Loading ...All New York Giants fans pay attention to the division rivals, so we get the gist of what's going in with the Philadelphia Eagles: spanked last week by the Arizona Cardinals, Michael Vick's been leading a turnover parade that has them lucky to be sitting at 2-1.
But as we head into the first matchup with arguably the most hated division rival, we turn to the guys who follow them as religiously as we follow Big Blue around here. Robert Blechen from Eagles101.com steps in to let us know what to expect this week.
Vick took a physical beating last week with the Cardinals notching 5 sacks and 13 QB hits. Is it surprising he's still in one piece? How do you the offense approaching the Giants game offensively?
"It is very surprising to see Vick still in one piece. He was hurt twice in limited time during the preseason and we thought the coaching staff would make a better effort to protect him during the regular season, but he has been pounded in each game. At this rate it is only a matter of time before he misses time due to injury."
Robert adds something interesting that we've never heard before: that Vick exposes himself to bigger hits to his midsection because his smaller stature forces him to "angle upwards more than most quarterbacks."
We've heard a lot about offensive line troubles. How much of this isn't even Vick's fault?
"Vick is not the one to blame for the amount of hits.The line is missing two left tackles (Jason Peters and King Dunlap) and center Jason Kelce. Vick does hold the ball a little bit too long, but his receivers struggle to separate at times. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are speed guys not precise route runners, so it causes Vick to hold the ball because they do not have that timing and precision of a Manning to Cruz connection. Also, the coaching staff needs to run the ball more to slow down the pass rush. McCoy had 4 carries against the Cardinals in the first half, that is not acceptable."
Robert stresses that this game is more likely to revolve around the Eagles makeshift offensive line vs. the Giants defensive line than, Jeremy Maclin's health, DeSean Jackson's effectiveness or any other player, situation or matchup.
The Giants seem to have found something in Andre Brown and we remember the Eagles run D being a problem last year. What can we expect to see?
"The run defense is vastly improved from last year. The Eagles have faced Trent Richardson, Ray Rice, and a Cardinals committee attack this year [without giving up 100 yards to any of them]. Demeco Ryans is the main reason. The defensive line has played well and they go eight men deep, so they are always fresh on the field. We saw Brown run last week and was very impressed, but this Eagles run defense is average to above average. We expect Brown to find some success, but do not expect 100 yards on the ground."
Robert adds to keep an eye on rookie second-round pick Mychal Kendricks, a linebacker who Robert thinks, along with Ryans, can effectively slow down Brown.
They said on Sportscenter that Larry Fitzgerald "put on a clinic" last week. Should Giants fans be licking their chops with Nicks, Cruz, and co. heading into this matchup?
"Fitzgerald did put on a clinic last week, torching Nnamdi Asomugha time after time. Nnamdi and safety Kurt Coleman were seen arguing on the sideline, and Fitz was definitely causing the problems. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has played at a pro bowl level this season and he will do well against Nicks or Cruz, but Nnamdi is a different story and the Giants will definitely go after him and likely find success. Nnamdi was overpaid and is no longer an elite corner; he's good but not great. Also it will favor the Giants if they can get Cruz vs. Boykin in the slot. Boykin has been up and down this year. You can tell he is a rookie: he has talent but makes mistakes against crafty receivers."
While we'd love to see Cruz vs. Boykin in the slot, the Eagles might have a similar matchup if Jayron Hosely misses the game and Justin Tryon is matched up with one of the Eagles starters.
The Eagles win if…
"McCoy runs for 120 yards, Vick has less than two turnovers (largely dependent on the O-line vs Giants pass rush) and Eli Manning throws for less than 275 yards. The Eagles offensive line needs to come together and play as a unit despite the numerous injuries. McCoy needs to get involved, he's the best player on the Eagles."
We wouldn't like our chances either if all those things happened and to be sure, McCoy is the Eagles that probably scares us most. Four days to game day…
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This is a tough game to figure. We could go out to a big lead and then collapse, but we’ve done that one fairly recently. We could come out ‘playoff flat’ like in 2009 and just stink it up. Or we could go back and forth … then choke it on a late, bone-head play. So much history. It’s hard to tell which heart breaking humiliation they’ll pick.
The Giants D is the best front 4 the Eagles beat up o line has faced to date, they should be able to have a big night. Andy Reid for has an an inability to run the ball his whole career, only to smarten up when he plays the Giants who have been very good stopping the run outside of Demarco Murray’s one run. They will try early with little success but Reid can’t help himself which leads to another 5 sacks on Vick.
I realize the Eagles have been a problem for us the last few years but given the state of the Eagles O line and QB play, I see a 34-17 Giants win Sunday night.
I’m not so sure our front four is the best they have seen so far. Our guys have been fairly ineffective as of late. Hopefully, with the return of the real refs, they’ll return to great form.
Good article Simon. G101 should do more of these interviews with fans of our upcoming opponents.
Nosh, iirc you’re a fellow Mets fan. Just wanted to say I was there yesterday afternoon and it was a great day. Great crowd. Lots of enthusiasm. Fun time.
Okay. Go Giants!
Just want to say that I really enjoy these interviews with the writers from other 101 sites prior to games. Good stuff.
With no evaluation at all, just glancing over the big names listed in the articles about the guys eligible for the Hall this year, these are the guys I think should be in:
Michael Strahan
Morten Andersen
Jonathan Ogden
Cris Carter
Tim Brown
Aeneas Williams
No Warren Sapp??
@Giants_101
Roddy White on Victor Cruz: “He is much more of a slot receiver. The big boys play on the outside.”
Not sure why Roddy has such a hard on for Cruz. You’ll recall his comments prior to our playoff game last year where he said Vic was in for “a rude awakening” this year. Um, Rod? Vic is 6th in the NFL in receiving, bro.
I saw this interview last night claiming they are the best duo in football. While no one can argue their talent, I have yet to see either of them go out and truly dominate a game.
I blame Gruden. He was so locked on their jocks that he probably sucked all the blood out of their brains.
+ 1
Roddy White is pathetic. I don’t know why he’s given so much credit. He’s not even a top-tier WR.
Seems like someone may be a little jealous
I’d love to see Fewell move JPP around tonight to keep the Eagles guessing about where to line Celek up. The guy they signed to replace Jason peters (wasn’t he a Bills castoff too?) has been a hot mess this year, and if we can engineer a couple of plays where it’s JPP one-on-one against their backup LT, I see bad things happening to Vick when he gets flushed out and has to roll right.
Keys to the game.
Offense: MUST PROTECT ELI AND RUN THE BALL successfully. Eagles are top 5 vs the pass defensively but ranked 16th vs the run. Their LB and safeties are extremely aggressive vs the run and if we have success they will bite on the play action ALL DAY.
Defense: First and foremost stop McCoy and secondly get ALOT of HITS on Vick. Some of the hits may lead to sacks some of those sacks might be fumbles that we have to recover. Stop the run, get Vick in 3rd and long and BLITZ hosley and rolle if they both play. We have to blitz, it makes our dline much more effective and dangerous plus we have to make tackles if they get rid of the ball quick.
If we run the ball with success and our defense is constantly picking himself off the floor then we will win this football game no questions asked.