Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Giants and the 49ers are over 48 hours from dueling at the Bay.  But before that, Bob Glauber of Newsday writes about Jerry Reese’s conventional approach to get his team here.  Who’s the best linebacker in all of football?  Well that’s Patrick Willis and he has a story that may sound very familiar says Kevin Kernan of the Post.  Mike Lupica of the Daily News writes how close this season was to being for naught.  Mark Purdy of the Conta Costra Times writes that Candlestick Park is a fortress for the 49ers.  

Forget the hype and delirium that I’m feeling while typing this.  As a Giant fan, its unnerving to know that most prognosticators will pick them because they have been flying under the radar throughout these playoffs and during their run.  Its an unusual position to put the Giants in but they have to be weary of an opponent who plays possum.  Alex Smith’s career was done when this season was about to start.  Now he’s led his team to a playoff victory in dramatic fashion and remade his legacy in San Fran.  He’s now one win away from a Super Bowl berth.  Meanwhile the Giants are standing in his way.

The Jerry Reese story is funny because during his first full year as GM, Reese had seven draft picks whom all played and had a role in the Giants success during their first Super Bowl run.   But he’s had to go out and remake the roster and after sitting and lying in wait this off season as the Eagles were signing every marquee name, the Giants were able to stick to what they knew best: player development.  Victor Cruz.  Will Beatty.  Kevin Boothe.  Henry Hynoski.  Chase Blackburn returning.  Read out the names and you wouldn’t give him any offseason awards, but read those names again before the NFC Championship game and you may give him props and were it not for all the gold that the Niners found among all their free agent nuggets perhaps Jerry Reese would be a slam dunk for GM of the year, but alas, all is well if the G-Men go out and play the game that we know they can play.

While the Giants have found their offensive punch, the Knicks haven’t found theirs as Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News writes, they had better find it soon.  According to Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks need to speed up their offense says Marc Berman of the Post.  

Its perplexing to me as much as Mike D’Antoni and he said it right: if with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire the Knicks cant score 85 points they don’t deserve to win.  My problem is that the offense has yet to be in synch because there isn’t enough spacing in D’Antoni’s offense and also because there’s too much iso play going on.  There are moments when the Knicks can look good, and feel good but their reliance on a 3 point shot is beyond foolish and they continue to shoot with reckless abandon even as they miss and miss and miss.  Yet every single shot they miss they don’t get offensive rebounds so most of those opportunities are missed because there are no second chance points.

Will Baron Davis help?  Perhaps they need a better floor leader capable of handling the point but here’s the dilemma.  Too much one on one play and too much standing around while superstars shoot must stop.  The Knicks have been prone to making those mistakes and frankly its tough to watch and tough to stand.  Watching them play this way is the reason that people drink these days during the mid afternoon.

What will help the knicks?  If you have answers please do share with Knick management.  Its gotten so bad that James Dolan began making hockey predictions and forgot that he has a basketball team.

Chris Canty doesn’t expect Sunday to be a pretty offensive showing.  In fact, he expects it to be a bloodbath according to Sean Brennan of the Daily News.  Mike Vacarro of the Post writes that the pain threshold of a football player is unlike anything us normal human beings know about.  Neil Best of Newsday writes about Jerry Rice’s criticism of one Brandon Jacobs which frankly I and many Giant fans have wondered too.  Eric Branch of the San Fran Chronicle writes about the career that Alex Smith could have had, if one Norv Turner had stayed in San Fran.  Then again, Troy Aikman agrees.  Jerry McDonald’s piece in this morning’s Contra Costa Times about how the Niners secondary was assembled is a must read for football heads.  Classic story by Steve Politi of the Star Ledger about John Mara forced to miss his first Giants playoff game in forty years because his two daughters were up for awards at the Golden Globes.  His line to a stranger who was a Packer fan is classic.  Ohm Yungmisuk of ESPN writes that 15 seconds of that game against the Jets helped the Giants save their season.  SI’s Jim Trotter goes in depth on the Alex Smith saga in a must read.  Finally, Ian O’Connor writing about Bill Parcells talking about the Giants.  LOVED this article.  

Look, I’ve said this repeatedly that this game will be the end all, be all.  As good as that Saints/Niners game was, purists will thoroughly enjoy Sunday’s game at Candlestick for two reasons.  The Niners will have to earn every point against the Giants defense and the Niners will make the Giants earn every point when they have the ball.  The Niners have the better defense, but the Giants have the better overall team playing RIGHT NOW.  As it stands its a coin flip.  I won’t give you a prediction because I’m not in the business of picking games when it comes to the Giants since I have a certain rooting interest and in fairness, my objectivity would be questioned had I made one but I will tell you that this game will come down to the final five minutes.

That last drive by the Saints was fantastic for one reason: Jim Harbaugh made some calls at the end of that game that made Alex Smith feel like he believed in him so much.  It does wonders to your confidence as a player if a coach can put that kind of trust and faith in you.  I’ve always said that there’s a reason these guys are getting paid millions of dollars to play a sport.  Its because they have genuine talent.  That talent doesn’t magically just go away, but you need the right mindset to keep it up.  Alex Smith’s career has never had stability and Troy Aikman said it best, having Norv Turner for three years to guide his maturation as a QB was vital to his career.  Once Aikman was given direction, Norv was no longer needed to guide him later.  Eli has had Kevin Gilbride throughout his professional career.  The stability of having Tom Coughlin as his coach for the last 8 years.  These things can’t be overlooked and glossed over, yet they are because we want immediate results.

Could Alex Smith have been a star had Norv stayed on as offensive coordinator of the 49ers?  You can’t answer that question because it never happened, but if you want to prognosticate on that, I will entertain that question and say yes.  I think Smith could’ve been more than serviceable.  Coming out of Utah the kid was smart and as Urban Meyer said it, “Tebow before there was a Tebow” and as crazy as this sounds, that’s saying a lot.  Not everyone benefits from the stability that others enjoy.  Its amazing what Jason Campbell could do playing on a team that DIDNT change its offensive coordinator every year like he had in Washington.  It takes time for QB’s to become who they are.  It takes time to mature into that position and its always a good story when QB’s or even high draft picks make good for your franchise.

The Giants head into San Fran as the most complete team left.  Does that matter?  No.  Because ALL of these teams have the ability to win the Super Bowl.   I learned nothing about the Patriots defense after that Denver game.  You give Bill Belichiek and Tom Brady two chances to play you and then add the former coach of that team to the staff days prior to the game, and you expect what exactly?  The Pats to lay an egg?  Come on.  The Ravens haven’t proved they can pass the ball and the Pats will play the run all afternoon, but that’s of course playing to the Ravens strengths because like Phil Simms said on NFL today, did anyone see Joe Flacco miss a pass?  No.  Did I see the run game disappear? Yes.  And then there are the Niners and as good as the offense was against the Saints, the Saints don’t have a defense that scares anyone.  Like the Packers they aren’t physical and depend too much on the takeaway.  This will be an interesting match up and I will have a preview of that game up shortly after I finally finish the wrap up from Sunday’s game.

I dont know if you heard, but the Giants won.  The Giants defeated a mistake prone Packers team to land a chance to face the Niners in the NFC Championship game.  Mike Vaccaro of the Post warns that its an avalanche heading to San Fran.  Bart Hubbuch of the Post says despite Jim Harbaugh heaping praise on the Giants, the hope is that severe weather will give his team an advantage.  Mike Lupica of Daily News writes that Tom Coughlin is now writing his place right next to Bill Parcells as the greatest coach in team history.   Confidence, is riding super high for these Giants and uncharacteristically Tom Coughlin is allowing his players to feel and express how confident they are.  So if its Michael Boley saying “we’re the better team” or Antrell Rolle saying “we won’t be denied”, Coughlin is now allowing his players to talk out their feelings and its been good.  During the 08 playoff run, the storyline was how Tom Coughlin had changed for the better.  He began becoming more communicative and caring towards his players.  Not completely giving up his ways he added an extra dimension that allowed his players to see who he was as a man.  It was one of the reasons that team worked.  So keeping away from the obvious comparison, the Giants know that this season’s ride will have to come also at the expense of the 49ers magical season.  Nobody, at the beginning of the season, expected Jim Harbaugh to lead this unit to where it is currently.  But he has.  Its been the consummate coaching job by a guy who’s quickly earning rave reviews.  Especially a guy who came from college to the pros.  He has a very good defense and an offense that isn’t all that great, but can create points when it needs to and has a tough edge about it.  The Niners haven’t required a great performance from any offensive player but got it from Vernon Davis who is a match up nightmare as the Saints found out. Are the Niners capable of being beat? Yes but so are the Giants.  No team in these playoffs are unbeatable like I’ve been saying.  Each team has a fatal flaw so counting the Giants out now would be a mistake. My only worry is that people will jump on the Giant bandwagon and push the line in favor of the boys in blue.  We’ll see if there’s any negative effect there on Sunday.  By the way the weather is calling for extreme rain and winds.  That benefits a good running game like the Niners and negatively affects the Giants passing game which has been their hallmark.  Also ball security will be an issue.  Niners and Giants were actively looking for the strip during their games and will continue to Sunday.  It will be an interesting match up to say the least.   More on this game as the week goes on.

In their annual MLK showing, everyone but Carmelo Anthony forgot to show up.  Anthony’s 33 points were not enough to slow down the Magic say Frank Isola of the Daily News.  Marc Berman says that the Knicks are not meshing well with both Melo and Amar’e even on an offnight for Superman.  John Jeansonne of Newsday says that Carmelo Anthony had more of everything for the Knicks, but not enough to overcome the bad.  

Its not to anyone’s surprise that the Knicks are not playing well against the bad teams in the league.  They started a stretch against Philly at home, and since winning that game have lost their last three games against quality opponents which raises eyebrows.  I said this before and I’ll say it again, judging the Knicks can’t be done till mid February or early March at the latest because we wont know how D’Antoni’s team will react to having another quality player in Baron Davis on the court.  IF good Baron shows up, this team can patch up a lot of their problems pretty quickly and allows for Iman Shumpert to come off the bench.  IF bad Baron shows up we can forget this season and pray that they convince the Suns to give up Steve Nash and he comes aboard.  Its going to be a very tense next few weeks but D’Antoni and the Knicks deserve a few more weeks to allow themselves to get fully healthy and have their complete squad before we start handing out pink slips to coaches and begin charging up the trade machine to see what we can get for Amar’es contract.

Interesting article in the Houston Chronicle detailing Javale McGee’s performance yesterday in which his Wizards lost again, to the Rockets.  During the game he threw an alley-oop off the backboard and slammed it home as if he were in practice and his defense was that he was trying to hype up his teammates.  Minutes later they were trailing by 19.  Whatever run he was trying to convince the team to have, he did so for the Rockets who blew them out.  Johnathan Feigen said, that’s how teams become 1-13, they become about themselves.  Michael Lee of the Washington Post says Flip Saunders defended McGee’s actions by saying that he wants to build up his confidence and so whatever he does to do that he needs to keep doing.  MMM, okay coach.  

As a fan of a team that routinely disappointed me over the years and only started getting expectations for winning again, I can tell you its demoralizing to see the difference between a good team and a bad team.  A good team knows what it takes to win and knows it takes five guys playing in synch and rhythm to win.  All of them individually have earned their right to play on a professional level, but all of them have earned teh right to play on a team.  The Wizards are talented and they have the kind of talent that can go very far, but its clear that Saunders is not the guy to deliver that message OR to make sure that the message is being driven home.  He’s defending McGee’s actions to protect him.  Meanwhile, he’s doing nothing for his growth.  McGee possesses one of the most athletic frames for a true center in this league.  He can lead the league in blocks.  He has some kind of idea when he’s on the offensive end.  They have an all-world Point guard in John Wall waiting to break out.  The problem is that they don’t have veteran leadership in that locker room and worse they don’t have a coach who will put his foot down.  Saunders is so passive its not funny.  The guy looks like he hasn’t slept in weeks and is waiting for the game to end so he can finally rest except he doesn’t.  He goes home and watches hours of skinemax.  The Wizards are a mess and until they get a coach who can hold these players accountable it won’t end.  Also, naming Andray Blatche a captain is a HUGE problem.  Apparently Rex Ryan runs this team too.

On the Friday before the chill of Lambeau begins to haunt the bones of the players that play in Sunday’s divisional round match up between the Giants and Packers, the rallying cry has been made:  All In.  George Willis of the Post explains the significance of that quote.  Tom Rock of Newsday looks at the 5 guys on the team that do the grunt work that most of the time don’t get any due or pub.  Sometimes people get a little crazy like Filip Bondy of the Daily News who wants the NFL to look at the Lambeau leap as an excessive celebration.  (BBM eye roll).  BJ Raji, he of the discount double check commercial part 2, is now taking to the microphone and delivering sweet nothings to the Giants offensive line saying that they are not exactly the toughest group he’s faced according to Kristie Ackert.  Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel delivers this: Aaron Rodgers is really really, REALLY competitive.  

Ok, here it is folks.  Time for talking is done and really what BJ Raji said doesn’t do anything for me and shouldn’t for the Giants football team.  The offensive line has been soft at times this season and so that criticism does have legs.  It is ripe with merit.  But, these last few games the offensive line has looked more and more like a unit that can play with anyone and will HAVE to open up holes.  The Giants have done the most damage running off tackle and away from center.  The Giants had this reputation years ago as this monstrous offensive line that could run anywhere on the field on anybody.  This incarnation does not have such a resume and it bears repeating that this Giant team is a different team following a different philosophy than that magical 2007 team that shocked the world.

Take for instance their mantra:  ALL In.  Plastered on towels used for waving and wiping off Dirty Bird spit, the Giants have used it as a rallying cry for their team.  Many wondered aloud who the leader was of this group and while you can make plenty of money betting on both Tuck and Rolle, this team does not have to have one leader, but they must have one mindset and its clear that every so called captain (we know that word can get you in trouble in this town) has been rallying his troops behind the one message of all in.  Some of you of lesser faith may not buy into hokey stuff like this but I do.  I love these stories that add substance to the style and give some depth to your average NFL roughian story.  This is what makes this team special.  Its a purpose.  A sense of mission and it seems as though this team has a mission.  Its to seek out and destroy.

The defensive line, the offensive line the areas that you MUST be good at, are playing exceptionally and must.  I agree with Mike Francesa (God help me), the Giants can not afford to play the time of possession game.  Like the Falcons who tried to take on a different persona than their own, the Giants must play with what got them here: the big play and decent up and down, move the chains kind of team that can wear the opponent down.  They must hit a few big plays in order to knock down the bully.  The Giants are facing their first road test since being in the comfort of their own digs for the last 3 weeks giving people this sense that this team is rounding into  form.  That team in 07 made a living on going into other people’s backyards and bullying them.  The Giants must do that this week.  If they really want to be compared, lets see them on the road.  But the real comparisons will begin should they make it to Indianapolis as players instead of visitors come early February.

The Knicks played a horrific game last night in which everything that could go wrong did.  The Knicks lost to the Grizzlies 94-83 (trust me folks the game wasn’t that close), Frank Isola of the Daily News said the Knicks were out of whack in every way possible.  Marc Berman of the Post writes that the mauling the Grizzlies did was not just mental, but physical as Melo had to leave after spraining his ankle.  Mark Hermann of Newsday writes with Melo in the locker room and Amar’e battling foul trouble the Knicks had no where to go in terms of offense.  

Our superb rookie, Iman Shumpert took 20 shots and made only five and watching the shot selection a lot of it could be blamed on his own aggressiveness.  This was the knock coming out of college on Shump: he grabbed it and he shot it.  He was a one man play making machine and while that may work fine in college, its a different animal in the pros.  Of course, nobody except Anthony was hitting shots last night and when he left and Amare, who got two fouls in the first two minutes of the game and was limited in action all night,  had to leave the Knicks were left with no one to take the offensive mentality up.  These are the times that the Knicks need a point guard more than anything else.  They don’t have that much in terms of depth to go to for offense.  They have Amar’e and they have Carmelo.  That’s hurt the overall mentality of the team as they were unable to close the gap to allow Amar’e to get back in and try and lead a surge.  The Grizz were more active on defense and got so many more turnovers and it led to more stagnant offense, something most didn’t expect.  The Knicks again played with some fire defensively which is what you want to see.  The proven part of their game is not the defense: its the offense.  I have no doubt that the offense will come around at some point and Melo and Amar’e will get it going and the superb passing that we saw in some of these games will be a road map for future victories.  Let’s just say that what the Knicks need, they need from their superstars.  Melo and Amare haven’t taken over games and the ones they have won is because the entire team has contributed.

The Knicks don’t seem to have any rhythm on the offensive side of the ball and the biggest flaw is that they have nobody to penetrate the defense.  The ball passing on teh perimeter that starts when Toney Douglas enters the game shows the major flaw in Toney’s game but in the Knicks offense overall.  Their back up can’t drive and while Toney plays superb defense, his inability on the other end will make him a unwelcome commodity.

I do like Toney Douglas and while I don’t support him along the lines of Mike Breen who absolutely can’t stop talking about what a gym rat he is and how determined he is to be better, the fact is, he’s not getting better but that doesn’t mean he is limited to what he is now for the future.  He CAN be the floor general if he dribbles with his head up.  His quick hands and his ability to track the ball when its in the hands of the opponent when he’s on defense show me that he HAS the ability to fix some of the flaws but it will take repetition.  He will need to be confident.  He has to be quicker with his decision making: all things he can work on in practice.  Yes, it will take a few weeks but if he’s the hard worker that everyone says he is (ok fine, just Mike Breen), then he will get that fixed and then imagine come March with three point guards that can pass the ball with efficiency?  Plus I love Toney’s clutch game.  He has that gene.

As the Giants prepare for the playoffs, the Jets continue to unravel.  The Jets announced last night that Brian Schottenheimer, informed the team he will not be returning as offensive coordinator of the New York Jets writes Brian Costello of the New York Post.  Roderick Boone of Newsday writes that this was move was written in the stars after a disappointing 8-8 season and all the support that Mike Tannenbaum and Rex Ryan gave him in post-season interviews.  Its expected that former Dolphin head coach Tony Sparano will take over as OC this upcoming season according to a report by ESPN. 

And then this.  Manish Mehta of Daily News writes that several Jets players and members of the organization offered up a very sobering picture of Mark Sanchez saying he was “lazy and content” and that the Jets should “bring in a back up to make him work in practice.”  

Well, I can’t say I’m surprised.  I’m not going to sit on a high and mighty cloud and come down on either Mark Sanchez OR Brian Schottenheimer for the Jets lack of success this season.  They both played a role in their downfall.  But this hiding behind a veil of words is cowardly and shows you the kind of rift that the organization has and MUST fix.

From Schottenheimer’s perspective he was asked to help the growth of Mark Sanchez and there has been none.  So he didn’t do his job.  That’s the black and white of it.  From the perspective of what he had to work with: a coddled quarterback, an entitled quarterback, petulant wide receivers, divas, and a regressing offensive line.  Let’s face it, the offensive line regressed along with Mark so much of the blame has to go to him.  He was brought to NY behind a very very good offensive line.  ANY QB in the league can tell you that success begins up front and the Jets had that kind of production from those players.  However, the problem with the Jets was their inability to grow from that.

I was never a Schottenheimer fan.  I hate him as much as I hated Kevin Killdrive i mean Kevin Gilbride.  One guy should be conventional the other guy shouldn’t be so damn conventional.  Its maddening to see Schotty’s game plans sometimes.  He just seems to have no real grip on how to run the team.  I was just mystified at some of his decisions and it bears noting that he’s not the only culprit here.

I think one guy getting a free ride for the moment is Mike Tannenbaum who made some very questionable personnel decisions the past two years.  He let leaders go from this building to upgrade skill positions on offense.  Jerricho Crotchery was released.  Damien Woody retired.  Alan Faneca gone.  Tony Richardson, Thomas Jones gone.  Alot of good locker room guys were thrown away in order to make room for pricy acquisitions with glitz and glamor and nothing else.  The Jets regressed as an organization.  Not just one guy.

Now, the problem heightens if these rumblings of the QB being entitled are true and you can only take the man at his word.  Manish Mehta has done a tremendous job covering the Jets for such a long time and I trust him in these areas so to hear players say that its an indication that perhaps the Jets have more work to do than just firing the offensive coordinator.  One major loss being glossed over is that Bill Calahan, offensive line guru, left to take up the same position in the Cowboys.  He wanted the OC position here but was not permitted to have the job since the job is going to Tony Sparano which is interesting.  He was a former offensive line coach as well so he takes up that mantle.  His job will be to put Mark Sanchez and the offensive line in a position to win.  A lot of the offensive coordinator’s job is to make a read about a player’s ability and create an offense suitable for his skill set.  Look at what Ron Rivera did in Carolina for Cam Newton?  Look at what the Broncos did with Tim Tebow?  You grow confidence as a quarterback by being in a position to succeed and its the job of the head coach to do that.  NOT to come in and demand your players to follow a specific system.  You have to guide and lead and fit and construct.  Your job is to mold but also to bend a little.  You have to be able to walk that thin line.  Your authority shouldn’t be questioned but at the same time you can’t be so hard edged that players cant offer their input.

As far as the Peyton Manning conversation, listen it makes sense.  The Jets need an upgrade and there’s no denying that the Colts are weighing their options right now.  My money is on the Colts working something out with Peyton Manning in signing a much friendlier team contract that would be able to be moved to another team of his choosing.  Whether he chooses the Jets is anyone’s guess and yes having Tom Moore as a “consultant” is a great step forward but not a deal clincher.  Tony Sparano will be the offensive coordinator and that marriage will be interesting if it happens.  However, I see Peyton NOT going to the Jets and going to the 49ers  if they can afford it.  The Niners give him the defense and a ridiculously easy NFC West that he can torment over the next few years.  He’s got skill players on offense, a pretty damn good line, a great running game, an elite TE, and a few good WR’s.  The Niners have the pieces that would intrigue the Colts and plus the Niners play in the NFC and not in the AFC like the Jets where the Colts are likely to see them more often.

Sorry Jet fans.

Hank Gola of the Daily News offers up his thoughts on how to defeat the Packers.  Steve Serby of the Post hopes that the Giants were watching the Chiefs when they beat them.  Paul Schwartz talks about unflappable Eli.  Tom Rock of Newsday writes about the emergence of the defense upon the return of Chase Blackburn as MLB.  

Look, the Packers are going to be difficult to defeat.  They have the best team in all of football though that’s debatable right now with how the Saints are playing (at home).  But like I’ve said all season: there is no DOMINANT team that does everything right.  Each team has a major flaw that can be exploited and its up to the Giants to find that flaw.  Both number one seeds have shoddy defenses though the Packers are opportunistic and that ranking is a result of that aggressive scheme.  The Giants have a very good chance of beating the Packers it will be up to unflappable Eli and Chase Blackburn’s leadership on defense to set the tone and punch the cheese in its mouth.

The Rangers win again.  Eventually I will have an intelligent opinion about hockey.  Eventually.

With the Giants facing the Packers Sunday at Lambeau, Mike Lupica of the Daily News says that the bandwagon is starting to fill up.  Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes that Big Blue is drawing on experience to help them Sunday against the invincible Packers.  Tom Rock of Newsday writes that if anybody knows what its like to overcome injury and get hot right before the playoffs, the Giants need only look across the field and at the tape of the 2010 world champion Green Bay Packers who sent 15 players to IR.  

This is going to be ONE LONG week but needless to say the Giants are beginning to form into a team that is scary.  All the projections and calculations of what this pass rush could do, our wildest fantasies as Giants fans about the running game getting back on track and our greatest imagined wide receiving corp are suddenly all taking shape and creating what is a scary scary team.  Will that at all cause the Packers any panic?  No.  None.  I dont blame them.  They are the formerly undefeated Packers.  The one loss Packers.  The team with the year’s MVP.  The team that has a ton of talent and plenty of skilled players to give Giants defenders fits.

BUT, like I’ve been saying, each team has its faults.  The Packers have a very very beaten up offensive line.  A line that has shuffled players in and out as late as Week 16 and Week 17.  How many guys they get back will be key for them as they face a defensive line that is generating pressure and reminders of the ’07 line that went on to win the championship.  Its simple.  If the Giants man their gaps and don’t allow Aaron Rodgers to throw in a comfortable pocket and get to him and hit him repeatedly the Giants will have a shot.  IF they give him all the time in the world to operate he will dissect them like Sunday Morning NFL Match up on ESPN! (PLUG!).

As per my policy, I’m not giving up predictions.  I will give my thoughts as the week goes on.  The Giants will have to get pressure.  Maintain gaps and NOT allow Rodgers to get the ball deep down the field.  The one guy the Giants have to worry about is Jordy Nelson.  He’s the third receiver but he’s the guy that Aaron Rodgers uses to dump his passes off to.  Remember, Michael Boley is playing in Sunday’s game and will be asked to cover JerMichael Finley as tall an order as that is.  The Giants MUST cover on the back end to have any shot.  Rodgers is lethal with his precision passing and even a sliver of room he can hit the man in stride.  The Giants MUST MUST take away the intermediary and that means that the Giants will depend on their rookie LB’s to not make mistakes but to play the kind of smart aggressive football we’ve been seeing from them starting four weeks ago after the Redskins game.

Hey, everything else seems to be clicking, why not them?

It was a small victory, but of greater concern for Mike D’Antoni and his team is that three weeks into the season the coach’s bread and butter — his offense, particularly in the fourth quarter — remains a work in progress.  “We aren’t a confident team,” D’Antoni said after the Knicks survived a late scare to defeat the Bobcats, 91-87, Monday night at the Garden. “It’s going to take a while to get to that and wins do help.”  So writes Frank Isola of the Daily News on the Knicks surviving the Charlotte Bobcats 91-87.  Team first Tyson Chandler, deciding to opt out of a visit to the White House by the Dallas Mavericks, helped the Knicks to a win  writes Marc Berman of the Post.    John Jeansonne of Newsday writes that the Knicks are learning to play together offensively and defensively on the fly.  Literally.  

I came away from this game impressed for two reasons.  Tyson Chandler said it correctly: once the team learns to play in synch and feed off each other games like this will be blowouts.  Everytime the Knicks got a 9 point or 11 point lead, the Knicks went back to the one on one game where they quickly missed shots leading to easy transition points for the Bobcats.  When they were building their lead up again, it was about passing and getting the ball to the open man and keeping everyone in on the play.  The Knicks still are working on that aspect of the game.  They have their work cut out for them considering that Wednesday they go up against the Philadelphia 76ers who don’t have any great names but play really well with each other.

Let’s put this game into perspective.  Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony were having off shooting nights for the Knicks and yet they still were able to build up leads of 9 and 11 points consistently throughout the night.  Why?  Effort.  Just plain hustle and effort on the rebounding  front.  The Knicks have seemingly begun to give a damn and you see four or five guys staying around to get defensive rebounds.  You are seeing atleast one or two guys trying for the offensive bounds.  Guys hustle up the court and contest transition buckets well.  They are playing smart basketball and not giving their opponents easy buckets.

Remember opening day when Rondo seemingly was in the backcourt everytime and the Celtics were getting easy baskets?  The Knicks have limited the ability of teams to do that.  Iman Shumpert has been really good.  Yes, he’s in the line up due to Toney Douglas’ rough start.  Yes, its because Baron Davis isn’t healthy but his effort and his defensive ability is going to make him a starter soon even when Baron Davis returns.  Shump has a natural ability and is instinctive on the defensive end knowing when to tap the ball out and when to be aggressive.  Yes, he still needs to learn how to play point guard a little bit and I’d much rather him learn the nuances of the game because I feel as though he would learn it quicker, but the Knicks need only plug holes and not try and fit round pegs into square spaces.

However, Shump can be a combo guard.  A guy that can confuse defenses.  A guy who can bring the ball up and set the offense up in the half court sets and/or look for his own shot coming off of screens and taking a few dribbles to the hoop.  If he drives and the defense collapses imagine the defense having to choose between Amar’e, Melo and Tyson Chandler underneath the basket as to who to guard?  That’s a tough order for any team.  That’s where the Knicks must attack.  That’s why a point guard is so essential.  You also need your guards to hit the open looks from beyond the arc and they haven’t been getting that from Landry Fields and Toney Douglas.  I understand the backcourt has gotten a ton of unnecessary blame for the team’s deficiences.  Some of it has to do with the half court game that the Knicks love to go to.  Melo takes a lot of stupid shots.  Contested shots.  Amar’e has found his offensive game and has stopped settling for jump shots and that’s allowed him to get some space when he is taking jump shots and he’s been hitting them with regularity.  Melo on the other hand has been getting fouls called on him in obvious situations where teams will take advantage of his aggressiveness.  He’s a big 6’7 and he can muscle up against most guys and what they do is draw charges on Melo and he’s been in foul trouble with regularity.  Teams see that and know that Melo loves to go one on one and will drive to the hoop.

I know that Melo likes to create his own shot, but I think he’s been doing a better job of trusting his teammates.  He’s dished out seven and six assists on consecutive games.  He’s a more willing passer and he’s gifted with his court vision.  Its amazing how he can create offense in so many different ways but he settles ALOT.  The Knicks need to work on that among other things.

Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Herald writes that what the Patriots (Denver’s opponent Saturday) and the Steelers saw was a more pass-happy Tim Tebow.  Mike Kils of the Denver Post writes that in the spirit of fair play how fair is it that the Patriots hired the former Denver head coach Josh McDaniels in time for the playoffs to face against his former team?  John McClain of the Houston Chronicle writes that Texan fans should stop being so worried that Wade Phillips is interviewing for the vacant Tampa Bay head coaching job.  His allegiance is with the Texans and their playoff game against the Ravens.  Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun believes that the quarterback match up Sunday will go to Joe Flacco.  No doubt about it.  Damin Esper of the Times Picayune writes that the Niners remember Greg Williams blitzing during a meaningless preseason game.  Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle says that putting the pressure on Brees is easier said than done.  

AND ACTION!

Wild Card Weekend ended with quite the wild finish.  We’ll get to the big story but we have to give props to the home team.  Mike Lupica of Daily News wrote that the Giants christened MetLife Stadium with their first playoff win by playing like Giants teams of old.  Steve Serby of the Post saw the same ole Giants as well.   Mike Vaccaro of the Post says that when the Giants needed some magic, Eli tucked it and ran and the Giants ended up running away with the win.  Tom Rock of Newsday writes what was on every fan’s mind, in a season where everything seemed to be a struggle, yesterday was a relative breeze.  Hank Gola of the Daily News said that the blueprint for the Giants success was written:  physical football.   

Ok Giant fans.  I’m going to come out with it.  I was confident heading into Sunday’s game against the Falcons and I’ll tell you why.  Like in 07 when the Giants faced the Tampa Bay Bucs, the Falcons weren’t anything special.  They weren’t anything bigger or badder or that much better I thought and in a straight up chess match OR a fight the Giants could beat them.  I wasn’t impressed by Matt Ryan who earlier in the year I called THE most overhyped player in the NFL.  In an age where you can slap together some ridiculous stats to make a QB sound better than he actually is, some clown crowned him with the moniker Matty Ice and everyone drank the juice like a bunch of thirsty animals.

Fortunately I came properly hydrated and told everyone to show me a signature victory and the defense could NOT provide sufficient evidence.  Once again, the defense was given a game where the Falcons had a chance to show everybody they belonged in the upper echelon and they couldn’t do it.

I’ll get more into the win later in another post but let’s just say this for the Giants.  The Giants were more determined.  The effort was there.  That was a ferocious team.  A team that came ready to play.  A team feeding off the emotion of the crowd.  A team that fed off everything that the Falcons gave them and they seemed to get more and more ferocious as the day wore on and it was great to see the Giants and Eli and Coach Coughlin get their first home win.  Ever.

Sunday was impressive.  What remains to be seen is if the running game continues to show up.  If this intensity and emotion continue to show up.  If they do.  Watch out.

The Broncos and Tim Tebow continue to do the unthinkable.  Forget all the hyperbole.  Forget everything you know about football.  Tim Tebow came in and did what everyone said he couldn’t do.  He outdueled Ben Roethlisberger and out Roethlisbergered him in a crucial playoff game.  Dave Krieger of the Denver Post says that the play to win it in overtime was just brilliant everything.  

I was reading all the other articles but I just couldn’t stomach all the bullshit that was being said.  Listen, when Tebow connected with DeMarius Thomas for the 80 yard touchdown on the very first overtime with the new rules, on the very first play, the internet became a combustible engine capable of exploding.  From Twitter to Facebook, those involved intimately with the game and those five and ten times removed were exclaiming the virtues of one Timothy Tebow.  His play notwithstanding, it was what the Steelers didn’t have.  I dont mean to sound like a hater but let’s be real.  No Lamar Woodley for stretches.  No Ryan Clark the secondary’s coach.  No Brett Keisel.  No Casey Hampton in the middle stuffing the run.  The Steelers were missing a ton of elements to their game and so I can’t completely give the Broncos credit but a win is a win.  This doesn’t fall on Tebow.  This falls on the entire Bronco team who played a very good game against a very hobbled team.

Amazing win for a team that’s rediscovering the magic at the right time.

One other quick note, Anthony Reiber of Newsday writes about Toney Douglas and losing his starting job.

I admit that I was not and still am not a Toney Douglas fan.  I will say this: he’s been nothing but class since losing his starting job Saturday.  What that means for tonight where he will again start off on the bench, I dont know.  All i know is that right now as the team is flying the Knicks will go with the hot hand which is the rookie Iman Shumpert.  Shump has more athleticism and has a natural court vision that Douglas doesn’t have.  Its not that much better but his ability to cut through traps and work the pick and roll will be instrumental in how the Knicks view his progression moving forward: Shooting guard or point guard?  Red pill, blue pill.  You live and you learn.

Playoff Sunday is here.  A day after the Saints put up video game numbers again, and the Texans got their first playoff win in the franchise’s history, the Giants/Falcons and the Tebows/Steelers wrap up Wild Card Weekend.  Paul Schwartz of the Post says that the Giants must avoid the early exit.  Mike  Vaccaro of the Post laments the lousiness of losing.  Steve Serby of the Post says its time for Eli Manning to direct a home victory.  Mike Lupica of the Daily News says it is time to find out how good this Giant team is.  Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News says that the pass rush is coming together just in time.  Ebenezer Samuel of the Daily News says that the two headed monster of Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz gives Eli Manning options to keep drives going.  Harvey Araton of the New York Times says that David Tyree and Victor Cruz have more in common than just being New Jersey Natives.  Bill Pennington of the New York Times writes a very intriguing article about the premise of captains as it relates to the OTHER New York Team.  The one that wears blue.  Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal Constitution talks up the terrible sports town that doesn’t sell out its home playoff game 30 hours before kickoff.  D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC says that Matt Ryan is focused on the present and not his 0-2 playoff past.    Finally Brad Biggs of Yahoo Sports reports that Victor Cruz turned down a chance to be on the next season of Dancing with the Stars.  

Yes its finally Sunday morning.  Time for the playoffs to begin and time for the talking to finally end.  A week long wait has been worth it.  From dirtbags to dirty bird, the Falcons have the better record but most people are predicting the Giants come out victorious.  I am staying away from the prediction business.  I’m staying away from the 2007 comparisons though admittedly I’m not doing as good a job on the second one.  I’m not here to say one team is better than the other because both do certain things better than the other.  The Falcon running game is better than the Giants.  The Giants passing game is better than the Falcon passing game.  The Giant front four is better than the Falcon front four but remember those units arent facing each other.  How does the Falcon run game do against the front four of the the Giants?  Because if Michael Turner continuously gets into the second area, the Giants will be in trouble.  How will the Falcons receivers cut their routes short if the Giant pass rush is constantly in Matt Ryan’s face?  How will the Giants run game do against the front four of the Falcons?  The Falcons linebackers are good.  I’ve been Curtis Lofton praise in their direction but let’s just say that Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradsahw are running well.  The Giants are no longer a run first team.  They want to pass so the better the run game does, the better the passing game will do because they want to throw the football down the field and the Giants will depend on the guys to get down the field.

IF Mario Manningham has a big day I don’t think the Giants can win because that means that Victor Cruz is being covered well and Hakeem Nicks too.  But how can you double both those guys without leaving one on ones to Manningham and Ballard and Barden?  One of those guys have to step up today.  Who will it be?

If you read one of those articles, read Bill Pennington’s article about how the Giants pick their captains and it will tell you everything you need to know about how the Jets were run this year and how poorly they were run at that.

The Knicks looked like the Knicks we had all hoped when the season started.  The Knicks got to .500 with a dominating 103-80 victory over the hapless Detroit Pistons.  Anthony Reiber of Newsday said despite it being the rookie Iman Shumpert’s first career start, it was the old timer Mike Bibby who pointed the Knicks to victory.  Kristie Ackert of Daily News said that it was all about Shump’s effort last night as was told to her by coach Mike D’Antoni.  Marc Berman of the Post says that the Knicks were helped by a sore Carmelo, but a more pass happy Melo and Stat.  Perry Farrell (no not the Giants defensive coordinator) of the Detroit Free Press says that communication was to blame for yet another Piston blowout loss.  

So much to love about this victory.  The Knicks looked like a team that was a juggernaut.  They had so many free lanes on defense and they had so many opportunities to get open looks in the paint.  BUT the biggest plus about last night’s victory was the hustle.  The rebounding.  The Knicks were a force on the rebounding front by outbounding the Pistons 48-41.  Their effort was so welcoming to see them just outwork the PIstons.  THIS is what the Knicks need to do.  In games where they can exploit the paint the Knicks should be posting up on the regular and having guys cut at all times.

Now, people want to talk about Iman Shumpert.  His play was pretty exciting but he was limited.  What i saw more was his ability to slash and cut through double teams and traps.  He had the speed to break through before they could apply the pressure and he cut to the rim which is what the Knicks should always do.  That’s when Amar’e gets to cut to the rim and get easy poitns on dunks or lay ins.  That’s what Tyson can tap in points.  Easy points should ALWAYS be the rule when they face teams they can exploit.

Landry Fields played with more confidence as well.  I love when he’s cutting around the rim.  I love when he’s running through screens.  When he’s going for offensive rebounds.  That’s the Landry that made a name for himself last year.  That’s the guy that the Knicks need on a nightly basis.  Josh Harrelson’s energy and his presence on the defensive end is probably ten times more than I or any Knick fan could’ve hoped.  He’s intelligent and the Knicks have lacked intelligence for quite some time.  He’s Jared Jeffries with a jump shot and some sort of offensive identity.  Jeffries for all his deficieinces brings toughness on defense and size on the rebounding front.  He’s the guy that you need in your rotation and winning games without him is big because its almost gravy.

Now, its time for payback against the Bobcats Monday night at the Garden!