Approach to the Game – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants, October 29, 2000: This is a big game. Strike that – this is a huge game. If the Giants win on Sunday against the Eagles, they may find themselves all alone in first place (depending on what transpires in the Redskins-Titans game on Monday). If they lose, they will drop to third in the NFC East behind Washington and Philadelphia. A home division game is always important, but this one is bigger than usual.
Screw the 0-3 record after the bye with Jim Fassel running the ship; the press was making a big deal out of the fact that Fassel was winless in week two and three before this season too. The players know what is at stake and have no reason to come out flat.
This game will be far more difficult than the last Giants-Eagles game, despite being at home this time. The Giants kind of snuck up on the Eagles in the first game and the Giants’ offense hit its stride that week. It has been down hill for the Big Blue offense ever since. New York needs to change that around this week. They also will need a top-notch defensive performance from everyone due to the absence of Jason Sehorn at right corner. The Eagles’ special teams can also be dangerous.
Giants on Offense: What it all boils down to is that the Giants need to put more points up on the board. The Giants haven’t cracked the 20 point barrier since week two. That’s pathetic. What makes it even sadder is that the Giants have the weapons to be much more explosive. They have a solid offensive line and running game this year. What is killing them are the breakdowns in the passing game at quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end. Enough is enough guys – you’ve had your little slump; it’s time to earn your paychecks.
If you remember from my week two preview, the Eagles are a very aggressive, attacking defense. They love to disrupt the rhythm of their opponent by sending a lot of guys at the quarterback and running back. But that can sometimes work against them too. The way to beat an over-aggressive defense is through the use of misdirection. Cutbacks, counters, reverses, and draws tend to work in the running game if executed properly. In fact, the Redskins completely fooled the Eagles a few weeks ago when they started the game with a reverse – this helped to slow down Philly’s pursuit much of the first half. If a running game is established, screens and play-action are very effective (as New York proved in the first encounter).
It will be interesting to see how much Head Coach Jim Fassel and Offensive Coordinator Sean Payton commit to Ron Dayne this week, after his impressive performance before the bye. Tiki Barber is more well-suited to the type of misdirection running plays (and screens) that I identified. But the Eagles can also be run on with the straight-ahead power game – Dayne’s strength. The answer probably lies in wise and timely employment of both. Will they start off with Dayne or Tiki – who will set the tone first for the other?
We do know this: the Eagles will seek out to stop the Giants’ running game by crowding the line of scrimmage. They will be more wary of the cutback when Tiki is in the game. They hope to force the Giants’ passing game to beat them. To be very successful on offense, the Giants need Kerry Collins, his receivers, and his tight ends to get their collective heads straight. We know they can do it. We saw it in the second half of 1999 and all throughout the preseason. We also saw them do it in week two and much of week three. Fassel and Payton need to get Collins in sync and feeling confident about himself again. I would do this by throwing early to TE Pete Mitchell and FB Greg Comella. Mitchell was not available in week two and most of the rust from his health-enforced absence throughout the preseason and early part of the season should be gone. Mitchell can be a very difficult customer for linebackers to cover. It’s also generally and easy read and throw for Collins to make to hit Pete. Same story with Greg Comella. Often times a defense will be slow to pick him up coming out of the backfield. Once Kerry has completed a few passes to these two and got the strong safety’s attention, then it will be time to take some shots down the field. Again, the Eagles are an aggressive defense (including their secondary) so double-moves and play-action often work if the quarterback is given time. Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard both scored off of double-moves in the first contest against Philly.
The Giants may also want to get some of their lesser-used weapons some more action. Ron Dixon needs to touch the ball more – period. Dan Campbell is a better receiving tight end than is given credit for. Sending him out for a pass in short-yardage could burn Philly. Joe Jurevicius finally began to see the ball more two weeks ago – he needs to break some more big plays.
For the offense to click, a few things must happen: (1) don’t turn the ball over, (2) Collins and his receivers must rebound in a big way, (3) the coaching staff needs to keep Philly off balance with well thought out game plan, and (4) the Giants must run the ball effectively. For the latter to happen, the Giants must get a strong performance out of the offensive line, tight ends, and fullback in the blocking department. The big match-up everyone has been writing about in the press all week is DE Hugh Douglas versus LT Lomas Brown. Brown did OK against him last time after a shaky start. But to me, just as critical are the battles between defensive tackles Corey Simon and Hollis Thomas and the Giants’ guards. RT Luke Petitgout and TE Howard Cross versus DE Brandon Whiting (who is subbing for the injured Mike Mamula) and SLB Barry Gardner is also big. The guy who really hurt the Giants last time was MLB Jeremiah Trotter. Comella or OC Dusty Zeigler need to get a hat on him.
Giants on Defense: The good news is that HB Duce Staley is out. The Eagles have employed HB Darnell Autry and HB Brian Mitchell in his absence. These two have not proved to be as productive. But New York must not become too complacent against the running game. The Eagles still try to run the ball a great deal and the last thing the Giants need is for Autry and Mitchell to get going. The big re-match up front will be DE Michael Strahan versus RT Jon Runyan. DE Cedric Jones needs to hold the corner on his end against LT Tra Thomas. Inside, expect to see Keith Hamilton, Christian Peter, and Cornelius Griffin battle it out with LG John Welbourn, OC Bubba Miller, and RG Jermane Mayberry.
I would think the Eagles would attack the Giants in two ways. First by throwing short at TE Chad Lewis (who hurt the Giants in week two) as well as the backs (Mitchell, FB Cecil Martin, reserve FB Stanley Pritchett in particular). Philly will most likely test SLB Ryan Phillips a great deal in this capacity. Jessie Armstead and Mike Barrow need to play well in coverage as well – especially since with Sehorn out, SS Sam Garnes’ attention will be more focused on the deeper portions of the field. Take away Lewis and you take away QB Donovan McNabb’s security blanket. If I’m Defensive Coordinator John Fox, I think I may game plan something special for Lewis. This is one reason why I wouldn’t blitz too much – the Giants need the linebackers covering the underneath routes.
The other way to go is to attack New York’s secondary deep. WR Torrance Small is back and the Eagles like the speed of rookie reserve WR Todd Pinkston. With Sehorn out and CB Reggie Stephens ailing, look for Philly to go after Dave Thomas, Emmanuel McDaniel, and the nickel back (be it Andre Weathers or Ramos McDonald). Shaun Williams and Garnes need to help out these guys in a big way. The Eagles are not particularly strong at receiver; the big question is how strong are the Giants with Sehorn out? We’ll find out soon.
Of course it’s also critically important not to let McNabb beat you with his feet. He is a very slippery customer back there and the Giants’ rushers will have to maintain disciplined pass rush lanes. This makes it more difficult to get after the quarterback, but it is necessary in this case.
My goals would be to (1) stuff the run, (2) keep McNabb in the pocket, and (3) cover Lewis.
Giants on Special Teams: The big concern here is coverage on kick and punt returns by Brian Mitchell. The former is the larger issue due to the short kick-offs the Giants are getting from Brad Daluiso (it has yet to be decided whether Jaret Holmes or Daluiso will kick on Sunday). Mitchell has broken a number of returns for scores this year and the Giants were terrible two weeks ago against Dallas covering kick-offs. The Giants also need to do a better job of breaking some returns of their own.