2009 Schedule Preview: Week 5 vs. NY Giants
by Dave Cariello on Jul 28, 2009 6:00 AM CDT
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PrintThe Saints finally finish up their run of three straight New York-based opponents when they take on the Giants in the Superdome during week five of the season. Since last facing each other, the Giants went and won themselves a Super Bowl and became a perennial contender. To be sure, the G-Men will provide a tough test for the Saints, in particular, their agressive defense. Hopefully, the results of this years clash will closely mirror those of the last meeting between these two teams. Something tells me it won't.
Giants Offense
New Orleans native Eli Manning is still running the show in New York but the team around him has seen some change. To offset the loss of their two big receivers, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the Giants used their first round pick to take Hakeem Nicks in this years draft. They also selected receiver Ramses Barden and tight end Travis Beckum for added depth. Steve Smith (not that one), who led the team in receptions last year, will remain one of Manning's favorite targets while Domenik Hixon should develop quite nicely this season.
On the ground, Brandon Jacobs will certainly continue to be the main man for the G-Men, who led the league in rushing last season, but they've lost Derrick Ward, their 1,000-yard backup. Yes, that's right...backup. Ahmad Bradshaw should step up and fill that role in 2009 while a slew of other young backs like Danny Ware, Andre Brown, Allen Patrick and Dwayne Wright all fight for a spot in camp.
This is going to be a tough challenge for the Saints defense but certainly not impossible, especially if improvement really has been made.
Giants Defense
Two years ago the Giants defense was so good they were credited with taking down the almighty and undefeated New England Patriots. So good, in fact, that the Saints used them as a model for getting pressure on the quarterback last season. It didn't really work for the Saints but the Giants kept on rolling with 42 sacks and finished 2008 with the leagues fifth best defense. And all of this without Osi Umenyiora. Now Umenyiora is back and the team has also added defensive tackles Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty to further make their defensive line just scary good.
To help upgrade their linebacking corp, possibly the weakest aspect of their defense, the Giants have added Michael Boley and stole first round prospect Clint Sintim in the second round of this years draft to help veteran Antonio Pierce. This should definitely be an area of improvement in 2009.
In the pass defense department, New York has lost cornerbacks R.W. McQuarters and Sam Madison as well as safeties Sammy Knight and James Butler. The team is hoping that late round draft picks DeAndrew Wright and Stony Woodson along with safety C.C. Brown will offer depth behind Corey Webster, Kenny Phillips and Michael Johnson.
New Yorks defense definitely poses a legitimate threat to the Saints powerful offense. Not good.
Giants 2008 Season
12-4 Record
Last Meeting
December 24th, 2006
| Week 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | F |
| Saints | 3 | 10 | 7 | 10 | -- | 30 |
| Giants | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 7 |
Why the Saints Can Win
They Saints have been known to shut down very talented running backs.
Why the Saints Can Lose
The Giants defense may be too much to handle.
Prediction
Saints 17 - Giants 15
Newly Acquired
DT Chris Canty
DT Rocky Bernard
OLB Michael Boley
S C.C. Brown
2009 Draft Class
WR Hakeem Nicks
OLB Clint Sintim
WR Ramses Barden
TE Travis Beckum
RB Andre Brown
QB Rhett Bomar
CB DeAndre Wright
CB Stoney Woodson
Key Losses
RB Derrick Ward
WR Plaxico Burress
WR Amani Toomer
OT Shane Olivea
CB R.W. McQuarters
CB Sam Madison
S James Butler
S Sammy Knight
Linkage
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prediction...
yeah, ive got a prediction…
PAIN.
haha
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by Dave Cariello on Jul 28, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions
seriousness
No one knows how the new york giants offense is going to work. If their young crop of receivers doesnt click with eli this year then teams can key in on the running game.
The giants running game has been tough to stop for a couple reasons and one of the main reasons is NOT Jacobs.
Although Jacobs is a giant bruising back, the giants offensive line are the ones who make it happen. Jacobs gets stopped at the line alot, but it takes alot to bring him down usually. He is bad on goal line pushes which is odd for a giant back(but i think the giants make the play calling a little TOO obvious when its on the goal line). When jacobs gets a 5 yard head start on a line backer or DB good luck stopping him in his tracks, look to take him down 3-10 yards later.
I think Brees can pass the ball deep on the giants… if he has time in the pocket against the giants pass rush. that is going to be the key to beating the giants.
Saints in NY Bars?
What Bars are good to go to in NY (most notably NYC, West Chester County, and Long Island) for the Saints games?
by WhoDatPHaltnMD on Jul 28, 2009 10:04 AM CDT reply actions
The Beer Garden
in Astoria.
Are you living in NY? I grew up on LI. We have a member, NYSaint, who might be able to better answer your question.
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by Dave Cariello on Jul 28, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Cool....
I live in MD but frequent West Chester County and Manhattan on the weekends. This website is sick! There are few Saints fans here in my neck of the woods, mostly Crow fans and Deadskins.
by WhoDatPHaltnMD on Jul 28, 2009 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions
A few possibilities . . .
Hi WhoDatPHaltnMD. I am a fellow Saints fan living in NYC who has to find new and creative ways to watch the Saints play when they are not shown locally (at least we know they’ll show two Saints games on TV here this year). If you’re not up for watching the streaming games online, there are a few bars around the city that show the games.
This is a pretty good list of sports bars in general. It is best to give a call beforehand to make sure they will show the Saints game, they will have the volume up, etc. http://www.murphguide.com/sports.htm
Of these bars listed, there are a couple that I think may be good prospects:
There is a bar called Turtle Bay at 52nd & 2 Ave that is a big LSU bar. I’m not sure if they play Saints games on Sundays, but given the number of LSU fans that show up here, it is very possible. It is a big place, and on the second floor they will pull out a giant projector screen during LSU games. http://www.turtlebaynyc.com/
Bar None in the East Village also shows a number of games. Saints fans in particular tend to congregate here and take it over, so they’ll always be sure to show the Saints game. It’s pretty much a dive bar, but if one of the reasons you like to go to the bars to watch the games is to meet up with fans of your own team, this is a pretty good spot. Here’s an older article about it:
http://www.barnonenyc.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/nyregion/thecity/30sain.html
I’m sure there are others. Other good bets would be bars with New Orleans themes or names (I suspect The Big Easy at least gets requests to put Saints games on). Good luck in your search. Let me know if you find any others!
by TheBobLoblawBlog on Jul 28, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Saints fan in Dallas
Hey I’m a Saints fan in Dallas and it used to suck! But then I googled Saints fan clubs in Dallas and I found quite a few places to go watch the games and enjoy it with other Saints fans so give that a try.
Thanks!
Monkey Poop Battle, I will look you up one Sunday if I am in the city. Now at least I can sabotage my girl to watch the games since I have some good spots to go to…especially the East Village.
WHO DAT!
by WhoDatPHaltnMD on Jul 29, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions
the running game doesn't scare me.
it’s the defensive line. i think brees can handle the pressure unless they get there really really quick. the Saints are good at stopping the run. we didn’t have a 100+ yard rusher until the game in London. We stopped AP! It’s if the pass starts to work that will get me worried about the Giants offense. then we have to back off a little and gives them a better chance at a run game. Prediction: 21-17 Saints. 1 really good drive, 1 long pass. and maybe a big run but idk about the last TD. it’ll come somehow.
Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D
I'll be there!!!
I just found out, I’ll be flying to New Orleans to see this game so we better win! WHOOO! My brother kicks ass!
the biggest game of the season
if the saints struggle in the first quarter of the season ,this game, being after the bye, will set the tone for the rest of the way. if the saints do well in the first quarter of the season, it would prove that the first 4 games weren’t a fluke.
the lost of coach spagnuolo is the biggest factor on D.other coaches can run the same schemes, have the same players ,but i think losing a guy like that is gonna hurt your team.
clint sintim has a chance to be a outstanding rusher in the nfl. hopefully we can stay out of 3rd and longs
on offense eli gonna need help, i don’t think smith or hixon are #1 receivers, and counting on a rookie to be the man is risky, but gilbride get’s the most out of his guys.
to me it’s a toss-up,to close to call. will the saints contain the giants running game?
can the saints at least keep the gaints defensive line honest with a running game?
Payback for the '05 "home" game!
Call me crazy, but I feel quite confident about this one. The NFC East is as volatile and unpredictable as the NFC South, and I have a feeling this year won’t be that big for the Giants. They’ve lost talent on both sides of the ball, and I don’t know if they have the defense to let them run all day. They’re going to have to match points with some teams, and the Saints are as likely one of those teams as any. It’s hard to say before the season, but they’ve got a pretty big vacuum at receiver this year, and Eli’s no Payton. Plus, it may not matter much to coach Payton, but the dome should be hungry for a win against the team that, in the aftermath of Katrina, showed their support by hosting the Saints’ home opener in Giants’ Stadium, their home field. Maybe that’s just me…
I was at that game too...
that opening kick off fumble was the end of the game.(was it opening kick off? i dunno but it was pretty damn near the beginning)
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by Dave Cariello on Jul 29, 2009 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions
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