Entering Enemy Territory: 5 Questions about The Giants
By Joe Tufaro
Ray Rivard from Lombardiave. com had some questions for us here at GMENHQ.COM….
Q. The Giants have been hit by the injury bug this season, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Do the Giants have the depth to still make a run at the NFC East title?
A. The Giants have some young talent that has become healthy recently. One in particular is Prince Amukamara. Prince was our first round pick this year and unfortunately broke his foot in training camp. With Prince getting more and more comfortable, this allows for players like Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips, and Deon Grant to go back to their natural positions. We probably couldn’t recover from the loss of another linebacker though. It looks like Michael Boley might return this week, and be in the position to help in the last 4 games.
Q. There hasn’t been a team that has figured out how to stop the Packers this season … the Bears have come the closest, but only because of familiarity. What will the Giants dial up to try to stop Rodgers and company?
A. Pressure, Pressure, and more Pressure. I believe the only way to stop Mr. Rodgers is to take away his first quick read, that beautiful quick slant he throws especially, by being physical with the receivers at the line, getting your hands up and undercutting some routes….And then not giving him the time to make his second read. If you stop the first, and then give him the time..everyone will be behind you and the big play will come. It is imperative for the Giants to get a pass rush, get some hits, and maybe force a mistake or two.
Q. Eli Manning continues to play well through adversity. What do the Giants need to add on offense to give him all the tools he needs to lift the Giants to elite status?
A. The only thing Eli is missing this year, besides being able to throw to the same three guys more than two weeks in a row, is a running game. A successful Giants offense is predicated on the fact that they could always run the ball at will, and for big yardage. Then they could play the numbers game and run when you expected pass, and pass when you dropped your safeties down and played run. The loss of Bradshaw, and the ineffectivenes of Jacobs has made Eli a one man show.
Q. This has been an up and down year for the G-Men. If the Giants stumble down the stretch, what will be the status of Tom Coughlin? He’s been through so much over the years … good and bad … do the Giants look elsewhere for a head coach or stick with Coughlin?
A. I am a big Coughlin supporter. Not only do I like the way he represents the team, but I have had the pleasure of meeting the man, and getting to see the real Tom Coughlin, not the one the outside media portrays. I think he, at times, might be too loyal to his assistants, but that is a result of being a Marine. I think he knows football, knows how to motivate, and what messages to send. He is actually a very positive thinker. I also don’t see much out there that is better. I get tired of the Gruden, Cowher talk and don’t think they would be an improvement. After all NO coach has ever won a Super Bowl with two different teams, so what would make anyone think they would be the first. I’m not sure any coach could have done as well as he has with all the injuries we have suffered throughout the season.
Q. Tell us about your draft picks this season … how have they performed and who is sitting in the wings waiting for their chance?
A. Well we had some bad luck with our picks this year. As stated earlier “The Prince” Amukamara was our first pick out of Nebraska, and was supposed to walk in at nickel corner, adding to the impressive duo of Corey Webster, who Packers fans no doubt remember, and Terrell Thomas. Thomas went down for the season in the last pre-season game, and “The Prince” missed the first 10 weeks. Marvin Austin was to be a defensive tackle to add to the aging rotation at that spot, but he tore his pectoral and has missed the season also. After those two, Da’Rel Scott has shown some speed as a kick returner, and actually has been slowed in that maturity by having to get involved in the running game with the loss of Bradshaw, and at times D.J. Ware.
Q. Give us your honest answer about who wins tomorrow’s game?
A. I always have a good feeling about these games….backs against the wall type of stuff…I think it’s closer than some may believe because of the big play ability of Eli and the Giants, and the gambling nature of your defense.