Frankly I think this opener will set the stage or tone for the entire season.
Maybe not so much if it's a win or a loss, but if the team gets its ass kicked, and most especially if the Dallas OL sets the tone and they run ragged over our defensive front 7, I will expect a pretty sorry ass year overall.
Don't trust our LBs for shit.
So - I'm not hanging my hat on whatever terrible things will probably occur.
I am more concerned by the front 7 than anything else. Change to a 3-4 without a single impact linebacker?? GAAH!!!
Trying to remember the last time a Giant front 7 looked this weak on paper and I'm having trouble. I fear it could get really ugly - like a bottom-5 defense.
Need the new system to WORK, need a couple of these kids to become instant All Pro's. Lawrence and Carter, I'm looking at YOU.
Can we get and keep decent/good field position, control the ball, some first downs and get some points up? Most think we'll be ok but that's the piece i worry about.
I don't trust our D, especially in a shoot out, think we'd lose late if it comes to that. But we have to score early and stay close early. If we get down 10 in the late 3rd, this one is probably done.
...between the tackles. I think going wide against this LBer group is a tough nut to crack. They flow to the ball really well. Rather go straight at them.
Just a thought.
On defense, sure I'd love a decent pass rush, but I would gladly sacrifice it if our front seven concentrated on stopping their run game and pitched a shutout!
This, and he said that back when they played 6 preseason games. Even more true now.
If front 7 gets beat by the Dallas online then blitz like crazy.
Hurry Dak's throws and let our secondary have some fun.
Go into Dallas and win. A 42-0 loss and a 24-23 loss are the same in the standings.
Win or lose you build on the experience and prepare to win the next game.
I am sick of 0-1 because we open at Dallas - usually in prime time. Let's be 1-0.
Regular Season 16-0 (Starts with a win Sunday)
Playoffs 3-0
We do have a tootsie pop center defense and Dallas continually exploits the center of the field each match up.
The game that changed that season was Bradshaw running for that 60-70 yard TD in Buffalo and close NE loss. Otherwise scratching and clawing that schedule.
But that just an ie first game really doesn't set tone
Not to me. They're just too young at this point.
Comparing those teams to this one seems ridiculous. There's no Strahan here. There's no Osi. Those teams had established high end players. And at least one hall of fame level player.
Not to me. They're just too young at this point.
Best hope is to "Dallas" Dallas. Dominate TOP with a run game and short passes, and keep our Achilles heel D off the field as long as possible.
Dallas has become very effective at that. Granted, that is much easier said than done. But with a better OL and a year under Barkley's belt, it doesn't seem too far fetched...
Quote:
Completely, check out the first two games of the 2007 season, then watch the Super Bowl, then tell me if you changed your mind, lets remember we stunk it up by the end of the 2006 season and Tiki retired, Strahan held out all camp and there were very few optimistic opinions of that team. We trailed by 2 td's at the half in Washington in game 3. So don't bs yourself knowing the happy ending.
Comparing those teams to this one seems ridiculous. There's no Strahan here. There's no Osi. Those teams had established high end players. And at least one hall of fame level player.
I was going to give the same answer in general - there is no comparison between that 07 defense with Strahan, Osi, Tuck, Kiwi, ROBBINS (very underrated by almost everyone), Cofield and Antonio Pierce directing traffic, and the current crew most of whom still have baby teeth, and the experienced among them (Bethea) likely on his last leg...
Now the OLs of the two teams might be comparable, if this one gels quickly.
And if that doesn't bear out, it points towards the necessity to accelerate the turnover to DJ.
They are fast at WR and on defense with one of the
best LB corp in football will be tough sledding for Barkley
and the TE butchered us last season he looked better
then Witten in his prime lol
That said an upset would set BSPN on its head especially
if Eli leads the game winner .
Who is 24? Did Shurmur hybrdize Barkley and Gallman? Or is Julian Love playing on offense?
You can believe, as I do, that the Giants will lose this game.
You can also believe, as Joey declared in a recent post, that it will be a really ugly loss.
But if you believe this one game will set the tone for the entire season, you're not only being overly pessimistic, but overly dramatic as well.