The New York Giants enter a new phase of preparation for the 2022 NFL season Thursday night when they play the New England Patriots in their first preseason game.
With that in mind, let’s go through some “things I think” after more than two weeks of practice – most of which I’ve witnessed.
Daniel Jones and the crime
The Giants quarterback and offense performance has been difficult to get a handle on in training camp so far. There’s excitement about the possibilities with a creative attack that involves lots of pre-snap movement and versatile staff. That doesn’t mean the offense is a well-oiled juggernaut, however.
Hardly.
Something good has happened. There was also a lot of bad, with many missed or head-scratching shots from Jones and some obvious misunderstandings. It’s all hard to understand to be honest, because we don’t know exactly what we’re seeing from game to game.
The Giants braintrust has consistently reminded us that the Giants are installing a complex passing game, fusing the ideas of head coach Brian Daboll and offense coordinator Mike Kafka, and trying to align this with what the team’s personnel — including the quarterback — is doing best . There are options in many of the pass routes that require study and repetition to get right.
Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka believes the Giants are “right on schedule” in developing their offense.
“I think communication has really gotten a lot better. In the meeting rooms, these guys get a lot louder. Not just the quarterbacks, but the receivers who make it, ‘Hey Daniel. Okay if it – I saw it that way.’ And then vice versa. Daniel said, ‘I think you should hit it that way or show me that body language.’” Kafka said. “So, I think over the last few weeks, a week and a half, things have really gotten a lot better because they’re opening up their lines of communication. Let’s stress this to these guys: let’s talk. Not just receivers and quarterbacks, but O-Line. Everyone has to come on the same page.”
Quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney said Tuesday that the Giants are still in the “trial on results” phase.
“We are all growing together on this offensive. Some of that may be the first time he’s seen the guy on that route, or the first time he’s seen this type of coverage against the game we’ve named,” Tierney said. “Right now it’s all a learning experience, which is good. They’re good discussions for us…at the moment we’re about process rather than outcome…the process is what we focus on. Let’s keep our process going, let’s stay there and move on and fix the things that we need to fix.”
I think this is all just a reminder that this is a work in progress and also, to keep in context, that the raw completion numbers from a training camp workout say very little about what actually happened or didn’t happen.
About this fight
I just want to make two quick points, both of which I made in the short YouTube video below.
First, it’s foolish for NFL players to throw punches at other NFL players who are wearing helmets and full pads. The only person who can potentially get hurt is the guy throwing the punch.
Second was the difference in the way Brian Daboll reacted compared to the way Joe Judge reacted to a big brawl a year ago – 10-15 minute 100 yard sprints accompanied by a loud, tirade filled with F-bombs, conspicuous.
Daboll got his message across clearly without making a scene, embarrassing anyone or ruining a practice.
“Sometimes that happens, but we don’t condone it under any circumstances,” he said before training on Tuesday. “I spoke to the team and I spoke to the coaches. You know what the expectations are [are]. That way we don’t lose our composure.
“The mood was high. I spoke to the team, everyone involved. We don’t want that. We will pride ourselves on being smart, robust and reliable. I’ve been around long enough to see things like this happen – on the third day out of four in Pads. It’s addressed. We will not do that.”
Daboll treated men like men and I’m sure his players noticed that.
I’m glad that the starters will play on Thursday
No veteran NFL player wants to play in preseason games, and when the Giants frontmen take the field Thursday night, everyone should be crossing their fingers that no key players get injured.
Still, I think Daboll absolutely made the right decision by allowing his starters to play in-game.
I got it wrong a year ago when I supported Joe Judge’s decision NOT to let Daniel Jones and most of the starters play in the first two preseason games.
Skipping preseason games could be okay for Aaron Rodgers and other established teams and starts. It’s not okay for a team like the Giants that started from the bottom, with five straight seasons of double-digit losses, a brand new offense that needs all the test drives it can get, and a multitude of young players who want the need experience.
The Giants need the work and I’m glad Daboll is giving it to them. Just don’t kill me if someone gets hurt.
Unfortunate injuries
The Giants have – knock on wood – been relatively lucky in training camp so far when it comes to injuries.
Unfortunately, the three major injuries sustained are all rookies — players who need every rep, every day of meetings, while learning how to be an NFL player.
Guard Marcus McKethan was unlikely to play a major role with the 2022 Giants, but he showed some ability early on in camp. However, his torn ACL will keep him off the field for the rest of the year and will put him back on track when it comes to perhaps developing into a regular.
Safety Dane Belton (broken collarbone) looked set for a big role in three-safety subpackages. That may still be the case, but we’ve seen it with Xavier McKinney, Aaron Robinson, and even Elerson Smith. Missing time slows development.
Tight end/fullback Andre Miller (fractured forearm) will likely spend the season on injured reserve. That’s unfortunate for a player who has shown some skill and clearly intrigues the coaching staff, but needs every practice rep he can get when transitioning from a college-wide receiver.
Players who need a strong preseason
Here are five players who appear to need a solid preseason to establish themselves as legitimate 53-man squad contenders.
- Darius Slayton: We talked a lot about the fourth-year wide receiver. One thing that speaks in his favor is a budding connection with backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, a longtime friend and offseason training partner. Maybe he can use that to get enough games this preseason for the Giants to keep him close.
- Quincy Roche/Oshane Ximines: It feels like these two are competing for a roster spot. Upon entering camp, I would have viewed Ximines as a longshot and Roche as a likely member of the 53-man roster. Now? I’m not sure. Ximines has made more games and gotten first-team chances that Roche don’t have.
- Gary Brightwell: I didn’t count the reps, but to me it seems like the running back got far less sophomore than Antonio Williams or undrafted free agent rookie Jashaun Corbin. It feels like he needs to make some things happen on special teams, which is his forte to stick with.
- Ben Bredeson: The backup center/guard situation is messed up. The Giants also have veteran free-agent signers Max Garcia and Jamil Douglas. Bredeson, who was traded last season, has served as both center and guard for the first time. Results in the middle were sporadic, with some snapping issues. If he wants a spot on the 53-man list, Bredeson needs to win it.