Plaxico Burress Catches a TD against the Browns on Monday Night Football

It is 12:20 am on October 14th, and I have just watched the worst Red-zone performance of all time. The one thing about the New York Giants that just doesn’t seem to be good this year is their red zone stragety. I understand that Plaxico is not in the good graces of the organization, but when you take him out of the game in the red zone in the third quarter it just makes no sense. 6′5 Plaxico Burress who has already proved to be one of the Gaints best red zone targets in the 2008 season, was taken out and Eli Manning threw a pass to Toomer instead, which resulted a costly pick 6. I realize that you can’t throw only to one player, However Plax deserves a target in every red zone trip, without fail. This is a man whose jumping abilities and size are unparalleled in the League. The Giants need to get off their high horses and get Plax the ball in the Red-Zone, or risk doing what they did today, just look terrible. I can’t help to wonder if this problems in play calling could be in response to Plaxico’s recent suspension. Regardless, If you pay a player you better use him as far as I am concerned. Also, trying to intercept a Pass high in the corner of the endzone is nearly impossible, especially if the defender is shorter than the WR by about 6 to 7 inches.

Jason Campbell is not looking very good.

However, he hasn’t got the smarts. What is up with the five yard passes when you need six on third down while a defender is ready and waiting to make the tackle after the catch. He threw a yard short on almost every third down in the game when the Redskins called a pass. Surprisingly, the one time his “short-comings” actually worked came on third down and eleven with 20 seconds to go in the first half; The Skins were on the Giants 14 yard line and needed to get down to the eleven so they could move the chains, and lo-and-behold, what does Mr. Campbell do? He throws the ball to Santana Moss at the ten!… who then actually manages to break for 13 yards into the end zone. I mean, you gotta figure that one of his short third down passes would have resulted in a first down eventually. Too bad they all couldn’t. After that touchdown, the Redskins continued with more nowhere marches down the field. The Giants pounded the ball down their throats and Brandon Jacobs received 21 handoffs for 116 yards, and Derrick Ward performed more than admirably with 9 caries for 39 yards. Each runner had 5.5 and 4.3 yards per carry respectively.

Brandon Jacobs as made an event out of crushing Redskins.

Now don’t overlook the Redskins’ running game last night. Clinton Portis managed 84 yards on 23 carries. Most good backs should be closer to, if not over, a 100 at that point, but the Redskins sporty new west-coast offense was of no help what so-ever save for just after the Rock Cartwright 50+ yard kick return before the end of the first half. But when your aerial attack is not helping you, 84 hard-earned yards is somewhat admirable. Eli Manning on the other hand looked good. I don’t care about his one interception. Not because the Redskins would inevitably go three-and-out as a result, but mainly because he just looked sharp. (You see, I have always viewed Eli Manning as such; I call him something I made up about a year ago… an “Interception Quarterback.” He’ll get his fare share of picks while maybe lingering atop the league in that category, and he might just be barely hovering above or just below a 60% completion percentage, but he’ll be getting the job done on third down, and most of the time when the game matters.). He hooked up with Plaxico on big gains, and used Steve Smith on third downs, perhaps showing that Smith might become a possession man on thirds down.

Eli running the ball for a rare rushing TD after juking out a Redskin LB

Bottom line, people want to talk up Jason Campbell for his attributes, and also because I personally believe that for whatever reason, a lot of NFL fans seem to sympathize with him since he’s got the “He’s a good kid” look. But let me tell you something, so does Alex Smith and Joey Harrington, and so did guys like Tim Couch and Akili Smith. Cute faces… ugly games.

Son of a bust! Somebody actually thought both these guys would be good?! Now I remember why I don’t read Sports Illustrated

Anyways, the Giants may want to work on turning more of those field goal drives into touchdowns, and the Redskins may want to start getting Campbell to look just a yard or two further down the field, and try to get Chris Cooley involved, who finished the game with one catch for seven sorry yards. Bottom line, the G-Men did what they were supposed to do. They didn’t blow out the Redskins, but their efforts ultimately culminated into a dominant performance, and a resoundingly convincing win.

-Alex V

Plaxico Burress out jumps Redskins DB

The 2009 NFL season opened today, with The Washington Redskins at the New York Giants. There were many things that happened at the game. Micheal Strahan came out of a Novelty Lombardi trophy and made a speech before kickoff. Then many fans at half time boo’d team owner Steve Tisch during “The Cancer Awareness Event half-time show” due to the his new policy on Personal Seating Licenses at the new Giant Stadium. It was pretty sad to say the least. While this man is making a speech about his fathers fight with cancer most of the fans were just booing. No one cared about the man’s personal pain over the loss of his father. Nope, not at all. The crowd instead vocalized the fact that they are angry and pissed off about PSL’s. Well, we all know NYC can be a tough town. Regardless, The New York Giants topped the Redskins 16-7. Plaxico Burress had another standout performance, picking up where he left off last post season, racking up 133 yards on 10 receptions. Other notable performances were Brandon Jacobs and Justin Tuck. Jacobs ran for 116 yards on 21 carries. Justin Tuck recorded a Sack on the first play from scrimmage.

Justin Tuck Celebrates a Sack

It was a great game for the Defending Superbowl Champion New York Giants. The only issue they seemed to have was Red zone production. It is still very early in the season, so we will have to wait and see what they can do in the red zone in the next game on Sept 14th, in St Louis.

-Mark M

Justin Tuck we salute you!

He has the size and strength of a DT and the speed of an elite DE. Micheal Strahan, has stated that “Justin Tuck” has more talent than he ever did. This year everyone has been down on the Giants because they have lost Strahan and Osi to retirement and injury, respectively. But lets really take a look at that Defensive unit. The core Antonio Peirce is there. He is like the glue that holds this big blue ship together. The Giants have elite pass rushers in Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and possibly Gerris Wilkinson.

Gerris Wilkinson ready for some extra reps in practice

Yes I said it, Gerris Wilkinson. He has great overall athletic ability so if they utilize him correctly he can bring a lot of pressure from the edges.

Regardless of pass rush, they have a very sturdy Secondary. The Corners are Webster (whom pretty much locked down T.O. Donald Driver Joey Galloway last postseason), Sam Madison (possible H.O.F.), Aaron Ross(Standout Rookie) and Terrell Thomas (2nd Round Pick) as well as Kevin Dockery. Aaron Ross and Corey Webster can track down the ball very well in man or zone coverage. The Giants also have solid Safeties, in Sammy “Good” Knight, James Butler and 1st round pick Kenny Phillips. This secondary can play, I assure you. Big Blue’s safeties don’t only have the ability to cover but these players are likely to take anyone, who comes over the middle of the field, head clean off. This unit can either pulverize you or run with you. This secondary has a swagger, atheletic ability, and great experience.. They could prove to be one of the better secondaries (Top 10) in the NFL this year.

Kenny Phillips has Talent which could land him the starting Safety spot soon.

-Mark M

Justin Tuck we salute you!

He has the size and strength of a DT and the speed of an elite DE. Micheal Strahan, has stated that “Justin Tuck” has more talent than he ever did. This year everyone has been down on the Giants because they have lost Strahan and Osi to retirement and injury, respectively. But lets really take a look at that Defensive unit. The core Antonio Peirce is there. He is like the glue that holds this big blue ship together. The Giants have elite pass rushers in Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and possibly Gerris Wilkinson.

Gerris Wilkinson ready for some extra reps in practice

Yes I said it, Gerris Wilkinson. He has great overall athletic ability so if they utilize him correctly he can bring a lot of pressure from the edges.

Regardless of pass rush, they have a very sturdy Secondary. The Corners are Webster (whom pretty much locked down T.O. Donald Driver Joey Galloway last postseason), Sam Madison (possible H.O.F.), Aaron Ross(Standout Rookie) and Terrell Thomas (2nd Round Pick) as well as Kevin Dockery. Aaron Ross and Corey Webster can track down the ball very well in man or zone coverage. The Giants also have solid Safeties, in Sammy “Good” Knight, James Butler and 1st round pick Kenny Phillips. This secondary can play, I assure you. Big Blue’s safeties don’t only have the ability to cover but these players are likely to take anyone, who comes over the middle of the field, head clean off. This unit can either pulverize you or run with you. This secondary has a swagger, atheletic ability, and great experience.. They could prove to be one of the better secondaries (Top 10) in the NFL this year.

Kenny Phillips has Talent which could land him the starting Safety spot soon.

-Mark M