New York Giants - v St Louis Rams - RD2- REVIEW

U G L Y we ain't got no alibi it was ugly.

However a win is a win and a 1-1 record is much better than a 0 - 2 start.

A shock loss to the Redskins in the opening round and this being a National Monday Night Football game the Giants needed to set the tone and show the league what they are capable of. Although Eli Manning came off to the very slow start the offence was opportunistic and got enough points on the board to never really give the Rams a sniff. The defensive line did their part and special teams came up with several key plays. I'm going to break the game into 5 sections for clarity from now on so we can focus on each group. So let's start with the pass attack.

Air Attack

Eli Manning was woefully slow to get momentum and again threw a crucial interception on along drive. He went 3 for 11 with an interception to start the game but ended it 15 for 18 and 2 touchdown for redemption. So while 200 yards and 2 TD 1 INT is an average game it was enough pull out the win and looking at the start he had quite a game to end it. For the Giants to beat the Eagles next week Eli will need to start the game like he ended this one, crisp and precise.

Rating 7 / 10

Ground Force

While some people look at 50-60 yards a game as average, for the Giants they need to take into account that 2 running backs share the load and although either will be unlikely to be named to the Pro-Bowl while they are doing this it is their shared contribution that the Giants will be looking at. Overall they combined for 109 yards and touchdown. While their 3.51 average is suspect they do include a lot of 3 and short ad 4 and 1's. Steady would be an apt description to the output for Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw but they did keep several drives alive and all behind a new o-line that is still finding its feet. Bradshaw also caught a 23 yard screen pass on 3rd and 18 to keep a drive alive for Jacobs to score a touchdown on the next play. This wasn't a super game on the ground but again was enough to get the W.

Rating: 7.5 / 10

Rushing D

It's fair to say the Giants ability to stop the run kept them in the game against the Redskins (74 yards) and they did it again against the Rams. The secondary was porous however the against the run stout would be a better adjective. They kept them to 59yards. They also kept them out of the end zone 3 of 4 entries into the Red Zone, the only touchdown being in the air.  They places them 3rd in the league for run defence. LB Michael Boley also used nous in picking up a seemingly dead ball for a fumble and rumbled 68 yards for a score. This is also his 2nd fumble recovery in 2 games. Notre Dame alum Justin Tuck returned to his bruising best with 1.5 sacks and 5 tackles. Antrel Rolle led the team with 9 tackles.

Rating: 9 / 10

Secondary Support

It has been widely acknowledged that the corner backs for the Giants have fared about as well as swimmers at Amity Beach. Take into account #1 Corner Terrell Thomas has a season ending knee injury, #3 corner Bruce Johnson is out and 1st round draft pick Prince Amukamara is currently out with an injury. So it's no surprise secondary again gave up 300+ yards in the air making it 4 in a row (1st two games this year and last 2 games 2010). Even if the concussed Michael Vick doesn't play next week the secondary will need to tighten up given the aerial weapons the Philadelphia Eagles have it could get ugly.

Rating: 2 / 10

Special Teams

The special teams was a mix of good and bad. Bad being a 29 yard punt return. Good being a Dave Tollefson muffed punt recovery at the Rams 38.

Rating: 6 / 10

Bring on the Eagles next week, I'll be getting at 3am to watch the game.

Until then hail to the air attack!

New York Giants - PREVIEW - Cornerbacks

I figured I'd go with the most talked about position for the G-Men ATM. Unfortunately it's for the wrong reasons, injury.

So far during training 3 have gone down with season ending injuries and another 1st round pick Prince Amukamara for 6 weeks with a broken foot.

Brian Witherspoon a 3rd year pro was impressing until a torn knee ligament prematurely ending his season.

Terrell Thomas a starting corner who was looking to have a breakout year also torn his ACL during the rout of the Chicago Bears on Monday - season over!

Bruce Johnson tore his Achilles tendon and Woodny Turenne was waived after hurting his calf.

With only 5 healthy CB's on the roster the Giants Brian Williams a 128 veteran with 99 starts with the Minnesota Viking, Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons. The 4th round pick out of North Carolina State is a proven playmaker recording a career best 5 interceptions and 63 tackles in 2003 for the Vikings. While he is being signed as a back up his durability will be an asset to a position notorious for knee injuries.

The other healthy CB's are Corey Webster, Aaron Ross (who will claim the right CB position), Michael Coe, Joe Burnett and Darnell Burks.

Webster and Ross will need to stay healthy in a division consisting of quarterbacks Michael Vick and Tony Romo for fear of the secondary being renamed 'toast'. Webster ironically was thrown into the starting spot through injury during the 2007 post-season run to the playoffs and played a staring role including 2 clutch interceptions in the play off win over Tampa Bay.

Michael Coe is leading the Giants in tackles (10) after 2 preseason games, probably due to the playing time of 1st and 2nd stringers and will need to keep improving if they don't want to be exposed in the nickle and dime packages.

For the secondary to find it's groove it needs to start the season well and build confidence. 300+ yard 4 touchdown games may be enough for cracks to appear and a charge at the Superbowl to be a distant thought.

"Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten" Aesop
     “Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.” Marcus Aurelius

Until then hail to the Ligamentum!

New York Giants - PRESEASON - Chicago Bears

I'm writing this as the game progresses.

To give you some perspective I'm very competitive person, if I'm playing a friendly game of tiddly winks I still like to win. I'm not a bad loser (or at least I don't think so) but I still like to do my best. It's the same for my sporting teams. Particularly the North Melbourne Kangaroos and New York Giants. I don't care if it's a pre-season game or the last game of the season and they are in no chance of making the play offs/finals. I still like the team to win and I'm a stats man from way back so I like people like Eli Manning to have 80%+ comp no INTS and tonnes of yards and TD's.

So when I see the Bears march down the field in 2 long plays I get annoyed. Can't help it!

Well I had to take a class and come back and what do I see. Butt hurt Bears baby! 41 - 13 hahaha I know I know, it's only pre-season and the 1st stringers don't play much but I still like a win!!!

It was great to see no injuries, an improved special teams and a couple of big plays. All in all a satisfying win to keep me quenched until the real deal rolls along.

EDIT: Damn Cornerback Terrell Thomas has done his ACL!!!!!

Until then hail to the Cruz control!