So this friend of mine, who just so happens to have the most ironic name in the history of the nuclear family, or clans for that matter, also just so happens to hail from South Boston. For those of you who've never lived in Boston, and your conception of Southie derives solely from The Departed and Good Will Hunting, he's part Frank Costello and part Morgan O'Mally. You never really know if he's going to kill you, or jerk off in your baseball mitt. As one would expect, he bleeds red, white and navy blue, sometimes to the detriment of sensibility and reason. Per Tallent's latest blog , the seeds have been sewn for a war of words in anticipation of Superbowl XLII.
In and of itself, the temperate weather conditions play in the favor of speed. If not for the giant (no pun intended) egg Brady laid last week, Tallent's assertion that Brady will put on a show might hold a little more water. The question marks remain, however: Tom Brady didn't play well last week, and it may have had something to do with a seemingly innocuous ankle injury. There is a very real possibility that there's a bit more to it. The Giants' man to man defense will revolve around the performances of Aaron Ross and Corey Webster. While Ross dislocated his shoulder twice two weeks ago, and presumably isn't quite 100%, both corners have really come into their own over the course of the last month. This, combined with Sam Madison's untimely, and potentially costly, penalty last week, I hope has secured Madison a spot on the sideline, save for nickel and dime packages. Like McQarters, he's too old to be on the field in man to man coverage situations. Aside from one huge play, which should not and cannot be downplayed, the Giant defense was successful in neutralizing Randy Moss in the first meeting December 29. Without that play, we're talking 5 catches for 35 yards. And what has Randy done since? Besides his trademark barnyard bedroom exploits? Mr. Tallent is correct, however, in his assertion that the Giants' focus on Moss will leave them exposed to Stallworth, Welker, and the often overlooked and under-appreciated Kevin Faulk. Maroney, however, will not have any success running the football- 19 rushes for a whopping 42 yards December 29. And a more effective pass rush, something Justin Tuck, Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora are more than capable of, will temper this one dimensional Patriots' attack.
For good reason, Belichick will throw the kitchen sink at Eli, and this is cause for substantial concern. It is well-documented that the way to get to Eli is to make him uncomfortable, rushing him into bad decisions. Will Eli be forced into bad decisions by Belichick's beautiful mind? Or will his defense look its age (average age: 72), having been been slowed by a long season in pursuit of perfection. Ultimately our hopes, and the Giants' chances, are draped around the shoulders of Eli Manning. Admittedly, if you'd have told me November 12 that we'd be preparing for the Superbowl, I'd have likely slapped you, adding, "Not with this quarterback." But that was then. Now, Eli is coming off 3 games of championship caliber poise. And to take some of the pressure of young Manning, we have Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, an actually affective rushing tandem.
Confident? No. Not really. Optimistic? Absolutely.
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