GROUNDED: Ahmad Bradshaw (44) and the Giants’ running game, which ranked last in the league last year, didn’t get off to a good start this season, getting stuffed by the Cowboys in a 24-17 Week 1 loss. (Joseph E. Amaturo)
Lose, study the film, proclaim the problems are “correctable.’’ It is the time-honored dance of the beaten, steps the Giants took earlier than any other team in the league.
They failed in four key areas in their season-opening loss to the Cowboys last Wednesday: pass defense, run defense, pressure on the quarterback and running the ball on offense. There are reasons to believe and precedents already set that there is enough talent on defense to correct what went wrong.
Put it this way: Will there be another game this entire season when Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora are on the field together and not only do not register a single sack but also fail to deliver a single quarterback hit?
The caution flag goes up with the rushing attack, as the only background information is of the indicting variety. The Giants of 2011 were first in the hearts of their fans and last in the league in run offense and, until otherwise, not much has changed. Even the 82 yards gained against the Cowboys comes with a disclaimer that should read, “Caution, objects under this stat column are not as acceptable as they appear.’’ The Giants were swarmed up front and the 33-yard run Ahmad Bradshaw ripped off in the fourth quarter came with the Cowboys leading 24-10 and more than willing to trade yards on the ground for time off the clock.
The Buccaneers on Sunday represent the league’s top-rated run defense, a Week 1 designation based on the 10 — yes, that’s correct, 10 — rushing yards they allowed to the Panthers. Sure, Jonathan Stewart did not play and, no doubt, the Panthers gave up even trying to run it with only 13 attempts all game in their 16-10 loss. But still. When DeAngelo Williams gets the ball six times and comes away with minus-one yards of production, it’s worth noting. Ten yards is nearly nothing, or, as Bucs safety Ahmad Black told Tampa reporters, “Ten yards rushing … that’s Pop Warner.’’
“They had a great game defensively against a very good Carolina team that usually puts up a lot of yards rushing,” Giants guard Kevin Boothe said. “That’s impressive. I think that definitely raises eyebrows around the league.’’
Other than the inclusion of Sean Locklear at left tackle, this is the same offensive line that last season was unable to generate a consistent forward push. Will Beatty might be ready to replace Locklear, but the major onus is on the Boothe-David Baas-Chris Snee interior to create enough space for Bradshaw and rookie David Wilson — who won’t be benched forever despite his fumbling debut — to at least get the four- and five-yard gains to keep the offense in sync.
Baas (knee, neck) and Snee (elbow) were banged up last season, and Boothe was in his first season as a full-time starter for the Giants. The trio in the middle is going to have to deal with third-year defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who disrupted the Carolina attack all day. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride can scheme the run game all he wants, but at some point the Giants are going to have to knock people off the line and get the yards.
Tampa looks a little Blue
This is not a marquee matchup, but the game-within-the-game will be fascinating, given the Buccaneers basically are run by men with strong ties to the Giants. Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator, Mike Sullivan, and defensive coordinator, Bill Sheridan, worked for the Giants under coach Tom Coughlin. Sullivan was with the Giants as recently as last year and Sheridan was fired after the 2009 season. It is safe to say no opponent will have as much inside information on the Giants.
Sullivan spent eight years with the Giants — first as receivers coach, later as quarterbacks coach. It was Sullivan who prodded Victor Cruz to punctuate a touchdown by paying homage to Cruz’s Puerto Rican heritage, a suggestion that set the stage for the salsa celebration dance. Sheridan was the linebackers coach before Coughlin decided to stay in-house and replace Steve Spagnuolo — hired as the Rams head coach — by promoting Sheridan, but he lasted only one season.
Coughlin usually plays it cool when discussing his assistants, those still with him and those who moved elsewhere. Asked if knowing how Sullivan thinks will help the Giants, Coughlin said “Hmm, we’ll see. Execution. Need to play better than the other guy, no matter what.”
Moving target QBs
There was not an invisible force field around Tony Romo last week, but the Giants did not rough him up at all. It’s no wonder safety Antrel Rolle said yesterday on WFAN, “I’ve never, ever seen Tony Romo that comfortable going up against our defense.’’
The ever-clever Romo slipped out of danger with his legs, and containing mobile quarterbacks will be an enduring theme for the Giants. This week they get Josh Freeman, who is more in the Ben Roethlisberger hard-to-bring-down mode. Before Halloween hits, though, the Giants will face Cam Newton, Michael Vick, Robert Griffin III and Romo again, meaning they are going to have to hit a moving target.
“You always want to go against those quarterbacks that are kind of Statues of Liberty in the pocket,’’ Justin Tuck said. “That makes things a little easier, but that’s not the way of today’s quarterback. Most guys now are mobile and still are franchise-type quarterbacks. It’s the way of the world, and us as D-linemen have to adjust.’’
Headline: Players pay 9/11 tribute
It was an off-day for the Giants but Tuesday several players were busy visiting firehouses to offer thanks and pay tribute to firefighters 11 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Henry Hynoski, Prince Amukamara and David Douglas visited the Riverside Firehouse in Paterson, N.J. Kevin Boothe and Andre Brown spent time at a Newark firehouse. Three youngsters — Markus Kuhn, Selvish Capers and Matt Broha — traveled to see firefighters at the New Rochelle Firehouse. Domenik Hixon and Jim Cordle visited the West Point Firehouse.