Big Blue Review: Giants @ Cowboys

The Giants entered week seven on the back of a 27-0 humbling at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles and responded with a shrug and a whimper rather than a necessary emphatic performance at AT&T Stadium on Sunday.

The Giants walked into Philadelphia aware that, if they pulled off wins in their next two weeks, they would enter the bye week 5-2, with three wins over division rivals and a firm hold of the NFC East. Dallas and Philadelphia have looked good this season, but close wins over poor teams have led some to question how strong they really are.

But both Dallas and Philadelphia are too good for New York, and Sunday was a reminder to all that the Giants are not yet contenders. The Giants had hoped that the script would be that of the plucky underdogs bloodying the nose of the playground bullies, but it played out more like a horror movie.

If the Philadelphia game was a crushing capitulation, it was a case of 'good, but not good enough' against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants had pressured Tony Romo (Jason Pierre-Paul had a phenomenal game, besting Tyron Smith for two sacks, six tackles and three hits/hurries), kept DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant in check, showed some offensive prowess of their own and went into half time tied 14-14.

One thing that had categorically not worked in the first half was the run game. The offensive line simply could not run block, and yet Tom Coughlin and Ben McAdoo religiously stuck with rushing on first down, even when Eli Manning had the time necessary to pass all over the Cowboys' defence. I understand that you cannot simply abandon the run altogether, but I'd have expected to see the ratio of pass plays to run players edge in favour of the former while chasing the game. It led to a lot of 3rd-and-long situations, and quick passes could have both neutralised the Cowboys blitzing defence and put the ball into the hands of the Giants' most dangerous playmaker - Odell Beckham, Jr.

Coaching can also be called into question when discussing the Giants' discipline. If Tom Coughlin's time in New York can be given a storyline, it is that of a harsh disciplinarian who tapped into his softer side, won the locker room over, and led the team to victory in Super Bowl XLII. Despite this, he has always preached mental toughness and maturity, so it is surprising to find the Giants so plagued by indiscipline. Larry Donnell fumbled twice on Sunday (one of which sealed the Giants' fate), and the offensive line had another night to forget, with Will Beatty responsible for two drive-killing penalties.

These issues are all, fortunately, correctable. What isn't, however, are injuries. The Giants have thus far lost David Wilson, Jerrel Jernigan, Victor Cruz, Trumaine McBride and Walter Thurmond III to season (or in Wilsons' case, career) ending injuries. On top of that Geoff Schwartz will be out of action until at least week nine, and Rashad Jennings, Jon Beason and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are all hugely limited by injuries of their own. The Giants are a middle-of-the-road team, and now they are a middle-of-the-road team with an increasingly depleted roster. It's not a good position for any team to be in.

Tom Coughlin's men could pull off an upset at home later in the season, but for now Big Blue are 3-4, and have a number of major issues that need to be corrected before Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts roll into MetLife stadium in week nine.

Put simply, the Giants are what everyone expected. The three-game win streak raised expectations - and power ranking positions - through the roof, but ultimately the giants are a team still very much in the process of rebuilding. The pieces are there to be successful, and 3-4 is a better record than the 1-6 record they had in 2013, but the 2014 Giants are an incomplete team that will feast on weak teams and come undone against the tougher teams on their schedule.

Big Blue Review: New York Giants v Atlanta Falcons

With a 30-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Giants advanced to 3-2 and a +.500 record for the first time since the end of the 2012 season - officially making all that talk of Eli being benched and Coughlin being fired a thing of the past.

The Falcons' visit to Metlife Stadium really was a game of two halves. The first half saw the Atlanta Falcons' first-ranked offense move the ball with relative ease. The Falcons' were suffering from a depleted offensive line void of key starters in Joe Hawley, Lamar Holmes, Justin Blalock and Sam Baker, but the makeshift unit still managed to frustrate the Giants' defensive line - a performance that was underscored by a clinical ten-yard touchdown run by Steven Jackson in the first quarter. Julio Jones bested Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for eight catches and 88 yards, and Matt Ryan finished the first half going 17-of-27 for 166 yards, without being sacked once.

Giants' fans would have been concerned by the re-emergence of the self-defeating New York Giants in the first half. In a bizarre sequence of events, Quentin Demps picked off Matt Ryan on third down before fumbling the ball on the return, and a Prince Amukamara penalty gave the Falcons great field position and a first down. The defence forced a punt before a roughing the punter penalty on Jason Pierre-Paul gave the Falcons yet another first down. The defence were competitively quiet in the first half, but still managed to hold the Falcons to just one touchdown.

The Giants' emerged after half time trailing 13-10, and did so a team transformed. The Giants' class of 2014 made a huge impact, with 2014 Heisman Trophy finalist, and fourth round draft pick, Andre Williams rushing for a touchdown after Rashad Jennings went down injured. Williams ran hard all afternoon, and ran over Falcons defenders on many of his carries. Odell Beckham, Jr. finally made his Giants' debut after a preseason of injury and almost no practices. He was moved all over the offense, and early in the second half showed exactly how dangerous he can be when he got open with ease on consecutive plays. Only an overthrown pass by Eli Manning - who was otherwise consistently calm and composed - and a defensive penalty prevented them from being touchdowns. Beckham Jr. finally found the endzone in the fourth quarter with a 15 yard pass from Manning.

The defence raised their game as well, with the Falcons' offensive line finally overwhelmed by their defensive counterparts. Jason Pierre-Paul was phenomenally disruptive - repeatedly hurrying Ryan and causing penalties. Robert Ayers and Jonathan Hankins continued their good form, with the latter effectively sealing the win with a sack on fourth down late in the game. As a unit they hit Matt Ryan eight times. The Giants' were exposed at linebacker, however, with the group seemingly unable to cope with screens or short routes by running backs out of the backfield - a deficiency disguised by the dominance of the line and secondary.

The Falcons may have also been 2-2, but this win legitimises the Giants. It proves that their offence works against a tough defence, it proves they can win in the fourth quarter (they trailed 21-10 with 21 minutes left), and it proves that the defence can keep up with the best in the league. It also validates - for now - the selection of Odell Beckham Jr. in the first round. Even though their opponents have a combined twelve wins (at the time of writing) compared to the Cowboys (nine wins) and Eagles (seven wins), the Giants are still being viewed as the runts of the litter in the NFC East. This win should have changed that perception for the time being.

Big Blue Review: New York Giants @ Washington Redskins

Be honest: who saw this one coming? Even the most die-hard Giants fans would never have envisaged a demolition job on this level.

Despite less-than-favourable Las Vegas betting odds that had the 1-2 Giants as underdogs, the Giants themselves were more confident after beating the Houston Texans to earn their first win of the season.

As we saw in the 2007 and 2011 Super Bowl-winning seasons, once Tom Coughlin's Giants start playing with confidence and have momentum, they are a very difficult team to stop. Of course, Atlanta could end all the fun next weekend, but the importance of the Houston result cannot be understated.

They started where they left off, with Eli Manning once again leading the charge. Last season Eli was running for his life behind a poor offensive line every game, had no running game to ease the load, and was hindered by a corps of unspectacular receivers who he was subsequently unable to develop a rapport with.

Flash forward to last night and Eli is being protected by a solid offensive line who - after a tumultuous preseason and a ghastly week one outing against the Detroit Lions - have gelled nicely in the past three games. As a result, he is enjoying time in the pocket, and time to make smarter decisions. Being a Manning, it should come as no surprise that, when given time, Eli is capable of picking defences apart. Like his brother Peyton, Eli flourishes when given the flexibility to call the shots and make audibles, and Ben McAdoo's offense is structured around no-huddle play and short, high-percentage, passes.

Eli Manning finished the game going 28-of-39 for 300 yards, four passing touchdowns, and his first rushing touchdown since 2011. He had a passer rating of 117.5.

The newfound unity along the offensive line is reflective of the Giants offense as a whole. Slowly but surely the unit has gelled into a formidable one, and over the last two games the Giants have outscored their opponents 76-31.

Against Washington, as was the case in the Houston game, the Giants' wide receivers held up their end of the bargain - both Victor Cruz and Reuben Randle accumulated 108 and 89 yards receiving, respectively.
They finished the game without a single touchdown, however, because they all went to the tight ends, with Larry Donnell the main beneficiary.

Donnell, undrafted out of Grambling State in 2012, has been a revelation this season and of his first five catches, three went for touchdowns of five, six and six yards. Donnell was the first Giants tight end since Joe Walton in 1962 to score three passing touchdowns in a single - remarkable considering that Big Blue has seen players like Mark Bavaro and Jeremy Shockey pass through their doors.
He causes match-up problems for opposing defences due to his considerable height, and Tom Coughlin and Ben McAdoo know this.

"When he (Manning) gets in trouble...he knows he can throw it up there and it's my job to go up and get it. And he feels comfortable doing it."

Daniel Fells chipped in with a touchdown of his own, but Donnell is unquestionably the Giants' tight end for the foreseeable future.

The defence proved emphatically that last week's performance was no mere fluke, with Antrel Rolle, Prince Amukamara, Quentin Demps and Trumaine McBride all picking off Kirk Cousins. Giants defensive backs had studied Cousins extensively during the week and had noticed that the inexperienced signal-caller was staring down his receivers. Jason Pierre-Paul was able to identify, and then call out, the intended receivers from the line of scrimmage. The only negative was seen when Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie left the field temporarily with an injury, and the Redskins began to see some success on offense. The Giants' secondary could come undone should he miss further time later in the season.

The Washington Redskins, and surprisingly hapless quarterback Kirk Cousins, have seemingly awoken a sleeping Giant. The Giants kept the ball rolling with another mistake-free, turnover-forcing performance, and dominated a team the Philadelphia Eagles could only scrape past last weekend. The Giants have a much-needed divisional win, and a lot of momentum heading into a major clash with the Atlanta Falcons in ten days' time.

Big Blue Review: New York Giants v Houston Texans

When the 2014 season fixtures were announced, Giants fans were buoyed by three winnable (but not necessarily easy) games against Detroit, Arizona and Houston. In week one the Giants fell victim to the high-powered offence of the Lions, and in week two they collapsed against the Cardinals on the back of a plethora of farcical self-inflicted wounds including fumbles, dropped passes and special teams blunders.

They also picked up injuries to key players such as Jon Beason, Devon Kennard and Walter Thurmond III, weakening a side already hindered by the absence of Odell Beckham, Jr. and Geoff Schwartz.

So the Giants came into week three in desperate need of a win, and the odds were not exactly in their favour. They had floundered to a disappointing 0-2 record while the Texans, last seasons' worst team, were 2-0. In 2007, the Giants lost their first two games before rallying after a change in approach from Tom Coughlin. This week, Coughlin allowed rap music to be played during practice to lighten the mood. Ultimately it seemed to have made a difference.

Despite this, the game got off to a bad start, and it looked as if the ridiculous errors from the Cardinals' game were to continue. After a long drive, tight end Larry Donnell fumbled the ball on the Texans' five-yard line, and on the next series the usually-reliable Zak DeOssie snapped the ball over kicker Josh Adams' head. Two long drives, and no points scored. The Giants should have been 10-0 up, but had nothing to show for it.

Eli Manning was clattered by J.J. Watt early on; fans would be forgiven for thinking that it would be a long day for the Giants offensive line, but the much-maligned unit emerged as the catalysts for the Giants' first win of the season. They paved the way for a 176 yard, one touchdown performance by Rashad Jennings, and kept the Texans' defensive line at bay as Eli Manning completed 21 of 28 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns.

The Giants' offense has been described all-too-often as a "work in progress", this game appeared to see them finally clicking. It wasn't the prettiest performance, but it was effective and showcased how dangerous the Giants can be under Ben McAdoo.

Victor Cruz appeared to redeem himself after his error-strewn game against the Cardinals with five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.

His return to form was mirrored by that of Jason Pierre-Paul. Both are vital players and the Giants need both to be at their best if the team are to succeed. Pierre-Paul was everywhere, and although he didn't pick up a sack, he was able to frustrate Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Texans' run game for much of the afternoon.

The defensive line will be frustrated to have left a number of sacks on the field, but credit should be given to Fitzpatrick, who proved to be quite elusive when pressured, rushing for a late touchdown. The Giants secondary can be pleased with a performance that saw Antrel Rolle, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara all intercept Fitzpatrick, who had not turned the ball over in the first two games.

The Giants are still their own worst enemy, however. The 30-17 scoreline could have been 40-17 if not for two avoidable errors early in the game, Amukamara and Rodgers-Cromartie both dropped an interception each, and another miscommunication in the secondary allowed Damaris Johnson to score a huge 44 yard touchdown pass that slashed the Giants' lead to just seven points. That touchdown came on the back of a large gain by running back Alfred Blue, who took advantage of a

In all, this was a convincing win with some correctable errors still remaining. The Texans were void of their biggest offensive threat, running back Arian Foster, and the Giants will still likely struggle against the tougher teams on their schedule. However, after a dire preseason and a poor season opener, the G-Men needed a performance to prove that their new offense can work. Eli Manning asserted that the 2014 Giants are better than the 2013 Giants; they needed a performance to support that theory. They got one.
The Giants go into a short week and a Thursday Night Football game against the Washington Redskins, crucially, with some momentum behind them, and it would seem that the rumours of Eli Manning's demise were greatly exaggerated.

Big Blue Review: New York Giants v Arizona Cardinals

Sorry everyone, no Manningface this week.

Why? Because even though the Giants were their own worst enemy this week, we can absolve Eli Manning of all blame in this "nightmare" start to the season. The Lions game got out of hand early on, and little seemed to click for the G-Men, which makes this week's loss all the more painful. The Giants did click, and they did so - albeit in an unattractive fashion - for the majority of the game; of course, the biggest difference between the Giants and the Cardinals on Sunday was that the Cards took their chances when they were there.

The first quarter was a particularly rough affair for the Giants. Frequently the Giants' defence would force third-and-long, only for the Cardinals' playmakers (notably John Brown and Andre Ellington) to convert these opportunities for first downs. The offensive line play was also poor, with Eli Manning unable to find a rhythm early on as a result of pressure from the Cardinals notoriously physical (even without Darnell Dockett and John Abraham) defensive line.

So, a bad start for Big Blue, but their fate was still far from decided. After two strong quarters in which the offense scored two touchdowns on long drives and the defense held the Cardinals scoreless, the Giants were undone in two fleeting moments of madness that unquestionably turned the tide of the game for the worse. Ted Ginn, Jr. stunned Metlife Stadium into silence with a phenomenal 71-yard punt return in the fourth quarter, and on the ensuing kickoff Quintin Demps handed the ball back to the Cardinals with a fumble. Prior to the Ted Ginn, Jr. 'incident', the Giants had allowed only 33 yards on punt returns. They gave up 71 in one nightmarish moment, and the Cardinals were back - inexplicably - in the driving seat.

Eli Manning said it best: "we've got a one-point lead, and the next time we touch the ball, we're down eight".

From there on the game became a comedy of errors. Preston Parker slipped in the endzone, with Patrick Peterson almost picking Eli Manning off as a result, and on the next play Rashad Jennings capped another potential scoring drive by falling over and fumbling the ball.

The Cardinals could only manage a field goal, and with nearly five minutes on the clock the Giants had time to salvage the game. Chasing the lead, the Giants understandably turned to their receivers and were let down spectacularly. This was the toughest pill to swallow, and Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle either failed to make crucial catches or dropped balls that hit them in the hands. Cruz dropped three passes - one of which was for a potentially huge gain prior to the Ginn, Jr. punt return, and another that would have given the Giants a big first down late in the day.

It wasn't all bad though, and Eli Manning rightly commented that there were signs of improvement. The result and the implosion in the fourth quarter had 'Same Old Giants' written in bold neon signage all over them, but in the second and third quarters the Giants showed exactly what type of team they can be.

Despite some early shakiness defending the run and a perplexing plethora of penalties from the secondary, the Giants defence gelled as the game went on.
Jason Pierre-Paul and the Giants' pass rush put pressure on Drew Stanton with ten hits and four sacks, but - to a composed Stanton's credit - were unable to force a turnover. The Giants stopped the Cardinals plenty on third down, and often forced third-and-long situations, but were unable to force a single interception or fumble. Almost all of the Giants' turnovers were self-inflicted wounds, but Cardinals defenders were always there to make plays when the opportunities presented themselves.

After a week one disaster that saw Matt Stafford pile 346 yards and two touchdowns on the Giants' secondary, that same unit held the potentially lethal duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd to just 70 yards and no scores.

Another sign of encouragement for Giants fans was the continued emergence of Larry Donnell. Fans were left despairing after an offseason that left the team without a clear starting tight end, but over the first two games Donnell has emerged as the team's best pass-catching threat. Manning looked to Donnell often and the second-year pro caught seven passes for 81 yards.

As always, any review of a Giants game starts and ends with Eli Manning. The Giants' beleaguered signal-caller has felt the wrath of many (misguided) fans this week, who for some reason feel fit to lay the blame for the team's struggles at Manning's feet.

He quietly had a strong outing, with two picks (one bounced off the shoulder pads of an Arizona lineman, the other a desperation throw when the game was all but lost) unfairly underlining a game in which he often led the Giants on long drives into Cardinals' territory. He spread the ball around well, put the ball in tight spots and placed the Giants in scoring positions, with the game highlighting just how methodically dangerous (also known as 'Peytonesque') he can be when given time by his offensive line. Manning finished 26-of-39 for 277 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

This game wasn't a question of 'who wanted it more?' - a ridiculous philosophy I don't subscribe to because, at this level, everyone 'wants it more' - but several players on both sides of the ball need to at least look like they are trying to win the game. The Cardinals were unspectacular but smart, opportunistic and mistake-free. Sometimes that's all you need to win in the NFL, and it's what the Giants should aspire to be right now.

Big Blue Review: New York Giants @ Detroit Lions

I'll let Eli write this one....

Throwback Player Profile #6 - Michael Strahan

Seeing as Pro Football Hall of Fame festivities have begun in Canton, Ohio, I feel it only appropriate to make Michael Strahan - on a personal level, my favourite Giant of all time - the subject of this retrospective article.

It is also appropriate that, on Saturday night, Strahan will be inducted into the pro football hall of fame to stand alongside some of the giants of the game. His career saw him morph from a raw but talented second round draft pick in 1993, where he would be part of a defensive unit that also contained Lawrence Taylor, to a talismanic leader who walked away from the game with the Super Bowl ring that had eluded him for fifteen seasons.

Their careers may have only overlapped by one season, but in 1993 the Giants briefly had arguably their two greatest ever defensive players on the roster simultaneously. But of course, no one saw this at the time. Strahan experienced an unusual entry into the world of football; living on a US army base in Mannheim, Germany, Strahan didn't play football as a kid and wouldn't until he returned to Houston for his senior year of high school.

He may not have had the experience level of many college players, but he boasted raw physical talent, which was enough to see the unpolished defensive end taken by the Giants as the fortieth player selected in the 1993 NFL draft.
Jordan Ranaan of nj.com recently unearthed their scouting report on the Texas Southern defensive end:

"A tall good-looking athlete who needs bulk and additional strength for next level. He has plenty of quickness, agility, balance, speed and change of direction to be a very good pass rusher. No reason why he can't grow into a power rusher, neutralize and control line-of-scrimmage type. An upfield player for Texas Southern. Not a leverage player and runs himself out of too many plays. Michael is aggressive and works hard in pursuit. Potential to be a top player in NFL. A situational pass-rusher first year."

Despite his obvious talent, the organisation had concerns from the get-go; Strahan was considered difficult and moody and John Mara recently stated that "there were times you wondered, ‘Maybe we made a mistake'". After a one-sack rookie season as a 'situational pass-rusher', Strahan slowly but surely blossomed into a dominant power rusher, posting his first double-digit sack sack season in his fifth year.

Naturally, Strahan will be remembered most fondly as one of the NFL's finest pass-rushers. After a slow start, he rattled off a host of double-digit sack seasons (the most recent taking place in 2005, two years before his retirement), including the 2001 season in which he set the single-season sack record with 22.5. Despite the controversy surrounding it, Strahan still managed to accumulate his sack total for the season in the space of thirteen weeks.
His last sack came, poetically, at a pivotal moment of Super Bowl XLII. Tom Brady had driven the Patriots' offense to the Giants' 25 yard line, Strahan sacked Brady for a six-yard loss on third down and Bill Belichick opted to go for it on fourth down. The conversion attempt failed and the Patriots left three vital points on the field.

Former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi recently had this to say regarding Strahan:

"I have never seen an elite pass rusher that played the run as well as he did, because it doesn’t happen. Now believe me, I understand the strategy that a lot of it was to negate his pass rush. But I know that [Vince] Lombardi used to run at Deacon Jones. You just didn’t run at Michael Strahan"

If possible, his run-stopping talents are arguably his most underrated and help set him apart from his contemporaries in the Hall of Fame. Strahan could never be accused of being one-dimensional, and the man himself takes great pride in his status as a feared run-stopping defensive end.

Strahan was on the 2000 Giants team that was humbled so badly by the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV, so it was no surprise that he finally called it a career following the team's win in Super Bowl XLII and the acquisition of a much-coveted championship ring. It is no great surprise that the charismatic gap-toothed defensive end made a seamless transition to television, where he can be found hosting Good Morning America on ABC, and during the season as a pundit on Fox's NFL coverage.

He left the Giants as their all-time leading sack artist, as the league's reigning leader in sacks, a seven-time pro bowler, a six-time all pro, and as one of the finest players (defensive or otherwise) to have laced up a pair of cleats for one of the league's most storied franchises. Strahan contributed hugely to New York Giants lore throughout his decade-and-a-half career - from his epic clashes with the Philadelphia Eagles' John Runyan and his 'stomp 'em out' sound bites to the familiar and now-iconic sight of him flexing his muscles following a sack or tackle for loss. Michael Strahan compiled a career that had 'first-ballot hall of famer' written all over it, and although he was denied this opportunity last year, he is more-than worthy of his place among the greatest players the game has ever seen.

Four Young Giants Poised to Rise Up In 2014

Giants football returns - finally! - after one of the most disappointing years in recent memory. It was a Giant dud of a season, filled with interceptions from Eli Manning, a decimated offensive line, a patchwork running backs unit, injuries to key players, a disappearing act by the talented Hakeem Nicks and an ineffective pass rush that produced only 34 sacks.

An unforgivable season for a proud organisation not accustomed to losing. The offseason saw a drastic overhaul on both sides of the ball, and many long-term coaches and players were released. Ben McAdoo replaces the much-derided Kevin Gilbride as offensive coordinator and has brought with him a revamped offensive staff, and Jerry Reese indulged in a shopping spree that brought in big-name free agents including Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Geoff Schwartz and Rashad Jennings.

The G-Men looked to get younger on both sides of the football, and this season a group of relatively unknown or unheralded rookie, sophomore and third year players will be thrust into the spotlight as they look to take the reigns at a host of key positions for the Giants.

David Wilson

If you were to turn the clocks back exactly one year, David Wilson would likely have been featured on many articles just like this one. Wilson may have failed to live up to his billing as a first round draft pick, but the physically gifted running back has been cleared to play by doctors, and is now operating in a scheme that that suits his talents far better than the last. Despite the arrival of Rashad Jennings and rookie Andre Williams, Ben McAdoo's west coast offense will likely utilise Wilson in the passing game, where he should feature heavily. With the potential to break off huge runs from swing and screen passes, he is certainly athletic enough to become a nightmare for defences.

Jonathan Hankins

While the departure of Linval Joseph to Minnesota was painful, the presence of Hankins means the Giants won't miss him too badly. The second-year defensive tackle from Ohio State boasts prototypical 1-technique size and in his rookie season, with limited opportunities, demonstrated he has what it takes to be a more-than-effective run-stopper. With vastly increased playing time, fans can expect Hankins to establish himself as one of the league's best run-stopping defensive tackles.

Devon Kennard

Damontre Moore could have been an option here, but the arrival of Robert Ayers makes the defensive end position a bit of a grey area, so I've opted for a more 'left-field' choice.
Only yesterday I wrote about the replacements for Jon Beason, identifying the now-injured (albeit not severely) Jameel McClain as the leading candidate for the temporary vacancy. Thankfully they may have discovered a gem in fifth round draft pick Devon Kennard. Kennard has a chance to stamp his name on the middle linebacker spot if Beason and McClain miss extended time this season, and if that situation doesn't unfold he could realistically start at either of the outside 'backer positions. Big (6'3", 251 lbs), hard-hitting and - most importantly - intelligent, the USC product has everything it takes to breakout this season.

Adrien Robinson

In the eyes of most fans and analysts, the Giants have no starting tight end. Following the loss of Martellus Bennett prior to last season and the disappointing Brandon Myers in February, there has been no clear starter at the position. In Kellen Davis, Larry Donnell, Daniel Fells, Xavier Grimble and Adrien Robinson, the Giants have five players with legitimate shots at earning the starting job, but only one has true breakout potential. Adrien Robinson was a raw prospect out of Cincinnati in 2012 (he only caught 29 passes in his entire college career) and remains an unknown quantity in his third season, but possesses all of the physical tools necessary to become an elite NFL tight end. He is easily compared to Denver's Julius Thomas which, given the enormity of the  Bronco's performance last year, is certainly a welcome one.

The Next Man Up

John Feinstein's 2005 book 'Next Man Up: a Year Behind the Lines in Today's NFL' is a gripping, no-holds-barred account of the highs and lows of the Baltimore Ravens' 2004 season. It's an essential read for anyone remotely interested in American football or, indeed, sport at any level.

While the book may have covered the season of just one team, the title applies to all 32 NFL teams and is a phrase that always rears it's ugly head around July and August: training camp. Between organised Team Activities (OTA's) through to the end of the four-game preseason, NFL players are at risk of every kind of season- limiting injury - from torn ACLs and sprained MCLs to herniated discs and dislocated elbows.

Scheduling changes - including the 2014 NFL draft being pushed back until early May - have seen the offseason shortened in an attempt to eliminate overzealous workouts and mini training camps, and yet teams have already seen vitally important players in key positions fall victim to injuries. This article aims to shed some light on the impact of their loss on their respective teams.

Chris Hairston

You are forgiven for being unfamiliar with Chris Hairston. The fourth-year pro replaces not one but two Buffalo Bills offensive linemen after illness sidelined starter Cordy Glenn, and injury struck Seantrel Henderson - his replacement.
Glenn may not be out for the season, but seeing as coach Doug Marrone is reportedly "not allowed to speak" about his illness, we can assume he'll be out of action for a while.
The significance of this comes in the strength of Buffalo's run game. Glenn was a stud in 2013 (he scored a +23.0 on Pro Football Focus last season) and was the stand-out player on a disappointing line (ranked 22nd and given a -12.5 overall rating by PFF). The Bills have stocked up on offense, but a misfiring run game could pile pressure on EJ Manuel and make shutting down an explosive passing game that much easier for defenses.

Giants' Linebackers

Jon Beason experienced a renaissance of sorts in 2013. He was back to his best against the run, made plays all over the field and emerged into a linchpin defensive leader that the Giants have so desperately needed since Antonio Pierce retired in 2008. His injury problems appeared to be behind him - until he suffered a sesamoid bone fracture in his foot during minicamps.
The good news is that this isn't a recurring injury, he doesn't require surgery, and he is tentatively expected back before the season. However, the unconvincing Mark Herzlich and free agent pick up Jameel McClain will be picking up the slack in his absence. His potency against the run will be missed, but it is his on-field leadership that the Giants will suffer without the most.

Falcons Linebackers

Now we enter the realm of season-ending injuries. Sean Weatherspoon missed most of last season, and it is no surprise the Falcons were porous on defence as a result. Entering a contract year, Weatherspoon would have been expected to post a statistically strong season but instead he finds himself sitting on injured reserve with a ruptured achilles tendon. Fortunately for the Falcons, they have a group of intriguing prospects with a lot of potential. Paul Worrilow (99 tackles in 2013), Joplo Bartu (3.5 sacks in 2013), rookie Prince Shembo and the injury-prone Pat Angerer attempt to replace the Falcons' defensive standout. Rough times ahead for an already struggling unit.

Nigel Bradham

As you can see, it's not been a good offseason for the Buffalo Bills. With starting left tackle Cordy Glenn already missing time through injury, the loss of Kiko Alonso for the year comes as another huge blow. Alonso overcame concerns about his size to become the team's leading tackler (third in the league with 159), and the PFWA defensive rookie of the year. That kind of production can't easily be replicated, and it spells bad news for a unit poor against the run in 2013. Thankfully the Bills brought in linebacker depth in the form of Keith Rivers and Brandon Spikes, but neither man is suited for the free-roaming role Alonso played. High starting reps in training camp suggests that the job is the athletic, playmaking Nigel Bradham's to lose, but he faces competition from Preston Brown and Stephenson Sylvester.

Cowboys Linebackers

Linebackers might want to start taking it easy in these offseason practices, however alien the concept of 'taking it easy' may seem to them. The Cowboys' most irreplaceable defensive player had the misfortune of suffering a season-ending ACL injury in first OTA of the year.
Another defence that struggled last season, the impact of Lee's loss will be seen in both on field performance and leadership. The unproven but physically and instinctively gifted Devonte Holloman is the top candidate, but is nursing an injury of his own. Justin Durant, Anthony Hitchens, Dontavis Sapp and Orie Lemon have been filling in during camp, and - in true Cowboys style - the team traded for the troubled and retirement-prone Rolando McClain, and even considered making a play for Brian Urlacher. 

Given that most teams are only just kicking off their training camps, and with four preseason games on top of that, don't be surprised if this list is far longer come the season's opening weekend.

Fixing The New York Giants

The New York Giants' season is officially over. Their lifeless, "pathetic", 23-0 shutout at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks last weekend put the final nail in the coffin and had Giants fans turning their gaze towards next season.

Ask a fan what he or she thinks the Giants can do to turn things around next season and there's a very good chance that the first thing they'll say is 'fire Kevin Gilbride'. It might not be as simplistic as that, but 'fixing' the Giants starts with the coaching staff - and they should clear house.

Tom Coughlin's past achievements speak for themselves and he has done a great job of keeping the Giants competitive in spite of their many flaws, but I think Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has a point when he says that Coughlin has done everything he can for the organisation. Firing him isn't an option - he has earned the right to call time on his career whenever he wants - but this season might be the one to retire after. Conversely if the Giants are going to rebuild, having Coughlin steer the ship wouldn't be a bad idea.

Regardless, the majority of the coaches beneath him need to go; his coordinators - Kevin Gilbride, Perry Fewell and Tom Quinn - have been repeatedly out-coached this season and the Giants will not be contenders if they retain them. Gilbride has enjoyed consistent success in New York, but the Giants' offensive production has regressed in recent years with a difficult-to-execute but easily-defended scheme.

Even so, there is only so much a coach can do - and much of the Giants' struggles this year have been down to the personnel on the field. Many are - through no fault of their own - just not good enough, and some (Hakeem Nicks) have all the talent in the world but aren't playing at a level expected of them.

The good news is that there are a number of young players - including Jason Pierre Paul, Victor Cruz, Prince Amukamara, Linval Joseph, John Conner, Justin Pugh, Rueben Randle, Damontre Moore, Will Hill and Jacquian Williams - around whom Jerry Reese can build a contender.

Much of the Giants' struggles have come from a sizeable number of ineffective veteran starters. If we're 'fixing' the team, guys like Chris Snee, David Diehl, David Baas, Mathias Kiwanuka, Brandon Jacobs and Corey Webster will be finished in New York and others - like Justin Tuck, Kevin Boothe, Mike Patterson and Trumaine McBride - have some value (somewhere close to veteran's minimum) but their days are numbered. Short-term contracts will see important locker room leaders like Tuck help ease the transition, but salary cap restrictions mean that Antrel Rolle would, despite his superlative play this season, be leaving the team.

Without Rolle, and with an offensive line in desperate need of repair, it is vitally important the Giants spend the money they do have (expected to be somewhere around $28 million) wisely in free agency. So who do they go after? The interior offensive line has been a liability all season, and I think Jerry Reese needs to make a move for some underrated talents to fix it - Brian De La Puente (centre, New Orleans Saints) and Jon Asamoah (guard, Kansas City Chiefs) are the stand-out linemen on offer. Prince Amukamara is developing into the player the Giants hoped he would be, but the Giants should turn to the 49ers' underrated cornerback Tarell Brown to help him out.

A lot of fans and pundits are making the point that the past achievements of many Giants players and coaches means that the organisation should resist change in the hope that they once again deliver a championship. This school of thought overlooks the fact that what once worked for the Giants no longer does. The Colts, after a radical overhaul following their disastrous 2011 campaign, made the playoffs in 2012 and 2013. The Chiefs, after posting a 2-14 record in 2012, are 11-4 in 2013. These teams, along with other contenders such as the Seahawks, 49ers, Eagles and Dolphins, experienced major personnel overhauls within the last three years and prove that - in today's NFL - you have to adapt or die.

Moving The Chains: A Weekly Review Of The NFL - 24/11/2013

Due to a particularly hectic week, I've only just gotten round to writing my weekly take on the weekend's festivities. Let's get to it, shall we?

Hero of the week:

Cam Newton

Superman returns. After a mixed 2012, Cam Newton - with some help from a stingy defence - has the Panthers bulldozing their way to the playoffs. After knocking off the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots in consecutive weeks, Newton (who scored on a rushing TD earlier in the game) engineered a late-game comeback to beat a tough Miami Dolphins unit. They proved they can knock off big teams, and now the Panthers are proving they can finish strong and win close games - their ability to do both will make them a potent force in the postseason.

Villain of the week:
Kevin Gilbride

I'm biased as a Giants fan, but see 'My Team' for more on Gilbride.

Game of the week:
Patriots' unlikely comeback topples Broncos

Despite his reputation for late-game heroics, it seemed unlikely that Tom Brady would be able to bring the Patriots back from 21-0 down at half time. He did. Brady and the Patriots offense put up 31 points on Denver's suspect defence in the second half, before Stephen Gostkowski kicked the winning field goal in overtime. Credit to Bill Belichick for sticking with a game plan that eventually shredded the Broncos linebackers and secondary.

Fail of the week:
Bruce Carter and Jeff Heath

For temporarily forgetting the rules of football




My team:

An embarrassment. The struggling Giants offence faced off with the terrible Cowboys' defense...and laid an egg. Despite Andre Brown and Brandon Jacobs gashing the Cowboys for over 200 yards, dire offensive playcalling by Kevin Gilbride - in which he routinely abandoned the run game in favour of passing in adverse weather conditions at inopportune moments - prevented the Giants from scoring touchdowns on three of their possessions in the Cowboys' redzone.

Defensively the Giants were sound, but couldn't halt the Cowboys offence during the last four minutes of the game. The Giants fell to 4-7 and realistically are only playing for pride from here on out.

Throwback Uniform Gallery # 2 - 1970's New York Giants

My weekly, "Throwback Thursday"-inspired, homage to classic football uniforms continues with the New York Giants of the 1970's.

Last Sunday, the Giants brought back white pants - inspired by the teams of the 1970s and 1980s - and they looked pretty snazzy. Giants fans responded positively to them, and I have to say I enjoyed seeing the white rather than the shades of grey the Giants have been wearing for the past twelve years or so.

Much like the current Giants team, the teams of the 1970's struggled mightily - but at least they looked good doing it: