Ok. Play calling has nothing to do with a team's success. FYI - I said Garrett hasn't done a great job as a HC and only responded to the play-calling statement w/ saying that I don't think Garrett has done a good job since 07.
I didn't say it has nothing but it comes down to the players. What changed from 2010 to 2011 for Eli? playcalling? what changed from '07 reg season to '07 postseaso? playcalling?
If Eli plays like he did in the '07 or '11 postseasons there's a good chance he wins one in Dallas in 2007. That team was better than the Giants that year.
Do you have faith in Romo being able to hit Manningham with a perfect throw with the SB on the line? Would he have even gotten that far? If you're gonna go into hypotheticals at least be fair
In both seasons the Giants as a team got hot down the stretch. Wade Phillips is a mediocre at best HC and could have (and probably did) hold the Cowboys back more then Romo has. Romo is a top level QB and there isn't much difference between him and Eli. I have Eli rated higher than Romo but not by much.
2007 was Gilbride's first full year as OC, he implemented his new system that training camp, so you can argue part of it was Eli getting comfortable with the system as the season went on. Lots of people like to point to the loss of Shockey helping team chemistry and the Giants' strong showing in week 17 against the Patriots; Eli developed a lot of confidence from that game. Eli's always been strong in the 2 minute drill and seems to be at his best in fast-paced situations. It may seem funny from looking at the guy, but I think he has a tendency to overthink the play. Also, I strongly believe that he's attempted difficult throws all his career and has gotten better with them overtime. The same throws into tight coverages he attempted and failed at early in his career (much to the dismay of all the talking heads) are the same throws people look at now when talking about how clutch he is.
Why couldn't he win w/ Parcells or Garrett? Coughlin never made a SB pre-Eli. I don't think either are top level QBs, I reserve that for the elite guys but they are in that next group.
The next year he was awful at home against the Eagles, the following 2 years he couldn't lead the Giants to the playoffs and threw 25 INTs I agree, almost from day 1 he's been good in late game situations(much like Sanchez) but overall he's been up and down most of his career. If he can play w/ the consistency he has played w/ in the 2007 & 2011 postseasons he'd be a HOFer.
Elite and Top Level are two different things. I didn't say either were elite. He did win w/ Parcells and had the Cowboys and had them w/in a FG from winning the game against the defending NFC Champs in Seattle. Obviously the final play was his fault, but that isn't part of his QB'ing responsibilities so I don't put much stock in that play. I don't think Garrett has done a good job as HC.
He didn't make enough plays to win against Seattle and only put up 13 pts on O(they got a KR TD). I don't love Garrett either but if Romo steps up they win more games and make the postseason last year. He had chances in both Giant games and failed.
Considering how the Seahawks were starting street free agents at CB in that game, I think Romo should be criticized for not playing better. Hell, in 2007 the Giants starting corners were Corey Webster (whom had just started playing great) and RW McQuarters. Hell, their nickel corner was Geoffrey Pope. Aaron Ross played only briefly in that game before separating his shoulder. Considering that, Romo didn't play well at all.
I give a ton of credit to the Giant front 7 but Romo played terribly in that div rd loss to the Giants in Jan '08.
Here's a couple of quality articles discussing each QB Romo - http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/05/31/cosell-talks-is-the-window-really-closing-on-the-cowboys-romo/ Manning - http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/07/03/cosell-talks-elis-arrived/
on the road in one of the toughest stadiums to play and against the defending NFC champs and he had them within a FG of winning the game. not bad for a first year starter. he's right there with Eli in my opinion.
Seattle was not some juggernaut, they had a good team and again he led his O to 13 pts. 13 pts isn't going to cut it most games especially on the road. It's sort of like Chad against Pitt '04 except instead of the K blowing it it was the holder who happened to be Romo.
This is completely false. I watched almost every snap the Cowboys played last year, and Romo is dead last on the list of reasons they didn't make the playoffs. The Giants games were not on him at all, they were on a shitty, shitty secondary and a shitty offensive line. In the first one, Romo thew a 50 yard TD to give them the lead with 5 minutes to go, then led a great drive with under a minute left to get them to FG range to tie it (after the shitty secondary blew it), but the kick was blocked. He finished with 321 yards and 4 TDs, including 2 in the 4th. He certainly didn't blow that game. The second game he threw for 289 and 2 TDs despite being harassed all game. He wasn't great, but wasnt' terrible either, and the defense was the main problem, specifically the secondary. Romo takes way more heat than he should. He got a bad rap for a non-QB play years ago and somehow became a choke artist for dropping a FG hold. It's bullshit. He's actually been better in the 4th quarter than the other three over his career.
^Wasn't one of those games where he missed Miles wide open which would have sealed the game? Miles was injured tho so I can't put that all on Romo
This is 100% what I wanted to say. Eli and Big Ben get it done in big spots. Their overall teams obviously helped them a lot, but they made plays or did not make bad plays when it counted. Seattle is very very tough. Place gets really really loud and the travel to the WC
