Loading ...I know what you’re thinking: “Really? A “What To Watch For” for the last preseason game?” Well, we here at G101 like to reflect the intensity that the NFL brings to the table, so, ummm….blame them for this, not us.
Seriously, there’s not all that much interesting about the final preseason game. Many of you probably aren’t even watching it (and thus, probably not reading this). For those of you that are, here are a few things to keep your eye on in tomorrow’s final tune-up before Big Blue hosts Carolina in week 1.
Bomar’s been playing for a job all preseason, but this time he trots out there knowing the guy who was in front of him is on season-ending Injured Reserve. Bomar will know it is his absolute last chance to have any influence on the Giants decision wether or not to replace Jim Sorgi with another veteran QB. With Eli Manning probably not playing more than a series (or two), and Dominic Randolph cleaning up in garbage time if he’s lucky, Bomar will get most of the game to throw the ball to, and most importantly against, second- and third-stringers.
Wondering exactly how long will Bomar play? Tom Coughlin thinks you should stop asking stupid questions:
Does it make a difference if he plays three [quarters] versus two and a half? He’s going to play a lot. Same thing. Same thing he’s been doing.
With Aaron Ross injured (again), Bruce Johnson becomes an extremely important player for the Giants as the nickel back. Expected to progress as a player in his second year, Johnson’s had an up-and-down training camp and preseason (although last week’s initial performance as the team’s nickel back was clearly one of the “down” ones). Not only should Johnson should get relatively extended work in this game, he’ll get to work against Wes Welker and Julian Edelman, the kind of speedy receivers he’ll generally be matched up with.
The deep depth guys behind Bruce Johnson will also be interesting to watch. No one from the group of D.J. Johnson, Courtney Brown and Seth Williams has played well enough to make the roster. Can any of them can make a final impression?
The Return Jobs
A couple weeks ago it seemed like DJ Ware would be returning kicks, with Aaron Ross back deep for punt returns. This week, Ware’s just returning from his second concussion in the last 8 months, and Ross is in a walking boot. Mario Manningham probably gets a chance to show he can be trusted with the punt return job, but a litany of guys are still in play for the kick return job. Victor Cruz!, Andre Brown, Tim Brown and the winner of the Ware/Gartrell Johnson battle for the 4th RB spot are all in play for this job. Speaking of Ware and Gartrell Johnson, they’ll both probably see a fair amount of action tomorrow night, and Ware better hope he stays healthy if he wants to make this team.
As usual, we’ll be here with an open game-thread tomorrow night, followed by a recap of the game and an analysis the next morning. Enjoy your last bit of frustratingly meaningless football Giants fans. The real fun starts soon.
Other Notes:
- Don’t forget to tune in to Football Reporters Online Presents: Pro Football NYC tonight at 8:00 EST! Although he won’t be on live tonight, this is a show our very own Dan Benton will soon become a regular of. So start showing it some love!
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In Favre’s case, he was employed in the league at the time the alleged conduct occurred, and the alleged target of it was an employee of the Jets when it happened.
So we asked NFL spokesman Greg Aiello about it. And here’s what he said, via e-mail: “One can assume that we look into everything that is relevant, whether we say so or not. This is not a confirmation of anything.”
Frankly, the league would have no choice but to look into it. If true (and we’re not saying that it is), the allegations could amount to an actionable case of sexual harassment. Some may be confused, however, by the league’s willingness to acknowledge an investigation of some players but not others.
But we think we understand the distinction. For some high-profile players (like Ben Roethlisberger), the league’s only viable option is complete and total transparency, given that a criminal accusation had been made and the event already occupied a prominent position in multiple news cycles. For other situations that have yet to gain widespread attention, the mere acknowledgment of the existence of an “investigation” easily could nudge an otherwise little-known allegation into the mainstream.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/09/02/league-wont-confirm-or-deny-existence-of-investigation-regarding-favre-allegations/
AKA- Thou shalt not besmirch the holy name of Favre
I never got the idea that Moss ever really bought into being an NFL level player and by that I mean I never saw the type of gutsy play out of him that I think one needs to take the field with in the NFL. He is a great talent and shares the name of another successful WR in the league and I think he thought that he would live on that alone. Everyone wants to compare him to Welker but I never saw the level of determination in Moss that I see in Welker. Welker throws himself all over the field while Moss tended to avoid contact.
Moss might be a heck of a guy, I don’t know him, if some on 101 do then i will take your for it. I don’t mean to be overly simplistic in my analysis of him but to be honest he just didn’t seem to be hungry enough. That’s just what I saw of him as his time as a Giant.
Luzz, i Went to the U but was out of school when Moss got in as a freshmen. Coming in they were excited about Santana’s brother being a part of the program, but I don’t think in his tenure at the U he did anything less than average. Certainly not 2nd round pick worthy.
I liked Calloway at Iowa. I’m really surprised that he couldn’t make a roster. I wonder if he has some issues other than his playing ability? I can’t see the Giants picking him up for any reason other than sticking him on the Practice Team, but I would love to get a look at him next year as another young guy who can be brought along to be part of the future O-line for this team.
And speaking of the O-line, here’s my view of where we’re headed. I think that as long as his health (physical and mental) holds up we will see Andrews at LG pretty early in the season. While I’m not at all panicked about the showing of a Mash-unit O-line during the preseason, I think we did see two things that were troubling: neither Beatty nor Whimper seemed able to win many one-on-one physical matchups in the run game. On the other hand, Andrews mauled his opposing player on the defense in the few opportunities he has had. If you’re going to win in the NFL it always comes down to physical matchups in the trenches at some point (you can’t always win with schemes, and in the Giants’ case that’s even more true thanks to our curious coaching). Andrews wins those. The two young guys do not. (That’s, by the way, why I loved the Petrus pick…kid is a mauler who can flat-out dominate people).
I think a line of Diehl (LT), Andrews (LG), O’Hara (C), Snee (RG) and McKenzie (RT) can and will dominate people at the line of scrimmage. I’ve said that before. But I would add that having Hedgecock (who whatever else you think of him aside, is a nasty, physical, blocker who will really hit you) helping open a hole and Bradshaw hiding behind him ready to choose a gap and exploit it, or Jacobs coming to hit you too, is the kind of dominating run game that Coughlin demands. In this case I am 100% in agreement with TC. We need that in order to win. It may be a passing league, but until global warming changes the November-to-January climate in the northeast or the owners put a retractable roof on the stadium the Giants will still need to run the ball and stop the run.
My hope is that Beatty comes to camp next year 15-20 pounds heavier and significantly stronger; that Petrus comes to camp having practiced enough at center that he can start to be looked at as O’Hara’s successor; that Andrews is determined to be suited to play any position among LG, RT and LT; and that Diehl is ready and willing to play LG right from the get-go.
My ideal 2012 New York Giants offensive line is Beatty (LT), Diehl (LG), Petrus (C), Snee (RG) and Andrews (RT). Reese should draft a center in the next draft so Petrus can be thought of as a center/guard. Another tackle would also be good, but the center should be the priority. But the line noted above would be a pretty terrific one if Petrus can be converted and Beatty can develop.
FF55 –
I asked around about this, because I thought Calloway would be a nice pro right tackle out of Iowa.
He was just too slow all around. Slow out of his stance, slow feet. He was getting killed at tackle, so they tried him at guard, but his height (6’7) and the fact that he played too high doomed him. Defensive tackles got under him and drove him right off the line of scrimmage.
He is a USFL guy, too slow/narrow base/plays too high to make the league.
Thanks ROC. Appreciate the explanation.
No way the Lions do any better than 6-10:
-@ Chicago
-EAGLES
-@ Minnesota
-@ Green Bay
-RAMS
-@ Giants
-BYE
-REDSKINS
-JETS
-@ Buffalo
-@ Dallas
-PATROITS
-BEARS
-PACKERS
-@ Tampa Bay
-@ Miami
-VIKINGS
I say they split with the Bears (maybe sweep if they can expose Chicago’s weak o-line in week 1) They should beat the Rams, Bills and Bucs. They could beat the Skins @ home. I am having trouble finding any other winnable games.
I don’t even know if they beat the Bucs, Bills or Rams. Those are all toss up games IMO.
I said 6-10 to 4-12 is about where they will be. 9-7 and the playoffs is crazy talk. They’ll be better, but have a long way to go. Also Stafford is a 3nd year player, a rookie RB, a shaky defense…
They’re a few years away from being there. IF that.
I also think the ‘skins crush them.
I’m not with Jim totally on this but I don’t think its as crazy as you guys are making it. The Redskins & Eagles are beatable and I think they can suprise some of the better teams with suspect OL and DB play. They beat washington last year. I say between 6-10 and 8-8.
They have Suh
Stafford is legit
Calvin Johnson is top tier
the Vikes stink
The jets stink
The NFC East is weak
lots of possibilities
Go silver and blue
dick night train lane
How is the NFC East weak? That seems crazy.
agreed.
Jim, you been drinking this morning? Stafford Legit? really? He’s good, but it’s his 2nd year. We’ll see.
The NFC has a lot of questions. I have seen many who view Dallas is good~10-6, us as average~8-8, Philly & Wash as below avg ~7-9, 6-10. There are many questions for all of our teams. I don’t agree on it being a weak division but its far from crazy.
I think the main problem Moss has is that he cannot effectively be a KR or PR. When you draft someone of that size & skill you know they may not end up a 1 or a 2 WR but expect at least a 3rd WR with value as a KR/PR. For our roster most years we really needed him to excel at KR/PR, which isn’t his strength. I still think he could be an effective david patton type 3rd/4th WR but with our WR depth it just probably won’t be as a Giant. But our castoff WRs seem to make it in the NFL so I expect Moss to be another ex Giant success story.
agreed. Then our scouting is to blame, because Moss didn’t even return punts or kickoffs at the U.
and we traded up for him!
he was an average WR at The U.
in 3 years at the U,
RECEPTIONS YDS TOUCHDOWNS
57 965 9
2nd rounder? Sounds more like a 4th-6th.
But its Miami. They have tons of guys who can KR/PR so just bc you don’t do it there doesn’t mean you cannot. At the time they had the WR Jones guy we drafted (7th) and R Parrish along with guys like Rolle. His brother is a very good PR, the redskins just cannot afford to use him there. I think sometimes you make a reasonable projection that just doesn’t work out.
Also, you cannot discount his brother. He has alot of the same skills. I know he wasn’t as good coming out but he looked closer him than he has performed thus far.
Goat, I have to STRONGLY disagree with you here. The only thing him and his brother have that are similar is their size.
ANYONE who watched Sinorice play at the U, and watched his brother Santana play knew that they were NOTHING alike Skillwise.
Santana is on a whole different level.
I’m not saying he was as good as Santana but to act like he didn’t or doesn’t have ability is far from the truth. He played in a different era when the QB play was far below what his brother had. I’m saying we were expecting him to be what Eli is to Peyton.
The U gave him a shot at return duties his freshman year.
Then Hester took over those duties during Moss’s tenure.
also, If he could have done them for the Giants he would have. Obviously they tried it out and realized that it’s a failed experiment.
Can we move on from this scrub already. He’ll never be better than a stale piece of doody.
Ernie had him over-valued on his board for sure. This stemmed from missing on Santana a few years earlier and he mistakenly saw the younger brother as a carbon copy of the older brother. He coveted Sinorice much the same way he coveted Eli in the draft, when you love someone on draft day you tend to overpay for them. Thankfully he was right on Eli, he just happened to be wrong on Moss.
then Ernie most not have watched Sinorice play. Because anyone comparing the two is just dumb. He looked nothing like his brother at The U.
http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/moss_santana00.htm
here’s Santana’s Career college stats,
here’s Sinorice’s…
http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/moss_sinorice00.html
To say that someone got this wrong is an understatement.
re-linking Santana’s stats.
http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/moss_santana00.html
I would like to predict that Dallas goes 7-9:
-Their top safety is Gerald Sensabaugh, who was cut from Jacksonville. He is out with a seperated shoulder.
-Their starting O-Line is: Doug Free (was destroyed by Jared Allen last year in the playoffs, now protecting the blindside?), Kyle Koiser (31 years old and hurt), Andre Gurrode (32 years old), Leonard Davis (31 years old), Marc Columbo (31 years old and hurt).
-They were the healthiest team in the NFL last season, NO WAY that happens two years in a row.
-@ Washington (tough game on SNF against a hated rival)
-BEARS (should be a win)
-@ Houston (tough game, home state rivalary with a team that can put up points)
-BYE (early by week is never good for old teams, no time to get healthy later on)
-Titans (always tough defensively, Chris Johnson could dominate them)
-@ Minnesota (Favre/Peterson and that defense in the dome)
-GIANTS (Giants swept Dallas last year, division rivalry)
-JAGUARS (should be a win here, unless they struggle early and MJD goes ape)
-@ Green Bay (probably the class of the NFC, always tough to win on the tundra)
-@ New York (Giants swept Dallas last year, division rivalry)
-LIONS (Should be a win at home)
-SAINTS (defending champs, shootout, tough game)
-@ Indianapolis (Peyton Manning at home, always tough)
-EAGLES (Division rivals always play them tough)
-REDSKINS (Division rivals always play them tough)
-@ Arizona (probably a win depending on AZ’s QB play)
@ Philadelphia (Eagles always play them tough)
Injuries are adding up for them. But 7-9?
ROC, don’t let ESPN see that stuff. They’ll put out a contract on you ;-)
I know. I am waiting for the laser from the sniper rifle to appear on me.
ROC- have been saying the same thing for months..Dallas is Way overrated..I also pointed out that this will be the year that they take a step backwards to due horrible drafting for 4 straight seasons..What I mean is that Parcels built a Monster when he was there and he left them the most talented young roster when he quit in January 07..Since then Jerruh has made all the personnel decisions and has really run down the depth and quality of young talent..With Romo, Barber, Ware, Whitten, Newman, Spencer etc improving as they have matured the last 3 years that has covered up the horrible (Roy Williams / Mike Jenkins) personnel decisions Jerruh has made. Well those guys have hit their ceiling and this is the year we will see them regress with no huge talent on the way up..I know they lucked into Dez Bryant when he feel to 24 in the draft, but he aint gonna help them on a thin OLine or in a burn unit secondary..
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