FuzzyLumpkins
The Boognish
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In case you don't know who the Giants are putting out there here is their depth chart.
http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/NYG
First thing that is apparent is that the Giants are going to have issues controlling the los. Richburg and to a lesser extent Pugh are talented but their oline as a whole is based on quickness and lacks power. WIth the exception of Flowers each of the OL has this issue. Conversely Flowers and Hart, the OT, are lead footed.
It's widely known the Giants cannot run the ball. They struggled to do so with Coughlin and under McAdoo the run game has gone in the toilet.
To counteract that the Giants run a WCO style short passing game relying on YAC for big plays. OBJ, Shepherd, and Engram are all extremely quick for their relative positions and elusive in space.
Of course OBJ might not be playing given that he is not healthy enough to practice. Nonetheless, he would hardly be the first star to take a shot for the pain and play effectively. If he cannot go the Giants are going to be that much easier to defend and struggle to score. He is the biggest X factor this weekend just by virtue of his availability.
Eli remains the division QB we love to hate. He has had big days against the Cowboys but not recently. Lately Manning has seen an erosion in his arm talent. He struggles to fit the difficult deep out and in while generally giving DBs a better chance to drive on the football.
He remains a smart player and they have adjusted. Upwards of 70% are on quick routes that see the ball out less than 2.5 seconds.
They run a steady stream of 11 personnel even though their blocking TE is talented. We are likely to be in nickel early and for the lion's share of the game.
Because of this good tackling is going to be that much more important than it already is. Recall, OBJ getting loose on a slant was the backbreaking play in game 1 last season. If we can end receptions at the catch then it is going to be a struggle for the Giants to move the ball and score.
While the meme is that pass rush trumps all, for this game it is going to be the underneath coverage that is going to dictate success. Unless Eli is forced onto his subsequent reads, he gets the ball out fast enough that even a free run at him is unlikely to get home.
We have been running a lot more zone this year and I expect that to continue into the regular season. Depending if we are in cover 2 or 3 dictates whether the CB or a S is going to be underneath but Lee, Smith, Durant, and Wilson are going to have to have success if the pass rush is to get home.
Individual matchups
Collins vs Giants interior line. We flip the DT depending on circumstance so it is hard to pin down one guy who Collins will be isoed on but regardless of who it is Collins will have the advantage because of his power. If he can control the middle we will control the los.
Mayowa and DLaw against Giants tackles. The behemoth OT the Giants trot out are susceptible to quickness. These two are the established players who are best equipped to take advantage. It will be interesting to see if the young Tapper and Charlton can draw blood here as well. Crawford doesn't matchup as well outside here and could see a lot of work inside.
Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard vs middle coverage. It is going ot be interesting to see how Marinelli handles this assignment. It is quite possible that we play dime and Awuzie is brought in to matchup with Engram. Scandrick faces his first test inside with Shepard. Regardless the Giants are going to do their best to get these two isolated on Lee and co. They need to step up.
http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/NYG
First thing that is apparent is that the Giants are going to have issues controlling the los. Richburg and to a lesser extent Pugh are talented but their oline as a whole is based on quickness and lacks power. WIth the exception of Flowers each of the OL has this issue. Conversely Flowers and Hart, the OT, are lead footed.
It's widely known the Giants cannot run the ball. They struggled to do so with Coughlin and under McAdoo the run game has gone in the toilet.
To counteract that the Giants run a WCO style short passing game relying on YAC for big plays. OBJ, Shepherd, and Engram are all extremely quick for their relative positions and elusive in space.
Of course OBJ might not be playing given that he is not healthy enough to practice. Nonetheless, he would hardly be the first star to take a shot for the pain and play effectively. If he cannot go the Giants are going to be that much easier to defend and struggle to score. He is the biggest X factor this weekend just by virtue of his availability.
Eli remains the division QB we love to hate. He has had big days against the Cowboys but not recently. Lately Manning has seen an erosion in his arm talent. He struggles to fit the difficult deep out and in while generally giving DBs a better chance to drive on the football.
He remains a smart player and they have adjusted. Upwards of 70% are on quick routes that see the ball out less than 2.5 seconds.
They run a steady stream of 11 personnel even though their blocking TE is talented. We are likely to be in nickel early and for the lion's share of the game.
Because of this good tackling is going to be that much more important than it already is. Recall, OBJ getting loose on a slant was the backbreaking play in game 1 last season. If we can end receptions at the catch then it is going to be a struggle for the Giants to move the ball and score.
While the meme is that pass rush trumps all, for this game it is going to be the underneath coverage that is going to dictate success. Unless Eli is forced onto his subsequent reads, he gets the ball out fast enough that even a free run at him is unlikely to get home.
We have been running a lot more zone this year and I expect that to continue into the regular season. Depending if we are in cover 2 or 3 dictates whether the CB or a S is going to be underneath but Lee, Smith, Durant, and Wilson are going to have to have success if the pass rush is to get home.
Individual matchups
Collins vs Giants interior line. We flip the DT depending on circumstance so it is hard to pin down one guy who Collins will be isoed on but regardless of who it is Collins will have the advantage because of his power. If he can control the middle we will control the los.
Mayowa and DLaw against Giants tackles. The behemoth OT the Giants trot out are susceptible to quickness. These two are the established players who are best equipped to take advantage. It will be interesting to see if the young Tapper and Charlton can draw blood here as well. Crawford doesn't matchup as well outside here and could see a lot of work inside.
Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard vs middle coverage. It is going ot be interesting to see how Marinelli handles this assignment. It is quite possible that we play dime and Awuzie is brought in to matchup with Engram. Scandrick faces his first test inside with Shepard. Regardless the Giants are going to do their best to get these two isolated on Lee and co. They need to step up.
