Monday Rdg: Concern as the Giants offense sleeps all summer

Giants

Drummond PFF: ReFo: Giants @ Colts, Preseason Week 2
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/08/17/refo-giants-colts-preseason-week-2/

Damalatis PFF: 2014 Preview: New York Giants
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/08/17/2014-preview-new-york-giants/

Traina B/R: New York Giants: What We've Learned Through Week 3 of Preseason
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2165524-ny-giants-what-weve-learned-through-week-3-of-preseason

Raanan NJ.com: Giants: 10 positives to take from victory over the Colts includes the improving linebackers
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/08/giants_10_positives_to_take_from_victory_over_the_colts.html

Hague AP: Despite 3-0 preseason record, New York Giants’ issues still noticeable
http://www.saratogian.com/sports/20140817/despite-3-0-preseason-record-new-york-giants-issues-still-noticeable

O'Gorman The Trentonian: Roster hopefuls creating tough decisions for Tom Coughlin
http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20140817/roster-hopefuls-creating-tough-decisions-for-tom-coughlin

Traina Inside Football: Giants 27, Colts 26: Hits, Misses and Musings
http://insidefootball.com/2014/08/17/giants-27-colts-26-hits-misses-and-musings/

Coach

Stapleton The Record: Tom Coughlin concerned with Giants
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/tom-coughlin-concerned-with-giants-1.1068860

Offense

Schwartz NYP: Salty Coughlin on Giants offense: ‘They better’ get it together
http://nypost.com/2014/08/17/salty-coughlin-on-giants-offense-they-better-get-it-together/

Pennington NYT: Preseason Wind-Down? Not for a Giants Offense That Needs a Lot of Work
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/18/sports/football/preseason-wind-down-not-for-a-giants-offense-that-needs-a-lot-of-work.html?_r=0

Raskin WSJ: Offense Looks Like a Giant Problem
The Giants' 3-0 Preseason Record Doesn't Show Just How Inept Manning and the Offense Have Been
http://online.wsj.com/articles/offense-looks-like-a-giant-problem-1408318970z

Rock Newsday: Tom Coughlin frustrated by poor Giants offense with preseason winding down
http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/tom-coughlin-frustrated-by-poor-giants-offense-with-preseason-winding-down-1.9082276

Graziano ESPN: Coughlin report: Don't get comfy, offense
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/giants/post/_/id/38037/coughlin-report-dont-get-comfy-offense

Palladino CBS Sports Radio: Don’t Panic — Patience Is Key With Giants’ New Offense
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/08/18/palladino-dont-panic-patience-is-key-with-giants-new-offense/

G

Schwartz NYP: Giants’ rookie lineman looks like a starter
http://nypost.com/2014/08/17/giants-rookie-lineman-looks-like-a-starter/

Defense

Willis NYP: D-pressing: Giants need Fewell’s crew to pick up the slack
http://nypost.com/2014/08/17/d-pressing-giants-need-fewells-crew-to-pick-up-the-slack/

S

Orr Star Ledger: Giants: Cooper Taylor suffers 'significant' foot injury, could head to injured reserve
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/08/giants_cooper_taylor_suffers_significant_foot_injury_could_head_to_injured_reserve.html

Samuel NYDN: For NY Giants safety Cooper Taylor, trouble may be afoot
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/giants-insider-safety-cooper-taylor-trouble-afoot-article-1.1906894

NFL

Myers NYDN: For preseason rivals NY Giants and NY Jets, Snoopy Bowl is usually major pain
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/myers-giants-jets-preseason-snoopy-bowl-met-strife-article-1.1906888

King MMQB: Silicon Valley Victory
The 49ers debut their new digs, which establishes a new stadium status quo in the NFL. Plus, Blake Bortles makes things difficult in Jacksonville, a look inside the growing penalty problem and more notes from Week 2 of the preseason

Code:

"7. Storm clouds over East Rutherford. The Giants really looked out of sync on offense, for the second straight week under new offensive coordinator Bob McAdoo. Not sure how you have faith in the Giants being a serious contender to overtake Philadelphia at this point. One bright spot: fourth-round running back Andre Williams, a keeper for the Giants. On a mid-second-quarter, first-down-conversion run, he hit the hole fast and steamrolled Colts safety Colt Anderson. 8. A tale of two Mannings. Peyton was in midseason form over the weekend, 12 of 14 in a classic take-what-they-give-you bludgeoning of the Niners on Sunday. But Eli continued a troubling August in the new Giant offense. Eli in his last two games: seven series, 1-for-9, six yards, no touchdowns or interceptions. Victor Cruz in three games, zero catches (one was wiped off by a penalty Saturday). That’s not good."

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/08/18/san-francisco-49ers-levis-stadium-debuts/

Tanier SOE: MANDATORY MONDAY: STRAIGHT STORY
Let's rank NFL quarterback prospects on a Preseason Pessimism Index -- who is least likely to find success this season? Plus, get your story straight on some key plotlines, from defensive penalties to Eli Manning's completion percentage.

Code:

"The great completion percentage straw man argument. When Giants offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo announced that he set a goal for Eli Manning to complete 70 percent of his passes, he not only put pressure on Eli but placed a bounty on the completion percentage statistic as well. You don't have to live close to New York to hear the chatter. Oh great, so now instead of trying to throw downfield and win games, Eli is going to dink-and-dunk to the running backs to make his stats look good. He'll throw three passes for six yards, his coach will be happy and the Giants will punt. Only four quarterbacks have completed over 70 percent of their passes in a full season: Drew Brees twice (2009 and 2011), Ken Anderson (strike shortened 1982), Steve Young (1994) and Joe Montana (1989). Three of those seasons ended with a Super Bowl victory. Brees' 2011 ended with a crazy playoff loss to the 49ers, while Anderson's 1982 season ended during a weird post-strike playoff tournament. The 70 percent seasons are all both great quarterback seasons and great team seasons. The image of a quarterback "dink and dunking" his way to an incredibly high completion rate is largely a fiction. There are examples of ordinary quarterbacks having ordinary years whose completion percentages approached 70: Brian Griese in 2004 (69.3 percent for the Buccaneers), David Carr in 2006 (68.3 for the Texans). But most of the names on the all-time completion rate leaderboard are Brees, Peyton Manning, Young and Kurt Warner, plus lesser quarterbacks known for their efficiency, like Rich Gannon and Chad Pennington. There's a reason mediocre quarterbacks have trouble approaching a 70 percent completion rate, even as the league average creeps into the low-60s and screen passes become an increasing component of offensive strategy. A quarterback who tries to "game the system" by checking down and throwing tons of screens and dump-offs is likely to fall behind in the game. He will then be expected to throw deeper and take more risks, which will lower his completion rates. So there's a cause-and-effect synergy at work in the statistics of a player like Brees. His high-percentage passing capability gives him the lead in games, allowing him to continue to throw high-percentage passes. Brees' rate dropped to 63.0 percent during the 2012 Bountygate season, then bounced back to 68.6 percent last year. The absence of Sean Payton and other variables impacted the drop, but simple situational forces were also in play when Brees was going 35-of-54 for three touchdowns in losing efforts. (You may think that a quarterback who is always hopelessly behind gains a completion rate advantage, but the impact of garbage-time production is not as great as you might think. Remember that if a quarterback goes 7-of-11 in garbage time, that only gets him to 64 percent, and he probably did some naughty things to reach garbage time in the first place.) So McAdoo is setting a lofty standard for Eli. Setting a statistical benchmark for a player is not unusual at all, though publicizing it is. Coaches set all manner of benchmarks for players, units and teams, but they don't tell us about them for a variety of good and bad reasons. (They don't want to hear about it when they fall short, they are secretive by nature, they hold us in contempt, etc.) Some of the goals are vague and a little silly, like the mission statement of an ambitious company as rewritten by someone who drank too many energy shakes and glued down his caps-lock button."

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/90182250/nfl-quarterbacks-ej-manuel-eli-manning-johnny-manziel

Pompei SOE: WHAT I LEARNED AS A BALL BOY
From NFL coaches to executives, from current stars to hall-of-famers, many a pro football career began on the sidelines as a ball boy -- and many of those who were lucky enough to have this glamorous yet lowly existence remember it fondly.
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/90206418/nfl-ball-boy-lessons-larry-fitzgerald-john-elway-philip-rivers

Gabriel NFP: The making of the 53 man roster
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-making-of-the-53man-roster.html

ATLANTA
Ledbetter AJC: Baker out for season; Matthews likely headed for left tackle spot
http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/football/baker-out-for-season-matthews-likely-headed-for-le/ng4cw/

BUFFALO
Graham Buffalo News: Bills look improved against the run
It’s only preseason, but numbers are better
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/bills-look-improved-against-the-run-20140817

CAROLINA
Person Charlotte Observer: Panthers 28, Chiefs 16: Cam Newton shakes off rust, ankle surgery in win
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/08/17/5112828/panthers-28-chiefs-16-cam-newton.html#.U_GFjGMedBM#storylink=cpy

CHICAGO
LeGere Chicago Daily Herald: Bears running on empty so far
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140817/sports/140818690/

Rozner Chicago Daily Herald: For Lynch, Bears camp a long way from NIU
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140817/sports/140818689/

Potash Chicago Sun Times: Santonio Holmes next in line to be Bears’ No. 3 receiver
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/29318154-606/santonio-holmes-next-in-line-to-be-bears-no-3-receiver.html

CINCINNATI
Dehner Cin Enquirer: Bengals' special teams miscues draw coach's ire
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2014/08/17/bengals-special-teams-miscues-anger-darrin-simmons/14196707/

DALLAS
George Dallas Morning News: Undrafted rookie QB Dustin Vaughan has Dallas Cowboys’ attention
http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2014/08/undrafted-rookie-qb-dustin-vaughan-has-dallas-cowboys-attention.html/

Moore Dallas Morning News: Are the Cowboys finally showing a commitment to running the football?
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20140817-are-the-cowboys-finally-showing-a-commitment-to-running-the-football.ece

George Dallas Morning News: New Dallas Cowboys DT Zach Minter makes ‘big splash’ in his preseason debut against Baltimore Ravens
http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2014/08/new-dallas-cowboys-dt-zach-minter-makes-big-splash-in-his-preseason-debut-against-baltimore-ravens.html/

George Dallas Morning News: Dallas Cowboys LB Rolando McClain making push for starting MLB job
http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2014/08/dallas-cowboys-lb-rolando-mcclain-making-push-for-starting-mlb-job.html/

GREEN BAY
McGinn Mil JS: Packers' smaller defensive line holding up against the run
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/packers-smaller-defensive-line-holding-up-against-the-run-b99332237z1-271626231.html

HOUSTON
Smith Houston Chronicle: O’Brien says Texans were pumped up vs. Falcons; ready for Broncos
http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2014/08/obrien-says-texans-were-juiced-up-vs-falcons-ready-for-broncos/

McClain Houston Chronicle: Contributions of Texans rookies can't be overlooked
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/Contributions-of-Texans-rookies-can-t-be-5694637.php

INDIANAPOLIS
Holder Ind Star: Indianapolis Colts defensive line playing big so far
http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2014/08/17/indianapolis-colts-defensive-line-playing-big-far/14210291/

Holder Ind Star: Deji Karim, already in Colts record book, returns
http://www.indystar.com/story/colts-insider/2014/08/17/colts-sign-running-back-deji-karim/14200057/

JACKSONVILLE
O' Halloran Fla Times Union: Jaguars Notebook: Blake Bortles set to work with first team
http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2014-08-17/story/jaguars-notebook-monday-could-be-day-blake-bortles-works

KANSAS CITY
Paylor KC Star: Penalties a primary culprit in disappointing effort for Chiefs’ starters
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article1244503.html

MIAMI
Beasley Miami Herald: Inspired Miami defense steps up
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/08/17/4294888/inspired-miami-dolphins-defense.html

MINNESOTA
Olson Minn Star Tribune: So far, Vikings' arrival at University of Minnesota brings more anticipation than anxiety
http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/271615721.html

Hartman Minn Star Tribune: Final drive shows Bridgewater's progress
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/271615741.html

NEW ENGLAND
Boston Globe: Patriots roster competition begins to sort itself out
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/08/17/projecting-patriots-man-roster/QyQJ6W4fA9VpVrdu9FMigJ/story.html

O'Malley Mass Live: Bill Belichick explains how the New England Patriots functioned with one real tight end vs. Philadelphia Eagles
http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2014/08/bill_belichick_explains_how_th.html

Berry Boston.com: Reports: Patriots Bolster Tight Ends Group by Re-Signing Justin Jones
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2014/08/reports_patriots_bolster_tight_ends_group_by_re-si.html

Daniels Prov Journal: Who is up and who is down for Patriots after two preseason games
http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/patriots/content/20140817-who-is-up-and-who-is-down-for-patriots-after-two-preseason-games.ece

NEW ORLEANS
Woodberry Nola.com: Drew Brees asserts leadership role after Saints hit with 22 penalties Friday
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2014/08/newly_returned_drew_brees_asse.html

Holder Nola.com: One dunk too many for New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2014/08/graham_dunk_column.html

OAKLAND
Tafur SF Chronicle: Woodson on slow start, Green Bay, and possibility of Raiders leaving Oakland
http://blog.sfgate.com/raiders/2014/08/17/woodson-on-slow-start-green-bay-and-possibility-of-raiders-leaving-oakland/

PHILADELPHIA
Kaplan Phil.com: Eagles in no hurry to trade Sanchez
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20140818_Eagles_Notebook__Eagles_in_no_hurry_to_trade_Sanchez.html

McLane Phil.com: Bird defenders must come to grips with new rules
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20140817_Problems_all_over_for_Eagles_defense.html

McLane Phil.com: Eagles-Pats: Film review of the defense
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/eagles/271610911.html

Berman Phil.com: Eagles likely to stick with Henery at kicker
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20140818_Eagles_likely_to_stick_with_Henery_at_kicker.html

ST. LOUIS
Thomas STL Post Dispatch: Rams notes: Pead out for season
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notes-pead-out-for-season/article_f63991d7-69d7-5f38-8d25-702a688b380f.html

SAN FRANCISCO
Kawakami SJ Mercury News: The lessons of August: The 49ers are embarrassed in the preseason again, and what that means for the regular-season reality
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2014/08/17/49ers-two-week-embarrassment/

Branch SF Chronicle: 49ers throttled by Broncos in exhibition debut at Levi's Stadium
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/49ers-throttled-by-Broncos-in-exhibition-debut-at-5694473.php

SEATTLE
Blount ESPN Seattle: O'Brien Schofield has something to prove
http://espn.go.com/blog/seattle-seahawks/post/_/id/7850/obrien-schofield-has-something-to-prove

Condotta Seattle Times: Predicting 53-man roster for Seattle
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/seahawks/2014/08/17/predicting-the-final-53-man-roster-for-the-seahawks/

TENNESSEE
Glennon The Tennessean: Titans' Taylor Thompson leads tight end resurgence
http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2014/08/17/tennessee-titans-tight-end-taylor-thompson/14208987/

WASHINGTON
Jones Wash Post: Redskins vs. Browns: Five areas to watch during the second preseason game
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins-vs-browns-five-areas-to-watch-during-the-second-preseason-game/2014/08/17/f7a6763a-25ff-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_story.html


Draft

Rang CBS Sports: 2015 NFL Draft: Could talent be even better than last year?
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24665600/nfl-draft-could-talent-be-even-better-than-last-year

Rang CBS Sports: 2015 NFL Draft: Jameis Winston projected as No. 1 overall pick
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24665578/nfl-draft-jameis-winston-projected-as-no-1-overall-pick

Brown SOE: 20 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE ACC
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/90201436/acc-preview-college-football-florida-state-clemson-duke-miami-north-carolina

Brugler CBS Sports: 2015 NFL Draft: Four passers top-10, led by Mariota No. 1 overall
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24665580/nfl-draft-four-passers-top-10-led-by-mariota-no-1-overall

Ruane Knight News: UCF Senior Oriented Defense Chasing NFL Dreams in 2014
http://knightnews.com/2014/08/ucf-senior-oriented-defense-chasing-nfl-dreams-in-2014/#sthash.iJXjRmqv.dpuf

Deters Topeka Capitol Journal: KU's Ben Heeney looking to leave lasting impression in final season
http://m.cjonline.com/sports/2014-08-17/kus-ben-heeney-looking-leave-lasting-impression-final-season

De Nicola: Fox Sports Fla: Perryman, Chickillo return to Hurricanes with more to prove
http://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/perryman-chickillo-returned-to-hurricanes-with-more-to-prove-081714

Naveau Lima News: Bennett well grounded star at OSU
http://www.dailycall.com/news/sports/50311889/Bennett-well-grounded-star-at-OSU

Former Giant News

Babiarz Wausau Daily Herald: New coach (Former Giant Bernard Holsey) brings new attitude to Witt-Birn
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2014/08/17/new-coach-brings-new-attitude-witt-birn/14204811/