I'll just give you all a quick rundown on the day's chats with various coaches... I'll be paraphrasing, since things just wrapped:
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo
-- Wouldn't really say just yet what style of defense he'll run, but said it will certainly have some of what he did with the Eagles. Also was quick to point out the Giants' D did some good things last year and that he'll see what he can mix of the two.
-- Isn't familiar enough with his new players to give real assessments, and didn't seem as if he would do so anyway.
-- The Mathias Kiwanuka-to-LB switch was in the works when he interviewed for the job in January.
-- Compared Kiwanuka favorably to Carlos Emmons -- the Emmons who was the Eagles' SAM for several years and was productive, not the guy the Giants cut.
-- Likes the Aaron Ross pick for selfish reasons -- always happy when the top pick is a defensive guy. Also likes Ross' maturity, being 24. Thinks Ross can step in right away and pick up the defense.
-- Likens being on the other side of the Eagles-Giants rivalry to "playing one-on-one against your brother." He's looking forward to the competition.
-- Very familiar with the Giants' offense, obviously, so he gave his scouting report to Kevin Gilbride. "Talent," he said when asked what he saw most of from the Giants.
-- Looks at Antonio Pierce as the type of leader that Trotter was with the Eagles. Said Pierce came in to see him initially to discuss the defense, and they've had several discussions since.
LBs coach Bill Sheridan
-- Will be working closely with Kiwanuka on making the transition. Said that Kiwanuka would go back to being a down lineman in passing/third down situations.
-- Relying on Pierce a lot as pretty much the one guy who's been consistently there through all the LB changes the past couple seasons. "He'll probably get a little neglected the next few months, with guys learning the position and new guys coming in to learn our scheme," he said. "But Antonio coaches himself so well, it won't be a problem."
-- Has known Spagnuolo for going on 20 years -- Sheridan interviewed for an assistant's job at Maine that went to Spagnuolo, and when Spagnuolo left for UConn the following year, Sheridan got the Maine job. Never worked together, though.
Safeties coach David Merritt
-- Said Gibril Wilson started overthinking on the field the last two seasons, and that both Wilson and Will Demps were scared of making mistakes last season. "When you're on the golf course and you've got to hit a shot over water," Merritt said, "if all you're doing is thinking about the water, you're gonna hit it right in there." Merritt has told Wilson to think less -- the "Bull Durham" approach, if you will (that's my interpretation, not Merritt's).
Secondary coach Peter Giunta
-- Looks at the season as a fresh start for Corey Webster, and hopefully a healthy start -- said Webster was hurt for much of the season, much longer than anyone knew.
Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride
-- Didn't think the offense would change all that much, other than looking to get Jeremy Shockey involved in the vertical passing game more.
-- Tiki is irreplaceable, but doesn't think many teams have the size and strength at RB that the Giants do. Said the stretch play and the misdirection play, both huge parts of the Giants offense when Barber was able to break free for big yards, will still be in the base offense. "Will they go for the same yards? That's what we have to see," he said.
-- Absolutely feels Shockey and Plaxico Burress should be here when Eli Manning starts to throw to moving targets in a week. Went back to his Oilers days, recalling that Warren Moon would know the slightest body movements of his receivers and know when to throw to them. "You can't try to learn that stuff during the season," Gilbride said.
WRs coach Mike Sullivan
-- Talked to Burress yesterday -- they talked mostly about the upcoming Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather fight -- but did say that Burress would be here next week. Also said we have to wait and see if Burress will indeed be here.
QBs coach Chris Palmer
-- Has had about 14 hours of film study with his QBs, and noted that Eli wasn't entirely comfortable with the breakdown process at first, but said by the most recent session, Eli was more vocal, more comfortable.
-- Wouldn't ask Eli to be a different kind of leader. "A guy has to be himself," Palmer said.
That's about all... Thanks for sending in questions. After I transcribe the tape tonight, if there's any major stuff I missed, I'll post.
Comments (12)
Good Job Arthur! I wish Spags would have went into alittle more detail regarding his scheme.
we all have stories...
Thanks Arthur. What about an interview with Shockey? He has had his run-ins with the press in the past, but is really quiet in the offseason. I for one would like to know what a week at the U is really like for these guys. What makes it so appealing and why can't it be implemented up here with the Giants? Would everyone agree that an article from Arthur following Shockey around for a week in Miami during training would be perhaps the best off season article read?
If the only change Gilbride plans to make to the offense is to get Shockey more involved in the vertical passing game, we have lots of problems in store next year. I really hope this statement is a smoke screen.
New Defensive Scheme + New Players on the Defense = Non productive defense for the first half of the season (at a minimum). If we don't adopt a grind it out ball control strategy on Offense we may have the first pick in the draft next year. We need to take pressure off the Defense and Eli.....a ball control offense does both.
I haven't been this pessimistic about a Giants team since the 1970's.
I don't think we have to take pressure off the defense, they've done enough by putting their pressure on offense and Eli buy making them play "catch-up" and a long field to score. That lead us to use an unbalanced offense.
I like the fact Gilbride recognized that we need to use Shockey more. How many times did Jeremy and the rest of the offense have to chirp publicly to the media that Hufnagel needed to use him more?
But my main concern in this whole summary was of Gilbride's opinion about whether Plax and Shockey should be here while Reese said on Boomer's show that it's just voluntary workouts so no real big deal.
Anyway. I personally think this is a wide-open division. Really a three-team race in my opinion, the Redskins didn't even do anything this off-season to gain any optimism or hype. It wouldn't surprise me if we did well this season is what I'm trying to say.
I understand everybody's points about Shockey(he really pisses me off right now by the way) by not being in NY, the new defensive approach, the new coordinators(which was a welcomed change) and having to replace Tiki Barber with a two - back system which I feel they need to control the offense. Y'all need to stop being so hard on this team, try living in motown where we have the Lions..........THE LIIIIIOOOOOONNNNNNSSSS for petes sake. 1 playoff win in 45 + years. The reason I root for the GMEN is the same reason so many other people in the country do. They may not win the superbowl but they're fun to watch and fun to root for. This offseason has been really difficult to watch considering Tiki leaving and not sighing engough free agents but this is a competitive team that WILL NOT go down easy in any game this season. And theres no way I'm giving up on the Gmens chances to go to the playoffs again fot the 3rd straight year. And yeah they're good enough in '07 to win 9 or 10 games!
All of that stuff was pretty obvious. Coaches dont say anything that is worth noting. i think gibril will have a huge year, shockey will have a career year. i think EVERYONE is underrating Bjakes ability to carry the load. The D will be fine with a healthy Stra , Osi, Madison, Demps, Webster, RW, Peirce, Tuck, man the list goes on. They will be a top 15 D. the offense will get better, Eli will play better this year, and not make the TERRIBLE decisons he made last year. he will be fine. 11-5 NFC championship lose to the....49ers!!! OH MY GOD, i know.
I love the optimism on the blog and I won't restate all the reasons why I am not optimistic about this upcoming year. The good news is that I think if proper decisions are made after this disastrous season concludes, we can be competitive in 2008 and in championship form in 2009.
Notwithstanding that, I hope you all are correct and I have to eat my words about 2007.
I don't think we are being too optimistic. The Redskins haven't done much this offseason. The Cowboys lost one of the best coaches in the league. The Eagles have question marks at WR and if Donovan is healthy or not. Last year, the Giants were a Super Bowl favorite. They had an extremely hard schedule. Injuries to key positions. I like the move with Kiwi. He needs to be on the field period. Ross is going to help. Gibril Wilson is in a contract year. New Def Coordinator that is agressive, can't wait for that. Biggest question mark is RB to me. How is BJ going to do carrying the load? I think a lot of games are going to come down to Eli. He wants to be good and will be. If our Defense can improve, that puts us in a better spot all together. They were in the 20's as far as rank. When is the last time you could say that about a Giants' defense? And we still made the playoffs. I expect a second round playoff run this year.
KC -
The Giants were a Superbowl favorite last year for four reasons:
1) People were still optimistic about Eli becoming a great QB. I don't think a great quarterback would have collapsed the way Eli did towards the end of last season.
2) In the offseason last year the Giants "rebuilt" the secondary and acquired Lavar Arrington in free agency. These changes were expected to yield great results. Arrington is now gone and the secondary proved to be one of the worst in the league.
3) Tiki Barber was coming off his best year as a pro and more of the same was expected for 2006. While this part turned out to be true he has now retired.
4) The Offensive line had benefited from lack of injuries and personnel turnover and seemed poised to be one of the best lines in the NFL. Petitgout is now gone and the most critical position on the OL is now a big question mark.
So, all the reasons the Giants were Superbowl favorites last year are either are not present this year and/or were illusions last year. Furthermore, the Giants did almost nothing in free agency this offseason (which I think was the right long term move but will hurt them next year).
In addition, the whole defense will be learning a new scheme, Kiwanuka and Mitchell will be learning new positions and Ross is a rookie.
I haven't even factored in the Shockey/Burress dynamic which many fans have complained about on this blog.
I agree with your points on the Cowboys and Redskins and I think that is why the Giants may win as many as 5 games this year. However, if I had to make a prediction at this point it would be 3-13 with two of those wins coming against the Cowboys and Redskins. I also think the NFC East will be viewed as the weakest division in the league.
Notwithstanding that, I hope at the end of the Season the Giants do three things:
1) Do not extend Manning's contract. At the end of this year, the front office will be under tremendous pressure to extend Manning's contract b/c of the cap hit we will suffer in 08 and 09. I hope we have the guts to bite the bullet and limit the losses associated with (what is in my view) one of the two worst trades made in the history of the NFL.
2) Heavily skew the 08 and 09 draft towards the Defense. We need to rebuild the hallmark of the franchise. What we have seen on the field over the last 6 years has been an embarrassment at times.
3) Build the Offense around Jacobs. Smash mouth football will be a perfect complement to our newly tooled Defense.
If we do those 3 things, we will be in great shape in 2009 and 2010 to reach championship form.
Joe; your points are valid. However, I disagree with you on Eli. I have watched him since he has started. I do admit there are times where he has really sucked, but he has shown moments of brilliance. He has won games for us, by himself. My example would be at the Eagles or Denver at home the prior year. His numbers, although are not extremely different, were better than the prior year, and statistically speaking was in the top 10 in QB's. You don't let that get away from your team/franchise. I remember the Danny Kanell, Kent Gram years. He is only 25 and his numbers were better in his 1st year than his older brother's were.
In addition, I don't expect us to make the SB. That is a little too optimistic. However, as you stated, in a week division, I think we can win the division. Getting rid of Arrington and Pettigout were good moves. They don't do us any good on the shelf. I think its fair to say we got the best years out of Pettigout. Ross is a pick at need. Kiwi joins the LB core with the Chief's leading tackler. We get Strahan back, Tuck back, get more aggressive...the problem with the secondary was the lack of pass rush. It was non existent.
Personally, I'm glad Tiki Barber is gone. For all his on the field contributions, his announcing his retirement and post game comments only detracted from what the team was doing.
As I stated before, I think our biggest question mark is Brandon Jacobs. He is upright and subject to a lot of hits. He fumbles a lot. We don't have a "scat back."
The second biggest question mark on this team should be place kicker.
I don't expect these guys to be world beaters, but I expect them to improve on a dissapointing season last year with healthy personell, added players at needed positions, and an aggressive attack on defense.
The verdict's still out on Eli; he has time to prove himself. However, if I had to choose today between Eli and, let's say, Tony Romo, I'd take Romo in a heartbeat. And that's with much less game experience.