I’m pleased to be joined by Andy Furman, who covers the Gaints for ultimatenyg.com. You can find him there, and on Twitter @UltimateNYG.
Questions for Patrick
1) I had the Saints-Colts game on FOX, it was a 27-0 blowout, FOX switched us to WAS-TB. What happened at the end so that IND climbed back in? Was it just garbage time points or was it a legit comeback? Did IND expose any Saints issue/s that the Giants can attack?
It was kind of two fluky plays that really let the Colts back into, and both plays were identical. Saints corner Delvin Breaux, who has been playing lights out this year, got his legs tangled up with T.Y. Hilton twice and fell to the turf, both leading to huge TD’s. After the second one, Brandon Browner came over and talked to him. After the game he said he told the young corner that if something like that happened again to take the receiver out too. Credit to him, he came back from those plays and didn’t let it get to him, and finished out the game strong. However, those two plays energized the Colts, who looked defeated in the first half, and they started to clamp down on defense. The offense looked a bit out of sync in the second half. I think what it exposed (if anything) is that the offense’s production is very streaky, especially on the road, but fans have been seeing that all year.
2) Randle and Beckham are nursing hamstrings but have been playing through it. If 100%, can the Saints secondary defend them?
That’s the key of the game to me. As I mentioned before, Breaux has been playing lights out, but this will be his biggest test since facing Julio Jones, who was also playing through injuries. The defense has turned around in recent weeks with the return of Jairus Byrd to full time action, which has allowed Brandon Browner to play in a more comfortable role where he’s not as exposed. He’ll probably be matched up against Randle with safety help over the top, as well as matching up on tight ends. Kyle Wilson, a former first round pick who floundered in New York, has been playing pretty well in recent weeks. Kenny Vacarro also plays a lot of slot corner, and rookie Damian Swann may come back this week, which would be a huge boost. In theory we can defend them, but I’m worried about Beckham going off honestly. He’s the player that scares me the most, even when injured.
3) Dallas’ OL is very good and had a great day run blocking (this past week vs the Giants). Yet the Giants have been otherwise successful in stopping the run this season. Are Ingram and the Saints OL going to have success running the ball this weekend?
They’ve been spotty this year as far as run blocking goes, but they did pick it up last week. I know that even if the Giants do a good job defending the run, the Saints will stay committed to running the ball. They have to because their receiving threats aren’t what they used to be.
4) Giants fans know Payton as our team’s former OC and as Parcells’ OC. It’s been surprising to see him coming up so short since winning the Super Bowl. And here we are again with his team at 3-4 in 3rd place in their division. Is he on track? Do you believe in Payton?
I’ll be honest, I lost faith in him after the Philly game, but something has changed in recent weeks. You know all the moves they made in the off-season, and the draft picks and players they acquired. They also made a big gamble and played a lot of rookies right off the bat, and it showed in penalties and not being able to win close games. In recent weeks it seems that, with the return of some injured veteran players, that the defense in particular is really starting to come alive. Payton really invested in the defense in the off-season, and now it’s looking like it’s starting to pay off. I have some questions about his play calling at times, but the team hasn’t given up and has played hard through the early losing streak. We’ll see how it plays out, but I give him credit for keeping this young team together through this bumpy first half.
5) Can you recap the offseason drama of Jimmy Graham? Are Max Unger and Ben Watson making up for the loss?
I can’t say for sure, but it was reported that he complained about losing the CBA ruling and getting tight end money. He had a shoulder injury all year, and he seemed to round off his routes and not fight for balls like he should. He’s never liked contact, which is strange for a big guy. The biggest factor in the trade is that Payton saw he really needed to fix the defense, and Jimmy was one of the few assets with trade value on the roster. I think the team made up for the loss on the other side of the ball by getting Stephone Anthony with Seattle’s 31’st pick. He had his first interception last week, and his ceiling is so high. He can run sideline to sideline. Jimmy is a matchup nightmare, and he was insanely productive in this system, however, teams #1 receiving threats can and do get taken away. It’s much harder to do that with a premier middle linebacker, which is what I think Anthony will become. That can transform a defense. Look at the effect that Kuechly and Wagner have on their defenses. It’s incredible. While I loved Jimmy, I like what we got with the trade.
6) We were high on Brandin Cooks last year coming out of the draft. How is he progressing?
Cooks isn’t having the year most of us thought. The consensus is he’s probably a very good to elite #2 WR, but he needs to be paired with a true #1. That’ll probably be addressed in next’s years draft. He has decent production, and he draws coverages and opens things up for other players, but he hasn’t met expectations this year.
7) Is Marques Colston showing his age?
I think Colston’s body is quitting on him, which makes sense because he’s done a lot of the dirty work in this offense for years, taking a lot of hits down the seams and on crossers. I think one of the things that’s really killing him is his hands. He’s dropping a lot of balls, and I think because his grip isn’t there anymore. This is probably his last season.
8) How should the Giants attack the Saints Defense? How should the Giants Defense scheme against the Saints Offense?
The Saints defense can be had if you go up tempo. Philly killed them with that. If I were the Giants, I’d go no-huddle as often as I could. I’d also tried to get my tight ends involved. The Saints have had trouble with them all year. As far as attacking the offense, I’d try to attack the middle of the pocket anyway I could. A-Gap blitzes, stunts etc. Anything to put pressure in Brees’s face. He’s good with outside pressure, but if you collapse his pocket, he can make some costly throws.
9) Final Score? 31-24 Saints. I would probably flip that score if it was in East Rutherford. I think the Dome will be loud Sunday, and the Saints have performed really well against the Giants at home.
Questions for Andy
1) For those who haven’t kept up with the Giants this year, what does this team look like? Strengths? Weaknesses?
Strengths- (a) I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Special Teams have gotten a major upgrade w Harris. We knew Harris was a good player, but I felt our special teams coordinator (Tom Quinn) would not capitalize. They literally won the game for the Giants vs DAL last week. (b) Odell Beckham. He’s an incredible force. If you don’t defend him with two (or more) players he is going to kill you. His numbers are down this year because Defenses are stopping him and making the rest of the Offense beat them. This is why many are waiting for the return of Victor Cruz, because then the threats will overrun Defenses (c) Shane Vereen- good pass catching RB which fits OC McAdoo’s scheme.
Weaknesses (a) Pass Rush is non-existent. Awful. We’ve been using a FB in the 4th Quarter to spark the moribund effort. (b) LBers in coverage. Their best LBer, Devon Kennard, is playing with a hamstring injury. (c) OL has zero push in short yardage. (d) CB is depleted. Does Anukamara play this week? (e) TE Donnell not reliable in holding onto the ball once he makes the catch, blocking.
2) You mentioned Beckham has been playing through injuries. How has it effected his performance? Are you surprised by his toughness?
Beckham is not 100%. He’s just ordinarily lethal instead of unstoppable. If doubled, he’s now human. As far as toughness, he’s a fierce competitor. Great hands makes him look tougher.
3) How are Giants fans feeling about Tom Coughlin currently? I know he’s signed through the 2016 season. Are they looking forward to life after Coughlin?
Coughlin as your coach is a love hate relationship. The guy underachieves until he makes the playoffs and then he can blow the doors off. I always say it this way- he’s as good and as bad as his coordinators. Right now he’s got good ones. If it weren’t for too many injuries (which our blog has covered extensively, ultimately his fault), he’d be much better positioned to make the playoffs and secure his near term future. Life after Coughlin? We’ve buried him too many times to do that anymore until he’s actually gone.
4) I just saw that Jason Pierre-Paul agreed to a one year deal. Really strange series of events. What are you expecting from him this year? How soon could he be playing and be effective? You think they’ll ease him back into things?
I’m not expecting much. But then again, with zero pass rush, it can’t hurt having him. I’m skeptical he’ll make an impact, certainly here in 2015. We’ll see.
5) Anything in particular about the Saints that worry you in this match-up?
Three people concern me. (a) Brees is an elite QB who will be able to dissect the Giants D. (b) Spiller should be able to destroy Giants LBers. (c) Jordan should be able to get significant pressure on Eli.
6) Anything you think the Giants can exploit?
I’m hoping Spagnuolo will use his time in New Orleans to give him a sense of what the Saints will (and won’t) do. He has been great for the Giants, making gourmet dishes out of spam. Specific to your comment, I’m hoping he blitzes up the middle and pocket contains Brees to minimize the damage.
7) Final score predictions?
While I would be ecstatic with a win, I have to think that Brees will do what Cassel could not, providing a loss for the Giants. Everything has to go right for the Giants to win. It’s possible but less likely. If Amukamara, Beckham, Randle, and Kennard are all healthy, it’ll be a great game. But I doubt that. Saints 30 Giants 22.
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