That sound you heard late on Thanksgiving night was the Giants' season going POP!
After Sunday's brief reprieve from the slide down the 5-0 mountain, Big Blue looked more like Big Bust against the Broncos in Denver.
Denver's 26-6 demolition of the Giants is not fatal but it's certainly more than a flesh-wound.
Thoroughly dominated in every facet of the game, Giants fans have little to be thankful for after watching the pathetic-looking bunch.
"We laid an egg," said Kevin Boss being brutally honest about his team's performance.
Although the Giants beat the Falcons on Sunday, the victory was not quite convincing that the losing ways were over. Especially on defense after that unit blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead.
In Mile High the offense and defense were equally inadequate.
The Giants have always prided themselves on being physically tougher than most, which is why Thursday night's loss is that much harder to comprehend.
The weakness in the secondary is nothing new, a superior defensive line can cover up such problems. But when the front seven are being obliterated at the line -- as they were by the Broncos -- it's going to be a long evening.
The running game that hasn't found its way all season was supposed to get healthy in Colorado. Broncos' opponents averaged 168.7 yards on the ground during their four-game losing streak.
The Giants ran for a measly 57 yards. Brandon Jacobs averaged a pitiful 2.5 yards per carry.
Beaten at the point of attack on both sides of the ball is certainly not Giants Football.
The Giants now have a week and a half to lick their wounds and see if they can pull themselves together.
The season has not yet been decided, that will happen in the two upcoming home games against the Cowboys and Eagles.
This group under Tom Coughlin plays its best football when it's the underdog, with the "us against the world mentality."
"We're not a bad football team, we just played bad today," Osi Umenyiora insists.
The Giant have two weeks to prove Osi correct.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Giants Seek To Answer Questions
By 4:30 on Sunday many Giants questions will have answers.
Is the four-game losing-streak an aberration? Or has Big Blue been overrated all along and beat-up on a soft early schedule?
In today's parity-loving-NFL every team goes through a rough spot at some point in the schedule. The Patriots of 2007 were beating opponents with high school-type scores during an undefeated regular season. Yet, come playoff time, the games were competitive eventually losing to the Jints in the Super Bowl.
Last season, at approximately the same time of year, the Giants and Titans were favorites to face-off in Tampa on Super Sunday. Yet, neither team won a postseason contest.
The Super Bowl-winning Colts of several years back lost four of the final seven regular season match-ups. All the incredible seasons to that point ended in disappointment, but the year the Colts struggled most turned out to be the greatest triumph.
This is not to say the Giants are on the way to another championship, but a mid-season struggle is no reason to panic and give up hope.
Did the bye-week come at just the right time for Tom Coughlin's club? Was the week off all that was needed to get healthy and get the bad football out of the system?
During the time off, everything broke right for the Giants: the three teams battling for an NFC playoff spot -- Cowboys, Eagles and Falcons -- all lost.
Once written-off as done, the Giants control their own destiny.
Each of the next four games is of monumental importance. The first is Atlanta at the Meadowland on Sunday. The Falcons are struggling and the winner of this contest will hold an important head-to-head tiebreaker.
A Thanksgiving-night game vs. the surprising Broncos will be a difficult road test, but a win would re-establish credibility across the country.
Dallas and Philadelphia visit New Jersey in the following weeks. The importance of these two divisional match-ups cannot be exaggerated.
Did the Big Blue defense simply need to get healthy to return to championship form? Will the return of cornerback Aaron Ross boost the secondary? Was Justin Tuck's shoulder-injury inhibiting his play on the field?
The Giants' secondary was hit hard with early-season injuries. Safety Kenny Phillips will not play again in 2009. Ross has yet to take the field during the current campaign. Tuck's injury had been nagging since Week 2.
Big Blue holds the script to the season now. The knockout blow has been thrown and the Giants were out for the count.
Can Coughlin scrape the team of the mat? Can the defense regain its teeth? Will the offense get back to Giants-football?
Will the team regroup and bounce back? Or stagger to the finish-line without much fight?
All these questions will be answered on the field Sunday.
Is the four-game losing-streak an aberration? Or has Big Blue been overrated all along and beat-up on a soft early schedule?
In today's parity-loving-NFL every team goes through a rough spot at some point in the schedule. The Patriots of 2007 were beating opponents with high school-type scores during an undefeated regular season. Yet, come playoff time, the games were competitive eventually losing to the Jints in the Super Bowl.
Last season, at approximately the same time of year, the Giants and Titans were favorites to face-off in Tampa on Super Sunday. Yet, neither team won a postseason contest.
The Super Bowl-winning Colts of several years back lost four of the final seven regular season match-ups. All the incredible seasons to that point ended in disappointment, but the year the Colts struggled most turned out to be the greatest triumph.
This is not to say the Giants are on the way to another championship, but a mid-season struggle is no reason to panic and give up hope.
Did the bye-week come at just the right time for Tom Coughlin's club? Was the week off all that was needed to get healthy and get the bad football out of the system?
During the time off, everything broke right for the Giants: the three teams battling for an NFC playoff spot -- Cowboys, Eagles and Falcons -- all lost.
Once written-off as done, the Giants control their own destiny.
Each of the next four games is of monumental importance. The first is Atlanta at the Meadowland on Sunday. The Falcons are struggling and the winner of this contest will hold an important head-to-head tiebreaker.
A Thanksgiving-night game vs. the surprising Broncos will be a difficult road test, but a win would re-establish credibility across the country.
Dallas and Philadelphia visit New Jersey in the following weeks. The importance of these two divisional match-ups cannot be exaggerated.
Did the Big Blue defense simply need to get healthy to return to championship form? Will the return of cornerback Aaron Ross boost the secondary? Was Justin Tuck's shoulder-injury inhibiting his play on the field?
The Giants' secondary was hit hard with early-season injuries. Safety Kenny Phillips will not play again in 2009. Ross has yet to take the field during the current campaign. Tuck's injury had been nagging since Week 2.
Big Blue holds the script to the season now. The knockout blow has been thrown and the Giants were out for the count.
Can Coughlin scrape the team of the mat? Can the defense regain its teeth? Will the offense get back to Giants-football?
Will the team regroup and bounce back? Or stagger to the finish-line without much fight?
All these questions will be answered on the field Sunday.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Playoffs Expectations Too High For Jets
What's with New York football teams and losing in gut-wrenching fashion. Last week it was the Giants against the Chargers, this week the Jets vs. the Jaguars.
Neither team played dominant football for the first 55 minutes, yet both were in position to walk away with a victory late in the fourth quarter.
For Gang Green, it was the Maurice Jones-Drew Show early and a lack of communication in the end that did them in -- and ended any dreams of a playoff run.
While in ordinary times having a decent season with a rookie head coach and quarterback is acceptable as part of the growing pains, there is a sense of disappointment surrounding the franchise.
In the past, starting a first-year QB from Week 1 was suiciding the year. And a head coach with no experience as the top-dog would be given a year to figure himself out.
Not for these Jets, not this year.
There are several reasons why expectations were higher than usual for this bunch:
1) Hot start: At the start of the season, there were no high expectations for this team, after getting out of the gate 3-0 that changed.
While many Jets rooters were attempting not to let it get to their head, it certainly changed the perception of the year. No longer was there the thought of this being a throw-away season, a playoff berth was certainly within reach.
2) Talk is cheap: Following the lead of Rex Ryan, many Jets were quite boisterous early on. Ryan was speaking of winning "multiple championships" before winning a game.
Sanchez wasn't exactly keeping a low profile himself. Posing for GQ before taking an NFL snap is no way to keep the pressure off yourself. Although appearing in a magazine is not the reason the Jets have lost four out of the last five, it did add unnecessary exposure (read: expectations).
3) Last year's success: Matt Ryan in Atlanta and Joe Flacco in Baltimore have many believing that putting quarterbacks behind center as a rookie is the wave of the future.
While the belief is true, few teams will duplicate their feat of going to the postseason with a novice head coach and first-year signal caller.
Despite the seeming disappointment, the Jets are actually having a decent season. With several eminently winnable games remaining on the calendar a .500 record is not out of the question.
There is obviously an issue closing out games as the numerous narrow losses prove. Many of those games come down to a play or two deciding the outcome.
Will the added experience change the Jets' fortunes in a close game later this season? Time will tell.
Neither team played dominant football for the first 55 minutes, yet both were in position to walk away with a victory late in the fourth quarter.
For Gang Green, it was the Maurice Jones-Drew Show early and a lack of communication in the end that did them in -- and ended any dreams of a playoff run.
While in ordinary times having a decent season with a rookie head coach and quarterback is acceptable as part of the growing pains, there is a sense of disappointment surrounding the franchise.
In the past, starting a first-year QB from Week 1 was suiciding the year. And a head coach with no experience as the top-dog would be given a year to figure himself out.
Not for these Jets, not this year.
There are several reasons why expectations were higher than usual for this bunch:
1) Hot start: At the start of the season, there were no high expectations for this team, after getting out of the gate 3-0 that changed.
While many Jets rooters were attempting not to let it get to their head, it certainly changed the perception of the year. No longer was there the thought of this being a throw-away season, a playoff berth was certainly within reach.
2) Talk is cheap: Following the lead of Rex Ryan, many Jets were quite boisterous early on. Ryan was speaking of winning "multiple championships" before winning a game.
Sanchez wasn't exactly keeping a low profile himself. Posing for GQ before taking an NFL snap is no way to keep the pressure off yourself. Although appearing in a magazine is not the reason the Jets have lost four out of the last five, it did add unnecessary exposure (read: expectations).
3) Last year's success: Matt Ryan in Atlanta and Joe Flacco in Baltimore have many believing that putting quarterbacks behind center as a rookie is the wave of the future.
While the belief is true, few teams will duplicate their feat of going to the postseason with a novice head coach and first-year signal caller.
Despite the seeming disappointment, the Jets are actually having a decent season. With several eminently winnable games remaining on the calendar a .500 record is not out of the question.
There is obviously an issue closing out games as the numerous narrow losses prove. Many of those games come down to a play or two deciding the outcome.
Will the added experience change the Jets' fortunes in a close game later this season? Time will tell.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Championship Answers All
"But it's been no bed of roses-
No pleasure cruise" (Queen-We Are The Champions)
Any season that culminates with a championship in hand is a good year, but for the New York Yankees any season that does not end with a world title is incomplete.
The 2009 Baseball season ended the only way it can be deemed satisfactory in Yankees Universe: The Pinstripes congregating in the infield triumphantly.
But, as with all seasons, there were times of discontent. Times where it seemed like nothing could go right. Going all the way back to the beginning, there were doubts about this group of players and coaches.
Spring Training got underway with Alex Rodriguez' admission that he indeed was a steroid user. A short time later, it was thought that the third baseman would be out for the season with a hip injury.
Chien-Ming Wang could not regain whatever it was that made him a two-time 19-game-winner. His absence left a major void in the middle of what was supposed to be a deep starting rotation. July 4th would prove to be the final outing of the 2009 campaign for Wang.
Through his first 35 games in Pinstripes, Mark Teixeira was batting under .240.
As late as June there were those wondering if Brian Cashman should be assembling a search party to find a replacement for Mariano Rivera (as if a replacement actually exists).
The first eight match-ups with the Red Sox ended with Boston W's. To add insult to defeat many of those contests were quite embarrassing.
First-place in the American League East did not belong to New York until the last week of May, and that was short-lived. The Yankees only occupied the division penthouse permanently from the last third of July and on -- not as early as one might expect from a club that went on to win 103 games.
But now, all of that gets washed away with just a few sprays of champagne. None of it really matters.
A-Rod no longer has to deal with questions of clutch or whether he can win a World Series, one of the best postseasons in recent memory answers all those queries.
As to whether or not A-Rod is a "real Yankee," the answer rests in one's definition of that title.
Will the Yankees have to deal with the steroid-stain on A-Rod's resume? Sure, but that's down the road, when he starts moving in on some important numbers (714, 755, 762). For now, all A-Rod has to do is point to his ring.
Does Joe Girardi over-manage? Make more pitching changes than necessary? Maybe. But now he's in select company, he's a World Series-winning manager.
When CC Sabathia was brought to the Bronx, the hulking lefty's postseason credentials did not match his regular season numbers. A fact that left many Yankees fans questioning whether Cashman made another lousy pitching decision.
Both Sabathia and Cashman were vindicated with CC's ace-like performance in the 2009 postseason.
Mariano Rivera got past the initial hiccup and went on to have one of the finest seasons of his already splendid career. And in the playoffs Mo raised his status, if it were possible.
The aging Final Four (Jeter, Posada, Pettitte and Rivera) proved that despite the advanced years, some folks just know how to win.
In the end -- bit by bit, piece by piece -- it all came together to complete the puzzle of what was truly the best team of 2009.
Sure, there are still questions, but now there's a simple, one-word answer: Champions.
No pleasure cruise" (Queen-We Are The Champions)
Any season that culminates with a championship in hand is a good year, but for the New York Yankees any season that does not end with a world title is incomplete.
The 2009 Baseball season ended the only way it can be deemed satisfactory in Yankees Universe: The Pinstripes congregating in the infield triumphantly.
But, as with all seasons, there were times of discontent. Times where it seemed like nothing could go right. Going all the way back to the beginning, there were doubts about this group of players and coaches.
Spring Training got underway with Alex Rodriguez' admission that he indeed was a steroid user. A short time later, it was thought that the third baseman would be out for the season with a hip injury.
Chien-Ming Wang could not regain whatever it was that made him a two-time 19-game-winner. His absence left a major void in the middle of what was supposed to be a deep starting rotation. July 4th would prove to be the final outing of the 2009 campaign for Wang.
Through his first 35 games in Pinstripes, Mark Teixeira was batting under .240.
As late as June there were those wondering if Brian Cashman should be assembling a search party to find a replacement for Mariano Rivera (as if a replacement actually exists).
The first eight match-ups with the Red Sox ended with Boston W's. To add insult to defeat many of those contests were quite embarrassing.
First-place in the American League East did not belong to New York until the last week of May, and that was short-lived. The Yankees only occupied the division penthouse permanently from the last third of July and on -- not as early as one might expect from a club that went on to win 103 games.
But now, all of that gets washed away with just a few sprays of champagne. None of it really matters.
A-Rod no longer has to deal with questions of clutch or whether he can win a World Series, one of the best postseasons in recent memory answers all those queries.
As to whether or not A-Rod is a "real Yankee," the answer rests in one's definition of that title.
Will the Yankees have to deal with the steroid-stain on A-Rod's resume? Sure, but that's down the road, when he starts moving in on some important numbers (714, 755, 762). For now, all A-Rod has to do is point to his ring.
Does Joe Girardi over-manage? Make more pitching changes than necessary? Maybe. But now he's in select company, he's a World Series-winning manager.
When CC Sabathia was brought to the Bronx, the hulking lefty's postseason credentials did not match his regular season numbers. A fact that left many Yankees fans questioning whether Cashman made another lousy pitching decision.
Both Sabathia and Cashman were vindicated with CC's ace-like performance in the 2009 postseason.
Mariano Rivera got past the initial hiccup and went on to have one of the finest seasons of his already splendid career. And in the playoffs Mo raised his status, if it were possible.
The aging Final Four (Jeter, Posada, Pettitte and Rivera) proved that despite the advanced years, some folks just know how to win.
In the end -- bit by bit, piece by piece -- it all came together to complete the puzzle of what was truly the best team of 2009.
Sure, there are still questions, but now there's a simple, one-word answer: Champions.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Gaudin Should Start Game 5
The asterisk has been removed from Game 5, it will absolutely be necessary. And after the Yankees' bats smacked around Cole Hamels and the Phillies bullpen in Game 3, it is also a certainty that the Bombers will not be facing elimination in that fifth game.
With a return to New York -- either for a parade or Game 6 -- in the bag, Joe Girardi should not have any Yankees starter this side of CC Sabathia work on short rest.
That would mean Chad Gaudin, who has not yet started a game in the playoffs, would be pressed into an exceedingly difficult situation -- on the road, in Philadelphia, against Cliff Lee.
However, that situation gives the Yanks its best chance to win its 27th World Series.
With the Yankees in the driver's seat, albeit only a one-game lead, Girardi would be best served lining up his rotation as best serves his club to win two games: A.J. Burnett on regular rest in Game 6 and Sabathia in Game 7 with Andy Pettitte in reserve.
Sure, that would mean all but actually forfeiting the contest by sending Gaudin to the hill against Lee, but the other option is less-than-spectacular itself. With Burnett taking the ball for Game 5, there is a big hole left in the rotation for Game 6 -- which MAY take place with the Yankees back to the wall.
If Burnett were to be held to that first game back at the Stadium, worst case scenario one of your two best starters is there to bail you out against a very beatable Pedro Martinez.
As for Game 5, who's to say the Yankees can't scratch out a couple of runs against Lee. Who's to say Gaudin can't come out and pitch the game of his life, stranger things have happened. It wouldn't be an all-out giveaway, the lineup should stay the same and the 'pen would be used as necessary.
What the Yankees do tonight does not change the heart of the issue: Girardi's focus should be on the two games set to be played in the Bronx. Any additional victories in Philly should be accepted as gravy. If you get them, smile and keep moving.
Having Sabathia on the hill, the Yankees are the favorites to take tonight's Game 4, and with Burnett going in Game 5 there is a decent chance of the Bombers taking that one as well. Yet, both can just as easily be won Charlie Manuel's club.
The Phillies have hit CC in the past, and Joe Blanton has some postseason experience. A.J. hasn't pitched without regular rest all season, and his ERA is over a full run higher on the road.
The options are: give your team a chance to win every game or take the best shot at some of the games and be at a significant disadvantage in others.
Having the lead means having the luxury to set up the rotation how it best suits your team. And that's what should have been done -- even if it means sacrificing Game 5.
With a return to New York -- either for a parade or Game 6 -- in the bag, Joe Girardi should not have any Yankees starter this side of CC Sabathia work on short rest.
That would mean Chad Gaudin, who has not yet started a game in the playoffs, would be pressed into an exceedingly difficult situation -- on the road, in Philadelphia, against Cliff Lee.
However, that situation gives the Yanks its best chance to win its 27th World Series.
With the Yankees in the driver's seat, albeit only a one-game lead, Girardi would be best served lining up his rotation as best serves his club to win two games: A.J. Burnett on regular rest in Game 6 and Sabathia in Game 7 with Andy Pettitte in reserve.
Sure, that would mean all but actually forfeiting the contest by sending Gaudin to the hill against Lee, but the other option is less-than-spectacular itself. With Burnett taking the ball for Game 5, there is a big hole left in the rotation for Game 6 -- which MAY take place with the Yankees back to the wall.
If Burnett were to be held to that first game back at the Stadium, worst case scenario one of your two best starters is there to bail you out against a very beatable Pedro Martinez.
As for Game 5, who's to say the Yankees can't scratch out a couple of runs against Lee. Who's to say Gaudin can't come out and pitch the game of his life, stranger things have happened. It wouldn't be an all-out giveaway, the lineup should stay the same and the 'pen would be used as necessary.
What the Yankees do tonight does not change the heart of the issue: Girardi's focus should be on the two games set to be played in the Bronx. Any additional victories in Philly should be accepted as gravy. If you get them, smile and keep moving.
Having Sabathia on the hill, the Yankees are the favorites to take tonight's Game 4, and with Burnett going in Game 5 there is a decent chance of the Bombers taking that one as well. Yet, both can just as easily be won Charlie Manuel's club.
The Phillies have hit CC in the past, and Joe Blanton has some postseason experience. A.J. hasn't pitched without regular rest all season, and his ERA is over a full run higher on the road.
The options are: give your team a chance to win every game or take the best shot at some of the games and be at a significant disadvantage in others.
Having the lead means having the luxury to set up the rotation how it best suits your team. And that's what should have been done -- even if it means sacrificing Game 5.
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