Approach to the Game – New York Giants at Tennessee Titans, October 1, 2000: The loss to Redskins last week at home certainly stung quite a bit. All signs seemed to point to a Giants’ win except for the fact that the Skins desperately needed that game. But poor play from Kerry Collins and the secondary hurt, as did the inability sack the quarterback.
Now the Giants have faced adversity for the first time in 2000. How will they, and more specifcally, the offense respond? The offense has only generated 20 points in two games (though the field goal problems in week three cost another 9 points). To win consistently this year, the Giants need to put more points on the board. That won’t be easy this week as the Titans have one of the better defenses in the league. But if the Giants want to be considered a “good” team, they must beat quality opposition.
In the grand scheme of things, this is not a “must” game. Tennessee is an out-of-conference opponent playing on a home field that they have yet to lose on. But a win would do wonders for team morale and confidence. The Titans are tough, but the Giants have the players to win this game.
Giants on Offense: Kerry Collins needs to play better than he did last week. Some in “The Corner Forum” wondered why this past week why he had a down game. It happens. Players are not machines and all players have bad games. Hopefully, Collins will prove to be a quarterback who excels against quality opposition (like the Eagles’ defense) on a consistent basis. He did not do that well facing the Redskins’ talented secondary last week. There will be games where the Giants do fall 10, 14, and perhaps even 17 points behind. The game will rest on his shoulders then. He can’t be babied forever by the coaching staff and can’t always be blessed by being ahead or even on the scoreboard. Just as significantly, the Giants’ ground game won’t always be there to take pressure off of him. In these situations, Kerry is going to have to take the bull by the horns and win the game by himself (with the help of his line and receivers of course). The game against the Titans may prove to be one of those kind of games. For Collins to be considered one of the best, he will have to demonstrate the ability to win games from behind when the pressure is at its greatest. Those are the kind of quarterbacks who win championships.
The Titans have a quality defense. Much of it is due to the aggressive schemes that Head Coach Jeff Fisher employs; he is a disciple of Buddy Ryan’s. So you know he will try to shut down the run and bring the heat at Collins. The main man up front for Tennessee and the player who makes their defense very good is DE Jevon Kearse. Jevon is an explosive defensive player in the mold of Lawrence Taylor. He is very athletic and very disruptive with a motor that never quits. Even when he is blocked rushing the passer, you will spot him making the tackle down the field after a receiver catches a pass or a running back breaks the line of scrimmage. Kearse is truly an amazing player to watch. Jevon is listed as “questionable” by the Titans with a quad injury, but expect him to play. He is primarily a left side player, but the Titans do move him around some. For the most part, expect RT Luke Petitgout to be the man on the spot. However, if I am Sean Payton and Jim Fassel, I keep Howard Cross in to block. This will certainly limit the Giants offensively, especially in obvious passing situations. But an incomplete pass is better than a sack and possible turnover.
Other key match-ups up front will be RDE Kenny Holmes verus LT Lomas Brown (though Kearse will at times line up over Brown). Holmes is a solid player, but Lomas should be able to handle him (especially considering that Holmes has a bad back). Inside defensive tackles Jason Fisk and John Thorton will compete against LG Glenn Parker and RG Ron Stone, respectively. Again, these are match-ups I like. A big key will be whether FB Greg Comella and OC Dusty Zeigler can effectively engage the linebackers. The Titans have a very athletic and talented group led by MLB Randall Godfrey and SLB Eddie Robinson. First rounder WLB Keith Bulluck is a very athletic guy, but he is a rookie and the Giants may be able to exploit him. But we can talk about match-ups all we want, what the Giants also need to do is to get into a physical, aggressive, tough mindset. The Titans like to slug it out. They are physical and like to wear on you. Big Blue’s offensive front must emulate this type of game and counter-punch effectively. A good dose of Ron Dayne, who seems to be coming into his own, might do the trick. I’d like to see Payton get Dayne in a rhythm and pound the ball this week. This might take some of the starch out of their defense.
But the Giants do have to put up points and most big plays (and scores) come from the passing game. This is where Kerry Collins and his receivers come in. Tennessee has a good secondary. CB Samari Rolle is an emerging player and faces WR Amani Toomer. Toomer has been getting double-teamed and/or facing the opposition’s better corners, but if he wants to be considered one of the best, he needs to make plays against the best or even when double-teamed. Amani is one of the Giants very best players and Kerry needs to get the ball into his hands more. The Titans like to blitz and these kind of situations will provide Toomer with some one-on-one match-ups. He’s going to have to beat the press and make plays down the field. I think he might have a big game this weekend. For his part, Ike Hilliard is having a fine season, but he needs to stop dropping passes. These are drive-killers. The one guy who needs to be on the field more is Ron Dixon – he is six points waiting to happen every time he touches the ball. I’d like to get him matched up on nickel back Dainon Sidney. SS Blaine Bishop (neck) is ailing, but will probably play. He is an extremely tough competitor who makes plays. FS Marcus Robertson is also a fine player.
What should help the Giants this week is that TE/H-Back Pete Mitchell should be more back into the flow of things. It may be tough this week however to get him on the field in those critical third down situations. If you keep Cross on the field to double on Kearse, then the Giants will have to keep Dixon/Jurevicius or Mitchell off of the field.
A final note, blitz pick-ups will be big this week – whether they are from the offensive line, backs, or tight ends. That added half second can be the difference in a loss or a victory.
Giants on Defense: Crap, it’s back to facing the mobile quarterback (Steve McNair) again. McNair has a chest injury, but will most likely play. If he doesn’t, Neil O’Donnell (who is also hurting) gets the start. Once again, the down four will have to maintain their rush lanes as they get after the quarterback. What’s worse is that McNair is as big as a damn running back and even when you get there, you have to make a very solid, sure tackle. For example, a blitzing CB Emmanuel McDaniel may simply bounce right off of him. Regardless, the Giants need to start accumulating some sacks. This not only means LDE Michael Strahan (who faces RT Fred Miller), but also RDE Cedric Jones (who faces LT Brad Hopkins). Both are very solid players, but Strahan and Jones are supposed to be quality pass rushers. No more damn excuses, just get to the quarterback! Getting a good inside push from Keith Hamilton (faces the remarkable LG Bruce Mathews) and Christian Peter (faces RG Benji Olson). Mathews, 39, knows all the tricks in the trade, but Hammer should be able to wear on him. Getting DE/DT Cornelius Griffin more on the field at defensive tackle may also help a great deal in obvious pass rush situations.
But the Titans are not a passing team, they are a physical, blue collar running team. Like the Giant teams of old, they like to play power football and pound you straight ahead. HB Eddie George, one of the best in the game, leads the charge. However, Eddie has had problems getting untracked this year as opposing defenses have loaded up against him. The Giants will need to do the same. The front seven, down linemen and linebackers, need to play very tough and stout at the point of attack. The Titans will try to wear the Giants out and the Giants’ defense hasn’t been know in recent years as the kind of unit who stays strong for all four quarters. A prime example was last week when the Skins started to pound New York with success in the third and fourth quarters. Tennessee is obviously aware of this. The Giant defenders need to maintain that warrior mentality not just for the first half, but the entire game. A big battle will be FB Lorenzo Neal verus the linebackers – especially MLB Mike Barrow. Neal is a very strong lead blocker.
H-Back Frank Wychek (concussion) is “questionable” for the game, but it sounds like he might play now. He is their most consistent receiving threat. Look for rookie TE Erron Kinney to be a factor too. He is a huge target. The Titans like to use the short passing game and they must have seen the success the Redskins had with it in the second half of last week’s game. Eddie George and HB Randy Thomas are also used in the passing game underneath. Barrow, Jessie Armstead, and Ryan Phillips need to do well against them in coverage. Look for the Titans to try to match up George on Phillips in particular.
FS Shaun Williams had a horrific game last week, being out of position a few times and contributing to be passes being completed down field. The Titans will test him this week and the Giants need him to bounce back. Let’s also not forget that SS Sam Garnes was beaten badly for a TD last week too. These two need to step it up. They are both in a difficult spot. Both will be called upon to provide quality run support against George, but they also must not get suckered by play action. The Titans are also hurting at wide receiver a bit. Kevin Dyson (knee) is out for the year. WR Yancy Thigpen (hamstring) is questionable. Carl Pickens (I can already hear “bw in dc” now) and Chris Sanders are the most likely starters. Jason Sehorn and David Thomas have the size and necessary speed to play a physical game with Pickens. Sanders has talent, but has been inconsistent. WR Derrick Mason has a load of talent, but has yet to harness it in the receiving game. The Giants need McDaniel to play him tough (or whoever is in the slot). The Titans may try to take advantage of McDaniel’s height with Pickens or Mason.
The true test for ultimate success for the Giants’ defense is to not wear out. They cannot afford to let their teammates down by starting to give up big runs in the second half of the game.
Giants on Special Teams: This is a huge area of concern this week. The Titans have superb special teams and the guy I’m most worried about is kick/punt returner Derrick Mason, who can return it the distance and create superb field position for his offense (he is averaging 30 yards a kick return and 12 yards a punt return). If the Giants ever needed Brad Daluiso to start booming his kick-offs (with height and distance), it is this week. Same with P Brad Maynard. The coverage units will really be on the spot. Hold your breath on every return fans!
The Titans also do a wonderful job of covering their opponents’ punts and kicks. The Titans are only giving up 2 yards per punt return!!! That is incredible. Much of it has to do with the hang time their punter is getting, but their coverage units are also outstanding.
I know I say it all the time, but specials may determine the outcome of this game. The Giants MUST at least put up a respectable showing.