Warren Moon’s keys to beating the Giants
Nov 5, 2010, 6:48 PM | Updated: Apr 4, 2011, 7:54 pm
By Michael Simeona, MyNorthwest.com intern
No team has been affected by the din of the 12th Man more so than
the New York Giants.
In their first appearance at Qwest Field in 2005, the Giants’ offensive
line committed 11 false start penalties and kicker Jay
Feely missed three game-deciding field goals as the Seahawks
triumphed in overtime 24-21.
With fifth-year quarterback Charlie Whitehurst
making his first NFL start against the New York Giants and their second-
ranked defense, the Seahawks will lean on the 12th Man more than ever
this Sunday.
Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon joined
Friday’s Kevin Calabro show, where he said the main
weakness for the Giants is in the ability to make quarterback Eli
Manning turn over the ball.
“He’ll throw the football to the other team,” Moon said. “He’s got 11
interceptions, but he does have good wide receivers, and he’s got 14
touchdowns as well. I think if there’s a weakness on their offense it’s Eli
Manning. If you can get to him, he’ll throw the football to you and turn it over.”
The Giants’ defense is led by All-Pro defensive end Osi
Umenyiora, who has the second most sacks in the league this
season with eight. Sixth-year defensive end Justin
Tuck is also a force in the pass rush, tagging four sacks to go
along with four recovered fumbles.
Moon thinks it will be a challenge for the Seahawks makeshift
offensive line to protect Whitehurst from the Giants’ aggressive defensive
front four.
“It’s tough when you really don’t know who your offensive line is going
to be. It’s too bad for Charlie that he’s not going into a team where it’s not
just Matt Hasselbeck who was hurt. So everybody is
going to try and piece things together this Sunday against a very good
Giants football team.”
With Hasselbeck on the sidelines with a concussion, the reigns of the
Seahawks offense have been handed to Whitehurst, who has never thrown
a regular season NFL pass in his career.
“I think Charlie has a good understanding of the offense,” Moon said.
“I think they’ll try and do some things to protect him early in the ball game.
Hopefully they can get the running game going early in the ball game, that
would really take a lot of pressure off of Charlie.”
You can listen to the game this Sunday at 1:05 p.m. on 710 ESPN!