Giants look ahead to Chiefs after a tough film meeting this morning:
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –The Giants today began full-scale preparations for their home game Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs by first reviewing their most recent game, the 31-21 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco. Suffice to say, the review was not for the faint of heart.
"We had a hard, tough, brutally honest meeting this morning," coach Ben McAdoo said. "… (My) message to them in the meeting – we had some open conversations. Some hard talks. Some plain talks. Some simple talk. Played some film. Were brutally honest with each other. We'll see how the players respond. They had a nice day at practice today, but we also talked about the great opportunity in front of us."
McAdoo is always blunt when speaking to the players, and he was perfectly comfortable turning up the heat today.
"I'm built for this," he said. "A calm doesn't suit me. A storm does."
The players understood that getting caught in the storm is McAdoo's method for getting improved results.
"It was just an opportunity for everybody to see what was going on, from both sides of the ball," said linebacker Devon Kennard, who did not play in San Francisco because of a quad injury. "We got to see some of the offensive plays and hear coach McAdoo coach some guys up on the offensive side and the defensive side. I think it's just a good way for everybody to be held accountable for what's going on, on and off the field."
"At the end of the day, you got to be accountable," cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said. "To be called out on film in front of everybody, I think it does something to a player. You don't want to be that player. It could either go a good way or a bad way. But I think it would definitely do some changing."
McAdoo further put the players on edge when he said the lineup could have a different look this week.
"There's a possibility there will be some changes," McAdoo said.
"Whatever the change is, you just got to roll with it," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "I'll be prepared for anything. I don't think I'll let it take away from my preparedness, and still going out there and having fun and still being me."
The potential for change is hardly surprising, considering the Giants are 1-8 and have lost their last three games. McAdoo's reason for today's harsh critique was as direct as his message.
"I want us to play better," he said. "Our desire to finish has to improve and we need to see that."
McAdoo stressed the importance of finishing plays in his conference call on Monday. Asked today about their effort in San Francisco, McAdoo said, "I think that's a better question for the players."
And it's a question some of them fielded when the locker room was open to reporters.
"At some points, just guys could have given more effort. Yeah, definitely," Kennard said. "…You've got to look at yourself. I personally feel like if you're not playing and doing what you need to do personally, don't worry about the next man. That's where it falls first. But from there, we have leaders in the locker room and you do have to start at least holding the men in your position group accountable, like, 'We've got to pick things up,' and stuff, and I think we'll see an improvement."
They'll need one. The Chiefs are fifth in the NFL in yards per game (371.8), first in yards per play (6.2), and fifth in scoring (28.1 points a game). If the Giants are to earn their second victory, a positive response to the lessons they received today is mandatory.
"It doesn't get more adverse than this right now," said Orleans Darkwa, the Giants' leading rusher with 415 yards. "We're on a losing streak right now. We haven't been putting a good result out there for the fans. So this is when you show who the true men are as far as in the locker room, what we have. And, I feel like we got a lot of guys that are willing to fight. They're not going to lay down. You just got to go out there and show it and it just starts with one win. We got one, but we just got to keep trying to build and try to get this second win. We focus on the next game, the next game. So, right now it's just trying to be 1-0."
This week, McAdoo would certainly take that.
*The three newest Giants on the active roster – offensive lineman John Greco, linebacker Akeem Ayers, and wide receiver/ return specialist Kalif Raymond – practiced for the first time today (Raymond has been on the practice squad).
"I'm here just to keep guys fighting or just provide a push for other guys and see where it goes from there," said Greco, a 10-year veteran. "Coming into an offense that guys have been exposed to since April, it's a little bit different because there are things that they hear and they don't even think about it. It's just hear and react. Where I have to really study and draw things from past experiences, past offenses, past years where I'd say, 'Okay, we called it this, that's why we used to call it that or that's how I know it.' So it's mainly just kind of the details like that. That way I can be up to speed as quickly as possible, that way I can develop in any way possible."
*Four players did not practice today: linebackers B.J. Goodson (ankle) and Kelvin Sheppard (groin), defensive tackle Damon Harrison (ankle), and offensive lineman Justin Pugh (back).
Six players were limited: linebackers Devon Kennard (quad) and Calvin Munson (quad), defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (knee), defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (ankle), guard D.J. Fluker (knee), and cornerback Donte Deayon (ankle).
