I have sat in MetLife and Giants Stadium for a long time. I have seen dynamic players connect with the fans up close and personal. The energy is infectious and stadium catches fire. Giants fans across the country are welcoming the “juice” Dart, Carter and Skattebo are bringing to the stadium every Sunday.
However, this team can not succeed on pure adrenaline and emotion. This coaching staff and front office need to push this team out of the basement with bold, aggressive moves. It’s going to take more than three rookies to rescue this team, but so far these young cats are pulling thier weight.
These dudes were different.
- Lawrence Taylor
- Tiki Barber
- Jeremy Shockey
- Michael Strahan
- Brandon Jacobs
- Odell Beckham Jr.
Lawrence Taylor:
Taylor was super-human. He made plays he shouldn’t be capable of making, he changed the game by going over, through and around any obstacle. When it was impossible to accomplish something, Taylor did it. When the Giants needed a stop, a sack, a turn over, an interception…he just did it. He feed off the crowd and stadium chanted his name every Sunday. There will never be another L-T, L-T, L-T! The loudest chant ever heard in East Rutherford. If todays players played with half his passion the league would be “much watch” TV. LT was a legend that forced left tackles to be paid.
Tiki Barber
Barber was a scat back from VT that turned into a legit dynamic all world back. He was resilient and the most patient player I have ever seen play. Snap after snap after snap he patiently waited behind the guard, to only pop through a sliver of daylight and take it to the house. Every explosive play was met with a huge stadium crowd roar as #21 saluted the crowd and gave the ball to the ref after breaking ankles on the way to a Touchdown. The fans celebrated and returned the salute.
Jeremy Shockey
Shockey was different. He was on fire from the day he arrived after the draft. He fought linebacker Brandon Short after refusing to sing the Penn State fight song as he attempted to eat lunch on his 1st day. From that day on…Shockey proceeded to run over linebackers, safeties, and corner backs across the league. Sometimes without a helmet on. He sent the crowd into an uproar watching his long blonde hair flaring side to side as he welcomed contact, and aggressively talking smack to defenders on every play, and rolling the windmill celebration on big first downs. Shockey could drop the easy pass and then rip the ball away from Brain Dawkins on a 50/50 ball. If they used blocking Tight Ends back then and he wasn’t banged up all the time he would have been a top 10 TE of all time. Dude was different.
Michael Strahan
Strahan was a born leader and never missed an opportunity to flex with every sack. “MICHAEL STRA-HAN” was chanted over and over on numerous Sundays. Remember Strahan and the defense got the crowd moving with mimicking a “jump shot” as rapper Jim Jones “BALL’IN” cranked over the PA. And just like that, the Harlem-born Jones and Strahan started a craze in the stadium. Strahan was tough, loud and physical, every rep was personal. Not to be out done by his “Stomp You Out” Super Bowl run.
Brandon Jacobs
Jacobs was a linebacker playing running back. He was bigger than any back in the NFL, much faster than expected and was not afraid to just flat out…run you over like a train. You could see the collision coming and you knew someone on the defense was getting buried. He pumped his fists, growled and screamed pulling the fans into every carry. Short yardage or a huge rip…Jacobs was juice. There is a play clock in Dallas still feeling his rath from the 2007 go ahead TD against the Cowboys as he spike the ball against the clock mounted on the stadium wall.
Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham missed the first 4 games of season with a hamstring injury after being drafted…and the rest his history. He was the most electric offensive player the Giants ever had or the league had ever seen. The break away speed, the athleticism, the body control, the hand strength, the catch radius…al of it was insane. He had everyone wearing No. 13 in the stadium and all over the world. Beckham was on fire from the pre-game warm ups… all the way through to the post game press conference. His endzone dances were ground breaking and his catch in Dallas with a defensive back draped on him is considered one the best catches in NFL history. The stadium was filled three hours early just to watch him warm up.
Cam Skattebo, Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart injected that kind of energy into the stadium two weeks ago against a very good Chargers team. I have not seen that type of energy, that type of hype since before Odell was traded.
The difference in 2025 is that this team can not rely on three rookies and thier “juice” to win games. The coaches need to coach to the strength of the team. The Defense! Live on the pass rush, impose your will against opponents and punish QB’s and RB’s. The offense is currently a three legged dog with out Nabers and riding the Dart, Skattebo juice…will only go so far.
Even Saints QB, Spencer Rattler told the world the Giants defensive scheme lack complexity.
A new Era is upon us. Now this staff needs to take off the training wheels.