Marvin Meets the Giant

Week 3 preview

I know, I know. You don’t really care that much anymore. But the Mojokong doesn’t rest, so here we go.

The NYG are a complete team. Their offense is explosive and strong, and their pass rush is probably the best in football. They’re coached well (remember when we were all so glad that the Bengals hired Marvin and not Coughlin?), and they consistently seem to have backups rise up out of nowhere.

Offensively, they’re the best we’ve seen since the Patriots rolled into town on MNF, Week 4 of last season. This a match up where blitzing all the time is simply too dangerous to try (not that do we that much of it anyway - but it is better than before). Their big-play ability will have the Bengal D in soft zone more than usual. I expect the Giants to move the ball methodically down the field, converting short third downs and eating up the clock.

Plaxico is tall and dangerous, and if early reports of Jonathan Joseph being out for this week hold true, Leon Hall might be in for an impossible day against him. David Jones would start at the other corner, and he has shown me very little football instinct so far in his career. Look for Plax to draw lots of attention from safeties playing deep on passing downs, which will open up short crossing routes to Amani Toomer and Kevin Boss.

They also have three capable running backs, headlined by 260-pound running back Brandon Jacobs. He’s a fierce runner who reminds me of a younger Jamal Lewis. Bradshaw and Ward spell Jacobs on third downs and running plays to the outside. Expect all three to get carries on their way to a combined 160 yards or so.

Like Tennessee, the Giants rely on their front four defensive lineman to put consistent pressure on the quarterback and allow the linebackers and safeties to stay with their man. Last week, we saw Carson check off to Reggie Kelly and Daniel Coates in the flat when he felt pressure, and the linebackers were always there to take them down as soon as they caught the pass. Assuming Brat won’t adjust to quicker routes and three-step-drops until the protection can prove its consistent, it would make sense to keep tight ends into block and maybe buy more time to allow receivers to get open. A big part of why this offense smells like raw sewage right now is because Reggie Kelly and Ben Coates are getting the ball more than Chad and TJ. I like a good pass-catching tight end too, but if the five fat guys on the line aren’t buying the QB enough time, then it becomes a luxury you can’t afford. Besides, Ben Utecht was supposed to be that guy and he wasn’t doing much actual catching before he bruised his sternum.

If I had to nitpick on New York’s defense, I’d point to a young secondary who benefits greatly from a tremendous defensive line. If the combination of defensive ends Strahan and Umenyora were an A+ last year, replacements Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka are an A- this season. Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce is a mean vet who provides crucial leadership to a fairly young defense. Due to retirement, injury and free agency, this defense is without four starters from last year’s championship squad, and doesn’t look any different on the field so far in ‘08.

The Giants have had an easy schedule so far, comfortably taking care of Washington and St. Louis. My expectations for this week are like everybody else’s: another convincing win over another bad team.

Giants 31, Bengals 14

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