Giants' second half slide story for the Washington Times.
Article published Dec 11, 2007
Another second-half slide?
By Denis Gorman - Following Sunday's 16-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants improved to 9-4 and seem to be headed to the playoffs for the third year in a row.
By any measure, it has been a successful season in East Rutherford, N.J. Yet why is there a feeling of trepidation in New York when it comes to the Giants?
Just look back to last season.
In 2006, the Giants started 6-2 and looked as if they were legitimate contenders in the NFC. However, the team collapsed in the second half, losing six of eight games to finish 8-8. During their breakdown, Giants players spent time bickering with each other, criticizing coach Tom Coughlin and lecturing the media about being accountable for what was written and said about the team.
The acrimony that swirled around the Meadowlands last season has been nonexistent in 2007. Part of the reason for the tranquility can be traced to former Giants running back Tiki Barber's retirement. Despite Barber's 1,662 rushing yards and five touchdowns, his rumored retirement and feud with Coughlin remained constant themes last year.
This year, the Giants lack a No. 1 running back. Still, the triumvirate of Derrick Ward, Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns (a combined 1,582 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns) has compensated for Barber's on-field production without any of his off-field histrionics.
Still, there is an discomforting feeling about the Giants.
After an 0-2 start to the season, the Giants won six consecutive games, including the 24-17 come-from-behind triumph over the Redskins on Sept. 23. In that stretch, the Giants scored 152 points.
In their last five games, though, they have scored only 90 points while going 3-2.
The Giants' second-half struggle resembles their 2006 implosion. In the first eight games of last season, the offense averaged 24.25 points a game. The last eight games, New York's scoring fell three points.
Further examination shows additional parallels between the 2006 and 2007 editions of the New York Giants:
• The Giants selected University of Miami wide receiver Sinorice Moss in the second round of the 2006 draft. Expected to be a stretch-the-field wideout, Moss, the younger brother of Redskins receiver Santana, was limited to six games last season because of a strained quadriceps and only caught five passes for 25 yards. This year, he has recorded 16 catches for 172 yards.
In the second round of the 2007 draft, the Giants selected Southern California wide receiver Steve Smith. He played in the Giants' first two games, catching four passes for 26 yards. Since then, the rookie has been out with shoulder and hamstring injuries.
• Last season, the Giants recorded 32 sacks. Yet they were 25th in total defense. Why? It may have had something to do with only forcing 28 turnovers (18 interceptions and 10 fumbles).
The Giants lead the league with 47 sacks this season and rank seventh in defense. But for all of the praise of Steve Spagnuolo's unit, it has recorded only 21 turnovers while leading the league in defensive penalties with 103 for 752 yards (third highest, behind Carolina's 828 and Detroit's 801).
• In their first eight games this season, the Giants' offense committed 14 turnovers. It has committed 14 turnovers in its last five games, an average of 2.8 a game.
Last season, the Giants committed 12 turnovers in their first eight games. In the second half of the season, they gave the ball away 16 times.
"I would say that we do have to do something about the turnovers, and we talked about that," Coughlin said. "In the two previous games there were just too many of them, they were flagrant and they were taking away from our team. Now we did have a couple yesterday again, which took points away from us quite frankly, almost gave the other guy momentum and points."
So the question is which Giants team will show up Sunday night? The early season world beaters or the team that has scuffled in the second half?
"I just think that in all areas there are things that have to be improved upon, and our whole essence is about improvement and about recognizing where we are, the mistakes that were made and in our next preparation doing the best job that we possibly can to put ourselves in the best position," Coughlin said. "We have the Washington Redskins [on Sunday], a team that came off a big win last week, and we have got to get ourselves ready for that."
http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071211/SPORTS/112110071/1005
Another second-half slide?
December 11, 2007
By Denis Gorman - Following Sunday's 16-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants improved to 9-4 and seem to be headed to the playoffs for the third year in a row.
By any measure, it has been a successful season in East Rutherford, N.J. Yet why is there a feeling of trepidation in New York when it comes to the Giants?
Just look back to last season.
In 2006, the Giants started 6-2 and looked as if they were legitimate contenders in the NFC. However, the team collapsed in the second half, losing six of eight games to finish 8-8. During their breakdown, Giants players spent time bickering with each other, criticizing coach Tom Coughlin and lecturing the media about being accountable for what was written and said about the team.
The acrimony that swirled around the Meadowlands last season has been nonexistent in 2007. Part of the reason for the tranquility can be traced to former Giants running back Tiki Barber's retirement. Despite Barber's 1,662 rushing yards and five touchdowns, his rumored retirement and feud with Coughlin remained constant themes last year.
This year, the Giants lack a No. 1 running back. Still, the triumvirate of Derrick Ward, Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns (a combined 1,582 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns) has compensated for Barber's on-field production without any of his off-field histrionics.
Still, there is an discomforting feeling about the Giants.
After an 0-2 start to the season, the Giants won six consecutive games, including the 24-17 come-from-behind triumph over the Redskins on Sept. 23. In that stretch, the Giants scored 152 points.
In their last five games, though, they have scored only 90 points while going 3-2.
The Giants' second-half struggle resembles their 2006 implosion. In the first eight games of last season, the offense averaged 24.25 points a game. The last eight games, New York's scoring fell three points.
Further examination shows additional parallels between the 2006 and 2007 editions of the New York Giants:
• The Giants selected University of Miami wide receiver Sinorice Moss in the second round of the 2006 draft. Expected to be a stretch-the-field wideout, Moss, the younger brother of Redskins receiver Santana, was limited to six games last season because of a strained quadriceps and only caught five passes for 25 yards. This year, he has recorded 16 catches for 172 yards.
In the second round of the 2007 draft, the Giants selected Southern California wide receiver Steve Smith. He played in the Giants' first two games, catching four passes for 26 yards. Since then, the rookie has been out with shoulder and hamstring injuries.
• Last season, the Giants recorded 32 sacks. Yet they were 25th in total defense. Why? It may have had something to do with only forcing 28 turnovers (18 interceptions and 10 fumbles).
The Giants lead the league with 47 sacks this season and rank seventh in defense. But for all of the praise of Steve Spagnuolo's unit, it has recorded only 21 turnovers while leading the league in defensive penalties with 103 for 752 yards (third highest, behind Carolina's 828 and Detroit's 801).
• In their first eight games this season, the Giants' offense committed 14 turnovers. It has committed 14 turnovers in its last five games, an average of 2.8 a game.
Last season, the Giants committed 12 turnovers in their first eight games. In the second half of the season, they gave the ball away 16 times.
"I would say that we do have to do something about the turnovers, and we talked about that," Coughlin said. "In the two previous games there were just too many of them, they were flagrant and they were taking away from our team. Now we did have a couple yesterday again, which took points away from us quite frankly, almost gave the other guy momentum and points."
So the question is which Giants team will show up Sunday night? The early season world beaters or the team that has scuffled in the second half?
"I just think that in all areas there are things that have to be improved upon, and our whole essence is about improvement and about recognizing where we are, the mistakes that were made and in our next preparation doing the best job that we possibly can to put ourselves in the best position," Coughlin said. "We have the Washington Redskins [on Sunday], a team that came off a big win last week, and we have got to get ourselves ready for that."
http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071211/SPORTS/112110071/1005
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:50 AM
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