Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Giants vs. Bucs Live Blog: 2nd QTR

0:00 — BUCCANEERS 24, GIANTS 13 (key stat: Giants -3 in turnover ratio)

0:23 — TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS on a 60-yard interception return. XP is GOOD. TAMPA BAY 24, NEW YORK 13

1:08 — Giants defense forces a quick three-and-out. Rueben Randle has a 45-yard punt return brought back on a holding penalty.

*On that drive, Eli Manning went 5 of 5 for 45 yards.

1:59 — TOUCHDOWN GIANTS. Nicks hauls in a 23-yard touchdown from Manning. XP is GOOD. TAMPA BAY 17, GIANTS 13 (drive: 8 plays, 80 yards in 4:25)

2:36 — Cruz continues to handle a physical Tampa defense and racks up his seventh catch of the half. He has 70 yards on the day.

6:19 — With Bradshaw sidelined, RB Andre Brown breaks a 23-yard run. Before this game, Brown’s career totals included two attempts for -1 yard since 2009.

6:30 — TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS. XP is GOOD. TAMPA BAY 17, GIANTS 6 (drive: 2 plays, 13 yards in 0:47)

9:09 — Cruz makes another grab in traffic. So far, he has four catches for 59 yards.

10:32 — Jason Pierre-Paul sacks Freeman for a loss of 8. Stressing pressure this week, JPP gets the first sack of the season by a Giants defensive end.

12:01 — Nicks spun around and makes a nice jumping catch for 5 yards. However, the Giants come up short on third down and forced to punt.

13:48 — TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS. XP is Good. BUCCANEERS 10, GIANTS 6 (drive: 3 plays, 28 yards in 0:56)

14:53 – Eli Manning throws his first interception since the Jan. 15 playoff game in Green Bay.

15:00 — Buccaneers will begin with the ball on 4th-and-11 from the 50.

Giants choose pregame playlist

Giants players lent their musical tastes for the pregame music inside MetLife Stadium before taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 p.m. ET. Here’s what they chose from their iPods to warm up to:

» Eli Manning: “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister

» Victor Cruz: “HYFR” by Drake feat. Lil Wayne

» Osi Umenyiora: “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” by ODB

» David Diehl: “’Till I Collapse” by Eminem

» Hakeem Nicks: “I’m A Go Getta” by Lil Wayne

» Justin Tuck: “New Day” by 50 Cent feat. Dr. Dre & Alicia Keys

» Jason Pierre-Paul: “Awooga” by Calvin Harris

» Antrel Rolle: “Forget tha Otha Side” by Trick Daddy

DOWNLOAD THE GIANTS “ALL IN” PEPSI ANTHEM BY TRAVIE MCCOY 

JPP: We have some work to do

Jason Pierre-Paul isn’t used to being frustrated. He’s used to making the other sideline feel that way, especially against division rivals.

The opening loss to Dallas on Wednesday night was the first time since the 2010 season finale that the All-Pro defensive end didn’t have a sack against an NFC East team.

Of the six divisional games last year, Pierre-Paul got to the quarterback each time, 9.0 in total. He’s not concerned with individual stats, but being blanked spoke to a larger frustration during the Giants’ 24-17 loss.

“You win some and you lose some,” said Pierre-Paul, who had four tackles. “When you could have won, you get frustrated at that. But it is what it is. We’ve got to come in, we’ve got lots of work to do, and need to put it behind us and move forward and move onto the next game.”

The Giants had multiple chances to get off the field during the second half, but Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense managed to buy just enough time to keep drives alive.

During their three scoring drives in the second half that amounted to 17 points, the Cowboys managed to eat up 15:13 off the clock. For the game, Dallas controlled the time of possession 34:07 to 25:53.

“We’ve got some work to do,” Pierre-Paul said. “We’ve definitely got some work to do, and we’re never satisfied. We’ve got to get to work tomorrow, and we’re going to go over film and watch it. We definitely have some work to do.”

Daily Blitz: GM Reese once dreamed of being a head coach

Once a hard-hitting defensive standout at the University of Tennessee at Martin, Jerry Reese always dreamed of becoming the head coach at his alma mater. Look at where he is now.

The general manager was recently profiled in The Pacer, the official newspaper of the college in his home state, and spoke about his journey from humble beginnings in Tiptonville to winning his second Super Bowl last season.

“I had to schedule my classes around football and make sure they were balanced. I had to work for my scholarship,” said Reese, who was a grad assistant and then a secondary coach at Martin from 1988 through 1993 after being named team MVP his senior season. “With my background and leadership qualities I learned at UTM by being part of a team, I still use those skills today.

“You’ve always got to dream big. I always dreamed of being head coach at UTM at some point and look where I am now.”

Charley Deal, a close friend and assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations, sees what he’s done today.

“For someone who came from his background, Jerry pushed himself and was hard on himself,” Deal said. “He worked around the clock to make himself better.”

QUICK HITS

» NFL.com and NFL Network analysts gave their 2012 predictions on stats leaders, MVP, rookie awards, and more. Jason Pierre-Paul appears to be on the short list for Defensive Player of the Year.

» Barden builds on momentum. [Kieran Darcy, ESPNNewYork.com]

» ESPN.com’s NFC East blogger Dan Graziano continued his ranking of the top 20 players in the division. WR Hakeem Nicks came in at No. 6, with five players to go (one player announced a day).

Other Giants in the rankings so far:

8. Justin Tuck, DE, Giants

10. Victor Cruz, WR, Giants

18. Osi Umenyiora, DE, Giants

20. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants

Daily Blitz: Blue-chip Giants

Blue chips or red chips, the New York Giants had plenty of both as they took the pot last season.

Former NFL team executive and current NFL Network analyst Michael Lombardi ranked such individuals in his annual list of blue-chip/red-chip players and coaches.

In total, seven members from the defending Super Bowl champions made the cut. But first, here’s a look at Lombardi’s qualifications:

Definition of a blue-chip player

» Demonstrates rare abilities and creates mismatches that have an obvious impact on the game.

» Is a premier player in the league and a weapon on the field.

» Combines competitiveness and skill to provide a consistent championship-level performance.

» Rates in the top five at his position in the league.

Definition of a red-chip player

» Has abilities that can create mismatches vs. most opponents in the league.

» Is a featured player on his team and has an impact on the outcome of the game.

» Can’t be taken out of the game in a one-on-one matchup.

» Is consistent from week to week.

» Plays at a championship level.

» Rates in the top 10 at his position in the league.

With that said, two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning was considered a blue-chip quarterback, along with Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger. Wide receiver Victor Cruz and guard Chris Snee rounded out the three Giants on offense receiving blue-chip labels at their respective positions.

On defense, Jason Pierre-Paul was the lone blue-chipper, while Lombardi considered Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka as red-chip players.

Tom Coughlin also earned a blue chip, joining Mike McCarthy (Packers), Bill Belichick (Patriots), Jim Harbaugh (49ers), and John Harbaugh (Ravens).

Daily Blitz: Bears brace for Giant test

Often referred to as the dress rehearsal, the third preseason game is typically when the starters play the longest.

For Bears quarterback Jay Cutler — the upcoming opponent on Friday night — that means a heavy dosage of the Giants’ pass rush that he’s all too familiar with.

In Week 4 of 2010, the Giants totaled 10 sacks in a victory over the Bears, nine of which were of Cutler before he left the game with a concussion. While Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora each notched a hat trick that night, the sack parade didn’t even include Jason Pierre-Paul, who was unable to reach the quarterback in the fourth NFL game of his career.

“I don’t think anyone else in the league has five, six guys that can rotate in that front four that can play like those guys,” Cutler said on Monday, according to ESPNChicago.com. “So it’s going to be a tough test for (the offensive line).”

Fast-forward to last week against the Jets, the Giants tallied seven sacks despite the interior of the defensive line being banged up. They’ll see if they can continue with that same pressure on Friday at home in the best test of the preseason.

“Those front four that they have are some of the best in the league,” Cutler said. “They’re really long, they’re fast, they can bull rush, they can speed rush.

“It’s going to be a challenge for those guys.”

QUICK HITS

>> Jason Pierre-Paul, the Late-Blooming Defensive Wunderkind. [Robert Andrew Powell, The New York Times Magazine]

>> Giants host family of shooting victim. [Ian O’Connor, ESPNNewYork.com]

Giants vs. Jets Live Blog: 2nd QTR

0:00 — Giants 13, Jets 0 (key stat: Giants recorded 3.0 sacks in the first half)

1:55 – JPP notches his second sack of the night on Sanchez.

2:16 — TOUCHDOWN. Rookie CB Jayron Hosley intercepts Sanchez and takes it back 77 yards for a touchdown. XP is good. Giants 13, Jets 0.

6:11 – Steve Weatherford’s punt is partially blocked.

7:46 – The Jets go for it on fourth down from the Giants 36. DT Rocky Bernard and the Giants stuff RB John Conner for no gain, turning ball over on downs.

9:53 – Eli Manning throws his first interception of the preseason. He’s currently 7/13 for 62 yards.

11:30 – LB Keith Rivers snags Rb Shonn Greene coming around the left end, tackling him for a loss of 4 yards. The next play, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck team up for a sack of Sanchez.

12:14 — FIELD GOAL. Tynes hits 30-yarder, his second of the night, to give the Giants a 6-0 lead (drive: 13 plays, 39 yards 4:33)

Giants vs. Jets Live Blog: 1st QTR

0:00 — Giants 3, Jets 0 (key stat: Giants hold Jets to 27 total yards)

5:10 – DE Jason Pierre-Paul sacks QB Mark Sanchez for a six-yard loss, forcing a Jets punt. It was JPP’s first sack of the preseason.

6:34 — FIELD GOAL. Lawrence Tynes hits a 35-yarder to take a 3-0 lead (drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 5:32).

10:08 – A roughing the kicker penalty keeps the Giants’ drive alive. Cruz takes a huge hit on a 21-yard reception, but pops up immediately and signals first down.

12:06 – Forcing a Jets punt (Jayron Hosley let the ball go for a touchback), the Giants offense takes over for its first series of the night. First play: Eli Manning goes deep for Victor Cruz down the right sideline, but the ball is caught out of bounds.

15:00 – Game Day Captains: G Kevin Boothe, S Kenny Phillips, LB Chase Blackburn. Giants call heads. Jets win coin toss and elect to receive. Giants defend west goal.

The New York Giants (0-1) take on the New York Jets (0-1) in the second annual “MetLife Bowl” on Saturday, August 18, in Week 2 of the 2012 preseason.

Kickoff: 7:07 p.m. ET

Location: MetLife Stadium, E. Rutherford, N.J.

TV: NFL NETWORK

Weather: Scattered clouds. 80 °F, Wind: 6.89 mph/N