My notes following the game

[Galian Beast]

I thought the defense played very inspired football yesterday. They ultimately gave up 30 points on two turnovers to one of the best oil machines in the NFL. They largely shutdown Rob Gronkowski with our rookie CB/S Byron Jones. I can't go any further without saying what a beast Hardy is. He is the best player on our defense right now and that includes Sean Lee. Can't imagine what this defensive line will be able to do with Gregory back in the lineup. It's going to be exactly what we thought it would be.

I think our linebacker corps will be a real strength, but not until the offense can allow it to be. I think our defense is going to be stout, but we do need to address the safeties. They're terrible. Carr is also terrible, and Claiborne... only average.

The Giants beating the 49ers should hopefully light a fire under Jason and Jerry's collective butts. We're being put in a position where even with the return of Bryant and Romo it will be too late to do anything. I don't get what Garret and Linehan are thinking. We lost exactly the way I imagined. The defense does a great job, but the offense gets them gassed. How are you going to put an quarterback in the NFL and let him be check down charlie. This guy doesn't want to throw to WRs at all. Stunned that we didn't run the ball more, especially when we were having success. The last three games have seen the most uninspired play calling I've ever seen. I think with better coaching we're probably 4-1 if not 5-0. I really wanted us to bring in Colt McCoy in the offseason, especially after he roasted us last year. When we didn't bring in another QB and they said that Weeden was the most improved player, I took it as the gospel.

Weeden has a completion percentage of 72.4, in reality it should probably be closer to 55-60 percent for a guy like this. 72.4 percent reveals what we already know, he can only throw the checkdown. He has 0 pocket awareness. I don't think he does anything well.

I'd love to see Matt Cassel out there, but I don't know if that is really going to help anything. The one thing I know is that he isn't a checkdown charlie. I have no idea why they didn't play him, or why they didn't play Collins or Michael. They never want to try players who are clearly better. How many years did I say they should play Dunbar in a Sproles role, only to be laughed at. Then they give him a chance, and he is the best player on the offense with Dez and Romo out.

It sucks that so much is going to be said about drafting a qb next year now, when we should really be focused on fixing our secondary.

 

[Typhus]

I remember when you made the comparison of Dunbar and Sproles, and I didnt laugh at you, I agreed with you.
What is so frustrating is this coaching staffs inability or ignorance, hate to use that term, but it seems to be appropriate,, that they fail to recognize talent when its staring them in the face.
CM gets to come in and have 1 carry, and with that 1 carry he takes it right off tackle, with power and authority, and in that brief moment, as fans, we got a glimpse of what our running game could be like, if his talent wasnt being ignored.
Mind Boggling.

 

[JakeCamp12]

I thought the defense played very inspired football yesterday. They ultimately gave up 30 points on two turnovers to one of the best oil machines in the NFL. They largely shutdown Rob Gronkowski with our rookie CB/S Byron Jones. I can't go any further without saying what a beast Hardy is. He is the best player on our defense right now and that includes Sean Lee. Can't imagine what this defensive line will be able to do with Gregory back in the lineup. It's going to be exactly what we thought it would be.

I think our linebacker corps will be a real strength, but not until the offense can allow it to be. I think our defense is going to be stout, but we do need to address the safeties. They're terrible. Carr is also terrible, and Claiborne... only average.

The Giants beating the 49ers should hopefully light a fire under Jason and Jerry's collective butts. We're being put in a position where even with the return of Bryant and Romo it will be too late to do anything. I don't get what Garret and Linehan are thinking. We lost exactly the way I imagined. The defense does a great job, but the offense gets them gassed. How are you going to put an quarterback in the NFL and let him be check down charlie. This guy doesn't want to throw to WRs at all. Stunned that we didn't run the ball more, especially when we were having success. The last three games have seen the most uninspired play calling I've ever seen. I think with better coaching we're probably 4-1 if not 5-0. I really wanted us to bring in Colt McCoy in the offseason, especially after he roasted us last year. When we didn't bring in another QB and they said that Weeden was the most improved player, I took it as the gospel.

Weeden has a completion percentage of 72.4, in reality it should probably be closer to 55-60 percent for a guy like this. 72.4 percent reveals what we already know, he can only throw the checkdown. He has 0 pocket awareness. I don't think he does anything well.

I'd love to see Matt Cassel out there, but I don't know if that is really going to help anything. The one thing I know is that he isn't a checkdown charlie. I have no idea why they didn't play him, or why they didn't play Collins or Michael. They never want to try players who are clearly better. How many years did I say they should play Dunbar in a Sproles role, only to be laughed at. Then they give him a chance, and he is the best player on the offense with Dez and Romo out.

It sucks that so much is going to be said about drafting a qb next year now, when we should really be focused on fixing our secondary.

This front office only fixes things when it is blatantly obvious it needs to be fixed. Now that it is blatantly obvious we need a quality backup/Romo's successor, we will go on an all out search to find one in the off season. We will ignore the safety issue for another year, we will ignore the need to draft and develop at least two corners, and we will hide our head in the sand when it comes to replacing Doug Free. We will draft a host of tight ends and linebackers but never think to draft a quality center to backup TFred. Does anyone want to really see how the line could look if we had to run Berm out there for 10 games? The center is the main guy on the line. Berm can not move at all like TFred. We do a terrible job with our practice squad. Instead of using it as a way to develop players, I think they only use it to run the scout team. So be prepared to listen to all of the hot air about finding a Romo successor in the off season. Oh by the way, Jason Witten is not getting any younger, so is Escobar, Swaim, Hanna his successor or are we going to draft a TE yet again when they realize that Witten is close to the end of his career?

 

[Risen Star]

I agree. When I look at this team its clear to me we just don't have enough players in the secondary. Hopefully we can add enough in the offseason to only be one or two more offseasons away of adding more to be a real contender.

Think secondary. It's where games are won or lost.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I agree. When I look at this team its clear to me we just don't have enough players in the secondary. Hopefully we can add enough in the offseason to only be one or two more offseasons away of adding more to be a real contender.

Think secondary. It's where games are won or lost.

It's amazing how a good QB can mask the warts on defense.

I've never been a fan of Church and don't see a future with Wilcox (unless it is as a SS) but with a competent offense they were at least adequate.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I agree. When I look at this team its clear to me we just don't have enough players in the secondary. Hopefully we can add enough in the offseason to only be one or two more offseasons away of adding more to be a real contender.

Think secondary. It's where games are won or lost.

We know how you love DBs. To the Cowboys credit they have built the trenches on both sides of the ball so you should be happy about that.

 

[Daillest88]

Church is going to be in a wheelchair by time his career is over, his ankles must be hurting, especially these last 2 weeks

 

[Oh_Canada]

Church is going to be in a wheelchair by time his career is over, his ankles must be hurting, especially these last 2 weeks

Church is terrible. Wilcox isn't great, but at the very least will hit somebody, the other guy does nothing well other than look around and blame people after he misses yet another tackle.

 

[basstapp]

Call me crazy, but do they give Moore and equal shot of being the starter? We probably know that the Cassel is a better start then weeden, but how much more? Should we roll with the young kid and give him a couple weeks like we did weeden?

 

[VACowboy]

I thought the defense played very inspired football yesterday. They ultimately gave up 30 points on two turnovers to one of the best oil machines in the NFL. They largely shutdown Rob Gronkowski with our rookie CB/S Byron Jones. I can't go any further without saying what a beast Hardy is. He is the best player on our defense right now and that includes Sean Lee. Can't imagine what this defensive line will be able to do with Gregory back in the lineup. It's going to be exactly what we thought it would be.

I think our linebacker corps will be a real strength, but not until the offense can allow it to be. I think our defense is going to be stout, but we do need to address the safeties. They're terrible. Carr is also terrible, and Claiborne... only average.

The Giants beating the 49ers should hopefully light a fire under Jason and Jerry's collective butts. We're being put in a position where even with the return of Bryant and Romo it will be too late to do anything. I don't get what Garret and Linehan are thinking. We lost exactly the way I imagined. The defense does a great job, but the offense gets them gassed. How are you going to put an quarterback in the NFL and let him be check down charlie. This guy doesn't want to throw to WRs at all. Stunned that we didn't run the ball more, especially when we were having success. The last three games have seen the most uninspired play calling I've ever seen. I think with better coaching we're probably 4-1 if not 5-0. I really wanted us to bring in Colt McCoy in the offseason, especially after he roasted us last year. When we didn't bring in another QB and they said that Weeden was the most improved player, I took it as the gospel.

Weeden has a completion percentage of 72.4, in reality it should probably be closer to 55-60 percent for a guy like this. 72.4 percent reveals what we already know, he can only throw the checkdown. He has 0 pocket awareness. I don't think he does anything well.

I'd love to see Matt Cassel out there, but I don't know if that is really going to help anything. The one thing I know is that he isn't a checkdown charlie. I have no idea why they didn't play him, or why they didn't play Collins or Michael. They never want to try players who are clearly better. How many years did I say they should play Dunbar in a Sproles role, only to be laughed at. Then they give him a chance, and he is the best player on the offense with Dez and Romo out.

It sucks that so much is going to be said about drafting a qb next year now, when we should really be focused on fixing our secondary.

Great post, top to bottom, GB. I was pulling for McCoy in the offseason too.

Here's what I'd like to see over the bye. Never happen, but...

* Cut Weeden, promote Cassell and Moore
• Cut Whitehead, bring back AJ Jenkins and start Butler
• Cut McFadden, bring Johnson up from the PS and start Michael
• Start Collins and give Brown a series at RT
• Rework the team's general offensive game plan, especially on early downs, including a bunch of deep slants and crossing routes for Escobar
• RUN MORE SLANTS FOR WILLIAMS!
• And please incorporate more boot action into outside zone runs and run more counters.

Can't hurt, and we need to see what some of these young guys can do.

 

[John813]

We need to invest in safeties in the next draft. Even if Jones becomes a hybrid S/Corner type of player, we need to draft at least one.

Wilcox IMO can improve his game, limited, but I think he can be a decent safety. Church, on the other hand, either needs to play linebacker or get demoted.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

We know how you love DBs. To the Cowboys credit they have built the trenches on both sides of the ball so you should be happy about that.

The commitment to rebuilding the trenches is why I think this team still has a shot, with or without Romo.

 

[SultanOfSix]

Call me crazy, but do they give Moore and equal shot of being the starter? We probably know that the Cassel is a better start then weeden, but how much more? Should we roll with the young kid and give him a couple weeks like we did weeden?

Weeden shouldn't even be on the team. On any NFL team. If he was auditioning for a job in the NFL next year as he stated earlier in the year, he failed miserably. It should be Romo, Cassell, and Moore. From what I've seen of Moore play (YouTube videos), he's already much better than Weeden because he's not spineless. The knock on him is he's small, but his bravado reminds me somewhat of Romo.

 

[CATCH17]

The commitment to rebuilding the trenches is why I think this team still has a shot, with or without Romo.

Without Romo I don't know if we can win a game.

The coaching just offers nothing and we aren't going to line up and just beat teams without our best players.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Without Romo I don't know if we can win a game.

The coaching just offers nothing and we aren't going to line up and just beat teams without our best players.

You're right, it is all on the coaches now. They need to adjust the schemes to take advantage of their o and d lines.

 

[jrumann59]

We need to invest in safeties in the next draft. Even if Jones becomes a hybrid S/Corner type of player, we need to draft at least one.

Wilcox IMO can improve his game, limited, but I think he can be a decent safety. Church, on the other hand, either needs to play linebacker or get demoted.

Always loved this comment about a safety when he is failing. Switching from safety to LB is not just about cover ability it is also about body type and learning assignments. Name the last guy that made the change from Safety to LBer int he NFL after being in the league for 5 years as a starter at safety. The LBer position and safety are not interchangeable positions.

 

[basstapp]

Weeden shouldn't even be on the team. On any NFL team. If he was auditioning for a job in the NFL next year as he stated earlier in the year, he failed miserably. It should be Romo, Cassell, and Moore. From what I've seen of Moore play (YouTube videos), he's already much better than Weeden because he's not spineless. The knock on him is he's small, but his bravado reminds me somewhat of Romo.

Yea I'm not denying that weeden sucks. I'm stating the fact that I don't think it should be Cassel or Weeden. The options should be Cassel or Moore. We should cut weeden anyway you look at it.

 

[CyberB0b]

I thought the defense played very inspired football yesterday. They ultimately gave up 30 points on two turnovers to one of the best oil machines in the NFL. They largely shutdown Rob Gronkowski with our rookie CB/S Byron Jones. I can't go any further without saying what a beast Hardy is. He is the best player on our defense right now and that includes Sean Lee. Can't imagine what this defensive line will be able to do with Gregory back in the lineup. It's going to be exactly what we thought it would be.

I think our linebacker corps will be a real strength, but not until the offense can allow it to be. I think our defense is going to be stout, but we do need to address the safeties. They're terrible. Carr is also terrible, and Claiborne... only average.

The Giants beating the 49ers should hopefully light a fire under Jason and Jerry's collective butts. We're being put in a position where even with the return of Bryant and Romo it will be too late to do anything. I don't get what Garret and Linehan are thinking. We lost exactly the way I imagined. The defense does a great job, but the offense gets them gassed. How are you going to put an quarterback in the NFL and let him be check down charlie. This guy doesn't want to throw to WRs at all. Stunned that we didn't run the ball more, especially when we were having success. The last three games have seen the most uninspired play calling I've ever seen. I think with better coaching we're probably 4-1 if not 5-0. I really wanted us to bring in Colt McCoy in the offseason, especially after he roasted us last year. When we didn't bring in another QB and they said that Weeden was the most improved player, I took it as the gospel.

Weeden has a completion percentage of 72.4, in reality it should probably be closer to 55-60 percent for a guy like this. 72.4 percent reveals what we already know, he can only throw the checkdown. He has 0 pocket awareness. I don't think he does anything well.

I'd love to see Matt Cassel out there, but I don't know if that is really going to help anything. The one thing I know is that he isn't a checkdown charlie. I have no idea why they didn't play him, or why they didn't play Collins or Michael. They never want to try players who are clearly better. How many years did I say they should play Dunbar in a Sproles role, only to be laughed at. Then they give him a chance, and he is the best player on the offense with Dez and Romo out.

It sucks that so much is going to be said about drafting a qb next year now, when we should really be focused on fixing our secondary.

I agree with most of what you said, but Dunbar was a one trick pony that the NFL wasn't ready for. The Saints figured him out pretty quickly. He only ran 1 route. He wasn't going to save this thing, long term. The defense played as good as you can expect.

 

[sideon]

Great post, top to bottom, GB. I was pulling for McCoy in the offseason too.

Here's what I'd like to see over the bye. Never happen, but...

* Cut Weeden, promote Cassell and Moore
• Cut Whitehead, bring back AJ Jenkins and start Butler
• Cut McFadden, bring Johnson up from the PS and start Michael
• Start Collins and give Brown a series at RT
• Rework the team's general offensive game plan, especially on early downs, including a bunch of deep slants and crossing routes for Escobar
• RUN MORE SLANTS FOR WILLIAMS!
• And please incorporate more boot action into outside zone runs and run more counters.

Can't hurt, and we need to see what some of these young guys can do.

I'd cut Street before i'd cut Whitehead, at least Whitehead has a chance at being a threat in the return game.

 

[VACowboy]

I'd cut Street before i'd cut Whitehead, at least Whitehead has a chance at being a threat in the return game.

I thought about that, but Whitehead has really underwhelmed as a return man. The coaches don't trust him to catch the ball when it matters most.