NFL Week 3: Giants vs. Eagles, Game Notes

September 25, 2011

NEW YORK – This was one of the most anticipated games of the season. There was so much hype surrounding this game because of all the trash talk in the media by the Eagles. It was widely believed that the Eagles would field the better team because the G-Men suffered so many injuries but the experts were wrong again. The Giants won the game 29-16 (my prediction prior to the game was 27-16, pretty close). Even though the Eagles proclaimed themselves to be a “Dream Team” prior to the start of the season, they couldn’t back up their talk. Only time will tell how good they are but seeing how they were 1-1 before this game and 1-2 after the game, they sure don’t look like a “Dream Team” to me.

Let me be fair, this was a hard fought victory. Both teams were playing their hearts out and QB Michael Vick looked like he was on his way to having a great game until the Giants broke his right hand. Fans knew the game was over at that point. The Giants went into the locker room at halftime with a 14-13 lead and appeared to have lost the momentum. That trend continued in the 3rd quarter but then in the 4th quarter the Giants came back to life and finished strong. The entire game lived up to the hype and had the outcome that Giants fans were looking for. The Giants needed this win badly after losing the last six straight games to the Eagles.

The Giants offense performed so well that I will have to divide my offensive game ball into three sections for QB Eli Manning, RB Ahmad Bradshaw and WR Victor Cruz. Manning had his best game of the year despite being sacked 3 times. The offense played above and beyond what anyone thought they could today and did the fans proud by shutting up the loudmouth Eagles players and fans. The G-Men came up big in the 4th quarter by shutting out the Eagles and scoring fifteen points themselves. Ironically enough, I have to divide my defensive game ball up in three parts too for DE Jason Pierre-Paul, CB Aaron Ross and S Kenny Phillips. Today was a great day to be a Giants fan.

Let’s take a look at some of my notes from the game.

QB Eli Manning – Manning had an outstanding game and finished 16/23 with 254 yards 4 TD’s and 0 INT’s.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw is simply a beast. He finished with 86 yards on the ground, 53 receiving yards and 1 TD.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks was being smothered the entire game but still finished with 25 yards.

CB Aaron Ross – Ross played out of his mind today and was all over the field. He finished with 2 INT’s.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck was having a good game until he left with an injury. We all hope he will be OK.

WR Victor Cruz – This Jersey native had a break out game today. He finished with 102 yards and 2 TD’s.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Brandon the Bull had a great game and finished with 19 yards on the ground, 53 yards receiving and 1 TD.

S Antrel Rolle – Rolle had a good game and kept his cool despite the Eagles players trying to get in his head.

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario missed this game due to a concussion. Fans are hoping Mario will have a speedy recovery and get back on the field soon. Get well soon Mario!

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – The future is now for this young man. He left the game late in the 4th after getting banged up but still finished with 2 sacks.

S Kenny Phillips – Phillips played an outstanding game and finished with 1 INT and 1 forced fumble.

LB Jacquian Williams – Keep your eye on this rookie. He led all defensive tacklers and plays with fire.

S Deon Grant – Grant had a great game and his veteran swagger on the field cannot be overstated. Re-signing him was huge this offseason.

LB Mathias Kiwanuka – Kiwi had a nice game and a few key tackles. I still think he should be used as a DE and not a LB.

TE Travis Beckum – Beckum’s return to the field was quiet and he finished with 1 catch for 2 yards.

WR Brandon Stokley – Stokley had a quiet game and finished with 1 catch for 7 yards.

LB Greg Jones – The rookie Jones is still settling into his role in the middle and had a decent game.

LB Michael Boley – Boley had a great game and continues to be the veteran presence needed in the LB group.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes made all three of his extra point attempts and had no FG attempts.

P Steve Weatherford – The Weatherman had another good game and kept the ball away from DeSean Jackson.

Giants Defense – The defense was outstanding today and finished with 2 sacks, 3 INT’s and 1 forced fumble.

Giants Offense – Hats off to Kevin Gilbride who called a good game today. The Giants offense played their best game of the year.

Giants Special Teams – Even the special teams got in on the party and played much better today.

What did you think about the Giants performance against the Eagles?

RD – nygreporter.com

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NFL Week 2: Giants vs. Rams, Game Notes

September 20, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants faced the Rams last night on Monday Night Football. The game was pretty ugly as many expected but the Giants played a much better game then they did against the Redskins last week. It was still a sloppy mess of a game that leaves plenty of room for improvement. Coach Tom Coughlin could be seen pacing the sidelines in a rage on more then one occasion last night. Still, a win is a win and this was a win the Giants really needed. They improve to 1-1 on the year and will play the Eagles this upcoming weekend.

At one point in the game, I was wondering out loud how the Giants could possibly have the lead because they were playing so bad. The firs half seemed to go by in slow motion with one mistake after another. If not for the awesome play of the Giants defense, the results would have been much different. The Giants went into the locker room at halftime with a 21-6 lead. The Rams were much more competitive the second half and really exposed the Giants weak secondary. CB Aaron Ross was benched for a while in favor of CB Michael Coe, because he was giving up big plays. The Giants offensive line is giving up a lot more sacks then fans are use to seeing. They gave up another 3 sacks last night and will need to work on that or risk getting the franchise QB seriously injured.

The Giants defense was stout inside the red zone but were having major issues in the open field against the pass. The Giants dominated the time of possession by nearly 10 minutes and still had trouble getting first downs. It is tough to watch those “three and outs” happening so frequently. The G-men had way too many penalties again this week with 5 for 55 yards. The G-Men will need to correct a lot of their issues before facing the Eagles this weekend.

Let’s take a look at some of my notes from the game.

QB Eli Manning – Manning had another mediocre game but it was better then last week. He finished with 200 yards 2 TD’s and 1 INT.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw had a great game and finished with 59 yards on the ground and 45 yards receiving.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks had a relatively quiet night but still finished with 15 yards and 1 TD. Remember, he was playing banged up.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck had an awesome game and was all over the field last night. He finished with 1.5 sacks.

LB Michael Boley – Boley had a great game and made a heads up play in the 2nd quarter for a 65 yard TD on a fumble recovery.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – JPP is a force to be reckoned with. He had a great game and finished with half a sack that he shared with Tuck.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Jacobs had a little spark in his step last night and finished with 50 yards on the ground and 17 yards receiving. He also scored 1 TD.

S Antrel Rolle – Rolle led all tacklers on defense and had 1 forced fumble. He is becoming a beast out there.

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario led all WR’s with 56 yards but also went down with a concussion late in the game. Get well soon Mario!

LB Jacquian Williams – Williams was second on the team in tackles and had a very nice game for a rookie.

TE Jake Ballard – Ballard had a quiet night but still caught one pass for 13 yards.

LB Greg Jones – The rookie Jones was out there making plays but is still clearly raw and in need of more experience.

CB Corey Webster – Webster had a good game and continues to quietly do his job for Big Blue.

WR Domenik Hixon – Hixon had a nice game and finished with 29 yards and 1 TD. He also got hurt late in the game but was able to return.

RB Danny Ware – DJ came in and contributed late in the game with 22 yards on 3 carries.

LB Mathias Kiwanuka – Kiwi had a few nice plays and is laying out anyone who comes into his area.

WR Brandon Stokley – Stokley saw very limited action in his first game as a Giant.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes made all four of his extra point attempts and had no FG attempts.

P Steve Weatherford – The Weatherman had a nice game and I feel much more comfortable with him punting.

WR Devin Thomas – Thomas has been doing a pretty nice job with returning kicks and plays with a real fire.

Coach Tom Coughlin – Coach was visibly upset on the sidelines for most of the game but will put it behind him and focus on the Eagles this weekend.

Coach Perry Fewell – Coach Fewell is making lemonade out of lemons. His squad was hit the hardest with injuries and he is getting the most out of the players.

Coach Kevin Gilbride – Gilbride is calling plays too conservatively but it was better then last weekend.

Giants Defense – The bright spot for the team finished with 2 sacks, 0 INT’s and 2 forced fumbles.

Giants Offense – This group played much better but still needs some work.

Giants Special Teams – ST played better this week too but it still needs a complete overhaul in my opinion. From top to bottom.

What did you think about the Giants performance against the Rams? Feel free to leave comments below.

RD – nygreporter.com

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NFL Week 1: Giants vs. Redskins, Game Notes

September 11, 2011

NEW YORK – The 2011 NFL season has officially started Giants fans. I’m sure that most of you watched the Giants play the Redskins in DC today. Some football fans scrambled this morning to make sure their fantasy football teams had the proper lineups set and that there were no last minute injury updates. Some football fans broke out their lucky jerseys or made their favorite food before the games. All football fans honored the fallen of 9/11 in some way today, even if it were a small prayer or by attending a ceremony. America remembered the military and the fallen today. Never forget!

The Giants lost 28-14 to the Redskins in a game that was hard to watch at times. There were so many sloppy plays, after a very promising start, that I do not know where to begin. The best thing for Giants fans to do is just put this game behind us and look forward to next week when they play the Rams. Yes, it was that bad against a Redskins team that 99% of the experts said would lose today. The Giants start the season 0-1 and they have not even started the hard part of their schedule yet. After wins by the Eagles and Redskins, the G-men are officially in last place until we see what happens with the Cowboys game. The first half of the game saw a lot of back and forth action and it seemed pretty competitive, albeit sloppy. Big Blue went into the locker room at halftime tied up 14-14 and seemed to be building momentum.

Then the second half started and it all went down hill from there. One thing after another went wrong. The Giants were completely shut out in the second half and seemed to be playing tired football. I saw a lot of guys who appeared to be playing in slow motion. The Giants special teams are absolutely atrocious and need serious changes immediately. I have said that they might be the worst special teams in the entire NFL and I stand by that comment until they play better. The biggest surprise of the day was Redskins QB Rex Grossman balling on Big Blue for 305 yards and 2 TD’s. Nobody could have seen that coming. Giants QB Eli Manning had a rough day and was sacked 4 times with 1 INT. Manning has not seemed himself at all this year in the preseason or the regular season game tonight. I’m not sure what is bothering him but I hope he can focus on football and get back to the QB we all know he can be. The Giants also had way too many penalties in this game, finishing with 8 total.

Let’s take a look at some of my notes from the game.

QB Eli Manning – Eli did not have a very good game and finished 18/32 with 268 yards 0 TD’s and 1 INT. However, he did score on a 2 yard rushing TD.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw had a decent game and ran hard as usual. He finished with 44 yards and 1 TD.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks had a great game and he gets my offensive game ball. He finished with 122 yards 0 TD’s.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck was on the sidelines and missed the game while he is recovering from an injury. Get well soon Justin!

CB Aaron Ross – Ross had a pretty good game but doesn’t look 100% comfortable back there yet.

S Kenny Phillips – KP had a really nice game and was all over the field. He is going to have a solid year.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Jacobs ran hard but finished with only 29 yards. I expect a big year from the Bull this year.

LB Mathias Kiwanuka – Kiwi had a good game and finished 5th on the defense in tackles.

S Antrel Rolle – Rolle led the defense in tackles and had some very hard hits in the game.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – JPP gets my defensive game ball for his outstanding game. He finished with 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble.

LB Michael Boley – Boley had a good game and finished with a fumble recovery.

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario had some big catches and finished the game with 49 yards 0 TD’s.

TE Jake Ballard – Ballard had a nice game despite getting banged up before halftime. He finished with 59 yards.

CB Corey Webster – Webster had a relatively quiet night but did his job.

LB Greg Jones – Jones had a pretty good night for a rookie being thrown into the fire. I like this kid.

WR Domenik Hixon – Hixon was a busy man tonight returning punts and seeing some time at WR.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes was 0-1 on FG’s due to a blocked FG attempt and made both of his two extra point attempts.

P Steve Weatherford – The “Weatherman” had a nice game I thought and fans must feel better with a veteran back there.

Giants Defense – The Giants D gave up 28 points to an inferior Redskins team but still finished with 4 sacks, 0 INT’s and 1 forced fumble.

Giants Offense – The Giants offense has some work to do and it starts with the play calling.

Giants Special Teams – Simply the worst special teams I can ever remember for the New York Giants.

Coach Coughlin – Coach Coughlin and his staff are making do with a depleted team and a young roster. There will be growing pains for certain.

What do you think about the Giants performance against the Redskins?

RD – nygreporter.com

Never Forget 9/11

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New York Giants Final 53 Man Roster Analysis

September 4, 2011

NEW YORK – The New York Giants have missed the playoffs for the past two years straight. Do you know what happens when an NFL team fails to make it to the playoffs in back to back seasons? Change happens. Passionate fans have been expressing their concerns or displeasure with the Roster moves that were made. I feel bad for the players that did not make the roster because I know they worked hard to shine. But I will not criticize GM Jerry Reese for having the guts to make bold changes after two down seasons in a row. There are a lot of new faces on the team this year and fans had to say goodbye to a few of their favorite players. If anyone thinks that Jerry Reese or Tom Coughlin made these moves to hurt the team, they are simply out of their minds.

The most surprising area of the team in 2011 will be the four rookies playing the linebacker position. A lot of people expected a big free agent signing to help out this young group but it did not happen. In fact, Reese kicked the table of conformity over completely and chose to keep four rookie LB’s (Herzlich, Jones, Paysinger and Williams) on the roster. I understand that player injuries forced a lot of the player moves made but the linebacker group is purely taking a shot in the dark at glory. I’m confident this young group of players have the talent to excel but they have to believe it themselves. It is going to be very exciting to see these guys flying around the field and making plays. My best advice to the rookies is simple, study the playbook as much as possible. Once your brain catches up to your body, you are going to be dangerous. The Giants have never had an Offensive Rookie of the Year and the last Defensive Rookie of the Year for Big Blue was LB Lawrence Taylor in 1981. Someone needs to fire up these youngsters to shoot for the ROY goal.

Were there some surprise moves made? Of course there were, like every single year there are. One move that wasn’t a surprise to me was P Steve Weatherford replacing P Matt Dodge. Dodge was given every chance to make improvements this year and will probably end up being a very good NFL punter, just not this year. That forced the Giants to make the hard choice of letting him go. I wish the kid well in his career and I’m sure that he will land on his feet someplace. The Giants special teams are just terrible and any roster shake up for the sake of improvement is welcome. Some were surprised by QB David Carr taking over the backup role for QB Eli Manning and QB Sage Rosenfels landing on the IR list. This is another smart move in my opinion because of the uncertainty surrounding the new offensive line. The G-Men need to be sure they have enough QB’s on the team in case the unthinkable happens. The running backs and wide receivers are two of the bright spots on the team and will be fine this season. However, the tight ends could end up being a problem. Reese will have to address this group sooner or later if Beckum or Ballard do not play well.

The cornerbacks and offensive line will need to step up the most this year. For obvious reasons we need the offensive line to gel together quickly and begin to play relaxed football. They need to feel confident that the man beside them will know their role and responsibilities. The cornerbacks were decimated by injuries this offseason and a couple of the guys will find their roles increased two-fold. If these guys can give the defensive ends enough time to reach the opposing quarterbacks, things will be fine. I’m extremely confident in the last line of defense with our safety group and their ability to deny any touchdowns if the CB’s get overwhelmed. Rookie S Tyler Sash has had an outstanding preseason and deserves his spot on the roster. DC Perry Fewell is smart enough to know how to use his guys the right way and will most likely get creative with the backfield this year.

In conclusion, I expect the Giants to make it back to the playoffs this year. It will be tough getting through that schedule but I think the injection of so much young talent will blend nicely by mid-season. Players will answer the call and step up big time in order to get Big Blue back where they belong in the postseason. The regular season starts in seven days.

What are your thoughts about the Giants final Roster? Do you think this group has the talent to return to the playoffs in 2011?

RD – nygreporter.com

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Giants Make Hard Choices to Cut Down to 53 Man Roster

September 3, 2011

NEW YORK – This is always a very difficult time of year for the Giants coaches and staff. I’m sure they would have loved to have kept everyone on the team but it just isn’t the way things work in the NFL. The Giants were forced to cut a bunch of players today in order to cut down to the mandatory 53 man roster. Head Coach Tom Coughlin and GM Jerry Reese can finally exhale after making some very difficult decisions but I’m sure they will also monitor the careers of the players they cut. This is one of the most difficult parts of the job for these men, without question. Having to tell a man that he didn’t make the team, when you know he has given you 110% on the field is a terrible chore but a part of the business. You can view the final roster here Roster or simply click the roster tab on the top toolbar of our website.

Fans were speculating all week about who would be cut and who would make the team. I try not to get into those conversations out of respect for the players but I will answer a direct question if someone asks my opinion about a player. When you’re looking at all of these guys on paper and see you one or two at a certain deep position on the team, you have a pretty good idea if they will be on the final roster or not. A perfect example is the defensive end position. The Giants literally have four guys who could be starters at the position with DE Justin Tuck, DE Osi Umenyiora, DE Jason Pierre-Paul and DE Mathias Kiwanuka (he is a hybrid, I know). Trying to make the Giants final roster at the defensive end position would be a herculean task for any player. There were some cuts that were surprises, like there are every year and some cuts that sting a little more then the others.

I would like to personally wish the players well, who did not make the cut. It’s a shame that everyone can’t make the team based on their hard work and desire. It is never fun saying goodbye to a player who has given his all. Keep your head up and keep working hard. It might not be your time today but dreams do come true! Don’t give up!

The Giants will face the Washington Redskins next Sunday 9/11/11 at 4:15 PM EST for their first regular season game. Be sure to come back and check out our “Game Notes” each and every week throughout the season.

Were you surprised by any of the cuts made or with the Giants final roster?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please Support The Wounded Warrior Project by Clicking Here, You Are Not Forgotten!!


Update: Giants Close Out Insane Week in the NFL

July 30, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants closed out an insane week last night by making a few more moves and signing the bulk of their rookie class. CB Prince Amukamara is the sole rookie that has yet to sign but the team expects to remedy that sometime today. GM Jerry Reese said there will be no long holdout on Princes behalf. The six rookies who did sign with the team yesterday include DT Marvin Austin, OL James Brewer, S Tyler Sash, WR Jerrel Jernigan, RB Da’Rel Scott and LB Jacquian Williams. I’m very excited about the team signing these guys and the fact that Amukamara will be signed soon. There is one player out of this bunch that remains a mystery man in my opinion. Fans haven’t heard much about LB Jacquian Williams, which has really got me curious. We’ve been hearing about all of the other picks and have even become familiar with their names but Williams is almost an after thought for some reason. That should make your radar pop up and say “Who is this kid?”

The best news of the day came when fans learned about RB Brandon Jacobs stepping up and restructuring his contract to remain with the team and give them room to sign other crucial players. You can say what you want about Jacobs but it doesn’t mean I have to listen to you. I have been a fan of Brandon’s since he first arrived and never wavered in my opinion about him staying with the team. I have seen a bunch of fair weather fans calling for his head and asking the team to get rid of him, which made me sick. Jacobs has proven he wants to remain in New York and has officially become a Son of New York with this latest unselfish move. Thank you Brandon for being a man and putting the team first. I will be buying your authentic jersey to wear during the 2011 season and I encourage all of our readers to do the same.

Big Blue also went out an signed a Punter yesterday. The moment the team signed veteran punter Steve Weatherford yesterday, the Matt Dodge clock began ticking. I have nothing against Matt Dodge personally and if anyone wanted him to do well, it was me. But the inconsistency cannot be overlooked and regardless of having a strong leg, you have to be consistent in the NFL. At the very least, there will be competition at the punter position in this years training camp. Most fans welcome the change.

The Giants will hit the practice field today as training camp opens up to the public. The players spent most of yesterday taking physicals, checking equipement and attending meetings but the time has come to get on the field and do some work. The coaches must feel like it is the first day of school because Giants coaches truly love their jobs. The weather channel expects no rain today, so the fans should be fine if they plan on attending. Fans must remember that if it rains, the practices will be brought indoors and then closed to the public, so be sure to check the weather if you plan on attending or driving long distances to check it out. Coach Tom Coughlin also met with former Giants WR Plaxico Burress last night for about 90 minutes. GM Jerry Reese said that the meeting went well and fans will now have to wait and see what Plaxico decides to do. I would like to have him back but I do not think our entire season depends on what he does. The Giants have a lethal group of WR’s regardless if  Plaxico in the mix or not. Stay tuned Giants fans for more news to come later in the day.

What do you think about the recent roster moves made by the Giants?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please visit www.hampscamp.com and donate/contribute to Rodney Hampton’s charity for the kids!