AUTHOR: Anthony Fucilli TITLE: Not impressed with Giants D, Jets running game DATE: 9/19/2006 04:38:00 PM ----- BODY:

Going into Week 3, the Giants must become defensive. Amani Toomer said it best that they have to find their identity. Right now they're a team that has a talented offense, but a defense that is disappointing. My partner, Dan Leberfeld, says that by Week 8, the Giants will have the most dominate pass-rush in football. That they'd get people to forget the Fearsome Foursome. Well after two games, that hasn't been the case at all. In fact, their pass-rush has been abysmal. I guess for Dan, whatever he touches ... well, you know what I mean. Anyway, the Giants this week have to figure out a way on the road again in Seattle, a place where they played well last year, but found a way to lose a game due to penalties, missed field goals and missed opportunities. They gave one of the NFC's best teams a tough time up there last year, but don't kid yourself. If the Giants continue to play the way they are right now, they might as well stay home. They're giving up too many yards. In two games, they've allowed 778 yards combined. Not the way you want to play defense We all know this defense had some question marks heading into this season: What was the secondary going to be like? What were the outside linebackers going to be like? Well, for two games we still have those question marks. The one thing we thought we could count on was Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan getting to the quarterbacks. We thought we'd see Tim Lewis designing blitz packages and finding creative ways to get his pass-rushers all over the QBs. Now, I know Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb are two of the better quarterbacks in the game. They get rid of the ball quickly and are tough to find back there. You think you have Donovan sacked and he gets away. But that said, if the Giants are going to continue to rush four guys and try to help out their secondary by dropping their linebackers in the coverage, opposing QBs will continue to pick them apart. And, they're completing over 60 percent of their passes against that Giants defense. Offensively, they are talented, but continue to make mistakes. If they continue to turn the ball over, they wont continue to be lucky as they were Sunday when Tim Carter jumped on a fumble by Plaxico Burress for a touchdown. The Giants also continue to take penalties, 19 in fact, in two games. The discipline has to be sharp. Ironically, they won a game in Philadelphia because the Eagles' discipline was inexcusable. Trent Cole decided to drop-kick Kareem McKenzie in the groin with the game on the line. Thus, the Giants were able to kick a field goal, send it to overtime and let their young QB do what he does best: The two-minute, no-huddle offense. Some people have said, "Why don't the Giants do this more often and start it in the first quarter?" I don't think you can play football that way. Teams go vanilla when they go up by a lot of points and they seem to stop attacking. They kind of lay back and try not to give up the long TD. I think the Giants are kidding themselves if they think they can continue to do this throughout the game, but it's nice to know with the game on the line and in need of a score, they have one of the top QBs in the league at running the two-minute offense in Eli Manning. GANG GREEN As far as the Jets are concerned, they have to find a running attack and ball-carrier. Good ol' Dan Leberfeld is hell-bent on the fact that Cedric Houston is the next Herschel Walker. Now, I know Dan has a unique way of pumping up unheard of players. In fact, I hear he's still the president of the Brooks Bollinger fan club! But I don't think he's totally out of his mind. The Jets need to find an answer back there and it's not Derrick Blaylock. Is it Houston? I doubt it. But they should throw him back there and give him a look. You never know. Sometimes a squirrel finds a nut. Maybe Leberfeld is on to something. I'm not quite sure. But I know one thing, the Jets are not going to be involved in a favorable way unless they figure out a way to run the football effectively and create control of the game, so Chad Pennington can run a play-action and get it to his talented receivers. Right now, there's nothing there for opposing defenses to take serious. On the other side of the ball, the Jets are getting pushed around up front. They knew their defensive line wouldn't be one to have us think they'd be one of the best in the league. However, they have to find a way to be creative and get to the quarterback. The defensive linemen aren't capable of doing this without blitzing as we saw Kerry Rhodes effectively do when he was able to pop the ball out of Tom Brady's hands. We need to see more of that. We need to see more of an attacking style on defense. I'm not sure this week against Buffalo, however, they need to do that. J.P. Losman is one of the worst QBs in the NFL and the Jets need to be dominate up front. The defense needs to stop the running game and the offensive line needs to keep Pennington in one piece. Who knows! Like I said, my partner Leberfeld may be on to something here. I doubt it. But you never know.

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anonymous DATE:9/19/2006 04:42:00 PM Fooch is the poster-child for Monday Morning quarterbacking.

True, I did say the Giants would amass a lot of sacks this year, but who didn't, with the pass rushers they possess. It's still early, I expect the Giants pass rush to explode any week now.

There is too much talent for that not to happen.

And as for the Jets, Fooch is it possible for you to think outside the box a little bit? Just because you don't know much about Cedric Houston, doesn't mean he's a bad player.

That would be like you reviewing a Broadway show without seeing it. By the way, when is the last Broadway Show you've seen?

And I'm not talking about Broadway in Union City. I recommend "Jersey Boys."

It's right up your alley, it's about a bunch of Italian kids from New Jersey. You can relate to it.

Houston is a terrific player, and the Jets made a huge mistake not playing him the first two weeks. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anonymous DATE:9/19/2006 05:46:00 PM Fooch saved my fantasy team!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anonymous DATE:9/19/2006 08:12:00 PM Fooch, I saw you call out Leberfeld on MSG. Well I think maybe it's time to call you out...This is from your blog earlier this week:

"However, they face New England and you aren't going to be successful against New England without a running game. So, you are only fooling yourself if you think Chad Pennington is going to be able to spread the ball around and throw for 300-yards against the Patriots without a running game."


And what happened? 23/37, 306 yards, 2 TD's. Nice call Fooch. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anonymous DATE:9/20/2006 06:03:00 AM I'm with you Fooch, we Italians gotta stick together!

And Dan, I'm pretty sure coach Mangini knows more about Cedric Houston than you do. If he were so "terrific" he'd be playing!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anonymous DATE:9/20/2006 06:05:00 AM I don't care if the Giants win, 42-30, the rest of the year! As long as they win! They've shown they can make up on offense what they lack in defense. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anthony Fucilli DATE:9/20/2006 04:46:00 PM You are right 'Anonymous.' I like the way Chad Pennington spread the ball around this week. A six-yard pass to Laveranues Coles, that he was able to spread around the whole entire secondary of the Patriots for extra yardage. Also, when he spread that ball to Jericho Cotchery, who wound up making one of the greatest catches I've ever seen, turning it into a 71-yard reception. Take those two receptions out, what do you have then? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anthony Fucilli DATE:9/20/2006 04:46:00 PM This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anthony Fucilli DATE:9/20/2006 04:51:00 PM Thanks Dan, you are right the Jets did make a huge mistake, they should've taken a RB in the second-round.

We both know the RB isn't here yet, he will be here next year when the Jets draft one in the first-round.

I know Dan, after this experiment doesn't work, you will be calling for Little John Flowers to be traded back.

About thinking outside the box, this comes from a guy who thinks the NHL, NBA, MLB and NCAA stand for Wall Street symbols.

I mean, I know Dan, a vacation for you is the Indianapolis combine, but not for me.

As far as Broadway is concerned, hanging a Joe Namath jersey on your wall doesn't make you an expert. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anthony Fucilli DATE:9/20/2006 04:53:00 PM Hey Kyle, I understand your loyalty. However, if you want to be in South Beach you better get some defense. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anonymous DATE:9/21/2006 02:16:00 PM Christopher, I want some of what you're having. The Jets having a better shot at the postseason than the Giants? That's some funny, funny stuff!

Bring on the Giants hate. They haven't played a complete game yet, but they still beat Philly and nearly beat the Colts. If they put it together - especially on defense - they will be a force to be reckoned with.

The Giants will go at least 3-2 in the five games you mentioned, which will be outstanding. But I wouldn't be surprised if they went 4-1.

As for the Jets, well, at least Oakland and Green Bay are awful, so they won't be the absolute worst team in the league. ----- --------