fringe

yes- hard knocks

it wasn't the final week. the final week they played the bengals who also had nothing to play for. this thread is about are they making a bigger splash than the giants? and the answer is yes. are they poised for a better season? yes, on paper they have less question marks. do they have an HBO series? yes

it's like yankees mets or cubs white sox, you always care.

wow, you've got a pretty high bar for special.

lol, shut the hell up, nas

Fewell assembling new-look defense April, 9, 2010 APR 9 2:00 PM ET Email Print ShareBy Scouts Inc.'s Matt WilliamsonThe Giants' defense is going to look different next season. Perry Fewell is taking over as defensive coordinator and he has new philosophies about how he wants his defense to play. Last year, New York struggled a great deal in coverage from the linebacker and safety positions. Injuries are much to blame at safety, but at linebacker, they lacked speed and playmaking ability. In turn, starting middle linebacker Antonio Pierce was let go and surely there will be a premium on improving at this position through the draft. [+] Enlarge Ezra Shaw/Getty Images The Giants signed Antrel Rolle to a five-year, $37 million deal. In essence, Fewell will play a version of the Tampa 2. In this defense, it is imperative that the entire defense is able to cover a lot of ground. This is true in coverage and in pursuit of the ball carrier in the run game. Fewell wants a lot of bodies around the football. He wants playmakers. He wants speed. All of this was lacking a year ago. Antrel Rolle was signed to a big-money deal to be one of the Giants' starting safeties. Rolle entered the league as a first-round cornerback and when compared to other safeties, he covers a lot of ground. Kenny Phillips is coming off a major injury, but if right, he certainly is not the typical in-the-box strong safety. In fact, if both of these University of Miami alumni are in peak physical condition, few teams in the league will be able to match the overall athletic ability that New York will feature at the safety position. That is a far cry from what the Giants played with at safety in 2009. The same probably can be said for the middle linebacker spot. Pierce is gone and is clearly too slow to flourish in Fewell's scheme. Many have pigeon-holed Alabama's Rolando McClain in as the Giants' first-round selection, but I tend to think that Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon will be the more attractive option in the middle of Round 1. The reason is simple: Weatherspoon runs better than McClain. He can get to the football quicker on the perimeter and will be more adept at covering the deep middle of the field in coverage. Another very interesting player in this scheme is second-year LB Clint Sintim, who is poised to become the starter. A 3-4 outside linebacker in college, he brings size and upfield pass rush to the position. He also could put his hand on the ground if needed. But he brings a skill set to the table that Fewell did not have at his disposal last year, although the Bills did draft Aaron Maybin in the first round last season to play this role. Maybin's rookie year was a wash, but Sintim could be a breakout player if used properly. The biggest problem with this defensive philosophy is in some cases, size and physicality at the point of attack is compromised for speed. Last year, Tampa Bay was the only team that was gashed for more yards per rushing attempt than the Fewell-led Bills defense, but this Giants' defensive line is more talented than the one Fewell dealt with in 2009. Still, this defensive tackle rotation could really use a wide-bodied nose tackle type to utilize on early downs and to better free up a run-and-hit middle linebacker. If the Giants chose Dan Williams from Tennessee in Round 1 to fill this need, I would have no problem with that, but there are a few players who fit this bill who could be had for a second-round selection like North Carolina's Cam Thomas. But, last year, only the Jets allowed fewer average yards per attempt in the passing game and only the Packers intercepted more passes than Buffalo. Meanwhile the Giants only intercepted 13 passes all season and were among the worst defenses in passing yards against per attempt. Getting to the ball with many tacklers very abruptly and putting more emphasis on turning their opponent over is sure to come with Fewell manning the defensive controls. While the Cover-2 is his base scheme, he isn't static in his play calling and does have a good feel for mixing in different looks and blitzes. Also, last year the Bills had too many yards allowed from penalties. Does that come down to coaching or just being undermanned in terms of personnel? The answer is probably a little bit of both and it is something to keep an eye on with Fewell's latest assignment. Giants' fans should be in store for some major changes on defense. For the most part, and if the right players are acquired in the draft, I see that as a good thing. Tags: New York Giants, Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle, Clint Sintim, Perry Fewell,Rolando McClain, Sean Weatherspoon, Dan Williams, Cam Thomas

out of all those i'll agree with schottenheimer.

sorry you're cold jack- perhaps a cardigan would suit you. meantime, you can't compare baseball parks to football stadiums. That's why they don't make multi-functional arenas like they did in the 80's. You have that issue of people wanting to see the game from their $400 seats that gets in the way of making broad design strokes. now, the reason facelift stadium in dallas has that big screen is because you can't see the game otherwise from the cheap($300) seats. oh- and improved bathrooms is not a small thing at all.

i don't think he has anyone to throw to really. santana is ok i guess and cooley but it's like the pre-TO eagles. maybe this is where marshall ends up- shanahan drafted him, right?

Billy Wagner blew a 2 run lead in the 9th.

Joe West is right on. While I agree with Lubeck that going deep into the count is a big reason these teams are consistently great (the other big reason is $$), the posturing and staring is ridiculous. I've said it for the last 2 year. I record those games because I still like to watch them but with the fast forward button firmly in my grasp. However, since players and managers are not allowed to bitch about umps without reprisal, the reverse should also be true.

actually hayney and marshy would add some star power to that dull locker room.

i'd swap osi whinyura for him in a NY minute.

yea- it doesn't seem credible. but enticing if it were.

It's indeed worrisome. I've ridiculed unmercifully 2 friends who are Jets fans for so many years; thinking there would never be payback because of all their bumbling. There will be hell to pay if they are consistently better than us.

Wow, looks like Seph was spot on. He must've gotten the dirt from Fake Shockey.

still not seeing your point- and how do you know he asked for the divorce?

he'll have to pillow fight ccase for that honor.

i disagree but i'm an admirer of the asian persuasion. i also don't understand your reasoning.

isn't she the one that told him to quit before he became a crippled old man?

McNabb went to the Redskins and not the BIlls or Raiders for one reason- Schneider gives big contracts. I do believe both teams are better off for the move but the Redskins have shown to be a bumbling franchise lately. that the dynamic duo of shanahan and mcnabb man can turn it around remains to be seen. Personally, I think the eagles will get to the Super Bowl faster than the skins.

lol, say hello to your uncle bud for me.

lol, isn't flushing meadows wetlands? could be considered a swamp, i guess.

yeah- bay would be kind of useless on the bay. he certainly doesn't hit for average.

they are afraid of ATT park, i guess. i know holliday is- bay i'm not sure. seems citi is just as vast.