Indianapolis Colts 27 – New York Giants 19
Overview: This is a game the Giants could have won. Indeed, I think they should have won it. But too many breakdowns on defense, too many penalties, and a colossal blunder on special teams hurt. Yet despite all of that, the Giants still could have come away with a victory if it were not for all the dumb turnovers – four in all.
The good news is that while the Colts are one of the best teams in the NFL, the Giants stood their ground. They made a spirited comeback after finding themselves in a 24-6 hole and the offense showed some signs of life.
Defensive Line: I thought the defensive line generally played a decent game. Except for one major breakdown, HB Edgerrin James was held at bay. On that one big play – a 72 yard run that set up a field goal – James shot by DE Michael Strahan and SLB Ryan Phillips and was off to the races. Other than that single play, James did not do much damage on the ground and the run defense was fairly strong all around – weakside, strongside, middle. Where the Giants were somewhat lacking was the pass rush. Though there were moments when the Giants were able to hit Manning, they were not able to sack him. Strahan (5 tackles) was often double-teamed, but often still got some pressure. DT Keith Hamilton (3 tackles) flashed at times in the pass rush too, but it was not nearly enough. Aside from a rush or two, DE Cedric Jones (2 tackles) was too quiet. He chased Manning out of the pocket on one occasion and forced him to throw an interception, but Jones wasn’t blocked on the play. DT Christian Peter finished with 2 tackles.
Linebackers: Again, generally strong in run defense, except for the aforementioned Strahan-Phillips breakdown. Pass defense was a different story as Edgerrin James and the tight ends gave the Giants problems. It seemed as the Giants were better off in pass defense when they didn’t blitz as QB Peyton Manning did a great job of finding the open receiver. James got loose for 33 yards on one pass play when he was locked up on MLB Corey Widmer (4 tackles) and Widmer looked sadly comical in trying to cover him. That play set up their second touchdown. Their first touchdown was also aided by a James’ reception – this one 19 yards. WLB Jessie Armstead (6 tackles) made a key hit that prevented a 3rd down reception. Marcus Buckley (4 tackles) saw quite a bit of action in pass defense and defensed one pass. Phillips finished with 3 tackles.
Defensive Backs: Not a great game for this unit. WR Marvin Harrison (6 catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns) gave CB Phillippi Sparks fits. What made matters worse was that FS Brandon Sanders was often nowhere to be found in providing deep coverage support. On the Colts’ first touchdown drive, Phillippi was flagged with a 27-yard pass interference penalty (he also was flagged with a costly holding call). On the same drive, he was then beaten for a 19-yard score. “Put all the blame on me,” said Sparks, who finished with 7 tackles. “I’m the veteran and I should’ve seen it coming. I should’ve known better.” Sparks and Sanders were later badly beaten on a 57-yard strike from Manning to Harrison. “I take full responsibility,” said Sanders (7 tackles). “I let the guys down. We had (Harrison) contained, but those two plays were the game. You can say it was the fumbles, but take away those 14 points and we win the game walking away.” But the poor play didn’t stop there. CB Jason Sehorn was burned badly for what should have been a long score but Manning overthrew his receiver. Sehorn’s “tackle” of James on his long run was pathetic. He should have simply shoved him out of bounds. SS Sam Garnes (4 tackles) was steadier, but the tight ends kept getting open for key receptions and Garnes is at least partly to blame there. The vaunted secondary did not live up to its reputation on Sunday. CB Jeremy Lincoln (2 tackles) was quiet and that is good.
Quarterback: It was a game of two halves for QB Kent Graham who looked pretty miserable in the first half (7-of-18 for 38 yards), but who came on in the second. He finished the day with a respectable 27-of-50 for 253 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. In the first half, it was the same old Graham as he held onto the ball too long and was inaccurate. He showed some life in the hurry up at the end of the half when the Giants were attempting to take the lead, but a pass slightly thrown behind WR Ike Hilliard was tipped and intercepted. Graham does seem to do better when he is in a hurry-up mode and this was further demonstrated in the second half when the Giants used the hurry up a great deal. Kent finally seemed to get into a rhythm and the Giants started to move the ball both on the ground and in the air. What really hurt, however, was the interception thrown in the endzone that was intended for WR Joe Jurevicius. I think Kent was hit on the play, but the ball was thrown far too much to the inside. Earlier in the game, he had Ike Hilliard for what could have been a long touchdown, but the ball was overthrown (and Ike looked like he stuttered earlier in the route). Another endzone pass to Toomer was thrown too far outside.
But the second half was mostly positive. Kent finally gave Toomer a chance to make a play deep and Amani responded with a 33-yard touchdown reception. On that drive, Kent had also hit Toomer for 15 yards and Jurevicius for 18. Graham threw yet another touchdown pass to Pete Mitchell (who he looking to more and more finally) after Mitchell had dropped a perfectly thrown TD pass the play before. Graham had the Giants moving once again at the end of the game in a desperate attempt to tie the score, but it was not to be as Mitchell fumbled the ball away. The good news is this was one of Graham’s better efforts of the year and it may be a performance the Giants can build on.
Offensive Line: I didn’t think this unit played as poorly as some others did. In general, I thought Kent had a decent amount of time and there were some good holes for the backs to run through. The big problem remained the penalties. LG Luke Petitgout was flagged three times (two holding, one illegal man down field); RT Scott Gragg had a false start; LT Roman Oben was flagged with holding; OC Brian Williams was flagged with holding; and RG Ron Stone was flagged for holding. Too many penalties. On the positive side, Oben did a nice job of keeping DE Chad Bratzke fairly quiet. He and Luke also did a decent job on left side runs. Indeed, the entire line improved its run blocking this week as the backs were finally able to find some daylight. RT Scott Gragg spend too much time on the ground for my taste. He has to play more a more aggressive and physical game. He isn’t terrible, but I wonder how much longer he will be in New York. Luke had some problems with DT Ellis Johnson in pass protection. To be fair, Johnson is a very underrated tackle and has given older veterans problems with his rush. Graham did have decent protection for most of the day, despite a lot of blitzing from the Colts.
Running Backs: As a group, this was probably the Giants’ best effort of the year. Tiki Barber looks like his old self. He is running with vision, moves, and surprising power at times. He finished the day with 9 carries for 57 yards (a 6.3 yards-per-carry average). His 15-yard scamper was key on the Giants’ second field goal drive. Tiki showed a nice burst on one left side run and some decent toughness on a couple of inside runs. He also caught the ball 4 times for 15 yards. When I was watching him, Tiki did a good job on the blitz pickups. I thought HB LeShon Johnson finally showed some vision and power too. He had five carries for 36 yards (a 7.2 yards-per-carry average) and two catches for nine yards. However, his fumble after an excellent run late in the fourth quarter proved very costly. “I thought I was in the open and all of a sudden someone tomahawked the ball and pretty much caught me off guard,” said Johnson. “At this level, you have to be prepared for everything, and I just made a bad mistake.” Johnson also missed a block on a blitz. FB Charles Way finally broke a longer run – for 17 yards. This play helped to set up the first Giants’ points of the day. He finished with 5 carries for 23 yards (a 4.6 yards-per-carry average).
Tight Ends: Pete Mitchell had 9 catches for 62 yards, but he would trade all of that for not fumbling on the final drive of the game. With the Giants driving and attempting to tie the game, Mitchell fumbled the ball away. “I caught the ball and I tried to elude a guy and I wasn’t covering the ball like I should,” said Mitchell. “That’s what happens. It shows that we have a lot of fight and we’re not going to give up, but I feel bad I let everyone down like that.” Pete also dropped an earlier touchdown pass, but redeemed himself on the very next play with a 7-yard TD reception. The good news is that Kent Graham is finally looking more and more in his direction and Mitchell is responding. I would like to see the Giants get the ball in his hands with him moving forward and not just stationary however. TE Howard Cross helped to open holes for the running game.
Wide Receivers: One of my biggest disappointments this year is the fact that Ike Hilliard is not making more plays. I blame some of this on Kent Graham for not getting the ball to him. But at the same time, when given a chance, Ike has not come through with flying colors either. His drop/tip of a Graham pass at the end of the half cost the Giants at least a field goal (and the lead). “I’ve got to catch that ball,” said Hilliard. “Kent put the ball in there and I didn’t make the play.” He showed more life in the second half and finished with 6 catches for 71 yards, including a real big 3rd-and-10 conversion on the last TD drive. Still, I expect more from him. WR Amani Toomer was very quiet until the second half too when he came alive on the Giants’ first TD drive. He caught one pass for 15 yards and then caught the 33-yard touchdown pass. Toomer does a great job of positioning himself on the long ball and getting his hands on the pass – the Giants should use this play more. Joe Jurevicius had a key 18-yard reception, but I thought he could have turned into a defensive back and knocked away Kent’s second interception.
Special Teams: P Brad Maynard’s at least once-a-game shanks are hurting the team and against the Colts, it killed them. Maynard tried to directional kick out of the end zone and the result was a 36-yarder with no hang time that was returned for a touchdown. The play was a killer and inexcusable. Also inexcusable was the play of some of the coverage men on that punt. In particular, I have no idea what David Patten was doing as he watched the returner run right by him. Tiki Barber had a couple of decent returns, but Bashir Levingston and David Patten could not get untracked as there seemed to be few lanes to run through. PK Cary Blanchard hit both his field goals, but his kick offs continue to be painfully short (although he did a nice job of placing them).
GIANTS/COLTS
by David Oliver
I think I need a bye week. Yesterday’s game took as much out of me as it did the players. First, my wife was away for the weekend so I had to doctor our sick cats; one is diabetic and needs two shots a day, the other has a thyroid problem and needs two pills a day. What that means is that I had to get up at 5 am, drive to the Meadowlands, work the game, and then drive home. Second, to watch that game, a very winnable game, must have been bad on TV; it was God-awful on the field. There were so many highs and lows, and such disappointment at the end that I left totally enervated and exhausted.
But it was pleasurable driving past Philadelphia and although I didn’t listen to the sports radio there, I tipped my hat to the Eagles for doing us the large favor of exposing the ‘Skins. I did pick up a little of the talk show in Bal’mer and it sounded as if they were talking about us. Good defense, shaping its personality, no offense, and three big question marks going into the draft, QB, running back and receiver. Now, our situation is not quite so dramatic, but similar. Then picking up the paper today and reading the review of the ‘Skins game, it was our mirror image- just reverse O and D. Oh. Leonard Shapiro did the review of our game and it was pretty balanced. I think most everyone saw it the same way.
In a nutshell: the first half was a desultory affair, with our pumped up D holding the vaunted offense of the Colts in check. The only Colt TD was set up by a bad call- one of many by the officials, on a deep pattern on the visitor’s sidelines. Philippi Sparks was called for interference on an underthrown pass, for a bump which appeared to have been made when the play was over. But the O was boring; just plain boring. It did position us for 2 field goals. Then at the end of the half, moving in for another score, the Giants actually went for it; and the pass was intercepted. Now, a lot of folks were saying, ‘just kick the field goal.’ A case of damned if you do- the Giants play-calling was aggressive, wide open, just not executed properly- that is becoming the story for these Giants. JF was asked about it in his Press Conference and told us that he is not afraid to be aggressive, but he told the guys, if we go for it, you can’t let them catch it. Take the pass interference penalty, anything, just don’t let them get it. So the pass goes inside, when it should have been outside and our guy was not in position to fight for it. Ergo, Tito burns his old team.
I think I have to put down the camera because I am just a lousy photographer. I was struggling to take pictures because I just didn’t see anything. It’s always unnerving when the newspaper guy next to you, with a big 600mm or 400mm 2.8 lens has his finger down on the shot button and is taking 6 rolls of photos when you have 5 shots. You just stand there and say, what is he seeing that I’m not? Ah, the wonder of money!
The third quarter was a disaster. The three amigos killed us- they ran, passed and caught over, under and through our D. Game story. The D played its ass off for the first half and the final quarter, but disappeared in the third quarter. By way of explanation, you will hear, the Colts are a great team, the three amigos are supermen, and so on. But folks, this is a very beatable team. I’ve seen them twice- the Jets D held them in check, and so did ours for most of the game. But here is the rub; we have talent, ok, but Marvin Harrison has greatness. Time after time, he is open, short and long- it’s not just a matter of routes, it’s a matter of talent. Peyton Manning has presence; he was hit but never sacked, and with all the pressure we managed only one pick when he was flushed and threw to Sam Garnes while he (Manning) was on the run. And James plays like a number 4 pick. And I say this to contrast him to a couple of our first rounders, one a number 5 and the other who we had rated as an 8 or 9. Both of whom play – what shall we say, OK!- no I don’t accept that, we are not getting enough from our first rounders, except for Ike Hilliard.
Now the O. Booed loudly and regularly throughout the game, cheered mightily in the fourth quarter. Time after time, these guys came a-knocking; but freak miscues prevented victory. Pete Mitchell, who afterwords said he remembers dropping one once in Jacksonville, put the ball down – fate. LeShon breaks free and puts the ball down-destiny. The O line- each and every one caught with a holding penalty, totally exhausted, struggling throughout, gives Kent time to throw and opens holes in the fourth quarter. And the frustrated, dispirited crowd responded by cheering them on, chanting for the O to go, and leaving feeling that yes, they lost, but damn they opened it up and they tried- and that always hits home with the Meadowlands faithful. To try and to fail is not the same as to just plain lose.
The locker room following a loss is never pretty. The guys are tired and frustrated; they clear out fast. There is high tension among team officials because these guys are highly spirited, like athletic thoroughbreds, and you never know when the emotions are going to boil over. For the first time in my life, I had an athlete scream at me, embarrass me and generally make me feel like an idiot. I have interviewed race car drivers and Jet boat drivers, often minutes after a life-threatening accident. Track stars, jockeys and on and on, and all are understanding, patient and mostly affable. I have never had a football player call me out because I don’t ask embarrassing questions, I’m not interested in controversy and I rarely even talk about a game after a loss.
Somehow, I struck a wrong chord with Michael Strahan, a player I have always admired. I asked him a simple – or what I thought was a simple question – do you miss Harris? My thoughts were to get him away from the game and focus on some human interest – Michael was very big in camp about team unity and presence and comradery. He started screaming at me, telling me to “get out of here”, and that that “was the dumbest question he had ever been asked.” He yelled, something to the effect that here was guy out there busting his ass, etc. It dawned on me that he was talking about Christian Peter. I wasn’t; I was talking about Harris – his locker room and his personality absence. Well, I apologized, but keep in mind, Michael is a giant of a man – I am only 6 ft tall, but I tip out at around 250 and I haven’t backed down from any man in over 35 years. I kept talking and I think Michael may have realized he overreacted because he then said yes, Harris was a great guy and his personality was missed, etc. – but he remained agitated. It bothered me all the way home and I decided I will honor Michael’s request. I will ask him no more questions, I will stay away from him, I will take no more photos of Michael Strahan. I may have asked an inartful question, but he misunderstood. I’m standing there in kneepads, dead tired and he goes off. Screw it- sometimes this isn’t worth it.
I also talked to a few other guys, one a younger player who wants badly to contribute. He feels he has some talent, but is chafing because the game plan is so restrictive. Many of the coaches in this League are technique guys- they have seen a lot, know what works and try to mold their players. There are many talented players out there who never make it in the NFL because they are naturally talented and have difficulty changing to adapt to techniques. I try to listen, preach patience and give these guys a chance to vent.
JF was very forthright in his post-game. He said he wasn’t interested in stats- this game was a loss and that’s what concerned him. He said he had stressed winning the battle of turnovers and special teams and he was obviously disappointed and frustrated because the Giants did neither. He said “we didn’t do enough right today to win that ballgame.” He told us they kept fighting and were never out of it, but it still comes down to penalties, etc.
He acknowledged changing a few things in the fourth quarter, like going to the no-huddle, and spreading out the offense, which helped the team run the ball better. I asked him if we could look forward to seeing the fourth quarter offense through the rest of the year, and he said “well, I hope so, I want us to move the football…do you think I play it close to the vest for stupid reasons, no, if we open it up we have to be smart with the football..if we turn the ball over, we can’t recover.” I also said that it didn’t appear as if the Giants were beaten by a better team, but that they had beaten themselves. I said every lineman had a penalty and asked if he could tell us what was happening out there. He responded, by telling me he wished he could explain it and the said maybe you should ask them (in the locker room).
Nuff said for this week. I’m worn out and I really need to step away for a while. I’m heading to Phoenix tomorrow morning.