Seems like a few folks -- OK, maybe just you, Wolf -- feel like Eli is the thing that'll keep the Giants from succeeding in the playoffs. Maybe some others of you feel it's the secondary, which is very young and mistake-prone. Others may feel it's the offense as a whole, that it's too out of sync at times to do well.
I say it's depth, the same culprit that felled them the last two seasons. They're certainly not to the same level they were two years ago or even last season; blasts from the recent past Jay Foreman
and William Joseph (that's starting defensive end William Joseph -- remember that from last year?) are pictured here.
I do miss Willie Joe's smilin' face around the office.
Anyway, yes, I'm saying the success or failure of this Giants team rests on the worth of guys like Reuben Droughns, who has been solid for the Giants so far but needs to take a big step up if Brandon Jacobs isn't back in a week or two; guys like Reggie Torbor, who has had plenty of chances to seize a linebacker job over his four-plus seasons; and guys like Fred Robbins, who's hardly a role player but has to find some extra push over the last six games to make up for the loss of Mathias Kiwanuka in the pass rush.
Someone asked recently about Zak DeOssie being Kiwanuka's replacement. Highly, highly doubtful; DeOssie fills a need role (long-snapper) and there are three guys (Torbor, Chase Blackburn, Gerris Wilkinson) who have had some experience playing. I like DeOssie a lot too, but he's in study mode on defense this season, barring another huge rash of injuries.
And the Ahmad Bradshaw lovers out there get your chance to watch him on Sunday, I bet. Can't say for sure that Jacobs and Ward are out, and maybe Ward can recover enough to dress, but I can't see him being effective after such a long layoff; they have to be careful with Jacobs and his hammy, so I really can't see him playing, despite his confidence that he's fine.
We'll see what Bradshaw can do... And if he's on a short leash because of his fumble 8 games ago, well, TC has to put that punishment to bed. He's got a lead RB who's fumbled twice, and Bradshaw needs a shot in the arm before he goes out to face a pretty stingy Vikings defense.
OK, folks. I say it's depth that will keep the Giants from the playoffs, if anything can. What say you?
Comments (10)
Artthur
I definitely agree about the depth hurting us. But what I feel could and will (if they don't correct it) hurt us bad is the inability to get in the damn endzone in the 2nd half. In a three game stretch against the Jets, Falcons, and 49ers, the Giants could'nt score enough, averaging like 32 ppg during that stretch. The offense played with a killer instinct. Now, it seems, they play NOT TO LOSE. I hope Gilbride can bring the sense of urgency back to this offense before it's too late. The way we're playing right now aint going to win jack in the playoffs.
gmen - you can't use those 3 teams for a comparison - they stink! do they even have the seven wins big blue has....combined? yes, they do...with exactly 7! killer instinct is not what i would call the wins over those teams - i would say it was a better team with better players (QB's for those three teams were Harrington, Smith and Pennington - not a HOF list by any stretch of the imagination, especially since none of those 3 are currently starting for their teams).
killbride and eli can get it done....hopefully they will!
BTW - we are 7-3 with all three of our losses coming against 9-1 teams....i feel good about this stretch run, barring the injury debacles of the past that would indeed cripple the team once again (in otherwords, arthur, i agree with your - injuries and depth would do this team in more than anything else).
Is william Joseph even still on the team? I havent even heard his name this season and have seen all the games on sunday ticket from out here in Ohio
Nothing can stop us from the playoffs. Jacobs won't be out long term and the Droughns/Bradshaw combo should be enough to get us past Minnesota at home. Kiwanuka is a tough loss, he's been playing so much better recently, but I don't think the drop off is that bad at the LB spot and the nickel package pass rush doesn't rely on him. I think he's probably our 4th best pass rusher. This team will certainly win 3 more game and that should be enough.
Mix is a Redskin.
I think that injuries are the ticking timebomb for most teams. They have the potential to derail any franchise.
My concern has more to do with the spotty and occasionally anemic performance of the offense and in particular the recieving corp.
The defense held up quite well against a potentially explosive (although considerably one dimentional) offense this past week. The only exception awhen they decieded to rush three on defense in the forth for some godforsaken reason ("Hey, is that Tim Lewis up in the booth?"). The defense has been our strong point. They only seems to strugle with Dallas (yes, they lost to GB but that was before things started to click for them).
Our offense on the other hand has been far less consistant. Plax is in a tailspin and appears to have passed the point of diminishing returns. He may end up on IR if he continues to be ineffectual. I am not all that concerned about having Droughns/bradshaw running the ball and we still have a very strong pass rush even without Kiwi.
I think this team is going as far as the defense takes them. If the defense plays well, I expect the offense to do enough to win. If the defense gets light up, I can't see them winning too many shoot outs.
Excuse me, *lit* up.
I definilty agree its depth that holds them back, but also a mix of other things. The Giants are really lacking a big play, down field playmaker right now ith Plax injuried, so thats depth right there, but the thing is the Giants right now have what it takes to score close to 30 points a game, but they are not.
Depth has nothing to do with it right now, the two fumbles in the red zone could of easily been another 14 points added to the total (30-10 sounds a lot better than 16-10). Its also when the offense goes 3 and out, whether pentalities or dropped balls which it is not Eli's fault (which some ppl blame)
KR are starting to play a big factor for the Giants, which they have lacked in the last several years
I dont know what it is but the Giants sort of loss that second half drive after a well played first half. They have not played a 60 minute game yet, until they do, there will still be a question of how good this team is.
Eli is making good decision, he is doing all the things you want in a quarterback, but there just have to be more ppg, they have many opportunities, there just not having production.
One of our best weapons is Jeff Feagles, but i really hate to seem him on the field. Until the Giants score on every possession, (maybe they should take a look at some patriot film) there will still be doubt about this Giant Offense.
I believe its the lack of production not depth, but depth definitly has broken this team in the past. Looking at the schedule, I can easily see an 13-3 finish, and a well deserved trip to the NFC championship game. The only team that will beat the Giants are the Giants.
Although I agree that we are missing a go-to quick strike guy that Plex was early in the season, in my opion one of the key problems with the offence is that we are missing an effective out-of the backfield receiver. One other thing is that it would be nice if Eli developed chemistrey with Moss I really was quite inpressed with his performance against the Lions. (Speed Kills)