Approach to the Game – New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings, October 26, 2003: Six games down, ten to go. The Giants have already played half their home games, meaning that six of the final ten will be on the road. The Giants are 1-2 in the NFC East and in last place in the division. It’s time to panic. The Giants have to start a winning streak right now. The Vikings are undefeated, but they are beatable.
The Giants have been victim of bad luck, poor play and execution, and poor coaching decisions. They must stop being the victim and start imposing their WILL on others. It’s time to start playing some winning football.
Giants on Offense: Stop turning the ball over. Start making some big plays in the passing game. Do those two things and the Giants should start putting more points on the scoreboard.
The big worry right now is the offensive line. It’s too bad because the line was just rounding into form before it lost one of its two best players (Rich Seubert). Now the whole thing will be juggled around causing more growing pains. Plus, another new inexperienced face will be added to the mix – even more growing pains. That’s not a good thing when you consider that the strength of the Minnesota defense is their defensive line.
What we know is this: Luke Petigtout is staying at left tackle and David Diehl is staying at right guard. Chris Bober is shifting back to center. Those positions should be relatively fine although they all will have to get used to new flank-mates (don’t underestimate that problem). It looks like Wayne Lucier will start at left guard and either Jeff Roehl or Ian Allen will start at right tackle. My guess is that it will be Allen since he has experience there and is a stronger player. However, it could be Roehl if the Giants want a more secure pass blocker. There is a real match-up problem on the right side. Rookie 1st round pick DE Kevin Williams is the most impressive defensive lineman to come out of the draft. I doubt Allen or Roehl can handle him by themselves…so look for a tight end to stay in to help out blocking. Lucier doesn’t match-up well either with DT Chris Hovan – perhaps the best defensive tackle in football. In other words, the Giants have their two weakest links lining up over Minnesota’s best players. Ouch! Look for Bober to help out on Hovan. The Vikings will try to take advantage of this situation by blitzing up the middle.
Last week against the Eagles, the offensive line minus Seubert had problems with the strong play of the Philly defensive tackles and I anticipate Hovan and Williams will create similar problems this week on the pass rush. I feel that it is important for the Giants to do their passing on first down and in running situations (i.e., 2nd-and-short). Pass when the Vikings will be looking for the run…and they will be looking run as they will expect the Giants to protect Collins by staying more conservative and using Tiki Barber and Dorsey Levens. I’m not saying don’t run the football. But the Giants need to pass in order to score and the best time to pass is when the opposition isn’t expecting it.
The other match-ups up front are Luke Petitgout versus the platoon of Kenny Mixon/Lance Johnstone. Johnstone is an effective pass rusher who already has 5.5 sacks. Petitgout’s play has not been as sharp this year as it was last year…he needs to step it up. Diehl will play against DT Fred Robbins.
It’s also time for the Giants’ “elite” players to start playing the way they were supposed to be playing. Fassel is getting a lot of grief from fans, but let’s be honest, QB Kerry Collins, WR Amani Toomer, TE Jeremy Shockey, and HB Tiki Barber have been disappointing this year. They are not making big plays and they are not getting the ball into the end zone. “Stars” are supposed to make big plays that win football games. Toomer should eat CB Ken Irvin up. Shockey should be able to get away from the Viking linebackers and safeties. Tiki should be able to break off a big run or two. Should, should, should… Enough talk, do it!
And most importantly, Kerry Collins has to make plays in the clutch despite inconsistent pass protection. In my opinion, he played like a wuss last weekend. He was jumpy in the pocket and was scrambling away from pressure that sometimes wasn’t there. If he does that this week, the Giants lose. You’re going to get hit this weekend Kerry – a lot; it will hurt less if you win the football game.
The offensive line needs to be at least respectable. Kerry needs to take some shots down the field – if the coaching staff and offensive line allow him. And Toomer, Shockey, and Barber need to earn their paychecks.
Giants on Defense: My big concern is Ralph Brown. The Eagles should have gone at him more last week deep, but didn’t. I question Ralph’s ability to stay with a fast receiver down the field and I wonder if Frank Walker shouldn’t be playing more outside and Brown inside on the nickel. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw that this week.
The real interesting match-up will be Will Allen, who is playing exceptional football right now, versus All-World Randy Moss. The Giants talk about doubling Moss, but don’t be shocked if they leave Allen all alone with Moss…not all the time, but more than one would expect. If they do decide to double Moss, then the pressure on Brown, Walker, and/or Ryan Clark increases measurably. Brown and Allen will be at a size disadvantage with the 6-2 D’Wayne Bates and 6-4 Moss, respectively. Bates isn’t real fast, but back-up Kelly Campbell is…I bet the Vikings try to get Campbell deep on Brown.
Daunte Culpepper is an up-and-down quarterback. He’s playing good football right now but I think the Giants can frustrate him. The key is when you get to him to tackle him…he’s as big as the Giants’ defensive ends. It’s also important to keep him from scrambling for first downs and touchdowns.
I think it is essential for the Giants to shut down the Minnesota running game. Moe Williams starts and Onterrio Smith is the back-up. They run behind a very big offensive line and H-Back Charles Stackhouse (remember him?). Michael Strahan will face RT Mike Rosenthal. The last time Strahan faced a former Giants’ right tackle was in the playoff game where he got his butt whooped by Scott Gragg. The Giants can not afford a similar effort this time. LT Bryant McKinnie is a monster of a man and DE Kenny Holmes will have to be at his very best. Both guards are over 320 pounds so tackles Keith Hamilton and Cornelius Griffin will have to play a physical game this week
Stop the run and the get the Vikes into a passing mode. I would then play the “Big Nickel” that we heard so much about in the preseason and run blitz packages out of that – especially with Shaun Williams as the blitzer.
Giants on Special Teams: PK Brett Conway needs to get better distance on his kick-offs. P Jeff Feagles needs to bounce back from a sub-par game for him. Obviously, the Giants need more productivity out of Brian Mitchell as both a kick and punt returner…but he also needs help from his blockers. David Tyree is getting closer and closer to blocking a punt.