Loading ...Coming off of only three days rest, the New York Giants were missing several key components as they took on the Carolina Panthers Thursday night. Ahmad Bradshaw, Hakeem Nicks, Domenik Hixon and David Diehl didn't even travel with the team to North Carolina, and Michael Coe was ruled out prior to the game. As a result, the roster was shuffled and tremendous pressure was placed on the shoulders of several youngsters including Andre Brown, Ramses Barden and Jayron Hosley.
They did not disappoint.
In his first career start, Brown ran all over the Panthers, while Hosley came up with his first career interception and Barden had a game for the ages. When all was said and done, Big Blue improved to 2-1 with a dominating 36-7 victory over Cam Newton & Co.
Positives:
- Andre Brown – As stated above, Brown had a hell of a game. He had been cut more times (8) than he had started NFL games, but for the second week in a row, took complete advantage of his opportunity. No matter when Bradshaw returns, Brown has earned himself a significant role on this team. However, he does need to work a bit on his pass protection.
- Ramses Barden – In 2011, Barden had nine receptions for 94 yards. On Thursday night, replacing the injured Hakeem Nicks, he hauled in nine passes for 138 yards. He proved without a shadow of a doubt that if healthy, he has all the talent so many believed (and still believe) he has. We'll be seeing a lot more of him this season.
- Jayron Hosley – Stepping up for the injured Michael Coe, Hosley started across from Webster and more than held his own. He also collected his first career interception. It's easy to see why he left college for the NFL, and why his teammates believe he's going to be a special player. The sky is the limit for this kid.
- Jason Pierre-Paul – Many believed Cam Newton was the best athlete on the field tonight, but that wasn't the case. Per the usual, JPP dominated all night long and just missed on two near interception at the line of scrimmage. You run out of things to say that describe just how good JPP is.
- Lawrence Tynes – Perfection. Hard to believe the Giants have an automatic kicker, but they do. He was five-for-five on field goals tonight and remains perfect on the season.
- Eli Manning – Easy-E was throwing darts all night long. It certainly helped that he had ridiculous amounts of time, but he was precise and near perfect save for a few throws. And think about how good Eli is regardless of cast: Nicks, Cruz, Bennett, Barden, Hixon, Burress, Smith, Ballard, Beckum, Shockey, Toomer, Tyree, Manningham, Boss, Pascoe and so on. Elite.
- Martellus Bennett – The Cowboys didn't want this guy? Really? Has a TD catch in each of his first three games.
- Henry Hynoski – You can not overlook the tremendous job Hynoski did tonight. One of his best career performances.
- Offensive line – Chris Snee & Co. gave Manning endless time to throw tonight, and did a fantastic job run blocking. It's hard to tell if they are vastly improved, or if the Panthers' defensive front is just that poor.
- Special Teams – Great job all around, including on kickoff coverage. Special tip of the cap to Spencer Paysinger who forced and recovered a fumble.
- Coaches – All around great gameplan and preparation.
Negatives:
- Referees – Terrible job again. Twice they failed to call a false start on the Giants, but they also missed a blatant hold on Jacquian Williams that cost New York a sack. They also allowed Steve Smith and Corey Webster to go at it which led to a hand injury for C-Web. Yet, early in the fourth quarter, they called a personal foul on Prince Amukamara for a slight push after he was the recipient of a late hit. Reffin ain't easy.
- Injuries – Keith Rivers left the game early in the first half after re-injuring his hamstring and would later be joined by Hosley (hamstring). Antrel Rolle also suffered a knee injury after colliding with a camera, while Brown and Webster (hand) were also shaken up during the game.
- Announcers – Just. Shut. Up. It's a Giants-Panthers game … why are we talking about the San Francisco 49ers? Oh, and the name is Henry Hynoski not Hank Hynoski.
Mixed:
- Osi Umenyiora – Osi blew up a run and had a key sack, but he struggled a bit with the option. The Panthers constantly went to his side, and he seemed to chase the wrong player most of the time. Hard to fault him, however. It's not something a team usually faces or prepares for.
- Corey Webster – He was more aggressive, like he wanted to be, and had a solid game. Unfortunately, he was overly aggressive at times and was called for two pass interferences.
Also…
- Be sure to like Giants 101 on Facebook, follow Giants 101 on Twitter & +1 Giants 101 on Google+
- Check out the latest line of GMEN shirts, including the new pink version which supports the fight against Breast Cancer
- Listen to Gameface with The Frattman every Sunday morning at 9 AM EST on 940 ESPN Radio
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Repost:
norm says:
September 20, 2012 at 11:22 PM
What a difference a game or two makes.
A couple weeks ago, that 2009 draft was looking like a disaster: Hakeem Nicks + a gaggle of stiffs.
Two weeks later, early indications are the Giants may have gotten themselves a franchise LT, a starting caliber RB, and a legit #3 WR… to go along with the Top 5 NFL WR they already knew they had.
Looking more and more that 2009 may have been a home run draft after all. If only they had kept Stoney. Then it would have been a grand slam.
How bout that Black Unicorn?
Not too shabby. :-)
I think norm needs to post a video of himself doing that “ride the pony” dance when Bennett eclipses the 50 catch mark.
Times like this is when I really wish cursing were still allowed on this site.
I said this last week and it still stands: if we don’t get to 3-1. it’s still “sky is falling” time.
All the good feelings from this game disappear in an instant if we lose to Philly.
Awww. Poor Baby.
Did your team win the Super Bowl and get off to a 2-1 start the next season?
Awwwww. Don’t worry. The Boogie Man isn’t gonna get you. Go back to sleep now.
Deion just said he talked to Antrel who said he banged his knee but is ok.
that was an a55 kicking.. great to see this team pound someone!
Is it just me or is Eli absolutely screaming into the mic right now? Lol think he’s pumped?
Marshall Faulk just asked the million dollar question, how do you play so well on the road and so mediocre at home. Eli said they like to win all the road games and slit the home games..sarcasm but true.
Great game we dominated all 3you phases
Norm, you can always cut JJ. I mean, did he even dress?
Dude, the team just won 36-7 in one of its most dominating performances in years and the first thing you wanna talk about is how much you hate freakin’ Jernigan?
Don’t hate him. Just think he shouldnt been the team.
You’re making his point for him. Your team just won the Super Bowl and they’re off to a 2-1 start after having MAULED Cam “God” Newton and the “new” Carolina Panthers in a nationally televised game and you’re on here cutting players.
I wonder if tonight’s 3 pick performance will knock Cam out of Warner’s Top 5.
LOL
As I said during the game where’s the love for Andy dalton who just wins games.
What can you say except WOW!!!
I know it’s a week-to-week league and this game means little when they kick it off in Philadelphia, but this looks like the team I thought it could be when the season started.
By the way, give Prince some props too. He played quite well. Our future at corner looks secure to me with Prince and Hosley as the core.
And boy am I happy to have been wrong about Barden (I’d say it means less because he went against a rookie corner, but he’ll never see really good corners as long as Cruz and Nicks are out there taking the attention of the top defenders).
Andre Brown is one of the great stories in the NFL. Let’s not forget, no running back before him has EVER really come back from a torn Achilles. And he is big powerful, fast, and runs really, really hard.
Also note that Cruz was doubled and while they prevented him from hitting home runs he STILL caught a lot of balls. Guy is ridiculous.
I do have two complaints (except about the horrid officials and Greedy Goodell and the 32 dwarfs who own the teams and claim to care about player safety, and the entire NFL network experience, badly-placed camera and all). One, why is Chase Blackburn still getting so many snaps? Does that mean Herzlich just cannot cut it? Chase just cannot do the job anymore. And will Perry Fewell please allow a few (not many, just a few) more blitzes? They were VERY effective today.