Is the New York Giants’ season already on the brink after one recreation? That’s the way it feels after a disheartening 28-6 loss to the Vikings in Sunday’s season opener.
Right here’s a closing have a look at yet one more discouraging season opener:
Jones’ final stand?
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones made the primary begin of the second season since signing a four-year, $160 million contract on Sunday. He has solely made seven begins since signing that deal and has solely completed 5 video games.
But, coach Brian Daboll fielded questions postgame Sunday and once more throughout his Monday postmortem about whether or not he’ll bench Jones. Daboll affirmed that he’s sticking with Jones.
It might appear wild that Daboll is fielding these questions so early within the season. However it’s wilder that the questions are utterly legit.
It’s not simply that Jones didn’t carry out properly in Sunday’s loss. It’s that he appeared like a rattled, damaged quarterback. He appeared even worse than he did final season when severe considerations about his future have been raised by poor efficiency and accidents.
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Benching Jones after one ugly displaying in his return from a torn ACL could be an overreaction. However it’s honest to marvel in regards to the size of his leash.
Daboll had a fast hook for underperforming veterans in his first two seasons. Large receiver Kenny Golladay was benched after one recreation in 2022, and guard Mark Glowinski obtained the identical therapy final season.
However altering quarterbacks is a much more consequential choice, particularly with no assurances that backup Drew Lock might be a big improve. It might be a lot completely different if Giants normal supervisor Joe Schoen had efficiently traded up for a quarterback on this yr’s draft. The calls to play the rookie could be deafening already. Suppose again to Jones’ rookie season in 2019 when he took over because the starter after franchise icon Eli Manning was benched in Week 3.
Even with no quarterback of the longer term ready within the wings, Daboll’s persistence will develop skinny if Jones doesn’t flip issues round shortly. A positive matchup towards a foul Commanders protection that allowed 37 factors in a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers might sign Jones’ final stand.
If Jones flops towards the Commanders, a quarterback change ought to change into a severe consideration subsequent week.
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Not a priority
It’s apparent that Jones’ damage assure — the Giants will owe him $23 million if he suffers an damage and might’t go a bodily if the group cuts him subsequent offseason — isn’t weighing on Daboll’s thoughts.
Daboll known as three energy runs for Jones, exposing the quarterback to further hits in his first recreation again from a serious damage. Jones wants to make use of his legs to be an efficient quarterback, so Daboll can’t name performs with a concern of damage.
Trailing 28-6, Daboll known as timeouts to get the ball again throughout Minnesota’s closing possession. The Vikings punted to the Giants with 1:36 remaining, and Daboll stored Jones within the recreation.
The one rationalization for conserving the quarterback and the remainder of the starters in for a garbage-time drive is that Daboll was making an attempt to offer the offense an opportunity to finish the sport with some constructive emotions. As a substitute, Jones took two extra hits on a pathetic drive that resulted in a punt again to the Vikings with 29 seconds remaining.
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Outmatched
Brian Flores was a finalist for the Giants’ head teaching job that went to Daboll in 2022. Flores infamously didn’t get that job — and he nonetheless has a pending discrimination lawsuit towards the Giants, Broncos, Texans and the NFL — so the Vikings defensive coordinator had additional motivation to make an announcement on Sunday.
Flores definitely obtained the higher of Daboll within the battle of former Invoice Belichick assistants.
Daboll’s recreation plan was primarily based on an expectation of a pressure-heavy assault from the ultra-aggressive Flores. However Flores threw a curveball, blitzing on simply 22.4 % of the snaps on Sunday, in line with Subsequent Gen Stats. Flores led the league with a 48.8 % blitz price final season.
The Giants leaned on heavy personnel with two and three tight ends in an try to attenuate the unique appears to be like Flores might deploy on early downs. That was comprehensible in idea, however it didn’t play to the Giants’ strengths, that are at broad receiver. They don’t have dynamic receiving weapons at tight finish, so getting the Vikings to place larger defensive personnel on the sphere didn’t yield mismatches within the passing recreation.
ICYMI: Meet up with @DDuggan21 and I’s dwell room from yesterday. AKA a really good remedy session for #giants followers. https://t.co/S4Ku1u0ucM
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) September 10, 2024
The Vikings electing to not ship additional rushers towards the Giants’ massive personnel led to a number of max shield go performs with seven or eight defenders in protection. That helps clarify the dearth of a deep passing assault as a result of the Vikings had loads of defensive backs to cowl two receivers operating routes.
Conceivably, the larger personnel could be a lift for the run recreation, however the Giants couldn’t get something happening the bottom. Devin Singletary, Eric Grey and Tyrone Tracy mixed for 45 yards on 14 carries (3.2 yards per carry).
The shortcoming to run the ball or go successfully on early downs compelled the Giants right into a whopping 18 third downs. The Giants went 6-for-11 on third-and-7 and shorter and 1-for-7 on third-and-8 and longer. Clearly, stepping into so many third-and-longs just isn’t a recipe for achievement, particularly as a result of that allowed Flores to deploy the kind of appears to be like Daboll was aiming to keep away from.
Getting conservative
Daboll seems to have misplaced his nerve as an aggressive coach. After conservatively calling a pair of Jones keepers, Daboll was confronted with fourth-and-3 from the Vikings’ 49-yard line with 4 minutes left within the second quarter. Trailing 14-3, Daboll elected to punt. The insecurity within the offense was palpable on the 2 Jones runs and the choice to punt.
Trailing 28-6 late within the third quarter, the Giants had fourth-and-3 on their very own 37-yard line. Daboll stored the offense on the sphere, however it was simply so Jones might strive to attract the Vikings offside with a tough rely. That didn’t work, so the Giants took a delay of recreation penalty and punted. It in all probability wouldn’t have mattered if the Giants transformed in that spot, however Daboll waved the white flag with the punt.
Unusual selections
There have been some head-scratching personnel choices within the opener. Cor’Dale Flott, who labored completely at exterior nook in the course of the offseason, was the beginning slot nook within the Giants’ nickel bundle. Rookie Dru Phillips, who had received the beginning slot nook job in camp, was relegated to a lowered function within the dime bundle.
“Simply on the point of go right here for the primary recreation, we thought that that was the most effective factor for us,” Daboll mentioned.
Phillips made an affect in restricted motion, forcing a fumble on his first profession snap. Phillips took over because the slot cornerback within the second half after nook Nick McCloud left with a knee damage, and Flott shifted exterior.
Daboll indicated Flott will in all probability play exterior extra going ahead, particularly with McCloud “day-to-day, possibly week-to-week.”
Linebacker Micah McFadden didn’t play regardless of not being listed as questionable on the damage report. McFadden had been coping with a groin damage that restricted him in follow final week. Daboll mentioned McFadden was on a pitch rely, however wasn’t used as a result of rookie Darius Muasau performed properly. Muasau tallied six tackles and an interception whereas enjoying 82 % of the snaps in his debut.
Returner Gunner Olszewski aggravated his groin damage in pregame warmups and might be out “weeks,” in line with Daboll. Whereas a pregame re-injury was unimaginable to foretell, the Giants paid for not having a real backup punt returner lively contemplating Olszewski clearly wasn’t 100%.
The Giants solely had 51 gamers on the lively roster for the opener in a cost-cutting transfer. That made it indefensible to not have a backup punt returner on the roster. Large receiver Darius Slayton, who had no punt returns in his first 5 seasons, was compelled to switch Olszewski. That was an journey, as Slayton didn’t area his first punt cleanly after which fumbled the return.
The Giants signed Ihmir Smith-Marsette to switch Olszewski after figuring out returners on Monday. A fifth-round choose by the Vikings in 2021, Smith-Marsette has been on 4 groups in three seasons. He averaged 8.7 yards on 37 punt returns for the Panthers final season. He was launched by Carolina on Aug. 28.
Second-year broad receiver Jalin Hyatt performed simply 23 % of the snaps, and even that complete is deceptive. Hyatt performed simply three snaps within the first half earlier than getting most of his enjoying time when the sport was determined within the fourth quarter.
The Giants gave Hyatt each alternative to win the No. 2 receiver job in camp, however Slayton proved to be a greater, extra dependable choice. Hyatt had a foul drop on his lone goal on Sunday.
Daboll known as Hyatt the group’s “third/fourth” receiver, so it looks as if he has floor to make up. However he might get a possibility this week as a result of Slayton is within the concussion protocol.
Out for the yr?
Carter Coughlin is probably going out for the season after Daboll mentioned the linebacker might be out for “months” with a pec damage. Coughlin was on the lively roster earlier than getting lower final Thursday and re-signed to the follow squad Friday. He was then elevated Sunday, enjoying 10 snaps on particular groups earlier than the damage.
The Giants juggled the roster for monetary causes, as Coughlin’s $1.1 million wage would have been assured for the season if he was on the lively roster for Week 1 as a result of he’s a vested veteran. Making him a follow squad elevation supplied the group extra flexibility with Coughlin, though his damage will lower into the financial savings from the roster gymnastics. Coughlin will make $570,000 for the season, which is the minimal wage for a participant along with his expertise on IR.
Formation notations
The Giants largely performed a base 3-4 protection and a nickel bundle with two defensive linemen, 4 linebackers and 5 defensive backs on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen used a dime bundle eight occasions on passing downs.
Deonte Banks and Adoree’ Jackson have been the perimeter cornerbacks with Phillips or Flott within the slot within the dime bundle. Dane Belton was the third security within the bundle, enjoying within the field on the “cash” place. With Belton filling that function, Isaiah Simmons didn’t play a defensive snap.
The Giants added exterior linebacker Azeez Ojulari to Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux on three third downs within the dime bundle within the second half. Burns lined up off the ball throughout from a guard on these three snaps. Like the remainder of the sport, the bundle with the three exterior linebackers didn’t produce a lot of a go rush.
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(Picture of Daniel Jones: Mitchell Leff / Getty Photos)
