The film doesn't lie. It never does. It shows everything that is put out on the field -- good or bad -- and remains available forever.
What the New York Giants put on tape defensively on Sunday (and actually each of the past two weeks) has been ugly. They've allowed 82 points to the Rams and 49ers. The 31 points allowed to the 49ers and rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard prompted Giants coach Ben McAdoo to voice some of his displeasure with what his defense has put on film.
"The thing that was disappointing that showed up on film is the desire to finish on a consistent basis," McAdoo said during the opening statement of his Monday conference call.
He later added:
"It's something that in [Sunday's] game, it's fresh in my head watching the ballgame. It's not one player and it's not on all plays. It's something that almost looks like at times we're waiting for someone else to make a play instead of just pulling the trigger and making the play ourselves."
McAdoo was conscious to not put the blame publicly on any one specific player. He said in his opening that he wasn't going to throw anybody under the bus. McAdoo even seemed to take offense to a reporter using the phrase "lack of effort" and making the assumption he regretted being unable to go back in time and take those players off the field. Instead, Mcadoo opted to continue with the phrase "desire to finish on a consistent basis."
Whatever he wants to call it, the most obvious offender was likely cornerback Janoris Jenkins. He failed to engage on several tackles throughout Sunday’s 31-21 loss to the San Francisco, including on tight end Garrett Celek’s 47-yard touchdown reception late in the second quarter. There were also two plays on which Jenkins barely touched the ball carrier in his area.
The Pro Bowl cornerback didn't put his best game on film. Not even close. He also was beat for an 83-yard touchdown by speedy wide receiver
"Like I said, there were some players in the ballgame who need to show a consistent desire to finish better," McAdoo said. "I think the post ball in the game on third down is a tough play and a tough spot for him to be in against a player who has tremendous speed. And they're going to make some plays on you. He had an opportunity on third down where he slipped; he could have came up and had a chance to pick the ball off if he had his footing there. I expect him to make that play and pick the ball off. It was unfortunate there.
"There were some opportunities on some balls on the perimeter where his desire to finish consistently needs to show up and we need to get the guys on the ground. We need to tackle better as a defensive unit, and he was a part of it."
Jenkins undoubtedly wasn't alone. The Giants allowing 31 points to a Niners offense that had scored 30 in the three previous games combined didn't happen strictly because one player's effort was sub-par. Defensive captain Jonathan Casillas admitted after the game he was probably tired as he tried to cover Celek on the touchdown. Cornerback Eli Apple drifted out of bounds on Beathard's fourth-quarter touchdown run.
The question now is how the Giants decide to handle what defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and his coaches grade as loafs. Were there an extraordinary amount on Sunday vs. the 49ers? What are the consequences if there were, especially for the more notable players?
"That's something that we're taking a look at," McAdoo said. "We have a 46-man roster on game day, and the players who are going to go out and do it the way we ask them to do it and do it on a consistent basis, they're going to get a chance to play."
Hmm. Interesting. The Giants, who have already suspended Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Jenkins this season for violations of team rules, host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.