Is the New York Giants’ season already on the brink after one sport? That’s the way it feels after a disheartening 28-6 loss to the Vikings in Sunday’s season opener.
Right here’s a ultimate take 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. But it surely’s wilder that the questions are utterly legit.
It’s not simply that Jones didn’t carry out effectively in Sunday’s loss. It’s that he regarded like a rattled, damaged quarterback. He regarded even worse than he did final season when critical issues about his future have been raised by poor efficiency and accidents.
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Benching Jones after one ugly exhibiting in his return from a torn ACL could be an overreaction. But it surely’s honest to surprise in regards to the size of his leash.
Daboll had a fast hook for underperforming veterans in his first two seasons. Huge receiver Kenny Golladay was benched after one sport in 2022, and guard Mark Glowinski received the identical remedy final season.
However altering quarterbacks is a much more consequential resolution, particularly with no assurances that backup Drew Lock will probably be a big improve. It might be a lot totally different if Giants common supervisor Joe Schoen had efficiently traded up for a quarterback on this 12 months’s draft. The calls to play the rookie could be deafening already. Assume 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 out a quarterback of the long run ready within the wings, Daboll’s endurance will develop skinny if Jones doesn’t flip issues round rapidly. A good matchup in opposition to a nasty Commanders protection that allowed 37 factors in a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers may sign Jones’ final stand.
If Jones flops in opposition to the Commanders, a quarterback change ought to turn into a critical consideration subsequent week.
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Not a priority
It’s apparent that Jones’ harm assure — the Giants will owe him $23 million if he suffers an harm and might’t move a bodily if the staff 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 sport again from a serious harm. Jones wants to make use of his legs to be an efficient quarterback, so Daboll can’t name performs with a worry of harm.
Trailing 28-6, Daboll known as timeouts to get the ball again throughout Minnesota’s ultimate possession. The Vikings punted to the Giants with 1:36 remaining, and Daboll saved Jones within the sport.
The one rationalization for maintaining 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 optimistic 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 in opposition to the Giants, Broncos, Texans and the NFL — so the Vikings defensive coordinator had additional motivation to make an announcement on Sunday.
Flores actually received the higher of Daboll within the battle of former Invoice Belichick assistants.
Daboll’s sport 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 p.c of the snaps on Sunday, in accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats. Flores led the league with a 48.8 p.c blitz price final season.
The Giants leaned on heavy personnel with two and three tight ends in an try to reduce the unique seems Flores may deploy on early downs. That was comprehensible in principle, but it surely didn’t play to the Giants’ strengths, that are at vast receiver. They don’t have dynamic receiving weapons at tight finish, so getting the Vikings to place larger defensive personnel on the sector didn’t yield mismatches within the passing sport.
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The Vikings electing to not ship additional rushers in opposition to the Giants’ large personnel led to a number of max shield move performs with seven or eight defenders in protection. That helps clarify the shortage 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 sport, however the Giants couldn’t get something occurring 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 move successfully on early downs pressured 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, entering into so many third-and-longs shouldn’t be a recipe for achievement, particularly as a result of that allowed Flores to deploy the kind of seems 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 saved the offense on the sector, but it surely was simply so Jones may attempt to attract the Vikings offside with a tough rely. That didn’t work, so the Giants took a delay of sport penalty and punted. It most likely 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 throughout the offseason, was the beginning slot nook within the Giants’ nickel package deal. Rookie Dru Phillips, who had received the beginning slot nook job in camp, was relegated to a lowered function within the dime package deal.
“Simply on the point of go right here for the primary sport, we thought that that was the very best factor for us,” Daboll stated.
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 harm, and Flott shifted exterior.
Daboll indicated Flott will most likely play exterior extra going ahead, particularly with McCloud “day-to-day, perhaps week-to-week.”
Linebacker Micah McFadden didn’t play regardless of not being listed as questionable on the harm report. McFadden had been coping with a groin harm that restricted him in follow final week. Daboll stated McFadden was on a pitch rely, however wasn’t used as a result of rookie Darius Muasau performed effectively. Muasau tallied six tackles and an interception whereas enjoying 82 p.c of the snaps in his debut.
Returner Gunner Olszewski aggravated his groin harm in pregame warmups and will probably be out “weeks,” in accordance with Daboll. Whereas a pregame re-injury was unattainable to foretell, the Giants paid for not having a real backup punt returner energetic contemplating Olszewski clearly wasn’t 100%.
The Giants solely had 51 gamers on the energetic roster for the opener in a cost-cutting transfer. That made it indefensible to not have a backup punt returner on the roster. Huge receiver Darius Slayton, who had no punt returns in his first 5 seasons, was pressured to exchange Olszewski. That was an journey, as Slayton did not discipline his first punt cleanly after which fumbled the return.
The Giants signed Ihmir Smith-Marsette to exchange Olszewski after understanding 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 vast receiver Jalin Hyatt performed simply 23 p.c of the snaps, and even that whole 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 nasty drop on his lone goal on Sunday.
Daboll known as Hyatt the staff’s “third/fourth” receiver, so it looks like he has floor to make up. However he may get a possibility this week as a result of Slayton is within the concussion protocol.
Out for the 12 months?
Carter Coughlin is probably going out for the season after Daboll stated the linebacker will probably be out for “months” with a pec harm. Coughlin was on the energetic roster earlier than getting reduce final Thursday and re-signed to the follow squad Friday. He was then elevated Sunday, enjoying 10 snaps on particular groups earlier than the harm.
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 energetic roster for Week 1 as a result of he’s a vested veteran. Making him a follow squad elevation supplied the staff extra flexibility with Coughlin, though his harm will reduce into the financial savings from the roster gymnastics. Coughlin will make $570,000 for the season, which is the minimal wage for a participant together with his expertise on IR.
Formation notations
The Giants principally performed a base 3-4 protection and a nickel package deal with two defensive linemen, 4 linebackers and 5 defensive backs on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen used a dime package deal eight instances on passing downs.
Deonte Banks and Adoree’ Jackson have been the perimeter cornerbacks with Phillips or Flott within the slot within the dime package deal. Dane Belton was the third security within the package deal, 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 package deal 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 package deal with the three exterior linebackers didn’t produce a lot of a move rush.
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(Picture of Daniel Jones: Mitchell Leff / Getty Pictures)