mws44

A look back at the NY Giants' season-opening victory over the Washington Redskins

by Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger

Monday September 14, 2009, 12:08 PM

 

Matt Rainey/The Star-Ledger

Giants receiver Steve Smith led the team with six receptions for 80 yards Sunday against the Redskins.GAME BALLS

QB Eli Manning. His performance was probably a bit overlooked Sunday because he didn't hit any bombs. But he was superb: 20-for-29 for 256 yards, one TD and one INT. That was a bad INT, yes, and never should have been thrown.

 

WR Steve Smith. He said he was determined to come out and perform well after the preseason drop, and he did just that. Some very nice catches in the clutch.

 

WR Mario Manningham. Nothing for me to say when JV laid out his day beautifully right here.

 

DE Osi Umenyiora. I'm still waiting on former Giants LB Kawika Mitchell to respond to my tweet about what to call a "perfect play" when it happens a second time. Umenyiora called it "perfection twice." Meh.

 

 

Breaking down the Giants win over the Redskins in Week 1

 

 

 

Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan. If not for a fake field goal that fooled the special-teams unit and a field goal that was the result of a "sudden change" after an INT deep in Giants territory, we'd be talking about the Giants' holding the Redskins to 7 points for the third straight meeting. And that TD, of course, came in garbage time, so it was practically a shutout for Sheridan in his DC debut. I wrote here about the big stop after the INT, but let's also not forget the three-and-out early in the second quarter after the Giants missed a fourth-and-1. That was another potential momentum changer that was nipped in the bud by Sheridan's D. Good job by Sheridan to stay in a base defense on third-and-10 in that series because the Redskins ran it there to try giving P Hunter Smith some more room -- to no avail.

 

LB Antonio Pierce. If you're going to give a pat to the coach on the sidelines, you have to give one to the coach on the field.

 

DE Justin Tuck. Two very big plays on that "sudden change" series and one other stop on the series after the failed fourth down. A big-time player came up big in two big spots. Big.

 

CB Corey Webster. Absolutely one of the best interceptions I've seen by a Giants player in my six years on the beat. Maybe the best. Off the top of my head, I'm having trouble thinking of any other contenders. Also, great job by Webster of shutting down WR Santana Moss.

 

TE Kevin Boss. He's just a quiet, consistent guy who makes big plays at the right time. Jacobs called him "our hero tonight, if you ask me."

 

DT Albert Haynesworth. He's the real deal, people. And how about the 'Skins lining him up at DE on passing downs a few times? If you're Giants LT David Diehl, I'd say it's pretty safe you can assume a bull rush.

 

LG Rich Seubert. For taking on Haynesworth 1-on-1 a few times and not backing down. Look, Seubert is a very, very good player, but he should have been overmatched there and he wasn't.

 

WR Derek Hagan. Nice job on special teams. In my Saturday story, I quoted WR Domenik Hixon as saying Hagan's releases on punt coverage were very good. He showed it when he drew an illegal block penalty on CB DeAngelo Hall.

 

K Lawrence Tynes. I have no idea what the story was with the line-drive kickoffs, but he nailed those three FGs.

 

'Skins LB London Fletcher. One of the most underappreciated players in the league. And, like Haynesworth, one of the rare cases of money well spent by Washington.

 

 

Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger

Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora's strip and fumble return for a touchdown heralded his successful return from injury, and demonstrated a flaw in the technique of Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell.Pam Oliver. Pretty sure she played through some kind of illness because she seemed very under the weather on Friday. Way to tough it out, Pam.

 

FOX's entire broadcast crew. What a joy their broadcasts are to watch in comparison to CBS, ESPN and NBC. I've said this before: their cameras routinely catch things you'll never see from the other networks. Yesterday's prime example (on top of a few other good catches) came in the third quarter when Webster and Moss were shaking hands and "hugging it out" (with an official watching and listening nearby) after their on-field scuffle in the first half. So glad I cover an NFC team so I can get the better broadcasts for the majority of the year.

 

CB Bruce Johnson. An oversight by me. Nice catch by ajfergus on the write-in vote. (See comments below.)

 

GASSERS

Redskins S LaRon Landry. It's great when a guy can play with a little extra fire on the field, no matter the motivation to get the juices going. But for Landry, who was trying to exact revenge on Jacobs for when he was run over in last season's opener, getting fired up meant playing like a lunatic -- in a bad way. Landry got flagged for a late hit on Jacobs and would have gotten another one if the officials had bought Jacobs' flop on a post-whistle hit from Landry. On top of those two, Landry was also showing very little discipline while running like a wild man all over the field. He didn't break down to tackle Manningham on an in cut on the Giants' first drive, so he missed the tackle and went flying by, allowing Manningham to gain an extra 7 yards. Landry also overran a few other plays early on.

 

Washington CB DeAngelo Hall. And to think, the Giants were interested in him during the '08 off-season. Bet they're very glad they didn't pull the trigger there and instead went to the draft to find CB Terrell Thomas in the second round.

 

'Skins QB Jason Campbell. Good job by the Giants' defensive players of talking him up last week and saying he looked more comfortable in the preseason. That's called being politically correct and trying to inflate your opponent's comfort level -- only to knock it down. Also, good job by Troy Aikman of pointing the finger at Campbell, not LT Chris Samuels, for Umenyiora's sack/FF/FR/TD. Campbell's drop was much too deep and he didn't step up in the pocket after planting at the end of his drop. He had plenty of room to step up. Guess he got too comfortable, huh?

 

ODDS AND (TIGHT) ENDS

LB Chase Blackburn said after the game the Redskins' first play from scrimmage, a 34-yard run by RB Clinton Portis, was one person's fault and that Pierce was able to identify the problem right away. Blackburn wouldn't say who the player was, but a few minutes later, Umenyiora volunteered the info by saying the first run was his fault. If you look at the play on tape, you'll see he didn't move right with the rest of the line as the 'Skins ran a stretch play to that side.

 

As for the correction Pierce made, Blackburn said, "Obviously, we can't have that. You can't start the game the way we did. We got it fixed right away. On the field, we were able to correct it. We figured out what happened right then and there, we solved it and boom, made the calls from there on out. When you're coming up in the gap, and there's a call made or not made, you can tell what happens in front of you. We're coming from the second level, so we can see. Just like the safeties can see if we're out of a gap. ... (Pierce) got in front of everybody and said, 'Hey, calm it down. It's a one-time thing. We're not going to run this right now.' He made the correction."

 

 

William Perlman/The Star-Ledger

After allowing a 34-yard run on the Redskins' first play from scrimmage, the Giants run defense stiffened and held Redskins running back Clinton Portis to 28 yards on his 15 other carries.After that correction, everybody was in the right spot for the Redskins' runs. Of their final 19 rushes (not counting the fake FG), 16 went for less than 6 yards. One went 6 yards after DE Mathias Kiwanuka barely missed Portis, one went for 7 yards after Thomas didn't tackle Portis at the line like he should have and then Campbell scrambled for 16 yards against a prevent defense on the final drive. Excellent run defense by the Giants Sunday.

 

Hey, NFL, take a look at RB Ahmad Bradshaw's 22-yard run late in the first quarter. Watch the punch to the face by Hall on Hixon (that knocked out either Hixon's mouthpiece or an ear pad). Let me know what you come up with.

 

But I guess I can't expect you to see that when you missed the face mask on DE Andre Carter that I saw from atop the stadium. I wasn't alone, as there were almost 80,000 other people who saw it, plus Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who had to hold his tongue after the game.

 

We've been all fired up over the Giants' 5-man DL since camp. But did you notice Washington whipped out their own 5-man front yesterday? They did it on Carter's sack and forced fumble ... I mean, face mask.

 

WR Sinorice Moss was on the edge on that fake-FG TD run by WAS P Hunter Smith. I'm not going to assume it was his fault and he had contain. I do know he was more careful on the next FG attempt, though that might have been a "safe" call against another fake.

 

If you're one of those people who didn't think QB Andre' Woodson would help the 'Skins and that the Giants would change all of their calls at the line ... um, no. There was one audible the Giants often run that they threw out there Sunday and, trust me, the 'Skins were soooooooo ready for it. I'm not going to drop it here because it's part of that unspoken code that you don't write about game strategy, but I was looking for it, I heard it on the tape and I watched the 'Skins reaction. Whether Woodson tipped them off to it or not, they knew what was coming. Very surprised the Giants didn't make a change there.

 

The Giants have some interesting roster decisions to make here. They have to bring back LB Michael Boley after his one-game suspension, but they also have to create a roster spot for an RB (maybe Allen Patrick from the practice squad) to fill in for injured RB Danny Ware, who figures to miss a few games. Could be interesting because the Giants certainly don't want to lose a couple of guys who might have to be cut loose here.

 

And finally, if I'm going to point out the days Browns' WR Braylon Edwards catches three passes for 51 yards and a TD while the Giants' WRs are dropping balls against the Jets, it's only fair I note when he has one catch and causes an INT while Manningham is dodging defenders and Smith is making clutch grabs.

 

P.S. As always with my game reviews, in which I'm handling a lot of info in a short amount of time, I've been known to have a mental gaffe or two and leave something or someone obvious out, so let me know what I missed.

link

Jack I know you hate Pierce and would like to blame all of the world's problems on him, but you have to give the guy credit for being a very heady football player.

Funny He only had 3 tackles and 2 assists does that = a ton? and what do yo mean by being "IN ON "? sure he may have been "IN ON" the camera angle as the tackles where being made . So does being "around " a tackle count as being "IN ON" one? OHHHHHHHHH don't look Now but "AIR HORN " had 5 tackles and 1 Assist soooo is that considered being "IN ON " a long ton of tackles for 58...... I mean I saw his number when he made takles also .

Also the dude is so much more than just the physical side of the game. He truly is the QB of the defense. He makes more plays before the ball is even snapped by getting guys in the right spots than we on this message board will ever know.

not really

 

I was quite happy to be wrong about many of these points

 

before the game all were concerns

 

now I'm concerned about Eli and his propensity to throw Collins like INTs deep in our zone off his back foot

You don't happen to post on other sites under the name carbo do you? I've never seen someone only see negatives as much as you. Did you see any positives in that game other than the W? Where does this opinion that B Jac has lost his edge come from, 5 quarters of preseason football? That is just rediculous. Some games he absolutely dominates, others a back like Bradshaw has a better game. That's the way it has been for the last 2 years. I haven't seen any drop off from him yet at all.

Thanks mws!!

No problem man. I read MG religiously. Best in the business.

NY Giants announce final roster and trade of tight end Michael Matthews to Patriots

by Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger

Saturday September 05, 2009, 6:28 PM

 

Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger

Tight end Michael Matthews, who had been told earlier in the day he would be released, was instead traded to the Patriots for a conditional 2011 draft pick.

If you followed the cuts here today as they trickled in, the Giants' final roster will be of no surprise to you. It's listed below, as the team has confirmed its final cuts.

 

What will be surprising is how tight end Michael Matthews was let go.

 

Matthews, who played in every game for the Giants since signing as an rookie free agent in 2007, was traded to the Patriots for a conditional 2011 draft choice. No word yet on the conditions of the pick.

 

Matthews was told earlier today he had been released. The Giants might have already worked out the trade with New England at the time.

 

"I didn't take it too hard. Probably my wife took it harder than me," Matthews said by phone. "But we know that's the nature of the business we're getting ourselves into. I didn't get too bummed out."

 

It's no shock Matthews landed in New England because the Patriots were the other team he was considering joining when he went undrafted out of Georgia Tech.

 

Matthews, a 6-4, 270-pounder who served mostly as a blocking tight end, had eight catches in two seasons with the Giants. He said he will miss the team.

 

"I loved the Giants, man," he said. "I loved the organization. The time I was there, everyone was very supportive of me. The fans are awesome. I appreciate everything the guys did for me there. I love all the players still. I'll still talk to a bunch of them because I made some solid friendships. I loved my whole time there."

 

***

 

Now, before we get to the roster, here are a few comments from David Tyree, Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese - courtesy of the Giants - on the release of Tyree.

 

"It's obviously a time of mixed feelings," Tyree said. "This is part of the journey. It's not like it's a great day. But at the same time I'm filled with expectations about what's next on this track, and I'm excited, as well. ... You get the call and obviously you have the inclination of what you're going to hear. It's not like I wasn't prepared or knew it wasn't a possibility. It kind of simplifies things for me and causes me to rejoice in the years that I've had here."

 

"David Tyree is such a class act," coach Tom Coughlin said. "What a great guy he is. When he came in to see me, I had a lot of emotions running through my head. He put everything at ease, he had a big smile on his face. I told David he is forever etched in the annals of New York Giants history. That will never change. That moment in history will stand forever in time."

 

"This is one of the hardest days of the year for players and personnel departments," said general manager Jerry Reese. "It becomes extremely hard when you have to say goodbye to players like David Tyree and Michael Matthews who have given you their very best and helped you win a championship."

 

For more from Tyree, Coughlin and Reese, see the Giants' press release here.

 

***

 

Here's the roster, exactly as we laid it out earlier:

 

QB (2): Eli Manning, David Carr

 

RB (3): Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware

 

FB (1): Madison Hedgecock

 

WR (7): Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss, Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden, Derek Hagan

 

TE (3): Kevin Boss, Darcy Johnson, Travis Beckum

 

OL (10): Shaun O'Hara, Chris Snee, Rich Seubert, Kareem McKenzie, David Diehl, Kevin Boothe, Tutan Reyes, Guy Whimper, Adam Koets, Will Beatty

 

DL (9): Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, Mathias Kiwanuka, Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard, Dave Tollefson, Leger Douzable

 

LB (8): Antonio Pierce, Danny Clark, Chase Blackburn, Gerris Wilkinson, Clint Sintim, Zak DeOssie, Jonathan Goff, Bryan Kehl

 

DB (8): Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, Michael Johnson, Kenny Phillips, Kevin Dockery, Terrell Thomas, C.C. Brown, Bruce Johnson

 

K (1): Lawrence Tynes

 

P (1): Jeff Feagles

 

LB Michael Boley is suspended for the regular-season opener. He's eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 14 - the day after the game against the Redskins.

 

***

 

And finally, jersey number changes. (Here's hoping you didn't buy a Nicks jersey yet):

 

Nicks: 18 to Matthews' 88, which he wore in college

 

Feagles: 17 back to 18

 

Douzable:78 to DE Robert Henderson's 90 (Good move)

Link

Pierce will not be around next year thats why......he will likely not even survive his one

 

Moss might well be our #1 WR at years end and Danny Ware is the only complete RB we have......Bradshaw can't push the pile, and Jacobs has lost whatever it was he had when he came up......hes just a plow horse now who goes down when a CB hits him

BTW there's not much to chose between Carr and Manning now.........that comment outr to get your bile flowing HAHAHAHAHA

There is no way you watch Giants games if you make a statement like that.

My response to this is.. who gives a shit. Last I checked our team runs over people anyway...

The only problem is that he can give them the audible and line adjustment keys that Eli uses pre snap. Eli makes a lot of reads at the line and has to relay the info to the rest of the team somehow. It just throws in another complication of changing terminology before the game.

No Moss love people? I don't know why, but I'm rooting for that guy.

Here is what I think is Jacobs Bently.. I saw it as I pulled out of the parking lot, lets just say it was a little quicker then my G6

Jacobs drives a very pimped out Escalade. I saw him get in it and drive away when I was up there. I don't think he would have more than one car at camp.

And as big as a fuckin building! When they came to AZ, and me, my son and Socal were gettin autographs, that dude was bigger than life. He's a mammoth.

You're not kiddin. I'm 6-1 and I was looking up at him like I was a little kid. That dude is huge.

I never said he was godzilla but you know what.in those same weeks he was hitting the FG's right down the middle and went tot he pro bowl so who's te fool

 

looks like its you

He went to the Pro Bowl for his field goal numbers UP TO November. After that he was very average if not below. His kick off ability had nothing to do with his Pro Bowl selection. Let's not revert to childish name calling when someone produces evidence contrary to your beliefs.

Link

November 9, 2008, 7:52 pm

Two Kickers for the Giants

By Joe Lapointe

PHILADELPHIA — For the first time this season, Lawrence Tynes was in uniform for the Giants (7-1) when they played the Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field. But John Carney, the other kicker, was also in uniform.

 

It was believed that Carney would handle extra points and some field goals while Tynes would do the kickoffs and other field goals. Carney took over from Tynes in the preseason when Tynes injured his left knee, the one on his planting leg, not his kicking leg.

 

Tynes has been healthy for a month, but Coach Tom Coughlin has been reluctant to make any changes because Carney has missed only one field goal this season, one that was blocked. He has been perfect on extra points.

 

In recent weeks, some of Carney’s kickoffs have been falling short of the end zone, and Coughlin noted last week that they have not been high with good “hang time” to allow the coverage team to get downfield.

:lol:

did you pee your pants? :lol:

 

yeah these guys are awesome they will shoot the shit with you for a while I talked to Hedgecock last year hes a funny dude. I talked to Caughlin as well as he was signing my hat.

 

BUT as camp wares on they get irritable because of the constant badgering for autographs ....I can't say I blame them . so its better to get there early in the season to get something signed.

 

Any one get an O'Hara sig? Let me Know. Couldn't get that one last year

O'Hara signed for me last Sunday! Not real talkative though. Diehl was funny as hell. He was messin with Bradshaw when he was near me.

I was up at camp for the weekend and WB was one of the guys that signed as many autographs as possible. He spent a lot of time after practice and talked to the fans and stuff. He was cool. Brian Kehl was the other guy that wouldn't stop signing until everyone that wanted his autograph, or a picture had it. He is probably one of the nicest guys on the team right now. I got a picture with him, taken by my wife, but he stopped and asked if she wanted someone else to take it so she could get in. That was pretty freakin cool considering there were tons of people yelling at him to sign. I also got to joke around with Diehl about his little comedy routine. This was the first time I made it up there and we had a blast.

I really wish people would stop calling it the catch. That already exists. You can't just change it. I have always just wanted it called The Play because the entire thing was amazing.

New York Giants linebacker Michael Boley suspended for violating NFL's Personal Conduct Policy

by Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger

Tuesday July 07, 2009, 1:12 PM

 

Curtis Compton/MCT

Michael Boley will miss the Giants' season opener vs. the Redskins due to a violation of the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy.Giants linebacker Michael Boley has been suspended without pay for the first regular-season game this fall as a result of violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy, the league announced Tuesday.

 

The suspension stems from Boley's spring 2008 domestic battery charge following a verbal argument with his wife, according to a source with knowledge of the violation.

 

Boley signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Giants when free agency opened in February and, according to someone with knowledge of Boley's free-agency process, the team knew he was going to receive a suspension when it signed him.

 

Boley's suspension starts on Sept. 5 and he will be eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 14, the day after the Giants' season opener against the Redskins. He is eligible to participate in preseason practices and games but was expected to miss 8 to 10 weeks following June 24 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip.

 

Boley, who spent his first four seasons with the Falcons, was expected to add speed to the Giants defense from the weak-side linebacker spot.

Link

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I mean, there comes a point when you just have to laugh right?..............................right? :brooding: :WTF:

WOW. This game is rediculous

Ok all kidding aside, Ryan Church is absolutely fucking horrible. A ground ball to the 1bmen. Albeit the guy was SAFE but come the fuck on, your SUPPOSED to be a run producer.

 

Stuck on 8 rbis ..... Can I get some agreement that this guy sucks ass?

I absolutely would agree with this, but I just don't see him getting a fair shake from Manual. His management of Church is absolutely mind boggeling. The guy has kept the team afloat, but I just don't get it. Church starts the year raking, completely on fire, and what does Jerry do? Sit him for some Sheffield playing time. The guy hits a home run, looks like he might start getting in a rythm, and Jerry gives him a day off. I just don't fucking get his logic. Let the guy get some momentum and see what he can do for Gods sake.

They own us, simple as that. They have better players, tougher players and an overall more potent lineup. What more is there to say?

 

The Mets need to start coming to the realization that they are gonna have to stay aflot till they get back reyes or delgado or add a bat and fight for the WC. This Phils team is not gonna relinquich the NL east this year and heaven help us when they add another starter.

 

The case has been rested on Ibanez, guy has not missed a game in 3 years, is good for 30 homers and 100 rbis every year and can hit, even in citifield. No use talking about that one anymore.

Not to keep this debate rolling, but who the hell could tell if he would even have a fraction of those number with Manual giving him every 3rd day off. I know thats probably not realistic, but who could tell? I don't like Jerry's style. I think he is hurting Murphy also. He was just starting to go the other way and he sat him down for 3 fucking games!?

Those two losses were kick me in the balls fantastic by the way.

......and JJ Putz needs surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow. Out 8 to 10 weeks.

:brooding:

I don't really know much of anything about Broadway, but I heard Omar say that he was a number 1 pick in the Pelfrey draft. That should dictate that the guy has some talent and a straight up trade for Castro sounds like a great trade for our side of the table. I gues we'll see.

I read a blurb today that said we need to get Damion Easley on the horn. He is at least a solid defender for a stop gap. I'm tired of trading the farm away each year (or at least the perception of it). Too much of that in baseball for me. Seems like a grass is greener type thing.

Hell yeah! Doesn't happen often, but I'm definately rootin for the NY Yankees this weekend. Let's Go New York!

Why is Daniel Murphy being pinch hit for by Angel Pagan? Murphy is better against a lefty then he is anyday!

I was thinking the same thing. I was happy to see Murph in the on deck circle there. I know the logic but I have more confidence in Murphy. Then I began to contemplate what a leader would do there. Even tho a leader can't really be defined I decided to think about it and discuss it with friends for 20 minutes. Holy fuck those announcers suck. I'm pretty sure that Joe Morgan hates Phillips.

can i save your post for next year when captain hook starts losing the close games we'll be in because

 

our best Lber plays for Buffalo, our best WR is playing for the Skins, and our new D co-ordinator sitting up in the booth has left our defense passion-less and QBed by an aging little fat man who last hit another player in anger (out of bounds) 3 yrs ago (michael vick)

 

you can lay the philly loss at john carney's feet if you cannot bear to admit eli had the wost playoff game of his short career

 

ps- didnt carney have the same 1 out of 3 stat captain hook had in the GB game the year before?

 

also the pre-announcement that spags was leaving stupified me, if not you

Not sure what all that has to do with Carney as a kicker in late season games in the Meadowlands. You can save the post if you would like. I am certainly not endorsing Tynes as our kicker. I don't like him for clutch kicking either, but I do trust the talent scouts on the team, who see these guys everyday, to select the better player. In a perfect world we get a new kicker, although I have no idea who that would be.

Yes Carney missed the same number of kicks in a playoff game as Tynes did. I think of them both in the same light. I don't start a thread glorifying one of them because they had a fantastic 10 games to start the season.

Eli did have a bad game that day as did Gilbride with the play calling, but Carney's missed field goals can't be written off arbitrarily.

Not sure what pre-annoucement you are talking about. That doesn't really stand out to me.