Giants - Cards
1999 Game 5 - 4PM ET

Quarterback Respect

Kent Graham gets no respect.
He was not a favorite of the Cardinal fans. In fact he was quoted in a local newspaper saying, "Fans down there, they're so fickle, it's unbelievable. There's only 36,000 of them anyway. The rest of them are Cowboys fans . . . They do have a core group of people who are loyal, but they're real fickle.
I was in a no-win situation [in 1997]. They wanted Jake no matter what. When I heard them say they'd rather lose with Jake than win with Kent, I knew I was having problems."
Here with the Giants, although leading the team to a win over the undefeated Denver Broncos last season, and doing exactly what the coaching staff has wanted him to do this year, many fans couldn't wait to see Kent take the bench in favor of Kerry Collins.
Kent is in much the same situation as he was in Arizona, because many fans and media feel that there is a better player sitting behind him.

The fact that Kent suffered a mild concussion gave the Giants an easy out to start Collins, with his $16.9 million contract, this week against Arizona. Two years ago Fassel was all set to bench Dave Brown, when a torn pectoral muscle made it easy for him to make the call. Graham said he was told he'll be able to resume practice next week and play.
He admitted he was still feeling the effects of the concussion, but didn't endorse the Giants' decision to rule him out of tomorrow's game.
Whatever happens this week, Graham said he deserves to keep his job. He is 7-3 as the Giants' starter over two seasons. Danny Kanell was 3-7 when Graham replaced him last year.
This game against Arizona is a better opportunity to give Collins his first start, rather than having him go up against the Cowboys in a Monday night game on October 18.

Jake Plummer gets lots of respect.
Bill Walsh once called him the next Joe Montana. After 4 games this season, Jake has thrown 12 interceptions and just 2 touchdowns.
His quarterback rating is 31.6, last among the NFC passers.
As a result, the Cardinals, coming off their first playoff season since moving to Arizona, and projected by many to win the NFC East, now stand at 1-3. But still Jake gets respect.

Listen to this quote from Giants conerback Jason Sehorn.
"There were some bad throws, but last week there were two that bounced right off their chests," he said. "They were bullets, but you have to make that play. I see that he has thrown 12 interceptions, but then you look at the films and see the plays and you see it wasn't his fault. They've dropped a lot of balls. And he's running for his life, too."

Here's one from Giants safety Percy Ellsworth who has a team-high three interceptions,"He's not going to keep doing that. If it was another quarterback, say it was a sorry quarterback, yeah, I'd be salivating right now. But he's not going to keep doing that. What's he got, three picks a game? Trust me, he won't keep doing that."

Here's the one that really counts the most, from Arizona coach Vince Tobin, "I haven't reached that point now" where he'd consider benching Plummer and inserting Dave Brown, the former Giants starter, into the lineup. "He's our quarterback and we're going to go with him."

The Problem with Plummer.
It seems that Jake Plummer suffered a thumb injury in a preseason game, and he only ended up with 10 passing attempts during the whole preseason because of it.
This injury to the sprained thumb on his right hand also limited his practice time once the season started. Jake had to take his thumb out of the splint for the opening Eagles game and he got his hand banged again during it. Still, he managed to bring the Cards back from a 21-0 deficit to a 25-24 win.
He couldn't practice much at all the next week for the Miami game, and went 11 of 27 and 4 interceptions against them.
Plummer said, "This was one of the worst games I've ever had." Head Coach Vince Tobin said, "Since that time, I think his thumb is getting better and he's taking more and more reps in practice. I think he's close to being physically healthy. It's just a matter of his being in there and making all the reads and throws for an extended period of time."

How about those receivers?
WR Frank Sanders is hot, but that's it. Cover him with your best and the passing game is over.
Rob Moore, a former Jet, held out through the preseason, then pulled a hamstring in the third week against San Francisco. Last year with the Jets, he battled through a lingering mid season hamstring injury. Rob is listed as doubtful for Sunday.
David Boston, the eighth player picked in the April draft, has been playing like a rookie, and hasn't been effective with a shoulder injury that limits his ability to raise his arms and catch. Andy McCollough was involved in a key turnover to Dallas last week. Mac Cody, who was coming on as a receiver and returner, but now has a hip injury.

Jake Plummer drew some criticism for avoiding Deion Sanders side of the field last week playing the Cowboys. Does that mean that he'll be putting the challenge to Jason Sehorn who pays him so much respect? We'll just have to wait and see on that one. Last week, the Giants defense held the Eagles to a total of 174 net yards, so Jake will have his work cut out for him.

Kerry Collins, does he deserve respect?
Kerry Collins is no rookie to this game. He's started 49 games in the NFL, and led the Panthers to the NFC Championship Game in 1996, but he is very excited about getting this opportunity to start.
Except for a few minutes of playing time against the Redskins and wrapping up the last quarter against the Eagles last week, Kerry has been warming the bench in the backup role.
Even if things work out well for him against Arizona this week, coach Jim Fassel has made mention that he would start Kent Graham next week in Dallas. You see, a player isn't supposed to lose his job due to an injury, so once Kent Graham gets over his minor concussion, he should get his starting role back, but everything can change in football, and this is the first time that the coaches, fans and media get to see what Collins really has going for him this year.

Kerry got to practice with the first string this week and they got used to his style of play calling, which is more quick paced than Kent Graham's. This is not a knock on Kent Graham, as some players said that when they leave the huddle with Kent, everyone was exactly sure of what they had to do.
If these players felt that Collins was rushing them out unprepared in his last two appearances, they have had a week to work with him on it, and things have been looking real good on the practice field.
After practice Collins said, "I feel like I have a good grip on the offense. In no way do I look at it as an excuse that I haven't had enough reps or practice time. I'm getting reps this week and I feel like I'm ready to go."

Is Collins a marked man?
A few weeks ago, before the Giants - Tampa Bay game, there were some disturbing comments made by Warren Sapp of the Bucs against Kerry Collins, even though Kerry wasn't scheduled to start that game.
Sapp said of Collins, "He still quit on his ballclub. His actions haven't changed. I think Kent Graham is the starter. If they put (Collins) in, he's the hunted. If he's so good, get the starting job and we'll settle it on the field. If he has problems with me, take Kent Graham's job — he's paid enough money to."
Sapp has also said that Collins had "disgraced the game" and "all the great quarterbacks" who ever played. "It would be like me going in there when I was playing bad last year and telling Tony (Dungy), 'Take me out, my heart is not in it.' Take your bumps and bruises like a man and work hard and try to get better."

Sapp had said that he was looking "forward to chasing down Kent Graham.", in their game, but he had only nice things to say about him, "Kent Graham is a pressure-cooker," he said. "He stands right in there and gets the job done. He beat us when he played for the Cardinals." And while he was at it, Sapp ripped Danny Kanell, the former Giants starter.
They met up when Sapp played at Miami and Kanell played at Florida State. "I never had much respect for Kanell," he said. "I know he's a coward. You put a little pressure on him and he looks at the rush and shies away from pressure."

Why was Sapp so worked up over backup QB Collins at that time?
Are there players in the NFL who will target and try to seek out and destroy Kerry Collins for previous things he has said and done?
The Eagle players sure seemed anxious to get to him when he stepped in last week.
They probably don't know the new Kerry Collins, who lives totally without alcohol and partying, gets weekly counseling and has rediscovered a girlfriend from years past. He bunks with straight-laced, good natured, Jason Sehorn, who you see on all the anti-smoking billboards around here.
Fassel said of Collins, "He's made a lot of progress both in his personal life and on the football field."
Last week in relief of Kent Graham, Collins went three and out on his first series, then lost a fumble on his second. He looked good on his third series, starting with a 28-yard completion to Ike Hilliard.
The drive ended with a 23 yard field goal by Brad Daluiso that made it 16-15 with 7:43 left. Collins finished 6 for 12 for 86 yards.

Some Arizona Heat
Despite good practices, Kerry Collins has a tough task ahead of him this week in Arizona.
He might have to do it without seasoned center Brian Williams who is listed as day to day because of ligament damage in his right thumb. Brian has also been nursing along first round draft pick, rookie LG Luke Petitgout, and his absence could hurt the Giants running game.
With Brian in there, Gary Brown was effective on his first game back against the Eagles last week, but Gary sat out Thursday's practice with a tight left calf muscle before returning to the field on Friday.
Hopefully, that was more precautionary than necessary.
Meanwhile, Brian Williams is so important to the Giants gameplan, that Jim Fassel said he may substitute backup center, third-year man Derek Engler, who has not started since Sept. 28, 1997, just as a designated shotgun snapper.
If that sounds very impractical, you can see the lengths that Jim Fassel may be willing to go to so he can get his main offensive line leader in the game, even if he's snapping and blocking with a cast on his arm.

One reason for this urgency, is that they would be facing standout Cardinals tackle Eric Swann, back from a knee injury, for his first game since Oct. 18, 1998, which was coincidentally against the Giants.
Healthy, Swann is a powerful inside pass rusher who can tie up blockers inside, and that gives upfield ends, Simeon Rice and Andre Wadsworth chances to go one on one with the offensive tackles of the Giants.

Brian Williams practiced snapping with his left hand on Wednesday, something he never had done. He said he could do it in a game but not in shotgun formations.
Quoting Jim Fassel on using Derek Engler for the whole game:
"He's started here before and his play has been a little wild," he said, "but I have confidence in him. He hasn't been in a real game for a while, but I have confidence in him." - Now that's one vote of confidence for you!

How important is this running game against the Cards?
In the 4 games under coach Jim Fassel against the Cards:
- The Giants have averaged 195 rushing yards.
- Gary Brown picked up 108 yards and 124 yards in 1998.
- Fullback Charles Way had his lone career 100 yard rushing game where he totaled 114 yards in 1997.
- Former Giant halfback Tyrone Wheatley had his lone career 100 yard rushing game in 1997.
The Cardinals thus far allow an average of 136 yards on the ground per game.
Last week Gary Brown played in his first game of the season, had 27 carries, and ran for 87 of the 128 rushing yards the Giants gained on the Eagles. Giants coaches say Gary Brown's vision, his ability to see a running lane develop and then utilize his blocking, may be his most valuable asset.
Hopefully in only his second game back, Gary will have the stamina to play the full game in the projected 104 degree Arizona heat and be effective with or without Brian Williams at center. - I know, lots of hopes in that last sentence.

How important is the passing game against the Cards?
Take note here. The Cardinals are ranked fourth in the NFC on defense, and second against the pass. This could be a big problem for Kerry Collins and the Giants. If Kerry feels he has to "make something happen", either to keep a drive going, or to keep his career going, he could get burnt really bad by the Cards defensive unit.
Will Collins obey the rules put forth by the Giants coaching staff and play the "smart" game, or as the game progresses, will he get too comfortable out there and revert to his old self?
So far under Fassel, the Giants have yet to have enough confidence in any quarterback to let him play his own game. This year, starting off with running back injuries and breaking in rookies, you could see their point.
Certainly, playing a careful game against Tampa Bay got them that win, but sooner or later, they will have to let a quarterback "overrule" them and show what he can really do. They will have to live with a few mistakes as this happens, but it will have to happen if the Giants want to develop their players to the next level.
Here at Team Giants, we feel that this applies to Kent Graham as well as Kerry Collins or any other quarterback the Giants choose to play.

NOTES

Quarterbacks under Fassel With the Giants - Starters and Backups.
What happens to starting QBs under Fassel?
Jim couldn't make it work with Dave Brown and he was gone.
Danny Kanell held the job for only 10 games.
Graham is now suffering from a "concussion" and is on the the bench after 10 games.

This coach has had amazing results with backups.
Kanell was 7-2-1, and Kent Graham was 5-1 for a total of 12-3-1.

Last bits
The Giants are 4-0 against the Cards during Jim Fassel's 2 years as coach. A win would make the Giants 3-2 for the first time since 1994.

In the Giants 23-19 win over the Cardinals last December,
Tiki Barber had a career long 87 yard TD reception.
Kent Graham was 8 for 23 for 144 yards, one TD and 2 interceptions.

Kerry Collins was the QB for the Saints in their 19-17 loss to Arizona two weeks later. Collins was 25 for 43 for 263 yards and one TD.

If Collins and Mike Cherry are hurt, Kent Graham will play but hand off on every play.

Arizona Offensive tackle James Dexter is out with torn triceps.

Giants rank 25th in the NFL in offense.
Cardinals are ranked 28th in the NFL in offense.
Cards running game averages 2.8 yards per carry.
Cards have been outscored 52-0 in the first quarter this season.
Giants have 11 turnovers this season.
Cardinals have 17 turnovers this season.
Giants had 5 turnovers against the Eagles last week.
Cardinals had 5 turnovers against the Cowboys last week.

Next week it's night games for both teams.
The Giants play Dallas at home on Monday night, Oct 18 at 9 PM.
The Cards play Washington at home on Sunday night at 8:20 PM.

Click on the Team Giants logo to be informed of all Giants game previews and reviews.

1999 NFC EAST - Week 4
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	Home	Away	AFC	NFC	DIV	Streak
Dallas	3	0	0	1.000	100	49	2-0	1-0	0-0	3-0	2-0	W3
Washington	3	1	0	.750	150	118	1-1	2-0	1-0	2-1	1-1	W3
NY Giants	2	2	0	.500	68	94	1-1	1-1	0-1	2-1	1-1	W1
Arizona	1	3	0	.250	58	102	0-1	1-2	0-1	1-2	1-1	L3
Philadelphia	0	4	0	.000	44	86	0-2	0-2	0-1	0-3	0-2	L4