5 Burning Questions
By author
Game Day snapshot:
Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz, Jake Ballard, and Hakeem Nicks all healthy
Buffalo 27th in pass defense/29th in run defense
Giants 19th in pass defense/22nd in run defense
Buffalo 4th in run offense, Giants 25th in run offense
Buffalo 11th in total offense, Giants 13th in total offense
Stop the run. Coming into week 6, the Giants are 25th in run defense whereas the Bills have stampeded their way to more than 138 yards per game, earning themselves the 4th ranked run offense in the NFL. Look for the Bills to exploit this statistical and very real mismatch, using their feature back Fred Jackson to test the Giants defensive front 7. “Action” Jackson is enjoying a fast start having rushed for 480 yards which ranks 3rd in the NFL. This presents very real problems for the Giants and unless the interior lineman and the linebackers step up their game, this could be a long afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
Run, run, and run some more. A frustrated Ahmad Bradshaw, when asked about the current problems of the run game, shrugged his shoulders and voiced optimism and continued faith in his offensive line. The Bills are not exactly terminators when defending the run as they rank 29th in run defense. But with right guard Chris Snee ending his 101 game consecutive start streak due to concussion related symptoms and David Baas, expected to start but still nicked up with
shoulder/neck ailments, the Giants are a little thin on the offensive line suggesting further problems in executing their run game. Kevin Boothe will fill the void left by Snee which means that from left to right, the only holdover from last years offensive line in Kareem McKenzie who anchors the right side tackle position. William Beatty must amp up his game as must David Diehl, Baas and Boothe for the Giants to take advantage of a less than stellar Buffalo Bill run defense. The offensive line has struggled in getting hats on their opponents, sustaining their blocks and getting to the second level, clearly indicated in their paltry 25th ranked run offense. They will have every chance to cure their running woes this week but must show some patience and perseverance.