Big Blue problems too big to ignore
EAST RUTHERFORD – There were many enduring impressions from the disaster that took place at New Meadowlands Stadium with each of them leaving your head scratching.
However, none was worse than what took place with 13:34 remaining in the game and the Giants trailing by nine points as Lawrence Tynes lined up for a 39-yard field goal, still harboring hopes of a comeback despite their previous and eventual ineptitude in their 29-10 defeat to the Titans.
The whistle blew and a flag was down.
Delay of game was the call and it cost them five yards.
Really? Delay of game prior to kicking a field goal?
What followed next was pure justice as Tynes would miss his second field goal of the game, this one now a 44-yard attempt to give the Titans the ball back and eventually lock down their victory.
“We got in a position where it seemed to be that we didn’t get the ball snapped on time,” Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “The communication between the holder and the line of scrimmage, the clock ran down, we missed the long field goal.”
This incredible mental lapse was one of many throughout the day that cost the Giants dearly, turning what could have been a six-point deficit to 12.
Yet, none was more damning than this.
Coughlin put the blame on Dodge, but it was merely just one aspect of a game that saw many players suffer from numerous inexplicable mental breakdowns that makes one wonder if these players three games into the season have internally checked themselves out.
Sure, there were all the turnovers (three more), the penalties (reaching a plague like status now) and just complete bone-headedness that usually renders its ugly head at least once or twice during these games.
“It’s on me,” said Coughlin. “The way in which we play in between the lines is my responsibility I’m taking full responsibility for that.
“This was a game that we should have won, we didn’t win.”
What else can explain the continuous rash of turnovers? Three more Sunday added the season total to nine in the first three games as they continue to treat the ball like a loaf of bread.
The fourth play of the game saw Eli Manning’s pass deflect off the shoulder of Hakeem Nicks for an interception that led to a Titans field goal. For the fourth time this season, a deflection off the hands of a receiver ended in an interception.
Nicks is a talented receiver who makes many tough catches. However, when a ball is near your possession, catching it is necessary and not having it bounce off you for a turnover.
This of course paled in comparison to the foolish play by Manning near the goal line when, with at least three points in hand, he tried throw a left-handed to Kevin Boss and had the pass intercepted into the end zone.
Add in Ahmad Bradshaw’s fumble at the Titans 5 while fighting for extra yardage late in the third quarter and that is 17 points left on the field because of errors, twice in the red zone.
“When you don’t score down there, it is one thing,” said Eli Manning. “When you turn the ball over and get zero points, you just can’t afford those.”
What else can explain these breakdowns? Mind you, this is the same team that when they went 12-4 in 2008 set the NFL all-time record for fewest turnovers in a season.
Said Manning, “If you are going to make mistakes, if you are going to screw up so many things, it (the success on offense) gets canceled out.”
Since the beginning of last season, the Giants have turned the ball over a whopping 40 times in 19 games. These are unsustainable and represent a complete lack of concentration.
Said Coughlin, “We can’t stop trying to move the ball.”
But there was more. Much more.
In the fourth quarter, the team self-destructed. After Tynes missed his second field goal, right tackle Kareem McKenzie committed a 15-yard personal foul for ripping off the helmet of a Titans player in full view of the official who was close to the three feet from him when he did it.
Several minutes later he did it again, wiping away a potential scoring drive at the Titans 31, turning a third-and-10 into a third-and-25, ending any real chance the Giants had to win.
Add to it, Antrel Rolle would commit another personal foul, taking a swing during the Titans final scoring drive that would end in a touchdown.
That was the sixth personal foul on the day totaling of 11 penalties. Clearly, Coughlin had seen enough. He removed both players from the game and they did not return.
Who is to blame for this seemingly lack of discipline and control?
It does not matter if the Titans baited them into retaliating. Officials do not see who starts the altercation, only the end of it. Continuously losing their cool in such a manner is ridiculous.
“There’s only one flag,” said Coughlin. “They never see the first one.”
We have seen this type of team before. Coughlin had that squad before nearly losing his job after the 2006 season.
If this is a return of “that” team, then this season is shot already. This is not a young group of guys trying to find its way. This veteran has been through the highs and the lows over the last five seasons.
Whether it is frustration, an inability to execute or this teams talent has been overrated is anyone’s guess.
“Right now we’re not playing well as a team,” said Osi Umenyiora. “We have to figure out a way to get better.”
It is advisable that they begin to clean this up beginning Sunday at home against Chicago.
Otherwise, this already long season will continue to get longer.
EAST RUTHERFORD – There were many enduring impressions from the disaster that took place at New Meadowlands Stadium with each of them leaving your head scratching.
However, none was worse than what took place with 13:34 remaining in the game and the Giants trailing by nine points as Lawrence Tynes lined up for a 39-yard field goal, still harboring hopes of a comeback despite their previous and eventual ineptitude in their 29-10 defeat to the Titans.
The whistle blew and a flag was down.
Delay of game was the call and it cost them five yards.
Really? Delay of game prior to kicking a field goal?
What followed next was pure justice as Tynes would miss his second field goal of the game, this one now a 44-yard attempt to give the Titans the ball back and eventually lock down their victory.
“We got in a position where it seemed to be that we didn’t get the ball snapped on time,” Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “The communication between the holder and the line of scrimmage, the clock ran down, we missed the long field goal.”
This incredible mental lapse was one of many throughout the day that cost the Giants dearly, turning what could have been a six-point deficit to 12.
Yet, none was more damning than this.
Coughlin put the blame on Dodge, but it was merely just one aspect of a game that saw many players suffer from numerous inexplicable mental breakdowns that makes one wonder if these players three games into the season have internally checked themselves out.
Sure, there were all the turnovers (three more), the penalties (reaching a plague like status now) and just complete bone-headedness that usually renders its ugly head at least once or twice during these games.
“It’s on me,” said Coughlin. “The way in which we play in between the lines is my responsibility I’m taking full responsibility for that.
“This was a game that we should have won, we didn’t win.”
What else can explain the continuous rash of turnovers? Three more Sunday added the season total to nine in the first three games as they continue to treat the ball like a loaf of bread.
The fourth play of the game saw Eli Manning’s pass deflect off the shoulder of Hakeem Nicks for an interception that led to a Titans field goal. For the fourth time this season, a deflection off the hands of a receiver ended in an interception.
Nicks is a talented receiver who makes many tough catches. However, when a ball is near your possession, catching it is necessary and not having it bounce off you for a turnover.
This of course paled in comparison to the foolish play by Manning near the goal line when, with at least three points in hand, he tried throw a left-handed to Kevin Boss and had the pass intercepted into the end zone.
Add in Ahmad Bradshaw’s fumble at the Titans 5 while fighting for extra yardage late in the third quarter and that is 17 points left on the field because of errors, twice in the red zone.
“When you don’t score down there, it is one thing,” said Eli Manning. “When you turn the ball over and get zero points, you just can’t afford those.”
What else can explain these breakdowns? Mind you, this is the same team that when they went 12-4 in 2008 set the NFL all-time record for fewest turnovers in a season.
Said Manning, “If you are going to make mistakes, if you are going to screw up so many things, it (the success on offense) gets canceled out.”
Since the beginning of last season, the Giants have turned the ball over a whopping 40 times in 19 games. These are unsustainable and represent a complete lack of concentration.
Said Coughlin, “We can’t stop trying to move the ball.”
But there was more. Much more.
In the fourth quarter, the team self-destructed. After Tynes missed his second field goal, right tackle Kareem McKenzie committed a 15-yard personal foul for ripping off the helmet of a Titans player in full view of the official who was close to the three feet from him when he did it.
Several minutes later he did it again, wiping away a potential scoring drive at the Titans 31, turning a third-and-10 into a third-and-25, ending any real chance the Giants had to win.
Add to it, Antrel Rolle would commit another personal foul, taking a swing during the Titans final scoring drive that would end in a touchdown.
That was the sixth personal foul on the day totaling of 11 penalties. Clearly, Coughlin had seen enough. He removed both players from the game and they did not return.
Who is to blame for this seemingly lack of discipline and control?
It does not matter if the Titans baited them into retaliating. Officials do not see who starts the altercation, only the end of it. Continuously losing their cool in such a manner is ridiculous.
“There’s only one flag,” said Coughlin. “They never see the first one.”
We have seen this type of team before. Coughlin had that squad before nearly losing his job after the 2006 season.
If this is a return of “that” team, then this season is shot already. This is not a young group of guys trying to find its way. This veteran has been through the highs and the lows over the last five seasons.
Whether it is frustration, an inability to execute or this teams talent has been overrated is anyone’s guess.
“Right now we’re not playing well as a team,” said Osi Umenyiora. “We have to figure out a way to get better.”
It is advisable that they begin to clean this up beginning Sunday at home against Chicago.
Otherwise, this already long season will continue to get longer.
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