Archives for December 1, 2003

‘Linebacker Dhani Jones tried to motivate the increasingly young, inexperienced Giants after Saturday’s walk-through. He had first-year players form a circle, surrounded by a circle of veterans. Jones then pushed over the younger players and the veterans caught them before they fell as a demonstration of the need for trust among teammates.’

‘That’s because Esiason started ripping Taylor, who is promoting a book about his drug and sexual escapades during his career, on CBS’ postgame show on Thanksgiving, saying LT deserved to be in the Hall of Shame rather than the Hall of Fame for his indiscretions. He continued sacking Taylor on WFAN’s “In the Huddle” Friday, and yesterday, on CBS, Esiason said Taylor’s antics were a disgrace and unworthy of a book or air time.’

‘The players had few answers, either. The defense allowed Buffalo to accumulate 403 yards, including 113 rushing yards on 26 carries by running back Travis Henry. The offense generated just 222 total yards and allowed six sacks of quarterback Kerry Collins, who somehow remained nearly bruise-free.’

‘One veteran, who requested anonymity, questioned how the Giants, despite injuries, could allow themselves to be this shallow at offensive line and forced to start four rookies. “Why are they in there? That’s the question somebody else has got to answer,” he said. “Every team gets injuries, but they don’t have to put four rookies in.”‘

‘”Disgusting,” one said as he left. “Horrible,” another said. “Oh, I’m coming back,” another said. You are? “I’m a Bills fan.”‘

‘Undrafted rookie Jeff Roehl replaced Petitgout and was matched up against Bills DE Aaron Schobel, who had a career-high three sacks — the most by a Giants opponent in six years — and recovered the Collins fumble. Roehl estimated that the Bills blitzed as many times yesterday as they did in their previous four games combined. “Just because they know we’re inexperienced and they know we haven’t picked them up as a unit together,” Roehl said. “There’s a big difference getting out there and doing it full-speed versus seeing it and knowing what to do. Because we all know what to do. We just didn’t do it.”‘

‘The most disturbing parts of the interview were the revelations of Taylor’s drug use. Wallace reported that in Taylor’s new book “LT: Over the Edge,” Taylor claims he first used cocaine at a party during his rookie season with the Giants, in 1981, and crack in 1983.’

‘”We owe it to each other (to play hard) and we owe it to Jim. He’s been a good coach to us,” Tiki Barber said. “If you don’t fight, you shouldn’t be here.”‘

‘The Bills (5-7), meanwhile, had their own problems, arriving with four straight losses and seven in the previous nine games. But they couldn’t help but look sharp vs. the Giants. Bledsoe fired for 247 yards and two touchdowns before leaving as a precaution late in the third quarter, not long after taking a helmet hit to the head from Keith Hamilton.’

‘Roehl was one of three rookies starting on the line, along with Wayne Lucier and David Diehl. Roehl, a Northwestern product, was playing in place of Luke Petitgout, the Giants most reliable lineman who was out because of a back injury. Buffalo exploited their inexperience, bringing several blitz packages on what seemed like every play. They sacked quarterback Kerry Collins six times and hurried him the entire game.’

‘”I’ve been coaching a long time,” Fassel said. “I’ve never been around a team that will work so hard during the week, pay attention to detail and then go out and play the way they did [Sunday]. We do not play football very well. We cannot block, we don’t tackle, we don’t cover, we don’t catch the ball in critical situations. Honestly, I am at a loss for words.”‘

‘”I knew the question was coming,” Mara said. “And I have a prepared answer. I’m not going to talk about it.”‘

‘”What can I say? I was getting him killed out there,”‘ Roehl said of quarterback Kerry Collins.’

‘Look at the eyes. See how blank they are? Remember the surging rush of pride you once saw there? Gone. Blank. Dead.’

‘Everything isn’t Fassel’s fault. The injury list is longer than the Dead Sea scrolls. Three players who started Sunday were knocked out of the game. A practice-squad center played guard; with two other rookies and second-year tackle Ian Allen on the offensive line, the results were predictable. The Bills blitzed unrelentingly, sacked Kerry Collins six times and hit him so often the Giants couldn’t call passes that required more than a three-step drop.’