Saturday’s Giants Links
One more day until the big game begins. I’m hoping that Tom Coughlin is smart enough to come up with a really successful game plan that will almost certainly guarantee a Playoff berth this week. If he manages to do that then he can rest everybody like Plaxico, Eli, Jacobs, Wilson, and all of the others that are playing sub-par or are banged up and need a break. If T.C. cannot figure out how to do that then he will have to figure out how to beat the undefeated Patriots to clinch the Playoffs while defending poor play calling which will cost him his job. So, even though the pressure in on the Giants tomorrow, I expect big things from them just as they have delivered the past 2 seasons. The only difference is no Tiki. So our 2-Headed Monster needs to be that force. Eli must continue to hand the ball off a ton of times. The defense must not give up a lead where Coughlin believes that he needs to alter the game plan. Just go out and win.
TE Michael Matthews’s Season Journal
Familiar Territory - Michael Eisen put together a piece about how the Jints have been in this situation before, meaning how they need to get one win to clinch a Playoff berth.
So I guess there is no reason why we should expect anything less, right?
Transcript: Coach Tom Coughlin - Michael Eisen had a Q&A Session with Tom Coughlin about the health of the G-MEN.
Newsday:
Giants’ Wilson excited about return vs. Bills - Roderick Boone points out that Gibril Wilson missed the last three games, and he just wants come out and hit somebody.
New York Daily News:
Giants need someone to catch on to fill void left by Jeremy Shockey
New York Post:
JINTS LOOKING TO REIGN IN WEATHER - Paul Schwartz raises this question, and Tom Coughlin answers it:
Why not practice in simulated rain if there’s a good chance you might play in real rain?
“I think we are OK when the weather is bad,” coach Tom Coughlin countered.
After the way Coughlin defended his playcalling last week, I don’t know that I can believe what he’s saying. It has become hard to buy into it. So he will need this team to get into the Playoffs for me to believe again. Whether it’s against the eliminated Bills in crappy conditions or against the mighty Patriots in the swamp, I need to see it to believe it. Show me that Eli can throw effectively in those conditions. Eli hasn’t played well in more than a month. With the Playoffs on the line, run the ball.
JACOBS CAN BE A GIANT WATER BUFFALO - Steve Serby had this to say about the Big Man, and how Brandon Jacobs can help out the Giants offense:
A 264-pound water buffalo like this can help in these ways: He can help silence the crowd so Manning can hear himself think; and even better, he can punish, wear down and demoralize the Bills defense by the fourth quarter.
I agree with Serby 100%, but don’t forget about Droughns. We still have a 2-Headed Monster. Since T.C. threw 55 times last week, he should be running 55 times this week. Split 55 by 2 and you have a lot of carries by our 2-Headed Monster. The weather is calling for this type of attack. Obviously, Coach Coughlin will need to throw in some passes and play action to keep the defense honest, but Jacobs and Droughns just need to keep running like Forrest Gump.
NO SHOCK: SMITH WANTS TO STEP UP - Paul Schwartz got this quote from Steve Smith:
“I was telling myself that today, I want to be the guy to make the play,” Smith said yesterday. “These guys have been out here working hard, practicing every day. I’m a rookie, I’m just sitting here getting checks and watching them from the sideline. I want to show ‘em my worth, show I can be a playmaker for this team.”
Now that Smith is talking the talk, I hope he goes out on the field tomorrow and walks the walk.
