(Dave Pokress/Sportsday Wire)
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett knows that what happened in the pre-season is meaningless and Sunday night’s opener against the Giants means that his team will be facing a very well coached team with Tom Coughlin on the sidelines.
“Well, he’s just one of the great coaches ever in the National Football League,” Garrett said. “It’s as simple as that. His track record speaks for itself. We’ve had great opportunities through the years to compete against his teams and they’re always really well-coached. We just have an immense amount of respect for him and his football teams. Like I said, his record in this league as a head coach, as an assistant coach and all the great teams he’s been around and all the great teams he’s guided, again, speaks for itself.”
It’s going to take more than Coughlin for the Giants to get out to a 1-0 start. A team effort will be needed, led by, of course, No. 10 Eli Manning.
And Manning is looking forward to playing his old nemesis, a team that he usually playes very well against.
“I guess good weather, I don’t know,” Manning said. “Hopefully we can have another day being productive throwing the ball. We’re going to need to. We have some weapons at receiver who can make some plays. I’ve got to do my part, get them the ball. We’ve got to be balanced, we’ve got to run the ball. Hopefully we can have a good day and make some plays.”
Just how can Manning have that good day again this Sunday night?
“I thought we had a good day of practice today,” he said. I thought we were pretty good on Monday, as well. I feel like we have a lot of weapons, and feeling good about where we are and what we’re trying to do. Now it’s just about going out and executing and making the plays that are out there.”
Manning will be looking to connect with Odell Beckham, Jr. on Sunday. The last time the two teams played, the Giants receiver made one of the greatest touchdown catches of all time when a one-handed over the top reception.
Garrett is very aware and knows there’s not much you can do to prevent it from happening again. His team needs to defend the whole Giant offense.
“I think the Giants have a lot of weapons and Odell is someone who certainly has played very well in his short time in the league,” Garrett said.” Been a very explosive and productive player for them, but if you look at the rest of their receiving corps, their tight ends, their runners, obviously their quarterback, there’s a lot of weapons there and they know how to use them. They’re a very productive pass offense but they can also run the football. They can attack you in a lot of different ways.”
Even with all the weapons, things have to come together for the Giants and Coughlin wants to see his team before making any prognostications.
“I’m excited to see how they respond, obviously, to going to Dallas and opening the season there,” Coughlin said. “There’s a few guys that have been through that experience when it was a positive thing, a plus. But basically, it’s seeing our team come together, seeing us pull together now that we’re at 53, plus the 10 practice squad kids. I’m looking forward to that part of it.”
About the Author
