So... what do the Giants have to do to win?
Obviously they have one of the best offenses in the NFL but this team has lost a bunch of games. What are some of the things teams have done to either contain their offense or take advantage of their defense?
Where are they weak?
On the opposite side, they have a young and very aggressive defense that's starting 3 rookies.
to minimize Steelers big play ability ..
I wouldn't mind seeing Goodson get some 1st and 2nd down snaps . I feel that is something he could be effective in stoping the run , Granted Sheppard is the guy who calls the defensive call's . They have to tackle gang tackle limit YAK .Offense needs to play smart but there gonna have to take some shots downfield and if there holding back on some plays this. might be the time to use a few.
If we lose its not the end of the world but if the offense
somehow get the run game going we can pull this out .
This is probably the biggest test to date as far as if were
legitimate and by that I mean don't get embarrassed you know damn well Steelers will be ready . Most of all come
out healthy for Dallas ..
To the contrary they are coming Eli this time.
Defense needs to be disciplined with their gap responsibilities as Bell loves to cutback. If we over pursue, he will gash us.
Our special teams will need to play their best game. Our coverage teams must maintain their lanes. They do not shy away from Brown returning punts, and if he gets into the open field, it's over.
This game is a huge test for Mac. He has beaten some lesser competition playing it safe. Which is smart But that's not going to work against Steelers.
No special teams fuck-ups (missed XPs, bad coverage, turnovers).
Limit Pittsburgh's big plays, which has been one of the few problems for the Giants defense.
Get off the field on 3rd downs.
Hmmm... I can see Beckham replicating Wallace's 95-yard TD on an eight-yard slant; but I'm not sure scoring on a blocked punt is the kind of thing you can build into a game plan. And would you count on Robbie Gould to hit two long field goals in adverse conditions?
Then there's the challenge of making Roethlisberger play hurt so he stinks the place up for three quarters the way he did in Baltimore. I guess hitting him early and often would be a good start.
Anyway, a few keys for Sunday...
1) PROTECT THE DUKE! (Damn, now he has us saying it.)
2) Deny the big play. Take away Brown, and keep a tail on Bell at all times. Pittsburgh's complementary outside threats - Bryant, Heyward-Bey, Wheaton - are all gone. Sammie Coates flashed the first five weeks, then disappeared: 14 targets, 1 catch, 4 yards the last six games. (I've never seen numbers like that, let alone from a third-round pick, and we've seen some clunkers around here.) So Roethlisberger is throwing to the likes of Cobi Hamilton and Eli Rogers. That's like the Giants starting Roger Lewis and Tavarres King alongside Beckham. TE Jesse James is effective in close quarters, but mercifully isn't much of a threat down the seam. In short, the Steelers have a few outstanding players on offense; but unlike a depleted Dallas defense, the Giants have the horses to match up with their stars, and PIT's other skill players are JAGs or worse.
3) Red zone differential. This is a constant key for the 2016 Giants, who need to make the most of their scarce scoring opportunities. Score touchdowns. Force field goal attempts. With a shaky Gould on a wet field, it's more important than ever to limit his duties to extra points (which provide enough excitement at the moment). On defense, swarm to Bell and at least make sure James has to fight for the ball in the end zone. If he wins a jump ball, well, the dude is 6'7".
The scary thing about #2 is that I can see the Giants losing track of somebody like Eli Rogers out of the slot, and getting beat because their practice-squad free safety takes a bad angle.
they scored over 20 points against the cowboys.
Obviously, DON'T turn it over.
3-and out's are NOT a big deal with Brad Wing punting the way he is. Just don't turn it over, win field position most of the day, the rest should take care of itself.
As commonplace as it sounds, I would still say the key for the Giants would be to stop/control Le'Veon Bell.
While that doesn't mean Antonio Brown won't get his, but at least we have upgraded our corners as best as possible to offer him and Big Ben a good matchup down the field. We just make it easier for our guys if we keep them in 2nd & long / 3rd & long.
Assume Steeler coaches will put a wrinkle in as Tomlin likes to go against the grain on play calls at some point every game too. ST Grand Master Quinn hopefully has scouted their specials...
Quote:
According to Football Outsiders, Pittsburgh is the least consistent team in the NFL (the Giants are the MOST consistent) and their numbers back it up. They're 6-5. In the seven games that had both Roethlisberger and Bell they're 4-3. Their biggest win came against the Chiefs who are currently 8-3. That was a week after their biggest loss against the now 5-6 Eagles. When they score more than 20 they're 6-0 and 0-5 when they score less. If it's that simple, that's all I got. Hold them to less than 20. I picked the Steelers to go to the Super Bowl out of the AFC and on paper they should be but you really have no idea what you're going to get week to week from them.
they scored over 20 points against the cowboys.
You're right zero. I got that one from David Diehl on the press conference show. That's what I get for not doing more of my own research!
They really just do not have the personnel. it's a 34 with good ILBs and not much else. DE Cam Heyward their best Defensive player is on IR. Their secondary is a bunch of nobodies. This looks like a Steelers D rebuilding.
So the key is - the offense has to be effective. We aren't going to run anyone over but we can't make this look like the old Steelers D. Get your 3-4 yards, stay on schedule and convert the 3rd downs. As Shepard said - this week there will be plenty of opportunities given the Steelers scheme. (They aren't going to sit back in a cover 2.)
It's going to be a wild game and our Offense *should* be able to do more against their D, than there's to ours.
Be mentally prepared to battle a team that should be desperate at home. Play a clean, crisp road game and don't beat ourselves.
No special teams fuck-ups (missed XPs, bad coverage, turnovers).
Limit Pittsburgh's big plays, which has been one of the few problems for the Giants defense.
Get off the field on 3rd downs.
My thoughts exactly....we need to get them off the field on 3rd downs and we need to sustain drives by moving the chains on 3rd.