You've fielded the panic letters this week quite admirably. What is your prediction concerning safety for the rest of the season? – Tim G.
Tim, thank you for the compliment. This week was by far one of the toughest ones for LTTE as obviously I have to bite my tongue a lot of times. try my best to not be curt with readers, no matter how much they make sense or fail to make sense as the case were.
As for safety, sadly I think that ship has sailed. Hindsight is 20-20 and certainly you never want to think you’re going to have injuries, but Jerry Reese’s failure to really address the safety depth has come back to bite this team hard. CC Brown is a disaster and I’m not sure Aaron Rouse is that much better.
At this point I suppose they could look to bring in a veteran who has been out of the game for a while – I had mentioned R.W. McQuarters as a possibility, as McQuarters might not be as fast as he used to be, but at least he knows what to do. However, McQuarters would need a few weeks to get himself into “football” shape and at this point in the season, I have to wonder if it’s really worth it to make a move.
My hope is that when Boley returns to action, that will fix a lot of the problems this team has had in coverage. I think it will, but maybe I’m being unrealistic with my expectations.
I have watched the Giants for over 40 years and seen both good and bad times. This new crop of Giant fans the ones calling for Coughlin’s head and blaming Jerry Reese wanting to trade Eli, Well this is for them. What a spoiled bunch of Bandwagon babies! Yes in the past we had injuries and yes the replacement came in and took right up. Instead of realizing how special that was you have chosen to think that is the way it should be. I know we have had injuries before but I do not believe we have had so many key players out at one time. This team is struggling but we are still 5-3 and we will get some of the key players back. For you fans that think we should have a "David Tyree" moment in every game, grow up join the real world. Win or Lose they are my team and that won't change because of a few rough games! – Kevin A.
That’s the spirit Kevin! Can you imagine how people would be reacting if we were stuck in the “15 years of lousy football” era?
You are doing a fine job. I have been (every year and forever) a giant fan since 1959 after our parish priest claimed that "sam huff was the greatest football player in the world". I have been an inside football subscriber )on and off as my finances allow) since the single sheet days! I wrote to the founder as "the guiding light of lost souls". My only football thought is that sheridan does back off when he should attack. But my main reason for writing is that you should relax and not let "fair weather" fans get to you. There are more troubles in our lives (eg. In washington - the government, not the redskins). Keep up the good work ... The giants will improve!! – john c.
I know John. Part of my problem is I care too much about my job.
I thought your comments of moving Ross to FS has alot of merit. However Ross has been unable to get on the field. Is it worth considering moving Terrell Thomas to FS and getting Bruce Johnson more involved at CB?
On a different note, things haven't got well for the Giants lately (putting it mildly), but there is still half the season to go and we are tied for first place in the division. Things certainly have to improve, and I can guarantee everyong is working hard towards that end. It isn't like this team is falling apart, it is just miss-firing alot at the moment - with some fine tuning this team will be humming again. A good example is the Eagles, the lose to the Raiders, work on things and get things back on track. There is no reason the Gmen can't to the same. The other thing to remember is that we have the bye week coming up, which is the best time in season to overhaul some things.
The bye is a little later this year, but it gives us the chance to sort this out, get players healthy and get some momentum going into the back half of the season. It is disheartening the way we have lost the last 3 games, but at this stage it is just 3 games in a 16 game season. I guess the things fans have to do is have patience, have faith, remain optimistic and just take it one game at a time. There is no gimme's in the NFL, on any given sunday any team can win. – Peter M.
Peter, the Giants are in third place in the NFC East thanks to their loss to Philly.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote that I thought the Giants would be 10-6, even after losses to NO and Arizona. I must admit the last blowout has me wondering if 9-7 or 8-8 might be more likely. The whole team seems to be in quite a malaise -- players and coaches. It sure appears as if the DC hasn't distinguished himself (why would you call a defense that would have Webster give a free release of Jackson to CC Brown?) but the players have performed poorly too (missed tackles?????).
On offense, I have always thought that Gilbride gave up on the run too soon, but now I read that Eli has been audibling out of runs. Whoever is calling the plays, please no more deep heaves on third and short. I would recommend that the Giants try the old tried-and-true approach of simplifying things this week. Run, run, run the ball, so they wear down the opposition come the fourth quarter (as they used to do). And bring pressure on defense ... what the heck about leaving the secondary exposed since the results can't be much worse. A close loss this week would be bad, but another blowout could be a harbinger of a very long and disappointing season. – Mike M.
Not to mention another blowout is going to really put people who participate in this forum over the edge.
It has been stunning to see how quickly the Giants have unraveled. Right now it is hard to be optimistic about the rest of this season. The defense's playing like its 1967 and seems incapable of stopping any team in the GREEN ZONE! Eli seems to have a injury to brain not his foot. The secondary is playing like its afraid of catching the H1N1 virus and Brandon Jacabs looks like he is practicing for Dancing with the Stars. It has been an ugly three games. There is no question that injuries have taken there toll. Giants have been dropping like flies since July.
Nevertheless, I am really disappointed in the quality of the play by a team that has played some very smart football over the past two seasons. As a fan, it is really hard to explain what is gong on. I have heard lots of theories, but one group that deserves some scrutiny in my opinion is the coaching staff. Tom Coughlin called on the team leaders to be lifters. Of course this is true.
But in my opinion, Tom Coughlin and his staff need to be accountable and look at themselves and not just the players. I am just a fan and no expert, but it seems to me that this team has become very predictable, especially when the pressure in on. I can� t help but think this trickles down to the players. It is important to say this is a very smart and experienced coaching staff. Kevin Gilbride is a well regarded and very knowledgeable coach (regardless of what some fans think).
Bill Sheridan would have been a defensive coordinator for Spags if Tom did not promote him. This entire staff seems to be very high character guys and gifted teachers. Nevertheless, there are times you have to adjust and think creatively and I am not sure the staff is doing this. The season is half over. There is an opportunity if we can get healthier and our young players continue to improve. It is better to be hot at the end of the season not the beginning. But the coaching staff also needs to step up to the plate. In my opinion its not just the players who need to lift their game. -- Todd C.
I don’t think anyone disagrees with you, there, Todd.
