The Giants lost today, but we’ll talk about the game in a couple of moments.
What is your time frame for the Gmen? If your time frame for the team is 2015, then today was ok. If your time frame for the team is 2014, then today was an unmitigated disaster. Since we predicted 6-10 before the season started, we are not surprised by the growing pains here after Week 2. In fact, I still think 6-10 is a very plausible scenario. I am not happy about that. I am just objective and realistic about a team that had zero offensive cohesiveness in preseason and so much offseason turnover in personnel. Before preseason even began, we said:
During most seasons, we generally caution drawing any conclusions until the first 3 regular season games. Because of the new offense, we believe that it will take anywhere from 8 to 16 games to be able to comment in fairness to all of the coaches and players.
And the head coach of AZ, Bruce Arians, said exactly that earlier this week, noting 8 games as the amount of time it took his Cardinal team to turn the corner in learning a new offense. So if your time frame is shorter than 8 games, days like today are going to be bungee jumpers. But if you can lend the team a little more time, I see some reasons why eventually our patience will be rewarded. (Either way, I believe Reese should be let go, but since that is not happening, we’ll have no choice but to push through. Reese’s draft picks have netted a grand total of 1 pro bowler (JPP) in the last 6 years, so In Reese We Rust.)
Back to AZ-NYG, the Giants literally handed away the game to the Cardinals. The Giants outplayed them everywhere but Specials. Yet specials killed the Gmen, yielding a punt return TD and a turnover to the opposition. There was a brief stretch in Q4 where the Giants gave up (1) a punt return TD, (2) ensuing kickoff turnover and (3) RB fumble turnover all in the span of ~5.5 minutes. With a 3-0 net turnover giveaway (the final INT was in garbage time) you are not going to win by giving away the ball.
But let’s do silver linings playbook Week 2. We have a Tight End who can make plays in Larry Donnell. We outgained the AZ offense. The OL pass protected decently (2 sacks, and only 1 in the first 59 minutes before garbage time, although another sack was negated by an AZ penalty). The Giants sacked the Cards backup QB 4 times. And the Gmen were 50% on 3rd down, sustaining drives when they weren’t busy turning the ball over or getting called for penalties. We will remember some dropped balls and some near-receptions that were oh-so-close to breaking the game open for the Giants. When the offense is clicking and Giants players are no longer “thinking” and just “doing,” those same passes will result in receptions that will power the team to wins. Right now that does not feel like consolation when Blue gave away the game. But you just have to expect mistakes with a new offense and understand that it takes time. At Week 9 I will be pissed. At Week 2, I am accommodating.
Beason and Kennard are hurt, which left Herzlich in at MLBer. That’s a problem. Herzlich and Jacquian Williams are mediocre at best, vulnerable at worst. This is where opposing offenses will attack the Giants D if we cannot get healthier.
Each week the offense does make improvement. The offense played well enough to win, excepting the turnovers. It will probably win some contests for the Giants in coming weeks.
As for Specials, some of that punt return was due to Weatherford’s injury.
Just caught some of the sound bites after the game, and Coughlin did say that “I saw some things that were good today, that were better. There was improvement along the lines… I thought our physical play was better. I thought our execution was better on offense. I thought at times we had the no-huddle thing going well.” Cynics can say that it means nothing if you do not win. But it does matter that the team put itself in a position to win the game today. That makes it a better day than last Monday’s game. Today was a step in the right direction. This is a season-long work in progress. On to the next week and get better.
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