When Forced to Pass

The Giants came into this season with a fundamentally different offensive philosophy than we did in 2008. Remember 2008? We were coming off the Super Bowl, we started the season 11-1 and we were BAD ASS. Clearly the best team in the NFL. Then #17 shot himself in the leg and the air vanished from our sails. Partially because Plaxico was irreplaceable to or scheme. Part of it was psychological locker room mojo.

This season, we were different in two ways. First, 12, 88, and 82 are MUCH better collectively than Plaxico, and aging Toomer, and a younger Steve Smith. Second, the O-Line (3 years older across the board) can't move people in the running game the way they could. So we started forcing the ball to our playmakers. The result? Feast or famine. We did make a hell of a lot of big plays when all 3 guys were healthy this year. But when Smith and Nicks went down (Nicks being back now)...Hagan and others just weren't the same...forcing us to take more risks than ever in the passing game.

In 2008 we only turned the ball over 13 times the WHOLE SEASON. I agree, we need to get back to that. This year...we CLEARLY ran the ball better when Shaun O'Hara was OUT. You saw me mention it every week. He's got to go. And (as much as I love him) Seubert is getting a bit long in the tooth as well. McKenzie and Diehl aren't far behind. Snee (the youngest) is still a bad ass.

I'm sorry. Bradshaw (#44) fumbles too much. I know he runs hard...but I wouldn't mind seeing him go as well...since he doesn't have the TRUE breakaway speed, there's just not enough upside.

Eli did throw most of his INTs last week in the 2nd half when the horse was already out of the barn. We can micro-manage all we want, but the bottom line is...Aaron Rogers was going to beat ANY NFL team that day. So let's save our breath.

Eli is our guy. Does he have the greatest skill set? No he doesn't. But when everyone does their job AND we earn respect in the running game...Eli sees the whole field and makes plays. Wobbly balls, not exactly zipped in...but the game slows down for him...he can make plays.

We need to get back to that 2008 style.

Please God. Don't let them fire the coach.

Eeeeeegs Out.