This week’s game ball – the inaugural game ball of the season – goes to the mind that shut down the Cowboys’ stud rookies: Steve Spagnuolo.
Though the first game of the season may have been far closer than new
coach Ben McAdoo and many Giants fans would have liked, it was not due to a
lack of planning from the Giants’ Defensive Coordinator. It was not until after the game that people
truly realized the crafty strategy that Spagnuolo devised.
During the game I found myself wondering why the Giants’ corners
were falling so far back into coverage and allowing the rookie Dak Prescott to
check down for continuous 5-8 yard gains.
However, in looking at the final box score one thing jumps off the page
– or maybe a better way to put it would be one thing does not – Dez Bryant’s
numbers. The showboating superstar
wideout had only one catch for eight yards and a dropped touchdown in the
second quarter. Spagnuolo dared the
Cowboys to test their rookie QB and they didn’t; Dak was clearly coached to
take the safe underneath throw over the flashy play.
Spagnuolo also placed complete trust in his re-tooled front seven to
stop a dangerous Cowboys rushing attack anchored by one of the best lines in
football and a shiny new first-round running back named “ZEEEEEKE”. Spags’ faith was rewarded as his defense held
the star rookie to 2.5 yards per carry.
Steve Spagnuolo gets the game ball this week because he and his
defense weren’t the reason this game was a nail-biter, they were the reason it
wasn’t yet another Week 1 embarrassment for the New York Football Giants.
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