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A. SECONDARY PLAY: Giants are far more aggressive, the see the ball better and they tackle WAY better.
B. BALL SECURITY: Giants didn't beat themselves. The Cardinals gave up two turnovers on a Warner fumble (holding the ball too long---really the only time he did all day, alas) and a Warner interception (see #1: the Giants knew Warner's hot spots on the field, didn't they?).
But...these plays were also as bad as turnovers:
1. Matt Ware's off-sides on the one kickoff to Hixon the Cardinals stuffed.
2. Eric Green never seeing the wobbling duck bomb to Steve Smith up the right sideline that bailed the Giants out of a thrid and long and led to an easy TD.
3. Dirk Johnson's second holding bobble of the season, and his overthrowing of the 6'8" Calais Campbell...a real momentum breaker after taking a 9-7 lead.
4. Lyle Sendlein's weak and errant snap that ended a good drive into Giants' territory (in a game like this all possessions matter so much).
C. COACHING: Tom Coughlin deserves the game ball...on offense he played to win and took what the Cardinals were giving him all afternoon...on defense his pursuit of Warner was relentless, and his DBs were highly motivated to limit the Cardinal WR to 3 yards racs...and his team dominated the game on special teams (I used to watch Coughlin's practices when he was the head coach at BC, and he always started and ended practices with special team reps and constant do overs and instructions).
Note: one can feel good that the Cards' slowed the Giants' running game, but it really doesn't matter if the defense is giving up easy pass plays and a total of 37 points at home.
Whiz made some innovative calls: the free kick, the Pahokee wishbone (which the FOX team said the same thing I did last week...why? especially win the red zone with all the other options available), the on-side kick with 4:00 left (executed perfectly, and Ralph Brown could have caught the ball in mid-air like he did the last time---that was called a penalty for not going 10 yards, only this time he well beyond the ten yards), and the FG with 34 secs left down 11.
But, Whiz did not have the Card's defense or special teams ready...the defense did slow the Giants' running game, and yes they were faced defending some short fields, but the reality is the Giants scored 4 TDs and 3 FGs to the tune of 37 points at our own house. And they did it taking advantage of what the Cardinal defense doesn't do consistently well: cover, defend the edges and tackle.
The special teams were brutally bad...265 yards of all-purpose yards to Domenik Hixon says most of it...but the penalties (Ware had three of them himself) and the botched hold on the extra point were huge mistakes.
D. THE OFFENSIVE LINE: The Giants protected Eli Manning very well, which shows how great their o-line is at both run and pass blocking, but it also shows how absent the Cardinal front seven was in the passing game...been saying, as Dockett and Smith go, the Cardinals go, well, Dockett and Smith were pretty much dominated in this game.
As for the Cardinals, the FOX crew Johnsoton and Albert, pointed out very accurately that the Giants were able to know just by the way the Cards' o-line was setting up, which plays were run plays. Not good. After they mentioned that, anyone could see the difference on most occasions.
What is even more confusing is why they o-line was taking such wide splits on passing plays??? And the Giants were having a field day rushing up the middle, and yet the Cardinals still lined up in wide splits.
The only reason to run wide splits is to try to make sure the DEs line up farther outside than usual. But, you're leaving yourself far too vulnerable to interior stunts and blitzes.
I still don't understand why the Cardinals refuse to do the simple thing...line up in normal splits, so as to ensure a safe middle of the pocket for Warner, and CHIP the DEs on the edge to slow them down.
E. THE FORMULA: As stated last week (30 points a game, get 2-3 TOs on defense and hold our own on STs), the Cardinal offense, despite two turnovers like last week, scored 29 points--should have been 30--against the top defense in the league, thus holding up their part...but the defense did not get the two-three TOs the team need to win (and the defense in the passing game was not very alert--save DRC's plays--man oh man, Eric Green's lack of ball skills remains a real detriment, as does lack of safety help deep)...and the special teams were a major disappointment (save Rackers and Arrington and the kickoff return team).
When all is said and done the game of football comes down to who can block and tackle better...pretty simple...the Giants do both better, which is why they are an elite team, and why the Cardinals are not quite there yet.
F. PRIME-TIMERS: Those Cards who really showed up, IMO
1. Warner---took such a pounding all day---and still led the team under extreme duress to 29 points and 32/52, 356, 1 TD, 1 INT passing.
2. All four WRs...Fitz, Q, Breaston (great long catch and almost a TD catch on a deep pass) and Urban (his best game of the year thus far?).
3. Tim Hightower...2 TDs, 9 for the year...and let's face it, the shotgun draw play, especially versus a strong rush up the middle is NOT a good call, which really hurt his chances for a better day running the ball.
4. Levi Brown...check out his down block on Hightower's second TD, it's awesome!
5. Calais Campbell...did you see the play where he rushed from RDE and plowed over the blocker and tackled Manning just as he was letting go of the wobbly duck bomb to Smith?
6. Karlos Dansby...made some big hits...missed some too, though.
7. DRC...a star in the making?
8. Bertrand Berry...good sack.
9. Bryan Robinson...best game this year making tackles in the middle.
10. Rackers...another perfect kicking day and is he the best on-sides kicker ever?
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Last edited by Mitch; November 23rd, 2008 at 06:31 PM.
10. Rackers...another perfect kicking day and is he the best on-sides kicker ever?
Outstanding non-emotional piece of writing. It's too late now but the team betta' get some serious rb's next year. It was like the giants had someone in our huddle. I can write 10 pages on the multitude of dynamics of no running backs. There were many other reaons for the loss...obvious to all who watched the game. Let's see what a short week and an east coast trip means playing a veery "wounded" eagle team
Outstanding non-emotional piece of writing. It's too late now but the team betta' get some serious rb's next year. It was like the giants had someone in our huddle. I can write 10 pages on the multitude of dynamics of no running backs. There were many other reaons for the loss...obvious to all who watched the game. Let's see what a short week and an east coast trip means playing a veery "wounded" eagle team
No, this team needs better run blockers or a better run blocking scheme. Edge, Hightower and Arrington are fine runners (even though there is a good chance that only Hightower remains next year). I thought overpaying for Russ Grimm and his knowledge would at least help us average more than 100 ypg on the ground.
No, this team needs better run blockers or a better run blocking scheme. Edge, Hightower and Arrington are fine runners (even though there is a good chance that only Hightower remains next year). I thought overpaying for Russ Grimm and his knowledge would at least help us average more than 100 ypg on the ground.
I agree but I think the loss of Al Johsnon has hurt the running game more than people know. To have a power running game,which Whiz and Grimm like,it starts with a big, physical C. Sendelin has done an admirable job but he's just not a physical presence. Look at the Steelers over the years. They have had Dermonti Dawson,Jeff Hartings, et al to anchor the run game. Those 2 were considered the best in the game when they were in their prime. If we upgrade the center position i think the running game will follow suit. I haven't really seen him play but Alex Mack,from Cal,is supposed to be one of the best C prospects to come out in years. He should probably be in the equation for our 1st round pick next year. That's another reason why i really wanted the Cards to give LeCharles Bentley a shot. Obviuosly, Bentley isn't healthy because he's not on anyone's roster that i'm aware of. Also, some healthy TE's would help the running game as well.
This team needs to scrap all the gadget draw plays they run.. i havent seen any work..
Every time we run, it's Kurt getting the snap, faking a pass, holding the ball another.5 seconds, then handing off..
Just stupid..
I understand that we basically cant run the ball, and that wont change this yr.. but if we do run it can we please just line up in regular formations and run traditional run plays?
At least let Hightower plow into the line for 3 yards..
Mitch, what is your opinion on this running game?? What is missing here?? Olinemen capable of run blocking? RBs? Is it just scheme related issues?
Anyway, you summed up the game best when you brought up the turnovers... this is what the Cardinals defense is built on.. if they arent getting turnovers they arent very good..
Let me also applaud the Giants cause they are the best coached team in football.. their defense is so well schooled.. from they stunting, to their blitz packages, to their DBs knowing the routes we run and getting there before our guys could..
Just a real well schooled team..
This game will help up the rest of the way.. cause we're not gonna play a smarter defense then the one we faced this afternoon
In regards to the center position.. there is a kid from Arkansas who is very good, just as good as MacK IMO... this draft is extremely deep on the Oline including the center position.. we probably dont even have to use a first round pick on the Oline given the depth of this draft
Am I alone in thinking Kurt made that snap look worse than it was by simply not moving to get it? he just reached out rather than sliding over. As they said on the game from watching teh film Sendlein's bad snaps always go left, you'd think by now Kurt would see that and make sure he moved to get it but that's the 2nd time in recent weeks he's dropped a snap he never moved to get.
Obviously Sendlein needs to be better but we're in the shotgun more than just about any team in the NFL, one reason teams don't use it more is the risk of bad snaps, that's sort of a given.
I thought Kurt played really well other than the 2 turnovers, but I thought that snap was 75% on Sendlein and 25% on Kurt.
This team needs to scrap all the gadget draw plays they run.. i havent seen any work..
Every time we run, it's Kurt getting the snap, faking a pass, holding the ball another.5 seconds, then handing off..
Just stupid..
I understand that we basically cant run the ball, and that wont change this yr.. but if we do run it can we please just line up in regular formations and run traditional run plays?
At least let Hightower plow into the line for 3 yards..
Mitch, what is your opinion on this running game?? What is missing here?? Olinemen capable of run blocking? RBs? Is it just scheme related issues?
Anyway, you summed up the game best when you brought up the turnovers... this is what the Cardinals defense is built on.. if they arent getting turnovers they arent very good..
Brewster...the main problem with the running game is the exceptional talent of the passing game...this offense's identity is wrapped up in throwing the ball...and it's hard to change that mentality.
Let me ask you a question...do you remember the couple of first down 5 yard passes to Breaston where he caught the ball was tackled immediately? The irony is (a) we're so used to getting more than that on receptions, it feels like a slight disappointment, but (b) if we gained the same amount of yards on a running play we'd be jumping for joy. The reality is, it makes no difference how you get the five yards.
I have said this and I mean it...it really doesn't matter whether the Cardinals can run the ball consistently well or not, not if the Cardinals keep putting 30 points and 400 yards of total offense and win time of possession.
Let's not forget too, that (a) today the Giants passed to set up the run because they felt that this was what the Cardinals were giving them; and (b) the Cardinals scored twice on Hightower runs today against the league's stoutest defense.
Today's time of possession was virtually even...the key is sustaining drives and both teams did that...it's just that the Giants often had a shorter distance to the end zone.
Warner wasn't good today at all. He held the ball too long more than once, missed open receivers, had two turnovers, a paltry 6.8 yards per pass attempt, had had several balls overthrown that we were very lucky weren't intercepted.
It was a team loss since the Giants abused us in every facet of the game, but Warner does not deserved to be praised for today.
Am I alone in thinking Kurt made that snap look worse than it was by simply not moving to get it? he just reached out rather than sliding over. As they said on the game from watching teh film Sendlein's bad snaps always go left, you'd think by now Kurt would see that and make sure he moved to get it but that's the 2nd time in recent weeks he's dropped a snap he never moved to get.
Obviously Sendlein needs to be better but we're in the shotgun more than just about any team in the NFL, one reason teams don't use it more is the risk of bad snaps, that's sort of a given.
I thought Kurt played really well other than the 2 turnovers, but I thought that snap was 75% on Sendlein and 25% on Kurt.
I agree, Russ, although it did look worse from the behind the QB angle.
Warner wasn't good today at all. He held the ball too long more than once, missed open receivers, had two turnovers, a paltry 6.8 yards per pass attempt, had had several balls overthrown that we were very lucky weren't intercepted.
It was a team loss since the Giants abused us in every facet of the game, but Warner does not deserved to be praised for today.
These statements about Warner are absurd.
Warner was drilled play after play after play...and he persevered to the tune of 356 yards passing and 29 points.
Yes, he made two mistakes and they especially hurt seeing as the Giants played flawlessly.
Warner fared better than the last QB the Giants faced in U of P Stadium...his name: Tom Brady...and his offense was virtually unstoppable all year.
Warner's sheer courage and perseverance in this game were remarkable.
Warner wasn't good today at all. He held the ball too long more than once, missed open receivers, had two turnovers, a paltry 6.8 yards per pass attempt, had had several balls overthrown that we were very lucky weren't intercepted.
It was a team loss since the Giants abused us in every facet of the game, but Warner does not deserved to be praised for today.
If you were to itemize the reasons we lost this game, I dont think Warner is anywhere near the top 5 on the list. I think your a little off base with this claim.
Warner was about 91% of our offense today. He did commit two turnovers, but on the other hand, our defense did not return the favor by getting him the ball back at all. Blitz pick ups, lack of a running game and extremely poor special teams execution go above and beyond.
Give the old geezer some credit. He kept us in this thing.
If you were to itemize the reasons we lost this game, I dont think Warner is anywhere near the top 5 on the list. I think your a little off base with this claim.
Warner was about 91% of our offense today. He did commit two turnovers, but on the other hand, our defense did not return the favor by getting him the ball back at all. Blitz pick ups, lack of a running game and extremely poor special teams execution go above and beyond.
Give the old geezer some credit. He kept us in this thing.
I don't give credit for two turnovers (both of them killer), woeful clock management, holding the ball too long on multiple occassions, missing open receivers repeatedly, and an AWFUL 6 yards a pass attempt.
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