Picture of Ballard TD, you tell me.

Is Ballards knee down inbounds?

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Giants scheme to run on the Pats

If you haven't heard by now Ramses Barden is on the active roster for the Patriots game. In a strange way Barden might help the run game. It goes like this: Barden, Pascoe and Ballard get sent across the middle early. This makes the Pats LB's think too much about coverage and they cheat on the pass, and in a 3-4 dee the LB's are the heart of the defense. If we can get the Pats LB's thinking pass, they are less likely to load the box or make quick run reds and fill the gaps, and without 8 or 9 in the box -then we run Jacobs from passing a formation.

As soon as the Pats go back to loading the box, we throw over the top.

Remember how the Pats 2 TE set causes problems for teams, in the same way we need to cause the same problem.

Our O line is not good enough to run block with 9 in the box, Coach has to figure a way to lure the Pats LB's into thinking coverage, making the Pats LB's think pass first can make then hesitate in run reads. If Jacobs gets into the gaps before the linebackers fill the gaps, they are yielding 5 yard runs.

If all of this happens, its off to the races for the Giants, with an effective run game the run fake will allow Eli to throw by design, not for desperation. The Pats Dee will be guessing run or pass all game and we'll win it running away.


Giants need to set the tone on the first drive.

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Not the Prettiest Win, but we'll take it

What can I say about Cory Webster? Webster had what is probably his best game as a 7 year pro. 3 batted balls, 4 solo tackles and 2 picks. Aaron Ross had a quite day, 1 pass defense and 2 solo tackles. I saw Justin Tryon play early in the second half, he was covering the outside receiver, saw the ball being thrown to the inside receiver and moved over to make the tackle. IIRC I saw him play in at least 2 more plays.

And what can I say about Jake Ballard? Ballard has 15 catches for 273 yards, on track for over 800 yards and 6 touchdowns. Ballard has averaged a stunning 18.2 yards per catch, and has started to draw comparisons to Mark Bavaro as far as Ballards ability to carry 1-2-3 defensive players for extra yards.


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Flurry of roster moves for Giants

The Giants signed 4 year veteran cornerback Justin Tryon, Jim Cordle was moved from the practice Squad to the active roster. Receiver Brandon Stokely was released with an injury settlement while QB Sage Rosenfels was also let go. The Giants then signed 2nd year OT Selvish Capers to the practice squad.

This leaves the Giants with 54 players and they need to get down to 53 tomorrow.

I might regret going out on this limb by Wednesday, but here goes. At the end of preseason Coach Coughlin kept 2 tight ends, Travis Beckham a 3rd year pass catching TE and 2nd year TE Jake Ballard who is a sound blocker. Some Teams like to use a 1 RB, 2 TE set, some teams like the Giants last year used a lot of 2 RB sets, and if the blitz comes, the 2 RB's protect, if not at least one will go out for a pass route. If the Giants had wanted to run a 2 tight end set, I think Coach would have taken at least 3 true tight ends, Bear Pascoe is a good blocker, but more of a H-back slash tight end.

So if Coach is good with the single tight end set, Travis Beckham is expendable considering Jake Ballards production of late. In Arizona Ballard caught 3 passes for 33 yards and a touchdown catch in the corner of the endzone. Ballard almost had 2 touchdowns, if you remember the play- his knee was down and the ball was a foot or 2 short of the goal line. Ballard is on track for 28 catches and 480 yards, Kevin Boss like numbers, Boss last year had 30 catches and 500 yards.

If my logic holds true thru to Wednesday Beckham will be released.

Jim Cordle Played center at Ohio State and was on the Giants practice squad last year, so he's a known quantity and is a true center vs Kevin Boothe who filled in against Arizona when David Baas left the game. Boothe is a guard who can play center, so Cordle gives the Giants better experience at the center position should David Baas nor be able to go on Sunday.

 Justin Tryon is a 4 year veteran cornerback. He's 5'9" has 4.41 speed and a 35 inch vertical leap who has played for Washington and Indianapolis. The Colts waived Tryon last week. Tryon gives the Giants some sorely needed depth and can play nickel probably against a slot receiver. Tryon is just too short to go against taller outside receivers.


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EDIT: Veteran Cornerback Brian Williams was released Wednesday monrning. This makes sense after the Giants signed a younger corner Justin Tryon.

Arizona Review and then on to Seattle next week

Before the game I had these thoughts.

Look fors:Look for TE Jake Ballard to see continued time as a run blocker, Eli will probably throw to Ballard at least twice, as he's been a reliable target so far this year with 4 catches for 87 yards. If Gilbride has anything extra in store for Ballard, that there's something he thinks the TE can take advantage of, then that increases the odds of the big man (275 lbs.) rumbling thru the Arizona secondary. If Ballard continues to catch the ball he's on track to gain about 450 yards for the season.

If you didn't know, we have a tight end, his name is Jake Ballard. The fact that Ballard was used in the red zone offense means the staff has confidence in Ballard, and Jake was only a foot or so from having 2 touch downs. We'll see number 85 gain, no doubt.

Look for Victor Cruz to not be the star, 75 yards and one touchdown.

Well I was off a little bit, 98 yards no touchdown and an incredibly lucky break with the "player gave himself up" call. We'll take it. Cruz won't make that mistake gain.

Look for Osi, Tuck and JPP to crush Kevin Kolb, as long as they're healthy. Good pressure on the QB can lead to an interception, but it wont be Aaron Ross.

Osi Umenyiora and David Tollefson had 2 sacks each, and I was right Ross didn't have a pick.

Look for Aaron Ross to try and show he can be consistent, no picks but a defended ball on 3rd down to end a drive.

I'm guilty of wishful thinking. :~ )

Look for Mario Manningham to try and make Giants fans forget about the Salsa dancing of Victor Cruz, he'll lead all Giants receivers with a big day. But Cruz will laydown a downfield block for MM.

The Cardinals busted up a play with Bradshaw running right (1st half), Cruz was lined up on the right side, at the snap of the ball he ran to his left and was poised to run block for Bradshaw, except for the Cardinals reading it and stopping it. Manningham only had one catch and it was Hakeem Nicks who lit the night up.

Rotoworld: 
Nicks was a beast, dominating.... blew by.... monster fantasy day....on pace for 96 receptions, 1,388 yards and 12 touchdowns.... is locked-and-loaded as a WR1.


The Huddle said:
...had a blazing hot end of the game.


Yeah, we like him too......


Corey Webster had 2 real nice batted balls, one on Larry Fitz who was wide open, (was). And Antrel Rolle had an off game, only 6 tackles (and a pick :~ )). I was a little skeptical about seeing Rolle used to cover in the nickel. Rolle started his NFL career as a corner, and moved to safety, I wondered how good of a corner he was. Well Rolle has continued his overall good play and that includes his more recent efforts in the nickel.


At this point in the season Eli does have some stats that are better than Tom Brady, again, I'll take it.



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Week 3, Eagles vs Giants

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Nervous isn't the word. The Giants face a good quarterback in Michael Vick, with a secondary thats been decimated with injures. The Giants offense is a question mark, though showing some improvement in the Rams game.

Against the Rams the second half running game seemed to get on a roll. Having Jacobs pounding his way into the Eagles secondary late in the game will be a good sign.

Victor Cruz caught a ball last week, on a hot read no less. II was Coach, I would have practiced some longer routes for Cruz, he cane motor. As a Rookie Cruz brought some ready for the NFL skills. I would not be surprised to see Cruz expand on last weeks performance, and maybe snag a long throw.

Jake Ballard, at 275 and 6'5" Eli saw Ballard downfield against Washington for a good play. The Eagles have possibly the best triad at corner in the league, but those small guys don't want to see Ballard roaming in the secondary, or for that matter Brandon Jacobs.

Perry Fewell pretty much wrote the book last year on how to handle Michael Vick, but given a lead the Defense can't let Vick back in the game, they have to contain, and blitz, and make the Secondary look good. Victor Cruz played DB and receiver in high school.... just sayin....