Giants Coordinator Corner: Coaches looking for consistency down the stretch

The New York Giants’ coordinators are looking for some consistency out of their players over the final three weeks of the season.

The New York Giants’ three coordinators met with the media on Thursday as their prepared their respective units for Sunday’s game against the 3-10 Miami Dolphins.

The Giants, 2-11, have lost nine consecutive games and can set a franchise record for consecutive losses should they come out not he losing end this week.

Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com, North Jersey Record via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Offensive coordinator Mike Shula

The Giants are still holding out hope that Daniel Jones can play this Sunday. Shula did not commit to Jones or Eli Manning leaving that announcement for head coach Pat Shurmur.

Shula was also asked about the failure of running back Saquon Barkley to crack 100 yards rushing since returning from a high ankle sprain seven games ago.

“First of all, it’s hard. Last year when we got rolling, it was you get on a roll and you stay on it,” said Shula. “That’s our goal to do that every year. More importantly, to win football games. We know that the running game is going to be a big part of that. I think that probably four or five weeks ago, we kind of struggled just with a few things, just with some moving parts.

“Saquon was just getting back from his injury. I think the last few weeks, though, we’ve been back heading in the direction where we want to go. We’re not quite there, but there are a lot of positive runs, a lot of efficient runs. You see our offensive line coming off the ball, you see them re-establishing the line of scrimmage, Saquon is hitting it up in there. We’ve had a few that have been really close, really in the last three games, from breakouts. I felt that way the week before.

“Unfortunately, we had to punt it over and then got down a couple scores. We had to kind of get to throwing the football. Then last week, we were kind of the same. But there is a lot more good now than basically what we saw four or five weeks ago.”

Nate Solder is Giants’ nominee for Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award

Nate Solder has been named the New York Giants’ nominee for the 2019 Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide.

Nate Solder may not be having a very productive year on the football field, but away from it, the New York Giants left tackle remains as valuable as ever.

Solder and his wife, Lexi, are proven givers, helping communities not only in New Jersey and New England, but Central America, Africa and elsewhere across the world.

“I think anything that I’m asked to do, I want to do it with the best of my ability,” Solder said in a Giants press release. “That’s something I always try to do, and I do have a huge responsibility. There is an accountability to each other. We have accountability as teammates. We have accountability to Christ as we serve others. I think it’s everything that we do.”

As the result of his philanthropy, Solder has been named the Giants’ nominee for the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award — his second such nomination, having previously been nominated in 2017 as a member of the New England Patriots.

“It’s certainly humbling, because every year, there are so many fantastic candidates from every team,” Solder said. “Over the years, there have been so many tremendous people that have won it. I just want to be a part of the momentum for every guy. I don’t want to win it for myself. I want everyone to be successful with their organizations, what they’re doing and just bring awareness to what guys are doing in the NFL.”

A full list of nominees, including former Giants linebacker Devon Kennard, can be found below:

Presented by Nationwide, the Man of the Year Award is named after former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton and recognizes a player for outstanding community service, as well as excellence on the field.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning won the award in 2016 alongside Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and is one of just four active players in the NFL to don the Walter Peyton Man of the Year emblem on his jersey.

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Throwback Thursday: Giants down Dolphins at Wembley in 2007

In the latest Giants Wire Throwback Thursday, we go back in time to 2007 when the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins in London.

One of the more forgettable football games in NFL history is likely the one played between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins on October 28, 2007. The Giants won a battle of attrition, 13-10, in the first ever regular season NFL game played outside of North America.

On the rain-soaked pitch of London’s iconic Wembley Stadium, Tom Coughlin’s 5-2 Giants faced off against the 0-7 Dolphins with Cam Cameron at the helm. The conditions were awful and well below NFL standards. The turf was loose and muddy and unfit for play but the game commenced regardless.

The Giants scored the first 13 points, all in the first half. Two Lawrence Tynes field goals sandwiched an Eli Manning 10-yard touchdown run. So, yes, an unorthodox game for sure.

The Dolphins managed to get on the board in the third with Jay Feely’s 21-yard field goal. Neither team would score again until just after the two-minute warning when Dolphins quarterback Cleo Lemon found Ted Ginn Jr. for a 21-yard touchdown.

The Dolphins’ onside kick attempt failed, and when Manning knelt three times to run out the clock to end the game, the local audience booed. Apparently, they did not understand what they were seeing was the norm.

The game was a success for the league’s first foray into the London market. The attendance was reported at 81,176 and both teams were pleased they made the trip across the pond.

“Our team was very proud to be here in London,” Coughlin said after the game. “The people have been wonderful to us. The stadium is beautiful…It was a difficult game for us. We thought we were in pretty good shape defensively for a long time…But nevertheless, on the last drive [for them] to score in those situations was a shocker to me.”

“I can’t imagine a game being put together better than this. The hospitality was like none I’ve ever seen,” said Cameron. “As it relates to the game, I told our guys you can’t make that many mistakes, especially in the scoring zone. We weren’t able to overcome those mistakes.”

It was a strange game for the Giants. Manning only completed eight of his 22 passing attempts for 59 yards. The Giants won the game on the ground behind Brandon Jacobs’ 131 yards on 23 carries. Reuben Droughns gained another 27 yards on eight attempts.

The Giants, of course, would go on the win the Super Bowl that season while the Dolphins would only win one game the entire season.

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Report: Giants likely to start Eli Manning vs. Dolphins

The New York Giants are reportedly set to give Eli Manning one final start in front of the home town crowd.

Following a 23-17 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning acknowledged that he may have made his final NFL start, which is why it was so important to him that his wife, Abby, was in attendance.

However, Manning may get one final start in East Rutherford on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins as rookie Daniel Jones is still hindered by a high ankle sprain.

Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reports, citing a team official, that Manning is “likely” to start in place of Jones even though head coach Pat Shurmur has been reluctant to rule the rookie out.

Daniel Jones may have returned to practice on Wednesday, but it still looks like Eli Manning will be the Giants starting quarterback on Sunday afternoon.

A team official said it is “likely” that the 38-year-old Manning will get the nod to make what could be the final home start of his iconic Giants career, this Sunday at the Meadowlands against the Miami Dolphins. Jones was “limited” at practice on Wednesday, as he attempts to recover from a high ankle sprain. And though he didn’t appear to be bothered at all by his injury and said he felt fine, the source said the team will likely take a cautious approach.

Ultimately, it is Shurmur’s call and he appears determined to get back to Jones as soon as possible.

“You know what, we’ll have to see. We have a couple days here. I think we need to be smart coming back from any injury,” Shurmur said of Jones. “In the case of a quarterback, aside from going out and throwing, they certainly need to be able to protect themselves, and part of his game is moving around. I just want to make sure he’s healthy enough and fit enough to do that.”

Jones was out of his walking boot and participating in practice on a limited basis on Wednesday, but since the team conducted a non-padded jog through, there really wasn’t much information to glean about Jones’ progress. Meanwhile, Manning was taking his reps with the ones, which is a good indicator that he’ll get the call in Week 15.

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Eagles win over Giants was least-watched Week 14 MNF game since 2011

TV rating dip for Giants vs. Eagles on Monday Night Football

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The Philadelphia Eagles 23-17 win over the New York Giants in overtime was certainly a classic for fans of both teams, but it was underwhelming in terms of total TV viewership.

According to Sports Media Watch, the Birds win over the G-Men was the least-watched Week 14 Monday Night Football matchup since 2011.

The latest edition of ESPN’s Monday Night Football (Giants-Eagles) averaged a 6.9 rating and 11.36 million viewers, narrowly marking the series’ smallest Week 14 audience in eight years (2011 Rams-Seahawks: 9.88M).

Ratings were flat and viewership down just a fraction of a percent from the previous low set last year (Vikings-Seahawks: 11.39M). Compared to 2017, both measures slipped 4% from 7.2 and 11.78 million for Patriots-Dolphins.

With both teams struggling and under .500 on the season, the game didn’t have the hype or buildup worthy of its primetime status, and it was just the fifth Monday night game to decline from last season.

Giants’ Eli Manning on Darius Slayton: ‘He’s an easy target’

New York Giants QB Eli Manning has nothing but praise for rookie WR Darius Slayton after the two worked together for the first time on MNF.

Last Monday night was the first time the New York Giants got an opportunity to pair veteran quarterback Eli Manning and rookie wide receiver Darius Slayton in a live NFL game.

Manning played for the first time since Week 2, while Slayton’s debut with the Giants wasn’t until Week 3 due to a hamstring ailment.

The results were dynamite. Manning hit Slayton five times for 154 yards and two touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles and Manning had a lot to say about the budding star the Giants have at wide receiver these days.

Rookie Daniel Jones was building a rapport with Slayton as well this season and now Manning has seen first hand what a weapon the rookie out of Auburn can be.

Slayton leads the Giants in receiving yards (654) and leads all NFL rookies in receiving touchdowns with seven. With Jones still questionable this week for the Giants’ game against Miami, Manning could get one more chance to throw to Slayton.

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The best offensive player for each of the 32 NFL teams this decade

Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning lead the way, respectively, as the best offensive players on their teams in this decade.

As the 2010s decade comes to a close, examining the players who stood out for each of the 32 NFL teams. It could be something they did over time or did in a short burst that contributed to great success.

Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Larry Fitzgerald is one of the classiest and top receivers of his generation. A leader, the Cardinals’ wide receiver had five 1,000-yard seasons in the decade.

Brett Favre believes Eli Manning can be ‘huge’ for another team

Brett Favre believes New York Giants QB Eli Manning can be a “huge” asset for another team in 2020 and beyond.

No one knows what the future holds for New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning past this season. He is in the final year of his contract and with the Giants turning the keys over to rookie Daniel Jones, if Manning wants to continue his career, he’ll likely have to do it elsewhere.

After watching Manning toss two touchdowns on Monday night against the Eagles, there are some who think Eli can help a team become a winner next year should he decide to play on.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre thinks Manning can definitely put the right team over the top. Favre came out of retirement after his career with the Packers to play with the Jets and then the Vikings so he knows there is life after 40 in the NFL.

Eli chose not to waive his no-trade clause in his contract this past October so he can stay close to his family and the Giants, should they have needed him, which turned out to be the case.

In March, he’ll be a free agent and if he gets signed by a team, will count towards the compensatory draft pick formula for 2021.

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Giants vs. Dolphins: 6 things to know about Week 15

The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins square off on Sunday in Week 15, so here are six things fans should know.

The New York Giants (2-11) host the Miami Dolphins (3-10) in a game between two last place teams that could impact the top of next April’s NFL Draft.

Here are six things to know before Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium.

William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

The series history

This will be the ninth regular-season meeting between the two teams since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. The Giants lead the series, 6-2 and have a 2-2  home record.

The teams only met once between 1970 and 1990, a 23-13 Dolphins victory at Yankee Stadium on December 10, 1972. They’ve played seven times since 1990.

The teams last faced one another on December 14, 2015 with the Giants winning, 31-24, at Hard Rock Stadium. The teams last played in MetLife Stadium on Oct. 30, 2011 when the Super Bowl-bound Giants nipped the Dolphins, 20-17.

PFF: Darius Slayton, DeAndre Baker among highest-graded Giants in Week 14

New York Giants rookies, WR Darius Slayton and CB DeAndre Baker, were among the team’s highest-graded players in Week 14.

The New York Giants fell to 2-11 on the season with a 23-17 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, but despite the defeat, there were several reasons for optimism.

Chief among them was the play of rookie wide receiver Darius Slayton, who hauled in five receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns. That performance earned him a 90.3 overall grade.

Pro Football Focus provided a little additional context in their ReFocused segment.

Wide receiver Darius Slayton had two long touchdowns on deep balls from Manning, but he too fell off in the second half. He had just two targets and zero catches in the final two quarters of play.

On the defensive side of the ball, rookie cornerback DeAndre Baker had another high quality game, allowing just one reception for seven yards in his rotation with Sam Beal, who did not fare nearly as well.

Veteran safety Antoine Bethea also drew a little praise for his work against the run, while several others defenders earned some kudos in the ReFocused segment.

Rookie Oshane Ximines got a second-quarter sack of Wentz after he slid inside of Jason Peters, the sack occurred in the red zone and forced a field goal. Ximines picked up a second sack in the fourth quarter after beating back-up left tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai inside.

Markus Golden had an unblocked sack to end the Eagles’ opening drive of the game. Golden picked up a hit of Wentz on the very next drive.

With all the praise being slung around, someone had to catch blame for the loss. And who else but veteran quarterback Eli Manning, who hadn’t played in 10 weeks and tossed two touchdowns and over 200 yards to his zero turnovers?

Yeah, makes sense.

Eli Manning started hot in his spot start for injured rookie Daniel Jones but faded in the second half as he struggled to move the ball. His drop-off in play ultimately resulted in another loss for the Giants.

Read that again — the Giants lost because of Manning’s drop-off in play during the second half when the Giants defense couldn’t stop anything, the offensive line couldn’t block anything, the receivers couldn’t catch anything and zero adjustments were made by head coach Pat Shurmur and defensive coordinator James Bettcher.

As many things change, so many stay the same.

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