The season has finally arrived. Sunday was great, with football back for 2014. They can talk about the Thursday kickoff all they want, but nothing is football like the smorgasbord of Sunday. We saw many favorites struggle. And more than a few lost. ATL, MINN, MIA, TEN, BUF and CAR were 6 underdogs who won outright. What does that mean for the Giants? It means PLAY THE GAME. It means that we have had plenty of time to observe, ruminate, and postulate. But there is no substitute for playing the game. All of the drafting, the cap, the FA signings, the new coaches, training camp, the preseason games, the injuries…. it is time to see what we’ve got.
One thing we said here in July before camp began which we will repeat- do not jump to too many conclusions too early about the team, players and coaches. Win or lose, this team has too many new players and a new coordinator, so must be given time. Either way. The Giants play a Lions team that has a new coaching staff. They will have growing problems of their own. Yesterday, the Texans and Redskins squared off, and both of those teams had new coaching staffs, so the Giants face plenty of teams this season that are undergoing change as well. It is rash to judge any team, be it the Gmen or their opponent, too quickly. It may only be a 16 game season, but things evolve and we should respect the need of all 32 teams to get better. Summary- do not jump to conclusions good or bad based on a single game or even half a season. This team needs time to improve. While I suspect they will need more time than a majority of teams, they all need the time to evolve into what they will become.
Into just one specific, I do not want to hear about people jettisoning Eli. Imagine you are working for a company for 10 years and you have been doing things one way, and all of a sudden you have a new boss who does things differently. Give the man some time to figure it out. He’s delivered 2 titles to this franchise, he works hard, so he has earned some time to learn the new offense. In the NFL, the game moves so fast that you cannot think about anything. Eli is thinking out there, it is not automatic. So give him time.
In tonight’s game, I am expecting a lot of runs, and a lot of screens/flares. That is the safe way to get some rhythm and not put the Giants’ OL into too much (QB) protection. It’s what I would do given the hand I was dealt. Of course you have to spread the field and throw the ball deep once in a while to keep the Safeties and Corners honest. But the less time Eli is holding the ball, the better the rhythm and the safer he will be.
Let’s see if JPP can get to the QB. We do not need sacks, although any and all would be welcome. What we need is pressure. Lots of it. That will help the defense, and the defense can help the offense. Go Gmen! Play the Game.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
