Washington was 6TH and Cowboys 13TH ( Eagles 32). If we can get good QB protection, we will probably see greater big yardage passing plays. But as Parcels use to say winning the time of possession wins games. So BBI: What do you expect to see the Giants do to improve our time of possession? Will Johnson at FB and improved TE blocking be the difference in fixing our running game to the point where on third or fourth downs we finally are able to move the chains? Will we see more outlet passes and greater use of Vereen or Perkins? Which of our runners will be the real deal? Can our OL keep Eli healthy and effective?
ball consistently or it will be more of the same 4th
quarter losses and FG's instead of TD's
In 2015 we simply and plainly did not.
In fact, by mid-season Giants were throwing on 3rd/Short more than I have ever seen them in recent memory...
I agree with this 100%. Time and time again the Giants offense would only get 1 chance in a quarter of football. They needed to go 4-4 on time consuming drives. In my view this is a combination of lousy defense and lack of a real running game (one where we could run when we had too). Our running game was only effective when they D was looking for a pass.
We had the worst of both worlds last year. Hooray for our side!
I see our run defense improving by leaps and bounds. The starting DL has four "above average" run defenders. SLB Kennard is an above average run defender. MLB Brinkley, whom I now believe will be the opening day 1st and 2nd down starter, is solid against the run but not the pass. WLB Robinson is fast and I believe an upgrade over JT Thomas and Casillas. Robinson will move to MLB on 3rd downs or clear cut passing downs. I actually see us sort of rotating linebackers a bit more than we'd probably like and Goodson will see time as the season progresses.
The point: our talent level for run defense is much much better this year than last year. At least on paper. We will also play S L. Collins closer to the LOS along with S N. Behre and both of them are beasts tackling.
Next, we will run the ball better. The last four games in 2015 we ran effectively and that will carry over along with improved talent and experience. We now have a real FB in Johnson who will help the ground game immensely. I believe RG Jerry worked harder this off-season than any lineman may have as he went to AZ to an OL camp to master technique.
I believe TE Tye improved as the season went in the blocking and receiving departments and he helps the ground game right off the bat plus he'll catch those short passes and be Eli's safety valve. I look for Tye to have a big year.
I'm going to guess we finish between 10 to 15 in terms of time of possession this year. I'm thinking our own run game finishes in the late teens. All of this is contingent on our staying fairly healthy, of course, and some luck too. :)
But we all know the defense had a hard time getting off the field last year. How many 3rd and longs were converted against this team last year? Seemed like this occurred too often.
But the last two years, we all knew the Giants defense stunk, so it was unrealistic to ask them to make plays and stops they were incapable of making.
This is why it was on the offense (particularly last year) to shield the defense from its awfulness and put games away when the had the chance to and extend drives to allow them to breathe.
Now they have better players this season. But even now, I still want to shield them. I want to allow the key guys on the defensive line to play 50-60 snaps, than 65 to 75.
Unless Larry Donnel blocking skills have vastly improved, which is not likely, I believe one of the youngsters,
La Cross or RM will win Larry's roster spot.
With a solid in line blocker added to the line our running game and pass protection will improve.
I believe that this is the Giants brain trusts master plan. Which would explain why we have not signed a RT or any Tackle so far this off season
But we all know the defense had a hard time getting off the field last year. How many 3rd and longs were converted against this team last year? Seemed like this occurred too often.
I believe if we had the "normal or average" amount of injuries last year we'd have won the weak NFC East division. I mean, you can say that about Dallas too since Romo and Bryant and Scandrick went down for them.
My point: we lost 6 games last year in the last 2 minutes because our defense was horrible and gassed late. We have upgraded at many positions; we have guys returning especially in the secondary; and, I believe we had a heck of a draft. I just feel really good about this draft. If we win 4 of those six games this year we are 10-6 and likely division champs.
But honestly, I think we could be 11-5 and super solid. It is contingent on our staying healthy and getting healthy (Cruz, Hankins, Jackson, Behre, Donnell, etc.). Get out of camp healthy and start the season 3-0 against the NFC. The trips to MN and Green Bay will not be easy but I'm hoping we win at least one of them. A good start and a strong finish with oour rookie class taking more and more snaps will go a long way in our making a run this year.
Vegas Steve : 10:59 am : link : reply
A changing of the guard at TE . In order to protect Newhouse, a blocking TE with some short area receiving skill will be added to the roster.
Unless Larry Donnel blocking skills have vastly improved, which is not likely, I believe one of the youngsters,
La Cross or RM will win Larry's roster spot.
With a solid in line blocker added to the line our running game and pass protection will improve.
I believe that this is the Giants brain trusts master plan. Which would explain why we have not signed a RT or any Tackle so far this off season
that we did not see more chip blocks from the TE position on the right side of the line.....hell, the opposition has been doing that to us for years...we rush four, their front 5 plus a TE, and even a RB chips a block before going out into the flat for a pass....four against 6 or 7? And you wonder why we don't have more sacks? Because we don't have linebackers and DB's who are quick enough and strong enough to be factors in the blitz.....how many times have we seen guys blitz, and get neutralized by a running back?
But there are reasons to hope for better, at least on the defensive side of the ball.
Denver was 21st in time of possession last year and seemed to do fine and it didn't affect their defense. New England's time of possession is below the league average routinely and they contend for a super bowl every year.
Denver was 21st in time of possession last year and seemed to do fine and it didn't affect their defense. New England's time of possession is below the league average routinely and they contend for a super bowl every year.
If our running game is "middle of the pack" as I suspect it will be that is more than enough for Eli to work with. We just have to score TD's in the redzone this year and I think with FB Johnson leading the way we'll be better in short yardage than before.
I also think TE Tye will be a redzone threat along with WR's Victor Cruz and Sheppard, both guys who can cut on a dime and be open. Last, RB Vereen is now year #2 in this offense and I have a feeling he will catch more balls and have more TD's this year, a lot more TD's.
For the 1st time since the end of 2011 we appear to have a defense. That should take the offense to another level without the pressure to score every touch
For the 1st time since the end of 2011 we appear to have a defense. That should take the offense to another level without the pressure to score every touch
I too believe this year's defense will be much improved so long as we get and stay healthy. The starting four DL's plus our starting CB's and S L. Collins at the LOS will carry this defense if those guys all stay healthy. You can lose a guy like say MLB Brinkley, or LB Casillas but you can't lose the guys I listed without a dropoff in talent.
If this defense stays healthy and the DL has an effective rotation with OWA, Wynn, Bromley and Nix we will have a good season on defense. We will be top notch against the run and good enough against the pass. But we must stay healthy because depth isn't there.
TOP is meaningless if you consistently score TD's when you have possession on offense.
But if you don't score TD's, what happens? You put your defense (if they are poor) in a bad situation. You know they are bad and the opposing offense can move the ball on you and not only limit your possessions, but also put points on the board.
I can understand the theory. Unlike college where you can tilt the talent gap in your favor, in the NFL teams are too even in talent to have that work to the extent he would like.
You can't creatively play call against atrocious run blocking.
If you know your offensive line when it is 3rd and less than 3 yards can't run the ball and you have to put it in the air, that is a problem that plays right into the hands of the defense.
It's like playing with one arm tied behind you going in.
The defense knows you're more than likely not going to run because you stink at it and so they can put their resources into pass rushing or coverage.
The end result is what you have seen the last few years. 3rd down failures when it comes to short yardage and bigger than that, red zone failures because the space is so clogged up down there inside the 20 with defenders that it's hard to make plays without a threat of a positive run.