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February 2008
Categories
Movers and Shakers Pre-season Texas Stadium dallasnews.com
Sports Blogs |
It's the playoffs, so Cowboys Blog is stepping up its game, too. This week, I'm breaking down the Giants-Bucs game as if it were a Dallas game, and examining New York the same way I would the home team. So that'll be posting for the next few hours, like it normally does. Here’s how the Giants deployed personnel on their 58 offensive snaps on Sunday: 2 RB/1 TE/2 WR (‘21’ personnel): 22 of 58 snaps (11 first half/11 second half) WHAT IT MEANT: There’s Jeremy Shockey fallout here, with the Giants playing more often with a fullback than two tight ends. Most of this was situational, with the four-receiver sets coming out in long yardage, and most of jumbo sets used in the fourth quarter. Fundamentally, the Giants use fullback Madison Hedgecock in an old-school fashion, almost exclusively to help in pass protection and lead block in the running game. The one thing that was noticeable, personnel-wise, was the shuffling of the receivers to gain matchups – Amani Toomer, a prototype outside guy, spent a lot of time in the slot. |
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Comments
Posted by Bill In DC @ 11:55 AM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
Yeah, Dallas is going to have to concentrate on taking away the passing lanes in the middle. That seemed to be where the Giants wanted to go a lot against the Bucs.
My guess is they will try to go deep on the Boys, they seem to think that approach works against our secondary.
Posted by Jeremy @ 11:56 AM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
The bottom line is that Tony Romo is not focused on Football. If Dallas loses Sunday, he has 7 months to go to Mexico with Jessica Simpson. Its all about timing and it may not be a big deal. However, if the team starts to question his commitment, like the fans and media are now, then how does he get that respect back?
Remember, Romo does not play well in December or January.
Posted by Bill In DC @ 12:00 PM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
Also, are they not going deep because Plaxico is so screwed up? Trying to cut and run deep with an ankle missing a ligament can't be fun or easy.
That means the Giants may 'want to' play differently against Dallas, but personnel restrictions will prevent them from doing so.
Jeremy, I think you're a tad overreacting. Romo is 'all about football', ask Carrie Underwood, it's why she dumped him. Phillips TOLD them to get out of town and forget about football over the weekend. I think it is the best thing he could do, recharge the spiritual batteries so to speak. Much better than sitting around all weekend fretting about his 'game'.
Posted by Michael @ 12:08 PM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
The bottom line is I'm not doing my job because I'm reading this blog...oh wait. Taking a break doesn't mean I'm not doing my job. OK, I feel good about Romo again.
Posted by Jeremy @ 12:09 PM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
I heard she dumped him becaue he couldn't be a "one woman man". Whatever the reason, who cares
right?
Well, just look at it this way, if Dallas loses, don't you think a lot of fingers are going to be pointed at Romo's lack of focus, whether it is real or not?
Brady went to NY with his girlfriend, true, but, he has 3 super bowl rings. Romo, has never won a playoff game, and is best remembered for his "Seattle Slip".
Now, if Dallas wins this week, its all a mute point, as this will all be forgotten. Let's hope for Romo's sake, that they win.
Posted by brian @ 12:19 PM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
what if romo throws for 300+, 4 td's, 0 ints....you goofballs still going to blame his mexico trip for the teams undoing?
Posted by Chris/Denton @ 12:20 PM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
Hopefully after the time off, Henry and Newman are both 100% and J. Reeves isn't needed as much. The Cowboys will pressure Eli early and often and I'm not sure they'll need to bring the house much to get it. Ratliff should have a good game especially with their starting center out. Ellis wants this game bad and I look for him to have a good day as well.
Posted by Jim @ 12:42 PM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
If NY uses 2 WRs or less like they did most of the time against TB, that will play right into our hands.
Posted by Rodney in Atlanta @ 1:22 PM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
Look, the Giants beat a team that finished 9-7 this season, and it's not like they dominated them. The Giants had a better record at 10-6 playing in a much better division. Tampa was down to starting a free agent running back and had gimpy Joey Galloway along with a bunch of nobody receivers. The Giants were supposed to win that game.
Add all of this up with the fact that ShEli passed for only 185 yards. It's not like he lit up Tampa Bay.
Bottom line is, just like prior meetings this year, the Giants don't have a chance this Sunday. Put that down in 3 inch headlines.
And quit listening to the east coast media who are doing nothing more than trying to hype this game up and get people to watch it. I recall hearing the same crap out of them that I heard the last time the Cowboys played the Giants.
I am no Pollyanna. The point is that this team hasn't given me any excuse to criticize them. Last year I didn't really expect them to do anything in the playoffs and they were a messed up snap away from doing something. This year they went 13-3 and have yet to lose a playoff game. At least wait for the game to be played before you vomit all over this team with your petty bull.
Posted by LL from Austin @ 1:24 PM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
They use a FB over half the time...the Cowboys ignore the FB...they did it last year and have been caught a couple of times this year...if the FB is any kind of athlete at all, I would look for a couple of flair passes to him, most likely opposite DWare and maybe a hand off or two in unexpected situations...maybe a FB screen to DWare's side to take advatage if he is overagressive...similar to how the Titans used Ahmard Hall vs SD last week...they might even try to sneak a RB in a FB alignment once or twice and throw it.
PS - for all the Tim bashing over Jessica Tabloid coverage, some of you guys sure bring it up a lot even when it has nothing to do with the topic. What would we be doing, or should I say who and how many, if any one of us was in his shoes??? Romo's not Tim's LOL!!!
Posted by ap @ 1:25 PM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
Jim,
That's just it - will they go with two or fewer wr's? If their line can protect for Eli long enough, they'd probably want to stay with a three-wide set and either pick on Reeves or give it to Jacobs up the middle.
Of course, that's a *huge* if, especially with a backup center.
Posted by flex727 @ 2:08 PM Tue, Jan 08, 2008
Albert, thanks for the breakdown of the NY-TB game. Great analysis, as usual. I'm certain you only did this because I asked for it last week. :))