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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Amukamara and Barden are on Active Roster

I checked the Giants roster at Giants.com/roster, and sure enough Prince Amukamara and Ramses Barden are on the active roster for the Patriots game.

I don't think the Giants want to expose Amukamara to too much Brady, he might see a limited role in the nickel. I'll predict that Prince tips a ball... to Cory Webster.

I'm going out on a limb and guess that we'll see a 2 TE set, Pascoe and Ballard will both see some balls. With Barden in the slot I'll be happy if he catches 5 for 65 yards. Net effect of 3 big receivers catching balls vs linebackers, the LB's start thinking pass, then you run Jacobs from a passing formation.

Great news for the Giants, I think they have a much better chance of beating the Pats. If Jacobs gets on track, Prince gets his feet wet, Barden makes the LB's think pass,  we might see a 31-17 win by the Giants.


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Prince Amukamara had 2 tipped balls last week in practice, will he play Sunday?

In my gut I think Prince Amukamara will play Sunday against the Patriots. With the injury to Justin Tryon, the pressure to have Prince play is greater. Even with the Prince on the field the Giants will only have 3 legit corners, and cant play a legit dime, though the Giants will be able to play a legit nickel package. Most teams we face carry 5 or 6 corners on the roster, and our thinness at the position is extremely concerning.


Perry Fewell has been playing safeties in place of corners, sometimes Deon Grant will play down low, or Antrel Rolle will play corner on a slot receiver. Having Justin Tryon on the field meant Perry Fewell could have 3 legit corners line up with 2 or 3 safeties over the top in nickel and dime packages, and he could throw some different coverages out there to try and confuse the offense, and keeping the quarterback guessing as to weather he'll be throwing into man or zone coverages. This issue is part of the reason the Giants secondary has given up some big plays. On the other hand the secondary has shown that second half of the last 2 games.


I think we will see Prince Amukamara plat against slot receivers, especially in Nickel and dime situations. Coach Fewell likes that 4-2-5 alignment, and the Prince being on the field means Fewell can have his 4-2-5 and it can be effective.






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