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N.Y. state of mind Ball possession key for Giants in NFC title game
Both coaches in this NFC Championship Game pulled off very bold moves to get their clubs to this point. Dennis Green got rid of two veteran quarterbacks and handed the Vikings over to an unproven second-year player, and Jim Fassel put his professional reputation on the line when he guaranteed the Giants would make the playoffs. Coaches I have spoken with who have played the Vikings feel the field and weather conditions at Giants Stadium will affect them. Of course, the Vikings deny it's an issue. But one thing they can't refute is the presence of left defensive end Michael Strahan. He overwhelmed Eagles tackle Jon Runyan last week, many times getting into the quarterback's face.
Defensive coordinator John Fox didn't just rush Strahan against young Donovan McNabb, but also dropped him into coverage to confuse the young quarterback. Daunte Culpepper will face similar problems, even though he is very capable of taking off and turning nothing into something. The Giants will counter with Cornelius Griffin as a "spy". The rookie defensive tackle is big enough to bring down the 260-pound Culpepper. Make no mistake about it, Minnesota will go after cornerback Dave Thomas with the most dangerous weapon in the NFL, Randy Moss. The Giants need to give Thomas some help and to do that they must be able to stop the Vikings' running game with seven defenders. If the Vikings see a steady dose of seven in the box, Robert Smith will become their No. 1 weapon.
Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout, and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Chat with Pat each Wednesday at 1 p.m.
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