NFL reinstates DT Jimmy Kennedy

After a 4 week ban for violating the league's policy on performance enhancing drugs, Jimmy Kennedy has been reinstated. The Giants would need to make room for Kennedy on the 53 man roster if they wanted to play Kennedy.

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Giants Vs 49ers week 9.

The Giants Offensive line moved the pile vs the Pats last week. On all but one running play Jacobs got positive yardage. Look at the Matchup of Justin Smith and David Diehl on passing downs. If the Giants are running effectively the run fake might help out Diehl in pass protection.

Alex Smith has a 60% accuracy percent when hes under pressure, expect the Giants Dee linemen to make it understood that Smith will see lots of pressure. I think the pressure on Smith will yield 2 picks and a number of batted balls.

The 49ers have one of the best running backs in the league in Frank Gore. Expect the Giants to play LB Greg Jones in running downs, check out Jones to see how he does, if he makes run reads and fills the gap Gore may have trouble making long runs. Deon Grant will be used as a hybrid Linebacker/Safety, playing close to the line of scrimmage. Grant is capable vs the run. Look to see Jones, Grant and Michael Boley to make timely run stops. This might tip the balance towards the Giants run Dee in containing Frank Gore.

Ramses Barden made 2 nice catches last week and was open 3 other times. Coach Coughlin praised Barden during the week and I think we can expect to Barden to be targeted more often. Nicks and Manningham look to be game day decisions.

The 49ers are very good in the redzone, the Giants need to force field goals, and I think the 49ers will settle for 2 or 3 field goals to add to 1 or 2 touchdowns.

If the Giants expose Alex Smith and can slow down Gore I see the potential for a solid win by the Giants: 31-20 or 24-16.


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Alex Smith is no Giant Killer

49ers quarterback Alex Smith has been a beneficiary to Coach Harbaugh's modified hot route scheme. A 1st round 2005 draft pick, Smith has spent 5 years as a borderline flop. But half way thru the 2011 season, Smith has a QB ranking of 106 in the 4th quarter, 4th in the league, he has the lowest percent of batted balls and picks. Bolstered by one of the best running games in the league Alex Smith has led the 49ers to a 7-1 record.

What Coach Harbaugh has done is to simplify the hot reads. Normally a receiver and a quarterback needs to learn 2 routes, the regular route and the hot read route, this requires recognizing the blitz and altering the route. What the 49ers receivers do is to run a route, say a 15 yard out, and during the route the receiver at say the 6 yard mark, turns to the QB to see if he has thrown the ball because of the blitz.

Alex Smith didn't suddenly get better this year, but instead he's running an offense that suits his skills. The question is whether the Giants can expose Smith's fundamental weakness thru their pass rush and coverage.

Heres  great article by Chris Brown explaining this in detail.

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Final predictions Giants vs Patriots.

The Giants pass rush will of course be key. Another important key will be to attack the heart of the Pats 3-4 defense, the Linebackers. Using a one back 2 TE set and Barden - throwing passes into the Pats Linebacking corp, will make the Pats LB's think pass. Then Running Jacobs from that same passing formation, with Barden and the receivers blocking might unleash the Giants running game. Eli throwing the occasional deep strike to Cruz & Manningham will then keep the Pats Defense off balance. If we run vs the Pats defense, I'm thinking 150 yards team rushing.

If the Giants can make the Pats LB's hesitate in filling run gaps, we'll be running. Then the run fake has meaning. Belicheck knows this and will preach maintaining run responsibility with his linebackers.

I'll be happy if Barden has 5 catches for 65 yards and converts 2 catches on 3rd down. I'm looking for a break out game for Manningham, regaining his big play form of last year, he stopped the juggling act and last week made nice clean catches except for one drop. Mario gains 120 yards and at least one TD.

The Pats suffer from declining points totals all season, in their first game they scored 38, its been downhill, last week they scored 17 pts. In the last 2 weeks the Pats have scored an average of 18.5 pts per game.

I'm thinking Amukamara sees time in the nickel, gets a batted ball, with Ross and Webster I like our corners vs the Pats receivers.

We get pressure without blitzing, the Pats cant, they bring a LB in 3 pt stance and Andre Cater in passing downs. Carter in the game means the opportunity to run, let Carter rush on the perimeter, past the run play.

Past will not cover the pts (9). If we run the ball, we win big, 31-17., if not a close game with ELi playing in the 4th quarter as a #1 ranked QB... we win the close game on Eli's arm, 20-17. Pats will not blow us out, we may blow them out. If the Pats lead us on takeaways, they win 24-21.

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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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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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