The National Football League 2010-2011 season has officially begun.
On Sunday September 12 at 1:00 pm the New York
Giants will host the Carolina Panthers in their first official game of the
season in their new Meadowlands Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX.
I’m excited and worried about our New York Giants
team this season. Running backs Ahmad Bradshaw (#44) and Brandon Jacobs (#27)
are healthy. But DJ Ware (#28) suffered his second concussion in the preseason
game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wide Receiver Victor Cruz (#3) looks like
an awesome addition to the team. But Wide Receivers Steve Smith (#12), Mario
Manningham (#82) and Hakeem Nicks (#88) are not healthy.
Ok, who’s the most important player on the football
team? Not the quarterback! Try again. Yes! It’s the center, the lineman at the
center of the offense who snaps the ball to the quarterback at the start of
each play. He also gets to block the Nose Tackle; whose eyes are gazing
intently in his direction with bad intentions. The center must annihilate the
Nose Tackle to be successful. If he is unable to do this the quarterback will
be terrorized and the running backs will rush for negative yardage the entire
game.
At this very moment, the New York Giants offensive
line is riddled with injuries. Yes, that includes our center Shaun O’Hara
(#60). He has a painful Achilles’ tendinitis in his left ankle. NY Giants head
coach, Tom Coughlin, has chosen guards Rich Seubert (#69) and Chris Snee (#76)
to fill in for O’Hara when he is unable to play. Left Tackle, David Diehl
(#66), Tight End, Kevin Boss (#89) and Right Tackle, Kareem McKenzie (#67) have
all been battling injuries as well.
Hurry up offense anyone? It’s quite obvious, Jim
Flacco and his Baltimore Ravens where aware of these injuries. The Baltimore
Ravens ran their four scoring plays in around five minutes with no huddles and
short passes down the middle of the field. In the first quarter Jim Flacco ran
13 plays in four minutes and fifty-six seconds for 67 yards and a field goal by
Cundiff. The NY Giants managed to deny the Ravens a first down. The second
quarter delivered a touchdown pass from Flacco to Boldin after 11 plays for 85
yards in four minutes and fifty-one seconds; no huddle. Then, only minutes
later, Jim Flacco throws a pass to Heap for a touchdown after 10 plays for 77
yards in four minutes and forty-one seconds; once again using a no huddle play.
Finally, in the fourth quarter Flacco threw to Marcus Smith for a touchdown
after 11 plays and 80 yards in five minutes and fifty-two seconds. The
Baltimore Ravens ended the day with 313 yards passing; completing 32 passes on
48 attempts. This preseason game was quite revealing.
How could this happen to the NY Giants defense? It
was because of injuries. NY Giants cornerback Aaron Ross (#31) is suffering
from a plantar fascia tear. Corey Webster (#23) has an aggravated gluteus
maximus muscle and will probably be replaced by Bruce Johnson (#25). Sha’reff
Rashad (#30), the NY Giants Safety, also suffered a concussion in the Pittsburgh
Steelers game and will be tested in a few days along with DJ Ware.
The NY Giants O’Hara / Seubert / Snee will be going
up against the Carolina Panthers; and their Defensive (Nose) Tackle Nick
Hayden. Hayden, 6’4” and 292 lbs, racked up only 17 tackles and 1 sack last
season. At 24 years old, from the University of Wisconsin, he’s only played in
the NFL for two seasons. Linebackers Dan Connor, Jamar Williams and Jon Beason
will definitely play. Last year Pro Bowler Beason set a franchise record with
169 tackles.
Under the watchful eye of the great defensive
coordinator, Ron Meeks, the rest of the Carolina Panthers speedy defensive
linemen are seasoned veterans of the 4-3 defenses. The Panthers defenders are
healthy and ready to play. I expect to see lots of Linebacker stunts to keep
the NY Giants guessing. If Shaun O’Hara does play on Sunday, he can help guide
Eli Manning around the confusion. Eli is a little rusty and still not in full
stride, but hopefully he will play the rust away.
The Carolina Panthers quarterback will be Matt Moore
(#3). Moore only threw for 1,053 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2009. At 6’3” and
202 lbs, he is difficult to take down. He will attempt to connect with his two
Wide Receivers, Steve Smith and rookie David Gettis. Steve Smith is still
recovering from a broken arm, but will play. The Running Backs will most likely
be DeAngelo Williams and Dantrell Savage.
Ok, what does all of this mean? Well, I have good
news and bad news. First the bad news; the NY Giants may not win on Sunday and
if they try they could risk losing some of their players for the entire season.
Here’s the good news, the Carolina Panthers are not division rivals and the NY
Giants get a week to heal before the sibling rivalry with Peyton Manning and
the Indianapolis Colts. The NY Giants have not finished well against strong
defensive teams this preseason. Looks like Giants 27 and Panthers 14.
©Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved.
Article
by Keith Anthony for
Contemplating
New York Giants Football™
