Die Hard Giants Fan

The Giants put up 19 points early before the Patriots made a late run, but it was time ran out so Big Blue was victorious in the final game of the 2008 Preseason.

1st Quarter

The Giants scored first as David Carr completed about a 5 yard pass on the right side to Darcy Johnson who shook off defenders and ran into the end zone for a 27-yard TD reception to cap off an 80 yard drive with 7:20 remaining in the 1st Quarter.

Mathias Kiwanuka started as a Defensive End for the first time in a while tonight due to the loss of Osi Umenyiora’s season ending injury. Kiwanuka quickly made his presence known as he sacked Patriots QB Matt Cassel with 2:52 remaining in the 1st Quarter.

2nd Quarter

To accommodate for the loss of Umenyiora, the Giants moved Kiwanuka back to his natural position as a DE as we already mentioned. To fill Kiwanuka’s spot as a Linebacker, the Giants are going to use Dave Tollefson. Tollefson got his first sack of the game with 12:39 remaining in the 2nd Quarter as he and Renaldo Wynn wrapped up Matt Cassel.

The Giants tacked on another Touch Down with 2:18 remaining in the 2nd Quarter when David Carr hit Sinorice Moss over the middle for a 9 yard TD pass to cap off an 83 yard drive. Since Moss is on the bubble, it was good that he scored a TD for his own sake. Josh Huston missed the extra point attempt so the Giants only went up 13-0. That’s pathetic.

As the Patriots were trying out their 2:00 drill, Matt Gutierrez marched his team all the way down to the 2 yardline before he lofted an interception to R.W. McQuarters in the left side of the end zone, and McQuarters returned it to the 27 yardline as the clock expired.

3rd Quarter

Josh Huston made a 20 yard Field Goal Attempt with 8:10 remaining in the 3rd Quarter giving the Giants a 16-0 lead.

4th Quarter

Josh Huston capped off a 64 yard drive with a 30 yard Field Goal with 8:37 remaining in the 4th Quarter giving the Giants a 19-0 lead.

The Patriots did not score until Kevin O’Connell lobbed a 16 yard TD pass to Chad Jackson in the corner of the left side of the end zone with 19:32 remaining in the 4th Quarter.

The Pats quickly put up another score when Kevin O’Connell broke to the right and ran a5 yard TD in himself making the score Giants 19 - Patriots 14 with 4:57 remaining in the 4th Quarter.

Wrap Up

David Carr went 20/29 and threw for 192 yards and 2 TDs.

Danny Ware led in Rushing attempts and yards with 13 and 49 respectively.

Mario Manningham led in Receptions and Receiving yards with 5 and 41 respectively.

Darcy Johnson and Sinorice Moss each caught a TD pass.

Josh Huston went 2/2 in Field Goal Attempts, but missed an Extra Point Attempt.

Michael Johnson led the team in Tackles with 5.

Mathias Kiwanuka had 1 Sack, and Dave Tollefson and Renaldo Wynn shared a Sack.

R.W. McQuarters had 1 INT.

The NFL.com Game Center: Post Game is attached.

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Pat Kirwan of NFL.com wrote an article about how the Giants will effectively pressure the Quarterback without Strahan.  His conclusion is the depth the Giants have at the position, and he is confident that Umenyiora, Tuck, Kiwanuka, and Wynn will wreak havoc on opposing QBs.  I definitely recommend that you check it out.

Giants.com:

Chance to improve - Michael Eisen says TE’s Kevin Boss and Darcy Johnson are getting valuable snaps at Mini Camp.

Moving Forward - Using a bunch of quotes, Michael Eisen realizes that theme is that the Giants are looking ahead to 2008.

Transcript: Player Quotes - Here is the funniest one posed to J-Load:

Your face looks slimmer?

No, this is just sunburn, but I am getting there, I am getting there.  It is always working, you know how it is.

What does looking slimmer have to do with sunburn?

Transcript: WR Amani Toomer - Yesterday, Amani Toomer fields questions about mini camp.  This one is hysterical because Toomer doesn’t seem comfortable answering the first five questions so the media asked what he had for lunch.

Why are all the players upset about all the Shockey questions?

Why are the players getting upset?  Because it is really not the players, it is just between the people who it is between, it is not between us.  We would love to have him back if we could, if everything works out, but it is really out of our control, that is why.

Have you shown him the love?

Yeah, I guess it was good to see him.  I don’t know [what you are asking?]

Is he in a bad mood?

Is he in a bad mood?  I wouldn’t say a bad mood.  Honestly, I have no idea about the whole situation.

What has Plaxico shown you over the years while he is healthy?

I think last year says pretty much everything.  He had a great year last year and he did a lot for our team.  I don’t know what else you want me to say.

What is he like as a teammate?

He does a lot for us on the field.  I don’t know what else to say.  He does a lot for us.

How was lunch today?

Actually it was good, the salmon was pretty good and you can’t complain about that.

Transcript: C Shaun O’Hara - Yesterday, Shaun O’Hara fields questions about mini camp.  Here’s a good one because I’m still waiting for the Giants to have a dynasty era.  Is it now?

What comes along with winning that first title?  Is there more of a desire to get to a second one?

Absolutely.  You do it once and people can call it a fluke, but if you do it twice they start to really respect you and understand your talent.  You have to win three for them to start using the ‘D’ word, dynasty, but I think that we all understand the requirements and the responsibility that comes with being defending champs.

Trancript: RB Brandon Jacobs - Yesterday, Brandon Jacobs fields questions about mini camp.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin (Video) - Tom Coughlin answers questions from the media about today’s practice.

TE Kevin Boss (Video) - Kevin Boss answers questions from the media about Jeremy Shockey.

QB Jared Lorenzen (Video) - Jared Lorenzen answers questions about mini camp.  It’s always good to hear from the ‘Hefty Lefty’.  You only hear from him and see him prior to the season.

DE Osi Umenyiora (Video) - Osi Umenyiora answers questions from the media about moving forward without Michael Strahan.

TE Darcy Johnson (Video) - Darcy Johnson answers questions from the media about how much weight he gained and how he plans on contributing to the team.

Mini Camp Report (Video) - Yesterday, John Schmeelk and Michael Eisen provided the Mini Camp Report.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin (Video) - Yesterday, Coughlin answers questions from the media about practice.

QB Eli Manning (Video) - Yesterday, Eli Manning answers questions from the media about how they intend on improving in 2008.

LB Mathias Kiwanuka (Video) - Yesterday, Mathias Kiwanuka answers questions from the media about moving forward without Strahan.

DE Osi Umenyiora (Video) - Yesterday, Umenyiora answers questions from the media about his contract.

New York Daily News:

Osi Umenyiora not happy with contract, won’t throw mini-tantrum - Ohm Youngmisuk wrote this about Osi, “Umenyiora could have added to the Giant headache but the affable Pro Bowler said he is going to take the opposite route and practice while talking to Giants brass. “I will be in camp,” Umenyiora said. “I’m not going to hold out. My situation is a little different.”"  This is exactly what Plaxico should be doing.

The Star-Ledger:

Afternoon practice report

O’Hara comments on Plax situation - Shaun O’Hara had this to say about Burress’ situation,

There’s a right way to do things. I’ve always felt that, as a player, you go out there, you put your best foot forward and as long as you’re giving 100 percent effort every time, you’ll be taken care of.

I think it’s a disservice to all the other guys that are out there working hard, practicing and doing their jobs. To focus on the negative is … sometimes we expect that, but there are a lot of guys out there doing good things every day. We have a lot of young guys that are getting a lot of good reps in. I think that should be the focus.

I think we proved it last year that the team-first concept overcomes everything. Whether players like it or not, this team is going to move forward. There certainly will be another center playing in my position when I’m done and that goes for every position along the line, so you’re either with us or you’re against us. I think the players are doing a good job of focusing on their daily tasks and their jobs and as long a we all continue to do that, this team will succeed.

Morning practice (and 80/17) report

Giants trainers have a busy day - Mike Garafolo provided an injury status for various players.

Practice must go on - Mike Garafolo tells us the highlights of yesterday’s practice.

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According NJ.com, the following players are injured and won’t be back this season:

• Darcy Johnson
• Deke Bake
• Travonti Johnson

The Giants didn’t release Darcy Johnson, who was having a pretty good training camp, but they did release Deke Bake and Travonti Johnson.  Injuries suck.

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