Big Blue Blog

The one thing I worry about....

As I saw the news earlier this week that newly aquired weakside linebacker Michael Boley will miss 8-10 weeks recovering from hip surgery, it occured to me that injury is the one thing that could keep this squad from going deep into the playoffs, and perhaps on to a fourth Vince Lombardi trophy.

The Boley news story (almost the only one this week not involving Michael Jackson or a Govenor skipping out on his responsibilities for a fling with his girlfriend), reminded me that the Giants need to keep their fingers crossed regarding injury. It is what bought them down last season and prevented what I thought was an almost certain repeat. Losing Osi Umenyiora and Plaxico Burress really killed this team.

With a franchise QB in Eli Manning, a dominant run game, the best offensive line in football along with what I believe will be the most dominant defense in football, the Giants are well positioned to win it all.

They just need to stay healthy...  

Remember this time, Giants fans...

I was speaking with a buddy the other day who is a Raiders fan (poor slob), and he was gushing with jealousy over the run that our NY Giants are currently on. He is right, this is  a special time for us. Think about the past four seasons; four straight playoff appearences, two division titles and, of course, a Super Bowl victory! Heading into the 2009 season, the Giants are easily one of the top three teams in the NFL. This is a golden era for Big Blue.

Think back to the Giants of the mid- eighties under Bill Parcells along with Lawrence Taylor and Phil Simms. Two Championships and the feeling that every season we had a shot at winning it all. Then,it came apart---sorry to mention the name, but we then had to endure the Ray Handley days---yuk.

The Giants went from the top of the heap to being a mediocre team. That is just what happens. These runs do not last forever. Sadly, there will come a time when we fall to the middle of the pack---it happens. Players get old, move on through free agency, you stop hitting home runs in the draft (Jerry Reese eventually has to miss----doesn't he???).

At some point we will all look back at this era the way we now look back at the eighties----as Billy Joel says, "these are the days to remember, cause they will not last forever".... 

The D-line will make them better....

If you are a member of the NY Giants secondary or linebacking corps, you should get down on your knees and thank Jerry Reese for assembling easily (at least on paper) the deepest and most dominant defensive line in the NFL. Think about it; Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard, Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield and Dave Tollefson....Wow!

With the possible exception of Tollefson, the rest of these guys would start for any team in football. Period. That kind of depth at a position where depth is critical just does not happen these days. Yet the Giants pulled it off. (In fairness, I fully realize there are some health questions regarding Robbins and Cofield but I have been hearing they should be ready to go).

Why should the Giants other defensive units be so happy about this? Because the D-line will make them better. Remember when Ray Lewis was the most dominant player in football years ago? Then, after losing Tony Siragusa (who by the way is an awful TV analyst, but I digress) and Sam Adams (no, not the beer dude), his production declined sharply. The reason was obvious, without those two in front of him occupying blockers, Lewis was no longer free to roam the field untouched and make plays everywhere. In a similiar manner, the Giants linebackers will prosper in the run defense departmant since their D-line occupies blockers freeing them up to make plays. It even may allow the Giants to speed up the process of getting talented rookie Clint Sintim significant playing time as the pressure on him will be reduced.

The secondary benefits in a very obvious way. In obvious passing situations if the Giants line up, say, Umenyiora, Kiwanuka, Tuck and Canty that is an awfully fierce pass rush. If opposing offenses think they can just roll out their five lineman and expect their QB to stay upright long enough to see a receiver----good luck! More likely they will keep in an extra blocker or two meaning many times you will see just three receivers running routes as the rest are tasked with trying to stop the Giants front four. That could leave, if the Giants do not blitz, seven men in coverage against just three recievers. The numbers favor the Giants and their secondary who will not only have plenty of help, but likely won't have to cover for very long.

Can you see why I am  so looking forward to the 2009 season....

Coughlin keeping the Giants "bitter"....

When the Giants broke their three day mini camp Thursday, Tom Coughlin was not in a very good mood. Not because of anything that happened during the camp (despite more players side lined with injury then the old school coach would like), he is still pissed about how last season ended. As am I.

The Giants, defending Champs, were the best team in football last season. They stormed out to an 11-1 record and were rolling before it came crumbling down due to injury, gunshot wounds and players simply not stepping up their game.

Coughlin wants them to keep remembering the "bitter bitterness" they felt last season and use it for positive motivation heading into training camp in six weeks and ultimately into the regular season.

If the Giants listen carefully to Coughlin's message, and stay angry, focused and healthy, I fully expect them to compete for yet another Vince Lombardi title this season....  

Not again!!!!

This is unbelievable, Sinorice Moss has once again suffered an injury. The Giants receiver pulled a hamstring and is once again sidelined. It is a shame since Moss was having an excellent camp and was being given a golden opportunity to finally showcase his considerable talents.

The man simply cannot stay healthy. Why? Is he fragile, out of shape, just bad luck? I really do not know the answer but I do know this; if he can't stay on the field his NFL career will be very short...

Is Moss the man???

Giants coordinator Kevin Gilbride says that Sinorice Moss is third on the clubs depth chart at receiver behind Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith. That news came as a bit of a surprise to me especially since they just drafted Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden. I realize fully that rookie recievers generally struggle with life in the NFL, but still, I had kind of given up on Moss.

 Moss was taken by the Giants in the second round of the 2006 draft. He starred at the university of Miami in football and track. He has blazing speed and was thought to be a big time playmaker.

However, injuries have plagued him throughout his brief career. He had a quad injury in 2006 and played in only five games. He barely sniffed the field during the 2007 Super Bowl season and last season he was a non factor. He has just 38 career receptions and two touchdowns. He has been generally regarded as a bust.

Thus, my surprise at the opportunity the Giants are giving him. Is it possible the Giants braintrust sees something we do not? Yes, and I happen to have a lot of confidence in the Giants ability to evaluate their own personnel. 

Moss does have talent, and he certainly has something the Giants are desperate for at that position----speed. Break away speed in fact. He has, by all accounts, looked very sharp during the Giants OTA's. Yet, as we all know, that is nice but during OTA's they are not in pads and it resembles real football about as much as shadow boxing resembles getting in the ring with a top ranked fighter.

But, I will keep an open mind. If the Giants are right, and if Moss can find a way to stay healthy, he certainly could make a nice weapon for Eli Manning. If opposing defenses over commit to stopping the run, as they did last year when we lost Plax, Moss has the ability to make them pay.

Stay tuned....  

Burress should not get special treatment!

Former Giants receiver Plaxico "the bullet" Burress has a hearing scheduled for this Monday. The purpose is to see if they could push his trial back to after the 2009 season so the genius could play this year.

My reaction; hell no! If you or I were in a similiar spot, do you think there is any way in the World they would even consider moving the trial date? If I came before the Judge and said, "lets push this thing back since it is my busy time at work", they would laugh at me. Rightfully so.

By Burress' logic, why not just delay it until his career is over? Makes just as much sense as this (now, in the interest of full disclosure, were he still a Giant, I may feel differently....).

Seriously though, the law doesn't say we will try you when it is convienient for you----doesn't work that way. Why the court is even entertaining this is beyond me. Now, I am not an attorney, but I have to think he has no shot (sorry)---but I have been wrong before....

I'm back.....

Sorry for the lack of posting of late, but I had some Family issues that needed to be attended to. Anyhow, I should be back to my normal routine of posting on an almost daily basis now.

As far as the Giants, I think that one thing which hasn't gotten enough play is the fact that they had an almost perfect attendance for their recent OTA's. In fact, Lawrence Tynes was the only one missing and that was due to a charity golf outing planned months ago and for which Tom Coughlin had already excused him.

Why do I make a big deal out of this? Just think back to the recent days when guys like Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress shunned the team workouts to hang in Miami lifting weights instead. Also, they used to have several vets who decided the OTA's were not important to them.

Now, it is all hands on deck and the workouts were very spirited. That tells me these Giants are a "team" in the truest sense of the word that is on a mission in 2009---I think we could be in for a special season....

A Few Days Off

Giants Fans,

Our Giants Big Blue Blog writer will be out for a few more days as he is tending to a family emergency. Please come back in a few days as he will again be giving his daily insight on the New York Giants.

Also check out I Know A Little, MyTeamRivals.com's other New York Giants site. Thank you for your continued readership of MyTeamRivals.com and look in the next few weeks for the launch of our new NFLComplete.com site!

Meet Tom Coughlin!!!

Well, Giants fans, as the Giants are in the midst of their first OTA's, not really all that much to report. "We are all happy to be back, very excited, yada, yada, yada....".

However, for those of you living on the Island (or those who aren't but don't mind a little field trip), you can go out and meet Giants coach Tom Coughlin and tight end Kevin Boss at the Nassau County Strawberry Festival. Below are the details for those interested:

 My FiOS Home: Ultimate Upgrade Comes to Nassau County Strawberry
Festival
Meet New York Giants and American Idol Celebrities

WHAT:
Verizon's asking New Yorkers to create their most compelling 90-second
video answering the question: "What's your ultimate FiOS entertainment
fantasy, and why do you deserve to win Verizon's Ultimate Home Upgrade?"
Winning entries will win technology prizes - including HDTVs and laptop
computers - and a chance to appear in their own reality TV home makeover
show.

WHEN:
May 30th and 31st

WHERE:
Nassau County Strawberry Festival
Newbridge Road at Southern State Parkway, North Bellmore, NY

WHO:
May 30th - Tom Coughlin (New York Giants head coach)
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

May 30th - Kevin Boss (New York Giants tight end)
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

May 31st - Justin Guarini (American Idol)
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

BACKGROUND:
The My FiOS Home: Ultimate Upgrade campaign brings to life Verizon's
revolutionary FiOS home entertainment experience through Casting Call
events, where the public can create and upload short videos, as well as
meet celebrities. Casting Calls will be held at area locations,
including festivals and fairs. Consumers can find out more information
about the My FiOS Home: Ultimate Upgrade contest at
www.experiencefios.com.


CONTACT:
David Calkins
dcalkins@webershandwick.com

Giants begin their OTA's!!!

In a sign that we are creeping ever closer to the much anticipated start of the 2009 NFL season, the Giants yesterday began their OTA's (organized training activites). They will not be in pads and the offense and defense will not work together for the first couple of practices.

This is a time for veteran players to shake off the rust and the younger guys to get more aquainted with the schemes they will be running. It gives Eli Manning a chance to develope some timing and rapport with his new receivers.

The mood was very upbeat and optimistic---always the case, and the players seemed generally excited to be back. Including Osi Umenyiora who felt little lingering effects from the ACL tear that ended his season before it began in 2008 and may have derailed the Giants chances of repeating as Champions.

Only a bit over three months to go until they kick it off for real....

A Giant edge!!!

Last season ended up in a bitterly dissapointing fashion for the Ny Giants. After winning the Super Bowl in 2007, then steamrolling their way to an 11-1 record, things fell apart.

First Plaxico Burress  decided to use his leg for target practice at a crowded Manhatten Nightclub (shrewd!), then, as significantly, the Giants defensive line wore down.

The loss of Plax meant opponents could put eight in the box as the Giants had no deep threat. Thus the Giants vaunted running game diminished as did the passing game, after Plax, Eli Manning threw only one TD to a reciever!

The D line also struggled. When the Giants won Super Bowl XLII, it was largely due to the depth they had on the line. They were able to overwhelm offenses by sending wave after wave of quality pass rushers. Then, of course, Michael Strahan retired and Osi Umenyiora went down for the season with a torn ACL. Thin at the line, Mathias Kiwanuka and Justin Tuck simply wore down and the Giants vaunted pass rush virtually dissappeared.

The Giants went 1-4 down the stretch including an ugly home playoff loss at the hands of the hated Philadelphia Eagles.

I have heard several Giants players comment this off season about how angry they are with that result. They speak of "unfinished business" and of having the proverbial chip on their shoulder.

As we look forward to the start of the 2009 season, the Giants are a very dangerous team; they went out and got new weapons for Eli Manning and they clearly revamped an already outstanding defense. A good football team with an "edge" can go far...

Five Giants who must step it up in '09......

For the Ny Giants to get back to Super Bowl form, there are several returning players who must step their game up this season;

1) Domenic Hixon. Hixon was doing a great job for the Giants in the return game but was pressed into action with the downfall of Plaxico Burress. He did a decent job but dropped some big passes and never really threatened the defense. 

2) Mario Manningham. The second year receiver out of Michigan has all the playmaking ability in the world. However, a hamstring injury during training camp largely derailed his season before it ever started.

3) Ahmed Bradshaw. Bradshaw had an excellent rookie season and played a major role in the Giants Super Bowl run. Last season, through no fault of his own, he was a non factor as Tom Coughlin gave Derrick Ward alot of touches. That figures to change in 2009 and we need Bradshaw to take advantage.

4) Aaron Ross. He will be entering his third season in the Giants defense and needs to be more consistent. He has tons of talent, but again, consistency is the key as he had several lapses last season.

5) Kenny Phillips. I think the first round pick out of Miami will be a great player. Last season he was effective, but not spectacular as a rookie. With a full year under his belt, I expect big things from him.

Hang in there, Giant fans....

To say it is  a quiet time of year for football fans would be an understatement. We are past the free agent signing period and the draft, the rookie mini-camp has come and gone, and now it is just waiting time.

Though we will get some relief as the Giants have organized activities starting this Wednesday and Thursday. Then they break and come back June 1 and 2, then June 8 and 9.

We will get to see how the rookies fare against the vets.

Don't get me wrong; I love the summer. But man, I can't wait for the fall and Ny Giants football!

Brett Favre won't like this...

You guys have probably come across this already, but just in case I thought I would pop it up on here. On Wednesday, Giants tackle David Diehl made a foray into a new career, standup comedy. He did a bit poking fun at the ever indecisive Brett Favre (who, as I wrote here recently has in fact gone from NFL legend to the punch line of a joke).

Diehl actually has some talent. He made fun of Favre's now legendary inability to make a decision and actually stick to it. The following clip and accompanying article come from Mike Garafolo of the Star Ledger and Nj.com....enjoy....

David Diehl imitates Brett Favre