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.
| |
|