As Super Bowl XLV quickly approaches, here is the latest Giants news:
According to running back Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants want to resign him. “I talked to the Giants on Exit Day and they said I was a big priority for them to come back.”
Indeed, given the opportunity as a starter, Bradshaw had a very productive 2010 season. In 2010, Bradshaw gained 1235 yards averaging 4.5 yards per attempt and 8 touchdowns. The only negative is his propensity to leave the ball on the turf. Inexplicably, last year, Bradshaw fumbled SEVEN times. When he inks a new contract, most likely, expect a fumble clause attached. Because Bradshaw has to secure the football as well as being aware of stripping tactics being coached around the league. Instead of tackling a ball carrier, defenders are being instructed to strip a football. Thus, the end game is to create a turnover and give an offense an extra possession. As a matter of fact, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King has noticed this new trend. Answering a question from his mailbag column from January 4th, “When I go to training camps nowadays, it seems to me the players are coached more to
strip the football than they were years ago. And it’s something most teams practice during the season as well.”
About a year ago, New York Times’ Judy Battista examined how some teams like the Saints have taken the strip to an art form. “That’s something that we practice each and every day — attacking the football and stripping the football,” Sharper said this week. “Whether it’s interceptions, whether it’s a running back or a receiver who has the ball, we’re taught to attack the football. In certain games, we’ll have more opportunities to have those turnovers happen a lot more. I think against Minnesota, we got a lot of opportunities. When you win the turnover battle, a lot of times you’re going to win the game.” Even in the AFC Championship game, Steelers defensive back Ike Taylor’s strip on the Jets Mark Sanchez which lead to a defensive touchdown turned out to be a pivotal play of the game.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=J8j0h8vzIo0
And the Giants should know: if you turn the ball over 42 times it will not get you into the playoffs.
Getting back to Bradshaw, as long as he makes ball security a priority in 2011, the sky is the limit for this guy. But over the last few seasons, Bradshaw has had nagging injuries. How many years does he have left? The lifespan of running back in the NFL is ephemeral. (ie Marion Barber (six years in NFL) and Laurence Maroney( five years in league) appear to be finished) So the question is: What kind of contract do the Giants offer him? Additionally, is Brandon Jacobs time up as a Giant? Needless to say, look for the Giants to use one of their draft picks on a running back.
Taciturn Eli Manning was uncharacteristically flapping his gums this week. The quiet quarterback is promoting Oreo double stuff cookies. Besides talking about cookies, Eli had a few things to share. First, he clarified his comments about quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan. Initially, Manning said, this about Sullivan: He has to get Sullivan “thinking like a quarterback, not a receiver.” WOW! Reading between the lines: Sullivan is over is head and is incompetent. However, I do not blame Sullivan. I blame the guy who hired him as quarterbacks coach……. Ten Win Tommy!! Meanwhile, on radio row at the Super Bowl, Eli was careful with his words. Cleaning up what he stated about Sullivan, here is the sanitized version. So Coach Sullivan did a great job of getting me prepared and having game plans and breaking down all the film I wanted him to. I just had some bad plays, sometimes trying to make too much happen and trying to force things. I’ve got to learn you can try to make stuff happen, but throwing it to the other team is not going to help out the cause.”
Secondly, Eli predicted the Packers are going to win the Lombardi Trophy. Interestingly, if the Packers do win Super Bowl XLV, for two consecutive seasons, the Giants have been pummeled by the eventual Super Bowl Champ. In 2009, the Saints destroyed the Giants 48-27. This year, the Packers annihilated the Giants 45-17. Next year, the Giants will face Brees, Rodgers, and Tom Brady. Yikes. Fewell has his work cut out for him.
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