Saints Expose Giants' Defense

Going back to their first Super Bowl victories, the Giants have always been defined by their defense.

Sure they had Phil Simms and some others, but this is a team that loved defense. The fans love their defense. The NFC East is all about the defensive side of the ball, and stopping the other team from moving the ball.

So when, exactly, did the Giants turn in the old San Diego Chargers, a team that couldn’t stop any body? Because that’s what it looked like Sunday, as Drew Brees drove the Saints all over the field on the way to an easier-than-it looked 48-27 victory.

It was like Brees had the keys to the hot rod, and he could drive it wherever he pleased. The Saints scored on their first two possessions, compiled 626 yards of total offense and easily won the battle of undefeated teams.

The biggest problem for the Giants was their pass rush, because they hardly laid a hand on Brees. He was only sacked one time, completed 23-of-30 passes for 369 yards and made every key play. He threw the ball all over the lot, and the Giants never could stop him. You had the feeling if Brees lined up Saints owner Tom Benson at wide receiver, he could’ve hit him for a 10-yard completion.

The defensive line was virtually invisible the entire game, which is hard to believe with a unit that features Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Mathius Kiwanuka. This was a team that was supposed to make offenses cringe, and they hardly laid a hand on Brees.

Absence a pass rush, the Giants’ secondary got torched all game long. The team undoubtedly misses Kenny Phillips and Aaron Ross, both of whom are out with injuries. Ross should return soon, but Phillips is gone for the year. Their replacements, Terrell Thomas and C.C. Brown, were beat time and again yesterday.

Granted, Brees played a terrific game. He marched the team down for a touchdown on the opening drive of the game, and his touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey late in the first quarter made it 14-0.

He continued to riddle the Giants’ pass defense the entire game, throwing touchdowns to four different players. The Saints were able to run the ball, too, rushing for 133 yards, including 72 by Pierre Thomas.

Through the first five games of the season, the Giants made it look easy. They had surrendered just 71 points, and were dominating against a weak schedule that included Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Oakland, who had a combined one victory entering Sunday’s games.

Sunday, on a big stage against a quality team, the Giants’ defense was exposed time and again. If this is a team that wants to return to the Super Bowl, it has to find answers for its defense.

Osi a Big Return for Giants

It was a transaction that slipped under the radar of a lot of NFL observers in the off-season, but the Giants acquired the services of an All-Pro defensive end.
For a defense that was already one of the best in the business, that is no small addition.

Having Osi Umenyiora back on the defensive line is a major addition for the Giants, and he proved why in Sunday’s easier-than-it-looked 23-17 win over Washington.

Umenyiora, 27, missed all of the 2008 season after undergoing knee surgery last August. He suffered a torn lateral meniscus cartilage in his left knee in a preseason game against the Jets on Aug. 23 and was placed on injured reserve three days later.
The injury came after a brilliant season in 2007, when he led the team in sacks with 13 and was the only member of the Giants defense selected to the Pro Bowl.

Oh, and the Giants won the Super Bowl that season.

Umenyiora returned Sunday, and he made his presence felt. In the second quarter, he stripped quarterback Jason Campbell, picked up the fumble and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.

Welcome back, Big Fella.

“I can't even explain it to you.,’’ Umenyiora said on what it was like to be back on the field. “Sometimes when you're out there all the time, you kind of forget what it feels like to not be out there. Last year, I missed it and I'm happy I was able to come back this year.”

Umenyiora finished with three tackles as the Giants defense set the tone for the season by stifling the Redskins for most of the day. The Giants forced two turnovers and held the Redskins to just 85 yards rushing, 34 of which came on a Clinton Portis run on the first play from scrimmage. The front line pressured Campbell all afternoon.

“I don't know many sacks we ended up with but it felt like we were getting to him,’’ linebacker Antonio Pierce said. “But he did break out of the pocket and made some great throws. I think everybody knows what the New York Giants defense is about, getting after the quarterback and applying pressure throughout the game. We did a pretty good job of doing that.”

A lot of the preseason talk regarding the Giants centered on quarterback Eli Manning and a virtually new crop of wide receivers. No Amani Toomer, no Plaxico Burress. But they still have a veteran offensive line, a strong running game and Manning, who is the highest paid player in the league.

This is a team, however, that will be defined by its defense. The strength of the Giants is their defensive line, and adding Umenyiora to the mix makes them even stronger. Having Umenyiora back harassing quarterbacks makes the Giants one of the top defensive teams in the NFL.
If any body doubts that, they should just ask Jason Campbell.