Approach to the Game – New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers, January 5, 2003: Again with the 49ers in the playoffs. Incredibly, this will be the seventh time in New York’s ten playoff appearances since 1981 that the Giants and 49ers have met. The only playoff series they have not run into San Francisco are 1989, 1997, and 2000. And ironically, after a roller coaster ride in 2002, the Giants face the same team that they lost to on opening night all the way back on September 5th. The Giants lost that game 16-13 as the Giants had problems scoring in the Red Zone, Kerry Collins threw 3 interceptions, and the Giants’ halfbacks only managed 39 yards on 21 carries (just awful).
This is a different Giants team now however. On the downside, stalwarts such as DT Keith Hamilton and WR Ike Hilliard are in Injured Reserve. But on the upside, guys who were green as grass on September 5th are now much more experienced and much more confident, especially on the offensive line. The Giants are hot…winners of four impressive games in a row. The 49ers have struggled a bit down the stretch. Many in the national media are even giving the Giants a good chance to beat the favored 49ers on Sunday. BBI posters in The Corner Forum who thought the Giants would lose their last four games now predict an easy victory. That makes me nervous. The 49ers are a good football team with some outstanding players. They are playing at home in front of their fans, with their own proud tradition behind them. Just seven starters remain from the Giants’ last playoff appearance; in other words, many of the youngsters on this team have never experienced the intensity of a playoff game. The playoffs are single elimination…one screw-up on special teams, offense, or defense can cost you the game. There usually is no room for error.
But the Giants have some things working in their favor. The 49ers thankfully provided the Giants with a lot of bulletin board material this week that will only ad to New York’s intensity. The two “Wills” are playing hurt, but they are still both outstanding. The linebackers are playing good football right now. Amani Toomer and Kerry Collins are playing the best football of their careers. The offensive line is coming together. And there is the aura of Jeremy Shockey. There is just something about the man that says, “Don’t worry, I’ll carry you to the Super Bowl and win it for you.” I don’t know what it is, but I just have the feeling the Giants will be alright because they have Shockey.
My biggest worries heading into this game? Special teams (specifically the kickers), containing QB Jeff Garcia in the pocket, and turnovers.
Giants on Special Teams: I hate to say this, but Matt Bryant’s ever-shortening kickoffs are an invitation to disaster. If not a big return, then simply by providing the opposition with continued superior field position. Same story with Matt Allen’s punting.
Bryant’s efforts on field goal attempts in the post-season will be crucial.
The 49ers just signed a new kick returner this week, Vinny Sutherland, due to injuries to regular returners Cedrick Wilson and Jason Webster.
Giants on Defense: The 49ers were not as productive on offense this year as they had hoped, but they still finished the regular season eighth in the NFL in total offense. And they are quite capable of an offensive explosion in any game. The Giants on defense will have to play a smart, physical football game.
There has been a lot of attention in the press this week about the Giants’ secondary versus All-World WR Terrell Owens. But I think the biggest keys in the game will be (1) keeping the mobile QB Jeff Garcia in the pocket, and (2) stopping the running game. In the 49er games I’ve watched, Garcia keeps crucial drives alive time-and-time again by either scrambling out of harms way and then finding the open receiver or running for a key first down. It’s frustrating to watch. And the Giants have not had a lot of success with mobile quarterbacks this year. The rush lane discipline of DT’s Cornelius Griffin and Lance Legree in particular has left much to be desired, but DE’s Michael Strahan and Kenny Holmes have also been at fault. The New York pass rush has not been good in recent weeks from the down four. Legree doesn’t have a sack this season, Griffin has only four (and three of them came in one game), and Strahan hasn’t picked up a sack in weeks. With the greater need to maintain disciplined pass rush lanes this week, look for a continued anemic pass pressure – not good when you are facing a high-flying passing attack. What about blitzes? Sure, the Giants must and will blitz some. But the 49ers run a true West Coast Offense and you don’t want to leave halfbacks or tight ends all alone too much.
Then there is the running game. Contrary to popular myth, the 49ers have been at their offensive best when they have been able to run the football. They have a nice one-two punch in Garrison Heart and Kevan Barlow. Hearst has more wiggle and Barlow more punch. After the first Giants-49ers meeting this year, if I’m San Francisco, I came away from that game with a lot of respect for the Giants’ secondary and a defense that was concerned with stopping the pass first and foremost. That’s why I would come out trying to cross New York up with the running game.
Strahan will face our old friend RT Scott Gragg, who did a real nice job on Strahan on September 5th. We still do not know if Pro Bowl RG Ron Stone (ankle) will play. If he does, he will line up over Griffin’s head. OC Jeremy Newberry, who was running his mouth this week about kicking the asses of the Giants, is another Pro Bowler. Derek Deese is one of the best pass blocking left tackles in the game so Holmes will have his hands full. Rookie Eric Heitmann is the new starter at left guard and will play against Legree. The complexion of things changes quite a bit depending on the availability of Stone.
Linebacker coverage playing against the 49ers is always crucial. Hearst (48 catches), TE Eric Johnson (36 catches), and FB Fred Beasley (22 catches) are all important weapons in the 49er passing attack. Michael Barrow, Dhani Jones, and Brandon Short will have to do well here – particularly against Hearst and Johnson. Short will likely be a San Francisco target in the passing game. Also key this week, will be the ability of the linebackers to avoid the lead block of Beasley in the ground game. Beasley is one of the best run blocking fullbacks in the game.
Jeff Garcia is a Pro Bowl quarterback. WR Terrell Owens has 100 receptions for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns in just 14 games. WR Tai Streets has 72 catches and 5 touchdowns. And WR J.J. Stokes is a former first rounder who comes off the bench. Combine these three with the pass receiving ability of the backs and tight ends and this is a difficult passing game to defend. This is the kind of game where CB’s Will Allen and Will Peterson can really start making a name for themselves with the average viewer. Same story with SS Shaun Williams and FS Omar Stoutmire. Shutting down the 49er passing attack will attract attention. Will Allen covered Owens most of the game on September 5th and did a superb job on him, but a late zone coverage breakdown by Dhani Jones cost the Giants dearly on the 49er game-winning field goal drive. Can’t just play Owens tough for most of the game – but all of the game. Owens will undoubtably see multiple coverages and attention from different players. A big key is to not let Streets or Stokes to do damage elsewhere. Nickel back Jason Sehorn will be key.
Stuff the run. Keep Garcia in the pocket. Limit the damage the receivers do. Added bonus? Create some turnovers in order to help out the offense.
Giants on Offense: The big key is to not turn the football over. Last week, the Giants fumbled the ball 7 times (lost 3) and threw an interception. Tiki Barber needs to hold onto the football and Kerry Collins needs to make smart decisions. Do that and the Giants should be fine.
The 49ers have some talent in the front seven, but their secondary has been a bit weak this year and they are not helped by the fact that CB Jason Webster is ailing with an ankle injury and may not play. If the offensive line gives Collins time and Collins and the receivers are “on”, the Giants should be able to do some damage in the passing game. It helps that WR Ron Dixon is back this weekend, but Dixon is bound to be a bit rusty and has been guilty of some costly dropped passes in the past.
Up front, the Giants face a big challenge inside as DT’s Bryant Young and Dana Stubblefield will battle RG Jason Whittle and LG Rich Seubert, respectively. These two gave New York a lot of problems on September 5th as the Giants were not able to establish a running game and pass protection was shaky. DE Andre Carter (12 sacks – one more than Strahan) faces LT Luke Petitgout and Chike Okeafor faces RT Mike Rosenthal (Okeafor sacked Collins on opening night as did Stubblefield). Providing solid pass protection for Collins against these four and potential blitzes is important as is creating running room for Barber and HB Ron Dayne.
At linebacker, the 49ers have an outstanding player in Pro Bowl SLB Julian Peterson – a very athletic player for his size who plays a physical game. Peterson says he is not intimidated by Pro Bowl TE Jeremy Shockey and contends he will do a good job of covering him. If he does, the Giants will be in trouble.
The bad news for the Giants is that FS Zach Bronson (foot) returns from injury this week. SS Tony Parrish (7 interceptions) is a hitter and will often be called upon to guard against Shockey as well. San Francisco’s best cornerback is Ahmed Plummer who normally covers the flanker (Ron Dixon’s side of the field). It will be interesting to see if the 49ers put Plummer on Toomer or keep him on Dixon. If Webster can’t play, then rookie 1st rounder Mike Rumph, who has struggled somewhat this year, will start. The Giants absolutely need Toomer and Dixon to play well as Shockey will have his hands full.
My strategy would be to try to get up early on the 49ers early with the passing game, then hit them with a heavy does of Barber and Dayne. Then go for the kill shot off of play-action. Most of all – don’t turn the ball over.