Entering the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, the Giants’ defense had one main focus: stopping tight end Vernon Davis. They wanted to use a safety to cover him, while also giving help over the top.
Well, from the 112-yard, two-touchdown performance Davis had, it seemed the Giants’ game plan didn’t exactly work. Davis exposed both of the Giants’ safeties. On a 73-yard score in the first quarter, he just ran by Antrel Rolle. And on his second touchdown, Kenny Phillips was beaten off the line of scrimmage, and secondary help came too late.
The two broken coverages ended up not costing the Giants a victory against the 49ers, but a repeat performance against the Patriots on Sunday could be the difference in winning a Super Bowl.
No team has ever utilized their tight ends like the Patriots did this season.
Rob Gronkowski, who is nursing a high ankle sprain, set the single-season record for a tight end with 17 touchdowns. Aaron Hernandez added another seven scores. The two tight ends combined for 2,237 yards receiving during the regular season. In two playoff games, they have combined for 353 receiving yards, 70 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
The health of Gronkowski is the biggest unknown entering the Super Bowl. The Patriots run most of their offensive sets with two tight ends.
In the regular-season meeting between the Giants and Patriots, Gronkowski had 101 yards and a touchdown and Hernandez added 35 yards and a score.
Wide receiver Wes Welker is Tom Brady’s main target to move the chains, but in the red zone Brady looks for his two big tight ends.
The tight end position will be the main focus for the Giants’ defense for a second consecutive game.
Gronkowski and Hernandez aren’t anywhere as fast as Davis, but they offer different matchup issues — most problematic being Gronkowski’s size.
How will the Giants’ safeties respond this time around?
– Jeffrey Tomik
