Approach to the Game – Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants, December 23, 2001: The Giants can still make the playoffs and do some damage once they get there. But to do so, they must win their next three games – starting with Seahawks on Sunday. With seven losses, the Giants have backed themselves up into a corner. There is no margin for error anymore. It won’t be easy. At 7-6, the Seahawks are themselves fighting desperately for a playoff spot. They consider this a must-game. Thus, the contest SHOULD have playoff-like intensity about it. SHOULD.
The Giants must come out of the gate with superior intensity and crispness – something they have lacked most of the year. They need to rekindle the type of passion that they demonstrated in the playoffs last year. If things go wrong in the game (and they inevitably go wrong in any game), the Giants must keep their heads up and keep plugging. No quit. No excuses. Just go out there and get the job done. Win.
Giants on Offense: For better or worse, the fate of this team now rests on the right arm of QB Kerry Collins. Collins has been far too inconsistent this year and played one of his worst games of the year last week. But there is still time to turn it around. First he’s got to stand tougher in the pocket and be more willing to take the big hit. If he has to scramble forward, don’t slide. Every inch counts now. When he does throw, make intelligent decisions and throw with great accuracy. But don’t be afraid to take some risk. Get some of that gunslinger mentality back. As I’ve said all year, the opposition is going to focus more on Tiki Barber and dare Collins to beat them. He’s going to have to make some plays.
The blocking up front, as always, remains key. The offensive line did a decent job last week, but they face a far tougher opponent this week. The inside blocking of OG Glenn Parker, OC Dusty Zeigler, and RG Ron Stone versus defensive tackles John Randle and Chad Eaton will be decisive. Eaton is the stronger player against the run; Randle (9.5 sacks) is the quicker pass rusher. If Stone can handle Eaton and Parker can keep Randle quiet, the Giants should be in good shape. LT Lomas Brown faces DE Michael Sinclair. As long as Brown is healthy and on his game, he should be OK. RT Luke Petitgout faces either DE Lamar King (who has been hampered with a leg injury) or DE John Hilliard.
What the Giants need to do offensively is game-plan for Seattle’s active linebacking corps. Outside backer Chad Brown makes many highlight-reel type plays (he has 8.5 sacks), but he should not overshadow the other outside backer, Anthony Simmons – one of the best linebackers in the game. Simmons leads the Seahawks in tackles and is superb in coverage. Keeping both at bay will be a monumental task. Seattle likes to blitz Brown and the linemen, tight ends, and backs must be on their game in terms of blitz pick-ups. Levon Kirkland is the stout middle linebacker who FB Greg Comella may have problems with as a lead blocker. Since Kirkland is a far better run player than coverage man, the Giants may want to take advantage of that when he is on the field. The ability of the Giants blockers (linemen, tight ends, and Comella) to engage the Seahawk linebackers is one of the most important keys to this game.
As for the secondary, WR Ike Hilliard will be lined-up on CB Willie Williams. Williams has fine quickness, but he has been known to give up big plays in the past. The Giants catch a break with CB Shawn Springs (drug suspension) being out; his replacement is CB Ken Lucas, a rookie who many BBI‘ers liked heading into the 2001 Draft. He’s a bigger, more physical corner and that style of play should help him with WR Amani Toomer. But Lucas is a bit on the stiff side and he is green. Expect the Seahawks to try to help Lucas out as much as possible. If so, the other receivers must come through. WR Joe Jurevicius (hamstring) is back. When the Seahawks go to the nickel, Williams moves inside and CB Ike Charlton plays in his spot.
Giants on Defense: The focus will obviously be on shutting down Seattle’s ground game. With HB Ricky Watters (broken ankle) out, the man in the spotlight will be HB Shaun Alexander – a guy who many on BBI wanted in the 2000 NFL Draft instead of HB Ron Dayne. Alexander will be motivated. First, he probably wasn’t happy that Mike Holmgren benched him in favor of Watters last week. Secondly, Alexander will be looking to make the Giants pay because they didn’t pick him first. Alexander has 12 touchdowns (five more than Tiki Barber and Dayne combined) and has already rushed for over 1,000 yards on the season. He is a big runner who reminds me a bit of a young Rodney Hampton (the Hampton of 1990 and 1991) in the sense that he has good vision, quickness, moves, and he is fine pass receiver. The Giants’ front seven need to control the line of scrimmage and get a lot of hats on Alexander. Punish him. Put Seattle in long down-and-distance situations and then get after the pass rusher.
Big battles will continue to be inside with DT Keith Hamilton’s match-up against rookie Steve Hutchinson, the Michigan guard who many of us at BBI were real high on before the draft. Seattle will undoubtably run mostly to their left against the Giants, behind Hutchinson and one of the best left tackles in the game, Walter Jones. The ability of DE Kenny Holmes and Hamilton to take on this onslaught and hold their ground is everything. RCB Jason Sehorn, the linebackers, and safeties will have to be active too. Because the right side of the defense will have its hands full, DT Cornelius Griffin (who lines-up over RG Chris Gray) and DE Michael Strahan (who faces RT Todd Weiner) need to have strong games themselves to take some of the pressure off.
Brandon Short is coming off one of his strongest games, but I bet you Holmgren tests him coverage with the tight ends. Tight ends Christian Fauria and Itula Mili can both get down the field and catch the ball. The other linebackers and SS Sam Garnes may have to help out. The linebackers also have to be careful with Alexander and FB Matt Strong as pass receivers.
Seattle’s quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, has struggled more than I thought he would. I was impressed with him when he was in Green Bay, but he has had his problems this year. The key will be for the Giants to keep the heat on him by getting in his face and forcing him to make mistakes. That’s why defending the run on first and second down is so important. CB Will Allen will face a good challenge by facing Seattle’s leading receiver, Darrell Jackson (55 catches). CB Jason Sehorn will likely be matched-up on rookie first rounder Koren Robinson, a fluid player with fine size. Bobby Engram is clutch, possession-type of receiver who the Giants must play aggressively. This isn’t a particularly fast group, but they can keep the chains moving. With the focus of the defense being on stopping the run, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Holmgren try to get some cheap points early through the air instead of testing the Giants’ strength – their run defense – right away. It’s time for FS Shaun Williams to start playing like one of the better players in the league again at his position. It’s been a while since he’s made a big play.
Giants on Special Teams: The Giants can ill-afford anymore poor punting from Rodney Williams. Coverage teams must keep Seattle from getting superior field position. Guys like Kevin Lewis, Clayton White, and Dhani Jones can have an impact on this game with their special teams play. C’mon Ron Dixon…break one!