Review Giants vs. Ravens (Loss 34-14)

The Giants got destroyed for the second week in a row.  The game was never competitive. 
Wherever the Giants who beat the Packers and Niners are, they were not present in Baltimore. 
There was this absurd notion that the 2012 team has anything to do withthe 2011
team and this idea that they get their backs against the walls and then when it’s a must win
they can just turn it on.  Historical comparisons to other teams that happen to have the same
uniform and nickname is ridiculous.  They are different teams.  
 
The Giants are theoretically still in the playoff hunt.  They would need to win and see the
Cowboys, Bears and Vikings all lose. I’m not sure they can beat the Eagles in
Jersey, let alone have hope for all the other things to fall into place.  

Eli seemed off, but the receivers just did not get open enough
(except for Hixon who had a couple of bad calls go against
him).  Hakeem Nicks is clearly not healthy.  You need to hope he comes
back and have a healthy season next year (yes that is correct-we need to start
talking about next year).  The good news is that he and Cruz should both be cheaper
to resign given the recent demise of the offense. 

On defense, Corey Webster was picked on so badly that I dint see
Price Amukamara get into the screen all game.  They felt there was no need to go in
that direction.  At $8m per year he is gone unless he significantly restructures his contract. 
Osi is clearly gone despite his recent attempts to reconcile with the
front office by admitting he should have kept his mouth shut publicly.  Too little too late. 
The front office will be happy to call him out and let him test his open
market value.  He thought he could get a 4 year $28m type of a deal. 
I’d be surprised if he got more than 2 years at $4m per and that may even
be a stretch.  He can’t play the run and is a one trick pony with his upfield outside
pass rush for which he has no counter move.  The organization
should clearly dump Tuck too as he has now been ineffective for 2 years
running.  Witt her depth at linebacker kiwi will move back to end alongside JPP. 
JPP is another story.  He was dominant a year ago.  At some
point offenses started to account for him and double team him. 
Now they can block him one on one and he is ineffective. 
He must have gained weight. Perhaps there is another explanation but
it’s not the game planning.  He has just lost a step. 
Defensive end has decent depth in Tracey and Ojomo. 
Lack of depth at tackle may save Canty from getting cut from his expensive contract.  Ironically,
not cutting Thomas after his second ACL tear may be looking smart when the Corey
Webster situation that will come.  

The biggest area of need is clearly offensive tackle. 
The team’s record with David Diehl starting versus Sean Locklear was
starting.  Diehl and his contract will be gone but I’m not sure Locklear is really the answer either. 
This should be a big free agent signing or first round pick for the Giants. 
 

Given the lack of offensive firepower it is surprising they didn’t give David Wilson more of a shot. 
Bradshaw wasn’t horrible but was clearly slowed by his brace and Wilson has home run potential.  It is
even more surprising that they have not thrown Wilson and screen passes.  This is a guy you need to get into open space.  Giants’ fans have been spoiled.  They are not used to this. 
They would be better off if they were officially eliminated by game time. 
The Jets had the luxury of really seeing what Greg McElroy could do yesterday. 
At least they no know that they have no competent quarterback on their roster and
can go out and get a new one.  The Giants would be better off playing
their young guys to see what they have.  A 4 pm game this Sunday could have allowed that. 
This 6% shot that they have at the playoffs forces them to play their veterans which will hurt them down the road. Lastly, Perry Fewel is the most overrated coach in the league. He completely lacks the ability to make
adjustments to what teams are doing either via scheme or personnel. 
Coughlin deserves some blame but with 2 Superbowl rings, he has earned the benefit of the doubt.
As I can’t imagine anyone would be interested we will not be writing a preview for
the Giants Eagles game next week.