Loading ...The New York Giants initial injury report released on Wednesday portrayed a team that would be heading into their toughest game of the season extremely short handed. Hakeem Nicks was not practicing, Martellus Bennet had knee issues, and Kenny Phillips was an unknown. However, today, the team released their final injury report before Big Blue heads out to San Francisco for their Week six bout with the 49ers.
Without further adieu, here's a look at who will and will not be making the trip out to California this weekend.
OUT: Rocky Bernard, Kenny Phillips, Andre Brown
QUESTIONABLE: Hakeem Nicks, Corey Webster, David Diehl
PROBABLE: Ramses Barden, Martellus Bennett, Chase Blackburn, Michael Boley, Jayron Hosley, Keith Rivers, Antrel Rolle
The Giants will not be at full strength against the 49ers. Kenny Phillips is a major aspect of the defense and does a great job of making sure the team does not get beat over the top. Stevie Brown has made some plays in Phillips' absence, but the Giants will miss his presence in the middle of the field. With that, Andre Brown and Rocky Bernard have all made significant impacts at times throughout the season.
However, it appears as if Hakeem Nicks will be playing for the first time in three weeks. The Giants desperately need him to produce against one of the NFL's elite defenses. With that, Jayron Hosley, Keith Rivers and Ramses Barden will all return to the gridiron.
The Giants will not be as banged up as we thought they would be this weekend. While this will undoubtedly be a hard fought matchup, Big Blue is healthier than they were a week ago and stands a chance to withstand San Francisco's smothering defense and smash mouth offense.
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Damn, and Eli is questionable with two broken legs again. Those things keep showing up every time somebody mentions Hakeem Nicks.
As I said before, I’m really happy with the way the injury situation is progressing.
My only concern is this: how ready to go are Rivers and Hosley? Those are two guys we can’t afford to have another setback. We need those guys ready to go.
Speaking of Barden returning to the lineup…does it matter? Are we back to square one where Hixon’s the 3rd guy because they trust him the most? Did Randle’s performance last week expedite his impending ascension to the playing time? Did Barden prove his big body can be useful in certain situations? Is Nicks going to be able to play every snap?
Barden and Jernigan are battling it out for the 5th and 6th WR slots. This doesn’t make them bums. But they have an uphill battle for snaps. And in future years they’re very vulnerable to being replaced since neither add anything to specials. Tough spot for them both.
Barden proved he is not a playmaker.
I think we’re too critical of depth guys. When you get this far down the roster a player like Barden is pretty darned good. So is Jernigan. Most teams don’t have people like those two at their 5th and 6th WR slots.
Barden is up against it. He’s facing a very talented WR corps. He’s hurt a lot … like every time you turn around … and he’s not a ST player. I won’t pretend he’s anything special. But he’s not garbage either. We’re talking 5/6th WR.
I really cannot see why he’d be retained after this season. With a rookie year under his belt Randle is probably the #3 guy, and Hixon is a terrific #3-#4 who can contribute as a returner or gunner too. Jernigan will still be on a rookie deal, and he is a pretty good option as a backup for Cruz in the slot and a possible returner (the substitute, probably, for Hixon or someone else in that role) when Randle and Wilson are starting and the coaches don’t want to have too much on the plate of second year players.
I just don’t see Barden as more than a JAG. No doubt he’s fine as a #5-#6 wide receiver, but they can get someone cheaper and more capable of doing multiple things that help the team. Maybe if he’ll take the veteran minimum he can hang on, but if I’m Reese I wouldn’t offer him a penny more. Some other team may offer him #4 receiver money, and he’ll leave.
I’m pretty sure he’s done too. But he’s sorta kinda capable. The right team I could see him as a #3/4 maybe. Big target guy. The lack of special teams value really hurts depth players. And I think that’s the biggest negative he has going against him as he competes for these reserve positions.
I doesn’t matter if Barden is really a good option as a 3rd WR or a JAG. He won’t be retained after this season. We invested high picks in Randle and Jernigan and we will see what they can do. Hixon is questionable to back too for the same reason.
It doesn’t
On a side note…
I was curious about the betting line movement on this game so I checked it out when I had a few spare minutes this morning.
Now, my understanding (and someone please correct me if I’m wrong) of how most sports books operate is that they start the week with a preliminary line which is not open to wagering by the general public. Instead, the prelim line is released to a select few bettors who the books know and respect for their savvy. The books then re-adjust the preliminary line to reflect the action of those sharp bettors and then open it up to the public.
The site I went to listed the line movement at several different Vegas books. In every instance, the prelim line opened around Niners -6 and then immediately dropped to around Niners -4.5, thereby suggesting that the “sharps” saw SF as overvalued on the initial line and bet the Giants. And, in almost every one of those cases, the public bet eventually the Niners back up to around -6, which is where the number stands today.
Of course, this all has absolutely zero predictive value as to who will win on Sunday. But it is indicative of the enormous amount of media hype that has coalesced around the “indomitable Niners” narrative. It’s clearly a narrative that has been largely accepted by the public – as suggested by the action throughout the week in Vegas. And, judging by some of the comments I’ve read this week, it’s one that’s been embraced here as well.
But that narrative is not necessarily shared by those people who actually invest in football games for a living. They see these two teams as more evenly matched than is largely being credited. I agree.
+1
Which is why we are a great play this weekend.
I’m taking the Giants for days at +6. With a six point spread, I’m taking whichever team you want to make the underdog. Anybody think this game isn’t coming down to the wire?
I’d lay off this line. The play on this game is to wait for the 2nd half line and bet the Gmen if it has value. Giants are a 2nd half team and if they get it done on the road, it will be in the 2nd half.
however, The play is 100% in the giants favor, as gambler it reeks to me for some reason. wait till halftime to place a bet on the giants.
Or, tease the line with the Falcon and another team for a classic 3 team 10pt teast. Giants (+16.5), falcons (+1), bengals (+6).
The betting line is there to even out the handle. In the long term the bookies know they’ll end up making the vig … the percentage difference from actual, mathematical odds. So if everyone was betting heavily on the Giants the Niners would get points to level out the action. Steady income … no ups and downs.
It really doesn’t reflect what intelligent football people expect the score differential to be. It’s the point at which even money is bet on both teams. 6 points … or 100 … whatever it takes.
Krow says:
October 12, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Win or lose … it’ll be good to get by thins game if only so we won’t have to hear the Whiners crying and b-tching any more. I’ve never seen a team do more pouting and griping than this bunch. I really hope it all goes bad for them this year. So tired of listening to them moaning and complaining.
Reply
giantsfan says:
October 12, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Completely agree. This team is pathetic, with the exception of Rogers classy move ha.
But look their opponents, they beat Packers (who may not be as good as everyone thought), Jets (no explanation needed), Bills (same), Lions (won one game: Rams), and they lost to the vikes.
They are sure pounding their chests prematurely.
The story on them hasn’t been told yet. We may not be that good, but we should be one of their tougher opponents. Let’s see who wins this weekend.
repost:
BigBlueGiant says:
October 12, 2012 at 4:30 PM
I’d lay off this line. The play on this game is to wait for the 2nd half line and bet the Gmen if it has value. Giants are a 2nd half team and if they get it done on the road, it will be in the 2nd half.
however, The play is 100% in the giants favor, as gambler it reeks to me for some reason. wait till halftime to place a bet on the giants.
Or, tease the line with the Falcon and another team for a classic 3 team 10pt teast. Giants (+16.5), falcons (+1), bengals (+6).
Wait, all of a sudden all of you, are sounding pretty rational. Problem is, you’re taking away Demo’s “bed-wetting” theme for the week. In fact, if the Giants win this game you can all turn the tables on him since he seems to be the biggest pessimist about this game.
I continue to take a very neutral position. I honestly have no idea what will happen, but I expect a pretty terrific game between two good teams. I’ve already made my comments about keys to the game. If we can play well in the middle of the defense I love our chances. If not, I’ll hope Eli is great and we win anyway, but I will not expect a win if we are dominated in that middle.
Bingo. Neutral is the way to go here!
16 team Fantasy league.
Last flex spot, David Wilson, Randle, or Bennett.
Also you get points for return yards so Wilson at least becomes an option.
Advice please.
I’m going whole **** in mine and starting Wilson. But I don’t expect a lot of points.
Yeah I’m tempted to go Wilson. Is Brown going to play? If he is I expect Wilson to get zero carries. If not, maybe he gets 5-7.
I think Brown is out.
If Nicks plays and is good enough to for all game, Randle won’t play much. Bennet may just be used to block.
I would start Wilson on potential factor.
I’d pick Bennett.
Wilson always has the opportunity to make the big play, but against a ferocious Niners defense that loves to create turnovers, I see TC and co not putting him in many snaps at all.
As for Randle, if Nicks does indeed play Sunday, I don’t see much action for Randle. Then again, if he’s in the snap with Cruz and Nicks, that likely means he’ll be seeing one-on-one action with one of the Niners’ lesser defenders. So he wouldn’t actually be too bad an option.
Still I see more potential with Bennett. Bennett’s physique and his style of play caters perfectly to the 49ers weaknesses in defense. If his knee is not as bad as presumed, he WILL contribute.
OK … H’OG is ***’d out? Since when is h’og some sort of awful word? This filter is whacked.