NFC East

Sporting News, The, Nov 23, 1998 by Neil Best

The book on ... Conrad Hamilton

Giants CB, 5-10/195, 3rd year

Conrad Hamilton told people he could do the job, but no one seemed to listen. The general assumption when he took over at fight cornerback for the Giants after Jason Sehorn blew out his fight knee in August was that the team was in for a rocky transition.

Then, in the season opener against the Redskins, Hamilton gave up an early touchdown. Within a week, the team had signed Carlton Gray after he was cut by the Colts, and many assumed Hamilton's days as a starter in New York were over.

Think again. Ten games into the season Hamilton has been the most consistent per former in the Giants' secondary, and Gray comes in only in passing situations. Hamilton's play has been a surprise for coaches and a shock to fans who remembered him mostly for a series of damaging penalties in 1997.

Hamilton still is not the big-play maker Sehorn is. His only interception came off a deflection by fellow cornerback Phillippi Sparks, and at least three interceptions that could have been turned into touchdown returns have bounced off his hands. Hamilton says the big plays will come as he grows more confident in his ability to cover.

The biggest concern when Hamilton took over was his size. But he compensates with quickness in closing on the ball, a trait that allows him to give the receiver an extra cushion and decreases the chance of being beaten deep.

Hamilton's ability to react has improved and he has cut down on penalties with more intense study of game tapes. And he improved his physical skills in the offseason, dramatically improving both his straight-ahead speed and his hip rotation, which enables him to cut and move more smoothly.

Arizona

5-5: 2nd

First half is a wash before failed comeback

Where the team is in its growth was mirrored in its showdown with Dallas: Getting close, but still not quite dose enough to claim a share of the division lead. Playoff-caliber teams don't fall behind 28-0 and rely on a furious rally to make it close. They get defensive stops at critical times. They don't turn it over and give a foe 14 easy points. On the upside, as the team prepares for a trip to Washington for its second game in three weeks with the Redskins, is the continued improvement of a young offensive line and QB Jake Plummer, who has regained his touch. The team still is within reach of a wild-card playoff spot. The team plays up and down to the caliber of each opponent, so none of the remaining games can be considered soft. But the club is capable of winning any of them.

WHERE'S THE BEEF? Ron McKinnon and Jamir Miller made a lot of tackles, but most were downfield after damage was done by the Cowboys. The club is beginning to miss injured DT Eric Swann, who will be out at least one more game while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. Swann kept the linebackers dean. He demanded double-teams that helped everyone tip front. His absence wasn't felt in wins over the Lions and Redskins. But when it came to dealing with the Cowboys' offensive line, that was a different matter for Rashod Swinger, Swann's replacement.... Foes suddenly have discovered how vulnerable the safeties are, torturing them with passes to the tight end. Par Tillman has been made to look like a rookie in the last two games by the Redskins and Cowboys.

GOAL-LIFE STAND: For three weeks the offense hasn't started to play until the second half, leading WR Rob Moore to say, "I wish we could play the third quarter first." New offensive coordinator Marc Trestman concurs, to a degree. Trestman says he realizes he has to find a way to get his club "to let go and play relaxed" in the opening two quarters the way it did in second-half comeback wins over Detroit and Washington, and a comeback attempt that fell just short against Dallas. Trestman should consider going to the no-huddle offense from the opening snap. Put Hummer, a young quarterback who thrives when placed in situations where he can use his spontaneity, in his comfort zone earlier. Getting an early lead not only would help the offense, it would give the defensive coaches an opportunity to mm their players loose, too.--Lee Shappell

GRADING OUT vs. Dallas

OFFENSE C

That's an A in the second
half and an F in the first. It
has been an uneven ride.

DEFENSE D

Just when it believed it was
getting good it found out just
how far away it really is.

SPECIAL TEAMS B-

Scott Player punted away
from Deion Sanders. Smart
move.

STRATEGY B-

The coaching was not the
problem. Executing the
game plan was.
CARDINAL

PASSING               Att.    Comp.     Pct.     Yds.     Long

Plummer                331      199     60.1     2071       57
D. Brown                 5        2       40       31       19

PASSING                 TD     Int.     Rate    Sacks

Plummer                 12       13    74.0        35
D. Brown                 0        0     61.3        1

RUSHING               Att.     Yds.     Avg.       TD

Murrell                156      556      3.6        3
Plummer                 33      126      3.8        1
bates                   42      110      2.6        5

RECEIVING              No.     Yds.     Avg.       TD

Sanders                 55      629     11.4        3
Centers                 43      287      6.7        1
R. Moore                34      487     14.3        3

SCORING                XPM      XPA      FGM      FGA     Pts.

Nedney                  21       21       11       16       54

PUNTING                No.     Yds.     Avg.     Blk.

Player                  56     2364     42.2        1

KO RETURNS             No.     Yds.     Avg.       TD

Metcalf                 31      685     22.1        0

PUNT RETURNS           No.     Yds.     Avg.       TD

Metcalf                 26      184      7.1        0

SACKS: Rice 7.0, Swann 4.0 M. Smith
4.0, Wadsworth 4.0

INTERCEPTIONS: McKinnon 5, Lassiter
3, A. Williams 1, Bennett 1,
McCombs 1