I don't think the outcome of today's game was a surprise to anyone with the team we fielded. 18 players on injured reserve and 10+ non-NFL caliber players taking meaningful snaps today. However, I was fortunate enough to get some great seats and spend Xmas eve at an NFL game with 2 of my sons. Here are some things that caught my attention (and maybe couldn't be seen on tv) from seats behind the Giants bench.
1) Something is clearly not right with Eli Apple and his relationship with the rest of the team. If you didn't know any better you would think the entire team was allergic to him. He only played today on punt return (got called for a holding penalty) and didn't even sit with the other members of the secondary when they were on the sideline. He sat by himself on the bench most of the game, every once in awhile Nate Berhe would come over to him, but that was it. Seemed like everyone else purposely avoided him. Not sure how this is going to go next year for him, but clearly something needs to change. A top 10 pick can't even get in a game for a 2-12 team over street free agents signed over the past month.
2) Team needs to move on from non-winning and non-effort players. From what I saw today, Roger Lewis, Aldrick Rosas, Bobby Hart and Brad Wing fall into this category. Lewis for all the time he's spent getting reps with Eli this season still isn't on the same page and has too many drops and bobbles. Several times he ran the wrong route causing Eli to throw up his hands. First series of the 2H, Eli throws a 2 year pass to a spot on the left sideline and Lewis is running a fly 20 yards down the field. Too many drops, bobbles, etc. Rosas was a good story in training camp, but clearly not an NFL kicker. Can't miss 30 yard field goals as he's done repeatedly. Bobby Hart, the self proclaimed best RT in the NFL will be lucky to be on an NFL roster next year. Continually over matched and doesn't look like he caress at all on the field. Brad Wing, aside from having a crappy year, it pissed me off after the game watching him sprint to the middle of the field to greet his fellow LSU alum Tyrann Mathieu and share some laughs after his team got shut out and embarrassed yet again.
3) Say what you will about JPP, but from what I saw he gave great effort today. Just a shame that he can't wrap up and use that hand with a club on it. He was visibly upset coming off the field of the effort the team was putting forth. I think a new coach that can motivate him can do wonders for him. Snacks and Landon Collins are the heart and soul of this team and play hard every snap. Hopefully they heal up in the off season and are part of a turnaround in 2018.
There is still talent on this team and I think we can compete again next year with the right coach in place, a solid draft and some smart FA pickups.
True. But in the case of the '17 Giants: too much of both.
What are your thoughts on Eli's two interceptions?
Looking around the league seeing guys like Case Keenan, Jared Goff and Alex Smith leading playoff bound teams, there's no doubt in my mind Eli still has the arm strength to still win games and get back to the playoffs. However, fixing the OL needs to be the priority.
A couple other observations from the game that I meant to mention earlier.
1) Rhett Ellison has good rapport with Eli and should be more involved next year. We know he's a good blocker but anytime the ball is thrown his way, he shows good hands and almost never goes down on first contact. I'd like to see more 2 TE sets next year with he and Engram on the field along with OBJ and Shepard.
2) DRC took some grief earlier this year with the suspension and stuff but watching him today, he was hustling on every play on defense and special teams. Showed no quit out there. Several times he was down the field quickly on punt coverage causing Peterson to fair catch the ball. He also appears to be playing more safety. Maybe that was due to Collins injury today but I'd bring him back next year for both CB and Safety depth. Cockrell is another player playing with good effort from what I saw today and would like to see him back next year.
Also, people scream about JPPs effort here, but "Stink" Schlereth on the telecast said he plays hard every down. He's not the most complimentary commentator toward Giants but went out of his way to point out JPPs effort.
I think they are all playing hard, they just suck. Yesterday was one of the few times you could see shoulders sag. Eli was the most obvious. Not often you could see resignation in Eli's body language. You could see it in Flowers body language also in the 4th quarter.
Glad you got to take the kids to a game. That is the important thing.
When the D was on the field he would wander back towards the cooler or the seats, but the only other player he interacted with at all was Berhe. And that wasn't often.
Berhe also semed like a lost soul on the sidelines, maybe thinking that his time in NY was just about over.