After a day to reflect, not feeling much better

After feeling like we got punched in the stomach Thursday night after that Thanksgiving Day massacre in Denver, I read through some of the post-game comments from HC Tom Coughlin, C Shaun O’Hara and a few other players.  And my conclusion from that is that this team still believes, but they can’t figure out what has gone wrong or how to fix it.  They keep repeating that “we need to play better” mantra, but they have no more margin for error. 

O’Hara stopped short of singling out specific players, but he did mention that he thinks 3-5 players are not pulling their weight, and he was talking offensively.  I have a funny feeling Brandon Jacobs is one of those players.  He also made it known he wants more running plays, but how can you keep running the ball gaining 2, 3 or negative yards?  Blame Kevin Gilbride all you want, Shaun, but you guys simply aren’t getting it done in the run game.  The O-line looks as bad as any Giants’ line has in years, and it’s all of a sudden. 

Coughlin thought the special teams played well Thursday, and he is correct.  But he said that the other two parts of the team did not get the job done and he is correct there too.  Coughlin talked about it being a 5-game season now with opportunities in playing division rivals the next three games, and of course he has not given up.  He can’t do that and neither can the players.  But it looks awful grim right now. 

How should we feel as Giants’ fans today?  I know this team can play better, and they have proven that.  But I think there are philosophical differences with the coaching staff and players, and I think guys just don’t know what they’re doing out there too often.  And I’m sorry coach, you and your staff were out-coached on Thursday night and you were a few other times this season.  I’m not saying Coughlin is a bad coach, but I have to take issue with DC Bill Sheridan, because how can you suddenly not be able to stop the run, and not have an effective pass rush?  And how can you keep dropping clueless linemen into coverage?  It’s just sickening to watch the other team run the ball down our throat.  I also have to take slight issue with Gilbride, because when we get down in a game, we become so predictable, and the other team just tees off.  That was there in all its glory Thursday as the Broncos’ D looked like the Steelers.  And as O’Hara pointed out, this is a much better team playing with a lead than from behind.  Yeah, Shaun, but your defense can’t stop the other team even when up by two touchdowns (see last week against Atlanta). 

So my feeling is this….you can’t ever say never…last season, the Cardinals and Eagles played in the NFC Championship game, and at this point in the season both teams were struggling mightily.  The Eagles were 5-5-1 before beating Arizona on Thanksgiving and going on a roll.  And the Cards lost a few badly before winning their finale and then rolling over everyone, including the Eagles in the NFC Championship, on their way to the Super Bowl. 

However, the Giants are like a dam that has sprung too many leaks and they don’t have enough thumbs to hold back the water.  There are gaping holes on offense, defense, and special teams (which looked good Thursday because of the thin Denver air), and not enough time to fix those things.  It’s also impossible to hope that you’re going to win the battle of turnovers in a game….a bounce here or there can dictate the whole game and your own luck.  What you can do is improve your own play and not take stupid penalties (I’m talking to you, Corey Webster). 

I feel as crappy today as I did yesterday, and I see this team finishing at 7-9 or at best 8-8.  And either way, that’s just ridiculous after a 5-0 start and hopes of returning to the Super Bowl.

Tags: Bill Sheridan, Brandon Jacobs, Broncos, Cardinals, Corey Webster, Cowboys, defense, Eagles, Eli Manning, Falcons, Giants, Kevin Gilbride, offense, Redskins, Shaun O'Hara, special teams, Steelers, Super Bowl, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving game, Thanksgiving loss to Broncos, Tom Coughlin