Earning some respect will be the minimum for the New York Giants, when they host a Chicago Bears side hot off a five-game winning streak this weekend.
New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur has fared relatively well in steering a sinking ship with a sense of collectedness and without experiencing the same locker room disharmony as his predecessor, Ben McAdoo. It’s important that dynamic remains the case against a Bears defense with the tools to create chaos in the trenches.
It’s also difficult to know what to expect from Big Blue on the back a “Jekyll and Hyde” defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, in which 19 first half points were added to by just three after the interval. That may well have been a different story were it not for running back Saquon Barkley’s puzzling second half omission in Big Blue’s game plan.
With 2019 jobs up for grabs, and a battered and bruised face to save, the New York Giants have it all to do at MetLife Stadium.
Bears Defense vs. Giants Offense
The consistency of elite talent across the Bears’ defensive unit makes it impossible for the Giants to fixate their attention on the ferocity of linebacker Khalil Mack. That said, it will be the linebacker’s name that crops up most frequently during pre-game meetings.
Eight sacks and five forced fumbles so far this season advertise a Swiss Army knife with the power and fluidity to twist between the ribs, making life all the more difficult for Eli Manning and his offensive line. His presence not only demands the best from tackles Nate Solder and Chad Wheeler, but may also call for an expanded use of tight end Rhett Ellison’s blocking support.
Amongst offensive linemen Will Hernandez, Spencer Pulley and Jamon Brown, the Giants’ interior must also thwart defensive tackle Akiem Hicks in their bid to carve avenues for Barkley. Hicks, with four sacks and three forced fumbles, has helped the Bears boast the NFL’s second best rushing defense this season with just 80.8 yards per game allowed.
That’s without mentioning the four sacks put up by Roquan Smith, as well as the familiar threat of Danny Trevathan.
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On top of offering Manning some protection, on top of no.10 himself improving his release time and progressing through his reads with more conviction, there remains a responsibility on all weapons to gain separation even quicker than they have been and making every pass stick.
Any chance of a pass rush?
With one of the league’s most dynamic defenses coming to town, it would be nice for James Bettcher to orchestrate a statement in response from his own unit.
The Giants’ pass rush has been toothless so far this season, with rookies Lorenzo Carter and B.J. Hill offering the most in the way of inspiration.
Such has been Olivier Vernon’s miserable campaign that the 28-year-old stares at an uncertain future with the organization. Having missed the opening five games of the season through injury, the 2016 free agency pickup has managed just a single sack.
Whilst the explosiveness of his debut year in East Rutherford has been disappeared, there have also been few signs of leadership as compensation.
With Manning looking set for a rough day in the pocket, there is an onus on this New York Giants defense to trouble backup quarterback Chase Daniel and put up a hold in return.
Linebacker jealousy
Years of inadequate recruitment in the linebacker department had New York Giants fans believing Alec Ogletree could be an immediate solution. Turns out that hasn’t quite been the case.
Sunday will see the Bears flaunt what the Giants have been missing out on.
Aside from his 68 tackles and one sack, Ogletree has often struggled in pass coverage and saw his flaws exposed again during defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. On a second-and-nine late in the second quarter, the former Ram failed to track Zach Ertz as he caught a Carson Wentz pass before breaking multiple tackles to reach the end zone.
He now faces the task of containing running back Tarik Cohen’s flexibility as a threat out the back field. The 23-year-old is second on the Bears roster in receiving yards this season with 503 off 47 receptions, as well as four touchdowns.
Between Ogletree and the rest of his linebacker corps, the Giants cannot afford to grant Daniel any security blankets in the center of the field.