The NFL has changed. Face it, this is not your daddy?s league and champions aren?t defined by which team can run the ball or stop the run.
It is all about the pass, baby.
GFB has submitted it's MVPs and LVPs for the 2010 season....that would be Most Valuable People and Least Valuable People......the staff chose the LVPs as the three people they do not want to see next season.....
Rich ReschMVPs: Offense: Rich Seubert, Defense: Justin Tuck, ST: Lawrence TynesLVPs: Darius Reynaud, Keith Bulluck (unless as a backup), ST Coach Tom Quinn.
OutHC Tom Coughlin: While ragging on Coughlin has been an overused go-to option for writers and pundits league wide lately, the blade is swinging ever closer to his neck after yesterday?s loss. There is an argument for keeping him of course. His tenure thus far in New York has been an upgrade from a bleak stretch of time in the team?s history that spanned from 1992 through 2003. After a rebuilding period in 2004, Coughlin fielded an overall competitive squad from 2005 through 2008 and obviously brought New York an impressive Super Bowl win. But things have not been quite the same for the Giants since jumping out to an 11-1 start in 2008. Following up a Super Bowl run with 3 months of utterly dominant football, the Giants stumbled at home against Philadelphia that season and ultimately lost to the Eagles again in their first appearance of the playoffs. 2009 saw a 5-0 start turn into a 3-5 finish and 2010 saw a historical single game collapse, an unspeakable rash of turnovers, and an overall failure to execute on special teams. Coughlin, who is historically quite reliable when it comes to challenges, blew the Giants final challenge of yesterday?s game on an obvious unfavorable ruling and thus was unable to protest against at a late Eli interception on a key drive that was clearly caught out of bounds.
Jonathan Goff, who beat out Bulluck for the role of? MLB in camp, has benefited from superb defensive line play.? The 3rd year player out of Vanderbilt is finally coming into his own as a NFL caliber LB.
His aggressive play was noticed.? He flies around the field and many people thought he was a key ingredient missing from the Giants defense...passion!?? In 11 games in 2009 Michael Boley had 84 tackles & a sack.?? There was plenty of room for improvement from this young linebacker.
CB Brian Jackson
RB D.J. Ware
Pain in Neck: The biggest blow to the team is loosing Mathias Kiwanuka with a bulging disc in his neck.? After practice earlier this week, Kiwi underwent a CAT scan were he was diagnosed with a bulging cervical disc.?? He is out for a undetermined period of time time.? The versatile? Kiwanuka leads the team with 4 sacks and has had major success from the defensive line and linebacker position in this new Fewell system.
Bum Ankle: The anchor of the offensive line, Shaun O'Hara is still shut down as the Giants try desperately to get him healthy.? Adam Koates takes his place; however his on presence is greatly missed on the field and the in locker room.
Injuries - 5 players key players came into camp recovering from recent surgery and at least 10 more have been injured this camp.? The offensive line is fragmented and the 2nd team defensive backs look, well....overwhelmed!
A 24-17 defeat is not exactly disappointing when you consider the circumstances.? New York played the entire game with a third string QB.? How many times have you witnessed a third string QB even play a series at the pro level, let alone an entire game?
That said, here's what we learned:
This was good pickup by GM Jerry Reese, even if Bulluck isn't quite what he used to be - a Pro Bowl-caliber player. He will add much needed experience to a unit that has a lot of upside and talent, but not much field time.
Bulluck will wear No. 53, a number many Giants fans feel should be retired in honor of Hall of Famer Harry Carson.? He intends to live up to the expectations that go with that jersey number.
It didn't feel like he was being truthful all those times, and now we know why. He wasn't. Reese was actively waiting for a veteran linebacker to become available.
It is clear now that he did not want to go to camp with all unproven players vying for the most pivotal position on the defense, which is coming off a historically dismal season.
Bulluck was at the Meadowlands for a workout last Monday. and apparently showed the Giants he was worth bringing in.
From Tom Friend, ESPN....
