What does BB want to take away from the Giants O?

[JoePats]

The first two playoff games it was some combination of the run game and the running backs on screen passes / RBs in the passing game.

I think in this game, BB wants to limit the Manning-Burress connection and the back-shoulder-fade passes that the Giants love to use and use very effectively. IMO the defensive gameplan will be focused more on the Giants passing game than the running game.

 

[brady199]

I say stop the run first, and Eli will throw a pick or two all on his own.

 

[Watson's IQ]

The first two playoff games it was some combination of the run game and the running backs on screen passes / RBs in the passing game.

I think in this game, BB wants to limit the Manning-Burress connection and the back-shoulder-fade passes that the Giants love to use and use very effectively. IMO the defensive gameplan will be focused more on the Giants passing game than the running game.

The player who scares me the most is Bradshaw, since he's exactly the type of small quick back that can give the Patriots D fits. I'd like to say you take away the running game, force Eli to beat you, but it's hard to deny he's playing better of late.

 

[JoePats]

The player who scares me the most is Bradshaw, since he's exactly the type of small quick back that can give the Patriots D fits. I'd like to say you take away the running game, force Eli to beat you, but it's hard to deny he's playing better of late.

Bradshaw has been a sparkplug; he's the perfect compliment to the big power runner Jacobs. He's also much better in the passing game, and didn't play in the week 17 meeting. I don't think you just put 8 in the box the whole game and assume Eli will make a few mistakes. That he hasn't made any mistakes in the playoffs is why the Giants are here.

 

[BelichickFan]

Burress for me. The Giants can't beat us by running all day. Take away Eli's security blanket and watch him yell for Daddy.

 

[Sicilian]

I think it will be possible to limit Burress and still contain the run. I've been loving the style of play Meriweather has shown... we could potentially play a nickel with him as the fifth d-back, playing close to the line to help out the run, while Rodney covers Burress over the top. Or vice versa.

If Burress is contained relatively, and the running game has to work and work and churn out small chunks of time consuming yardage, Eli's going to have to go to other targets, aka Amani Toomer. I'm comfortable that, 9 times out of 10, that won't be enough to keep up with the NE offense.

Now, limiting Burress the way he's playing is by no means easy, but we scored 38 points on the Giants in cold weather without half our o-line. I think we can at least put 35 on them in the super bowl, so we don't have to shut anybody down completely, just slow them to the point where they get impatient because they need more points.

 

[DarrylS]

Think I would try to shut down the run, not to the point of completely eliminating it.. might do a mixture based on the traditional situational football.. not sure the giants are all that innovative on O and do not have as many weapons.. so the D may be more traditional than usual.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Stop the run and double Burress. If Eli can pick the Pats apart by going to Toomer, Boss and the RBs, then more power to him. I wouldn't bet on it, though.

Regards,
Chris

 

[TX_Patriot]

Make the offense help the D. Score early and often, get a 2 TD lead and you won't have to worry about the Giants running game.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

The player who scares me the most is Bradshaw, since he's exactly the type of small quick back that can give the Patriots D fits. I'd like to say you take away the running game, force Eli to beat you, but it's hard to deny he's playing better of late.

He spooks me, too, but I thought the Pats did a decent job on Jones-Drew who is a lot like Bradshaw. Although I think Jack Del Rio should have used Jones-Drew more than he did.

Regards,
Chris

 

[scout]

I agree its Burress. Does anyone remember the Cleveland game, there was a clip (HBO?) where BB is heard saying stop Winslow, he's the only one that can beat us. I think the same situation applies to Plexico. Help out with Burress and contain the run. They don't have that many threats. I've got to believe Bill also has some surprises for Eli.

 

[Watson's IQ]

He spooks me, too, but I thought the Pats did a decent job on Jones-Drew who is a lot like Bradshaw. Although I think Jack Del Rio should have used Jones-Drew more than he did.

That's a double-edged sword though. The reason Jones-Drew is as effective as he is is that Del Rio uses him in moderation. He primarily came in later in the game after Taylor had worn down the defense. These kinds of backs are a particular concern against slower defenses, who can get tired out.

This is the way Bradshaw can hurt you, not as the feature but as a change of pace after Jacobs wears you down.

As a sidebar, that's the same way Reggie Bush should be used, and isn't (some of that owing to Deuce's injury, of course)

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Will the Giants stop themselves like they did last time and move Burress from Hobbs onto Asante? They had success agaisnt Hobbs but flipped Plax to the other side. The Giants did some crazy things to stop themselves in the first meeting like run, run, pass, punt.

 

[Watson's IQ]

Will the Giants stop themselves like they did last time and move Burress from Hobbs onto Asante? They had success agaisnt Hobbs but flipped Plax to the other side. The Giants did some crazy things to stop themselves in the first meeting like run, run, pass, punt.

Well, Asante always plays on the defensive left side, because that's where right handed QBs throw more often. I don't know where Plax usually lines up, but if Eli is like most right-handed QBs his first read is to the right, which explains why they'd line Plax up there. The Pats rarely switch their CBs, so it's really a matter of preference where the Giants line up Plax, but I can tell you BB is comfortable with either guy covering him, or he would make a change.