It’s one game. It sucked. Keep this game in perspective. It’s one game in 17. It matters. But it’s still just one game.
Overall, I agree with this. The performance last night wasn't embarrassing, but it was far from good. Just barely on the right side of fixable...I think.
I saw Parker make some in game adjustments. He will work hard. He will make some changes. He gathered data points from the loss. I expect the defense will improve.
Like you, I expect the defense to improve. Some of what was seen last night was the result of so many new players being in a new scheme, and who are playing for a first time DC. That is one of the unknowns though. There is every reason to believe that Parker will be a great coordinator. Will he actually be one, or at least become one soon enough to matter for the Cowboys? I suppose the loss of Overshown at a position we already lacked depth at could also hinder things on the defensive side of the ball.
I AM concerned how wide open the receivers were in the passing game. That’s problematic.
Very. And it was also what concerned me most last night. Well, that and the lack of pass rush. Those two things are interconnected though. At first, I was much more concerned about giving up so many yards on the ground, but that seemed to improve slightly as the night went on. Then again, that could have been because the Giants saw something that they could exploit in the passing game and went more that direction with their play calling (or, maybe, the Cowboys gave up some real estate in coverage to stop the run?).
I think you are going to see more of Barham, and less of Overshown. I also think you will see more Durant.
Overshown is hurt now. I have yet to see how badly. But, yeah, Barham may have to step up quickly. Hopefully, he can make the same types of plays against starting lineups as he was in preseason games and practices. He did show he was a rookie with that encroachment penalty, but I'll take it (to an extent) if it means he's being aggressive.
We did not get much pressure in the first half. We did get some well disguised blitzes in the second half. Downs wrecked Dart on one of them. We haven’t seen that in years.
Agreed with all of this here. That hit by Downs looked good. I definitely want to see more of that!
There are some positives to be taken from this game. I’m as frustrated as any of you. But I think we will see some adjustments and improvement. Give it some time. The Giants are a much better team than most think they are. The entire NFC East is improved.
If forced to say, I'd also go with the Giants being an improved, and underestimated, team. But there really isn't any way of knowing that about them any more than there is of knowing whether or not the Cowboys are the real deal yet. If the Giants end up going 11-6, then we'll look back differently at this game. Then again, the same will be said if they land at 6-11! There just isn't enough data, a long enough track record, etc. for so many elements of last night's game. It wasn't just the first game of the season, which is always limiting, but you had a new DC, a new (to the Giants) head coach, huge turnover on the defensive side of the ball for Dallas, etc.
The big question is, if you are Jerry do you make a move? If so what is that move?
Not at this point. I'd hate it they overreacted to one game. Maybe if they were able to pair it with some things they learned in camp about potential weaknesses but, even then, it seems a bit early. Maybe if Overshown has one of those "you're kidding me" type of injuries that didn't require being carted off the field, they walked the sidelines after going down, but an MRI during the week says something's torn, then--maybe--you look to get someone at LB? Even then, I doubt it. It's just too soon.
You watch...they'll be a silly trade on Thursday for some random LB now that I've said that.
What do we need MOST? Pressure player on defense? A corner? A linebacker, An OT?
It all comes down to DL play. A little more pressure is, in my opinion, the priority. I suppose that an upgrade at edge might be able to help both the pass rush and stopping the run. They may not need a specialist to do either, just someone with a little bit more than what is on the roster there currently. It seems like DL productivity is a "tipping point" type of situation, where even the slightest improvement in one position can suddenly make an entire line go from average to dominant, or from dominant to elite (not being able to double team the only productive lineman, having to keep a TE in for protection, getting just enough pressure to not have to manufacture it by sacrificing coverage resources to blitz, etc. can just make dominoes fall). If they can get a little more out SOMEONE, then things really could get much better at DL soon. I hope so...because it is needed.
Pickens pulled a disappearing act last night. Would you part with him? Flournoy looked as good as Pickens last night.
While true, talking about parting with him is a bit much. I'm not that big a proponent of keeping him after this year, but that has more to do with the cap than anything. However, his tendency to not show up a game or two each season is probably my next biggest concern with him. And it is sort of related to his history of being...petulant? Does that word fit? I feel it does, just not
exactly. Other than a couple of games where he looks like his heart just isn't into it, he's really been well-behaved and seems to have put a lot of what gave him his reputation behind him.
Besides, it was just one game, after all. That applies to Pickens as much as anyone else. And, I assume, that your question about parting with him should have had the words "after this season" on the end. He definitely didn't do anything worthy of the Jimmy Johnson treatment and being cut at halftime or anything like that! But those drops, especially the one that went through his hands when he had his guy beat on that long route down the sideline, hurt. That one on the sideline could have changed the entire course of the game.
That said, Dak had his "slow start" game of the year. He always seems to need 2-3 games to truly shake off the rust. Last night wasn't terrible. I've seen start MUCH slower in both games and seasons, but that pick before half and missing Ceedee down the seem late in the game didn't help the cause. The interception can, and probably should, be chalked up to one of those fluke deals that just happens sometimes. He was clearly trying to get the ball out of bounds, but didn't/couldn't, and a Giant was close enough to just barely nab it before it hit the ground. But, man, that throw shaded to the outside instead of being tossed, essentially, down the middle really cost them.
BTW, taunting penalties are a sign of problems. I hate when players get them. Can be an indicator of attitude problems, a lack of team discipline, or both. Getting one when you're down by 14 points, even if you think you're going to make seven, is a quick way to make it only six.
Oh...and *** Aubrey? Oh well. Let him get it out of his system. The Williams penalty is the story there.
