Cory's Corner: Where is the Giants' focus?

Remember when Giants coach Ben McAdoo said in October that his players need to “keep our focus on the game?”

The reason he even had to say anything was because his star receiver proposed to a kicking net. Odell Beckham Jr. had eight grabs for a season-high 222 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-23 comeback win over Baltimore, but the thing everybody was concerned about was how he romantically courted a net.

Beckham is one of the two most dynamic players in the playoffs along with Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill. Both are always a threat to get into the end zone and thusly, extra attention must be paid defensively to stop them.

A lot of awareness was paid to the fleet of Giants receivers that went to Miami to soak in some sun, see some beautiful women and of course, hang out with…Justin Bieber? I didn’t care that the receivers went somewhere on their off day. Playing pro football isn’t an easy occupation and they can spend their off day as they please — whether that’s relaxing on a boat or learning a new language at the local library.

The one thing that I questioned was the travelling part. Whenever I go on vacation that requires plane travel, I need a day or two to decompress and get back into the swing of things. Even though these are finely tuned skilled guys, they are not immune to catching a cold from the recycled plane air or just being a little lethargic when it came time to construct a game plan to beat Green Bay for the third straight time at Lambeau Field in the postseason. Not mention, after you spend a day in 83-degree weather on Monday, how much is your body going to hate you when you go to a 68-degree difference at kickoff on Sunday?

Maybe it’s because all the receivers knew that the Packers’ secondary is so dreadful that a few selfies with the Biebs was worth it. Beckham was targeted 12 times when both teams met in October. He caught five of those for 56 yards. The reason the Packers made Beckham look average was because Eli Manning only completed 51 percent of his passes that day and looked very timid in the pocket.

The Giants have been living, breathing Packers playoff kryptonite. The last two times, Green Bay was the better team on paper. In 2007, Brett Favre shook off the inconsistent play from the previous two seasons only to throw the fateful late interception. In 2011, Manning was 7-for-10 in the second half and Aaron Rodgers was sacked four times as the Giants won by 17.

This game is going to come down to a bounce of the ball because New York’s defense is playing well, while Green Bay’s offense looks very good. The playoffs are the building blocks to a player’s legacy. Just ask Eli’s brother.

So why risk health and sleepiness for a 3½-hour one-way trip to Miami? Hopefully Bieber picked up the tab a few times.

 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (14)

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NickPerry's picture

January 07, 2017 at 06:44 am

This whole picture thing in Miami is a joke. Just goes to show the media will grab absolutely anything and run with it. I'm sure if the Offense performs poorly, the escapades in Miami will be mentioned as part of the reason. Nevermind the Giants Offense has struggled most of the year, especially the last 5 or 6 weeks.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

January 07, 2017 at 03:23 pm

They should have told me they where going, I would have bought a few rounds...

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Bearmeat's picture

January 07, 2017 at 08:13 am

If NY sucks on offense, it won't be because of a stupid trip to Miami. It'll be because GB stopped the run, got to Eli and forced some turnovers.

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Razer's picture

January 07, 2017 at 08:49 am

You are obviously focused Bearmeat. Well said.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 07, 2017 at 08:17 am

Quote from Ed Valentine of the NY Giants blog:

"Ben McAdoo has also been VERY stubborn about using "11" personnel and not doing a lot to create different looks."

I laughed myself into stitches. I guess the apple from that coaching tree did not fall very far away.

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RocsCave's picture

January 07, 2017 at 08:33 am

I can see the headline now of the NY Daily News if the Giants win or lose
" BIEBER - ED "

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Bearmeat's picture

January 07, 2017 at 09:29 am

this would make my week... LOL!

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Rossonero's picture

January 07, 2017 at 08:49 am

If I'm the Giants, I'm focusing on my running game. Capers played two deep safeties and dared the Giants to run last time and they could not. That made them one dimensional. To make matters worse, Eli was flat out off on that day, missing a lot of throws.

A running game is a QB's best friend. It takes the pressure off him. I doubt McAdoo wants Eli to throw 63 times like he did a couple weeks ago.

Personally, I'm not worried about the Giants running game. Paul Perkins and Rashad Jennings split carries (15 each) in the 10-7 win over Dallas. Despite only averaging 3 yards per carry, McAdoo definitely is committed to running the ball.

I'll be looking for our defensive line and LBs to have a big game stuffing the run.

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Lphill's picture

January 07, 2017 at 08:55 am

All I can say is being that I live in NYC I am sick of listening to Giant fans talking like they already beat the Packers, so the Pack better take care of business tomorrow or else I will never hear the end of it , Giant fans show up when the Giants are winning but when they suck then you can't find a Giant fan anywhere.

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NickPerry's picture

January 07, 2017 at 10:58 am

I hear you. Here in Los Angeles all I hear is the Packers D is horrible and Eli has beat them each time he's faced them in playoffs. What happened 10 years ago, 5 years ago has NOTHING to do with this years team. All of a sudden everybody loves the Giants.

I have a feeling Peppers shows up in a HUGE way today since it could be the last game at Lambeau Field. This is most likely his last chance at a SB, getting pressure on Eli could go a long way in helping our secondary. I hope Eli is picking himself up off the ground after every throw. If so he'll turn into "Bad Eli".

Wouldn't it be great to be the 1st team to hang 30 on the NYPD this year?? As much as I'd love the Packers Defense to be strong, I'll take 31-25 victories all day long. If we hang 31 or so on the Giants, I feel even better about the Packers SB chances.

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chugwater's picture

January 07, 2017 at 02:01 pm

I'll give the NYG defense their due and predict they get stingy in the red zone. We will end up kicking more FGs than we want, but the GB defense will thwart Eli and the porous O line. NYG offense did nothing against WAS last week (13 pts).

GB 23-10.

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stockholder's picture

January 07, 2017 at 12:07 pm

The name of the game is winning at all costs. Hopefully the packers come out and show they can be the dirtiest team in the NFL. Hit and hit hard. The more they hit Eli the more he will fold up. He's really a bigger pussy than most realize. The NT needs to hit the center as much as possible. Disruption! It's time for Daniels to play like he preaches. Goodbye Focus.

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EdsLaces's picture

January 07, 2017 at 01:20 pm

I know Perkins has come along nicely and all but really guys? When was the last time we got beat by a RB ? Otcourse it's a luxury to have a solid run ga,e to set up the play action but let's be real. They have 3 solid wrs. This Shephard guy seems to be pretty freaking legit. We could handle a team running all day vs our passing game, but im pretty sure if we lose it'll be because our cbs are bad and their wrs are good....period.

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Point-Packer's picture

January 07, 2017 at 01:54 pm

Lambeau not going to sell out for a playoff game?

When are those useless season holders going to start getting booted for selling their tickets to opposing team fans and allow real fans who actually want to go to the game an opportunity to have season tix?

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