SB Nation - Lawrence Tynes

'Kudos & Wet Willies:' Total domination edition

Ed Valentine — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:16:55 -0000

There are a lot of reasons to feel good this morning if you are a New York Giants fan. Monday night's 45-12 thrashing of the Washington Redskins was the most complete game the Giants have played in more than two months -- since a 44-7 pounding of Oakland in Week 5.

Everything worked. The offense did what it wanted, marching up and down the field with relative ease. The defense dominated, looking like the group we expected to see all season. The special teams were good, showing improvements in both coverage and kick returns.

If only the Saints had beaten the Cowboys then this morning would be absolutely perfect. Let's just hope the Giants can carry the kind of performance they displayed Monday night through the final two weeks of the regular season.

By the way, ESPN flashed a stat during the game showing the 45 points was the most the Giants had scored in a road game in 55 years. Yes, 55 years. It was that kind of night.

Now, let's get on with the weekly 'Kudos & Wet Willies.'

Kudos to ...

I could just say 'Kudos to the entire team' and leave it at that. But, that would be too easy. So, here we go.

Eli Manning: All of the gushing over Manning by ESPN's Jon Gruden aside, Manning was fabulous Monday night. He went 19-for-26 for 268 yards and three touchdowns, and was in complete control of the game. Ten different receivers caught passes for the Giants, another indication that Eli did pretty much what he wanted.
The defensive line: The much-maligned defensive line. This group led the defensive charge, handing Redskin quarterback Jason Campbell a brutal beating. Campbell probably deserves a 'kudos' for just standing in there and taking the five sacks and I have no idea how many hard hits. Osi Umenyiora was as active as he has probably been all season. Justin Tuck had a sack and a forced fumble. Mathias Kiwanuka had five tackles and was constantly around Campbell. Defensive tackles Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield joined the sack party, and along with Chris Canty were solid against the run.
The offensive line: Probably the best indicator that Monday was a Giant-like performance is that 'kudos' go to both lines. The offensive line was terrific against the Redskins. Lots of pulling, some space for the running game and plenty of time most of the night for Manning to work his magic against the Washington secondary. Special 'kudos' to rookie Will Beatty and backup guard Kevin Boothe. Beatty did an outstanding job filling in for the injured Kareem McKenzie. I can't remember a play where he was beaten badly all night. Boothe stepped in when Rich Seubert went out with a knee sprain and also played well aside from being overpowered by Albert Haynesworth on one play. Absolutely loved his work on Ahmad Bradshaw's second touchdown, pulling left in front of the play and wiping out two Redskins defenders with one block to allow Bradshaw to walk untouched into the end zone.
Kevin Gilbride: The first Giants play of the night was a nicely executed screen pass to reserve tight end Bear Pascoe. From there, pretty much everything Gilbride dialed up -- with the exception of one reverse to Hakeem Nicks -- worked brilliantly. KG can have games where he makes you crazy, but he can also have games like Monday night where he seems to push the right button on every play call. Loved the screens, the fact that so many receivers caught passes, and the subtle changes in formations and run-blocking schemes that helped create some running lanes even against Washington's eight-man fronts.
Bill Sheridan: Not sure exactly what clicked for the beleaguered Giants' defensive coordinator, but when the defense applies that much pressure on the quarterback, plays with that much energy and ends up with a Pick Six you have to give him some credit. It seemed like the Giants simplified their schemes a little, and there wasn't any of the confusion we have so often seen this season.
Terrell Thomas: A Pick Six (an easy one), two passes defensed and four tackles for Thomas. He was excellent against the pass and in run support.
Jonathan Goff: A pair of tackles, his first career sack and a couple of other quarterback pressures, and a pass defensed for the young middle linebacker. The kid can play a little bit.
Ahmad Bradshaw: When Bradshaw is making plays like he did Monday night the Giants offense is much more explosive. Nine carries for 61 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and two touchdowns, along with three pass receptions for 29 more yards.
Lawrence Tynes and the kickoff coverage group: Some good, deep kickoffs by Tynes (including one into the end zone). Odds are that had a lot to do with the best kickoff coverage the Giants have displayed in quite a while, surrendering no returns longer than 21 yards.

'Wet Willies' to ...

Yes, I was able to find one 'Wet Willie' to hand out. And, honestly, it's given more for stupidity than for performance.

Brandon Jacobs: What the heck was Jacobs thinking, getting himself involved in a second-half melee that saw him trading punches with a couple of Washington players and -- eventually -- squared off with Haynesworth of all people? Amazingly, Jacobs escaped an ejection or a penalty, both of which he probably deserved. He won't escape a hefty fine from the league, and probably a tongue-lashing from coach Tom Coughlin for his lack of composure. On top of that, Jacobs did not have a great night carrying the ball. On a night where there were big plays all over the Giants offense, Jacobs carried 16 times for 52 yards, a pedestrian 3.3 yards per carry.

(E-mail Ed at bigblueview@gmail.com)

'Kudos & Wet Willies:' Get out the life rafts edition

Ed Valentine — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:16:52 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning reacts following an incomplete pass during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009.

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I took the night to sleep on it before writing today's 'Kudos & Wet Willies' review of Thursday's debacle, a 26-6 loss by our New York Giants to the very mediocre Denver Broncos.

The sleep didn't change the way I felt about this team when I went to bed. Simply, it just isn't good enough. It has sprung leaks all over the place, many in areas that were completely unexpected entering the season. Blame the coordinators if you must, and I know you will, but the fact is there are areas of the Giants where the players are simply not getting the job done. No matter what the calls are.

That is particularly true across both lines, where games are truly won and lost. If you told me before the season that line play, on both sides, would let the Giants down this season I would have thought you were nuts. But, it has.

Anyway, on with the 'Kudos & Wet Willies.'

Kudos to ...

It really wasn't easy to come up with any 'Kudos' today, and I really feel like making this one of those 'Kudo-less' weeks after Thursday night's miserable effort. There are, however, a couple of players worthy of at least a little praise.

Terrell Thomas: Came up with a third-quarter interception. I really don't care if Denver quarterback Kyle Orton did throw the ball right to him, Thomas actually made a play. That's something Giants defenders have done all too infrequently. Thomas also had six tackles and a pass defensed. In my mind, he has solidified himself as a fixture in the Giants secondary.
Aaron Rouse: Nobody knew what to expect from Rouse when GM Jerry Reese pulled him off the scrap heap after his release by Green Bay. Rouse has played pretty well, though, and Thursday night was no exception. He had eight tackles last night, several of those right along the line of scrimmage in run support.
Lawrence Tynes: Yeah, I know the thin Denver air had a lot to do with it, but Tynes did make a 52-yard field goal. He also put a couple of kickoffs to the goal line, and one five yards deep. It's not his fault the coverage team let the runback go all the way to the 37, which is inexcusable.
Steve Smith: Typical Smith game with seven catches for 71 yards, including a couple of first-down grabs. The receiving corps is definitely not one of the problems on this team.
My Palm Pre: I really, really hate the bar scene. In the last 25 years I have probably seen the inside of one less than a dozen times. So, thank goodness the phone -- provided to SB Nation football bloggers as part of a Sprint promotion -- includes access to the NFL Network. Two-inch screen or not, I was still watching the game in my own house.

Wet Willies to ...

There are so many of these to give out I could probably go on for hours. But, I will try to summarize the best I can.

Offensive Line: Let's face reality here, gang. This group, for whatever reason, is just not good any more. Brandon Jacobs numbers (11 carries, 27 yards) look awful. Not his fault. A year ago, the Giants line was thought of as the best run-blocking line in the league. Now, it can't open a hole. Jacobs is always running sideways because there are always defenders blowing up the line and getting in the backfield. As for pass protection, what pass protection. Eli Manning was sacked three times, hit countless other times and running for his life a few other times. Watch the line pass block and you would think they were a bunch of rookies who never saw a stunt or had to pick up a blitz before. No matter what plays are called, you can't have consistent offense when you can't block. And right now, the Giants can't block.
Defensive Tackles: The defensive tackles on this team are simply terrible. Fred Robbins and Rocky Bernard have gotten old. I have never been a big Barry Cofield fan, he is an average tackle at best. It might not be completely fair to criticize Chris Canty because he missed so much time with leg injuries, but all he has shown so far this year is that Cowboy fans who told use Reese spent way too much money on him were correct. He makes no impact plays. There is rarely any push from the guys in the middle, against the run or the pass.
Osi Umenyiora: I watched Osi's sideline tirade last night, and I have a little advice for Osi. Shut the hell up! You happen to be a big part of the reason why this defense is so disappointing. Watch the film. Where did Denver run most of the night? Right at Umenyiora. Where was he on most of those plays? Pushed five yards off the ball, that's where. Osi made exactly ZERO tackles last night, not even an assist. Despite the Broncos running right at him probably 15 times. I don't think I saw him get within the same zip code as Orton last night, either. So, Osi, shut up and look in the mirror. Right now you aren't very good.
Michael Boley: Followed up his Defensive Player of the Week performance with a stinker. He plays Osi's side most of the time, so he also has to take a hit for porous run defense. Plus, he could not stay with Denver tight end Tony Scheffler.
Corey Webster: Locked up one-on-one with the terrific Brandon Marshall most of the night. Nothing C-Web could do about a couple of the spectacular catches Marshall made. But, Webster had two costly 15-yard penalties.
Danny Ware: The guy has been itching for an opportunity for two years now. Finally gets one, and coughs up a costly fumble that leads to a Denver score. Not a good way to make an impression.
NFL Network: If you saw the game, you heard the airing of Denver coach Josh McDaniels sideline tirade to his offense in which he said "We're trying to win a m-----f------- game." Apologize all you want, gang, but you just can't let that happen. This is why getting too close, and picking up too many 'sounds of the game' is not a good idea.

Final - 11.26.2009	1	2	3	4	Total
New York Giants	0	0	6	0	6
Denver Broncos	3	13	0	10	26

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Ernie P. time comes early this week

Ed Valentine — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:15 -0000

With the short week, Ernie Palladino and I traded answers to a common set of questions a couple of days early. Here are Ernie's answers to this week's questions. My answers, of course, can be found at Ernie's Giants Beat.

1. So, you ready to launch Lawrence Tynes yet, or at least after Thanksgiving?

Ernie's Answer: I don't know. I honestly don't know. This guy's got me so torn. The kickoffs are short. He's 50-50 to make the chip shots, and then he wins you a game. Sunday's 36-yarder made two game-winning field goals for him this year (remember Dallas?). So one part of me says, get rid of the guy. The other says the guys on the street are just as inconsistent. That's why they don't have jobs in the first place. So, I'll fall back on the same old song I've been singing since my people started crying for his head after that first short miss against the Cowboys: Until he costs you a game outright, you have to stick with him. But if I were Tom Coughlin, I'd be perusing that short list awful closely the rest of the season.

2. Did the Giants turn the corner with their overtime win against Atlanta?

Ernie's Answer: No. They just dodged a bullet. They've got to show me they can win consecutive games before I start believing they've truly turned things around, either on the offense or the defense. In fact, the way this defense has played the last two games, they should be 5-5 right now. Couldn't stop a thing in the second half against Atlanta, and that late, winning touchdown against San Diego was disgraceful regardless of how questionable Bill Sheridan's playcalling was. There comes a point where a player needs to make a play despite the Xs and Os of the situation, and the Giants aren't doing that. Offensively, I guess you can say Eli Manning has come around. He's had two nice games in a row, so let's not blame the Giants' troubles on him. But the fact is they're still not running the ball enough. And if they keep forcing Eli to rely on the deep throw, they could be in for more trouble. Beat Denver, and then we'll talk about corners and busting up the league.

3. Though Chase Blackburn did a credible job filling in for Antonio Pierce at MLB, is he a long-term answer there?

Ernie's Answer: Oddly enough, he might be. The guys in the locker room talk about him with a lot of reverence, regarding him as a grossly underrated player. They like his motor, say he's always prepared, studies the game, and they love his aggressiveness. Remind you of a younger version of somebody else? No. Not me. I didn't say anything about looks. I'm thinking Antonio Pierce here. If Blackburn can stay healthy, I think he can serve as Pierce's successor very easily. And remember, we still don't know what Jonathan Goff can do. The coaches like his speed, and he's been tearing it up on specials this year. So between the two of them, the Giants may not have a pressing need at linebacker moving past this season. As for the rest of the current schedule, I was impressed with how Blackburn jumped in on short notice and did a decent job. I have no reason to believe he'll be anything but solid in the middle.

4. Now that Aaron Ross has taken some playing time at safety, would you start him there?

Ernie's Answer: I think that's the next step, but not yet. I'd like to see him play a whole half there against Denver in place of Aaron Rouse. See how he holds up there, and then start him against Dallas providing he's healthy and mobile enough. Ross didn't look bad at all in his work Sunday. He made four tackles in playing mostly in the fourth quarter. At that time, he was arguably the best defensive back on the field, given that Rouse was bouncing people around late and Bruce Johnson was chasing third receiving option around willy-nilly. Let's face it, the secondary needs help. Terrell Thomas and Corey Webster are their two best corners right now, deservedly so. So let Ross play some safety and, if he feels good enough, slip him in as a nickelback, since he has experience playing the slot receiver. He's got a whole season to make up for, so use him.

Horse Tracks 11/23/09 - Chargers dominate Broncos, take over first place; Raiders & Chiefs pull off big upsets

Douglas A. Lee — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:00:15 -0000

Good Morning, MHR Friends. Try to keep your chins up; obviously things are not very good right now, but the Broncos still control their own destiny. While they wouldn't be in the playoffs if the season were to end today, they're still 6-4 and a victory Thursday would be a huge lift. I was unable to see yesterday's game, so I obviously can't say anything about how they played or the coaching decisions. Personally, I am surprised by how far and quickly the Broncos have fallen; while we knew they weren't loaded with deep talent, they didn't make a lot of mistakes through six games. I knew they would lose some games, but I never foresaw those defeats arriving in an avalanche of turnovers, penalties and poor discipline. Obviously, my prediction that Denver would hold a 3-game lead today in the AFC West couldn't have been farther from the truth. Let's just hope Kyle's ankle continues to heal and we show up on Thursday night.

NFL - San Diego Chargers 32 at Denver Broncos 3 - Box Score

NFL - Chargers 32, Broncos 3 - Video highlights with radio calls

DB - Chargers Postgame: Report - Broncos TV

DB - Chargers Postgame: McDaniels - Broncos TV

DPP - Broncos lose hold on lead in AFC West - Mike Klis

CSG - Broncos should learn from Chargers' ability to rebound - David Ramsey
"There were guys on the sideline who weren’t angry, who didn’t have a lot of emotion," Marshall said. "They need to look themselves in the mirror."

NYT - N.F.L. to Shift in Its Handling of Concussions - Alan Schwarz

DB - Chargers Postgame: Orton - Broncos TV

DB - Mistakes Prove Costly - Gray Caldwell

DB - Courage Under Center - Zach Eisendrath

NFL GameDay - Chargers vs. Broncos highlights - Video

DPP - Analysis: Rivers-led Chargers run through Denver defense - Jeff Legwold
"In four career starts at Invesco Field at Mile High, Rivers is now 3-1 and has been sacked a grand total of two times in those four games."

DPP - Rivers in protective custody as line holds Denver in check - Mike Chambers

DPP - Tempers flare on Broncos' sideline - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Broncos perfecting the fade route - Jim Armstrong
"The Broncos have become the NFL's premier flash-and-crash franchise."

DPP - They've come undone - Mark Kiszla
"We lost composure, and that's probably what's so disheartening about this loss," said veteran Broncos defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday. "The mental and psychological part of it, the letdown, the breakdown."

DPP - Cheers to jeers to howls - Woody Paige
"Chris Simms is a bust as a quarterback. Everybody found out he, and I, were wrong."

DPP - No. 7: Broncos need to roll with the tide - John Elway

CSG - Simms start questioned as Chargers pound Broncos - Frank Schwab

CSG - Moreno, Marshall have words - Frank Schwab

CSG - Broncos breakdown vs. Chargers - Frank Schwab

SI - San Chargers leaving Denver Broncos behind in AFC West - Don Banks

Y! - Broncos go from NFL darlings to disaster - Mike Silver
"Things got so bad early in the fourth quarter of a 32-3 defeat to the Chargers that in the Broncos’ defensive huddle, veteran defensive end Vonnie Holliday(notes) felt compelled to call out the quitters in his midst. "Listen," Holliday said, "we’re gonna watch this film [Monday], and we’re gonna see who lay down and who stepped up. The eye in the sky doesn’t lie. And then we’ll know who we can go to war with to fight our way out of this.""

NFL - Chargers hoping latest surge powers them into February - Vic Carucci

FH - Chargers Nearly Drive Broncos to Blows - Nancy Gay

ESPN - History regurgitated: Denver's done - Gene Wojciechowski

FOX - Chargers still going up, Broncos still heading down - Alex Marvez

ESPN - Broncos' bravado doesn't work this time - Bill Williamson

FH - Orton's Return Opens NFL's Stretch Run - Dave Goldberg

AP - Denver Broncos Lose 4th Straight, Division Lead - Arnie Stapleton

Chargers News

SDUT - Chargers win fifth in a row, alone in first place - Kevin Acee

SDUT - McDaniels' trash talk laid to waste - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Turnovers truly tasty for defense - Chris Jenkins

SDUT - Complete-game victory achieved - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Blindsided, kick and talk both backfire - Chris Jenkins

SDUT - This time, Rivers not faced with mad rush - Tim Sullivan

SDUT - Grading the Chargers - Tim Sullivan

NCT - Bolts beat Broncos, take command of AFC West - Scott Bair

NCT - Win puts Bolts in charge of division - Jay Paris

NCT - Defense steps up in red zone - Scott Bair

NCT - Report card - Jay Paris

NCT - O-line gets job done against Broncos - Scott Bair

Giants News

NYT - Giants Win in Overtime to End Losing Streak at Four - Joe LaPointe

NYT - Giants Open Thread: A Win, but What About the Defense? - Ernie Palladino

FH - Despite Win, Giants Are Still in Trouble - Dan Graziano

NYDN - Eli Manning keeps New York Giants' season alive with OT win over Atlanta Falcons - Tim Smith

NYDN - New York Giants almost give away another before beating Atlanta Falcons in overtime, 34-31 - Ralph Vacchiano

NYDN - Hurt Antonio Pierce says he can play with New York Giants despite doctors orders to sit out - Matt Gagne

NYDN - After bye week, TE Kevin Boss catches two score for New York Giants - Kristie Ackert

NYDN - Lawrence Tynes keep cool, boots OT field goal for New York Giants - Ralph Vacchiano

NFL Results

NFL - Pittsburgh Steelers 24 at Kansas City Chiefs 27

NFL - Cincinnati Bengals 17 at Oakland Raiders 20

NFL - Indianapolis Colts 17 at Baltimore Ravens 15

NFL - Washington Redskins 6 at Dallas Cowboys 7

NFL - Cleveland Browns 37 at Detroit Lions 38

NFL - San Francisco 49ers 24 at Green Bay Packers 30

NFL - Buffalo Bills 15 at Jacksonville Jaguars 18

NFL - Seattle Seahawks 9 at Minnesota Vikings 35

NFL - Atlanta Falcons 31 at New York Giants 34

NFL - New Orleans Saints 38 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7

NFL - Arizona Cardinals 21 at St. Louis Rams 13

NFL - New York Jets 14 at New England Patriots 31

NFL - Philadelphia Eagles 24 at Chicago Bears 20

AFC West News

SFC - A quarterback change they can believe in - David White

SFC - Gradkowski has energy Raiders need - Scott Ostler

OT - Bruce Gradkowski gives boost to Raiders' QB situation - Monte Poole

OT - Raiders defense finally gets some help from the offense - Jerry McDonald

OT - Raiders dedicated win to lost teammate Marquis Cooper - Steve Corkran

KCS - Chiefs get much-needed 27-24 overtime victory against Steelers - Kent Babb

KCS - Chiefs coach Haley shows how far he’s come - Jason Whitlock

KCS - Charles delivers big plays for Chiefs - Adam Teicher

KCS - Cassel comes through under pressure again for Chiefs - Kent Babb

KCS - Studebaker makes the most of his first start for Chiefs - Adam Teicher

KCS - Chiefs notebook | Roethlisberger knocked out - Adam Teicher

NFL News

NFL - Packers waiting for information on injuries to Kampman, Harris

NFL - Redskins' Betts, Rinehart severely injured; Portis already ruled out

NFL - Bills RB Lynch injures shoulder, C Wood breaks leg vs. Jaguars

NFL Opinion

SI - Steelers, Ravens stumble to set up must-win game - Don Banks

NFL - AFC North leaders suffer humiliating losses to AFC West doormats - Bucky Brooks

SI - Matthew Stafford, Matt Cassel lead way in NFL Week 11 - Peter King

SN - Week 11 Checkdown: Saints, Colts no longer the NFL's best teams - Vinnie Iyer

NFL - Playoff picture muddied further with loss by Ravens, other hopefuls - Steve Wyche

Y! - Stafford, Quinn provide shine for tarnished clubs - Charles Robinson

CBS - Week 11 Judgements: Time to stow AFC North's anointing oil - Clark Judge

ESPN - Last Call: Wrapping up Week 11 - John Clayton

NYT - Week 11 in Quotations: The Good, the Bad and the Hard to Believe - Andrew Das

CBS - What Welker lacks in size, he makes up for in toughness - Pete Prisco

SN - Colts underrated despite unblemished record - Clifton Brown

PFW - Lowly Bills thinking big for 2010

SN - Bears' Cutler proving inadequate in prime time - Vinnie Iyer

Poll

How many wins do you expect the Broncos to finish with in 2009?

8 or fewer

210 votes

9

316 votes

10

242 votes

11 or 12

41 votes

809 votes | Poll has closed

'Kudos & Wet Willies:' Finally, Giants have a happy Monday

Ed Valentine — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:16 -0000

by Bill Kostroun - AP

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) celebrates with center Shaun O'Hara (60) after throwing a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won in overtime, 34-31.

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It often wasn't pretty. It definitely wasn't perfect. But, Sunday's 34-31 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons was Big Blue's first 'W' in 42 days. 'Kudos' for that. The Giants are 6-4, and have assured themselves that they will continue to be a serious player in the playoff race.

For now, that's all that matters. Read on for this week's 'Kudos & Wet Willies.'

Kudos to ...

Eli Manning: I can't believe this was Manning's first 300-yard passing game at Giants Stadium. But, whatever. It came at a great time. I didn't feel so good about Eli early when he threw that interception and was doing a lot of running for his life. Manning, though, settled in and threw the ball beautifully much of the game. He went 25-for-39 for a career-high 384 yards with three touchdowns (a 111.5 QB rating). Many of those throws were perfectly placed balls squeezed into small spaces. In truth, it is as well as I can remember seeing Eli throw the ball.
MarioSmithHakeemManninghamSteveNicks: Yeah, that's a mess to read -- and to say. I am lumping all three young wide receivers in together, though, because the were all outstanding. And they have become a three-headed monster that teams around the NFL are going to have to deal with for a loooong time. So, yeah, forget all that stuff about the Giants not having any playmakers at the receiver position. They have plenty. Mario Manningham was tremendous, with six catches for 126 yards, including a beautiful 29-yarder in overtime to set up the game-winning field goal. Steve Smith (4 catches, 79 yards) was his usual reliable self AND busted loose for a 51-yard completion -- the missing link in his ascension to stardom. Hakeem Nicks (5 catches, 65 yards) is an absolute stud, who runs nice routes and has terrific hands.
Kevin Boss: We have been waiting ... and waiting .... and waiting for the Bossman to become a primary target in the passing game. Well, Sunday that day arrived. Boss was the answer in the Green Zone, with two touchdown catches. He finished with five catches for a career-best 76 yards, as well. I hope we continue to see more of that.
Michael Boley: You know this game meant a lot to Boley, who left the Falcons last season after unceremoniously being removed from the starting lineup. Sunday Boley showed the Falcons what they gave up, playing his best game as a Giant. In fact, maybe the best game by a Giants outside linebacker in a long time. He finished with 13 tackles and a sack. It also looked to me like Boley was filling some of that emtional leadership void left by the injury to Antonio Pierce.
OsiTuckJustinUmenyiora: Like with the wide receivers, I am lumping the two bookends of the Giants defensive line together. Tuck had a huge game with four tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a near interception the one time he dropped into pass coverage. Umenyiora had just one tackle and a fumble recovery, but I thought he was active and made Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan uncomfortable a number of times.
Corey Webster: Webster was all over Roddy White most of the game. He had the kind of game this week we had hoped he would have two weeks ago against San Diego's Vincent Jackson. CW ended up with five -- yes, five -- passes defensed. What I can't figure out is why the Falcons kept testing him.
Aaron Rouse: Nine tackles, including one huge run stop for a loss, and a pass defensed. A debatable penalty for a late hit, sure, but I thought Rouse played well. To this point, he has been a huge upgrade over 'Bad, Bad C.C. Brown.'
Chase Blackburn: Once again proved his value by playing very well in place of Pierce. It's just one game, but so far, so good.
Barry Cofield: It's a good thing Cofield (5 tackles) played probably his best game of the season. The other defensive tackles did pretty much nothing.
Madison Hedgecock: The guy caught a touchdown pass. Shoot, when a fullback gets one of those you have to give him something. A 'Kudos' is the best I can do.

There are probably a handful of other guys who deserve 'Kudos,' but I think that's probably most of them. Let's get on to the bad stuff.

Wet Willies to ...

Defensive tackles not named Cofield: I thought Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard and Fred Robbins were pretty much invisible. Bernard and Robbins might be in the process of playing themselves into different uniforms next season.
Bruce Johnson: The rookie cornerback has been pretty good all season. He got picked on time and time again Sunday, though. On top of that, he had a silly holding penalty that helped Atlanta score a third-quarter touchdown.
The Giants offensive line: I think we have to face the reality that this unit is not the dominant group we watched the past couple of seasons. The names are the same, but the results aren't. They eventually got the pass protection straightened out and Manning was sacked only once, but he spent much of the first half running for his life. And the run-blocking was very sporadic, which shows in the 26-carry, 88-yard (3.4 yards per carry) day the running backs had. The inability to run-block in the Green Zone is still a huge problem. It looks like General Manager Jerry Reese needs to start thinking about some changes to this group for 2010.

Kwillies to ...

A 'Kwillie,' for the uneducated, is a special award that goes to a player who did his level best to keep both teams in the game. I can only think of one Sunday, and he deserves special mention.

Lawrence Tynes: Nailed the game-winner. As he always seems to, he made life harder on the Giants than it had to. But, in the end he got the job done.

One more thing

I didn't quite have a category for the Giants' fourth-quarter defense. That group played well for much of the game, showing energy, generating pressure and covering well.

For the second week in a row, though, they could not get a stop late in the game when they needed one. Some of you want to crucify defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan for that, but I don't. I thought Sheridan tried to stay aggressive with some blitzing, always sending at least four when he did not blitz and not sitting in anything remotely resembling a 'prevent' type defense. At crunch time, though, no one on the defense could step up and make a play. Tony Gonzalez simply made the kind of play at the end of the game that a Hall of Fame tight end makes. And the kind of play no one on the Giants defense seems able to step up and make when it matters.

All in all, though, it's a win. I will take it. Now, it's on to Denver to see if the Giants can get on a roll again.

Final - 11.22.2009	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Atlanta Falcons	0	7	10	14	0	31
New York Giants	3	14	7	7	3	34

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Post-game transcripts

Ed Valentine — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:38:59 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles (18) celebrates with Lawrence Tynes after Tynes kicked the game-winning field goal against the Atlanta Falcons in overtime of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won 34-31.

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Here are some of the comments made by players and coaches following the New York Giants' 34-31 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons Sunday afternoon.

Check the 'Transcripts' page for even more quotes.

Lawrence Tynes on his game-winning kick:

"I have done it before. I am very, very glad and we are very unfortunate to have gotten the ball in overtime because the way the Falcons were moving the football in the last quarter. I think if they get the ball, they would have a pretty good chance of scoring. I am just glad we won. I will fix whatever I need to fix, but I need to stop missing those short ones. ...

I love those situations. I am not nervous. It is a really good feeling to kind of be a hero for 30 seconds and help your team win a football. I was really looking forward to overtime when we got the ball for sure."

(Full Tynes transcript)

Tom Coughlin on breaking the four-game losing streak:

"We were miserable around here for a month, it’s nice to win. We knew going in it would be this kind of game. If you looked at the way the games have played out for Atlanta, most of our games with the exception of two, they all come down to this type of thing. I didn’t anticipate overtime, but we knew it would be a full four quarters, a full sixty minutes. We did do a lot of soul searching, probably, this past two weeks, although not as much the first week as we did the second week. Just in terms of believing in each other, trusting, that type of thing."

(Full Coughlin transcript)

Linebacker Michael Boley on beating his former team:

"I’m really excited that we got the win today, especially with the way the game was for me. Both teams came into a "must win’ game today. And for it to come down how it did, it was real exciting. It was one of those games where a lot of plays were made by both teams on either side of the ball. This was like a shot of penicillin for us today. For me, personally, I’m very proud of this team and the way all of our guys played today. They showed a lot of heart and a lot of character."

(Post-game player quotes transcript)

Eli Manning on his first 300-yard passing game at Giants Stadium:

"I would have thought I would have had one by now, but I’ll take it any way it comes and especially if it comes in a win. This was definitely a game I will remember for a while. It is a big win for us, we needed one at this time, and hopefully this will keep us going, get a little rally, and continue to play well. We talked a lot this past week and we have a seven-game season right now. What happened before this didn’t really matter, we have seven games, this was the first game, and it was good to get off to a good start."

Giants vs. Falcons: 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style preview

Ed Valentine — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:15:09 -0000

OK, time to get serious. Our New York Giants need a win today against the Atlanta Falcons. In my usual, 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style here is how I see things breaking down this afternoon in the Meadowlands.

There will be lots of 'Kudos' Monday if ...

They overcome the loss of Antonio Pierce's defensive 'quarterbacking.' Say what you want about Pierce and his apparently declining physical skills, losing your defensive signal-caller and a player as smart as AP at this point in the season could be devastating. We love Chase Blackburn and he is a bettter athlete than Pierce, but I saw him get blown off the ball too many times while playing the middle during the pre-season to feel really good about him anchoring the middle. And nobody has a clue what Jonathan Goff could bring to the table.
Pressure on Matt Ryan. Without Michael Turner, the Falcons will still try to run the ball. They will likely have to rely on Ryan to make more plays, however, and the Giants have got to get pressure on him. He has been mistake-prone in recent weeks, and it sure would be nice to see the pass rush force a couple of game-changing bad throws. Hopefully, they can do it with the front four. If not, let's hope Bill Sheridan turns Clint Sintim and Michael Boley loose on some blitzes. Oh, and let's pray he forgets about that zone blitz nonsense.
The Giants handle Tony Gonzalez. Covering the tight end has not been a strong suit for the Giants, and Ryan will be looking Gonzalez way a lot. If Boley, and possibly Sintim, can neutralize him that can go a long way toward slowing the Atlanta offense.
The Giants ride Brandon Jacobs. I have said repeatedly recently that Jacobs has been under-utilized during the four-game losing streak. The Falcons are 26th in the league against the run, and there is no excuse for the Giants not to pound Jacobs 20 times or so today in what is really their biggest "must win" game of the season to date.
The Giants hit some big passing plays. That doesn't necessarily mean chucking the ball 50 yards downfield on 3rd and 2, but the Falcons have been susceptible to giving up big chunks of yardage at times. The Giants have not hit a big play in recent weeks, and they will need to today.

There will be lots of 'Wet Willies' Monday if ...

Atlanta runs the ball effectively. With Turner likely out, the Giants need to make the Falcons one-dimensional. The opportunity is there, and the front seven simply has to force the Atlanta offense to be pass-happy.
The Red/Green Zone issues continue. Both teams are 5-4. Both are imperfect. This could be a close game. Taking advantage of offensive opportunities, and a couple of big defensive stops, could make the difference.
The special teams woes continue. It seems like every week some aspect or another of the Giants special teams has broken down. Jeff Feagles has been horrible recently. The kickoff coverage has been spotty. Lawrence Tynes struggled early on. The Giants have not had a difference-making return in weeks.

For the New York Giants, time is now for some changes

Ed Valentine — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:15:09 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

Hopefully we will see a lot more of linebacker Clint Sintim (97) for the remainder of the season.

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The bye week is over. The New York Giants have had time now to look in the mirror and assess what has gone wrong during their current unexpected four-game slide into mediocrity.

The question now is simple. What can they do to turn things around over the next seven games? Can they get back to being the team we all thought they were going to be, and that they were through a 5-0 start?

Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan was asked last week about using the bye week to make changes in areas where his defense has been struggling. His answer, I thought, was instructive not just for the defense but for the Giants as a whole. I am taking a little editorial license with Sheridan's remarks, removing the parts where he specifically discussed red zone defense.

"You can sit back and look at a nine game self-scout and kind of take a picture of what you are doing ... How you are playing defense and what kind of calls you are or are not making. It gives you a chance, about a couple of days to do that, to maybe rethink some thoughts defensively about what you can do maybe a little differently," Sheridan said. "You can’t make dramatic changes but you definitely can modify it ... I think you can step back and take a look at what you are doing and maybe consider some other types of things."

Like I said, I think Sheridan's words apply to the entire team. Tom Coughlin, Kevin Gilbride, the players -- everyone. Now that they have had time to think about what has gone wrong, can they make some changes to get this ship sailing back in the right direction?

Here are my suggestions for things I would like to see the Giants do differently during the remaining seven games.

A lot more Brandon Jacobs. Is he running well? Isn't he running well? I'm tired of talking about it. Fact is, during the four-game skid he simply hasn't been running enough. In four losses Jacobs had 7, 13, 20 and 11 carries, 12.75 per game. In the five previous wins, Jacobs had more than 20 carries three times and no less than 16 in any game. He averaged 20 carries in those five victories. When the Giants are playing football their way, dominating teams physically and controlling the clock, Jacobs is punishing defenses 17-25 times per game. It's time to stop protecting the 6-foot-4, 270-pound Jacobs and start using him. As Yogi Berra would say "it's getting late early around here."

Stick with the short passing game. The Giants offense got back to the short, ball-control type passes against San Diego, and it's a trend I would like to see continue. There is a time and place for the long ball, and it is awesome when it works, but let's be honest. After beating up on JV teams the early part of the season Gilbride and Eli Manning fell in love with it. The Giants best receiver, Steve Smith, is a machine on short-to-intermediate routes. Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks are showing the ability to turn short throws into huge plays. Kevin Boss is a quality tight end. You don't have to throw the ball 40 or 50 yards downfield to make teams pay for stuffing the box or blitzing the house. Short, quick completions they can't cover -- and ones that occasionally turn into huge gains -- will do the trick. Besides, we are heading into that time of year in the Meadowlands where we know throwing the ball down the field will become more and more dicey. So, stick with what you do best, and what has the best chance to succeed.

Give me some Ramses Barden. Please. I know the third-round pick from Cal-Poly is a work in progress. And I know he has to contribute on special teams to be active on Sunday. But the guy is a 6-foot-6 physical freak, and he needs to be given an opportunity to get on the field and make a couple of plays. Even if Barden doesn't run perfect routes, I saw over and over during training camp that he can use his size and strength to make plays in traffic even when he seems covered. C'mon, now! Is Sinorice Moss really helping the special teams enough to keep Barden inactive every Sunday? I don't think so.

Unleash Danny Ware. We all love Ahmad Bradshaw, but it is plain to see that AB's foot and ankle injuries are slowing him down. His production just hasn't been the same in recent weeks. Ware has fresh legs, gobs of talent and he is dying for an opportunity. I think it's time the Giants give him one.

More Clint Sintim. During pre-season, a lot of folks thought Sintim, the second-round pick, would be the Giants rookie who had the biggest impact this season. A leg injury has derailed the young linebacker, but he is healthy now. Danny Clark might grade out OK on film, but we all know he is not a play maker. The Giants need play makers on defense right now, guys who are fast, strong, athletic and can make plays that change games. Michael Boley and Chris Canty might be those kinds of players. Sintim, too. The Giants need to get him on the field and see what he can do.

Less zone blitz. In fact, no zone blitz. Rip it out of the defensive playbook. I really, really hope that Bill Sheridan has looked at his propensity to call zone blitzes -- something he promised he would not do -- and realize that is the dumbest defense ever invented that is not called the prevent. Dropping Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka into coverage against tight ends is stupid, a recipe for failure. Let them do what they are paid to do, and what they do best, go crush some quarterbacks.

A little faith, Tom. The worst thing a head coach can do is play not to lose, rather than show faith in his eam and play to win. TC played not to lose at the end of the San Diego game, and ended up losing. If he allows the Giants to take a shot into the end zone and it doesn't work I can stomach that loss a lot easier. I also think TC's lack of faith is hurting the kicking game. Coughlin is so afraid of returns he has Jeff Feagles kicking everything out of bounds, and now Feagles -- one of the best directional punters ever -- is all screwed up. He's got Lawrence Tynes kicking squibbers and bouncers and God-awful looking kickoffs all over the place. Show a little faith in your coverage teams. And your quarterback, Tom. That's what you did in 2007. Don't show fear. Show belief.

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Afternoon notes: Aaron Ross lives!

Ed Valentine — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:29:52 -0000

More photos » by Mike Groll - AP

Aaron Ross

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For a Wednesday of a bye week, sure seems like some interesting things are happening around our New York Giants today. So, an afternoon notebook.

Various beat reporters are stating that Aaron Ross actually practiced IN PADS with the Giants today. Well, wonders never cease. Oh, and I won't believe it until Tom Coughlin says it or Ernie Palladino posts the video.

The beat reporters have also all mentioned today that the Giants brought in 14 players for tryouts none of whom were signed. Pro Football Talk, of course, has the complete list.

The most interesting name of the bunch? At least for me, it was punter/placekicker Tim Masthay, from the University of Kentucky. Obviously, both Jeff Feagles and Lawrence Tynes have had their moments this season, so that was interesting.

Many of you wish Steve Spagnuolo was still making the Giants defensive calls. I know I do. But maybe this will make you feel better. Spags apparently still believes Bill Sheridan can get the Giants defense turned around.

"I absolutely think he will," Spags said. "Not 30 min ago I e-mailed Bill just to tell him. I had an opportunity to watch that game against San Diego. It’s a shame they lost it at the end. They did all the right things at the end, but Philip Rivers had a great drive.

"But they’ll be fine. There are players in that locker room that know how to win. They know what they have to do. They’ll dust themselves off. When all is said and done, they’ll be right there."

'Kudos & Wet Willies:' Rough day for Giants fans edition

Ed Valentine — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:49:17 -0000

by Julie Jacobson - AP

San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) makes a catch for the go-ahead touchdown against New York Giants cornerback Corey Webster (23) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Chargers won 21-20.

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This morning's 'Kudos & Wet Willies' is not exactly fun to do. Sunday's game is one the Giants should have won, it just didn't happen.

The season is hardly over. A lot can happen in seven more games, and I still believe the Giants can be a playoff team. They certainly have no more margin for error, though.

Anyway, on with the 'Kudos & Wet Willies.' I'm sure some of my choices today will generate some disagreement.

'Kudos' to ..

Eli Manning: Well, we have a lot to complain about today. The play of Manning is not one of those things, however.
The Defensive Line: Big plays from Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka and Fred Robbins. This group didn't always get to Philip Rivers, but they were in attack mode all day. The Chargers only totaled 34 yards rushing, largely due to improved work by the front four.
Terrell Thomas: Nine tackles and what should have been a game-clinching interception.
Bruce Johnson: It was nice to see Johnson on the field in passing situations instead of Kevin Dockery, and Johnson paid dividends by breaking up a trio of passes when Rivers and the Chargers tested him.
Steve Smith: Eight catches, including one for a touchdown and a few more third-down grabs. Smith continues to be the guy Eli can rely on when he needs to complete a pass.
Mario Manningham: Six catches and no drops for Manningham. The Giants really no longer have an issue at wide receiver, and Manningham is a big part of the reason why.
Kevin Boss: You just have to love this guy. How much tougher could be be? A brilliant catch early in the game when he got absolutely crushed coming across the middle of the field. I know my first thought was 'concussion.' Yet, there he was making a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to put the Giants ahead. He is, undeniably, one of my favorite Giants.
Brandon Jacobs: Once again, Jacobs ran hard and well (11 carries, 67 yards, a 6.1 yards per carry average). Once again, though, probably not enough opportunities. Ahmad Bradshaw (14 carries, 39 yards, 2.8 YPC) wasn't getting it done, and I wish Jacobs had gotten more opportunities.
Michael Boley: Seven tackles and a pass defensed in his return from knee surgery. When he has been healthy Boley has shown speed and athleticism the Giants linebacking group sorely needs.
Kevin Gilbride: This one will send many of you into an outright uproar, I know that. But, I think the often-vilified offensive coordinator belongs here, anyway. The Giants put together two long, time-consuming drives, albeit we can argue about the wisdom of slamming Bradshaw up the middle on short yardage. KG used screens, play-action, slants, a reverse, a direct snap to Jacobs. Shoot, he even got Danny Ware in the game and got him the ball a couple of times. He pretty much emptied the tank. The conservative red/green zone series at the end is on Coughlin, not KG. That's the kind of game-changing decision that comes from the head coach.

'Wet Willies' to ...

Tom Coughlin: The Giants played with heart, taking TC's "one-game season" pronouncement to heart and playing with a lot of emotion. Coughlin, though, is the head coach of a team that has gone seriously off track, and right now he doesn't seem to have the answers. Two questionable Coughlin decisions had a lot to do with Sunday's loss. First, the choice to run the ball up three points in the red zone with more than two minutes to play. Settling for the field goal, instead of trusting your star quarterback and going for the knockout blow, is a bad mistake. I have thought about this one a lot, and as much as I love TC not trusting Eli and going for the knockout blow is inexcusable. Also, don't forget that the Giants passed up a chance to go for it on 4th-and-1 at the San Diego 21 the first time they had the ball. That, of course, resulted in the botched field goal and no points.
Corey Webster: We can stop now with the discussion of whether or not Webster should be considered an elite "shut down" corner back. Vincent Jackson (5 catches, 58 yards, 2 TDs) had his way with Webster Sunday. On the game-winning touchdown, Jackson beat Webster badly. C-Web didn't even seem to know the ball was in the air. That's awful. Maybe he should not have been in single coverage, but Webster is supposed to be one of the best cover corners in the league. A guy of his stature simply cannot get torched like that with the game on the line.
The Special Teams: Week in and week out, the only thing 'special' about the Giants' special teams is how especially bad they are. As much as anything, horrible special teams play cost the Giants a victory Sunday. A botched field goal in which Lawrence Tynes didn't even try to kick it. Horrible punting by Jeff Feagles that left the Giants defending a short field the entire game, and a non-existent return game. Are we sure Sinorice Moss hasn't stolen Domenik Hixon's uniform? Kevin Dockery had a stupid penalty that handed the Chargers 15 yards. Hey, Kevin, how can you have no clue where the return man is?
Bill Sheridan: I thought the defensive coordinator did a lot of good things Sunday. The defensive line was active. The Giants blitzed more, and did not sit back in 'prevent' on the last drive. The run defense was excellent. Having Michael Johnson and Aaron Rouse switch responsibilities worked out well. Bruce Johnson played a lot of nickel instead of Kevin Dockery or C.C. Brown. Clint Sintim saw some time at linebacker. The zone blitz, though, a remnant of the Steve Spagnuolo era Sheridan promised to get rid of, has to go. Justin Tuck cannot cover tight ends and should not be asked to. And why was there single coverage in the end zone on the final drive? C'mon, that's just asking for trouble. Which is what the Giants got.
The Offensive Line: Argue all you want about the Giants decision to run the ball on third down from the San Diego 14 while leading 17-14. The Giants don't have to make that decision without the killer holding penalty on Chris Snee. The line as a whole did not play well, in my mind. San Diego blitzers ran free much of the game and Eli was sacked five times and ran for his life at least a half-dozen other times. The dirty little secret with the Giants offense is that this offensive line, dominant for so long, is beginning to show some cracks. How can Shawne Merriman -- Merriman, of all people -- get a free, unblocked run at Manning on the final play of the game? In the run game, there were a few holes. But, not consistently.
Fans calling for immediate firings: You guys know that isn't going to happen. C'mon, gang! TC is a terrific coach who made a decision that ended up backfiring Sunday. Sheridan did some good things and some bad ones Sunday. As for Gilbride, I'd think people would get tired of calling for his head. The Giants have had a lot of success the past few seasons, and they have hit a rough patch. It happens. No reason to want everybody gone. Think they wouldn't love to have TC and his staff in Washington? Or Oakland? Or a lot of other places?

Final - 11.8.2009	1	2	3	4	Total
San Diego Chargers	0	7	7	7	21
New York Giants	0	7	0	13	20

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