SuperFan: BYE WEEK (11/17/09)

The Longest Week of the Year

By Superfan

Well, fans, we made it. The loneliest weekend of the year is behind us, and it’s nothing but Giants football from now until season’s end (hopefully that’ll be in January or February). What’s best, we didn’t even play and we gained ground in the division! Instead of having Dallas and Philadelphia pull farther ahead from us, with a loss each, they’re now just 6-3 and 5-4, respectively. And don’t forget, we won our first match-up with Dallas, which is huge.

As we round the corner into the second stretch of this season, our schedule puts us in a position to not only control our own fate, but that of the entire NFC (and some of the AFC) playoff picture. In case you don’t have a schedule nearby, or haven’t checked one recently, here’s our remaining schedule (with team’s current record in parentheses): vs. Atlanta (5-4), @ Denver (6-3), vs. Dallas (6-3), vs. Philadelphia (5-4), @ Washington (3-6), vs. Carolina (4-5), @ Minnesota (8-1). That’s a combined record of 38-26. Three of those teams currently lead their respective divisions, and the rest (except Washington) will most likely be vying for an NFC Wild Card spot. Needless to say, we’ve got our work cut out for us.

This also means we’re really going to have to come out swinging, with no room for a slow start. Our invitation for January’s second-season is out there – we just have to go get it! And here’s (this fan’s opinion on) how we should go about doing that…
We can’t play from behind each week, especially not against the teams we have coming up. This disturbing trend can be helped twofold. First, and most obvious, is that our defense has to stop letting up the big plays. If the opposing team’s offense doesn’t constantly put points on the board, that’ll keep our offense from finding themselves in a shootout each game. Second, WE MUST ESTABLISH THE RUN! Each game starts strong for us on the ground, but never quite reaches the tipping point. By that, I mean that one clutch block, that one missed tackle, that one change of direction that breaks off a huge gainer. We’ve come close to one of those each week, but never quite got it. I have a strong feeling that if we can catch that one break for the running backs, it’ll blow our rushing attack wide open. When that happens, they won’t have the luxury of being able to sit back and wait for the pass every drive, and it’ll also hopefully mean Eli won’t be faced with constant 3rd and longs, where everyone knows we pretty much have to put the ball in the air. Here’s the thing – when you’re able to consistently pound the ball all game, and get positive yards with each run, it’s referred to as “dominating the line of scrimmage.” However, when it’s ineffective (as it has been the last few games), it’s referred to as being “too conservative.” We have two of the better backs in the league, and one of the toughest offensive lines. If we can get them to work together effectively, it’ll be just like the good ol’ days of last season.
When we drive the length of the field, it’s not okay to settle for field goals and hope our defense holds them. We have to be aggressive in the red zone, and turn it back into the green zone. One way to do that more effectively, I think, is to incorporate Ramses Barden into the lineup. I heard nothing but amazing things about him all off-season, yet I can’t remember seeing him since the season started. The guy’s 6-6! Just having the option to throw to that tall of a target in the red zone completely opens up the playbook. There must be some reason I don’t know about, but the way we’ve been playing down near the goal line, I don’t see how it could hurt to try with him out there. Plus, having a tall option means that Eli doesn’t always have to throw those “air-balls” to only Kevin Boss, which might make him less of a concussion risk every time he goes up to make a catch. The passing game has to get a little more creative, also. It seems like opposing defenses know exactly what’s coming each time we go to the air, and that has to stop.
The team unfortunately hasn’t been able to say much about the status of our injured defenders, but I think it’s mostly to keep the other teams in the dark (at least until they have to release the injury report). What I do know is that it’s been several weeks since the last major injury, and Ross finally got some limited time in practice recently. Sooner or later, our defense will be back to full health (minus Phillips, obviously). No excuses to continue playing the way we’ve been playing!

Steering away from the Gmen for a bit, I must talk a little about the Colts-Indy game this past Sunday night. I guess Belichik was thinking that Peyton would drive any distance to score the go-ahead touchdown, so he might as well try and let the offense run out the clock by converting on a fourth and two. That logic is completely illogical. I know by now it’s already been written about plenty, but there’s no excuse for going for it there, especially in your own territory. You have to trust your defense to make the stop, even if it is Peyton Manning. And don’t think Peyton’s gonna forget how afraid Coach Belichik was of him if they meet again in the playoffs. Of all the great decisions Bill’s made in his career, that was by far the worst.
On the other end of the spectrum, it’s unfathomable that the Browns are as bad as they are. The only good thing that’s happened to the franchise since they were re-conceived in 1999 is their stadium. They’ve been rebuilding for a decade. Even the Lions, Redskins, Chiefs, Raiders, Rams and Bucs have put up some surprising fight in some of their losses (and wins) this year. Cleveland, however, is just horrible. They need to change EVERYTHING.

Okay fans, that’s about it for the bye week. For the New York Giants, each of the next seven games has to be treated like a playoff game. If not, we won’t be playing in any come January – simple as that! We all know how quickly things can turn for a franchise in this league, and we need that to happen for us in a big way. This thing’s a LONG way from over! Time for the fearless underdogs to re-emerge out there in the meadowlands. GIANT DOMINANCE CAN STILL HAPPEN. All we can do is wait for this week’s game against the Falcons, and hope that the team made the necessary changes and lit that spark which will fuel their ferocious blue flame. The e-mail address is gmensuperfan@gmail.com, and I’m on facebook under the name “Gmen Superfan.” Until next week, GO GMEN!!