Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East, NFL Coaching

Apparently Kevin Gilbride wasn't paying attention in 2005, when Eli Manning, then under the guidance of Offensive Coordinator John Hufnagel, was criticized heavily for attempting too many down-field passes. Indeed, many of those ill-fated passes fell incomplete, or into the hands of Giants opponents. Gilbride now appears comfortable with his assessment of Eli Manning as a more developed quarterback and has seen enough to come to the conclusion that Manning is ready for a bigger role in the down-field attack.

Gilbride recently was quoted as saying that the down-field attack was "missing" this past season and that the success of the running game should open things up for the down-field passing attack. Gilbride must be careful with Manning, however, as his difficulties reading a defense and just getting the ball to his intermediate targets are well documented. To ask Manning to incorporate a lower percentage play than can result in disaster (more often than a higher percentage play) and could stunt the mental progression of the young, developing quarterback.

Should Manning be asked to take on this task, he should be asked to do it as infrequently as possible. During his two games as Offensive Coordinator in 2006, Gilbride showed that he'll rely on the run (65 attempts) and Manning's mistakes were kept to a minimum during those contests. Giants fans should hope that Gilbride keeps his senses about him and continues to rely on the run in 07. If he tries to turn Eli into Peyton or Brett Favre, it could be a very long season.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East, NFL Coaching

As expected, the Giants today announced that Kevin Gilbride would pilot the offense in 2007, naming him as the permanent Offensive Coordinator.

Gilbride began the 2006 season as the Giants Quarterbacks Coach and apparently performed admirably, although little progress was made with regard to the development of Eli Manning's play. Gilbride took over for the dismissed Offensive Coordinator John Hufnagel, who was effectively let go prior to the last game of the season, against the Washington Redskins, and he immediately produced positive results.

During Gilbride's two games as acting Offensive Coordinator, one being a playoff loss to the Eagles, the Giants produced 660 total yards and averaged 27 points per game. More importantly, Eli Manning appeared to have a more developed pocket awareness during those contests and relied on his mobility to avoid contact, rather than alter his mechanics, which he is frequently guilty of.

As O Coordinator, Gilbride will have to take a more proactive approach to the offensive philosophy, as well as a react-on-the-fly approach, both of which seemed to be absent for the majority of 2006. We can all recall the incidences where the Giants abandoned the run early in games, even though they were ahead of closely trailing and we can all remember scratching our heads. Lets hope Gilbride is wiser than his predecessor.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

The new GM of the NY Giants, Jerry Reese, didn't pull the trigger on the trade that brought Eli Manning to New York. That was his predecessor's doing. He was, however, involved in the decision making process at the point and Eli Manning is, like it or not, Reese's problem. So, as 2007 and the Reese era begin, Eli Manning's future success is his number one priority.

Manning is, after all, the future of this franchise. The team may win without a dramatic increase in his productivity, but they'll likely fall short of their ultimate goal, a Super Bowl title. Reese will have his work cut out for him, but there are several things he can do from a player/personnel standpoint that could help immediately.

First, bring in a quarterbacks guru. Someone who Manning will respect and someone who will not only teach him the mechanical aspect of the position and how to read a defense, but also how to be tough. Manning needs to grow a pair of horns and learn to hang in the pocket and take a hit for the sake of making a big completion. He often sacrifices his mechanics to avoid being clobbered and seems to prefer the possibility of turning the ball over taking the aforementioned hit. The apparent promotion of former QB Coach Kevin Gilbride seemed to do the trick, as Manning was elusive in the pocket and absorbed several hits while making crucial completion, during his last 2 games. The question of why Gilbride's guidance didn't work from day 1 still remains and now Gilbride can't be counted on as a full time solution, since he'll be busy we the rest of the offense.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East, NFL Coaching

Even at the beginning of the 2006 season, fans could tell there was something not quite right with the Giants defense. The sacks weren't there. The aggressive style that was promised during the pre-season wasn't there. The cohesive, top-10 unit that we were promised, simply wasn't there. As a whole, the unit endured a horrendous year, finishing near the bottom of the league in many critical statistical categories and allowed an average of 22.6 points per game.

Since the day the season ended and even before, there's been speculation running rampant that changes were to come. The writing was on the wall and it was sure to be Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis to get the ax. As expected, he was fired shortly after the season ended and the Giants were then on the road to fidning his replacement.

Speculation had it that Dom Capers, who worked as the Defensive Coordinator in Miami, under the recently-departed Nick Saban, would make a perfect replacement. After all, he's got good history with Tom Coughlin, having served as Coughlin's Defensive Coordinator in Jacksonville. He's known as a defensive mastermind by many and he recently led the Miami defense to a very solid season.

Well, that speculation ended today, when the Dolphins announced that they've locked up Capers for the next 3 seasons. That leaves the Giants to search the scraps of the NFL for a replacement. There aren't too many respected D Coordinators out there to choose from, since teams tend to either lock them up for long periods, or promote the good ones to the ranks of Head Coach. Whatever the Giants do, they'll need to do it in a hurry, as the best available minds will likely be gobbled up in a hurry.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

Apparently 2007 isn't going to be a better year than 2006 for Giants defensive end Michael Strahan. At least it appears that way so far. It's been reported that Jean, Michael's ex-wife, has taken him to the cleaners in court.

2006 began with an ugly divorce, where Michael and ex-wife Jean exchanged numerous jabs at each other. Included were allegations of infidelity and abuse. Jean even went as far as accusing Michael of leading an "alternative lifestyle". The year continued to be rough on Michael on the football field, after he got off the a very slow start. So slow, in fact, that Strahan only had 1 sack in his first 5 games and was being questioned by some regarding his drive. His year of turmoil continued as he injured his foot against the Houston Texans on November 5. His season was effectively over, as Strahan would play in only one more game, during which he re-injured the foot.

Now, 2007 is beginning on a similar note that 2006 ended, with the news that Jean Strahan was awarded $15 million of Michael's fortune. Ouch! I guess that's what he gets for writing up a prenuptial agreement that contains language regarding a specific percentage of the estate, as seems to be the case. We all take it on the chin from time to time, but Michael has to be reeling after this enormous financial setback. After his injury, there was talk of Michael considering retirement. He's rebuffed such speculation, but is now all but certain to return to the football field, if not for anything but a paycheck.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

For the most part, the Giants had an awful season. Granted, they made the playoffs, but they failed to defend their division title and finished a mediocre 8-8. One of the major reasons for such mediocrity was a sub-par performance from the defense, which was held in very high regard coming into the season. While many of the problems associated with the defense (which finished in an absolute tailspin and ended the season ranked 25th in the NFL) could be attributed to injury, Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis took the blame and was dismissed. Rightfully so, as Lewis frequently lacked answers for most every obstacle put in his way.

Similarly, Offensive Coordinator John Hufnagel was given his walking papers, after failing to lead the offense to an achievement level that approached pre-season expectations. Like in the case of the defense, injuries had much to do with the lack of success. After all, LT Luke Petitgout and WR Amani Toomer were lost to season ending injuries, both of which changed the face of the offense dramatically.

There are now glaring holes in the side of the Giants ship. First, the Giants need to address the Defensive Coordinator position and should hire Dom Capers. Capers has an excellent track record and an existing rapport with Tom Coughlin, who he served as Defensive Coordinator during their days in Jacksonville. In 2006, Capers served as Miami's D-Coordinator and led the unit to the 4th best ranking the in league.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

It truly was a hard-fought battle, as expected, with the winning score coming the last seconds. As promised, I'm eating crow. The Giants didn't pull it out, but they certainly made it a game and made their fans proud. For now, the Eagles are the better team and Giants fans have only coaching changes, free agency signings and the draft to look forward to.

Offense: B-

To the surprise of many, Eli Manning stepped up in the face of pressure and played well, though not exceptionally well. He actually showed the toughness we've all been waiting for and was often able to beat the blitz by finding his hot targets. One of those targets was Jeremy Shockey, who sucked up the pain of playing with a sprained ankle and played like man possessed (when he was involved). He was used sparingly, only catching 3 passes for 25 yards, but one of his catches was quite memorable. During the second quarter, Shockey caught an 11 yards pass over the middle and took a shot which caused his helmet to fly off. Instead of going down, he turned up-field and lowered his head, bulling his way for a few more yards and exposing himself to serious injury. It wasn't smart, but it took guts and heart. If the entire team played with such passion, the Giants would be perennial Super Bowl winners.

Plaxico Burress had a very good game, catching both Manning touchdowns. The lack of a complimentary receiver takes so much away from the entire offense. The Toomer injury was the biggest key to the downfall of this team, without a doubt.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

Yes, the Giants lost the game and they're sitting it out until September 07. No, Eli Manning didn't throw for 350 yards and 3 scores. Yes, Eli manning was one of the worst offenders in the league with respect to tossing interceptions in 2006, having thrown 18 during the regular season and 1 yesterday. Eli, to date, isn't the great savior that Giants fans and GM Ernie Accorsi envisioned when he was acquired from the Chargers. He also isn't the reason the Giants lost yesterday.

Eli Manning often stood in the pocket yesterday and absorbed the abuse that he apparently has tried so hard to avoid during his career. So hard, in fact, that he often has sacrificed his mechanics and pocket awareness to avoid contact, leading to his sky-high interception rate. Of the 18 interceptions, likely half could be attributed directly to a breakdown in his technique, stemming from his apparent fear of contact. That fear is so widely known throughout the league that some Eagles players have nicknamed the younger Manning "Sheli". Well, Sheli was a Heli yesterday, as he often was tattooed, or side-stepped the pressure and looked for his down-field target, or Tiki Barber in the flat. Heck, he didn't do what we've grown accustomed to. That is, shy away from pressure and toss the ball with little or no authority, usually to the other team. It's no wonder where the nickname came from.

In the end, his numbers weren't eye-popping. He completed 16 of 27 passes (59%) for only 161 yards, while tossing 2 touchdowns, with one interception. He did, however, bring the Giants back from a 10 point 3rd quarter deficit. Even more impressive was that he engineered the game-tying scoring drive, even after his teammates put the offense in a 1st and 30 deficit, thanks to some ill-timed penalties. At the Eagles 43, after a 1st down incompletion, Eli found Plaxico Burress on 3 consecutive passes, including an 11 yards touchdown. The Giants didn't win, but Eli put them in a position to. What more can you ask for?

Like it or not, Eli manning is the leader of this offense. Unpopular or not, he'll be the quarterback for the Giants for years to come. He may never be Peyton, but he may never need to be. If we're lucky, he'll resemble the Eli Manning from yesterday's game. That Eli Manning was good enough to win and that's what it's all about.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

David Diehl is a monster of a man, at 6-5, 319. Now in his 4th season with the Giants, he's really beginning to show his true value, especially after he was moved to the coveted left tackle position to take the place of the injured Luke Petitgout and the ineffective and undisciplined Bob Whitfield. In this do or die game, he'll be asked to protect Eli Manning's blind side as well as open holes in the running game for Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs.

Protecting Manning will be paramount, as the success of the offense may ride on his shoulders. The Eagles plan on blitzing early and often and concentrating on stopping Tiki Barber. Consequently, Eli will need to respond by hitting his downfiled targets and his wide receivers identified in man coverage. Without solid play from Diehl, Philly DE Trent Cole will certainly make sure Manning doesn't have an easy time of it. His 8 sacks lead the team and he's played very well against the Giants this season, totaling 2 sacks and an interception that he returned for a touchdown.

Even more important than stopping Cole and company from getting to Manning will be the responsibility of opening running lanes for Tiki Barber. Diehl will likely be lined up next to Rich Seubert, who will be playing in Diehl's usual left guard position. The 2 should combine to form a very strong run blocking duo. In Dielh's first game at left tackle, last week against the Redskins, Tiki Barber ran for a franchise record 234 yards and added 3 touchdowns. Much of Tiki's success came when he ran off of the left side of the line and much of the credit for that success should be given to Diehl. If that success continues, even at half the rate of last weeks production, the Giants will have a great chance of walking away winners and advancing to take on the Saints or Bears. Diehl, no doubt, will be fired up at his chance to say something about that outcome.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

The Eagles always seem to find a way to get a big play on special teams when they're playing the Giants, whether a long return or a crucial field goal. This game has the smell of one those special contests, where the lead changes several times, both teams fight like hell for 60 minutes and the win comes down to a last second field goal.

Giants ST:

The loss of Chad Morton to a torn ACL may end up being a painful one, as he seemed to be gaining momentum as the season progressed. In fact, he was able to break off a 38 yard punt return against these very Eagles on December 17, one week before he was injured. Rookie Sinorice Moss is now returning kicks and could make himself an instant fan favorite by tearing off a long run, especially one during crunch time. For the season, the Giants averaged 8.7 yards per punt return, while stumbling on kickoffs, averaging only 20.1 YPR. It's put up or shut up time now and poor play during the regular season can be quickly forgotten with one good play.

The Giants coverage units are one of the best in the NFL, led by gunner David Tyree. They're allowing a paltry 5.8 yards per punt return and a more average 22.4 yards per kickoff return. The idea is to keep the return yardage limited, no matter the regular season stats.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

First off, for all of you delusional Eagles fans who think that the Giants are going to walk in and drop their shorts to your team, think twice. This will be a hard fought contest on both sides of the lines and the winner will certainly deserve to go on to the next round. Further, for the Eagles fans who talk smack on my posts, come back on Monday to eat crow and show that you're a man. If my team loses, then crow I shall eat.

With that said, if there ever was a time for the defense to show up, it's now. They've been shaky, to say the least, all year. Compounding the problem is that few teams know them better than the hated Eagles.

Giants D:

The unit ended the season on a downward spiral and finished 25th overall in the league. Using the premise that defense wins championships, the Giants certainly aren't a candidate to winr one, unless something miraculously changed from the regular season. Well, at least the same can be said of the Eagles, who's defense isn't much better. For the Giants, the losses of LB Lavar Arrington and, to a greater extent, DE Michael Strahan have helped turn this defense into the unit it resembles today, on that's given up over 27 points per game in the last 8 contests, 6 of which they've lost.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

Well, deserved or not, the 2006 NY Giants are in the playoffs, and what better opponent could they face than the hated Philadelphia Eagles? What's already an intense rivalry during the regular season is sure to reach a boiling point by kickoff, for players and fans alike.

Giants O:

The Giants ended the season ranked 14th in overall offense and were able to put up 34 points and 261 yards on the Washington Redskins last week in a playoff-clinching win. Now the question arises as to whether the credit for the 34 points should be given to Kevin Gilbride, who's now calling the plays, to the Giants offense, for showing up, or to the Skins defense for being so bad. After all, the O was only able to produce 16.1 points per game in the previous 7 contests and at times seemed to lack life.

The questions will be answered quickly and if Gilbride wants to keep his job and not be run out of town he had better be smart and use the primary weapons system in his death star, also known as Tiki Barber. As mentioned, the Giants ran for an absurd 261 yards last week, albeit against the porous Redskins defense, but the feat was still convincing. They never abandoned the run and set up the pass by forcing the Skins to concentrate on Tiki. The same needs to happen this Sunday and Philly may find out the hard way that Eli Manning is an NFL quarterback.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

The defensive game-plan of the eagles is simple: Stop Tiki Barber and tee off on Eli Manning. The Birds plan on blitzing Manning heavily, with hopes that he'll hurry his throws, leading to incompletions and/or turnovers. The Blitz can make or break a defense and Philly is known to heavily rely on it, often using S Brian Dawkins as the weapon of choice. It's the job of Kevin Gilbride to create a scheme designed to stop those blitzes and enable Manning to make Philly pay for bringing the troops.

This can be done in several ways. One way which may be very effective is to run the ball. The idea is that the blitzing players will over-pursue and find themselves in the backfield, past the ball carrier, allowing him to face less tacklers at the line of scrimmage and possibly gain more yardage. Look for the Giants to also incorporate the screen pass, with Tiki Barber coming out of the backfield. Again, the hope is that the blitzing player commits to tackling the quarterback with the result being less tacklers in the vicinity of the runner. Gilbride may also seek to use WR Sinorice Moss in this capacity, as his speed and elusiveness make him a perfect fit for the screen.

Perhaps the best way to neutralize the blitz is by the quarterback kicking dirt in the blitzing teams face. Specifically, take them deep and make them pay for leaving your receivers in man coverage. By blitzing, Philly will be daring Eli Manning to do just that, and they'll be betting on their hunch that he cannot. He'll need to look to WR Plaxico Burress, hoping he's left in man coverage, where he can use his 6-5 frame to out-leap the defender. Manning to Burress has worked so far this season, with Burress catching 12 balls for 234 yards and a score in the previous 2 meetings.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

This game should not come down to special teams play, since the Giants are clearly the better team with regards to personnel and should win the game in convincing fashion. Yes, if they didn't hate their coach and want him to go, they may play with heart. I'd bet the farm on the opposite though and would be less than surprised if the G-Men lost, possibly on a last second kick.

Giants ST:

The Giants took a hit last week when return man Chad Morton tore his ACL, ending his season. That injury opened the door for rookie speedster Sinorice Moss to take over return duties and he responded by averaging 23.2 yards and 5 kickoffs, significantly better than the sorry 20.4 YPR the Giants have collectively averaged prior to last week. Moss didn't have a chance to return a punt, since the Saints weren't forced to punt after Morton got hurt (in the 1st quarter). NY is averaging 8.8 yards per punt return this season.

According to gross average per punt, Jeff Feagles is having a poor season, averaging only 40.1 yards per per attempt. However, Feagles has downed 26 punts inside the opponents 10 yards line and remains one of the best in the league at doing that. K Jay Feely is 21 for 25 on the season and it appears that Coach Coughlin has actually realized his limitations and wont call on him to kick beyond 45 yards.

The Giants are one of the leagues best in punt coverage, allowing just 6.2 yards per return. They're more average on kickoff returns, allowing 22.4 yards per return, which is still respectable. This year, like in the past, they have David Tyree to thank.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

The last time these team met was week 5 . The Giants were then 1-2 and desperately needed a win to avoid the media scrutiny and possible tailspin that would follow a 1-3 start. The Giants responded emphatically, defeating the Skins 19-3, in a win that began a streak of 5 straight victories. Can these Giants do it again?

Giants D:

The Giants defense has been mostly one dimensional since the 38-20 beating at the hands of the Bears on November 12. Unfortunately, that one dimension could be described as terrible, or porous, or maybe even non-defining of the term "defense". Basically, they've stunk. Granted, the offense played very poorly last week and was on the field for such short periods that it chucked the D under the bus by forcing them to work like a rented pick-up. Indeed, the Saints offense ran a whopping 86 plays and wore the Giants defense down. By the time the 3rd quarter rolled around, RB Reggie Bush was running almost at will.

The D line is once again without the services of DE Michael Strahan, who was put on IR earlier this week after aggravating the foot injury that he suffer against the Cowboys on October 23. So that again leaves DE's Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka to hold down the fort, along with Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins in the middle. Hey, that's not that bad, considering the way Cofield and Robbins have played all year and the fact that Umenyiora is a former Pro Bowler and Kiwanuka is playing at such a high level during his rookie season. It'll be the D line that's asked to keep the Skins in check this Saturday, as the running game is their strength. Heck, it may be their only dimension at this point.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

It seems that every recent Giants game has been a must win and it seems that the team has crapped the bed every time it's had the chance. This game, as much as those games, is a must win, though the team could still lose and make the playoffs, at 7-9, believe it or not.

Giants O:

The offense has been nothing if not pathetic in recent weeks, none more so than during last weeks embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Saints. During that game the offense was only able to muster 142 total yards and was thoroughly out-gained in key statistical categories such as time of possession (40:34 to 19:26), rushing yards (236 to 83) and total plays (86 to 45). Eli Manning was particularly putrid, completing 9 of 25 passes for 74 yards. Enough of the re-runs, as you likely get the picture by now. The offense is on a serious slide.

The hope of offensive prosperity now lies squarely on the shoulders of former Quarterbacks Coach Kevin Gilbride, following the demotion of John Hufnagel as Offensive Coordinator. With his ascension, players must hope that the Giants will resemble the real Giants on Saturday and run Tiki Barber. In what very well could be his last game in the NFL, it would be a shame to see Barber run for some lame stat line like 15 carries for 42 yards in a loss. Give the man the ball 25-30 times and ride him into the playoffs. Should Gilbride try what Hufnagel tried, that is to use Eli Manning as if he were Peyton Manning, which is certainly is not, then Gilbride will be taken out to the curb with Coughlin after the season, though that may be his fate regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

Before you draw conclusions from the title, read on. There's no hope for 2006 prosperity. Gone are the pre-season dreams of a Super Bowl title and a return to glory for this proud franchise. Yet, Giants fans should still have an eye on the team, as there's still hope left in the season.

First, there's hope that Tom Coughlin gets fired. I've always been a strong supporter of Coughlin but my opinion has swayed in the opposite direction after watching the comedy routine otherwise known as his version of coaching. He should have taken the reins from Hufnagel long ago for his terrible play calling and the insistence in trying to turn Eli into Peyton. So, Coughlin and his staff should wish each other a Merry Christmas and promptly depart the scene. Don't forget to take Tim Lewis with you.

Secondly, there's the hope that the Giants lose at Washington. A loss would solidify the prospect of getting rid of the coaching mistake known as Coughlin and could propel the Giants up the draft board. It's sad, but the draft and a few offseason personnel changes are all fans really have to look forward to until 2007. Right now, there are 10 teams who have a worse record than the Giants, which means that a top 10 pick isn't out of the question.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

It certainly should be the number one option in the Giants offense game plan this week; run Tiki Barber. In what will most likely amount to his last game at Giants Stadium, John Hufnagel and Tom Coughlin surely have devised a plan to get the ball into the hands of number 21. His 1357 yards are 4th in the NFL and the match-up against the Saints front 4 should be one that tilts in the Giants favor.

Indeed, the Saints are allowing 133.9 yards per game on the ground. What's more, the 5.1 per rush average yielded by their defensive front is second to last in the NFL. The Saints deploy the 4-3 scheme, using 4 linemen and 3 linebackers. Opposing teams have had great success at creating running room between the tackles, particularly by pushing open space between Charles Grant and Brian Young on one side and Will Smith and Rodney Leslie on the other, or any combination of the 4.

The Giants happen to be particularly strong at tackle and will use David Diehl and Chris Snee to create gaping holes for Tiki. Look for the Saints to counter this by bringing the linebackers to the line of scrimmage to help stop Barber. If Eli Manning is able to isolate the match-up issues this will create and make the Saints pay, Tiki will enjoy a game where he goes over 150 yards and scores 1-2 touchdowns. His last day at home should be a big one.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

The Giants offense should be able to move the ball and put up numbers against the Saints and if the defense shows up, it should be a close game. Special teams is the aspect of the NFL most overlooked by fans. The importance of solid special teams play (or lack thereof) was felt throughout the season. For reference, just take a look at the Giants/Bears game. There are many others (last weeks kickoff return by Mahe for example).

The Giants will need to put together a solid all around effort on special teams tomorrow. First and foremost, they'll need to contain Reggie Bush on punt returns. Bush is averaging 8.4 yards per return but did break a 65 yards TD this season. Secondly, they'll need to limit Michael Lewis (23.3 yards per return) on kickoffs. Lastly, they'll need to kick the ball accurately, both on place-kicking and punts.

Giants punter Jeff Feagles is having another excellent season. He's one of the better punters when downing the ball inside an opponent 20 yards line and has done it 24 times this season. Field position may be the name of the game on Sunday and Feagles will have to come up big. PK Jay Feely will also need to be on top of his game, as the Giants will not be in good position to recover from missed kicks. He's 21 for 25 overall and must come up in the clutch. Saints PK John Carney is having a solid season, as he has throughout his career. He's 19 for 21 on kicks. Punter Steven Weatherford is solid, but unspectacular. He's downed 14 kicks inside opponents 20 yards line.

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Filed under: NY Giants, NFC East

Giants RB Tiki Barber is 4th in the league in rushing with 1357 yards. As a whole, the team is 9th in the NFL with 129.4 rushing yards per game. The most telling stat may come in the form of sacks allowed, 22. Yes, the Giants have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL and anchoring one of the most important positions on that line is C Shaun O'Hara.

O'Hara is questionable for Sunday's critical contest at the Meadowlands, when the Giants take on the Saints at 1PM. Should the Giants lose, they'll most certainly miss the playoffs and will have wasted a season in which they started 6-2 and led the NFC East. O'Hara is a key player in the game, as the Giants defense figures to have its hands full with the powerful offense of the Saints. The Giants will look to limit the amount of time the Saints offense has the ball by looking to run Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs and thus control the clock. That's where the skills of O'Hara, a strong run blocker, come in.

Should the Giants offense stutter and give the ball to the offense of the Saints, the game may be decided early, as the Saints love to hit the big play. The good news is that O'Hara practiced on Friday and it looks like he'll play on Sunday If O'Hara can't play, Grey Ruegamer will start in his place. Enough said. His presence is invaluable.

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