New England Patriots Matchup vs New York Giants About Overcoming Injuries, Not About History
By Hal Bent
NEW YORK INJURY ANALYSIS:
Mandatory Credit: Chris Faytok/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAY Sports
Of course, the Giants have issues with injuries at cornerback as well. Cornerback Prince Amukamara was ruled out for the fifth consecutive game. That means Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be joined by Jayron Hosley again in the secondary. Trumaine McBride will be counted on to cover either Danny Amendola or Julian Edelman in the slot. Trevin Wade has also had a key role in the New York secondary.
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New York also placed promising second year defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins on injured reserve. Hankins has a torn pectoral muscle and is out for the season. He was the only consistent pass rusher in the middle of the defensive line who could exploit the injured unit in New England this week. Without Hankins, the Giants are forced to turn to Jay Bromley, Markus Kuhn and veteran Cullen Jenkins at defensive tackle. That is far cry from Linval Joseph and Chris Canty driving through the interior offensive line and stuffing BenJarvus Green-Ellis in 2011.
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The Giants are banged up on offense as well. Wide receiver Victor Cruz will not play and tight end Larry Donnell has been ruled out. Donnell is not a game changer at tight end, but he is solid in the receiving game and was supposed to be a combo unit with strong blocker Daniel Fells (out for the season). Donnell had 29 catches for 233 yards in 8 games. The Giants are forced to turn to third and fourth string backups Will Tye and Jerome Cunningham–neither are as capable of helping in the passing game like Donnell.
Another game without Cruz and Donnell puts the pressure on wide receiver Rueben Randle to step up. Randle has 36 catches in 9 games for 424 yards. Randle would be best as the third or fourth option in the offense rather than the second. Without Cruz, former Cowboys kick and punt returner Dwayne Harris steps into the slot wide receiver role. Harris is explosive, but lacks consistency in the passing game and has just 8 catches for 99 yards in the last 4 games despite being targeted 16 times.
The best news on the injury front is that starting guards Justin Pugh (illness) and Geoff Schwartz (ankle) are probable for the game. Schwartz is coming off ankle surgery from last season and fortunately for New York was just getting rest this week. Pugh was thought to have a concussion but it appears that was ruled out and it was just an illness and he is good to go on Sunday.
Schwartz, Pugh and center Weston Richburg have been excellent on the interior offensive line and a big key of success. The Giants lost starting left tackle Will Beatty in camp and have had to put rookie Ereck Flowers at left tackle and start Marshall Newhouse at right tackle. Manning helps his offensive line–much his more famous brother and Tom Brady do so well–by setting the protection pre-snap and getting rid of the ball quickly.
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The New York Giants are fortunate to have health up front on the offensive line, but not getting Victor Cruz back hurts and Larry Donnell’s consistent hands hurt the offense which may struggle with the aggressive New England front seven. Prince Amukamara would be a big boost to a Giants secondary which has struggled. Having to face Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola, and Brandon LaFell without one of their top cornerbacks makes for a tough matchup for the Giants on Sunday against New England.