5 Questions with the Giants

Last game of the season, last edition of 5 Questions. We at The Curly R have thoroughly enjoyed this weekly exchange with bloggers covering the Redskins' opponents and hope it has provided some football insight and amused you. I would like to thank all the blogs and bloggers that exchanged with us this season: Chris at Daily Norseman, Thomas at The Ragnarok, Dave at Blogging the Boys, Rodney at Texans Rock, Chris at Big Cat Country, this week's partner James atNFL-Giants, Jimmy at Music City Miracles, Brad at Stampede Blue, our bye week partner Sean at Pride of Detroit, Jason at Bleeding Green Nation, lifetime Eagles fan and Curly R reader/lurker Wilbert Montgomery, Brendan and Sarah at Best Bucs Blog, Dave at Panthers Fanhouse, Dave at The Falcoholic, Matt at Saints Watch and Ryan at Turf Show Times.

This week, the New York Football Giants come to town to play the Redskins. Reprising our exchange from October, we bring you our Q&A with James at NFL-Giants. Lots has changed since game 5 when the Redskins were 2-2 going into the Giants game and still with visions of playoffs. You can find my answers to James' questions here. Head over there and drop a comment. And now, our questions:

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Curly R: Tiki. The Giants have a complex way into the playoffs, and need help no matter how they can do it. It is at least possible if not likely that this will be Tiki Barber's last game in a Giants uniform, his last in the NFL. What are your thoughts on this occasion, and where does his departure leave the team? Is Brandon Jacobs an every-down replacement or will the Giants be looking to supplement the backfield with a platoon runner?

NFL-Giants: It's the end of an era. Tiki will be remembered as the greatest runningback in Giants history but also for never winning a superbowl. The last few games he appears to be slowing down so it may be time for him to pack it in.

Jacobs hasn't proved that he can be an every down NFL back and his physical running means he will take a beating. Derrick Ward should be a decent backup but a shifty finesse runner would be a nice complement. The Giants need another back.


Curly R: Play-calling. Offensive coordinator John Hufnagel was relieved of play-calling duty by Tom Coughlin and the plays on Saturday will be called by quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride, once punched in the face by Buddy Ryan over playcalling. What should we expect to come out of Kevin's toolbox? Is this Tom throwing John overboard to save himself, or is this the right move?

NFL-Giants: I don't see how the playcalling could get much worse but Gilbride can not be a long term answer. Can he switch things up enough to give the Giants 4 decent quarters? I hope so. I don't know what to expect, but I would like to see more slants and posts as the Giants need to speed up the passing game. Asking Eli to hold the ball as long as Kurt Warner used to is asking for trouble.


Curly R: Eli. He is experiencing the the media glare of New York in exactly the opposite way he and his father intended and oh by the way now Archie Manning is denying he ever influenced Eli in any way. What happens to Eli now? Do the Giants just soldier on another year and hope he gets better, or will bring in a veteran to push him, look to trade him, cut him, what is your take? Back when we did 5 Questions in October, you said Eli needed to get better at putting the ball where defenders could not make a play on it. Has he improved?

NFL-Giants: Yes and no. Eli has had some good games and he has been horrible in others. I don't understand how he can be very good one game and then completely suck the next game. I don't see nayone pushing Eli next year but a vet QB is certainly warranted as the Giants can't know how the current backup J-Load will handle an NFL game. So Eli will be the Giants QB next season with or without a new vet backup.


Curly R: Strahan. He went on IR. What does this mean for his career in New York? Will he be back or will he be too expensive? Who on the team becomes the premier pass rusher?

NFL-Giants: It depends on the new administration but it certainly looks as though Strahan can no longer put together a 16 game season. However, he is an excellent DE who can rush the passer and stuff the run - having him for hlaf the season may be better than not having him at all. The Giants do have the talent at DE to give Strahan plenty of breaks.


Curly R: 2007. I know you want the Giants to sneak into the playoffs and make a showing, redeem themselves, but assume for a moment that they do not. What happens next? Will Tom Coughlin be here next year? What are the positions the Giants most need to address? Who do you expect not to be there next year?

NFL-Giants: The Giants need a new GM as Accorsi is retiring. Then they need new coaches. Coughlin, Huffnagle, and Lewis must go. The Giants need a safety. Will Demps has sucked despite a good start to the recent debacle against the Saints. Gibril Wilson has been OK and James Butler is unable to earn much playing time. We'll need to get rid of Tim Carter and fine an actual wide receiver. We need that third running back I mentioned above. If O'Hara doesn't resign we need a center. All in all the personnel situation isn't too bad. The coaching situation is.


Curly R BONUS QUESTION: I'll agree with Alge Crumpler, but how the hell did Jeremy Shockey get a Pro Bowl bid over Chris Cooley? A comparison of key stats:
Receptions: Shockey, Witten, Cooley, span of 14 catches, less than one catch per game difference. This pack is bunched up.

Yards: Crumpler, Witten, Cooley, span of 31 yards, less than 2 yards per game difference for the top three. Shockey appears nowhere in the top four in this category. Another bunch at the top.

TDs: Crumpler/Shockey (7 each), Cooley/Desmond Clark (6 each). Another bunch.

Plays of 20+ yards: Crumpler/Cooley (12 each), LJ Smith/Dan Campbell (9 each). Shockey is not in the top 12 in this category, and only has 2 catches over 20 yards. This is the crucial tight end stat in my mind, because this is a measure of how explosive your tight end is.

Chris Cooley has 32 catches for a first down, Jeremy Shockey has 36, a difference of four and Shockey has 14 more catches than Cooley. Shockey has a very slight statistical advantage numerically, but Cooley is more likely to pull off a big one, making him more valuable in my opinion.

Fantasy-wise, Cooley has been worth two more points, 106 to 104 over this season.

What gives?

NFL-Giants: I don't expect the most talented palyers to make the probowl but I would say that Shockey is a better tightend than Cooley from what I've seen. Shockey is an excellent blocker and a good receiver who gets open but occasionally has a drop. I love Cooley's passion for the game but I haven't seen him block as well or as consistently as Shockey. Correct me if I'm wrong on this one - I don't see more than 2 or 3 Redskins games / year.

(Ed. note: I completely agree with James that Jeremy Shockey is not the most talented player. It is true Chris Cooley is not known for his blocking prowess, but I'll still take him. It has been Chris that has largely advanced Jason Campbell's play. -Ben)

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Thanks to James for trading up again, and The Curly R staff looks forward to trading up with James again twice next year.

One more game and that's it.

Next: game preview