Darkness on the Edge of Town

True Blue fans suffered a crushing shutout loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. As bad as the loss was, the first thing that needs to happen is for the Giants to totally forget about everything that just unfolded and start preparing for the off-season. There is a bright future for these Football Giants but one loss such as the one suffered today can trigger a series of bad events and destroy a team’s chemistry and faith in each other.When Tom Coughlin came to New York after former head coach Jim Fassel was let go, he immediately made it clear that he was the boss and the Giants he was about to endure were to be much different from the past Giants.

Things weren’t even that bad in New York. Only four years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, the Giants returned to the playoffs in 2002 before blowing the largest lead in playoff history to the San Francisco 49ers. But after failing to get the Giants back to the playoffs, the front desk made it clear Fassel’s time in New York was quickly coming to an end. In came Coughlin who had been the conductor turning around the expansion Jaguars. Coughlin’s style of coaching was much different from that of Fassel.

While Fassel was more of a player’s coach, Coughlin is a hardcore old school coach who praises discipline. Whether it’s the best or the worst player on the team, Coughlin treats all of his players the same. For long time Giants such as Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan, the change was, at first, not easy. The change was also not easy for the team as players and coach clashed for much of Coughlin’s first season in New York. The Giants finished with a 6-10 record as Eli Manning took over for quarterback Kurt Warner halfway through the season. Eli was not very productive at all but Coughlin was here for the long run and knew these were the types of problems he would endure. He was ready for the challenge and the Giants as a team finally bought into his system, including team leader Michael Strahan who clashed with Coughlin many times throughout the 2004 season.

It sure did pay off. The team realized Coughlin was here to win and not babysit such a potentially dangerous team. Coughlin even solved Barber’s fumble problems as surprising as that may have sounded only two seasons ago.

A good core of players already existed on the Giants ranging from Tiki “Fumblerooski” Barber to Michael Strahan and Amani Toomer. Strahan had at this point already held the single-season sack record. The Giants also had TE Jeremy Shockey who was the team’s emotional leader for his first two seasons in New York before suffering a season-ending injury during the 2004 season. They had traded and gotten Eli Manning from the San Diego Chargers and also drafted a young and promising DE Osi Umenyiora. Along with Strahan, the two have turned into a great duo.

After a disappointing 2004 season the Giants went out and got another playmaker, Plaxico Burress, from Pittsburgh and now had a formidable offense along with a very good upcoming defense.

At the start of the 2005 season the offense clicked and was for most of the first half of the season #1 in points scored per game. The defense was not as in check but then went on a very impressive streak without allowing a touchdown in three straight games mid-way through the season.

All throughout the 2005 season there had been disappointing losses to San Diego, Dallas, Seattle, Washington, and Minnesota. All of these losses showed teams in the NFL Eli Manning still was not Peyton Manning and Eli was containable if pressured enough by opposing defenses.

Kicker Jay Feely also had his problems, especially in Seattle where he missed three straight field goals; two of those in overtime before the Giants lost.

There were also great moments in the 2005 season. A 36-0 shutout of the Redskins had Giants fans thinking Super Bowl early in the season. Eli Manning also led a great comeback victory vs. the Broncos at home early in the season giving him and the Giants a much needed confidence booster.

After finishing 11-5 and winning the NFC East Division, the Giants knew they were given the tough end of the stick by getting matched up with the 5th seed Carolina Panthers. Giants’ fans knew their team needed to play their best game of the year in order to win. The Giants gave their fans almost the complete opposite.

Eli Manning was picked off three times by the Carolina defense, Tiki Barber was nothing like the running back he had been the entire season, and the Giants defense was just dismal, missing tackle after tackle after tackle. To top that off big-time player-maker Burress, who I mentioned before, made zero receptions, ZERO.

Granted the Giants had their share of bad breaks, the team looked flat and didn’t seem to have the sense of urgency needed for a playoff game; that was also at home.

A loss like this can be absolutely crushing for a team who has come so far just to see it end just as quickly.

Throughout the off-season many issues will need to be addressed. The Giants, on paper, are one of the best teams in the NFL, especially on offense. While the defense was banged up much of the season, there are players who can be great potential playmakers on defense and be just as productive for the Giants.

But how will the team react to this loss? Plaxico Burress was noticeably irritated by Manning’s decisions all game and Jeremy Shockey has not been the same emotional playmaker he had been during recent years. Tiki Barber’s numbers were never good during the post-season and today’s game didn’t help him out much. Where was Toomer? Where was the entire Giants defense, minus Strahan?

This will be a tough loss to swallow but the Giants need to forget about it and figure out ways to solve their problems so next year will not end like this year. The team has the ability to be great and along with a great coaching staff, nothing should be stopping the Giants. But it’s all about trust when it comes to playing a team game such as football. Eli Manning must step up and get together with his offense to make sure they are all on the same page. The defense, well they just need to be healthy all season next year. As bad as the defense was today, you have to take into account everyone who was missing, especially linebackers Carlos Emmons and Antonio Pierce; who were the core and leaders of the defense.

Nothing is guaranteed in the coming seasons for the Giants, just ask Archie Manning; Eli’s father. Eli has already this season accomplished more than Archie did his entire career, including a winning season. Eli can bring the Giants back to the playoffs there is no doubt about that, but the mental approach for next season must be much different if he wishes to bring a Super Bowl title to New York. The offense must get on the same page as their young quarterback and leaders need to show up this summer for the Giants. Eli is the man, that’s why New York went out and traded for him and they will continue to work to give him the kind of supporting cast his brother Peyton has in Indianapolis. With everything the Giants are doing for Eli every Giants fan should be hoping for a Super Bowl title sometime soon. That is why Eli came to New York in the first place isn’t it?

Copyright ©2006 Colin Cerniglia. All Rights Reserved.