Antonio Pierce Interview on WFAN
Antonio Pierce talked to Mike Francesa of WFAN about the bye week and their upcoming game against Seattle. To hear the interview in its entirety, click here.
Archive for the ‘Antonio Pierce’
Antonio Pierce Interview on WFAN
Antonio Pierce talked to Mike Francesa of WFAN about the win over Cincinnati yesterday. To hear the interview in its entirety, click here.
My Thoughts On Giants Victory Over Bengals
The best part of yesterday’s game between the Giants and the Bengals was the simply the fact that the G-MEN won by a score of 26-23 in overtime. The Road Warriors won their second home game in as many games in the early 2008 season. These are the Road Warriors that could barely win at home in ‘07.
Offense
Eli Manning did not have a good game statistically. He went 26/43 which is a 60.47% completion percentage and threw for 289 yards and 1 TD. Even though Eli may not have helped out your fantasy team, he was able to counter every scoring drive that the Bengals had. If not with touch downs then with field goals. The Bengals played a much better game then I thought they were going to play, but I guess that’s how NFL teams are going to come to play the Champs. The Giants did not score on their opening drive in OT, but they did not go 3-and-out either. Manning was able to move the chains a bit before they were forced to punt. Eli also marched the Giants down the field when it mattered most during their second possession in overtime which set up the game winning field goal. Steve Smith and Amani Toomer both were key contributors in the Giants aerial attack as they combined for over 120 receiving yards. Manning hooked up with Kevin Boss for a TD to give the Giants the lead before the Bengals tied the game at the end of regulation. In OT, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer made huge catches for gains of 30+ yards which allowed the Giants to attempt the game winning field goal. Earth, Wind, and Fire had a decent outing as they combined for 115. Derrick Ward had 80 yards on only 9 carries. The Giants’ offense put up 14 of the 26 points.
Defense
Big Blue was able to apply pressure on Carson Palmer all day, but Palmer kept on fighting to get the Bengals points and stay in the game. Fred Robbins was the beast of the day and finished the day with 3 Tackles, 2 Sacks, and a few batted balls at the line of scrimmage. Corey Webster, Barry Cofield, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Dave Tollefson were all able to get to Palmer as well. The Giants defense had 6 sacks for the second game in a row which is sweet. Antonio Pierce was all over the place as he ended up with 10 tackles. Even though the Giants were able to get to Carson all game, the Bengals were able to put up a bunch of points. Palmer took the hits and kept on going kind of like Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLII. The Big Blue Wrecking Crew were able to make some keys stops at the right time which made it easier for the Giants’ offense to keep pace with the Bengals. The Giants did not allow the Bengals to score in the 3rd Quarter, but you can see how hard they were trying to force the Bengals to punt. The Giants’ defense put up 0 of the 26 points.
Special Teams
John Carney was 4/4 in Field Goal Attempts. Reuben Droughns was effective on kickoff and punt coverage. Domenik Hixon was solid returning Kickoffs and Punts. The Giants’ special teams put up 12 of the 26 points.
So the Giants won their first three games. The last time the Giants went 3-0 was in 2000 when they lost Super Bowl XXXV to the Ravens. Do you remember last year when nobody knew if the Patriots got the good Randy Moss or the bad Randy Moss? After the Pats went 3-0, all of that undefeated chatter began. I haven’t seen a Sports Illustrated cover stating that the Giants are going undefeated. Our boys in blue get less respect than Rodney Dangerfield. This game was a back-and-forth offensive showdown that Big Blue was able to pull out in overtime. The Giants have a Bye Week in Week 4 so next on the schedule are the Seattle Seahawks.
Antonio Pierce Interview on WFAN
Antonio Pierce talked to Mike Francesa of WFAN about the win in St. Louis and this weeks game against Cincy. To hear the interview in its entirety, click here.
My Thoughts On Giants Victory Over Rams
The best part of yesterday’s game between the Giants and the Rams was the final score which was 41-13. The Road Warriors went out to St. Louis seeking their 11th consecutive road win, and 12th if you include the Super Bowl. The G-MEN dominated the Rams in every way except for points during most of the game.
Offense
Eli Manning had a solid game as he went 20/29 which is a 68.96% completion percentage and threw for 260 yards and 3 TDs. Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress both were key contributors in the Giants aerial attack as they combined for over 150 receiving yards. The ‘running back by committee’ had a solid outing as they combined for over 200 yards. Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward wore down the Rams’ defense. In the 4th Quarter, Ahmad Bradshaw ran into the end zone untouched once for a 31-yard TD run. The Bradshaw TD run was beautiful to watch because nobody got a hand on him. With all of that said, the Rams were able to keep the Giants from not getting into the end zone too much until the 4th Quarter when the Giants torched them for 3 TDs, one of which was a defensive touch down. The Giants’ offense put up 28 of the 41 points.
Defense
Big Blue was able to apply pressure on Marc Bulger all day. Justin Tuck was a beast as usual and finished the day with 3 Tackles, 2 Sacks, and 1 Interception that he returned for a Touch Down. Fred Robbins also had 2 Sacks which were his first sacks of the season. Antonio Pierce and Jay Alford also got to Bulger once. I really enjoyed the AP sack also because nobody even touched him as he went right up the middle. The Rams’ offense was unable to stop the Giants’ defense. The Giants’ defense put up 7 of the 41 points.
Special Teams
John Carney was 2/2 in Field Goal Attempts. Domenik Hixon was solid returning Kickoffs and Punts. The Giants’ special teams put up 6 of the 41 points.
So the Giants won their first two games. Big Blue turned this one into a blow out. You would’ve never known how close this game was in the 4th Quarter by looking at the final score. Next on the schedule are the Cincinnati Bengals.
Week 2 PostGame: Giants 41 - Rams 13
The Giants kept the Rams in the game as they only held a 7 point lead early in the 4th Quarter before they put up 21 4th Quarter points giving the Jints their second win of the 2008 Regular Season.
1st Quarter
The Giants scored first on their second possession as Manning marched them 64 yards down the field, and then Eli Manning capped off the drive with a 33-yard Touch Down pass to a wide open Plaxico Burress in the middle of the end zone with 8:51 remaining.
2nd Quarter
The Rams scored on their second possession as well as Bulger marched them 77 yards down the field before Josh Brown made a 54-yard Field Goal Attempt with 14:13 remaining.
With 8:14 remaining, the Giants scored again on their third possession when John Carney made a 39-yard Field Goal Attempt.
Fred Robbins sacked Marc Bulger for a loss of 13 yards on 3rd and 8 with 6:54 remaining which led to a Rams punt.
On the Giants’ next possession, Howie Long’s son, Chris Long, got his first NFL sack when he sacked Eli Manning on 3rd and 8 for an 8-yard loss with 5:21 remaining.
Justin Tuck and Fred Robbins sacked Marc Bulger for a loss of 7 yards with 4:29 remaining.
Antonio Pierce joined the party by sacking Marc Bulger for a 9-yard loss with 3:14 remaining.
With 1:55 remaining, Josh Brown made a 54-yard Field Goal Attempt to cap off an 53 yard drive by the Rams.
When the Giants were in their 2:00 offense, John Carney drilled a 33-yard Field Goal Attempt with 0:02 remaining.
3rd Quarter
With 8:48 remaining, Eli Manning marched the Giants 97 yards down the field prior to throwing a 10-yard Touch Down pass to Amani Toomer who caught the ball with a man hanging on him in the middle of the end zone.
Victor Adeyanju sacked Eli Manning on 2nd and 17 for a loss of 8 yards with 1:49 remaining.
4th Quarter
Marc Bulger aired out a 45-yard Touch Down pass to Torry Holt who had to wrestle for the ball with Phillips in the end zone and came out the winner with 10:46 remaining.
With 7:18 remaining, Eli Manning countered the Rams’ 4th Quarter Touch Down with one of his own as he completed an 18-yard Touch Down pass to Ahmad Bradshaw on the right side, and Bradshaw ran down the right sideline and into the end zone.
Justin Tuck sacked Marc Bulger for a 6-yard loss with 7:09 remaining.
Marc Bulger had his pass batted down at the line by Justin Tuck who then caught it and returned it for a 46-yard Touch Down with 5:30 remaining.
With 3:23 remaining, Eli Manning handed the ball off to Ahmad Bradshaw who ran up the middle and to the left as he went untouched into the end zone for 31-yard Touch Down run.
Jay Alford sacked Marc Bulger for a loss of 7 yards with 3:06 remaining.
David Carr actually took over for Manning after the 2:00 Warning, and Carr took a few knees to wrap this game up.
Wrap Up
Eli Manning went 20/29 and threw for 260 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 INTs.
Brandon Jacobs led in Rushing attempts and yards with 15 and 93 respectively.
Amani Toomer led in Receptions with 6, and Plaxico Burress led in Receiving yards with 81.
Ahmad Bradshaw had 1 TD Catch and 1 TD Run, Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress each had 1 TD Catch. Justin Tuck also had 1 defensive TD.
John Carney went 2/2 in Field Goal Attempts.
Michael Johnson led the team in Tackles with 5.
Fred Robbins and Justin Tuck each had 2 Sacks, and Antonio Pierce and Jay Alford each had 1 Sack.
Justin Tuck had 1 Interception.
The NFL.com Game Center: Post Game is attached.
Video: Antonio Pierce Talks to ESPN About Giants’ Win
After the game, Antonio Pierce spoke to ESPN about the Giants’ win.
Sept. 4th, 2008 - GAME DAY!!
Already this morning, I’ve been perusing the fan sites and blogs. I’m so eager for the game tonight.
One article by the Associated Press caught my eye. In it, they asserted that the new Redskins presented new problems for the New York Giants. Well, let’s hope so.
I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I still have a hard time believing that the Giants are the Super Bowl champs. That goal line stand the Giants put up against the Skins seemed to spark their playoff run. In fact, during my interview with the DieHard Giants blog, I said as much. Defense is a state of mind. Any defense, regardless of the innate talent level that is present, that can adopt the attitude of, “we shall not be moved,” is going to be extremely hard to overcome.
So, while I acknowledge the talent they had on their defense last year, I don’t believe they were as good as they actually played during the playoffs, and especially in the Super Bowl. They just played lights out. It was sick.
But that was last year. They welcome our Skins tonight, and I’m expecting us to win. How could I not. I’m an optimist, remember.
The Associated Press believes that the Redskins have an advantage because of new head coach Jim Zorn. The figure that since no one has any film on him, and a database of how he calls games based on down and/or yardage, the Giants welcome the Skins with one hand tied behind their back. Hmmm… I’m not that much of an optimist. The Giants are going to bring the “rain.” They will attack Jason Campbell from all angles to rattle him early.
How Jim Zorn handles that pressure in his play calling will determine how well Jason Campbell fares.
Still, even the Giants players are indicating a hint of hesitation. Antonio Pierce is quoted as saying, “They showed a little bit, but they are working on other things and probably game planning against us a little, just like we’ve been doing against them. After the first 15 plays we’ll know what their game plan is and what their state of mind is,”
I wonder if he really believes that. Can any successful coach in the NFL be so locked into a game plan that it doesn’t change even after the other team figures it out? Hmmm… I don’t think so.
Joe Gibbs, as Clinton Portis stated, used to have the mindset that this is what we are going to do. Until they stop it, we’re going to keep doing it. And, in his first stint with the team, I recall that was mostly successful. But, as Gibbs came to realize early on in his second stint, the game is so much more fluid today. The defenses are so much more complex. And, as Portis stated, more often than not, defenses were able to stop whatever plans the Redskins had.
So, what exactly are the new wrinkles that the Redskins will offer this season? Well, for one, and perhaps the most crucial wrinkle, is the fact that Jason Campbell will not have the opportunity to audible. That’s right Skins fans. Imagine that. What a novel concept.
In the past, if the Skins came up to the line and looked over to see the defense aligned perfectly to stop the play they had called, they were expected to simply “man up” and execute; beat your man one on one, and let the dust settle where it may. If everyone wins their personal match up, we win the battle.
And in truth, that is a valid assessment. But, America would still be a colony of Britain if we insisted on following that game plan in the Revolutionary War. And, each and every season is a war, in a manner of speaking. Each game is a battle. And, each play is a specific skirmish in that battle. Who ever wins the most skirmishes, wins the battle. Whoever wins the most battles, wins the opportunity to fight the next war: the playoffs.
So, as we prepare for battle tonight, let’s hope we can be smart, creative, and out strategize and maneuver our opponent.
It’s game day!
Giant Captains of 2008
For the second year in a row, Tom Coughlin elected 5 Team Captains and they are as follows: QB Eli Manning, WR Amani Toomer, MLB Antonio Pierce, T Fred Robbins, and P Jeff Feagles.
Manning, Pierce, and Feagles were also captains in 2007. Toomer replaced O’Hara on offense, and Robbins replaced Strahan on defense.
If the Coach implemented Team Captains in 2007 and they won the Super Bowl then why not implement Team Captains in 2008. Congrats to chosen ones.
Antonio Pierce on PFT’s All-Turd Team
Our boys over at ProFootballTalk.com assembled their 2008 All-Turd Team (Defense). The requirements for consideration are one or more arrests, one or more violations of the league’s substance abuse policy, one or more violations of the league’s steroid policy, one or more holdouts while under contract, one or more flagrant acts of rudeness and/or stupidity, and/or anything else that makes us think that there’s good cause for the player to be included on the squad. Only one Giant made the list.
- Antonio Pierce - “Pleads guilty to animal neglect.”
Congrats to Antonio for making the 2008 All-Turd Team. That’s quite an achievement.
