gmenroc

I think it's quite the opposite given Schiano's comments referring to his time at Rutgers and referring to his current coaching style with the Bucs. I think Schiano wants his team to play to the final gun and give it their all, no matter what, so long as there is a chance to win the game, regardless of how little that chance is. It's like deciding whether or not to apply for a job that you're very, very likely not to get. If you don't apply, you have 100% chance of not getting it. If you do apply, you have a 99% chance of not getting it. You bank on the 1% of getting it...not the 0%. You have a valid point about long term effects of that decision. Other teams will play the Bucs down to the wire so long as there's a chance to win. And to be perfectly honest...that makes for a better league in my opinion. So again, I don't know that I have a reason to be pissed at Schiano for calling the play the way he did.

Don't get me wrong...Skins are still not a walkover team and I'm in no way saying that they can't win against us or any other team in the league as a result of these injuries. But that said, these two injuries, occurring at the same time, and knocking two starters out for the year...just a lot to adjust to all at once. Offensively, the Skins are still dangerous, but defensively, this has to sting a good bit. Yes, Shanny has the ability to plug holes, but again, if it was one guy to one group and another guy in another group...that'd be one thing...but this is 2 guys who were anchors in their defensive front 7...that is tough to deal with all in one fell swoop. They'll adjust...but hopefully there will be 2 or 3 rough games here for them where they struggle to get there. Even if you minimize it to 2 games they lose because their defense suffered from these injuries...those 2 games could prove awfully costly at the end of the year.

It was a good play by the Bucs, both in planning AND execution. Here's why. 1. The point differential was only 1 score. Going all out with 5 seconds remaining to disrupt a snap or trip up a QB to hopefully cause a fumble that hopefully is returned for that TD...I have no problems with that. The fact that the Giants announced to the Bucs that they were going to kneel and that the Giants expected them to lay off is garbage. 2. The best way to cause the disruption they wanted was to submarine the O-Line, reaching through to grab Eli's ankle or whatever. 3. The Giants O-Line should have seen what was coming had they just looked at the Bucs lining up, ready to tee off. 4. Coughlin preaches to play 60 minutes...his O-Line did not. His O-Line, could easily have shuffled their feet back and fallen on top of the lunging D-Lineman. The intent of the Bucs was clearly not to injure our guys, but rather to play the last play, hoping for something to go their way. As a Giants fan, I find significantly more fault at the way the Giants handled that last play, then the way the Bucs did. Now...IF the differential was 9 pts or more...than there's no reason for it and the Bucs would have been bush league to pull that kind of play. But with it being only 7, they were 100%, completely justified in doing what they did as far as I'm concerned.

I'm more curious as to the status of Bradshaw.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8390915/washington-redskins-lose-lb-brian-orakpo-season-de-adam-carriker-too Two promising guys...done for the year. Shame for that ball club that actually looked like it was about to take huge steps forward. They're not out of it for the year, but no doubt these two, this early on...is a huge blow.

Not a bust...but definitely a draft pick that has yet to prove his worth. It's a big season for Prince that, given he has yet to play, hasn't been that great. Can he play at a high level...our season depends heavily upon it.

Cruz's grandmother apparently just died...the one who inspired the salsa dancing. Hopefully he doesn't miss the game and hopefully he's out for a big game for her. Until the offensive line improves, I see our offense struggling. Our defense will keep us in this game for at least 3 quarters. Whether the offense is able to overcome that, we'll see.

We were a superbowl team LAST year that had known issues. We were last in the league in running the ball and our secondary was dangerously thin after all the injuries. One could argue that we should've been in the running for Carr out of KC. One could argue that we could've done more with the O-Line in the offseason. So yeah, I think there could've been a more outright approach to fill holes that existed all last season. And as much of a fan as I am and as glad as I am that we won the superbowl...I'm sick of watching fans rest on their laurels because we won it last year. I think the players approached the first game with the same attitude...basking in the afterglow...barely having snuffed out their victory cigars before going into the first game unprepared. Last year is over. Forget it ever happened, and approach this year anew. In that approach, needs that were apparent last year went unaddressed or not addressed as much as I would've liked. As for the comment about FA going after big money...you have FAs who want to go to a SB winner too...with a franchise QB...who will sacrifice the big contract (to a certain extent, anyhow) in hopes for a ring.

We SHOULD have beaten Dallas...but we DIDN'T. Should is a meaningless fucking term when it comes to wins and losses. It's all what we DO that matters. Washington looked pretty impressive yesterday against quite a good team in the Saints. Washington also swept us last year before getting RG3 and Garcon. I also think that Washington's defense doesn't get the credit it deserves. Dallas controlled more in our game than what any of us would like to admit. Their defense looked vastly improved now that they have a secondary that's worth a damn. And they have a stud in Murray. If they're wise in how they use Murray, not running him into the ground, and make sure he's around for the end of the season...Dallas will be a force. Philly always plays us tough and has some playmakers. I think Philly could be the hot and cold team this year where they'll struggle against the likes of Cleveland and blow other playoff teams out of the water. So yeah, it'll depend heavily what Eagles team shows up when we play them. While this seems like a 'sky is falling' type of post, it's really not. It's very simply justification for the concern for our Giants in an improving division. At this point, it very much appears that the Giants did not improve nearly to the same scale as the Redskins and Cowboys did.

I can buy that.

I am of the opinion that due to the play of their front 7, and improved secondary...they kept us from doing what we wanted. We certainly didn't help matters by making our own mistakes...but I'm not above giving credit where it's due.

Dallas' linebackers aren't anything to scoff at either. Ratliff didn't play for them either. So yeah, Dallas defense looks to be pretty decent. I think what pisses me off the most is that the Giants walked into this game expecting the Dallas of last year and not really giving any attention to the moves Dallas made in the offseason. It's like they completely discredited everything Dallas did to better THEMselves as unimpressive and worthless. Cowboys definitely won the game. We didn't lose it, though we did have some mistakes, and the refs didn't give it to the Cowboys.

O line deserves most of the blame in my opinion, followed very closely by the receivers, followed very closely by the secondary. Secondary gets a slight pass due to injury situations. But you're right, if Eli doesn't get time and if we can't run the ball, such as the case last night...it will be a long season.

Lots of comments thus far and the offensive line has only been mentioned briefly? I think that our offensive line was by far, the worst part of our team last night. There was consistent pressure on Eli and we had absolutely no running game to speak of. Cowboys defense is vastly improved and the Giants seemed to be going into this game thinking it was the same old, same old. This game should, better, serve as a wake up call that the Giants can't half ass games and expect to win. Our secondary was every bit as piss poor as our offensive line, but injuries plagued them there. If Prince isn't up to speed for next week, we're fucked. The refs...I didn't see near as much the issue that others are. If there's a holding call here or there that doesn't get called, that's not necessarily going to win or lose games so long as they get the blatent ones. The missed defensive hold on Cruz in the endzone was definitely a hold and needed to be called. But all in all, I think the refs did better than they're being given credit for. Our WRs couldn't get open...though the back shoulder pass to Nicks was pretty. Not sure why we didn't see more of that.

It's a game that could have easily gone either way. Giants came out on top that time. Here's hoping GB gets another shot at the title...would be fun to beat them in the playoffs a 3rd time

Our average starting field position is past our own 30 yd line. We're actually able to establish a running game that totals over 150 yards amongst Bradshaw and Wilson. Both Nicks AND Cruz reach 100 yards receiving. Eli puts a football in the earhole of a replacement ref who misses a late hit call forcing an alternate replacement ref...a replacement for the replacement if you will...into the game.

I bid you adieu, Perriloux

The only thing that will piss me off royally is if we play with replacement refs, a deal gets worked out, and the old refs are reffing on Sunday/Monday. If there's anything they need to ensure, it's that the regular refs HAVE to come back at the start of a new NFL week....not in the middle of a given week's games in order to maintain competitive balance.

If we can play with 3 safeties on the field...why can't we play with 2 right DE's?

O Line is definitely a concern, and has been, since the start of the offseason. The only thing we did was draft two guys who have struggled to date, and bring in a veteran backup that really wasn't much better than the aging KMac that was let go. So yeah, I think that the Giants were really hanging their hats on Brewer to develop and Beatty to recover. Neither has really happened to date and until they do, we're going to be holding our collective breath.

Oh, I agree 100%...my point was simply that despite Barden's play against the Bears, his value to the team puts him 7th at his position. I can't say he's the 7th best WR on our team...because honestly, I think he's a better WR than Douglas, maybe Hixon, and maybe JJ...but the value as a player on the roster isn't there. Should Barden be the odd man out, does he clear waivers?

I can't see keeping more than 4 DEs past Friday's cut down to 53...and with Tuck, JPP, Osi taking 3 of those 4 spots, you have to think that there's only one spot available for Ojomo and Tracy to fight over. Keeping Ojomo is tempting given his showing thus far and given Tracy is a bit dinged at the moment, but I think that Tracy is more prepared to move into that 4th spot than is Ojomo...and furthermore, Ojomo has shown his ability against lesser talent than has Tracy. I'd bet that Tracy would be as dominant or moreso had he gone up against the same competition that Tracy did. I'd be impressed if anyone could tell the outcomes of when Ojomo and Tracy went up against the same guy, and then analyzed the results of said comparison. Guess that's what the coaches are for...lol. But yeah, I don't see Ojomo AND Tracy making the 53-man roster.

I think that WR looks a little somethin' like this going into the last preaseason game. Nicks-Cruz-Hixon-Randel-JJ-Douglas-Barden Hixon gets the nod over Randel simply because he's been around longer and is more familiar with the offense. That said, I believe Randel moves up to #3 by the end of the season. I believe that the Giants coaches are hoping to see JJ now take the 4th WR spot as opposed to their hopes for his taking the 3rd spot. JJ, I feel, is moving in the wrong direction on the depth chart. Randel up, JJ down. Douglas sticks for his ST play first and foremost. While he's shown decent ability at WR against other teams' backups, let's hope he's not our #1 on any given week. He's a guy that is a big time effort guy and will keep guys like JJ and Hixon on their toes. I also think he's worth keeping until Hixon is on his way out, presumably due to age, health, or both. If we only keep 6 WR, I have to believe Barden is the odd man out. Barden, given the talent already on the team, is a situational player at best. I'd really only ever foresee him making the field in a 4 WR set, inside the 20, where we could take advantage of his size...over that of a JJ or Hixon. So while I think he showed some potential in the Bears game, unless he sets the world on fire tonight, or unless the Giants are looking at 7 WR in their 53 man roster...Barden will be released on Friday.

I like Douglas as much as JJ at this point, and both above Barden. I also think, regarding Tracy and Ojomo...Ojomo gets cut and we cross our collective fingers he clears waivers so we can get him on the PS.

While they're not the easiest read, it's fun to read fan reaction to individual plays...especially when you might miss a game. Beat reading the play by play...Bradshaw up the middle for 5 yards....Bradshaw run right for 3 yards...etc. Reading comments on a specific play gives a little more insight into what actually happened on the play as opposed to the vagueness of a play by play recap you'll find on box scores and whatnot. Certainly don't keep it around or go through the effort for just my liking, but thought I'd give a bit on why I kinda like those things.