Letters to the Editor: November 13, 2012
Bob G. writes…
The Giants need to get a contract for Cruz, because his focus has been on the negotiating table, and not on the field. Too distracted ever since the talks started.
I know everyone is using the late bye-week as an excuse for the players being tired, but I can’t buy that. Just look at the Seahawks, who have the same bye schedule – they certainly didn’t look tired against the Jets yesterday. I have always felt the Giants’ training was less than optimum, given all the niggling injuries they seem to sustain each season, but the annual second-half swoon could also be a reflection of their stamina, or lack thereof. I know players get hurt in the game, I have two bad knees from playing in a sandlot league, but that is not what I am talking about here.
The coaches have to take a major hit for much of this mess. Their personnel decisions have been ‘head-scratchers’, to say the least, and strategy, and in-game adjustments have been poor. That this team can come out flat-footed so often during a season, has to reflect on the coaches’ ability to keep the players motivated, to quote Rolle this week – “We didn’t come out to play this week”. They also didn’t come out to play against Dallas in the opener, and Pitt last week
The move to put Diehl back into the lineup has destroyed what had become an efficient group. The stubbornness to continue starting Bradshaw, when he always seems to be hurt, and practices only occasionally, and who everyone agrees is not an efficient runner, as he leaves many yards on the field by not being patient.
He should be the second back behind Brown, who has been a much more efficient, and productive runner. Wilson is becoming a wasted pick, losing whatever confidence he had in himself, getting in the doghouse because of a fumble (yes, I know the blocking issue is related), but he is not even returning kicks like he had been, and Bradshaw has fumbled many more times than he, some game-changing
On the defensive side, I am getting tired of hearing how great a line we have, when they have done virtually nothing this season. The pass rush is non-existent, and the run stopping is a figment of someone’s imagination. The excuse was that other teams adjusted to the Giants’ rushing schemes, but if they can adjust, why haven’t we made some changes to counteract, even if just for a few games until things get back to normal?
The use of ‘Kiwi’ is another example of poor talent usage – he was drafted to be a pass rusher (when it was thought we didn’t need one), and now they have him playing out of position, where he is, at best, average. The secondary has been a disaster under Fewell every season, until the end of the year, when he makes a change, and tightens things up. Why do we have to wait so long for these moves?
There are also hints of Tuck playing hurt, and you see him on the sidelines in situations where he would never be there before. If he is that sore, and really as useless as he seems now, sit him for a few games until he heals, or put him on IR to get whatever operation he needs so that next year he is the Tuck we know.
Every time the players come out and say all the right things about how good they practiced, how they know the game is important, for whatever the weekly reason is, you just know that they are going to give you a stinker performance. Stop the talk, just PLAY the game, like it is what you are getting paid for.
Bob, look at the tape– see how defenses are getting their hands on him and bracketing him like there’s o tomorrow/ the contract has nothing to do with his ineffectiveness of late. Missing a healthy Hakeem Nicks and the Giants inability to come up with solutions to loosen up some of the tight coverage they’ve faced (a result of not running the ball consistently) are contributing factors.)
I also don’t buy the excuse that the Giants are tired– of the few players I spoke with before the bye, I did, however, ask if the hurricane was more of an issue than they first thought and not one said that it had an effect on them.
As for Diehl, while I don’t I buy the concept that a starter shouldn’t lose his job to injury – I believe the best people should play regardless, so I suppose that the coaches feel Diehl s the better f the two–Diehl is not solely to blame for the problems on offense.
Chris H. writes…
Like all other fans, I too am frustrated and think there is plenty of blame to go around. Yes Eli has had a couple bad games and the defense has been soft and Diehl should be back on bench, but the problems are more complex in my opinion.
Cruz and Nicks have not forgotten how to run routes and Eli hasn’t just lost his ability to make great throws. If you watch Pitt and Cinn games two defenders were waiting in the spot Cruz was supposed to be all day long. Defenses have figured us out and know our tendencies. Same thing for us defensively our corners play too far off the ball and allow receivers and TE to run free off the line.
Look at cowboy game Witten was able to release untouched and simply turn around at marker 20 times! It is incumbent on this coaching staff to adjust. Your thoughts?
Bingo! The coaches need to come up with strategies to counter what’s been done to them on both sides of the ball.
Bill A. writes…
It concerns me that the defensive line shows little capacity to defend the run or rush the passer.
Over the last month every team has run well and often it is with substitute running backs. We are not going against Adrian Petersen or the elite group. It seems that our weakness defending the run has hampered the pass rush because we are always in short yardage situations. It seems everyone is willing to go at us on 4th and short situations.
Eli has gotten flack for his mistakes but his protection has worsened with the return of David Diehl. I think Locklear improved things when he replaced Diehl and his absence has weakened the line.
Lastly, do you think David Wilson is running a little more tentatively returning kicks. The last few weeks it seems he is doing a little too much surveying of his opportunity to break one than is necessary. Using his speed to get up to his blockers and instinctively capture the holes that open seemed to be what gave him success earlier in the season.
I am worried about Rodgers and Brees getting hold of our secondary. If we make Dalton look good and give him time, these two guys will shred us.
Bill, Diehl is not solely to blame here. Some of the protection calls have been head scratchers, sch as giving help blocking to Beatty, who’s clearly the better of the two. These are little things that need to be corrected.
Regarding the pass rush, I’d like to see them go back to blitzing a linebacker, corner or safety every so often as the front four just isn’t getting it done and by sending an extra man, that forced the blocking scheme to be different, perhaps freeing up an opportunity for Tuck or JPP to get a sack.
Lastly, I think opponents are kicking off differently to Wilson and hence have adjusted their coverage which could explain why he looks tentative.
