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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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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Hakeem Nicks likely out, Ramses Barden in?

Hakeem Nicks has not practiced this week and Ramses Brarden has been practicing as if the Coaches know Barden will play. Barden said he didn't know if he was traveling to New England, Barden said he would pack a bag just in case (as reported by the Star Ledger).

Kevin Gilbride made an interesting comment as reported by Mike Vorkunov:

“We’ve all been hanging on for Ramses to come back,” he said Thursday. “He and (Jerrel Jernigan), now are their chances, they’re going to be here.”

Did Jerrel Jernigan make some plays in practice that would cause Gilbride to make this comment?

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NY Giants 53 man roster for 2011

The Numbers game and a little surprise.
The question in my mind was do the Giants keep 8 Dee linemen and 8 receivers, if so, how many tightends and how many running backs do they keep, and that has meant very few linebackers the last 2 years.

Da'rel Scott makes the team, he's a burner and brings some sorely needed speed to the offense. Imagine Scott blocking in a 2 back set with Amhad Bradshaw, if the rush comes he blocks, if the defense covers, he moves past the DE, into an open area and catches a pass. Scary thoughts. Brown is released. They keep 4 backs.

Coach Coughlin decided to only keep 7 receivers, in recent years he had kept 8. The 6'6" project Ramses Barden is PUP, Nicks, Manningham, Hixon, Cruz, Thomas and Jerrigen will start the season. Nicks, Manningham, Hixon are all proven or potential 1000 yard receivers. I personally like Cruz, he may not be as fast as Da'rel Scott, but Cruz can, well cruise, Cruz needs to show he can make the hot read, and block downfield. Last year Cruz nearly always turned his head to look for the ball well before the DB, and consistently made better adjustments to the ball than the DB covering him, because of that.

Coach kept 2 tight ends. Travis Beckum and Jake Ballard.2 Fullbacks   Bear Pascoe who is a good blocking tight end and Henry Hynoski who is huge and low at 6'1" 266,  it looks like coach wants some blocking for the running game. 


Heres where I was surprised, Linebackers. Coach Coughlin saves a roster spot with Pascoe, and by keeping 6 receivers instead of 8, that makes 3 spots. With the injury to Clint Sintim. Jacquian Williams gets 3 sacks and 7 tackles in the final preseason game and probably makes the team based on that performance in 2 quarters of play. In addition to Willims,  Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones and Spencer Paysinger join Kiwi, Goff, and Michael Boley who may end up inheriting AP's spot. 7 Linebackers on a team that plays the 4-3?.Interesting.


As I thought, the Giants will keep 8 Defensive Linemen, Perry Fewells Scheme requires 8 big guys to shuffle in and out, keeping everyone fresh and opposing offenses shaking in their boots. 9 year veteran Jimmy Kennedy, a small surprise, makes the squad. At 6'4" and 320 he should be a welcome addition at the Dt spot,  clogging the middle on run plays, something Barry Cofield did in college playing the nose tackle in a 3-4, and did for the Giants in their 4-3, but with Cofield gone, there was a spot to fill.


At corner the Giants brought in 10 year vet Brian Williams to help, after the injuries to Thomas and the Prince, so the Giants will play with 4 corners until the Prince comes back from his injury. At safety Rookie Tyler Sash joins Phillips, Rolle,  Grant and veteran pick up Derrick Martin. Long gone are the 2  mid round draft picks at safety from 2010.


Davis Carr will back up Eli. The O line, traditionally a good unit looks to get better with a mix of vets and young guys David Diehl, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, Will Beatty, free agent acquisition David Bass, Stacy Andrews, 2nd year man Mitch Petrus, James Brewer, Kevin Boothe.


Dodge is gone, Offensive Tackle Adam Koets is on the PUP. 
Tynes is the kicker.


This is a team with a defense that will destroy the running 
game, depth at the Dee line and at backer should give the 
Giants enough talent to shut down everyone. The question 
is cornerback, if Rolle can slide over and play some 
corner in nickel or dime, and our backers cover, we should 
be ok.


I dont see 4000 yards passing from Eli like the last 2 years, 
with 4 quality running backs and a younger O line, 
I expect to see more run plays, but that should open 
up the passing game by the 4th quarter.