Three Critical Matchups, IMO

[Hostile]

All of these revolve around one team or the other having an injured starter out or a recently dinged up starter coming back.

Jay Ratliff vs. Grey Ruegramer

The Giants starting Center, Shaun O'hara is probably not going to play due to injury. Ratliff is coming back form injury. If he can get pressure up the middle look for Ellis, Ware, and the DEs to have big days pressuring Eli Manning.



Terrell Owens vs. Sam Madison

If Owens plays the Cowboys offense needs to not just use him as a decoy. He can eat up a hobbled Sam Madison or a healthy RW McQuarters if Madison cannot go. On the other side of the field the Giants start their rookie 1st round CB Aaron Ross. I doubt TO matchups up with him that often.


Andre Gurode vs. Fred Robbins

Against the Buccaneers Robbins showed some pass rush skills at times. Andre Gurode is going to need to keep this guy from pushing him back because the Giants DEs can wreak havoc if they get a push. Reports are positive that Gurode is back and the Pro Bowl Center should have the advantage here if that is true. It could definitely mean big yards for Barber and Jones if he can control the middle.

 

[burmafrd]

Everything I have heard is that Gurode could have played against Washington if we really had needed him. With 2 more weeks of rest he should be nearly 100%. He will kick large amounts of booty. I can see the Rat owning Ruegramer- I cannot believe the Bucs did not try more to beat and confuse him then they did. I hope we do not make the same mistake.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Grey Ruegramer

WHO?????????

 

[Hostile]

Everything I have heard is that Gurode could have played against Washington if we really had needed him. With 2 more weeks of rest he should be nearly 100%. He will kick large amounts of booty. I can see the Rat owning Ruegramer- I cannot believe the Bucs did not try more to beat and confuse him then they did. I hope we do not make the same mistake.

Right now, today, if I had to predict the Defensive player who will have the biggest impact on the game, it will be Ratliff.

 

[Rampage]

is rw mcquarters even on the giants depth chart anymore? i haven't noticed him in weeks

 

[theebs]

I think o'hara will play.

They are going to try and run it right in there where we have been having problems.

I hope bradie and akin are ready to hit on every play.

 

[Hostile]

is rw mcquarters even on the giants depth chart anymore? i haven't noticed him in weeks

He is maily their PR guy, but yes.

 

[kmd24]

Hos, Corey Webster needs to figure in the WR/DB matchup. He played pretty well yesterday.

RW McQuarters picked off Garcia's final pass, so he's figures in there somewhere, but not as much as Webster.

 

[burmafrd]

Ohara has a much worse knee injury then Gurode did. If he plays he will be at only 60% or so; the backup at 100% would be better, so I hope they play Ohara.

 

[jterrell]

I expect Webster will take TO with safety and LB help.

That means Crayton or Glenn absolutely must beat man coverage nearly every play.

Witten will get some 1v1 matchups as well.

IT will be interesting to see f the respect TO as much as in previous games since he has been injured.

I fully expect he plays just because he does draw so much decoy attention even if not near 100%.

IMHO, the key to this game is our defense versus Eli Manning and thus I have to side with Hos here in that if we can pressure Eli up the middle everything else will be cake. Bad Eli can be beaten with 10 offensive points, Good Eli could score 28 easy.

 

[dguinta1]

Will the center for the Gmen be playing against Dallas? He was out for yesterdays game against the Bucs, correct?

 

[Idgit]

Will the center for the Gmen be playing against Dallas? He was out for yesterdays game against the Bucs, correct?

That's O'hara. Read the Ruegramer quote.
I didn't catch the NYFG game this weekend. Any comments on how the backup C affected their interior running game?

 

[Givincer]

Hos, Corey Webster needs to figure in the WR/DB matchup. He played pretty well yesterday.

Against who? A hobble Joey Galloway and... Ike Hilliard?

Guy doesn't scare me one bit.

 

[jterrell]

That's O'hara. Read the Ruegramer quote.
I didn't catch the NYFG game this weekend. Any comments on how the backup C affected their interior running game?

They went to almost exclusively outside runs with Brandon Jacobs catching splinters on the pine.

The rookie looked good running outside though and they pounded away pretty well at the end.

 

[Idgit]

They went to almost exclusively outside runs with Brandon Jacobs catching splinters on the pine.

The rookie looked good running outside though and they pounded away pretty well at the end.

Thanks. I'm not worried about them getting outside in the running game. It sounds like the impact of a backup C in their interior running game could be huge.

 

[Hostile]

Thanks. I'm not worried about them getting outside in the running game. It sounds like the impact of a backup C in their interior running game could be huge.

Hence why it was at the top of my list and why I think Ratliff is going to have a stellar day.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

All of these revolve around one team or the other having an injured starter out or a recently dinged up starter coming back.

Jay Ratliff vs. Grey Ruegramer

The Giants starting Center, Shaun O'hara is probably not going to play due to injury. Ratliff is coming back form injury. If he can get pressure up the middle look for Ellis, Ware, and the DEs to have big days pressuring Eli Manning.



Terrell Owens vs. Sam Madison

If Owens plays the Cowboys offense needs to not just use him as a decoy. He can eat up a hobbled Sam Madison or a healthy RW McQuarters if Madison cannot go. On the other side of the field the Giants start their rookie 1st round CB Aaron Ross. I doubt TO matchups up with him that often.


Andre Gurode vs. Fred Robbins

Against the Buccaneers Robbins showed some pass rush skills at times. Andre Gurode is going to need to keep this guy from pushing him back because the Giants DEs can wreak havoc if they get a push. Reports are positive that Gurode is back and the Pro Bowl Center should have the advantage here if that is true. It could definitely mean big yards for Barber and Jones if he can control the middle.

I agree with all of this.

I would add two things to it though. We are going to need RW to play close and hammer Jacobs.

I would also hand Barber the ball often. If we have one player who is going to be pumped for this game it's him.

 

[Hostile]

I agree with all of this.

I would add two things to it though. We are going to need RW to play close and hammer Jacobs.

I would also hand Barber the ball often. If we have one player who is going to be pumped for this game it's him.

Bradie James too.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Bradie James too.

True. Wouldn't that be some thing? After all the talk last year about James and this year about Roy, they control the game.

 

[Hostile]

True. Wouldn't that be some thing? After all the talk last year about James and this year about Roy, they control the game.

Heads would explode and alcohol would run scarce.