Category: New York Giants

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Ben McAdoo Doing a Bad Job Convincing Anyone The Giants Are Not Quitters

Baseline Perspective | McAdoo
Giants Head Coach Ben McAdoo (Image Credit: AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

If the Giants and Ben McAdoo are looking to prove they’re not quitting on this season, they’re going to need a different approach. It certainly seemed that way during their 51-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.  

The Giants looked like a team already planning out their vacation plans. They certainly didn’t look like they were ready to play a football game. 

The Rams are a good football team, there should be no more debates about this. This is a well-coached team, with a young franchise quarterback, playmakers at running back and wide receiver, and a game-changer on defense.  

In other words, the Rams are everything the Giants are currently not.  

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The Giants are missing Odell Beckham Jr., the injuries to their roster were body blows to their season, and the offensive line remains a joke. These issues are not why they embarrassed themselves against the Rams. 

Nothing better summarizes the fall of the Giants than the second quarter of this game. On a third and 33, the Rams called a screen play likely just to make for a manageable fourth down. Jared Goff hit Robert Woods and, 52 yards later, found himself in the end zone celebrating a touchdown.  

How an NFL defense allows a touchdown there is beyond me. Woods ran right through the Giants’ defense; the secondary took terrible angles on the play. They looked out of position and eventually shell-shocked.  

Just as inexcusable was the Giants allowing Goff to find Sammy Watkins for a 67-yard touchdown pass which basically put the game away before halftime. Again, the secondary, specifically Landon Collins, looked caught off-guard.  

The body language from Dominque Rodgers- Cromartie, after Woods scored again on a four-yard touchdown pass, said it all.  Woods was wide open in the end zone when Rodgers-Cromartie was in coverage on another receiver. He turned and saw Woods and could only throw his hands up in disgust.  

In that one gesture, Rodgers-Cromartie likely summed up the feelings of every Giants’ fan this season.  

Effort shouldn’t be taught, it’s either there or it’s not. No matter what anyone on the Giants say about this game, there’s no justifying lack of effort and players continuing to blow their coverage assignments. 

After the game, McAdoo spoke having to keep fighting and learning about people during times like this. The Giants could be looking at McAdoo exactly the same way. And it’s not just McAdoo, it’s the entire coaching staff and general manager Jerry Reese.

If I’m the Giants, I’ve seen enough to know major changes must take place after the season. They probably won’t, but it can’t hurt to start now.  

Because no matter what they say to convince anyone otherwise, they look like a team which has already pulled the plug. 

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Start At the Top When Finding Blame For Giants’ 0-2 Start

When placing blame for what’s wrong with the Giants, make sure the finger pointing starts at the top.

A 24-10 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night, in front of a capacity crowd for the home opener at Met Life Stadium, has fans scratching their heads in disbelief and frustration.

After another embarrassing performance in front of a national audience, the Giants find themselves at 0-2 to start the season.

Much like the week before in Dallas, the Giants’ offensive line was atrocious.

The Lions sacked Eli Manning five times.

Giants Have Giant Problems All Over

Like Jon Gruden on ESPN constantly reminded us, the Giants run an offense with an emphasis on timing. But Manning has had zero time to pick up his head, much less go through his progressions in order to find an open receiver.

Manning, unlike his counterpart on the Lions, Matthew Stafford, doesn’t have the quickness to constantly escape the pass rush. There were a handful of times where Stafford was able to use his feet to avoid trouble and gain positive yards. Meanwhile Manning, at 36 years old, was target practice for the Lions on this night.

This isn’t to poo-poo on Eli Manning. I’m not hopping on the ‘Is Eli done?’ bandwagon, even though it’s beginning to pick up steam.

The blame for this team’s offensive struggles isn’t entirely on Manning. Just like the fault isn’t entirely on a ground game which only produced 54 yards total between three running backs.

Odell Beckham Jr. returned to the field, but only had four catches for 36 yards.

Then there’s Brandon Marshall.

Marshall was a little more active than his one-catch Giants debut against Dallas a week ago. But his drop in the fourth quarter, on a beautifully thrown pass from Manning, eventually led to a game-breaking 88-yard punt return for a touchdown by Detroit’s Jamal Agnew.

But the receivers are also not entirely at fault.

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As I wrote in an earlier post prior, if the Giants don’t figure out what to do with their offensive line, they can forget any talk of competing for a Super Bowl. They won’t even make the playoffs.

Eli Manning won't be able to take hits likes this for too much longer if the Giants don't figure out their offensive line struggles. (Image Credit: Jim McIsaac)
Eli Manning won’t be able to take hits likes this for too much longer if the Giants don’t figure out their offensive line struggles. (Image Credit: Jim McIsaac)

A Giants Offensive Line Which Has Looked Offensive

Left tackle Ereck Flowers was bad again. Lions’ defensive end Ezekiel Ansah recorded three of Detroit’s five sacks on Manning. Watching Ansah repeatedly blow by Flowers at the line, you couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

It was that bad, it’s been that bad with Flowers since the Giants drafted him.

Flowers has become the poster boy for all that’s wrong with this team’s offensive line. They can’t pass-protect and they can create lanes for the run game.

Those are the primary responsibilities of the position.. Hence, the problem.

The run game will never get going, which will make the Giants one-dimensional and predictable. Opposing defenses will continue to focus on Manning whenever he drops back to pass. However, his uneasiness in the pocket will prevent him from ever getting in tune with his receivers.

There will be more three and outs, this will lead to more time on the field for the defense.

Until the Giants figure out their issues on the line, this destructive chain reaction will continue.

But this isn’t all on the offensive line either. Well, the blame has to start somewhere, right?

It’s time to look at who’s calling the plays and who put the team together. Giants general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Ben McAdoo is where the blame begins.

Reese’s decision to bring back this offensive line, with little to no changes, can’t be ignored anymore.

It's time for Giants general manager Jerry Reese do start answering questions about his offensive line. (Image: Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)
It’s time for Giants general manager Jerry Reese (left) to start answering questions about his offensive line. (Image: Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)

Then there’s McAdoo. He was right to hold Manning accountable for his delay of game gaffe which cost the Giants field position in the red zone. But his play calling also has to change.

On the Giants only touchdown drive, Manning got rid of the football quickly and without hesitation. With that line in front of him, this is going to be the only way the offense will find any rhythm to it.

McAdoo has shown he’s not afraid to criticize his quarterback in front of the media, so then it shouldn’t be a problem for him to make sure Manning gets rid of the football quicker from here on.

Reese and McAdoo can also put their heads together and come up with a better solution at left tackle than Flowers, because this just isn’t working.

It’s one thing to stand by a player who’s clearly struggling to figure it out, but at what point do you start thinking about the rest of the team?

It Doesn’t Get Easier

The schedule doesn’t do the Giants any favors. A divisional road game against the Philadelphia Eagles is next, followed by another road game against Tampa Bay.

But if there’s going to be a blame game for what’s gone wrong with the 0-2 Giants, there’s plenty to go around. Just make sure you start at the top.

 

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Giants’ Offensive Line Struggles Remain A Giant Problem

If the Giants’ offensive line don’t come up with a cure to fix their problems, it won’t matter who Eli Manning throws the football to this season.

We were all reminded of this while watching Big Blue’s season-opening 19-3 road loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Manning was under pressure from the start and barely had time to adjust his helmet before having to run for his life.

The Giants were already without lead wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. because of an ankle injury. As I wrote prior to this game, sitting Beckham was the right call, make no mistake about it. But it wouldn’t have mattered if he was on the field for this one.

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New York’s leading receiver was Roger Lewis, with four catches for 54 yards. Brandon Marshall, brought in to be a solid number two wide receiver, was held to one catch for 10 yards.

I’m pretty sure that’s not how Giants head coach Ben McAdoo drew up the game plan to go.

Giants’ Offensive Line Problems Impact More Than Just The Passing Game

But this problem doesn’t just impact the passing game, it is much more than that. The Giants inability to run the football the past couple of seasons can be largely attributed to the lack of lanes created for them to run through.

Paul Perkins and Orleans Darkwa are expected to carry the bulk of the running load for the Giants this season, they combined for 30 yards on 10 carries against Dallas.

When you have an offensive line that can’t pass protect or run block, you have a team setup for failure every week.

Beckham is one of the most exciting players in the league. Marshall, if used properly, can still be an impact player. Youngsters Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram have plenty of potential. But Manning needs time to get these players the football in order to do what they do.

The Giants, not surprisingly, lost the time of possession battle to Dallas. They only had the football for 25:46 to the Cowboys 34:14. What this means is the defense was on the field entirely too long.

This is a defense with the potential to be very good this season. But they will be gassed every week trying to pick up their offensive teammates.

The Giants will look to get on track in week 2 against the Detroit Lions. It’ll be the home opener and also a Monday night game.

If the Giants’ offensive line don’t figure out their problems quickly, it will be another lost season for the team.

 

 

 

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Odell Beckham Jr. Must Keep Big Picture In Mind With Injured Ankle

The preseason’s over and the Giants are less than one week away from the start of the regular season, possibly without Odell Beckham Jr..

It’s been two weeks since Beckham injured his ankle in a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. The Giants open their season Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys on national television. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on the availability of their star wide receiver.

Beckham, according to reports, has yet to practice since injuring his ankle.

There’s plenty reason to have Beckham on the field Sunday night. He’s a playmaker who’s shown he can thrive on a huge platform such as playing on Sunday night. The Cowboys, besides being a rival, or also a divisional opponent. The Giants can make an early statement with a win on the road to start the season.

But while there’s plenty of reason for Beckham to play Sunday night, the reality of the situation is there’s still an entire season ahead.

Perspective On Beckham

If the Giants deliver on defense, protect Eli Manning, and find some sort of running game, they’ll be make a playoff-run this season. But they’ll need their playmakers and Beckham’s at the top of the list.

Odell Beckham Jr. of the Giants walks off the field after suffering an injury in the first half of a preseason game against the Browns. (Image Credit: Getty / Joe Robbins)

Beckham obviously is a huge reason expectations for the Giants passing game this season are high. If he’s not 100 percent or close to it, do the Giants really want to risk their top receiver re-injuring himself?

In my opinion, that’s not a risk worth taking in week 1 of the season.

It’s no secret Beckham’s passion for football sometimes gets overshadowed by his occasional emotional displays on the field. There’s no doubt he’s well aware any game against the Cowboys is circled on the calendars of most Giants fans. He’s going to want to play, hurt ankle or not.

It will be interesting to see how the Giants approach Beckham’s injury during the week leading up to Sunday night. Will they throw caution to the wind and play him? Or will the big picture for the rest of the regular season take first priority?