NFL Bowl – NFL Games Weekly Picks & Predictions

Don Perkins

Jonathan Bales

A couple of weeks ago, I published my list of the five best quarterbacks in the history of the Dallas Cowboys.  Many of you were surprised to see Tony Romo at No. 3 on that list, but he’s earned it.

Like Cowboys quarterbacks, the list of the top running backs in team history is dominated by two players: Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.  I list them here because it’s really no spoiler.  When you think Cowboys running backs, you think Smith and TD.  Actually, I think those two players have done so much for the position that people forget how mediocre some of the other backs in team history have been. . .

5. Don Perkins

Perkins played eight seasons in Dallas and totaled 6,217 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns.  He averaged only 4.1 yards-per-carry during his time in Big D, but he certainly played in a different era (1961-1967).  Some forget that Perkins also transitioned from tailback to fullback in the second half of his career.

4. Marion Barber

Barber at No.4!?  Well, take a look at some of the other running backs the Cowboys have put on the field over the years and tell me who should surpass Barber.  He has 4,109 rushing yards to date and has already totaled 50 touchdowns.  His career may be on the down, but he was certainly exciting to watch for a few years.

3. Calvin Hill

Hill played just six seasons in Dallas but ran for 5,009 yards and 39 touchdowns.  His 4.3 yards-per-attempt is second-best of anyone on this list (behind only Tony Dorsett).

2. Tony Dorsett

The Heisman Trophy winner averaged just shy of 1,100 yards rushing and eight total touchdowns per season over his 11-year Cowboys career.  He averaged an impressive 4.4 yards-per-rush over that time, and he reached 1,000 yards in every season except the strike-shortened 1982 campaign.  He’s ranked No. 53 on The Sporting News’ list of the top 100 players of all-time.

Then there’s this. . .

1. Emmitt Smith

The numbers are insane.  18,355 career rushing yards.  164 career rushing touchdowns.  3,224 career receiving yards.

Here are highlights from Smith’s career and what I had to say about Emmitt in a segment of out “22 in 22″ Tribute Series to Smith.

Emmitt Smith is one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, yet I can envision that, 50 years down the line, people will not consider him as such.  He rarely cracks people’s lists of the top three running backs of all-time (or even the top five, for that matter).  I don’t even know of a person who considers the NFL’s all-time leading rusher to be the league’s best ever running back.

The problem (for others, not for Emmitt) is that Smith wasn’t flashy.  He wasn’t big.  He wasn’t tremendously fast.  He wasn’t even very charismatic off of the field.

Instead, Emmitt possessed the “boring” qualities of running backs (but ones that are just as vital as those above, if not more so): great vision, incredible balance, and remarkable short area quickness.  Of course, there’s also the off-field characteristics, such as determination, but I want to focus on why Emmitt’s on-field play was truly under-appreciated.

Fast forward to the nine second mark in the above video.  See the move Emmitt made?  You may have actually missed it.  That quick juke isn’t the flashy, in-your-face Barry Sanders-esque sort of move, but it was probably even more effective.  That’s a move that can’t be taught.  It was instinctual.

Now forward to 35 seconds.  That play, more than any other I can remember, perfectly exemplifies Smith’s incredible sense of balance.  To this day, I have not seen a running back that could have stayed on his feet after absorbing that hit.  Except Emmitt.

Now move to 2:58 into the video.  I don’t have much to say about that juke, other than it is one of the best I have ever witnessed.

Finally, forward to 3:27 for a series of astounding plays.  Emmitt had one of the most devastatingly effective stiff arms I’ve seen.  It wasn’t a reckless punch, but rather a controlled, precise jab straight to his target.

Two stiff arms are followed by a play, at the 3:42 mark, where Emmitt again displayed his out-of-this-world balance.  If it doesn’t appear that difficult, that’s because he was that good.  The best make it look easy.  Emmitt made it appear as child’s play.

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At first glance, it doesn’t seem there’s any manner in which a player as talented as Randy Moss coming to the NFC is a good thing for the Dallas Cowboys.  He’s going to make Minnesota instantly better, which is a terrible thing for a Cowboys team that travels to Minnesota in Week Six.  Plus, the Cowboys could potentially make the playoffs in 2010, only to face the same Vikings team that dismantled them last year. . .only better.

There could be a positive in this for Dallas, however.  At 1-2, the ‘Boys have the same number of losses as each of the other NFC East teams.  Despite a poor start, they’re right in the hunt for a division title.  While it is sh**ty that the Cowboys face Minnesota next week, don’t forget that the NFC East is matched up with the NFC North this season, meaning the Giants, Eagles, and Redskins will all have their turn facing Moss as well.  At the very least, the Cowboys get to play the Vikings while Moss isn’t fully comfortable in the offense.  The Vikings don’t play another NFC East squad until Week 12.

Still, I don’t think you can chalk up the Moss trade as a ‘win’ for Dallas.  It makes a potent NFC team–a team that demolished Dallas in the playoffs last year–that much more dangerous.

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Jonathan Bales

During the preseason, I formulated two separate articles called “What to Watch” and “DOs and DON’Ts for Dallas” as game previews for the upcoming contests.  During the regular season, I will combine these two features into a single, more all-inclusive article known as a “Game Day Manifesto.”  You’ll be able to find the “Manifesto” category under the “GameDay” tab above.

This week’s Manifesto also contains my Game Plan for how Dallas can beat Tennessee this Sunday.

Now on to this week’s Manifesto. . .

What to Watch for Dallas vs. Tennessee

How will the Cowboys’ defense attack a rather one-dimensional Titans offense?

The Broncos did a fair job in exposing the lack of diversity of the Titans’ offense.  Chris Johnson and Vince Young combine to form the league’s top rushing attack, but that’s all they have.  Young is a sub-par pocket passer and receivers Nate Washington, Justin Gage, and Kenny Britt are, well, bad (relatively speaking, of course).

So how will the Cowboys attack Tennessee?  There’s really two schools of thought here.  They can sit back in safe coverages while still maintaining an aggressive, run-first attitude, or they can blitz early and often, knowing that it will be difficult for Young to beat them with his arm.  Let’s see what Coach Phillips has in store.

Will the Cowboys approach this game as if their backs are against the wall?

It’s quite obvious the Cowboys play their best when they believe they are the “underdog.”  Well, they are going to be favored to win this game.  It will be crucial that they remember they are still just 1-2 and a loss could be debilitating.  If their mindset is that of an underdog, they should be fine.

Will Kyle Kosier, Jason Witten, and Dez Bryant all be ready to roll?

Kosier and Witten both sprained their MCLs last week, while Bryant is suffering from a multitude of ailments.  It looks as though all three will be ready to go for Dallas, though, which would give the team a big boost.

If only one of these players could play for Dallas, however, I would actually take Kosier.  Witten and Bryant are superior players, but there is more depth at both tight end and wide receiver than left guard.  The dropoff from Kosier to Holland is rather large, in my view.

Can DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer dominate what is perhaps the league’s top offensive tackle duo in Michael Roos and David Stewart?

Roos and Stewart are tremendous tackles and really the cornerstones of the Titans’ rushing offense.  It takes a dominant offensive line to run the ball effectively when the other team knows it is coming, and Tennessee has the ability to do just that.  Ware and Spencer will need to maintain a run-first mentality this week, which should be no problem.  If they can do that and force the Titans to throw the football, they should be able to eventually put some pressure on Young.

Will Dallas spy Vince Young?

The Cowboys may opt to designate a player (such as safety Gerald Sensabaugh, for example) as a “spy” on Young.  That player would simply shadow Young’s movements and make sure he doesn’t get far on the ground, allowing the defense to play man coverage without worrying about the cornerbacks running all the way downfield.

I personally don’t like using a spy.  It really limits the defense’s flexibility and many times the spy isn’t even as athletic as the player he’s trying to shadow.  Instead, the Cowboys would be better off playing sound, yet aggressive defense.

DOs and DON’Ts vs. Tennessee

DO blitz up the middle.

As I stated above, Roos and Stewart are two of the NFL’s best offensive tackles.  Tennessee is still strong in the middle of their offensive line, but there is definitely a dropoff.  The Cowboys may be able to exploit it by running some innovative blitz packages right at the Titans’ guards at center.  Plus, Ware and Spencer are usually capable of holding down the fort outside.

DON’T worry about anyone other than Chris Johnson and Vince Young (running).

The Cowboys’ defensive philosophy will be insanely simple: stop the Titans’ rushing game.  That’s it.  Of course, that’s easier said than done.  While I do think the Cowboys should blitz up the middle when they bring extra defenders, I also believe the team would benefit from limiting their blitzes in general.  They can still put extra defenders in the box to stop Johnson and Young, and playing a little more zone coverage than usual will make it easier for the defense to diagnose Young’s scrambles.

DO run quite a few playaction passes.

Tennessee’s run defense is stout–they’ve allowed just 92.0 yards-per-game despite playing run-oriented teams like the Steelers and Jets.  I’ve watched two of their games on film, and while their secondary is certainly talented, the mindset of the defense seems to be to stop the run first, particularly early in the game.

The Cowboys may be able to take advantage of that by running some playaction passes.  As always, early success on the ground will aid in effectively completing that task.

I also think the Cowboys should take some shots down the field following playaction looks.  Jason Garrett seems to be trying that more often this year, as 25 percent of the team’s 24 playaction passes have been thrown 15+ yards.

Want to know how radically different the Cowboys’ playaction approach is from last season?  Check out these numbers.  Through three games, Dallas has attempted one less pass of 20+ yards off of a playaction look as all of last season!

DON’T run the ball inside often–get it outside with tosses, counters, and powers.

The middle of the Titans’ defense is really talented.  Tony Brown and Jason Jones are really underrated defensive tackles, while Stephen Tulloch is a force against the run at linebacker.

The Cowboys have already shown they are going to run the ball outside far more often than in 2009, and they should maintain that strategy this week.  I would particularly like to see more counters, of which Dallas has run just FOUR all season.  Felix Jones alone averaged 10.0 yards-per-carry on a ridiculous 22 counters last season.  Check out my in-depth counter stats here.

DO disguise blitzes more effectively.

I love Coach Phillips as a defensive coordinator, but his blitzes are painfully obvious.  Teams such as the Packers employ innovative “Psycho” packages that implement just one linemen and a bunch talented edge rushers who move around chaotically pre-snap.  The defense works wonders in passing situations, as the offense has no idea who will be rushing.

I understand the Cowboys want to maintain their gap responsibilities, but I think situations such as 3rd and medium to long are times to get more creative.  Even showing blitz five or 10 times throughout a game can keep an offense off-balance.  It’s worked for the Cowboys’ opposition thus far, anyway.

DON’T attack Cortland Finnegan as much as Ryan Mouton and Alterraun Verner.

Finnegan is an All-Pro cornerback who is as stout against the run as he is versus the pass.  He has tremendous ball skills and an incredible ability to make things happen once the ball is in his hands.

The usual starter opposite Finnegan, rookie Jason McCourty, is out with a broken arm.  The Cowboys should use unique motions and shifts to make sure the receiver who is the first read on any particular play is covered by either Mouton or Verner (whoever starts) as much as possible.  Plus, whichever player doesn’t start will still be on the field for most of Dallas’ three-receiver sets.

DO run a lot of three-receiver sets until the Titans prove they can put heavy pressure on Tony Romo.

I’ve called for the Cowboys to use a lot of two-tight end sets the last few weeks to aid the offensive tackles in pass protection.  It has actually worked really well, particularly against Houston.

This week, however, the Cowboys don’t face a pass-rusher the caliber of Julius Peppers or Mario Williams.  Instead, they have Jason Babin and David Ball.  Until those two prove they can beat Doug Free and Marc Colombo, the Cowboys should line up in a lot of three-receiver looks to spread out the Tennessee defense.  It would also force the Titans to bring cornerbacks Alterraun Verner and Ryan Mouton on the field.  Advantage Dallas.

DON’T overdo it on draw plays.

In the preseason, I called for Dallas to limit their draw plays.  I asked for them to bring it back in a big way in Houston, and they did (with much success).

This week, I think they should attack Tennessee with other types of runs.  The reason is that the Tennessee defense possesses both discipline and a run-first attitude.  They aren’t going to go flying into their pass drops the moment they see Romo drop back into a short pass set.

Game Plan

Throw the kitchen sink at Tennessee immediately.

The Cowboys have been notoriously slow starters on offense in recent years.  I just did a study on their early performance this season, and while they’ve improved coming out of halftime (as compared to ’09), the team could really benefit from putting up a few points early in ballgames.

To do that, the Cowboys should save nothing this week.  Whatever “money” plays Garrett has concocted for Tennessee should be called in the first few drives.  Early scores will force Tennessee to do what they don’t want to do: throw the football.

Keep running it to the weak side.

Less than one-in-five Cowboys running plays in 2009 was to the weak side of the formation.  This year, the Cowboys have nearly doubled that rate and they are still seeing more success on those runs.  I have drawn up what I consider a “perfect” run play for Dallas this week (below).

There are a few reasons I love this play (which the Cowboys certainly don’t label as I do). . .

• It is a weak side run (see above).
• There is a pre-snap motion opposite the play-side into TE Trips Left–an overloaded formation.
• As I stated earlier, the Cowboys need to run more counters.  They’ve run only four all year despite a ton of success on them last season.  Expect about that many on Sunday alone.
• The key block on this play would be right tackle Marc Colombo on Titans OLB Jamie Winborn.  Yes please.
• Running out of “passing” formations tends to be quite effective.
• And lastly, the Cowboys need to mix up their play-calling with certain personnel on the field.  More on that below. . .

Mix up personnel-based play-calling.

In a recent study on the Cowboys’ play-calling with certain personnel packages, I noted that Garrett has displayed a run/pass imbalance in a variety of personnel packages.  While we would expect the numbers to be skewed due to game situations (the Cowboys certainly won’t run much in 3rd and long or pass much in 3rd and short) and matchups (you usually want to bring Dez Bryant on the field to throw the football), the percentages could still be a bit more comparable.

Plus, game theory dictates the Cowboys should run more out of spread formations, and pass out of tight ones.  Remember, for everything the Cowboys do, the defense will counter.  That’s why versatile players, such as well-rounded tight ends, are so valuable.

By the way, Bob Sturm has a good bit about the Cowboys’ use of Felix Jones over at his blog.

Press the Titans’ wide receivers.

I think the Cowboys’ cornerbacks should press more often in general.  Against the Titans, I think the duo of Nate Washington and Justin Gage are too small (Washington) and slow (Gage) to get off of press coverage.  Note that Gage will be questionable with a hamstring injury, in which case Kenny Britt would get the start.

The Cowboys don’t press much in zone coverage, but I think this week is a good one to do so.  The primary reason is the next component of my Game Plan.

Don’t blitz too often, but try to zone blitz when possible.

I’ve already stated I think the Cowboys should blitz primarily up the middle against the Titans.  Not only can they take advantage of the weakest component of the Tennessee offensive line, but it will also get linebacker Keith Brooking out of coverage (where he has struggled).

Nonetheless, I don’t think Dallas should bring heat too often.  First, blitzing to the “wrong” side and missing Chris Johnson could spell disaster for the ‘Boys.  They need to do everything possible to limit the big play.  That play would almost certainly come from CJ2K.

Second, blitzes generally force defenses to play man coverage.  With a quarterback as mobile as Young, defenders with their back turned to the passer can be big trouble for a defense.

There is a way to blitz and still be in a fairly safe coverage: the zone blitz.  Here is an example of a zone blitz the Cowboys used against Houston.

Plus, if the Cowboys combine this idea with the previous one (pressing the Titans’ receivers), they could potentially confuse Young as to their coverage.

Be really creative with motions and shifts to create favorable matchups on offense.

The Titans’ defense is strong, but it isn’t without its weaknesses.  If the Cowboys can find ways to get Miles Austin on Alterraun Verner or Jason Witten on Jamie Winborn, they could do some damage.

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New York Giants Wednesday Injury Report

Here are your Wednesday morning New York Giants notes from around the Inter-Google.

• Mike Garafolo reports that the Giants worked out 11-year NFL veteran punter Hunter Smith on Tuesday. Here is some detail on Smith, and the workout, from MG.

  Smith believed he had a solid workout but left without signing a contract. [Smith's agent Tom] Mills has yet to speak to the Giants about the workout but believes his client could be an option for the team moving forward.

  Smith, 33, spent the first decade of his career with the Colts, who drafted him in the seventh round of the 1998 draft. Smith was a solid punter for Indianapolis all the way through the 2008 season when he recorded a career-best net average of 38.8 yards. Despite that solid figure and 23 punts inside the 20-yard line, the Colts did not attempt to re-sign Smith, who then joined the Redskins as a free agent. Smith played in 13 games with Washington last season, recording a gross average of 41.3 yards and a net of 36.8 yards on 57 punts.

  Smith has also served as a holder for place kicks, which also makes him a threat to Dodge.

• Running back Ahmad Bradshaw has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after his 129-yard rushing effort against Chicago. I’m guessing head coach Tom Coughlin, who has been on Bradshaw’s case about losing three fumbles already this season, is not thrilled with that development.
• Eli Manning was on the radio Tuesday, and the Giants quarterback showed his maturity by coming to the defense of Tiki Barber.

  “You know if they’re asking him questions, he’s gonna say something and say whatever is on his mind. A few years ago, he made comments about me and I kinda fired back and went through the whole deal. Not that I feel bad for Tiki, but it’s unfortunate how everything has happened. My brother told me that when they introduced him last night there were a lot of boos. It’s just unfortunate because he was a great player for the Giants, had a great career, and was a great player in my first years here and helped us win a lot of games when I wasn’t playing particularly well. It’s unfortunate how it’s all happened, but I think he’s definitely deserving of making the Ring of Honor. It’s unfortunate how people view him now because he was a great player for the Giants, but things have happened that are unfortunate.”

• The Football Scientist thinks Hakeem Nicks may soon be the best wide receiver in the NFL. He makes a compelling case, and I am not even going to try and argue.

• The Oakland Raiders have cut former Giant defensive tackle Jay Alford. Alford has too much NFL experience to be added to a practice squad, so don’t even think about the Giants doing that.

• Some notable numbers from Football Outsiders. The Giants’ impressive performance against Chicago moved them up FO’s charts in the site’s ‘team efficiency’ ratings. Using FO’s Defense-adjusted Value over Average (DVOA) stat the Giants are 16th offensively, 3rd defensively and 30th on special teams in terms of efficiency. No numbers yet from Pro Football Focus for this week.

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I have no idea who this is, and I have no idea what it is for. . .and I don’t care.

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Biggest Risers: San Diego Chargers, New York Giants (Seven spots)

Biggest Faller: Chicago Bears (Eight spots)

—————————————————–

1. New Orleans Saints (3-1); Last Week- 1

New Orleans only squeaked by the Panthers at home, but who would really steal their top spot?

2. Green Bay Packers (3-1); Last Week- 4

The Packers are ranked at No. 2 but I have less confidence in my preseason Super Bowl champ now than in the start of the year.

3. Baltimore Ravens (3-1); Last Week-7

My preseason AFC champion won a big one in Pittsburgh on Sunday, but their fortunes could change once Ben Roethlisberger returns.

4. New York Jets (3-1); Last Week- 8

The Jets’ defense and running game is going to keep them in every contest.  Still, I think they’re going to need to fight to make the playoffs.

5. Atlanta Falcons (3-1); Last Week- 6

The Falcons are a balanced football team that, in my opinion, is more suited for a long postseason run than some of the teams ahead of them in these rankings.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1); Last Week- 3

The Steelers aren’t going to drop much simply because they had a tremendous shot at beating Baltimore without their starting quarterback.

7. New England Patriots (3-1); Last Week- 10

Touchdowns five different ways last night in Miami.  Can we all admit the Pats are the best-coached team in the league?

8. Houston Texans (3-1); Last Week- 9

I’m still not sure if the Cowboys looked that good in their victory over Houston in Week Three or if the Texans are a bit overrated.

9. Indianapolis Colts (2-2); Last Week- 2

Wow.  Peyton Manning is so good because he wins the games he is supposed to win.  Sunday’s loss in Jacksonville was shocking.  Super Bowl hangover?

10. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0); Last Week- 14

I feel confident that after Kansas City’s Week Five matchup with Indy, there won’t be any undefeated teams left in the NFL.

11. San Diego Chargers (2-2); Last Week- 18

The Jekyll and Hyde Chargers are just one of a bunch of NFL teams who haven’t performed up to expectations this season, but they demolished Arizona this week.

12. New York Giants (2-2); Last Week- 19

Depending on your perspective, the Giants won either the ugliest game in league history, or an awesome defensive battle.  Either way, they’re in a three-way tie for first in the NFC East.

13. Chicago Bears (3-1); Last Week- 5

The Bears’ loss Sunday night just makes their win over the Cowboys that much more heart-breaking.

14. Dallas Cowboys (1-2); Last Week- 16

The bad. . .the Cowboys are in last place in the NFC East.  The good. . .they’re now just a win back of being in the lead.

15. Minnesota Vikings (1-2); Last Week- 17

The Vikings’ Monday night game against the Jets this week is a pivotal moment in their season.

16. Washington Redskins (2-2); Last Week- 22

I found myself rooting for the Redskins in Philly on Sunday, but now it’s back to hating them.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2); Last Week- 11

The Bengals don’t seem to have an identity on offense.  They’re going to have some trouble catching Pittsburgh and Baltimore–two teams that, as of right now, are clearly superior.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2); Last Week- 12

I still think the Eagles (once Vick returns) are the Cowboys’ top competition within the division.  They won’t win many games if Kevin Kolb is at quarterback, though.

19. Miami Dolphins (2-2); Last Week- 13

Rough night for Chad Henne.  They are in trouble in a loaded AFC East.

20. Denver Broncos (2-2); Last Week- 24

The Broncos did the Cowboys a favor in taking down the Titans in a hard-fought game this week.  Now, they need to catch Kansas City.

21. Tennessee Titans (2-2); Last Week- 15

The Titans’ are one-dimensional on offense.  That dimension is really good, but I think the Cowboys match up well with them.

22. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2); Last Week- 28

How the hell did the Jags beat Indy?  They are a far worse team and probably only win one-in-twenty against the Colts.

23. St. Louis Rams (2-2); Last Week- 27

The Rams may have found something here in Sam Bradford.  Anything is possible in the NFC West.

24. Seattle Seahawks (2-2); Last Week- 20

The Seahawks have now taken down San Fran and San Diego, but lost to Denver and St. Louis.  Who knows?

25. Arizona Cardinals (2-2); Last Week- 21

I told you last week this team wasn’t as good as their then 2-1 record.  They could win the division with a sub-.500 record.

26. Tampa Bay Bucs (2-1); Last Week- 25

I’m not sure how the Bucs fell a spot after a bye, but it’s probably because I’m just not yet a believer.  I do like Josh Freeman, though.

27. San Francisco 49ers (0-4); Last Week- 23

Want a bold prediction?  The 0-4 Niners will win the NFC West.  I promise they’re the best team.

28. Oakland Raiders (1-3); Last Week- 26

I will not pick Oakland to make the playoffs ever again.  I will not pick Oakland to make the playoffs ever again.

29. Cleveland Browns (1-3); Last Week- 31

The first win is always the most difficult.  Of course, the second win is still pretty difficult if you’re Cleveland.

30. Detroit Lions (0-4); Last Week- 29

The Lions are the most exciting 0-4 team of all-time.

31. Carolina Panthers (0-4); Last Week- 30

The Panthers showed nice fight in New Orleans, but what the helllllllll were they doing at the end of the game? Worst clock management I’ve ever seen.

32. Buffalo Bills (0-4); Last Week 32

Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, or Andrew Luck?  Or how about another running back?

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The Colts have lost starting strong safety Melvin Bullitt for the rest of the year due to a broken bone in his right shoulder.  Bullitt played in 4 games for the Colts this year and he had 13 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception.  DaJuan Morgan will likely replace Bullitt in the starting lineup.  Morgan has played in 2 games for the Colts so far this year and he has 1 tackle.  This injury will further hurt the Colts’ D as Morgan is a big step down from Bullitt.

Retired former New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles thinks a sports psychologist can help rookie punter Matt Dodge maximize his considerable talent.

“I told Jerry Reese [Giants general manager] a couple of weeks ago that Matt has all the physical talent in the world but that maybe bringing in a sports psychologist can really help him,” said Feagles. “Mentally, there’s just a part of this game, especially with punters and kickers, that you have to overcome. This kid, I’ve seen him kick it to the moon on the side practice field and then you put him behind a line and sometimes he can’t kick it out of a paper bag. That’s too much talent to let go to waste so trying everything, including a sports psychologist, is worth it.”

Reese confirmed that the Giants have taken Feagles’ advice to heart, even as they have contemplated whether they need to get a more experienced punter and yet still utilize Dodge’s leg strength on kickoffs.

“As great as [Feagles] was in his career, even he struggled early on in Arizona and he got some help [from a sports psychologist],” said Reese. “We really like Matt’s talent but you know how it is kicking in that stadium with that crowd reacting [with boos] when he struggled with some things. And, he actually got a couple of good kicks off late in the game.”

As far as I’m concerned, whatever works is fine with me. Get him some help, get him straightened out or get outta Dodge and get a new punter.

Amazing what difference a week makes!

I know it’s a cliche, but in the case of the New York Giants it is entirely appropriate.

Think about it. A week ago the Giants were 1-2, coming off a pair of ugly losses. We were talking about Tom Coughlin’s coaching future, Eli Manning’s interceptions and Tom Quinn’s fitness to coach in the NFL.

Personally, that last one is still a subject worth debating. This week, though, talk around the Giants is much more upbeat.

At 2-2, the Giants are tied for first place in what is shaping up to be an incredibly competitive — albeit mediocre — NFC East. The incredible 10-sack performance against Chicago Sunday — in which they allowed just 110 total yards and six first downs — has not only lifted the Giants’ spirits, it has them dreaming big dreams.

It has the Giants thinking about their 2007 Super Bowl run, when they lost their first two games in horrible fashion before turning their season around and, ultimately, defeating New England for the franchise’s third Super Bowl title.

Here is Gary Myers of the Daily News, with a little help from Justin Tuck, discussing just that.

As long as the defense plays with the intensity it did against the disgraceful Bears offense, then the Giants are going to be in a lot of games. Justin Tuck, who picked up his first three sacks of the season and a forced fumble against Jay Cutler in the record-setting, nine-sack first half Sunday night, says he immediately had a flashback to 2007.

“I think we ran off five or six in a row after that,” Tuck said Monday. “Will that happen this year? I don’t know. But I’m encouraged by the fact that I’m starting to see similarities.”

The New York Post offers a similar theme, with help from Tuck and several other players.

“It’s starting to remind me of ’07,” Justin Tuck said.

Believing they had found themselves.

For me, one victory over a previously unbeaten team hardly makes it time to start talking about the Super Bowl. It is hard to deny the comparison to 2007, though, when you think about the way the season has started.

In 2007, the Giants were beaten badly in their first two games, surrendering 80 points total in losses to Dallas and Green Bay while they adjusted to rookie defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Then a dramatic turnaround at Washington started a six-game win streak that helped propel the Giants to glory.

This season, a rocky 1-2 start and some questions about Perry Fewell and how good the defense actually would be. Then, an absolute monster breakout game against the Bears.

Question is, where do the Giants go from here? The next three weeks leading up to the Giants bye week should tell us a great deal about where this season is going.

The Giants travel to Houston this week to face the 3-1 Texans in a game that shapes up as a very difficult one for the Giants.

This is a good Houston team, led by surprising running back Arian Foster, who leads the NFL with 537 rushing yards already (6.3 yards per carry). If wide receiver Andre Johnson is healthy he would be the best receiver the Giants have faced this season.

Defensively, defensive end Mario Williams (five sacks) and linebacker Brian Cushing, returning from suspension, lead a good front seven.

The Giants will unquestionably have their hands full this week.

After Houston, a home game against Detroit you would like to believe the Giants should win. Then, on the road to face Dallas in the first NFC East showdown of the season.

Where will the Giants be when they hit the bye week after those three games? No way to know for sure. What we do know is that Sunday’s performace against Chicago has to leave us much more optimistic than we were just a short time ago.

Good morning, New York Giants fans! And it is a good morning as we are still basking in Sunday’s 10-sack, 17-3 beating of the Chicago Bears. Here are a few Giants-related notes for you from around the Inter-Google.

New diagnosis has O’Hara feeling better
For weeks, Giants center Shaun O’Hara was being treated for tendonosis in his left Achilles and was frustrated because he was getting worse, not better.

Apparently that’s because what he really had was bursitis in his left ankle.

That’s what O’Hara learned last week when he went to get a second opinion from Dr. Martin O’Malley, a foot and ankle specialist in Manhattan. That visit resulted in a change of treatment, which resulted in a dramatic change in O’Hara’s condition.

My take: Getting O’Hara back — a healthy O’Hara — would certainly be huge news for the Giants. Adam Koets has done pretty well, better than we could have hoped, replacing O’Hara. He is not a Pro Bowl center, however. O’Hara is.

Texans get back Cushing to face Giants – NYPOST.com
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans are off to the best start in franchise history, and they’ve done it without some of their top players.

The Blonde Side ™
By: Amber Leigh Hartman

Phi Kappa Cowboys

We all heard about the drama during Dallas Cowboys training camp when rookie Dez Bryant refused to carry the shoulder pads of veteran receiver Roy Williams.

While other rookies were busy getting unusual haircuts, completing embarrassing tasks and taking command from their veteran teammates, Bryant chose to separate himself from the team and make football an individual sport.

Though the No. 1 draft pick ultimately paid his dues when teammates slapped him with a $55k bill for a team dinner, shouldn’t he have been more willing to “earn” his spot on the team earlier in the season?

The Cowboys are a fraternity, and fraternities are known for their extreme initiation tactics.  Most members are proud to submit to the experience to gain acceptance with their “brothers.”  Sometimes teams can take initiations to unacceptable extremes to which no person should succumb.  However, when it’s all fun and games, everyone should earn their stripes!

Major League Baseball teams often prank their rookie players or even guys new guys recently traded to the team.  Several teams make new pitchers in the bullpen carry a princess pink backpack for the season until relieved by a newer player into the year.

The Texas Rangers are known for their team-first attitude, and all players participate in rookie inductions, foam pies to the face during live media interviews after a game, and other random pranks in the clubhouse.  Their team pride and dedication helped them win the AL West and made the experience even more enjoyable for fans to watch.

From baseball to frat boys, all new members make the effort to truly devote themselves and show respect to the veterans in order to understand the true meaning of “brotherhood.”

I’m glad Dez decided to man up!  Every player should pay their dues and be PROUD to be part of the Phi Kappa COWBOYS!

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Jonathan Bales

In a previous post, I detailed why a major problem with the ’09 Cowboys was their inability to come out of the gates on fire (whether it was to start the game or the second half).  The Cowboys averaged significantly less yards-per-play and points-per-drive to start the game and second half than on “non-initial” drives.

I believe initial drives are a tremendous indicator of the strength of an offensive coordinator.  It is during these drives that he has more control and influence over the game than any others.  On the opening drive, his plays are scripted, meaning he had all week to determine which ones were most suitable to attack the defense.  The opening drive in the second half is the first during which an offense can implement its halftime adjustments.

Jason Garrett does a lot of things well, but I think adaptability is his biggest weakness.  We’ve certainly seen him improve with his abundance of weak side runs, play-calling alterations with particular personnel, and 3rd down runs this season.  However, I’ve always felt he has such confidence in himself and his players that he believes the 11 men on offense will always execute.  But being an offensive coordinator is about maximizing the likelihood of success for an offense, not stubbornly calling the same plays until they work.

Below are the results of the Cowboys’ initial drives this season.  Note that, at only three games into the season, the sample size is far from ideal.  It’s small enough that one big play could throw off the results, so we need to take these particular statistics in with a grain of salt.  Still, the Cowboys had a bye. . .what else are we going to talk about?

As you can see, the Cowboys aren’t really finding much success on initial drives (at least in terms of points).  They’re averaging 0.5 points-per-drive on the drives to start the game and second half–significantly down from last year’s rates.  Dallas is also managing just 4.22 yards-per-play to open the game.

However, despite managing just a field goal on the three drives to open the second half, the offense is tallying 7.33 yards-per-play.  The yards-per-play number is more significant than the points at this time because it is less susceptible to fluctuations.  For example, if David Buehler made an extra field goal on one initial second half drive, the points-per-drive would double.  Thus, yards-per-play is a better indicator of the team’s success.

So while the Cowboys could certainly benefit from coming out firing to start the football game, it does appear as though Garrett may have found a way to become a bit more adaptable this season.  Further evidence of that comes in the Cowboys’ second drive of each second half this season.  Halftime adjustments aren’t applied to just the first drive of the second half, so those second drive numbers can be of help to us as well.

On the second drive of the second half this season, the Cowboys are averaging a robust 7.65 yards-per-play and have scored two touchdowns.  When combined with the aforementioned second half initial drive statistics, Dallas is averaging an incredible 7.52 yards-per-play (on 38 plays) on the two drives coming out of halftime. Quite an improvement from last season.  The 17 total points scored also represents an impressive 2.83 points-per-drive.

Thus, I feel confident in saying Garrett is improving in his halftime adjustments.  If he and the offense can find a way to start the game in the same manner in which they begin the second half, the Cowboys should find a much easier time winning football games in the future.

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The lesson to be learned from this game is that the Colts’ defense stinks.  Peyton Manning led the Colts on a 8-play, 65-yard TD drive with only 48 seconds left in the game.  But the Colts’ D couldn’t get the game to O.T. as the Jags put together a 6-play, 36-yard drive that set up Josh Scobee for the game winning 59 yard FG!  Peyton Manning had another stellar game as he completed 33 of 46 passes for 352 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT.  Joseph Addai carried the ball 16 times for 63 yards (3.9 ypc) with 2 TD runs and he also caught 3 passes for 19 yards (6.3 avg).  Reggie Wayne led the way for the Colts in the passing game yesterday with 15 grabs for 196 yards (13.1 avg).  TE Dallas Clark (7 rec, 68 yards, TD) and WR Austin Collie (5 rec, 39 yards, TD) also pitched in for the Colts’ in the passing game.  The Colts finished up with 58 yards rushing on 19 carries (3.1 ypc) and they also completed 33 of 46 passes for 348 yards.

Colts’ LB Gary Brackett led the way for the “D” yesterday with 8 tackles.  The Jaguars finished up with 174 yards rushing on 35 carries (5.0 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 22 passes for 163 yards.  The Colts are now 2-2 on the season but they are 0-2 in the division.

I got great response to the post I made last week about this week’s game in Houston. I’ve already spoken to quite a few of you who will be there, including Hobie, who has generously offered to host a tailgate party that many of us Giants fans will be attending on Sunday morning.

However, no football game is complete without a pregame show, so ours will begin Saturday night (October 9th) at the Hooters on 59 and Kirby in Houston at 5 PM. (Click Here For Directions and Location)

There is already a good sized group of Giants fans who are confirmed to be there, we’re going to have a great time. Don’t forget to wear your Giants gear for the meetup Saturday night.

If you haven’t already, shoot me an email at jrs1940@gmail.com and let me know if you can be there, and I’ll give you my cell number in case you need to contact me.

Looking forward to meeting you guys.

Jim

Tiki Barber was lustily booed during the New York Giants Ring of Honor ceremony at halftime Sunday night.

Gary Myers of the Daily News said this morning that this was New York fans showing support for their team and coach, and telling Tiki to stuff it.

Carnage was like sadist’s sick daydream :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Rick Telander

Here is a little taste of how they are feeling in Chicago today. I think you will enjoy this. Immensely.

The first-half carnage was like something from a sadist’s daydream, with Cutler as the victim. It was cheap. It was perverse. It was wrong.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz is complicit in the beating. As is offensive line coach Mike Tice. As is Bears general manager Jerry Angelo for not picking better blockers. As are the blockers themselves. (Talk about the blind side?) And of course, coach Lovie Smith, the great stone face, gets an ”F” for tactics and a red ”F” for leadership.

The Giants Looked Like the Giants Again Last Night — New York Magazine
At times this season, the Giants have displayed some very un-Giant-like characteristics: In Week 2, for example, they were unprepared for the Colts‘ offensive scheme. And last week, they were unusually undisciplined, beating themselves with penalties. But last night felt far more familiar: an effective running game and one of the more impressive displays of pass rushing you’ll ever see.

The Giants stumbled upon a neat game plan in the first half last night: Hit the opposing quarterback over and over again, until one of those hits inevitably gives said quarterback a concussion, knocks him out of the game, and forces Todd Collins into action. (And then, for good measure, knock him out of the game, too, later on.) Perhaps the Bears made it easy for them, and perhaps someone ought to tell Jay Cutler not to hold onto the ball for so long, but the Giants’ defense in the first half — and in the second quarter in particular — was as impressive as we’ve ever seen.

Giants punter Matt Dodge drops a ball, botches a hold but rebounds in second half vs. Bears | NJ.com
“I was so focused on, ‘Kick it there, don’t let him catch it,’ and then you forget yourself to catch it. “It’s just a case of it slipped out of my hand. I guess I just lost a little bit of concentration.”