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While we moan and groan about the Cowboy defense just read this Giant Fan's opinion on the Giants' defensive ineptitude last night....
http://www.nygmen.com/
III. The Defense
Where to begin here?
We gave up 45 points. We couldn’t stop the run, rush the passer, or guard their receivers. It was an absolute disaster in all phases of defense. There is absolutely nothing for us to hang our hats on as we pick up the pieces for the rest of the season.
It would be kinda ridiculous for me to cite specifically infuriating plays; after all, most of the plays the Cowboys ran were pretty maddening for the G-Men faithful. But **** it. Here are some plays I can’t stop thinking about:
12:01 in the Second Quarter: 1st and 10 from the Cowboys 44:
Romo fakes the handoff to Marion Barber, then looks downfield to survey the scene before determining that nobody is open. Fortunately for Romo, Barber is wide open on the left side: somehow, outside linebacker Matthias Kiwanuka has lost sight of Barber and has abandoned his responsibility in the left flat.
Barber catches the ball, eludes the out-of-position Kiwanuka, and doesn’t stop running until he’s tackled at the 27. It’s 1st and 10 for the ‘Boys after a 29-yard gain, and it’s the inexperienced Kiwanuka’s fault.
10:06 in the Second Quarter: 4th and 1 from the Giants 18:
Pierce, Butler, and Webster all miss tackles (Butler most egregiously), as Barber bounces an off-tackle run outside and turns the corner for the 18-yard touchdown. 10-6 Cowboys.
4:07 in the Second Quarter: 2nd and 17 from the Giants 12:
Jason Whitten, who killed us all game but especially in the first half (5 catches for 78 yards) leaks into a soft-spot in the zone created by two inexperienced outside linebackers: Kawika Mitchell, who inexplicably drifted away from Whitten, who appeared to be the only man in his zone; and Matthias Kiwanuka, who was too late getting over to make any kind of play on the ball.
Romo zipped a nice throw in there to put the ‘Boys up 17-6.
12:07 in the Third Quarter: 1st and 10 from the Giants 22:
To give some context, it’s not as if Dallas wasn’t gonna score on this possession anyway: On their previous three plays, they had put together gains of 14, 21, and 18 yards.
Still, their touchdown was particularly bewildering.
It looked as if R.W. was in press coverage against T.O. on the right side: he bumped him and then ran with him, understandably a couple of strides behind. Only there was no over-the-top help, and T.O. was wide open to catch the touchdown pass.
Press coverage against T.O. with no safety help in sight? It had to be a blown coverage. Either way, the ‘Boys extender the lead to 24-16.
1:18 in the Third Quarter: 2nd and Goal from the Giants 9:
A strong interior pass rush forces Romo to the outside. Unfortunately, Kiwanuka, who had outside contain responsibility on the play, took an inside angle to Romo and gave up the outside edge. Romo took advantage and ran around the bend for the easy touchdown. Cowboys 31-Giants 19.
11:52 in the Fourth Quarter: 2nd and 11 from the Giants 47:
Once again, Romo has all day to throw. He sits back and hits T.O. dragging across the middle of the field. James Butler misses another tackle, and the Cowboys go up 38-22.
But more than anyone else, it was Gibril Wilson’s fault. Playing underneath, Wilson was way too late to react and get back in his drop zone, which gave T.O. a lot of space to maneuver against the overmatched Butler.
Another easy score for the Pokes.
3:11 in the Fourth Quarter: 3rd and 7 from the Cowboys 49:
The coup de grace.
Romo drops back and hits Sam Hurd on an inside dig. Hurd doesn’t break stride as he streaks to the endzone unmolested (strange phrase, yes).
Who’s fault was this? I don’t know, but it certainly didn’t look like it was R.W.’s fault for getting beaten by half a step on an inside move.
Maybe it was Pierce’s fault – he didn’t get enough depth in his drop zone.
Maybe it was James Butler’s fault – he was nowhere to be found after Hurd caught the ball, and was easily eluded as Hurd took it the distance to bury the G-Men. 45-35, Cowboys.
**
As preposterous as the phrase is might seem after tonight, let me look on the bright side when it comes to our defense:
1) The D was so horrendous, in part, because Osi went down and Strahan was clearly not ready. We’ll see what happens with Osi’s injury, but Strahan should be back in his old form soon. Our pass rush has to get better because it can’t possibly be any worse.
2) The above plays represent the tip of the iceberg, but if you look at these plays, you will notice that many of the culprits were either young or inexperienced guys starting their first games for this team at their respective spots.
James Buter looked bad tonight, but it’s his first start at strong safety; Kiwanuka looked bad, but he’s still learning to be a linebacker; Mitchell is an inside linebacker by trade, and made a critical mistake in his first game as on outside ‘backer; and Gibril is a strong safety playing his first game at free safety.
3) Like many of the players, the scheme is new too. We’ll learn it and get better at executing it. Hopefully, our performance tonight will be as bad as it can possibly get.
The D has to improve. Right? RIGHT?!
http://www.nygmen.com/
III. The Defense
Where to begin here?
We gave up 45 points. We couldn’t stop the run, rush the passer, or guard their receivers. It was an absolute disaster in all phases of defense. There is absolutely nothing for us to hang our hats on as we pick up the pieces for the rest of the season.
It would be kinda ridiculous for me to cite specifically infuriating plays; after all, most of the plays the Cowboys ran were pretty maddening for the G-Men faithful. But **** it. Here are some plays I can’t stop thinking about:
12:01 in the Second Quarter: 1st and 10 from the Cowboys 44:
Romo fakes the handoff to Marion Barber, then looks downfield to survey the scene before determining that nobody is open. Fortunately for Romo, Barber is wide open on the left side: somehow, outside linebacker Matthias Kiwanuka has lost sight of Barber and has abandoned his responsibility in the left flat.
Barber catches the ball, eludes the out-of-position Kiwanuka, and doesn’t stop running until he’s tackled at the 27. It’s 1st and 10 for the ‘Boys after a 29-yard gain, and it’s the inexperienced Kiwanuka’s fault.
10:06 in the Second Quarter: 4th and 1 from the Giants 18:
Pierce, Butler, and Webster all miss tackles (Butler most egregiously), as Barber bounces an off-tackle run outside and turns the corner for the 18-yard touchdown. 10-6 Cowboys.
4:07 in the Second Quarter: 2nd and 17 from the Giants 12:
Jason Whitten, who killed us all game but especially in the first half (5 catches for 78 yards) leaks into a soft-spot in the zone created by two inexperienced outside linebackers: Kawika Mitchell, who inexplicably drifted away from Whitten, who appeared to be the only man in his zone; and Matthias Kiwanuka, who was too late getting over to make any kind of play on the ball.
Romo zipped a nice throw in there to put the ‘Boys up 17-6.
12:07 in the Third Quarter: 1st and 10 from the Giants 22:
To give some context, it’s not as if Dallas wasn’t gonna score on this possession anyway: On their previous three plays, they had put together gains of 14, 21, and 18 yards.
Still, their touchdown was particularly bewildering.
It looked as if R.W. was in press coverage against T.O. on the right side: he bumped him and then ran with him, understandably a couple of strides behind. Only there was no over-the-top help, and T.O. was wide open to catch the touchdown pass.
Press coverage against T.O. with no safety help in sight? It had to be a blown coverage. Either way, the ‘Boys extender the lead to 24-16.
1:18 in the Third Quarter: 2nd and Goal from the Giants 9:
A strong interior pass rush forces Romo to the outside. Unfortunately, Kiwanuka, who had outside contain responsibility on the play, took an inside angle to Romo and gave up the outside edge. Romo took advantage and ran around the bend for the easy touchdown. Cowboys 31-Giants 19.
11:52 in the Fourth Quarter: 2nd and 11 from the Giants 47:
Once again, Romo has all day to throw. He sits back and hits T.O. dragging across the middle of the field. James Butler misses another tackle, and the Cowboys go up 38-22.
But more than anyone else, it was Gibril Wilson’s fault. Playing underneath, Wilson was way too late to react and get back in his drop zone, which gave T.O. a lot of space to maneuver against the overmatched Butler.
Another easy score for the Pokes.
3:11 in the Fourth Quarter: 3rd and 7 from the Cowboys 49:
The coup de grace.
Romo drops back and hits Sam Hurd on an inside dig. Hurd doesn’t break stride as he streaks to the endzone unmolested (strange phrase, yes).
Who’s fault was this? I don’t know, but it certainly didn’t look like it was R.W.’s fault for getting beaten by half a step on an inside move.
Maybe it was Pierce’s fault – he didn’t get enough depth in his drop zone.
Maybe it was James Butler’s fault – he was nowhere to be found after Hurd caught the ball, and was easily eluded as Hurd took it the distance to bury the G-Men. 45-35, Cowboys.
**
As preposterous as the phrase is might seem after tonight, let me look on the bright side when it comes to our defense:
1) The D was so horrendous, in part, because Osi went down and Strahan was clearly not ready. We’ll see what happens with Osi’s injury, but Strahan should be back in his old form soon. Our pass rush has to get better because it can’t possibly be any worse.
2) The above plays represent the tip of the iceberg, but if you look at these plays, you will notice that many of the culprits were either young or inexperienced guys starting their first games for this team at their respective spots.
James Buter looked bad tonight, but it’s his first start at strong safety; Kiwanuka looked bad, but he’s still learning to be a linebacker; Mitchell is an inside linebacker by trade, and made a critical mistake in his first game as on outside ‘backer; and Gibril is a strong safety playing his first game at free safety.
3) Like many of the players, the scheme is new too. We’ll learn it and get better at executing it. Hopefully, our performance tonight will be as bad as it can possibly get.
The D has to improve. Right? RIGHT?!
