faces a dilemna as to whether or not to keep two kickers on the roster, and if they don't, who will be let go.

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There are many positive things to like about the Giants' performance so far this season. In this section we've taken a look at how the team stands up with the rest of the league, and how players have performed thus far. But football is not just about statistics and numbers; there are many intangibles and additional factors that come into play, as the Giants are well aware. In the next section we will put all of this into context, including a look at the impact of the early bye week and the NFC East, and assess what the Giants will need to do to continue their winning ways.

Continue to Part II...

Continue reading "Big Blue, the Bye and the Beast, Pt I: The Numbers"

Big Blue on the Web: The No-Burress Zone

There's an abundance of non-Plaxico news out there this week and a number of good stories on the G-men that you should check out. But before we look at that though, I'd like to acknowledge the passing of former Giants' CB and radio analyst for over forty years, Dick Lynch. He passed on Wednesday morning after a tough battle with Leukemia. He was 72.

By all accounts, Lynch was a wonderful guy, a family man, and a great Giant. He will clearly be missed by many, and the Giants faithful send their condolences to the Lynch family.

Bob Papa discusses his former friend and broadcast partner in this week's Papa's Perspective.

Mike Eisen at Giants.com remembers the former Giant.

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Here are some other stories from the past week, including some post-game write-ups and a few player profiles amongst other things...

Giants vs. Bengals post-game:

The Giants' no huddle offense

Mike Garafolo from the Newark Star-Ledger gives us a look back at CIN-NYG


Ralph Vacchiano from the NY Daily News takes a closer look at the Giants' pass rush, sans Strahan and Osi.


Op-Ed:

Vacchiano takes a look at the Giants' start.


Player features:

Here comes Fred Robbins...

Ahmad Bradshaw doesn't mind the shortage of carries; he's all about team.

Mike Garafolo gives us some interesting stats on Kevin Boss and the Giants' running game.


SporsCenter interview with Coach Coughlin:



TC talks about the team's early season success and the impact of last year's run on the 2008 squad.

Stay tuned for some Burress-related news and opinion at the end of the week. And as always, please leave your comments and sign up for the RSS feed. If you're a regular Blogger user, you can now also sign up to follow this website on the lower left-hand side.
Continue reading "Big Blue on the Web: The No-Burress Zone"

BREAKING NEWS: Burress suspended 1 game

There's nothing I hate more than being surprised by bad news from Giantsland, and this morning ranks up there with "Toomer Done for the Season" from Week 9, 2006: Plaxico Burress has been suspended by the team for two weeks - one game - and can not return to the team until October 6th.

The whole story is yet to emerge, but the gist is that Plax didn't show up to team meetings on Monday and could not be reached on his cell phone. GM Jerry Reese and Coach Coughlin informed him of his suspension in a meeting on Wednesday morning for "insubordination."

After barely escaping Sunday's game with a win, and looking sluggish on both sides of the ball, the last thing the Giants need is a distraction like this. The full details have yet to emerge, but even if Burress had a viable reason for missing Monday's meetings, it seems absurd to me that he wouldn't have contacted someone on the team to let them know about it.

It's very tempting for me to lose it here, but I want to wait until more information becomes available, and until I have adequate time to process this. I'll keep you posted as details emerge.

In the meantime, here are some write-ups of the story from around the web:

John Clayton lays down some facts and figures on this story: ESPN.com

Some good stuff from Matt Mosley at the ESPN's NFC East Blog

From NFL.com

Mike Garafolo weighs in from the Newark Star-Ledger


And finally a video; Mark Schlereth from ESPN reacts:




Continue reading "BREAKING NEWS: Burress suspended 1 game"