Palmer: How the Giants defence came up big

Strahan and Umenyiora

Jesse Palmer

10/2/2007 3:13:35 PM

First Down: Sack Masters

On Sunday night, the New York Giants set an NFL record with 12 sacks in their 16-3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.  Where did this defense come from? 

We are finally seeing defensive co-coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's system in full affect as his players are buying in, and more importantly, executing his scheme.  Spagnuolo was the linebacker's coach for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2004-2006, operating under current Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, and brought the same system to New York with him. 

I remember our offensive game plan meetings when we would play the Eagles, and the headaches that their scheme would give our coaches.  The scheme allows the defense to blitz more players than the offense can block, and matches bigger pass rushers against smaller, less physical protectors. 

Rookie Eagles left tackle Winston Justice was left on an island all game long versus Osi Umenyiora, as Eagles running backs and tight ends were forced to help protect against the blitzing Giants linebackers.  In hind sight, I think Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg would like to have re-schemed their blocking strategy for the game, but with physical pass rushers like Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck and Antonio Pierce, Mornhinweg was left with few alternatives. 

Osi Umenyiora's success shouldn't come as a big surprise.  People often forget that he was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2005 (along with Michael Strahan) after he led the NFC with 14.5 sacks.  I remember practicing against Osi in training camp and him telling me his strategy for getting an early jump on the snap.  He likes to look at the quarterbacks hands under center before the snap.  He told me that most quarterbacks (including me) often flash their hands right before they get the snap from center, therefore providing him with a timing mechanism to explode out of his stance. 

As I watched Umenyiora Sunday night get great jumps off the ball snap after snap, I began thinking, "McNabb is flashing his hands".  Six sacks and two forced fumbles later, Umenyiora is well on his way back to Honolulu for a second Pro Bowl birth.

Second Down: Brady's Brilliance

Four weeks into the NFL season, the New England Patriots have emerged as the early favorite to win the Super Bowl.  Tom Brady has played remarkably, completing 79.2 percent of his passes.  The NFL record is 70.55 percent set by Ken Anderson in 1982.  Brady has also thrown 13 TDs and is on pace to throw 52 on the year, which would top Peyton Manning's 2004 record of 49 in a season.  If he continues this sort of productivity, Brady will be a shoe-in to win the NFL's Most Valuable Player award. 

Why all of a sudden is he having so much success?  Is it Randy Moss?  While I certainly attribute a lot of Brady's early statistical success to the off-season acquisition of both Moss and Wes Welker, I believe Brady is maturing as a quarterback beyond his years.  He is becoming a "master" of the Patriot offense much like Peyton Manning is in Indianapolis. 

Brady and Manning are the NFL's best examples of quarterbacks that are fully in charge of their units.  Brady now has taken total control at the line of scrimmage and can change his offensive line's pre-snap protections, which is why we've seen so few sacks in the Patriots backfield this year.  He is also audibling more frequently to get his teammates in position to make big plays.

They have a tight end in Ben Watson who takes double coverage away from Randy Moss.  Lawrence Maroney has forced opposing safeties to play closer to the line of scrimmage.  Now add a starting trio of wide receivers in Moss, Welker and Donte' Stallworth and you have the NFL's most potent offense. 

While Tom Brady is already a lock for the Hall of Fame with three Super Bowl rings, this potentially record-breaking season would entitle him as one of the NFL's "legends".

Third Down: Cheerleader-gate

This past week the NFL issued a memo to all 32 teams which instructed home teams not to allow their cheerleaders to warm up, stretch or perform in front of the opposing team during the pre-game.  While I don't think that teams intentionally use this ploy to gain an advantage, I can say from experience that cheerleader distraction during games is real. 

While starting for the New York Giants in week 16 versus the Dallas Cowboys in 2005, I found out just how distracting cheerleaders can be.  In that game we started several drives inside our own 20-yard line, with each drive following a TV timeout.  With my back to the end zone in the huddle, I became frustrated because I couldn't make eye contact with any of my 10 teammates as I was trying to call our plays; they were all staring right at the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders who were performing in the end zone. 

I remember our offensive linemen shaking their heads in utter amazement, but the classic line came from our tight end, Visanthe Shiancoe, who interrupted me in the middle of a play call and said, "Jesse you really need to turn around and see this..."

Fourth Down: Grossman Benched

After another subpar performance in week three, Rex Grossman has lost his starting quarterback job in favor of veteran Brian Griese.  It is the first time in Grossman's short pro career that he has been benched, and many feel that this may be his final chance as a starter in the NFL.

Anytime a starter loses his job, let alone the leader of the team, it is extremely embarrassing in the locker room, on the practice field, and out in public. It is easy to lose confidence in yourself, as you feel you are letting down your teammates, coaches and fans.  A city like Chicago will be particularly difficult for Grossman, considering the speculation surrounding his eventual replacement has been the hot topic in Chicago sports culture over the past year.  

I had the opportunity to play with Grossman during his first two seasons at the University of Florida, and I fully anticipate him to bounce back from this setback.  The most amazing thing I remember about him was his resiliency, which certainly served all Florida quarterbacks well if they played for head coach Steve Spurrier (who has a reputation for playing musical chairs with his quarterbacks). 

When I sprained my ankle against Mississippi State my senior season, Grossman replaced me and played brilliantly versus LSU, Auburn and Vanderbilt.  He was benched the following week against South Carolina after a poor first quarter. Two weeks later he would start again and play his finest game of the year versus Auburn in the SEC Championship game. 

Brian Griese has a history of injuries and after throwing three interceptions last weekend versus Detroit, it remains uncertain that he will start the remainder of this season for the Chicago Bears.  If Grossman receives another opportunity this year, I expect him to fully take advantage of it and regain the form he showed early last year - the same form that got him named NFC Offensive Player of the Month in September.