Cooley's take on the Panthers game

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by GMScud

All the interviews I saw throughout camp, all the players and coaches seemed really loose and relaxed. Maybe a little too much. It's a delicate balancing act. Gibbs was very terse and ran a tight ship, and you rarely saw anything but very serious attitudes from the players and coaches (save for Clinton's characters). I think the Carolina game was a good smack in the face. And groin. And stomach... Yeah, we got punked.

But it was a good wake up for us, and I think with the quality of our locker room chemistry and veteran leadership, we'll re-focus and turn it into a positive. I think we come out hungry and crisp in New York next week. They're reeling with the Osi injury, especially with Strahan snubbing them. And the way Peppers used Samuels last weekend, I'm glad Osi won't be in there.

I'm not a fan of playing the Giants when he have them "right where we want them"

Four years ago we had them right where we wanted them when they had internal strife of Coughlin's "If you're on time, you're late" meeting rule...and we lost

Three years ago we had them right where we wanted them when they were reeling over the death of owner Wellington Mara...and we lost

Last year we had them right where we wanted them when they got destroyed in the first two games of the season and the defense couldn't stop anyone...and we lost

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'm not a fan of playing the Giants when he have them "right where we want them"

Four years ago we had them right where we wanted them when they had internal strife of Coughlin's "If you're on time, you're late" meeting rule...and we lost

Three years ago we had them right where we wanted them when they were reeling over the death of owner Wellington Mara...and we lost

Last year we had them right where we wanted them when they got destroyed in the first two games of the season and the defense couldn't stop anyone...and we lost

That brings up a good point. Look at the condition of the Skins after Sean's death last year and the team results at season end. AND, if I recall correctly, a couple of those Giant losses were pretty good ass-kickin's

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'm not a fan of playing the Giants when he have them "right where we want them"

Four years ago we had them right where we wanted them when they had internal strife of Coughlin's "If you're on time, you're late" meeting rule...and we lost

Three years ago we had them right where we wanted them when they were reeling over the death of owner Wellington Mara...and we lost

Last year we had them right where we wanted them when they got destroyed in the first two games of the season and the defense couldn't stop anyone...and we lost

Good points. Although I don't think we have them right where we want them. Playing the Super Bowl champs on the road, in New York no less, on the NFL opening night with a rookie head coach is NOT having someone right where you want them.

But, I do think they've had a rough offseason, lost some key guys, now Osi... When looking at this game, I'd say we have a better chance than I would have estimated 6 months ago. That being said, I'd say they have a better chance for a W than we do next Thursday.

I don't seem to remember them reeling when Wellington Mara died. They had a nice tribute and the players looked up to him, but he was almost 90 and had been sick for a while, so they knew it was coming. Not to downplay how sad it was, but it wasn't a sudden shocker like Sean's murder. I remember when the national anthem was playing they showed the faces of the Giants players on the sideline, and I knew right then we were gonna lose that game. The focus and determination was plain as day.