Approach to the Game – New York Giants at Detroit Lions, October 19, 1997: As the wins begin to mount for the Giants, so does the pressure. Believe it or not, the Giants are all alone in second place in the NFC East. They have a three game winning streak going and they are 3-0 in the division. The defense is playing very well and the offense is coming off of their best performance all year. However, the Detroit Lions are not the New Orleans Saints or Arizona Cardinals. The Lions have an extremely dangerous offense, a rapidly improving defense, and a good coaching staff. The Lions just may be the Giants’ toughest test to-date. The New York press has been filled with “feel good” articles all week on the Giants, particularly the defense. Well, the defense had better get their heads out of the clouds and stop patting themselves on the back. If they don’t, Barry Sanders, Herman Moore, and Scott Mitchell will have a field day.
Giants on Defense: Every week we start off stating how important it will be to stuff the running game. This week it takes on much, much greater importance. Barry Sanders is the best running back in the game right now and he can absolutely embarrass even a good defensive team (see the Tampa Bay Bucs). The keys to stopping him are: (1) penetration into the backfield, (2) gap control, and (3) solid tackling. Like any running back in the game, Sanders has a difficult time getting started if he has to face his first potential tacklers in the backfield. On the other hand, if our front seven gets blown off the ball by the Detroit offensive line and Barry has room to maneuver, then the Giants are in for a long day. Secondly, Barry can kill defenses that over-pursue and lose gap control or containment because of his superb vision and cutback-ability. Over-pursuit has been somewhat of a problem on this young, aggressive defense. The linebackers in particular must stick with their gap responsibilities because even if Barry is running away from them, there is a decent chance he might be running back that way in a second. Thirdly, tackling is absolutely crucial, especially in the secondary. Despite his size, Sanders is very slippery and difficult to bring down if the defender doesn’t wrap up. The coaches should preach gang-tackling all week in practice. In particular, if a man in the secondary like Jason Sehorn or Tito Wooten misses a tackle, it will be six points.
Up front, DE Chad Bratzke has to step up his game this week and make an impact. He faces Mike Compton, a left guard forced to play left tackle because of the injury to regular starter Ray Roberts. Bratzke has faced a plethora of past, present, and future Pro Bowlers all year, but here is his big chance to be a difference maker. DE Michael Strahan has an opportunity to have another big week — he faces RT Larry Tharpe. Moreover, since Scott Mitchell is a lefty, Strahan should get some chances for blindside hits. Inside, Keith Hamilton will face a second stringer (either Tony Semple or Hessley Hempstead). He needs to keep his motor going 100 percent and get some penetration regularly into the backfield. The Giants’ coaching staff will be counting on him to win this match-up. If Hamilton does cause problems and the Lions’ center (Pro Bowler Kevin Glover) is called upon to help out, then Robert Harris needs to win his one-on-one battles with impressive second-year man Jeff Hartings. Stuff the run, then get after Mitchell must remain the focus all day.
More so than any other game thus far in this season, the performance of the Giant linebackers will be crucial on Sunday. Good reads, gap control, and solid tackling need to be the order of the day. Corey Miller and Corey Widmer are not the most agile guys around and Sanders could make these two look downright silly. Jessie Armstead and his cohorts also must keep an eye on potential screen passes. The Giants may be fortunate and not have to face TE David Sloan, but Pete Metzelaars is a capable veteran replacement. With the secondary focusing more on the wideouts, the linebackers will be called upon to make sure that the underneath stuff to the running backs and tight ends doesn’t become a factor.
In the secondary, the defensive backs face a big, big test this week. WR Herman Moore is as good as it gets. If CB Phillippi Sparks wants to go to the Pro Bowl, controlling a guy like Moore would be a great step in that direction. Undoubtably, the Giants will call upon FS Tito Wooten to help out with Moore. Thus the corner not covering Moore (most likely Jason Sehorn) will be under a lot of pressure to shut down WR Johnnie Morton, a former first rounder. The Lions also like to add Glyn Milburn to the mix on their 3-WR sets. Milburn is a very explosive player and Conrad Hamilton must be very physical with him. SS Sam Garnes needs to make his presence felt as well this week. He was very quiet against the Cards.
This is the Giants’ defense big chance to get some national recognition. But to do so, they must be at the top of their game. No mental breakdowns, solid tackling, and forced turnovers will be crucial. Jim Fassel coached Scott Mitchell for four years in college and he may know some tricks to help fool him, but when it all comes down to it, the defense must do the job themselves. The Lions are 4-3 and need this game to keep pace with the high-flyers in the division. Don’t look for Detroit to roll over like Arizona did.
Giants on Offense: The Giants’ defense will not be able to shut down Detroit’s offense — they are too good. If the Giants are to win on Sunday, their offense must control the clock and put points on the board. Once again, the offensive line is key. Detroit has a very active and well-coached defense, but they can be run on if the offensive line plays a physical game up front. Consistency for this group has been a problem this year, but stringing three solid performances together (including the Dallas and Arizona games) would be impressive. RT Scott Gragg will have a tough match-up in DE Robert Porcher, who leads the team with seven sacks. Porcher is a huge test for Gragg, a guy who has struggled at times this year. Fassel and his staff may once again call upon TE Howard Cross to help out there. LG Greg Bishop also gets a tough assignment in DT Luther Ellis. Bishop has played well the last two weeks, but he will be severely tested on Sunday. The Giants can’t afford any letups from LT Roman Oben either. If the Giants can win these battles, they may be able to get their running game going once again because Detroit is not very big up front, including the linebackers. But they are quick, and can cause pass rush problems.
Surprisingly, the Lions have just as many interceptions as the Giants this year. Rookie CB Bryant Westbrook is a future Pro Bowler. He usually plays on the left side, but it will be interesting to see if the Lions move him over to cover Chris Calloway, our most consistent receiver. Regardless, who ever faces the other corner (Corey Raymond — remember him Giant fans?) must take advantage of this match-up. Kevin Alexander and David Patten will share time at split end. A lot is expected from these two undrafted players. Returning to Michigan, you know WR Amani Toomer would like to make an impact at wide receiver. To do so, he needs to improve his reads. Lion safeties, Van Malone and Mark Carrier, are two physical guys. However, Fassel may want to sneak Aaron Pierce or a running back past Malone a few times on passing plays.
A lot more pressure will be placed on the shoulders of QB Danny Kanell and HB Tyrone Wheatley this week. Both were the beneficiaries of some excellent line play last week. Things will be much more difficult this Sunday. We still haven’t seen many West Coast Offense-type of plays this year since the opener. We also haven’t seen the faster tempo that Fassel would like these guys to play with. Injuries and mental mistakes have been problems with both. The last time the Giants played in a loud dome for an away game (against the Rams), the offensive players lost their composure made far, far too many stupid penalties. Let’s hope they don’t repeat that performance.
Giants on Special Teams: Close ball games are ultimately decided by special teams play. Brad Maynard did not punt particularly well last week. His hangtime is fine, but his distance and placement inside the 20 need improving. Brad Daluiso also needs to regain our support by making all his field goals again. On coverage, Lion punt and kick returner Glyn Milburn is extremely dangerous — he is probably the best returner the Giants have faced all year. Daluiso and Maynard need to boom the ball and coverage has to be superb or the Giants will give away cheap field position and possible scores. For their part, the Giant coaches are still scratching their heads in an attempt to find an adequate kick returner since Thomas Lewis got hurt. David Patten failed, as did Kevin Alexander. The Giants may try HB Erric Pegram this week. And for what has become a weekly unlikely wish of ours, let’s get a blocked kick or punt! Please!