tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937616333234364884.post3861168573437951623..comments2023-04-15T06:24:39.664-04:00Comments on Scarsdale Big Blue Review: Giants: Eagles game previewAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01814176576934354769noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937616333234364884.post-26666042550216081532010-11-21T10:42:13.260-05:002010-11-21T10:42:13.260-05:00Doron,
Excellent points.
Two other things to con...Doron,<br /><br />Excellent points.<br /><br />Two other things to consider which might distinguish the Giants defense from the Redskins: <br /><br />Vick looked all world last week, but the Redskins defense was at a huge match up disadvantage against the Eagles. First, because the Redskins DL is big and slow, not athletic and fast. Second, their defensive secondary has weaknesses, with only one good, fast S who can give help on deep balls, that being LaRon Landry. Redskins decided that they needed to stop Vick running and so committed Landry as a spy up near the line of scrimmage, which left them open on deep balls. <br /><br />Giants need to keep their S group actually playing S, need to get a big game form their athletic DL to pressure Vick and do as well as possible handling his running.<br /><br />Vick is playing better than he used to at Atlanta, it's true - but you've still got to take away big plays and challenge him to try to beat you with his arm on short passes. <br /><br />Also - don't forget that the Eagles defense is not great. I would feel a lot more confident if the Giants offense wasn't beat up, but we'll see how it goes.<br /><br />-wmAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01814176576934354769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937616333234364884.post-56941035780537943012010-11-20T19:02:54.046-05:002010-11-20T19:02:54.046-05:00This is a tough predicament for the Giants. As you...This is a tough predicament for the Giants. As you mentioned, the Giants D is bigger/tougher in some ways than the Eagles offense, but of course the speed of the Eagles offense can overcome those issues. Vick is obviously playing at a very high level, and is a matchup nightmare for any defense right now. While I think that the easiest way to burn the Giants D is by throwing downfield and to look for big plays, etc., I actually think that the Giants game plan will be geared so heavily towards preventing those big plays that the Eagles offense might look for other ways to exploit the D. Historically we have always had problems with containing the Eagles QB (McNabb) and RB (Westbrook). I can envision the Giants safeties playing deep to not give up the big play to Jackson or Maclin, that we may get burned by the underneath stuff, whether it is screens or short pass plays to McCoy or maybe some seam passes to Celek (who I think will have his biggest game of the season tomorrow). As much as we know that Vick can kill you with his legs, I imagine the Giants will take 80 rushing yards from Vick over 300 passing yards and big plays to Jackson. The problem then, is can our linebackers (and perhaps safety/nickel coverage) stop McCoy and Celek in the open field, and will someone be there to stop Vick from running for not only first downs, but huge chunks. I'm not sure we're up to the task honestly. While I want the D line to rush and pressure Vick, it needs to make sure it contains and doesn't leave open the entire middle of the field- we don't need to force Vick to flush the pocket only to be left with a wide open field. So it's a tough task all the way around. Ultimately, our best change to slow them down:<br />-pressure and HIT Vick (don't just pressure, but get the sacks and hits on him too)<br />-watch out for screen passes<br />-of course, don't let Jackson or Maclin get behind you.<br /><br />I think each individual defender has to play his best game for them to succeed.<br /><br />A few other ways to keep this close:<br />-run the ball effectively and chew up some clock. We need to open up holes for the ground game, and the adversity on the O Line makes me nervous.<br />-Get a lead early. Eagles D plays way better ahead than they do from behind.<br />-Avoid miscues and bad turnovers. We can't have false starts or holding penalties turn our series into 3rd and longs. If we do that, we won't be able to move the chains, and our Defense will have to be on the field too long.<br />-Avoid special teams mistakes. Dodge can't shank punts (though maybe don't kick to Jackson either- how about a directional 50-yarder out of bounds?); and Tynes can't miss. And is there any way to have kickoff coverage work so that the Eagles aren't playing with a short field every drive?<br /><br />All in all, this is a tough spot, and it's not made easier with our injuries at WR and O Line.<br /><br />I can see the Eagles winning a semi-close game, with each teams putting a fair amount of points on the board.<br /><br />But who knows, maybe the Giants will surprise us. They do play better on the road, and they've come up with a few surprisingly dominant performances this year (at Houston, at Seattle). Unfortunately, the Eagles aren't the Texans or the Seahawks...Doronnoreply@blogger.com