Saturday, December 10, 2011

2011 Game 1, div matchup: Dallas Cowboys vs NY Giants

Arizona sacked Tony Romo 5 times, twice from a 3 man front. Arizona linebackers filled gaps, while the blitz scheme mixed it up. With Chase Blackburns solid zone pass coverage (he follows a crossing receiver until Blackburn can hand the WR off to a safety), its not clear that Dallas TE Whitten will be wide open. And if Blackburn hands off Whitten to Tyler Sash, the former Iowa Star, Romo could be throwing to Whitten as Sash does what he did at Iowa, recognizes the ball and moves in. Tyler Sash add 13 interceptions at Iowa to go along with 392 return yards.

Last week vs Arizona Dez Bryant burnt the Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson repeatedly on comeback routes. I'm sure Dallas has film of Aaron Ross jumping those same routes, like the one he picked off in the Seattle game. Look for Tony Romo to target Prince Amukamara, specifically with his best receiver Dez Bryant who is 2 inches taller than the Prince. Perry Fewell hasn't put Prince Amukamara on the island yet, but if Dallas targets Prince Amukamara this might be the best test yet for the former first round pick, Amukamara.

And one of the things the Giants secondary worked on in practice was handing off receivers within zone or partial zone schemes. Something that didn't work out on the Driver TD in the Green Bay game. Last week vs Green Bay this is something that Chase Blackburn did very well and the secondary needs to iron out.

With Eli having his starting wide outs on the field, Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks presence on the field can open up the middle, and the Giants have some size to dominate the middle. TE Travis Beckum at 6'3" made the most of his one catch vs Green Bay, Ramses Barden & Bear Pascoe are both 6'5" and Jake Ballard (Mini Bavaro) is listed at 6'6".

The Giants will have the same O line personal as last week and hope to run the ball, with a meaningful run fake, making the Dallas linebackers bite for a second, Eli might have time for deeper routes and an opportunity to take advantage of Manninghams 4.38 speed.

Predictions:

Giants Defense forces Dallas into at least 3 field goal attempts, gets at least 4 stops, allows 4 trips to the redzone. 5 Sacks. Tyler Sash  & Prince Amukamara were both ball hawks in college and we know that when Tony Romo starts throwing picks, he doesn't throw just one in a game. I'm expecting Dallas field goals so numbers like 16, 20, 23 or 25 come to mind.

Jacobs and Brradshaw: Expect these guys to tear it up, 130 yards combined.

Offense, If we run the ball, that will keep the time of possession in our favor and reduces the shoot out potential. Even so I think the Giants score 28 to 35 points.

Dallas is favored by 3.5 points, the under over is 44.5. I'm taking the Gmen and the over.

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