Tuesday, October 9, 2012

SuperFan: Giants vs. Browns (10/9/12)


A Win Is A Win Is A Win…But…
By Superfan

            Well, we got out of that one fairly unscathed.  Hooray.  But on a day where most teams dominated games they were supposed to dominate from beginning to end (see Chicago, Minnesota, and San Francisco), this game still left me with a salty taste in my mouth.  I realize by season’s end this will mean another notch in the win column and nothing more, but since it’s still fresh, I’ll go ahead and rant for a while and get it out of my system.

            For as long as I can remember, the Giants have been a team who plays to the level of their opponent.  This was never more prevalent than last Sunday, when the Gmen let the lowly Browns jump out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.  Suddenly Brandon Wheedon was launching perfect deep spirals the length of the field for touchdowns, and Trent Richardson was impossible to tackle on first contact.  We turned things around eventually, but to most other teams that first quarter would’ve meant serious trouble.  Let’s not forget - this is supposed to be the “easier” part of our schedule.  The hard part starts this week.    

A Football Oasis in the Desert
            Headed north to Simi Valley this past weekend to watch the game at my friend Jerry’s house.  JJ was back east with family celebrating his dad’s birthday (happy belated, Jules!) and was at the stadium for the matchup.  As always, Jerry’s was nothing short of a spectacular football watching experience.  We had two different TVs on the back patio, both with NFL Sunday Ticket, a huge spread, tri tip…anything a football fan could want and more.  I’m telling you - never a bad time at Jerry’s. 
           
Except when he’s going up against someone on the Giants in fantasy.  He was facing Ahmad Bradshaw, so of course every time Ahmad touched the ball once the game was all but over, I heard about it plenty.  A price I was more than willing to pay for the win.  Thanks again for everything, Jerry!

Running Away With It
            Despite starting poorly and being reminded just how bad our beat-up secondary is, you have to be pleased with our rushing attack.  Going into the game, the Browns had allowed just over 117 yards per game on the ground.  We ran for 243 total yards against them.  Don’t look now, but we just might end up finishing better than 32nd in the league in rushing this season.  And David Wilson, congrats!  Big step in putting that early season fumble behind you, pulling off that great huge touchdown run.
           
Also have to congratulate Reuben Randle and Dominique Hixon.  Continuing the “next man up” mentality, these two stepped in (yes Hixon’s a vet, but still) and had big days with Nicks inactive.  Cruz may have come away with the touchdown receptions, but it was the previous two who were most responsible in getting us up and down the field (outside of the running game). 
Stevie Brown had a good game as well stepping in for the injured Kenny Phillips, but our secondary still needs a whole lot of work.  I understand most starters are out, but that doesn’t seem to affect the other facets of our team.  Why is it that when starters go down on offense we’re able to compensate, but can’t seem to get anything right when a defensive starter goes down?  Yet again, when our pass rush doesn’t do its job, our liability of a secondary shows itself.  Better right that ship before next Sunday - Alex Smith, Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis and company won’t be nearly as forgiving.  But enough of all this negativity - let’s give out some awards:

Offensive Player of the Game - Ahmad Bradshaw.  Thirty carries, one touchdown, 200 yards.  Sorry it took the anger from his first quarter fumble to get such an amazing output.  Let’s hope he can find that motivation without having to first commit a huge error in the future.

Defensive Player of the Game - Chase Blackburn.  A sack last week, a huge interception this week (one that negated an interception by Eli on the previous drive).  Who’d of thought by this point in the season our best defensive output would be coming not from our d-line, but our linebackers?  Keep this up!

Non-Gmen Thought of the Week:
  • ·      Homeland is back.  For all the complaining I may do about the state of television, there sure are a lot of very high quality shows.  Homeland is just the most recent.  Love it!
  • ·      Another week, another fantasy disaster.  And now I’m gonna have to bench Crabtree since we’re playing him on Sunday.  Just not my year.
  • ·      Another week, another successful job in my picks league.  Hey, I stand to win a whole lot more money from that than from fantasy.  So all in all, good stuff.
  • ·      Well put, Eric Winston.  Come on KC, get a grip.  Wanna boo someone?  Boo the coach for leaving Cassel in when he should’ve been pulled.  Boo the GM for putting all his chips in the Cassel breadbasket.  But to boo a guy for getting injured?  Who do you think you are, Philly?
  • ·      After last Friday, it’s official.  Bud Selig has ruined baseball.  Why bother fighting to win the wild card if you’ll have to play a one-game playoff for it anyway?  What is it with these commissioners this century?  Bettman’s letting the NHL become less popular than arena football, Goodell’s a walking money-hungry contradiction, and now Bud Selig.  Guys, take it down a notch.  Stay in the background, stop fighting for the spotlight.  Jeez. 


Looking Ahead…
Flying to San Francisco on Friday with cousins Larry and Charlie (the third and second biggest Giants fans in the world, respectively) for Sunday’s game.  Can’t wait!  To talk all things Giants you can send an e-mail to gmensuperfan@gmail.com, find me on Facebook under the name “Gmen Superfan,” or follow me on Twitter under the name “@gmensuperfan1.”  Until next week, GO GMEN!!

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