Giants-Bills Game: Serious Hitting on Special Teams

As I posted in my game preview, and area junc has mentioned, this team's personality has changed. We're beating people up.

he's changing as we speak..Just "deferring" now on KOs when he wins the toss is a big change in philosophy for him..That was the one area I totally disagreed with him on through the years..

It feels so good to see the team playing like they want to be there for the first time in 3 years.

If we take care of business this Sunday I'm truly going to start believing. It will have been the first time in a long time we beat a team on paper that we should beat. Other than the skins every year. At least that's how it feels to me.

In comment 12538230 bradshaw44 said:

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It feels so good to see the team playing like they want to be there for the first time in 3 years. If we take care of business this Sunday I'm truly going to start believing. It will have been the first time in a long time we beat a team on paper that we should beat. Other than the skins every year. At least that's how it feels to me.

I agree with this. Recent history just has me incredibly worried about this game. It seems every single time Giants fans start to feel good about the team, they bring us crashing back to earth and depression with an inexplicable loss to a team they should have beaten.

What would you contribute that to? I mean Quinn doesn't have a good track record with this unit. Why are they looking so much better this year?

In comment 12538234 BigBlueShock said:

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In comment 12538230 bradshaw44 said: Quote: It feels so good to see the team playing like they want to be there for the first time in 3 years. If we take care of business this Sunday I'm truly going to start believing. It will have been the first time in a long time we beat a team on paper that we should beat. Other than the skins every year. At least that's how it feels to me. I agree with this. Recent history just has me incredibly worried about this game. It seems every single time Giants fans start to feel good about the team, they bring us crashing back to earth and depression with an inexplicable loss to a team they should have beaten.

Exactly. I'm about to hop the train up from DC in a few minutes. This will be my first game since the Dallas debacle opener in 2012. I am hoping I came for a quality game. Fingers crossed.

like that short kickoff, right?

In comment 12538241 bradshaw44 said:

Quote:

In comment 12538234 BigBlueShock said: Quote: In comment 12538230 bradshaw44 said: Quote: It feels so good to see the team playing like they want to be there for the first time in 3 years. If we take care of business this Sunday I'm truly going to start believing. It will have been the first time in a long time we beat a team on paper that we should beat. Other than the skins every year. At least that's how it feels to me. I agree with this. Recent history just has me incredibly worried about this game. It seems every single time Giants fans start to feel good about the team, they bring us crashing back to earth and depression with an inexplicable loss to a team they should have beaten. Exactly. I'm about to hop the train up from DC in a few minutes. This will be my first game since the Dallas debacle opener in 2012. I am hoping I came for a quality game. Fingers crossed.

Well based on your history then I think we should all chip in for an early return ticket.

In comment 12538237 JOrthman said:

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What would you contribute that to? I mean Quinn doesn't have a good track record with this unit. Why are they looking so much better this year?

Better special teams players? Whatever the answer, they are getting after it.

In comment 12538245 JOrthman said:

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In comment 12538241 bradshaw44 said: Quote: In comment 12538234 BigBlueShock said: Quote: In comment 12538230 bradshaw44 said: Quote: It feels so good to see the team playing like they want to be there for the first time in 3 years. If we take care of business this Sunday I'm truly going to start believing. It will have been the first time in a long time we beat a team on paper that we should beat. Other than the skins every year. At least that's how it feels to me. I agree with this. Recent history just has me incredibly worried about this game. It seems every single time Giants fans start to feel good about the team, they bring us crashing back to earth and depression with an inexplicable loss to a team they should have beaten. Exactly. I'm about to hop the train up from DC in a few minutes. This will be my first game since the Dallas debacle opener in 2012. I am hoping I came for a quality game. Fingers crossed. Well based on your history then I think we should all chip in for an early return ticket.

Touché. But I think we are winning this game. This team seems hungry.

can't remember against who, that the PRer fumbled or muffed the punt and we couldn't corral it. We are getting there, however we must now jump on those miscues as well. Would have been a huge turnover too.

become way more physical than the previous few years. This team had become way too finesse and toughness was sorely missed. It began with the addition of Flowers and Collins in the draft and continued with the additions of Meriweather, Unga, Harris, Whitlock, and Hart. JT Thomas isn't the most physical LB in the league but he is a harder hitter than both Jacquian Williams and Paysinger were. It is a welcomed sight to see this team laying out the big hits rather than receiving them

has a lot to do with it. when I watch him talk about his defense and the philosophy of relentlessness and gang tackling, it seems like that has really hit home with the players

In comment 12538264 Simms11 said:

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can't remember against who, that the PRer fumbled or muffed the punt and we couldn't corral it. We are getting there, however we must now jump on those miscues as well. Would have been a huge turnover too.

Yes, I recall that our gunners sae the fair catch and peeled off at the end. He muffed it but since our guys were not within 5-10 feet of the returner, he was able to get it back.
An example of what not to do...always bring pressure.

so, believe it or not, here I am tipping my hat to Tom Quinn. Still allowed that PR for a TD against Washington in garbage time but no question I have noticed a completely different attitude on coverage teams this year.

That said, I think there has been a change overall...defensively we are significantly more physical this year and I credit that to Spags' coaching.

And, with Flowers in there, I can see a different attitude emerging on the offensive line as well.

I think we have improved the bottom of the roster. We have finally addressed this area with bringing in a guy like Harris instead of just saying we need to play better. Jennings blocking a punt was great. Do you realize how rare that is to accomplish especially after he gets called for a penalty the play before? When that happens players and coaches usually get conservative. This is a mindset. I love it.

I think Spags helps too. Most special teams players are defensive player but not all of them. Spags has changed the mindset of our players as well. It seems that his history lessons have reached his players. There is an old saying that if you are going to make a mistake at least make it going 100 mph. We see our players flying to the ball. The mental mistakes have been at a minimum meaning that our players know what to do so they can go play. They aren't slowed down mentally. I call it paralysis by analysis. You dont see guys out of position because of a breakdown. All or most of our breakdowns are just because the other team is making plays. It happens. We will continue to get better at this rate as long as we stay relatively healthy.

I think it speaks volumes that we haven't collapsed. Once the losing happens and especially the way we have lost it is really hard to stop. Not only did we stop it but we are showing glimpses of some real solid play on all three phases of the game. GB is probably the most balanced team. NE is an offensive juggernaut but their D leaves a lot to be desired. After those two teams I think it is a cluster of good but not great teams in Denver, Atlanta, Arizona, Cincinnati with maybe Carolina, Seattle and Pittsburgh when they are healthy. Actually Cincinnati is probably the most balanced team. Still, I think we can compete in that second tier and we can eventually work our way up to the Pats and Packers if we continue to improve offensively and with our pass D.

Now I have to say the same thing is true about special teams. There is a decidedly more "search and destroy" attitude about them. They are down there on punt and kickoff coverage almost immediately and when they get there, they mete out real punishment. I've been seeing this steadily since the season began and it's like the old days, when Parcells at his specials play as ferociously if not more. It's great to see again :-)

In comment 12538250 bradshaw44 said:

Quote:

In comment 12538245 JOrthman said: Quote: In comment 12538241 bradshaw44 said: Quote: In comment 12538234 BigBlueShock said: Quote: In comment 12538230 bradshaw44 said: Quote: It feels so good to see the team playing like they want to be there for the first time in 3 years. If we take care of business this Sunday I'm truly going to start believing. It will have been the first time in a long time we beat a team on paper that we should beat. Other than the skins every year. At least that's how it feels to me. I agree with this. Recent history just has me incredibly worried about this game. It seems every single time Giants fans start to feel good about the team, they bring us crashing back to earth and depression with an inexplicable loss to a team they should have beaten. Exactly. I'm about to hop the train up from DC in a few minutes. This will be my first game since the Dallas debacle opener in 2012. I am hoping I came for a quality game. Fingers crossed. Well based on your history then I think we should all chip in for an early return ticket. Touché. But I think we are winning this game. This team seems hungry.

Ok, your allowed to go to more games now...