No, I'm not placing it all on him. The WRs did not make plays down the field, Eli threw a dumb pick, and two of the rookies conspired to give Stafford excellent field position after the Giants tied the game. Enough blame to go around.
But Flowers was the persistent, recurring reason why the Giants could not climb back into the game. Ziggy Ansah is a good player, but he's not a great player. He's not Vernon and he's not JPP. He should not beat anyone for three sacks on the night. Ansah routinely won the one on one battle and disrupted the passing game. I think we've all seen enough.
Let's be honest. Flowers still has the same problems he had in Miami. Poor punch, doesn't know what to do with his hands, and overall bad footwork. The Giants had to know this heading into the draft. Heck, Chris Snee said he would not recommend drafting him in the first. I have to think, the Giants fell in love with his measurables. Flowers looks the part, but all that size and length can't make up for the lack of proper technique.
And that brings us to the real question. What are the Giants going to do? If a change is not made, this team is looking at a 6-10 finish. What Reese and company have done with the OL is a criminal offense to Eli. They know Eli needs a clean pocket to be effective. They gambled on Flowers and Hart, and lost big time. Problem is, they are gambling with Eli's remaining years. Our favorite Manning has plenty of good football left if you can keep him upright.
The worst thing about all of this is the answer is staring the franchise right in the face, and the big reason this fix hasn't been tried is probably Pugh's T-rex arms. I get it, big changes can't really be made. No new faces are coming. But it is time to face facts. Your best OL is playing LG and arguably your worst is playing LT, the most important position on the OL. Never mind that Pugh played LT in college, played RT for two years in the pros, and is far more fundamentally sound than Flowers.
Anyone notice how well Pugh played at RT tonight? I don't have PFF grades, for whatever those are worth, but he seemed to handle the switch with minimal issue. We've all heard that Pugh can be a pro bowl LG, and I'm sure that's true. But last time I checked franchises didn't put trophies in the case based on how many players got into pro bowls. The number one job is winning, and you put your best 5 out there in the combination that helps you sustain offensive drives so you can WIN! The current configuration has failed to do that. 8 games under 20 points scored. 13 points in two games, 5 sacks allowed tonight, and no running game. What more does anyone need to see?
Move Pugh to LT, start Jones at LG, and let Flowers, Hart, Fluker, and Wheeler Duke it out for RT. Continuing with same OL combination is the epitome of hubris and the definition of insanity. Make the change now before Eli gets hurt (you see that shot he took on the pass to Shepherd!), before the Eagles wide 9 ends destroy us on Sunday, and before this season is over before Columbus day.
I'm sure their thinking is "These are the best five linemen we have, and they're playing at their best positions." So they're reluctant to try something different.
Well, if these are the five best linemen they have, playing at their best positions, the team's fucked. But if they're fucked, they might as well try something different. They're already fucked anyway. Might find a player on the bench, or find a better position for one of the guys they have.
There might actually be guys on the street who would improve the team, if only because Wheeler isn't ready to play, so Pugh's the real backup tackle, and that's not a big help.
They need to try him at Guard and hope it's a Leonard Davis situation.
I disagree with some of the others - they need to try to acquire SOMEONE, namely a younger guy that can be brought in for a mid or upper round draft pick. Who that is - I have no idea at this time.
Gotta admit, Sy knows his shit.
Link - ( New Window )
at very least you are young and building for the future.
and as I said preseason, practice, practice, practice outside zone runs to both sides ala falcons.
if your not running 70+ run plays in practice each day your not practicing to win right now.
practice, practice, practice outside zone runs to both sides, use them in games until they work repeatedly and then do play-action.
also, Darkwa #1, Gallman #2. until we fix the pass pro thusly via running.
Perkins is a nifty player for a team that can pass protect. Period. Until then, or until we can outside zone run block well, he is not that useful.
coach was using 12 and 13 then got away from it. that shows me something....not sure if its lack of practice at it, short 'playbook' or 'wanting to win "my way" ' as opposed to just winning.
Incredibly disappointing and a franchise altering miss of a pick
..............Manning....................
...........Darkwa.......................
(ODB and Shep)
Balance is a strongly lacking quality in Eric Flowers right now. He has zero confidence in his balance and is therefor unwilling or unable to exert his power, for fear that he fall forward. He needs a year to repo as a guard.
so, the '12' I listed you have T/TE combos on each end that can move in space and hit, which takes balance....which can be good to open up the playbook of those many possible '12' plays.
You have two good pass catching wrs (shep and becks) and two good pass catching TEs (EE and Ellison), darkwa mainly just runs and pass protects. but he at very least brings it when tacklers present themselves, so runs and play action become real as Pugh and EE or Wheeler and Ellison can stretch the ends or...TEs in routes.