Just got up, gotta get going for work, but I scrolled through and really didn't see anything on this. Here's my $.02 on the O-Line situation.
Early in the game the offense was trying to do too much, get too cute, and up front the protection was breaking down because of Dallas' stunts, blitzes, and other things to attack gaps. Yes, Eli was playing scared, and he has a history of doing this when he knows it's coming. It's in his head, and he WILL bail if it's going to get there. He's been doing this for 14 years! Also, Even on the backside of plays guys were literally running free because the protection was not correct and the back couldn't pick up the guy that was coming in clean.
But when we switched to more of a max protect look in the second half, at least for a while, they were able to keep Eli upright and move the ball. Adding the 2 tights to help on the edge and having the back stay in a bit longer slowed the Cowboys down somewhat...
In future weeks, the Giants can expect basically the same thing, and they're going to have to compensate for it. Whether it's keeping Ellison or Simonson in, and keeping that pocket as clean as possible, they're going to have to make those adjustments.
If I were Mike Shula right now I'd be all over the O-Line, the BACKS, (the FB is NFG in blitz pick up!) but I'd also be thinking about how to make those protection schemes work with stunts and blitzes. Eli NEEDS a pocket and needs time, so they really need to make this happen, or else it'll be a very long season, again.
Shurmur has done well bashing poor olines talent wise into reasonable facsimiles of NFL quality olines. The Oline coaches we've hired have been well regarded around the league. Yet we can't put out an oline than can recognise a stunt, and frankly we've not been able to since the 2012 oline completely broke down.
It's bizarre.
People who are claiming we need to run, run, run, run.... guess what? We cannot do that either.
People who are claiming we need to run, run, run, run.... guess what? We cannot do that either.
I am not saying run run run but we ran way better than you are making it out to be. Ahe the goal of running the ball is not always to get first downs. It wears down a defense. It allows you to run play action. Why do you think most coaches amd players say they need to stop the run first. It is much easier to play defense when an offense is one dimensional. Go back and look at the first half. 4 rushes to Barkley, 2 QB sneaks, 2 rushes to Stewart. 20 pass attempts. Eli was 16 for 20 and where did that get us? We don't need to run run run. We need to be balanced to keep a defense honest.
We took our weakness and magnified and did the same with Dallas' strength. Dumb.
Quote:
everytime we tried to run the ball on first down, we lost yardage. We got inside the 5 and on the first play, we lost 6 and held a guy!
People who are claiming we need to run, run, run, run.... guess what? We cannot do that either.
I am not saying run run run but we ran way better than you are making it out to be. Ahe the goal of running the ball is not always to get first downs. It wears down a defense. It allows you to run play action. Why do you think most coaches amd players say they need to stop the run first. It is much easier to play defense when an offense is one dimensional. Go back and look at the first half. 4 rushes to Barkley, 2 QB sneaks, 2 rushes to Stewart. 20 pass attempts. Eli was 16 for 20 and where did that get us? We don't need to run run run. We need to be balanced to keep a defense honest.
We took our weakness and magnified and did the same with Dallas' strength. Dumb.
Robbie, well said. We just spent the number 2 pick on a “generational” running back who looks the part. The offensive line doesn’t even need to properly block the second level for him to break one. He is that good in space. I cannot for the life of me figure out why they don’t run him early and often. He plays with defenders minds and the linebackers have no choice but to play closer to the line of scrimmage....opening up the play action game. Will this work all of the time? No, our line is bad. But, i still think it is this offenses best chance at giving Eli a little time and opening up the passing game.
People who are claiming we need to run, run, run, run.... guess what? We cannot do that either.
Absolutely, how many times did Barkley get hit in the backfield? Too many.