Approach to the Game – Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants, December 26, 1999: Two games left in the regular season. Two victories and the Giants are in the playoffs. No sense worrying too much about these games. If the Giants beat the Vikings and the Cowboys, they deserve to be in. If not, they don’t. My message to the team would be this: don’t screw around. Be aggressive and go for the jugular.
Giants on Offense: Head Coach Jim Fassel and play-caller Sean Payton could go the conservative route and try to control the tempo of the game and the time of possession battle by running the ball down the throats of the Vikings. Nonsense. Score early and often by going up top. I’d come out throwing against a banged up Viking secondary that is one of the worst in the league. In fact, the Vikings are dead last in pass defense. Put the game in the hands of QB Kerry Collins, his receivers, and the pass blocking of the offensive line. Again, if they don’t do the job, then the team doesn’t really deserve to stay alive. FS Orlando Thomas is out and will be replaced by second-year man Anthony Bass. WR Ike Hilliard will face rookie CB Kenny Wright. WR Amani Toomer is matched up against CB Jimmy Hitchcock – a guy who is not playing very well. The nickel back this week most likely will be WR Robert Tate – yes, he is a wide receiver. Tate held up decently at times against Green Bay last week, but the Packers were also able to exploit him some. The Vike linebackers aren’t real strong in coverage. Collins should get the ball into the hands of his playmakers – Toomer, Hilliard, Mitchell, and Barber. This also could be a big game opportunity for wide receivers Joe Jurevicius and Brian Alford. Get up early, get the crowd excited, and make the Vikings throw to catch-up. This will help the defense as it will make Minnesota one-dimensional.
Of course, for all this to happen, the line must give Collins and his receivers time. The Vikings like to move the very disruptive John Randle around. Last week, he was back at defensive tackle and he most likely will stay there this week as the Vikes will want to match him up on rookie LG Mike Rosenthal. Randle has the quickness to give Rosenthal problems. He also will try to get into his head by yelling at him all game – Randle is a foul-mouthed trash talker (and an asshole). I hope Mike plants him. LT Roman Oben will match up against the old pass rushing veteran Chris Doleman. Doleman still has some pass rush left in him and Oben will have to be on the top of his game. The rest of the line is average and RG Ron Stone and RT Scott Gragg should control their opponents. OC Brian Williams (knee) is less than 100 percent, but will try to play as long as he can. He should help out with the blitz pick-ups and keeping an eye on Randle.
Go for the throat Sean and put these turkeys away fast.
Giants on Defense: Just don’t let WR Randy Moss beat you. Easier said than done. The Vikes have a good offensive line, a quarterback with more talent than anyone in the league, and plenty of weapons. But it is Moss that can take over a game. Double Moss. Unless the Giants move CB Conrad Hamilton over to cover him, it will be CB Jeremy Lincoln who will be given the task to face Moss. Obviously, if this is the case, FS Percy Ellsworth must dedicate himself to helping Lincoln out. That means Hamilton must be relied on to cover the very talented, but gimpy, Chris Carter (or WR Jake Reed when Carter is out). Nickel back Emmanuel McDaniel will have a big size disadvantage against Jake Reed (I might be more comfortable with Shaun Williams on him). WR Mathew Hatchette is also a very underrated player. SS Sam Garnes will have to help out where needed. What the Giants really need is their defensive backs to make some interceptions. Aside from Doug Flutie’s “Hail Mary” pass, the Giants haven’t picked off a pass since the game against Washington.
A big match-up could be SLB Ryan Phillips against TE Andrew Glover. If Phillips can keep Glover quiet, than Garnes can concentrate on the receivers. WLB Jessie Armstead (knee) is gimpy and has to be replaced at times by Scott Galyon. MLB Pete Monty could get another chance to shine this week as Corey Widmer’s back is still acting up. The defensive line and linebackers certainly don’t want the Viking running game with halfbacks Robert Smith and Leroy Hoard to become a factor. Smith is a silky smooth outside runner; Leroy is the pounder in the middle.
The pass rush of the Giants has been very disappointing. The big question is do the Giants blitz often and risk the big play? I’m not sure I would, but they may be forced to take their chances. QB Jeff George is a very accurate and strong-armed passer. I doubt the wind will bother his throws much. However, George is not the toughest guy in the world and will fumble when hit too. It is very important for the defensive line to be able to mount some kind of a pass rush. The beat-up Michael Strahan faces mammoth RT Korey Stringer (who can’t be bullrushed). Michael will have to get his outside pass rush going – something he hasn’t done this year. DE Cedric Jones faces talented LT Todd Steussie, a guy who has had an inconsistent year. DT Keith Hamilton battles perennial Pro Bowl RG Randall McDaniel; DT Christian Peter will duke it out with RG David Dixon. OC Jeff Christy is the man in the middle – he’s a savvy guy in picking up the blitz and making the right line calls – and another Pro Bowler.
Let’s be honest. The Giants are very beat up on defense right now and the Vikings are a very explosive offense. It is not a pretty picture. But the defense can still dictate the outcome of this game by playing tougher and with more passion. They need the help of the fans in the Meadowlands to keep their spirits up. But if Giants’ history has taught us anything, our defense often can surmount impossible odds and win ball games. Let’s hope they have one of those efforts in mind this weekend.
Giants on Specials: I keep saying it, but if the blockers give punt returner Tiki Barber and kick returner Bashir Levingston an alley, look out. At the same token, P Brad Maynard should not give Randy Moss an opportunity to return a punt. Kick it near the sidelines please! Coverage on kickoffs will be huge again as PK Jose Cortez is gone and Cary Blanchard once again assumes those chores.