Earlier this week, our scouts filed their advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Giants and Jaguars. Now they're back with a second look.
It looks like Eli Manning is beginning his midseason slump like he did last year and has seen his completion percentage drop to 59 percent for the first time this year. When a quarterback seems to be having difficulty, most teams look to their ground game to help him out.
Tiki Barber is the leading rusher and is averaging over 100 yards per game, and if you include Brandon Jacobs in the mix, the Giants are a powerful running team, especially when they are second in the NFL with 41 runs of over 10 yards. They need to run the ball at least 25-30 times a game and take the game out of Manning's hands until he settles down.
? The Giants struggled on third down against the Bears and face another good third down defense in Jacksonville. The Giants are converting 40.2 percent of their third downs, but that stat is misleading, if you take out their short yardage production, they are only converting 33.6 percent on third down.
Manning has been inconsistent on this critical down and is next to last in the league with a dismal QB rating of 50. He is completing just 46 percent of his passes, while being sacked eight times and throwing six interceptions. Opposing teams are forcing the Giants into longer yardage situations on third down and are bringing more pressure to get at Manning.
? The Jaguars will take a page out of the Bears' playbook by sticking with the run, even though they are going up against a good Giants' run defense. The Jags have two solid backs in Fred Taylor and Maurice Drew-Jones, who have combined for over a 1,000 yards this season with both averaging over four yards a carry.
By sticking with the run, the Jaguars will wear out the thin Giants' front seven, as they have depth issues that do not allow them to get their players enough rest, especially when their offense cannot convert on third down.
? Giants coordinator Tim Lewis will look to bring down a safety on first down to take away the Jaguars running game, as they run the ball 60 percent of the time. Lewis will have to make a decision on whether to bring in his nickel package or stay in his base defense when the Jags go to their three-wide receiver package early in the down.
By going with his nickel package, it gives Lewis more flexibility in his play calling with the extra defensive back, because he can run his zone and man dog pressure packages by bringing McQuarters off the slot to stop the run and get pressure on Garrard. Lewis does not have that flexibility if he stays in his base defense.
? The Jaguars must stop the run and force Manning into long-yardage passing situations by playing an eight man front against the run. They will bring strong safety Donovin Darius down in the box to help stop the run. If the Giants use backup guard Rich Seubert as a tight end, look for the Jags to set their front to him and roll Darius down his way.
The backside of the Jaguars' defense must be on alert, because of the bootleg threat the Giants have with Shockey backside. The Giants are a power running football team that likes to pull their guards on perimeter running plays. The Jaguars will need to do a good job of containing the off-tackle run with good edge force.
? If the Jaguars can run the football effectively on first down and get to manageable second down yardage situations, this will force the Giants to play more eight man front defenses that will put single coverage on the outside lanes.
The Giants could be without starting corner Sam Madison this week and this will have an impact on an already banged up unit. The Jaguars are not the most efficient offense throwing the football, but will have to take some chances Monday night off play action to keep the Giants' secondary honest and on its toes.
Special Teams
The Giants gave backup running back Derrick Ward the opportunity to return kicks against the Bears and Ward did a good job, averaging 21.7 yards per return which is a better than what Chad Morton was giving the team. Morton will continue to return punts on a unit that is ranked 25th in the NFL, averaging 7.6 yards a return.
Giant's punter Jeff Feagles is a directional punter who does an excellent job of pinning the returner to the sideline, giving little or no return yardage. The coverage units for the Giants are both in the top 10 when it comes to covering punts and kickoffs, allowing 7.1 and 21.1 yards respectfully.
You would think that the Jaguars, with a defensive head coach, would have better special teams. Del Rio knows the key to success when your offense is average is to get good field position with your special teams and defense.
Both the Jaguars' return units are in the bottom half of the league with the punt return team ranked 21st and the kick return team ranked 31st. By having the kickoff return team doing a poor job, it puts pressure on the offense to go the long field to score. The Jags' offense is 21st in the league in scoring on drives of 60+plus yards or more. That is why field position is so important.
Matchups
? New York CB Corey Webster vs. Jacksonville WR Reggie Williams
? New York TE Jeremy Shockey vs. Jacksonville OLB Clint Ingram
? New York DT Fred Robbins vs. Jacksonville RG Chris Naeole
? Jacksonville LDE Bobby McCray vs. New York RT Kareem McKenzie
? Jacksonville CB Brian Williams vs. New York WR Tim Carter
Scouts' Edge
The Giants will need to rebound after the Sunday night loss to the Bears, a game that they should have won if it wasn't for poor coaching and a struggling Eli Manning. Tom Coughlin will have his team fired up to play his former team and they will take the frustration of Sunday night's loss out on the struggling Jaguars.
Coughlin will stick with the running game this week and should get Jacobs the ball more. The Jaguars do not have enough weapons on offense and will not make enough plays to stay close with the Giants.
Prediction: Giants 20, Jaguars 17
It looks like Eli Manning is beginning his midseason slump like he did last year and has seen his completion percentage drop to 59 percent for the first time this year. When a quarterback seems to be having difficulty, most teams look to their ground game to help him out.
Tiki Barber is the leading rusher and is averaging over 100 yards per game, and if you include Brandon Jacobs in the mix, the Giants are a powerful running team, especially when they are second in the NFL with 41 runs of over 10 yards. They need to run the ball at least 25-30 times a game and take the game out of Manning's hands until he settles down.
? The Giants struggled on third down against the Bears and face another good third down defense in Jacksonville. The Giants are converting 40.2 percent of their third downs, but that stat is misleading, if you take out their short yardage production, they are only converting 33.6 percent on third down.
Manning has been inconsistent on this critical down and is next to last in the league with a dismal QB rating of 50. He is completing just 46 percent of his passes, while being sacked eight times and throwing six interceptions. Opposing teams are forcing the Giants into longer yardage situations on third down and are bringing more pressure to get at Manning.
? The Jaguars will take a page out of the Bears' playbook by sticking with the run, even though they are going up against a good Giants' run defense. The Jags have two solid backs in Fred Taylor and Maurice Drew-Jones, who have combined for over a 1,000 yards this season with both averaging over four yards a carry.
By sticking with the run, the Jaguars will wear out the thin Giants' front seven, as they have depth issues that do not allow them to get their players enough rest, especially when their offense cannot convert on third down.
? Giants coordinator Tim Lewis will look to bring down a safety on first down to take away the Jaguars running game, as they run the ball 60 percent of the time. Lewis will have to make a decision on whether to bring in his nickel package or stay in his base defense when the Jags go to their three-wide receiver package early in the down.
By going with his nickel package, it gives Lewis more flexibility in his play calling with the extra defensive back, because he can run his zone and man dog pressure packages by bringing McQuarters off the slot to stop the run and get pressure on Garrard. Lewis does not have that flexibility if he stays in his base defense.
? The Jaguars must stop the run and force Manning into long-yardage passing situations by playing an eight man front against the run. They will bring strong safety Donovin Darius down in the box to help stop the run. If the Giants use backup guard Rich Seubert as a tight end, look for the Jags to set their front to him and roll Darius down his way.
The backside of the Jaguars' defense must be on alert, because of the bootleg threat the Giants have with Shockey backside. The Giants are a power running football team that likes to pull their guards on perimeter running plays. The Jaguars will need to do a good job of containing the off-tackle run with good edge force.
? If the Jaguars can run the football effectively on first down and get to manageable second down yardage situations, this will force the Giants to play more eight man front defenses that will put single coverage on the outside lanes.
The Giants could be without starting corner Sam Madison this week and this will have an impact on an already banged up unit. The Jaguars are not the most efficient offense throwing the football, but will have to take some chances Monday night off play action to keep the Giants' secondary honest and on its toes.
Special Teams
The Giants gave backup running back Derrick Ward the opportunity to return kicks against the Bears and Ward did a good job, averaging 21.7 yards per return which is a better than what Chad Morton was giving the team. Morton will continue to return punts on a unit that is ranked 25th in the NFL, averaging 7.6 yards a return.
Giant's punter Jeff Feagles is a directional punter who does an excellent job of pinning the returner to the sideline, giving little or no return yardage. The coverage units for the Giants are both in the top 10 when it comes to covering punts and kickoffs, allowing 7.1 and 21.1 yards respectfully.
You would think that the Jaguars, with a defensive head coach, would have better special teams. Del Rio knows the key to success when your offense is average is to get good field position with your special teams and defense.
Both the Jaguars' return units are in the bottom half of the league with the punt return team ranked 21st and the kick return team ranked 31st. By having the kickoff return team doing a poor job, it puts pressure on the offense to go the long field to score. The Jags' offense is 21st in the league in scoring on drives of 60+plus yards or more. That is why field position is so important.
Matchups
? New York CB Corey Webster vs. Jacksonville WR Reggie Williams
? New York TE Jeremy Shockey vs. Jacksonville OLB Clint Ingram
? New York DT Fred Robbins vs. Jacksonville RG Chris Naeole
? Jacksonville LDE Bobby McCray vs. New York RT Kareem McKenzie
? Jacksonville CB Brian Williams vs. New York WR Tim Carter
Scouts' Edge
The Giants will need to rebound after the Sunday night loss to the Bears, a game that they should have won if it wasn't for poor coaching and a struggling Eli Manning. Tom Coughlin will have his team fired up to play his former team and they will take the frustration of Sunday night's loss out on the struggling Jaguars.
Coughlin will stick with the running game this week and should get Jacobs the ball more. The Jaguars do not have enough weapons on offense and will not make enough plays to stay close with the Giants.
Prediction: Giants 20, Jaguars 17
