Giants rip coaches

[MURP]

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January 9, 2006 --  Standing behind a lectern, analyzing a game he wanted to forget, Tiki Barber, in full public view yesterday, stated, "I think in some ways we were out-coached," and later willingly explained precisely why.

A few minutes later, off to the side, after posing for pictures, greeting family and friends and receiving a big hug from his wife, Ginny, Barber was asked again about his critique of the Giants coaching staff.

"It was obvious," he said. "They knew what we were doing. We didn't adjust."

It was the most stinging but hardly the only abuse heaped on the strategies employed by the Giants in their desultory 23-0 playoff loss to the Panthers at Giants Stadium. Players far and near in the locker room sprinkled frustration with their own shoddy performance along with disgust at the game plan they were handed, and the inability of the Giants to alter an approach that clearly wasn't working.

"We knew they were going to try to stop the run," Amani Toomer said. "I just felt like we didn't adjust quickly enough. I don't know what happened."

The worst game of the season for Barber (13-41) came after the Panthers, predictably enough, brought safety Mike Minter near the line of scrimmage, adding an extra defender to contain a running back who gained 1,860 yards and finished fourth in the league's MVP voting. As a result, Toomer and Plaxico Burress were often left in single coverage against the talented Carolina cornerbacks.

Burress did not have a catch and was thrown to one time.

"That's just a testament to our game plan not being the right one," Barber said.

Knowing Panthers coach John Fox — the former Giants defensive coordinator — would load up to stop him, Barber wanted to see his team accelerate its pace and change up its usual running style.

"We spend a lot of time at the line of scrimmage sometimes dissecting the defense, and that allows them to bring up an extra guy in the box," Barber said. "When we have gone on quick sounds, we were effective. I think we played into their scheme and it ended up ultimately costing us the game."

There were times when Jeremy Shockey waved his arms in disgust after he ran free but Eli Manning did not spot him.

"They had a good game plan against us," Shockey said. "They really forced us off the run in the first quarter. We kept trying to pound the ball and there was nothing there.

"The second half they came out and did some different things, forced us to pass the ball. They were in zone and they did a great job. If I were their defensive coordinator I would have done the same thing. They knew we were going to do something different and they had the better hand. They definitely called it."

[DH]

I thought it was so devastating to watch Carson Palmer fall with a torn ACL, thus ending Cincinnatti's season on the second play of the game. What makes me laugh though, is if the same thing happened to the Eli, the Giants would have had a better chance at beating Carolina. 

[rjs246]

Sports writers making something out of nothing? I'm shocked!

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I thought it was so devastating to watch Carson Palmer fall with a torn ACL, thus ending Cincinnatti's season on the second play of the game. What makes me laugh though, is if the same thing happened to the Eli, the Giants would have had a better chance at beating Carolina. 

Couldn't agree more. I was watching that abortion thinking why don't they give the Hasselbeck guy a shot already? The Beagles were going to be the team I cheered because the Eagles weren't in it (Meh, San Diego too). When I saw him take that shot, I knew it right away, looked just like when Culpeper got whacked. I have no doubt the Stealers would have gotten owned with Palmer in there for the whole game. This season sucks my happy bits.

[LBIggle]

still gotta run, tackle, pass etc.. *cry*.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Tiki was right...although he should've added in that they were outplayed too. It sounded a little hollow een though he was right about them being outcoached.

Something along the lines of "you know, I thought we were outcoached and outplayed".

I bet Sgt. Coughlin's ears had steam coming out of them when he heard that though.

[bobbyinlondon]

Tiki was right...although he should've added in that they were outplayed too. It sounded a little hollow een though he was right about them being outcoached.

Something along the lines of "you know, I thought we were outcoached and outplayed".

I bet Sgt. Coughlin's ears had steam coming out of them when he heard that though.

According to the NY papers this morning, Coughlin "invited" Tiki to watch the game film with him yesterday and had a few words with him as well.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Yeah, I was just reading that as well. Tiki offered a little mea culpa and eventually said that they were outplayed too.

[Diomedes]

And there you have it: everyone is back to loving each other again in New Jersey.

[DH]

And there you have it: everyone is back to loving each other again in New Jersey.

No were not. farg you.

[dis12]

And there you have it: everyone is back to loving each other again in New Jersey.

No we're not. farg you.

It's NY Gints, not NJ.  Don't make that same mistake again.  NJ has enuff problems, keep the Gints out...and take the Devils and Nets with you too.

[thrillhouse]

Well if you can't blame the refs, the league or the other team for something, might as well blame your arsewhooping on your coaches.  Typical Vagiants fashion.

And dont confuse the devils, nets or any of their 8 fans with new york football.

[PhillyPhreak54]

PLAX BLOWS OFF FINAL MEETING

The New York Daily News reports that Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was a no-show for the team's final meeting of the season, on Monday.

His actions came a day after reports (originating right here) that teammates accused Burress of quitting on the team during Sunday's 23-0 loss to the Panthers.

(Editor's note:  At least he didn't put his position coach in a headlock and take a swing at the Soup Nazi.)

"I like Plaxico," G.M. Ernie Accorsi said on Tuesday.  "He made a lot of big plays for us.  What [coach] Tom [Coughlin] has to do, I support Tom completely on keeping order in the team's locker room.

"But I liked Plaxico as a person and he made a difference on our team this year.  He was a good kid.  Some things happened in the course of the season, but I don't know how far we would have gone without him."

(Actually, Ernie, you know exactly how far you went without him, since Burress basically was AWOL for all of Sunday's home playoff loss.)

So what does the guy who signed Burress plan to do about his behavior?

"That's Tom's domain," Accorsi said. "I don't want to get into that. I have to allow Tom to take care of the locker room."

Let's get this straight.  When things are going well with Plax, Accorsi is praised for making the free-agent acquisition of the year.  Now that it's all going to purgatory in a poopbasket, it's Coughlin's problem?

Looking at this more broadly, we really think that it's time for the era of the prima donna pass-catchers to come to a close.  For every Randy Moss and T.O. and Chad Johnson and Plaxico Burress and Keyshawn Johnson, there are a dozen or more grinders who run the routes, catch the balls, and keep their mouths shut, even after they score a lot of touchdowns and make a lot of money.  When will teams realize that they can be a lot more successful by accumulating the kinds of receivers who simply do their jobs?

[Diomedes]

It's NY Gints, not NJ.  Don't make that same mistake again.  NJ has enuff problems, keep the Gints out...and take the Devils and Nets with you too.

The Giants play their home games in New Jersey.  And they weren't forced to do that by a goddamned hurricane.  Makes them a New Jersey team in my book.  Need a hanky or something??

[Sgt PSN]

Can we stop calling them New York and New Jersey now?  I mean, they're like a few hundred years old now.  I think that new state smell has finally worn off.  Well, Jersey still smells.  But it ain't pleasant.