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Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Bill Sheridan

You have to know that this NY Giants blog hates puff pieces. Here is a piece on Sheridan that has some of the puff but does help us to understand what we'll look like this season.

A few takeaways:

1) There is no substitute for motivation. If Sheridan thinks he can figure it all out and let the X's and O's do all the talking, he is in for a rude awakening. The last time we heard this kind of laid back X's and O's w/o the motivational element, it was none other than Ray Handley. Keep in mind that Handley was a head coach, not a coordinator, so there is room in there for the defense to get their motivation from others like Coughlin. But there is no getting around the fact that the players loved playing for Spags. You saw him on the sidelines with all of that energy he was feeding his players. Never underestimate the importance of motivating these professionals. There is little to separate 45x32=1440 players on game day. Every ounce of motivation puts you over the top or else it leaves you shy. Coughlin, to his credit, wanted Sheridan on the field, down and dirty, there with the players. Good. No remote control detachment.

2) "Sheridan said his linemen and linebackers would charge ahead more to stop runs and passes and not be responsible for as much coverage of receivers." Did you notice the comments made by Wonder last week on how he would attack the Giants defense? He said "Opp teams max protect and air it out against the D...plus run screens, bubble screens, quick slants." Max protect thwarts the pressure and the screens and slants are exactly what OUR offense needs to do to other teams to stop the loaded box. If the Giants defense is going to be using more pressure at the line, they must get there. There is a great deal of faith in Phillips, Webster and Thomas as part of this plan to handle their responsibilities inside this scheme. That confidence drops off a little with Johnson and it drops off a ton with CC Brown.

Do not forget that Thomas will have growing pains- he'll get beat from time to time. All CBs do. Since we keep seeing more and more improvement from Thomas, there is the expectation that he can be solid back there. And dare we say, very solid by the end of the season if his improvement continues. You can get away with more pressure when guys in your secondary are handling their assignments well.

One of the ways the 'Sheridan pressure plan' will work better as the season wears on is by having guys like Canty, Kiwanuka and Boley helping the pressure and by having guys like Thomas covering better. As 2007 taught us, it is not how you start, it is how you finish. You have to expect the defense to be disorganized at the beginning, making breakdowns, not getting to the QB and getting exposed. But by the end of the season, you have to see the pressure working better and the defense getting stingy.

The way the schedule unfolds, do not read into the first 2 games vs WASH and DAL. And the next 3 vs garbage opponents (TB, KC and OAK) will give the defense the time to come together. The measuring stick for whether this team is really ready to be contenders for a Super Bowl title will come AT NEW ORLEANS. They will be going against an improved team that plays well at home, with a veteran QB that WILL rip the team to shreds if the pressure is not working OR if the secondary is not excellent.

Yes, we need to take one game at a time. The Giants need only think about Week 1 vs the Skins. But for us as fans, do not get too negative OR too positive until we see what we have in Week 6. That will be the first true test of how Sheridan and his defense is doing.

Extras:
Pat Hanlon notes that Hakeem Nicks led the NFL in receiving yardage in preseason.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I head the quote during the Osi meltdown about how Spags was intense and Bill is more laid back the first thought that popped into my head was Ray Handley. Hope it's just a bad feeling.

Motown Blue said...

The positive, as Andy subtely hinted, Coughlin appears to understand Sheridan's cerebral nature and making demands of him such as being on the sideline not sheltered up in a box. If it's one thing that we can rely on Coughlin is motivating and barking at his players if they aren't performing at their capabilities.

I just don't think he showed their real hand in the preseason and expect some big schematic changes in the regular season. The demands of the preseason is knowing your lane assignments and your position assignments. My biggest concern is the Safety spot as Johnson is average at best and CC Brown browns. I also hope they aren't betting the house on Phillips as I am not 100% sold on him yet.

xtian said...

when belichick was dc for giants, he wasn't a talkative ball of fire. much more of an intense quiet x and o guy. parcells was the talker. ppl questioned belichicks leadership ability, but knew he was very smart. well, sheridan might be the same. you can learn to be more vocal, but you cannot learn to intelligent. so relax peeps.let it play out.

i think johnson is better than most give him credit for.

Bob said...

Bill Sheridan was apparently pressing some buttons when he got Osi riled up.

Agree,lets give him a chance for 5-6 games before we make judgment.

Agree, a major issue is depth at safety (move over someone from CB?) and who is going to stand up & perform at LB. The DL will
eventually be great.

I for one see the pieces coming together at WR and am getting more
comfortable. I believe it now looks wise going with the youth program as we did, (drafting WR's) instead of signing some prima donna WR in free agency with lots of excess baggage, Sorry to disagree, Andy.

The question now on O is will Gillbrown wisely use the great assets he has. That worries me.

dberenson said...

I am less worried about Gilbride's use of his assets than of depth at O-Line.

If the O-Line is healthy, we can run and run and run and beat most teams, even if the passing game is lackluster.

But if -- God forbid -- Sean O'Hara or David Diehl goes down, we're hosed no matter what happens at WR or TE.

Unknown said...

After stops at Maine, Cincinnati, Army, Michigan State and Notre Dame.(Aren't you impressed?)
“You can be a big rah-rah motivational guy, but the bottom line is your scheme and your game plan,” he said. “And so they may love or dislike (how about hate?) your personality. That is irrelevant.”
You'd think a guy with most of his experience in the college ranks would fathom the importance of the coach being the inspirational leader of his squad!
To me, this guy, only 4 years at the pro level and no D Coord'r resume, is doomed to failure.
I wasn't impressed with his scheme from the beginning and, after reading this article, I'm certain I ain't going to like him much as the season unfolds. If I'm wrong I'll eat humble pie and admit it. But I have a awful feeling about this.

Andy F. said...

Coughlin hired him over Giunta for a reason. If Sheridan can't handle the load, Coughlin's 2007 teflon will begin to wear thin. Give it time. He deserves his oppty. He successfully coached the LBers to a title.

xtian said...

pierce really like sheridan. that says something.

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