Giants Week 4 Injury Report

What would a new week be without a new addition to the injury report.  Ahmad Bradshaw has been added to the report because of an ankle/foot injury.  He will be wearing a protective boot and won't practice today.  Tom Coughlin commented by saying that "we fully expect him to be able to go"  and be ready for the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle/foot)
DL Chris Canty (calf)

CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring)
WR Domenik Hixon (knee)
OL Adam Koets (ankle)
OT Kareem McKenzie (knee)
WR Hakeem Nicks (foot)
CB Aaron Ross (hamstring)
LB Clint Sintim (groin)
DE Justin Tuck (shoulder)
RB Danny Ware (elbow)

Guy that won't practice other then Bradshaw are, Chris Canty and Danny Ware.  Hakeem Nicks (foot) and Domenik Hixon (knee) will start to work their way back.  Aaron Ross and Kevin Dockery will do some individual drills and see how things go from there. 

A couple of surprises that didn't make the list were OL Rich Seubert (shoulder) and LB Chase Blackburn (ankle). Blackburn was a bigger surprise since he indicated that he sustained a high ankle sprain.

All injury information was obtained from Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger.

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Giants Have the Most Complete Offense in the NFL

Through the first few weeks of the NFL season the Giants are proving each week that they may obtain the most complete and dangerous offense in the NFL.  Below are where the Giants rank in the NFL in offense.

Total Offense: 6th
Rushing Offense: 8th
Passing Offense: 10th

My opinion is not based on their rankings above.  But rather the weapons they possess and how they have used them to be able to win their first three games of the season.

Week 1 vs. Washington Redskins

• In week one the Giants were able to defeat the Redskins with a balanced attack of run and pass.  They ran for a total of 106 yards and passed for 256 yards.  The Skin's challenged them early to pass and the Giants were able to take what was given to them by throwing the ball.

Week 2 at Dallas Cowboys

• When the Giants went into Dallas,  the Cowboys were determined to not let them run. aThey were able to totally shut the Giants ground game down in the first half.  In order to stay in the game Eli Manning had to use his young receivers to move the chains and score points.  The Giants finished with 97 yards rushing and 330 yards passing.  In the end if came down to Manning moving the ball through the air in the last two minutes to overcome the Cowboys.

Week 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were forced to respect the Giants passing attack and leave their safeties deep which opened up the run game and allowed the Giants to rack up 226 rushing yards.  The giants threw for a total of 171 yards.  With the rise of the passing game, things on the ground are startnig to wake up.

It makes a huge difference when teams respect the passing game of the Giants.  Over the first three weeks we have been able to see the different ways opponents have played the Giants and it seems to me that no matter how teams play them,  it will be difficult to stop this offense led my Eli Manning. 

In the end teams will have to pick their poison because whether it is through the air or on the ground the Giants will continue to be highly effective.

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Amani Toomer & David Tyree No Where To Be Found

It seems as though two of the biggest parts of the New York Giants Super Bowl XLII championship team have fallen to the bottom of the league. Those two players are Amani Toomer and David Tyree. It seems that no teams are interested in signing either player at the moment and I don't believe anyone will be interested.


Amani Toomer had to wait until the first few weeks into training camp until he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. Toomer was then cut less then two weeks later. He didn't even stay on the team until the final cut. I'm sure Toomer still has good hands, but his legs aren't what they used to be. He can'tmake the cuts and it seems he has lost the burst and speed to get separation from defenders. There are quite a few teams that could use him, including the Cowboys, Bears, Dolphins and others. The only conclusion I can come up with,  is that he doesn't have what it takes to be affective in the NFL any longer.  Toomer had a great career, as he currently is the Giants all-time leading receiver and will always be remembered for his sideline tight rope catches. There is no doubt that without him, the Super Bowl would have been more difficult to win.

The only news that I heard about in regards to David Tyree is that he worked out for the St. Louis Rams but that was over three weeks ago and everything has been quiet since. David was a Pro Bowl special teams player for the Giants and will always be remembered for the amazing catch he made in the Super Bowl. It seems that injuries have caught up to him and have limited his ability to continue to have an effective NFL career. I am aware he didn't make the Giants final roster because of all of the receiver talent the Giants have. But, if he was still able to help a team, he would have been signed by someone. Injuries have been limiting him since last season and I believe his time he is finished as well.

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Giants - Monday Injury Status

I have been able to gather the following injury information from Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger & Ralph Vacchiano of the NY Daily News.

• Aaron Ross & Kevin Dockery - May do some individual drills this week.
• Clint Sintim and Domenik Hixon - No definite word on their status for practice this week
• Hakeem Nicks - Nicks said he should be able to practice on Wednesday.
• Chase Blackburn - High ankle sprain, but said it is minor and should be fine for KC this Sunday.
• Kareem Mckenzie - Knee sprain, Coughlin Hopes he will practice.
• Danny Ware - Not sure on his status.
• Rich Seubert - Just has "soreness" in his shoulder.

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Giants Stomp Out Bucs 24-0 - Post Game Notes

As week three has now come and gone the New York Football Giants are 3-0 for the second straight season. Yesterdays win was a big and important win just like any other game on the Giants schedule. The Giants did exactly what they were supposed to do. They dominated an opponent that is not on the same level as them.

Positive 

• The running game came alive with Brandon Jacobs gaining 92 yards on 26 carries and Ahmad Bradshaw gaining 104 yards on 14 carries.
• The Giants finished the game at 60% in the red zone. This is great since they came into the game at 0% efficiency.
• Eli Manning once again made some great throws to Smith and Manningham. In my opinion this passing offense looks the best it has in a long time because the ball is being spread around,  which keeps defenses guessing.. Eli finished the game 14-24 161 yds 2 TD's.
• The defense shutout the Buccaneers offense and held them to no first downs until the third quarter. I know the Bucs aren't good but this is the NFL and shutouts aren't common.
• 86 yards of total offense for the Buccaneers.
• Great receiver production once again. Mario Manningham finished with 4 catches 55 yards and Steve Smith caught 7 balls for 63 yards and a touchdown.

 Negative

• The Giants need to find a kicker that can make a 21 yard field goal in the NFL, unlike Lawrence Tynes. Its time to get a better kicker for the long haul. No NFL kicker should miss from 21 yards out. If it wasn't for the defense,  Tynes would have been gone already. The defense bails him out when he leaves points on the field.  
• No sacks for the defense. It not a big deal since they did get pressure and held the Bucs offense to under 100 yards total.  I know,  I am being picky.  But, some sacks would look great.
• Another injury -  Kareem Mckenzie went down and never came back. Not sure yet what the injury is at the moment or how long he will be out.

Other Notes

• Being able to stayed focused and shut out an opponent that doesn't have any business playing you is a strong statement. The Giants didn't play down to their opponent.  
• I get a strong feeling that the Giants are the hungriest they have been in a while.  Even more then last season.  They will not let injuries pull them down and put a hold on their season.  
• The Giants are ranked 2nd in defens, e in the NFL.  
• The Giants are also ranked 1st in pass defense,  in the NFL.

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Mario Manningham Playing Super

After the first two weeks of the season,  Mario Manningham has emerged as a play making receiver for the New York Giants.  I don't have any reason to believe he will slow down any time soon.

I am convinced that Manningham will only get better as the season goes on.  You may wonder, what if defenses play him different?  You mean double team him or have safety help over the top?  Well, I'm sure teams will change up their coverages to suit Manningham.  But I don't believe they will change too much, because they still have to worry about Steve Smith on the other side of the field. And he has been having a great season through the first two weeks as well. If teams try to take Manningham away in the passing game they will pay for it.  Eli has a lot of targets that can make plays.

Manningham has truly showed great strength and quickness once he gets the ball in his hands.  It seems like every time he catches the ball he is able to break away from the first defender that attempts to take him down. 

I believe one of the most positive things about not having a true go to guy at the start of the season is that,  it has allowed Eli Manning to spread to ball around and let more then one guy make plays.  The Giants surely have the talent with all of the receivers they have drafted over the past few seasons.

What it will come down to is that teams will have to pick their poison.  If they shut down Brandon Jacobs then they still have to try and contain the Giants aerial attack.  Which has proven it can carry this team so far.  If you give the passing game more attention, then their opponents will be more vulnerable to the run.


In case you haven't seen any highlights of Mario Manningham from college,  I have attached a video below.  It looks like from the video that he has adapted nicely so far to the NFL.

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Can C.C. Brown Get the Job Done?

A day after New York Giants safety Kenny Phillips was placed on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the 2009 season, one can only wonder what kind of impact C.C. Brown can make. The Giants signed Brown in the off season as a free agent from the Houston Texans. He is a solid safety that started for the Texans in his first three seasons and produced some solid stats.

Coming into his 5th year now, Brown has compiled 259 tackles, 16 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions. He is obviously a step down from a play maker like Kenny Phillips,  but he is a guy who can come in and get the job done.

Leave your comments below on what you think about C.C. Brown.

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Week 3 Giants - Buccaneers Preview

When: Sunday, September 27th, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Where:  Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL  - TV: FOX

This coming Sunday the New York Giants will be traveling to Tampa Bay to take on their former teammate Derrick Ward and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay may be 0-2 but they have a good rushing attack and a team full of young talent.   I have broken down the keys for the Giants to win this game,  below.

Keys to the game:

•  The obvious here is that the Giants need to get back to stopping the run and this Buccaneer team ran all over the Cowboys in week 1, so don't take them lightly.  They have three very strong running backs in Ernest Graham, Cadillac Williams and of coarse Derrick Ward.  Stopping the run will force Byron Leftwich to pass and with his long delivery it will give the Giants defensive line time to get to him.
  
• I believe this will be the game the Giants get their running game going.  I really don't expect teams to continue to bring a safety up for the run.  Especially the Bucs who have been torched in the first two games with deep passes for touchdowns.  
• Also what comes with the running game is the red zone offense and I believe the Giants will score their first red zone touchdown this season.  I may be wrong but I don't believe they have scored one yet.

If the Giants can execute my keys to the game they will surely come back home to New York with a win.

Final Score: Giants 24 Bucaneers 13
2009 Prediction Record: 2-0
                      

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Kenny Phillips Placed on IR, Giants Claim Safety Rouse

The New York Giants have officially place safety Kenny Phillips on the injured reserve list according to Mike Garafolo of the Newark-Star Ledger. As sad  as it is Kenny Phillips' 2009 season is over after only two weeks.

He has been placed on the IR due to a knee problem that came about during training camp. Phillips has missed practices over the past few weeks and has received treatment in order to continue to play this season. Phillips had his knee examined yesterday by doctors and an MRI test revealed that his knee has gotten worse. The knee condition that Phillips is dealing with is patella femoral arthritis. Phillips is not yet certain of how he wants to treat the condition. If he goes with surgery, it will more then likely be microfracture surgery.

Since the Giants have only two other active safeties they were awarded Aaron Rouse off of waivers from the Green Bay Packers. Rouse was released yesterday by the Packers aafter starting the first two games of the season. I'm sure this means C.C. Brown will be moved up the depth chart to replace Phillips as the starter.

For more information on Aaron Rouse check out his stats & info . He is 25 years old and is in his 3rd season out of Virginia Tech.. Rouse has 4 INT's and 90 total tackles in his young career. My guess is that he was released by the Packers because he may have had trouble fitting into Dom Capers new defense.  
 

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Injuries May Soon Slow Down Big Blue's Strong Start

The Giants were highly touted as being the deepest team coming into this season. But, as training camp came and went and now two weeks into the season, things aren't looking so good.

Per a report from profootballtalk.com Kenny Phillips season could be over soon to the knee problem he has been experiencing. It has to do with the cartilage in his knee and surgery is an option but it would end his season. Stayed tuned for more info on this situation.

With Christ Canty, Justin Tuck, Aaron Ross, Kevin Dockery, Clint Sintim, Domenik Hixon, Hakeem Nicks, Danny Ware, Mario Manningham (minor), and Adam Koets all injured it seems that whether you like it or not the injury has bitten and it doesn't see to be letting go.

The only good news is that the Giants have a lot of talent in their reserves but it's not good when you have to use a lot of them, since that will deplete their depth.

The Giants are starting to look really thin at the receiver & defensive back positions.  I wonder if there any viable veteran optiions out on the free agent market to sign at safety.   ESPN.com Rumor Central is reporting that Mario Manningham may miss Sunday's.game. If your an insider you can read about it. Don't worry though, its ESPN reporting, they are often wrong.

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Justin Tuck Day to Day - Giants Injury Report

According to Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News the following players did not practice today.

-  Kevin Dockery (Hamstring)

-  Chris Canty (Calf)
-  Aaron Ross (Hamstring)

-  Kenny Phillips (Knee)

-  Adam Koets (Ankle)

-  Clint Sintim (Groin)

-  Justin Tuck (Shoulder)

-  Domenik Hixon (Knee)

-  Hakeem Nicks (Foot)
-  Danny Ware (Elbow)

Mario Manningham Was limited today due to a shoulder injury that he was able to play through.

According to Ralph,  Hakeem Nicks has been making  progress.  Nicks claimed that he is able to run straight ahead but not able to make cuts yet.

The Giants are optimistic  that Justin Tuck will be able to play on Sunday with a harness. He wore a harness for the same injury during his junior year at Notre Dame when he recorded 13 1/2 sacks. 

Other News:

-  Flozell Adams has been fined 12,500 by the NFL for tripping Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

-  Derrick Ward has been talking trash to his former teammates this week, claiming he is going to run over them.  Lets hope they can keep him in check.

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Justin Tuck Dodges Major Injury

The Daily News indicates that Justin Tuck has suffered a partially torn labrum. This is good news since it could have been much worse according to sources.

What I have heard is that Tuck will miss an estimated 1-2 weeks of play. There is a possibility he could play this weekend. But, I would think he wouldn't want to risk further damage.

Tom Coughlin will reveal more information on the Giants current injury status during his afternoon press conference today. Stayed tuned to Giants Outsider for a complete injury report later in the day.

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Running Game Isn't a Giant Problem

Coming into this season, some people who follow the Giants believed that their offense would be ok with out Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer since they led the league last season with 2,518 yards on the ground.

Through the first two games of this season the Giants are ranked 22nd in the league with 200 yards rushing. Though their running game is towards the bottom of the league Eli Manning has propelled the Giants to the 5th best passing offense in the NFL this season. Opposed to last season when they were only ranked 18th in the league. I know it is has only been two weeks but the Giants are operating totally opposite from how they normally run and they are still winning.

The reason I am mentioning all of this, is to say that the Giants have been forced to totally change how they run their offense. I don't mean the playbook itself but how much passing they do opposed to rushing. The reason being, teams came into the 2009 season not respecting any of the Giants receivers and the passing game. Opponents have been keying on the NFL's best running attack from last season because they know that's how the Giants want to play and win games.

In turn, at the beginning of the Redskins and Cowboys games the Giants came out throwing because teams have been bringing an extra player in the box to slow down Jacobs and Bradshaw and it has worked. Even though the Giants are struggling running the ball, Eli Manning, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and the rest of the receivers have stepped their game up to make up for the lost production.

Teams better learn sooner rather then later that they can't bring that safety up as much as they would like. Because the Giants have become an elite passing team right before our eyes. What everyone has questioned has been answered. Can Eli carry this offense? Yes. Can these receivers step up? Yes.

Right now is not a time to be worried about the Giants running game. And, the reason I say that is because they are winning and they are taking what their opponents are giving them.

I do believe as the season goes on Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw will begin to excel and start making some noise due to the success of the passing game. If not, the giants may have one of the top passing offense's in the NFL this season and I don't remember the last time you could say that.

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The Giants Continue to Find Ways to Win

It all began almost two years ago during the famous week 17 match up against the New England Patriots. The Patriots had an undefeated regular season on the line while the Giants were looking to gain momentum heading into the playoffs. That night the Giants ended up losing a close back and forth game 38-35.

Even though the Giants lost, they had a new found confidence in themselves that they had been missing for years. Since that game this team has done nothing but produced when the games have mattered.

The Giants have won their last 16 of 19 road games and have defeated top notch teams such as the Steelers in Pittsburgh, Cardinals in Arizona, Eagles in Philly, the Panthers at home last season on Sunday night and of coarse last nights battle with the Cowboys in Dallas. Yes they have lost some tough games such as the last two games against the Eagles in which there defense was worn down last season. But, the majority of the time this team is a fourth quarter team and they stay calm and make the plays to win the game.

What makes Sunday nights game so riveting is just how confident and poised the Giants stayed under no matter what situation they were given. Even with over 100,000 people screaming, guys getting hurt and other distractions, they worked together to pull out a huge win.

In the end if you want to know what makes a championship team, a championship team. Just look no farther then the New York Giants. I am not saying the Giants are the only team like this. There are just a hand full in the NFL. They include the, Patriots, Steelers, Colts and a few others.
With the coaching staff and team aspect the Giants have amongst their players they will be a Super Bowl contender for the next four to five years.

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Jerry Jones Getting All the Money He Can from Fans

As you all know Jerry Jones sold roughly 30,000 party pass tickets for this past Sunday night's game against the Giants. He sold each one for $29. Which comes out to $870,000 when I did the math. From this video below it looks like he just stole all of that money from the fans.

I understand they can watch the game by looking at the ridiculous screen over the field but, talk about squeezing cattle into a barn. Thought I would use a Texas reference. Also I understand and know that fans enjoy the game experience etc. But I would rather be at home where I can sit down and not have to stand for over three hours next to a bunch of sweaty people in the Texas heat.

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Eli Manning Leads the Giants to a 33-31 Victory - Post Game Breakdown

Coming into this game no one believed the Giants roll into Jerry's world and upset Americas precious Dallas Cowboys. Well all who believed so were wrong. Here is my post game breakdown of the game...

Positive

• Mario Manningham and Steve Smith are legit and I don't want to hear any more questions about the Giants receivers. They have showed they can handle the pressure and make clutch plays. They are very underrated when it comes to running after the catch. And they still have Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden and other players that can step in and play. Case closed this team can throw the ball.
• The Giants secondary did a great job of playing once again without Kevin Dockery and Aaron Ross. Once again Bruce Johnson had a huge game. The rookie has already established himself as a corner who can make some plays. Great free agent pick up by the Giants.
• Offensive line did a great job keeping Eli from getting sacked. And, when it counted they gave him time to march down the field and set up for a game winning field goal.
• Eli Manning once again showed he is a great quarterback. I know a lot of people don't think he is great but the guy torched the Cowboys with no name receivers and has proven the Giants have a serious passing game. Teams will keep on making him beat them and he will show up game after game.

Negative

• Justin Tuck and Domenik Hixon going down. Tuck did say he won't miss the next game, but who knows really what will happen. I think he has a hyper extended shoulder but I'm just guessing. As we know Hixon has a sprained knee. Which means he will be week to week.
• Giants Run defense was very sad. Felix Jones ran all over them like Emmitt Smith in the 90's. Plain and simple, the Giants defensive line was pushed around when Dallas ran the ball.
• The Giants running game was not able to get much going until the second half. I really believe they needed to let Bradshaw get things going when the Dallas line was getting into the backfield and not even letting Jacobs take more then two steps. They ended the game with a solid 97 yards.
• The red zone offense once again failed. The Giants couldn't punch the ball in when they were inside the 20. They need to fix this and make it quick.
• Pass rush was not great. The Giants defensive line was able to get more pressure on Romo late in the game but they came away with no sacks.
• Lawrence Tynes - I have never been a big supporter of his and don't think I ever will be. If your an NFL kicker you need make field goals. Their is no reason he should have had to attempt a game winning field goal.

Other Game Observations

• Flozell Adams needs to be seriously fined for tripping people. He injured Justin Tuck and will injure more people if he isn't disciplined. The NBC cameras on a replay caught Adams attempting to trip Osi Umenyiora, but Osi was able to step around it. He obviously does it when the defender gets around him. I guess its ok to play dirty to protect your quarterback.
• All I have heard from numerous Cowboy supporters is how great Terrance Newman and Orlando Scandrick are. On Steve Smith's touchdown he literally spun Scandrick around and made him fall on his butt. Both him and Newman were getting beat all night.
• That pass interference call on Newman, was the correct call. I know a lot Cowboys fans didn't like it but Newman never made an attempt to get the ball. He just kept Smith from getting to it and you can't do that.
• The Giants are 16-3 in their last 19 road games. This team still comes to play on the road.
• Tony Romo looked like he was trying to hard to make plays and look good doing it. He has great talent but he doesn't have the head to make the right decisions and not turn the ball over. I believe he gets over confident and tries to hard.
  

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Battle Tested Giants Won't Be Phased by Crowd

One of the most important differences between the New York Giants and the majority of the other teams in the NFL is that this team is battle tested.

Since this team went on its Super Bowl Run in 2007, it hasn't looked back. From that season until today the Giants are and will be for years to come, a championship contender. This team has experienced everything that you would want a team to go through to get stronger and mature.

I know, this isn't the same team that won the Super Bowl. But, its the core of it. All of the leaders from that Super Bowl team are around except for Michael Strahan. Strahan passed the torch to guys like Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck since retiring.

I believe that if about 90% of the teams in the NFL had to go into the environment the Giants will be facing on Sunday night, they would be at a disadvantage. Not the Giants, let me explain.

First of all this team feeds off the media and people telling them they can't do something. And right now people don't believe they will win this game because of the magnitude. They are used to hostile environments such as, a very hostile Texas Stadium, Green Bay in freezing conditions, and even the pressure of beating an undefeated team in the Super Bowl.

So when this team steps out onto the brand new turf of Cowboys stadium, they will have the coaching and leadership to get them over the mountain that is in their way.

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Kenny Phillips Back at Full Speed

Kenny Phillips was back at practice today in full pads. Phillips did say it will most likely be an injury that will linger throughout the season. When Coughlin spoke he informed the media that he looked like he was moving well and he made about 2-3 interceptions in practice.

Michael Johnson did sit out once again due to a burner he suffered this past Sunday against Washington. The Giants are optimistic that he will play Sunday.

Kevin Dockery (hamstring) did practice on a limited basis like yesterday.

Aaron Ross did some running on the side and it seems he is slowly getting better. But once again will not play Sunday.

Michael Boley practiced fully today as his chances to play Sunday continue to improve.

I am not sure about Chris Canty. From what I have heard he was not out practicing with the team during the media portion of the practice.

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Week 2 Giants - Cowboys Preview

When & Where: Sunday September 20, 2009 at 8:30 PM EST. - Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX

Giants will win if...

• The Giants will need to have a limit Jason Witten over the middle. He is Tony Romo's obvious go to guy and it seems, he makes a lot of his big plays over the middle. I believe the Giants will either put a safety on Witten or an athletic linebacker like Michael Boley, if he is ready to play.
• The Giants receivers once again will need to step up since Dallas will load the box to make Eli throw. They want to put the Giants in passing situations to get Demarcus Ware after Manning. The Giants will have to prove right from the start that they can move the ball through the air.
• They have to contain Tony Romo in the pocket so he cant roll out and have time to make the throws he needs to. If they can contain Romo from rolling out it will allow them to close in on him with their defensive linemen. I don't believe the Giants will have a problem getting past Dallas's offensive line. I think the problem will be catching Romo on the run.

Other keys to the game...

• I believe the Giants defensive line against the Cowboys offensive line is a mismatch in the Giants favor in regards to the apssing game, and they should not have a problem getting a good rush. When it comes to the run though, Dallas's line may have a slight advantage. Their offensive line is big and slow but they can move people around. The Giants will need to play disciplined run defense and play according to their keys on the field.
• Don't be surprised if you see a lot of dump off, or screens from the Giants. The Cowboys did lead the league last yr with 59 sacks. In order to counter the pressure and change up the flow of the game, Manning will have to get rid of the ball quicker.
• The kicking game will be crucial in this game. As we know when the Giants and Cowboys get together it is always a close game. Lawrence Tynes will have to wear his lucky kicking shoe weekend so he doesn't blow the game.

Prediction: Giants 27 Cowboys 24

Don't forget to log on on Monday for my post game breakdown.

- Also on a side note, if you enjoy this blog please tell your friends and family or anyone else that might be interested, about it. I appreciate all of the people that read my entries. Have a great weekend and enjoy the game.

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Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips, Back to Practice on Thursday

Chris Canty was limited today due to a calf injury. He should be fine for Sunday.

Also Michael Johnson (shoulder) and Kenny Phillips (Knee) will more then likely be back to practice tomorrow. Phillips did say he is "pretty sure" he will play Sunday against the Cowboys.

Kevin Dockery was limited but was able to get through practice without any problems. He said, "I was able to make it through the whole practice without encountering any problems." "I feel good and I should be able to go."

Michael Boley was back practicing, taking some reps with the starters and has not hinted to how much time he thinks he will get on Sunday.

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Road Warriors 2.0?

Sunday will mark the first of three straight games on the road for the New York Giants this season. It is something that doesn't happen often in the NFL, but happens from time to time.

As we know the three game span will start out in Dallas. Which in my opinion will be the toughest of the three games. They will be playing a Cowboys team that will be opening up their brand new stadium and Jerry Jones plans on squeezing over 100,000 fans into his Taj Mahal of a football stadium. The Giants will have to get even more familiar with the silent count during their preparation this week.

The second place they will have to travel to, will be Tamapa bay. In a sense this will be a breather of a game since they are going to sunny Tampa Florida. And lets face it Raymond James Stadium isn't the best home field advantage in the league. The Bucs are rebuilding, but in this day and age, any team can win on any given day.

The final place on the three game stretch will be in Kansas City against the Chiefs. The Chiefs have one of the NFL's top home field advantages in the league. Their fans are in the game no matter what the state of the team is. Though the Chiefs are rebuilding as well, I would expect them to put up a good fight. They have always been a team that plays hard no matter what. Even this past weekend against the Ravens they put up a good fight, but were just not able to overcome the Ravens talent.

In t the end what it comes down to is whether or not the 2009 Giants are warriors on the road like the 2007 team It is very difficult to win the NFL, and when you add in the difficulty of playing at another teams stadium it makes it even harder. The Giants were 7-1 on the road in '07 and 5-3 in '08 on the road. They have been one of the better road teams in the league over the past couple of seasons.

The way I see it is, if the Giants can come away with two out of three on the road, it will surely be a successful three game stretch.

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Giants Injury Report Week 2

The preliminary injury reports looks like the following...

LB Michael Boley (hip)
CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring)
C Adam Koets (ankle)
WR Hakeem Nicks (foot)
CB Aaron Ross (hamstring)
LB Clint Sintim (groin)
RB Danny Ware (elbow)

So far the only obvious players out for this weekends game are, Aaron Ross, Hakeem Nicks, Danny Ware. We will have to wait for Tom Coughlin's press conference to get more information on the status of the rest of the injured players.

I would think Dockery will play for sure, but I thought that last week and was wrong. Boley is the other big question since he was out for all of training camp from having hip surgery. Boley did participate in practice the week of the last preseason game. Tune into http://www.giants.com/ to listen to Tom Coughlin's press conference.

Late additions to the injury report are Kenny Phillips and Michael Johnson. Phillips may be out due to the lingering knee problems he has had since training camp.

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Giants Fans: Why don't you like the Dallas Cowboys?

This is a simple and easy question that I want all Giants fans to reply to in the comments section.

Why don't you like the Dallas Cowboys?

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Giants Make Roster Moves While Picking Up a Third Running Back

The Giants made several roster moves today to prepare for Sundays game against the Cowboys. First off they activated Michael Boley since he has been reinstated from his one game suspension.

The Giants obtained Rookie running back Gartrell Johnson off of waivers from the San Diego Chargers to fill their third running back spot. Johnson was a fourth round pick of the Chargers. The workout that Johnson attended also included veteran running backs T.J. Duckett, Lorenzo Booker and Dominic Rhodes. To make room for Boley and Johnson the Giants waived, Leger Douzable and Tutan Reyes.

On the practice squad the Giants terminated the contracts of CB DeAndre Wright, TE Kareem Brown, and RB Allen Patrick. They signed TE Bear Pascoe (rookie Fresno State) and DB Michael Coe who was a Colts fifth round pick at one time.

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Week 2 Key Match Up: Giants and Cowboys Ground Attacks

The Key match up to look for with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys will be between the running backs from each team. In my opinion whichever team can control the clock with their running game will win this game.

The Giants had a solid game against the Redskins running the ball for 106 yards on. The leading rusher for the Giants was Ahmad Bradshaw with 12 carries for 60 yards. The Redskins did all they could to contain last years number one rushing attack. There game plan was to clearly force Eli Manning to throw to his young and inexperienced receivers. In the end it didn't work with guys like Steve Smith and Mario Manningham making key plays to propel the Giants offense. I look for the Cowboys to try and do the same thing.

The Cowboys in their win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to gain a combined 118 yards. With their leading rusher being Marion Barber with 14 carries for 79 yards. The number one thing the Giants need to slow down is the Cowboys running game. Force Tony Romo and his offense into passing situations to take advantage of the Cowboys big and slow offensive lineman with guys like Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

The advantage for running the ball I believe is with the Giants since they do possess the best run blocking offensive line in the NFL. Let me know what you think about this key match up for Sunday nights game.

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Eli's Key Targets are Rising

Since the departure of Plaxico Burress during the last quarter of the 2008 season, doubters have questioned who can replace his production. It doesn't help that the Giants chose to move on with out their all time leading receiver Amani Toomer. All throughout the off-season people have counted the Giants out from being a serious Super Bowl contender because of their receiver situation.

Now that the regular season has begun and the real bullets have started to fly, it is becoming obvious after one game who the go to play makers are going to be for Eli Manning and the Giants offense.

This past week against the Redskins, Steve Smith once again set himself apart by making clutch third down catches just like he has done since he came into the NFL. In the end he led the team with 6 catches for 80 yards. You could see, how much Eli trusts and relies on Smith to make the big catches and he didn't back down from the challenge. Though Smith in my opinion will be Eli's main go to guy, there are a few others that are rising fast, as guys Eli can trust to make plays.

Kevin Boss is another key part to the Giants passing game. Growing up in New York I loved watching Mark Bavaro get it done for the Giants in the 80's and early 90's. I enjoy Kevin Boss just as much making what seems like a catch on every ball thrown his way. He has become a great down the field target with his six foot six inch frame and he has a great ability to run after the catch. Though he isn't the fastest player he is able to find spots down field while running to get the most out of every catch. Last season Boss had a career high six touchdown receptions and I wouldn't be surprised if he got 8-10 this season. I see him being a vital part to the Giants red zone offense with his height and great hands.

It was a very nice surprise to also see Mario Manningham break out and have a nice game. Right from the start Eli went to him and Manningham made some plays to keep the chains moving. The thirty yard touchdown catch he made was a great heads up play on his part. Eli said it was supposed to be a run but he noticed that the Redskins were set up for an all out blitz so his was able to improvise with Manningham and make a play that they never even ran before. You could see the chemistry developing on Sunday between Manning and Manningham.

One other guy to look out for will be Hakeem Nicks once he gets back from his sprained foot. overall in my opinion Eli has been looking more and more comfortable since training camp with the young receiving core. As the season goes on the passing game will only excel.

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Best Giants Defense Ever?

I know it is only one game into the season, but I have to ask the question. Might this be the best Giants defense ever? I think the answer is leaning towards yes. I am going to explain why below.

• Defensive Line - Seven of the nine defensive linemen on the Giants active roster are starters. I don't believe there has ever been a team in NFL history with such depth. Yesterday Bill Sheridan was able to rotate guys in, in order to keep everyone fresh. You could tell as the game played on that the Redskins offensive line was getting worn down and taken advantage of. They also possess versatility because of guys like Justin Tuck and Christ Canty who can move between end and tackle.. There is no way to double team any one of the Giants lineman on the field. Whoever this defense plays, will be faced with a mismatch no matter what the situation might be, There is no defensive line like this and I don't know if there ever will be again. Not just in New York Giants history but even the NFL's history.
• Linebackers - They are very underrated since they don't have any flashy or big name guys. But, what it comes down to is getting the job done. I believe seven of the eight linebackers on this roster could come in and start. The only linebacker I don't see being a starter would be Zak DeOssie. Antonio Pierce, Danny Clark, Michael Boley, Chase Blackburn, Bryan Kiehl, Jonathan Goff, and Clint Sintim can all come onto the field and make sure this defense doesn't miss a step. All of the guys I have named have come in and helped the Giants win games within the past couple of seasons except for Sintim since he is a rookie.
• Cornerbacks - Corey Webster is one of the NFL's elite corners and he will continue to display his skills as the season goes on. Aaron Ross is a very good starter that is continuing to grow game by game. Terrell Thomas who was drafted in the second round over a year ago is continually showing that he can step in and start whenever the Giants need him to. Even when a player like Kevin Dockery may have to come in for a starter there isn't much of a drop off in production. After the effort rookie Bruce Johnson gave yesterday I'm convinced the Giants have gotten another steal at the corner position as an undrafted free agent.
• Safeties - Kenny Phillips is a legit starter in the NFL and will only get better as he continues to adapt to the NFL in his second season. Michael Johnson is a young fiery safety that the Giants stole in the 2007 draft in the seventh round. C.C. Brown is a guy who can come in a take significant snaps at safety. He was once a starter in Houston and is a solid player.

What is your take on the Giants defense? Will it be the best in Giants history or NFL history?

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Giants Smother the Redskins 23-17

The New York Giants answered all the questions that they had been facing all off-season with their win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday afternoon. The Giants showed that their pass rush has truly gotten stronger and that the Steve Spagnuolo to Bill Sheridan transition has been a smooth one. The Giants offense answered by proving they can move the ball through the air. The Redskins loaded up forcing the Giants to throw and Eli was able to deliver to, Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, Mario Manningham and Kevin Boss. Overall it was a very successful week for the New York Giants as they get a win in week 1. Here is my breakdown of the game...

Good

• Giants receiving core - Steve Smith stood out as Eli's go to guy with 6 catches for 80 yards. Mario Manningham, Domenik Hixon and Kevin Boss all did a great job contributing. The one great thing about not having Burress and Toomer, is that it seems opponents don't know who Eli will throw to.
• Pass Rush - It hasn't missed a beat and if anything looks even stronger then it has been in the past three seasons. Which is really scary for opposing teams.
• Defensive Backs - They sure didn't look like they missed Dockery or Ross. Bruce Johnson played very well for an undrafted rookie. Webster is one of the top corners in this league. He showed it by shutting down Santana Moss with no help. Terrell Thomas, like I have said before can come in and start and do a great job. Overall the whole defense did great from the starters to the back ups.
• Running Game - The Giants reached only 106 yards total rushing but they did break the 100 yard mark and came out and produced some key runs to propel the offense. Overall the Skins did all they could to contain the run game and dare Eli to pass. In the end Eli proved they could lean on the passing game.

Bad

• Red Zone Offense - The run game struggled to capitalize on the short yardage downs and offense in general couldn't punch the ball in, in the red zone. The Giants probably left 14 points on the field by not being able to score in the red zone. This is something im most certain Tom Couhglin will address as the team goes to Dallas next Sunday night.

Ugly

• Redskins Offense - Sorry, but all that money the Skin's wasted on defense was a true waste, because even if you can stop a team or stay in a game. Who is going to score the points and how? Portis, and Moss were shut down. And Campbell could not settle down and be comfortable with the Giants pass rush breathing down his neck.
• Laron Landry - Looked like he was really trying to make up for last years beat down he took. He hit Jacobs out of bounds and then whiffed on Kevin Boss's 27 yard catch and run.
• Albert Haynseworth - He is a big blob that can slow a running game down. But it is sad when your 100 million dollar investment is lying on the field from being out of shape.

Sound off in the comments section with your take...

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Time for Hakeem Nicks to Explode

When Tom Coughlin spoke to the media today, he explained that wide receiver Hakeem Nicks will be included in a four man rotation. The starters as we know will be Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon and Mario Manningham as the slot. Today Coughlin was asked if Nicks will play a major role. He then replied, "He's playing it right now." Then he added, "He's involved right now in everything we're doing. We basically have four guys that will do a lot of rotating and a lot of playing." Nicks was asked in the locker room about playing a large role in Sundays game. He replied, "Ready to go." Added, "Can't wait to get started."

It is clear that Tom Coughlin and the rest of the Giants organization is on board and set to launch the Hakeem Nicks era at receiver. I have said it before and I will say it again, he will be starting by at least week four. He is going to have the chance to show his game changing skills that got him drafted in the first round. Nicks made a lot of big catches in the preseason and I am confident he will do the same in the regular season. He will surely have his opportunity to set himself apart and to officially explode onto the NFL scene . Nicks has the complete package, great hands, body control, speed, & concentration. He will be the difference maker at receiver this season and it starts on Sunday.

NOTE: Nicks has changed his number from 18 to 88 since michael mathews was traded.

What do you think about Hakeem Nicks getting a lot of playing time? How do you think he will fair?

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Giants - Redskins Week 1 Preview

WHEN: Sunday September 13, 2009 @ 4:15pm on FOX

Keys to the Game:

• Defense - Running Game: If the Giants shut down Clinton Portis and the running game right from the start and make Campbell pass. If they are able to do this, it will be along game for the Skins.
• Defense - Passing Downs: The Giants should not have a problem getting to Jason Campbell. The Redskins line has talent but I don't see them having the ability to slow down this pass rush that is relentless and comes in waves.
• Rushing Offense: The Giants offensive line, which anchored the NFL's best rushing attack in 2008 will have the task of handling Albert Haynesworth I don't believe this will be a problem. I know that most of the time you may want to double Haynesworth, but in the end I don't believe that one great defensive lineman won't shut down the Giants running attack.
• Passing Offense: Eli Manning has established himself as one of the games best quarterbacks and now he needs the help of the wide receiving core to assist him. Unlike in the preseason, Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon and Mario Manningham need to catch the ball and make plays when they are needed. I believe the Giants need to start off with shorter passes to get Eli and his receivers into a rhythm. The Giants are a run first team, so the passing game isn't a concern of mine. I believe in the end the offense will make the plays to win this game.

As I break this game down I don't see how the Redskins are going to be able to contain the Giants pass rush. On the other side of the ball the Giants Offensive Line will do enough to get Brandon Jacobs running down hill and down the field. The Giants have the clear advantage in this game on offense and defense.

My Biggest concern is that Kevin Dockery has not practiced all week. I was thinking at the beginning of the week that him and Ross would play but now it looks like both will most likely sit this one out. Which leaves them down to three corners and three safeties.

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Big Blue's Defense Needs to Set the Tone

From the opening kickoff to the final whistle the New York Football Giants will have to play fast, hard hitting, up tempo, and tenacious defense. You might say to yourself, well of coarse they do, the defense is the greatest strength of this team. If you did think that, then you are catching onto what I am going to talk about.

The Giants defense right now has been one of the strongest on paper and they need to prove it by acting like it on the field. We know the Giants offense can run the ball. But lets face it, this offense may not be ready to come out and explode right away. I truly believe towards the middle of the season the offense will have its act together with a good balance and execution of running the ball and passing it down field. But right now with the passing game still in doubt to an extent, the Giants defense needs to put Manning and company into great positions to score and make plays.

The Giants pass rush is the obvious part of this defense that needs to get going and not slow down. Bill Sheridan needs to be prepared to dominate this game by not letting Jason Campbell breathe in the pocket. He will need to keep Jim Zorn and the Redskins guessing all game and overtake the trenches. There will be no excuse to do anything but make plays with Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, Rocky Benard, and Chris Canty (he will probably be limited) all rotating and keeping each other fresh. The table is set for this defense to wreak havoc and its now their time to deliver.

Since the Redskins are a run first team the Giants need to slow Clinton Portis down and force Jason Campbell into passing situations. If the Giants can do this they should have no problem limiting the Skins offense to under ten points. This game will be won through field position as well. If the Giants can pin Washington back and force them into three and outs it will be a long night for Jim Zorn's team.

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Jacobs vs. Haynesworth will be a Key Matchup

There is no doubt that the big match up that everyone is looking forward to between the Giants and the Redskins will be Brandon Jacobs against Albert Haynesworth. Some low key trash talking has emerged through the media. Haynesworth has stated that he doesn't care how big Jacobs is by saying, "They all fall the same."

Jacobs held back from retaliating by saying the following, "He's a human being, He can walk on two feet, he bleeds, he puts on his pants one leg at a time. He's a great player, don't get me wrong, probably one of the most dominant players in the NFL, but there's no reason to go in there and just only think about him. They got a whole defensive team and they're very good at what they do."

Haynesworth also had this to say, "None of them are bigger than me, so it doesn't really matter to me." "What is he, 250? I weighed 250 when I was in the 10th grade."

Jacobs on record added that he weighed 242 in 10th grade and that he was running the ball.

This battle will not only be between Jacobs and Haynesworth, but also between the Giants offensive line and Haynesworth. This will for sure be an intriguing match up to keep your eye on as the game rolls on. Stayed tuned for this Sunday as two of the NFL's biggest players, at their positions face off.

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Terrell Thomas to Start Against the Redskins

When interviewed yesterday, Terrell Thomas advised the media that he was informed on Monday by the coaches that he will indeed start this coming Sundays week one match up against the Redskins. I really had thought that Aaron Ross would be able to overcome his hamstring injury and play. If Thomas has already been told he is going to start, then more then likely Ross won't play and the Giants will focus on getting him ready for Dallas. I don't believe there will be any drop off when it comes to Terrell Thomas starting. From my point of view he could start on most NFL teams right now. From the looks of it right now, the starters will be Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas and then Kevin Dockery will be playing the nickel and I'm assuming you will Bruce Johnson playing in some dime packages. The defensive line in the end will be the reason the Giants either win or lose this game.

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Antonio Pierce Slowing Down?

Since Coming over from the Washington Redskins in 2005 Antonio Pierce has been the heart and soul of the New York Giants defense. He has been the vocal and inspirational leader of this team on the field. Pierce hit the magical age of 30 during last season and will be 31 by the end of October. So my question to the fans out there is this. Is Antonio Pierce slowing down now as each season rolls on? Let me say this, I am huge supporter and believer in Pierce's abilities on the field. I truly believe he will only help this team and not hurt it with his play. He is the smartest guy on the field, directing and redirecting his teammates to put them and the team in the right position to succeed. I expect a great season out of pierce as he continues to be the back bone of this defense.

Leave your comments below.

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Giants Injury Update - Canty Not on Injury Report

Reports out of East Rutherford today, are that Chris Canty is practicing today and is not on the injury report. Good news for a giants team that seemed to be headed down the wrong path in terms of injuries this preseason. Also listed was Aaron Ross (hamstring), Kevin Dockery (hamstring), Adam Koets (Knee) and Clint Sintim (groin). All are not practicing today.

According to Tom Coughlin, Dockery is being held out due to precaution. I do believe Ross and Dockery will play. Ross alone is a player that often gets banged up, but in the end is a gamer and will show up.

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The Story of Brandon Jacobs (Video)

I came across this video on the life of Brandon Jacobs. Enjoy...

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Giants Retain University of Miami Player

While looking over the Giants final roster, I couldn't help but notice that the fifth cornerback listed was a player from the University of Miami. He is an undrafted free agent by the name of Bruce Johnson. Over the years, it seems that the Giants always seem to add a new player each year from the University of Miami. Johnson is the cousin of former Miami star and Seattle Seahawk, Kelly Jennings. With the departure of Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters, the Giants obviously had to fill at least one spot at the cornerback position. So they ended up keeping Johnson on the 53 man roster. As I looked over Johnson's stats for college, they didn't overly impress me. He had 78 Tackles and 2 INT's in his career. By the looks of his stats it looks as if he only started in his Junior and Senior seasons.

When looking back at Johnson's career at the U it doesn't surprise me that his stats aren't great. Since, as we all know Miami has been rebounding and attempting to get back on track for the past three to four seasons. I'm sure they didn't have a great pass rush to help out their corners in coverage. Johnson was also recruited by Auburn and Clemson which shows his talent level coming out of high school. I believe the reason he slipped out of the draft and has been overlooked, is due to the lack of attention Miami has gotten lately since they have hit bottom as a football school. All I can say right now is watch out. Johnson will get some playing time on special teams and I'm sure some corner as well. I believe in the end the Giants may have once again stolen a very good talent that was overlooked in the draft.

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Giants Finish Preseason Strong

As the preseason comes to a close for 2009, it seems as though the past month has been the longest it has been in recent years. I believe a big part of it has been all of the questions that have been surrounding the Giants and their 2009 team. We can go through and analyse the questions all day and all night but in the end we won't know the outcome until the season moves on and the games are played. I have seen a lot of positives as the preseason has closed out and am very optimistic as the season begins in less then a week.

I believe the Giants played this preseason very conservative in order to not show what they have up their sleeve. Everything I heard from every practice report I read said how the Giants have opened up their offense to go deep. It seemed like for the first three weeks of the preseason that they were holding back. Then this past weekend the offense scored 21 points in the first quarter. It could also be because the Patriots didn't really game plan or just didn't care. From what I saw it looked as if the Giants really wanted to throw the ball down field more then earlier in the preseason. Kevin Boss, Domenik Hixon, & Mario Manningham all got a lot more looks down field then they had previously. After seeing how the passing game worked and all of the talent the Giants have I am not at all worried about this season. As the season goes on, players such as Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, & Mario Manningham will lead this Giants receiving game to wins each and every week. Players in my opinion are starting to find a groove and starting to step up to the expectations.

As for the defense, I believe it will take a few weeks to really get things going and get back to their previous dominating form. I am saying this because the Giants have yet to play their full starting defense on the field at the same time because of injuries. Also the change of coordinator will have a small affect as well. It will take Bill Sheridan a few games to get fully settled in. The good news is that, it looks like Aaron Ross and Chris Canty are on track to play this coming weekend. The only starter it seems that will miss the game will be Michael Boley since he will be serving his one game suspension.

What kind of feeling have you gotten from this past preseason? Post your comments below.

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Giants Come Out Firing in 38-27 Loss to Close the Preseason

Finally, the preseason is over and the Giants can focus on their week one opponent, the Washington Redskins. Here are my quick notes from last nights game.

Sinorice Moss showed how bad he wanted to make this team and I really think after last night he will. I was thinking Hagan would beat him out. But Moss came up big and made plays that not many receivers have this preseason. It will be a hard decision in the end for the coaches since Moss proved to be the better receiver and Hagan may be a better special teams player.

David Carr looked very crisp going 6-6, 153 yards and 2 TDs. He has had his ups and downs and the thing I like about Carr is that he perseveres and never gives up. He has continually bounced back after each game and improved over the preseason.

Hakeem Nicks once again with a very impressive game. I know it was only one catch but it was a big play and the Giants need a receiver to make big plays in this offense. The 64 yard touchdown reception that he made once again showed the great awareness and adjustment to the ball that he possesses. Hopefully he will be able to bounce back quickly from the hip flexor injury he sustained and contribute early in the regular season.

Mario Manningham had a very productive game with 4 catches and 74 yards receiving. I believe he will be able to overcome the mistakes he makes each game and get more and more comfortable as the season progresses. You have to remember this is really his first full season, since he was injured most of last season and fell behind.

Kevin Boss often flies under the radar. People often forget what kind of weapon he is down the field. The catch and run he made, reminded me of the one he had in Super Bowl XLII. At six feet six inches tall he will be another target for this offense that defenses will have to account for.

The defense looked much better getting to the quarterback and I believe they will continue to improve especially now that they know every game from here on out will count. The defense has also been pretty banged up and slowly they are getting guys back.

Well everyone, the season that we all have been waiting for is about to begin in a little over eight days. I will be busy this labor day weekend most likely won't be on here blogging. I may sneak in an article or two. But, if not have a great weekend everyone and I will be back Tuesday covering the Giants throughout the week leading up to the opening game against the Redskins.

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NFC East Outlook

New York Giants ( 11-5 )
No matter what people say, as long the Giants defense can get to the quarterback with their defensive line rotation and improved secondary, this team will win the NFC East division. They are the most loaded defense on paper I believe in the NFL. Pair the defense with at least a top five running game and this team will go deep into the playoffs. The biggest concern is the wide receiver position and I believe Hakeem Nicks will emerge as the number one target for Eli. In the end, having three high level defensive ends will prove to be to much for opponents' offensive lines.


Dallas Cowboys ( 10-6 )
Dallas comes into the 2009 season with a quarterback in Tony Romo that can play at a high level. The question is if he can sustain that level for a whole season. The reason I have Dallas going 10-6 is because of their tough defense led by Demarcus Ware. On offense I question who will be the number one guy at receiver. Though they have Roy Williams, he will need to prove he can be the go to guy at receiver. A strong running game along with a good defense they will battle the Giants for the division.


Philadelphia Eagles ( 9-7 )
A lot of noise around the league has people picking the Eagles to win the division. Obviously I am not a believer like most people. Without the heart and soul of the defense Brian Dawkins and Stewart Bradley, who was supposed to pick up the leadership role in Dawkins' absence. I don't see this defense being much of a force. They still have a great secondary with Samuel, Hobbs and Brown. Omar Gaither will lead this linebacking core, but overall I'm not impressed with the defense. Offensively I believe there will be a rift with Vick and Mcnabb because I believe Vick will have to start two to four games due to an injury during the season to Mcnabb. I also believe in the end Mcnabb won't like having snaps taken from him. Although they have a great running game, I'm not sold on their quarterback leadership on offense or the consistency of their receivers yet.


Washington Redskins ( 7-9 )
Coming into this season the Redskins have a very strong defense. They upgraded their defensive line immediately with the signing of Albert Haynesworth. He provides the double team and clogging of the middle that they need as a defense. The reason the Skins won't have a good season will be on offense. They have serious issues with depth in regards to their offensive line and running backs. Their offensive line has had trouble over the past few seasons staying healthy for a full season and Clinton Portis carry the load that this offense puts on him. This team will have trouble scoring, which will wear their defense down in the end.

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