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The Grand Poobah
- Messages
- 31,387
- Reaction score
- 39
Why To Watch
A Giants-Cowboys game always is intriguing. Throw in a new coach in his first game after replacing a legend and the other coach trying to hold onto his job, this game is all the more interesting. Dallas' Wade Phillips inherits a talented team from Bill Parcells, and expectations in Cowboy Nation are Super Bowl-or-bust high. New York's Tom Coughlin must prove he still has the respect of his players, despite the public criticism received from former players. Both coaches need to start the season on a positive note, and in a competitive NFC East it is almost imperative.
War Room scouts break down every NFL game. Here is a excerpt of their Giants-Cowboys matchup:
The Edge
The Edge
Quarterback
Running backs
Receivers
Offensive line
Defensive line
Linebackers
Secondary
Pass rushers
Special teams
Depth
Coaching
20
Prediction 30
Giants Keys For Success
1. Locate outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Phillips plans to utilize Ware the same way he did Shawne Merriman last year in San Diego, lining him up all over the field and putting him in the best position to confuse and abuse the quarterback. The Giants will shift protection toward Ware but could struggle to succeed because Ware will move often before the snap. Center Shaun O'Hara must find Ware on every play and communicate the protection calls to his linemates. Manning also must keep his eyes on Ware and hit his "hot" receivers in a hurry if the protection breaks down.
2. Use more cover-3 schemes. New defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would prefer to use a bump-and-run, man-to-man coverage scheme but lacks the capable personnel. Therefore, he will run more three-deep schemes, dropping a third defender deep to take away the downfield routes. This will limit the big-play possibilities of Cowboys wide receivers Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn (if healthy) and tight end Jason Witten.
3. Utilize play-action fakes. Cowboys safeties Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin are talented but love contact and always are quick to sniff out the run and step up to deliver big hits. Manning should use plenty of play-action fakes in Week 1, hoping to catch Williams and/or Hamlin peeking in the backfield just long enough for wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer to get behind them for a big gain. Hamlin's job is to patrol center field and not bite on such fakes, but Manning is sure to test him and see if he has learned any new discipline.
Cowboys Keys For Success
1. Use more screen passes and draw plays. The Giants' new defensive scheme is more aggressive than the old one. The linemen are asked to shoot gaps with the linebackers attacking the line of scrimmage rather than reading and reacting. The Giants' defense was inconsistent in preseason, sometimes looking dominant and sometimes giving up big plays. The Cowboys will allow the Giants' linemen and linebackers to penetrate upfield and catch them off-guard with draw plays and screen passes, and there should be plenty of running room for Julius Jones and Marion Barber III.
2. Control the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys still use a 3-4 alignment, but Phillips' scheme is much more aggressive than Parcells' version. The Giants' offensive line is athletic but can get overwhelmed by aggressive defenses. The Cowboys will look to pierce the line and force running back Brandon Jacobs to stutter and/or make cuts in the backfield, preventing him from getting a full head of steam.
3. Use three- and four-receiver sets. Last year, the Cowboys used plenty of two-tight end sets with Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano, but expect a different approach in Week 1. The Giants' secondary got banged up in preseason and has limited depth. The Cowboys should take advantage by using three and four wide receivers to force the Giants to use substandard nickel and dime personnel. This should create mismatches everywhere in the passing game and further limit the Giants' ability to stop the run.
A Giants-Cowboys game always is intriguing. Throw in a new coach in his first game after replacing a legend and the other coach trying to hold onto his job, this game is all the more interesting. Dallas' Wade Phillips inherits a talented team from Bill Parcells, and expectations in Cowboy Nation are Super Bowl-or-bust high. New York's Tom Coughlin must prove he still has the respect of his players, despite the public criticism received from former players. Both coaches need to start the season on a positive note, and in a competitive NFC East it is almost imperative.
War Room scouts break down every NFL game. Here is a excerpt of their Giants-Cowboys matchup:
The Edge
The Edge
Running backs
Receivers
Offensive line
Defensive line
Linebackers
Secondary
Depth
20
Prediction 30
Giants Keys For Success
1. Locate outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Phillips plans to utilize Ware the same way he did Shawne Merriman last year in San Diego, lining him up all over the field and putting him in the best position to confuse and abuse the quarterback. The Giants will shift protection toward Ware but could struggle to succeed because Ware will move often before the snap. Center Shaun O'Hara must find Ware on every play and communicate the protection calls to his linemates. Manning also must keep his eyes on Ware and hit his "hot" receivers in a hurry if the protection breaks down.
2. Use more cover-3 schemes. New defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would prefer to use a bump-and-run, man-to-man coverage scheme but lacks the capable personnel. Therefore, he will run more three-deep schemes, dropping a third defender deep to take away the downfield routes. This will limit the big-play possibilities of Cowboys wide receivers Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn (if healthy) and tight end Jason Witten.
3. Utilize play-action fakes. Cowboys safeties Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin are talented but love contact and always are quick to sniff out the run and step up to deliver big hits. Manning should use plenty of play-action fakes in Week 1, hoping to catch Williams and/or Hamlin peeking in the backfield just long enough for wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer to get behind them for a big gain. Hamlin's job is to patrol center field and not bite on such fakes, but Manning is sure to test him and see if he has learned any new discipline.
Cowboys Keys For Success
1. Use more screen passes and draw plays. The Giants' new defensive scheme is more aggressive than the old one. The linemen are asked to shoot gaps with the linebackers attacking the line of scrimmage rather than reading and reacting. The Giants' defense was inconsistent in preseason, sometimes looking dominant and sometimes giving up big plays. The Cowboys will allow the Giants' linemen and linebackers to penetrate upfield and catch them off-guard with draw plays and screen passes, and there should be plenty of running room for Julius Jones and Marion Barber III.
2. Control the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys still use a 3-4 alignment, but Phillips' scheme is much more aggressive than Parcells' version. The Giants' offensive line is athletic but can get overwhelmed by aggressive defenses. The Cowboys will look to pierce the line and force running back Brandon Jacobs to stutter and/or make cuts in the backfield, preventing him from getting a full head of steam.
3. Use three- and four-receiver sets. Last year, the Cowboys used plenty of two-tight end sets with Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano, but expect a different approach in Week 1. The Giants' secondary got banged up in preseason and has limited depth. The Cowboys should take advantage by using three and four wide receivers to force the Giants to use substandard nickel and dime personnel. This should create mismatches everywhere in the passing game and further limit the Giants' ability to stop the run.
