Giants Gear Up For a Motivated Bears Team

Let me first say that all of us here at the Big Blue Review want to send out our condolences to Sean Taylor's family and friends, team mates and the thousands of Redskins fans for this week's tragic event that claimed Sean's life. Although the Giants and Redskins are rivals, lets not forget that it is just a game, and when something like this occurs it affects all players, teams and personnel.

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It was the game that we all want to forget, especially Eli Manning. Four times the Giants were driving down the field to put the Vikings away, and each time Minnesota came away with interceptions, three of them returned for touchdowns.

Everyone has bad games. For Eli Manning, and hopefully Giants fans everywhere, this is as bad as he will ever get, and hopefully, we will never see it again.

For the past three games the Giants offense has been sputtering. Obviously not all Eli's fault, but the line has been playing mediocre as of late, the receivers can't seem to get open, and when they do, they either don't catch the ball or the fumble it.

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Until last Sunday's game against the Vikings, these problems and issues were well hidden by the fact, the defense played extremely well, including two late picks against Detroit to seal the victory. The Giants defense didn't get the chance to bail the offense out this time as Manning made sure of that by hitting wide open Vikings players four times, twice inside the red zone.

Fast forward to this Sunday and the game against the defending NFC champion Chicago Bears. The Bears are struggling this year in all facets of the game, except for Devin Hester, who I believe can return a kickoff for a touchdown even if you had 100 guys trying to stop him. The guy is unbelievable and the Giants know it all too well. Let us not forget the 108 yard return for a TD off of a missed field goal, or as a Giants fan, maybe we should.

The Bears are coming off of an emotional win against the Broncos, but the 2007 Bears are not the 2006 Bears. This team is mediocre this year, and it took an overtime field goal to beat a Broncos team that just isn't that good.

As we saw against the Vikings, no game is a gimme. However, this is a game the Giants should win, and win fairly handily. There are questions though about Big Blue and that is, can the offense get back to where they were earlier in the year? If so, they should easily put this game away early. If not, the Giants could be in for another long game.

I think the Giants will win this game. This isn't the team of the last couple of years, when they seemed to collapse at the end. This team, for the most part, is healthy. Tom Coughlin's style of coaching and discipline have finally set in after four years. I also believe that loss against the Vikings, may have been the best thing to happen to this Giants team. It exposed their struggling offense, and now the coaching staff and the players must work harder to right the ship.

Regardless of the outcome, and the fact the Bears are struggling this year, this a great match up, with two of the league's storied franchises.

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the co-host of the Big Blue Review, a weekly podcast featuring the latest news on The New York Giants. The podcast can be downloaded from Michael's blog at http://BigBlueReviewPodcast.Blogspot.com.

Shiancoe Returns Home, Giants Gear Up For Vikings

He was once the backup tight end in New York. Deemed at best serviceable he became a free agent last season and tested the waters.

That player was former Giants and now current Vikings tight end, Visanthe Shiancoe. In another great move by GM Jerry Reese he refused to overpay for mediocre and backup type talent so he let Shiancoe test the free agency market.

All and I am mean all NFL fans were shocked and bewildered when the Vikings WAY OVERPAID for a backup tight end. The Vikings had signed him to a five year eighteen and half million, seven million guaranteed contract. This season he currently has 19 catches and if he plays the season out without injuries, will make 11 million of that contract this year.

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If you break that down on a per game basis, that would mean he is making, $687,500 per game or in other words, $361,842 per rececption!! Lets not get into how much he is over paid for his touchdown production.

If you were to compare that to the likes of Dallas' Jason Whitten or the Giants' Jeremy Shockey, on a per catch basis, Shiancoe is making roughly $300,000 more per reception than that of the two players I just mentioned, who both are probably going to the pro bowl.

With new ownership for the Vikings, I thought the days of doing stupid things, like trading a thousand draft picks away for Herchel Walker, were over. Apparently not.

Regardless of the contract, he returns to the meadowlands this Sunday as the Giants take on the Vikings, in what I hope won't be a repeat of the game they stole from Big Blue a couple of seasons ago. This is a different Giants team now. They are relatively healthy, all three areas of the team are improving each week, and this season the Giants have been able to beat the lower echelon teams in the NFL.

The Vikings come in at 4 - 6, beating teams like the Chargers and in all but one of their losses, have been in every game, and have been a tough opponent. The Vikings currently have the #1 ranked rushing attack in the NFL, and it doesn't matter if it is Taylor or Peterson back there, both players get the job done. On the contrast side of that, they are abysmal in their passing game. In fact they rank tied for dead last. Meaning you should see the Giants defense stack the line, put 8 in the box, and force Jackson to beat them through the air.

Whatever the game plan, this is a game Big Blue should win, if anyone wants to take them seriously come post season time. It will also move them to 8 - 3 on the year, and put them sitting nicely in the driver's seat for a wild card spot.


NOTE: If the Giants win against the Vikings on Sunday, this will mark the third consecutive season with a 500 record or better. That hasn't happend since 1991 when Ray Handley took over for Bill Parcells. From 1988 to 1991 the Giants were 10 - 6, 12 - 4, 13 - 3, and 8 -8 respectively.


About the Author:

Michael C. Podlesny is the co-host of the Big Blue Review, a weekly podcast featuring the latest news on The New York Giants. The podcast can be downloaded from Michael's blog at http://BigBlueReviewPodcast.Blogspot.com.

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving...

And all through the house, well actually my office. I wanted to take this time to reflect on what we, as Giants fans, have to be thankful for this season. I'll get into the family and life thankfulness tomorrow.

Where else to start but at the top of the Giants organization with the Maras and Tischs (can you really pluralize that name?). When Wellington Mara & Bob Tisch passed away a few years ago, sad fully ironic, just a few weeks apart, for the first time since the inception of the NFL, the Giants organization would be lead by someone else. The reigns of the leadership would handed over to Mr. Mara's son, John Mara and the new era begun. Giants should be thankful that, unlike other franchises like, Arizona, Washington, and our stadium co-hosts the Jets, we have an ownership that is not just passionate about this team, but won't jeopardize winning over making a few extra bucks, or spend a crazy amount of money on free agents that just never pan out. They do a real nice job doing everything they can to make this franchise competitive and keep the Giants tradition going.

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Our next fulfillment of thankfulness should be in regards to Ernie Accorsi. No, not because of the Eli Manning trade, but because many years ago, he convinced a young man to get up from Tennessee and set up routes in the confines of the "very expensive to live at", North Jersey area. That young man, today, is General Manager Jerry Reese. Not since George Young have I seen a General Manager for this organization make a lot of right moves (we'll forget about the Dave Brown debacle for now). Reese refused to overpay for mediocre talent in the off season free agency period, he cut players that made you scratch your head and now 10 weeks into the season the moves look great, and in his first draft as a GM, he did a real nice job with choosing a cornerback (Aaron Ross), a position the Giants seem they couldn't find anybody that could play.

Finally, we all have to be thankful that the Giants are on pace to get to their 3rd consecutive post season appearance. I touched on this a bit in my previous article, but as a fan of this organization since the 70's, the 90's were a tough time to get through. One year we would be in, next we would be out. Back and forth it went, and as a fan it made you frustrated. Here they sit at 7 - 3, ready to at least have a shot in the post season, for the third consecutive year. Hopefully the outcome this year will be different than the last 2 years and we can be thankful about a post season victory.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the co-host of the Big Blue Review, a weekly podcast featuring the latest news on The New York Giants. The podcast can be downloaded from Michael's blog at http://bigbluereviewpodcast.blogspot.com/.

Giants On Pace To Make Franchise History

Less than a year ago, fans and the NY Media were calling for the head of Tom Coughlin. We heard names like Charlie Weiss (How's ND doing this year Charlie?), Bill Cowher, Bill Parcells and a slew of others. Now Tom Coughlin is set to do for this team that hasn't been done since Parcells was the coach last century.

At the conclusion of Sunday's contest, and chalking up a victory over the Lions, the New York Giants are on the verge of doing something this franchise hasn't done in a very long time, go to the playoffs three consecutive years.

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Holding with a 7 - 3 record, staring down a Viking's opponent that is about as inconsistent a franchise can get, the Giants truly control their own destiny.

Over the next 6 weeks the Giants schedule stands as follows:

.vs. Minnesota (4-6)
at Chicago (4-6)
at Philadelphia (5-5)
.vs. Washington (5-5)
at Buffalo (5-5)
.vs. New England (10000 - 0)

Obviously being a bit facetious about the Pats, but you get the point. For now lets say the Pats game is a loss (although I think they are going to win that one). Each of the other remaining 5 games are very winnable, and two are against teams they have already beaten, in Philly and Washington.

By the end of the season the Giants could easily be 12 - 4. Now in most seasons that would account for a first place finish, and in 2000 that was worth the #1 seed in the conference. However, the way Dallas and Green Bay are playing (two teams that have already beaten the Giants), the division and a 1st round bye pretty much went out the window 2 weeks ago when the Giants lost to the Cowboys at home.

If we go by the Giants track record this season, where they beat up on the slop in the NFL and struggle against the good teams, then this team should without a doubt finish at 12 - 4.

With the announcement of Kiwianuka now out for the year and Jacobs on a week to week basis, how much will these two injuries affect the Giants going forward? Without a doubt the bigger of the two losses is Kiwianuka. The Giants are losing a really good pass rusher, and the pass rush of the Giants is what hides the mediocre secondary they have.

Jacobs isn't a huge loss, because if you remember he went down early in the season and Ward was able to step in and do a real nice job. However, the Giants do not have that luxury going forward, since Ward is out also. In steps Mr. Droughns. Giants GM Jerry Reese is now looking like a genius for the trade that sent never seen WR Tim Carter to the Browns for Droughns. Droughns will fill in nicely, and with rookie 7th round draft choice, Ahmad Bradshaw showing his speed last Sunday, he will definitely give the running game a nice lift as well.

Regardless of injuries, the fact remains, this Giants team like last year's team, controls its own destiny. If they fulfill teir destiny, come season's end, they will have made history and Coach Coughlin is sure to get a nice extension.

By: Michael C. Podlesny



Michael C. Podlesny is the co-host of the Big Blue Review, a weekly podcast featuring the latest news on The New York Giants. The podcast can be downloaded from Michael's blog at http://bigbluereviewpodcast.blogspot.com/

Giants Win in Motown - Let Lions Stick Around

This was one of those victories that you can chalk up as ugly. The Giants prevailed in the game 16 - 10, however the offense gave the Lions way too many chances, and in a big game against a good team (like we saw a week ago against the Cowboys), the better teams will take advantage of those mistakes and make you pay.

Twice, deep in Lions territory with the Giants ready to strike for some points, the offense put the ball on the ground, giving the Lions explosive offense a chance to get right back into it. Mistakes, that fortunately for Big Blue, did not hurt them.

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In the post game press conference, Manning says, “I think we’re doing a good job finding ways to win. It comes in different forms and different ways. But we stick together and guys stepped up at the right time. We had some big plays today. We still have things we can fix. But we’re finding ways to win, and that’s what’s important.”

The reason it didn't hurt them is that the Giants defense, unlike a week ago, came up huge, including two enormous turnovers near the end of the game, when the offense couldn't seem to move the ball an inch.

Anchored by the veteran Michael Strahan, who looks like he is 10 years younger, and on his way to yet another pro bowl, the defense was stellar. They limited the Lions to 10 points, 7 of which came in the last 6 minutes of the ball game. With no help from their offense, the Giants defense had to play well and create turnovers, which turned out to be the key to the game.

Michael Strahan said, “Hopefully, we can get another run going. Today was just the start of that. When you play a team that’s 6-3,
and to win – trust me, you can’t beat that. It’s a great thing.”

A big game indeed, however, as shown before, the Giants have no trouble beating the lower tier teams in the NFL. Even though the defense played great, it did leave a huge question, where in the world was Osi Umenyiora. In a game where he could have really shined, he was nonexistent.

According to Umenyiora, “We know we had to win this game. It was in the NFC and Detroit was playing very well. Most importantly, everybody’s been saying we’re struggling in the second half, so we needed to come back and win this football game.”

However not all was chipper on the defensive side of the ball as Kiwianuka went down with what looks like a season ending injury. A loss that will surely hurt the defense's pass rush. Along with that, running back Brandon Jacobs hobbled off the field. According to Giants.com, "Kiwanuka fractured his fibula in the first quarter and Jacobs hurt his hamstring in the third. Kiwanuka is likely out for the season, while Jacobs’ status will be updated this week. "

There is no question this is a huge win for the Giants, but there is also no question, that this team, in order to have any chance at beating an upper echelon team, is going to have to put a complete game together, to be taken seriously.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the co-host of the Big Blue Review, a weekly podcast featuring the latest news on The New York Giants. The podcast can be downloaded from Michael's blog at http://bigbluereviewpodcast.blogspot.com/.

Eli Manning Takes Heat All Week, Hopes To Rebound From Last Sunday

There is no question that when your last name is Manning, you are automatically going to be scrutinized due to the success of your father and Superbowl MVP champion brother. If you add to that the fact that the team you play for mortgaged a great deal in regards to draft picks, then you have just put more pressure on yourself to succeed.

Oh wait, it gets worse, not only do you have family expectations to live up to, draft trade expectations, but you also play the most popular game in Amerca, at the most demanding position on the field in the most media frenzy city in the world in New York.

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Whew! That's more than enough to make most people pull a Ryan Leaf and cry and retire to flag football. However Eli Manning is as cool and confident as they get. Sure he had a terrible day against the Cowboys. No one is disputing that. In fact, he is getting torn apart by the media and by Giants fans this week, and rightfully so, this Eli supporter agrees he deserves it.

“You just have to learn to accept it,” Manning said. “It happens after a loss sometimes. You never know when it is going to happen or what is going to cause it or what strikes it up. But it is out there and you can’t let it affect your personality or the way you are in the locker room or your approach. You have to stay the same and have a good attitude about everything and show everybody that it doesn’t bother you and doesn’t affect you and you are going to go out there and still practice hard and perform hard.”

Last Sunday's game was to be the game that set Eli apart from the other mediocre QBs in the NFL. Instead it did just the opposite, it put him right in the mix with talks of the likes of Rex Grossman and Joey Harrington, YIKES!

Manning knows he must get better, and unlike those other guys, he understands the pressure and what he has to do to improve. He can start by knocking it off with the false starts. Sitting in section 120 on Sunday I can tell you there was nothing more aggravating then watching Eli get up to the line with less than 10 seconds, which isn't a big deal if you are going to hike the ball. However at 7 seconds he starts audiblizing. Its too late for that, and it cost the team some yards and maybe even some points.

Manning will continue to improve, and hopefully will one day turn into the QB we all thought he should be, for what was given up for him. Of course it doesn't help his efforts that the defense surrendered 31 points and couldn't make a stop when they needed it.


About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the co-host of the Big Blue Review, a weekly podcast featuring the latest news on The New York Giants. The podcast can be downloaded from Michael's blog at http://BigBlueReviewPodcast.Blogspot.com.

Big Bl - I Mean Big Red Drops Big Game To Big "D"

From Section 120 at Sunday's game against their division rival the Dallas Cowboys, the only exciting thing I saw were the dozen or so fights in the stands. More on that in my next blog entry.

The game did not get off to a good start with the Cowboys quickly marching down the field and scoring a touchdown. However Big Red (for those ugly red unis), was able to bounce back and tie it up.

As the game progressed in a 7 - 7 tie it was the Giants chance to pull away and really put the Cowboys on their heels. Instead Eli Manning, the Giants $50 million dollar man, thought it would be best to throw into double coverage and behind the receiver and hit a Cowboys player with the ball instead.

The Cowboys drove down the field and scored a TD to take the lead. The game wasn't all bad, with less than 2 minutes left in the half, both teams decided to really turn on the offense. The Cowboys scored a TD to go ahead 17 - 14. Then for some unknown reason the Cowboys squib kicked which gave the Giants some decent field position. Even with the field position the coaching staff was ready to bag it in and go into the half down by 3, with a safe run by Brandon Jacobs. A personal foul call gave the g-men 15 more yards and now they were approaching field goal territory. A nice pass from Manning to Shockey set up the game tieing field goal.

Here is the funny part. With 6 second left in the half, coach Coughlin sends out the field goal unit, apparently Lawrence Tynes forgot he is on that part of the team because Jeff Feagles (punter/holder) had to call a timeout because Tynes didn't start running onto the field until there was about 8 seconds left on the play clock. Not a wise move by Tynes whose job has been jeopardy all season long.

So halftime rolls around and I decide to go overpay for something to drink and that's when I hear Chris Carlin over the radio giving out Eli's stats. At the half the young Manning was 13 for 15 in completions. Everyone around me all had the same reaction. "What? He made that many completions?" Yes he did, but it was that kind of lackluster performance that is starting to get this Eli supporter to realize that this kid may be nothing more than mediocre in his career. Which isn't a bad thing, however, the Giants defense, who dominated the previous 6 weeks, just aren't good enough to make a mediocre QB look better.

The defense was out of position for most of the game, and when the Cowboys finally put it away, the Giants had linebacker Mitchell somehow covering T.O. on the line. Everyone in the stands saw the mismatch, why didn't the defense. The answer is plain and simple. In weeks 1 and 2 when the defense was torched for 80 points, we saw just how bad the secondary really is. Over the previous 8 weeks, the pass rush was able to hide that part of the defense by getting after the QB. Sunday, they were exposed, and quite frankly, they just aren't that good. Although rookie Aaron Ross played really well, asking a rookie to carry your defense in the secondary is a huge undertaking. Without a doubt though it seems, the Giants finally hit a homerun on drafting a cornerback with Ross. Now only if they can find another corner, a safety, a strong safety and another linebacker...the defense will be in good shape.

As a Giants fan, its time to realize that although this team is moving in the right direction with its personnel, they just aren't good enough in certain areas of the team to be considered Super Bowl contenders.

When it was all said and done the Cowboys walked away with a 31 - 20 win, and all but squashed the divisional hopes for Big Blue.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:

Michael C. Podlesny is the co-host of the Big Blue Review, a weekly podcast featuring the latest news on The New York Giants. The podcast can be downloaded from Michael's blog at http://bigbluereviewpodcast.blogspot.com/.

Big Blue Review Episode 23

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Big Blue Gears Up For Giant Test

They are eight games into the season, hold a 6 - 2 record, are coming out of the bye and are staring first place right in the face. No these aren`t your 2006-2007 NY Giants, these are the 2007-2007 Giants.

An all too familiar scene from a year ago that the players know they can`t afford to repeat. A lot has changed since a year ago, a lot of players have since departed, head coach Tom Coughlin is a `nicer` coach, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, the Giants team is relatively healthy. A problem that has plagued this team since Coughlin took over.

Riding a 6 game winning streak the NY Giants will go for number 7 as they face the first place Dallas Cowboys, who themselves are coming off of a thrashing of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Tom Coughlin knows all too well the importance of this upcoming game. “It is no doubt a big game,” Coach Tom Coughlin said. “It is in the division, it has all of the excitement of a divisional game that certainly does have a lot at stake.”

Eli Manning, who two weeks ago, had the worse game of the season in London, has put that game behind him as he prepares for the challenge ahead.

“I think it is a big game for us,” quarterback Eli Manning said. “We are coming off an off week, so we should be rested and ready to go. We know we are going to have to come out and play our best football. They played a great game on Sunday night, so it is going to be a tough test. But I think that is what it is all about. You look forward to these types of games.”

This is of course not the same Giants team that Dallas saw in week 1 when Tony Romo and the high powered Cowboys offense put up 45 on the Giants defense What many `experts` fail to remember is that the Giants offense put up 35 points on the Dallas defense.

Week 1 seems like an eon ago, and everyone knows you can throw that game out, as both of these teams have matured and have played much better since their first meeting in Dallas.

As well as the Giants are playing, no one is playing better then Giants defense, especially the front four, who potentially have 3 pro bowl players in Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck.

“I think the bye week came exactly when it needed to,” defensive end Justin Tuck said. “Right in the middle of the season, giving us a chance to rest, and we were pretty healthy before the bye week. With the injuries that we did have, the bye week gave us an opportunity to work on those things, too. We are looking forward to what the second half presents and we know it is a challenge. But we’ll take it one game at a time.”

Nothing could be more true with the old cliche, one game at a time. The next game is against Dallas at the Meadowlands with a 4:15pm EST start.

By: Michael C. Podlesny



About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the co-host of the Big Blue Review, a weekly podcast featuring the latest news on The New York Giants. The podcast can be downloaded from Michael's blog at http://BigBlueReviewPodcast.Blogspot.com.

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