Today, I’m thinkin’ about something different. No politics, just something that really annoyed me yesterday. The NY Giants meltdown versus the Tennessee Titans.
Allowing for all of the understandable reasons for not playing up to expectations (too many starters out, backups without backups having to play more downs and tiring near the end of games… OK, maybe those are the same reason and I can only come up with one), that does not excuse this midseason meltdown. So… as you might expect, I have an opinion or two:
- Burress: What happened? In the first half of the season, you were a role model. You blocked down field, you went out of your way to make great catches to make Manning look good, you were a team player. Did you get bored? You have given up on plays on at least two occasions that have cost your team in the past two weeks. Do you want to play football and live up to your potential or have you lost interest and are just going through the motions. I get it… I’ve seen folks in the business world go through the same kind of funk. But then, they aren’t getting paid millions to play 16 games a year. How about just giving us 100% for a few more games, then you can take the rest of the year off. At least you own up:
- Shockey: You were one of my favorite players (OK.. still are). I can relate to the intensity and competitive nature. And yeah, Manning should be getting the ball in your hands more often; but if you really think about it, and are honest with yourself, do you think that perhaps, just perhaps, working with your young QB in the off-season, instead of working to improve yourself as an individual down in Miami, might make sense. How about going 50/50 with the time? What does it matter how good you are if he doesn’t find you on the field and throw you the ball?
- Manning: Stop trying to be perfect. I think you may actually be trying too hard. How else can you explain throwing the ball into the ground on basic swing passes two weeks in a row. Come on, you’ve been doing this your whole life. This is just a game of catch (albeit with defenders hanging all over you and chasing you around the field while other defenders beat up on your receivers). Maybe you got too comfortable throwing high to Burress and Toomer; aim for the numbers like Jaws said yesterday:
Accuracy is a matter of focus, Jaworski said.
When Jaworski played with the Rams during the mid-1970s, he threw an incomplete pass to receiver Harold Jackson. After Jaws returned to the sideline, coach Chuck Knox asked him where he was throwing he ball.
“I said, ‘I was throwing to Harold Jackson,’” Jaworski recalled. “And he said, ‘No, where (are you throwing the ball?) You don’t throw the ball to the receiver; you pick out a focal point on him. You throw it between the (Nos.) 2 and 9 on his jersey.’
- Kiwanuka: Totally understand you not wanting to drive Young into the ground for a 15 yard penalty; don’t see how that justifies letting him go and then turning to walk away. Why not just hold on to him? Yeah, so you’re a rookie, but how many years have you been playing this game? Did you hear a whistle? Did you look to see that Young released the ball? There were many other plays that contributed to the Giants loss; that one play would have sealed the victory. But good that you plan to learn from the mistake.
“I can tell you if I get put in the same situation again, I won’t make that mistake,” Kiwanuka said.
- Walker: A forearm to the head of a QB near the sideline is a penalty… you knew that, right? You messed up and should own up.
“I don’t know what it was,” Walker said of the penalty. “All I know is I’m playing football.”
Don’t care what I think? That’s fine, you’ve got the mega-buck contracts and the amazing talent… I’m just a fan. Maybe what I think doesn’t mean anything to you. Through 40 years of being a Giants fan, I’ve seen worse teams; not sure I’ve seen any better Giants teams that have played worse though.
“What, do you want us to quit?” Pierce said. “We aren’t going to quit.”
Good to hear… looking forward to see action behind those words against the Cowboys.
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