Loading ...As the New York Giants emerged victorious from their second preseason game against the New York Jets, there was a mixed bag of performances that should give fans pause as they try to get a feel for this team. Sure, Jayron Hosely's interception, Rueben Randle's catch, Martellus Bennett's blocking and even the score of the game were all signs that Big Blue is coming along. However, the Giants still had poor run blocking, Eli Manning threw an ugly interception and the team made a series of mental errors on offense that resulted in some embarrassing three-and-outs.
Granted, it's the preseason and that's what these games are for, but this team still has a long way to go if it wants to play with more consistency in 2012. With that, starting quarterback Eli Manning acknowledged how much work the team has to do as the regular season approaches.
"I thought we had a couple good drives and moved the ball. We converted some third downs, had some opportunities, but didn't get in the end zone. Whenever you play the Jets, you're always going against a great defense. They do a lot of different things and throw a lot at you. I think we communicated well to handle that. There is definitely still a whole lot for us to work on, but we're making progress," Manning said.
The most disconcerting aspect of Saturday night's performance was that the Giants got very little production from the rushing attack. Not only did Big Blue have the league's worst rushing attack in the league a year ago, but last night's performance made it look like they intend on holding that title for another season. In fact, while trying to run the ball 32 times, the team only mustered up 58 yards on the ground for a dismal 1.8 yards per carry against the Jets. The offensive line play was consistently bad, and needs to drastically improve before the games start to count. If they don't, this may become another lost season for the running game.
With all that said, no team has ever played a perfect football game. There are always going to be mistakes made and areas that need to be improved upon. Especially in the preseason.
Furthermore, there were a lot more good things to take away from last night's game than bad. The defensive line play was ferocious, the secondary was formidable, Victor Cruz looked to be in mid-season form, and the list goes on.
However, just like every other NFL team, the Giants still have a lot of work to do. There are areas of the roster, mostly on the offensive line, that have some serious questions to answer before the team's Week one bout against Dallas. As the deadline approaches to start cutting down the roster closer to the final 53 guys, the competition should become that much fiercer, which hopefully raises the level of play all around. Next Friday night against Chicago will be a great barometer in which to measure how far this team has progressed since the inception of training camp.
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Regarding JPP thing, Mike Garafolo referred to it as “typical locker room hijinks”, apparently will run a story on it later today. He seemed unconcerned, and thus so am I.
I figured it was no big deal, but next time I’d rather see a prank that didn’t involve something that could physically hurt a somewhat injury prone player that we can’t afford to lose — especially over a prank.
FWIW, after touching down in the wee hours of the morning of 8/11, the Giants won’t leave the NYC metro area until on or around 9/19.
By the way, a big shout out to the NFL for continuing to blackout the game’s replays even in the summer home of the Giants.
This is one of the reasons I urge a boycott of all NFL products. They’re arrogant.
Go without that jersey … buy one less $9 beer at the game … one less box of nachos. Money is all they understand.
Seriously, if being dunked in water is what passes for bullying these days, then I’d say we’re doing ok. When I first came down to Florida, I was riding my bike around my neighborhood. I was 7 and eager to check out my new stomping grounds. I made it about 2 miles around the general area around my house when a group of older kids stepped out in front of my bike. They hassled me a bit and then got quiet when a bigger kid, Russell, emerged from the pack. He told me to ride away and put a broomstick into the spokes of my bike when I tried to start pedaling. Naturally I fell to the ground, causing lots of laughter and insults from the peanut gallery. Russell kicked me and punched me some before I finally had time to regain my bearings. I got up and just clocked him. The laughing stopped and so did the beating. Russell smiled and said “Welcome to the neighborhood, kid,” before leading the pack away.
Point is that most bullies stop their bs if you stand up to them. Prince wasn’t harmed by this, though I’m sure he was embarrassed. And since we don’t know what caused JPP to do this–could be Big Blue’s version of a Code Red, after Prince f’d up somewhere and the vets took it upon themselves to discipline him– we can’t just toss around the word “bullying.” This is not some jocks picking on the band geeks. It’s a big dude dunking another professional athlete into an ice bath. Prince should stand up for himself if he wants it to stop. Or he should stop f’ing up, if that’s what caused this incident to occur.
Oh, and I agree…Weatherford is an assh0le for posting this.
And so I’m clear, I don’t take bullying lightly. Demo and I got into an extended argument a few years back on Facebook about Brute’s “Be a Man” advertising campaign. I took issue with the fact that the commercials suggested that men who dress fastidiously and enjoy antique shopping should be slapped. The implication was that anything less than a “brute” type man was effeminate and needed to be corrected. In other words, slap the gay away. He thought I was being over sensitive–a fair assessment, since I have family members and friends who are gay and take that sort of thing seriously.
But this…this is a rich athlete pinking another rich athlete. Sorry if I don’t write a letter to JPP asking him to stop being mean to the pwetty wittle Pwince.
Just the fact that you’re both chatting away on Facebook makes me wonder. And if either of you typed ‘OMG’ at any point it’s ‘case closed’.
I would comment on the content of this post, but I’m distracted by your gaymosexual avatar.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I wish this happened to me when I was in my first and second year coming up as a junior playing hockey instead of what really took place. The juniors on my team this year would also gladly take this lol. This is just in good fun, Im guessing Prince was upset, but forgot bout it 5 mins later. This happens ALL the time in sports locker rooms.
‘Too much money … and too much time … the a$$hole maketh’.
I believe that was Shakespeare commenting on Falstaff Taylore, a rounders player of the day who everyone agreed was a huge ‘cocque’.
I gotta admit I was a little baffled by all the holding calls last night. I guess I’m just desensitized by holding not actually being called, but maybe these new refs are being taught to, you know, actually call it? There must have been 6 or 7 callas made at least, and it seemed as though if anyone ever busted a big run on either side you could put good odds on it coming back.