Post by Jersey on Sept 26, 2010 16:04:58 GMT -5
Like the title says, my New York Giants are not making me a very happy fan and I think that after today's pathetic showing its time I ripped into them. I can't even figure out where to begin with how pathetic they have played in the first three games of the NFL season.
I suppose I'll start with the offense, obviously with Eli Manning. He's gone right back to playing and looking like a lost little high school kid that cannot play to the level of a professional football player, and half the time the expression on his face makes him look like he belongs in diapers. He has never, one single season in his pro career, shown his potential to take off and run the ball when nobody is open for a pass. He sits in the pocket and usually, one of two things happen. He gets hit by a defensive dump truck and fumbles the ball, or he escapes and makes a sloppy pass off his back foot or with his left hand, usually resulting in an interception. He's playing like a wuss!
The offensive line has lost the lustre they used to have. They got old, they got injured. Right tackle Kareem Mckenzie decided to show his frustration with the blatant and repeated cheap shots from Tennessee today by committing repeated personal fouls that resulted in getting yanked from the game. Offensive linemen have a responsibility to be smart and keep their heads, even when they are taking cheap shots. Mckenzie's behavior shows a high level of undisciplined play, a troubling sign.
I have enjoyed watching Ahmad Bradshaw since he first got onto the field for the Giants late in the season during their Super Bowl run, and he is probably the only offensive player that still continues to bust his butt. Brandon Jacobs, on the other hand, has failed to impress me for the past two years. Ever since he signed that five year extension to his contract with several million in guarantees, his running style has completely changed. No longer is he the punishing, 260 pound back the ran straight and over/through defenders and racked up and average of 6 yards per run. He was a punisher, and played with anger and aggression through a smash mouth style of football that fans love and crave. It was on his shoulders and his carries that helped the Giants win the big one.
But now? He has happy feet. He seems to think he's Barry Sanders in his prime. Instead of pounding the ball through the line like he was meant to do, he now dances and attempts to re-direct, forgetting that he's simply too big to fool around with these hesitations! He now averages just over 3 yards per carry. And his frustration is showing on the sideline and off the field too, with it culminating in throwing his helmet and seeing it (unintentionally, but still irresponsible) bounce off the bench and into the stands. He's lucky nobody was hurt. I'll say it simply. He needs to get over his disgruntled attitude and get back to punishing defensive would-be tacklers by running north to south, or his career is over. Done.
Our receivers seem scared of getting hit. That's the worst thing that a receiver can do, because this results in them focusing more on taking the impending hit than catching the ball. When they do this, the ball bounces out of their hands (because they aren't concentrating) and so far this season, it has usually wound up in the hands of the defenders, resulting in interceptions and further declining Manning's already pitiful confidence. There is no excuse for this and it had better stop soon or the Giants passing game will be non-existant. And the scores against other teams will look just a pathetic as they did today.
As for the defense, my complaints are a bit more spread. Because the Giants offense is not together and sputtering, the defense is being left on the field more often than they should be. Justin Tuck has always seemed to be questionable in health, and this year is no different. Every so often a trainer is stretching him out or flexing something. He needs to stay healthy, but his play is still strong for now. Same thing with Umenyiora, but his health is slightly more reliable. Our linebackers are getting pressure, but they run out of steam when they are repeatedly left out on the field.
I was happy when the Giants fired Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan after last season, and the defense seems to have benefitted due to this. But there is still work to be done. Our secondary has always been questionable on their best days, with our pass coverage usually blown and left behind. I'm disgusted with newcomer Antrel Rolle shooting off his mouth, calling out the coaching staff and other players after the loss last week to Indianapolis. He also whined that he's not having any fun. Shut the hell up and cry me a river! All I got to say? Who cares about fun when you're playing a sport for a living and making $37 million from your contract?
This Giants team is undisciplined, sloppy, and pathetic. They show signs of how good they can actually be with the occasional nice catch or good run, but they need to fix quite a long list of issues. Start with the turnovers for one thing. They currently lead the NFL in turnovers. No excuse for that. That starts with receivers catching the ball and Eli not wetting his pants when under pressure and making passes into triple coverage. Jacobs needs to get back to being the Mack truck he used to be and start hitting defenders in the chin, Bradshaw needs to hit the defensive holes faster, and the offensive line needs to regain its discipline and swagger.
As for the defense, if all parties keep their mouths shut and stop creating distractions as well as stay healthy, things should be ok. They just need the offense to help them out a bit and keep them off the field!
At least Ohio State is getting their business done. Couldn't speak for my own alma mater though, they've lost their first three.
I suppose I'll start with the offense, obviously with Eli Manning. He's gone right back to playing and looking like a lost little high school kid that cannot play to the level of a professional football player, and half the time the expression on his face makes him look like he belongs in diapers. He has never, one single season in his pro career, shown his potential to take off and run the ball when nobody is open for a pass. He sits in the pocket and usually, one of two things happen. He gets hit by a defensive dump truck and fumbles the ball, or he escapes and makes a sloppy pass off his back foot or with his left hand, usually resulting in an interception. He's playing like a wuss!
The offensive line has lost the lustre they used to have. They got old, they got injured. Right tackle Kareem Mckenzie decided to show his frustration with the blatant and repeated cheap shots from Tennessee today by committing repeated personal fouls that resulted in getting yanked from the game. Offensive linemen have a responsibility to be smart and keep their heads, even when they are taking cheap shots. Mckenzie's behavior shows a high level of undisciplined play, a troubling sign.
I have enjoyed watching Ahmad Bradshaw since he first got onto the field for the Giants late in the season during their Super Bowl run, and he is probably the only offensive player that still continues to bust his butt. Brandon Jacobs, on the other hand, has failed to impress me for the past two years. Ever since he signed that five year extension to his contract with several million in guarantees, his running style has completely changed. No longer is he the punishing, 260 pound back the ran straight and over/through defenders and racked up and average of 6 yards per run. He was a punisher, and played with anger and aggression through a smash mouth style of football that fans love and crave. It was on his shoulders and his carries that helped the Giants win the big one.
But now? He has happy feet. He seems to think he's Barry Sanders in his prime. Instead of pounding the ball through the line like he was meant to do, he now dances and attempts to re-direct, forgetting that he's simply too big to fool around with these hesitations! He now averages just over 3 yards per carry. And his frustration is showing on the sideline and off the field too, with it culminating in throwing his helmet and seeing it (unintentionally, but still irresponsible) bounce off the bench and into the stands. He's lucky nobody was hurt. I'll say it simply. He needs to get over his disgruntled attitude and get back to punishing defensive would-be tacklers by running north to south, or his career is over. Done.
Our receivers seem scared of getting hit. That's the worst thing that a receiver can do, because this results in them focusing more on taking the impending hit than catching the ball. When they do this, the ball bounces out of their hands (because they aren't concentrating) and so far this season, it has usually wound up in the hands of the defenders, resulting in interceptions and further declining Manning's already pitiful confidence. There is no excuse for this and it had better stop soon or the Giants passing game will be non-existant. And the scores against other teams will look just a pathetic as they did today.
As for the defense, my complaints are a bit more spread. Because the Giants offense is not together and sputtering, the defense is being left on the field more often than they should be. Justin Tuck has always seemed to be questionable in health, and this year is no different. Every so often a trainer is stretching him out or flexing something. He needs to stay healthy, but his play is still strong for now. Same thing with Umenyiora, but his health is slightly more reliable. Our linebackers are getting pressure, but they run out of steam when they are repeatedly left out on the field.
I was happy when the Giants fired Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan after last season, and the defense seems to have benefitted due to this. But there is still work to be done. Our secondary has always been questionable on their best days, with our pass coverage usually blown and left behind. I'm disgusted with newcomer Antrel Rolle shooting off his mouth, calling out the coaching staff and other players after the loss last week to Indianapolis. He also whined that he's not having any fun. Shut the hell up and cry me a river! All I got to say? Who cares about fun when you're playing a sport for a living and making $37 million from your contract?
This Giants team is undisciplined, sloppy, and pathetic. They show signs of how good they can actually be with the occasional nice catch or good run, but they need to fix quite a long list of issues. Start with the turnovers for one thing. They currently lead the NFL in turnovers. No excuse for that. That starts with receivers catching the ball and Eli not wetting his pants when under pressure and making passes into triple coverage. Jacobs needs to get back to being the Mack truck he used to be and start hitting defenders in the chin, Bradshaw needs to hit the defensive holes faster, and the offensive line needs to regain its discipline and swagger.
As for the defense, if all parties keep their mouths shut and stop creating distractions as well as stay healthy, things should be ok. They just need the offense to help them out a bit and keep them off the field!
At least Ohio State is getting their business done. Couldn't speak for my own alma mater though, they've lost their first three.
