“Know Thy Enemy” With Andrew Furman
Adam Warwas
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In an effort to be better educated about our opponents, we have been inviting a writer covering our opponent to Vikings Territory on a weekly basis to answer just a few quick question. This Vikings versus Giants matchup on Monday Night Football is no different, and we are pleased to welcome Andrew Furman of Ultimate NYG to talk a little bit of football this weekend.
Our two teams met not that long ago. 49-17 was the final score, in Minnesota’s favor, with Adrian Peterson and Teddy Bridgewater capitalizing on three Eli Manning interceptions. Us Vikings fans know which part of that changed on our side of the equation, but what have been the biggest changes New York has seen since December to prevent a similar outcome?
[quote_box_center]The Giants defense was awful last year. There was no pass rush. This year, while not great, at least JPP (no longer wearing a cast) and Olivier Vernon (FA signing) get more pressure. Plus the signing of DL Damon Harrison has (together with the return of pectoral-tear injured DL Jonathan Hankins) shored up the run defense to where teams cannot run on them. The team is healthier now than then (new strength & conditioning coach), but injuries in the secondary here in 2016 are exposing the team to some of the same problems.[/quote_box_center]
The NFL seems to have a national shortage of high-quality offensive linemen, but the Giants are a rare team in that their blockers are actually playing quite well. Are they up to the task of a Mike Zimmer defense or have they benefited from matchups through the first three weeks?
[quote_box_center]I’d lean towards the latter. As one example, versus Dallas, two defensive linemen were suspended. New Orleans doesn’t have a strong pass rush. Washington did a little better. I don’t trust RG Jerry or RT Newhouse. C Richburg, a strength last year, is not playing as well this year. Backup Hart is filling in for Newhouse. LG Pugh and LT Flowers are playing better, but Flowers is still vulnerable.[/quote_box_center]
More than any other matchup, I think Vikings fans are looking forward to once again watching Stefon Diggs go against Janoris Jenkins. How has Jenkins been doing this year and how do you see that playing out? Also, how is first round corner Eli Apple looking so far?
[quote_box_center]Jenkins has been very good. He shut down Dez Bryant in Dallas week one. He was very good again versus New Orleans in week two, but had lapses in week three versus Washington. He is up to the task. Apple is looking good, except he’s hurt right now.[/quote_box_center]
Speaking of the secondary… we hear your guys are pretty banged up right now. What are the biggest injury concerns for the Giants right now and just how worried are you that they’ll create advantages for the Vikings?
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Free Safety is a mess. That’s where to target. They might have to suit me up, it’s so bad. Seriously, word was they had wide receivers learning the position this week in practice.
Cornerback is not much better with both DRC and Apple hurt.
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Last week Xavier Rhodes returned to the lineup and was a big reason for Kelvin Benjamin getting zero catches. Odell Beckham Jr. was suspended when we played each other last December. What kind of performance would you predict out of Beckham in this game and with this matchup?
[quote_box_center]Rhodes can win a few battles (plays) but there is not a single corner in the NFL who can cover this guy OBJ for a full game in man. I’ve been watching the NY Giants since 1970, with Fran Tarkenton (love him still, the original 10), and I can tell you hands down that OBJ (when his head is screwed on tight) is the single greatest player to wear blue since Lawrence Taylor. OBJ is a freak of nature. He routinely gets bracketed (doubled) and sometimes tripled. That he doesn’t have any touchdowns is because Eli is finding others in single coverage. Rookie receiver Sterling Shepard is another monster and Victor Cruz may be the comeback player of the year. If I’m the playcaller, I throw the ball to these three players on 70% of the snaps. I announce it before the game and I tell you to try to stop me. They are that good. This is a three-headed monster whose only kryptonite is not enough times getting the ball in their hands. I’m not a wide receiver guy, but this is what they have, get them the ball.[/quote_box_center]
For more content on this week’s opponent be sure to visit Ultimate NYG and follow them on Twitter. That includes an interesting piece on passing the ball being New York’s new identity. Like myself, writing about his favorite football team is not Andrew Furman’s day job, but it’d be dangerous if it was. Andrew and his Svengali draft analysis Wonder team up to make a solid NFL writing tandem and make for a great follow. Besides, the Giants beat the Packers in the 2007 and 2011 playoffs, so there are plenty of reasons not to hate them once Monday night is over with.