Loading ...Sunday was a big day for New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, and not just because Big Blue put a big hurting on the San Francisco 49ers, but because it was his first action since week two against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Although Nicks would haul in only three passes for 44 yards, his presence would open up the passing game for Eli Manning & Co. And per the usual, teammates Victor Cruz and Domenik Hixon really benefited from the attention Nicks was receiving.
But when all was said and done, focus immediately turned back to his ailing foot and knee. Alas, Nicks had come through the game unharmed -despite an obvious limp early in the first half- and said he "felt great."
"I feel good," Nicks said. "I know it will get better as weeks go on. I didn't expect to come out here and be great, great my first game back, but I know it will get better by next week and week after that and it just takes time."
Despite participating in both a walkthrough and a practice last week, Nicks will likely return to his normal schedule this week – meaning only a single Thursday practice. And as long as his knee doesn't swell up, he'll see an increased role against the Washington Redskins this coming Sunday.
photo credit: Mike L Photo's via photopin cc
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It sure was good to see Hakeem back on the field yesterday.
However, I was somewhat alarmed by how slow he looked. As I watched him run one incomplete downfield route in the first half, the adjective that came to my mind was “lumbering.”
He certainly looked very slow and hobbled. I loved seeinghim out there because just his presence alone on the field the Niners had to account for. He made a great catch in the second half as welll that was key for us but if he was even 90% he would have caught that first pass thrown his way by ELi that led him. bottom line is this, Hakeem Nicks is a top flight receiver and a great threat and option for us and someoen who the defense is very much worried about when they play us. We need him to get back healthy enough to be his old self and we will be in good shape.
Yeah, the first deep incompletion to him. It looked like it was there, but he just couldn’t get into gear to go get it and he was limping noticeably after the effort.
Hope he continues to improve, but I’m concerned.
I hope that the extra time we saw from some of our linebackers and the return of Rivers will mean we’re going to see a new (old) wrinkle to the defense.
Remember the first few games of 2010 when Kiwanuka was playing a “joker” role Fewell designed specifically for him and he looked like the best player on the field until getting hurt? We haven’t quite had the horses to allow him to do that recently, but if Rivers and Canty get healthy, I’d like to see that role come back.
Repost from last thread:
I’ve been lurking, but not commenting recently. Thought I’d stop in with a few thoughts from yesterday and going forward:
1. I’m blown away by how this line has been performing. Glad Baas wasn’t run out of town by the pitchfork crew here. Locklear has been a big surprise. I’m glad to see Diehl in the swing tackle role being our 6th lineman. Great role for him at this stage of his career.
2. I think JPP will explode once Canty is back and at 100%. He’s already playing well, but he will be absolutely unleashed when the big man is back next to him.
3. Harbaugh is an ****. He refused to answer any of the sideline reporter’s questions at halftime yesterday. She totally called him out for it on air, which is great.
4. The biggest success of yesterday was shutting down Vernon Davis. Killed my fantasy team, but I still loved it. The Big Blue blueprint will be copied by Seattle this Thursday I bet.
5. David Wilson is exciting. I just pray he doesn’t fumble the rest of the season and find himself back in the doghouse. He needs 10 carries a game – ahead of Andre Brown.
6. That first Rolle interception was about as athletic a play as I’ve seen a DB make in a long time.
Bring on the Skins. We need a divisional win!
Great points. And I think David Wilson is being harped on too much for that one fumble. Yes, I’m well aware of his fumbling issues in college, but he needs more carries. The fact that he was able to gut the 49ers as well as Bradshaw is a testament to his potential.
Bradshaw did the dirty work early on. If you noticed late in the game when Wilson came in with fresh legs Bradshaw had just reeled off a few long runs. I love Wilson, but give Bradshaw some credit he improved as the 49er defense wore down.
Many realized Baas was good, just played hurt much of last year. He’s a beast.
Agreed on JPP. Certainly agree re: Harbaugh.
I already said yesterday I think Seattle has a great chance to beat the Niners on Thursday.
Wilson will be a superstar. No doubt about it.
Rolle was fantastic both as a player and a coach yesterday. One blown assignment doesn’t offset all the great things he did.
Repost:
I think Washington is dangerous offensively but we have had plenty of practice from similar QBs. I think the combination of playing Vick, Cam and Smith/Kap gives us a very good idea how to play RG3 (I think he earned his nickname now). While everyone will clearly point to Cam and Vick, I think the SF QBs are good prep as well. I think some of the college wrinkles we saw yesterday from SF, especially from Kap are similar to the wrinkles we will see from RG3. I think the key is stopping Morris and making RG3 having to be superman. He’s talented and already a good player but I think without a running game he is very much like Vick is now. RG3 can clearly be better and probably has a better pocket feel but they are similar. The difference is that Washington doesn’t have WRs that can run by us. Garcon has some speed but he’s not Djax.
The issue that Washington brings is that their OL has played well. They probably have the best LT in the division. And yes I realize that Beatty has played well but their kid has all-pro ability. This is the game that shows how good JPP really is because he’s going against a top player. We need our OL to stop their run and pressure RG3 like we did with SF.
Offensively, I think we just need to come out aggressive. What we did worked against SF worked only because of a great defensive effort. Our passing game was off and I think it’s because we ran the ball so much early that Eli didn’t really get into the flow. Plus I think having Nicks back created some timing issues. The Redskin defense is bad, especially vs. the pass and we need to take advantage of that and not let them get any confidence. Plus we must convert in the redzone. Minn yesterday could have a big lead early but were only up 9-0 instead of 21-0 or 17-0. A lead early can help us defend their running game.
Sorry, I think you’re so far off base it’s crazy. If you like, see my response last post. I won’t re-post because I’m not interested in creating a bad situation.
I think you’re missing my point. I saying the passing game wasn’t as efficient as it has been. I understand it the 4th quarter there was not need to pass. But I thought the timeing was off. Eli was 15-28 passing even though we ran the ball well, I think that shows we were a little off. Eli has been a 65% type of passer and we didn’t take enough deep shots to account for that percentage.
We had 5 FG attemps and 2 TDs, I think that shows we were good enough in the redzone. We got 2 TOs inside the 12 and got 6 points.
My point is not to say I wasn’t happy with the effort because it was clearly what we needed to win. But those are areas we probably need to be better in for future games. Now if our defense plays like that then it won’t matter. I’m more taking if the offense needs to score the points it has needed to in most of our wins the last few seasons.
Repost:
Anyway, some great reading for those of us looking to bask in such a great victory:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/20564068/giants-obliterate-49ers-remind-everyone-theyre-still-the-champs
“I think you get the picture, and you can sum it up in two words: **** kicking.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/78239/giants-make-loud-statement-in-solving-49ers
“Those two adjustments underwrote the kind of focused effort championship teams can muster on call. The reigning Super Bowl champion Giants are that kind of team. The 49ers have the potential to become one, but they didn’t know what they were getting into Sunday. None of us did. “
Repost:
fanfor55years says:
October 15, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Hmmm, a FEW of us were adamant that Hixon is a very good player. The only doubt about him really should have been whether he could come back from two surgeries.
My opinion about him has been very steady: excellent player who cannot carry the burden of being the #1 receiver because he has trouble with top corners in the league (only players of Nicks’ and Cruz’s caliber beat those guys regularly), but could be a lot of teams’ #2 receiver and certainly is a top #3 receiver for any team, including ours; a versatile player who can return kicks and act as a gunner in addition to his offensive contribution; great team guy and locker room presence; and a “glue” guy who every team needs a certain number of along the way.
I love this kid. He will eventually give way to Reuben Randle, but not without a fight, and even then will be an invaluable part of the Giants’ receiving corps unless another team decides to drop a load of cash on him.
What I have found hysterical is the number of folks here who have diminished him while pumping for a JAG like Barden. That’s just absolutely ridiculous.
Reply
GOAT56 says:
October 15, 2012 at 11:54 AM
I was with you going into 2011 but this year I was concerned about his health and ability to return to 100%. He has returned to 100% and is playing great football. That’s why I don’t think he gives way to Randle this year. I just don’t see what Randle could do better than he has so far.
I think you have been overly sensative on Barden. Look I think Barden gives us something. I think Barden is just kind of a Tewbow like lighting rod here. But I don’t think saying you think Barden can contribute as a 3rd WR (which I still think) is diminishing Hixon at all. Hixon is better and has played better than Barden. And really he’s been closer to Nicks and Cruz than the other 3 WRs.
All of this said I’m still concerned about Hixon’s durability (I hope I’m wrong) so Randle and Barden have to be ready. I think TC is doing to smart think and letting Hixon just play WR and not return punts. But there have been oft injured WRs who go on to become very good durable players. I keep on flashing back to Mike Sherrod.
You may be right that Barden could contribute in a pinch, but I’m not really even convinced of that yet. And he has certainly NOT proved yet that he can be a solid #3 receiver for any but the worst teams in the league. I have no problem with his being the #5 guy. But #5 guys are readily replaceable. In other words, “Just a Guy”. I’ve thought that from the day he showed up and I still think it. I also KNOW there is no comparison between he and Hixon. Not in the same league at all.
I agree that Hixon probably won’t be returning kicks, but he could, and at some point they may need him to do so.
Anyway, good comment but I disagree with you (and apparently everyone else except Nosh) about Barden. I go by what I’ve seen. He’s a JAG. Plenty of JAGs make contributions in the NFL, but they are very easily replaceable. That’s EXACTLY what Barden is as far as I’m concerned.
Without a doubt you have been unwavering in your support of, and belief in, Hixon. After the second knee injury I absolutely counted him out, and I would do so again with most players. It pains me to admit it, but I thought about your pro-Hixon posts while I was watching yesterday’s game.
I admit, I’m concerned about Nicks. Will he keep improving? Was that some rust? Or are we going to get an 85-90% Nicks the rest of this year? If he has a chance of becoming close to 100% with an additional few weeks of rest I would sit him. We have gotten very good play from Hixon and Randle and Barden have shown they can contribute as well. But the real Nicks is almost needed for us to win another SB. Maybe he can improve each week like Rolle has appeared to while playing. But the player we saw yesterday isn’t the player we will need IMO.
If we didn’t have two divisional matchups in the next two weeks, I might agree with you about sitting Nicks, but we can’t afford to be without him in these next two games. We’re already 0-2 in the NFC East.
Nicks is fine. Man is a soldier. He’ll be in season form in a week or two…..or three.
I’d be more concerned about Rivers and Hosley. I didn’t see much of them during yesterday’s game, though I think Fewell was keeping them out of the majority of snaps out of an abundance of caution.
I think that’s exactly what it was. I think we should expect to see much more of them (especially Rivers, because he will play a significant role in containing Griffin) next week against Washington.
Nicks needs to play and then rest during the bye week, or at worst begin that rest the week before and sit out the Cincy game since it’s an out-of-conference game. These division games are too important and we need to have Hakeem out there so defenses still need to assign three players to deal with Nicks and Cruz. That keeps safeties out of the box and helps with the running game. If we stay balanced between the running and passing games (somewhere in the range between 40% and 60% of the snaps for each element) and can successfully run the ball there is NO way to stop this offense.
Hakeem needs to play, and will play. They wouldn’t allow him out there if they think he will do more damage to himself.
It will take Nicks and any other player coming back from injury a “minute” to get back to game speed. All the more reason why this running game is such a big deal.
I’ve always liked Hixson, and no doubt he a game player. And his receiving skill has increased each season he’s played. He has real value for this team.
That said, Randal is just waiting (IMHO) to become a star wide out. I would not let Hixson go if I could help it. Barden (who I wanted to have a chance) could go and not be missed. And so it seems Jernigan too. But let me not be hasty.
All this, and perhaps Austin is getting ready to make some noise along with Tracy…….WOW
I have extremely high hopes for Tracy. Really think he has a pretty high ceiling.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/redskins-could-serious-trouble-way-handled-rg3-concussion-165755923–nfl.html
I cringe every time I hear news about concussions. It’s scary stuff…
everyone is on Harbaugh’s jock for for his coaching. But yesterday i thought he was god awful.
What was with that challenge he threw in the 1st half? Bradshaw clearly was down. Just a bad call on his part.
Then 4th and 15, in FG range for Akers and he goes for it? Not too sure about that one.
Anyway, he can shove this win where the sun don’t shine.
F the Whiners.
I think the reason he went for it is even if Akers makes what would have been a long field goal (might have been like 55 yards or so if I remember correctly), it still would have been a three-possession game. The short throw to Vernon Davis on that down was another story, though. Not sure if that was the designed play or Alex’s doing.
That was good ol’ Alex Smith there. No way they designed a 5yd pass on 4th and 15, with the game on the line.
I also think Stevie Brown really deserves some recognition here. I singled him out after the game yesterday and someone else did as well (forgot who it was; might have been Dirt), but the kid looks really good out there. The Giants may have found something in him. We really haven’t missed Phillips at all these past two weeks. It’s not like Brown is just doing enough not to hurt the team, either. He is making plays.
+1
+1 I was saying earlier, not in this blog, but to a buddy of mine, non giant fan, Stevie Brown has played really well. I hope he continues to improve. While we are at it, I did not see anyone mention this but our boy MartyB needs a ton love. He hasbeen tremendous!!! for us and yesterday proved once again what a great pick he has been and why Reese is the best GM in the league.
Do you think its a coincidence we had a great game pounding the rock vs the Niners as oppposed to last year? Not to say that Bennett is the only reason but man he is such a great blocker for a TE that is also a threat in the air. I am loving Bennett!