This is simply shocking - Redskins Recon: Week 15, New York Giants

New York

Sunday, December 20, 2009

London Fletcher & Rock Cartwright on facing a familiar foe

By Russ Thaler

Chief Digital Correspondent

CSNwashington.com

The New York Giants that will travel to FedExField for a Monday Night tilt against the Washington Redskins hardly resemble the unit that beat the Burgundy and Gold 23-17 back in Week 1 of the 2009 NFL season. Back on September 13th, the Redskins needed a fake field goal to get in to the end zone, and only a garbage-time touchdown pass from Jason Campbell to Chris Cooley made the 23-17 New York victory look competitive in the box score.

In the subsequent weeks, the Giants have allowed opposing teams to score 30 points five times with the defense giving up 40 or more twice. This isnt exactly the Big Blue wrecking crew of Lawrence Taylor or that of Michael Strahan. Worse, after winning their first five games, the Giants have lost six of their last eight. They are one game behind Dallas for second place in the NFC East and also for the second and final Wild Card spot.

First year defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan is in jeopardy of losing his job if the Giants fail to reach the postseason. Injuries are to blame for at least some of their woes, specifically the season-ending variety suffered by the likes of Kenny Phillips, Jay Alford and Antonio Pierce. Plus, the continued hamstring issues that plague defensive back Aaron Ross. The third-year player is a natural cornerback, but switched to safety in an attempt to get back on the field in Week 11 and started there last week for the injured Michael Johnson. Ross is questionable for Monday nights game (again, with hamstring tightness), but has pledged to play, at cornerback, in place of Corey Webster who is doubtful with a sprained knee.

The Giants have been susceptible to the big play this season partly because of a decimated defensive backfield, but also due to the fact that they simply arent putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks like they expected to when the season began. The Giants had 20 sacks through the first nine weeks of the season--a respectable number that was good for 11th in the NFL at the time, but far below expectations for a unit that was once the most feared in the league. In their last five games, theyve registered just six sacks, and their total of 26 entering Week 15 ranks 22nd in the NFL. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora has become primarily a speed-rusher and was even demoted to the second team for a while in recent weeks.

Offensively, the Giants havent controlled the game on the ground as they have in years past, and that has been an issue. Lead running back Brandon Jacobs has yet to record a 100 yard game in 2009. Yet, they have compensated in the passing game with receivers Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith combining to form a credible downfield threat.

Of course, quarterback Eli Manning, who has performed admirably despite a nagging foot injury, has to have time to throw. Much like their defensive line, the Giants offensive front was supposed to be a strength for this team, yet it has proven to be more of a liability. Monday night, rookie William Beatty will get the start in place of an injured Kareem McKenzie. McKenzie has a sprained ligament in his knee and Beatty, a natural left tackle, will be making just his second start on the right side of the offensive line.

Once-stout defense lets Giants down

New York

By David Elfin

The New York Giants sacked Tom Brady five times to stun the perfect New England Patriots and win Super Bowl XLII two seasons ago. Last year, that fierce defense was even better as New York finished with the NFC's best record. As the Giants started 5-0 this year, the defense allowed just 64 points.

That all seems like ancient history.

The Giants (7-6) enter Monday night's game against the Washington Redskins having lost six of eight while surrendering an average of 32.4 points.

Last week, in a critical NFC East home game against Philadelphia, Eli Manning passed for a career-high 391 yards and three touchdowns as the offense produced a season-high 512 yards. But the Giants still lost 45-38, albeit with the special teams and the offense allowing a touchdown apiece.

"You shouldn't lose games when your offense scores 38 points," defensive end Justin Tuck said. "It's disheartening. I don't know what we've got to do to change this around, but we just aren't playing good defensively right now."

Added fellow end Mathias Kiwanuka: "This game falls squarely on our shoulders. We failed big time."

Only four teams - Kansas City, Detroit, St. Louis and Tampa Bay - are giving up more points.

The Giants built their 5-0 record largely against bad teams - the Chiefs, Buccaneers, Redskins and Oakland, who own a combined 12-40 record. Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he isn't sure his team was worthy of the hype it received.

"I didn't know if we had really been tested to the extent that was going to come," Coughlin said of the just-completed eight-game stretch in which the Giants played seven teams that now have winning records.

The most baffling aspect of the defense's demise has been the pass rush. It once was the pride of the Giants, racking up 52 sacks in 2007 and 42 last season even without Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. This season has been a far different story: The Giants have 26 sacks even though Umenyiora and Tuck have played every game.