Well, shit.
How do you deal with a Super Bowl loss? You goddamn write about it.
Eli Manning, for the third time in four years, leads a fourth quarter game-winning drive against my dear New England Patriots. The difference this time was Tom Brady had an opportunity to respond, but a few dropped passes and a sack later it was simply not meant to be.
The analysts and critics were right. The Giants were just a much better and more balanced football team.
They can stretch the field, they can play small ball, they can run the ball, they can get pressure and their DBs can over. Oh, and they have good special teams. Punter Steve Weatherford was immense today. The Pats constantly had to play on a long field.
But that’s it. It’s over. The Giants are champs. Here are some takeaways from the season on a whole. Things to feel good about and things that need to improve.
Robert Kraft
Heartbreaking. He went through a lot this season, with the passing of his wife Myra. The team played their hearts out for her all year. They just didn’t make enough plays in the end. It would have been fitting for the man who was instrumental in saving the season to be lifting the trophy at the end of it, but it was not meant to be. I really wish NBC hadn’t shown his reaction after the failed hail mary.
The Defense
This unit was constantly criticized all year, but they had a lot to do with the team’s success late in the year. They constantly improved and did their job and gave the offense a chance to win. But there are obvious problems with this unit.
First, the pass rush will be in flux. Andre Carter and Mark Anderson were good this year, but they’re not young. Ninkovich looks like the next Vrabel, Spikes looks to be a beast and Mayo is very good (though he’s not as flashy as Spikes). Wilfork is Wilfork, and Kyle Love and Brandon Deadrick are players to watch next season.
As for the secondary, Sterling Moore is impressive. Kyle Arrington has a knack for picks and McCourty has the talent to excel. Oh, Pat Chung is like a young Rodney Harrison. So what’s wrong with this group? It needs a free safety. Their communication is terrible and is constantly busting coverages. It was so bad that Belichick moved McCourty to free safety and brought in Edelman at nickel. The communication is instantly improved cause there’s no one blowing zone coverages on the right side of the D.
It doesn’t help that the pass rush is inconsistent. Another OLB is needed in the mold of Willie McGinest. The elephant linebacker. The pass rusher. One who consistently gets pressure. The problem is finding that player. He’s going to be able to fit into this new hybrid 4-3/3-4 Belichick has going on.
The Offense
This offense is great, but it could be better. A nice deep threat or some multi-talented wide receivers would be welcomed. I love Deion Branch, but he’s not getting younger. Neither is Ochocinco, although I have a sneaking suspicion the lack of an offseason hurt him more than anything. Welker is great, but he’s not a deep threat.
One part of the offense that will be better, and is almost as exciting as the passing game is the running game. Law Firm runs hard. Woodhead is the next Kevin Faulk, shifty as hell and great out of the backfield. Stevan Ridley is both. The problem with Ridley is the fumbling, which is why he didn’t play a bigger part in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl. Oh, it was also nice finding our center of the future in Dan Connolly this season. As well as depth with Solder and Vollmer at the tackle positions.
Youth
A lot of this team is young. There’s a solid foundation being built at the same time Tom Brady’s career is winding down. Since 2008, the year after Brady’s knee injury, the team has been rebuilding. Of course, they’ve got to take advantage of that overlap while they’ve got it. Unless Ryan Mallet or Brian Hoyer turn out to be something special, it’ll be difficult to win a Super Bowl without Brady.
Overall
Hey, this helped. When the hell is the combine? Go Patriots.
