Monday
Aug 17, 8:15 PM - Panthers at Giants
One
Bad Game
Panthers head coach John Fox
said the team "picked a bad day to have a bad game", after losing to
Arizona 33-13 in their lone playoff game. Like the Panthers, the Giants were also
Division Champs playing in their first postseason game and they lost as well 23-11
to the Philadelphia Eagles. At the end of last season the Giants were on somewhat
less of a roll than the Panthers who had finished up strong losing only one game
in their last five. The Giants had started to fade, pulling out just one win in
their last four games. That one happened to be against these same Panthers, and
it was a thrilling come from behind 34-28 overtime win at the the Meadowlands
that awarded the Giants home field advantage for the playoffs. Fans left the stadium
thinking they had just seen a glimpse of the NFC Conference Championship coming
down the line. Unfortunately the Panthers and the Giants both had their really
bad games before things could get that far.This
First Game
The first preseason game
is what it is. The leashes are finally off and pent up players get to make solid
contact without being yelled at for putting some teammate down hard in practice.
Meanwhile coaches will cringe every time a starter or an immediate backup goes
down in this otherwise meaningless tune-up of a game designed to get players football
ready. There will be missed assignments and plays, with the rookies eagerly awaiting
their chance to take the field to either overplay their positions or look to be
an upcoming star. What
to watch - Giants
Defenses are usually
ahead of offenses at this point. It will be interesting watching the Giants on
defense when they take the field, but hope this remarkably talented group is effective
in getting off the field quickly. You really want to see a lot of offensive plays
coming from the Giants with the starters out there. With reliable number one and
two receivers, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, gone this year, you want Eli
Manning running lots of plays with his young receivers. Is Ramses Barden the secret
gemstone? Also, will Ahmad Bradshaw or Danny Ware be effective replacing Derrick
Ward as part of a dynamic running duo, since Derrick Ward has also moved on? On
special teams, placekicker Lawrence Tynes has the job back and will David Tyree
stick to the team this year or end up somewhere else? What
to watch - Panthers
They have 21 starters
returning this season and that gives a team an edge. Quarterback Jake Delhomme
definitely wants to get his offense on board and erase the memories of their last
outing of the year. He had six turnovers in the playoff game against the Cardinals.
The Panthers have a new defensive coordinator and tend to rush only the front
four, one of the reasons they put the franchise tag on Julius Peppers, so Eli
Manning might see less of a big pass rush, but also lots of covered receivers. Looking
ahead - Giants
Eli's teammates were
OK with him getting his new deal, but opposing players will be anxious to show
that they can get their hands on the $97 million dollar man. Playing without a
number one established receiver who can command double coverage, Manning will
see less opportunities in the secondary. The deep passing game will likely take
a back seat for awhile to Brandon Jacobs and some talented extras rushing and
catching out of the backfield. Tom Coughlin's green zone might look a little more
red for awhile until the wide receivers step up. The Giants bye week is nicely
placed right after the ninth game of the season. Looking
ahead - Panthers
They have one of the
toughest schedules in the league and it starts with the Eagles in the opener,
next division team Atlanta on the road, followed by games with Dallas and Washington.
The Panthers travel to play the Giants at the Meadowlands in their next to last
regular season game. Their bye week comes early on after only three games, that
one after Dallas, and nearly all the teams Carolina will play finished at or over
500 last season.
Check
out:
Giants DVDs
and Posters. Next Preseason
Games
Aug 22 - Giants at Chicago
8:00PM
Giants Tickets - Buy
or Sell
Aug 29 - Jets at Giants 8:00PM
Giants Tickets
- Buy or
Sell 790+
tickets! (as of 08/13 - 7:00PM)
|
