My son and his girlfriend treated me and my wife to some amazing seats 9 rows back and on the fifty.
What a great prospective you get from these seats.
Some observations that may or may not be apparent on TV.
Saquon is the most determined that I have ever seen him. He was extremely animated on the sidelines, at times yelling and imploring players. He really gave it his all and looks to be the Barley of old. At the end of the game the entire Section serenaded him and he showed his appreciation.
Jones played really well and made some very good decisions. The OL was porous in pass protection so Jones either did play action, RPO, or had to move in the pocket. Jones rarely had time but he did not allow the pressure to deter him. He forced the action, protected the ball, threw it away when it was warranted and made some really good reads. He seems much more comfortable in this offense and is made for the RPO offense. Jones can win with this team.
What complicates the Giants inability to throw with more consistency is the lack of separation by the receivers. The Wide outs could not get open. For the most part it was the TEs who were open on drag routes.
These TEs block. There were (4-5) blocks by the TEs that were great. Two on Jones TD runs by 88 Hudson, and a couple nice blocks sealing the edges by Bellinger on Barkley's runs.
What a difference it makes in the run game when you are getting blocks downfield.
The Giants defense played great especially the line. They stonewalled the run against a very good running team and generated consistent pressure. The pressure up the middle was impressive. Thibodeau, Olijari, Ward, and X are the best outside rushers that the Giants have had in a while.
Thibs did play well and was getting constant pressure but just missing.
Adore covers well and I shocked at how good he is with his tackling. However, the Giants DBs had some difficulty in staying behind on some deep passes. If the pressure was not as effective as it was the Bears could have had some big plays. This could be a problem against a better QB.
One thing that was quite disturbing and I do not know if it showed up on the TV. The refs were awful and there were problems with the timekeeping. There were many offensive holding calls against the Bears where the refs swallowed their whistles. And the hit on Taylor was just awful. The line judge was standing there and did nothing.
In retrospect this may not a great team as they are missing many pieces, but they play to win, fight hard, and the coaching seems to put them in a position to succeed. This is something to build on.
It was a helmet to helmet hit. Not clean. He lead with his helmet.
As a penn stater, it was because the Oline was (and still is) every bit as bad as the Giants at their worst. He was hit almost every down behind the line. He also ran for 194, 99, and 44 yards against OSU
I think your take on his dancing is way off. He wasn’t dancing here or at PSU to hit a Hime Run, he was trying to at least get back to the line of scrimmage and not lose three yards, since he was facing guys in his face as soon as he received the handoff.
Now at least he has a chance to plow straight ahead or make a cut.
Williams was also there cheering on the DL.
This is a little different than in prior years where most injured players were not allowed on the sidelines during the game.
Jaylon Smith seems excited to be back he was one of a few players to interact with the fans at the end of the game.
The Giants must clean up the special teams. Running out of bounds while a five yard penalty the ensuing play cost the Giants 20 yards
I don't care if the player is a QB, RB, WR,etc., if the player is on the ground and another player leads with his helmet to spear the player that has to be a personal foul.
It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent.
Contact does not have to be to an opponent’s head or neck area — lowering the head and initiating contact to an opponent’s torso, hips, and lower body, is also a foul. Violations of the rule will be easier to see and officiate when they occur in open space – as opposed to close line play — but this rule applies anywhere on the field at any time.
There is no exception for tackling a running back with a lowered helmet.
Saquon has been fantastic, and I could see him on the sidelines exhorting his teammates. He is a must sign, and I was not in favor of him being picked at #2.
This is not true.
“This year, the NFL has made a tweak to the controversial rule that no one knew had happened. The change appears in the official 2022 rulebook, which the NFL has posted online. The rule now reads as follows: “It is a foul if a player lowers his head and makes forcible contact with his helmet against an opponent.”
Link - ( New Window )
If a player is on the ground and is he is speared it is a penalty. The player is considered to be defenseless.
If a running back lowers his head and initiates contact it is not a penalty
That was very disappointing.
With regard to pressure the Giants were moving the pocket, the throws were all either RPO or on role outs.
Jones did a very good job avoiding the rush, but there was pressure.
Thought the non-call on the hit on Taylor was weak
That was very disappointing.
With regard to pressure the Giants were moving the pocket, the throws were all either RPO or on role outs.
Jones did a very good job avoiding the rush, but there was pressure.
LOTS of empty seats, I was a little surprised. Almost all of the pass plays were off of play action, and Chicago was selling out to stop Barkley. There was very little pressure.
Thought the non-call on the hit on Taylor was weak
I thought the call on Thibs was fair, the non-call on the Tyrod hit was outrageous. In todays NFL, they can’t miss that call.
- Chicago played physical but also somewhat dirty. Lots of chippy stuff after plays, particularly with #62 on the Bears.
- Thibs' explosion and speed are real. He could chase Fields sideline to sideline.
- Typical NFL mediocre officiating. A few really really late flags on both sides. Daboll hated the one illegal procedure penalty.
- Empty seats were mostly in the 300s (rain/wind) and the expensive 200 seats. Lower bowl was pretty filled.
- Tracy Morgan was in a suite in 117-119 and kept coming outside to urge the crowd on, especially after the fumble that sealed the game.
Quote:
Did you notice that there were a lot of empty seats?
That was very disappointing.
With regard to pressure the Giants were moving the pocket, the throws were all either RPO or on role outs.
Jones did a very good job avoiding the rush, but there was pressure.
LOTS of empty seats, I was a little surprised. Almost all of the pass plays were off of play action, and Chicago was selling out to stop Barkley. There was very little pressure.
I was in Section 307. Fair number of empty seats but given the forecast that wasn’t surprising.
Even from where I sat the holding on the first drive was obvious on Fields’ scramble. And it was right in front of the ref.
The Giants either ran right, left, or bootleg play action.
Unless the player is wide open Fields seems to have trouble hitting his receivers. He does not scream NFL QB to me.
And Barkley was obviously the best player on offense today on either team.
Finally Golloday is painfully slow for a WR. He is a square peg in a round hole for this offense. He should be inactive on game days for the rest of this season. I know they can’t cut him this year and no sane GM would trade for him.
And holding is one thing, but a blatant face mask taking down someone like Dexter Lawrence as he goes by the center... I don't know how that's missed.
at 3:03 of this video (10:23 in the 2nd, 3rd and 20)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0p2HiA-S8c - ( New Window )