NFL Week 4, New York Giants Vs Arizona Cardinals: Q&A With Big Blue View

by Jess Root on Sep 30, 2011 4:00 PM MDT in Arizona Cardinals Game Preview

In preparation for the Cardinals/Giants contest this Sunday, I got together with The SB Nation Giants blog Big Blue View's Ed Valentine online to have a chat. He answered several of my questions, as I did for him. He already posted his conversation with me on Thursday.

Hit the jump to see what a Giants expert says about his team.

ROTB: Ok. for starters... how is the injury situation panning out?

BBV: Well, you are probably aware of all of the guys the Giants have on IR. I think it's nine now. The good news is that Osi Umenyiora practiced today and might be available for limited duty on Sunday. Of course, wide receiver Brandon Stokley got hurt at practice today.

ROTB: How are the fans taking to Eli this year?

BBV: Well, the fact that he has been incredible for the last six quarters certainly helps. NFC Offensive player of the week and 32-of-45 for 400+ yards with 6 TDs and no picks in his last six quarters. He's been oustanding, especially working with some new receivers.

ROTB: Is Coughlin really on the hot seat like it seems he is every other year?

BBV: As for Coughlin, him being on the 'hot seat' is a media creation. The Giants ownership loves the guy, and even if this season turns into one where they miss the playoffs again I think they will look at the mess he has been handed and give him a pass. If he can get this team to the playoffs, which he might, he's Coach of the Year.

ROTB: What specific success should the Giants have against the Cardinals?

BBV: Well, there's a couple of areas I think the Giants could exploit. It's my understanding that Arizona has struggled on the offensive line and that pass protection is an issue. If that is the case that plays right into what the Giants like to do on defense .... rush the passer, and they will send pressure.

Offensively I think the Giants would really like to get a consistent ground game going. They have hit some plays, but not been consistent with it so far. Their yards per carry is way down from where they would like it.

ROTB: Since Antrel Rolle's signing, how has he been viewed in NY -- fans and media? I know he likes to make noise and made the Pro Bowl, although his stats say he might have been put ahead of some other perhaps more deserving candidates.

BBV: Do we have to talk about Rolle? The guy is a good player, although I am in agreement that he did not play at a Pro Bowl level last season. He has actually been very good so far in 2011. My issue with Rolle is his constant ability to say the wrong thing, or to say too much. Or to talk when everyone else around him, meaning his teammates, knows that it is time to shut the heck up. He did it again this week after taking a bad unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the second straight week, then saying he would not apologize for taking the penalty because sometimes you had to do it. A day later, he backtracked. Which means Coughlin or Justin Tuck got in his ear and put him straight. Until the next time he says something stupid, anyway.

ROTB: If you could take any Cardinals player from their roster and put him on the Giants, who would that be?

BBV: I think the obvious answer is Larry Fitzgerald. There really is no one else close to him as a difference-maker on your roster. I salivate at the thought of putting him on one side, Hakeem Nicks on the other with Mario Manningham as the third guy. Eli Manning would put up incredible numbers with that trio.

Prediction:

BBV: I think the Giants pick up where they left off last week and win this one. I'll say 20-13 Giants.

ROTB:I say 27-23 Cards. Beanie will play and give the offense the needed threat of balance. Arizona always plays much better at home and is up for big games. They will hold up the Giant offense just enough to keep them kicking field goals.

...

I'd like to thank Ed for taking the time to meet up online and answer a few questions. It is one of my favorite things to do week to week. Make sure you check out the Giants site.

Big Blue View

Giants vs Cardinals coverage

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Comments

alot of those giants fans are clueless

I just read through there comments and couldn’t help but lmao on some of the $h*t they said. According to them kolb is shit and only reason has succeeded thus far is cause fitz ability to catch anything. If that was the case then lienart, Anderson, skelton, bartell, or hall would have had even marginal success here. They called kolb a chucker, I guess they forgot who their qb is and the same play he made throwing to victor Cruz, but that throw to Cruz was “pinpoint accurate” and spectacular Hahah. Fools. They also criticize the shit out of u pi king OSI over jpp or tuck which is silly. OSI is a better fit and fills a bigger void in our system then either of those two. The question wasn’t who has more upside or who is better. Again they are no nothing fools riding papa smurfs d*ck. That’s how I feel anyway. This game just got personal I can’t wait for kolb to “chuck” up 300yds, 3tds on their soft ass secondary…. And beanie to run a hole through their hearts. Giants fans are gonna be crying after this game, which isn’t all that unusual for them I guess….

by cgcardzfan on Sep 30, 2011 5:05 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

Osi isn't half the player

Tuck or JPP is so your post just shows your complete lack of knowledge about the Giants roster. He is a one trick pony pass rush guy who doesn’t play the run well if at all and he isn’t even the our best pash rusher.

Crying after game isn’t all that unusual for the Giants? Coming from the fan of a team with zero SB titles to our 3!

Don’t the Cards have trouble protecting the passer?! If so, then don’t hold your breath waiting for that 300 yrd 3 tds from Kolb. Did you not see the ABSOLUTE pounding we put on Vick and the Iggles?!

You guys would be better off pounding the run, building a lead and utilizing playaction. If you fall behind and Kolb has to drop back 30+ times it’ll be a LONG afternoon!

Don’t you guys have trouble protecting

Banned from GangGreenNation for being a troll for this ONE post after somebody classified the Giants as a LUCKY organization.

He's a bitter Jets fan what do you expect?

That happens when the team you root for hasn’t won in damn near half a century!!

Sour grapes, jealousy will get you nowhere in life lol.

by bleedblue12 on Sep 30, 2011 7:37 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

Didnt the Cards go into the Meadowlands and win the last time these teams played?

Werent your Gmen 4-0 at the time and the loss to the Cardinals made the wheels come completely off and miss the playoffs entirely? Seems like you might still have that game in the back of your head. I love it, because you think this is a gimmie game just like the Giants are probably thinking too, which is exactly what the Cardinals want. You sound just like a Cowboy fan, bringing up old news about Super Bowls and thinking this is the same Cardinal team from the old NFC East days. Just remember, “On any given sunday”.

by Redbird Nation #1 on Sep 30, 2011 8:43 PM MDT up reply actions

And the last time the Giants were in Arizona

They pounded the Cards out what does either of those games have to do with Sunday? The answer to that is absolutely NOTHING!

The SB title comment was about Giant fans being used to crying after games. I’m not here to fight and cause problems but let’s talk facts the Giants have had MUCH more success! Your Cowpork reference doesn’t fit either. The Cowporks have 1 playoff win since 95 while the Giants won a SB in 07 with a lot of players still remaining including the most important position QB!

I didn’t say this game was a gimme ever! All I said was that if Kolb has to pass a lot from behind it’ll be a long day. Is that so horrible?! In fact I gave a blueprint for how the Cards win, you guys just seem a little sensitive which I understand.

Banned from GangGreenNation for being a troll for this ONE post after somebody classified the Giants as a LUCKY organization.

He's a bitter Jets fan what do you expect?

That happens when the team you root for hasn’t won in damn near half a century!!

Sour grapes, jealousy will get you nowhere in life lol.

by bleedblue12 on Oct 1, 2011 8:21 AM MDT up reply actions

The Eagles game

Looked to more like the Eagles lost than you won. Just my 2 cents.

by Jesse Reynolds on Sep 30, 2011 9:36 PM MDT up reply actions

lol

That is the most meaningless cliche phrase ever!! I’m guessing you didn’t watch the game consdering the Giants were up 14-0 in the blink of an eye! The pounded Vick into a horrible game and won by 15 idk how you can even apply that meaningless cliche.

Banned from GangGreenNation for being a troll for this ONE post after somebody classified the Giants as a LUCKY organization.

He's a bitter Jets fan what do you expect?

That happens when the team you root for hasn’t won in damn near half a century!!

Sour grapes, jealousy will get you nowhere in life lol.

by bleedblue12 on Oct 1, 2011 8:25 AM MDT up reply actions

First things first

The lol stuff gotta go bro, men dont talk like that. Not talking trash, im really trying to help you 1 guy to another. That stuffs for chicks. Second, when does winning by 8 constitute a “pounding”? I was at the game and the Giants dominated the 1st half and the Cardinals dominated the 2nd. Choose your words a little more carefully. The past is the past, my whole point was that the Giants were well on their way to another playoff appearance till they ran into the Cardinals and they completely fell apart after that loss, and havent been to the playoffs since.

by Redbird Nation #1 on Oct 1, 2011 8:55 AM MDT up reply actions

The Giants fell apart after the Saints game in 09

1st of all. They weren’t undefeated as you mentioned before. Last season we were 10-6 which almost always gets you to the playoffs.

Winning by 8 is a pounding when the game is in hand and the other team scores meaningless end of game TDs to make the score look closer then the game.

Last thing on the whole lol thing, I don’t need any of your help so thanks anyway! Bickering is for chicks and I’m done doing it with you! All the talk won’t mean a thing anyway….we’ll see what happens Sunday!

Banned from GangGreenNation for being a troll for this ONE post after somebody classified the Giants as a LUCKY organization.

He's a bitter Jets fan what do you expect?

That happens when the team you root for hasn’t won in damn near half a century!!

Sour grapes, jealousy will get you nowhere in life lol.

by bleedblue12 on Oct 1, 2011 10:56 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

I dont know how that last line got in there lol

Banned from GangGreenNation for being a troll for this ONE post after somebody classified the Giants as a LUCKY organization.

He's a bitter Jets fan what do you expect?

That happens when the team you root for hasn’t won in damn near half a century!!

Sour grapes, jealousy will get you nowhere in life lol.

by bleedblue12 on Sep 30, 2011 7:39 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

Giants fans had a :o/ after the trade for "Klob"

Because we seen him up close and personal and we didn’t understand the love fest for a QB that has done very little in the NFL. (media hyped?) We thought it to be comical (no offence).

So we had a vested interest in the trade due to the Eagles being involved. Will Kolb be a good QB ? have no clue.But I hope he does. Anything that don’t go the Eagles way im a fan of

With regard to the DE’s its really cut and dry.
1. Tuck
2. JPP
3. Osi

FYI shouldn’t takes so personally.

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Giant LB'z SUCK!!? Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones,Williams,Paysinger...Maybe not..

by Troy O on Oct 1, 2011 9:43 AM MDT up reply actions

all you did there

was utilize a bunch of vulgarities and obscenities. Not once did you exemplify anything that would qualify as intelligent football debate. I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul.

by The Blood of Eli on Oct 1, 2011 1:48 PM MDT up reply actions