concern.
Heard this last night on Late Hits on Sirius NFL Radio. Polian believes the Giants' don't have a guy they can give the ball to late in a game that could run down the clock and help preserve victories...ie. the four minute offense. He says that's where Dallas may have a big edge over the Giants offensively. He believes Giants should be much improved defensively and thinks Spags will work with Eli Apple to improve his technique which, Polian says, is his biggest weakness. He also thinks Ben will now input the full West Coast offense including the running game (more zone blocking).
Polian also had a very interesting interview with EA on his being inducted into the Giants' Ring of Honor.
See if Jennings can pick up where he left off at the end of last season. See what we have in Perkins.
Could be solid there. But for me (and Polian) ... right now a question.
I would not buy the "little bit below average" scenario based on stays at all. They couldn't run when they NEEDED TO and couldn't stop the run when they NEEDED to, either.
2. Cohesiveness on the OL ought to be better
3. Will Johnson could make a difference
4. Andre Williams ought to be better
5. Perkins could add a new dimension if #4 doesn't materialise.
6. The blocking at TE could well improve
7. Hart might surprise.
The flip side is Pugh and Richburg get injured and we are utterly awful.
There are very few backs who are able to help run out the clock, mainly because teams have to completely change their philosophy, moreso than the talent of the back.
nearly every team is passing first, so once they try to shift the focus to the run consistently, they aren't successful.
(Is Alaister pronounced the same way that the former host of our (America's) Public TV's Masterpiece Theater, Alaister Cook?)
1. Red Zone - More TDs. More aggressive play calling should help. Throwing the ball into the endzone instead of to the 2 yard line. Typical scenario last year. Run for little or no gain. Pass to the 2 yard line. Stuffed. Field goal.
2. Short yardage conversion. We seemed to be better converting 3rd and 5 than 3rd and 1. Also see Red Zone.
3. Running out clock. Last year we were very conservative (run, run, pass), and very ineffective running the ball. This year we either need to be less conservative and/or more effective running.
We will have a solid season if those areas improve. Especially if the defense is also better. Very encouraged that the Giants seem to see things the same way. In the past TC would say its all about poor execution. That is true to an extent, but if you repeatedly can't execute the palys being called then sometimes you need to call different plays. You can live with what should be or adapt to what is. My main criticism of TC is that he did not seem to be able to adapt to what his team could do and instead tried to force them to execute what they he thought they should be able to do.
Fans often have this perception, but it isn't bared out by facts.
Only 28% of 3 and out drives were run, run, pass last year.
You dont need an all world back to get 4-5 yards in a cloud of dust
Quote:
Running out clock. Last year we were very conservative (run, run, pass), and very ineffective running the ball.
Fans often have this perception, but it isn't bared out by facts.
Only 28% of 3 and out drives were run, run, pass last year.
Out of curiosity, where do you get stats like this?
2. Cohesiveness on the OL ought to be better
3. Will Johnson could make a difference
4. Andre Williams ought to be better
5. Perkins could add a new dimension if #4 doesn't materialise.
6. The blocking at TE could well improve
7. Hart might surprise.
The flip side is Pugh and Richburg get injured and we are utterly awful.
Jennings can definitely run the four minute offense and potentially so could any of the running backs really. FB Johnson leading the way late in a game is a huge upgrade. And as you noted, I also believe the blocking at TE will be much improved as our players aren't as raw as year's past (Donnell, Tye).
Finally, I think if this OL under coach Solari stays healthy through camp and practices together will surprise this year. I honestly can see Pugh and Richburg plying for probowl honors based on ability. LT E Flowers now has a year of technique under his belt and also an off-season workout program to develop that massive physical power that he has. I look for Flowers to be one of the best run blocking LT's in football this year.
Everyone is worried about the right side but what I see are two RETURNING veterans who can pass block well enough and who are in their prime. No mental errors. J. Jerry went to some off-season program to improve his game, his run blocking, and with coach Solari too he may improve and surprise. I think the starting OL will surprise.
We will run better and RB Vereen, who now knows the offense better of course, will really be a 3rd down conversion machine for the NY G's.
Polian is just wrong.
RBs who can show that they are able to reliably catch short passes will help also.
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Running out clock. Last year we were very conservative (run, run, pass), and very ineffective running the ball.
Fans often have this perception, but it isn't bared out by facts.
Only 28% of 3 and out drives were run, run, pass last year.
But one of the biggest of those 28% was versus the Jets, when we couldn't run out the clock..........
On the flip side, we did run out the clock effectively in Week 1 before just giving the game away.
This year's team has a much more "mature" group of blockers in the sense that there is now experience, continuity and development plus a true FB in Johnson. We shall see but I have a good feeling that we have an OL returning in tact; year 3 of offense; TE's that should be improved; a true FB; and a group of RB's who should be solid.
Anyway, this would help a lot in closing out games.
If the Oline has improved it's run blocking by training or technique from the new line coach would be a HUGE plus.
Actually allow Eli Manning to execute a QB sneak every once in a while would help by forcing the defense to have to consider defending for that play. TC never allowed ELi to do a QB sneak.
There are so many little things that can be improved...
Remember, Tiki Barber didn't "get it" right away. He LEARNED how to use his blockers and then BOOM he blossomed. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing how A. Williams does under coach McAdoo, new FB Johnson and improved TE blocking. He sucked last year as a runner for sure but lets see how he does in camp and early this year. I doubt he gets cut over Dwarka.
I agree with Polihan,,,,our RB group is average right now.
The rookies may change that...if not....it's avery average group.
I agree with Polihan,,,,our RB group is average right now.
The rookies may change that...if not....it's avery average group.
Quote:
Running out clock. Last year we were very conservative (run, run, pass), and very ineffective running the ball.
Fans often have this perception, but it isn't bared out by facts.
Only 28% of 3 and out drives were run, run, pass last year.
And I think that happened 100% of the time to start the 2nd half! haha
Manning still doesn't know how to run a screen play. He only uses it when he doesn't like the way a play starts. The quick dump off. He never throws a delayed screen where blockers have time to set up for the back receiving the ball.
Manning still doesn't know how to run a screen play. He only uses it when he doesn't like the way a play starts. The quick dump off. He never throws a delayed screen where blockers have time to set up for the back receiving the ball.
Who were the receiving backs and offensive linemen that could do it? That always has to be part of the equation.