Write On Sports LLC - "Spotlight: New York Giants" by Mack Rosenberg

Spotlight: New York Giants

2006-11-22 17:52:48 | By: Mack Rosenberg

New York is now 6-4 after a tough road loss in Jacksonville. With playoff hopes still not out of the picture and an NFC East title on the line, can Big Blue win their second consecutive division title?

On ESPN’s Monday Night Football last night I heard something very smart and very true. Tony Kornheiser stated that most of the New York Giants retirees (if that's the right word for it) have gone into broadcasting. Noted were Phil Simms, Frank Gifford, and Pat Summerall. Tony also mentioned that next on the list was Tiki Barber. I wasn't shocked when he said this, but I did think to myself: Tony, I know that you’re making a point having much to do with the old guys, the old Giants players.

Now let’s turn to the present. The 6-4 G-men are tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the division lead, a quarterback who's young and under a whole lot of pressure, and a defense that has taken so many injuries you could make a practice squad out of the disabled team.

On Monday New York lost their second consecutive game to the Jaguars, 26-10. Faced with Jacksonville’s defense, Eli Manning and the Giants did the predictable: they broke down and showed the effects of injury. With their top wideout, Amani Toomer, out for the season, slippery-handed Plaxico Burress will have to take the load at the receiver position. I always did like Burress, until this season. Early on against the Colts in the season opener, and really at some point in every game this season, Plaxico cannot hang on to the football.

It's not even like that rule that we always hear: If you touch it, you can catch it. No, it's more than that. Burress DOES catch the ball, he has full possession and then he drops it. If you catch the football, you should be able to take a hit and hang on, especially when you’re the tallest player on the team. Eli Manning, the young and flourishing QB on this team, can, I believe, afford to throw it a little above Burress. He can afford to throw it higher the Plaxico, because he should be able to use his height to get up there and grab it.

Consider this. I'm fifteen years old and one of the tallest kids in my grade, so when I'm out there with my friends, and the ball is thrown above me, all I have to do is reach up there and grab it. If I can do it, what about Burress – someone with the athleticism and skills we all dream of? The Giants will score points, and they will win football games in the end.

I really like Eli Manning. Yes, he didn't play very well last on Monday night, but I have to give him credit for playing tough and legging it out with all the injuries that this club has suffered over the past couple of weeks. They are going to have to play very well down the stretch, and it is going to be harder with a sub-par offense now that Toomer is gone and Burress is the only guy that seems to be a legitimate threat. I do like Jeremy Shockey, the big thin tight end. He did put up seven receptions last week and I think that all Eli will need is one big man to throw to. He has two in Burress and Shockey, who are tall and thin.

New York certainly can win this division, if Tiki Barber keeps it up in his final year. He is very close to the top in rushing yards in the league, and he can also be a threat catching the football, as Big Blue will be needing more guys stepping up at the wideout slot. Brandon Jacobs will be the starter next year but let's worry about this year, and the circumstances that the Giants are in.

Yes, folks, this is a team that won the NFC East last year, but with every year this division changes.

Every time you think of the NFC East, you think Giants, New York, and a whole lot of pressure.

Yep, that's just about right.