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Wednesday, December 29
Updated: December 30, 7:50 PM ET
 
War Room: Giants at Cowboys

The War Room

New York offense vs. Dallas defense
GIANTS OFFENSE
Ranking in the NFL:
Run 24
Pass 10
Tot. Yds. 17
Scoring 19
Int's allowed 19
Sacks allowed 41
   
COWBOYS DEFENSE
Ranking in the NFL:
vs. Run 7
vs. Pass 13
Total yds. allowed 7
# of Ints. 23
# of Sacks 34
Turnover differential +9
The inability of a young offensive line to open up holes for the Giant backs, and an inability for the backs to hit the holes with speed has been one of the team's main problems. This problem will be compounded this weekend at Dallas, as the Cowboy front four has improved each week, and New York's rookie RB Joe Montgomery has a rib injury and is questionable for this game. FB Charles Way should see a lot of work against the Cowboys, as coach Jim Fassel will try to run the ball between the tackles to neutralize Dallas' team speed. If starting OC Brian Williams is unable to go again this week, backup Derek Engler will have his work cut out for him against Dallas' talented OT's Leon Lett and Chad Henning. Last week against the Vikings, Engler and the New York interior line, LOG Mike Rosenthal and ROG Ron Stone, was manhandled by the Viking front four. The Giants also have to do a better job of protecting QB Kerry Collins, who is a great pocket passer, but not nearly as effective when forced to throw on the run. Lately, the Giants have been running a lot of two TE sets to give Collins extra protection, when, against Dallas, the team would probably be more effective running some three and four WR sets to take advantage of a thin Dallas secondary.

Last week's loss to the Saints filled Cowboy fans with mixed emotions. On one hand, surrendering 31 points to the Saints is an embarrassment, but on the other hand, RDE Ebenezer Ekuban's 8-tackle 2 + sack performance in the game is cause for optimism for the future of the Cowboy defense. A big problem against the Saints was the play of the team's secondary, which has been devastated by the loss of LDC Kevin Smith and nickel corner Kevin Mathis. RDC Deion Sanders even had a tough week against the Saints, as he bit on a pump fake and was burned for a 50-yard touchdown by Saints' WR Keith Poole. The Cowboys will be facing a team in the Giants that has some talent at the WR position and a QB who can get them the ball. As a result, the Cowboys will look to blitz New York's QB Collins with LB's Dexter Coakley and Randall Godfrey, both of whom are quick coming up the middle or around the corner. By forcing Collins to throw on the run and get rid of the ball quickly, Dallas will protect the team's less experienced corners Charlie Williams and Duane Hawthorne. Dallas should blitz a lot early, as New York's offensive line is young and has been having a difficult time checking off at the line of scrimmage as of late.

Dallas offense vs. New York defense

COWBOYS OFFENSE
Ranking in the NFL:
Run 7
Pass 25
Tot. Yds. 20
Scoring 11
Int's allowed 13
Sacks allowed 24
   
GIANTS DEFENSE
Ranking in the NFL:
vs. Run 11
vs. Pass 14
Total yds. allowed 9
# of Ints. 17
# of Sacks 32
Turnover differential -7
The Cowboy offense has been inconsistent through much of this season, although this is largely due to injuries, particularly at the WR position. In recent weeks Dallas has used TE's Erik Bjornson and David LaFleur at the same time - lining up Bjornson as a slot receiver. Bjornson has excelled in this role, and has opened up the underneath routes for Lafleur, who is tough to bring down after he catches the ball. Look for Dallas to continue this trend, as well as feature WR Jason Tucker, who had a breakout game last week in the Superdome. Tucker adds some speed opposite of WR Rocket Ismail, and will be difficult for the Giant secondary to game plan against, as he is especially effective running after the catch. One of the knocks on Cowboy's Coach Chan Gailey is his reluctance to stay with the running game - even when it is working. Gailey has a stable of aging RB's in Emmit Smith and Chris Warren, and seems hesitant to use them to pound the ball between the tackles late in games. The improved health of LOG Larry Allen should provide the Cowboy running game with a shot in the arm, and he looked effective against the Saints after a five-week layoff due to a knee injury. Allen and LOT Flozell Adams should find some success run blocking against the right side of New York's defensive line, but Adams could have some problems in pass protection against Giants' RDE Cedric Jones, who is having a breakout season.

Despite the loss of both the team's starting corners, the Giants have managed to not give up the "home run" in most of the team's games. The return of LDC Conrad Hamilton gave the team a boost last week against the Vikings, as the team held Minnesota QB Jeff George to just 10-21 for 185 yards and two interceptions. The Giants have been playing a lot of zone coverage because of the loss of starting corners Phillipi Sparks and Jason Sehorn, but these schemes have allowed the team to avoid being beaten by opposing teams' passing games. This week against Dallas, the Giants will again look to force Cowboy QB Aikman to take what they give him - short passes to his second and third reads on underneath patterns. This should allow the team's front seven to tee off on Aikman and focus on shutting down the Cowboy running game. RDE Jones and LDE Michael Strahan need to stand-up to Dallas' behemoth OT's at the point of attack and allow the team's linebackers to fly to the ball and make plays. One area where the Giants need to be particularly sharp is in pass coverage of the Cowboy tight ends, who emerged as potent weapons over the last month. This will probably require that a safety or nickel linebacker cover TE Erik Bjornson, who is capable of getting open downfield.

Special teams

NFL RANK
Category NY DAL
Punt return avg. 4 6
Kickoff return avg. 13 16
Opp. punt return avg. 25 24
Opp. kickoff ret. avg. 16 11
Time of possession 12 3
Dallas WR Jason Tucker, aside from having an outstanding game as a receiver, also scorched the Saints as a return man. He set a team record for combined yards and managed to do so despite having a 97-yard kickoff return called back due to a holding call. Dallas PK Eddie Murray has been effective, albeit with limited range, over the last three weeks for the Cowboys and will continue to play a big part on a team that is missing a go-to-guy in the red zone. New York PK Carey Blanchard has been a godsend to a team that lost starting PK Brad Daluiso for the season with a knee injury. Given the Giants ineffectiveness in the red zone, Blanchard could play a huge role in the outcome of this game.

Key matchups

  • Cowboys QB Troy Aikman vs. Giants defensive coordinator John Fox
    Aikman has been jumpy in the pocket when throwing the ball and pressure from the Giants defensive unit will only make this worse. If the Coach Fox can put together an effective blitz package Aikman will rush to judgment and force throws into the New York secondary.

  • Giants QB Kerry Collins vs. Dallas DC Deion Sanders
    Collins has trouble with DC's like Sanders who are skilled a t deceiving QB, baiting them into errant throws. The Giants QB will have to be mindful of Sanders' speed when one of his receivers beats Deion off the line, because Sanders has the speed to make up for a lost step.

  • Giants ROT Scott Gragg vs. Cowboys DE Kavika Pittman
    Pittman is a one-gap player and will focus on using his quickness off of the snap to beat Gragg. If Scott Gragg can get to Pittman he'll keep the Dallas end from disrupting the New York running game by turning Pittman's hips upfield to create running lanes for the Giant backs.

    New York Giants will win if...

  • Conrad Hamilton can contribute to the New York secondary. Hamilton provides depth to a depleted secondary. Continued support from Hamilton will help the Giants shut down an already hobbled Dallas passing game.

  • Kerry Collins can value the ball and pass with efficiency. Collins only threw one interception last week, but still took a few too many chances. The Dallas defensive secondary will allow little room for error, so Collins will need to establish himself underneath before he gets vertical.

  • A running game is established early. Not one Giant back could average over three yards a carry against the Vikings. In order for Collins to have success throwing the Giants OL has to take control of the LOS and create running lanes.

    Dallas will win if...

  • They can get a rush on the Giants QB Collins. Dallas had no sacks two weeks ago against the Jets and last week too much time allowed Jake Delhomme to lead the Saints to a win. Dallas must get pressure on Collins to put themselves in a position to win.

  • TE Eric Bjornson can become a part of the offense. Dallas is desperately trying to get the ball to TE Bjornson because it opens up their offense. If Bjornson can create mismatches and get open against the Giants it will keep the New York safeties honest.

  • Leon Lett can help out stopping the run. Lett has played poorly this season since his return and with Greg Eliss out he needs to step up and contain the run against the Giants.

    The War Room edge
    The Giants are not running the ball well enough to win this type of football game and are not passing well enough to make up for it. Dallas will be able to win this game because Smith will move the chains on the ground and Aikman will relocate his passing accuracy.

    The War RoomMaterial from The War Room.
    Visit their web site at http://www.nflwarroom.com




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