I think it was who posted a NY Post article recently on the way Coughlin adapted, went through McAdoo's set of plays, and play by play, they put together the playbook that is now the new Giants offense.
Think about this: Not only has Coughlin always ran his offenses his way for the last 20 years, but Eli has had the same coordinator for 10 years. Then you tack on how much personnel that has changed both upfront and in the backfield and honestly, the fact that we had one offensively unproductive preseason and six crappy NFL quarters of an adjustment period is absolutely remarkable.
It really, really is.
Last Sunday's game, to me, is the best testament to both Coughlin and McAdoo's respect for each other's views, because it seems both are well aware they have the same common goal.
Not only were the Giants trailing by 10 points in the second half, but their running back--who has been very good--suffered an injury that would keep him out the rest of the game. With that in mind, I think even people who prefer Coughlin's style of football would have understood restricting Coughlin's power running game and putting the young coordinator's west coast offense to the test.
But no... in comes Andre Williams. A rookie. He goes on to carry the ball 20 times, scores a touchdown and the Giants go on a 20-0 run. This allowed McAdoo's system to work.
Can anyone here recall two very different systems come together and work so well with such a brief initial lack of continuity?
Can anyone else remember a time when the ego of a young man trying to prove himself and the ego of an old man who already has proven everything never getting in the way of each other?
It's only five games and there is plenty of time for that to happen, but it didn't happen after an embarrassing 0-2 start with calls for Ryan Nassib all over the place. It didn't happen when trailing by 10 at home against a team decimated with injuries that we should have been beating up on. There is no panic button with this staff.
So far, this seems to be a marriage that is working because of the same thing that makes real marriages work. Trust. These two men trust each other and believe in each other.
I think we have a lot of good things coming our way.
However the season plays out, this is the most intriguing Giants team I have watched during the Coughlin era.
Very happy with what I'm seeing. Hope they can keep it up
in a way, it's unrealistic to expect to field that dynamic on a consistent basis.
i like what ive seen so far - we havent won anything of great value yet though... but i like what im seeing and it's progress for sure.
- Half of BBI
That's probably because the run game right now is really working and it's still the best way to beat a team down.
However the season plays out, this is the most intriguing Giants team I have watched during the Coughlin era.
Well said. I tried to be patient, but it seemed so many were telling me not to be. A Jets fan buddy of mine, who wasn't even trying to be a dick, said to another Jets fan during the Lions game "Well... at least we're better than the Giants."
He wasn't talking trash so I wasn't offended, but it amazes me how little people respected the difficulty of what we are been trying to accomplish.
- The entire interior OL is new.
- New running back
- New (starting) WR with a consistent presence of 5 years gone
- First new system in 10 years.
Not only were people jumping the gun on calling it a failure, but I'm actually shocked at how quickly it's turned into a success.
It's not really ass kissing. I think the turnaround is very worthy of praise.
I don't disagree with this, but two Super Bowls and the oldest age amongst NFL coaches sometimes cloud an intelligent man's judgment. In the article Eric posted, it stated how he could've gone with Sullivan or another person familiar with the Giants' system, but that didn't happen. I don't know.. it impresses me the man had the self awareness at his age to wipe the slate clean.
Good point. The physicality is what keeps it in the Giants/TC tradition.
Third, and most important, the league hasn't had much film of the Giants offense. Now they do, and defenses will know better how to game plan against it. Against Atlanta, it appeared their plan was to take away Cruz and Donnell. That plan backfired with Beckham in the game.
I expect Philly will bring max pressure, because you can't game-plan to take away three receivers, and force the Giants to make Williams pick up blitzes. That will be a big test for the Giants' line and RBs.
It appears fairly likely that Eli will still be playing (and at a high level) when Nassib becomes a free agent (2017?). Unlike the other backups drafted by the Giants (e.g. Woodson, Bomar), Nassib seems (albeit based on limited pre-season data) to have the skills to be a starting QB for someone someday.
Given the crappy QB play that several "bottom dweller teams" are suffering through, how likely is that a very attractive offer to trade Nassib might come to the Giants (e.g. from Buffalo) AFTER the 2014 season (I don't see anyway the Giants would trade him mid season this year)?
1) Do the Giants simply hold onto Nassib, let him learn and improve, and keep him as an apparently capable (and cheap) backup and Eli's "heir apparent" and let him likely walk in 2017 (or whenever he is a free agent) if Eli still has a few more years left in 2017?
2) Or, would the Giants be better off trying to trade (or entertain offers for) Nassib before he walks via free agency and get a veteran backup for 2015; what would an "attractive offer" be: a 3rd rounder (doesn't seem worth trading him and starting over), a 2nd rounder (maybe), a 1st rounder (of course, but highly doubt Nassib would command that)?
I don't see the very attractive offer coming and I see the Giants staying the course with Nassib in 2014 and likely 2015; hopefully we don't find out how good he is or isn't in the regular season during that stretch.
I do see the Giants have a better backup QB situation (quality and cost) than they have had in a long time.
Very happy with what I'm seeing. Hope they can keep it up
Definitely. For the first time, a huge part of the appeal of watching a Giants game for me -- and a huge reason why I so impatiently await Sundays now -- just comes from wondering what they'll do or who will shine next offensively.
Gilbride's offense was not easy to prepare for ... as even we didn't know what we were doing until we saw the defense ...
For McAdoo/TC ... let's see ...
We won games in spite of Gilbride...and once this McAdoo offense starts to really kick in...oh my what thing of beauty it is.
McAdoo - Look for the short receiver pulling way from the defender; if nothing open look deep
It's a blend of both philosophies... Up-tempo quick passes.. Then you see Eli sitting in a clean (that's the most important thing) pocket for 9 seconds throwing the ball deep.
Until the second half... instead of going no-huddle which has been a nice accoutrement of the McAdoo Offense... they slowed it down... to run clock and keep a high powered Atlanta O off the field longer...
Power running... clock consuming... setting up Play Action field stretching plays... Or quick hit don't let the D change personnel, keep them on their heels... It's a diverse and very dangerous attack. But it all depends on the players.. And right now the players are executing... Let's hope they only get better.
It's a blend of both philosophies... Up-tempo quick passes.. Then you see Eli sitting in a clean (that's the most important thing) pocket for 9 seconds throwing the ball deep.
Until the second half... instead of going no-huddle which has been a nice accoutrement of the McAdoo Offense... they slowed it down... to run clock and keep a high powered Atlanta O off the field longer...
Power running... clock consuming... setting up Play Action field stretching plays... Or quick hit don't let the D change personnel, keep them on their heels... It's a diverse and very dangerous attack. But it all depends on the players.. And right now the players are executing... Let's hope they only get better.
yup - the ball control part is overlooked with the running game - in the first half, our defense was on the field a lot, compounded by the fumble on the kick return. By staying faithful to the running game, we also gave our defense the rest it needed to hold down Atlanta after the long TD
TC can stay also long as he likes in my book
He's going go to be wide open.....
this O will be huge...just need to tighten up D
Beckham is a game changer
He's going go to be wide open.....
this O will be huge...just need to tighten up D
He's going go to be wide open.....
this O will be huge...just need to tighten up D
I hear it's snowing on your planet. I hope you're dressed warmly.
Nah. It became stale and predictable. Still would have had lousy red zone efficiency.
TC can stay also long as he likes in my book
It's nice he shook things up and hired Ben M over Mike Sullivan, however, I still don't believe Gilbride just retired. I think if Mara didn't come out and say the offense was broken, I think Gilbride says. So I believe both get props. TC for hiring Ben M. and Mara for facilitating change in the first place.
I do wonder sometimes, if the season ended and Mara doesn't say that does TC go in another direction or would we be back in the same system as the last decade once again?
Agreed. He's been throwing the ball better than ever.
word up ma brutha.
you're probably right...but let's hope McAdoo stays innovative enough to change it up every season. My opinion is that an offensive/defensive coordinator has a certain shelf life, and the Head Coach, if self-preservation is priority, would jettison his coach before things get too stale.
on the flipside, I hope McAdoo is calling plays for 10 years here, if not ultimately promoted to HC.
We're having success. Now it's time to get nervous.
Ha!