[CBFF] Game Comments: New York Giants 12/2/07

[Matt Langschwager]

I'd have been happy had the Bears pulled it out today (a win is still a win) but as the fourth quarter dragged on, I realized the Bears didn't deserve a win today, so I not angry now, just sad.  Worse, we're only technically one game out of the WC, so I can't "give up" yet.
   
  Six three-and-outs today were bad enough, but what really perturbed me what that five of them ended in negative net yardage.  Jeez.  I guess the penalties and sacks add up.
   
  So the Bears had four turnovers and great field position most of the day.  And what do we do with it?  I'm still looking for an answer.
   
  Rex Grossman: 8/9 in the 1st Q, 8/20 in the 2nd half.
   
  Sigh.
  Matt

Tom Shannon <tshanno at gmail.com> wrote:
  Offense

1. Just an outstanding first drive. The no huddle offense was very
effective and allowed the Bears to get into a better rhythm and sustain
momentum. I will be interested to hear why they didn't continue to do it
more often.

2. Rex Grossman started sharp. He had very good vision and good
accuracy. He was not, however, consistent with it the rest of the game. He
was very up and down with the Giants consistently burning them on blitzes.

3. Adrian Peterson was running very well. He had good vision and was
consistently making the first guy miss.

4. The Bear offensive line generally had a rough time protecting
Grossman (again). The Bears were beaten regularly at the line of scrimmage
all day.

5. The Bears seemed to me to be throwing on first down more than they
have been. This is a bit of a change from the "We run the ball getting off
the bus" theory of offense. Its good that they didn't force it.

6. Well, the words are still appearing on the screen as I type but I'm
surprised. It's the second quarter and when Devin Hester dropped that pass,
I swear I thought I died on the spot. It looked like Grossman almost did,
too.

7. Nice catch by Bernard Berrian near the end of the first half to set
up the field goal. Having said that, it was the same play that was
intercepted last week and he was once again covered like a blanket. If they
have decided to just throw the ball to Berrian whenever he has single
coverage out there they should probably vary the route.

8. The inside screen near the end of the half was a good idea. It looks
like maybe it's easier for the offensive line to set up.

9. I got very tired of seeing the Bears shoot themselves in the foot in
the red zone. That has to get better.

10. I also got very tired of seeing false start penalties.

11. As pointed out correctly by Troy Aikman, Grossman got so used to seeing
pressure up the middle that he forgot how to step up in the pocket when it
comes from the outside.

12. Another note on Grossman. Opponents have been saying for some time that
if you hit Grossman hard, he'll get nervous. I think I saw some of that. It
may explain explain much of his inconsistency today.

13. Finally, kudos to Grossman for not turning the ball over.



Defense

1. Charles Tillman was switching sides to stay on Plaxico Burress. This
is what the Bears did the last time they played the Giants but there was
some question about whether they would do it while starting Trumaine
McBride. Apparently they have the confidence that was required in McBride.

2. It isn't just that Eli Manning started out with interception that
was good for the Bears. Its that he threw it to Brian Urlacher. Urlacher has
not been as prominent in coverage this year as he has in the past.

3. The Giants seemed to come in thinking that they could run on the
Bears. They stuck to it and did it effectively. Needless to say the Bear run
defense did not rise to the occasion and was sadly lacking. They got whipped
at the line of scrimmage pretty often.

4. Of course, the Bear defense once again did a nice job of forcing
turnovers. That's critical.



Miscellaneous

1. The Giants didn't actually avoid kicking to Hester all together.
Instead they simply pinned him to the sideline. It did a pretty good job of
limiting his effectiveness.

2. Joe Buck and Aikman did a pretty good job today. The shot of Lovie
Smith throwing the challenge flag and it not even hitting the turf before
the snap on the Giants' lost touchdown in the second quarter was pretty
good. In the end the Giants scored anyway but I thought Aikman had a point
in that the referees probably shouldn't have allowed the challenge.

3. The Giants did everything they could to hand this game to the Bears
on a platter. Teams that receive so many gift turnovers rarely lose. So why
did the Bears? Because they got beaten like a drum at the line of scrimmage
most of the day. When its all said and done, this is still what football is
all about.







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