James Bettcher

New York Giants: Who’s to Blame for the Poor Play?

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants once again find themselves underperforming at the halfway mark of the season. They boast a 2-6 record, only ahead of the lowly Washington Redskins in the division. They have a minus 60 point differential, the sixth-worst in the NFL. They’ve turned the ball over 19 times through eight games, the most of any team in the NFL. Their defense has been atrocious, the offense hasn’t been able to break through yet, and even special teams has been a reason for concern. Coming off of a 5-11 season, no one was expecting the Giants to be a contender in 2019. But through eight games, it looks as though no strides have been made towards improvement. So, who is to blame for another lost season?

Who is to blame for the Giants’ poor play?

The play-calling of Head Coach Pat Shurmur

At first glance, you would think the Giants would have one of the best offenses in the NFL. They have a top-five tight end in Evan Engram, a strong receiving core in Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate, and Darius Slayton, as well as the best running back in the world, Saquon Barkley. Plus, they have a young, mobile QB in Daniel Jones.

Yet the Giants are posting just 19.8 points per game, the eleventh-lowest in the NFL. There are times when the Giants show flashes of how great their offense could be though. Take last Sunday’s game against Detroit for example. The Giants tallied four touchdowns and 370 total yards of offense, all of that occurring without WR Sterling Shepard. Why are they not playing that well every game? The play-calling of Pat Shurmur.

The biggest issue with the play-calling has been the inability to get the most out of every player. Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram are two of the most dynamic players in the NFL, but Shurmur has been unable to show their maximum potential to this point of the season. How could he unleash their potential? Line up Barkley in the slot for example. Imagine a linebacker trying to cover the freak of nature that is Barkley. Give Engram more plays in space. He is the most athletic tight end in the game after all, so why not call plays that allow him to show off his athleticism? If Shurmur designed his plays to the strengths of each player, the offense would take off.

The struggling young defense

The Giants defense has struggled mightily through the first half of the season. They are in the bottom ten for both yards allowed per game (386.8) and points allowed per game (27.3). Part of the reason these struggles are occurring is due to more than half the defense having either only one or two years of NFL experience. They are still making the adjustment from college to the NFL.

To make matters worse for the young players, Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher’s defensive scheme is one of the most difficult to learn in the NFL. The players that have excelled on defense this year, and there are not many, were familiar with Bettcher’s system prior to this season. Markus Golden, who had 12.5 sacks under Bettcher in 2016, is one of those few that have excelled. It is very possible that the young players will make a major leap like Golden did, but there have been very few reasons to think that to this point of the season.

The inconsistent special teams play

Football is a game that is won by winning in all three phases of the game. Poor special teams play can greatly impact the outcome of a game. The Giants have had moments of greatness on special teams this season, but they also have shown moments of concern.

The best part of the Giants special teams this year has been the punt coverage team. They have been excellent at pinning opponents deep for multiple years now, thanks to the fantastic play of punter Riley Dixon. Just two weeks ago they blocked a punt against Arizona and scored a touchdown off of it. They’re averaging more than 10.0 yards per return on punts, one of just five teams to accomplish the feat.

On the other hand, one of their biggest struggles has been in the kick return game. When Corey Coleman, who averaged 26.0 yards per return last season, went down in training camp with a torn ACL, the job was opened. The Giants are yet to find a suitable replacement for Coleman through eight games. Rookie Corey Ballentine has shown flashes, but he has missed the last two weeks with a concussion. Darius Slayton has filled in for Ballentine the past two weeks, and he as well has done nothing that shows he is the answer. Starting a drive with great field position leads to points, something that has been scarce for Big Blue this year.

The Giants find themselves in the basement of the NFC East for the third straight season and are struggling in every phase of the game. There is not one person that can be pointed at and blamed for the failure of the team. Every coach, player, and organization member needs to step it up before the Giants can become competitive again.

New York Giants: Who’s at fault for week 8 loss? Pat Shurmur, James Bettcher, Nate Solder

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton

The New York Giants fell for a fourth-straight week to the Detroit Lions 31-26, and while rookie quarterback Daniel Jones had a stellar game, throwing for 322 yards and four touchdowns, his team couldn’t find a way to win.

Head coach Pat Shurmur was once again at the forefront of the loss, failing to put up over 30 points against one of the league’s worst defenses without two of their best players. One bone-headed decision by Shurmur was to go for a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, which would have pulled the Giants within a field goal.

However, with plenty of time on the clock, risking a two-pointer in the grand scheme of the game made very little sense. With the fourth-quarter winding to a close, the Giants would have been one-possession from tying the game if Shurmur would have taken the extra point instead. The score was 19-31, and Big Blue was driving down the field when a 4th and 11 sat between the Giants and a one-possession game.

With 3:31 on the clock, the Giants went for it on fourth down, and Darius Slayton wasn’t able to haul in the catch. If Shurmur would have taken the extra point earlier on, they could have settled for a field goal and walked away with two-time outs and a chance at making a comeback. Another boneheaded decision by the head coach who is digging himself a hole that he might not be able to get out of.

The entire blame can’t be put on New York Giants head coach, Pat Shurmur:

The Giants’ defense did allow 31 points to a Detroit team without their top running back. Allowing 14 unanswered points to start the game is becoming a common thing for James Bettcher and his gang of misfit toys. Bettcher has been working with inept quality on defense and young players without much experience. The Giants will need to overhaul the unit next offseason, and a majority of their estimated $80 million in cap space will be allocated towards bolstering the defense.

One big question mark is left tackle, Nate Solder, who’s earning more than the president of the United States, currently. He’s become a severe liability to Daniel Jones’ health and protection on his blindside. Finding a trade partner for Solder might not be a terrible idea after eight weeks of poor play.

 

New York Giants news, 10/25 – Should Sterling Shepard be done for the season? Sam Beal returns

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New York Giants receiver, Sterling Shepard.

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

If the New York Giants fall to the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon, they will be sitting at 2-6 with no hope in sight. This could spell the end for Sterling Shepard’s shortlived season, as he’s only participated in four of seven games so far and will most likely miss week eight.

Shepard suffered two concussions in a three-week span that forced him out for multiple games, and at this point, it comes down to his future health and brain function. With CTE and neuropsychology becoming a more prevalent part of the NFL, managing Shepard’s brain injury becomes a bit more tricky.

He understands the nuances that accompany these types of injuries, but he also realizes that football is his life and his means for providing for his family. If the New York Giants lose their fourth consecutive game, the question arises — is it worth tossing Shepard back out onto the field?

For the sake of business, he will undoubtedly make a return, but for the purpose of longevity, the Giants would be wise to place him on IR.

Sam Beal finally makes a return:

The gift that keeps on giving injuries … Sam Beal will finally make his return after missing his entire rookie season due to predisposed shoulder injury and missing the first seven games of the regular season (hamstring). Defensive coordinator James Bettcher indicated that Beal would play on the outside, almost assuming that Janoris Jenkins might be on his way out.

Beal has the tools to be a serviceable corner in the NFL, but replacing Jenkins is a tall task, especially after having missed essential developmental time. I can’t imagine he’s ready to take on the work-load of a full team, but we will surely find out.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day:

Ryan Dunleavy – New York Giants season has been a cruel tease for Wayne Gallman

Chris Pflum – James Bettcher on Deone Bucannon and Sam Beal
John Fennelly – Giants Coordinator Corner: Coaches talk strategy, improvements
Michael Eisen – Scouting Report: Eye on Giants vs. Lions
Anthony Rivardo – New York Giants Ready To Run Against Former Giants All-Pro Damon Harrison

New York Giants news, 10/23 – Giants sign free agent defender, Sterling Shepard returning, more

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New York Giants, Sterling Shepard

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

With the NFL trade deadline right around the corner, the league is in full swing with several big-name players making moves this week. October 29 marks the last day for teams to deal players, so we can expect to see a ton of movement, and the New York Giants could be one of them.

However, Big Blue picked up a free agent on Tuesday in linebacker Deone Bucannon, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bucannon has previously played for defensive coordinator James Bettcher in the past, making his signing a valuable one. It won’t take long for him to slot into the defense considering his knowledge of the 3-4 scheme and connection with Bettcher. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in some degree this upcoming Sunday against the Detroit Lions, especially after an abysmal performance from the defense last week against Arizona.

Bucannon brings a veteran presence to the team and had some of his best seasons with Bettcher, most notably his 2015 campaign. He logged 109 combined tackles with three sacks and 11 tackles for a loss. Replicating those numbers will be complicated, but he’s had success in the past.

Sterling Shepard’s return:

Shepard stated that he’s been without concussion symptoms for quite some time now, but the New York Giants medical staff is playing it safe with the receiver. Having two concussions in one season can be dangerous to a player’s long-term health, so allowing Shepard to heal appropriately and take his time is most beneficial.

If he’s cleared to practice fully this week, he will suit up against the Lions in a must-win game. At 2-5 on the season, the Giants are dangerously close to slipping away into the depths of the NFC East.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day:

Michael Eisen – Giants sign linebacker Deone Bucannon

John Fennelly – Could these 10 expensive Giants find themselves on the trading block?
Dan Benton – Giants’ Golden Tate: ‘I didn’t come here to lose’
Michael Eisen – Giants waive TE Garrett Dickerson, sign LB Devante Downs from practice squad
Anthony Rivardo – The New York Giants Offensive Line Rebuild Is NOT Complete

New York Giants news, 10/18 – Best free agent signing, Saquon Barkley injury update

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New York Giants, Markus Golden

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

Nobody expected former Arizona Cardinal and current New York Giants outside linebacker, Markus Golden, would shine in his comeback season after a significant injury stunted his progression.

At just 28-years-old, Golden is finally coming into his own, and once again, it’s with defensive coordinator James Bettcher calling the plays. The defender has racked up an impressive 5.0 sacks this season, already ranking second in his career — the most coming in 2016, his second season in the NFL, under Bettcher (12.5).

He has been stellar for Big Blue this season, making him the most influential free agent signing this season. I cannot imagine general manager Dave Gettleman will not look to extend him towards the end of the season if he can remain healthy and productive. In a high-priced pass-rush market, grabbing a guy like Golden is a rarity. Counting just $3.75 million against the cap this season, his price-tag could jump up to $8-9 million next year, but it would be 100% worth the investment.

Markus is currently tied for eighth in the league with 5.0 sacks, and he will have a favorable matchup against the Cardinals this Sunday. He’s playing for future money, so expect him to continue domination at the line of scrimmage.

Saquon Barkley injury timetable:

Barkley has been going through individual drills for quite some time now, but risking the star running back was not worth the consequences. Barkley stated on Thursday that there was “no doubt” his ankle would hold up in line-action.

The New York Giants’ 2nd overall pick from 2018 suffered a high ankle sprain in week three against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, meaning rookie quarterback Daniel Jones has been without his most valuable asset on offense. Despite losing Barkley, Jones averaged over 30 points in his first two starts. Gaining back the playmaker will only benefit the offensive productivity and, hopefully, give them the edge against Arizona.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day:

Andie Hagemann – Saquon Barkley: ‘No doubt’ ankle would hold up

Wally McKeon – New York Giants: Should Daniel Jones’ Recent Struggles Cause Concern?
Michael Eisen – QB Daniel Jones continues to grow as starter
Matt Citak – PFF: Dexter Lawrence highest-graded NFL rookie

New York Giants: Markus Golden Exceeding All Expectations

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New York Jets, Markus Golden

The New York Giants lost to the New England Patriots this week. The Giants lost 35-14, indicating a blowout loss, but that is not what the game truly was

In fact, the Giants’ defense played an exceptional game through the first three quarters. Things fell apart in the fourth, but there is a lot to build on from the Giants’ week six performance.

In particular, the Giants’ pass-rush looked solid. Lorenzo Carter had what could be a breakout game and Markus Golden continued his underrated and excellent play. Markus Golden has been one of the best players on the Giants’ defense this year, and not many people seem to realize just how good he has been.

Markus Golden’s Underrated Season

He has flown under the radar, but Markus Golden has been performing at a very high level this season. Golden leads the Giants in sacks and is proving to be one of their best players on a struggling defense.

Through the Giants’ first six games of the season, Markus Golden has totaled 5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits. He is generating pressure at a very high rate and making an impact for the Giants like very few other defenders. Golden has also recorded 22 combined tackles and even scored a touchdown on a 42 yard fumble recovery and return.

One of Markus Golden’s best games of the season was this week against New England. The Tweet below details his stats and shows his extraordinary touchdown.

A Great Value Contract

The Giants signed Markus Golden this offseason. Golden was coming off of a significant knee injury, so he did not garner too much attention on the open market, luckily for the Giants. Additionally, the Giants had a familiar connection to Markus Golden, giving him even more reason to bring his talents to the Big Apple.

Markus Golden is a former Arizona Cardinal. So is the Giants’ current defensive coordinator James Bettcher. Golden’s familiarity with Bettcher’s scheme made him a good fit for the team’s defense and a must-have in free agency.

Since he was coming off of an injury, the Giants gave Markus a one-year “prove-it” deal worth $3,750,000. For a player who has totaled 5 sacks in 6 games, this is incredible value. Markus Golden has exceeded all expectation and could be a player the Giants resign and keep around for the long run.

The New York Giants are in trouble on defense ahead of clash against Vikings

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New York Giants, Giants, NYG, Ryan Connelly

The New York Giants could be in big trouble on defense against the Minnesota Vikings, primarily at the linebacker position where they are down three starters. Ryan Connelly tore his ACL last Sunday against the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter, after tallying a sack and interception in the contest.

The New York Giants lost a key contributor on defense:

Connelly has emerged as the team’s top linebacker, and losing him will be significant to the quality of the unit. The Wisconsin product had earned 20 combine tackles, ten assisted, one sack, and two interceptions. He has been stellar in every facet of the game and developed very quickly. His instinctual play and ability to shoot gaps are two attributes that make Connelly a serviceable starter for the foreseeable future.

He will return next season and hopefully be able to pick up right where he left off. In the meantime, the New York Giants have Alec Ogletree and Tae Davis on the roster, both of which will miss Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. That will leave backup David Mayo to be the featured player in the middle of the defense for the Giants. After being cut by the San Francisco 49ers on August 31, Mayo was picked up just three days later.

“When the Giants called, I was pretty excited,” he added, per the NY Post. “It was a good fit and I was happy to come.”

It is expected that Mayo will be the MIC linebacker and controller of the defense. He will be communicating with the defensive coordinator James Bettcher and relaying calls to his teammates, a task that was formally held by Ryan Connelly.

“I’ve done it plenty of times. I’m comfortable with it,” said Mayo, who had eight tackles against the Redskins. “I feel good about calling plays and setting the fronts and all that stuff. If it’s me, I’ll be ready.”

While mayo has experience being the communicator of the defense, he is still new to the unit and is not the first option. This could result in porous play in the middle of the field for Big Blue, and I imagine the Vikings utilizing their talents to expose that deficiency.

New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Unconcerned By Secondary

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New York Giants, Janoris Jenkins

The New York Giants haven’t had a good secondary through the first three games of the season. In fact, they’ve had one of the worst if not the worst secondary in the league, and without an incredible offensive performance from quarterback Daniel Jones on Sunday, the team would likely be 0-3, with the secondary playing a large part in that record. It’s seemed like other teams can pass on the Giants at will, and most analysts would say the secondary is the biggest cause for concern for the team.

However, defensive coordinator James Bettcher, the one calling the shots for this defense and by extension the secondary specifically, doesn’t see it as a big problem.

“Honestly, I don’t have concern, I don’t have concern about any of our players, as long as they are working the process. I think Jack is doing that, I think he is coming to practice, I saw it today, he’s diving to knock balls away, he’s competing, he’s working on fundamentals and techniques in individual, he’s all in on fixing what he needs to fix,” Bettcher said when asked about his level of concern for Janoris Jenkins, the number one cornerback right now – Jenkins, though, hasn’t played like a number one corner so far and would likely have been replaced already on a team with deeper talent at the position.

“The truth is, he’s not the only one. On some of those snaps, his technique might not have been as good as he would want it to be, but there’s maybe a rusher or two that their technique wasn’t as good, either. We’re coaching all of those guys, not just one,” added Bettcher.

It’s not necessarily the most comforting answer to hear major mistakes in the secondary excused by the fact that there’s been mistakes, but with the team sticking with Jenkins for now and not having much in the way of other options, it makes sense that the coaching staff is defending the player rather than throwing him under the bus.

How long Jenkins will last without a big improvement, however, is debatable. During week four, at least, the pressure will be immense for the secondary to at the very least, not blow the game for an offense which took major steps forward last Sunday and looks competitive.

New York Giants: What’s Going On With DeAndre Baker?

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New York Giants, DeAndre Baker

The New York Giants‘ secondary has been one of the league’s worst over the past two years. In 2017, the Giants’ secondary allowed 252.4 passing yards per game (ranked 31st in the NFL). In 2018, the Giants’ secondary allowed 252.8 passing yards (ranked 23rd in the NFL), showing minimal to no improvement. Through the first two weeks of the 2019 season, the Giants’ pass defense somehow looks even worse.

DeAndre Baker is a first-round rookie corner back that has struggled immensley transitioning to the NFL these first two weeks. He needs to improve in a hurry if the Giantss want to win games this season. But is DeAndre Baker fully to blame for his poor performance or are there other factors involved?

How Bad Has He Been?

DeAndre Baker was a strong prospect coming out of college. He was well worth the first-round pick that the Giants spent on him and could have easily been picked higher. Unfortunately, that impact has not been seen yet on the field for Big Blue.

Through two games, DeAndre Baker has allowed 11 receptions on 13 targets, 272 yards, 2 TD’s, and a 158.3 passer rating to opposing to QB’s. Opposing quarterbacks have been simply picking on Baker and his inexperience.

DeAndre Baker has been a huge liability on the Giants’ defense so far. For a rookie that had so much promise coming out of college, it sure has been disappointing to watch him fail to live up to the hype so far. But maybe his poor performance is not all his fault.

Is James Bettcher To Blame?

Many will make the case that DeAndre Baker’s recent struggles are not to his own fault. Some will argue that defensive coordinator James Bettcher is truly to blame. It is likely that both Baker’s and Bettcher’s performances are working hand in hand.

The Giants’ defense has been caught making numerous mistakes that demonstrate an overarching issue from the coaching position. Multiple times per game, the Giants’ defense is seen making a miscommunication that leads to a huge gain for the opposing offense.

Below is an animated clip from the Giants’ week two loss against the Buffalo Bills. On the play being animated, the Giants were completely confused while running a basic cover three defense, causing them to let up a 51-yard gain to Cole Beasley.

DeAndre Baker made a mistake on this play. But so did Antoine Bethea. Bethea is a fourteen-year, 35 year-old veteran safety that has played in James Bettcher’s system before as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. So why is it that both Baker and Bethea made a mistake on this play?

Both players, the veteran and the rookie, made a mistake and mixed up the coverage assignments on this play. These mistakes occur far too frequently for the blame to be placed solely on one rookie cornerback. Granted, Baker has a lot to improve on, but he is not the only one struggling to find their place in this defense.

Here is another play to demonstrate the bigger issue on defense (James Bettcher). This is a crucial 3rd-and-4 early in the first quarter. The Bills had receiver Cole Beasley out wide to the left, matched up against him was DeAndre Baker. In this third and short situation, one would expect the Giants’ cornerbacks to be in press coverage to keep the Bills from gaining the short four yards underneath. Instead, Bettcher calls a play that puts DeAndre Baker six yards away from the line of scrimmage.

The Bills picked up this first down on a slant route to Cole Beasley. Because DeAndre Baker was playing so far off of Beasley, he was allowed to run this slant with a free release and no cornerback guarding him as he cut towards the middle of the field.

This is poor situational play-calling. Simple pitch and catch for the Buffalo Bills. Sure, this is technically DeAndre Baker’s fault for allowing his matchup to make the catch and gain the first down. But why is James Bettcher not calling plays that require DeAndre Baker to be playing press coverage in this situation.

The tweet also points out something very important to consider when breaking down this play: DeAndre Baker is a press-man cornerback. That is what he was good at in college. That is what he will be good at in the NFL. Baker is physical at the line of scrimmage. James Bettcher needs to be aware of this and needs to scheme his defense according to his players’ strengths and weaknesses.

New York Giants Defense Looking To Change Mood In Week Two

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The mood around the New York Giants isn’t a great one right now – the team has been said to have one of the worst defenses in the league following the first week of the season and it wasn’t hard to understand why. It looked like the Cowboys were able to make big passing plays at will, and the Giants gave up 35 points and ensured that the offense would have little chance of scoring enough to win the game.

Obviously, that bad early track record is something that a number of players want to turn around going into the week two game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

“In the NBA, if they have a bad game, the next day they can go out there and play again. For us, we have a whole week to sit, let it marinate, watch film and soul search. I think that’s what we’ve been doing this week. We came out and worked hard this week in practice. Now we’re just getting ready to come out and get that taste out of our mouths,” second year outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter stated.

Carter was, of course, just one of a number of players on the Giants defense that was considered as having a bad game in week one against the Dallas Cowboys.

“We were disappointed, of course. But it’s just on to the next week. There’s nothing you can really do about last week but watch the film, evaluate it and then just get ready for this week. We’re going to keep going,” Carter continued.

Defensive coordinator James Bettcher doesn’t sound like a coach that intends to reuse a losing strategy – from the sounds of things, fans of the Giants can maybe expect Bettcher to try some things differently against the Bills.

“I look at it as here’s something we have to get better at, let’s go work to get better at it… We need to attack what the problem was and go work to correct the problem. Not just say we need to rush the quarterback better? The truth is how do you rush the passer better. What fundamentals and techniques do we need to improve with specifically with what guys and players,” Bettcher added.

The Giants will be up against a formidable defense themselves in week two, as they face a Bills team that gave up only 16 points to the Jets in week one. The toughness of the Bills defense makes it more crucial, of course, that the Giants don’t give up too many points when their own defense is on the field – scoring won’t come easy for Eli Manning and the rest of the Giants offense, and the game could very well be low scoring.

But that, of course, defends on the defense turning things around… It remains to be seen what will happen, but at the least, the Giants defenders have no lack of desire.