3rd Down transcript of NFC Championship Game

Nice work but I challenge you to go one step further! Look at our first-down play-calling and execution. THIS is what killed us ALL YEAR LONG. We routinely got zero or negative yards on 1st down d/t predictable play calling and poor execution by everyone which then allowed the Giants to pin their ears back and run blitz us on 2nd and 3rd downs (as you already showed these results). The Giants could also then play tough and physical up at the LOS and creep up more and more to the LOS where we were clearly outmanned. We only threw over the top three times and two of them resulted in a TD and the third had a chance. On the flip side, watch what the Giants did on 1st downs and how they softened up our secondary and how much easier it was on 2nd and 3rd downs.

I think a huge part of the problem all year was Greg Roman, OC and our inability to get positive yards on first down which THEN would have allowed us to open up the playbook more. Naturally, execution of these plays is monumental but utilizing your weapons properly and creating mismatches by offering up a true WCO is helpful towards easier execution for the players. We have a ton of weapons (even with all the injuries @ WR)...would anyone argue that?

Actually I thought we were good on 1st down, but poor on 2nd down, leading to 3rd and longer than necessary...

Originally posted by Afrikan:
"3rd 5 - Alex completes to Crabs near sidelines 3 yard gain. Results in FG, fault to Alex and Crabs."

although I am not surprised.....um but why would you blame Crabtree for this? If Alex hit him in stride, and didn't throw it high, Crabtree had room to get a key first down.

but hey, you also blamed the oline, for every situation where Alex left the pocket....even though he might not have wanted to pull the trigger, even though he had time.

some of you can discount and bash Greg Cosell and his remarks about wide open receivers that Alex did not pass it too...but the fact is, he has coaches film and has been watching film for longer than most of you have been born.

He pointed out just 3 plays in the whole game where a receiver was open. 1 of the those plays was the overthrow to Williams so actually he pointed out 2 plays that Alex didn't pass it a open receiver. Only 1 of the plays he pointed out was on 3rd down.

Originally posted by Stevec9932:
how could you re-watch that game? i will never watch it again... I'm scorned for life.

Me too

Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:
This whole game was Raye/Singletary written all over it.

The coaches didn't give Alex a second or third option in their play calling with the type of plays they called..it was one or done

Actually I think the Giants D-Line had something to do with it.

Of COURSE there were second or third options. That doesn't mean you will get time to check down.

Originally posted by aTx49er:

Originally posted by Afrikan:
"3rd 5 - Alex completes to Crabs near sidelines 3 yard gain. Results in FG, fault to Alex and Crabs."

although I am not surprised.....um but why would you blame Crabtree for this? If Alex hit him in stride, and didn't throw it high, Crabtree had room to get a key first down.

but hey, you also blamed the oline, for every situation where Alex left the pocket....even though he might not have wanted to pull the trigger, even though he had time.

some of you can discount and bash Greg Cosell and his remarks about wide open receivers that Alex did not pass it too...but the fact is, he has coaches film and has been watching film for longer than most of you have been born.

He pointed out just 3 plays in the whole game where a receiver was open. 1 of the those plays was the overthrow to Williams so actually he pointed out 2 plays that Alex didn't pass it a open receiver. Only 1 of the plays he pointed out was on 3rd down.

Yeah...Cosell wasn't saying "they were open all game". He just sites 2 or 3 plays where there was a play to be made.

Ya know what? Manning didn't make those plays either and he's going to the Super Bowl.

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:
This whole game was Raye/Singletary written all over it.

The coaches didn't give Alex a second or third option in their play calling with the type of plays they called..it was one or done

Actually I think the Giants D-Line had something to do with it.

Of COURSE there were second or third options. That doesn't mean you will get time to check down.

1 and 2 wr sets doesn't give enough options

you even wrote on your after game thread that our line held up well. if they did then Alex had time for the 2nd or Third option...but the plays called those options were junk we were a one trick pony and if that pony didnt do a trick the play was done.

Our Coach didn't put us in a position to win. We played to the giants strength and did not spread them apart

The thing is, obviously there are reasons why we are constantly in 3rd and long......but does anyone really have any confidence Alex will pick those up? 3rd down is known to be "the passing down" or "the quarterback down." When we have 3rd and anything longer than 9 yards to pick up, its pretty much an automatic punt. I've never seen a QB pick up less 3rd and longs in my life.

Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:
1 and 2 wr sets doesn't give enough options

you even wrote on your after game thread that our line held up well. if they did then Alex had time for the 2nd or Third option...but the plays called those options were junk we were a one trick pony and if that pony didnt do a trick the play was done.

Our Coach didn't put us in a position to win. We played to the giants strength and did not spread them apart

This to a T. We pointed this out as a RZ issue as well...extra TE's gives you one, maybe two options to pass too and the line STILL failed to block properly and give Alex and the WR time to get open...the Giants, like others, just played up tight at the LOS and stuffed everything immediately and let the DL get there and flush Alex out. Tough assignment on a wet field unless you have the chemistry Eli/Cruz have.

Originally posted by NCommand:
Nice work but I challenge you to go one step further! Look at our first-down play-calling and execution. THIS is what killed us ALL YEAR LONG. We routinely got zero or negative yards on 1st down d/t predictable play calling and poor execution by everyone which then allowed the Giants to pin their ears back and run blitz us on 2nd and 3rd downs (as you already showed these results). The Giants could also then play tough and physical up at the LOS and creep up more and more to the LOS where we were clearly outmanned. We only threw over the top three times and two of them resulted in a TD and the third had a chance. On the flip side, watch what the Giants did on 1st downs and how they softened up our secondary and how much easier it was on 2nd and 3rd downs.

I think a huge part of the problem all year was Greg Roman, OC and our inability to get positive yards on first down which THEN would have allowed us to open up the playbook more. Naturally, execution of these plays is monumental but utilizing your weapons properly and creating mismatches by offering up a true WCO is helpful towards easier execution for the players. We have a ton of weapons (even with all the injuries @ WR)...would anyone argue that?

Even though I just mainly looked at the 3rd Down attempts, I did noticed some plays on 1st and 2nd that lead to 3rd and longs. These are the ones that stuck out in my mind.

1. Kyle Williams fumbled that pitch back which lost 10 yards and pretty much killed that drive.
2. There where a couple of times they ran back to back running plays on 1st and 2nd down that either didn't get any yards or lost yardage.
3. Some questionable play calls as well, especially that one play in the redzone where Alex drop back holding the ball low to the ground. That resulted him scrambling and throwing it away. Why not throw a slant pass to Crabs, like the previous week against the Saints?
4. Their was a penalty on Staley that made a 3rd and 14 to 3rd and 19.

I understand that the 3rd and longs are tough to convert, like you said they need to get better at making positive yards on 1st and 2nd downs. I think it has to do with lack of experience in the new offesive system. You mixed that in with guys being switched in and out due to injuries and you lose a little bit of continuity as well. What was frustrating me the most is not converting the 3rd and shorts. I think there where 3 or 4 attempts on 3rd down that where less than 5 yards, if 1 or 2 of those get converted I probably wouldn't be sitting here typing this up right now.